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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>

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Want to find out more [[About Us|about us]]? __NOTOC__ ==The Best New Books== '''Read [[:Category:New Reviews|new reviews by category]]. '''<br> '''Read [[:Category:Features|new the latest features]].'''__NOTOC__'''Read [[Forthcoming Publications|reviews of books about to be published]].{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ken BruenSylvie Cathrall|title=The Killing A Letter to the Luminous Deep|rating=5|genre=Science Fiction|summary= There are few greater joys than a book which lives up to a compelling premise. And this is one of the Tinkersthem.|isbn= 0356522776}}{{Frontpage|isbn=0008517061|title=Death in a Lonely Place|author=Stig Abell

|summary=Jack Taylor returns to Former Metropolitan Police detective, Jake Johnson, has settled into his rustic life at Little Sky. There’s perhaps a little uncertainty about the future of his native Ireland life with his tail between vet girlfriend, Livia and her daughter Diana, as moving in together would mean a lot of compromise: does Jake give up his legs. 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 future she wants for herself and her daughter? He's been lying low 'over For the water' moment they’re enjoying life in London, licking his woundsthe present and putting the future on the back burner. Jack }}{{Frontpage|isbn=1786482126|title=The Janus Stone (IDr Ruth Galloway)|author=Elly Griffiths|rating=4.5|genre=Crime|summary=Builders were demolishing an old house in Norwich - the site was going to hold seventy-five 'm slightly surprised that Bruen didnluxury't give him apartments - when they discovered the bones of a child beneath a more Irish name) is doorway. There was no skull. Was this a middle-agedritual killing or murder? Inevitably, washed-up, disgraced ex-copDr Ruth Galloway finds herself working with DCI Harry Nelson. As if that wasnIt's difficult as Ruth knows, but Nelson doesn't bad enough, he also has that she is pregnant with his child as a lot result of the one night they spent together some three months ago. Her condition will be obvious before long, not least because Ruth is prone to sudden bouts of very bad habitssickness.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=0008551324|title=The Devil You Know (D S Max Craigie)|author=Neil Lancaster|rating=4.5|genre=Crime|summary=It's unusual for anyone from the Hardie family to approach the police. He acknowledges however that Neither side likes or has any respect for the other. But Davie Hardie is struggling in prison and he's prepared to tell the police where the new world body of a missing person is designed buried and who was responsible for non-smokersher death. This person, he promises, is someone big and 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 remainder of his sentence and to get an early parole date. Not much to ask, is it? The new Deputy Police Constable doesn' He also admits quite freely t think so and openly that she'An alcoholic has dreams s even prepared to rival do the other thing that Hardie demanded - make certain that of any Vietnam vetDS Max Craigie and anyone who works with him is kept well away from what's happening.'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0863224119</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Dave Zeltserman0008405026|title=KillerA Stranger in the Family (Maeve Kerrigan 11)|author=Jane Casey

|summary=Here at It's sixteen years since nine-year-old Rosalie Marshall disappeared from her bed one summer night. She was never found and the Bookbaginvestigation ground to a halt. Now, her mother, Helena, weand her father are dead in their bed. Initially, it looks like a straightforward murder/suicide but there's something about the positioning of the bodies that makes DS Maeve Kerrigan and her boss DI Josh Derwent suspicious. What looked as though it was going to be an open-and-shut case is now a complex double murder. Kerrigan is convinced that the explanation lies in Rosalie's disappearance: others (such as Derwent've been very impressed s boss, Una Burt) are less convinced.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=0571379877|title=The Kellerby Code|author=Jonny Sweet|rating=3.5|genre=Crime|summary=Edward Jevons is a working-class young man, obsessed with Dave Zeltsermanhis upper-class friends, Robert and Stanza. Robert's work thus fara theatre director. He 's also self-obsessed, demanding, handsome and entitled and uses Edward to run errands for him. Edward has been in love with Stanza since their university days - and he's drunkenly confided how he feels to Robert. Most men in Robert's position would stay away from Stanza or tell Edward that a wonderful noirish narrative that takes you straight relationship had begun between them but he's not like most men: Edward is left to stumble upon the two of them kissing in a dark passageway.}}{{Frontpage|author=Jo Callaghan|title=Leave No Trace|rating=4|genre=Crime|summary=When a man is found crucified on the heart top of a hill in Nuneaton, DCS Kat Frank finds herself assigned to the case alongside her sidekick, the storyAI detective Lock. His story telling It's 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 potential serial killer and a very straightforwardhigh profile case that draws a lot of unwanted attention to their AI Future Policing project. Will they be able to solve the case in time, or will Kat find herself taken off the case and, potentially, out of a career?|isbn=139851120X}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1399613073|title=Moral Injuries|author=Christie Watson|rating=4.5|genre=Thrillers|summary=Olivia, not weighing down Laura and Anjali met on the story with too much stylefirst day of medical school and their friendship would keep them inseparable for a quarter of a century. Olivia is ruthlessly ambitious, but sticking which is a bonus when you aim to be a cardiothoracic surgeon. Laura is a perfectionist and a trauma doctor. Anjali is the free spirit of the substance group and delivering she becomes a hard-hitting work every timeGP. With When we first meet them they're at a drug and alcohol-fuelled party and it'Killers going to end in tragedy. We don't know who suffered the tragedy or the consequences. Twenty-five years later there will be an eerily similar event that will impact the three friends. This time, it', he has done the same agains their teenage children who are involved.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184668644X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Roger Hargreaves0241636604|title=Mr Nobody (Mr Men and Little Misses)The Trading Game: A Confession|author=Gary Stevenson

|genre=For SharingAutobiography|summary=Mr Nobody 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 isthe East End, where he was familiar with violence, poverty and injustice... well, There was no posh public school on his CV - but he's somebody who sort had been to the London School of Economics. Stevenson is bright - extremely bright - and sort he has a facility with numbers which most of isn'tus can only envy. He also realised that most rich people expect poor people to be stupid. Mr Happy comes across It was his ability at what was, essentially, a card game which got him one dayan internship with Citibank. Eventually, and does his best 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=It's twenty years since Freya Lockwood has been back to cheer him the English country village where she grew up. Who could possibly She's back now because of a request for help a person whofrom her beloved aunt, Carole. Freya's sort of there former mentor and sort of isnCarole't? Ahs close friend, Arthur Crockleford, is dead and the circumstances seem suspicious, to say the least. Arthur was the reason why Freya had not been back to the Wizard!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405251425</amazonuk>village: Arthur, she feels, let her down badly. Even though they were in business together as antique hunters, she has not felt able to be near the man or pursue the profession she loved. After the split, she worked in a cafe, met and married James (on the rebound from the love of her life, who was murdered) and Freya and James have now divorced.

I've heard it said that 'technology' is what happens after you're eighteen. Well, I must confess that there have been more than a few decades of technology in my lifetime. I've kept up reasonably well with what's advantageous to me but I'm left with the feeling that it's all getting away from me. Some of it is - frankly - quite frightening. Of course, I could research the possibilities and the probabilities and end up down rabbit holes without really understanding whether I'm reading someone who knows what they're talking about or the latest conspiracy theorist. I needed people I knew I could trust and who could deliver information in a way I could understand.}}{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Tony Mitton and Guy Parker-ReesSunny Singh|title=Jolly Olly OctopusHotel Arcadia

|genre=For SharingThrillers |summary=Jolly Olly Octopus The Hotel Arcadia is giggling underneath a luxury hotel in an unnamed city that has suddenly been violently taken over by a terrorist group. Hiding from the seaterrorists who are rampaging through, killing everyone on site, there is Sam, a wartime photographer and Abhi, the hotel manager. He's soon joined As Abhi continues to try to care remotely for the residents who are still alive in the hotel, he forms a bond with Sam who refuses to be cowed by two tickly turtles, three smiley seahorsesevents, and so keeps on venturing out of her room to try to capture what's happened through her photography. Although they only ever talk over the numbersphone, their friendship grows as Abhi tries to help her keep safe and they both wait to see if they will be rescued before they are discovered by the terrorists. |isbn=086154742X}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1529153298|title=The large cast List of underwater animals are having a jolly olSuspicious Things|author=Jennie Godfrey|rating=5|genre=General Fiction|summary=It'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, they've been murdered, but to have 'disappeared' doesn't sound quite so frightening. Miv's upset because she's overheard that her father wants to move the family 'Down South'. When you' timere from Yorkshire, until Down South is a shark appearsfrightening, foreign place, best avoided. For Miv, the move would mean leaving her best friend, Sharon, and she'll do anything to prevent that. She's not worried about the dangers or that her Mum's stopped talking - to anyone.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1398524085|title=Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?|author=Nicci French|rating=5|genre=Crime|amazonuksummary=<amazonuk>1846166861</amazonuk>Charlotte Salter was expected at her husband's fiftieth birthday party but never turned up. Her children, sons Niall, Paul and Ollie and her daughter, Etty. are all worried but - strangely - her husband, Alec, is not. Shortly afterwards, Etty and Greg, find the body of Greg's father, Duncan Ackerley, in the river. It was an easy assumption for the police to make that Duncan had murdered Charlie and then committed suicide when he couldn't stand the guilt. The Salter children are not convinced but there's little else they can do but get on with their lives and wonder about what really happened.

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mo Smith1035906708|title=The Lazy Cook's Family FavouritesDiva|author=Daisy Goodwin

|genre=CookeryGeneral Fiction|summary=These days I get very nervous when I hear about books for 'lazy' cooksWe tend to think of Maria Callas as Greek, but she was born to Greek parents in Manhattan, New York, or how in December 1923 and only moved to cheat Athens when preparing mealsshe was thirteen. ThereHer original surname was Kalogeropoulos but her father changed it to 's a very simple reason for this: good food, prepared using seasonal ingredients which donCallas't break to make it more manageable in the budget needs skill and knowledge and neither are the prerogative of the lazyStates. Mo Smith might like us to think When she was back in Athens - supposedly so that she's lazy, but take my word could get appropriate training for it – her voice - she isn't. She might have learned was raised under the Nazi occupation by a few tricks for making good food quickly, but she's a woman mother who knows mercilessly exploited her onions and all sorts made no secret of other foodher preference for her elder sister, Jackie.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749007826</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Adam BladeChristopher Edge|title=Creta the Winged Terror (Beast Quest)Black Hole Cinema Club

|summary=Our hero, TomLucas and his friends are all booked in for a movie marathon at their local cinema, is finding his fishing trip with his father bugged - literally - by a plague place that has the nickname of sickening cockroach things'The Black Hole'. WhatAll big movie fans, they's morere looking forward to lots of exciting films, and many, many snacks! However, as the whole land of Avantia movie starts, they very quickly realise that something about this new film format is suffering some form of horrid heatwavevery different, and they are swept up into an adventure they couldn't even imagine. Can Tom, recognising yet another threat But as they lurch from one film genre to his country from the evil Malvelnext, defeat his nemesis yet again - especially as said baddie has as a new weapon of darkness a massive host of can they figure out what on earth is going on? Will they ever get back to the roachescinema, swarming as one giant monsterand to their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408307359</amazonuk>1839942738

{{newreview|author=Karan Mahajan|title=Family Planning|rating=2|genre=General Fiction|summary=Mr Rakesh Ahuja is Delhi's Mister of Urban Development Rosevear, a remote and so farpartially forgotten island, has managed to do well in his careersurvives on luring ships into the rocks and plundering the wrecks. HoweverMira, like her mother before her, his family life is beginning one of the seven who swim out to take over - he already has thirteen children survey the ruins – rescuing any survivors and any treasure that lies within. But when the Council Watch lays a fourteenth is on trap to end the wrecking, they capture the wayisland's leader and Mira's father. The eldestDesperate to save him from death, Arjun, now Mira makes a bargain with a teenager was born wreck survivor who is as charming as he is secretive and with only coordinates to Mr Ahuja's first wifeguide her, but up til now, Arjun is unaware she sets off in search of this facta family secret that lies buried deep in the sea. Sangita AhujaWith only nine days to unearth what might save her father, the long-suffering wife, is aware that as her journey takes her relationship with Arjun may never be from the same again. Meanwhile, Arjun is only interested in one thing - how watched streets of foreign islands to attract the attention heart of the gorgeous girl on his school bus. What will happen smuggler's territory, Mira must be determined to stop at nothing to save the family when Mr Ahuja finally tells future of her home and the truth?ones she holds most dear.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099523299</amazonuk>0008664730

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Fraser's AutographsJames Sherwood Metts|title=Collect Autographs: An Illustrated Guide to Collecting and Investing in AutographsPlanet Storyland

|genre=Business and FinanceConfident Readers|summary=There must be many of us who Things have at one time had an autograph book or something of been a bit sticky for the kind as children Earthlings. AI and asked friendsautomation have been proceeding apace, relations or even celebrities often replacing jobs they're paid to 'do something', written and other tasks that took time to accomplish. Just as they were beginning to get used to all this technological change and starting to celebrities in the hope think of obtaining a personally signed pictureother, or even waited patiently at a stage door after a play or concert eagerly clutching a theatre programmenew ways to spend time, record or CD sleeve along came an awful pandemic. Life was pretty much shut down and pen in hand, along with it, all the many daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0852597525</amazonuk>1736128426

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Derrick NiedermanMatthew Tree|title=Number Freak: A Mathematical Compendium from 1 to 200We'll Never Know

|genre=Popular ScienceLiterary Fiction|summary=This is a book that definitely does what it says on the tin. Our author has the capacity Timothy Wyndham wants nothing more than to grab each number between one and two hundredbe different from his father, a drunk and wring it for chronic underachiever whose dreams of being exceptional at any of his artistic passions all its worth - all the special status it might have in our culture (more easy with seven than, say, 187), all the special properties it might possess (perfect, triangular, prime), failed miserably and as many other things mathematicians and so on would find who had endless crises of interestself confidence. Luckily there is enough here So Tim applied himself to make the book well worth a browse for us who would not deem themselves number buffshis studies, cultivated his abilities rather than his daydreams and set himself high but achievable ambitions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>071563710X</amazonuk>B0CVFXPGP8

{{newreview|author=Sonali Fernando|title=Soul Mates: True Stories From The World Within a remote mountain pass, far away from the world, lies Silverton; a town under the protection of the Briar's, a family of Online Dating|rating=2witches who protect the town and the wider world from the Darklands.5|genre=Home and Family|summary=Internet dating Though she has always wished for magic, Ellie Briar is no longer the new taboo it once first non-witch to be born into her family for generations and as such since she wasyoung, her training as a steward revolved around letters and administration rather than spells and potions. These daysWhen her grandmother suddenly dies, whatever type of person you areEllie's cousin Audra becomes the Briar Witch, and whatever type of person youthe town're looking to meets leader, you can take your pick from any number of sitesand Ellie takes her place beside her. YesAs challenges come her way left, even 'Guardian' readers can log on right and look for love specifically centre, Ellie uncovers the rare ability to communicate withthe dead, ermputting her at the heart of a maelstrom of chaos. Reeling from one family secret to another, other Ellie must decide who to trust and determine what to do as the Briar witches'Guardian' readers. To do solegacy, everything they just have sacrificed to click through to 'Guardian Soulmates'survive, which is probably no different from 'Match.com' or 'Datingdirect', though might count a larger proportion of sandal wearing hippies among its membersunder threat.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>085265202X</amazonuk>1803364548

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stephen Hunter1529900360|title=I, SniperThe Ghost Orchid|author=Jonathan Kellerman

|summary=You donIt hadn't often find novels or films based been Lt Milo Sturgis's fault that Alex Delaware had been badly injured but he felt responsible and even after Alex recovered, Sturgis was reluctant to ask for his help on the art of the sniperdifficult cases. Hiding out for hours motionless His assertions that there were only open-and then killing someone unseen from hundreds of yards away doesn-shut cases which didn't make need the help of a psychologist only worked for as interesting a story as a face to face shoot outwhile. But with Finally, it was Robin, Delaware'Is partner, Sniper'who nudged Milo into asking for help again. She knew that the involvement was something that the man she loved needed. The next case did look simple, Stephen Hunter has managed to combine though. Two lovers were murdered in the art swimming pool of a remote property in Bel Air. He was the sniper with heir to an Italian shoe empire and she is married to an extremely rich man and it's not the art Italian. But which of them was the crime thriller in a decent read.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847377777</amazonuk>primary target?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Lucy Coats and Anthony Lewis1529395224|title=Letting the Cat Out of the Bag: The Beasts in the Jar (Greek Beasts and Heroes)Secret Life of a Vet|author=Sion Rowlands|rating=43.5|genre=Confident ReadersAnimals and Wildlife|summary=Atticus the sandalmaker is heading Siôn Rowlands fell into veterinary science accidentally. His father was a GP and Rowlands didn't want to the great storytelling competition follow in Troy. On his wayfootsteps, particularly when he meets considered the strain that being on-call put on his father's life. When he was seventeen he took the opportunity of doing work experience with a family friend who was a number of people vet andwas convinced this was the job for him. Before long, always eager for an opportunity to hone he was at Liverpool University. It hadn't - as with so many students - been his skillsdream since he was a child. If anything, relates he'd wanted to them tales from Ancient Greek myths and legends. The beasts in the jar of the title? Pandora released them from what we mistakenly call her boxbe a professional footballer.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444000659</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jed Mercurio0861541774|title=American AdultererA Nye of Pheasants|author=Steve Burrows

|genre=General FictionCrime|summary=IDCI Domenic Jejeune've often wondered how history s close friend and former colleague, Danny Maik, has taken a short holiday in Singapore to meet up with an old ally, Guy Trueman. Maik was involved in a street brawl - he would have viewed Jack Kennedy if later maintain that he was facing a man armed with a knife - and he'd died killed a natural death rather than by an assassin's bulletGhurka. As an extension Initially, he faced a charge of manslaughter but evidence came to light that I've also thought suggested that he might not have lived that much longer had nature been allowed planned to take its coursemurder the man. He's one of Now he could be facing the most-written-about Presidents of all time death penalty. Domenic Jejeune can do nothing to help as any interference from another police force could provoke a diplomatic incident and finding a new angle – even a fictional one – is not easy, but Jed Mercurio has looked wouldn't help Danny at Kennedy's adult life through the prism of his sexual peccadilloes and his healthall.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099515873</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Joe TreasureAlexander McCall Smith|title=BesottedThe Perfect Passion Company|rating=4|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=It is late August 1982, the day when O level results come out. Michael Cartwright already knows he has failed his exams and is dreading his parents finding out. He, his twin brother Kieran (who has done very well) and their younger sisters are on the family holiday, staying with their mother's parents in Kilross, County Cork. To escape boredom and his parents' anger, he wanders round the village, where he meets Fergal Noonan, training to be a priest, and lively Peggy O'Connor. He has his first kiss and a bit more with Peggy. The family soon goes home to Cheltenham, but their brief visit to Ireland will have far reaching significance.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330511726</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Tim Pears|title=Landed|rating=45

|summary=I have hesitated The Perfect Passion Company is a dating agency in Edinburgh, run by Ness and operating as an alternative to write this review because, truthfully, I am not ''entirely'' sure that I know what happened at the end. I read it all. I actually read the end several timesonline apps in providing a more personal, tailored service. And then I skipped back to Ness has asked her younger cousin Katie if she could come and look after the middlebusiness, just as Ness is planning to check something, before trying the end again. I have decided take a trip to just believe in what I ''think'' happened, and since I don't want Canada to spoil it get away for other readers then I don't have to make a complete fool of myself writing down what it is I think! while. And actually, that mysteriousness Katie is part coming out of the charm of the story. So, slight confusion aside, I still gave this book four starsa break up with a bad boyfriend, and this is why...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0434020079</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jeff Somers|title=The Eternal Prison|rating=3.5|genre=Science Fiction|summary=This book stands out in the high-energy, hard-edged sci-fi adventure/thriller genre, in that it covers two stories so jumps at the same timechance to come home to Edinburgh. In one chapter And so begins this new story from Alexander McCall Smith, bringing us to an Edinburgh we have Avery Cates, practically the best gun-for-hire in his post-apocalyptic North Americaalready love, being told thanks to kill one of the most protected 44 Scotland Street and important people left in the worldIsabel Dalhousie novels, by other, almost as important people, in the cruel mix of powerplays that make up the current politicsbut with some new characters who quickly begin to charm. In the other corner is CatesKatie has no experience in running a business, being thrown or in prison match- one of those basicmaking, hell-on-earthbut Ness has full confidence in her abilities, surrounded by miles of desertand there's always her very helpful (and rather handsome) neighbour, prisons. HereWilliam, too, he will be told to do jobs for other people...lend a hand…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1841497053</amazonuk>1846976596

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=A.Roger Ekirch 0811771741|title=Birthright: The True Story That Inspired KidnappedInstaKnits for Baby|author=Melissa Leapman

|genre=HistoryCrafts|summary=They say truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, and it is not unusual Melissa Leapman's ''InstaKnits for novels Baby'' gives us a collection of knits from toys to be based partly on factblankets. So it was in Some will be quick knits - others are of the case of Robert Louis Stevenson's ''Kidnapped''long, Sir Walter Scott's ''Guy Manneringcosy afternoons in front of the fire'variety. The projects are divided by the time they'll take to complete - less than five hours, and at least three othersfive to ten hours, all of which can point ten to twenty hours and more than twenty hours. All the saga of James Annesley for inspirationprojects are attractive, modern and useable. I perhaps show my age when I wonder about 'social-media-worthy projects' but that's me being picky.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0393066150</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Laila Lalami Dean Koontz|title=Secret SonThe Bad Weather Friend|rating=34.5|genre=General FictionParanormal|summary=''Secret Son'' Benny is the story of Youssef El-Mekki, the slum-dwelling teenage son of single mother Rachidahaving a terrifically bad day. Youssef has always been told that He loses his father is deadjob, so when he finds out loses his fiancee, and his mother house gets trashed. Oh, and someone has lied delivered a really weird, disturbing coffin-sized object to conceal his home, and it's possible that whoever or whatever was inside is the fact thing that he was born out of wedlockhas trashed his house! The thing is, he plunges headlong into an identity crisisBenny is the very last person to deserve all this bad luck. He tracks down is a nice person. A really nice person. So fortunately for Benny it turns out that the delivery to his real fatherhouse is a new friend, a wealthy businessman bad weather friend called Nabil Amrani Spike, who has been sent to help him since Benny is clearly under attack from nefarious forces for being a good person. Spike is surprisingly enthusiastic about his illegitimate songoing to take care of Benny, and will certainly take care of Benny's arrival. Nabil has recently fallen out with his daughter enemies, if he, Benny, and he seizes this opportunity to mould Youssef Harper (a waitress slash Private Investigator who finds herself roped into the obedient son he has always wantedBenny's wild adventure) can figure out who exactly they are.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0670918296</amazonuk>1662500491

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Bonnie Hearn HillAdam Stower|title=Star Crossed: Aries RisingMurray and Bun

|genre=TeensConfident Readers |summary=Ordinary teen Logan McRae discovers an old book called Murray is supposed to be a humble, tidy and friendly cat, one who is able to sleep and eat and eat and sleep and, well, whatever takes his fancy next of the two. But he'Fearless Astrologys a bad magician'. Can the book help her s cat, so his favourite bun has been turned into a hyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, and her friends get the boys catflap they wantboth use can chuck them out, catch not into the vandals who are shocking their school with pranksregular back garden, but into a world of frightening adventure and win her the approval of cantankerous English teacher Mr 'Frankenstein' Franklin? whiffs. This time round it drops them into a Viking land, where a troll hunter is a novel written for teens expected – of course it can.well, one much bigger than Murray was, to be honest, but he's turned up and he'll have to do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0762436700</amazonuk>0008561249

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Gabrielle LordB0C47LV1PC|title=January (Conspiracy 365)Fragility|author=Mosby Woods

|genre=TeensLiterary Fiction|summary=Callum Can you make a ''Yo birthing person'' joke? And if you could, is wandering along home on New Year's Eve when crazed itinerant accosts himthe question should you make it? Or is the question if you did, would it land? The catch is that the answer for both could well be.... no.

''They killed your father! TheyFragility'll kill you! You must survive the next 365 days!'' The man is carted off in an ambulance, and Cal tries to shrug off set as the incident but it's not easy. How did the man know his name? How did he know that Cal's father was dead? Who could possibly want to kill a run city of the mill adolescent like him? What is the Ormond Singularity that the man kept shouting about? And the thing isPortland, Oregon, Cal's father had written cautiously begins to him shortly before returning home already in emerge from the restrictions imposed during the throes of a fatal illness. His father was vague on detail, but is pretty sure he was on to something big. Could there be a connection? |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340996447</amazonuk>covid pandemic

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Steve Feasey1529431735|title=Changeling: Blood WolfThe Winter Visitor|author=James Henry

|genre=TeensCrime|summary=Trey It's February 1991 and Essex is the last living hereditary werewolf - or so he thinks. So when he discovers he has a long-lost unclebitingly cold, he shrugs off which made Bruce Hopkins' return all objections from 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 family-friendly. His uncle is old, half-blind and alcoholicmore surprising. He lives in filth and he couldn't give d been exiled on the Costa del Sol as a fig wanted drug smuggler for Treya decade. But there is a pack out there, and it The return has come about because he's vicioushad a letter from his ex-wife, bloodthirsty and rapidly spinning out of control. |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 - Annette is really nice; saying that she's warm ill and kind and respects her adolescent chargehasn's privacy. But Savannah has perenially itchy feet and she finds it difficult t long to make lasting relationshipslive. She It's never had a boyfriend and friendships are often fleeting. Nina hard to feel any sympathy when Hopkins is the only one that seems abducted, stripped to stick around. Then her throat gets sore. Then Annette tells her that she's making odd noises at night. Savannah knows her body is changing his underwear and she's developing powers that she doesn't understand. Then the leaves start sent to swirl for no apparent reason and a watery grave in the birds boot of a stolen Ford Sierra. Is it a warning from a Spanish gang or a problem closer to behave oddly. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1842551124</amazonuk>home?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Daren KingAlex Bell and Tim McDonagh|title=Frightfully Friendly GhostiesThe Glorious Race of Magical Beasts

|summary=Pamela Fraidy has gotten herself locked Eli is a busy lad – by day an apprentice in the attic wondrous library we start by visiting with him, and in the evening a leggy spiderhelper at the dessert cafe his gran owns and runs. Her fellow frightfully friendly ghosties are doing all they can to help her Eli lives with his lovely gran, but it's not easy to pick up too – for there is a key and carry it up generation missing in the stairs if you don't have a bodyfamily. In the process of rescuing their friends A few short years ago, they also decide Eli's parents were both lost to make friends with the stilltitular race, a globe-alives who inhabit their house. The ghosties are fed up of trotting adventure where all entrants have to navigate the still-alives being so mean - running off screaming every time world in the ghosties say hello.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847249930</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Aravind Adiga|title=The White Tiger|rating=4.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Balram Halwai, a Bangalore entrepreneur (company of sorts) and a natural philosopher, hears that there is a planned visit from magical beast. This has made the Chinese leader to India race anathema to learn the source of Indian entrepreneurial talent. Balram knows that pair – but when a bad incident at the story he will be told by the Indian leader will be eatery leads to a long way confession from the true story of modern Indian life, and so resolves, over the course of seven nightsgran, Eli knows his only hope is to write dare to enter what he most hates, with the Chinese premier with sole aim the story prize of his life and his own journey from a poor son of a rickshaw driver to magic at the end – the head of his own business.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1843547228</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jane Casey|title=The Missing|rating=4.5|genre=Crime|summary=In 1992, Sarah Finch's twelve year old brother Charlie says only thing to her ''Tell mum I'll be back soon.'' Sixteen years later, possibly save his family are still waiting to find out what happened to him. Now in her twenties, Sarah is teaching at a local private school while looking after her uncaring mother, who since Charlie's disappearance has slid into alcoholismgran.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0091935997</amazonuk>0571382231