BOOK BLURB:
Celebrated storyteller Stephen King returns to his roots in this tour de force featuring more than 100 characters - some heroic, some diabolical - and a supernatural element as baffling and chilling as any he’s ever conjured.
On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester’s Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener’s hand is severed as ‘the dome’ comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. Dale Barbara, Iraq vet, teams up with a few intrepid citizens against the town’s corrupt politician. But time, under the dome, is running out....
UNDER THE DOME is King at his epic best and will capture a brand new readership as well as thrilling his existing fans.
REVIEW:
I always tend to worry when I can use a book as a weapon, this title really is a serious bit of bludgeoning equipment and whilst I knew that it was an author with an established reputation I did worry that perhaps King had bitten off more than he could chew especially after a number of pretty poor endings.
What unfurled within this offering was a supernatural crime thriller as a town is sealed off from the outside world by a giant glass dome. (Do we think King has watched the Simpson movie?) Add to the mix a cast that is giant even by King standard’s which at times felt either overbearing or just unbelievable and an ending that felt a little weak and you’ve got a pretty good idea of what you can expect to unfurl within.
That said however, what was clear about this novel is that King is back with a real vengeance and whilst some of his other recent releases haven’t quite hit the spot for a number of readers, this one is getting back to the form that a lot of his fans have missed.
BOOK BLURB:
A lost treasure, a Nazi war criminal, and a lifelong quest to find a missing heirloom are the starting points for this new novel from the author of God's Spy. Father Anthony Fowler, CIA operative and member of the Vatican's secret service, the Holy Alliance, pays a visit to a war criminal living under a pseudonym because of the terrible experiments he performed on Jewish children. Fowler offers him a deal - he will not reveal the man's true identity in exchange for a huge candle covered in fine filigree gold. But it isn't the gold Fowler is after - it is the metallic object preserved within the wax, a missing fragment of an ancient map. Soon Fowler is involved in an expedition to Jordan set up by the enigmatic head of Kayn industries, a reclusive billionaire who has links to the highest levels of the Catholic Church. But there is a traitor in the group who has links to terrorist organisations back in the US, and who is patiently awaiting the moment to strike. From wartime Vienna to terrorist cells in New York and a lost valley in Jordan, Contract with God is a thrilling read about a quest for power and the secrets of an ancient world.
REVIEW:
With many a biblical thriller novel out there, anyone who seeks to delve into this territory has to come up with something new and special in order to make sure that they establish themselves within this over clichéd genre.
Unfortunately, what Juan doesn’t do is present anything that stands out. It is a reasonable story arc, the characters however are a real problem as they really didn’t grab me. The interaction was pretty clichéd, they didn’t seem to do anything other than go from A to B and unfortunately a reasonable plot wasn’t enough to save this offering. It’s a great shame when the book blurb sells it better than the actual novel. If you must read this, borrow it from the library.
BOOK BLURB:
The disturbing new thriller from the king of southern gothic. When he was a prosecuting attorney Penn Cage sent hardened killers to death row. But it is as mayor of his hometown - Natchez, Mississippi - that Penn will face his most dangerous threat. Urged by old friends to restore the town to its former glory, Penn has ridden into office on a tide of support for change. But in its quest for new jobs and fresh money, Natchez has turned to casino gambling. Five fantastical steamboats float on the river beside the old slave market like props from Gone With the Wind. But one boat isn't like the others. Rumour has it that the Magnolia Queen has found a way to pull the big players from Las Vegas. And with them comes an unquenchable taste for one thing: blood sport, and the dark vices that go with it. When a childhood friend of Penn's who brings him evidence of these crimes is brutally murdered, the full weight of Penn's failure to protect this city hits home. So begins his quest to find the men responsible. But it's a hunt he begins alone, for the local authorities have been corrupted by the money and power of his hidden enemy. With his family's life at stake, Penn realizes his only allies in his one-man war are those bound to him by blood or honour.
REVIEW:
If there’s one thing that can kill a novel after characterisation its pace. Whilst a great many authors out there seem to think that action, action, action is the way to go, an author who seeks to establish themselves knows that they have to have lulls to allow the reader to not only catch a breather but also to allow them to build up the crescendo for the next adrenaline fuelled sequence. That’s something that Greg Iles has done well in this novel. Not only does he keep it tight but for a novel of over 700 pages its something he does well. Add to this a principle character that you not only come to care about but one whose pain the reader can feel as the tale wends its merry way. It’s a great Thriller novel and one that clearly show’s an established background within the writing field. I’ll definitely seek out other novels by this author.
BOOK BLURB:
Dear Ta-ra-ra,
It surprises us to find that a girl sufficiently educated to write and spell well should be so deplorably ignorant of the common rules of society to think that she may go out alone with a young man in his canoe.
Girl's Own Paper, 1895
* * * * *
Never Kiss a Man in a Canoe is a fascinating glimpse into our social past and harks back to a time when agony aunts played a pivotal role in society, advising men and women on love, sex, relationships and other taboo subjects.
From advice on the immorality of reading a crime novel or riding a bicycle to Sunday school, to tips on beauty, etiquette and how to make a boy into a man, this wonderful book is a slap in the face for everyone accustomed to the politically correct advice of today, and is a tribute to the manners of the past that will make you grateful times have moved on.
REVIEW:
This is an unusual novel but one that I was fascinated by. Why? Well it is full of advice column snippets that have appeared in papers from the 1850’s through to the 1960’s. Its fun to see how attitudes changed over time as well as to get an idea on the social history that if not read now may well become lost in the archives of history. Whilst its full of the problem alongside the answer received the author doesn’t comment upon either allowing the reader to draw their own thoughts from each piece. It’s a great bit of fun and something that I think a lot of people will get something from.
BOOK BLURB:
When a curious little crab tip-taps out of her rock pool to explore the big blue sea, she discovers a world full of wonderful creatures. But after she's counted everything from one noisy seagull and two sleepy sea lions to nine silent sharks at the bottom of the sea, the little crab soon realizes that her very own rock pool is the most amazing place of all. And so she tip-taps happily home . . closely followed by her ten baby crabs.
REVIEW:
I love colourful books, I love books that have a good story, I love books that have a rereadability factor and that pretty much sums up Tim Hopgood in a nutshell. What you get with each of his offerings is a story that will entertain the reader, will also be asked for time and again tied up with a puzzle that will have even the adult frantically trying to locate the solution before the young reader. Its fun, it’s a story I’ve read four times already with my nephew and it’s a title that really has kept him amused. A greater praise cannot be heaped upon an author especially one for the younger generation.
BOOK BLURB:
With a mirror and a sucker attachment so it won't float away!
Babies love to look at high-contrast images from birth, making these the perfect first bath books to share with a baby.
With delightful illustrations by Jo Moon and specially designed high-contrast patterns that become gradually more complex throughout the book, babies will be endlessly fascinated. Plus, these bath books have soft, safe, wipe-clean pages, a mirror to help focusing skills, and a sucker attachment so it won’t float away!
REVIEW:
As an adult I’m always seeking ways to help the get the next generation hooked on reading early as it’s a gift that once given can take them on tales through time alongside the imagination with an absolutely limitless budget. What Jo does within these two books is give the baby something to look at, something to learn from and something to play with during bath time. They’re a great feature and addtion to any nursery and will present the parent with not only a distraction but something to help their baby develop. A great thing.
BOOK BLURB:
It's the 1980's and David has just started secondary school. He's becoming a teenager, but still hanging onto the rituals of childhood, particularly his addiction to Doctor Who, sharing the books with his best friend and neighbour, Robert, and watching the TV show. But time moves relentlessly on, and Robert starts rejecting the Doctor in favour of girls, free weights and new music. Against a backdrop of Bowie, Breville toasters and trips to Blackpool, David acknowledges his own abilities and finds his place in the world.
REVIEW:
This title really is what it says it is and whilst it’s a fictional diary of a fan in the 80’s I can’t help but feel its semi biographical of the author who himself is a Dr. Who fan alongside an author of Who Fiction. It’s different to a lot of books out there and to be honest I do wonder exactly what this title was trying to achieve other than perhaps a way for the author to let out some of his childhood pain as well as showing other youngsters that being different isn't a bad thing.
BOOK BLURB:
Ever since Tin can remember he's wanted to be an elephant trainer. At twelve years old, he's the youngest - and in his eyes the best - elephant handler in his village. Tin can think of nothing he'd rather do that spend all day with his elephant, Lady, looking after her and playing together. But Tin's peaceful, idyllic life is changed dramatically when the Viet Cong attack his village and he finds himself held hostage by the terrifying soldiers who don't care if he lives or dies. Can Tin find the courage to escape from his captors and save not only his own life, but his precious elephants too?
REVIEW:
This title was one that really struck an emotional chord as I love not only the principle character but the whole environment that was brought to life by Cynthia’s wonderful story telling talent. Its descriptive, it has a realistic cast and unfurls at its own pace in such a way that it will remain long after the final page it turned. Partly this reminded me of the film The Dumbo Drop but above all it’s a tale that’s so finely woven it must win some awards. Get it before the hype does. You really won’t be disappointed.
BOOK BLURB:
Nikki Maxwell is not popular, in fact Nikki Maxwell is the opposite of popular; she's a total dork! But Nikki's hoping that by moving to a new school she might just stand a chance of making some friends and leaving her old lame-ways in the past. But life is never that simple! Follow Nikki's life through sketches, doodles and diary entries as she starts her new school, battles with her mum for an iPhone and meets her arch-nemisis, the school's queen bee, Mackenzie. Enter Nikki's world through her sketches, doodles and diary entries.
REVIEW:
OK a book I was sent by the publisher on the off chance that I’d give it a go and was, to be honest wasn’t one that I got any real enjoyment from as I can’t identify with the principle protagonista a young girl in the modern world railing against the unfairness of her life. OK she didn’t have the latest mobile, she didn’t have the latest equipment but to “hear” the character all she did was whine about how unfair it all was as she couldn’t be one of the “in” girls. So what, there’s more to life than being popular with the latest gadgets. Whilst it will appeal to a certain demographic it’s a title that I felt was a tad unfair to the modern reader as I thought it put unfair pressure on the reader to have x y or z in a modern consumer world.
BOOK BLURB:
The Thirteen Treasures have become the Thirteen Curses. When fairies stole her brother, Red vowed to get him back. Now trapped in the fairy realm, she begs an audience with the fairy court where she strikes a bargain. Her brother will be returned - but only if she can find the thirteen charms of Tanya's bracelet that have been scattered in the human world. Returning to Elvesden Manor, Red is assisted by Tanya and Fabian and a desperate hunt begins. Soon they make a shocking discovery. The charms now have twisted qualities of the thirteen treasures they represent...and the longer they are missing the worse the consequences will be. Can Red, Tanya and Fabian find all the charms? And even if they do, will the fairies keep their promise?
REVIEW:
Having read the first novel by Michelle last year this one was a title that I’d eagerly been anticipating so when it landed it was something of a special moment upon its unveiling. Grabbing a swift cup of tea, a couple of biscuits to keep my strength up and a fleece blanket to wrap up in on the sofa I began my epic adventure. Beautifully told this tale really does keep the reader glued as Michelle takes the reader into a different world of the fae that few have the pleasure (or in this case displeasure) to see. Its gripping, its got moments of high danger, great action sequences and above all is a tale that you just can’t put down no matter how hard you try as if a certain group of mischievous beings have glued your hands to it with an enchantment to keep turning the pages. A great series and one that I can’t wait to see how it continues to develop.
BOOK BLURB:
The Caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica are at war. The last stones from the Keep of Time are falling, and, at the request of an old enemy, a new tower is being built in our world. The old enemy is the Winter King's Shadow, and he wields a terrible weapon - the Spear of Destiny - which can be used to command the shadows of anyone it touches...including the protectors of the Archipelago, the dragons. The Shadow King returns to the Archipelago using the ship, the Iron Dragon, and enlists an unstoppable army of Dragon Shadows...While WWII rages in our world, all the caretakers, both past and present, must come together to save the Archipelago. All hope lies with a small group of companions, along with mythical knight, Don Quixote, who must sail beyond the very ends of the Archipelago in search of a broken sword, and the only being alive who can repair it: a scholar, who, once upon a time, was called Madoc.
REVIEW:
OK, I can’t help it, I’m a big fan of James Owens stories featuring characters and authors well known to the modern reader. The tales are not only imaginative but leap from the page in such a way that you just can’t help but be sucked into the world in which he’s woven. Its classical world building, the characters are fully formed and unlikely friendships come together within these offerings as they each seek to thwart a disaster to not only the world of imagination but to the human world as well. Its good solid fun, it’s a series that I’m saving especially for the my nephews to enjoy at just the right time and one that will help them bridge the gap to enjoying some adult fiction as well as some of the other stories from the characters within.
BOOK BLURB:
Fourteen years ago, four babies were implanted with the Medusa gene - a gene for psychic abilities. Now teenagers, Nico, Ketty, Ed and Dylan have been brought together by government agents to create a secret crime-fighting force - The Medusa Project. But now Ketty's brother Lex has stumbled into a dangerous game involving his boss and a hidden bomb. It's up to Ketty to save him without letting on what she knows to the rest of the team. But can she control her psychic visions, and her feelings for Nico, without getting the team's cover - and herself - blown sky high?
REVIEW:
Having had problems with Sophie’s original novel I really put this one on a back burner until a time that I felt ready to read it. What I got from this tale was better than the original however my major gripe from before was still there, that the principle character didn’t feel realistic or fully formed to get the reader behind them. The concept is very good, the execution acceptable if predictable however without a character that I can connect with, its always going to fail. A sad shame to be honest.
BOOK BLURB:
Hell to Pay:
In the wake of the war that left the Nightside leaderless, Jeremiah Griffin-one of the last of the immortal human families-plans to fill the power vacuum. But his granddaughter has disappeared, and he wants John Taylor to use his special abilities to find her. Except someone-or something-is blocking Taylor's abilities.
The Unnatural Enquirer:
Welcome to the Nightside, that secret square mile located in the dark heart of London where the sun never rises and people can fraternize with every myth and monster imaginable.
John Taylor is a P.I. with the special ability to locate anyone or anything. The Unnatural Inquirer, the Nightside's most notorious gossip rag, has offered him a million pounds to find a DVD purportedto contain an actual recording of the afterlife. John doesn't know if it's true, but someone-or something-thinks so, and will stop at nothing to possess the disc.
REVIEW:
OK, it’s compendium time. Within this offering are the two books: Hell to Pay and The Unnatural Enquirer. As a fan of Simon’s Deathwalker and now his Secret Histories novels, I’ve gone back and started to enjoy his Nightside series that are now being published in the UK by Solaris. This is the fourth book by them in this format so its been an enjoyable ride but for established fans of the series it might come as a bit of a shock to see a title out there with no relation to any that have gone before.
As usual with Simon’s writing, its pretty fast paced, the twists and turns within are worthy of the film noir genre and its not without great homage to the gumshoes of the past that Simon tips his hat. I love this series and it’s a series that continues to grow from me from novel to novel. His writing is some of the best in the genre and it is a sheer delight to pick up the next book in each. Add to this the fact that it is a twofer and you’ve got a real bargain.
BOOK BLURB:
Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she's the best - but she doesn't know if she's good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, only one thing is clear - failure is not an option . . . even if the task she's been set is impossible. Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad. The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other . . . and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn't destroy her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just may. Because when archangels play, mortals break . . .
REVIEW:
Angel’s and Vampires rule the earth in this offering from Nalini Singh who made her name in the Paranormal Romance genre with her original Psy Changeling series. OK its book one and whilst the Vamps are actually the underlings in this offering it really does open the readers eyes to the potential within as Nalini blends the two biggest things in current Urban Fiction together.
If you love paranormal romance, want a fast moving plot with some pretty bloody murders then this is the way to go. I suspect that Nalini will create a good many fans with this first outing for her new characters and with a romantic lead that’s so scary he’s tempting well, she definitely know’s how to push the readers buttons.
BOOK BLURB:
When his family is betrayed and slain, Alith Anar, ill-fated prince of the Nagarythe, is forced to walk a dark path. With the island of Ulthuan in the grip of a civil war with their evil counterparts, the druchii, Alith Anar follows his destiny to become the Shadow King. Hunting his enemies from the darkness, he is now on a quest for vengeance that will never end.
REVIEW:
As a huge fan of the Time of Legends series this offering, the second in the Sundering series continues to follow the descent into Civil War of the Elves. Cracking creatively as well as pretty unique in the history of the Warhammer world, this offering really does tick all the boxes for me as a reader. The narrative is of top quality, the description nearly as beautiful as the Everqueen herself but perhaps what this author has done best is the combat sequences taking the characters from general all out war to Guerrilla Warfare that is reminiscent of a Robin Hood setting. A great tale and one that will invariably get the Shadow Warriors some deserved recognition.
BOOK BLURB:
After bitter fighting, Tavi of Calderon has eventually forged an alliance with Alera's oldest foes, the savage Canim, and he must escort them on their long sea-voyage home. This will strain their fragile accord - but the worst is yet to come. The inhuman Vord have spent the last three years laying waste to the Canim homeland, making it a desolate place indeed. Then the Alerans become stranded there, cut off from their ships. The Canim alliance will be tested as they enter the killing fields together, depending on each other's strengths if they both are to survive. For a thousand years, Alera and her furies have withstood every enemy, and survived every foe. The thousand years are over.
REVIEW:
Whilst its not a secret that I love Butcher’s Dresden files I am starting to get a bit more into his Codex Alera as the characters have grown from what felt like 2d parodies to a more rounded and established set that we come to know in this the fifth offering in the series.
It’s well written, its pretty light on its feet and he brings the sort of stuff that fantasy fans dream of to the pages. Add to the mix some sweet twists and turns and it ticks all the boxes. Great fun for all.
BOOK BLURB:
A masked terrorist has brought London to its knees -- there are bombs inside books, and nobody knows which ones. On the day of the launch of the first expedition to Mars, by giant cannon, he outdoes himself with an audacious attack. For young poet Orphan, trapped in the screaming audience, it seems his destiny is entwined with that of the shadowy terrorist, but how? Like a steam-powered take on V for Vendetta, rich with satire and slashed through with automatons, giant lizards, pirates, airships and wild adventure, The Bookman is the first of a series.
REVIEW:
Angry Robot is fast building a reputation for bringing new talent alongside the less explored area’s of fiction to the fore. With this offering, they not only give the reader a new area to explore but a unique and novel storyteller to the masses.
In the same vein as Moore, Gibson and Powers the genre has not only grown but won over new generation as creative twists unfurl within this offering. Not only an interesting read but also one that leads the reader to ask more questions than is answered within the text supplied. Whilst this won't please everyone, it is a brave move by an author although at times it does feel that the reader has to have a knowledge of some of the literal characters wtihin to get some of the "in" jokes in much the same way that it happened with Moore. A promising start and I hope that the follow-ups are just as interesting.
BOOK BLURB:
Censured at the Council of Nikea for his flagrant use of sorcery, Magnus the Red and his Thousand Sons Legion retreat to their homeworld of Prospero to continue their use of the arcane arts in secret. But when the ill-fated primarch forsees the treachery of Warmaster Horus and warns the Emperor with the very powers he was forbidden to use, the Master of Mankind dispatches fellow primarch Leman Russ to attack Prospero itself. But Magnus has seen more than the betrayal of Horus and the witnessed revelations will change the fate of his fallen Legion, and its primarch, forever.
REVIEW:
With more details on the pivitol points of the Horus Heresy long been demanded by fans, its hardly a surprise that this is one of the fastest selling titles by the Black Library. What Graham brings to the fore is the ability to make the legion personable, whilst other Brotherhoods of the Astartes are just combat mad warriors here we have the thinkers who question decisions as well as taking the field to achieve the objective through brains as well as brawn. Beautifully written it’s a cracker of a novel that takes this legion into the shades of grey rather than the simplistic black and white of other books out there. No wonder it’s a popular title as McNeill really does give this his all.
BOOK BLURB: Beautiful Lies
If Ridley Jones had slept ten minutes later or had taken the subway instead of waiting for a cab, she would still be living the beautiful lie she used to call her life. She would still be the privileged daughter of a doting father and a loving mother. Her life would still be perfect—with only the tiny cracks of an angry junkie for a brother and a charming drunk with shady underworld connections for an uncle to mar the otherwise flawless whole.
But that's not what happened. Instead, those inconsequential decisions lead her to perform a good deed that puts her in the right place at the right time to unleash a chain of events that brings a mysterious package to her door—a package which informs her that her entire world is a lie.
Suddenly forced to question everything she knows about herself and her family, Ridley wanders into dark territory she never knew existed, where everyone in her life seems like a stranger. She has no idea who's on her side and who has something to hide—even, and maybe especially, her new lover, Jake, who appears to have secrets of his own.
Sexy and fast-paced, Beautiful Lies is a true literary thriller with one of the freshest voices and heroines to arrive in years. Lisa Unger takes us on a breathtaking ride in which every choice Ridley makes creates a whirlwind of consequences that are impossible to imagine . . . .
REVIEW:
The first thing that I’m going to say is a general statement for the first two novels by Lisa Unger, do not try to start anywhere else other than book one as otherwise you’ll end up getting not only confused but miss out on a whole lot of background.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, lets tackle this series one book at a time. Here in the original outing for Ridley Jones we get to see that a life that has the feel of something close to perfect is not all that she’s been led to believe. As after saving a child from a speeding car see’s her whole life turned upside down as revelations about her past lead her to question her whole background.
It’s different to the usual crime thrillers out there. It’s extremely well written and above all it’s a tale that gave me an immense sense of satisfaction upon its completion, not that it was a struggle but it was a real pleasure to read and whilst knowing that I had another three books ahead of me, made me glad that I’d finally been turned onto this authors writing.
BOOK BLURB: Sliver of Truth
Recently, Ridley Jones stepped off a street corner and into an abyss of violence, deception, and fear. She is being a lot more careful about where she steps and trying to get on with her life when another seemingly mundane act- picking up a few envelopes of prints at a photo lab- puts Ridley at the nexus of a global network of crime. A shadowy figure of a man appears in almost every picture she's taken in the last year, lurking just far enough away to make identification impossible. Everyone from the federal government to the criminal underworld wants to know who the man is- and where he is- and some people are willing to kill to find out.
Now the FBI is at her door, some serious bad guys are following her every move, and the family she once loved and relied on is more distant than ever. Ridley has never felt so confused or alone in her life. Everyone she loves has turned out to be a stranger- she even feels like a stranger to herself. Is she a product of nature or nurture?
At once hunting down a ghost and running for her life, Ridley doesn't know if she ever had the power to shape her own destiny or if love exists anywhere beyond her imagination. The only thing Ridley knows for sure is that she has to get to the truth about herself and her past if she's ever going to find her way home.
Charged with relentless intensity and kinetic action, playing out with unnerving suspense on the streets of New York and London, and seen through the terrified but determined eyes of a young woman whose body and heart are pushed to the point of shattering, Sliver of Truth is another triumph from the New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Lies.
REVIEW:
The second novel by Lisa and one that I really hoped would live up to the expectations that I’d garnered since reading the first one. Would Lisa keep the reader glued with this her second, and in most authors opinions, the harder novel to write or would everything fall apart?
As with the first novel, its the principle heroine who really keeps the reader glued as her tale is told in a personal voice that makes you relax and want to know more about her. After the events of the first novel, here Ridley has to deal with a lot of the fallout from the end of the first novel along with dealing with having to reinterpret past relationships as well as a possible deception. Finally, add to this great dialogue as well as a fast moving plot and it’s a series that I am hooked upon.
BOOK BLURB: Black Out
When my mother named me Ophelia, she thought she was being literary. She didn't realize she was being tragic.
On the surface, Annie Powers's life in a wealthy Floridian suburb is happy and idyllic. Her husband, Gray, loves her fiercely; together, they dote on their beautiful young daughter, Victory. But the bubble surrounding Annie is pricked when she senses that the demons of her past have resurfaced and, to her horror, are now creeping up on her. These are demons she can't fully recall because of a highly dissociative state that allowed her to forget the tragic and violent episodes of her earlier life as Ophelia March and to start over, under the loving and protective eye of Gray, as Annie Powers. Disturbing events—the appearance of a familiar dark figure on the beach, the mysterious murder of her psychologist—trigger strange and confusing memories for Annie, who realizes she has to quickly piece them together before her past comes to claim her future and her daughter.
REVIEW:
As with the previous two novels its beautifully written and whilst the author has changed principle protagonista its one that works extremely well also allowing them to grow. A change allows the series to stay fresh and its something that I really can’t recommend more to the reader than you have to read it. It’s a great blend of Fiction and Thriller and something that I really can’t praise higher than that. Definitely an author who has not only survived her baptism of fire, but came out stronger and with more talent with each successive novel as more twists and turns conflict the protagonista so she doesn’t quite know which way is up.
BOOK BLURB: Die for You
Isabel and Marcus Raines are the perfect couple. She is a well known novelist; he is a brilliant inventor of high-tech games. They've been married for five years and still enjoy a loving romance.
But one morning, Marcus says he loves her, leaves for work, and disappears into thin air.
Isabel relentlessly tried to reach him when he doesn't return home. But when his call finally comes, she hears only aman's terrified scream. The police are of no use. The screams she heardmay be a television show, a prank, they tell her.Men leave. They leave all the time.
Isabel races to Marcus's office, trying to find some answers. Instead she finds herself in the middle of an FBI raid, and she is knocked unconscious.When she awakes in a hospital, she learns that everyone Marcus worked with is dead.
She returns home to find their apartment ransacked, and the police are there. They urge her to check her bank accounts. Her money - their money - is gone.
Then the police discover that Marcus Raines is a dead man. Long dead. Years dead. Isabel has been married to a stranger.
And now the chase is on, because Isabel will not rest until she finds the truth about the man she loved, who he was, where he's gone, and how he was able to deceive her so completely.
REVIEW:
As with book three we get a new heroine to follow who after her husband’s disappearance seeks to solve the crime herself. What Lisa Unger does well is create a character that the reader can care about blending it with a cracking plot outline and ties it all up with some top notch twists and turns that will keep the reader on tender hooks. Lisa continues to grow from strength to strength with each successive novel and as such is fast becoming an author to set the standard by. A real gem of a novel which leaves me wondering exactly what Lisa will come up with next., the sky is no limit it seems to this author.
BOOK BLURB:
Cambridge is home to 18,000 students, 1,500 academics - and one serial killer. The discovery of the headless, mutilated body of a female undergraduate in her bloodsoaked college room heralds the start of a series of bizarre and extremely violent murders. For the students of Ariel College, a siege mentality has developed following weeks of media interest in the 'Cambridge Butcher'. University life has become not about surviving their exams, but surviving full stop. Forensic psychiatrist Matthew Denison is sure that his traumatised patient, student Olivia Coscadden, has the killer's identity locked up in her memory. That within the little clique she belonged to lurks someone with a grudge. Someone who has yet to finish settling their score. In order to get to the truth, Denison must delve into the secrets hidden within Olivia's subconscious. Secrets that are about to lead him into a nightmare beyond imagining.
REVIEW:
A debut that really made me sit up and pay attention to the author, who’s crime novel twists the reader round her little finger with clever devises and a plot line that not only interests but keeps you fascinated regardless of what is being perpetrated on the page. Whilst this does work on a number of levels, the major problem is with the characters. Whilst the supporting cast are dislikeable, they are more real and believable for this. However its with the principle protagonists that the author runs afoul as they feel under developed and as such makes it harder to get a tentative grip upon them let alone allowing the reader to become emotionally engaged with leaving them heavily under utilized. Perhaps future offerings will fix this problem and if it does, then she is definitely a name for some serious crime reading pleasure.
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In America to escape London and the violence that nearly killed him, forensics expert David Hunter has returned to the research facility where he trained – the Body Farm in Tennessee. He needs to know whether he's still up to the job of confronting death in all its strange and terrible forms.
So when his former mentor invites him to accompany him to a crime scene, he agrees. He'll be there as an observer, so what could possibly go wrong?
But even he is unprepared for what awaits them in the remote cabin out in the woods. The victim has been bound and tortured, the body has decomposed beyond recognition. Although fingerprints seem to identify the killer, Hunter is uneasy: nothing is quite as it should be.
Then a second body is found. And it becomes clear that the investigating team faces a nightmare of deception and misdirection. Hunter knows they're dealing with a killer who is dangerously familiar with the intricacies of forensics. As the death toll rises and tensions mount, he is pushed deeper into the heart of a desperate manhunt. But has he met his match? This time is David Hunter on the trail of a maniac who simply cannot be stopped?
REVIEW:
I’ve loved Simon’s work since I discovered it with his debut “The Chemistry of Death.” Wonderfully engrossing with factual tip bits dropped into the readers lap, the author has not only kept he reader glued to his writing but comes up with believable plots as well as characters that you just want to get to know. Whilst other authors in the Forensic Crime genre tend to get more attention focused on them, you really have to try a Beckett novel. It’s a title that not only keeps you focused but he weaves some left handed magic whilst keeping you distracted with the right up to and including the titles confrontational conclusion.
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Fin, the dinosaur hero is back! But he's not alone ...the bullies are still hot on his tail! Luckily, when clever Fin finds the secret entrance to a hidden valley with its own volcanic spring, the bullies are too big to follow. And when the temperature drops and it suddenly starts to snow, the bullies discover they're in real danger ...But will Fin leave them out in the cold? Of course not! From safe inside the heated valley, kind-hearted Fin feeds those mean bullies every day until the weather changes. But do they say thank you? No! They chase him all the way home again - but clever Fin outwits them to the very end! Can readers spot Fin and his friends on the final spread as they hide from those dastardly dinos? This is a heart-warming tale about kindness and standing up to bullies, with a great 'look and find' final spread.
REVIEW:
Benedict is a Young Persons author that I really enjoy as he brings a number of concepts along with moral obligation to the readers imagination and demonstrates that no matter what the bullies just don’t win against those who can outthink them. I like that. It’s a great thing to install and when you blend that with good storytelling and vivid colours it is going to remain with the young reader for quite some time. A great moral to pass onto a young reader and with characters that literally will jump into the target audiences mind and play there is something that I really enjoyed, perhaps nearly as much as my nephew.
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Adam Adlar wakes one morning - his scientist father has been missing for two weeks and Adam prepares himself to spend another day alone. But this will be the most terrifying day of Adam's life. Some strange men are snooping around and before he knows what's happening his flat is savagely attacked by an enormous monster. Adam knows he has to find his father ...Z Rex is a living, breathing, man-eating dinosaur who has been brought to life by Adam's dad. He can talk, think - and kill. And, he has no idea why he's here. Zed wants answers, and Adam's dad has them ...In an daring trip across the world, boy and dinosaur set out to find Mr Adlar. But there are people desperate to stop them and they seem to be going to extreme lengths to do so.
REVIEW:
Whilst I’m usually enamoured with a tale featuring dinosaurs and prepared to take a tale at face value for pure entertainment on the YA market, this one took my trust, smashed it up and really took the tale too far. The characters were more a 2d model than fully rounded, the concept of an evolutionary dinosaur pushed too far ahead of time and to be honest made the whole tale simply to ridiculous to have any real pleasure from. Add to the mix certain chase sequences that were silly and an author who really didn’t want to let down the pace to give readers a breather and it was sadly a tale that I was quite pleased to finish. I will keep an eye out for Steve as some of the idea’s were quite cunning but if a lot of these problems aren’t rectified then I fear a short career as an author.
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Legacy of Lies When Megan arrives at her grandmother's house she immediately feels that there is something curiously familiar about the place. She's been there in her dreams, or rather her nightmares, but still cannot place what exactly it is that gives her the creeps. All Megan wants to do is get through the visit without any drama, but as the house starts to reveal its secrets and the past comes to light, Megan finds herself caught up in a twisted love triangle with potentially fatal consequences. Don't Tell Lauren knows that by returning to the town where her mother "accidentally" drowned seven years ago, she'll be reliving one of her most haunting memories. When she arrives, she is propelled into a series of mysterious events that mimic the days leading up to her mother's death. Could it be that her mother's drowning wasn't an accident after all? And as the past unravels around her Lauren begins to wonder whether she might be next...
REVIEW:
To be honest with you I hadn’t heard of Elizabeth Chandler’s Dark Secret series prior to having this title land and whilst, from the cover blurb, its not my normal type of pick up and read title I was at a loose end so thought, what the hell, I’ll give it a go.
What I got for my time was a paranormal tale that brought love, reincarnation, the living dead and mystery to a younger reader. Whilst this title is more for the teen market than anyone younger it is beautifully constructed with cracking characters that I really got to grips with although I found the female protagonists to be a little bit to wishy washy for today’s modern reader. Whilst this was a bit of a problem for me the authors writing style really did keep the story flowing as well as ensuring a cliffhanger of an ending for the second novel to pick up from the original. Both were a wonderful diversion, both entertaining and both also kept me wondering about the underlying arc after the last page was turned. Add to the mix that this is a compendium with others to follow and its got a real value for money aspect tied in. Great stuff.
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In this exciting sequel, Tuthmosis's brother, Amenhotep, struggles with the priests and his power-hungry young wife, Nefertiti. Ta Miu, who helped Tuthmosis and Isikara escape in Eye of the Moon, is now maidservant to Nefertiti's rival, Kiya. But Ta Miu disastrously falls for tomb-robber, Samut, and finds herself imprisoned as a result. Meanwhile Tuthmosis and Isikara return from Egypt in secret, sending rumours flying about the prince's intentions. Nefertiti is terrified that he is after her husband's throne, while the High Priest fears his secret will be revealed. Their hiding place betrayed by Samut, Isikara is captured and thrown into prison alongside Ta Miu, whilst Tuthmosis is murdered. But only Ta Miu and Isikara know the truth and unless they can escape from their prison, the guilty will go free...
REVIEW:
Authors have to be careful when dealing with historical fiction especially when they’re adapting it for the young reader in order to find a way to get the story across without it becoming a pure tale of info-dumping to get the reader to comprehend what happens within.
What Dianne does well within this offering is keep the reader engrossed through clever narrative, careful misdirection alongside bringing her characters to life in such a way that they speak to the modern reader who may well be unfamiliar with a lot of the background surrounding them.
It’s well written and whilst this is the second novel in the series it’s one I managed to pick up and read without having read the previous instalment. Something for people searching for a different tack on their usual reading habits and is a tale that will lead to more questions than it answers that will hopefully be delved into in future expeditions.
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Nick and Allie don't survive the crash, and now they are in limbo, stuck halfway between life and death, in a netherworld known as Everlost. Everlost is home to those who didn't make it to their final destination: A magical yet dangerous place filled with shadows where lost souls run wild. Shocked and frightened, Nick and Allie aren't ready to rest in peace just yet. They want their lives back. Desperate for a way out, their search takes them deep into the uncharted regions of Everlost. But the longer they stay, the more they forget about their past lives. And with all memory of home fading fast and an unknown evil lurking in the shadows, Nick and Allie may never escape this strange, terrible world. In this imaginative, supernatural thriller, Neal Shusterman explores questions of life, death, and what just might lie in between.
REVIEW:
Having read Neal’s previous body of work, I thought I had a fair idea of what to expect from him. Boy, was I wrong. Within this tale was death, a chance for redemption and characters that had to find a new way to exist within a world that was both familiar and strange at the same time. Its beautifully written, it’s got top notch characters that just speak to the reader but the emotional as well as physical journey is what truly makes this something special. I really am looking forward to seeing what other twists this author will add to future novels which is sadly a long wait in between. If you love ghost stories, enjoy adventure and above all want something very different to the norm out there, then you really have to get your hands on this.
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Nick the "chocolate ogre" wants to help the children of Everlost to reach the light at the end of the tunnel, and is slowly handing each child a coin which will release them from Everlost. But Mary Hightower wants to trap the children forever, and joins forces with Pugsy Capone, a death boss, who gains allies in a terrible way...Meanwhile, Allie has gone in search for her parents and joins up with a group of "skinjackers". But, as her search takes her further away from Nick and the children of Everlost, Allie uncovers a shocking secret...it seems that "skinjackers" are not actually dead...In this riveting sequel to the imaginative, supernatural thriller, Everlost, there is new dark force to be reckoned with.
REVIEW:
Having been blown away by the original tale in the series by Neal I really had been looking forward to this offering. With an interesting and new concept within the text I just hoped that the imagination of Neal would live up to my expectations from the first and really hoped that I wouldn’t be disappointed. So upon picking up the second novel what did I get?
Within the pages the characters from the original grew as they became more familiar within their own world, new characters were introduced and there was someone that every reader who picks up this title will come to love with a cast of colourful individuals that helped wend the tale on its merry way. Add to this a masters touch at narrative, a cracking sense of timing and a mind with the ability to seamlessly twist the readers expectations away from them with a little slight of hand. A cracking series and one that will be highly recommended by myself for others.
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For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams at any given moment is getting tired. Especially the falling dreams, and the standing-in-front-of-the-class-naked ones. But then there are the nightmares, the ones that chill her to the bone...like the one where she is in a strange house...in a dirty kitchen...and a sinister monster that edges ever closer. This is the nightmare that she keeps falling into, the one where, for the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant...
REVIEW:
This is a tale that takes the reader off of the deep end of the imagination as the lead character brings the reader into her world, where she can see and interact with other people’s dreams. Whilst being quite freaky its wonderfully inventive and is a tale that takes Janie on a journey of growth and self discovery. Beautifully written, wonderfully emotional and a tale that left me considering implications as well as thoughts long after the final page was turned. A definite gem.
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Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky - a palace above the clouds where gods' and mortals' lives are intertwined. There, to her shock, Yeine is named one of the potential heirs to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle with a pair of cousins she never knew she had. As she fights for her life, she draws ever closer to the secrets of her mother's death and her family's bloody history. But it's not just mortals who have secrets worth hiding and Yeine will learn how perilous the world can be when love and hate - and gods and mortals - are bound inseparably.
REVIEW:
To be honest I was lucky enough to avoid the hype that surrounded this novel when it originally landed from Orbit in the US. What unfurled within was a tale of mystery, of magic and above all a fantasy setting that I really enjoyed spending a few hours within. However what really made this tale pop was the principle protagonista, she was telling the tale as she remembered it often going back to add more detail as it was remembered that gave it a more earthy and realistic feel than a number of static narratives that are out there already.
Add to the mix the twists and turns of the unpredictable gods tidied up with the sheer exuberance of the author and it’s a tale that really will please the adult alongside young reader. A great combination and one that will help bridge the gap quite nicely. I look forward to seeing what NK comes up with in future instalments.
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More than three centuries ago, Nicholas Winters irrevocably altered his genetic makeup in an obsession-fueled competition with alchemist and Arcane Society founder Sylvester Jones. Driven to control their psychic abilities, each man's decision has reverberated throughout the family line, rewarding some with powers beyond their wildest dreams, and cursing others to a life filled with madness and hallucinations. Jack Winters, descendant of Nicholas, has been experiencing nightmares and blackouts - just the beginning, he believes - of the manifestation of the Winters family curse. The legend says that he must find the Burning Lamp or risk turning into a monster. But he can't do it alone; he needs the help of a woman with the gift to read the lamp's dreamlight. Jack is convinced that private investigator Chloe Harper is that woman. It doesn't take long for Chloe to pick up the trail of the missing lamp. And as they draw closer to the lamp, the raw power that dwells within it threatens to sweep them into a hurricane of psychic force.
REVIEW:
Compared to her usual writing style, this is pretty different to the author’s usual style. The characters don’t feel as well developed as usual and the romantic element feels flatter. That said however the descriptiveness is excellent, the story arc is satisfying and above all else, it’s the dialogue that really seems to keep you glued. A novel that will please her fans and one that demonstrates that its never a bad thing to try something a little different.
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Ex-cop Luther Malone and quirky librarian Grace Renquist are a strange partnership. Grace has been hired as an aura-reading consultant in the quest for a murder suspect, but has zero field experience. Her bodyguard, Luther, walks with a cane and isn’t good with a gun! So the last thing they expect is for romantic sparks to fly between them at their hotel in Maui, where they’re posing as honeymooners.
However, when rogue operatives for an underground group pour into the luxury resort their attraction must be suppressed quickly. Grace recognises the dark spikes in their auras and understands how dangerous these people can be. While the pair’s employers scramble to get them backup, Luther and Grace have to think on their feet but the criminals in their midst aren’t just high-level sensitives - they’ve enhanced their talent with a potent and unpredictable drug. And as Grace knows all too well, if you don’t control your powers, your powers will control you…
REVIEW:
OK this is the fifth novel in the Arcane series by Jane Ann Krentz and its going to be something that you’ll have to have read the whole lot for or just end up missing the whole point of the series. As a newbie, its going to be pretty tough to dive in at the deep end and have a clear understanding of where you are and you’ll miss a number of the references within to previous outings for some of the characters within.
It is well written, the plot is fairly crisp and the characters keep the reader interested with this title fulfilling the potential of the key ingredients that have won the author fans the world over including fully developing the romantic angle within this title. Add to this a pretty slick story arc and its something that will please a number of readers and potentially win her a few more.
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Nish and his few remaining allies are trapped on the Range of Ruin, surrounded by the relentless army of his father, the God-Emperor. Nish's only choices are a humiliating surrender, or a suicidal fight to the death. Yet Nish has to fight, and somehow he has to win, for the world of Santhenar faces a colossal threat - and Nish is a fighter in a land whose spirit was broken long ago. A shape-shifting being by the name of Stilkeen has broken out of the void, and is preparing to wreak devastation. It has come to reclaim the stolen chthonic power that once bound its physical and spirit aspects together - and its fury is infinite. But chthonic fire has already been released into Santhenar, and is eating its way through the Antarctic territories. Even if Nish can win the battle with his father, there may be no way to stop the fire, or Stilkeen, before everything is consumed.
REVIEW:
Ian’s is a name that you can pretty much guarantee a good quality book by. With this, his 11th offering in the “Three World’s” series you know that its going to be something special when you see the confrontation that he has lined up. Whilst it’s a pretty descent thick book, Ian’s writing style makes it feel pretty light and his masterful understanding of pace as well as tender hooking moments will more than keep the reader glued to early morning as “Just one more page” becomes the mantra of choice.
A great offering in the series and one that will definitely keep the fans more than happy. However, if you’re a novice start at the beginning as otherwise you’d lose a lot of not only the build up but the character development alongside descent plot outlines.
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All across the the Empire, the servants of Emperor Karl Franz's Griffon order are struggling to turn back the armies of Chaos. Two such heroes the witch hunter Udo and the warrior priestess Annaliese are caught up in the conflict as they journey into Reikland in trying to aid the war effort. At Altdorf, the capital of the Empire, the warriors of Karl Franz must make their stand lest all the land be lost to Chaos.
REVIEW:
As you probably know by now, I’m a huge Warhammer fan and with me looking forward to the forthcoming Bounty Hunter compendium by Clint, this was a good way to fill in my time. Having read the previous novel by him on behalf of the chaos hordes (Blood for the Blood God) you pretty much get what’s on the tin alongside what you expect, lots of infighting, high gore factor and of course the paranoid double dealing that the followers of the ruinous power are famed for. It’s a tad simplistic but at times that just the type of novel that you want, something that you don’t have to think about but hits that fantasy spot that needs an itch at that time. Good fun, high octane with a body count Conan would be proud of.
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The Night Lords are one of the most feared legions of Chaos Space Marines. Remorseless hunters and killers, they relentlessly battle the Imperium of Man to avenge the death of their Primarch Konrad Curze. Their dark crusade takes them to the valuable world of Crythe Primus, where they will fight Imperial forces to claim the planet. But will the allegiance with their cohorts in the Black Legion last long enough for them to be victorious?
REVIEW:
I always wondered what Aaron would bring to the fore if given the chance to write about the Marine’s over the Imperial Guard. Yet when this offering landed, I didn’t quite expect what was unveiled within. Rather than just taking an Emperor Blessed Legion, he wrote about one of the traitor legions and the one that is less warped by the Chaos powers than any other as they joined for vengeance.
Murderous mayhem ensues as they’re drawn into a plan to attack one of the Mechanicum worlds and you know with Dembski-Bowden that the carnage is going to be high, the blood counted in oceans rather than drops and tied up with a strong story arc muscled between the covers. A real joy to read and with political machinations behind the scenes to play out in addition and it’s a wonder that it managed to appear in this one volume.
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Avery Cates is a wanted man. After surviving the worst bioengineered disaster in history, Cates finds himself incarcerated - in Chengara Penitentiary. As Chengara has a survival rate of exactly zero, the System's most famous gunner must do some serious plotting. And a betrayal or so later, he achieves his goal. At a price. All he has to do next is defeat some new personal demons, forge some unlikely alliances, and figure out why the people he's killed lately just won't stay dead. Plus pull off the biggest assassination of his career ...
REVIEW:
As a huge fan of the previous novels by Jeff I really can’t wait to get my hands on each instalment as it arrives. In short, my cats attack a bag of Jerky with less enthusiasm than me when this authors work arrives. So you can pretty much guess the result of the letter box flapping and this latest offering landing. Yep, everything else went on hold so I could get started.
What you get with Jeff’s writing is a novel that not only keeps you glued but one that has so many twists and turns that you sometimes think that up is down and visa versa. The answers that are sought are pretty elusive and to top it off there’s always some sort of hitch that just keep you glued to the next chapter to see what unfurls. Add to the mix a pretty addictive principle protagonist and a spartan style of story telling and its going to be something that just ticks all the boxes for me. A great read and one that means I really must have the next tale as soon as possible.
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