All the Reviews

The third novel in the Dan Calder series, the title FROZEN SUMMER is the nickname Calder's girlfriend has given to a cold case that he's slightly obsessed with - and not just because he's the only suspect....

Following on from THE AGENCY and THE SECOND GRAVE, this series is one that you'd likely to be best to have read from the start. Calder's background is quite complicated, as is the story of his relationship with girlfriend Tara, and his moving between New Zealand and his native England. The author of this series, Ian Austin, does have a background in UK and NZ law ... Read review

The fourth of the Witches sub-set of Discworld, Magrat Garlick is getting married to the King of Lancre. Provided Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg can stop the return of those nasty, conniving elves from the magical realm of Fairie.

There are laugh out loud moments in this one that were just fabulous, crop circles, problems with wedding dresses, and what exactly happens on your wedding night (a book was thoughtfully acquired by the King on that particular subject), and the Lancre All-Comers Morris Team got drunk on a fairy mound and have got troubles enough of their own ... Read review

Combining a coming of age story, with paranormal aspects, this YA novella sensitively incorporates the subjects of disability and same sex attraction.

The main character, Myra, is a circus kid, who once old enough, had joined her parent's aerial act. Then she fell, injuring herself badly, so she now lives with constant pain, and the differences that the disability in a circus environment have created in her life. Now working on other performers costumes, Myra has become an acute observer of the circus life, she spends her life shaking the sequins from her hair and clothes ... Read review

The Wych Elm is one of those releases that I’ve had circling in my library pile for ages and keep meaning to come back to. All the opinions I’ve heard in the year and a half or more since its release have been positive and fresh off the back of viewing (and reviewing) a Tana French TV adaptation, and in this time of catching up on all of the things, so here we are.

Toby has always led a charmed life.  Always able to sweet talk his way out of a bad situation or flash the offended a winning smile, it comes to a shock to the young Londoner that he actually isn’t invincible. ... Read review

If there's one thing that DARK CITY reminds the reader of - it's that it doesn't matter what is happening around us, there are always the good, the bad and the downright opportunistic members of the human race.

There's always been stories of the strength and determination of the British people during the Blitz and the Second World War in general - their stoicism, the way that they pulled together and survived the dreadful bombardments throw at them in the course of the war. But I don't remember that much concentration on the lesser elements of society. The murderers that ... Read review

When reviewing a new Stephen King book, you can only really compare such rich work to that of his own. There is no other writer, past or present, quite like him.  King is the gold standard, the literary bar, a unique category. A problem other authors would no doubt like to have.   If It Bleeds returns to a format we’ve missed in recent years from King, the short story collection. 

Mr Harrigan’s Phone: Buried with his recent love, his iPhone, Mr Harrigan dies a respected and rich man, but not overly loved.  Craig will miss his company though, having previously ... Read review

POKER CHIPS AND POISON is the first novel in what's intended to be a series set around 97-year-old Alice Atkinson, resident of Silvermoon Retirement Village, and cunning sleuth. Anybody who has read this author's Hitchhiker series may remember a cameo from Alice, but in this story she's front and centre. She's also bored, resourceful and just the woman for the job when a friend is murdered in the confines of the Village.

From the very cosy side of the crime genre, it may seem somewhat unlikely that a 97 year-old woman could possibly run a murder investigation, but this is ... Read review

Set in 1983, HIDE is one of those novels that clearly demonstrate how a couple of simple life choices can send somebody spiralling into dark territory very quickly. There's nothing unusual in the setup as Alec Johnston moves into the sort of share house we've all probably lived in at some time. A slightly grotty old house, this time in Swansea, South Wales, which he shares with three other young men - Minto, Stobes and Black.

Minto is an odd character, a menacing bikkie type with a very young girlfriend who is fragile beyond belief. Johnston, with more than a sneaking ... Read review

With hindsight, this 11th Discworld novel would have been a pretty good listen in this time of lockdown: 

"After all, chaos always ensues whenever important public services are withdrawn, and Discworld is no exception."

Although to be fair, nothing here is particularly chaotic and nothing is currently threatened by an overrun of undead citizens, but it's been a while since I've cruised the streets of any major town or city, but then how do you pick the undead from the lockdown disheveled these days...

REAPER MAN is the sequel to MORT for those ... Read review