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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
thebooktrail has commented on (71) products
The Girl with the Louding Voice
by
Abi Daré
thebooktrail
, April 26, 2020
This book had me going through so many emotions I felt physically worn after finishing it. There was wonder, anger,more anger, sheer helplessness, a caring need to help out, fear, hatred but most of all, admiration. Adunni is one fictional character here, but in reality she is so many young girls, so many lost voices across the world. I got a lump in my throat and a heavy heart when I had that in mind as I read. Set in Nigeria, the girl Adunni whose story we follow is perhaps on of the most fascinating characters I’ve met in a long time. I felt privileged to have met her and been on this journey with her. I can’t even begin to imagine her pain and suffering yet even just going on this literary journey with her, I feel humbled. What a cast of characters to help Adunni gets her voice across. It’s complex, heart-breaking and heart-warming to read. Not having an idea what a louding voice was before I read this, I am so passionate about it now. Emotional, touching, heartbreaking, poignant. There are no words really.
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Bitter Wash Road
by
Garry Disher
thebooktrail
, April 26, 2020
If you love your Australian fiction, then you’re going to love this. A city cop, shunned by his colleagues for having been a whistle blower is sent to small town Tiverton (fictional thank goodness) He soon realises that quiet does not always mean calm though and the local police here are little more than a thuggish gang. You see there are things happening in Tiverton and people are willing to kill to keep it secret. A girl has been killed, supposedly knocked down by a car. Straight forward investigation then? Nope. Then there’s a the apparent suicide of a middle aged woman….. Through in some fantastically complex and dark characters, more foreboding than you can shake a stick at and you have a fine example of small-town noir Tiverton style. Bitter Wash Road is a fine title for this book. When you see how fast the situation escalates, the bitterness which washes over the town and the region in general…. Then there’s the setting – small town Australia, dusty outback community, claustrophobic and remote. Deadly but it’s not the snakes and bugs this time but the other more human creatures that could kill. Recommended for a virtual booktrail only ha!
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How Much of These Hills Is Gold
by
C Pam Zhang
thebooktrail
, April 26, 2020
The Gold Rush was an exciting time in America. There were promises of great wealth and an end to the struggles you and your family were facing. Wealth beyond your wildest dreams. Thousands of people flocked here and fought to find the riches. This is a unique angle to the story as we see this time through the eyes of two children who have lost their mother and father. They look for somewhere to bury their father and so go on a journey which will lead them to unexpected places. This is a tale of belonging, of facing hostility and their search for an identity in a confused time and place. The language of the novel simply adds to its weaving, lyrical yet hard-hitting message.
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View Across the Rooftops An epic heart wrenching & gripping World War Two historical novel
by
Suzanne Kelman
thebooktrail
, November 28, 2019
There are numerous books out there about normal and humble Dutch citizens who risked their lives to help the Jews during the war. All of them remarkable. I mean, the risks they were taking, but the sheer humanity and emotions which made them have to do it. I can’t imagine the heartbreak and anguish of being in a situation like that for either the Dutch people who took them in or for the Jews themselves. Persecuted for religion? Seems like we never learn. I think that’s why these books are so important to read. I am in awe of all of those who helped the Jewish people who survived such an ordeal beyond words. This story is especially remarkable as it’s about an ordinary professor, a man you might not think is capable of anything extraordinary. He was a maths professor and is now retired. Living a simple unassuming life until he has to make a decision that will change his life and that of his friend. He ensures that he shows symptoms of a disease so that he can get urgent medicines. With the horrors of the Jewish persecution ongoing, this novel shows one light in the darkness and it’s a homage to all that is good in the world. I think this novel will make you tear up when you realise it’s based on a very real story and very real man. Humbling to read.
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Cold Fear
by
Mads Peder Nordbo
thebooktrail
, November 28, 2019
Well, that’s a novel I’m not going to forget in a hurry. Two time frames from the off – one from the POV of Tom, a US military man, who is the guinea pig for a new drug. He’s working in Greenland so this drug could prove to be very useful indeed. Having said that, it’s not going to be all plain sailing is it. There are side effects and very unexpected consequences…. The present day storyline picks up the trail of Tom’s son Matthew who is a reporter looking into his father’s case. He gets together with a native woman Tuparnaaq, and the two start to investigate. However, nothing goes to plan and the situation spins out of control like a car on ice. Not only does it spin out of control, but imagine people getting killed, murdered or maimed, large pools of blood splattering on the road below and consequences that will last forever. Oh and there’s child abuse in this one which made passages hard to read. I did skim over a few. It does get graphic! As with the Gory The Girl without Skin, the landscape is gloriously white, remote,quiet and claustrophobic. Somewhere most of us are unlikely to go (at least to the places within the novel) but which has connertations of winter wonderlands and Santa for most of us. So, when I think of Greenland and a red substance now, it’s not going to be Santa’s outfit that comes to mind, but the bloody snow!
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Rabbit Hunter A novel
by
Lars Kepler
thebooktrail
, November 28, 2019
If it’s grisly and gruesome you’re after, then the opening chapters of this book are going to give you all that and more! Jeepers, for those of a nervous disposition then this book might be worth just reading the reviews or at least the other books in the series to get you used to the style and substance! Joona Lina, the main character of the series, is in prison when the book opens. When and how, others books explain (another good reason to read the others first) and then she gets a case where her expertise is going to help in the most bizarre way. What a case! The Swedish Foreign Minister is murdered and the city of Stockholm is left in fear. If a book ever delved into the rotting underbelly of a city, then this is it. It’s a belly whose insides are rotting raw flesh which turns your stomach and makes you feel sick. But it’s compelling reading too… The Rabbit Hunter of the title is the most horrific sounding and horrific in every other way serial killer in a book in my mind. Victims all hear the children recite a nursery rhyme about rabbits before the killer comes. You wouldn’t want to go to Stockholm for a booktrail anytime soon after this! Certainly not go anywhere where you might see a rabbit… Effective but scary and visceral Scandi Noir dialled up to the max!
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Older Brother
by
Mahir Guven, Tina Kover
thebooktrail
, November 28, 2019
There are some novels that you have to class as an experience. A book can take you to a place and time, allow you to meet people and experience life as you might never normally do. Older Brother does all of this and more. It gets inside your head and makes you think. It made me really think. What must it feel like to not feel at home in Paris, or in your homeland of Syria? This study of contrast and outsider syndrome can be felt on many levels. What was particularly interesting was the fact that the father had set himself up and integrated to some degree whilst driving a taxi. His oldest son does the same, but by now, things have changed and the taxi is an Uber. Ubers are of course not liked by traditional taxi drivers and so this is yet another barrier between traditional taxi drivers (his father) and the younger Uber generation. The Younger Son is believed to be working for a Humanitarian Society who helps injured Muslim people in Syria. Was he spotted in a train station in the French capital though? The confusion, constant driving around builds up a great sense of confusion and sense of loss. There is no direction in their lives, they wander, they search for answers yet don’t know where their own brother and son might be. Where in fact are they? Physically in France, but their hearts and minds are another thing. A love for ones homeland and sense of belonging is a powerful force indeed.
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Running With Sherman: The Donkey With the Heart of a Hero
by
Christopher McDougall
thebooktrail
, November 28, 2019
Donkeys are one of my favourite animals. They’re always so soft and unassuming. Gentle and kind. They’re not as graceful as their horse relatives, not as majestic as other animals, yet their faces, their gentle nature makes me warm to them and always want to stroke them when I see them. This book is not just about donkey racing (Burro racing is a thing and is the national sport of Colorado, who knew?) but so much more. It’s about a man whose love for a rescue donkey knows no bounds. Chris and his wife Mika are the couple who take in the donkey named Sherman when it’s basically at death’s door. He is horrified to learn of how it has been kept and not looked after and so he brings it back to life effectively and gives it, and him, a purpose by joining in a burro race. Ten months of preparation for the biggest challenge of their lives! Next time I see a donkey, I’m going to look into its eyes and smile at my new found respect for these furry personalities.
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Giver of Stars
by
Jojo Moyes
thebooktrail
, November 28, 2019
Alice has recently moved to Kentucky in search of a better life with her new husband. What she finds there however is much more than she expected. Her marriage is not happy and she soon finds a new purpose in life when she meets the women who have set up a moving library service using mules and donkeys as moving libraries. I’m not sure who does the most work to be honest. The women have some tricky issues to solve and they are all escaping something and someone. This library idea gives everyone a purpose. Those donkeys meanwhile have to trek for miles through hard terrain, mountains and over obstacles to take books to people and rural communities who need them. Together the women really make a difference to people most in need and it’s a joy to read this and then realise that it’s based on true facts. Such a story needs to be shouted from the rooftops and I can only say that I think Jojo is the ideal author to tell this story. I’m so pleased she has! This is such an inspiring and uplifting story. Through Alice and these womens’ eyes, you get a real insight into life in Kentucky during the years of depression. You can tell the author has researched this story with passion and you can really tell she’s fallen in love with both the story and the characters within it. It’s so vividly recreated and brings an amazing part of history alive.
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Nine Perfect Strangers
by
Liane Moriarty
thebooktrail
, December 21, 2018
A group of strangers turn up to a ten day wellness retreat. All looking for something different, the answer to life, calmness, no more worries, who knows. All need to relax and chill out on every level for they are a motley crew. They all want something to change. Careful what you wish for! This group dynamic is what makes this book a laugh and cringe a minute. Not sure I would stay at such a retreat if any of this lot turned up. But that's what makes the whole affair fun to read about. (You can shut the book, pretend its the sauna door and smile as you imagine them in there sweating it out) The spa is not your normal kind of spa either - it seems to like testing its clients in more ways than you could imagine. Interesting.... All in all, it's a bit slow, a locked room character study rather than a book with a gripping plot or sense of place. There's a lot of viewpoints but stick with it as it's a fun ride. Might make you not want to head to a spa in the new year though!
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Bridge of Clay
by
Markus Zusak
thebooktrail
, December 21, 2018
This book is Markus Zusak's long-awaited follow-up to The Book Thief. I don't think it's going to reach those heights and it does take a long time to get going, but it is worth it. we follow the story of the five Dunbar brothers who live in a house in Sydney without adults.They have struggled since their mother died and father walked out. But they are keen to survive on their own. How did they get to this point though? The book also flashes back and forth to before they were born, and then when they were young and their parents were bringing them up. It's a very emotional read a you can imagine and Zusak's writing style makes you feel as if you are one of those boys or at least looking in on them..He does wander off tangent more than once but then this is the thought process of a boy struggling so it could be a good plot device. There's a lot of thinking, pondering and wondering to various degrees. So, not one for plot or location really, but an interesting read from a fine writer.
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There There
by
Tommy Orange
thebooktrail
, December 21, 2018
A story about the Native American struggle in Oakland. This is the examination of how colonialism can result in the loss of Native American culture. The novel speaks through the personal experiences of the author and many characters in the story, a group of Indians / Natives that intersect at a powwow at the Oakland Raiders baseball stadium in California. This is a journey of cultural identity. IT's a remarkable read and very different to anything I've ever read to be honest. Very raw and real. A remarkable voice
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Transcription
by
Kate Atkinson
thebooktrail
, December 21, 2018
Hitler was collecting countries like stamps. How long before he had the full set? This is a snapshot of history inspired by a series of transcripts the author discovered. In fact there is one line in the book uttered by Juliet which sums up this novel for me : “History should always have a plot …. How else could you make sense of it?” For Juliet is recruited into the world of spies and intrigue with MI5 and her job is to transcribe meetings between an agent working under cover as a Fifth Columnist and the various fascist agents he comes into contact with. This is a fascinating part of history and one I’d not really heard that much about. Entering this world and seeing it through the eyes of the various players was a treat and you can feel the research and author interest oozing off the page. Never does it get in the way of the story though – that’s Atkinson’s trademark after all – top class research, complex issues and an easy to read treat of a novel. What made this novel for me was the humour – wry and caustic at times – “‘Hypocaustum from the Ancient Greek – hypo meaning beneath and caust burnt. Which word do you think we get from that?’ ‘I have no idea,’ she said, caustically.” Linguists will love this – word play, editorial jokes and those war time transcripts which fuel the behind the scenes of wartime. I’ve transcribed many meeting notes myself as a translator but never quite as interesting as these. To have them dotted throughout the novel, in a different font and set out as if they were inserts in a history book, is also something history buffs in particular will appreciate. It all works really really well even if I did think Juliet seemed very naive for working in the foreign office and for …well life in general at times. There wasn‘t quite enough novel to go round either – so much complexity there, research, war time intrigue but I felt the novel was too short and I was left feeling there should have been more. It was fourth gear rather than fifth. Kindle or e-readers should perhaps be prepared to take a few notes as the timeline does move around and flip back and forth quite a bit and with the transcripts too, it might be tricky to keep track of some threads. Don’t be tempted to read the author note beforehand though as that’s a story in itself! There’s so much scope in this world and I hope Kate Atkinson returns to it.
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The Library Book
by
Susan Orlean
thebooktrail
, December 21, 2018
What a fascinating story this is! I had only a little idea about the fire and what happened afterwards but this book takes you back and really explores not just the tragedy, but the community spirit which flourished. I think Susan has done a really good job with her research and homage to this tragedy and really brought out the human side to what is a remarkable story. I admit I teared up when thinking of all those poor books but even more so at the risk that the firemen and women would have been under. This story needed a book of its own and this is a real homage to books, libraries and bookshops but more importantly - the love of books.
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Once Upon a River
by
Diane Setterfield
thebooktrail
, December 20, 2018
The best of stories start with the words “Once upon a time….’ Those words are the ones we learn as children. The words which announce a tale, a legend, build worlds, fire imaginations… What a glorious ode to storytelling! From the opening page, this was lyrical and like music to my ears. Set in the countryside and along the banks of the Thames. this is a novel I am going to rmember for a long time. The Thames hides, transports and supports life. The magic of the river is the main character of the novel and it has some stories to tell. And what a series of stories it tells! A man and a child wash up on the banks of the river and are soon rescued. The man is on the edges of life, but the child appears dead. Not only that, noone knows who the child is. The man remains in a coma but the people of the village are keen to find out who the child is. Stories spread of the sad tale and so to do rumours and lies. Soon, a few people are claiming the child is theirs. But outside the inn where the child lies dead, the river swirls, envelopes the neighbouring villages, takes life and controls the ebb and flow of life. It’s a very musical novel with the river echoing and representing the twists and turns of the novel’s plot. It’s all very clever and very atmospheric. Gothic and historical in equal measure. I found it a tale built on magical realism with its ribbons, like the river itself, running through the narrative. It takes characters away, introduces new ones and leads the story onto another place. And as for the ferryman of lost souls…. This is a story of so many currents. A novel about stories and their power. An ode to storytelling and the nature of legends, myths and a whole lot more. I really can’t give this novel justice. I just loved and savoured each and every word. Every scene was painted in muted colours with splashes of magical realism. It was the literary equivalent of taking a long bath and letting it flow all over you. The storytelling soaks in to your skin. The novel is also an ode to how stories morph over time. How a story upstream can flow and adapt becoming another down stream. What makes a story? The river here picks up magic, tragedy, secrets,lies, families and more and blends them into its waters. It really is a magical story and the words, aah those words. I loved it.
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Murder of Roger Ackroyd A Hercule Poirot Mystery
by
Agatha Christie
thebooktrail
, December 20, 2018
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is genius It’s taking me too long to read this but I sat and enjoyed this in one sitting. I immersed myself in the village, the life of Poirot and Caroline! Oh Caroline, the village gossip made me laugh out loud. Miss Christie has it all here – murder, mystery and humour. The killer twist at the end! Brilliant, just brilliant. I’ve never read anything like that before! My favourite Christie of all time is And Then There Were None, but this is definately up there.
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Abc Murder
by
Agatha Christie
thebooktrail
, December 20, 2018
Another great novel from the pen of Agatha Christie. How clever this one was. Someone is using the train timetables to pick stations beginning with A, B, C… and victims with surnames of those letters to. The joy with this was the travelling around following the clues from one station and village to another. There’s red herrings and twists and delight when Poirot starts to unravel it all. There’s not a lot more I can say about this novel as it would all give the game away!All the best bits, all the moments I want to share… I can’t! This is going to be on the BBC this Christmas…..with John Malkovich..and I can’t wait.
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Bitter Orange
by
Claire Fuller
thebooktrail
, December 20, 2018
Claire Fuller is an amazing writer. This novel had tinges of Atonement, Beguiled and novels like that with one single lonely manor house and the study of those within. It gave me frissons during it and I didn’t know why exactly, as if that’s kind of books. What is going on, who is Cara really and why do they want Frances in their lives? Why is Frances so socially awkward and looking through the hole in the floor looking for clues into a another world. These must be some of the most interesting yet complex and strange characters I’ve met in a long while. They really have secrets don’t they? Weird behaviours and beliefs. There’s a lot of soul-searching and thinking inwardly, strange walks in the woods, creepy statues in the gardens and those Palladian bridges…well they do sound nice. It was a lovely atmospheric novel however and the decay, the sense of wrong, the whole atmosphere, those bitter oranges really did sum up the novel well – it might be a beautiful fruit now, but bite it and taste the bitterness, then wait for the rot to set in. It’s a beguiling read however and I was enchanted but also chilled by the whole thing.
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Star of the North
by
D B John
thebooktrail
, May 20, 2018
Epic thriller. I’ve not been this excited and enthralled with a thriller for a while. Not as brilliantly fascinating as this one. The setting is the most secretive regime in the world and this author has been there and crafted a stranger than fiction story which is as thrilling to read as I imagine it was to write. The level of research mentioned at the end of the book is quite something – hats off to the author in many ways! As well as an explosive plot, complex characters real and fictional, political intrigue is high and the entire package is outstanding. The setting of course really captures the imagination as its’s a country,people and regime the world knows little about. What we do know might not be true – secrecy breeds all kind of rumours. This is what I would call a unique reading experience – on many levels. Much of the plot has been gleaned from intelligence operations and it certainly reads realistically! I was sitting on the edge of my seat half the time. It’s a mesmerising reading experience. Ooh there’s so much I want to shout about but it’ll give the plot away. You have to discover this for yourself. I’ll need time to recover before the next book but I will be at the front of the queue!
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Kill the Angel A Novel
by
Sandrone Dazieri
thebooktrail
, May 20, 2018
Oh my word Brilliantly chilling opening scene – BEST ENDING EVER – WTF?? and the gritty, racy thriller in the middle….I’m lost for words. My heart is now racing. What just happened? If you liked Kill the Father you will LOVE this. And then need to lie down in a darkened room when you’ve finished reading it. It’s got everything you want from a thriller and it’s a cracking follow up from Kill the Father. The writing is raw and the translation flawless which gives this novel a real edge. There’s lots to it – certainly at the beginning so you have to concentrate a little, but the payoff is worth it. Its’s also very timely – the suspected attack on the train is thought to be the work of ISIS and the mode of attack is eerrily prescient. Two of the best characters in crime fiction with so many problems, even a psychologist would struggle to make sense of. One has OCD, the other claustrophobia and it’s these little details that really allows them to jump from the page. There’s lot of banter, references to books and films to centre these people in the real world, references that an ordinary man understands and that’s when their very unique and dangerous world looms even larger. There’s so much to this novel and to say too much will really give the game away – it’s fast paced, deliciously dark and grpahic in places so if you’re squeamish – take care! Oh and don’t read on a train
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Salt Lane
by
William Shaw
thebooktrail
, May 20, 2018
A very fine novel and one which evokes setting in every way possible – the darkness, the way of living on this land, the use of this land for workers, illegal and otherwise, the land’s change over the years, the rawness of the sea and the elements ….it’s exposed, raw and hard to deal with at times..and all of this is also the essence of this very immersive read. The land is inhospitable in places and this is reflected on the poor illegal immigrants forced to work for peanuts in back breacking work on farms and marshland. The story built slowly but each piece fell into place and created a jigsaw of emotions. Romney Marsh holds many secrets it would seem and the story revealed them one by one. This novel really shone for me as it weaves social commentary, great writing and unique observation of landscape into one neatly tied package. It’s grim in parts but there’s a raw quality in its brutal honesty and I found myself slowing down to appreciate it even more. A great first in a series. I’m definitely on board for book two although I wil have to stop thinking that the main character is called Cupid
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The Retreat
by
Mark Edwards
thebooktrail
, May 20, 2018
When I tweeted my excitement at reading this novel, Mark replied and said he wanted to keep me and other readers up all night. Well, hats off to you sir, you did just that. There will be many many people having read this today on its release date who are looking forward to going to sleep tonight. That’s if the dreams don’t get them that is. There’s something especially thrilling about a writing retreat going wrong. I’ve come across a few in fiction and delight in meeting the characters, seeing what goes on and Mark Edwards gave me such a gift with this lovely lot! Scarred and weighed down with so many secrets, a missing girl believed to have drowned and a hidden chapel in the woods. The locations are fictional thank goodness. Imagine if it was a real retreat! either no one would go now or it would be overpopulated by horror writers. The cover of the book is eerie enough but wait till you get inside…. I rubbed my hands with glee with the twists and turns of these urban legends and stories based n myth and in the deep dark woods, anything can happen. Mr Edwards makes sure of that….
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The Baghdad Clock: Winner of the Edinburgh First Book Award
by
Shahad Al Rawi
thebooktrail
, May 20, 2018
Why this book works so well is that it’s such a simple and innocent story. Seen through the eyes of two girls as they grow up and start to explore the world, well at least as far as they can in war torn Baghdad, they manage to reveal their dreams, their hopes and their fears as well as acute observations of war. What we read about war sometimes can be gathered in such torrid graphic headlines that it’s there to shock. The lyrical, innocent childhood observations of these children make it all the more horrific and that’s why the book should be read slowly to take in the repercussions of what you are reading. When the girls are in the shelter, how they see the burned out city, why they dream about the Baghdad clock…I had tears in my eyes.
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Safe A Novel
by
Ryan Gattis
thebooktrail
, May 20, 2018
This is not the La the tourist board would have you believe. It’s the mean streets of the drugs gangs and those where there is a large Mexican and hispanic population. The areas are those of the ‘projects’ where the poverty and social deprivation is everywhere, but it’s also where the heart and the humour of a people often lives too. It all feels very real and very threatening but it fast paced. Not the heist novel it’s billed to be though – I think it’s more than that. A raw honest look at the underbelly of the city – but not for the fainthearted!
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A Shout in the Ruins
by
Kevin Powers
thebooktrail
, May 20, 2018
An epic and all encompassing read. It takes place over many many years from before the Civil war in 1865 leading up to 1980s. There’s a lot of ground to cover and a lot of characters to keep track of. But this author is not afraid of a challenge. The landscape, the violence, the rawness and the breathtaking passion of those who live there is amazing to read. The truth of slavery and inhumane behaviour , less so. But it’s like a sketch on a wall – too large to appreciate in its entirety and it would have been good to spend time with one character at a time for longer period. The cruelty and hopeless of the Civil war comes through loud and clear but I I think a simpler timeline with less voices would have made even the whispers of the message a lot more powerful.
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Keeper of Lost Things
by
Ruth Hogan
thebooktrail
, December 23, 2017
The man in the book is the keeper of lost things as he has lost something precious of his own. He comforts himself with the feeling that one day, he just might be able to reunite the lost items with their owners. He stores them carefully and writes stories about them imagining how they came to be lost. Anthony’s lasting wish is for his assistant, Laura, to continue his work. At the same time, another couple, in another era are living in similar circumstances to Anthony and Laura. Lost souls looking after each other whilst hiding from the world a little. Both worlds weave together to form a heartwarming picture. And believe me, the joy is in the unravelling... The stories linked to each item are a hoot but also very emotionally charged and poignant. If I ever see a piece of blue jigsaw now....! Sunshine’s observations in particular are charming all on their own. There’s a lot of love and charm packaged neatly in this book. Open it carefully and revel in the Sunshine which beams from its pages.Close your eyes when finished and thank Anthony for bringing magic into your life (and Ruth Hogan of course - she is an emotional wizard!)
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I See You
by
Clare Mackintosh
thebooktrail
, December 23, 2017
Can I just say that I actually did read some of this on the Tube. I didn’t realise it was set partly on the trains until I did so, but when I did, it felt even more creepy from the very first line. Then I almost felt as if I was in the book which has to be one of the strangest feelings I’ve ever had. I finished the book in a coffee shop but still had that sense of – where is the CCTV? I really really loved I let You Go and was excited to read this. Clare does love those twists and there’s so many suspects, as there’s so many people on those trains and the voice of an unknown person narrates what they see and do when no- one is looking and noticing them. I found this a chiller because of how plausible it could all be. Where is the next danger from and as soon as a woman got off a train I was like – No!! – get the bus or jump in a taxi now! Luckily Clare felt the same or this would have been a very different novel. And for the twist? Haha well I’m not going to tell you that, but let’s just say the set up and the denouement was creepily effective. I let you go, now, I see you… if the next one is along the lines of ‘I’m right behind you” I don’t think my heart will be able to cope.
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The Woman in Cabin 10
by
Ruth Ware
thebooktrail
, December 23, 2017
I need some therapy now for Ruth Ware has now locked me inside a cabin deep in Kielder Forest with some nut job with an axe to grind and now trapped me on a cruise with a missing body and a sick murderer trying to stop me finding out what the hell is going on. The whole locked mystery aspect to this novel is just fantastic. I loved Ruth’s first book but here the tension just ricochets. It was stomach turning at time and so realistic that I’m not sure if it was the action of the waves or the tension in the novel which was the most effective. Novels with so many limitations in geography and characters must be challenging to write but this one was clever. I was drawn in from the first page and every word seemed there to torment and heckle. The North Sea, angry and noisy was the background to the whole affair and the darkness and sense of urgency made this novel really intense and creepy. I would be scared to go on any kind of holiday with Ruth Ware after these two novels I have to say. I particularly liked the way in which Lo’s story unfolded as her boyfriend back on dry land tried to find out where she was and then mourned her death. But she’s still alive! I shouted. But he had proof didn’t he? This novel messes with your head and takes you on a cruise that you will never forget. A locked murder mystery in a boat? The plot twists and turns, churns you up and spits you out in its wake. A brilliantly intense and claustrophobic read
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Conclave
by
Robert Harris
thebooktrail
, December 23, 2017
Really interesting this one. If you've ever been interested in knowing what literally goes on behind closed doors, then this is the book for you. The closed doors of the Sistine Chapel when the world is locked out and the new pope elected. There really are some fascinating insights into the process and buildings of the Vatican. I've been inside the Sistine Chapel but obviously not been in a real conclave but it read as very authentic and goes into the nooks and crannies of the buildings, the sleeping quarters and the conclave itself which however true, read as if you were there witnessing it all first hand. The backdrop to the Vatican and the process of choosing the new Pope, the rules, procedures, traditions all weave in and out of a intriguing mystery and it felt very claustrophobic, secretive and very eerie at the same time. The whispers in the walls,the smoke rising up the chimney and the never ending twisting corridors.....I was enthralled. A great mystery in such a significant setting - I felt as if I was where I shouldn't really be - and what a thrill that was!
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Seagull A Vera Stanhope Mystery
by
Ann Cleeves
thebooktrail
, December 19, 2017
Well this takes Vera to a whole new level. She’ s just as curmudgeonly, still annoying Joe but there is a new side to her here, a vulnerable one and this time the reader gets to know her that little bit more. A faded seaside town provides Vera with her most challenging case yet. The sense of foreboding was electric and the personal links to Vera really gave an insight in to the lady herself. Her father is seemingly involved with her latest case and when she visits one of his associates in prison, finds a body and then is asked to look out for someone on the outside, Vera finds herself walking a very fine line. I’ve never found her vulnerable yet still with that frown and those vinegar laced comments. Vera is fearful of facing the past and with the way the present day case pans out, I’m not surprised. Bodies at St Mary’s Light house, a dodge club at Whitley Bay – this is her most personal case yet. I also liked the way we got to know Joe more – his struggles at home with a new family and Holly too. A great cast of characters which bounce off each other with ease. The camaraderie is great too and the banter as strong as northern builder’s tea. The central mystery is complex and dark but in a very good and clever way. This is the strongest Vera yet and the club and its dealings had such a menacing air – not even St Mary’s Lighthouse could shine on it and brighten it up – well there were two dead bodies out there. Chillingly brilliant with a sense of menace and foreboding which really brought Vera to the forefront and gave me a thrilling new insight into the lady of the mac and hat. Vera’s most personal case yet – Whitely Bay has never looked so dark and mysterious
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Thirteen Guests A British Library Crime Classic
by
J Farjeon, J Jefferson Farjeon
thebooktrail
, December 19, 2017
Love these kinds of novels from the British Library. This is a good mystery with lots of twists and turns and the setting in a large country house. It's a closed setting so it's very much set in the large manor house but that just makes it even more claustrophobic and mysterious. A good edition to the series and a reminder not to be the 13th guest at any party you go to from now on!
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Mr Dickens & His Carol
by
Samantha Silva
thebooktrail
, December 19, 2017
This was just lovely! I love Dickens at Christmas and absolutely love being there at the moment when an author wrote a classic novel. Real or not, it’s a possible explanation for how he came up with the ideas and managed to publish it so quickly and I was taken up with the magic of it all. Reading the author’s note at the end it seems that many events in the story are based on actual events, and are just embellished with others being changed more than some. It was just really cleverly put together and I felt we got a real insight into Dickens the man and the husband and indeed the father. The parts where Dickens had a conversation that later came back to him and flowed through the ink on to the paper and into the story were delightful and when he met the people on the street who would later become characters in his novel….aah I squealed with even more delight! How fiction and tre life can merge in such a way. It does explain how A Christmas Carol could have been written and why and that for me was a real treat. Lovely to ‘meet’ Thackeray as well! I have since seen “The Man who invented Christmas” and understand it’s nothing to do with this book but the book is much better and depicts the Dickens world in all its glory.
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Cartes Postales from Greece
by
Victoria Hislop
thebooktrail
, December 19, 2017
I read the sample and now have to have this remarkable book. It’s got so many magical ingredients about it – the idea of receiving postcards with snippets of stories of the past on them, the notebook and the idea that reading about a country makes a girl want to go there and find it for herself. See the country through the author’s eyes and the history unfolding over each and every page. In each story, on every postcard, Victoria Hislop brings to life the people of Greece who live breathe and care for their country. Greece has some marvellous history and some incredible stories to tell and for ordinary people to tell them is quite remarkable. You can feel and taste the hospitality, their zest for life on each and every page. But this is a Greece changing before their eyes and so the stories also show their frustration, confusion and anger at what is happening to their country. I felt a sense of pride and wonderment when reading these stories. Each one an homage to a country with still so many secrets and stories to share. I’ve never read a book quite like this before and it’s a treasure to keep.
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Booking in: A Crang Mystery
by
Jack Batten
thebooktrail
, December 17, 2017
A story about old books, a bookshop and the love of books. When the store is invaded and a possibly valuable one goes missing, then the race is on to find what is really at stake. What’s better than a book about books? Biscuits? Well, there’s a character called Biscuit, who is a renowned safecracker. Without Crang knowing it, Maury and Biscuit break into Marshall’s business and Biscuit breaks into the safe in no time flat. There’s a lot of old fashioned sleuthing in this book and it was a whole lot of fun. Books which may be forged, ink which needs to be investigated, letters with secrets which have gone missing…oh joy. Then there’s the plot within the plot! Joy of Joys! And then there’s the setting – great book feel to the entire novel, with snippets of such gems as Kensington Village and the oldest fire station in the city. I’ve not read the others in the series but if this one is anything to go by, I’m in for a treat!
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Secret Keeper
by
Kate Morton
thebooktrail
, December 17, 2017
I loved this novel. Loved it and there are no other words really to express how genius the plot and evocative the writing. Absolutely stunning and captivating novel about second chances and how nothing is what it seems. The stabbing of a man in the opening chapters seems such a cruel and random act from a woman who has always been a calm and collected figure. I was intrigued from the very first page as the calm scene was set before that cliff hanger. The story which spirals out from this one event is one of the most captivating and fascinating story lines I have read in a long long while. Don’t hurry it or dismiss seemingly throwaway comments in this book – every word seems to act like a clue towards the final mystery. Wartime London – oh the detail of this with the meetings at the Lyon Tea House, the scurry of people in the streets and the rations really captured the time and place and the sense that in one street, two women of very different backgrounds could be thrown together. I loved Vivien and finding out about her work and worried about her illness and how she acted. Dorothy’s plan to harm her former friend spiralled out of control and I was dying to reach into the book and pull one of them out for safety. I wanted to hug Jimmy though as he came across as a man in love, blinded by love but good to the core. Oh to sit with him in that canteen and drink tea! The story builds, twists and turns and shocks you when you least expect it. Kate’s writing immerses you in a world that I didn’t want to leave and when Laurel finally found out what happened that fateful day, I was gobsmacked.
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Maigrets Christmas Nine Stories
by
Georges Simenon
thebooktrail
, December 17, 2017
It is Christmas in Paris, but beneath the sparkling lights and glittering decorations lie sinister deeds and dark secrets… I’ve read these stories in French but now they’re in a lovely little collection which is perfect for Christmas and any time you want to be transported to Paris really. Maigret is an iconic French character and it’s a treat to have him in bite size here so to speak. The three stories are nicely chosen and very smoothly translated whilst encompassing all the French flourishes Maigret is so well known for. I found the stories so different yet they complemented each other well. No spoilers here but a good collection and there might only be three but three is the magic Maigret number in this case. Maigret and Paris At Christmas. What’s not to like?
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Portrait
by
Antoine Laurain, Emily Boyce
thebooktrail
, December 17, 2017
Imagine finding a portrait in a shop that looks just like you! A short and unassuming book but one which really got to me. A man who loves collecting antiques is ridiculed by his wife who seems to hate everything he brings back home. I think she’d be more impressed if they had a cat and he brought back a dead mouse or something. Chaumont loves antiques and the stories they tell. He has to hear their story before he knows how to look after them. His desire to hear their story is what really interested me as I love wandering in such shops and imagining the stories each item has to tell. They say if only walls could talk, but I would rather antiques did. He picks up a painting that looks very much like him. I immediately thought ooh Dorian Gray.. but this is a different kind of story about looking within oneself and finding that life can be as quite to change as finding an object in a shop.. A nice quirky read.
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Deep Down Dead: Volume 1
by
Steph Broadribb
thebooktrail
, December 15, 2017
Brilliant. Kick ass. Deftly written, superbly evoked setting and a ‘whip’ roaring success of a plot. Where do you start reviewing a book like this? It’s set in the world of the bounty hunter in the USA – across several locations with shady characters stuck in the middle of nowhere as just as prickly as the cacti there. This book plays with the hunter and the hunted, the prey and the prayed upon and what a bunkin’ broncho kind of ride! The character of Lori has to be hands down one of the most unique and exciting I’ve read about in a long while. I wondered at first if this was going to be my kind of novel -I didn’t feel in the mood for a desert bounty hunter – wasn’t even sure what one was. But how wrong was I? It’s my new favourite kind of gal in a novel. New favourite kind of setting and the action roars off the page!! The locations in the novel are some of the most vivid and raw I’ve read in a while and the storyline just takes you on one heck of a journey. I was breathless in more than one situation. Talk about being swept along by the action, I don’t think I was able to physically put the book down I was that hooked. Such a unique premise and a unique way of taking you on a very fast paced and tightly plotted journey. I take my (Stetson) hat off to CTG! This is one heck of a read and I am so in awe of her history as a Bounty Hunter herself. An amazing backstory to an even more amazing thrilling novel. Unique and very very entertaining. More please!!
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The Silver Music Box
by
Mina Baites
thebooktrail
, December 15, 2017
A story that sings and soars like the bird of the bird box. It’s made by a Jewish jeweller for his little son before the father volunteers for WWI to show he is a good German. This war story, is unlike any other in that it looks at the Jewish people and how they helped and worked hard for their country, helped others less fortunate and wanted to play their part in the war. It’s a poignant story and one where you gasp in hope one moment, cry in the other and shed tears knowing that this is not going to end well. It’s very emotional as you might expect, but this goes further in that it seeps right into the heart of the story that is not often told – the Jews who played a role for their country. What happened before the US entered the fray, before the worst of the worse which the world now knows happened -the early stages were no less chilling and heartbreaking. The story flits between Germany and England, but it’s the story in Germany that plays the biggest role and leaves the biggest impact and I have so much newfound respect for the many Blumenthals in history.
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Maigrets Christmas Nine Stories
by
Georges Simenon
thebooktrail
, December 15, 2017
I’ve read these stories in French but now they’re in a lovely little collection which is perfect for Christmas and any time you want to be transported to Paris really. Maigret is an iconic French character and it’s a treat to have him in bite size here so to speak. The three stories are nicely chosen and very smoothly translated whilst encompassing all the French flourishes Maigret is so well known for. I found the stories so different yet they complemented each other well. No spoilers here but a good collection and there might only be three but three is the magic Maigret number in this case. Maigret and Paris At Christmas. What’s not to like?
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Miniaturist
by
Jessie Burton
thebooktrail
, December 15, 2017
The Miniaturist is the most exciting premise I have come across in fiction for a long time. Jessie Burton’s imaginative writing however is the real treasure of this book. The characters are vivid and real, so much so that even the ones you don’t like at the start – (Marin) reveals a lot more depth to her as the events of the story unfold. And like a dollhouse, the more you look, the more you see and you can’t believe the small things you missed along the way. The shadows of the dollhouse provide intrigue and mystery and there is a feeling that a Jessie leads Nella down the twisty streets and along the dank canals, she is doing exactly the same to her readers leading them on a tale of discovery and mystery. Some things you can guess others not, but the big reveal when Nella finds out is still a thrill for how she comes to that conclusion. There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed – a message from the miniaturist or an apt description of the novel? Nella is a fascinating character – a woman who struggles to adapt to the social mores and expectations as the lady of the house. And Peebo – her parakeet – loved this nice little touch. Nella feels as trapped as Peebo is in a cage of her own – a gilded cage at that since she is given wealth and a new status in society but one very much controlled by her role in life and the men around her. Women of the time had little, if any, independence and were dictated to by men leaving them with no power of their own. Marriage, paradoxically, was seen by some as the only way for women to secure any influence over their own lives. But this marriage is to give Nella more challenges that it gives her influence.
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Last Christmas in Paris A Novel of World War I
by
Hazel Gaynor, Heather Webb
thebooktrail
, December 15, 2017
This novel will make you cry. Oh it’s so beautiful and immerses you in the time and era in which it is set. Using letters as story telling device is expertly done here and extremely apt. The story, the emotions of the letter writers comes across like a dream. You read each letter pretty much like the recipients do – looking forward to the next one and imagining the letter writer as you do. Another clever device was to separate the novel into years of the war. This added to the sense of time, what was happening and when people thought and were told, it would be over by Christmas, what they had to realise is that no-one had said which Christmas. The flow of the letters also brings the emotions of the people to the fore. The art of letter writing is somewhat lost nowadays but it’s so personal and poignant here. When Thomas writes from ‘somewhere in France’ and some words are blacked out, the reality of their situation comes through. So too does the humour and the innocence of the young – I found certain sections in particular so poignant reading this, knowing how history panned out. If you’re not an emotional wreck by the time you get to the 1958 visit to Paris, then you have a heart of stone. Hazel and Hannah you really have written a novel with heart here. Emotion, love, history and humanity.
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Spy
by
Paulo Coelho
thebooktrail
, November 27, 2016
What a fascinating read! I’d read a few novels based on Mata Hari but I couldn’t wait to read the one written by Paul Coelho. Using her last letter for the story is a brilliant starting point and the opening scene – for it reads like a film. Written in her voice and from her point of view I felt I really got inside her mind although I often didn’t agree with her, I learned to see things from her perspective at times but she still shocked me! Even though there were parts of the story I knew this was a fresh approach and a new angle to her life and times. A beguiling woman and figure The Paris of Mata Hari is one of theatres, dances with veils and performances which hide more than they reveal. An iconic and mysterious figure brought to life on the page A lovely touch was the photographs scattered throughout the book – made the book feel like a scrapbook of her life and this made it all the more enchanting.
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Escape to Havana
by
Nick Wilkshire
thebooktrail
, November 27, 2016
Ooh this touched more than one nerve – as well as a funny bone. Having had some experience of working in foreign embassies abroad, there was a lot here that was so true, it brought back many laugh out loud moments as well as others which had me covering my eyes and holding my breath. I’m happy to say that there is a lot more slapstick and funny events in the book compared to real life – a LOT more – but the events and situations of his every day are familiar in spirit. Charlie moves from Ottawa to Havana – two of my favourite places on earth and he expects Havana to be a rest! Well it’s certainly hotter than Ottawa and a lot more dangerous than Charlie realises. This is a light hearted look at events – I mean politically there is a light dusting of real history to the proceedings but the humour and watching a Canadian in Cuba is the real gem of the book. The Canadian sense of humour, the Canadian spirit mixed with the Havana heat and twists and turns of both the political landscape as well as the streets made me want to stick a flag in it and declare it as a one to revisit. Two cultures, two locations and a lot of diplomatic threads weaving it all together! This is the start of a new series of adventures and I can’t wait to read more. Visit thebooktrail.com for even more of a trail to the story
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Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them: The Original Screenplay
by
J K Rowling
thebooktrail
, November 27, 2016
Although the film was set in New York, the city of Liverpool England stood in for the outside shots and the buildings are remarkably alike - well for the time and period. A great screenplay from one of the UK's most beloved writers. Well worth a purchase for any Potter fan out there. Visit thebooktrail.com to see the locations in both the USA and Liverpool and get on your search for a fantastic beast of your own!
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Songs of Love and War
by
Santa Montefiore
thebooktrail
, June 26, 2016
I love sweeping sagas and especially ones set in old castles. This is the first in a trilogy so don’t go into it expecting there to be lots of loose ends tied up, as they’re not. But this is drama that weaves and moves slowly as it draws you into the magic of a gothic castle with more cracks and tensions that you would care to shake a drawbridge at. The story of the castle, its curse...yes a curse, and its ghosts with their hidden secrets is wonderfully atmospheric. It’s told by three different women - two from the upper classes, the Deverill’s themselves and one, a maid at the castle. There’s so much to this novel. The rich detail and sumptuous setting catch your eye on every page, but it’s the way that the story of Ireland, its history, its people and its political divides as well as class divides are woven together that really captured my attention. I’m now calling Santa the Rumpelstiltskin of the literature world for her weaving abilities. At the end you do indeed have a historical tale which shines.
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Left in the Wind: A Novel of the Lost Colony: The Roanoke Journal of Emme Merrimoth
by
Ed Gray
thebooktrail
, June 05, 2016
This has to be one of the most interesting and fascinating novels I’ve read in a long while. The story of the Lost Colony is apparently very familiar to most Americans but elsewhere, less so. I don’t know why as you would think people going missing en masse would raise an eyebrow or two! There are more than a few historical links to the British as well.It was a late 16th-century attempt by none other than Queen Elizabeth I to establish a permanent English settlement and was even founded by Sir Walter Raleigh. What’s more, this is a very clever mix of fact and fiction for the narrator Emme Merrimoth was a real person and was part of the Lost Colony. She was a widow but was used and abused by some very high up men in power at the time. She is accused of all sorts and ostracized and so tells a quite remarkable account of life at that time and of a colony under pressure. I can’t believe this story is not well known outside of the states as all the places are real, the story is real and you immediately feel as if you’ re transported back in time and feeling the emotions, the conflict and the anguish of those who lived there at the time. This is one amazing puzzle of history and I now want to head straight out to North Carolina to see all the heritage museums and real locations for myself. Just wow. Imagine stepping back in history and trying to find out what happened?Well I feel I have with this novel. Highly recommended!
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The Biggest Poutine in the World
by
Andr�e Poulin
thebooktrail
, March 23, 2016
Well when I saw this book, having lived and eaten a LOT of Poutine in Canada, I just had to read it. Can I say I'm not in the age group that this book is intended for - ( far from it sadly) but that just makes it more fun for me. Took me back to a time when I like the boy in the book dreamt of that Canadian dish. There's quite a serious undertone to this book - it's quite sad why the boy makes the poutine in the first place but I think it carries a nice message with it. Not a story for locations but for the most iconic canadian dish and for one to really sink your teeth into . The story is centered around a boy and his missing mother so is quite poignant yet it’s the charm of the food that really tickled my tastebuds. Not sure of many books which feature this dish so prominently. Sit back, make a dish of it yourself and tuck in. Talking about locations however, Quebec City is a major one in so far as Poutine landmarks go. Thomas lives in Quebec but it’s the old heart of the French speaking city that you should go on any Poutine trail.
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At the Edge of the Orchard
by
Tracy Chevalier
thebooktrail
, March 23, 2016
There's something very reassuring and calming about Tracy Chevalier's writing. She has a unique style and passion for what she writes about and you can tell she's really researched her subject well for even simple details are evoked as if she's sat at the table in the cabin with these people observing them. She takes you this time to Black Swamp - a real swamp which covered a great deal of Ohio and describes those living in and near it. The hardship, the lifestyle of the pioneers (Especially Sadie and James in the novel) and the roles of men and women. The land is damp and mosquito-ridden but the Goodenoughs (apt name?) make do as best they can. They are pioneers after all and James is devoted to his sweet apples. Apple cultivation is evoked with every last drop tasted on your tongue as you read. This is such an evocative read and it makes you one of the characters as each page is crafted to add another dimension to your experience. These are people you'll care about and a stunning visual journey of agriculture, landscape and people's relationships to it. See the locations on the booktrail.com as it's quite a journey she takes you on!
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Truly, Madly, Greekly
by
Mandy Baggot
thebooktrail
, February 01, 2016
See a map of the locations in the book on: thebooktrail.com/book-trails/truly-madly-greekly This is ideal for a beach read but I tell you something – if you take it to a rainy wet weekend in a remote village in Scotland, it will have the effect of brightening your reading experience as well! It’s sun, sea and sand and a whole lot of comedy with some serious bits in there too – Ellen’s romance with Yan for example is fraught with problems but then that’s the fun of seeing what happens isn’t it? I swear this book was so much fun and so realistic that although I couldn’t get my hands on an Apricot cooler, I did have to raid the fridge for an orange juice. I thought I saw sand spilling from the pages. That Mandy Baggot has a way of transporting you and getting you totally involved in what you are reading. Fun, uplifting and the cover is just like a picture postcard that you keep as a lovely memory to a lovely literary holiday.
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Crooked Heart
by
Lissa Evans
thebooktrail
, January 18, 2016
Perhaps one of the most charming and poignantly written books about what it must have been like during the Blitz. Vee and Noel are just two great characters on their own and when together, they make a formidable team. Vee on the fiddle as she is and Noel not wanting to join in with the other kids as he feels disloyal to Mattie if he goes against what she has taught him. The question this book make me ask myself was ‘ is it ever ok to look out for number one even during war time? Can we condone people in war when we haven’t stood in their shoes? This really gave me another perception of what went on behind the scenes of war. It wasn’t all WI and helping others in their time of need. And I think that sometimes it’s nice to read something different but which tells it in a unique way. Noel and Vee I just love and what a wonderfully drawn duo!
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The Axeman
by
Ray Celestin
thebooktrail
, January 18, 2016
The Axeman was a real killer, who between 1918 and 1919 killed six people in New Orleans. He was never caught. He wrote a letter, re-produced in its entirety in the novel – and from this true tale, Mr Celestin has woven a magical but perfectly rational absolutely possible piece of fiction. When you blend fact with pure storytelling as beautifully as this you deserve Kudos. So Kudos Mr Celestin.. I can’t even begin to put into words how the city comes to life under the inspiring penmanship of Mr Celestin – A character in and of itself you will want to live there whilst also running screaming in the other direction – but mostly you will want to live there. Even so, added to that we have a well drawn description of the inherent racism of the times, the different communities and mindsets of such and some wry and ironic observations on life in general. Put all the above together and you have an ambitious novel indeed. And absolutely addictive reading. It will get into your head – for a while you WILL live there. Highly Recommended. Shall I say it again? HIGHLY Recommended.
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Lake House
by
Kate Morton
thebooktrail
, November 08, 2015
1933, 2003 -An abandoned lake house holds on to the secrets of what happened one fateful night when a baby disappeared never to be seen again. What did happen that fateful midsummer night? As ever with Kate, you think you know, until the very end when you realise she’s been teasing you with something all along and you’re as lost in that big ramshackle garden as the children in the story. The idea of going back to an old house and discovering its secrets of what happened that fateful day is captivating. Alice in the present day is a mystery to herself and I particularly loved finding all about her in flashbacks to when she was an excited teenager. Oh and Eleanor and Anthony – I gasped when I found out what was going on and the events leading up to that midsummer night. In the present day, Sadie tries to unravel it all but her own story threatens to cloud her judgement. The stories worked very well together and added a real sense of intrigue. I particularly loved the idea that Alice was now a mystery writer and had followed her dreams. Oh to read a Diggory Brent novel now! It’s tricky to review without giving anything away but I totally recommend this for fans of a complex, intricate mystery which will take you on a journey and immerse you in the walls of a utterly captivating Cornish lake house.
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Storm Sister
by
Lucinda Riley
thebooktrail
, November 08, 2015
1875, 2007: The epic second tale about the second of the Seven Sisters taking you from the shores of Lake Geneva, via Greece, Bergen/Oslo and Liepzig It’s an epic read in every sense of the word from the locations around the world to the journey it takes you on musically and physically. The tales of a famous composer and one of the seven sisters is magically woven together and it’s a breathtaking journey. I loved the idea of Ally travelling back to a place her father had left her clues about and as she read the book he had left her, then travelled to the place we’re taken back in time to when those events happened and from Anna and Jens to Pip and Grieg, the journey was fascinating and I loved getting to know each and every one of these people and how their stories linked together and across time. Lucinda paints and writes music with her words for there is a lot of musical content in the book – the passion of the behind the scenes preparation, the hard work involved and that tingle you feel when a solo voice emanates from the stage – every emotion, chill on the back of your neck and musical note in your ear is vividly evoked and more. What a read – take your time that’s my advice and savour this journey. The amount of detail, research and twists and turns makes for an exhilarating journey with many shocks along the way. The writing is like the music it describes – uplifting, flowing along with a dramatic crescendo leaving you applauding loudly and wanting more.
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Fatal Flame
by
Lyndsay Faye
thebooktrail
, November 08, 2015
This the city that never sleeps – just as well as it certainly needs to keep at least one eye open as an arsonist seems to be on a rampage around the city torching it at will. New York city 1848.. Newspaper snippets, political documents, and words from various sources open up each chapter giving an insight into the mood, opinion and politics of the time. In the following chapter a window opens up on women’s rights, the subject of mental health and the frightening truth that someone is lighting fires across the city and many people are dying whilst others are in danger. This is a city of character and it’s a character in its own right – the neighbourhoods, the brothels (mab houses) and manufacturing factories are full of noise, sweat, toil and dirt. Pigs wander the streets munching on anything they find. The tenements and the living conditions of people are symbols of various degrees of poverty -women especially have a raw deal and are constantly under the control of men, wild characters with no regard for their health and safety. Working conditions, if that’s what they can be described as, are not worth the paper they are written on.
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Lake House
by
Kate Morton
thebooktrail
, October 21, 2015
Morton weaves her magic yet again! Kate Morton is that rare breed of writers for me who totally and utterly has you captivated and hanging on her every word. She weaves the many threads of two stories into a complex and intriguing tapestry of secrets, red herrings and a world which is so vivid and evocative, it’s as if you could step through the cover and see it for yourself. Welcome to Loeanneth, the lake house, home of the Edevane family. A sumptuous home in the gorgeous setting of Cornwall. A beautiful garden and peaceful lake, gardeners toiling in the background and a family enjoying midsummer on the lawn.. The Lake House and its grounds are like a fairytale setting but with a dark mystery at its core. A baby boy disappears from the house and no trace of him is ever found... Many years later and Sadie Sparrow, on 'forced leave from her police work becomes intrigued with the story and of the house (where she knows something terrible had happened) The two stories, past and present wove seamlessly together although for me the story of the past was the most absorbing. What did happen that fateful midsummer night? As ever with Kate, you think you know, until the very end when you realise she’s been teasing you with something all along and you’re as lost in that big ramshackle garden as the children in the story. The idea of going back to an old house and discovering its secrets of what happened that fateful day is captivating. Alice in the present day is a mystery to herself and I particularly loved finding all about her in flashbacks to when she was an excited teenager. Oh and Eleanor and Anthony , I gasped when I found out what was going on and the events leading up to that midsummer night. In the present day, Sadie tries to unravel it all but her own story threatens to cloud her judgement. The stories worked very well together and added a real sense of intrigue. I was pulled and pushed in one direction after another from 1933, back to 1911 and then back to 2003 but never once did I feel lost. The characters stories build and flow seamlessly and I particularly loved the idea that Alice was now a mystery writer and had followed her dreams. Oh to read a Diggory Brent novel now! It’s tricky to review without giving anything away but I totally recommend this for fans of a complex, intricate mystery which will take you on a journey and immerse you in the walls of a utterly captivating Cornish lake house.
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Tea Planters Wife
by
Dinah Jefferies
thebooktrail
, September 28, 2015
Dinah Jefferies really knows how to transport a reader to the places she writes about. And this tale set on a tea plantation in old Ceylon is visually stunning…. I love Dinah’s writing as she notices and evokes the most magical detail in every ‘scene’. This book deserves to be a film for the stunning backdrop and for the setting on a tea plantation which was a new literary landscape to me and one which I found very fascinating. The real world of the tea trade is well illustrated as the hardships of the workers and the brutality and attitude of some of the owners. Poor Gwen at the centre of it all ��" you see everything here through her eyes and her lack of maturity at times and sense of loss adds to your opinion of the place and what happens later. The customs and racial issues that separate the owners from the plantation workers are one of the most fascinating parts of the book. I loved the mystery of Gwen and her husband’s past and combined with the setting, the threads of mystery were carefully interwoven. Laurence’s sister, Verity, comes to the island and she is a character I will never forget for her sheer ability to interfere in every part of Gwen’s life. And that American lady? I felt as annoyed as Gwen did. I would love to meet the Sinhalese artist, Savi Ravasinghe however for he was intriguing and showed you a new side to events which occurred. Stunning, highly evocative of location and a very recommended read!
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Etta & Otto & Russell & James
by
Emma Hooper
thebooktrail
, September 28, 2015
A love story spanning fifty years, two continents and a great ocean What a sweet and endearing novel! It’s hard to write too much about without alluding to what happens but it’s more of a novel you experience and slowly get to know the characters through until you feel you’re walking alongside Etta. Poor Otto though! I really felt for him and his mapping out her journey on the globe. I felt his sadness and sense of abandonment but it was clever how roles were reversed and Etta had once been the one left behind. This was a sad novel but a heartwarming one ��" well with a coyote called James who talks, there has to be some poignant moments. The whole story had an ethereal feel to it and a sense that like life, you are never meant to know or interpret everything as sometimes, things are best left open ended and vague. A sweet, meandering novel and a love song to Canada at the same time.
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Defenceless
by
Kati Hiekkapelto, David Hackston
thebooktrail
, September 28, 2015
Finland has many different sides to it that most of us will never see…. A crime novel with a difference. Not your typical Nordic Noir as it is much more multilayered and complex which elevates it to a whole new level. The characters and setting from the Hummingbird are back but this is a whole new meaning of the word ‘ underbelly’ Anna is a fascinating character. Where does she fit it and how can she settle in Finland when her own identity and that of her country keeps changing. Even the name of the country continues to change. Such a background gives her empathy and understanding but a whole other set of problems which I found very interesting. Just how do you work to help people like Sammy and solve crimes when your own story is just as tangled? The problems faced by Finland are of course problems which cross borders and these are all very topical subjects at the moment which makes this novel particularly timely. Anna has some tough issues to deal with for her own brother returns to Hungary and her role of helping Gabriella and Sammy are fraught with conflict. Immigrants and drug gangs, not to mention the cold and biting weather makes for one heck of a backdrop to a complex and ultimately satisfying read.
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The Girl on the Train
by
Paula Hawkins
thebooktrail
, September 28, 2015
Oh this was good! Part thriller, part psychological mystery centered around marriage and people’s lives. I loved the narration of the three women and the interchange between them. the clues left as if scattered on the very train track that is the centre of the mystery sometimes you’d see something blow away and then it would come back and blow up in your eyes when you least expect it. The premise of this really drew me in as like many people I watch people on a train all the time and only take a break to read ;) People watching is fascinating and looking in the windows of passing houses even more so. Watching people live their lives etc is the way we all escape from our own lives and just take a peek into some one else’s. Addictive. Just like this thriller. I loved the backstory and the way we got to know the characters, their motivations and everything in between. things UI thought I knew in one chapter were like a bunch of leaves on the line, flung in every direction possible when that train went past. I would even suggest that the plot and pace read like a train journey itself - short chapters stopping and starting and from one place to the next. smart. To get inside the heads of these people was a real treat and I will definitely be reading more from this lady! We've drawn up a map of the locations in the novel and well, imagine if you followed the route and read the book at the same time - how eerie would that be?
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Rembrandt's Mirror
by
Kim Devereux
thebooktrail
, September 28, 2015
The story of the man behind some of the most famous paintings in the world from the women who knew him the best. Oh the writing is like the sweeping brush strokes of an artist who paints with words. When I read that the author is an award-winning short-film director and producer of documentaries, then you can definitely see this in the writing an the cinematic feel of the novel. Like many people I admit to knowing little of the man himself but by weaving fact and fiction together I could visualise everything about his life and the women he loved. The man behind the mirror whose painting reflect everything he saw felt and imagined, telling his story via the paintings and showing how he came to paint them and know the people in his life, who them became his subjects is a very unique way of allowing us to meet the real Rembrandt. His world is one of debauchery, debt and hard living but also one of art and all that his paintings entail. He teaches whilst feeling tortured at home. I was in Saskia’s shoes, and then Geertje’s and then finally Hendrickje’s and it was like walking through one painting to another and seeing behind them, inside their world, seeing what Rembrandt must have seen. Fascinating and a remarkable read. So evocative of time and place but also another world. Luckily evoked in paintings around the world and now in this novel. Must be a film surely!
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Witness the Dead
by
Craig Robertson
thebooktrail
, September 22, 2015
Glasgow 1972 and a serial killer is haunting the city’s nightclubs. Years later, is there a copy cat murderer on the loose? Scotland 1972. A serial killer by the name of Red Silk haunts the city’s nightclubs. The police suspect and Archibald Atto, later imprisoned for other murders, and think they have got their man. Modern day DS Rachel Narey is called to a gruesome crime scene at the city’s Necropolis. Former detective Danny Neilson spots similarities between the new murder and those he investigated in 1972 ��" but Atto is still behind bars so who is terrorizing Glasgow now? Glasgow is the setting the main character and the scene of fear from 1970s across the years. Blimey this is not the Glasgow you would have wanted to visit. The nightclubs of the city are being stalked by a man known as Red Silk and several woman were murdered in a particularly gruesome way. Elsewhere however this is a city built on nostalgia and flares, the era of the Thomas Crown Affair, T Rex and Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep. It’s as if this book comes with a song list to fully immerse you in time and place. Gallows humour and a cemetery tour of Glasgow, an insight into the bowels of the city? I can honestly say this is a cracking read for the sheer realistic tone and portrayal of many of Glasgow’s sights and streets. I’ve learned several new words since reading Craig Robertson and can say that this book is grim , yes but the gallows humour really made it stand out. Cemeteries are eerie places at the best of times but the dual time line story make them all the more so by linking past and present death. The verdict? A Gallus read
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Europa Blues
by
Arne Dahl
thebooktrail
, September 22, 2015
A trip to the zoo proves deadly… Skansen zoo is a popular sight in Stockholm popular with tourists and locals alike but there is shock when a gangster recently arrive in the city is found murdered in the most macabre of situations, his body consumed by animals. Elsewhere in the city, a group of eight Eastern European women vanish from a refugee centre. Then an elderly professor is found executed at a Jewish cemetery, the tattooed number on his arm a disturbing sign to his past. The Intercrime unit dedicated to international violent crime has a dark dark series of cases to investigate and their search will take them back through the recesses of history The landscape of Stockholm now is one of ugly repercussions ��" and the war, the holocaust has some horrific secrets to share. The Intercrime unit is to have some complicated threads to unravel. A deeply disturbing view of nationalism is permeating every crevice of the city and beyond.
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Moth Catcher
by
Ann Cleeves
thebooktrail
, September 22, 2015
Vera investigates the murders two Moth enthusiasts in a quiet Northumberland community. Nothing ever happens in Valley Farm/Gilswick does it? In a secluded rural Northumberland community, life seems good. Valley Farm is a small and quiet place tucked in the rolling countryside " a lovely country estate at its heart. Its owners have gone on holiday and have employed a house sitter to take care of things whilst they are away. For Patrick, a young ecologist, it’s the perfect rural retreat..for a while. For Patrick is found dead in the lane beside the house. Vera comes to investigate but neither she nor Joe is prepared for what they find next. A second body. The two victims seemed to have been entomologists " particularly interested in moths. As Vera goes about digging for the truth in her own indomitable style, she finds that Valley Farm is hiding rather a lot of secrets and that like a moth to a flame, getting too close to the truth could prove fateful. Ann Cleeves is a superb writer for creating something out of nothing like a word wizard in which a small and insignificant community like Valley Farm and Gilswick could be such a menacing and secretive place. And Moths? Bbbr even when I read the title, it made me shiver. Not a fan of bugs of any description and this gave me the chills as visions of dark places, insects and murder came into my mind. And what lies behind those curtains of those picture postcard stone cottages? Roaring fires, cosy interiors or something a bit more hedonistic and wild? It’s always the quiet ones you’ve got to look out for. I was intrigued to see what Vera would make of it all with her no nonsense attitude. From the way she tackled the claustrophobic nature of Harbour Street, I had every faith in her, and she didn’t disappoint. More character development here too with Vera, Joe and Holly and also interestingly Vera’s father. Just found out this is going to be televised on ITV in the UK in 2016 - it’s going to be episode 3 of the new series and I for one can’t wait.
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Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra
by
Vaseem Khan
thebooktrail
, September 22, 2015
Mumbai, murder and a baby elephant….. Well what can I say. The setting, the characters and the way in which they jump off the page " ‘the gaggle of sweating citizenry’ , or ‘Mumbai’s pavementless streets’ is just a joy to read. Chopra is an intriguing character " often melancholy and what the poor man has to put up with on his last day at work! He sniffs his food as a ritual since he has an aversion to ginger " it’s these little quirks that made me picture the man as if he was stood right beside me. The hot humid streets make you grateful that this book is such a page turner as they provided a welcome breeze as the action ramped up and the ‘bovine press of bodies’ continued to squash the words together. It was that realistic I swear I had to wipe my brow on more than one occasion or prepare to hold my nose when Ganesh appeared on the page. Aah Ganesh. I do love you. You make the world a better place. Chopra loves his city of Mumbai and now he has you. If you ever want a holiday though " the door of booktrail towers is always open. And there’s as much straw and elephant food as you want.
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Truth According to Us
by
Annie Barrows
thebooktrail
, July 29, 2015
In the small town of Macedonia, West Virginia, times are a changing and history comes to light that could change it even more In the small town of Macedonia, West Virginia, the Romeyn family were once one of the most prominent and well known until the Depression hit, and they like everyone else had to adapt to their new circumstances. But life is generally good and uneventful. However things are about to get shaken up big time. Layla Beck comes to Macedonia, at the behest of her Senator father to write a history of Macedonia for the West Virginia Writers’ Project. This is a scheme set up under Roosevelt’s New Deal to support writers facing hardship. So she starts delving into the town’s history and that lives of its people. Turns out Macedonia may not be as quiet and uneventful as first thought. Macedonia, West Virginia is a fictional town although there is a Macedonia in nearby Ohio, this is not the one portrayed in the book. Instead, Macedonia in TTAU is inspired by several small towns in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia particularly Martinsburg. Macedonia is a quirky small town community and the people who live there are a delight to meet. Each of them has their own distinctive set of quirks and beliefs and when Leyla comes to town, they at first reluctant to share their history with her - but then start to help share, well, their version of history. The Romeyns family also only want to present to the world their edited version of the truth. The secrets lying beneath the surface of a family with a figurehead such as Jottie may want to stay hidden, but Layla is keen to keep digging, and Jottie could be a good source of information. Niece Willa, aged 12 acts as a kind of mini detective and also starts her own investigation. She doesn’t like the fact that her father Felix is so often away and barely notices her. Just what will the history of Macedonia reveal? What kind of past does it have and what kind of future is it likely to have after Leyla writes the book? The 150 Celebrations are underway but who knows what will happen once the music stops and the cold harsh reality of day lifts its weary head? I was excited to read this book for many reasons. One was that Annie Barrows was one of the two genius women who wrote The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and well, I was going to read this one straight away. I was not disappointed. In fact I was drawn into the setting and the characters from the very first page and was enthralled to delve into the lives of the people of small town America. The time period of the depression and the writers project really added historical interest to the story and as soon as Layla started to investigate and the community try to hide their secrets, I was right there with her, wanting to have a nosy too. The characters of the story are what make it for me since I felt if I got to know each and every quirky one of them such is the vivid writing and voices of each of them. Jottie I loved and the stories they tell! Wait till you read about the Knock Pie Trail - brilliant and fascinating on so many levels. I was sad to leave this town and its people. A charming and poignant story.
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The Italian Wife
by
Kate Furnivall
thebooktrail
, July 07, 2015
Italy, 1932. Mussolini’s Italy is growing from strength to strength, but at what cost? Story in a nutshell Bellina, Italy One bright sunny morning, architect Isabella Berotti sits at a café in the vibrant centre of Bellina in Italy. A woman comes up to her and asks if she will watch her ten year old daughter just for a moment. Isabella agrees but moments later, watches in horror as the woman throws herself from the square’s clock tower Trying to protect the young child, Isabella is thrown into a dangerous situation as she attempts to keep the child away from the authorities. These are dangerous times in Italy and you can’t trust your neighbours. But something niggles Isabella, something the woman said before she committed suicide. Isabella is compelled to work out the secrets of this encounter, and of the child’s family but she does so at a very grave risk to herself. If you love Italy, history or simply a very intriguing historical mystery then this is the book for you. From the very first page, the action and intrigue come thick and fast and the twists of the plot are as winding as the small Italian streets. You can smell the fear and tension all around, as Isabella tries to find out what Rosa’s mother told her just before she killed herself. I was totally enraptured from the very first page. Why, who, what? I never stopped asking myself what was happening and the pages practically slipped through my fingers. Set against a real historical time period and event which I had never heard of, I was intrigued to know more and by reading this fascinating story of Isabelle and little Rosa, you will learn, feel and experience much more than in any history book. The fear of a woman trying to protect a young child whilst uncovering the real past of her dead husband was a thrilling premise which was layered with dramatic effect. This needs to be a movie ��" it was so epically evoked and played out so vividly in my mind’s eye Most definitely recommended for a trail but a gorgeously swept novel of history, the search for the truth and the true meaning of human legacy.
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Song of the Sea Maid
by
Rebecca Mascull
thebooktrail
, July 07, 2015
A poor woman makes an important scientific discovery in times past but will she be remembered or ridiculed? From London to the islands of Portugal, this is the story of a woman on the biggest mission of her life In the 18th century, Dawnay Price is something of an anomaly. Born a foundling, she taught herself to read by candlelight and her tough start in life only makes her more determined to make her mark on the world. But this is a traditional and man made world where the world looks down upon the achievements of women, that’s if they are allowed to make any at all, and those they do make are ridiculed or ignored. The world of science is one in particular where men are making headway, discoveries and changing the world…or so they think. When Dawnay comes and challenges this, they are less than happy. Soon Dawnay heads off to Portugal and some still as yet unexplored islands where she makes some shocking discoveries and challenges the theories held by scientists of the day. ‘They have slackened my rope and given me a taste of the world beyond my fence. And I will have more of it, mark my words’ From the heartbreaking days in the orphanage to the series of events which sees her boarding a ship to Portugal, I was with Dawnay all the way. Her voice, vision and intelligence puts others to shame and you just know she’s getting to Portugal one was or another What would have happened had this lady and others like her had not made their discoveries? Would Darwin and other male scientists which followed have been able to do what they did? The author calls her the wrong person at the wrong time of history and that in itself is a sobering thought when reading the novel. The research is outstanding but never gets in the way of plot. I was there with a notebook wanting to discover things as she did, marvelling at the pictures which formed inside my mind. The historical notes at the back of the books simply added to the overall excitement that this was based on real facts. The clever weaving of real life historical events, such as the Lisbon earthquake really added to the overall atmosphere and time of the novel. Quite a discovery!
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Demelza A Novel of Cornwall 1788 1790 Poldark Saga 02
by
Winston Graham
thebooktrail
, July 07, 2015
The second book in the Poldark series continues the story of the people of Cornwall but focuses on Demelza and her life with Ross. No spoliers here for those of you who haven't read the first book but be sure to get this as it covers the same period as the TV show Poldark . For starting life as an impoverished street urchin, Demelza Carne has done quite well for herself. She is now married to Ross Poldark and yet struggles to live in his world with ‘his people’. Ross continues to fight for the rights of the miners but some still find it hard to accept his new woman in his life, least of all his former sweetheart Elizabeth. Turbulent years test their marriage and their love. And an enemy appears on the scene who will cause a great deal of trouble for all of them. Poverty and illness ravage the countryside and the villages. Ross’ financial dealings in the Wheal Leisure mines are difficult and stressful. Demelza takes life by the horns and shakes up the local community in a different yet still as effective way that her husband Ross does. He is a strong figurehead in the village yet Demelza is somewhat of a Cornish enigma. Life here may be tricky but the charm and wit of the books is something to be treasured. Totally recommended as being a a great epic drama which you can invest in and then watch on screen. A true classic which really captures the spirit and essence of Cornwall!
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Ross Poldark A Novel of Cornwall 1783 1787 Poldark Saga 01
by
Winston Graham
thebooktrail
, July 07, 2015
The TV show has finished over here in England and think the show has reached American shores? It's a fab adaptation of an already popular and classic story with all book cover redesigned with the TV characters. if you haven't read the books or seen the TV show (which caused such a commotion over here - women were drooling in their droves and Cornwall tourism has gone through the roof! - then it's well worth a look at both. The book obviously shows and explores a lot more in depth but this is such a multilayered and epic story that you won't be sorry you read it. And don't be put off by the number of books in the series - each one is so well developed and the action really evocative of the life and times back in Cornwall that it is a real treat to spend time with. The novel reads like an homage to the author’s beloved Cornwall where Cornwall is centre stage from the sea mist to the views from the cliffs. It allows Cornwall to enchant us all, many many years after this book was written. And it's a great thing for such a classic and well loved series of books to find a new audience. We even put up a booktrail of all the locations on our site - the booktrail - and read the book on location, it's that good. You'll even get to learn a little Cornish dialect and Cornish comedy from Jed and Prudie, there's Demelza's strength and grit and Poldark's determination to support his workers and his family. Utterly recommended!
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The Girl on the Train
by
Paula Hawkins
thebooktrail
, March 27, 2015
A book to be read on a train! Just be sure to keep an eye on your fellow passengers as you do so…. When you look into someone’s house or garden from a train window what do you really see? What can you really see from the safety of your train carriage? what happens when curiosity gets the better of you and you take that game one step further and make it your mission to find out for real? The girl on the train is a taunt thriller voiced by three different women and the train that travels each morning from Ashbury into Euston Station. When the train slows at a signal, the real journey of the woman on it begins… Oh this was good! Part thriller, part psychological mystery centered around marriage and people’s lives. I loved the narration of the three women and the interchange between them. the clues left as if scattered on the very train track that is the centre of the mystery. Sometimes you’d see something blow away and then it would come back and blow up in your eyes when you least expect it. The premise of this really drew me in as like many people I watch people on a train all the time and only take a break to read ;) People watching is fascinating and looking in the windows of passing houses even more so. Watching people live their lives etc is the way we all escape from our own lives and just take a peek into some one else’s. Addictive. Just like this thriller. I loved the backstory and the way we got to know the characters, their motivations and everything in between. Things I thought I knew in one chapter were like a bunch of leaves on the line, flung in every direction possible when that train went past. I would even suggest that the plot and pace read like a train journey itself " Short chapters stopping and starting and from one place to the next. Smart. To get inside the heads of these people was a real treat and I will definitely be reading more from this lady! We did a map of the locations of the journey which was great fun to recreate!
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