2012
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Strip Jack
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Reviewed on 31st December 2012
Ian Rankin's style continues to improve in the fourth Rebus novel. Returning to Edinburgh, Rebus is tasked with minor police jobs - hunting for stolen books, raiding brothels, etc. when he stumbles upon what appears to be a much more complex, and interesting, mystery.
Big Money
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Reviewed on 31st December 2012
A typical Wodehouse novel - several engaged couples are in love, but not always with each other, and a game of musical chairs ensues. As always, it's light and easy on the eyes, but I also found that this one seemed to drag.
The Mystery of the Whispering Mummy
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Reviewed on 30th December 2012
The third investigation by the Three Investigators sees them called in by another friend of Alfred Hitchcock to investigate a talking artefact. It's the first time they actually do some investigating properly and introduces more of the features that become recurring elements throughout the series.
Role of Honour
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Reviewed on 24th December 2012
John Gardner's fourth James Bond novel sees a slight change of direction for the author. It's a much more Fleming-esque novel with an epic-scale plot but a perfectly believable enemy, and a number of touches that follow the style of Bond's original creator.
Back Spin
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Reviewed on 21st December 2012
Sports Agent/Investigator Myron Bolitar takes on his fourth case when a pair of professional golfers take him on to track down something that's been taken from them.
Eagle Strike
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Reviewed on 21st December 2012
The fourth book in the Alex Rider series is quite different from the previous three. The formula of Alex being given a mission by MI6 is abandoned, and this time it's an adventure he has got himself into, when a holiday with a friend's family goes horribly wrong.
The Labours of Hercules
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Reviewed on 15th December 2012
Set briefly before Poirot's 'retirement', The Labours of Hercules is a series of twelve short stories based loosely around the structure of the Greek legend of the same name. Poirot sets himself the challenge of solving a dozen more mysteries linked to the challenges posed to his mythical namesake, and then the shorts begin.
Silent Weapons
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Reviewed on 10th December 2012
Book two in the Cold Equations trilogy picks up a couple of months after the first book, and although they are branded as a trilogy each stands alone pretty well (though you'll want to read them in the right order). Picard and the Enterprise are performing some slightly dubious science experiments when a distress call pulls them into a complex and very interesting situation.
Poseidon's Arrow
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Reviewed on 8th December 2012
Dirk Pitt is back for yet another adventure on the high seas. It's amazing how fit the character still is and how much he can get up to despite his increasing age. This story sees the NUMA team called upon by the US government to help raise a small boat with a secret cargo, but they aren't the only ones after it.
The Dragon Keeper
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Reviewed on 7th December 2012
The Dragon Keeper is the first book in a new series by Robin Hobb - a sequel of sorts to her three previous trilogies set in 'The Realm of the Elderlings'. It follows the lives of several characters living in and around the Rain Wilds as they attempt to look after a group of newly hatched dragons.
Jaggy Splinters
Reviewed on 23rd November 2012
Jaggy Splinters is a collection of short stories and other pieces by Christopher Brookmyre, one of my favourite authors, whose series of dark comedies has kept me entertained for many hours. This ebook is a bit of a mixed bag though, with some pieces better than others.
The Mystery of the Secret Room
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Reviewed on 23rd November 2012
It's the Christmas holiday, and Enid Blyton's Five Find-Outers are back together again and looking out for another mystery to solve, while continuing to wind up the local policeman.
The Persistence of Memory
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Reviewed on 21st November 2012
David Mack returns to epic Trek novelling with the first book in his Cold Equations trilogy, which sees the Enterprise called to investigate a shocking theft/kidnapping and follows this up with some surprising, heart-warming and intriguing events that once again might just change the Trek universe forever.
Full Dark House
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Reviewed on 21st November 2012
The first novel in the Bryant and May series starts with an interesting twist - the death of the one of the principal characters. This event sets the remaining half of the duo off on a trip down memory lane, as he uses his recollections of the pair's first case together to investigate a modern mystery.
The Confession
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Reviewed on 11th November 2012
Once again, Grisham writes about the death penalty, and while I agree with the point he's trying to make about the irony of capital punishment and the number of miscarriages of justice caused by outdated and corrupted systems, I found this particular work dreary and repetitive.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
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Reviewed on 11th November 2012
The second book in J K Rowling's much loved epic fantasy series for children has always been one of my least favourite instalments - one that on each re-read of the series I've thought 'Oh no, this one again'. This time however, I didn't see what had put me off it before - it's a neat and well constructed story that sows a lot of seeds for later in the series, but perhaps because it's the first time I've re-read it since Deathly Hallows was published it is only now that I can appreciate that.
Maximum Security
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Reviewed on 31st October 2012
Book three of the Cherub series sees James Adams, teenage secret agent, dispatched to an American prison, but actually I thought it the weakest of the series so far.
Icebreaker
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Reviewed on 31st October 2012
John Gardner's third outing as Bond author brings us a novel that has a slightly more cinematic feel to it, in which Bond is invited to join with counterparts from foreign powers to counter a neo-nazi terrorist group.
Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia
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Reviewed on 31st October 2012
Alcatraz Smedry's third appearance is something of a departure from the repetitive plots of the first two books, while maintaining the irreverent humour of the author's chosen style of narrative.
The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cufflinks
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Reviewed on 31st October 2012
The third and final mystery at Alderley concerns the death of Lord Burford's great-aunt, and the turmoil and murder brought about by it.
Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones
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Reviewed on 28th October 2012
The second adventure for Alcatraz Smedry in his was against evil librarians sees the teenager take a trip to the Library of Alexandria, in an attempt to rescue his father and grandfather.
Jumper
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Reviewed on 28th October 2012
A literary adventure with one sci-fi element, Jumper surprised me in its depth and emotion, although in places seemed to lack direction. Davy Rice lives with his abusive father until one day he miraculously escapes by discovering a unique ability.
The Bat
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Reviewed on 17th October 2012
Jo Nesbo's first Harry Hole mystery is the eighth to be translated into English (and the fourth I've read). It's fairly easy to see why. The story sees Hole, a Norwegian ex-alcoholic police officer, sent to Sydney, Australia to help investigate the murder of a minor Norwegian celebrity, where he becomes over involved and listens to a lot of stories.
Money for Nothing
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Reviewed on 17th October 2012
Money for Nothing is another classic comic romance from one of the twentieth century's greatest authors of light novels. The slightly sterotypical stately home setting is offset by the character of its owner and the genius plot in which he partakes. There are two intertwined stories and it's hard to say which is the main and which the secondary, that while very different counterbalance each other well.
Brinkmanship
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Reviewed on 7th October 2012
The eighth story in the Typhon Pact arc, set several years past Star Trek Nemesis, focuses on the Tzenkethi, and their relationships with the Federation and its allies, as well as the Venette Convention, a non-aligned peaceful group whose home lies between the major powers'. The plot follows three strands and focusses on diplomacy and exploring the alien cultures in more detail.
The Casual Vacancy
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Reviewed on 7th October 2012
JK Rowling's first book for adults depicts life in the village of Pagford, where the untimely death of a parish councillor throws the local populace into complete disarray. Rowling proves that she's not a 'one trick pony' as she explores the lives of an ensemble cast of characters who live surprisingly believable lives.
Exodus Code
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Reviewed on 30th September 2012
Exodus Code is a Torchwood novel by John Barrowman, star of the TV series, and his sister Carole. The story, set following the fourth TV series ('Miracle Day'), sees violent uprisings in the sea bed around the world and groups of women suffering debilitating synaesthesia.
Deep Down
Reviewed on 26th September 2012
Deep Down is a short Jack Reacher story released in the build-up to the publication of A Wanted Man, much as Second Son was before The Affair. It tells a tale from Reacher's early career in the US army's military police, where he is sent undercover on home turf.
Great Northern?
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Reviewed on 26th September 2012
Great Northern?, the last complete story in Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series, is a much better adventure than I remembered from childhood. The three groups of siblings are sailing the Sea Bear off the Scottish coast with Captain Flint (whether this is meant to be real or another story made up by the children is unclear, but personally I favour the former position) when Dick makes a remarkable discovery - but then must protect it from danger.
Dodger
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Reviewed on 19th September 2012
Dodger is an amazing stand-alone novel from Terry Pratchett, telling the tale of a young man in early-Victorian London whose life suddenly changes when he rescues a damsel in distress. It's an exciting and incredibly rich story that I have no doubt will appeal to readers of all ages.
The Eternal Tide
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Reviewed on 15th September 2012
Kirsten Beyer's fourth post-Destiny Voyager novel picks up on a number of threads that have been hanging over the series for some time, most specifically the mystery surrounding fleet commander Afsarah Eden's past.
The Devil's Star
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Reviewed on 11th September 2012
The Devil's Star is the fifth of Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole books (but confusingly the first published in English and the third in the 'Prince' trilogy). It's the third of the series that I've read (after The Redbreast and Nemesis) and certainly the best of the three.
Tooth and Nail
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Reviewed on 7th September 2012
The third Inspector Rebus book sees the character called to London as an expert in serial killers to investigate the mysterious 'Wolfman' who has been brutally killing women across the city.
A Wanted Man
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Reviewed on 5th September 2012
This is the first Jack Reacher novel I've read at publication, having finally caught up with the series. It's another great tale about the former military policeman as he randomly explores America, and follows on directly from the book before last (Worth Dying For) although the plot is entirely distinct. This time Reacher is hitch-hiking when he's picked up by some suspicious characters.
For Special Services
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Reviewed on 31st August 2012
The second of John Gardner's James Bond continuation novels sees the secret agent dispatched to America to investigate an apparent resurgence in an old enemy. It's a clever move to delay the reintroduction of this element until book two, so that the new series doesn't feel too much like a rehash, however it also felt a little like they returned because it wasn't thought the book would sell well enough with a new enemy.
The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot
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Reviewed on 29th August 2012
The second adventure for the Three Investigators sees them take up the hunt for a missing parrot. Some more of the regular elements are introduced and the plot is a classic mystery.
The Hollow
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Reviewed on 27th August 2012
Hercule Poirot returns (eventually) for a small part in this murder mystery, set in the classic surrounds of an upper-class country home.
Skeleton Key
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Reviewed on 27th August 2012
Book three in the Alex Rider series seems weaker than its predecessors. The plot sees Alex sent to America to help the CIA infiltrate a Caribbean island, but apart from a couple of action sequences feels bland and bitty.
The Affair
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Reviewed on 27th August 2012
Lee Child's 16th Jack Reacher novel is set back in 1997, shortly before the events depicted in 'Killing Floor', the first book in the series, and covers Reacher's final days as a military policeman in the US army. It's a really good adventure for the character and reveals a lot about his past that's been secret before now.
Fallen Gods
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Reviewed on 23rd August 2012
Nominally the seventh book in the Star Trek: Titan series, this book actually follows on from the 'Typhon Pact'-branded novel Seize the Fire by the same author. It follows the Titan as it investigates an unusual pulsar and deals with some of the repercussions of events in the wider Star Trek novel universe.
A Clash of Kings
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Reviewed on 22nd August 2012
The second book in Martin's epic focusses heavily on the disparate members of the Stark family and their Lannister enemies. It's a very political story which might disappoint those looking for endless battle scenes in their fantasy, though I found this to be a highlight as I love stories with complex plotting.
Theodore Boone
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Reviewed on 13th August 2012
John Grisham's first children's book is the story of the thirteen-year-old son of two lawyers, who is desperate to be one himself, and finds himself mixed up in the biggest court case the town has ever seen.
The Affair of the Mutilated Mink
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Reviewed on 13th August 2012
The second of the Burford Family mysteries sees a visit by the film industry to the Earl's home, scouting for a possible movie, but as before someone isn't going to survive.
The Mystery of the Disappearing Cat
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Reviewed on 11th August 2012
The Five Find-Outers and Dog return for a second mystery when a new neighbour's pedigree cat is stolen. It's still early days for the group and I found the mystery to be lacking in some of the usual Blyton hallmarks.
Class A
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Reviewed on 11th August 2012
The second book in Robert Muchamore's Cherub series continues the adventures of 12-year-old secret agent James Adams, who takes on a mission to infiltrate a gang of drug dealers.
The Small Bachelor
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Reviewed on 11th August 2012
Another delightful tale from PG Wodehouse in which people fall in love and in doing so get terribly confused. To me this is where Wodehouse is at his best - similar to Piccadilly Jim in theme and entertaining throughout.
The Clan of the Cave Bear
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Reviewed on 8th August 2012
The Clan of the Cave Bear is an epic tale of Ayla, an orphaned 'Cro-Magnon' girl living 30,000 years ago and brought up by a Neanderthal clan. The level of historical detail is impressive and it's clear the author has done a lot of research into her era, however I found the story to be overly long and had to take a break halfway through to read something else.
Licence Renewed
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Reviewed on 6th August 2012
Licence Renewed is the first James Bond novel by John Gardner after he took over as continuation writer for the series in the early 1980s. It's very different from the works of Ian Fleming and previous continuation writer Kingsley Amis who did a passable attempt at replicating Fleming's style.
The Secret of Terror Castle
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Reviewed on 29th July 2012
The first adventure of the Three Investigators introduces a number of long-running features of the series and sees the three boys, Jupiter, Pete and Bob, on their first investigation - to find a haunted house for Alfred Hitchcock to use in his next film.
When the Devil Drives
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Reviewed on 29th July 2012
Chris Brookmyre's second 'serious' crime novel sees the returns of private investigator Jasmine Sharp, hunting for a missing person, and police detective Catherine McLeod, investigating the death of a leading figure in the arts world.
The Picts and the Martyrs
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Reviewed on 29th July 2012
The eleventh of Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons books is the only one of the series to feature the Amazons without the Swallows, taking place early in the summer holidays. Dick and Dorothea are visiting the Amazon pirates to take delivery of a boat of their own, but an unscheduled visit from the Amazons' great-aunt disrupts their plans.
The Geneva Trap
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Reviewed on 24th July 2012
In former MI5 director-general Dame Stella Rimington's seventh Liz Carlyle novel, the counter-espionage officer is called to Geneva when a Russian agent insists on talking only to her. It continues the style of the previous books, focussing heavily on depicting the realism of life in the security service while presenting a compelling tale.
Fade Away
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Reviewed on 21st July 2012
MYron Bollitar's third adventure sees the investigator with the unlikely background back on the basketball court as a team brings him in to find a missing player. It's a good romp of a novel that allows the reader to disengage their brain to just the right extent - enough to take things with a pinch of salt but still to try to work things out before the characters.
The Assassination Game
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Reviewed on 18th July 2012
The fourth Starfleet Academy book based on the 2009 Star Trek film, The Assassination Game is the best yet. It follows the antics of all six of the main characters based at the academy as an unfriendly alien group visits Earth for a medical conference.
The Woman Who Died a Lot
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Reviewed on 16th July 2012
Book seven in the Thursday Next series once again takes the random-fantasy/crime/met-fiction in a different direction. Thursday has a new job with new responsibilities, and is struggling with her children, one of whom doesn't exist.
Colonel Sun
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Reviewed on 13th July 2012
Colonel Sun is the first James Bond novel written by someone other than Ian Fleming, and Kingsley Amis, writing under the pseudonym of Robert Markham, does a good job of it, though it is noticeably different.
Raise the Dawn
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Reviewed on 13th July 2012
Raise the Dawn is the second half of a duology, and the seventh entry in the Typhon Pact thread of Star Trek fiction. It focusses mostly on characters from Deep Space Nine as they deal with the repercussions of the events of Plagues of Night.
Five Little Pigs
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Reviewed on 7th July 2012
Hercule Poirot returns to investigate a crime some seventeen years old, in an attempt to clear the name of the woman found guilty. While I thought that Agatha Christie's odd habit of basing her stories around nursery rhymes wouldn't work, in this example it does, and provides a framework for an excellent mystery.
Mockingjay
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Reviewed on 5th July 2012
The final book in the Hunger Games trilogy surprised me by being the weakest of the three. I had thought that it would surpass the second book, Catching Fire, at least. Katniss is forced to become the face of a rebellion against the Capitol, and spends an inordinate amount of time acting confused and emotional.
Ford County Stories
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Reviewed on 1st July 2012
John Grisham's first collection of short stories set in and around his fictional town of Clanton is a mixed bag of generally depressing tales which seem further from life as I know it than if they were set in rural China.
Point Blanc
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Reviewed on 30th June 2012
The second Alex Rider book sees the reluctant teenager called back into action as an MI6 spy to infiltrate 'Point Blanc', a suspicious school in the Alps.
The Long Earth
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Reviewed on 29th June 2012
The Long Earth is the first collaboration in a possible series between Pratchett and Baxter for which the idea has been brewing for some time. In the early twenty-first century the design for a 'stepper' is released to the public, enabling almost anyone to 'step' between a possibly infinite number of parallel Earths, and triggering a migration much likened to that of early American settlers.
Plagues of Night
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Reviewed on 27th June 2012
David R George III continues the post-Nemesis Star Trek saga in this first part of a duology and sixth part in the ongoing Typhon Pact arc. The narrative covers the period around the earlier novels, adding some context to tie them together, then continues the adventures of the Next Gen and Deep Space Nine characters as the Federation opens diplomatic relations with the Typhon Pact.
Second Son
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Reviewed on 25th June 2012
Second Son is a very short story about Lee Child's character Jack Reacher when he was thirteen years old. The writing style differs little from that of his usual novels though the e-book medium and young protagonist give it the feel of reading a 'Young Adult' novel.
Northern Lights
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Reviewed on 22nd June 2012
Northern Lights and the rest of the 'His Dark Materials' triolgy passed me by at the height of their popularity and only now have I got round to reading this first installment. Lyra is a young girl living in an Oxford college in a universe slightly different to our own, in which each person is constantly accompanied by their own 'daemon'. When children around the country begin to disappear, Lyra is unknowingly drawn into her destiny.
Octopussy and The Living Daylights
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Reviewed on 18th June 2012
The final entry in Ian Fleming's 14 books about James Bond is a second collection of short stories. Containing three or four tales about the character (depending on which edition you have), I actually feel it is the better of the two sets.
The Recruit
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Reviewed on 15th June 2012
The Recruit is the first book in Robert Muchamore's CHERUB series, about a school for orphans who work as spies for the British government. It sounds like a strange cross between James Bond and Harry Potter, but actually comes out baring little resemblance to either.
The Storm
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Reviewed on 14th June 2012
The Storm is Graham Brown's second outing as Clive Cussler's co-author since taking over the NUMA Files series from Paul Kemprecos. I enjoyed Brown's previous book and was looking forward to more from him - I was not disappointed.
The World of Poo
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Reviewed on 11th June 2012
In a book that spins off from an extended joke in his previous novel, Snuff, Terry Pratchett and his co-authors present a children's book suitable for the inhabitants of Discworld, whose outlook is somewhat different.
Where the Bodies are Buried
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Reviewed on 11th June 2012
Known for his series of comical crime novels, Chris Brookmyre takes a new direction with Where the Bodies are Buried, his first 'serious' crime book. Josephine Sharp is an out-of-work actress temping as a trainee private investigator for her uncle's company, when Uncle Jim goes missing, leaving her to retrace his movements.
The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage
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Reviewed on 7th June 2012
The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage is the first investigation for the Five Find-Outers and Dog, one of Enid Blyton's less-well-known teams of child detectives despite their fifteen adventures. This series was always my favourite in a childhood full of mystery series, and I've certainly enjoyed re-reading this story as an adult.
Ukridge
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Reviewed on 7th June 2012
Ukridge is a set of ten short-stories about the eponymous gentleman, told from the perspective of his close friend Corky. The titular character is an enthusiastic entrepreneur and borrower of cash, though his escapades rarely go to plan. Each story stands alone, but several form a loose continuing narrative.
Hide and Seek
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Reviewed on 5th June 2012
Hide and Seek is the second book in Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus series, in which the detective finds himself drawn into the mystery of a body found beneath a pentagram. As the author himself admits in my copy's introduction, there are some rough edges and the central character has a number of traits that seem unusual given his biography.
Missee Lee
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Reviewed on 3rd June 2012
I said in my review of Secret Water, an earlier book in the Swallows and Amazons series, that it was probably the weakest in the series, but now I'm not so sure. Missee Lee is written as a story that the children have made up about themselves visiting the far east and being captured by pirates. This structure, though only made explicit in a single line introduction, is similar to that of Peter Duck, yet I felt this story was less substantial.
Worth Dying For
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Reviewed on 2nd June 2012
For once, Lee Child's Worth Dying For follows straight on from the previous novel in the Jack Reacher series, 61 Hours, although it only really touches upon the events in passing. Reacher is trying to make his way south to Virginia, and finds himself in a Nebraskan motel on the way, where he once again gets caught up in a local dispute.
The Man with the Golden Gun
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Reviewed on 27th May 2012
Ian Fleming's last James Bond novel seems rather weak when compared to its predecessors. Following on from the events of You Only Live Twice, Bond finally returns to London, only to be greeted with suspicion. M sends him on a deadly impossible mission, expecting him to die in the process.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
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Reviewed on 27th May 2012
Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone is the first book in the Harry Potter series by J K Rowling. This must be about the tenth time I've read it, but the first since the conclusion of the series with the Deathly Hallows in 2007. I'm reading it again along with Pottermore - Rowling's new website which contains additional detail about her writing process and the characters and world they inhabit.
Evil Under the Sun
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Reviewed on 27th May 2012
Another classic mystery in which Poirot, holidaying on an island off the English south coast, stumbles into yet another murder investigation. Filled with Christie's trademark knowing wit, this is an interestingly different take on the locked room.
Forgotten History
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Reviewed on 24th May 2012
Forgotten History is the second book in Christopher L Bennett's Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations series, and is very similar to the first.
Just Like Jennings
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Reviewed on 23rd May 2012
Just Like Jennings is one of the entries in Anthony Buckeridge's series that I didn't have as a child. Clearly it was revised and republished sometime in the 00s, and that's the edition I've just read - despite the caption at the front of my copy that claims it's the original text.
Catching Fire
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Reviewed on 20th May 2012
Book two of the Hunger Games trilogy begins shortly after the end of the first, where Katniss is required to take part in a tour of the 12 districts of Panem. Things don't quite go to the Capitol's plan though, as despite threats to Katniss she can't help but put her foot in it, and the Capitol decide they must do something about her.
Bill the Galactic Hero
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Reviewed on 17th May 2012
According to the front cover of my copy of 'Bill the Galactic Hero', it is the greatest comedy sci-fi of all time. Personally I disagree (I recall Red Dwarf being funnier). It is the story of Bill, a casual farm labourer who is coerced into signing up to the military in a slightly surreal authoritarian future.
The Associate
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Reviewed on 17th May 2012
The associate is very much a return by John Grisham to the style and tone of his earlier novels. It features Kyle McAvoy, a lawyer fresh out of Harvard as he takes up a job in a major law firm, while simultaneously being blackmailed into stealing from them. In a number of ways its very similar to Grisham's very successful early novel 'The Firm'.
The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy
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Reviewed on 10th May 2012
The first book in this series is a fairly light-hearted and modern take on the style of Agatha Christie. Set in a picturesque stately home filled with a wide variety of suspects, all of whom might have something to hide, everything is going swimmingly until a body shows up.
Fool's Fate
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Reviewed on 9th May 2012
The final book in the Tawny Man trilogy, and ninth overall in Robin Hobb's epic series, sees Fitz travel to the island of Asjeval, accompanying the prince on his quest. It makes for a fantastic end to the story and wraps things up much more roundly than Fitz's previous concluding episode in Assassin's Quest.
You Only Live Twice
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Reviewed on 30th April 2012
You Only Live Twice has the feeling of a grand finale. It's not, of course, but it feels like one. Bond is suffering depression following the events of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and his work is suffering. M decides to set him an impossible mission to snap him out of it, and off Bond flies to Japan.
Drop Shot
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Reviewed on 26th April 2012
Myron Bolitar is a sports agent, attorney, former FBI agent, basketball player and super sleuth, and this is his second adventure alongside a similarly larger-than-life supporting cast. Myron is at the finals of the US tennis open when a young player is murdered, and decides to investigate.
The Adventures of Sally
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Reviewed on 24th April 2012
Sally's Adventures, while providing the lightness I was looking for in reading a work of P G Wodehouse, didn't really grip me. Sally has come into an inheritance on her 21st birthday and is looking for how to use it, while a group of suitors compete for her hand.
A Game of Thrones
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Reviewed on 18th April 2012
Game of Thrones is the first book in George R R Martin's ongoing Song of Fire and Ice epic. It sees Ned Stark, Lord of Winterfall in the far north, called south to serve his king, and enter into the blistering world of politics that surrounds the throne. This summary barely does the book justice - the plots are multiple and complex and the characters numerous.
The Big Six
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Reviewed on 6th April 2012
The Big Six is Arthur Ransome's foray into writing a crime story for his Swallows and Amazons series, although neither of those groups even gets a name check. Instead this story sees Dick and Dorothea return to the Norfolk Broads - setting of the earlier story Coot Club - to reunite with Tom Dudgeon and the Death and Glories, who find themselves accused of a series of misdemeanours.
61 Hours
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Reviewed on 31st March 2012
The fourteenth book in the Jack Reacher series sees the former military policeman back in the wrong place at the wrong time. He takes on the protection of an elderly lady - the only witness to a minor crime that could lead the police onto bigger baddies.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
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Reviewed on 29th March 2012
Ian Fleming was certainly on top of his game when he wrote OHMSS. Following on from Thunderball and The Spy Who Loved Me, Blofeld's trail is going cold when Bond meets his match - the gorgeous and slightly reckless Tracy.
One, Two, Buckle my Shoe
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Reviewed on 25th March 2012
A slow case for Hercule Poirot, this nursery rhyme themed story takes place over several weeks, as the Belgian detective investigates the mysterious death of his dentist. The pacing is quite interesting and makes a change from the usual closed room in the manor house style of mystery.
The Trouble with Jennings
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Reviewed on 23rd March 2012
I'm pleased to discover that the Jennings books that I didn't manage to read as a child can manage to make me giggle in adulthood. This is another delightful tale of misunderstandings between schoolboys and their teachers at Linbury Court school.
Pandaemonium
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Reviewed on 22nd March 2012
Christopher Brookmyre's final comic novel before his switch to more serious crime writing. The plot is a combination of the best bits from some of his previous books, including the computer game metaphors from A Big Boy Did It..., the setting from Be My Enemy, the school-age characters from A Tale Etched... and themes from ... Unsinkable Rubber Ducks. You'd think that such a recycled plot might feel awkward but it really does make something more than the sum of its parts.
The Hunger Games
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Reviewed on 18th March 2012
I was a little surprised at how much I enjoyed reading The Hunger Games. I'd been given the impression that it was a kids' story that was a lighter version of 'Battle Royale' (which I haven't read, so can't draw a conclusion on), however it's quite a violent book that is perhaps aimed at an older age group than I had been led to believe - perhaps early teens (the main character is 16, and typically the intended audience is a little younger than the protagonist).
The Appeal
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Reviewed on 16th March 2012
I didn't find this book as appealing as some of Grisham's earlier works - the narrative is quite dry and the characters not explored in much depth. A chemical company spent years polluting the town's water supply, killing off the locals, and when the courts hand down a massive fine, they decide the only way to beat it on appeal is to buy themselves a judge.
The Golden Fool
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Reviewed on 12th March 2012
In the second book of the third trilogy of Robin Hobb's continuing epic set in 'The Realm of the Elderlings', she explores what happens to Fitz, posing as servant Tom Badgerlock, on his return to Buckkeep - his childhood home - in the wake of the events of the previous book.
A Damsel in Distress
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Reviewed on 7th March 2012
A Damsel in Distress is what is fast (after only reading three books) becoming standard for my reading of Wodehouse. It's a comic romance in which nobody quite knows who everyone else is, nor who is in love with whom. Maud is in love with an American, but her aristocratic family, who think it's a different American, who in turn happens to love Maud, don't approve.
Stormbreaker
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Reviewed on 4th March 2012
The first entry in Horowitz's Alex Rider series sets up the orphaned character as an unwilling agent of MI6, sent in where adults have failed to discover the secret of a Cornish computer factory.
The Spy Who Loved Me
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Reviewed on 2nd March 2012
The first thing to know about The Spy Who Loved Me is that it is not a typical James Bond adventure by any stretch. This is the story of Viv Michel, a Canadian working in an American motel when gangsters descend. It's a very personal, almost coming-of-age, tale, told in the first-person.
The Thief
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Reviewed on 2nd March 2012
Isaac Bell returns for another early 20th Century adventure. As the German war machine is building, they attempt to kindap two scientists from a trans-Atlantic liner, but Bell can't fathom why.
Knots and Crosses
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Reviewed on 28th February 2012
The first book in Ian Rankin's 'John Rebus' series, written 27 years ago, features the detective assigned to the case of an Edinburgh child-murderer who leaves suspiciously few clues.
The Quantum Universe
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Reviewed on 25th February 2012
Having read this book I feel that I now have at least a basic understanding of Quantum Physics and what it's meant to prove, even if I still can't quite get my head around the details. Cox and Forshaw present a very readable text which effectively takes the reader on a journey through the history of the theory, discovering each part in step with the scientists who did so first.
Secret Water
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Reviewed on 21st February 2012
Secret Water is, in my opinion, the weakest of the Swallows and Amazons series. It follows on directly from 'We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea', but the plot is very different. The Swallows are 'marooned' on an island with a blank map, and tasked by their father with exploring the surrounding area and mapping it out.
Gone Tomorrow
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Reviewed on 16th February 2012
2009's Jack Reacher novel sees the character caught up in a plot that stretches my credulity, which begins with him identifying a woman on an underground train as a suicide bomber.
The Bad Beginning
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Reviewed on 12th February 2012
The title actually does say it all. When three siblings are orphaned, they are sent to live with an evil distant relative who wants nothing more than to steal their inheritance.
Thunderball
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Reviewed on 12th February 2012
Of all the James Bond books, this one feels the most cinematic, though I do wonder whether my knowledge that the novel is based on an idea for a film influences me in feeling this. When two British atomic weapons go missing, M puts everyone on alert, and sends Bond on a mission to the Bahamas to track them down.
Sad Cypress
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Reviewed on 8th February 2012
In 'Sad Cypress' Hercule Poirot is hired on behalf of an accused murderer in an attempt to get her off the charges, despite all the evidence saying that she's guilty.
The Innocent Man
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Reviewed on 6th February 2012
John Grisham's first foray into non-fiction has me torn. It is clearly a good book, a lot of work has gone into it, and it makes a very important point about the quality of a judicial system that can allow such miscarriages of justice to occur. However I'm not convinced that it made for a good read.
Fool's Errand
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Reviewed on 2nd February 2012
The first book in Robin Hobb's third trilogy set in the 'Realm of the Elderlings' returns to the setting of the first trilogy and the first-person narration from Fitz, who is called suddenly out of retirement for a new quest.
Empire State
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Reviewed on 29th January 2012
This is the second of Bateman's novels which I have read, and I must confess I feel pretty much the same way as I did about the first. While it's an interesting set-up and the characters occasionally show promise, I just wasn't able to connect with the novel and found I had to force myself to keep going through the second half.
Deal Breaker
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Reviewed on 25th January 2012
Harlan Coben's first Myron Bollitar novel is a mixed bag. When american footballer Christian Steele gets a message from his girlfriend - who disappeared 18 months earlier - he recruits his sports agent to try to track her down. This summary is the basis of my initial scepticism about the book - the character just didn't seem to fit the plot, and that element remains to be satisfactorily explained.
Steve Jobs
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Reviewed on 23rd January 2012
I must begin by confessing to being a fan of Steve Jobs and the products that his company has produced - I carry at least one with me everywhere. that is the background to how I am approaching this book. I'm not usually one for reading biographies, particularly one as huge on the shelf as this (though it's actually only around 600 pages), but was given this one as a Christmas present so felt I had to read it.
Piccadilly Jim
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Reviewed on 18th January 2012
Piccadilly Jim is the first stand-alone novel by PG Wodehouse that I've read, and has impressed me a lot. Despite being set, and written, almost 100 years ago, the plot remains very approachable and the characters believable if a little dated.
Devil's Gate
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Reviewed on 14th January 2012
A new co-author joins Clive Cussler for the ninth book in the NUMA Files series, and seems to breath a little fresh life into the narrative. It's hard to explain the plot without feeling that I'm giving too much away, but when Kurt Austin accidentally discovers an unusual underwater source of magnetism it leads to far more adventure than expected.
For Your Eyes Only
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Reviewed on 11th January 2012
The first of two collections of Ian Fleming's short stories about James Bond makes for interesting reading. There are several themes that flow through, from the usual exotic locations and deaths of the Bond novels to more of a focus on the people - in four cases Bond himself.
We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea
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Reviewed on 7th January 2012
The only one of Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons novels to feature solely the Swallows, 'We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea' sees the four siblings do just that, as bad weather accidentally washes them out of the harbour.
Nothing to Lose
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Reviewed on 2nd January 2012
The second weak Jack Reacher story in a row, this novel tells of his visit to the towns of Hope and Despair in deepest Colorado. As the name suggests, Hope is lovely, but Despair triggers all Reacher's warning bells, and he sets out to find out what's going on.