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We count ourselves very lucky that we get to read lots of books as part of our job! Below, we've arranged books we've read recently month by month. Some are newly published, some just because...
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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.
Wow! Alan and I both loved this epic novel! It provoked great discussion at our book club and all but one person raved about it. It's a commitment at 650 pages, but totally worth the time - the clever ending smacks you round the face or in my case made me gasp out loud at 4.30am when I finally finished reading! A book that stays with you for a while. Recommended!
Claire & Alan
The Barnes family are in trouble.
Until recently they ran the biggest business in town, now they’re teetering on the brink of bankruptcy – and that’s just the start of their problems. Dickie and Imelda’s marriage is hanging by a thread; straight-A student Cass is careening off the rails; PJ is hopelessly in debt to the school bully. Meanwhile the ghosts of old mistakes are rising out of the past to meet them, but everyone’s too wrapped up in the present to see the danger looming .
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 Booker nominated novel is something to be savoured. No story in the traditional sense, but the writing is exquisite, and the descriptions are vivid and awe inspiring. The detail included is stunning, and the author weilds her words as a paintbrush, creating beautiful images of the earth from space. Unlike anything I've read before, but thought provoking and unique.
Claire
A team of astronauts in the International Space Station collect meteorological data, conduct scientific experiments and test the limits of the human body. But mostly they observe.
Together they watch their silent blue planet, circling it sixteen times, spinning past continents and cycling through seasons, taking in glaciers and deserts, the peaks of mountains and the swells of oceans. Endless shows of spectacular beauty witnessed in a single day. Yet although separated from the world they cannot escape its constant pull.
News reaches them of the death of a mother, and with it comes thoughts of returning home. They look on as a typhoon gathers over an island and people they love, in awe of its magnificence and fearful of its destruction. The fragility of human life fills their conversations, their fears, their dreams.
So far from earth, they have never felt more part - or protective - of it. They begin to ask, what is life without earth? What is earth without humanity?
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 . . .
A charming book for all booklovers. Gentle, likeable characters who all discover in the bookshop a place they can call home.
Claire
There was only one thing on her mind. 'I must start a bookshop.' Yeongju did everything she was supposed to, go to university, marry a decent man, get a respectable job. Then it all fell apart.
Burned out, Yeongju abandons her old life, quits her high-flying career, and follows her dream. She opens a bookshop. In a quaint neighbourhood in Seoul, surrounded by books, Yeongju and her customers take refuge.
From the lonely barista to the unhappily married coffee roaster, and the writer who sees something special in Yeongju - they all have disappointments in their past. The Hyunam-dong Bookshop becomes the place where they all learn how to truly live. A heart-warming story about finding comfort and acceptance in your life – and the healing power of books.
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?
A compelling female perspective of the Wars of the Roses - a portrayal of just how far a mother would go to get and keep her son in power. I loved this - Annie Garthwaite immerses the reader in an amazing period of history - it was fascinating and a gripping read!
Claire
1461. Through blood and battle Edward has gained England’s throne – king by right and conquest – eighteen years old and unstoppable.
Cecily has piloted his rise to power and stands at his shoulder now, first to claim the title King’s Mother. But to win a throne is not to keep it and war is come again. As brother betrays brother, and trusted cousins turn treacherous, other mothers rise up to fight for other sons.
Cecily must focus her will to defeat every challenge. Wherever they come from. Whatever the cost.
For there can be only one King, and only one King’s Mother. From the Wars of the Roses to the dawn of the Tudor age, this is a story of mothers and sons; of maternal ferocity and female ambition - of all they can build and all they can destroy.
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.
This is a real page turner, with a wicked plot and tonnes of heart. Who will you trust?
Alan
A global conspiracy. A man on the run.
What happens when diplomacy fails?
An unputdownable thriller, written with unique insight into the highest levels of diplomacy. From the former ambassador and No.10 foreign policy advisor Tom Fletcher.
In the aftermath of a global pandemic, a beautiful and charismatic human rights activist is murdered, live on the internet, at the British Embassy in Paris.
It is a mystery that no one wants solved. But, when governments refuse to investigate, Ambassador Ed Barnes is determined to find out the truth himself. The quest for answers plunges Barnes into a world of cyber terrorists and warlords, taking him to Oxford, Copenhagen, the mountains of Snowdonia and Lebanon, where he picks up the trail of a shocking conspiracy.
This is an international crisis - but also a personal one. Only Barnes can save his family, his diplomatic service and even his country. But can he save himself?
'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
At the psychologist's clinic of an NHS hospital, Noah needs help with procrastination, Bill compulsively lies, Steph is coping with rejection and their therapist, Dr Natalie Cawley, is dealing with her own emotional crisis, breathing into a paper bag between patient sessions. In this honest, often poignant and frequently funny memoir about training to be a psychotherapist, we meet the patients grappling with mental health issues. From OCD and addiction to self-deception and toxic relationships, Dr Natalie helps them understand and change these attempts to self-soothe.
Full of lightbulb moments, Just About Coping is a journey into our inner worlds, where the drama of our break-ups, breakdowns and breakthroughs takes place. In times of stress and suffering, Dr Natalie reveals, we are all just about coping. None of us is immune – not even your therapist.
Natalie comments: “In times of crisis, a coping mechanism is often your best shot at survival – whether it’s procrastination, social withdrawal or risk taking. But when it stops working for you, it can then become the problem. Through a blend of memorable stories and clinical insights, I hope to normalise people’s inner experiences, contextualising even the oddest behaviours and responses. The book will feel comforting and therapeutic and, by telling my own story so honestly, I hope to remove the sense of aloneness and shame that so many of us feel."
Natalie writes candidly about her own strategies for coping. Her book is an honest and fascinating read, describing with warmth and humour how she goes about trying to help the many patients she meets in the course of her work. It is an insightful book offering compassionate glimpses into a wide range of recognisable behaviours, and takes a behind the scenes look at psychotherapy. There is a growing interest in mental health issues and Natalie's book goes a long way towards keeping this conversation alive. I really enjoyed it!
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 a 2011 poll of more than 1,000 British artists, Hockney was voted the most influential British artist of all time.
This is a fabulous collection of legendary British artist David Hockney’s insights into art, life, nature, creativity and much more. ‘I’ve always been a looker ... that’s what artists do’.
It's the sort of book you can pick up and put down as the whim takes you - but I'd challenge you to put it down once you start. His observations are profound and delivered with pithy humour.
Alan
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
Every relationship has one beginning. This one has two endings.
Andy loves Jen. Jen loved Andy. And he can't work out why she stopped.
Now he is. . .
1. Without a home 2. Waiting for his stand-up career to take off 3. Wondering why everyone else around him seems to have grown up while he wasn't looking
Set adrift on the sea of heartbreak at a time when everything he thought he knew about women, and flat-sharing, and his friendships has transformed beyond recognition, Andy clings to the idea of solving the puzzle of their broken relationship. Because if he can find the answer to that, then maybe Jen can find her way back to him. Andy still has a lot to learn, not least his ex-girlfriend's side of the story.
Easy reading and enjoyable. I liked the fact that you discover both perspectives of the break up. Good summer read!
Claire
Publishes in paperback 1st August.
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
Ettie has lived blissfully with just her grandma for company as her mother has gone travelling to places where she hopes to make a difference as a doctor. Ettie lives with the wild woods as her playground. Until she meets the mysterious Cora and she starts to crave more - now she wants to explore further, to discover secrets of her own. So, when Cora leads her to the hidden quarry pool - deep, cold, beautiful and dangerously inviting - Ettie is ready to jump straight in.
But the quarry has secrets too, and Ettie will have to dive deep into the darkness to uncover them . . .
A coming of age story for readers aged 10+. Whilst initially Ettie lives happily with the nature that surrounds her, she is on the cusp of adolescence and begins to wonder if there is more to life and her story than she has been told. She starts to resent the restrictions imposed upon her by her Grandma and starts pushing her boundaries. A beautifully written atmoshpheric tale.
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
Some men fight for glory. Others fight for coin. The Essex Dogs? They fight for each other.
6 years in to the 100 years war, and King Edward is landing an army on the beaches of Normandy to liberate his subjects from the rule of the pretender Philippe. The Essex Dogs are a band of fighters within the army who fight for each other and try to stay alive.
Written from the viewpoint of the men of war rather than the chronicled knights and lords, this fast moving account is raw, gritty and true to the harsh realities of a war campaign. Dan Jones pitches it perfectly, removing any belief that medieval war was full of honour, chivalry and glory - it's blood, gore and stench.
This book is compelling, and perfect for those who enjoy un-romanticised historical fiction. At times I couldn't read fast enough to keep up with the pace of the story - absolutely brilliant.
Very popular amongst Books, Blokes and Beer book club.
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
Rebel is a good dog, and he loves his simple, perfect life on the farm with his owner Tom – until one day the war comes too close… Now Tom is determined to join the rebellion to defeat the king’s men.
But Rebel knows war is dangerous, and he will stop at nothing to save the human he loves. Rebel must bring Tom home before it’s too late.
I loved Rebel and his brave mission to rescue Tom. Demonstrating the love between a dog and its owner, this is an exciting, heart-warming adventure story for animal lovers. i really enjoyed it! Claire
Suitable for 9+ readers
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
When failed writer June Hayward witnesses her rival Athena Liu die in a freak accident, she sees her opportunity… and takes it.
So what if it means stealing Athena’s final manuscript? So what if it means ‘borrowing’ her identity? And so what if the first lie is only the beginning… Finally, June has the fame she always deserved. But someone is about to expose her… What happens next is entirely everyone else's fault.
This has been on my tbr pile for a while and I finally got around to reading it!
It's hard to put down, and I found the publishishing industry as a backdrop really interesting. Even if you're not interested in the publishing world, the story is gripping and demonstrates the spiral that June descends into having told one lie, albeit quite a big one! Themes of deception and the price of fame make this a compelling and at times tense read, and I think one that definitely lives up to all the hype! 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.
Marianne Clifford, teenage daughter of a peppery army colonel and his vain wife, falls helplessly and absolutely for eighteen-year-old Simon Hurst, whose cleverness and physical beauty suggest that he will go forward into a successful and monied future, helped on by doting parents. But fate intervenes. Simon's plans are blown off course, he leaves for Paris and Marianne is forced to bury her dreams of a future together.
It is Marianne who tells this piercing story of first love, characterising herself as ignorant and unworthy, whilst her smart, ironic narration tellingly reveals so much more. Finding her way in 1960s Chelsea, and supported by her courageous Scottish friend, Petronella, she continues to seek the life she never stops craving. And in Paris, beneath his blithe exterior, Simon Hurst continues to nurse the secret which will alter everything.
A coming of age short novel, with Marianne narrating her own story. Can she find the freedom she so desperately seeks, and will she ever be able to move on after her first love? I enjoyed Marianne as a character but was desperately rooting for her to let go of the past and embrace her life going forwards. Didn't see the twist coming!
Claire
Out in paperback 6th June
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
Emperor Tiberius first dispatches a traitor. Then his whole family. Next all his friends.
It is as if he never existed. THIS IS ROMAN JUSTICE. Into this fevered forum, a child is born.
His mother is Agrippina, granddaughter of Emperor Augustus. But their imperial blood is no protection. The closer you are to the heart of the empire, the closer you are to power, intrigue, and danger.
She faces soldiers, senators, rivals, silver-tongued pretenders, each vying for position. One mistake risks exile, incarceration, execution. Or, worst of all, the loss of her infant son.
For Agrippina knows that opportunity waits, even in your darkest moments. Her son is everything. She can make this boy, shape him into Rome itself – the one all must kneel before.
BUT FIRST, THEY MUST SURVIVE . . .
I have been late to the Conn Iggulden party. Nero is a real page turner, he creates drama and tension on each page. I could really sense the terror, the desperation and the ambition. A masterpiece.
Alan
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
London, 1847. In a quiet house in the countryside outside London, the finishing touches are being made to welcome a group of young women. The house and its location are top secret, its residents unknown to one another, but the girls have one thing in common: they are fallen.
Offering refuge for prostitutes, petty thieves and the destitute, Urania Cottage is a second chance at life - but how badly do they want it? Meanwhile, a few miles away in a Piccadilly mansion, millionairess Angela Burdett-Coutts, one of the benefactors of Urania Cottage, makes a discovery that leaves her cold. Her stalker of ten years has been released from prison, and she knows it's only a matter of time before their nightmarish game resumes once more. As the women's worlds collide in ways they could never have expected, they will discover that freedom always comes at a price.
I love Stacey Halls' writing - I find myself totally immersed in the detailed world that she creates. A captivating novel - her storytelling is intricately woven around richly drawn characters. This is a real page turner - I couldn't put it down! If you've loved Stacey's other novels, you will love this too! 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
Lois Saunders thought that marrying the right man would finally cure her loneliness. But as picture-perfect as her husband is, she is suffocating in their loveless marriage.
In 1951, though, unhappiness is hardly grounds for divorce - except in Reno, Nevada. At the Golden Yarrow, the most respectable of Reno's 'divorce ranches' Lois finds herself living with half a dozen other would-be divorcees, all in Reno for the six weeks' residency that is the state's only divorce requirement. They spend their days riding horses and their nights flirting with cowboys, and it's as wild and fun as Lake Forest, Illinois, was prim and stifling.
But it isn't until Greer Lange arrives that Lois's world truly cracks open . . .
Gorgeous, beguiling, and completely indifferent to societal convention, Greer is unlike anyone Lois has ever met - and she sees something in Lois that no one else ever has. Under her influence, Lois begins to push against the limits that have always restrained her. But how much can she really trust her mysterious new friend? And how far will she go to forge her independence, on her own terms?
This is a dark, brooding novel simmering with tension. Stylish, glamorous and really atmospheric, it's not a fast moving thriller, but hooks you in. I had no idea about Reno as the divorce capital of the USA yet this adds a depth and richness to the story. Engaging characters - I really enjoyed it. Claire
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
WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2022
When a book and a reader are meant for each other, both of them know it . . .
After the tragic death of his father, fourteen-year-old Benny Oh begins to hear voices. The voices belong to the things in his house and sound variously pleasant, angry or sad. Then his mother develops a hoarding problem, and the voices grow more clamorous.
So Benny seeks refuge in the silence of a large public library. There he meets a mesmerising street artist with a smug pet ferret; a homeless philosopher-poet; and his very own Book, who narrates Benny's life and teaches him to listen to the things that truly matter. Blending unforgettable characters with jazz, climate change and our attachment to material possessions, this is classic Ruth Ozeki - bold, humane and heartbreaking.
This has been on my tbr pile for a while but I have always put it to one side because of its length! A coming of age story exploring bereavement and mental illness, and the harrowing effects of each, all the while celebrating the power of books and libraries. Ozeki depicts the trauma of a family fighting to survive after their loss. Benny battling with his mental health and Annabelle struggling to keep on top of her hoarding habits. The book is compassionate and unique in its storytelling. Will make you think, and perhaps re-evaluate what's important in life. 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
The Highway Cello name began with a journey. In the summer of 2022 Kenneth cycled from Hadrian’s Wall to Rome (“from the edge of Empire to its heart”). He built a rack for the back of his old Dawes Galaxy bike, strapped his special carbon fibre cello to it, and set off.
It was quite an adventure – the length of England, through France and over the Alps to Italy, and Rome. Every day he played the cello, in scheduled and pop-up concerts, busking, and just responding to the moment.
This story is one of a kind - for lovers of travel writing, or music or musical instruments....or poetry - this book has it all. As an ex-member of the clergy, Kenneth writes in an engaging and personal way that reads like he's talking to you, but without sermonising... and treats the reader to an insight in to a musician's relationship with their instrument, in this case Libre, a carbon fibre cello.
An extraordinary read. 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
Retired teachers Pat, Liz and Thelma are happiest whiling away their hours over coffee, cake and chat at the Thirsk Garden Centre café. But when their good friend tells them about an unsettling experience she had in a sinister-feeling charity shop, they simply can’t resist investigating… Because the entire shop has vanished into thin air. Before long, our trio of unlikely sleuths find themselves embroiled in a race against the clock to get to the bottom of this mystery – but who has a secret to hide and how far will they go to keep it concealed? Only time will tell…
The third novel in the amateur sleuth series - felt a bit like catching up with old friends! If cosy crime is your thing, why not sit yourself down with a cuppa and see how you get on solving this new mystery. Had me flummoxed!
‘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.
When the Nazis take Rome, thousands go into hiding. One priest will risk everything to save them. September 1943: German forces occupy Rome.
SS officer Paul Hauptmann rules with terror. An Irish priest, Hugh O'Flaherty, dedicates himself to helping those escaping from the Nazis. His home is Vatican City, a neutral, independent country within Rome where the occupiers hold no sway.
He gathers a team to set up an Escape Line. But Hauptmann's net begins closing in and the need for a terrifyingly audacious mission grows critical. By Christmas, it's too late to turn back.
This is an incredible story based on true events of extraordinary courage in the midst of extraordinary danger. Although at times a little overly descriptive, the story is gripping and humbling. A powerful book! A
The fact that this is based on a true story makes it all the more compelling. Demonstrates an incredible human spirit to do good, all whilst caught up in the atrocities of war - tense, gripping and moving. C
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
Freya Lockwood has avoided the quaint English village in which she grew up for the last 20 years. That is until news arrives that Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer and Freya’s estranged mentor, has died…and the circumstances seem suspicious.
Freya finds herself sucked back into a life she’d sworn to leave behind.
Joining forces with Aunt Carole, Arthur’s staunch best friend, Freya follows both clues and her instincts to an old manor house for an ‘antiques enthusiasts weekend’. But not is all as it seems; the antiques are bad reproductions and the guests all have something to hide. Can Freya and Carole solve the mystery and unearth the killer before they strike again?
A really enjoyable read - a likeable protagonist who is drawn back into a world she thought she’d left behind, and begins to rediscover herself as a result. An intriguing murder mystery needs solving, and Freya and her eccentric OTT Aunt Carole (utilising their unique investigative style), are determined to find out who killed Arthur.
Cara uses her knowledge of the antique trade to bring a sense of authenticity to the story and I enjoyed Arthur’s tips at the beginning of each chapter.
A great addition to the cosy crime genre - a must for antique lovers. Warm and engaging.
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!
New York bookseller Cassie Andrews is not sure what she’s doing with her life. She lives quietly, sharing an apartment with her best friend, Izzy. Then a favourite customer gives her an old book.
A book that bestows extraordinary abilities on whoever possesses it. And she is about to learn that there are other magic books out there that can also do wondrous – or dreadful and terrifying – things. Because where there is magic there is power and there are those who will stop at nothing to possess it.
Suddenly Cassie and Izzy are confronted by violence and danger, and the only person who can help them is Drummond Fox who has a secret library of magical books hidden in the shadows for safekeeping, a man fleeing his own demons. Because there is a nameless evil out there that is hunting them all . .
I really enjoyed this book - it mixes magic and time travel and is a real page turning adventure. Books that give their owners special powers - yes please! But there is a darker side as many are dangerous and ruthless individuals who covet the book which Cassie possesses and they’re not afraid to use their powers to get what they want.
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!!
At three o'clock in the morning, Emergency Services receives a call. 'This is Zara Fanshawe. Always lost and never found.' An hour later, the wayward celebrity's Rolls Royce Phantom is found abandoned in dingy Becket Street.
The paparazzi go wild. For some reason, news of Zara's disappearance prompts homeless woman Lena Wójcik to search the camps, nervously, for the bad-tempered vagrant known as 'Waitrose', a familiar sight in Oxford pushing his trolley of possessions. But he's nowhere to be found either.
Who will lead the investigation and cope with the media frenzy? Suave, prize-winning, Oxford-educated DI Ray Wilkins is passed over in favour of his partner, gobby, trailer-park educated DI Ryan Wilkins (no relation).
Simon's books go from strength to strength. This is a fast paced story, twisting and turning - his best yet.
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!
DCS Kat Frank knows all about loss. A widowed single mother, Kat is a cop who trusts her instincts. Picked to lead a pilot programme that has her paired with AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) Lock, Kat's instincts come up against Lock's logic.
But when the two missing person's cold cases they are reviewing suddenly become active, Lock is the only one who can help Kat when the case gets personal. AI versus human experience. Logic versus instinct. With lives on the line can the pair work together before someone else becomes another statistic?
What an incredible debut! This is a real page turner, a thrilling plot with unexpected twists... and we both absolutely loved it. A cracking story - the AI versus human experience angle with all its connotations is brilliantly and at times humorously realised, but this is a novel with real heart too. Highly recommended by us both!
We can't wait for Jo's next novel featuring Kat and Lock "Leave No Trace" which publishes March 28th!
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 protagonist Heather, or Bird as she’s known is a woman on the run. One minute, she’s in a meeting in her office in Birmingham – the next, she’s walking out on her job, her home, her life. It’s a day she thought might come, one she’s prepared for. But nothing could prepare her for what will happen next.
As Bird tries to work out who exactly is on her trail, she must also decide who – if anyone – she can trust. Is her greatest fear that she will be hunted down, or that she will never be found?
The locations in this book are described beautifully - you can picture the bleak landscapes and harsh weather conditions. Heather is an interesting, very self contained character prioritising her career over family, friendships and relationships. She’s very resilient, determined and definitely a strong person, but ultimately alone and with regrets. For much of the novel she is on the run, fighting for her survival in this slow burning thriller. Carefully paced tension and well written.
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
Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sarah Collier has started to show the same tell-tale signs of Alzheimer's disease as her father: memory loss, even blackouts. So she is reluctant to accept the invitation to be the guest of honour at a prestigious biotech conference - until her husband Daniel, a neuroscientist, persuades her that the publicity storm will be worth it. The technology being unveiled at this conference could revolutionise medicine forever.
More than that, it could save Sarah's life. In Geneva, the couple are feted as stars - at least, Sarah is. But behind the five-star luxury, investors are circling, controversial blogger Terri Landau is all over the story, and Sarah's symptoms are getting worse.
As events begin to spiral out of control, Sarah can't be sure who to trust - including herself.
This is a fast paced thriller with strong characters and very visual writing. A cracking good read - hopefully the first of many from Richard Armitage.
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.
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