I read a lot of books as I review books for an indie bookstore in SLC, Utah. I'm also a writer. The Mary Mac trilogy is out now.
The Nikki Doyle trilogy (Rollover, Thunderball and Ms. Scarlett) can also be found at your local indie. Excalibur - the Nikki/Mary crossover was just published.
N.B My blurbs give you just a taste of the plot. Reviews are a pretty subjective matter but the books you'll find here are books I have read and loved.
Dec 30, 2012
Top books of 2012
no particular order
NF = non fiction
SF = sci fi
YA = young adult
Everything else is mystery
The Rook by Daniel O'Malley SF
Dublin Dead by Gerard O'Donovan
The Yard by Alex Grecian
Drift by Rachel Maddow NF
Luther The Calling by Neil Cross
The Key by Simon Toyne
Quiet by Susan Cain NF
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein YA
Hand for a Hand by T Frank Muir
Black Fridays by Micheal Sears
Garment of Shadows by Laurie King
Honourable mention
Paladin Prophecy by Mark Frost YA
Apologies for the formatting, using a new app. Any mistakes will be fixed in post production. Happy New Year
Dec 3, 2012
Too Bright To Hear Too Loud To See, Juliann Garey
Greyson recounts his life before and after the night he left his wife and child and embarked on an odyssey that gave full rein to his bipolar nature. An odyssey that led to the ECT treatment he’s currently undergoing. A twelve shock program that might make him whole again or burn what remains of him away completely.
Blessed Are Those Who Thirst, Anne Holt
Hanne Wilhelmsen, half-buried under a stack of cases finds connections between a series of brutal assaults on young Norwegian women and the weird ‘Saturday night massacres’ which most of her department consider to be a sick prank. Someone is going down for their crimes, permanently.
The Valley of Unknowing, Philip Sington
In this choking climate Bruno Krug, author of The Orphans of Neustadt falls for Austrian music student Teresa. He is also reading a manuscript as a favour to his editor. This work has no title or author and not only is it disturbingly good, but it echoes Krug’s earlier book.
When the person Krug thinks is the author dies suddenly Krug has the book smuggled to the West where the book and Krug’s protégé take on a life of their own. But who really wrote The Valley of Unknowing? How many more lies and betrayals will it spawn?
Nov 20, 2012
and talking of real books
A Question of Identity by Susan Hill, the latest Simon Serrailler mystery, this was a no-brainer because I love this series and Hill's plotting and characters are outstanding. The rest of the books I'm reading aren't out until next year Ghostman and Dark Tide are the standouts so far. I'm halfway through Deborah Crombie's Sound of Breaking Glass.
I have been working on T'ball a lot too, I basically had to throw out a lot of the story because it was no longer relevant after the cuts we made to Rollover but things are coming together now. I should have a draft ready soon after Christmas.
The e-reader revisited
In the last month there has been a massive shift in all the indies favour, we've started selling Kobos. As one of the 'kobo team' I've had to learn how to use the devices, and it hasn't been too painful an experience. I can now talk a prospective customer through the basics and do set up, instead of genius bar, think bookworm bar and you're halfway there.
I like the device so much that my Thursday co-worker and friend Jamie and I have joint ownership of one. She uses it to buy books and borrow from the library, I use it for reading arcs. I'm embracing new tech while standing by my principles for reading real books.
Nov 8, 2012
Hand for A Hand, T. Frank Muir
Oct 28, 2012
The Ghostman commeth
Oct 24, 2012
The reason I'm not doing Nano this year...
Today I’m concentrating on Tball
Oh and one more thing.Many congratulations to Chris and Jo Ewan on the birth of their little girl Jessica! I'm dying to read Safe House but will have to wait until November.
Thoughts on ‘Seduction’
She said, “you don’t actually believe in that stuff do you?”
That stuff being reincarnation. I told her I didn’t disbelieve it, and that after reading ‘fragrances’ I’d gone on to read about the perfumer’s art, the new bio of Cleopatra, several books based in France, what I now refer to as a book cascade.
So the book cascade from Seduction? So far it includes other works by Victor Hugo or a biography of the man and Celtic Myths and legends from the Isle of Jersey.
Oct 15, 2012
Monday roundup
I also read an arc of Sweet Tooth by McEwan, loved it. Especially fond of the descriptions of civil servants during the 70's muffled up in coats, hats and mitten while running secret agents. Having been a junior civil servant, (Inland Revenue, we called it International Rescue) and working in a drafty old building that was once used to house mental patients I can relate to some of those scenes. And look out for Millie Trimmington-nice pun.
Have set myself the target of ten pages of Tball today so I'd better get cracking.
Oct 1, 2012
Phantom, Jo Nesbo
Oslo hasn’t changed for the better, there’s a new drug on the streets known as ‘Violin’. Oleg, the closest thing Harry has to a son has admitted to shooting a dealer, and Harry wants to know the truth. His investigation into burners, ukranians, mules and killers with long sharp knives leads Harry to a showdown, maybe his last.
Stonemouth, Iain Banks
Now Stuart’s back, just for the weekend mind and he had to get permission from the head of the Murston gang just for that. He’s here for a funeral, hopefully not his own.
The Woman Who Died A Lot, Jasper Fforde
This isn’t as cushy a job as it sounds> For starters she’s got to deal with homicidal nuns (some of them male!), death threats from Jolly Hilly of the Enid Blyton supporters group, a mega budget of 300 pounds and 67 p and the threat of being replaced by an army of Goliath financed Thursday clones (known as day players).
Oh, and Swindon is due for a serious smiting at the end of the week from a very ticked-off deity. To top it all off Thursday gets involved in the search for DRM or Dark Reading Matter. Regular Fforde lovers will lap this up, if you’re new to Thursday’s adventures, start with The Eyre Affair.
October? Already?
Sep 24, 2012
Checking in
Sep 13, 2012
Thoughts on Spillover
Quammen paints a scary but fascinating portrait of the viruses, those that track them and develop life saving vaccines and the conditions that have to exist for the virus to jump from animal to man.
I'm also reading Frozen Heat by 'Richard Castle'
And back in the horrified fascination category What's the matter with Kansas by Thomas Frank. (I'm trying to educate myself for the upcoming election even though I'm not allowed to vote)
Aug 29, 2012
Black Fridays, Michael Sears
Stafford, having paid a two year debt to society is only too happy to help them. He’s just managed to part his autistic five-year-old son ‘the Kid’ from Angie, Stafford’s beautiful but crazy ex-wife and this job is the first step on his path to responsible fatherhood.
Stafford’s experience helps him to see patterns in the market and he’s seeing a pattern all right, the type that leaves bodies in its wake and the FBI in his face. At first Stafford refuses to help them but when his son is snatched he’ll risk his freedom and life to save him.
Garment of Shadows, Laurie King
Fez is home to a rich blend of spies, bandits, diplomats, guides, merchants and some old friends. Lying as it does so close to a bubbling civil war front which many European interests are keen to meddle in, a still-recovering Mary and her husband Sherlock Holmes attempts to piece together her missing hours and the bearing they may have on peace talks in the region.
Luther, The Calling, Neil Cross
Luther is a good copper, intense, driven, his marriage is falling apart around his ears and his dark side is starting to show. He’s not on the take he just metes out justice his own way. With a double murder to solve and a killer with a massive pool of possible victims, Luther’s going to have to bend the rules to save a little girl’s life.
The Paladin Prophecy, Mark Frost
An elite prep school offers him a scholarship, he’s pursued by men in big black SUVs and suddenly he’s alone, a fifteen year old with no home, no family, an unwilling player in a game with global consequences. Can the Center protect him against the Paladin Prophecy?
September
Aug 23, 2012
Princes and Fobbits
The blueprint starts to unravel when Eleanor's protege perishes in the first world war. He was a key part of her plan. Has history been changed by her actions? So far (I read a bunch on my break last night) this is a worthy follow-up.
Another title I've heard a lot about but haven't seen an arc for-until yesterday-is Fobbit, a dark (this is a guess) comedy set during the Iraq war. I plan to read this over the weekend.
Aug 13, 2012
Year Zero by Rob Reid
Earth is of course in danger from aliens but not because of a hyperspace bypass. This time it's the biggest case of copyright infringement since the big bang. You see aliens love earth music-from TV theme tunes to heavy metal and everything in between. And they owe the inhabitants of planet Earth money, several universes worth. Our hero, Nick Carter (no, not the back street boy) is a New York copyright lawyer, low on the food chain and a few months away from termination. But through a hilarious mistake he ends up with alien delegations beating a path to his door. Nick is all that's standing between us and certain annihilation, well him and 'the nine Guardians'
Aug 1, 2012
Thoughts on Hand for A Hand
The arc I got superglued to over the weekend is Hand for a Hand by T Frank Muir, a police procedural where the investigating detective is the target (it says that in the blurb so I am not giving anything away)
Most writers use the 'detective gets pulled into the case, killer becomes obsessed with detective (in this case the detective is usually female) Muir takes his character, DCI Andy Gilchrist, by the throat and hits him, hard and then he hits him some more. Sharp, fast paced. I'm hoping the St Andrews area has more crimes for Gilchrist to solve.
Jul 30, 2012
12.21, Dustin Thomason
Cast out by the CDC after a disastrous failed attempt to cure the disease Stanton teams up with Chel Manu, a curator at the Getty Museum and one of only a handful of descendents of the old Maya civilization to attempt to translate the pages of the artifact as the state is placed on lockdown.
According to the Mayan calendar the world ends on December 21st 2012. . .
Off The Grid, P.J.Tracy
Who is killing bad men before they can carry out unspeakable acts? What is the significance of Halloween this year and will it be explosive? Monkeewrench is on the run, with John Smith, heading for a violent showdown on a remote Indian reservation and not everybody’s coming back alive.
Sentinel, Matthew Dunn
Will finds himself working with Sentinel, the first product of the spartan program and the man he may well one day become. The pair hope to stave off an attack that could leave the rest of the free world reeling but they may both have been compromised. This action-packed sequel to Spycatcher will have you turning the pages long into the night.
Dreamland, Adventures in the strange science of sleep, David K Randall
Feeling cheated by science Randall set out to learn more about sleep and why we need it. What he discovers will surprise you and like Randall you may learn to start treating shut eye with more of the respect it deserves.
Hollow Man, Oliver Harris
He takes the plunge into the rented fiction of Alex’s life but is unable to stop investigating a case that seems a little off. What he uncovers could change London irreversibly, it could also put him in the path of sniper’s bullet.
New for August
Help! Someone superglued me to a book
Jul 27, 2012
A New York state of mind??
In this case mysteries set in New York. I came up with a few on the spot but, just like last year when I researched mysteries set in Chicago none sprang into my mind. Now I have not only a serious amount of new (to me) reading material but for the next update of the mystery menu a section entitled 'Cosmos' or 'Appletinis' All of these authors have books set in NY
SJ Rozan
Jean Zimmerman
Walter Mosley
Amanda Cross
Lawrence Block
Linda Fairstein
Tim McLoughlin
Jed Rubenfeld
Caleb Carr
Harlen Coben
Jul 25, 2012
The founding of a new tradition
Most important fact, a change of scenery inspires creativity. I wrote more in the last few days than I have in the last month. I averaged roughly ten pages a day (that doesn't sound like much but when two pages a day is what you usually manage...)
Don't forget to take regular breaks, a quick hike or a run across to the general store or even a tea break will do.
Get up as early or late as you like. Ditto going to bed.
A minimum of one bottle of wine per guest. If you have dietary requirements bring what you need as well as stuff to share with the others. Oh and lots and lots of chocolate.
Stay in contact but don't be ruled by your devices.
Take a notebook and a pencil so that you can still write while your laptop recharges.
Jul 11, 2012
Name the Mystery Character #1
This character was an NYPD homicide detective.
He was retired to the Catskill mountains by his wife.
His first case in print involved an X. Arybdis
Disclaimer, this competition is not run in junction with King's English. It is just a bit of fun for all you mystery buffs.
Updated Mystery Menu coming your way
I have been writing my little cotton socks off which is why there haven't been many posts, but I do want to do at least a couple a week because the reading is good at the moment people.
Hypnotist follow-up The Nightmare by Lars Kepler great sophomore book! Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd (the arc finally came my way), Alif the Unseen (Arabic hacker, present day, currently half way through, little bit Potter-esque).
I also want to do a mystery character quiz. I'm testing this out and I would prefer answers on the blog rather than in the store but whatever makes you happy. I will give you three clues, every Monday (apart from the first one which follows this post) and you have to use your massive mystery knowledge to name the character. I'm thinking there might be prizes down the line if we get enough people taking part. Oh and this is a mystery girl exclusive, I'm doing the quiz, not TKE. Disclaimer will follow every quiz.
Jul 2, 2012
Let the Devil Sleep, John Verdon
Against his better judgement Gurney agrees to Kim hiring him as an advisor. The Good Shepherd was never caught and when Gurney starts to investigate the house of cards that the FBI calls a case he does more than raise the ire of the FBI, he awakens a killer.
Broken Harbor, Tana French
Scorcher can remember when it was
Was someone stalking the family? Why does the house have holes knocked in the
walls and baby monitors everywhere and what’s with the mantrap in the loft?
Scorcher and his partner not only have to contend with hostile witnesses, but interference from family and colleagues. They’re just a rookie mistake away from getting busted back to traffic division and to save his case Scorcher may have to sacrifice his most prized possession.
Jun 25, 2012
Thoughts on 12.21
Thoughts on Hollow Man
In fact Clark came to mind as I was reading Hollow Man. Although Hollow Man has the detective making some questionable choices for less than noble reasons, he can't stop being a copper. He can't stop investigating even though it could end his career and even his life. Hollow Man is out in August full review then.
Jun 15, 2012
Thoughts on Let the Devil Sleep
Jun 10, 2012
Old Hollywood glamour combined with serious substance
Into the darkest corner by Elizabeth Haynes
May 31, 2012
The Key, Simon Toyne
A worthy page-tuning follow-up to Sanctus.
The Yard, Alex Grecian
Niceville, Carsten Stroud
Unhappy Accidents
A few June reviews for you and I'm right in the middle of Into The Darkest Corner. It comes out June 5th - read it with the lights on and the doors locked!
May 24, 2012
Time to get out the Raymond Chandler mug
I have been reading, Sentinel, Matthew Dunn, Let the Devil Sleep, John Verdon, Off the Grid, PJ Tracy all reviews coming, all are excellent.
Quiet by Susan Cain
Bookstore Life
"You're the red M&M," he says.
Still laughing at that one (thanks Nathan and Wendy)
May 17, 2012
What Dies in Summer, Tom Wright
Midnight in Peking, Paul French
Lucky Bastard, S.G Browne
code name verity
Wein's book is a brilliant tale of female friendship and heroism, but it also gives the flavour of 1940's Britain.
Apr 20, 2012
WBN and stealthy signings
Also 'liked' Laurie King so I'm getting a whole new view of Japan. Now time for a bit more writing before I start my shift.
Apr 17, 2012
World Book Night-coming soon!
Did it finally happen?
On the plus side, I'm reading a nf book about the science of sleep, which is funny and informative in equal measure. I'm also playing catch-up reading Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman, I loved Mr G so I'm going backwards as the title suggests this is about Einstein and his theories of time. Also on the time theme, Chicks Dig Timelords which is a series of essays by women who are fans of Doctor Who (note to self find out what squee is)
Apr 10, 2012
Eyes spinning like slot machine reels.
One major headache was reading all of the above on a tablet, I really am an old fashioned girl when it comes to my reading material.
Thoughts on Drift
Apr 5, 2012
There was life before arcs??
On the ms front the tightening is complete, I just have to solve Rollover's my coat squared equation and print out the sixty pages and that's another step climbed. By the end of today I should be able to see my desk again.
Thoughts on Luther, The Calling
I am pleased to say that Neil Cross's Luther prequel also falls into the rare exceptions category. Cross created the TV series so he knows the characters inside and out. And he answers a question which I asked when Luther first appeared on screen, dangling a man over the side of a building to get information and then sending him to meet his maker. What had the man done to warrant such a reaction? Cross gives us a story that answers that question, explains Luther's marriage woes and his penchant for throwing away the rule book to get a result and takes us right to the grab-you-by-the-throat opening of the BBC America series. Full review when Luther, The Calling is published in September.
Mar 28, 2012
Thoughts on The Yard
One more thing Alex Grecian doesn't come from England yet he conjures up the Victorian monster that was London in all its filthy glory.. Full review in June.
Mar 27, 2012
Sacrilege, S.J. Parris
Last Will, Liza Marklund
Vanishers, Heidi Julavits
New For April
Currently reading The Yard by Alex Grecian a first novel set in London around the end of the reign of Jack The Ripper when Scotland Yard's murder squad was only twelve officers strong. Full of historical detail this moves at a pretty fast clip.
Two books I bought pretty much sight unseen are AngelMaker by Nick Harkaway and How to Think like Leonardo Da Vinci by Michael Gelb. We have a short break coming up but after that my act will be well and truly gotten together.
Feb 29, 2012
Deep Zone, James Tabor
Dublin Dead, Gerard O’Donovan
The Professionals, Owen Laukkanen
The Book of Lost Fragrances, M.J. Rose
Leap Day Post
If you haven't read Neil Gaiman's American Gods I would highly recommend it. We are doing this for bookclub and I got the chance to listen to an interview he did just after the book was published. He talked about ideas and characters coming to life in your head and I can relate, after all if the characters aren't alive to you how can you convince readers that they are worth investing in?
Anyway here are a bunch of new titles coming in March.
Feb 17, 2012
Trifecta!
Feb 15, 2012
Trail of the Spellmans, Lisa Lutz
The pleasures of completion.
Feb 13, 2012
Done!
Feb 6, 2012
No Mark Upon Her, Deborah Crombie
Revisions Revisited
Jan 24, 2012
Budapest Noir, Vilmos Kondor
Jan 20, 2012
Two arcs and plot shuffle
The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
How would you feel if your first memory was a soggy London park surrounded by dead people-wearing gloves. You would be even more confused if the old you knew this was coming and had been preparing for it for months. That's what confronts Myfanwy Thomas who-before her memories were wiped-was one of the most able administrators of Her Majesty's Supernatural Secret Service, a Rook. Will forearming Myfanwy help her to avoid impending doom? Should she really have listened to that duck?
That's really all the premise you need, O'Malley has created the love child of Hogwarts, Torchwood, Dr Who and Monty Python, I really hope there's more where this came from.
Jan 16, 2012
Reading 'Rook'
Thoughts on Lucky Bastard
Jan 10, 2012
Bloodland, Alan Glynn
Before I forget
Hypnotist (honorable mention)
Hello 2012
I'm dying to read The Rook by Daniel O'Malley, couldn't get hold of an arc so the hardback will be in by the time my Friday shift rolls around.