Mystery

  • Jigs & Reels by Joanne Harris, Review: Delicious dark humour

    Jigs and Reels is international bestselling author Joanne Harris’ first short story collection. Jigs and Reels Synopsis: Each of the twenty-two tales in this enchanting collection is a surprise and a delight, melding the poignant and the possible with the…

  • THE TIGER’S WIFE by Tea Obreht, Book Review

    The Tiger’s Wife Synopsis ‘Having sifted through everything I have heard about the tiger and his wife, I can tell you that this much is fact: in April of 1941, without declaration or warning, the German bombs started falling over…

  • MURDER IN PASSY by Cara Black, Book Review

    This was my first outing with Cara Black and her feisty protagonist Aimee Leduc. Based on the obvious success of this series, Murder in Passy being the 11th instalment, and the Parisian setting, I had high hopes.

  • Book Review – QUIET ANCHORAGE by Ed Lynskey

    I simply cannot go past a cosy mystery featuring an elderly sleuth. An elderly female sleuth, all the better. Quiet Anchorage features two elderly sister sleuths that live together with a library of much-loved fictional mysteries at their disposal – what could be a better premise?

    Ed Lynskey’s cosy mystery Quiet Anchorage was somewhat of a conundrum for me. Lynskey has come up with a wonderful story framework, shows moments of brilliance in setting a scene and in character development, but there were also moments of confusion. In my opinion, this novel would have benefitted immensely from some strong editing.

  • FALL GIRL by Toni Jordan, Book Review

    I really enjoyed Australian author Toni Jordan’s debut novel Addition because of its quirkiness and refreshing approach to chick lit (read my review), and so I eagerly awaited the publication of her second novel.

    In Fall Girl Toni Jordan has created an interesting premise and quirky characters for the reader to be engaged and surprised by.

  • 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.

  • 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.