Wonky Tree Reads...

It's difficult to come up with new superlatives for the Skandar series. It's such a fantasatic read, compelling from start to end. But don't take my word for it - if you haven't discovered this world of magic and flying bloodthirsty unicorns, get reading and be ready for the ride of your life!

Alan

 As Skandar and his friends begin their fourth year at the Eyrie, the Island’s unicorns are struck by a terrible curse that threatens to change everything.

Between a Commodore determined to eliminate the spirit element for good, and a sister hellbent on revenge, nowhere is safe for Skandar. As more and more unicorns are affected by the curse, the clock is ticking for Skandar and his quartet, who find themselves literally racing for their lives. Can they stop the curse in its tracks before the Island is lost for ever?  

Out in paperback 08 May 25

Local author Joanna's novel is a family saga set in North Yorkshire. Leyburn even makes an appearance on page 2!

When tragedy strikes and life changes suddenly and dramatically, family members react very differently and struggle to make sense of what has happened. I enjoyed being involved in Jamie and Caz's efforts to rebuild their lives and their attempts to construct a meaningful future in the face of their loss.

Claire

'Crescendo' by Joanna Howat is available to purchase in the shop priced £10.99

A heart warming story by legend Julia Donaldson and beautifully illustrated by award winning Sara Ogilvie. This is a delightful tale about family and would make a great gift for Easter to accompany the chocolate eggs!

Claire

It's springtime. Bear has woken up hungry and finds a lost egg outside his cave.

Breakfast? No! Out hatches Gozzle, a very sweet little gosling who is convinced that Bear must be her daddy – and that she should be able to climb, dig and eat honey just like him. Follow Bear on his journey from reluctant carer to parent in this heartwarming and joyous picture book about what home and family truly mean.  

This is an extraordinary true tale of courage, tenacity and the very real problem of trying to maintain military order in a non military scenario. This book shows that real life can be far stranger and challenging than any imagined story.

Well researched and written - it is gripping.

Alan

 His Majesty’s ship the Wager left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. While chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon, the Wager was wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The crew, marooned for months and facing starvation, built a flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing 2,500 miles of storm-wracked seas.

They were greeted as heroes.   Then, six months later, another, even more decrepit, craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three castaways and they had a very different story to tell. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes – they were mutineers.

The first group responded with counter-charges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous captain and his henchmen. While stranded on the island the crew had fallen into anarchy, with warring factions fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened a court martial to determine who was telling the truth.

The stakes were life-and-death—for whomever the court found guilty could hang.   

This book is a must for those who want to know what it was like for families around the outbreak of WWII. James Holland really does know his stuff, as a noted historian and author this book brings together the events of the first year of the war with the human story of those at the front and those who kept Britain going.  It is engaging, immersive, dramatic and poignant. 

Alan

 Even at home, the war is never far away…The village of Alvesdon has been home to the Castells for generations. But the year is 1939 and the peace and tranquillity there is about to be shattered once more by the storm clouds of war in Europe.

As three generations of the family gather, they must all face the prospect of their lives being transformed beyond recognition the moment Britain declares war on Germany. When the inevitable happens and Britain finds itself at war, the younger members of the family and farm workers are called up to fight and those who remain must battle to keep the home fires burning and the farm afloat. 

The gentle certainties of rural life are replaced by the urgent clamour of war, in the air, at sea and on land, where events unfold with dizzying rapidity and unexpected consequences 

This is an important book covering themes of racism , mental health, domestic violence ... but also love, friendship, courage and community against a backdrop  of the Yorkshire Ripper murders. The characterisation is so strong and the storyline so compelling that this is a gripping and emotive book. A book that everyone should read.

Alan (and Claire for the second time!)

Yorkshire, 1979. Maggie Thatcher is prime minister, drainpipe jeans are in, and Miv is convinced that her dad wants to move their family Down South. Because of the murders.

Leaving Yorkshire and her best friend Sharon simply isn't an option, no matter the dangers lurking round their way; or the strangeness at home that started the day Miv's mum stopped talking. Perhaps if she could solve the case of the disappearing women, they could stay after all?So, Miv and Sharon decide to make a list: a list of all the suspicious people and things down their street. People they know.

People they don't. But their search for the truth reveals more secrets in their neighbourhood, within their families - and between each other - than they ever thought possible. What if the real mystery Miv needs to solve is the one that lies much closer to home? 

Oh my word! I devoured this gripping novel in a day! If you like dark thrillers with some breathtaking twists then I urge you to give this book a try. I couldn't put it down!

It publishes at the end of the month.

Claire

 Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life. Grady calls his wife as she’s driving home to share some exciting news.

He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by a cliff edge, the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there . .

. but his wife has disappeared. A year later, Grady is still overcome with grief and desperate to know what happened to Abby.

He can’t sleep, and he can’t write, so he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible: a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.   

I'll admit straight out that I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes stories, but not always of authors continuing stories of another writer's creation. However, this was a book equal to that of ACD - a brilliant and well worked story, with alternating narratives from Watson and Moran (Moriarty's sidekick). With an epic backdrop, this thriller mystery is a fabulous read. Quite the three pipe problem.

Alan

 Two adversaries. One deadly alliance. Together, can they unlock the truth?  Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friend, Dr John Watson, have been hired by actor George Reynolds to help him solve a puzzle. George wants them to find out why the audience who comes to see him perform every night are the same people, only wearing disguises.

Is something sinister going on and, if so, what?   Meanwhile, Holmes’ archenemy, Professor James Moriarty is having problems of his own. Implicated in the murder of a gang leader, Moriarty and his second, Moran, must go on the run from the police in order to find out who is behind the set-up.   But their investigation puts them in the way of Holmes and Watson and it’s not long before all four realise that they are being targeted by the same person.

With lives on the line, not just their own, they must form an uneasy alliance in order to unmask the true villain. With clues leading them to a hotel in Switzerland and a conspiracy far greater than any of them expected, who can be trusted – and will anyone of them survive?  

This is an absolute hug of a book! Such a moving story, with wonderfully observed characters that you can't help but love. It made me laugh and cry. Warm hearted, uplifting and full of hope - what's not to like?

Claire

 Sometimes, the friend you need is the one you never saw coming. Frank and Red are a mess.

Frank is a grumpy old curmudgeon. A recluse whose only company is the 'ghost' of his dead wife, Marcie. He is estranged from his friends, his son, and the ever-changing world beyond his front gate.

And then Red moves in next door. Red is six. A boy struggling to adjust to the separation of his mum and dad, a new school, and the demonic school bully.

Red is curious, smart, he never stops talking, and he's got a trampoline. From the moment Red's blonde mop appears over the top of the fence that divides their two gardens, the unlikeliest of friendships is born. .

. . And it is a friendship that will change both of their lives forever. 

Thriller, adventure and mystery books all in one. This is a great tale that stretches from London to the Arctic and back again. An exciting and daring adventure turns dark with the treachery of those at the highest levels.

A riveting read!

Alan and Claire

 London, 1850. Constance Horton has disappeared and her sister Maude is determined to find out what’s happened. She discovers that Constance has disguised herself as a boy and boarded a ship bound for the Arctic, but when the ship returns without her the truth about her fate is buried by sinister forces.

To find answers – and deliver justice for her sister – Maude must step into London’s dark underbelly, and into the path of dangerous, powerful men. The kind of men who seek their fortune in the city’s horrors, from the hangings at Newgate to the ghoulish waxworks of Madame Tussaud’s. It is a perilous task.

But Maude has dangerous skills of her own . . . 

This series continues to give so much - a really exciting read with magic, adventure, suspense and danger.  The stakes are getting ever higher, and the bond between brother and sister is strong with love but darkened by secrets and confusion.  What a read!

Alan

 To survive their third year of training, Skandar and his friends must complete a series of terrifying trials across the Island’s elemental zones. Friendships, allegiances and rider-unicorn bonds will be pushed to the limit – only the strongest will make it. Meanwhile Kenna’s forged bond to a wild unicorn has left her alienated and alone.

And when a terrible discovery puts the future of the Island in peril, all fingers point in one direction . . .

As dark forces assemble, Skandar must decide how far is he willing to go – for Kenna, and for the Eyrie.  

This is a charming and heart-warming read. I totally invested in the trusting bond between Chloe and the leverett, and found the author's mission to return the hare back to the wild awe-inspiring. Chloe gains a new appreciation of wildlife and nature through her relationship with the hare, and her experience is beautifully portrayed. What a gift, to be able to share in Chloe's adventure.

Claire

"Imagine you could hold a baby hare and bottle-feed it. Imagine that it lived under your roof and lolloped around your bedroom at night, drumming on the duvet cover when it wanted your attention. Imagine that, over two years later, it still ran in from the fields when you called it and snoozed in your house for hours on end.  This happened to me."

When lockdown led busy professional Chloe to leave the city and return to the countryside of her childhood, she never expected to find herself custodian of a newly born hare. Yet when she finds the creature, endangered, alone and no bigger than her palm, she is compelled to give it a chance at survival.

Raising Hare chronicles their journey together and the challenges of caring for the leveret and preparing for its return to the wild. We witness an extraordinary relationship between human and animal, rekindling our sense of awe towards nature and wildlife. This improbable bond of trust serves to remind us that the most remarkable experiences, inspiring the most hope, often arise when we least expect them. 

As we've come to expect from Hannah Gold, this is a beautiful story with a message of hope. There are touching parallel stories of a young girl and a turtle mother, and a mother tormented by a tantalising bond with an unconceived child.  Hannah has a gift for putting in words some of our deepest emotions and shining a light on them.

Alan

Silver Trevelon’s parents aren’t happy.

They haven’t been happy since the nursery they decorated started gathering cobwebs, waiting for the baby brother or sister that never came. So when Silver’s dad is invited to paint at a turtle rescue centre in Costa Rica, she hopes it’ll be just the adventure the family needs. Under the hot tropical sun, Silver settles into life at the animal centre.

She even witnesses a rare sighting of a leatherback turtle nesting on the beach. But when the turtle’s eggs are stolen, events take a dark and dangerous turn. Can Silver and her new friends track them down before it's too late? It’ll mean journeying into the heart of the jungle …  

A rip-roaring read! This book has it all - adventure, espionage, crime, mystery, laugh out loud dark humour - if you are looking for a cracking read this Christmas then look no further!

Alan

 A village of secrets. Yorkshire, 1952.

Christmas is fast approaching when a dead stranger is found lodged up the chimney of Holly House in the snow-covered village of Elderby. Is he a simple thief, or a would-be killer?A mystery that can’t be solved. Inspector Frank Grasby is ordered to investigate.

But as is often the way for him, things don’t go according to plan. A Christmas to remember. When the local doctor’s husband is murdered, Grasby begins to realize that everyone in Elderby is hiding something.

And if he can’t uncover the truth soon, the whole country will pay a dreadful price... 

This is a beautifully touching tale with a gorgeous black and blue colour palette and stunning illustrations. Themes of life and loss are handled sensitively and it's a heart warming read about friendship and caring, touched with sadness but also lots of hope. A lovely book to treasure (beware though the ending is sad, but incredibly moving!)

Claire

An extraordinary house on wheels is being towed along a forest track by doleful Moose. On board the house are philosophical Fox; distinguished Bear; theatrical Toucan, with his magnetic beak that always points north; argumentative Little Owl, and loving, excitable Young Llama.

With nothing but her little blue suitcase, Fox has left home to join the animals' expedition to the Snowlands to see the Northern Lights. They encounter many ups and downs on their travels - and their journey's end will require the most courage of all...  

At last a Horrible History for grown ups - not that you had to be a child to enjoy the younger books or the TV series! This is hilarious and informative - Terry's usual pithy style of humour and taste for surprising and grim tales. This would make a great present for the historian in your family or circle of friends. I loved it!

Alan

  The greatest nation on earth, some say...And we did it all on our own. Didn’t we?As it happens Britannia got its name from the Romans, and for the past two centuries we have been ruled by Germans. As Horrible Histories author Terry Deary argues, nations and their leaders are defined by the enemies they make.  The British have a proud history of choosing their enemies, from the Romans to the Germans. You might even say those enemies made Britain what it is today... 

 A rich and poignant tale of repressed sexuality and infidelity amongst the society circles of the colonial East. Short listed for the Booker prize, this novel was really well received by our Book club and provoked a lively discussion. A really interesting fusion of fact and fiction, well written, and immerses the reader in colonial Penang.

Claire and Alan

Willie Somerset Maugham is one of the greatest writers of the early twentieth century. But in 1921 he is beleaguered by an unhappy marriage, ill-health and business interests that have gone badly awry. He is also struggling to write.

His friend Robert Hamlyn offers an escape in the Straits Settlements of Penang, where Robert's steely wife Lesley learns to see Willie as he is - a man who has no choice but to mask his true self. As Willie prepares to leave, Lesley confides in him secrets of her own, including how she came to know the charismatic revolutionary Dr Sun Yat Sen. And more scandalous still, her connection to an Englishwoman charged with murder in the Kuala Lumpur courts - a tragedy drawn from fact, and worthy of fiction. 

I have been wanting to read this for ages and I finally managed it...and in October! 

What a wonderful book for readers of 9+. Balen writes beautifully about nature and the harmony that October and her Dad experience living in the midst of the natural world. The emotions that October experiences when a tragic accident rips her away from the woods she calls home and she is sent to live with her estranged mother in the grey suburbs of London are viscerally portrayed. The loss of her rescued owl Stig only adds to her despair. Octobers gradual adaptation to her new situation is heart warmingly described and the book is filled with hope, change and discovery. 

Claire

October and her dad live in the woods.

They know the trees and the rocks and the lake and stars like best friends. They live in the woods and they are wild. And that's the way it is.

Until the year October turns eleven. That's the year October rescues a baby owl. It's the year Dad falls out of the biggest tree in their woods.

The year the woman who calls herself October's mother comes back. The year everything changes. 

I loved this historical novel inspired by the true story of Anna Maria, an orphan, violin prodigy and student of Antonio Vivaldi.  Anna Maria is obsessive and determined to reach her musical potential in a world where women are not on an equal footing with men.  I found myself rooting for her, and was fascinated by the underlying historical backdrop. I was completely unaware of the back story about Vivaldi and the orphans who contributed musically to such great works as 'The Four Seasons' but I was gripped throughout. The author takes you on an incredibly vivid journey back to 18th century Venice and this revival of the forgotten story of Anna Maria and her peers is compelling and unforgettable. One of my favourite reads this year - I was absolutely captivated!

Claire

Anna Maria may have no name, no fortune, no family. But she has her ambition, and her talent.

Her best hope lies in her teacher, Antonio Vivaldi. Soon she is his star pupil. But as Anna Maria’s star rises, not everyone is happy.

Because Anna Maria’s shining light is threatening to eclipse that of her mentor…She will leave her mark, whatever it takes. And her story will be heard. 

I started this not really knowing what to expect, but I enjoyed it: satirical overtones wrapped up in a murder mystery. Made even more relatable in parts because Coe depicts events in very recent political history. A clever novel!

Claire 

(Publishes on November 7th)

Post-university life doesn’t suit Phyl. Time passes slowly living back home with her parents, working a zero-hour contract serving Japanese food to holidaymakers at Heathrow’s Terminal 5. As for her budding plans of becoming a writer, those are going nowhere.

That is, until family friend Chris comes to stay. He’s been on the path to uncover a sinister think-tank, founded at Cambridge University in the 1980s, that’s been scheming to push the British government in a more extreme direction. One that’s finally poised to put their plans into action.

But speaking truth to power can be dangerous - and power will stop at nothing to stay on top. As Britain finds itself under the leadership of a new Prime Minister whose tenure will only last for seven weeks, Chris pursues his story to a conference being held deep in the Cotswolds, where events take a sinister turn and a murder enquiry is soon in progress. But will the solution to the mystery lie in contemporary politics, or in a literary enigma that is almost forty years old?  

Winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction 2024.

This compelling book is historical fiction at its best. Years of research prior to writing ensure an accurate account of the decade long Sri Lankan civil war. Sashi is a strong female protagonist and a really likeable character who navigates this horrific period with compassion and courage. It's about family, displacement, the power of stories and how civilians cope with being in the midst of a war fuelled by political ideology. It is a gripping, heart rending, and tough read at times, but absolutely worth it. Recommended by us both!

Claire & Alan

  Sixteen-year-old Sashi wants to become a doctor. But over the next decade, as a vicious civil war tears through her hometown of Jaffna, her dream takes her on a different path as she sees those around her, including her four beloved brothers and their friend, get swept up in violent political ideologies and their consequences. Desperate to act, she must ask herself: is it possible for anyone to move through life without doing harm?' 

A gentle read exploring memory and grief that can be read in one sitting.  Bonita is travelling to practise her Spanish and meets someone who claims to have known her mother. A story about family and identity and trying to discover where we come from. As a straightforward plot, I found it lacking, leaving me with many unanswered questions at the end. I looked at it more as an exploration of the relationship between parents and children, and how what is known and what is unknown affects our sense of self. 

Claire 

 A young student sits on a bench in a park in San Miguel, Mexico. Bonita is away from her home in India to learn Spanish.

She is alone, somewhere she has no connection to. It is bliss. And then a woman approaches her.

The woman claims to recognize Bonita because she is the spitting image of her mother, who made the same journey from India to Mexico as a young artist. No, says Bonita, my mother didn’t paint. She never travelled to Mexico.

But this strange woman insists, and so Bonita follows her. Into a story where Bonita and her mother will move apart and come together, and where the past threatens to flood the present, or re-write it. 

 A very popular book with Books, Blokes and Beer that proved really thought provoking and inspirational. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Alan

Pip Fallow was born in the coal-miner’s cottage where his family of eight lived, in a village near Durham. Pip was destined to join his father down the pit, but the closure of his village’s mine in the 1980s saw him at the back of the dole queue like the rest. This is Pip’s story of being ‘dragged up proppa’, living by his wits, working and travelling the world before finally settling a few miles from where he grew up. 

 This is the memoir of a man who left school illiterate, but has now written a book. The story of a lost generation who were prepared for a life that had disappeared by the time they were ready for it, of communities with once strong social ties that have now disintegrated, and a way of living that simply no longer exists in Britain today. 

I am a huge fan of Catherine Rayner's illustrations and this book is no exception! She manages to convey such a range of emotions in her drawings. This is a delightful tale to read to your child and has positive messages about friendship and learning to share. If you're just a fan of daschunds, your heart will melt!

Claire

Otto The Top Dog is a delightfully funny tale about kindness and sharing from CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal winner Catherine Rayner. This is Otto. Otto loves a lot of things, but nothing more than his beloved basket - and he's more than happy to share! A sweet, humorous and beautifully illustrated tale of a sausage dog who just can't say no.

After Otto invites one of his friends to share his comfy basket, word quickly spreads around the neighbourhood. Soon he's sharing his cosy bed with all the dogs in the area, even taking in the local strays! Before he knows it, everyone is having the best sleep in his beloved basket: everyone, but Otto! Will Otto ever get his basket back to himself? And will he still like it if he does . .

This is a thrilling read! The story is an exciting page turner, with mystery and heart. I couldn't put it down! 

Claire

The English seaside, 1920s. A world famous escape artist . . .

A suitcase full of secrets . . .

And a death-defying stunt . . .

When Harry Houdini comes to visit the seaside town of Sidford-on-Sea, Glory and her friend Dennis are first in-line to see him. He is there to perform a daring trick: he will jump off the town pier in chains, pitching himself into the water below. But when Glory outsmarts the infamous Houdini, she is suddenly sucked into his world, and finds herself tasked with looking after his precious trunk - the one that contains all his secrets.

With Houdini in danger, Glory and Dennis are thrown deep into an adventure that takes them all the way to Coney Island in America, and the dark underbelly of its amusement parks . . . 

This is a really cracking read - unputdownable (sp?) - great characters, a ripping story and written with a clear and definite love for Wensleydale and it's inhabitants. I can't wait to read the next one!

Available in The Wonky Tree Bookshop

Alan

 Welcome to Wensleydale, where the cheese is famous, the scenery beautiful, and the locals have murder on their minds …
Detective Chief Inspector Harry Grimm is forced to take leave from Bristol’s Major Investigations Team when his boss, tired of Harry chasing the ghost of his murderous father, sends him north on secondment.
Used to city life and high stress, Harry fears his life will now be spent handing out speeding tickets, finding lost sheep, and directing tourists. But when a local teenager runs away, Harry finds himself pulled into an investigation much worse than anyone could have ever expected.
The nicer the place, the darker the secrets. Wensleydale is beautiful, everyone is friendly and welcoming, and people just don’t get murdered ... do they?

It's not often I am so moved to shout quite so loudly about a picture book. As an ex teacher believe me I've read my fair share and am a big fan of the genre, but this one stopped me in my tracks. It is the book I wish I'd written! A stunning front cover is met with an equally awesome  narrative inside. If you ever needed convincing of the power of books to comfort, heal, inspire, instill adventure, fire the imagination and just bring joy, then this book is it!  It  is a book to share and treasure - definitely one of my new favourites! Highly recommended!!!!!

Claire

A beautiful and poignant picture book that's a heart-twisting celebration of books! Once there was a boy called Book. He asked his mother why he was named that, and she replied: “Because your life is a story. You can write it however you want.” This stunning picture book shows how stories inspire us, shape us, and ultimately heal us.

 Written by New York Times bestselling author Vincent Ralph, and  beautifully illustrated by rising star Aaron Cushley. A gentle introduction to book genres to young readers, and it shows them how life – with both its joys and sorrows – is better understood through stories.

'Jo, it's me. We've found another body.'A body is discovered on a canal towpath in the small Yorkshire town of Shipley. DCI Callum Ferguson calls on forensic psychologist Jo McCready to help investigate the mysterious crime.

The victim is the second to be found on the canal in as many weeks, and Jo believes a single killer is responsible. Then, when one of her troubled patients is found brutally murdered, a puzzling connection emerges: is the murderer taking inspiration from the most notorious serial killer in Britain's history?As DCI Ferguson and Jo McCready race to find the killer, the investigation takes more twists and turns than Yorkshire's canals. And with more questions than answers, can they solve it before another body turns up? 

Wow! What a gripping novel Lesley has written! Great characters, clever plot, twists and turns and unputdownable. I devoured this in one sitting!! It has brilliant detail and I loved the Jack the Ripper backdrop. Thoroughly recommend giving it a read if crime thrillers are your thing!

Claire

Mrs Sidhu, caterer and amateur sleuth, is delighted when she is offered a position as chef in a quiet corner of Berkshire. It’s a far cry from her cramped kitchen, where she was used to making an endless parade of aubergine bhajis! The perfect fete. In no time, Mrs Sidhu starts throwing herself into local events like the summer fete.

But amongst the bunting, cakes and funfair games, a killer is lurking. The perfect crime. Mrs Sidhu soon discovers the unthinkable.

A murderer is picking victims through the fairground raffle. Who is next on their list? And can Mrs Sidhu stop them in time? 

This is the debut novel from the writer for 'Goodness, Gracious Me' and 'The Kumars at No. 42'. Mrs Sidhu delivers some cracking one liners and is a really likeable character. An enjoyable cosy crime whodunnit, written with warmth and humour!

Claire

 In 1893, young army officer Cecil Hambrough was murdered at the sprawling Ardlamont estate in Scotland, unleashing one of the most gripping court cases Victorian Britain had ever known. Even more remarkably, the case brought together two pioneering forensic experts – Joseph Bell and Henry Littlejohn – two men upon whom Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes happened to be based. It is their involvement in the Ardlamont affair that reveals how the world’s most famous detective came to be: the worlds of crime fiction and crime fact were about to collide spectacularly.
 

For the Sherlock aficionado, this contains a lot of good info, thoroughly researched and detailed. However, it loses its thread and momentum too much to be a page turner, and doesn't give as much detail on the actual two men Littlejohn and Bell as the title suggests. I had high hopes but was disppointed. Alan

In 1914, war feels far away to Henry Gaunt and Sidney Ellwood. They're too young to enlist, and anyway, Gaunt is fighting his own private battle - an all-consuming infatuation with the dreamy, poetic Ellwood - not having a clue that his best friend is in love with him too. When Gaunt's mother asks him to enlist, he signs up immediately, relieved to escape his overwhelming feelings.

But Ellwood and their classmates soon follow him to the front. Ellwood and Gaunt find love in the trenches – but just as war brought them together, it can tear them apart… 

It's hard to believe this is a debut - it is a raw yet emotional love story of two friends who barely dare to admit their feelings for each other at a time when homosexuality was a crime. Winn's writing is exquisite, she describes the horrors of war and the harrowing conditions of the trenches with great detail. It gives a real insight into the experiences of the young men fighting for their country. A powerful story! 

Claire

Dancing is the one thing that can solve Stephen's problems. At Church with his family, the shimmer of Black hands raised in praise. With his band, making music speaking not just to their hardships, but their joys.

Grooving with his best friend, so close their heads might touch. Dancing alone to his father's records, uncovering parts of a man he has never truly known. His youth, shame and sacrifice.

Stephen has only ever known himself in song. But what becomes of him when the music fades?Set over the course of three summers, from South London to Ghana and back again, SMALL WORLDS is a novel about the worlds we build for ourselves. The worlds we live, dance and love within. 

This recently won The Dylan Thomas Prize 2024.

It is beautifully written and weaves the story of Stephen, a young South Londoner on the brink of adulthood , trying to find his place in the world.  A novel which explores themes such as fathers and sons, faith, immigration, friendship, grief, love and music. My favourite quote from the novel,  "Grief never ends, but we find a way to walk in the light someone has left behind".      Absolutely worth reading!   Claire

 Astrid Atomic, a six year old human person, goes to bed every night like every other six year old human person.

But unlike many other six year olds she doesn’t stay there. The minute the lights are off and the coast is clear the Space Cadet siren goes off, her uniform goes on, and 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - WHOOSH! - she blasts off on board the spaceship Stardust!Along with her best pals Beryl, Professor Quackers and Zoink, Astrid is given her mission from The Chief - to clean up the Milky Way! But when a nearby alien is in trouble and with giant snaliens around, things aren't likely to go to plan! 

A funny out of this world space adventure by bestselling children's author illustrator Alex T Smith for children who are ready to read by themselves. Blast off with Astrid and the Space Cadets on their first mission.  Claire

It’s a week before the presidential elections when a bomb goes off in an LA shopping mall…In London, armed police storm Heathrow Airport and arrest Sajid Khan. His daughter Aliyah entered the USA with the suicide bomber, and now she’s missing, potentially plotting another attack. But then a mysterious woman called Carrie turns up at Sajid’s door after travelling halfway across the world.

She claims Aliyah is with her son Greg, and she knows where they could be. Back in the US, Agent Shreya Mistry is closing in on the two fugitives. But the more she investigates, the more she realises this case is far from as simple as it seems.

Hunted by the authorities, the two parents are thrown together in a race against time to find their kids before the FBI does and stop a catastrophe that will bring the world to its knees.  

Wow! I couldn't put this down all weekend! A compelling page turner with a great twist. Short punchy chapters which added to the pace of the novel and told from multiple viewpoints allowing the reader to experience the novel from each character's perspective. Nail biting and tense, a well plotted story and an engaging range of characters all add up to make a thrilling, exciting read. I thoroughly recommend it!   Claire

 An enthralling reimagining of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the perspective of the enslaved Jim.  Brilliantly written, I didn't want it to end. Alan

 The Mississippi River, 1861.

 When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a new owner in New Orleans and separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson’s Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father who recently returned to town. Thus begins a dangerous and transcendent journey by raft along the Mississippi River, towards the elusive promise of the free states and beyond.

 As James and Huck navigate the treacherous waters, each bend in the river holds the promise of both salvation and demise. With rumours of a brewing war, James must face the burden he carries: the family he is desperate to protect and the constant lie he must live. And together, the unlikely pair embark on the most dangerous, and life-changing, odyssey of them all.

England, 1645. After his half-brother dies, aspiring playwright Nicholas Pearce is apprenticed to Judge William Percival, an infamous former witch-hunter who is under pressure to resume his old profession.

In a country torn apart by civil war, with escalating tensions between Catholics and Protestants, Royalists and Roundheads, and rumours of witchcraft, Nicholas hides a secret: the dead sing. He hears their secrets, but will he find the courage to speak up and save innocent lives, even if it means putting himself in great danger? 

An interesting period in history and Thomas has researched her subject well. The book reflects the fear and tensions that must have existed at the time, particularly for women. Set near Pendle Hill and in an England on the brink of civil war it portrays the superstition and mistrust of the time, even before you add witchcraft into the mix! I got a little lost with parts of the narrative at times, but equally there were parts in which I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! An atmospheric and dramatic debut.  Claire

Sometimes you need to get lost to find your wayMarnie is stuck. Stuck working alone in her London flat, stuck battling the long afternoons and a life that often feels like it's passing her by.

Michael is coming undone. Reeling from his wife's departure, increasingly reclusive, taking himself on long, solitary walks across the moors and fells. When a persistent mutual friend and some very English weather conspire to bring them together, Marnie and Michael suddenly find themselves alone on the most epic of walks and on the precipice of a new friendship.

But can they survive the journey? 

So well observed - brilliant story telling. I was totaly caught up in the developing love story between Marnie and Michael. An absolute gem of a book and joy inducing. I devoured it one Sunday morning - Nicholls has an amazing ability to keep you turning those pages. I couldn't put it down until I'd finished!  Claire

Is there such a thing as a perfect marriage? David thought so. But when his wife Mary Rose dies suddenly he has to think again. In reliving their twenty years together David sees that the ground beneath them had shifted and he simply hadn't noticed.

Or had chosen not to. Figuring out who Mary Rose really was and the secrets that she kept - some of these hidden in plain sight - makes David wonder if he really knew her. Did he even know himself? 

What a wonderful book - I loved it! It is a moving and heartfelt look at love and marriage and how two people’s lives become so entwined over the years. MacMahon is a born storyteller and manages to convey such a range of emotions in the face of loss in such a tender yet understated way. I was completely caught up in David's reminiscences of his marriage to Mary Rose and with his attempt to re-build his life without her. Ultimately this novel leaves you with a gentle sense of hope and a belief that even in the face of sadness life does sometimes give you a second chance at happiness.  Claire

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night cleaner shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Ever since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat over thirty years ago keeping busy has helped her cope.

One night she meets Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium who sees everything, but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors – until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late...

A heart warming book - you can't help root for Tova, and Marcellus the octopus is delightful! Sensitively portrayed characters, this is a charming original debut. I found the novel took a little while to get going, but by the end I throughly enjoyed it. Moving at times, but a feel good read with moments of pure joy! Claire

This book is charming, with well drawn characters and a really original idea. If you're not yet a fan of Octopi, you will be! Alan
 

Duncan is charming, handsome – and Jane falls in love with him easily.

But he has also slept with nearly every woman in Boyne City. Jane sees Duncan's old girlfriends everywhere – at restaurants, at the grocery store and his ex-wife, Aggie, still has him mow her lawn. But everything changes with one tragic accident.

Now her life is permanently intertwined with them all and she knows she will never have Duncan to herself. But is it possible that a deeper kind of happiness is right in front of her eyes? 

This made me laugh out loud at times, it is a gorgeous life affirming read. I loved the range of characters depicted within the novel, all richly drawn. A heart warming and heart wrenching read, but one that is throughly enjoyable. My first  foray into Katherine Heiney, but I shall definitely read more! Loved it - perfect for a holiday!  Claire

 Poisoned pooches and a missing teenager bring our detective duo back together in Date with Poison the fourth cosy crime novel in Julia Chapman's Dales Detective Agency series.

 Samson O’Brien of the Dales Detective Agency is being questioned by police about a murder, with the truth about his policing past about to be brutally exposed. Delilah Metcalfe is busy defending Samson to everyone in Bruncliffe, when her nephew runs away from home and a frantic search begins.  Elsewhere in Bruncliffe the local vet is dealing with a worrying spate of canine poisonings.

Another great book with our dynamic detective duo - the numerous subplots are intriguing, pacey and as always takes us deeper in to the lives of these Dales townsfolk. A real page turner - I devoured it!  Alan

 ONE teenage girl: strangled in an isolated dale

TWO missing men: a walker lost on the Herriot Way, a cyclist who has disappeared

THREE unsolved cases: a murdered girl, an abandoned bicycle, a hiker missing, presumed dead

FOUR police forces have failed: so how can DI Miriam Abott and the Regional Unsolved Crime Unit track down the truth in just two months when...

...they are working in the dark!

This book is a great read... it moves at pace and provides palpable suspense, as well as a relatable set of characters.... I really rooted for them.  Already looking to more from the Regional Unsolved Crime Unit!

Available in paperback from The Wonky Tree Bookshop

‘Women can be heroes, too’. When twenty-year-old nursing student, Frances “Frankie” McGrath, hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation.

Raised on California’s idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different path for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the young men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed America. Frankie will also discover the true value of female friendship and the heartbreak that love can cause.  

I whole heartedly recommend this book, I absolutely loved it. A richly drawn story, a courageous protagonist, a powerful and moving illustration of the strength of friendship and love in atrocious circumstances. A captivating and compelling account of the women who served as army nurses in the Vietnam war who were forgotten by history. Kristin Hannah's novel is a beautiful and fitting tribute. 

Mara's village needs more rain. Without it, the crops and animals will suffer.  But in a world where clouds are bought and sold, the only way Mara can get one is to steal it. But when is it right to do something wrong? And is she brave enough to take on the cloud makers and their greedy trade?

Imagine if you can, a world without clouds. We’re all guilty of complaining about the rain, but our world would be rather different without it. In the imagined world of “The Cloud Thief”, James has written a wonderful story, featuring a plucky protagonist who acts out of love for her father. Along the way she befriends Eban, and the two of them embark on a thrilling and at times dangerous adventure to try to make a difference to the world they live in. The resulting tale is one of courage, friendship and magic all wrapped up with an important child friendly environmental message. Loved it!

Publishes March 14th 2024

 London 1754 - Zachary is the bearer of an extraordinary gift; at the touch of a hand, he can see into the hearts and minds of the people he meets. Raised by his devoted father,  a near-fatal accident will take Zachary away from his father’s workshop and his family. Sent to live with his aunt for his protection, Zachary’s safety is again threatened and as a result his father embarks on a journey he may never return from. Years later, only Zachary can discover the truth.

An excellent historical novel and a great adventure story. Ultimately about love and finding your place in the world. An intriguing read, beautifully written and thoroughly engrossing. C

This book is an absolute gem; as classic, striking and beautiful as the capital of the Ottoman Empire in which some of the book is based.  My favourite book on many levels. A
 

 What begins as an eccentric English love story turns into one of the most dramatic adventures ever recorded... Maurice and Maralyn couldn't be more different. He is as cautious and awkward as she is charismatic and forceful.

It seems an unlikely romance, but it works. Bored of 1970s suburban life, Maralyn has an idea: sell the house, build a boat, leave England -- and its oil crisis, industrial strikes and inflation -- forever. It is hard work, turning dreams into reality, but finally they set sail for New Zealand.

Then, halfway there, their beloved boat is struck by a whale and the pair are cast adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. On their tiny raft, their love is put to the test. When Maurice begins to withdraw into himself, it falls upon Maralyn to keep them both alive.

What a compelling story!  A gripping tale of the human condition and the spirit of adventure tied up in an unconventional love story. Sophie has done an exceptional job of bringing the 1973 ordeal of Maurice and Maralyn Bailey to life. At times exciting, terrifying and desperate and also tender and moving - two people who survive against all the odds.  Extraordinary!
 

 It’s 1979 and Miv is convinced that her dad wants to move their family Down South because of the dangers posed by the Yorkshire Ripper. Miv and her friend Sharon are convinced they can catch him and set about creating a List of Suspicious Things and the list gets them involved in the lives of others in ways that they couldn’t have anticipated.

Their search for the truth reveals more secrets in their neighbourhood, within their families - and between each other - than they ever thought possible.

This is a wonderful debut, written with warmth, compassion and humour despite being set at a frightening time for many. Readers will be completely caught up in Miv’s life and her coming of age. At its heart this book is about family, friendships and community and Jennie Godfrey does not shy away from tackling some hard hitting themes. 

Claire LOVED this!!

The Clockwork Conspiracy is a fantastic read for 9+ readers. It has it all...adventure, intrigue, puzzle solving and rooftop chases!

Aspiring inventor Isaac Turner lives with his dad, the horologist in charge of Big Ben. But when his father vanishes from the belfry on the night the clocks go back, leaving behind only a smashed pocket watch and a cryptic message, Isaac determines to find him.

Hunting a trail of clues through London’s landmarks, Isaac uncovers a sinister plot in the gears of government and embarks on a race against time to save his father – and time itself. 

Claire raced through this, learning lots along the way - it's exciting, fast paced and a cracking story!

 If you see a man driving to the tip on a Saturday morning with a smile on his face, that's a bloke. And if you see a man heading back from the tip and on the way to the pub, that's a very happy bloke. The British Bloke appears simple and straightforward.

He loves football, cricket, beer, sheds, wearing socks and books about the SAS. But beneath that simple exterior lies a mysterious and complex being. 

This is a laugh out loud book that pieces together or perhaps unpieces the elements that make up the British Bloke.

We are not all we seem - we are so much more!

Winter, 1561. 

Lucrezia, Duchess of Ferrara, is taken on an unexpected visit to a country villa by her husband, Alfonso.

As they sit down to dinner it occurs to Lucrezia that Alfonso has a sinister purpose in bringing her here. He intends to kill her. Lucrezia is sixteen years old, and has led a sheltered life locked away inside Florence's grandest palazzo.

Here, in this remote villa, she is entirely at the mercy of her increasingly erratic husband. What is Lucrezia to do with this sudden knowledge? What chance does she have against Alfonso, ruler of a province, and a trained soldier? How can she ensure her survival. 

The Marriage Portrait is an unforgettable reimagining of the life of a young woman whose proximity to power places her in mortal danger.

This is an intriguing, beautifully written novel, illustrating the resilience of the human spirit.  The author’s language is rich and descriptive and very visual. Short chapters keeping the reader up to date with the action as it is happening, are interspersed with longer ones to relate Lucrezia’s back story. I loved this book - was totally immersed and if you haven’t read it yet, I would thoroughly recommend that you do - it’s captivating!

  The future of law enforcement has arrived, courtesy of private health contractor Janus Justice.
Their ground-breaking 'Offender Treatment Programme' has been hailed as the most effective way of tackling crime yet. As offenders move through the four-tiered system, their needs are dealt with, each tier more drastic in its methods:

Tier One: Low-risk crimes. Physical therapy encouraged

Tier Two: Trauma and addiction. Emotional and psychological reasons for offending are examined

Tier Three: Aversion therapy & moral punishment

Tier Four: Siberia, where all hope is lost

But Grace Gunnarsson, one of Janus' most highly regarded rehabilitation psychiatrists, has uncovered a terrible flaw in the system, one that is allowing people to get away with murder. 

Well researched, this is a fast paced story with big ideas crammed in.  Complex ideas and a compelling narrative - I really enjoyed it. A

 Amanda and Clay head to a remote corner of Long Island expecting a holiday: a quiet reprieve from life in New York City, quality time with their teenage son and daughter and a taste of the good life in the luxurious home they've rented for the week. But with a late-night knock on the door, the spell is broken. Ruth and G.H., an older couple who claim to own the home, have arrived there in a panic. These strangers say that a sudden power outage has swept the city, and - with nowhere else to turn - they have come to the country in search of shelter. But with the TV and internet down, and no phone service, the facts are unknowable.

Should Amanda and Clay trust this couple - and vice versa? 

This was a page turner at times. It kept suspense, but I felt it never really led anywhere.  If I'm honest, from the reviews, I was hoping it would have been more ominous and menacing. The disaster in the background is never really resolved. A little disappointing.