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<metadesc>Book review siteExpert, with books full book reviews from the many most walks of literary life - ; fiction, biography, crime, cookery and anything else that takes our fancy. There are also lots of author interviews and top tens.</metadesc>Hello from The Bookbag, a book review site, featuring books from all the many walks of literary life non- [[:Category:Fiction|fiction]], [[:Category:Biography|biography]], [[:Category:Crime|crime]], [[:Category:Cookery|cookery]] and anything else that takes our fancy. At Bookbag Towers the bookbag sits at the side of the desk. Itchildren's the bag we take to the library and the bookshop. Sometimes it holds the latest releases, but at other times there'll be old favourites, books for the children, & self-published books for the home. They're sometimes our own books or books from the local library. They're often books sent to us by publishers and we promise to tell you exactly what we think about them. You might not want to read through a full review, so we'll give you a quick review which summarises what we felt about the book and tells you whether or not we think you should buy or borrow it. There are also lots of [[:Category:Interviews|plus author interviews]], and all sorts of [[:Category:Lists|& top tens]] - all of which you can find on our [[features]] page. If you're stuck for something to read, check out the [[Book Recommendations|recommendations]] page.</metadesc>
'''Read [[Forthcoming Publications|reviews of books about to be published]].{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jeff SomersSylvie Cathrall|title=The Eternal PrisonA Letter to the Luminous Deep|rating=3.5
|genre=Science Fiction
|summary=This There are few greater joys than a book stands out in the high-energy, hard-edged sci-fi adventure/thriller genre, in that it covers two stories at the same time. In one chapter we have Avery Cates, practically the best gun-for-hire in his post-apocalyptic North America, being told which lives up to kill one of the most protected and important people left in the world, by other, almost as important people, in the cruel mix of powerplays that make up the current politicsa compelling premise. In the other corner And this is Cates, being thrown in prison - one of those basic, hell-on-earth, surrounded by miles of desert, prisons. Here, too, he will be told to do jobs for other people..them.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1841497053</amazonuk>0356522776
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=A.Roger Ekirch 0008517061|title=Birthright: The True Story That Inspired KidnappedDeath in a Lonely Place|author=Stig Abell
|rating=4
|genre=HistoryCrime|summary=They say truth is sometimes stranger than fictionFormer Metropolitan Police detective, Jake Johnson, and it is not unusual for novels to be based partly on facthas settled into his rustic life at Little Sky. So it was in There’s perhaps a little uncertainty about the case future of Robert Louis Stevenson's ''Kidnapped'', Sir Walter Scott's ''Guy Mannering''his life with his vet girlfriend, Livia and at least three othersher daughter Diana, all as moving in together would mean a lot of which can point compromise: does Jake give up his off-grid and relaxing life to move in with Livia or does Livia move to Little Sky despite her reservations about whether or not this is the saga of James Annesley future she wants for inspirationherself and her daughter? For the moment they’re enjoying life in the present and putting the future on the back burner.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0393066150</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Laila Lalami 1786482126|title=Secret SonThe Janus Stone (Dr Ruth Galloway)|author=Elly Griffiths|rating=34.5|genre=General FictionCrime|summary=Builders were demolishing an old house in Norwich - the site was going to hold seventy-five 'luxury'Secret Son'' is apartments - when they discovered the story bones of Youssef El-Mekkia child beneath a doorway. There was no skull. Was this a ritual killing or murder? Inevitably, the slum-dwelling teenage son of single mother RachidaDr Ruth Galloway finds herself working with DCI Harry Nelson. Youssef has always been told It's difficult as Ruth knows, but Nelson doesn't, that his father she is dead, so when he finds out pregnant with his mother has lied to conceal child as a result of the fact that he was born out of wedlock, he plunges headlong into an identity crisisone night they spent together some three months ago. He tracks down his real father Her condition will be obvious before long, a wealthy businessman called Nabil Amrani who not least because Ruth is surprisingly enthusiastic about his illegitimate son's arrival. Nabil has recently fallen out with his daughter and he seizes this opportunity prone to mould Youssef into the obedient son he has always wantedsudden bouts of sickness.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0670918296</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Bonnie Hearn Hill0008551324|title=Star Crossed: Aries RisingThe Devil You Know (D S Max Craigie)|author=Neil Lancaster
|rating=4.5
|genre=TeensCrime|summary=Ordinary teen Logan McRae discovers an old book called 'Fearless AstrologyIt's unusual for anyone from the Hardie family to approach the police. Can Neither side likes or has any respect for the book help her other. But Davie Hardie is struggling in prison and her friends get he's prepared to tell the boys they want, catch police where the vandals body of a missing person is buried and who are shocking their school with prankswas responsible for her death. This person, he promises, is someone big and win her it will be worth the police doing what he wants. And what he wants is to be transferred to an open prison to serve the approval remainder of cantankerous English teacher Mr his sentence and to get an early parole date. Not much to ask, is it? The new Deputy Police Constable doesn'Frankensteint think so and she' Franklin? This s even prepared to do the other thing that Hardie demanded - make certain that DS Max Craigie and anyone who works with him is a novel written for teens – of course it cankept well away from what's happening.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0762436700</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Gabrielle Lord0008405026|title=January A Stranger in the Family (Conspiracy 365Maeve Kerrigan 11)|author=Jane Casey|rating=45|genre=TeensCrime|summary=Callum is wandering along home on New YearIt's Eve when crazed itinerant accosts himsixteen years since nine-year-old Rosalie Marshall disappeared from her bed one summer night. She was never found and the investigation ground to a halt. ''They killed your Now, her mother, Helena, and her father! They'll kill you! You must survive the next 365 days!'' The man is carted off are dead in an ambulancetheir bed. Initially, and Cal tries to shrug off the incident it looks like a straightforward murder/suicide but itthere's not easy. How did something about the positioning of the man know his name? How did he know bodies that Cal's father makes DS Maeve Kerrigan and her boss DI Josh Derwent suspicious. What looked as though it was dead? Who could possibly want going to kill be an open-and-shut case is now a run of the mill adolescent like him? What complex double murder. Kerrigan is the Ormond Singularity convinced that the man kept shouting about? And the thing is, Calexplanation lies in Rosalie's disappearance: others (such as Derwent's father had written to him shortly before returning home already in the throes of a fatal illness. His father was vague on detailboss, but is pretty sure he was on to something bigUna Burt) are less convinced. Could there be a connection? |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340996447</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Steve Feasey0571379877|title=Changeling: Blood WolfThe Kellerby Code|author=Jonny Sweet|rating=43.5|genre=TeensCrime|summary=Trey Edward Jevons is the last living hereditary werewolf - or so he thinks. So when he discovers he has a longworking-lost uncleclass young man, he shrugs off all objections from obsessed with his vampire guardian, Lucien and catches the first available plane to Canada. When he arrives, he finds that not all werewolves are fearsome, forbidding and courageous creatures. And they're certainly not all familyupper-friendly. His uncle is oldclass friends, half-blind Robert and alcoholicStanza. He lives in filth and he couldn Robert't give s a fig for Treytheatre director. But there is a pack out there, and it He's viciousalso self-obsessed, bloodthirsty demanding, handsome and rapidly spinning out of controlentitled and uses Edward to run errands for him. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330470493</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Cliff McNish|title=Savannah Grey: A Horror Story|rating=5|genre=Teens|summary=Savannah Grey is doing her best to settle into her latest foster placement Edward has been in love with Stanza since their university days - Annette is really nice; she's warm and kind and respects her adolescent chargehe's privacy. But Savannah has perenially itchy feet and she finds it difficult drunkenly confided how he feels to make lasting relationshipsRobert. She Most men in Robert's never position would stay away from Stanza or tell Edward that a relationship had a boyfriend and friendships are often fleeting. Nina is the only one that seems to stick around. Then her throat gets sore. Then Annette tells her that shebegun between them but he's making odd noises at night. Savannah knows her body not like most men: Edward is changing and she's developing powers that she doesn't understand. Then the leaves start left to swirl for no apparent reason and stumble upon the birds to behave oddlytwo of them kissing in a dark passageway. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1842551124</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Daren KingJo Callaghan|title=Frightfully Friendly GhostiesLeave No Trace
|rating=4
|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=Pamela Fraidy has gotten herself locked in When a man is found crucified on the attic with top of a leggy spider. Her fellow frightfully friendly ghosties are doing all they can hill in Nuneaton, DCS Kat Frank finds herself assigned to help the case alongside hersidekick, but itthe AI detective Lock. It's not easy to pick up their first live case together, having previously been very successful with several cold cases. But when there is a second body found crucified a few days later, Kat is suddenly struggling with a key potential serial killer and carry it up the stairs if you don't have a body. In the process very high profile case that draws a lot of rescuing unwanted attention to their friends, AI Future Policing project. Will they also decide be able to make friends with solve the still-alives who inhabit their house. The ghosties are fed up of the still-alives being so mean - running case in time, or will Kat find herself taken off screaming every time the ghosties say hello.case and, potentially, out of a career?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847249930</amazonuk>139851120X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Aravind Adiga1399613073|title=The White TigerMoral Injuries|author=Christie Watson
|rating=4.5
|genre=Literary FictionThrillers|summary=Balram HalwaiOlivia, Laura and Anjali met on the first day of medical school and their friendship would keep them inseparable for a Bangalore entrepreneur (quarter of sorts) and a natural philosophercentury. Olivia is ruthlessly ambitious, hears that there which is a planned visit from the Chinese leader bonus when you aim to India to learn the source of Indian entrepreneurial talentbe a cardiothoracic surgeon. Balram knows that the story he will be told by the Indian leader will be Laura is a long way from the true story of modern Indian life, perfectionist and so resolves, over a trauma doctor. Anjali is the course free spirit of seven nights, to write to the Chinese premier with the story of his life group and his own journey from she becomes a poor son of GP. When we first meet them they're at a rickshaw driver drug and alcohol-fuelled party and it's going to end in tragedy. We don't know who suffered the head of his own businesstragedy or the consequences. Twenty-five years later there will be an eerily similar event that will impact the three friends. This time, it's their teenage children who are involved.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1843547228</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jane Casey0241636604|title=The MissingTrading Game: A Confession|author=Gary Stevenson
|rating=4.5
|genre=Autobiography
|summary=If you were to bring up an image of a city banker in your mind, you're unlikely to think of someone like Gary Stevenson. A hoodie and jeans replaces the pin-stripe suit and his background is the East End, where he was familiar with violence, poverty and injustice. There was no posh public school on his CV - but he had been to the London School of Economics. Stevenson is bright - extremely bright - and he has a facility with numbers which most of us can only envy. He also realised that most rich people expect poor people to be stupid. It was his ability at what was, essentially, a card game which got him an internship with Citibank. Eventually, this turned into permanent employment as a trader.
}}
{{Frontpage
|isbn=1035021803
|title=The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder
|author=C L Miller
|rating=3.5
|genre=Crime
|summary=In 1992, Sarah FinchIt's twelve year old brother Charlie says twenty years since Freya Lockwood has been back to her the English country village where she grew up. She''Tell mum I'll be s back soonnow because of a request for help from her beloved aunt, Carole. Freya's former mentor and Carole' Sixteen years laters close friend, Arthur Crockleford, is dead and the circumstances seem suspicious, his family are still waiting to find out what happened say the least. Arthur was the reason why Freya had not been back to himthe village: Arthur, she feels, let her down badly. Now Even though they were in her twentiesbusiness together as antique hunters, she has not felt able to be near the man or pursue the profession she loved. After the split, Sarah is teaching at she worked in a local private school while looking after cafe, met and married James (on the rebound from the love of her uncaring motherlife, who since Charlie's disappearance has slid into alcoholismwas murdered) and Freya and James have now divorced.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091935997</amazonuk>
}}
{{Frontpage
|isbn=AllTomorrowsFutureCover
|title=All Tomorrow's Futures: Fictions that Disrupt
|author=Benjamin Greenaway and Stephen Oram (Editors)
|rating=5
|genre=Science Fiction
|summary=''Opening up new ways of thinking about the shape of things to come.''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kate MortonSunny Singh|title=The Forgotten GardenHotel Arcadia|rating=43.5|genre=Women's FictionThrillers |summary=Just before The Hotel Arcadia is a luxury hotel in an unnamed city that has suddenly been violently taken over by a terrorist group. Hiding from the First World War terrorists who are rampaging through, killing everyone on site, there is Sam, a little girl was found abandoned on wartime photographer and Abhi, the wharf after a dreadful sea voyage from England to Australiahotel manager. She appears not As Abhi continues to know her name – or is unwilling try to tell it – and all she will say is that care remotely for the residents who are still alive in the hotel, he forms a mysterious lady she calls the Authoress had promised bond with Sam who refuses to look after be cowed by events, and keeps on venturing out of her. Thereroom to try to capture what's no trace of happened through her though and the little girl was taken in a by a friendly familyphotography. She forgot all about Although they only ever talk over the events until many years later when phone, their friendship grows as Abhi tries to help her adopted father told her what had happenedkeep safe and they both wait to see if they will be rescued before they are discovered by the terrorists.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0330449605</amazonuk>086154742X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John Van der Kiste1529153298|title=William and Mary: Heroes of the Glorious Revolution|rating=4.5|genre=Biography|summary=At school I remember spending a lot of time on the Tudors and the early Stuarts – obviously great favourites of the history teacher and then galloping unceremoniously through the intervening years until we reached another ''meaningful'' period – the Victorian era. The importance of William and Mary was completely overlooked in favour of a quick mention of the fact that William wasn't in direct line List of succession to the throne and Mary had never wanted to marry him in the first place. Their successor, Queen Anne I remember simply as 'tables'.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>075094577X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewSuspicious Things|author=Samuel Bonner|title=PlaygroundJennie Godfrey|rating=35
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Jonah grew up in London but his motherIt's 1979 and Margaret Thatcher is Prime Minister. (A woman? I mean, honestly...) She's not what's worrying Miv's family, though. Women have been disappearing. Well, getting increasingly worried about social disintegration and increasing crimethey've been murdered, has moved them up but to have 'disappeared' doesn't sound quite so frightening. Miv's upset because she's overheard that her father wants to Nottinghammove the family 'Down South'. Jonah When you're from Yorkshire, Down South is a bright lad frightening, foreign place, best avoided. For Miv, the move would mean leaving her best friend, Sharon, and halfway through a media course, but heshe's finding it difficult ll do anything to fit inprevent that. He She's also finding not worried about the new racial mix a problem - theredangers or that her Mum's palpable tension between black and brownstopped talking -skinned people on campus, and he often feels alienated and a bit like a fish out of waterto anyone. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1902835190</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Clare Morrall1398524085|title=The Man Who DisappearedHas Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?|author=Nicci French|rating=45|genre=Literary FictionCrime|summary=I Charlotte Salter was drawn to this book straight awayexpected at her husband's fiftieth birthday party but never turned up. FirstlyHer children, the jacket cover is lovelysons Niall, Paul and Ollie and her daughter, Etty. The subliminal message are all worried but - strangely - her husband, Alec, is read me, please read menot. We are introduced to the Kendall family; motherShortly afterwards, father Etty and three children. All leading unremarkableGreg, rather ordinary lives. The find the body of Greg's father, FelixDuncan Ackerley, works hard to provide for his family. He loves them all dearly. They all love him backin the river. It is a secure family unit. Until - completely out of was an easy assumption for the blue - police to make that Duncan had murdered Charlie and then committed suicide when he simply disappearscouldn't stand the guilt. His family is distraught The Salter children are not convinced but there's little else they can do but get on with their lives and mystifiedwonder about what really happened. We all know that a person cannot simply disappear. But Felix Kendall has taken himself off the radar. Why?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340994274</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ellie Sandall1035906708|title=BirdsongDiva|author=Daisy Goodwin
|rating=4.5
|genre=For SharingGeneral Fiction|summary=One by one the birds land on the branch. Each is a different speciesWe tend to think of Maria Callas as Greek, but she was born to Greek parents in Manhattan, each has different plumageNew York, in December 1923 and most importantly each has only moved to Athens when she was thirteen. Her original surname was Kalogeropoulos but her father changed it to 'Callas' to make it more manageable in the States. When she was back in Athens - supposedly so that she could get appropriate training for her voice - she was raised under the Nazi occupation by a different call. The chorus of birdsong builds up and up mother who mercilessly exploited her and up until the biggest bird made no secret of all lands on the branchher preference for her elder sister, with his loud shriekJackie. Ah, but who's this about to land on the branch with him?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405247371</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Joan BradyChristopher Edge|title=VenomBlack Hole Cinema Club
|rating=4
|genre=General FictionConfident Readers|summary=David Marion isnLucas and his friends are all booked in for a movie marathon at their local cinema, a place that has the nickname of 'The Black Hole't used to finding hitmen standing at his front door. All big movie fans, though you wouldnthey't be able re looking forward to tell that such a thing might be truelots of exciting films, given the speed and competency with which Marion dispatches said hitman and then disappearsmany, seeminglymany snacks! However, off as the face of the Earthmovie starts, they very quickly realise that something about this new film format is very different, and they are swept up into an adventure they couldn't even imagine. Dr. Helen Freyl is a physicist working for But as they lurch from one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in film genre to the world. She is also, up until his disappearancenext, David Marion's sometime lover and can they figure out what on earth is grief-stricken going on? Will they ever get back to the point of distraction by his sudden absence from her lifecinema, as she believes him and to be dead.their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0743267907</amazonuk>1839942738
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Cathy Marie Buchanan |title=The Day The Falls Stood Still|rating=4.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=I imagined this title as a 'Gone With the Wind' sort of novel, a saga-esque historical romance, with a characterful heroine and page-turning story line that necessitates reading late into the night. Well, I wasn't disappointed in this paperback edition of the hardback, already a best-seller in the U.S.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091925967</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Anu Stohner and Henrike WilsonRachel Greenlaw|title=Charlotte Compass and the WolvesBlade
|rating=3.5
|genre=For SharingTeens|summary=Hot on ''I can hear the heels song of her adventure in [[Brave Charlotte by Anu Stohner and Henrike Wilson|Brave Charlotte]], the brave little sheep is backsea. She's as bold as ever, and the older sheep have stopped worrying about her wild ways. Added into the mix are a gang The call of teenage sheep who call themselves The Wolves and worry the lambs. When real wolf howls can be hearddeep, but not by the shepherd or Jack the old sheepdog, itanswering beat in my heart.''s down to Charlotte to save the day again.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408802589</amazonuk>}}
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Glenn DakinJames Sherwood Metts|title=Candle Man: The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance Planet Storyland
|rating=4.5
|genre=TeensConfident Readers|summary=Birthdays Things have been a bit sticky for Theo are not exactly how we would recognise themthe Earthlings. One blandAI and automation have been proceeding apace, forgettable present from each of the three people who live in his householdoften replacing jobs they're paid to do and other tasks that took time to accomplish. Some pink cake at the best of times. A trip Just as they were beginning to get used to the cemetery, with the butler making sure nobody else is in sight. But all this one is different - some person unknown leaves something for him. And by the time burglars break in, technological change and force Theo starting to leave the confines think of his bedroom other, new ways to spend time, along came an awful pandemic. Life was pretty much shut down and find some of the secrets of the house, along with it is too late - Theo is set on a nightmarish trail between two warring forces, as all the truths of his destiny, his origins, and his hands, come to the foremany daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405246766</amazonuk>1736128426
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Christopher IsherwoodMatthew Tree|title=A Single ManWe'll Never Know|rating=4.5
|genre=Literary Fiction
|summary=If you've ever wanted Timothy Wyndham wants nothing more than to know what goes on inside someone's mind you'll love this short novel, first published back in 1964. We join George Falconer just at the moment he awakes be different from sleep and witness his innermost thoughts as he goes about father, a typical day. It all sounds pretty dull drunk and monotonous but what makes this exciting is that George isn't just chronic underachiever whose dreams of being exceptional at any old professor living the American Dream, oh no, he's so detached from the banal normality of the world that he's almost outside his artistic passions all failed miserably and who had endless crises of self confidence. So Tim applied himself to his studies, cultivated his abilities rather than his own body at timesdaydreams and set himself high but achievable ambitions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099548828</amazonuk>B0CVFXPGP8
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=A G Slatter
|title=The Briar Book of the Dead
|rating=5
|genre=Fantasy
|summary='' There's a part of me that wants to keep this just to myself for however long I can. This secret magic of my own, all mine, at last. I just want to enjoy it for a while.''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Emily Chan1529900360|title=Harvard Business School Confidential: Secrets of Success|rating=3.5|genre=Business and Finance|summary=Harvard Business School has an almost unrivalled reputation for schooling some of the greatest business leaders (and George W Bush!). Former graduate, Emily Chan, who went on to work for leading management consultancy Boston Consulting Group and who is now a director in a family direct investment business in Hong Kong, promises to offer the secrets she learnt there. Does she succeed?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0470822392</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewThe Ghost Orchid|author=Jo Brand|title=The More You Ignore MeJonathan Kellerman
|rating=4
|genre=General FictionCrime|summary=Alice is growing up in a cottage in Herefordshire with her gentle, hippy father and her mother, Gina, who spends her days standing around like a chain-smoking zombie because she is kept on medication and has It hadn't been for years. GinaLt Milo Sturgis's first psychotic episode occured fault that Alex Delaware had been badly injured but he felt responsible and even after Alice's birthAlex recovered, Sturgis was reluctant to ask for his help on difficult cases. Then His assertions that there was were only open-and-shut cases which didn't need the episode Alice remembershelp of a psychologist only worked for a while. Finally, the day her mother climbed onto the roofit was Robin, nakedDelaware's partner, holding Smelly the hamster, and refused to come downwho nudged Milo into asking for help again. From She knew that day, the old Gina, boisterous and unconventional as she involvement was, fell silent under something that the numbing impact of constant medicationman she loved needed. Jo Brand tells the story of how Alice coped with the loneliness and worry of growing up with an ill motherThe next case did look simple, though. Most importantly, as I'm sure the teenage Alice would see it, we are shown Two lovers were murdered in the birth and life swimming pool of her obsession with Morrissey of The Smithsa remote property in Bel Air. In his music she finds escapism and comfort He was the heir to an Italian shoe empire and in him she finds a figure is married to adore. Her friends canan extremely rich man and it't understand her fixation and her mother understands fixation a little too well (the local weatherman having been s not the object of one of her fervent obsessions)Italian. Morrissey sings with such sensitivity and angst that surely, Alice thinks, if she could just meet him and tell him her story he could help her and she could help him...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755322320</amazonuk>But which of them was the primary target?
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Bee Rowlatt and May Witwit 1529395224|title=Talking About Jane Austen in BaghdadLetting the Cat Out of the Bag: The True Story Secret Life of an Unlikely Friendshipa Vet|author=Sion Rowlands|rating=3.5|genre=AutobiographyAnimals and Wildlife|summary=In early 2005, Siôn Rowlands fell into veterinary science accidentally. His father was a BBC journalist emails an Iraqi woman to confirm GP and prepare for a telephone interview about day Rowlands didn't want to day life follow in Baghdadhis footsteps, and about her thoughts particularly when he considered the strain that being on-call put on the forthcoming elections there. Mayhis father's detailed life. When he was seventeen he took the opportunity of doing work experience with a family friend who was a vet and frank responses prompt more curiosity and questions from Beewas convinced this was the job for him. Before long, and he was at Liverpool University. It hadn't - as with so many students - been his dream since he was a friendship develops between the two womenchild. They tell each other about their work If anything, relationships and family liveshe'd wanted to be a professional footballer.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141038535</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Diana Wynne-Jones0861541774|title=Enchanted GlassA Nye of Pheasants|author=Steve Burrows
|rating=4
|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=Andrew HopeDCI Domenic Jejeune's close friend and former colleague, a rather woolly professorDanny Maik, learns that his magical grandfather has diedtaken a short holiday in Singapore to meet up with an old ally, leaving him his house and his fieldGuy Trueman. Maik was involved in a street brawl -ofhe would later maintain that he was facing a man armed with a knife -careand he killed a Ghurka. Andrew remembers some things from when Initially, he was faced a little boy, such as his grandfather leaving vegetables on the roof charge of the shed for someone, or something, manslaughter but evidence came to eat each night. He also remembers light that there is something special about the beautiful, old coloured glass above the kitchen door, but not exactly what suggested that is. It seems he has forgotten a lot of what his grandfather taught him, including might have planned to murder the mystery of the field-of-care he has inheritedman. But with Now he could be facing the entrance of Aidan Cain, an orphan, into his house and his life the mysteries deependeath penalty. The two are drawn Domenic Jejeune can do nothing to each other, however, help as any interference from another police force could provoke a diplomatic incident and slowly start to unravel the truth that surrounds themwouldn't help Danny at all.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007320787</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=James DelgadoAlexander McCall Smith|title=Kamikaze: History's Greatest Naval DisasterThe Perfect Passion Company
|rating=4.5
|genre=HistoryGeneral Fiction|summary=When Mongol leaderThe Perfect Passion Company is a dating agency in Edinburgh, Khubilai Khan, achieved what his Grandfather Genghis had failed run by Ness and operating as an alternative to do all the online apps in conquering Chinaproviding a more personal, he inherited tailored service. Ness has asked her younger cousin Katie if she could come and look after the world's largest and most sophisticated navy. Howeverbusiness, in attempting as Ness is planning to utilise this take a trip to expand his empire further Canada to Javaget away for a while. Katie is coming out of a break up with a bad boyfriend, Vietnam and mainly Japan, he lost so jumps at the entire armada in a few short yearschance to come home to Edinburgh. New marine archeological evidence And so begins this new story from JapanAlexander McCall Smith, ironically bringing us to an Edinburgh we already love, thanks to 44 Scotland Street and the Isabel Dalhousie novels, but with the site discovered some new characters who quickly begin to charm. Katie has no experience in the 1990s running a business, or in the construction of new defences from the weathermatch-making, but Ness has raised questions on the traditional view that the defeat of the two Japanese invasion forces of 1274 full confidence in her abilities, and there's always her very helpful (and particlularly 1281 were solely due rather handsome) neighbour, William, to the intervention of the weather and what Japanese culture claim was lend a Kamikaze (or ''divine wind'') summoned by the Gods.hand…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099532581</amazonuk>1846976596
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sarah Bakewell0811771741|title=How to Live: A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer |rating=5|genre=Biography|summary='Chance … really the way things happen,' wrote Howard Beck, the Chicago School sociologist. I visit Bookbag Towers with few preconceived ideas about the next book InstaKnits for review. I'll allow myself to fall for a quirky title or appealing cover, despite only a smattering of interest in the subject matter. Just occasionally this way, I stumble on a golden nugget so fascinating and well-written that I realise how lucky I am to be a reviewer. I'm so pleased to have chanced upon this inviting biography of Montaigne by Sarah Bakewell!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701178922</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewBaby|author=David Conway and Melanie Williamson|title=The Great Nursery Rhyme DisasterMelissa Leapman
|rating=4
|genre=For SharingCrafts|summary=Little Miss Muffet is fed up of being constantly scared by a spider, so she ups sticks and heads Melissa Leapman's ''InstaKnits for Baby'' gives us a different page collection of knits from toys to blankets. Some will be quick knits - others are of the book'long, to see if cosy afternoons in front of the characters of another nursery rhyme will let her join infire' variety. She tries one rhyme after another The projects are divided by the time they'll take to complete - less than five hours, but things never quite work five to ten hours, ten to plantwenty hours and more than twenty hours. All the projects are attractive, modern and useable. Will she find a nursery rhyme I perhaps show my age when I wonder about 'social-media-worthy projects' but that suits her to a T?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340945087</amazonuk>'s me being picky.
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Alistair DuncanDean Koontz|title=The Norwood Author - Arthur Conan Doyle and the Norwood Years (1891 - 1894)|rating=4|genre=Biography|summary=At the age of 32 Dr Arthur Conan Doyle moved from London to a house in South Norwood, at that time part of Surrey, in June 1891. It found him at the stage when he was torn between pursuing a career as an eye specialist and trying to make a living through his writing, after he had sold a few stories to magazines. Shortly before the move, he had been confined to bed for three weeks with influenza, and while recovering from what had briefly threatened to be a fatal illness (or so he believed), he took the decision to abandon medicine in favour of becoming a full-time author. A few Sherlock Holmes stories had been published, but the man with the deerstalker and pipe had yet to make an impact on the reading public, and his creator could not yet call himself an established writer. Nevertheless, within the next few years he and the fictional detective were to become household names.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904312691</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jean Ure|title=Ice LollyBad Weather Friend
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident ReadersParanormal|summary=It's the funeral. Laurel - Lolly to those that love her - Benny is concentrating very hard and trying desperately to turn into an ice lollyhaving a terrifically bad day. Ice lollies are frozen He loses his job, you seehe loses his fiancee, and they don't feel so muchhis house gets trashed. They can't miss people Oh, and someone has delivered a really weird, disturbing coffin- mothers - who are gone sized object to his home, and people who are still around canit't hurt thems possible that whoever or whatever was inside is the thing that has trashed his house! The thing is, Benny is the very last person to deserve all this bad luck. He is a nice person. A frozen heart really nice person. So fortunately for Benny it turns out that the delivery to his house is a sad thingnew friend, but it's a safe thing. Auntie Ellen doesn't like the music at the servicebad weather friend called Spike, she thinks it's inappropriate. It isn't even who has been sent to help him since Benny is clearly under attack from nefarious forces for being a hymngood person. But it was one Spike is going to take care of Benny, and will certainly take care of LaurelBenny's mother's favouritesenemies, if he, Benny, and Laurel think itHarper (a waitress slash Private Investigator who finds herself roped into Benny's just perfect. Specialwild adventure) can figure out who exactly they are. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007281730</amazonuk>1662500491
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=John WilcoxAdam Stower|title=The Shangani Patrol|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=This is the latest in the adventures of Simon Fonthill, a cross between a Victorian James Bond Murray and Indianna Jones. Although one of a series, it stands alone as a novel. It's steeped in the history (and there's a lot of it) of the late 19th century when Queen Victoria 'ruled the world.'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755345614</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Philip Womack|title=The LiberatorsBun
|rating=4.5
|genre=TeensConfident Readers |summary=Ivo's parents have gone off on a South American expedition. As it's the school holidays, Ivo Murray is off to London supposed to stay with some glamorous relatives. Aunt Lydia is be a socialite humble, tidy and art expert friendly cat, one who arranges exhibitions is able to sleep and parties for the great eat and the good. Uncle Jago is in finance eat and there isn't much about wheeling sleep and dealing that he doesn't know. They're fond , well, whatever takes his fancy next of Ivo and the kind of guardians who are likely to practise some benign neglect, so what Ivo is really looking forward to about his stay is freedom - he intends to explore London and enjoy everything it has to offertwo. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0747595526</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Emily Gravett|title=Blue Chameleon|rating=5|genre=For Sharing|summary=The chameleon is feeling blue because But he's lonelya bad magician's cat, so he goes and visits his favourite bun has been turned into a yellow bananahyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, pink cockatooand the catflap they both use can chuck them out, swirly snail, brown bootnot into the regular back garden, but into a world of frightening adventure and so onwhiffs. Each This timeround it drops them into a Viking land, where a troll hunter is expected – well, one much bigger than Murray was, not only does he change his colour to match the object or animalbe honest, but he also contorts himself into a shape that matches them.'s turned up and he'll have to do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0230704247</amazonuk>0008561249
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Inga MooreB0C47LV1PC|title=Six Dinner Sid - A Highland Adventure|rating=3.5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Sid the cat has six owners in six different houses, and he munches his way through six dinners a day. This big ol' greedyguts has a great life, but then one day his owners all decide they want to go on holiday. They consider putting him in a cattery, but they have strange rules like one meal per cat, not six. They give it some thought, and eventually decide to all go on holiday together, taking Sid with them.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340988940</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFragility|author=Jaclyn Dolamore|title=Magic Under GlassMosby Woods
|rating=4
|genre=TeensLiterary Fiction|summary=Namira is Can you make a trouser girl - a music hall performer. In Lorinar, she's regarded as a faintly risque curiosity but at home in Tiansher it wasn't like this. Performers like her mother were feted and respected and Namira grew up in a palace. In Lorianar, she lives in poverty, performing for drunken fools who donYo birthing person''t understand her art. joke? And then suddenlyif you could, she's freed from is the question should you make it? Or is the seedy music hall by Hollin Parryquestion if you did, a wealthy man and a member of Lorinar's Sorcerer Council. Parry has an automaton, a curiosity would it land? The catch is that plays the piano, and he wants Namira's unique voice to accompany itanswer for both could well be.... no. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408802120</amazonuk>}}
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Gaby Morgan (editor)1529431735|title=In My Sky at TwilightThe Winter Visitor|author=James Henry
|rating=4
|genre=TeensCrime|summary=Off It's February 1991 and Essex is bitingly cold, which made Bruce Hopkins' return all the back of more surprising. He'd been exiled on the success of Stephenie MeyerCosta del Sol as a wanted drug smuggler for a decade. The return has come about because he's [[Twilight by Stephenie Meyer|Twilight]] series there has been had a boom in vampire novels aimed at teenagersletter from his ex-wife, saying that she's ill and hasn't long to live. In My Sky at Twilight It's hard to feel any sympathy when Hopkins is perhaps one of abducted, stripped to his underwear and sent to a watery grave in the most unusual books to come out boot of this craze as a stolen Ford Sierra. Is it is a collection of love poetry aimed at teenage fans of the series.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0230745865</amazonuk>warning from a Spanish gang or a problem closer to home?
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=John BurdettAlex Bell and Tim McDonagh|title=The Godfather Glorious Race of KathmanduMagical Beasts
|rating=4
|genre=CrimeConfident Readers|summary=Sonchai Jitpleecheep Eli is half 'farang' the son of a brothel madam and busy lad – by day an American GIapprentice in the wondrous library we start by visiting with him, but it's and in the latter rather than evening a helper at the former which is likely to hold up dessert cafe his promotion in the Thai police force, where he's a detectivegran owns and runs. He's also the part owner of a brothel where Eli lives with his mother, Nonglovely gran, too – for there is a generation missing in the madam in chargefamily. It's no problem for his bossA few short years ago, Colonel Vikorn, who has a few illegal interests of his own. HeEli's currently in competition with parents were both lost to the head of the armytitular race, General Zinna, to see who can raise the finance for a forty million dollar shipment of heroin which Sonchai's Kathmanduglobe-based guru has for sale.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0593055462</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Gary Blackwood|title=The Great Race: The Amazing Round-The-World Auto Race Of 1908|rating=5|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=In 1908, Henry Ford's Model T hadn't yet brought cars trotting adventure where all entrants have to navigate the masses. The pioneers of world in the world company of automobiles were experimenting and discovering just what a magical beast. This has made the car could do, by driving right round the world. Except they didn't want race anathema to be pioneers. One of the competitors, Antonio Scarfoglio, put it so perfectly pair – but when he said 'We had set out a bad incident at the eatery leads to perpetuate an act of splendid follya confession from gran, not Eli knows his only hope is to open up a new way for men. We wished dare to be madmenenter what he most hates, not pioneerswith the sole aim the prize of magic at the end – the only thing to possibly save his gran.' Isn't that about the best quote you've ever read?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0810994895</amazonuk>0571382231
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