March-April Reads 2026

Apologies. I've been so busy writing, I've not had much time for everything else. More on that as soon as it's possible.

March

Secret Lives of the Dead, Tim Lebbon

I kept picturing the characters younger than they were, but I really liked the concept of this book. It’s well-written and presented in a fun way, though I think I would have preferred a much-darker story because of some especially enjoyable elements and the title made me expect something darker. 

Relentless, Dean Koontz

A reread for me as part of an attempted book clearance. Relentless is an author’s nightmare ramped up and far worse than an obsessed fan, but an obsessed reviewer. Sounds simple enough, but we soon learn that it’s far from what we first believe to be the problem. The reviewer is not your average man, and the author and his family are far from mediocre. What happens as the story progresses is fun, but this is a novel for those prepared to park any longing for reality in fiction at the first page and just go along for the ride. At the end, you’ll either have enjoyed yourself or might roll your eyes. In that way, this is light with some intense scenes.

The Martian (audio), by Andy Weir, read by Will Wheaton

Having loved Project Hail Mary, I felt compelled to listen to this, despite having already read the book and seen the movie. I just couldn’t resist revisiting the story to enjoy it all over again. Well read, of course; as is easy to expect from Will Wheaton. I’ve only read two of Andy Weir’s books so far, and both went straight into my favourite books pile. He has a way of making the technical details of his stories entertaining and fascinating while weaving a gripping adventure. He’s definitely on my list of favourite authors.

April

The Book Shop, Penelope Fitzgerald

I’d heard the author’s work was worth checking out, I picked up a couple of her books, this being the first I’ve read. The style is of its time, written in the 70s, so there’s a little more tell than show, which is not so preferred by publishers, editors, and readers these days, but the writing is light, lyrical, and enjoyable. The story didn’t have quite the impact I’d hoped for, as it wasn’t as tense as modern readers no doubt prefer, but it was a good read, reflecting a light on the subtleties of nastiness people can so often exhibit in roundabout ways.

Breathless, Dean Koontz

A re-read for me, and one that read almost like a book of two halves. I enjoyed almost all of it, but expected a different outcome. Koontz has been accused of getting too religious in his books over time, though if that’s what he wishes to write, that’s fine. A book's content is the author’s prerogative. Still, this one may be a step too far for me, which doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the wonder created by the narrative, but some storylines come together in too light a way to truly satisfy. Still enjoyable.

February Reads 2026

Your Heart Belongs to Me, Dean Koontz

A reread for me and another solid thriller from Dean Koontz, though one built on quite a simple idea but told in a more complicated and expert way than many might manage. I like the outcome as much as the one who wants perfect endings may also dislike it. Sometimes the imperfect is perfect. But I also don’t believe in all the sentiments. Sometimes even the best people believe in the wrong people, take things at face value, and ignore warnings. In short, almost anyone can be fooled at some time in their life, especially when at their most vulnerable. When fooled by a bad person, it’s still the bad person who’s to blame. Alas, like many thrillers, it’s hard to explain without giving the story away.

Project Hail Mary (audio), Andy Weir, Read by Ray Porter

I’ve had this a long time and am so sorry I didn’t listen to it sooner. I’m a fan of Weir’s first book, The Martian, although the ending got a more Hollywood treatment than the book allows for and when I eventually watch Hail Mary, I expect more of the same because some of the long sequences will be simply too long for film. I also want to read this in print now because this immediately became one of my favourite books. Weir does the impossible by making the science not only interesting but entertaining. Some may not agree with me, but I loved every second spent listening to this. Loved every explanation, even those I only got the gist of. And I loved the characters, settings, complications, and problem-solving. When your antagonist is in trouble, dump more on him or her, and Andy Weir definitely knows how to do that. It’s also read extremely well. Seriously, this is one of the best books I’ve come across in a long time.

Horror Tales from England, Various, Kevin J. Kennedy

I bought this because it contains a story by Adam Nevill, one of my favourite authors, so no surprise that out of the five stories I thought his was the best, and I know I’ll read it more than once. Maybe more of a vision than a story, but one that persists in the mind. Nevill takes his readers down into the depths; here he brings the depths to the surface. My second favourite was the last by MJ Mars, but I found each story enjoyable. I was surprised to see two instances of ‘gotten’ in a book by English writers, as it’s not classed as a word in England, although I believe there are some regional instances, but it still took me out of the book.

January Reads 2026

Not a lot read this month, I admit. But completion of a sseven-bookseries, at last. Hope to do better this year as the year goes on.

The Dance of the Serpents (Frey & McGray), Oscar de Muriel
I found parts of the chase sequences a little erratic, but this was still another enjoyable book in the seven-part series. Not as humorous as earlier books, although this is likely owing to the author increasing tension leading up to the finish.

The Sign of the Devil (Frey & McGray), Oscar de Muriel
And we come to the last one. I liked the relationships changed and surprised me in this book. An excellent ending to a well-plotted series, with ever characters doing their all to help each other in this one. I don’t know if anything really surprised me by the time I reached the end, having taken the time not to rush through them reading them consecutively. But I was definitely rooting for the right people to survive, fearing they might not all make it. Plenty of suspense, and I really liked where the various relationships concluded. I’ve been trying to clear out books after I read them except those I truly love, and I will keep these at least for now.

A Quick Update on Why I'm so Quiet

Hey everyone,

I know, I know, promises and all that. I was going to do better with blogging this year, and I’ve got to write my next update on January Reads. You might wonder why I haven’t. So here’s the best explanation I can give you at this time.

I’m working. Yes, that means writing! And it’s something completely new, although not all my romance readers will be excited as it’s another genre. Alas, I can’t talk about it just yet. I’m really not allowed. Writers sometimes get opportunities that may even turn out to be a lot of hard work for nothing because occasionally some don’t pan out. And, as usual, I’m thinking, OMG, what am I doing? How am I going to write what they’ve asked me to write? Note: this is far from the first time I’ve ridden this emotional rollercoaster, and I never know if it’ll be my last. I’ve always come through before, so I’m keeping my fingers tightly crossed. Though I’m not, because that would make typing impossible, so maybe I should ask everyone else to do that for me.

Writers sometimes have to just hibernate in their ‘writing caves’ to meet deadlines, and I don’t have a lot of time. I don’t have the luxury of being a one book a year author, even though I’ve not been writing as well as I usually do for sometime. But this time I definitely have a timeframe to keep to.

I’ll be back next week with book reading news, but aside from that, bye for now!

Stay well. Sharon x

Three Months in One of Reads

Apologies for running behind, but I hope you spot something worth reading here, and next month I’ll endeavour to get back to normal.

Oct

The Book of Elsewhere (audio), Keanu Reeves and China Mieville (read by various)

A novelisation based on the Brzrkr graphic novels written by Keanu Reeves. Normally, I love China Mieville’s work, but something about this felt off. Entertaining with numerous themes of life and death, even somewhat thought-provoking, but oddly paced. Enjoyable, but overall I found it frustratingly slow. I wonder whether it would have come across better read than listened to.

The Strings of Murder (Frey & McGray), Oscar De Muriel

Top marks mostly from the level of enjoyment, but the plot is well-worked out, with believable characters with credible back stories. I love the way Frey and McGray rub each other the wrong way. Nothing slow about this story weaving historical facts with supernatural elements. I have all the books and now want to work through them.

A Fever of the Blood (Frey & McGray), Oscar De Muriel

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first in this seven-book series, but it was still solid and entertaining. A touch slower than the first novel but not annoyingly so. The arguments between Frey and McGray escalate for various reasons and are as painful as they are fun. A good percentage of the fun of these books is their oscillating relationship. Snips and snipes galore.

Nov

A Mask of Shadows (Frey & McGray), Oscar De Muriel

The third in the Frey and McGray series. I like that the author has taken a different approach with each of these books. In this, the story is told in reports, action-based narrative, and interlude’s of Bram Stoker’s journal. Weaving historical fact with fiction makes for an entertaining mystery with a touch of questionable supernatural occurrences. The author notes at the end of the book, which must be read after concluding the novel to avoid spoilers, make the reader appreciate what they’ve just read all the more.

Pet Sematary (audio), Stephen King, read by Michael C.Hall

I wish I’d had the time to listen to this in one sitting. There’s still something about having a story read to you that takes book lovers back to their first experience of storytelling. I’d forgotten how good this book is, and listening to this over Halloween and beyond was perfect for the autumn season. I’d also forgotten the creepy moments and the sad.

Dec

Doctor Who Ten Days of Christmas (audio) Steve Cole, read by various

Easy to listen to set of stories starring the tenth Doctor and various companions. Like most anthologies, I liked some stories more than others, so I’ll simply say I enjoyed the penultimate story, and the split story starting and ending the book the most. The reader in the first and last reads the Tenth Doctor like no one else except David Tennant himself, of course. Good fun.

Loch of the Dead (Frey & McGray), Oscar de Muriel

I enjoyed this one in part because it was set on some islands, taking Frey and McGrey out of the city. The remoteness added another layer to the suspense, and also caused both men to cease arguing so much, making them more of a team with an actual sense they have each other’s backs despite their differences. There were a few possibilities for the outcome here, which also kept me guessing.

The Darker Arts (Frey & McGray), Oscar de Muriel

Although I enjoyed this book as much as any in the series, and it certainly had me on the edge of my seat when a character’s life was threatened, I found certain elements of the conclusion a little too convenient. Still, the book is as well plotted as all have been so far in the series, and I expect all will be right up to the end, with plenty of tension. Part of me wants a supernatural element Frey can’t find a way to explain.

Madly, Deeply: The Diaries Alan Rickman, Alan Rickman

Some hidden gems, but mostly I can’t help feeling this book should never have seen publication. There’s little here of the man that Emma Thompson mentions, and the man I would like to think Alan Rickman was. I heard a comment saying the book makes him seem mean-spirited, and while I wouldn’t go that far, there’s little to enjoy and few insights. I think these diaries were a simple way for Alan to keep track of events and to let off steam after a long day of work, and he definitely worked. He seldom seemed to pause, and he seldom seemed to get much sleep. What shone through was his wanting to be a perfectionist. I dipped into this book between lying it to rest for long periods, so took me a couple of years to finish this.

A Good Guy, Dean Koontz

A reread for me and another intense and well-plotted thriller from Dean Koontz. A second read after many years was as enjoyable as the first. If I can think of a con, I guess it’s that the bad guys in many novels come across as extreme odd-balls with a fanatical and bizarre worldview, although sometimes such as here that makes for a character you can really love to hate.

The Voice of Our Shadow

The HAVOC Files 6

Take a trip down memory lane with eight new stories from Candy Jar’s Doctor Who spin-off ranges.

Join Bill Bishop as the Laughing Gnome plants him outside International Electromatics. Discover what Anne Travers finds lurking beneath the Museum of Scotland. The Brigadier faces old friends and foes with new colleagues at UNIT, before the Dominators and Quarks provide a brief intermission in an exclusive new comic strip.

The collection then closes with several stories linked to some of the most popular Lethbridge-Stewart novels, bringing the adventures right up-to-date in 2025.

There’s something here for everyone!

The HAVOC Files 6 is the second of two anniversary collections celebrating fifteen years of Candy Jar Books and ten years of the Lethbridge-Stewart range.

 

Sept Reads 2025

Somebody’s Voice, Ramsay Campbell

Ouch might be a good one-word summation of this book without cursing; there’s a sting on almost every page, and in most sentences, especially the dialogue. It’s an uneasy read, but then it’s surely supposed to be. SHOULD be. I can understand if it’s polarising, especially with the trans part of the plot. Yet, I can also see why the Carla/Carl points aid Alex’s ambiguity with his memories, helping to splinter his personality, even his sanity with his increasing confusion. This isn’t the type of book I’m used to from this author. I’m used to the horror of unlit basements, of parallel worlds seeking to overlap our own, and dark entities that creep along in shadows. Rituals. Demons.

This — a book where the core is one of abuse — comes disturbingly grounded in reality. In genuine horror and actual monsters. Alex’s seemingly wild thoughts, as he loses his mind, his sense of himself, and of the truth, can make the reader’s head hurt. No doubt in a similar way to how Alex’s brain hurts as the book gathers momentum. There’s so much going on here. So many biases. So many agendas. Ugly falsehoods, assumptions, and repulsive truths, all combustible fodder for a world too eager to jump on, rely on, and believe social media. All of it was painful. A trap, which Alex falls into where his personal relationships are concerned. So I can’t say I enjoyed this book — it’s not that kind of novel. That doesn’t stop it from being an impressive piece of work that could (possibly) have been improved, but I was never, as some people have said they were, confused. And I would never want to improve Ramsay Campbell’s work, a writer whose name should be a household name.

The read was heavy going in places and I sometimes backtracked a little to work out who said what, so a few more dialogue tags may have helped there, but I can’t help wondering whether the author wanted the reader a little lost because this, too, helped me connect with Alex. No writer can please everyone, or delight fans with every book, and it’s unrealistic to expect them too, but I will say, if you’ve not read Campbell before, don’t start with this. Read half a dozen others first, because if something in here puts you off, you could well be missing out.

The Darkest Evening of the Year, Dean Koontz

A solid supernatural mystery thriller with an ending some may view cynically. I like to view it as a source of hope, in whatever form speaks to the reader. Some of the character backgrounds may be a little unnecessary but are used well and make it more difficult for the reader to guess the outcome. Take note: this is a tough read for anyone who has loved a dog, but only in the most heartfelt, bittersweet way.

Wildcat Tower, G.Christopher Davies

Essentially, the story of how four boys spend their summer in the north of the UK. I’m clearly not the intended audience be this a story of fishing, hunting, and questionable cruelty and compassion towards animals with a backdrop of a (possible) ghost in the place they’re staying — a grand ‘old peel’ built to protect Northumbrians. I can’t say I exactly enjoyed this, which was a little disappointing be it as I picked this book up during a visit to Hay on Wye, partly because I had started reading it while browsing, but mostly because I was surprised to stumble across so old a book in good condition complete with a handwritten inscription, (as far as I can make out) ‘Gilbert from Frantlee Aug 23rd 1890, the book being published in 1889. A book one-hundred and thirty-six years old, covered in spots of age, but complete with all its spectacular illustrations. The book was worth it for the illustrations alone, which, were one able to destroy a book that has survived for so long, would be perfect for framing. I am tempted to scan the odd one to frame, which would be as good, as they are a delight — intricate drawings of the wildlife and countryside of Northumberland — the like of which we seldom see in books now. I couldn’t help doing a little research. The G stands for George, who was a prolific writer and photographer who died in 1922. I wonder what he would have thought, knowing that original copies of his books are still in circulation.

Dead Funny (Horror Stories by Comedians), Edited by Robin Ince and Johnny Mains

When I picked up this book, I must have expected a surprising blend of humour and horror, but many of the stories turned out to be surprisingly dark. I disliked the first immensely — it’s an extremely difficult balance to introduce animals in any horror story, as one hurt creature can lose an audience. But others made me smile with the right twisted humour even when I found the writing a little disjointed. Overall, an eclectic mix with some I found enjoyable. 

Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam (audio), M.C.Beaton, Read by Penelope Keith

Murder once again follows Agatha around, this time during a break in Norfolk. Where Agatha hopes to find the right path in life, or the right man, she only seems to find strange people and stranger situations. Penelope Keith reading these is the best thing about them, though how Agatha keeps stumbling across dead bodies is always good for a chuckle.

August Reads 2025

The Whisper Man, Alex North

Not as scary as purported, but with a few deliciously creepy touches blending a thriller with the possibility of the supernatural, I found this book to be entirely enjoyable. This is the first novel I’ve read by this author (his debut), but I’d be open to reading more of his growing backlist.

Descent (The Walking Dead), Jan Bonnasinga

I felt the first four of the series worth reading because the stories added to the background of a character viewers already know (that of the Governor). The second set of four books seems to focus on the events surrounding Lily Caul’s life in charge of a small group of survivors. The storyline here wasn’t so interesting, or surprising but there were enough ‘it’s not fair’ (But when is life, especially after the dead rise ,ever fair?), and enough moments leading from the light just to find more shadows to make this entertaining enough. For me, the best character was the boy, Tommy. I’ve the rest waiting to be read, so I’ll try to find the time to speed through them, but I no longer feel taken with the series.

Go Set a Watchman, Harper Lee

I was surprised this took one hundred pages to take off for me — I couldn’t help thinking this is no Mockingbird — but once it did [take off], it’s like a bullet between the eyes. Watchman feels uneven in places, but I understand this was possibly originally an earlier draft for Mockingbird set at a different time — this being the first book handed in to a publisher, and with encouragement became Mockingbird. In Watchman, set twenty years after Mockingbird, we see Scout take a major step in her development. Her waking up to the real world, at the conclusion of some ripping (thought-provoking) arguments, and opening her eyes to a world where even the most clear-cut disagreements have flaws. Flawed people, flawed applications, flawed victories. Winning an argument isn’t always the end but a beginning. Answering one question, even if it’s the right way, can throw up others, leading to more questions and necessary action…. And people needed to take that action. Change takes time, patience, and most importantly the right people, of which Scout is one… something those around her are eager for her to see for herself.

Sadly, there’s been much controversy over both books, but I prefer to remember a legacy of great literature delivered in such a short body of work as an achievement most writers can only dream of. If I could keep only one of these books, it would have to be To Kill a Mockingbird, not because this book is shoddy, but it is vastly different, though with purpose. This is not only about winning, but bending to win, and so, so much more. It’s complicated and addresses how life can be complicated. I can still think ‘wow’ without loving this, without viewing it with the same affection as I do Mockingbird. But a word of warning — I can also see how this book may sully that affection somewhat. Yet even that teasing edge of disquiet where one book abrades the other… I can see where that’s something the author may have set out to do.

Agatha Raisin and The Witch of Wyckhadden (audio), M.C.Beaton, (read by Penelope Keith)

Agatha stumbles across murder in her indomitable way, but suffers a more personal injury involving unrequited love, and various suitors.

July Reads 2025

 gh my favourite was The Dark Ways. Note: the books seem also to be available under different titles.

I came across Joe Donnally’s adult books and enjoyed the first read so much I bought his other books. I got this children’s trilogy with it in mind to donate to the local library after I read them, which needs such books. This series definitely shows imagination. I would have loved Jack’s adventures when I was a child, and I would have hated the parts where the horses get hurt. Filled with strange people and beasts, portals to other universes, giants, trees that come to life in different forms, magic, and threat, along with bravery, loyalty, and love. Jack, Kerry, and Corriwen form an excellent trio for this trilogy, with weaknesses and strengths that balance them out well. They’re listed as children’s books, but the amount of violence and killing may therefore surprise some, even though it’s presented lightly. Jack seems to be the only one who feels deeply sorry, and they all seem to handle the trauma too easily for 15-year-olds. It’s a difficult balance in a book to master and is unlikely to please everyone. Still, I was reading much darker books by the time I was a similar age (Herbert, King, and I’d read books like Oliver Twist when I was 8), so for a modern audience such details are likely tame now.

The Changing Man, Tomi Oyemakinde

I’m uncertain what to say about this book, except I’m clearly not its intended audience. I picked it randomly from my to-be-read mountain, not knowing it was Young Adult. Overlooking the rather awkward way the teens interact, for the first half I felt as though I was settling into a cosy horror of the urban legend variety. Is that how teenagers talk these days? I’m at a loss. Even so, the dialogue and action seemed erratic age-wise, so sometimes I struggled to keep in mind how old these teens were reportedly supposed to be. Usually, the age of the protagonist goes a long way to show the age of the intended reader, but to me these ‘children’ seemed alternately older, or younger, and finding time to giggle in a moment of crisis made their behaviour odd and childish. The pacing fluctuates almost as much, though it’s an easy read. The big reveal… well, admittedly, I did not see that coming. It’s so bizarre it’s definitely surprising. At that point, I almost decided not to finish, but curiosity won out. Not creepy or scary, and in the end pages as it was wrapping up, I’m sorry to say I was laughing. It’s not a terrible book, and will find a readership, but I’m guessing that target audience will be as varied as the plot. I even checked to see whether this was self-published, but no, it’s from a well-known publisher. I’m surprised this made a splash in the market, though I can see potential in the author.

June Reads 2025

Not a lot of reading this month owing to being busy and time away.

What You Are Looking if Is in the Library (audio), Michiko Aoyama, read by various

A charming pleasant listen with some life advice told by various characters who all visit a library, given guidance by the enigmatic librarian. Not sure what I was expecting, and I wouldn’t usually have chosen this, but some elements resonated and had me nodding. It’s too easy to get wrapped up in the worst occurrences when things go wrong, and these stories give us that much-needed poke to remember there’s more than one way to look at many situations.

The House That Horror Built, Christina Henry

I liked a lot about this book, though I guessed the way it was going, and even though it seemed to take a couple of twists, I predicted the ending. The style strikes me as YA and if that’s the intended market, then the book is excellent, though there’s enough light entertainment here for adults. I’ve another book by this author to get to.

Old Country, Matt Query & Harrison Query

I enjoyed this much more than I expected to as I often dislike books told in first person in two or multiple points of view, but this worked well in this book even though third person POV remains the best. The parts I disliked were more to do with the realities of living in the wilderness, farm life, and having to hunt. There were also moments when I was silently screaming in worry for the dog, the best character in the book. I cared much more about what happened to any animal than any of the humans. Much about Harry actually irritated me, and I cared least about him… until late in the book. This novel is the perfect example of why flawed characters are not only interesting but necessary. The plot wouldn’t have worked without the juxtaposition of Harry and Sasha’s relationship. People do things without thinking or with the best intentions that affect the lives of others, and sometimes, this applies to Harry. The ending is satisfying although I feel it has a slight plot hole if one wants to be pedantic, but I can’t say why without giving everything away. Delightfully creepy in expected places, scenes that would make a decent film. 

Cry Havoc

 I know I’m behind even with my monthly reading reviews (sincere apologies, but life, health, and other demands got in the way), but I’ll catch up on those soon, and I have something more interesting to announce.

I can at last confirm the writing news I’ve had to sit on for longer than any writer should be required to (seriously, that can be a torturous part of the job).

A quite long ‘short’ story of mine will be in Candy Jar’s popular Havoc Files featuring authors from the Lethbridge-Stewart range to celebrate anniversaries. The editor approached me to be one, and I’ll be delighted to share more information when able. For now, you can check out the press release.

April Update 2025

Hi Everyone!

AT HOME:
We have far too much to do at home, but I’m happy to report we revamped the top tier of the garden over a weekend. So nice to see one project done. I was so tired of having no green on the ground even though I like the aggregate we have (and much prefer it to slabs), but Hubby has a grass pollen allergy, so we had to opt for fake grass. Not great environmentally, but any other type of lawn here would just be a slug buffet. They even eat hydrangeas! And slugs aren’t meant to eat those. Just a little more work to do by the path at the end, but we can sit out.

I’ve also been having a huge clean up, tidy, sort out, and have various piles for charity. Quite cathartic in its way. I wasn’t well enough to keep on top of things for a while, so it’s lovely to see the house clean and tidy, and my study — with no books on the floor! — is calling me back.

WRITING:
Alas, I can give you no more news on the anthology yet. I returned edits but we’re not at contract stage yet (more on why another time), so until it’s a done deal, I can’t say anything except the editor was delighted. I’ve been itching to write, which is a good sign; have just been far too busy lately, but I’ve got a lot done, and will get there.

Stay happy and healthy!
Sharon x

April Reads 2025

 The Book of the Dead, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

A thriller with a blend of other genres makes this a highly imaginative difficult to predict book almost right up to the end, and then I only guessed a small part. When the truth behind the mummy’s curse at a museum comes to light, it’s as amazing as the curse itself, and the story didn’t end there. I didn’t realise this was one and the last of a series, but that made no difference to my enjoyment. I would read the rest if not for my toppling to be read mountain, but confess I picked this up as part of a book swap in a library, and I’m glad I did or I would never come across this. The only negative is it felt a little overlong in parts; I felt reminded of things I already knew a few times, but that in no way distracted from the fun.

Things We Lost in the Fire, Mariana Enriquez

I delved in and out of this book over a few weeks. The stories are heavy-going in the sense of their content because they are disturbing. The translator’s note at the end perfectly describes why. Hinted at as it begins with “A shadow hangs over Argentina and its literature.” The author's subtle blend of reality and fiction make her stories resonate like a susurration in your ear, leaving the reader unsettled. Categorised as Gothic Horror, they are not that easy to define. I’m not saying I loved or even liked every story, but I could understand what the author has done and admire her skill.

Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes

It’s easy to see why this is a classic. The story is as poignant today as when written, making even the least bigoted reader look at the issues of those with mental or physical ailments anew. The way people question Charlie’s worth by his level of intelligence is as important today as it’s ever been. Maybe more so, because now we truly should know better. I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this book, but am pleased to say I ended up loving it. An amazing novel, one that touches the heart and is well worth shedding a few tears for at the end.

Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham (audio), M.C.Beaton, read by Penelope Keith

At first, this didn’t seem to be your typical Agatha Raisin murder mystery, and it left me wondering whether anyone was going to die. I should have known better. Agatha ploughs headlong into mystery, murder, and mayhem as always, and, although sometimes you feel she should know better, as always, it’s a giggle to see how she solves the case.

The Husband, Dean Koontz

Another re-read for me. This book has a similar feel to Velocity. The action doesn’t let up, which creates the promised suspense. However, the protagonist’s bizarre childhood and one especially crazed kidnapper of the bunch require more than a modicum of suspended belief. One of them happening in a lifetime? Maybe. Both crossing paths stretch things, as does one convenient fortuitous event, towards the end, but this doesn’t distract from the overall enjoyment. The surprising twists make this book stand out, although I wouldn’t say this is the author’s best.

Feb/Mar Reads 2025

I haven’t read all that much in the last couple of months, partly owing to health reasons and partly because we’ve been away, so I am clubbing February and March together.

Gwendy’s Magic Feather, Richard Chizmar
In this, the second instalment in the Button Box trilogy, not a lot happens, though Gwendy’s certainly dragged through the mill emotionally. As a middle novel, this works well enough, although the tension in this one has a different feel to the first. On to the third.

Gwendy’s Final Task, Stephen King and Richard Chizmar
The most surprising detail about this book was the setting, and despite initial reservations as to the choice, I happily put belief aside and enjoyed the ride into space. Given the difficult task of saving the universe, Gwendy has to come up against a new adversary, this time her declining mental health. Highly imaginative, with timely references to what’s happening in the world now, and to King’s other works, this book was the best of the trilogy. I loved following Gwendy’s adventures with the Button Box throughout her life to a conclusion that requires a tissue or two, but I found the outcome wholly satisfying and the trilogy well worth the read. This also proves what I’ve always said, King is a storyteller capable of working in more than one genre, so if you’re expecting to be scared the only horror here has more basis in reality than in a horror novelist’s mind.

Velocity, Dean Koontz
A reread for me as enjoyable this time as the first. An easy thriller to get into and with a steadily increasing pace with a satisfying plot and conclusion. Having said that, the ending felt a little abrupt, even though I enjoyed it, mainly to the long buildup. That’s not a reason to avoid it. The pages easily turn and nothing about the story feels weak. Nothing is missing or overlooked. Neither is the story padded at all. An excellent idea perfectly written with a well-picked title. Once the initial hook grabs the reader, the book picks up speed in well-thought-out degrees. Enjoyable.

The Moon’s a Balloon (audio), David Niven (read by author)

This is an excellent insight detailing how Niven became an actor, and a nostalgic history lesson. The book carries the same charm as the author, but also shows a man who was as human as the rest of us, softening the clean-cut image of Niven and men of that time. I was surprised, bordering on shocked, at how fast he seemed to fall in love, and the swiftness with which he remarried after his first wife died, a situation I found peculiar, leaving me to question whether it was a sign of the times, or a gut reaction somewhat motivated by grief. There are some motivations it’s hard to pin down, and having loved Niven’s film work for so long, I had to accept I simply can’t possibly know. This is an enjoyable, witty and charming account of a young man finding his place in the world, though not as in-depth as some might wish. 

January 2025 Reads

But before then, I will slip in the two reads, I rounded off 2024 with. They were:

The Radleys, Matt Haig
Aside from some small idiosyncrasies in the plot, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought it would be my least favourite of the author’s that I’ve read so far from the blurb alone. In some ways, this is true. But I liked it far more than I expected to. I think this is in part because I watched the film first, which is an okay watch, but not a patch on an excellent book. Saying that, I found this a slow build, with an ending that is worth the wait. It’s at heart a family drama, but one that sheds on light on the power of true love and whether and when we should forgive. The questions and answers it raises may well differ by reader, but it’s the part of the book towards the end that makes an unusual book effective.

The Burning Girls, C.J.Tudor
A well plotted mystery with supernatural, atmospheric elements and enough twists to keep the reader gripped. Yes, some things seem obvious, but you’re given enough choices to keep one guessing as to the truth with a cast of interesting and surprising characters. I enjoyed every moment spent with this book. At no point did I feel disappointed. The story has remained with me after I closed the last page. So far, I’ve enjoyed all the books I’ve read by this author.

January

Life Expectancy, Dean Koontz

A reread for me told in first person, so the tone of this book differs from most well-known Koontz books, yet I found the story as entertaining this time around as I did the first time. Although once I finished the book, I laughed a little over how crazy the plot actually is, I still found it entertaining and mostly gripping, as well as being a good example of what an author can come up with thinking outside the box. I like an author’s work when it can be as surprisingly different as this book is, and who doesn’t love to hate murderous clowns?

Firefly: Coup De Grace, Una McCormack

Another good story in the world of Firefly. Whether everything matches the characters, what they would say, and how we expect them to act is no doubt for the individual to decide. A couple of things jarred here, but overall I enjoyed this one and it was nice to see some characters acting strongly and with determination in situations they hadn’t been so forceful in before. I also found the parts of the novel written in first person by someone who isn’t part of the crew took me out of the story a little, but I can’t see how else the author could have written the book. I was also sorry to see quite a few typos and even missing words in sentences; even though I could work out what was missing, it spoils the experience and I’ve never come across so many in a Firefly novel before. This made the book feel a little sloppy.

The Night House, Jo Nesbo

A hard book to review without giving too much away. In one way, this book’s quite inventive. But it’s in three parts, each of which reads different from the other, and the intended age of the reader seems to grow up with the progressing stories. I’ve seen something similar before, told in a way I enjoyed better, although both books are different enough. I enjoyed each section, but there’s a part of me that remained a little ‘incomplete’ I guess is the best way to describe it. The story ties up, but left me with this stop/start feeling, which isn’t the same as disappointment. I’m glad I read it, and the story format definitely sticks in the mind.

Mothlight, Adam Scovell

If it’s possible to be compelled and repelled by a book while reading it, I’d say that’s how I felt reading this. Not a lot happens and the story being told is quite basic, but it’s the excellent writing and many subtle nuances blending death, gruesomeness, obsession, and various kinds of haunting that make this book. I felt myself reluctantly warming to the characters, occasionally bored, sometimes repulsed. I found it difficult to care for people capturing poor innocent creatures, be they moths, to stick pinned in frames on the wall, although clearly this is part of being a Lepidopterist — one element of the book I didn’t realise before I began reading. Expertly composed, still the big reveal isn’t so big — indeed, some elements remain deliberately vague — and I can’t say I enjoyed the read. The best I can say is that the story lingers, which is down to the writer’s skill.

Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O’Dell

This is a book I would have loved to come across as a younger reader, although I imagine what children want from a book now may well differ from the Treasure Island type of adventures I adored. When the moments of sadness arrive, they are heartfelt. There were other times when I felt uncomfortable hearing what Karana had to do to survive, but such would be the way of life when living on an island surviving in the wilds. What the ‘civilised men’ do, shattering Karana’s world, is far worse, and she learns to temper killing with mercy. I feared for her more at the prospect of her leaving her island than what happens to her while alone, though the author addresses this by the ‘fact behind the fiction’ note at the end.

Gwendy’s Button Box, Stephen King and Richard Chizmar

I’ve had this book for ages buried in my TBR mountain. I knew nothing about it and the first image to come to my mind — that of my grandmother’s box of clothes buttons — couldn’t be more off. Gwendy’s box of buttons is something far more menacing. I wouldn’t usually like a book written in this style, but I found it so easy to read, I didn’t mind so much. On to the second and third book.

James Bond, Diamonds are Forever (audio), Ian Fleming, Read by Damian Lewis

My least favourite James Bond book so far, possibly because of the subject, which involves a lot of gambling, horse racing and the like. There seemed to be a lot less action in this, or maybe it only seemed that way because of the pacing. This one struggled to hold my attention. I am pleased the women are often stronger than they come across in the films. However, the way Bond notices their clothes down to the smallest degree amuses me. But most irritating... if Bond ‘shrugs his shoulders’ one more time, my eyes might roll out of my head. There’s no need to ‘shrug shoulders’ as a shrug on its own works fine — what else do you shrug but your shoulders? Still, letting that go, even back when the books were written, it’s amazing no one picked up that Bond goes around shrugging his shoulders just about everywhere at everything. Other characters shrug their shoulders, too, though not as much as though the habit is catching. This has irritated me in every book so far.

A Belated Happy New Year

To be honest, I’ve not had an auspicious start to the year and it would appear so many others haven’t either. I’ve not felt like checking in. Had some personal issues, most ongoing, and it will be some months before I can feel anything like my old self again. This has meant I’ve taken something of a hiatus... well, from everything, but I’m pushing back and trying my best.

On that note, I plan to resume something of an appearance here. To, at least, update my recommended reads... or not so recommended, as I simply let you know what books I spent time with and roughly what I thought of them. I also hope to return to writing soon, although I’m focused on taking some better and much-needed care of myself.

I hope this finds you having a better start to 2025 than many have reported. Here’s to things improving for all as the months pass by. Although there’s so much going on in the world, there’s good reason people are suffering a general feeling of everything being so bleak to so many.

Oct/Nov Reads 2024

Owing to ongoing issues, I’ve clubbed together two months, especially as I didn’t get much read in November.

October
Unseen Academicals, Terry Pratchett
Although in some ways this may be my least favourite of the Discworld novels doubtless owing to my lack of interest in football, I still fell in love with the new characters and again with the old, and I laughed during the match and smiled by the end of the book. This still carries all the charm and magic of Terry’s world. I’ve not hurried to read the last few novels I had to read because I knew they were the last, so in a wacky sense I was almost saving them even though I’m sure Terry would have told me that was a dangerous thing to do being none of us know how long we have. Terry is sorely missed and so will be the books he may have written, but he’s left us with a legacy that will now be my pleasure to begin all over again.

Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist, (audio), M.C.Beaton, read by Penelope Keith
This time Agatha takes a holiday in search of love, but finds herself caught up in another murder investigation. Surprisingly, the new setting worked well, treating the audience to a tangle of both Agatha being a suspect, and her increasingly muddled love life.

Lost Girl, Adam Nevill
I might well vote this to be the author’s best book. By that I don’t mean my favourite, which sounds odd when I’ve called it the best. I’ve not read all the author’s titles yet, though I intend to. The subject of the book — the desperate search by a father for his missing child — is a hard topic to like best, but I also have an outstanding favourite that, as much as I adore this writer’s work, any other title may well struggle to knock off the top spot.

In Lost Girl, we’re treated to a writer getting almost every sentence right. Every emotion. Every self-doubt, self-loathing, conviction to do what he must for the sake of his little girl. I doubt someone who wasn’t a parent could have written this, and part of the well-captured horror is the question of our capacity to become the monster when someone threatens those we love, even when the ultimate blame lies with those who cause the terrible things they might force others to do.

For those looking for the supernatural element in Nevill’s work, it’s here but is a subtext to a warped mind in a warped world that isn’t as far off as we would like. This glimpse of a possible, even probable future pulls on the heartstrings as much as the plight of ‘the father’ in this prescient warning. I wouldn’t call this horror, though there are horrific elements. This novel crosses genres. Horror, thriller, drama, crime… whatever one wants to call it, the author led this reader willingly towards a satisfying conclusion.

October October, Katya Balen
Picking a book at random from my book mountain, I saw this and thought, well, it’s October, so why not choose this? I wanted to love this book as much as so many others do. Fine, I’m not the intended audience, but adults are the ones who decide the best books for children and at what age. I wanted the book to leave me smiling, but I felt torn in so many ways all the way through.

At first, I was on October’s side. This book makes you feel how stifled she feels in London and longs for wide-open skies. In this, she was close to my heart. Yet I also wondered about her father having raised her entirely in the woods. There’s little of practical home schooling, no arrangements of what would happen to her if something happened to her father… which is exactly what occurs. Despite who is at fault, and even that is a grey area leaving me feeling they’re all to blame, the point is no one seemed to consider the possibility of a child’s care if the worst happened. No one seems to much care about her natural development and how she would cope in the outside world should it ever become necessary or something she might want. Then she’s ripped out of the only life she’s known into an alien environment that’s understandably frightening with a woman she doesn’t want to know.

And at that point in her life, I felt it unfair to have someone who left her own daughter at such a young age thrust upon her. I felt the unfairness of childhood when you have no say. For practical reasons alone, there is of course a good reason for October to know her mother — so that she wouldn’t end up in the situation she finds herself in, but why did this woman disappear for so long only attempting, poorly, to communicate rather than show up? If they were going to force the issue, why not do it when October was younger? The opportunities to explain and help October understand in her informative years seem entirely overlooked. I understand and sympathised that the father couldn’t live in the mother’s world and vice versa but they are parents and this seems to be something they should have worked out beforehand and, when times got tough, considered what’s best for their child, not just up and please themselves.

Both parents come across as selfish, so it’s hardly surprising October acts selfishly sometimes. Perhaps the parents’ behaviour goes someway to explain why October seems younger than her years. And the idea this girl from the woods could fit into a school, especially after her behaviour when she first arrives, is unrealistic. In reality, she’d be a perfect candidate for bullying. I’ve also spent many a minute wondering where these woods are an hour and a half away from London where they can live with scarce interaction with the outside world or the education authority — you have to prove you’re educating your child to a standard if you opt for home schooling. Much of the plot is unrealistic, so to enjoy the book it’s necessary to set all that aside.

I’m happy to say the lessons she learns about the owl are painful but important, and the underlying themes are good, especially that of parents being apart doesn’t mean they don’t both love you (dealt with better in Mrs Doubtfire), but these subjects weren’t delved into deeply enough. On a good point, the first person tone and style work well for the book and young readers. The author makes October’s world, both good and bad, come to life. Given more depth and developmental edits, this could have been a splendid book instead of good.

The Watch House, Robert Westall
If I call this a pleasant read it may give the wrong impression for a ghost story, but it’s still atmospheric and I liked the cast of interesting characters, the unusual setting, different ghosts, and background stories. An excellent read for younger readers but absorbing enough for some adults.

November
All Hallows, Christopher Golden
An easy enjoyable read. I throughly lived in the world of Parmenter Road and the characters who inhabit the place. The Haunted Woods allowed me to experience the kind of Halloween and Trick or Treat that’s uncommon in the UK be it with more than horror thrown in than anyone is prepared for. A spooky piece of entertainment both teens and adults will enjoy with fully-fledged characters that live on the page and make you feel for them. Some of the facts about the true horror came across as a little vague but this adds to the sense of bewilderment and fear. I liked that some aspects weren’t what they seemed. Can’t call this scary, though.

The Uglimen, Mark Morris
I can’t say I found this scary, though a couple of moments made me pause, but I loved the quite disturbing ideas that went into this. This may not be terrifying but it’s an enjoyable read, and one that’s kept me entertained through a not so great time.

Update Oct 2024

Hi Everyone!

AT HOME:

I love decorating seasonally, so Halloween came to join my autumn additions. Not that we celebrate here like they do in the states, and I was tired of too many childish bits and bobs. Not that there’s anything wrong with those, but I wanted a more adult look. I achieved this somewhat this year by adding ravens to what I already had out, and hope to do this even better next time.

Despite some continuing additional pain following on from my last acupuncture treatment, we went for a lovely walk visiting an area in North Devon we’ve never been to before: the Lorna Doone valley, the area where R.D. Blackmore based the novel. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your point of view, we followed the satnav. As always happens, none of the landscape looked like anything I’d followed on Google, though made for amazing views. Once we arrived, we had a fabulous riverside walk through the fields with some neighbourhood sheep on what turned into a lovely summer’s day. At the end of our trek, we joined a horde of bikers who had turned up (bad timing on our part for the return|) queuing up for the proverbial ‘slice of cake’. We chose the unusual banana and blueberry, which proved to be unusual, but tasty.

Unfortunately, this was also the weekend that something went wrong with one of my eyes, and working one eyed has been difficult and tiring, plus there’s all the stress of hospital appointments but more on that another time.

FILM/TV:

In tune with the season, we watched Color Out of Space on Prime starring Nicholas Cage and Joely Richardson, based on The Color Out of Space by H.P.Lovecraft. Found it much more watchable than I expected, but you’ve got to like horror films such as The Thing, though it’s not on a par with that by any means. You can’t help feeling if the events ever happened for real, the entire world wouldn’t stand a chance. Not for anyone who can’t stand animals being injured, but if you know The Thing, you’ll know the sort of harm I’m talking about.

We often watch one or two favourite horror films at this time, but tiring of them, we thought we’d change things up a bit by opting for Arsenic and Old Lace. I’m no doubt showing my age, but this black and white film starring Cary Grant still amuses today, and this farce is so well worked out.

WRITING:

Unfortunately, this year, every time I set myself up to write, something seems to come along to bring things to a halt. This time, it’s a medical emergency that’s messed with my sight. I might write a little but I’m concentrating on getting my bad eye back to normal from now until the end of the year, because almost nothing can be more important than that.

Stay happy and healthy!

Sharon x

Sept Reads 2024

The Singing Sands, Josephine Tey

I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s style, there are moments of quirky humour, and I liked the characters. But as far as the detection goes, this story focuses more on Grant’s emotional well-being. This is the first and only book I’ve read of the author’s and one of a series featuring Detective Alan Grant. In a modern novel, some might look at his detection as lucky guesses, which he takes while meandering from place to place. The truer detection comes towards the end, so that for a long while I felt as if the story wasn’t going anywhere. This may be owing to the age of the book, and I can’t help feeling I might have enjoyed this more had I read them all. Yet, the read was enjoyable. I only took longer than average to read this because I took it on holiday.

Some of Us Had Been Threatening Our Friend Colby, Donald Barthelme

These short stories read at face value might well leave the reader asking WTH did I just read? The first story of the title screams satire (against capital punishment), which gives us a clue, though some of the other tales are harder to interpret. On the one hand, these stories read as nonsense, and it can be a struggle to work out what the author’s actually talking about. My mind wandered, though I can appreciate the surreal world Barthelme presents to tell his type of fiction. I still have to wonder if something like this would ever see publication today and I can’t call them enjoyable or particularly thought-provoking.

Morvern Callar, Alan Warner

Any book that doesn’t use punctuation annoys me from the beginning, but I decided on this occasion to stick with it. I ended up skimming, which I hate to do; I dislike giving up on any book. MAJOR SPOILER ALERTS AHEAD: Most books give you someone to root for. Is this supposed to be Morvern, a woman who talks strangely (I’ve Scottish friends and never heard them talk like this), is clearly psychotic enough to chop up her boyfriend who committed suicide, take part in group sex, spend his money, and get the one and only manuscript he wrote published under her name? I failed to see the point of this acclaimed work.

Mr Finchley Discovers His England, Victor Canning

Charming seems to be a word that floats around this book (series) and it’s certainly that. Although different, this story set in the 1930s reminded me of A Diary of a Nobody in that it’s a telling of one man’s story. When Mr Finchley takes an unexpected holiday, he certainly didn’t foresee the adventures he was about to face. Comedic disasters might be a term one could use for this, as Finchley falls naively into one potential mishap after another, yet seems elevated by having them to become a type of man he never thought he could be. My enjoyment was probably enhanced by knowing where the places he visits are situated.

Update Sept 2024

 Hi Everyone!

AT HOME:
Ouch! One car ‘passed’ its MOT. Bill: £54.85 MOT, £19.98 for new windscreen wipers, £27.50 labour plus £9.50 VAT. Told Hubby he’s in wrong business if they can charge £27.50 to change wipers. Told him to make sure he checks his wipers next time before it goes in (he usually does), as could have done that himself, and saved over £30. Not the best month for bills with two car bills and the cost of a laptop battery.

Alas, my health issues were ticking along not fine but steady, and then acupuncture made things worse for the first time. This could be because it was my first try of a five-week gap with a view to a longer increase. Still not perfect and took over a week to calm down, hence September’s news and book reviews are a little late. I can only hope this doesn’t happen after the current five-week interval, or we may need to rethink and try once a month again.

FILM/TV:
Out of all we’ve watched, I have to throw the spotlight on 3 Body Problem showing on Netflix. Based on a book, this show has to be one of the most absorbing and intelligent science-fiction shows I’ve seen in a long time. We started watching it mostly because of people who said they couldn’t understand it. I don’t pretend knowledge of all the scientific principles used, but I don’t believe it’s necessary. I still followed the story and got the basics enough not to become confused. Possibly, one reason (and I’ve found this with writing) is out of those who complain early on are sometimes the type of viewer/reader who prefers every detail spelled out. A British audience seems to be far more comfortable not to have all the questions answered at once. 3 Body Problem is such a programme, but the threads do come together over the episodes.

WRITING:
Some good news. I managed after too much time wasted to get a new laptop battery locally. Contacted a shop someone recommended (but I’d not come across despite all my online searching) on a Thursday, dropped my MacBook in on Friday, got a call saying all done early Sunday morning. No fuss. And a tremendous sigh of relief from me. Then pain delayed things (apologies, but I’m not one of those to find writing a distraction when in pain, more like the pain interrupts the flow of my thoughts), but I now feel up to writing again.
Stay happy and healthy!
Sharon x