My recent reads - 3

I am currently trying to catch up on reviews featuring books I've read over the last few months (some a bit further back than that). So yes, use of the word ‘recent’ may be a little misleading!


The Bad Place by M.K. Hill

[Review copy]
An excellent start to a new series by M.K. Hill. It was a welcome change to meet a female 'middle-aged' protagonist in a police procedural. DI Sasha Dawson is juggling a demanding family life (interfering mother, stroppy teenagers and depressed husband - known as living in the 'sandwich generation'!) with a hectic career and workload. The plot explores a kidnapping twenty years ago, with questions remaining about what happened to the five teenagers who eventually escaped to safety from 'The Bad Place' - and why the sixth ended up dead. This is linked to the present-day kidnapping of a teenage girl, the author expertly weaving the two stories together while also revealing details of the teenagers (now adults) involved. Looking forward to the next book in the series and seeing how the character of DI Dawson develops.



After the End by Clare Mackintosh

[Review copy]
I read this several months ago and never wrote a review. I am fascinated by the 'sliding doors' concept - the 'what ifs' of life, which path to choose ... and how great it would be if you knew all of the outcomes before making any decisions. But sadly life can't be like that. After the End does give that opportunity to readers though - following the lives of Max and Pip after they have to make a tough decision regarding their young son's health, looking at the outcome of both main options. This book explores the heartbreaking decisions that so many people have to make about themselves or family members - guided by their instinct, love and grief along with often-conflicting medical science. The narrative is split between Max, Pip and the doctor involved in their son's care, filling the pages with their thoughts and emotions. When the parents can't make a decision, it's left to the courts to decide. The thought-provoking book made me cry, but it also gave me hope. It is very different from Clare Mackintosh's other books so far, proving her versatility as an author.


Cruel Acts by Jane Casey
The Cutting Place by Jane Casey

[Review copies]
I am reviewing Cruel Acts and The Cutting Place together; while these are two very different books in terms of plot, they still feature the same characters that I know and love! I am a huge fan of Jane Casey's Maeve Kerrigan series, following the sparky relationship between Maeve and Derwent, but hadn't managed to catch up on the latest books - until now.
Cruel Acts investigates the conviction of Leo Stone for the murder of two young women and whether he is now responsible for the murder of a third after his release. The Cutting Place covers important contemporary issues, such as white male privilege and domestic violence.
Jane Casey's books are brutal and witty (the dialogue drives the plot), honest and raw. She handles dark themes with sensitivity and care while leading her readers on a twisty path. The Cutting Place, in particular, focuses as much on the main characters' lives as the case they are trying to investigate, with a few shocking scenes and further revelations. Other characters, such as Maeve and Derwent's colleague Georgia Shaw, are also now being thrust more into the limelight.



The Wailing Woman by Maria Lewis

(Review copy]
A welcome change of genre for me as I was struggling to choose my next crime read. This Romeo-and-Juliet 'urban fantasy' novel features (mainly) banshees, witches and werewolves, with romance, magic, mystery and a touch of action thriller. I read this quickly, enjoying the chance to immerse myself in another world - great escapism at the present time. I haven't read any of the author's previous books, but believe that these feature some of the same characters. This book begins in Australia and ends in London, England. As well as a coming-of-age novel, this read as a 'me too' book, with potentially dangerous women who have been dominated for centuries finally finding their voices - literally, in one case. Great fun.

That's all for now! 

Back soon with some more recommended reads. 

Keep safe and well, everyone!

My recent reads - 2

I am currently trying to catch up on reviews featuring books I've read over the last few months.

A Deathly Silence by Jane Isaac

(Review copy]
While I have read several of Jane Isaac's books, but this was my first introduction to the DCI Helen Lavery series. A Deathly Silence is a gripping police procedural, with a chilling mystery at its heart. I was drawn into the story (and characters) straight away, proving that this book can easily be read as a standalone. I love Jane Isaac's writing - it is so vivid that her descriptions leap out from the page - and her characters always seem very real, with their emotions becoming as important to the plot as the investigations themselves.


A Bit of a Stretch: The Diaries of a Prisoner by Chris Atkins

[Review copy]
This was a fascinating yet shocking first-hand account of an insider's guide to the prison system. Chris Atkins, a documentary maker, was sentenced to five years after becoming involved in an illegal tax scheme - he spent the first nine months imprisoned at HMP Wandsworth. The book was a real eye-opener into some of the horrors of prison life, from the dilapidated buildings and endless bureaucracy to the mental health issues and addictions affecting prisoners today. I found it heartbreaking yet also entertaining at times, sad yet also enlightening. The book highlights the urgent need for prison reform.


Holdout by Graham Moore

[Review copy]
The Holdout had me hooked from the start. A clever premise underlies this legal thriller and whodunnit - definitely one for the big screen.  The book features a diverse cast of characters, including a strong female protagonist, all centred around a jury on a murder trial. The main narrative follows present-day events, as a 10-year-old murder case is revisited, with new questions about whether the original suspect was guilty or not guilty. Then there are flashbacks that flesh out the jury characters and explore the decisions they made ten years ago, and why. Lots of twists, turns, shocks and surprises expose the complexities (and pitfalls) of the American legal system.


The Warehouse by Rob Hart

[Bought]
I bought this from Goldsboro Books on the recommendation of a friend who said it was definitely worth reading. At times, this near-future thriller felt a bit too real in the current no-high-street or limited-high-street situation and the reliance on online sales. It focuses on 'Cloud' - an online store that is determined to make the world a better place in a harsh political and economic environment ravaged by climate change. It's a satirical, but also worrying, exploration of the rise of consumerism. I was left with a few unanswered questions, but the world building was thorough and believable. Pure escapism - though maybe a little too close for comfort right now!

That's all for now! 

Back soon with some more recommended reads. 

Keep safe and well everyone!

The Priest and the Lily - a guest post by Sanjida O'Connell

Today, I am delighted to welcome Sanjida O'Connell to Off-the-Shelf Books to talk about the background to her novel, The Priest and the Lily.

The Priest and the Lily
By Sanjida O'Connell

Many of our most common and beautiful garden plants have come from far-flung locations throughout the world, brought to us by intrepid explorers who have literally risked life and limb in their search for the rare and exotic. Our gladioli originally came from South Africa, rhododendrons from the Himalayas, the monkey puzzle tree is indigenous to Chile, the regal lily was discovered in China and many of our most exquisite orchids originate in the Amazon. The stories of some of these men - for they were mostly men - who travelled the world in search of flowers, and got themselves into scrapes - attacked by bandits, gored by a bull, capsized from a canoe, fell off a cliff - inspired my story, The Priest and the Lily.

Set in 1865, just after Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species, on his radical theory of evolution, The Priest and the Lily is about a Jesuit priest, Joseph Jacobs, who sets sail from Bristol for Outer Mongolia. Joseph, passionate, idealistic and driven, wants to discover rare plants and animals and make a name for himself in scientific circles back in Britain. The young priest is accompanied by a Buddhist monk and a horseman; as they travel across the steppes, he hears stories of an astonishingly beautiful white lily. Finding this lily becomes his dream. But to discover where it grows, he will encounter many dangers, for he will have to face the savagery of the White Warlord, a Chinese General intent on seizing power in Mongolia, as well as the far more powerful Yolros lama, the living incarnation of the Buddha. And in his quest for the lily, Joseph will meet a woman who will show him something far more precious than a flower. 

I spent years researching my story - and travelled to Outer Mongolia, where I had my own mini adventure. We were due to spend three weeks travelling by jeep and horseback in order to meet the tribe I was going to write about in my novel. Unfortunately, my luggage ended up in Russia, and I had to set off in just the clothes I was wearing! Thankfully I was wearing my walking boots!

Mongolia is stunning: it is a country of seemingly endless skies and steppes, with incredibly hospitable people. At the time of writing this blog, we’re in the grip of COVID-19, and everyone in the UK as well as many other countries, is currently in lockdown at home. I hope that my novel can, in some small way, help take our minds off this situation, transporting us to a country and a time far from our own immediate experience, and perhaps, too, allow us to appreciate what Joseph comes to realise - that it is love, which is more important than anything else on this earth. 

            

About Sanjida O'Connell

Sanjida O’Connell is a novelist. She writes psychological thrillers under the pseudonym, Sanjida Kay.

Find Sanjida on her website and on Twitter - @SanjidaKay

About The Priest and the Lily

The Priest and the Lily

By Sanjida O'Connell

Description

In 1865, Joseph, a young Jesuit priest and plant-hunter, sets out on a dangerous journey through Outer Mongolia, a land virtually unknown to the Western world. Charles Darwin’s radical theory of evolution has just been published, and Joseph is driven by his passion for science and his love of God. As he crosses the Mongolia Steppes with a Buddhist monk and a local horseman, he hears rumours of a rare and beautiful white lily. He believes that if he finds this flower, his fame and fortune will be assured. 
But then Joseph meets Namuunaa, a shaman and the chief of her tribe. 

And it is Namuunaa who will teach him the true meaning of his desire… 

'You will journey far beyond the boundaries of your imagination. You will meet and seize your heart’s desire.

It will be the death of your soul.'

An epic journey, a story of East meeting West, and of a love that transcends culture, faith and ultimately tragedy.

The Priest and the Lily is available to buy from Amazon here

BEST OF CRIME with Bevan Frank

Welcome to my latest BEST OF CRIME feature, looking at crime writers' top picks, from their favourite author and fictional detective to their best writing tip. 

Today I'm delighted to welcome 

BEVAN FRANK

to share his BEST OF CRIME ...

... AUTHORS

There are several authors competing for my top spot but I would say it has to go to Dan Brown, who was catapulted to fame with The Da Vinci Code. All of his books are gripping and draw the reader inward. Brown’s ability to create suspense and cleverly merge the boundaries between fiction and reality is inspirational. 

... FILMS/MOVIES

Martin Scorsese’s The Departed – I am drawn to it and find myself watching it again and again. It has an excellent script and a great cast. 

... TV DRAMAS

If I look back on my early (earlier) years, Magnum P.I. with Tom Selleck was brilliant. Even today I still enjoy watching episodes again of Magnum and his friends solving crimes, so much so that I’ve always wanted to name my house ‘Robin’s Nest’ after the Hawaiian estate where Magnum lived, but my wife won’t hear of it. (As she constantly points out, my name is not Robin!)

If I am to consider ‘modern times’, then the best crime drama is a tie between The Sopranos and Money Heist (narrowly edging out Better Call Saul). They are all nothing short of brilliant, with characters and plots that linger long after I’ve switched off the remote control. 

... FICTIONAL KILLERS

Keyser Söze from Christopher McQuarrie’s The Usual Suspects. It’s a well-crafted story and I love the fact that the killer could be just another regular guy in the room with us. Someone you least suspect but someone who is calling the shots, someone with a brilliant mind able to hide himself from scrutiny while terrorising all who cross his path. Keyser Sözeis the perfect villain.

... FICTIONAL DETECTIVES 

While not a formal detective, Robert Langdon from Dan Brown’s books is a super-sleuth of note, trying to make sense of whatever is thrown his way as he gets to the bottom of deciphering clues, solving problems and saving the day.

... MURDER WEAPONS

What still stands out for me is Michael Crichton’s Prey, where the villain creates nanobots (made of nanoparticles) which evolve into clouds of autonomous intelligent swarms and become a lethal killing machine.

... DEATH SCENES

Without wanting to give anything away, a major death scene in Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo springs to mind. Here the person is fleeing in a car and crashes into a fuel tanker. After being stuck underneath it, the tanker then explodes. It took me by surprise!

... BLOGS/WEBSITES

I don’t have a specific website for writing or research. I do, however, recommend the book Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver. It gives great tips on setting scenes, creating memorable characters and writing books generally. It also gives ways to overcome writer’s block (or ‘writer’s stuckness’ as I was once told to rather call it!) The book was an invaluable resource which helped me get to the finish line when writing my thriller.

... WRITING TIPS

Write for 10 minutes every day, even if you’re just writing rubbish! The premise is that this eventually becomes an ingrained habit. Everyone has 10 minutes in their day to follow their dreams. I used the ‘10 minutes a day’ concept to write The Mind of God. Some days if I was in the flow the 10 minutes became 20 minutes or 30 minutes etc. After one year I had a substantial nucleus on which to build. You’ll be surprised at how much you can do in these little gaps. 

... WRITING SNACKS

Before my stroke, tea. Since my stroke, coffee. And always salted caramel ice-cream and lots of chocolate. And a bottle of whiskey on stand-by!

About BEVAN FRANK

Bevan Frank has a BA degree in English and Political Studies as well as a postgraduate LLB law degree, both from the University of Cape Town. 

After qualifying as an attorney Bevan decided to follow his passion and opted down the path of writing and editing. He has worked as a business magazine editor, journalist, writer, plain language practitioner and communications consultant. His articles have been published in numerous publications locally and globally. 

Bevan lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and children. The Mind of God is his award-winning debut novel. He is currently recovering from a stroke and hopes to get going with his second thriller once he emerges from the haze. 

Find Bevan Frank on his website and on Twitter - @justcallmebevan

About THE MIND OF GOD

Publisher's description

A black box. A race against time. No turning back. When Liz Greene discovers that her father is missing, she is unwittingly drawn into a plot that could change the world forever. Before he went missing, Professor Harry Greene had been working on the black box global consciousness project. Now, Liz needs to find both her father, and his groundbreaking research before it's too late. On the same day, President of the United States Daniel Rafferty is in Cape Town to give an address at the Convention Centre. Is it a coincidence that the black box was stolen while Rafferty is in the same city, or is there an even more sinister terrorist plot at play? Follow Liz, as she and her friend, Tim Fletcher, decode one clue after another in a deadly hunt around Cape Town, all the while being pursued by an assassin and a CIA agent.

The Mind of God is available to buy from Amazon here.

Look out for more BEST OF CRIME features coming soon.

Click here to read more BEST OF CRIME features.

My recent reads - 1

Like many people at the moment, I'm struggling to concentrate on reading, even though this used to be my main form of escapism. I'm also struggling to write reviews in any great detail. But when particular books manage to retain my attention, I do want to recommend them. So I am going to write some short reviews on here.

Hopefully once life returns to some form of 'new normal' and my anxiety and concentration levels settle down, my words will flow again. Watch out for this new series of posts, featuring a few books at a time.

The Toy Makers by Robert Dinsdale

I raced through this fairytale, which is set around the time of WW1. It involved embracing the magical element and immersing myself in the story. I thought it was beautifully written, cleverly plotted and very emotional, about love, war and family relationships. My OH picked it up after me and I don't think I have ever seen him read a book so quickly!


Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan

This is an intriguing, intelligent mystery. I found it difficult to put down, and loved everything about it, from the characters to the setting (a bookstore - how can anyone not love that?) and the compelling plot. It is an easy read (some people may call it 'quiet' crime novel) but also a very twisty (and clever) one, featuring secrets from the past, with a horrific killing and a suicide at the heart of it.


The Holiday by T.M. Logan

I have been meaning to read this book for ages and finally took it off my shelf when the author's next book (The Catch) arrived in the post. It's a psychological thriller (domestic noir) set in blazing sunshine in a Mediterranean paradise - perfect escapism from my current location. This is a gripping read, all about family dynamics, friendships and the hazards of parenting teenagers. It kept me guessing to the end and now I'm looking forward to reading The Catch.


The Flower Girls by Alice Clark-Platts

This is another book that's been lying around here for a while, and I am glad that I chose to read it now, as it proved to be great escapism. It's a very dark and disturbing story about two children, one convicted of murder and the other given a new identity, following the killing of an even younger child. I found myself trying to analyse the two main characters and their motives and personalities. The book explores the justice system, the nature of 'evil' and childhood trauma, and features a brilliant ending!

That's all for now! 

Back soon with some more recommended reads. 

Keep safe and well, everyone!

BEST OF CRIME with Jonathan Pinnock

Welcome to my latest BEST OF CRIME feature, looking at crime writers' top picks, from their favourite author and fictional detective to their best writing tip. 

Today I'm delighted to welcome 

JONATHAN PINNOCK

to share his BEST OF CRIME ...

... AUTHORS

I’m very much looking forward to whatever Gillian Flynn comes up with next, because Gone Girl was such a wild, mad ride. But in the meantime – and this might be cheating slightly, because they’re strictly speaking spy stories, but then again I don’t have a lot of time for genre boundaries – I’m currently working my way through Mick Herron’s Slough House series, and they are an absolutely marvel. Imagine looking at Le Carré and thinking “Nah, way too upbeat.”

If I can be ever so slightly pretentious for a moment, I’d also like to chuck in a third preference vote for Jorge Luis Borges, if only for Death and the Compass, which is possibly the single greatest crime short story ever written. As I’m sure everyone knows, the central conceit was borrowed by Umberto Eco for The Name of the Rose, which is why one of the key characters is called Jorge de Burgos. As slightly fewer people know, I also nicked it for The Truth About Archie and Pye, which is why one of my characters has the name George Burgess.

OK, OK, I’ll try and keep the answers shorter from now on.

... FILMS/MOVIES

I’m a massive fan of Raymond Chandler, so it’s got to be The Big Sleep – nothing comes close. But for God’s sake, make sure it’s the original 1946 Howard Hawks version with Bogart and Bacall at the top of their game, not the execrable 1978 Michael Winner remake. I actually paid real money to see this in the cinema when it came out and I’m still angry, over forty years later.

... TV DRAMAS

Ooh, this is tricky. Giri/Haji and the first series of Killing Eve are strong contenders, but in the end, it’s got to be The Bridge, or Bron | Broen, as we call it in our household, where we now speak fluent Scandinavian. The first two seasons in particular are wonderful, mainly because of the weird chemistry between Saga Norén and Martin Rohde. Oh, and that theme tune by Choir of Young Believers is just perfect.

... FICTIONAL KILLERS

Well, I guess Hannibal Lecter is a bit of an obvious choice, so let’s go with Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s Mysterons, mainly because they were so endearingly useless. At the start of every single episode, they would announce that they were going to kill someone or cause some kind of disaster, and every single time they were thwarted by bloody Captain Scarlet. Hopeless.

... FICTIONAL DETECTIVES 

I think it would have to be Louie Knight, from Malcolm Pryce’s Aberystwyth Noir series. On the face of it, he’s a pastiche of Philip Marlowe, but there’s so much more going on there. Pryce’s Aberystwyth is a masterpiece of world-building.

... MURDER WEAPONS

I’m guessing that someone must have mentioned it before in this series, because it’s just so neat, but there’s Roald Dahl’s frozen leg of lamb that a woman uses to bludgeon her husband before serving it to the investigating detective. I also quite like the serial killer in one of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books, The Visitor, who goes around drowning their victims in their own bathtubs in camouflage paint. Not only is it downright weird, but it’s also preposterously inefficient.

... DEATH SCENES

Might need to put a mild spoiler alert on this – and possibly a Lionel Shriver alert too – but the conclusion of We Need to Talk About Kevin shocked me much more than I was expecting it to.

... BLOGS/WEBSITES

I’m afraid that I’m not a particularly faithful web surfer, and if I’m about to do any research I tend to just start with Google and see where it leads me. My search history can make for interesting reading in itself.

... WRITING TIPS

Most of all, I’d recommend that you avoid taking advice from strangers on the internet. But if you insist, read widely and outside your genre, make sure all your characters have agency and for God’s sake, listen to how people talk.

... WRITING SNACKS

I share my life with someone who, if given a two-finger Kit-Kat, will break it in two, eat one finger and carefully re-wrap the remaining one to keep for some future occasion. Maybe next week, or some time the other side of Christmas. I, on the other hand, see a packet of chocolate digestives as an atomic entity, intended to be eaten all in one go if I think I can get away with it. So what I’m basically saying is that I don’t do snacks while writing. They’re far too dangerous.

About JONATHAN PINNOCK

Jonathan Pinnock first came to notoriety as the author of Mrs Darcy Versus the Aliens, of which he should probably be more ashamed than he actually is. He is also the author of two collections of short stories, a slim volume of poetry and an uncategorisable (and – frankly – largely unsaleable) musical memoir. More recently, he is the author of Farrago Books’ Mathematical Mystery series, the third of which, The Riddle of the Fractal Monks, was published on 16 April 2020.

Find Jonathan Pinnock on Twitter - @jonpinnock

About THE RIDDLE OF THE FRACTAL MONKS

Publisher's description

A mystery lands – literally – at Tom Winscombe’s feet, and another riotous mathematical adventure begins…

Tom Winscombe and Dorothy Chan haven’t managed to go on a date for some time, so it’s a shame that their outing to a Promenade Concert is cut short when a mysterious cowled figure plummets from the gallery to the floor of the arena close to where they are standing. But when they find out who he was, all thoughts of romance fly out of the window.

Just who are the Fractal Monks, and what does Isaac, last of the Vavasors and custodian of the papers of famed dead mathematical geniuses Archie and Pye, want with them? How will other figures from the past also demand a slice of the action? And what other mysteries are there lurking at the bottom of the sea and at the top of mountains? The answers lie in The Riddle of Fractal Monks.

The Riddle of the Fractal Monks is published by Farrago Books.

Look out for more BEST OF CRIME features coming soon.

Click here to read more BEST OF CRIME features.

BEST OF CRIME with Amy McLellan

Welcome to my latest BEST OF CRIME feature, looking at crime writers' top picks, from their favourite author and fictional detective to their best writing tip. 

Today I'm delighted to welcome 

AMY McLELLAN

to share her BEST OF CRIME ...

... AUTHORS

My all-time favourite is Graham Greene, master of noir, shabby spies, tortured souls and ruthless criminals. 

... FILMS/MOVIES

A Few Good Men. First date with my husband, fellow author Adam Hamdy. We loved a good conspiracy thriller even back then. No, you can’t handle the truth.

... TV DRAMAS

Bosch on Amazon Prime, starring Titus Welliver.  Gripping story-telling that gets better and better with every season.

... FICTIONAL KILLERS

Ian Fleming’s Dr No. Such a sinister character with his secret island and his fascination with pain. And the scene with the spiders…let’s not go there… 

... FICTIONAL DETECTIVES 

So many greats to pick from but I’d like to share the love for Elliot Rook QC, a criminal barrister with a secret past. He’s the wonderfully drawn main character in Gary Bell’s debut Beyond Reasonable Doubt, which feels so authentic you wonder to what degree Mr Rook is actually auto-biographical …

... MURDER WEAPONS

Mouldy peanuts, as used in Graham Greene’s The Human Factor. Apparently the mould kills liver cells, useful for spies trying to dispose of people without any public fuss.

... DEATH SCENES

There’s a scene in Alison Belsham’s dark and gripping The Tattoo Thief which stayed with me. The clue is in the title…

  

... BLOGS/WEBSITES

Mumsnet. All of human life is on there. Utterly addicted

... WRITING TIPS

Sit down every morning, stare at empty screen, fill it one word at a time. And repeat. Seriously, just keep going. 

... WRITING SNACKS

Coffee. Lots of coffee. And gum, to stop me eating ALL the chocolate. 

About AMY McLELLAN

Amy McLellan is a freelance journalist and copywriter. She lives in Shropshire with her husband and three children. Remember Me is her debut novel.  

Find Amy McLellan on Twitter - @AmyMcLellan2

About REMEMBER ME

Publisher's description

Sarah witnesses her sister’s murder but she can’t identify the perpetrator because she has prosopagnosia - she can't recognise faces. The police think she did it and if she doesn't find the man who did it, she’s going to be found guilty of murder…but who do you trust when people may not be who they say they are?

Remember Me is published by Orion.

Look out for more BEST OF CRIME features coming soon.

Click here to read more BEST OF CRIME features.