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. 

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.

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.

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.

August Reads 2024

My reading for the last month is pitiful because, strangely, I couldn’t focus on a book during this last holiday; perhaps because the ship was swaying so much, or because I’ve been suffering from a lack of proper sleep for a long time (or both), I fell asleep an awful lot, especially when I tried reading. Hope to do better in September.

The Night Eternal, Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

Parts of this book were enjoyable, but out of the three, I’m afraid this last book in the trilogy dragged in places for me. I also found some of the plot points a little too convenient; a little Deus Ex Machina. The ending was also a little over the top. I can’t help feeling, in order to heighten tension, some stories drag out action scenes beyond human endurance. While we expect that in many action films, I’m not sure it works so well on the page. Because of this, I can’t help feeling the writers always wanted this to air as a show.

Firefly: What Makes Us Might, M.K.England

Another decent addition to the Firefly universe with a writer who portrays the characters ‘voices’ and personality. Enough intrigue and action, and for those of us who are fans, one way to continue to enjoy the series, which ended far too soon.

July 2024 Reads

The Strain, Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

Having watched the series, I wanted to read the books, although having completed the first, there was no true reason to — the adaptation was more than decent, though characters are a little stereotypical and wooden at times. Still, this first of the trilogy doesn’t entirely disappoint. I like the way the authors created unconventional vampires. That, when turned, people become monsters different from the classic. If anything, the TV series humanised those turned more than the book does. I can’t say I found this scary and there were few creepy moments, but I’m hard to scare. The fear here comes from a pandemic of epic proportions running rile and of a type that would be tough to make anyone believe until the situation was far beyond saving. Here, losing someone means to lose them to something truly worse than death only to have them perpetuate the disease with an ease rarely seen in the modern vampire genre. The ease and speed with which the vampires propagate is what makes this story frightening. This is for anyone who likes their vampires nasty.

Shadow Walker, Prometheus 3, Esther Mitchell

I can’t read this author without imaging these stories as a filmed series. It’s hard to believe they’re not more widely read. The effort put in to the creation is clear. Another way to look at them might be a supernatural take on Suzanne Brockman’s work, and by that I don’t mean a facsimile. These are extremely different, but the blend of romance and action is there. I quickly grew to love the two leads in this novel. Trevor and Jaye are a couple you can’t wait to reconcile, and the need to know what happened between them is only one thing keeping the reader engaged. This is the best book in the series so far, an emotional tug of war. I love the author understands how people can feel several emotions at once, using that passionate upheaval to pull the reader apart in a chapter, a paragraph, or even a sentence.

A Summer Fling (audio), Milly Johnson, read by Colleen Prenderghast

I’ve listened to several of the author’s work on audio, but this one was the first that took me a while to get into. I admit almost stopped listening a few times, but a few threads kept me wondering enough to finish this. As I learned more about these characters and their stories took on more shape, I grew slowly invested in them. Though the reader hopes for and expects happy endings here, the journeys aren’t easy, and are sometimes surprising. Filled with some fun characters, I ended up enjoying most of the storylines, in particular the one featuring Vladimir Dark. Still, this one felt a little overlong, though that’s understandable when featuring a large cast with all the required outcomes.

The Betrayals, Bridget Collins

Like a beautiful orchestration. When I began reading this, I thought I was in for a treat, but that feeling dissipated. I felt dumped into a setting, into a world I didn’t quite understand. I doubt many of us have heard of the term Grand jeu, and even when I looked it up, the idea of a university situated around this ‘game of music’ made little sense to me. However, as the story continued, it worked like a gentle rift, building up to a majestic crescendo. The plot could be called basic, but it’s the style of the writing where individual notes tug on the heartstrings in various ways that’s slowly gripping. The even obvious plot points weren’t at all diminished even if I spotted them. A strange but unexpected love story.

The Fall, Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

The second book in The Strain trilogy. This one certainly picks up the pace, leaving the reader with an edge-of-the-seat feeling. This is bleak in the best sense, and a great set-up for the last book.

The Cat Who Saved Books, Sosuke Natsaukawa

This odd sounding book caught my attention and I’m so very glad it did. Lightly mystical stories that pass through four strange labyrinths with a talking cat as the guide, slowly revealing why books are so important and why people love them. This left me smiling and unable to part with the novel. One for those who love books, or a great present to give or read to someone. For anyone who wishes to pass their love of books on.

June 2024 Reads

Not much read this month owing to a busy holiday and health issues, but here they are:

Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake
I confess the title made me pick this up, that and the cover, though I’d heard a little buzz about this book, and I was interested to see how YA horror would work. The book’s well-written and entertaining, but ultimately too short to give the reader the pay-off the idea deserves. To make that clearer, to develop the love-interest element and to keep Anna scary enough required more time than this length of books allows for. Saying that, I feel the author did well in the allotted space, and certain genres require authors to keep to certain word counts. Still, I can’t help feeling the story would be far better had the book been longer, providing more time for something other than love (or is it infatuation?) to develop more believably, and also hiking up the creepy factor and scares. Hence, the genre still confuses me a little.

The writing is of YA style, be it an elevated type, and the details graphic without being gory like an adult horror novel might be (though no story needs to be graphic to be scary). The story itself was fun with some prominent characters, but as someone who read Stephen King, and James Herbert, when I was barely a teen, I guess it’s confusing why this category exists. Also, the protagonist is 17, which is adult enough for me. Sure, in the UK and USA it’s generally 18 by law, but what you can and can’t do by age can be a little ridiculous. A 17-year-old can surely read adult horror, and many start reading and watching far younger (not debating whether they should here). Anyone of that age might find this book to be as mild as I did, but the story was an excellent idea and the novel entertaining.

The Taking, Dean Koontz
A re-read for me that made me instantly question how I ever could have forgotten this book. Or perhaps the subject didn’t connect with me as a younger reader. Koontz is often ‘accused’ of injecting his religious beliefs into his work. The same could be said here, though to good effect. This is an alien encounter like no other, blending horror and supernatural elements expertly, yet being in some ways thought-provoking. Those who enjoyed Phantoms might like this, and there’s no need to let personal faith or lack of spoil this. Highly imaginative, and the story has a satisfying conclusion.

Reads May 2024

 The Old Man, Thomas Perry

This is a thriller with believable, interesting characters, though I found the pacing uneven. Even in a thriller, not all the chapters should be at speed, but I found the flow here a little off pace; I’d get used to one momentum before being thrust into another and back again. Still, I found the story absorbing. Anyone who expects to find the television series in these pages may be put off. Maybe that’s why I found this a little jarring. Much more happens in the series than here, and the ending wraps up a little abruptly. It’s hard for me to choose which version I preferred.

Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage (audio), M.C.Beaton, read by Penelope Keith

In this one, things go awry when Agatha ignores the possibility that her estranged husband could still be alive. I found this instalment entertaining, possibly because the more Agatha tries to solve one murder another ensues and she finds herself at the heart of the investigation.

Everfound (Book 3 of the Skinjacker Trilogy), Neal Shusterman

Perhaps the best of the three, which means the author did his job well, increasing the tension as the overall story progressed, making this a trilogy worth finishing. He’ll (eagerly?) throw characters into the worst scenarios, perhaps situations that mean the end of them, often just when you love them the most. This shouldn’t put anyone off, though, as it adds tension and drama. I also liked that the author showed that even unpleasant characters have layers and motivation for what they do, something sometimes not highly dealt with in books for younger audiences. I grieved for those I earlier thought deserved their bad ends, which takes some doing no matter the age of the reader. As for the age of that audience, I find it difficult to judge, being as I read books like Oliver Twist when I was 7 or 8 years old. A satisfying series.

House of Leaves, Mark Z.Danielewski

This is a tough book to review without breaking it into parts. Johnny Truant tells us his story of reading the Navidson report as written by an old man called Zampano. I found Truant’s sections irritating, constantly going off on tangents and telling a story seemingly unrelated to the notebook he’s reading, especially his gratuitous sexual encounters; although at one point I wondered if these were as imaginary as some of his hallucinations of personal peril. However, Navidson’s story as ‘written’ by the character of Zampano grabbed my attention but alas, made me want to read those sections without the interference of the rest.

Then there are the annotations, again many of which seem to tell the reader nothing. At best, they lend a kind of authenticity to Zampano’s note taking, but are almost entirely unnecessary. The experimental style of the book is mildly interesting, but all this extraneous information is taxing and makes the book drag. Early in the ‘report’, Zampano includes almost two pages of names, which turn out to be (according to a footnote) names of photographers. I didn’t bother reading through an entire list of names, which were there for no apparent reason I could see. The references to echoes and labyrinths seem somehow to refer to the novel itself. As does the sentence ‘All solutions are necessarily personal’ (page 115) appearing to suggest the outcome of the story (good or bad) will be unique to the individual.

In another, the author notes a real or fictional article (I don’t know which) remarking ‘In the future, readers of newspapers and magazines will probably view news pictures more as illustrations than as reportage…’ referring to the inability eventually to distinguish between genuine images and those manipulated. But in this, and references to other technology, once again the writer seems to manipulate the reader, telling us we can trust nothing.

And what is the point of the boxes of text or blank pages, other than to suggest the maze of corridors and wide open spaces within the supernatural realms of the ‘house’ investigated in the Navidson report? Likewise later, lines the reader needs to read in the opposite direction, or from a corner, etc., appear to be representations of Navidson’s exploration.

Whilst reading I couldn’t help thinking that so many reviewers told others not to bother, and yet, the book remains acclaimed. On the one hand, the author has written something incredible when one considers the work of putting all the content together — that of Zampano’s notebook and Truant’s experiences while reading said book — with all the annotations. It must have been a pain to organise, and to print, especially when first published. But has the author, in actuality, written something ultimately pretentious with little substance, leaving readers floundering around trying to find personal meaning in a literary labyrinth? In that regard, the book almost reads like a joke played on everyone who gets lost in its pages.

Or does the book attempt to work like the maze Navidson explores? Psychological references try to explain the true meaning of Navidson’s claims, treating these details as the maze of Navidson’s mind. I enjoyed reading the Navidson house storyline, and there was a touch of creepiness in the odd place, but anyone looking for a horror story may be hard-pressed to find it here. Truant’s descent into madness seems insubstantial, although the conclusion of the book, when we learn more about his mother from her own written word, left me questioning if he was always so inclined to a breakdown. Ultimately, I understand the love/loathe reactions. This book will mean different things to different people — lots to some, nothing to others. This has to be one of the most peculiar books I’ve read.

Reads April 2024

Everwild (Book 2 of the Skinjacker Trilogy), Neal Shusterman

This carries on where Everlost left off, being the middle book in a trilogy. The intended audience is a teen readership, but I still feel older and younger can read this depending on the person, even though the themes are much darker here. I’d heard some surprises were disturbing and although I wouldn’t go that far, I hadn’t thought I could feel at all uneasy or surprised. This story certainly evokes the question of just because a person (or in this case, afterlight) has an ability, does this mean they should use it? For the greater good, probably not. I found this book better than the first, and, therefore, intend to finish all three books, when after the first, I felt I might not bother with books 2 and 3.

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

This outing flows along like most of the Agatha Raisin books, although this time Agatha and her neighbour (and possibly love-interest) James Lacey team up and move temporarily to a village to solve a murder pretending to be a married couple. Romance is in the air in more ways than one, and the end of this book sets up an interest question for the next book to come.

All the Fiends of Hell, Adam L.G. Nevill

Nevill has been among my favourite authors from my first read of his books. My favourite out of those I’ve read so far remains No One Gets Out Alive. This newest novel may well be a close second, although trying to choose the best of this author’s work is difficult. In this (possible) alien invasion, supernatural horror, there’s so much to appreciate. The author well uses every sentence, creates a solid plot, and introduces a protagonist who is an average man thrown into exceptional circumstances. One of the book’s strengths is this character’s reactions. Even when he’s frozen in indecision, making me scream, the reaction is appropriate, genuine, and realistic. Real people aren’t superheroes. When hurt, people writhe in pain, unable to always miraculously drag themselves to their feet. The bad guy reminded me of several people I’ve stumbled across and was an excellent love-to-hate antagonist. The world-building also performs well, creating a steady creeping atmosphere and breakdown of our world. Although the horrors unfolding take place on Earth, they feel terribly genuine. The question of what’s bleeding through into our existence, extraterrestrial, inter-dimensional, denizens of hell… you’ll be wondering about and believing in them all, gazing at the sky and hoping it never turns red.

Moonraker (audio), Ian Fleming, Read by Bill Nighy

I found this surprising. The best thing about this book is the female romantic interest. She’s quite different from what we expect from the Bond universe. Her indifference to Bond was refreshing and nothing about her was quite what we imagine of the average Bond ‘girl’. I thought no one could make a game of cards sound interesting, but Fleming conveys the tension of the players. Negatives are few and in part a sign of past times and writing styles. This exemplifies why a writer shouldn’t solely focus on one human movement, such as the shrugging of shoulders (and what other movements could shrug?), and sprinkle it throughout a book. And the focus on what people wear grew tiring. But these points are minor. Overall, this highlighted the contrast between the films vs reading the books. Of course, Bill Nighy expertly reads the audio, as one would expect.

Crusade in Jeans, Thea Beckman

I knew nothing about this book other than it was award-winning, and never having come across a historical children’s book before, I couldn’t resist having a look. I’ve seen some say the book suffers because of the translation, and I can easily believe this is true, as some stories don’t translate terribly well. Still, this based on fact fiction — an event in history I had only a vague concept of — is extremely readable and adventurous enough to entertain many children and some adults alike. It’s certainly memorable, and it’s an interesting concept — a fifteen-year-old stuck in the wrong time viewing the events with a modern mindset. In reality, early on, people would likely have killed such a visitor, but Dolf’s persistence in trying to save almost ten thousand children will capture the imagination of many. Having read this, I was ready to give up my copy, but I see it’s rare and selling for exorbitant sums.

Snowblind, Don Roff

This started out well, though I was less absorbed by the end. The author uses any cliched horror moments well by making them funny. A relatively light, fast read, that’s entertaining. I can imagine this could make a decent film if done well, and it’s apparently currently in production.

Reads March 2024

Everlost (Book 1 of the Skinjacker Trilogy), Neal Shusterman

A teen book for 12 up that deals with death and, to some extent, what happens afterwards, although this isn’t a religious book. Everlost is a kind of purgatory for the souls of children who get knocked off course. The world the author creates with its various characters, creatures, and monsters is the best thing about it. However, there’s a lack of emotion from Nick and Allie over their death, to a point which struck me as unrealistic. There’s plenty to like about them, but there could have been more. Likewise, the suggestion of a budding romantic interest seems out of place so early in events. The book is more of an adventure plot than a teaching method, which is fine, though I feel it could have done more. Still, the book contains a great cast, and I’d still recommend this for children even though I feel some under 12s could read this. I was reading books like Oliver Twist when I was 8, so the nasty parts don’t seem to warrant such a high age rating for some. I’m sure well-read younger readers would enjoy this and it’s easily readable, containing some fabulous ideas, and a well thought out story world.

The Face, Dean Koontz

A re-read for me, and a well-plotted exceptional book for someone prepared to suspend disbelief and accept a storyline heavy on supernatural elements in a thriller involving a kidnap plot. Some of the descriptive passages could be called overwritten, and I can’t help feeling a little trimming would help the book. I liked the use of a child in this story, those chapters being some of the best. The parts which revolved around the antagonist(s) were a little heavy-going, but the various threads certainly keep the reader guessing with so many creating an intricate story overall. It’s hard to say more without giving the plot away.

The Girl of Ink and Stars, Kiran Millweed Hargrave

A young adult book that has enough of a story for adults to enjoy, with a story complex enough to stretch younger readers. The book’s beautifully presented with maps and patterned pages. The world building here stands out, though there’s something vaporous about the overall plot and some of the action sequences, which may confuse a younger audience. Even I found a couple of sequences difficult to picture; with all the drops off ledges, I expected broken bones. Although characters get hurt, they seem to have miraculous escapes. Still, there’s something charming and magical about this story. The young female lead shows more than her share of bravery, as do her young friends. I’m left wanting a grumpy old chicken.

A Stroke of the Pen, Terry Pratchett

A collection of lost stories written before Discworld. There are many hints of Terry’s developing style here and of his books to come. Light reading but charming, and every story left me smiling. Worthwhile for the dedicated Pratchett fan.

Green, Jay Lake

I’m unsure how I feel about this novel, which can easily be called an epic fantasy. The plot includes slavery, abduction, and mystical holy wars. Green is a girl whose path in life changes when her father sells her, but by the end of the book, the reader and the character have reason to question her destiny often. Mostly, I found the writing and story absorbing even though I don’t favour first person storytelling, but in parts I found the narrative lagged because of meticulous description, which includes all the training Green goes through. This made the book feel overly long despite much of the training being interesting. When we learn of the planned life path various people have for Green, there’s good reason to feel increasingly sorry for her. None of her choices appear to be wonderful, none of them simple. The sexual content never feels entirely natural or necessary, though perhaps realistic and handled well for those whose companionship is restricted. The details become somewhat vague when dealing with the various deities. I sometimes found Green’s character vs her age hard to believe despite her training, but it’s nice to see a young lead treated with the same respect an adult character would receive. For so long, the ‘rule’ has been a child lead marks a book for a young audience. That’s plainly not the case here, couldn’t be, and even though Green is in infancy when taken, we are privileged to her inner thoughts as she’s moulded into what others would make of her, while she battles to keep a sense of self. Strongly character driven, wonderful in parts, weaker in others, I’m pleased to have read this, but feel disinclined to read the rest of the trilogy, although Green makes for an interesting and capable female lead.

Feb Reads 2024

Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, Benjamin Stevenson

All the clues needed are here, some so subtle it’s easy to pass over them, but it all ties together in the end. For me, it’s the style in which it’s all presented that made this book so engaging. I’m not usually a fan of first person and I’ve seen that the fictional author of the book talking to the audience has annoyed some readers, but I loved it. Others call it confusing and say it’s all been done before by better. That can be said for many books, but that doesn’t negate other novels. I wasn’t confused and don’t feel it’s fair to assess a book against another. All I know is I had fun with this. I did, however, set my sights on the suspect(s) before the denouement, but not early enough to spoil the outcome. I may check out other works by the author.

The Phone Box at the Edge of the World, Laura Imai Messina

Based on a real phone box people visit to talk to their departed loved ones, this is a gentle story even though its subject is one of dealing with loss; of how to open oneself up to a future in which one can find the right balance to live a hopeful and love-filled existence, even though genuine grief’s a close companion through life. Snippets and minor details intersperse the chapters to the section just read, which lend the book a certain unique charm and style. Yes, the story lingers afterwards, although I its emotional aspect failed to move me.

Citizen Alex (Let Freedom Ring), Bruce Campbell (ebook)

A lighthearted, short, fun read. The main character of Alexander Madison could easily be the lead in a series, and the writing shows Bruce’s sense of humour well. Maybe not as funny as I expected, but there were moments with political satire woven in.

The Lost City of Z, David Grann

The only trouble reading a book like this is it does nothing to lower the to-be-read mountain because I couldn’t help wondering if the author’s written any more than half as good. If only all my history lessons could have been so entertaining and informative. A factual historical adventure as gripping as fiction, the book follows in the wake of Percy Harrison Fawcett into the Amazon to answer the question of what happened to Fawcett and whether he was on the track of an amazing civilisation. Often brutal, this tale is also enlightening. We know all about the destruction of the rainforest in recent years, but this reveals how deep that ruination goes, of how early explorers began that devastation in pursuit of the land’s resources more years ago than most of us probably imagine. Many of the hostile tribes greeted these men in defence of that land and in response to the enslavement of their people. The treatment of indigenous races and pack animals is harrowing. The description of diseases and insectile hazards may make you itch. If I have one criticism, it’s that the version of the book I have had seriously small writing, which made the experience less pleasant, if pleasant is a word one can use when reading this type of book. Note: The film on Netflix based on the book takes only the main part of the story and dramatises it. The film’s worth a look, but I preferred the reading experience as it’s much more in-depth.

The Power, Naomi Alderman

I didn’t expect to enjoy this book, although ‘enjoy’ doesn’t feel like the right word. This is a dystopian look to a future in which women develop the ability to emit an electrical discharge, turning almost all women into a walking weapon. The resulting upheaval in societies and cultures all over the world plunge the planet into wars on both the small and large scale. There’s too much in this novel to go into without writing an essay. The meaning may well be different to different people, based on their own biased views. To me, it screams that there is no better or worse, just the corruption of power, and we should all be equal. But, sadly, though likely accurately, this shows that equality also includes all human traits, both good and bad. The book shows what people are capable of, questioning gender equality on a grand scale. It’s thought-provoking, though touches only lightly on a subject that has greater depth than you’ll find here. Some might feel it’s a feminist novel, but it speaks more eloquently of the failures in human nature. Creative and possibly provocative for some.

Jan Reads 2024

The House at Phantom Park, Graham Masterton (ebook)

I found this to be far from the author’s best work. In the past, scenes from a previous book of the author’s made me go physically cold, difficult to make me do as I don’t scare easily. This one carried a slight creepiness but didn’t scare. I liked the plot and these less than average ghosts impressed. A lot of info gets repeated in the narrative, particularly in conversations and within a short timeframe, reminding me of several shows that have unnecessary exchanges to remind the audience of what they already know. In style, this made me wonder if the book’s intended as YA horror, though some scene content seems a little too gory for that. I wanted to like this more than I did, though there were elements I appreciated.

Leave the World Behind, Rumaan Alam

This book seems to do a few of the things many publishers tell their authors not to do, so it took a little while to get used to the omnipresent head-hop style, knowing things the characters in the book can’t yet know, or never know. A social commentary on isolation, dependance on technology and society, wrapped up in tension, the themes here make one realise how helpless so many of us might be in the face of disaster; how most people require order and structure, and how close they come to panic, man turning on each other when these things come under threat. A suspenseful piece of writing. Often disturbing. (Note: the Netflix adaptation is good but I preferred the reading experience.)

Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener (audio), M.C.Beaton (read by Penelope Keith)

Agatha never learns from past mistakes; whenever she cheats, as with horticulture in this story, you know she’s going to be caught out. She is a mercurial character, though that’s partly what makes her fun. We like to see her fail as much as triumph. Her sense of right and wrong is her saving grace, though she has a sharper tongue than mind sometimes. In this, the sniping among the characters, not only Agatha, provides the most fun.

Rotherweird, Andrew Caldecott

A book that’s difficult to describe. Made me think of Gormenghast a little, in that it’s a hidden world in our world, somewhat though not entirely closed off because of a historical secret, and I’m sure the town is more fantastical in my imagination than the author intended because of that. I want to adore this book, but it requires concentration in part because of the wealth of characters. There’s so many don’t expect any real depth to them. In that, possibly the book is missing something, but to allow the audience to get to know them more deeply would require additional verbiage to an already long narrative and it’s already a little too much. I can’t help feeling that this book would benefit from some editing, though choosing what to cut (the author already states in the back that scenes and characters ended up on the cutting room floor), would require a well-trained eye, or perhaps several, as opinions will naturally vary. But the flaws are irritating because this should be, and is to a degree, an amazing book. I guess the broadest genre to place this would be fantasy, but to use one word to describe the work would be an injustice; if you can think of it, you’ll likely find it here. Fantastical is perhaps a better word. The book excels in scope and is mostly a triumph, but it's heavy going, and I used to read a lot of epic fantasy with no problems. I couldn’t help loving most of it and may tackle the trilogy in time, though for now, I feel as though my brain needs a rest.

By the Light of the Moon, Dean Koontz

A re-read for me as part of a book clearance, although I enjoyed this as much, if not more, than the first time around, so may hold on to it awhile. Not only a solid plot, but Koontz creates an enjoyable balance of characters here. Even the antagonist, with his self-serving justification, lifts the mad scientist level somewhat. Yes, it’s necessary to suspend disbelief, but then this is a supernatural thriller — what else should the reader expect except the miraculous? The penultimate part with Shep being a little bit ‘something’ (the best way I can describe it, giving nothing away) has always stood out for me and the urge to protect the protagonist’s autistic brother makes for plenty of suspense. 

Best Reads of 2023

Around this time of year I look at how many books I read the previous year, and choose the best of those reads. When I first looked at the list, I despaired that I would find any to recommend, but later on several cropped up. These are the few that stayed with me the most, though I've found it almost impossible to select an outstanding book of the year. If pushed I might select Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls for all the reasons stated below.

May

Roger Rabbit, Xerious Business, Gary K.Wolf
The fourth novel of the series and perhaps the best. This shows the human side of Jessica before she became a toon. I thoroughly enjoyed this, the first and fourth book possibly being my favourites. Don’t expect these books to follow on, one after the other. They each have their own stories and don’t pick up where the other left off. Take them for they are, as the author has written them, and they’re fun, though not as zany as the film. Don’t expect Disney here.

Welcome to Temptation, Jennifer Crusie
It’s marvellous to love a book as much on a re-read years later as much as when first read. This is one of those. I still rank this as Crusie’s best book. A steamy small town romance and mystery perfectly blended. This is a rare book where not one sentence seems out of place. With a perfect balance of characters (especially Sophie and Phin), and an ending that still made me laugh and smile, this book brings a bright meaning to carrying on family traditions. Top marks.

June

No One Gets Out Alive (audio), Adam Nevill, read by Colleen Prenderghast
I picked this up for two reasons: It’s one of my favourite horror novels (yes, I’ve already read this), and I’ve enjoyed audio books read by this reader. It’s best to think of it as a book of two halves, though both have their share of scares. Many may feel this book goes on too long, and this especially comes across in narration (and in the second half), but I still enjoyed this story immensely. Some skilled editing could shorten this by making some sentences more concise, but I’d struggle to find much, if anything, worthy of deletion. This tale works as a horror on so many levels. As a ghost story, societal commentary, the isolation and fear of a woman alone, and the helplessness anyone would feel trying to make others accept an unbelievable truth. Suspenseful.

A Monster Calls, Patrick Ness
I knew the story though this is my first reading of this book, but I doubt it will be my last. Technically classed as a book for children, it’s one all of us need to read. Almost all of us will be in young Conor’s position at some point — losing someone we love from an illness. We’ll experience emotions we hate ourselves for, and perhaps, don’t even understand. This book deals with all that and more. It also teaches forgiveness, especially for oneself, and that emotions don’t always surface in the best or most obvious ways. Children may lose some of the nuance depending on age but, if they don’t take to it, I’d recommend trying again as they grow older. Indeed, the older one is, the more this might tear the reader apart. It may well devastate adults more, as we understand the pain in these pages too well. I’d have to place this among the best books ever written, and it’ll break your heart.

Intensity, Dean Koontz
When Chyna Shepherd crosses paths with a killer, she has to fight for more than her own life. A re-read for me I’m pleased to say I would still rate among the author’s best books. While I might not have thought this was as perfect as I did on my first read many years ago, much of this book remains intense. Yes, the antagonist possibly feels excessive, but not as caricatured as some famous criminals real or invented. Whatever writers can dream up, reality often trumps. But I recall the protagonist being among the first truly strong female characters despite her making one or two stupid mistakes. Being human and ‘not thinking’ makes for a more realistic person. She’s not superhuman. There are spiritual elements, which is often the case in Koontz books, but there’s no reason to buy into these if the reader doesn’t want to. The same elements could be coincidence yet give Chyna strength and determination. Only her belief in them is important. There is some animal injury and death, so that may be a trigger warning for some; I could deal because ultimately what happened is still the killer’s fault, but realistic in context, and not gratuitous.

July

Making Money, Terry Pratchett
No doubt baffling, but I have a handful of Terry Pratchett books left to read, well aware that when I’ve read them, there are no more (although I can and may well read them again). Therefore, though it’s been out for many years, this is my first reading of Making Money. What Terry and Moist von Lipwig did for the post office, he does here for the banks. What more can I say? Fine comic writing. Wonderful satire. Outstanding as always with a cast of unforgettable characters, including a dog with a newfound and beloved toy.

August

Swan Song (audio), Robert McCammon, read by Tom Stechschulte
The easiest way to describe this book is as an epic analogy against war, especially nuclear war. One can’t help think of Stephen King’s The Stand while reading this, and, I imagine, vice versa, once having read both, but each deserves their own place on anyone’s bookshelves. I can’t say everything I want to say without giving away the plot and outcome, but I’m not sure the anti-hero attempt quite works for me, maybe because it seems so sudden and brief. Sadly, the outcome speaks so eloquently, showing us with a painful foresight that some people may never change, even though hope runs throughout. There was a moment where I rolled my eyes when they get to their final destination and who they find there, but that soon dissipated when the author flipped the story defying my expectations. A head hopping but absorbing narrative worthy of recognition.

A Man Called Ove (audio), Fredrik Backman, read by Joan Walker
Having recently watched A Man Called Otto based on this book, I revisited this story by listening to the audio. I loved reading the novel and still have it on my shelves. The audio did nothing to disappoint. At first glance, one might wonder why they’d want to read the story of a grumpy old man, but Ove is not all he seems and his life is one to be celebrated. One thing the book does better than the film is give us his wife’s point of view. We get to learn of the qualities she saw in him, long before a new family moves into the neighbourhood. We also learn more about his background. If you liked the book, there’s no reason not to enjoy the story in other formats. If you’ve only seen the film, watch or listen to the book, and enjoy how Ove touches the lives of others.

September

Scratchman, Tom Baker
Reading this made me feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. Bizarre. Surreal. Far more wild and wacky than I was expecting, but who can fault the wild and wonderful imagination of Tom Baker? His sense of humour shines through? The theme of the book is fear, and this resonates by the end. I’m tempted to get the audio, just to hear this brought to life by the author/Doctor.

Dec

Road of Bones, Christopher Golden
A road named because of the number of prisoners who died there forced to work by the Soviet Union, bodies left in the ice in Siberia. I’ve read Christopher Golden before but can’t remember when I enjoyed one of his books as much as this. The unusual setting is as much a character as any of the people that populate the story. I felt for any of them, even those I barely got to know. A short slow start after which momentum rarely lets up. The plot is fantastical, but I felt so immersed in it, I found it easy to suspend disbelief — easier, no doubt, because of the wilderness. Not what I expected, but better for it. The only slight negative is I expected the ‘road’ to have more to do with the major story, whereas it’s more of a subplot.

The Red House Mystery, A.A.Milne
The one and only detective novel written by the author of Winnie the Pooh. This is light-hearted and fun. The amateur detective asks all the right questions and comes up with all the right pro and con answers. This kept me guessing until almost the end, when I worked out what had happened but not why, though the clues were there. I’m just sorry there’s only the one, though for this to be a series, A.A.Milne would have had to improve with each book. Even if this was an author just having a little fun, this would have been a solid effort of its day. It understandably has a ‘classic’ feel. I thoroughly enjoyed this, though mostly because of the author’s excellent style. Makes me want to read my childhood Pooh books again.