What We're Talking About

Originally published in 1948 this is part of a beautifully packaged reprint of the entire Gervase Fen series from Vintage Books.  It's also one of my "read whatever I bloody want" treats.  (Not that reading review books / discussion books etc isn't a privilege, it's just sometimes you just want to read on a whim!)

From the Blurb:

In the sleepy English village of Sanford Angelorum, Professor Gervase Fen is taking a break from his books to run for Parliament.  At first glance, the village he's come to canvass seems perfectly peaceful, but Fen soon discovers that appearances can be deceptive:  someone in the village has discovered a dark secret and is using it for blackmail.

Opening Lines:

'Sanford Angelorum all change,' said the station-master.  'Sanford Angelorum, all change.'

Technorati Tags: Buried for Pleasure What We're Talking About Edmund Crispin United Kingdom Crime Fiction 2009 Gervase Fen Mystery Vintage Boks

Sometimes I look at Mt TBR and realise that it's more of a hoarders paradise than anything else.  And every year I promise myself that I will go back and read some of the books that are lurking there, that have been lurking there for a long long time.  And sometimes I actually do get around to that.  I really need to work out a way to read more books.  I mean I've given up housework and all those other unnecessary tasks - obviously something else has to go.

From the Blurb:

Rough Justice Unanswered Questions from the Australian Courts examines the question at the heart of our criminal justice system - what happens when our courts get it wrong?

Opening Lines:

In my travels around Australia, I often meet people who ask me questions about cases where the justice system hasn't worked as it should.

Technorati Tags: Rough Justice What We're Talking About Australia Robin Bowles True Crime 2007 Five Mile Press

Okay, I'm lying again.  I'm actually listening to this on my MP3 player.  Which is extremely instructive as it would be fair to say my grasp of Spanish pronunciation isn't good.  My English pronunciation isn't good let's face it.

And the reader of this book - Seán Barrett is adding that little extra to the enjoyment of what is, a fabulous book.

From the Blurb:

The sweltering city of Seville is still recovering from a shocking and unsolved terrorist attack but now a spectacular car crash brings to light another threat.  A dead gangster and a suitcase filled with millions in cash means the prospect of a serious Russian mafia presence on Inspector Jefe Javier Falcon's beat.

Opening Lines:

The ice-cold vodka slipped down Vaili Lukyanov's throat as the traffic thundered past the lay-by on the new motorway from Algeciras to Jerez de la Frontera.  The heat had started the seat beading in his dark hair as he stood by the open boot of the Range Rover Sport.

Technorati Tags: The Ignorance of Blood What We're Talking About England Portugal Robert Wilson Spain Crime Fiction Seville 2009 Harper Collins Javier Falcon

I like Dave Franklin's stream of conscious rant novels.  Highly entertaining.

And then he writes GIRLS LIKE FUNNY BOYS and it's not a rant novel. 

Now Dave referred to it as "life-affirming" in the inscription he included on my copy, and I really do agree.  This is a really engaging book, one of those ones that makes me mildly pissed off with day job responsibilities and alpacas and chooksⁱ to feed, and bright sunlight because I can't get my sunglasses over my reading glasses so I can't skive off in the chook yards and read when I should be shovelling... well you get the picture.

Full review to come and news of 3 copies to give away (Australia only sorry).

From the Blurb:

Meet Johnny Goodwin.  He's grown up in a quiet Brisbane suburb with loving parents, a faithful dog and an unrequited yearning for his teenage sweetheart Angie Everson.  Now in his last year at school, he's finally caught her eye by starring in a teacher-baiting panto.  Dreams are already taking shape of a career in entertainment, perhaps with Angie by his side.  All he's got to do is pass his exams, get to uni and keep away from Gina Wood, the weird girl who once let him touch her.

Opening Lines:

Johnny tucked his eighteenth birthday card invitation into a shirt pocket and trotted down the front steps of his home.  Hopefully the night would turn out nothing like Catherine Roberts' seventeenth birthday party a few months ago.  Boy, had that bash stiffed.

Technorati Tags: Girls Like Funny Boys What We're Talking About Australia Dave Franklin Fiction Brisbane 2010 Baby Dog Ice Press