Mystery

The Broken Shore by Peter Temple, Review: Deft observation

In The Broken Shore Peter Temple has created characters that display the darker side of humanity that is all too present in society, whether we choose to admit it or not.
There is a relentless and very personal message contained in The Broken Shore, a continual surging towards the delivery of justice in an imperfect world by imperfect people – symbolic of waves crashing into a shore. This is no pollyanna story – some readers may find the subject matter confronting (over and above the use of language I’ve already mentioned).

Book Review – SKIPPY DIES by Paul Murray

Paul Murray had attempted to explore so many deep concepts in Skippy Dies and I’m just not sure he quite pulls it off. Although undeniably impressive, the goal may perhaps have been a tad lofty?

This novel operates on many levels, many of them in very dark places of the human psyche. Everything is put under the microscope — the themes of ‘coming of age’, differences between men and women, right and wrong (ethics), perception versus reality, love versus dependence….. with an undercurrent of existentialism.

A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif: Literary treat

There is so much packed into this novel that I won’t even try to explain the plot line because I wouldn’t do it justice. Suffice to say this darkly satirical novel was a pleasure to listen to. Narrator Paul Bhattacharjee’s delivery finds just the right balance – playing up the deadpan and ironic humour to great effect while reserving a poignance for elements intended as deeper social commentary.

Rebecca, Book Review: Daphne Du Maurier’s iconic gothic novel

Rebecca (a Novel) by Daphne du Maurier is the iconic story of a young woman consumed by love and struggling to find her identity, spawning several movie/TV adaptations.

Bad Intentions by Karin Fossum, Review: Chilling psychology

In Karin Fossum’s Bad Intentions the bone chilling bleakness and tension forces you to question the meaning of guilt. Read our review.

DREAMS OF SPEAKING by Gail Jones, Book Review

In Dreams of Speaking Gail Jones casts a spell of introspection, unbridled honesty and intelligence.
I found myself mesmerised not only by the story of Alice and Mr Sakamoto, but by Gail Jones’ mastery of language. It is not simply that the prose is a treasure trove for word lovers, it is the gloriously descriptive and refreshing, thought-provoking observations that I was continually impressed by. Jones sets a scene and a mood in a way that kept me wanting more.

Book Review – S IS FOR SILENCE by Sue Grafton

This is the second novel by Sue Grafton that I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed B is for Burglar when I read it over a year ago and was looking forward to reading another Kinsey Millhone mystery.

Unfortunately S is for Silence didn’t live up to expectations for me. The murder mystery story itself was quite good, with a reasonably complex plot with clues gradually unveiled through flashbacks from multiple characters viewpoints. For me however, the element I most enjoyed in B is for Burglar, the personal touch of PI Kinsey Millhone, was somehow lacking this time round. Rather than being a central figure, she seemed to play a lesser role in this novel.

NEGATIVE IMAGE by Vicki Delany, Book Review: Cosy charm

I was pleasantly surprised at how many plot lines Vicki Delany has managed to weave into Negative Image, a novel of less than 300 pages. Murder, extortion, a string of burglaries, a stalker and a personal tragedy are all on the bill.

Vicki Delany’s prose is unpretentious and easy to read – her focus is telling a compelling story.

SCENE STEALER by Elise Warner, Book Review & Interview

Elise Warner’s debut novel Scene Stealer is a cozy mystery with attitude.
“For a moment our eyes met; his were frightened, seeking help. Was it my imagination gone wild? No. After all those years of teaching elementary school, I knew this child was afraid.”

Life of Pi, Book Review: Yann Martel’s life-affirming gem

The Life of Pi novel, Yann Martel’s debut, truly deserves the accolades it has received. I was thoroughly engaged and entertained by this tale. Read my full review including some memorable book quotes below and we answer your burning question – was Life of Pi based on a true story?

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley, Review: Quirky

In The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Alan Bradley has conjured up an enchanting little world with charismatic characters that readers will love. Read on for our full review. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie Synopsis…

Book Review – GONE by Lisa Gardner

BOOK RATING: The Writing 3 / 5 ; The Story 4 / 5 BOOK DETAILS: Gone (The Book Depository), Gone (Amazon) Book Synopsis Ex-FBI profiler Pierce Quincy has just been thrown into his worst nightmare. A car has been found abandoned,…

THE RETURN by Victoria Hislop, Book Review: Engrossing

The Return (2008) is Victoria Hislop’s second novel. Her debut novel, The Island (2005) was included in The Times ‘100 Books That Defined the Noughties’. The Return Synopsis A captivating new novel of family, love, and betrayal set against a…

SIREN by Tara Moss, Book Review: A sassy, sexy thriller

Siren is a sassy, sexy thriller. Tara Moss’s much anticipated fifth novel in her Vanderwall thriller series lives up to expectations and as always leaves her fans gasping for more. Although I do not know the author personally, her public persona appears…

The Last Anniversary, Review: Liane Moriarty’s cosy mystery

Delightful. Liane Moriarty’s novel The Last Anniversary is a wonderful blend of chick lit, drama and cosy mystery. The subtitle, ‘sometimes you have to come up with your own fairytale ending’ is the attention grabber and a sentiment that many women will identify with.

The Alchemist, Book Review: Paulo Coelho’s beguiling novel

Santiago’s search for hidden treasure is presented as a metaphor for life.
Coelho introduces the concept of one’s Personal Legend, or destiny. Appealingly though, this destiny is not presented as something that will simply fall into one’s lap, but something one needs to strive for. Too often in this inspirational genre readers are given the impression that if we simply wish for something long enough with the purest of intentions, then that wish will come into being. This simple tale reminds us that anything worth having must be worked for and that one does not gain in life without first risking loss. We are also reminded that treasures can come in the form of both material objects and experiences.

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