Title: The Doll's House
Author: M J Arlidge
Series: DI Helen Grace Book 3
Release Date: 12th February 2015
Rating: 4 Stars
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of "The Doll's House" by its publisher Penguin UK.
After a slightly lacklustre second outing, M J Arlidge's DI Helen Grace series is back on track with the excellent 'The Doll's House". It draws you in from the very first chapter and is a book that's very difficult to put down.
A young woman is abducted just as the body of another young woman is found buried on a beach. It soon becomes apparent to DI Helen Grace that a serial killer is at large. Despite opposition from her superiors, Helen knows that if she is to find Ruby alive she must leave no stone unturned. A race against time follows that leaves you breathless and gasping on the edge of your seat. Will Ruby be found in time, or will she become yet another victim of the killer who keeps his victims locked away inside his "doll's house".
The best instalment of the series to date, "The Doll's House" is a taut, tense thriller and one I highly recommend. An excellent 4 stars.
Thursday 12 February 2015
Tuesday 10 February 2015
Book Review - Holy Cow by David Duchovny
Title: Holy Cow
Author: David Duchovny
Release Date: Feb 3rd 2015
Rating: 3.5 Stars
How do I even begin to review this book? It's very different to anything I've ever read before, and I don't think I've come across another book quite as crazy as this one...and yet, surprisingly, I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would!
"Holy Cow" is a book written by David Duchovny (yes, THAT David Duchovny) and is about Elsie the cow, who one day finds out the truth about what really happened to her mother when she disappeared, and decides that the same thing will NOT be happening to her.
What follows is a laugh out loud funny adventure that is also moving in parts. "Holy Cow" is a book that really does make you think about things that most of us very rarely even consider when it comes to the treatment of animals by humans. It isn't a book that will appeal to everyone, and to be perfectly honest, I doubt I would ever have even looked at it if it hadn't been written by David Duchovny of "The X Files" fame, but I'm so glad I did.
A unique book, written in a style very different to anything I've ever read before. Recommended to anyone who is willing to try something a bit different. And you never know, you might actually enjoy it just as much as I did! I do know one thing for sure, though: I will never look at a cow in quite the same way ever again.
A crazy 3.5 stars.
Author: David Duchovny
Release Date: Feb 3rd 2015
Rating: 3.5 Stars
How do I even begin to review this book? It's very different to anything I've ever read before, and I don't think I've come across another book quite as crazy as this one...and yet, surprisingly, I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would!
"Holy Cow" is a book written by David Duchovny (yes, THAT David Duchovny) and is about Elsie the cow, who one day finds out the truth about what really happened to her mother when she disappeared, and decides that the same thing will NOT be happening to her.
What follows is a laugh out loud funny adventure that is also moving in parts. "Holy Cow" is a book that really does make you think about things that most of us very rarely even consider when it comes to the treatment of animals by humans. It isn't a book that will appeal to everyone, and to be perfectly honest, I doubt I would ever have even looked at it if it hadn't been written by David Duchovny of "The X Files" fame, but I'm so glad I did.
A unique book, written in a style very different to anything I've ever read before. Recommended to anyone who is willing to try something a bit different. And you never know, you might actually enjoy it just as much as I did! I do know one thing for sure, though: I will never look at a cow in quite the same way ever again.
A crazy 3.5 stars.
Sunday 8 February 2015
Book Review - Dead Time: A DC Max Wolfe Short Story by Tony Parsons
Title: Dead Time - A DC Max Wolfe Short Story (novella length)
Author: Tony Parsons
Release Date: 19th Feb 2015
Platform: Kindle Ebook
Rating: 4.5 stars
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Tony Parsons short story 'Dead Time' by its publisher Cornerstone Digital.
Following on from the success of his first novel featuring the character of DC Max Wolfe, ('The Murder Bag'), Tony Parsons gives us this bite size treat to whet our appetites for the second novel in the series 'The Slaughter Man' that is due to be released in May of this year.
As a long time fan of Mr Parsons work I did wonder if he could make the transition from his usual style of novel over to the crime/thriller genre, but I needn't have worried as he did so with ease in 'The Murder Bag' and does so again with this new short story, which makes me very excited to read 'The Slaughter Man' when it eventually arrives.
DC Max Wolfe and his daughter Scout already feel so familiar to us and it takes no time at all for the reader to be drawn back into their lives. The events from 'The Murder Bag' have not been forgotten and you get a sense of just how much they've effected Max Wolfe throughout this short but excellent slice of fiction.
There is also an excerpt from the new novel included which really does whet your appetite for the story to come. If Tony Parsons writing continues to be this good throughout the series (and with his past track record, I can see no reason why it would not) I can see DC Max Wolfe being right up there with other favourite characters of mine such as Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole and Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie. High praise indeed.
Highly recommended. And if you haven't read it yet, the first novel in the series 'The Murder Bag' is available now.
Author: Tony Parsons
Release Date: 19th Feb 2015
Platform: Kindle Ebook
Rating: 4.5 stars
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Tony Parsons short story 'Dead Time' by its publisher Cornerstone Digital.
Following on from the success of his first novel featuring the character of DC Max Wolfe, ('The Murder Bag'), Tony Parsons gives us this bite size treat to whet our appetites for the second novel in the series 'The Slaughter Man' that is due to be released in May of this year.
As a long time fan of Mr Parsons work I did wonder if he could make the transition from his usual style of novel over to the crime/thriller genre, but I needn't have worried as he did so with ease in 'The Murder Bag' and does so again with this new short story, which makes me very excited to read 'The Slaughter Man' when it eventually arrives.
DC Max Wolfe and his daughter Scout already feel so familiar to us and it takes no time at all for the reader to be drawn back into their lives. The events from 'The Murder Bag' have not been forgotten and you get a sense of just how much they've effected Max Wolfe throughout this short but excellent slice of fiction.
There is also an excerpt from the new novel included which really does whet your appetite for the story to come. If Tony Parsons writing continues to be this good throughout the series (and with his past track record, I can see no reason why it would not) I can see DC Max Wolfe being right up there with other favourite characters of mine such as Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole and Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie. High praise indeed.
Highly recommended. And if you haven't read it yet, the first novel in the series 'The Murder Bag' is available now.
Friday 6 February 2015
Book Review - The Here and Now by Ann Brashares
Title: The Here and Now
Author: Ann Brashares
Release Date: January 1st 2015
Rating: 4 Stars
Ann Brashares new book 'The Here and Now' is aimed at young adults, but will also appeal to adult readers of all ages who enjoy a good time travel novel. It is set in modern times, with time travellers coming back in time from the future rather than going back in time from now, which really does make a refreshing change.
Highly entertaining novel with well written and interesting characters that you very quickly come to know and care about. The romance is believable and doesn't shy away from intimacy issues as many YA novels seem to do, and the twists and turns of the story drew me in and kept me invested right through to the heartbreaking end.
This is the first Ann Brashares novel I've read, but it definitely won't be the last. Recommended.
Enjoyable young adult novel. A good 4 star rating.
Author: Ann Brashares
Release Date: January 1st 2015
Rating: 4 Stars
Ann Brashares new book 'The Here and Now' is aimed at young adults, but will also appeal to adult readers of all ages who enjoy a good time travel novel. It is set in modern times, with time travellers coming back in time from the future rather than going back in time from now, which really does make a refreshing change.
Highly entertaining novel with well written and interesting characters that you very quickly come to know and care about. The romance is believable and doesn't shy away from intimacy issues as many YA novels seem to do, and the twists and turns of the story drew me in and kept me invested right through to the heartbreaking end.
This is the first Ann Brashares novel I've read, but it definitely won't be the last. Recommended.
Enjoyable young adult novel. A good 4 star rating.
Thursday 5 February 2015
Book Review: Prayer for the Dead by James Oswald
Title: Prayer for the Dead
Series: Inspector McLean Book 5
Author: James Oswald
Release Date: 12th Feb 2015
Rating: 4 Stars
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of 'Prayer for the Dead' by James Oswald courtesy of its publisher Penguin UK.
Another excellent instalment in James Oswald's Inspector McLean series. I have read and enjoyed all of the books in the series so far and 'Prayer for the Dead' is no exception and is, in fact, one of the strongest in the series to date.
Many of the familiar characters from the previous books are there, including the wonderful Grumpy Bob and Stuart MacBride. The events of the previous novels have not been forgotten, but are masterfully woven into the story and are part of what makes the character of Anthony McLean such an interesting and multi faceted one.
The supernatural undercurrent that can be found in all the books as always adds to the appeal, and I hope that there will be many more Inspector McLean books to come in the future.
As previous events are often referred to throughout the book, I would recommend reading the other four books in the series before starting this one. And believe me, once you start reading them, you won't be able to stop.
'Prayer for the Dead' is an excellent addition to the series and one I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good detective novel, but who also enjoy reading books with a supernatural element running through them.
A good solid 4 stars.
Series: Inspector McLean Book 5
Author: James Oswald
Release Date: 12th Feb 2015
Rating: 4 Stars
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of 'Prayer for the Dead' by James Oswald courtesy of its publisher Penguin UK.
Another excellent instalment in James Oswald's Inspector McLean series. I have read and enjoyed all of the books in the series so far and 'Prayer for the Dead' is no exception and is, in fact, one of the strongest in the series to date.
Many of the familiar characters from the previous books are there, including the wonderful Grumpy Bob and Stuart MacBride. The events of the previous novels have not been forgotten, but are masterfully woven into the story and are part of what makes the character of Anthony McLean such an interesting and multi faceted one.
The supernatural undercurrent that can be found in all the books as always adds to the appeal, and I hope that there will be many more Inspector McLean books to come in the future.
As previous events are often referred to throughout the book, I would recommend reading the other four books in the series before starting this one. And believe me, once you start reading them, you won't be able to stop.
'Prayer for the Dead' is an excellent addition to the series and one I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good detective novel, but who also enjoy reading books with a supernatural element running through them.
A good solid 4 stars.
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