tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74450485031368225142024-03-19T08:47:14.501+00:00Sea Minorcreating waves in the world of fictionNigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.comBlogger975125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-71510079038310632752024-03-14T16:14:00.002+00:002024-03-14T16:17:18.455+00:00When Eric Met Duane<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZAwHBNXyyvxT600aXlAxePbq3JnJN-hqqdehnuNpxo5smhHPXUt_V85U19PDDJTkD9cUfKfUMVs9Jx1W3bV5Xrchyphenhyphen3QE9ZnhubEhumQA5c-JnXkT7pBP6Qrr98guFQEJBgSAs6pMb1xtXFfsU3fmHQHNl7d2Kj7ieefoZButAYByav8cLbwVgE4_MYru/s538/433110429_10161882763848982_2564351136835762174_n.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZAwHBNXyyvxT600aXlAxePbq3JnJN-hqqdehnuNpxo5smhHPXUt_V85U19PDDJTkD9cUfKfUMVs9Jx1W3bV5Xrchyphenhyphen3QE9ZnhubEhumQA5c-JnXkT7pBP6Qrr98guFQEJBgSAs6pMb1xtXFfsU3fmHQHNl7d2Kj7ieefoZButAYByav8cLbwVgE4_MYru/s400/433110429_10161882763848982_2564351136835762174_n.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">
Just look at this for a cracking event. It's way too far for me, but I reckon if you're within a hundred miles or so, this should be on the to do list.
If you can't make it along, you can buy the books to offer support by following the links. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> You do make it, let me know how it went. I promise I won't be too jealous. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> The Last Few Miles Of Road by Eric Beetner: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Few-Miles-Road-Carter/dp/1685125778">AMAZON UK</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Last-Few-Miles-Road-Carter/dp/1685125778">AMAZON US</a> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> California Bear by Duane Swierczynski: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/California-Bear-Novel-Duane-Swierczynski-ebook/dp/B0BRKNV1V8">AMAZON UK</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/California-Bear-Novel-Duane-Swierczynski-ebook/dp/B0BRKNV1V8">AMAZON US</a></span></div>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-85138090069576356582024-03-07T12:50:00.002+00:002024-03-08T10:23:59.562+00:00DANCING WITH MYSELF: MARTTA KAUKONEN interviews MARRA KAUKONEN<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwgTI5FwlieBq-99hFzW-9fUym6opeC_F6rBgYGmsPLYVJhGOLAGZe6gMBjM1UOMkPfPJ22KdX3lHhQBGmCIg6ql_URpygBXglvL3ViDex24pDHI54M2wVgUGxotjdKMrw4iIXhO1-2vxgjFiZNEpqqCZqjVDSJsKknArVqvAV8j_Gudqok21IVgv8uFm/s2764/BLOG%209781782278764%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2764" data-original-width="1807" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwgTI5FwlieBq-99hFzW-9fUym6opeC_F6rBgYGmsPLYVJhGOLAGZe6gMBjM1UOMkPfPJ22KdX3lHhQBGmCIg6ql_URpygBXglvL3ViDex24pDHI54M2wVgUGxotjdKMrw4iIXhO1-2vxgjFiZNEpqqCZqjVDSJsKknArVqvAV8j_Gudqok21IVgv8uFm/s320/BLOG%209781782278764%20(2).jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Tell us something about yourself!</b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My name is Martta Kaukonen and I'm a Finnish thriller writer. My debut novel psychological thriller Follow the Butterfly has been sold to 13 countries. It made the Spiegel bestseller list in Germany and is being adapted for a TV series by American-German production company Legendary Tobis TV. The English translation will be published by Pushkin Press 7.3.2024. Before I became a full-time author, I was a film critic for Finland’s biggest newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. I’ve interviewed the likes of Robert Downey Jr. and Justin Bieber. Alongside writing, I love psychological thrillers, film noir, flea markets, abandoned houses and travelling. Fun fact: I met my future husband at his second hand bookshop and fell in love.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Can you tell us something about your thriller Follow the Butterfly?</b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My novel has two main characters, Clarissa and Ida. Clarissa is a renowned therapist who isn’t afraid to explore the darkest side of humanity. Haunted by the death of a young patient, she will do whatever it takes to save the most vulnerable. But when Ida – angry, damaged and seemingly suicidal – walks into her office, Clarissa may have met her match. For Ida has secrets. Murderous secrets, which mark her like a bloodstain. Somehow, Clarissa must find the key to unlock Ida’s past. So she makes a bargain with her – six months to stop Ida taking her own life. But what if she has entered a game more deadly, and more evil, than she could ever imagine.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">What inspired you to write this book and to explore these characters/themes?</b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I never thought that I would write fiction because I’ve worked as a journalist for so long and I knew it would not be fun and games but hard work. I also thought that I would never invent an interesting story. But one evening I was laying in my bed and waiting to fall asleep when I heard the first five lines of my book in my head. I took my iPhone and dictated the lines to the dictaphone. In the morning I started to write Follow the Butterfly. I knew the beginning of the book and pretty soon I knew the ending but I didn’t know what happened in between. Luckily my main character Ida took me by the hand and led me from the beginning to the end.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">How did you come to write this book, how did the idea of the book originate?</b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To this day I don’t know where the story came to me! It was totally subconscious. But I guess it was because I had been reading so many psychological thrillers since I fell in love with Gillian Flynn’s novel Dark Places (it is still my favourite Flynn novel). Something had to come out of the excessive exposure to all those terrifying stories.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Do you have any idols?</b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Oh, so many! Gillian Flynn is a genius. I’ve read all her novels several times. I love Elizabeth Little’s Dear Daugter. Joyce Maynard’s thriller To Die For made a huge impact on me. Jessica Knoll’s new thriller Bright Young Woman blew my mind. Paula Hawkins, Erin Kelly, Mary Kubica, Amanda Coe, Lucia Whitehouse… the list goes on!</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCA7ZUvru0rryThRQwyN7yHd4SlQmOPuMwpR35i3VLTm0yINzumNYG4xp4KxXB6r1ASM3_bK3JE_wmxaWxrpC_qJT30g3oS6q3PHpq65OyCCvDZP2JajMeBYrmFkffz2yYZyJsam6nsrdZWV7MqpI6Z8JhDcoKWZiDQdatxfBqyh5IdxirWFUC2r0okMi/s1309/uusi_kasvokuva_kaukonen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1309" data-original-width="1072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCA7ZUvru0rryThRQwyN7yHd4SlQmOPuMwpR35i3VLTm0yINzumNYG4xp4KxXB6r1ASM3_bK3JE_wmxaWxrpC_qJT30g3oS6q3PHpq65OyCCvDZP2JajMeBYrmFkffz2yYZyJsam6nsrdZWV7MqpI6Z8JhDcoKWZiDQdatxfBqyh5IdxirWFUC2r0okMi/s320/uusi_kasvokuva_kaukonen.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="FI" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;"> Otto Virtanen / WSOY</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">What is your favourite hobby?</b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My favourite hobby is to read ”old” women’s magazines from the 1990s or from the beginning of 2000s. As you read them you soon realize that so many things that are now considered important, trendy or talked about are only a couple of decades later (mostly just a couple of years later) indifferent, ridiculous or boring. It gives you a perspective and makes you realize that the trendy things aren’t very important after all, and so you shouldn’t take yourself or most other things too seriously.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: OpenSans-webfont; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Follow-Butterfly-Martta-Kaukonen-ebook/dp/B0CRWT69L7">FOLLOW THE BUTTERLY</a>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-63931208873690219562024-02-29T16:34:00.004+00:002024-02-29T16:34:45.066+00:00CLAIRMONT by LESLEY McDOWELL<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4pj5hAiunmq75xNztxdf8o2TdomzDDDBm-Ap4ULJTIQ4y5bmdltNaubItRiEE4wvB-OgY-WNkxhlREU67SdVsj8yf-dNRt870PoYYSV1G-8tgp0d3p5TM0YA0H6DXiYisFfbLoXGdJjcF3Mz2EujMCoE1H720PKnOtioF4Au9hTihY7L_qpQX3PfKCCn/s1500/c1kxw+r3sFL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4pj5hAiunmq75xNztxdf8o2TdomzDDDBm-Ap4ULJTIQ4y5bmdltNaubItRiEE4wvB-OgY-WNkxhlREU67SdVsj8yf-dNRt870PoYYSV1G-8tgp0d3p5TM0YA0H6DXiYisFfbLoXGdJjcF3Mz2EujMCoE1H720PKnOtioF4Au9hTihY7L_qpQX3PfKCCn/s320/c1kxw+r3sFL._SL1500_.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clairmont-Lesley-McDowell/dp/1035400243">CLAIRMONT </a>Out today!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700 !important;">**The spellbinding, bold new retelling of the story of Lord Byron and the Shelleys, from the perspective of Claire Clairmont, the incredible woman that history tried to forget.**</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700 !important;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />'Beautifully written, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">Clairmont</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700 !important;"> tells the sensuous hidden story of an influential historic woman.'</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"> Sara Sheridan, author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic !important;">The Fair Botanists</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"> Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700 !important;">'An absorbing, intoxicating page-turner about a woman who deserves to be remembered.' </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;">Jennifer Saint, author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic !important;">Ariadne </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;">and </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic !important;">Atalanta</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700 !important;">'Riveting - a clever portrait of a fascinating, flawed heroine.'</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic !important;">The Times</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700 !important;">'An intimate and enlightening tale of one of Romanticism's forsaken muses - an artfully told story that lingers in the mind far beyond the last page' </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;">Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic !important;">Pandora</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />1816. A massive volcanic eruption has caused the worst storms that Europe has seen in decades, yet Percy and Mary Shelley have chosen to visit the infamous Lord Byron at his villa on Lake Geneva. It wasn't their idea: Mary's eighteen year old step-sister, Claire Clairmont, insisted.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But the reason for Claire's visit is more pressing than a summer escape with the most famous writers in the world. She's pregnant with Byron's child - a child Byron doesn't want, and scarcely believes is his own.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Claire has the world in her grasp. This trip should have given her everything she ever dreamed of. But within days, her life will be in ruins.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />History has all but forgotten her story - but she will not be silenced.</span></span></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-54283950526427384262024-02-29T16:27:00.001+00:002024-02-29T16:27:10.242+00:00One Man's Opinion: INTIMACIES by KATIE KITAMURA<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9-XJnpE22LhW2iUB4MAgofOx9oQttO4EO04VSx9cFLCyitCHBvbkETfqQNWIutJ0t15nfea-ECJU79qyJgK9p-haGaT5vFuRjZxmPTSMG_iCguIrymHITNZhXdg-2HcPhwMrsGE98VIC34lK2AxE46HTnLBIb5YxlHvWaTbylMXaKaeNM4z8QxRuGRt0/s466/intimacies71G9UFawYyL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9-XJnpE22LhW2iUB4MAgofOx9oQttO4EO04VSx9cFLCyitCHBvbkETfqQNWIutJ0t15nfea-ECJU79qyJgK9p-haGaT5vFuRjZxmPTSMG_iCguIrymHITNZhXdg-2HcPhwMrsGE98VIC34lK2AxE46HTnLBIb5YxlHvWaTbylMXaKaeNM4z8QxRuGRt0/s320/intimacies71G9UFawYyL._SY466_.jpg" width="209" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I adored The Longshot and I really enjoyed Gone To The Forest, though not quite as much. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intimacies-Katie-Kitamura-ebook/dp/B08KJ1B1MN">Intimacies</a>, for me, comes in third place in terms of the position of reading the books and the enjoyment gained.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There's a quote on the cover of my edition: 'Glitteringly intelligent.' I think it probably is. It feels clever. Almost cold, which puts the title at odds with the story. Perhaps what can be said is that this is a cool series of observations relating to intimicies. There's the unusual relationship with her lover, much of which is at a distance. There's a relationship with a president accused of war crimes, phsically close while also at an intellectual distance. We have the relationship with the law and the legal system, logical and stuck in its ways and hypocracies. New friends whose warmth quickly chills. Perhaps it's telling something of the relationship of a stranger to a strange land (be that literal or not), I'm not entirely sure. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the end, I feel it was me who was kept at a distance. When I did get close, it seemed to push me away. That's certainly unusual in a read for me, though I'm not sure how to interpret that reaction. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Mostly smooth and efficient, there are some examples of information/research dumps that I could have done without. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's also listed as one of Barack Obama's favourite reads of 2021 (he sure does get around with is recommendations). Perhaps it was his love of the law that allowed him to fully access Intimacies. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm glad I read it, I'll not be reading it again. </span></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-83181482420156099092024-02-13T12:48:00.004+00:002024-02-13T12:48:48.249+00:00A MOTH TO FLAME <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyc5_lhRjznByjzmJz_J5L7ysUiJHyGobyNXnwtPmYJxXxR43c63XI3_bjR-qKoeJejj3Bg0Uwcx3LoM6ld9-Ev63oKZyZc1jChoiOZSW_Ts6kAhJYzsgLfGTp1OeG523cPUIlUmBipADJpW7r2FYqZb6JJqJIOuiUc7WNRiisr9NlBoEQ71L8GWNgQzj/s218/moth41aMcfDLcBL._AC_UY218_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="152" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyc5_lhRjznByjzmJz_J5L7ysUiJHyGobyNXnwtPmYJxXxR43c63XI3_bjR-qKoeJejj3Bg0Uwcx3LoM6ld9-Ev63oKZyZc1jChoiOZSW_Ts6kAhJYzsgLfGTp1OeG523cPUIlUmBipADJpW7r2FYqZb6JJqJIOuiUc7WNRiisr9NlBoEQ71L8GWNgQzj/s1600/moth41aMcfDLcBL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="152" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">New from Joe Clifford, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moth-Flame-Joe-Clifford-ebook/dp/B0CLZ1L6W4">A Moth To Flame</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Spanning twenty-five years, A MOTH TO FLAME tells the story of two sisters, Lydia-and Jessica Barrett, who is found, dead, at the bottom of a ravine in 1991 after attending a protest in a support of a recently fired, popular teacher.</i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Twenty-five years later, Lydia, who suffers from nyctophobia (a fear of the night), is a coroner's investigator on the graveyard shift in Los Angeles. A promotion awaits. Her mentor Maureen Gearon is grooming Lydia to take over as county medical examiner.</span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> If</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Lydia can conquer her fear of the dark.</span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Early one morning Lydia encounters a woman, whose neck has been broken like her sister's. Checking a missed voicemail, Lydia hears a message from the dead woman who claims to have information about Jess.</i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">While researching her sister's accident, Lydia stumbles upon a true-crime YouTube channel, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Night Shade</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, hosted by a former classmate, Shane Ellet, who maintains Jess' death wasn't an accident; it was murder. Caught in a web of lies and deception are Cam Rawls, Jess' ex-boyfriend and current hometown sheriff; Brad Pearce, the handsome, young English teacher who was sexually involved with students; and a recovering addict, Mark Burns, employed by Richard Fontaine, Mom Gloria's new boyfriend and general contractor. As Lydia grows closer to the truth, the Sand Wildfire breaks out, encroaching, and threatening to burn everything to the ground. Will Lydia learn the truth in time?</span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the modern vein of authors such as Thomas Harris, Jeffrey Deaver, Paula Hawkins, and Tana French, A MOTH TO FLAME tells the story of a woman in a man's world, set against the illusion of perfect suburban lives that are anything but, populated with the scariest monsters of all: the ones right in front of our faces that we cannot see through the dark.</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-76943560053904635972023-11-01T14:41:00.003+00:002023-11-02T12:33:20.388+00:00FEVER<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtciy1Vk7kTGHu4-Kb1Dca35Y23zcExd5pyl48I2014epU2_C_PMPs4qIjeBJuiTDn1KLdl1FMaDPWKwya_0EAhTOysjFxXQSFu_kcAYLHt_7JRkiNJ_VvKeao5_UUDOFX6qzuaJEypNh290xCvJBEEQ8jEwjTuqK3ugAgKO4vi_sx_RFDlriNsLGmc3T/s2400/FEVER%20COVER%20BookdesignBetiBup33_3518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtciy1Vk7kTGHu4-Kb1Dca35Y23zcExd5pyl48I2014epU2_C_PMPs4qIjeBJuiTDn1KLdl1FMaDPWKwya_0EAhTOysjFxXQSFu_kcAYLHt_7JRkiNJ_VvKeao5_UUDOFX6qzuaJEypNh290xCvJBEEQ8jEwjTuqK3ugAgKO4vi_sx_RFDlriNsLGmc3T/s320/FEVER%20COVER%20BookdesignBetiBup33_3518.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Rosa Santiago, a healer who relies on the natural resources
of her island, is helping yet another army deserter to escape, only this time
things are different. She cares for the soldier, for a start, and he has news
of a mysterious plague that is devastating the barracks from which has escaped.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">General Corales, leader of the occupying forces, would
rather spend time in his garden than in conflict. Now he has a terrifying
crisis to deal with and a second in command who seems intent of undermining
every decision that is made. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Sensing that this may be their time, the revolutionary
forces rally for one more attempt to overthrow their oppressors. It won’t be
easy for them to bring the different voices together, but the window of
opportunity won’t be open for long. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">As the situation develops, Rosa’s world is turned upside
down. Her desire to heal and her support for the cause soon clash and finding a
compromise is not going to be easy<a name="_GoBack"></a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://mybook.to/FeverNB">Fever</a> is available from:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CM9M817G">UK</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CM9M817G">US</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CM9M817G">Canada</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CM9M817G">Australia</a> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0CM9M817G">France</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0CM9M817G">Germany</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B0CM9M817G">Netherlands</a> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0CM9M817G">India</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0CM9M817G">Spain</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B0CM9M817G">Mexico</a></span></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-46930089724671300772023-10-27T10:49:00.002+01:002023-10-27T10:49:39.039+01:00One Man's Opinion: THE UNPICKING by DONNA MOORE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmS1xupn-xXAfgjYvdlfjE4hiKE4nVWhEmtV7N0c_TkWcvLD07F2G_PSAjeZ1OxLnmiinhLofRzL7iwM9lycFRG9tPxdPxFre01jRMO_AiTAxuhAyk2E8Mm8swYajM8RllPSRCXTggJ4RgzI1O-5_4hpRTdF9_IJYUQoo0dryOCqPklaJWiC0cEMe5yfi/s327/81wjLJXk7EL._AC_UY327_FMwebp_QL65_%20(1).webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="221" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmS1xupn-xXAfgjYvdlfjE4hiKE4nVWhEmtV7N0c_TkWcvLD07F2G_PSAjeZ1OxLnmiinhLofRzL7iwM9lycFRG9tPxdPxFre01jRMO_AiTAxuhAyk2E8Mm8swYajM8RllPSRCXTggJ4RgzI1O-5_4hpRTdF9_IJYUQoo0dryOCqPklaJWiC0cEMe5yfi/s320/81wjLJXk7EL._AC_UY327_FMwebp_QL65_%20(1).webp" width="216" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unpicking-Donna-Moore-ebook/dp/B0CGVDQNQW">The Unpicking</a></i> tells the story of three generations of women,
each the victim of cruel injustices that reflect the institutionalised
prejudices of society and the harsh impact of economic structures. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In the opening section, set in 1877, we meet Lilias. She’s a
vulnerable teenager whose parents have just died and who has found a haven of
sorts in the form of her aunt, Evelina. When she falls in love with a gentleman
who is keen to make her acquaintance, all should be well. Lilias has her
mother’s inheritance and her new husband has several financial plans that are
bound to come to fruition in the not-too-distant future. A growing sense that
all is not well begins to build, then creeps along as the story unfolds.
Husband, Arthur, may not be the fine man Lilias felt she met. His business
acumen may not be all that it seemed. He might need to access Lilias’s
inheritance more quickly than he first anticipated, though Aunt Evelina may
have other ideas. Unfortunately, Arthur has all the cards simply because he is
a male of wealth in a twisted society. Clouds of foreboding grow until they
finally break and the storm pours misery everywhere. We soon find out that the
lunatics don’t need to take over the asylum- they built the thing in the first
place and are already in charge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Skip a generation and we land in The Lock. It’s Glasgow in
1894. Clemmie lives in a home for young girls. As well as providing shelter for
the girls, it also provides the setting for appalling sexual abuse. Clemmie is
one of the older residents and feels it’s her duty to protect the newcomers
from their inevitable fate. Enter Jeannie, naïve and sad and a perfect target
for preying paedophiles. The weight of tension in this section becomes
unbearable as Clemmie needs to escape before her pregnancy shows, while also
needing to keep Jeannie safe. Clemmie uses an old connection to find a new home
in the slums of Glasgow. The injustices of poverty weigh heavily on her as she
struggles to make ends meet while lodging in the room already occupied by a large
family dominated by wee bairns. Still, she manages to maintain her loyalty to
her friend up until the last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Turnkey takes us to Glasgow in 1919. Clemmie’s daughter Mabel has landed on her feet. She’s living in luxury and is keen to make a difference
in the world. It’s a time of strikes and suffragettes and yet more inequity.
She’s determined to right the wrongs of history and battles to join the police
force where she is hidden away in an old broom cupboard to do meaningless work.
It doesn’t matter too much to Mabel as this gives her access to information that
may help her find out what happened to her mother. As she digs up information
about the past, she realises the case isn’t quite as cold as some would want it
to be. Mabel cleverly sidesteps prejudice to carry out her work and, like her
mother before her, opens herself up to dangers that she could never have
imagined. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Each section of The Unpicking tells a compelling tale.
They’re peppered with the perfect amount of historical detail to bring flavours
to the pot, while the nightmares of the situations darken as if walls are
slowly drawing in, until the space is so small that things become disturbingly
claustrophobic. It’s a satisfying mix that has a reader coasting along enjoying
time and place one moment and nervous about turning the page the next. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">As a counterbalance to the atmosphere and action, there are
ripples of humour and each of our lead characters, in spite of their courage,
strength and determination, has a gentleness at her core that’s impossible
not to admire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unpicking-Donna-Moore/dp/1915789052"><i>The Unpicking</i></a> will open the doors to many a heart. Why not
give it a try? It might be yours that opens. </span><o:p></o:p></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-37535267784945144052023-10-23T10:44:00.002+01:002023-10-23T14:33:10.391+01:00One Man's Opinion: WITCHES COPSE by MATH BIRD<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5mt1sQRtY__pI61N_iYqk5cF_9qKw6gVpEHOhij8-wz1WqBMP-g5h7mX_D5DMLTD9yHiDmg5e42Alw7q-MoQeGPZJaJpNMJrYhyphenhyphen7vjw9IyfJ4yLgWZVBdBfFxv9Qb_vbLYKTde_WYhgVw_Zpzn52ts1T9Z0sTxgqx2lbjeUPtXViM6JlJXJq0PHFuN5F/s466/witches81ErrBrKNKL._SY466_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5mt1sQRtY__pI61N_iYqk5cF_9qKw6gVpEHOhij8-wz1WqBMP-g5h7mX_D5DMLTD9yHiDmg5e42Alw7q-MoQeGPZJaJpNMJrYhyphenhyphen7vjw9IyfJ4yLgWZVBdBfFxv9Qb_vbLYKTde_WYhgVw_Zpzn52ts1T9Z0sTxgqx2lbjeUPtXViM6JlJXJq0PHFuN5F/s320/witches81ErrBrKNKL._SY466_.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You don't read a book about witches for a decade, then take on two at once. What's that about? Perhaps it was just my good fortune. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This time, the book came in the form of an audio version over at <a href="https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Witches-Copse-Audiobook/B0CK3G61X5">Audible</a>. Listening to novels isn't my usual style. Though I love spending time with my radio, I find that the focus required to follow a longer story is something else. I've learned that the only way that I can concentrate fully on a story is to do nothing, which I managed to do on this occasion; perhaps it's a testimony to the writing of Math Bird and the nimble-in-voice Emma Stansfield that I did. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are various sections to <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Witches-Copse-gripping-folk-horror-occult-noir-ebook/dp/B09PC7T2KW">Witches Copse</a> that offer different angles of the piece. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our main force in this book is Dates, a tough woman killer whose services are for hire. On this occasion, she's taken on by Quentin Quimby, an arrogant barrister with a taste for the dark arts. He sends Dates to Wales to back up the pair he's already sent down there, a researcher and a hard man. Things aren't going so well for them. The hard man has turned to jelly on account of the voices in his head, courtesy of a local woman who is in tune with nature among other things and the barman at the place where they are staying is at the end of his tether. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Dates is stubborn enough to survive the Welsh torment that unfolds and returns to Quimby to pass on the news, not that he's entirely happy about the outcome. It wasn't what was expected, after all. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Next we follow the history of the story, something that goes back through generations, the posession of women and their brutal treatment by the authorities. It's all rather spellbinding as well as being chilling. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">From here, there's a turn in proceedings. Dates shifts from victor to victim and the tale is turned on its head. It enters a space familiar to me from the Hammer House of Horror films I watched as a child. It captures all the mood, pomp and ceremony along with the hammy over-playing of parts. Things don't look good for Dates until layers of personal politics come to the fore and offer her a slither of hope. As she only really knows one way of going about surviving, there's plenty of raw action to follow. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I did enjoy this one quite a lot and know that if you're more of a horror fan than I am, this will really light some candles in the pentangle. My personal preference was for the first half of the tale, driven by mystery, possession and folklore. The more it entered familiar territory, the less engaged I was, though Bird turns it all on its head in a way that I found refreshing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you're after something dark and spooky for Halloween and you enjoy the adrenalin rush of action stories, this one's definitely for you. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-47885957814737303672023-10-19T12:12:00.002+01:002023-10-19T12:14:55.353+01:00One Man's Opinion: PINE by FRANCINE TOON<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitV6h20h8PqOhad6McODj-WlWIV7j9Dsbszzkkd9qg9cuP1IvxDeffXh0iVONumO9CT_IoZwh52vMX8J24FRjtpfrZs36X54P4ObSjXys8QAdmq-z9Qfxz7o7MgOrpVyrCtjc3psT0f7iaRnw5YszOa1Hc1_WShc7NiAOHdlLlukY7qJ2kP3Gf_mGri2vl/s522/71-vnVplsdL._SY522_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="335" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitV6h20h8PqOhad6McODj-WlWIV7j9Dsbszzkkd9qg9cuP1IvxDeffXh0iVONumO9CT_IoZwh52vMX8J24FRjtpfrZs36X54P4ObSjXys8QAdmq-z9Qfxz7o7MgOrpVyrCtjc3psT0f7iaRnw5YszOa1Hc1_WShc7NiAOHdlLlukY7qJ2kP3Gf_mGri2vl/s320/71-vnVplsdL._SY522_.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I remember the release of this one, how I loved the cover and the name. My curiosity deepened when it won the McIlvanney Prize for the Scottish crime book of the year back in 2020. I'm not sure where the time went. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I finally lifted <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pine-Francine-Toon-ebook/dp/B07WDDGJ3J">Pine </a> from the pile and began. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As with so many of the books I read and the films I watch, I had little idea of what to expect. I enjoy the sense of being dropped into totally unfamiliar places and will often avoid blurbs until I'm deep into a story. Pine, I have to say, was as refreshing in terms of its freshness as I might have hoped. Imagine that feeling when you finally plunge into the icy water having stood up to your knees for an age waiting to pluck up the courage; there are pains in private places and your skin burns as if it's been sandpapered off, yet there's a real exhilaration and you keep going until your body finds equilibrium. It was something like that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I landed in the present tense, observing a father and daughter in an isolated part of Scotland. There's an intensity to both the characters and a dark and smoky-scented mist that swirls around each character and their isolation isn't entirely due to the small-worldliness of their geographical location.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Initially I was concerned that the quality of the writing and the perspectives would be impossible to maintain. There were a couple of tiny, barely perceptible, stumbles where I worried that fragments of the past that were being shown would become trip hazards throughout, but I needn't have worried. Instead, I became drawn into the story and its supernatural shadows until I really couldn't put it down. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Naill is the father. He's probably an alcoholic and is certainly depressed. The disappearance of the love of his life has hollowed him out. He's good with his hands, is musical and wants to do better, yet his pain always wins out and drags him into the self-awareness that he's an awful parent. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lauren is the daughter. A primary school child who looks up to the older pupils on the school bus and is bullied by her peers. She has a best friend with whom she is building a shelter in the local woods, a mysterious box of spells, crystals and Tarot cards left behind by her mother and an ability to see beyond the physical world. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While out driving one night, a broken woman appears in front of their car. They pick her up and Niall tends to her wounds. In the morning, the woman is gone. Lauren is curious as to what as happened, but Niall appears to have forgotten the entire incident. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Naill will soon receive a call from a neighbour who believes his ex-wife has made an appearance. The neighbour will recall nothing of this when asked. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And unusual things happen. Circles of stones appear in Lauren's life. Her bedroom is tidied by an unseen hand. Something in the house smells unpleasant, but there appears to be no source. There are warnings and a sense that something terrible is about to happen in the community. Which it does. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Pine's a wonderful thing. The quality of the writing is excellent. Toon creates a multi-dimensional world of exteriors and interiors in a way that suggests she has Lauren's magic box at her disposal. The story is beautifully woven together and the build-up of momentum and tension is paced to perfection. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As I mentioned, this was the winner of the Scottish crime book of the year not so long back. If I'd have been among the nominees (yes, I know, that's never going to happen) I might have come away from Bloody Scotland with a touch of bitterness. Yes, there is crime in this book, but it's not a crime novel in the way I have come to understand them. That said, I would also have come away thinking that the best book romped away with the prize and wishing that I could pen something as powerful and captivating before my mind goes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, if you've not read this yet, I urge you to take the plunge. It's fantastic and deep and enthralling right until the end. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-41431961042378094582023-09-27T15:38:00.000+01:002023-09-27T15:38:04.792+01:00One Man's Opinion: JIGSAW by ED McBAIN<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oO_MhsIrypy9aE4jvih7f5Y5bYxN9EQO0Olq6jjlunMgT_l11GDIrtMp7Lo7jnx7xEG-YS0zguqHAwddbTq0mZPuHJnb2uZsGaMuyQAEZbQMGbAso-y0V7WswZKvwABaaoJ3UIvdQzdp7_sx3BX8dOUCJuk2jePnLRZLQjNeId_Kjw1_4N9e3hGUxMgp/s500/j9780446609722-uk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="310" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oO_MhsIrypy9aE4jvih7f5Y5bYxN9EQO0Olq6jjlunMgT_l11GDIrtMp7Lo7jnx7xEG-YS0zguqHAwddbTq0mZPuHJnb2uZsGaMuyQAEZbQMGbAso-y0V7WswZKvwABaaoJ3UIvdQzdp7_sx3BX8dOUCJuk2jePnLRZLQjNeId_Kjw1_4N9e3hGUxMgp/s320/j9780446609722-uk.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This was an interesting one for me. It brought two of my favourite things, the <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jigsaw-87th-Precinct-Ed-McBain-ebook/dp/B00B87R6JW">87th Precinct books</a> and Lt. Columbo, together in a way that I wasn't expecting. The blurb hinted at the connection, but it took me until the first illustration of the piece of a photograph to confirm that they were going to be very similar indeed. It took me a little more reading to realise that they were almost identical, the main difference been the switching of parts so that Columbo was now Detective Arthur Brown (or vice versa).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Essentially, two bodies are found and it's clear that they killed each other. There's not much to go on, the only strange thing being the oddly-shaped piece of a snapshot in the hands on one of the victims. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In steps insurance investigator, Irving Krutch (played by Ed Begley Jr in the Undecover episode from Falk's tenth season). He's up to speed on the photograph puzzle, owning a piece himself. When all the pieces are put together, it will lead to the finding of $750K stolen from a bank several years earlier. Krutch wants to find all the pieces to clear his reputation at work and suggests to Brown and Carella that they would make a good team. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgWEzp-YbjQfQfvd83U8jaXDHhOa5hgQBSjW86AoOMaYRmPg10IQeJA76y9l0uTkkyAZr6F-REHmnxTC5xwdDRc-lvx9Xhu-Dhsboeb_147fK8ccxO-FZyuU5U-S2rVumzBBMEFScyEym4PJd9jR5PdllXlCK0wcJxqqoMmoWiNoAAO2qt181mFV7Trbp/s768/Columbo-Undercover-1994-CSS2-672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgWEzp-YbjQfQfvd83U8jaXDHhOa5hgQBSjW86AoOMaYRmPg10IQeJA76y9l0uTkkyAZr6F-REHmnxTC5xwdDRc-lvx9Xhu-Dhsboeb_147fK8ccxO-FZyuU5U-S2rVumzBBMEFScyEym4PJd9jR5PdllXlCK0wcJxqqoMmoWiNoAAO2qt181mFV7Trbp/s320/Columbo-Undercover-1994-CSS2-672.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The problem for me is that I couldn't separate the book from the TV episode. My mind was constantly creating clashing images and any tension or attempts at problem-solving were undermined by knowing what was just around the corner. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To complicate matters, I watched How To Dial A Murder, where I bumped into Ed Begley Jr again, this time in the role of a police officer. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Trying to unscramble it all became impossible. Let me say that I love the Undercover episode and I also really enjoyed the book. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are only a few differences between the adaptation and the book as far as I can tell. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">First of all, the way the criminal is pinned down is totally altered. The TV version comes up with a slightly unlikely piece of detective work as it seemingly was unable to use the actual ending, possibly because of the potential for controversy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And second, and a big miss from the adaptation, there are the racist events that Brown encounters while doing his job (including a terrific observation from a prostitute who attempts to dig herself out of trouble by offering Brown oral sex, commenting that the colour of the male appendage makes no difference to her and contradicting her opening lines in the process- go check it out). To me, this tips the win to the novel and I'm sure if I'd read it before watching that this feeling might be even stronger. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">All in all, it was great to be back with the 87th again even if this isn't among the best; I'm already looking forward to the next. </span></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-5037011152010584912023-09-23T13:11:00.004+01:002023-09-23T22:26:01.997+01:00One Man's Opinion: LITTLE CAESAR by W R BURNETT<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjPN5nO3dmUf0tmsfdEiKX3dyIoJOXMG2hDkGVHrKGpMRdJOhqApj_77uZ9DK0dGeVPvMlxOF9frWfLG3qab1iiVeZQ-_UPXDF3UZsa4ubauphtWr21c27waJB2LEd6ttmVe61LAOb3k0TJ_rk9JznT8XDUHC8q54QrzvhTrc2J9rCln_1tDYBXHwpKM0/s284/download%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="178" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjPN5nO3dmUf0tmsfdEiKX3dyIoJOXMG2hDkGVHrKGpMRdJOhqApj_77uZ9DK0dGeVPvMlxOF9frWfLG3qab1iiVeZQ-_UPXDF3UZsa4ubauphtWr21c27waJB2LEd6ttmVe61LAOb3k0TJ_rk9JznT8XDUHC8q54QrzvhTrc2J9rCln_1tDYBXHwpKM0/s1600/download%20(1).jpg" width="178" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>'Rico was a simple man. He loved but three things: homself, his hair and his gun. He took excellent care of all three.' </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Takes me back, this, to the days when Saturdays were black and white and to trips to the Scala cinema in Kings Cross where a double or triple bill of gangster movies ranked among my favourite passtimes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">All these years later, I've finally caught up and read the book. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's a terrific tale, always growing and moving forward, like Rico himself, written in a simple style that captures description and mood with plainspeak and aparent ease. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Rico is rising through the ranks. From nothing, he soon takes over his gang based upon his cold menace, violent actions and clever calculations. Needless to say, he makes enemies along the way. He also ignores his orders during a heist and plugs a policeman mid-robbery. It's clear from then on that this is going to haunt him and, indeed, will eventually lead to his downfall. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There's an interesting cast of characters surrounding our protagonist, most of them with a nickname that gives you everything you need. They're all pretty exaggerated. Characatures if you like. It's not that they're not three-dimensional, more that they're distilled downed to their essences - loyal-to-a-fault, bitter, yellow, hard, straight etc. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When he gets to meet the big players, Rico realises that his eyes are bigger than his stomach. Perhaps its his drive to rise further that leads him to errors of judgement. Whatever it is, he's soon on the run and the cops are determined to get their man. His demise is tense and offers a great contrast to the opulence of his dreams and past status, as well as showing us where he came from in the first place. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I thoroughly enjoyed this and it was everything I expected. Not that it was without its challenges. I found some of the dialogue tags (or sometimes the lack of them) difficult to follow and the runs of adjectives could have been cut from three or four to one or two. Even so, it's fast-paced, efficient and a wonderful discription of a disintigrating human mind. I'm sure if I knew my Shakespeare, I might venture to add Shakespearean to pack it into a nutshell. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Punchy writing, brutal clarity and really enjoyable.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To finish, a Big Boy quote just for fun:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>'I got a library too and a lot of other stuff that ain't worth a damn. I was talking to a rich guy the other day and he said I was a damn fool to buy real books because he had a library twice as big as mine and dummy books. What the hell! If a guy's gonna have a library, why, I say do it right. So there you are. I got so damn many books it gives me a headache just to look at 'em.'</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-42905694510986489672023-09-20T15:58:00.001+01:002023-09-20T15:58:07.843+01:00One Man's Opinion: FULL DARK HOUSE by CHRISTOPHER FOWLER<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVLPVY2opiWYF_f5bcGrmsuqFZ9IQUIdWT1l_9qUv4Ux6AEhN4xFRzNAH-lz9wt8ygef7iRBfbZ653k2Jd-44axhlKo_evujxqBrAOLtVoEmrsxRpIYYRexVW2ws__R4gQUtfGLZt46TpaSMf2JdmAovy4GXVVA5x1wmDjyunwgP4dSb6DEygCAtdBO9g/s120/51V1ma8rCZL._AC_US120_SCLZZZZZZZ__.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="120" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVLPVY2opiWYF_f5bcGrmsuqFZ9IQUIdWT1l_9qUv4Ux6AEhN4xFRzNAH-lz9wt8ygef7iRBfbZ653k2Jd-44axhlKo_evujxqBrAOLtVoEmrsxRpIYYRexVW2ws__R4gQUtfGLZt46TpaSMf2JdmAovy4GXVVA5x1wmDjyunwgP4dSb6DEygCAtdBO9g/s1600/51V1ma8rCZL._AC_US120_SCLZZZZZZZ__.jpg" width="120" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I've often been tempted by <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=bryant+and+may+books+in+order&i=digital-text&crid=3F4LWCX0H49XD&sprefix=bryant+and+may+books+in+order%2Cdigital-text%2C118&ref=nb_sb_noss_1">these books</a>, partly because of the great covers, because of the recommendation of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Keith-Nixon/e/B009ZQTNTY/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1">Keith Nixon</a> and due to the names of the central characters. Now, I've finally dipped in my toe and I can pass on the verdict: come on in, the water's fine. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's been a while since my last book thoughts, which reflects the time this one took to get through. This is often an indicator that I wasn't driven to pick up a book to read in quiet moments and there's an element of that here. It's also because it's a fairly substantial read. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The opening section took me by surprise, with one of central figures being taken out by an explosion. What followed was an investigation spanning decades, on the one hand looking at Bryant and May's first case together and on the other trying to find the killer of Arthur Bryant and the way it relates to that Second Word War investigation. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was taken by the scenes at the Peculiar Crimes Unit where the pair first meet. The pair interact wonderfully, each clearly suited to their posting on account of their curious personalities. The conversations are a treat, often flavoured with comedy and wit, and it was impossible not to fall for them very quickly. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The central case involves a series of murders in London's magnificent Palace Theatre. A dancer loses her feet at the point of death, giving a local street trader a shock when they appear when he returns to work. Members of the cast of the rather provocative show continue to be bumped off, disappear or experience near misses while a ghostly face is often seen at the scene of the crimes. All very Phantom. A little unlikely, perhaps, the show continues while the detectives dig into the lives of those involved in the performance, including the shadowy workings of the theatre's Greek owner. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I've noted comments in the reviews about some historical inaccuracies, but I sailed through it blissfully unaware, loving the detail of the period and enjoying many of the facts that added to the sense of time and place. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I also really enjoyed Bryant's leaning towards the spirit world to help him solve crimes. His clairvoyant friend is an asset to the case and certainly added to the enjoyment of this reader. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are a few minor issues. The points of view dance around in a way that's not always helpful and the shifts between past and present aren't always clearly marked. The plot is also slightly stretched and a little less of it would have suited me just fine. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That said, I suspect the strength of this series is likely to be based upon Bryant and May and those in their team and I'll definitely be coming back for more to find out what other peculiar cases they might stumble into. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Good stuff. </span></p><p><br /></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-31434452750001666462023-08-04T10:31:00.003+01:002023-08-04T10:31:44.443+01:00One Man's Opinion: LEMONS NEVER LIE by RICHARD STARK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITB6pCB2IlZNLH3y6Brd1qyVRKzicZqmaPXCWmUDF3ty2Sxw-1RShAZPyvAgLKK81ddc7xPgazJjvjeukUBaPbIgfhCuw-RKJC8A0GbwSGJffK_7bflFeIqkFt2m4rTgtMCUXgpmItUPD1tXxruyTGWA-cuB_ouuyXRQX36PxI4vkKYAH2qsZNPLbnx9o/s327/61zelu41nfL._AC_UY327_FMwebp_QL65_.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="191" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITB6pCB2IlZNLH3y6Brd1qyVRKzicZqmaPXCWmUDF3ty2Sxw-1RShAZPyvAgLKK81ddc7xPgazJjvjeukUBaPbIgfhCuw-RKJC8A0GbwSGJffK_7bflFeIqkFt2m4rTgtMCUXgpmItUPD1tXxruyTGWA-cuB_ouuyXRQX36PxI4vkKYAH2qsZNPLbnx9o/s320/61zelu41nfL._AC_UY327_FMwebp_QL65_.webp" width="187" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lemons-Never-Crime-Market-Paperback/dp/0843955945">Lemons Never Lie</a> is a book that just keeps on giving, unless you happen to be the protagonist (Alan Grofied), in which case it keeps on giving and taking and giving and taking and so on. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Grofield is invited to LA to talk about a job. At the airport, while awaiting his bags, he plays the slot machines. When he draws three lemons it nets him fourteen nickels. This he sees as a sign of bad luck and it's a hex that's going to follow him right until the end of the novel. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He bumps into an old colleague, Dan, and they attend a meeting of criminals only to discover that the organiser, Andrew Myers, is a flawed human being who has no respect for human life and has a reckless approach to heists. Grofield and Dan leave, but Myers stamps his mark on both of them (literally and figuratively) before they leave town with each of them carries a grudge for Myers that isn't going to leave them be.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There's a little bit of ping pong after that, where the plot works its way through various sections of the story. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Grofield's main incentive for criminal activity is the running of an old theatre in Mead Grove, Indiana. It's where he lives with his wife, and when they're not putting on shows they are living on stage. They're frugal and motivated and, above all, very happy. It's the kind of idyllic lifestyle many a reader might wish for. Unfortunately, with the Myers job gone and no opportunities on the horizon, Grofield is getting desperate. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When Dan shows up again and a call comes in for a safe robbery in a superstore, things begin to look up. And then they look down again. Grofield sure was right about those lemons.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After being kicked when he was up a few too many times, Grofield is forced into a position where he needs to take revenge. Myers is no longer just a thorn in his side but a crown of them, with each spike jabbing directly into his heart. By the end of the book, only one of them will still be standing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Though there are a few cracks in the plot in terms of it shooting off in many directions and in certain elements that feel on the unlikely side, there's plenty of paper in the form of the quality of the writing and the energy of the action to cover them over. And there's lots to love. The negotiation when buying a vehicle for a job is perfect. The purchasing of guns. The tension of the heist. Grofield's cool determination and dogged pursuit of his nemesis. Best of all, the wonderful set up Grofield has with his wife and the extra dimensions his love of the theatre bring to his character really shine. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A neat book in a tidy-sized pocket edition that will have you sitting on whatever seat it is you're sitting on wherever you happen to be. </span></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-67618794450133106682023-07-30T11:20:00.001+01:002023-07-30T11:20:23.842+01:00One Man's Opinion: COP KILLER by SJOWALL & WAHLOO<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjqQlxxss1d8tsmf3p_9HKlrhvLt_rqvzoCwJu9mWulyNUu6WzuMlJlJvmhxZhRh8vPCRV-b4hD2CHEeRRXE9fLe1Qkf6okj-ilRkUMRqAMnkc8s6ruRBI5DJf6mwf51befPP9mqjOCREGi2pubaKfSWJ2rXFj2zYJm32uTo24AW80sYpV9WBCAR8BE4w/s327/714r665seNL._AC_UY327_FMwebp_QL65_.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="212" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjqQlxxss1d8tsmf3p_9HKlrhvLt_rqvzoCwJu9mWulyNUu6WzuMlJlJvmhxZhRh8vPCRV-b4hD2CHEeRRXE9fLe1Qkf6okj-ilRkUMRqAMnkc8s6ruRBI5DJf6mwf51befPP9mqjOCREGi2pubaKfSWJ2rXFj2zYJm32uTo24AW80sYpV9WBCAR8BE4w/s320/714r665seNL._AC_UY327_FMwebp_QL65_.webp" width="207" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I suspect that <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cop-Killer-Martin-Beck-Book-ebook/dp/B002RI9PV8">Cop Killer </a>isn’t typical of the Martin Beck
series. Still, it’s the first I’ve read and there’s enough in the novel to make
me want to visit again. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">A woman is murdered on the edge of a small Swedish town and
her body is hidden by the killer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Martin Beck and Lennart Kollberg of the national murder
squad are called in to investigate what is initially a missing person case.
This takes them for a long stretch in the suburbs where policing is rather
different that in the big cities. Beck is looked after by local cop Allwright
who defies immediate impressions by proving himself to be a knowledgeable and
dedicated officer who knows pretty much everything that there is to know about
his patch. The contrast between city and country is significant and takes Beck
and Kollberg back to days when their working lives were simpler. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">There are two main suspects in the case, the victim’s ex-husband
and a local man who has a dark and confused history. After significant digging
and interviews, Beck doesn’t fancy them for this crime. Unfortunately, he’s
battling against press interest and national politics in his bid to find
justice. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The first half of the book is excellent. Beck’s slow
adaptation to a quieter life in a gentle community is rather touching, as is
his new relationship with Allwright. Each of the characters involved brings something
of interest, not least in the way that they help do show different facets of
Beck’s character. There may be the occasional odd phrase or translation to cope
with, but on the whole it flows extremely well. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">What didn’t work quite so easily was the transition of the
story into a new overlapping case. Though it’s essential to the solving of the
original murder, it appears from nowhere and feels slightly disjointed. It’s
not that I mind multiple cases in one book; in fact, I think I often prefer it
that way. However, there’s much more opinion thrown in here with extra detail
and reference to facts that slow things down. It brings to light the conflict
between Kollberg’s ways and those of his new boss and that is handled more
heavily than I would have liked. I much preferred the earlier pace and
situation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In the end, the cases converge. Our murderer is caught. The
personal journeys of the police are rounded off nicely. The friendship between
Allwright and Beck are fused and Allwright invites Beck to come and stay at any
time- I hope Beck took him up on his offer. </span><o:p></o:p></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-71159962162596530172023-07-25T16:20:00.002+01:002023-07-25T16:20:24.075+01:00One Man's Opinion: MR PARADISE by ELMORE LEONARD<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCS7PrGmwPZvMsrhDu72Ve3Wagb9xQXYkNRvkMHDAWNvYzCtfiZvW5Szj3Ff79Zm2h1_75otILO2EB1-_Ju4b0FyrB1uxcARFyPxxz6ry17VHaWdj6JKhl1_o9k2Qz8oM8I_pspVjFdcF0EXtkfIWPgyhntFODSoY7EvZPhCvH4OUuGigng8mcttnoTuJS/s286/MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="176" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCS7PrGmwPZvMsrhDu72Ve3Wagb9xQXYkNRvkMHDAWNvYzCtfiZvW5Szj3Ff79Zm2h1_75otILO2EB1-_Ju4b0FyrB1uxcARFyPxxz6ry17VHaWdj6JKhl1_o9k2Qz8oM8I_pspVjFdcF0EXtkfIWPgyhntFODSoY7EvZPhCvH4OUuGigng8mcttnoTuJS/s1600/MP.jpg" width="176" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mr-Paradise-Elmore-Leonard-ebook/dp/B005AXQKEM">Mr Paradise</a> is a bit of an old pervert. To get his kicks, he
watches recordings of games where Michigan win with live, scantily-clad
cheerleaders strutting their stuff in front of the TV. When the game is over,
the party starts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">On one particular night, Mr Paradise’s paid companion,
Chloe, persuades her model friend, Kelly, to help her out. Kelly’s only there
for the dancing, but is forced to go upstairs <br />with Mr Paradise’s helping hand,
Montez Taylor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Montez seems surprisingly unhappy to be accompanying an
incredibly beautiful woman to his bedroom, so it’s almost a relief for him and
for Kelly when two gunmen burst in and shoot Mr Paradise and his lady friend. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Before the police turn up, Montez makes an odd request of
Kelly. She may be a famous underwear model but he’s hoping that for a while, at
least until he can get some financial arrangements sorted, she’ll play the part
of her dead friend. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Enter Frank Delsa. He’s the detective assigned to the case.
He has the smooth good looks of, say, a Steve Carella, and a temperament that
many find attractive. Not only that, his instincts about people are spot on and
he’s able to read a case like it’s the printed word. When he sees Kelly, now
pretending to be Chloe, it’s love at first sight. And it’s mutual. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The ins and outs of the case are seamlessly woven. We move
through different points of view and different periods of time as the puzzle is
constructed. As the plot fits together, the quality of the story becomes clear.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">It moves through the gears like a high class automatic car;
it picks up pace smoothly and quickly in a way that means you’re deeply
involved and turning your way through those pages while barely noticing time
passing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Delsa is a real winner. As far as I can tell, this is the
only novel he appears in and I hope I’m wrong on that as I’d love to read more.
The book is packed with tremendous characters who feel very real in all
respects, especially when in dialogue (a real strength of the book). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">My only issue with the read is the ending. Things have been
so smooth and well-handled, that when the conclusion is being laid out and there
are a few gear crunches and bumps in the road to contend with, it’s something
of a shock. It’s not that it’s not a fitting way to close, it just didn’t click
at the point when my expectation had reached its peak. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Very sleek crime fiction and I recommend it to the house. </span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-71134348129850870972023-07-22T10:41:00.003+01:002023-07-22T11:43:24.018+01:00Work In Progress<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBElcPdpcv_xgLeiILCF8uxfNcsmxqvfN9Yvc2CnDAF7TW9KoL7G9jRfJEy-i1RFrKTuSPWP8gBIGefWtLccU06ainv3RnrGC1XAs26CELc4xeIn2VKKSGcCaTI-uhxrs56kW40T15blYfwzwihNVi7FIJ0InKv0jZdAxtOBfkI7lBG3m7jew7jBOgOSO/s4000/20230714_113859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBElcPdpcv_xgLeiILCF8uxfNcsmxqvfN9Yvc2CnDAF7TW9KoL7G9jRfJEy-i1RFrKTuSPWP8gBIGefWtLccU06ainv3RnrGC1XAs26CELc4xeIn2VKKSGcCaTI-uhxrs56kW40T15blYfwzwihNVi7FIJ0InKv0jZdAxtOBfkI7lBG3m7jew7jBOgOSO/w109-h243/20230714_113859.jpg" width="109" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Four months now since I finished my current work in progress.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Though I was happy with my original draft, I had a strong
sense that something wasn’t working. Unusually for me, I sent the manuscript to
a couple of trusted friends to gather their opinions. The hope was that they would
highlight the issues I felt were there, confirming my suspicions, and I’d have
an easy sail through the next attempt. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The feedback was excellent. And I was right about my
reservations. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I was also wrong about several other points and they were
revelations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The process of using the perspective of others has been
interesting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">First of all, in spite of knowing that every comment was
valid and was exactly what I was after, it still stung. The ‘lots to like’ and ‘really
enjoyed’ were small comfort and the salient points were sharp. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The stinging moved on to another feeling. The crushing sense
that I can’t write anything anymore. That maybe I’ve lost whatever skills I
possessed and would just have to accept the passing of a major aspect of my
life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Thankfully, that lasted for only a short while. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Next step, the question of how to make the changes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In order to solve some of the problems, key aspects of the
story needed altering. Relationships weren’t right. The work was too shallow.
Several events seemed unlikely given the situation. There were even questions
about the whole premise. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Being lazy, I wanted to find the simplest fix. A band aid
might do it. A few extra sentences here or there, a dialogue change or two, a twisting
of a key moment to slightly alter the shape. And then the realisation that if I
wanted the story to be as good as I can make it, the lazy approach wasn’t going
to cut it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I chatted this all through with another good writer friend.
He’s always there and has the understanding of stories that most humans don’t
possess. Even without giving him much detail, a couple of cups of coffee later
there were a few suggestions that I could hold on to in case they might be
useful. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Then came the waiting. The suggestions needed to swirl
around in my unconscious for a while until they emerged from the clouds. When
they were almost in focus, I began again. The first chapter was cut and I made
a fresh attempt at chapter one. That’s almost in the bag now. And, of course, a
new opening means there are new possibilities about the ways ahead. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">More waiting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Two nights ago, just before drifting into sleep, I found myself
thinking about the book. An almost fully formed suggestion appeared that manages
to link the loose threads of new thinking to the core of the original plot. It
was a wonderful moment. One of those Eurekas. I could wake up and write it down
or I could drift back into sleep (surely I’d remember it in the morning);
falling asleep proved far more attractive. Morning came and I did remember,
which is when I forgot. Thankfully, my daughter Kitty asked me about my writing
in the evening. It all came back to me. I still didn’t write it down, but it’s
pretty fixed in my mind as a way to proceed and I’m sure I can make it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Now all I have to do is sit at the laptop and type. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The good news is that I have a week to myself coming very
soon. My family will be returning from holiday at the end of the month, while I
have ring-fenced another seven days as a retreat of sorts. If I don’t make
significant progress in that time, then I’ll only have myself to blame. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I think I can pull it off. I’m still lazy and want to keep
as much of the original draft as I can, but that’s acceptable. After all, the
original idea is still the one I want to put across to future readers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">All being well, if I work hard and pull it off, maybe I’ll
be putting out something half decent in a few months. If it’s not up to
scratch, at least I’ll know that I did the best I could with the germ of the
idea.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Here’s hoping. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-8023758356045799622023-07-21T10:46:00.000+01:002023-07-21T10:46:25.155+01:00One Man's Opinion: SPHERE by MICHAEL CRICHTON<p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm on holiday and I have my kindle packed with books I've chosen in the past, yet the lure of the small English library proved too much and I borrowed a paperback. My kindle has a role when traveling, but I don't always to have to feel responsible for it when I go for a swim in the sea, river, lake or pool and a physical book is so much less likely to be taken or broken when I do. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, the choice of books in the library doesn't offer books that I'd usually go for. Hence, my first attempt (as far as I can remember, that is) at a Michael Crichton. I felt pretty confident. I was a big fan of the films Coma and of Westworld, so I felt I would be in safe hands.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The closest I've got to this one before is probably the ripping <i><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Down-Deep-Mike-Croft/dp/1846880580">Down Deep</a></i> by Mike Croft, an exciting under-sea adventure with a strong message. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sphere starts off well. After the first fifty pages, I tried explaining to my daughter that even if the plot sounded bonkers it was well-written and gripping. I was hooked. Was I going to become a new Crichton convert? It very much looked that way. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Basically, a psychologist (Norman Johnson) who had previously worked for the government on a paper relating to possible human reactions to meeting extra-terrestrial beings is called in to a situation by the US navy. There's been a discovery at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. There's an unidentified craft down there that appears to have been involved in space travel and has also been there for some three hundred years. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In his paper, Johnson recommended a team of experts and the team has finally been assembled to go down and take a look at the craft. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Turns out it's likely to be a time-travelling craft that set off from earth to explore a black hole. As things progress, the team discover that it has picked up something in its travels- the sphere of the title. It's likely to be an alien ship, though they have no idea how to open it or what might be inside. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When the action starts, the pace slips a little. There's much more explanation of theories and scientific speculation, though it was still interesting and thought provoking at this point.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After the mathematician of the group enters the sphere, everything changes. The alien finds a way to communicate with the humans, but it's still unclear whether this entity is malevolent or benevolent. ,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Things begin to go horribly wrong, though this could be down to cultural differences between the different life forms. Variations of sea creatures appear in vast numbers. There are attacks. People die. It's a race against time and against the force that has been unleashed. Of course it is. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm not sure when I started to disengage. About half way through is my guess. The theories become more unlikely. Events lose their interest. Another crisis is just about averted, but there's another looming. The stuff of many a sci-fi thriller movie. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By the end, I just wanted to find out what the conclusion would be. And it turned out to be disappointing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On the back it says that this is Michael Crichton at the top of his form. I very much doubt it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Not for me. I much preferred <i>Down Deep</i>. Maybe I'm more of a Crichton movie kind of human. </span></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-44790093295755221922023-07-19T12:15:00.001+01:002023-07-19T12:15:55.704+01:00One Man's Opinion: THREE TO KILL by JEAN-PATRICK MANCHETTE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1BgBGawd4WJNewCYScror19wM0wGdvvLeOPeeaKRRxVPQlowdz8E4DT0iABI48Vww2XYaN01RmD7Zru97sY4hT1TkktdGYWiJM01lYBv6s6_8yUj-1u9605BF7RUPIqk4v8H4YTOUSO6YXA87cufXlTw8sCClEaHEQcF293pK0KOdVht2mMIjRDNxN_b/s278/imhhages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="181" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1BgBGawd4WJNewCYScror19wM0wGdvvLeOPeeaKRRxVPQlowdz8E4DT0iABI48Vww2XYaN01RmD7Zru97sY4hT1TkktdGYWiJM01lYBv6s6_8yUj-1u9605BF7RUPIqk4v8H4YTOUSO6YXA87cufXlTw8sCClEaHEQcF293pK0KOdVht2mMIjRDNxN_b/s1600/imhhages.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I put down my thoughts on Manchette's <i>Fatale </i>a few weeks ago, basically saying that I didn't really enjoy it. A little browsing among other reviewers suggested that <i>Fatale </i>wasn't one of his best and I sensed that he deserved another shot, so I jumped into <i><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Kill-Jean-Patrick-Manchette/dp/1852424753">Three To Kill</a></i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are many elements to this one that should have made me enjoy it more than I did. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A man is thrown out of his usual life pattern following an incident on the road where he saves a man from a car accident and drives him to hospital. It turns out that the victim of the accident had, in fact, been shot and that by attempting a rescue the protagonist (Georges Gerfaut when we meet him) has interfered with an assassination attempt. This triggers an attempt on his own life by the pair of hit men and causes a series of events that he may never have expected. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Truth be told, Gerfaut wasn't enamoured by his existence in the first place (job, wife and kids all rather humdrum) and his love of jazz was never going to be enough to save him. When he is plunged into responding only to what is around him and driven to act in order to survive, he finds a new vigour as he casts off the restraints of the norm. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The two hit men are a great creation- they're like bickering brothers or an overly-familiar married couple. The lists of jazz musicians hit the spot. Gerfaut's response to his new life is interesting and his new encounters are interesting and imaginative. Manchette has the skill of summing up a huge amount in a very short phrase. The plot works well and there's enough to maintain interest even though it's difficult to predict which direction lies ahead. All to the good. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Where I struggled again is with the matter-of-factness. It's brutally cold. Emotions are practically stripped from the work to an extreme, reducing people in a way to something less than human. While this may be a bonus for many, I think that's my main issue with the style. There's also something about the point of view that is a bit off- occasionally the author will raise a question or suggest a not-quite omnipotent understanding of the characters that intruded on my involvement. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is likely to appeal to those who like straightforward prose, crystal clear noir, existential sensibilities and uncluttered action (which, in theory should include me). Don't let this put you off and find out for yourself, but two shots and two hits of the woodwork mean I'm unlikely to be back. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-6602784928629169932023-07-04T18:40:00.001+01:002023-07-05T21:40:05.814+01:00One Man's Opinion: FATALE by JEAN-PATRICK MANCHETTE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXER17KWLhqR40zFS5gEzp7np5N5c7hM-tDZkThaESafzRxPoiZ6nwRLZyDiaaJpioMrEXJLJHkPzL9XwfpHkYEw_QxYUlqbWWVzxP_OgT5RAQXLYCe5FrElqExi_1Sdqmjk3FJu11y7bP_N4b7ADSysig_MQ8kUL3OJLsTkxdgOxO9UBl43eu8bQJ4SeL/s1000/61PfDwitVvL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="651" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXER17KWLhqR40zFS5gEzp7np5N5c7hM-tDZkThaESafzRxPoiZ6nwRLZyDiaaJpioMrEXJLJHkPzL9XwfpHkYEw_QxYUlqbWWVzxP_OgT5RAQXLYCe5FrElqExi_1Sdqmjk3FJu11y7bP_N4b7ADSysig_MQ8kUL3OJLsTkxdgOxO9UBl43eu8bQJ4SeL/s320/61PfDwitVvL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Whilst browsing in a second-hand bookstore recently, I came across a couple of titles by Jean-Patrick Manchette. They're both thin, have enticing covers, cool titles and have excellent recommendations. Fatale even has a foreword and afterword, so I couldn't resist. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While I didn't enjoy this one, I'm glad I decided to buy it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We meet the protagonist on the cover. She's walking upstairs, a short skirt, high heels and a red filter suggestive of darkness and brooding sexiness. When we find her on the page, she's shooting a hunter at close range and scarpers with a load of cash. Before long, she's altered her appearance and arrived in a small town called Bleville, which the translator kindly points out that could mean Wheatville or, in slang, Doughville. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She sets about mingling with the local bourgeoisie, a group of clearly flawed individuals who are as transparent as men with glass skin. We become aware that this is part of some kind of modus operandi for Aimee (as we are to get to know her) and that there is going to be suffering among their ranks for sure. We know she's going to do something soon as she spends part of her time training in ways to hurt people. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Enter an eccentric baron who hates the wealthy self-important oafs of the town as much as Aimee does. He's waiting to bring the whole thing down. With the help of a rather simple and overly convenient plot device, Aimee is going to help him do it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Plans are hatched. The town is on the brink. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Aimee's mystery is suddenly taken away with a backstory that I didn't need and then there's a bloody denouement. Et voila. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm not expert, but I suspect that having a female killer in this mould was something out of the ordinary back in 1977 when this was first published and that strikes me as a plus mark for the book. Other than that, I'm not convinced. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To my mind, this touches on Simenon territory in lots of ways. There's the undercurrent of sex, the examination of class, the dark noir tones of his roman durs. What it lacks is the heart, the sensitivity, the sense of slow unravelling or the steady build up of the plot. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fatale-Serpents-Classics-Jean-Patrick-Manchette/dp/1781253897">Fatale </a></i>is cold to the touch and matter-of-fact. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are enough stylish strokes to make it worth the time taken to read it and its brevity is certainly in its favour, but it didn't live up to the promise of the jacket.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'll still read the other Manchette at some time. I won't be rushing to take it from the shelf, but I'll get there. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Liked it more than me? Tell me why- I'm curious. </span></p><p><br /></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-90633097388815861842023-06-30T11:03:00.003+01:002023-06-30T13:51:59.958+01:00One Man's Opinion: FIVE DECEMBERS by JAMES KESTREL<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilj90UgOJ-mvFqI0guV0K7Mnr2MV7W_KMpmN0qr6CZ9a-xI5kNiGsPyH4IDuhE-561QcSZRxFIZsW7IcNwwphrFlSeYCZfjUA25fYiNQpr2VaSwvUXwZt-fDwI4Ox-XqWwvyKLCTwaD42p0DP4RYlKg9fhWCZPmf8W4yOXUvSY_Z4TqVx2lgI3U7OwUha/s500/B093BGNCCY.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_SX500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilj90UgOJ-mvFqI0guV0K7Mnr2MV7W_KMpmN0qr6CZ9a-xI5kNiGsPyH4IDuhE-561QcSZRxFIZsW7IcNwwphrFlSeYCZfjUA25fYiNQpr2VaSwvUXwZt-fDwI4Ox-XqWwvyKLCTwaD42p0DP4RYlKg9fhWCZPmf8W4yOXUvSY_Z4TqVx2lgI3U7OwUha/s320/B093BGNCCY.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_SX500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It took me a few chapters to get into <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Five-Decembers-James-Kestrel/dp/178909867X"><i>Five Decembers</i></a> and I'm not sure why, but from the moment it first hooked me until the end, I was gripped. What an absolute gem of a book. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Joe McGrady is the police detective who takes on a case involving a young couple who have been butchered in a shack in Hawaii. And that's pretty much all I want to tell you in order to make sure I don't spoil anything for when it's your turn. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">McGrady's journey is told in a real hard-boiled noir detective style that's woven through a tapestry that has genuine scope. He's surrounded by a cast of characters who are brilliantly formed and situations that are utterly compelling. There's romance, war, history and culture to appreciate in a tale that's constantly driving forward. Every loose end is bound tightly into the whole as ghosts are exorcised and shadows illuminated. The detail is perfect and the world of the nineteen forties is so well described that it feels like you're actually there. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There's a brutal hardness to aspects of the tale. There's also a poetic softness underneath. Imagine a Rottweiler that likes to have his tummy tickled. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A couple of things occurred to me when I finished the read. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The first thing I thought of once I was able to settle down was <i>From Here To Eternity (</i>I love <i>From Here To Eternity</i>). <i><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Five-Decembers-James-Kestrel/dp/178909867X">Five Decembers</a></i> has that epic feel to it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And if it were to be made into a movie, the perfect lead would be a resurrected Bogart on his very best form. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">400 pages of total engagement, tension and pleasure. The perfect summer read, no matter what your taste in fiction. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Utterly brilliant. Add it to your must read pile. Also buy the paperback rather than the e-book version (it's that kind of book). </span></p><p><br /></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-51224470831184651242023-06-08T17:46:00.001+01:002023-06-08T17:46:16.722+01:00One Man's Opinion: SHOTGUN by ED McBAIN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaop0jEBWsd1ozqoXvIBDyxKwND1DQsunezqdEwQFmu0uhLOgnTRwrHIMWC3nc0MsZn3ZzeZqt8Bva4J_Cs_rYq3fqRFtmkGot-5jg_QOFKPJWszxlR63bnbRBzjGXgrZrYyMgaUd1hXmHvO1wlbOSCPBGwKD_tqiPCh0FUiJUqMvMxI0vHzkhSfqTaA/s500/s-l500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="322" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaop0jEBWsd1ozqoXvIBDyxKwND1DQsunezqdEwQFmu0uhLOgnTRwrHIMWC3nc0MsZn3ZzeZqt8Bva4J_Cs_rYq3fqRFtmkGot-5jg_QOFKPJWszxlR63bnbRBzjGXgrZrYyMgaUd1hXmHvO1wlbOSCPBGwKD_tqiPCh0FUiJUqMvMxI0vHzkhSfqTaA/s320/s-l500.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Carella and Kling take the lead on this one. A married couple are found in their apartment, heads and faces half removed by the shotgun of the title with no eye-witnesses to the crime. Kling doesn't really have the stomach for it and nor does the milkman who called it in. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There's nothing particularly spectacular about the plot, even when the attention is diverted by the murder of a nice lady in the neighbourhood and the resolution of an old storyline. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We get some insight into Kling's relationship with Cindy which makes her all the more alluring, though Kling doesn't seem to be on the same page because he gets distracted for a while by a beautiful young woman who is a tenuous witness. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As usual, there are the usual vignettes to appreciate as new characters are interviewed or investigated. McBain does this so wonderfully well, entire paintings created with a few simple brushstrokes. They flow together like streams feeding a river and keep the story ticking along at exactly the right pace. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm not sure it's entirely relevant, but for the last few books in the series I've had a sense of how things would play out before the ending. Whether this is because I'm more tuned in or Mr McBain has skilfully laid out just the right amount of breadcrumbs in the trail to allow me to get there, I have no idea. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another terrific distraction from the more mundane things of life. Just what I wanted. </span></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-61324329267743067232023-05-20T15:28:00.004+01:002023-05-24T22:42:56.553+01:00One Man's Opinion: CUDDY by BENJAMIN MYERS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokQrMWrW9NyCbBXc4ylRz8oe_oF1GedD3_RXTIkoOlCP9RJfbOh4YuP32OKZp03Eo2gHjWKkqDB9or_FuDASgIPil4QE2ueqUCjpV6gjXb9yaHqVSNuGfcUxMJ5wsDl30HRHrytLSbs_HIW7TLkSiqVUlqyUehH7jwOpeuonIvNbSkMyMWQpAlcdbIQ/s2560/91Kl0CIPpoL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1664" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokQrMWrW9NyCbBXc4ylRz8oe_oF1GedD3_RXTIkoOlCP9RJfbOh4YuP32OKZp03Eo2gHjWKkqDB9or_FuDASgIPil4QE2ueqUCjpV6gjXb9yaHqVSNuGfcUxMJ5wsDl30HRHrytLSbs_HIW7TLkSiqVUlqyUehH7jwOpeuonIvNbSkMyMWQpAlcdbIQ/s320/91Kl0CIPpoL.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just over twenty years ago, my wife and I took on St Cuthbert's Way. Though time fades the memories, they're still there. I left my book of short stories in Melrose Youth Hostel where we kicked things off with a short bus ride. We got lost on the way to Wooler Youth Hostel and added quite a few miles onto the journey. When we arrived at Lindisfarne the tide was in and the walk was over. Our legs were so done that we struggled to get to our accommodation, a lovely pub run by an ex-miner and Sunderland fan (hence the establishment name, The Black Cat- now defunct). The marrow competition was over. We watched some crap on the TV. Slept the deep sleep of the exhausted. It was a good trip. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Since then we've been back to the island many times. Never as pilgrims, I hasten to add, but as lovers of the space and beauty of the surroundings. My favourites have been when walking along the Pilgrim's Way marked out by poles in the sand, accompanied by the wind, the birds and the barks of the seals. If you haven't been and you're in the area, try it out. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My fondness for the area was part of the reason for me wanting to read <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cuddy-Benjamin-Myers/dp/1526631504"><i>Cuddy</i></a>. Other reasons? He was born in Dunbar which has been my home town for twenty years. And the author, Benjamin Myers, is a wonderful story teller and poet who deserves every bit of his recent success.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't always find <i>Cuddy </i>straightforward and do think it's the kind of novel that requires the reader to make an effort. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's like a sandwich. On second thoughts, it's more like a layer cake with it's several tales and sections stacked up and sometimes interweaving. In some ways, I'd have preferred the sandwich as my favourite sections were the beginning and end. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Books 2 and 3 weren't my cup of tea. I don't know why, exactly. I simply got stuck in the prose and drifted away. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Which leaves Books 1 and 4. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Book 1 tells the story of the holy men carrying around Cuddy's coffin to keep him safe from invading marauders. The style is meandering, introspective and beautiful and has the pace of the wandering monks. They're searching for the place to bury the bones and are waiting for a sign. The observations are lovely. The monks themselves are as frail as any group of humans stuck together. There are conversations between the dead Cuddy and the monks' cook and herbalist, Ediva, who also chats freely with the mysterious and delicate Owl Eyes. I found this hypnotic, moving and a joy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Even in Book 1, however, there are sections I didn't care for. There are breaks that offer snippets of research in quote form. They show contradictions and curious slices of information, but I could have done without it. Perhaps this is what the publishers mean when they say it's experimental (given the wealth of writing out there, that's some claim, though this certainly doesn't conform to contemporary publishing norms within the mainstream). There are also sections that become increasingly diminutive to the point where my aging eyes could no longer read the text and I wasn't interested enough to get my magnifying glass (perhaps this is the experimental approach). I'm sure there was a point, I just didn't get it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Book 4 is terrific, with no caveats. A frail youngster, living with his dying mother and with a personality that makes people want to take him under his wing, owl-eyed and with a particular intelligence, deals with growing up while taking on work in Durham cathedral. I'd have read it by itself as a stand-alone, though what has gone before adds further richness. It also adds the icing the that layer cake I mentioned. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A game of more than two halves that opens with brilliance and ends with power. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I loved</span></p><p>quite a lot of it</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">i really did</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-54282163586437033922023-05-13T14:35:00.003+01:002023-05-13T14:35:43.233+01:00MR SUIT Running Free<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbaNaffQhZwTCoSYVXymjpRnaPiwxCCr0reM4b-E2_KtFd0hNGF13MtUTpocDeWLd3Pu1P0KJT_pJXbZEn6vDFt7aRx3rKOKr3Y228nTctR4merBA5fBhkMPtxTqDt-LLTkMcjUO5MZwTPMsBcbcqy_atpACVivxc5cQNg4XlUFwKUi5Fc--AjqHIpQ/s346/51arT1bGnOL._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="231" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbaNaffQhZwTCoSYVXymjpRnaPiwxCCr0reM4b-E2_KtFd0hNGF13MtUTpocDeWLd3Pu1P0KJT_pJXbZEn6vDFt7aRx3rKOKr3Y228nTctR4merBA5fBhkMPtxTqDt-LLTkMcjUO5MZwTPMsBcbcqy_atpACVivxc5cQNg4XlUFwKUi5Fc--AjqHIpQ/s320/51arT1bGnOL._SY346_.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Mr Suit </i>gets an outing today. Free for two days over at <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mr-Suit-Nigel-Bird-ebook/dp/B00A6HZV9W">Amazon </a>if you have access to Kindle. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;">Liza is at the end of her tether. The only way she can see out of her situation is to turn to her husband's ex-boss, the gangster Mr Suit.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;">In doing so, she sets in motion a chain of events that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat from beginning to end.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;">The latest in the series of tremendous work from the author of DIRTY OLD TOWN (AND OTHER STORIES); IN LOCO PARENTIS; and SMOKE who is also the co-editor of volumes 1 and 2 of PULP INK.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;">'The prose is tight rope taut and the plotting first class. The central character of Liza is well drawn and the drip feed of her commentary about Archie’s feelings is brilliantly done. Mr Suit is suitably odious without straying in to cliché...‘Mr Suit’ is a tense and thrilling novella which deserves a place on your bookshelf.' Crimesquad.com</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;">'I can whole-heartedly recommend this one.' Heath Lowrance (City Of Heretics)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;">'At the risk of setting expectations too high let me say that it's something along the lines of Elmore Leonard meets James M. Cain by way of a Guy Ritchie movie.' Devil Monkey (Amazon review)</span></span></div>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-35929997508099347562023-05-12T11:14:00.001+01:002023-05-12T11:14:09.335+01:00BLAH BLAH BLAH by LONG HAT PINS<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7D_XsmJ9lkInw5h2oLJeTUU_vJkXvSecL1TFI2m5Sj_CndmSPt0x1S_j6kezCa8FyG1QGW_k4JJSQjyqJRx-NLZ9WxXGl3aiv3qrrYbk520FaZIoGMrus6eOxGLu4r3Zn3O1LBsbarOWnQx-1y4u5QG3Bu_T0wycjFwQ9RdK-_HtnVYSj_-teKHQZw/s700/a1850416024_16%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7D_XsmJ9lkInw5h2oLJeTUU_vJkXvSecL1TFI2m5Sj_CndmSPt0x1S_j6kezCa8FyG1QGW_k4JJSQjyqJRx-NLZ9WxXGl3aiv3qrrYbk520FaZIoGMrus6eOxGLu4r3Zn3O1LBsbarOWnQx-1y4u5QG3Bu_T0wycjFwQ9RdK-_HtnVYSj_-teKHQZw/s320/a1850416024_16%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For me, the title is reminiscent of one of my old favourites, Nag Nag Nag by Caberet Voltaire. If that means something to you, you should definitely be checking out Blah Blah Blah, the new tunes from Long Hat Pins. If it doesn't, you should also definitely be checking out Blah Blah Blah, the new tunes for Long Hat Pins. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's available for a free listen over at <a href="https://longhatpins.bandcamp.com/album/blah-blah-blah">Band Camp here</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Not all books can make the best seller lists. Not all books that make the best seller lists are good books. Not all books that don't make the best seller lists are bad books. Some of the books that aren't on the best seller lists are excellent books. Some of the music you've never heard is excellent music. And who the hell defines good or bad, anyway? The beholder, methinks. You might love this or hate it, the only way to find out is to check it out. </span></p>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7445048503136822514.post-78094362789029864842023-05-05T18:18:00.000+01:002023-05-05T18:18:01.065+01:00Meanwhile, Down In the Shallows...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPThwFwA8-RBlKG-PfBMlGn5AcrDueoM2xD9EesSccXGZa8VYG0oVJudM0LGYuci5HoWI4JSUqKacoEAxmlpSnPQRI0WKx8O-N9dUoB_x-vrobBORTFXqI_WuzrTPZhaL18tnafITmJRvD-E83Ne5FdE-AkmD_witPo1S-mjUh-P2_K8veMm9-HCasTg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPThwFwA8-RBlKG-PfBMlGn5AcrDueoM2xD9EesSccXGZa8VYG0oVJudM0LGYuci5HoWI4JSUqKacoEAxmlpSnPQRI0WKx8O-N9dUoB_x-vrobBORTFXqI_WuzrTPZhaL18tnafITmJRvD-E83Ne5FdE-AkmD_witPo1S-mjUh-P2_K8veMm9-HCasTg" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Shallows is free today and this weekend if you fancy a distraction from the coronation. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shallows-Nigel-Bird-ebook/dp/B01C0REJLG">here for the US</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shallows-Nigel-Bird-ebook/dp/B01C0REJLG">here for the UK</a>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's what Ian Ayris said:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Shallows is equally, an excellent piece. It displays Bird's usual quality of prose - tight, yet always poetic - a very hard trick to pull off. I read the whole book in less than two days. In those two gripping days, I was thrust into the fast disintegrating world of Brad and Molly Heap, and their son, Shem, as they, a normal family, do everything they can to stay one step ahead of their pursuers - the Navy, the Police, a gang of drug and people smugglers, and most pernicious of all, their own conscience. These are normal people in a tough situation, through no real fault of their own, fleeing for their lives. And I was with them every step of the way.</span></span></div><br /><p></p><div class="a-icon-row a-spacing-small a-padding-none" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 8px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><i class="a-icon a-icon-star a-star-4" data-hook="average-stars-rating-anywhere" style="background-image: url("https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/sash/ouR9NRElwmzAIev.png"); background-position: -2px -22px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 512px 512px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 18px; position: relative; vertical-align: text-top; width: 80px;"><span class="a-icon-alt" style="box-sizing: border-box; clip-path: circle(0px at 50% 50%); display: block; font-size: inherit; height: 18px; left: auto; line-height: normal; opacity: 0; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: auto; width: 80px;">3.9 out of 5</span></i><span class="a-size-medium a-color-base a-text-beside-button a-text-bold" data-hook="acr-average-stars-rating-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 18px !important; font-weight: 700 !important; line-height: 24px !important; padding: 4px 0px 0px 6px; position: relative; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; top: 1px;"><div style="text-align: center;">3.9 out of 5</div></span></div><div class="a-row a-spacing-medium" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px !important; text-align: center; width: 300px;"><span class="a-size-base a-color-secondary totalRatingCount" data-hook="total-review-count" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(86, 89, 89) !important; line-height: 20px !important;">245 global ratings</span></div><table class="a-normal a-align-center a-spacing-base" id="histogramTable" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px !important; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle !important; width: 300px;"><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;"><tr aria-label="41% of reviews have 5 stars" class="a-histogram-row a-align-center" data-reftag="" data-reviews-state-param="{"filterByStar":"five_star", "pageNumber":"1"}" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #565959; vertical-align: middle !important;"><td class="aok-nowrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px 3px 7px 0px; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="a-size-base" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px !important;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal 5star" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_5?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=five_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;" title="41% of reviews have 5 stars">5 star </a></span><span class="a-letter-space" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; width: 0.385em;"></span></td><td class="a-span10" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: none !important; margin-right: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 7px; vertical-align: middle; width: 210.438px;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_5?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=five_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;" title="41% of reviews have 5 stars"><div aria-valuenow="41%" class="a-meter" role="progressbar" style="background-color: #f0f2f2; border-radius: 4px; box-shadow: rgb(187, 191, 191) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; box-sizing: border-box; height: 20px; overflow: hidden;"><div class="a-meter-bar a-meter-filled" style="background-color: #ffa41c; border-radius: 4px 0px 0px 4px; box-shadow: rgb(245, 150, 29) -2px 0px 0px -1px inset, rgb(222, 121, 33) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-size: 0px; height: 20px; transition: width 0.5s ease 0s; visibility: visible; width: 83.8125px;"></div></div></a></td><td class="a-text-right a-nowrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px 0px 7px 3px; text-align: right !important; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="a-letter-space" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; width: 0.385em;"></span> <span class="a-size-base" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px !important;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_5?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=five_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;" title="41% of reviews have 5 stars">41%</a></span></td></tr><tr aria-label="27% of reviews have 4 stars" class="a-histogram-row a-align-center" data-reftag="" data-reviews-state-param="{"filterByStar":"four_star", "pageNumber":"1"}" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #565959; vertical-align: middle !important;"><td class="aok-nowrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 7px 3px 7px 0px; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="a-size-base" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px !important;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal 4star" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_4?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=four_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;" title="27% of reviews have 4 stars">4 star </a></span><span class="a-letter-space" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; width: 0.385em;"></span></td><td class="a-span10" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: none !important; margin-right: 0px; padding: 7px 3px; vertical-align: middle; width: 210.438px;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_4?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=four_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;" title="27% of reviews have 4 stars"><div aria-valuenow="27%" class="a-meter" role="progressbar" style="background-color: #f0f2f2; border-radius: 4px; box-shadow: rgb(187, 191, 191) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; box-sizing: border-box; height: 20px; overflow: hidden;"><div class="a-meter-bar a-meter-filled" style="background-color: #ffa41c; border-radius: 4px 0px 0px 4px; box-shadow: rgb(245, 150, 29) -2px 0px 0px -1px inset, rgb(222, 121, 33) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-size: 0px; height: 20px; transition: width 0.5s ease 0s; visibility: visible; width: 55.1875px;"></div></div></a></td><td class="a-text-right a-nowrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 7px 0px 7px 3px; text-align: right !important; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="a-letter-space" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; width: 0.385em;"></span> <span class="a-size-base" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px !important;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_4?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=four_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;" title="27% of reviews have 4 stars">27%</a></span></td></tr><tr aria-label="21% of reviews have 3 stars" class="a-histogram-row a-align-center" data-reftag="" data-reviews-state-param="{"filterByStar":"three_star", "pageNumber":"1"}" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #565959; vertical-align: middle !important;"><td class="aok-nowrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 7px 3px 7px 0px; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="a-size-base" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px !important;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal 3star" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_3?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=three_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #c7511f;" title="21% of reviews have 3 stars">3 star </a></span><span class="a-letter-space" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; width: 0.385em;"></span></td><td class="a-span10" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: none !important; margin-right: 0px; padding: 7px 3px; vertical-align: middle; width: 210.438px;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_3?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=three_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #c7511f;" title="21% of reviews have 3 stars"><div aria-valuenow="21%" class="a-meter" role="progressbar" style="background-color: #fff6e0; border-radius: 4px; box-shadow: rgb(222, 121, 33) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; box-sizing: border-box; height: 20px; overflow: hidden;"><div class="a-meter-bar a-meter-filled" style="background-color: #ffa41c; border-radius: 4px 0px 0px 4px; box-shadow: rgb(245, 150, 29) -2px 0px 0px -1px inset, rgb(222, 121, 33) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-size: 0px; height: 20px; transition: width 0.5s ease 0s; visibility: visible; width: 42.9219px;"></div></div></a></td><td class="a-text-right a-nowrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 7px 0px 7px 3px; text-align: right !important; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="a-letter-space" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; width: 0.385em;"></span> <span class="a-size-base" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px !important;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_3?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=three_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #c7511f;" title="21% of reviews have 3 stars">21%</a></span></td></tr><tr aria-label="6% of reviews have 2 stars" class="a-histogram-row a-align-center" data-reftag="" data-reviews-state-param="{"filterByStar":"two_star", "pageNumber":"1"}" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #565959; vertical-align: middle !important;"><td class="aok-nowrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 7px 3px 7px 0px; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="a-size-base" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px !important;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal 2star" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_2?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=two_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;" title="6% of reviews have 2 stars">2 star </a></span><span class="a-letter-space" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; width: 0.385em;"></span></td><td class="a-span10" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: none !important; margin-right: 0px; padding: 7px 3px; vertical-align: middle; width: 210.438px;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_2?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=two_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;" title="6% of reviews have 2 stars"><div aria-valuenow="6%" class="a-meter" role="progressbar" style="background-color: #f0f2f2; border-radius: 4px; box-shadow: rgb(187, 191, 191) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; box-sizing: border-box; height: 20px; overflow: hidden;"><div class="a-meter-bar a-meter-filled" style="background-color: #ffa41c; border-radius: 4px 0px 0px 4px; box-shadow: rgb(245, 150, 29) -2px 0px 0px -1px inset, rgb(222, 121, 33) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-size: 0px; height: 20px; transition: width 0.5s ease 0s; visibility: visible; width: 12.2656px;"></div></div></a></td><td class="a-text-right a-nowrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 7px 0px 7px 3px; text-align: right !important; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="a-letter-space" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; width: 0.385em;"></span> <span class="a-size-base" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px !important;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_2?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=two_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;" title="6% of reviews have 2 stars">6%</a></span></td></tr><tr aria-label="5% of reviews have 1 stars" class="a-histogram-row a-align-center" data-reftag="" data-reviews-state-param="{"filterByStar":"one_star", "pageNumber":"1"}" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #565959; vertical-align: middle !important;"><td class="aok-nowrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 7px 3px 0px 0px; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="a-size-base" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px !important;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal 1star" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_1?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=one_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;" title="5% of reviews have 1 stars">1 star </a></span><span class="a-letter-space" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; width: 0.385em;"></span></td><td class="a-span10" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: none !important; margin-right: 0px; padding: 7px 3px 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 210.438px;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_1?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=one_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;" title="5% of reviews have 1 stars"><div aria-valuenow="5%" class="a-meter" role="progressbar" style="background-color: #f0f2f2; border-radius: 4px; box-shadow: rgb(187, 191, 191) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; box-sizing: border-box; height: 20px; overflow: hidden;"><div class="a-meter-bar a-meter-filled" style="background-color: #ffa41c; border-radius: 4px 0px 0px 4px; box-shadow: rgb(245, 150, 29) -2px 0px 0px -1px inset, rgb(222, 121, 33) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-size: 0px; height: 20px; transition: width 0.5s ease 0s; visibility: visible; width: 10.2188px;"></div></div></a></td><td class="a-text-right a-nowrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 7px 0px 0px 3px; text-align: right !important; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="a-letter-space" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; width: 0.385em;"></span> <span class="a-size-base" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px !important;"><a aria-disabled="true" class="a-link-normal" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B01C0REJLG/ref=acr_dpx_hist_1?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=one_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration-line: none;" title="5% of reviews have 1 stars">5%</a><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">And if you need more than one book to keep you busy, how about this box set from the talented Eric Beetner. The complete <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lars-Shaine-Complete-Eric-Beetner-ebook/dp/B0BKWNMVYZ">Lars and Shane</a> box set is available today for only 99p/99c, which is very cool indeed. </span>Nigel Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529578665251906089noreply@blogger.com0