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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>
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=Christi Phillips Sylvie Cathrall|title=The Devlin DiaryA Letter to the Luminous Deep|rating=35|genre=Historical Science Fiction|summary=It There are few greater joys than a book which lives up to a compelling premise. And this is 1672 one of them.|isbn= 0356522776}}{{Frontpage|isbn=0008517061|title=Death in a Lonely Place|author=Stig Abell|rating=4|genre=Crime|summary= 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 life with his vet girlfriend, Livia and Hannah Devlinher daughter Diana, as moving in together would mean a young widow lot of compromise: does Jake give up his off-grid and relaxing life to move in with a skill Livia or does Livia move to Little Sky despite her reservations about whether or not this is the future she wants for (illegally) practicing medicine finds herself being all but kidnapped by King Charles II's advisors and forced to use her skills to treat his mistress, Louise de Keroualledaughter? For the moment they’re enjoying life in the present and putting the future on the back burner.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847393489</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Pauline Fisk1786482126|title=In the TreesThe Janus Stone (Dr Ruth Galloway)|author=Elly Griffiths
|rating=4.5
|genre=TeensCrime|summary=Since his mother diedBuilders were demolishing an old house in Norwich - the site was going to hold seventy-five 'luxury' apartments - when they discovered the bones of a child beneath a doorway. There was no skull. Was this a ritual killing or murder? Inevitably, Kid has been staying Dr Ruth Galloway finds herself working with Nadine and flipping burgers in a fast food joint after schoolDCI Harry Nelson. It's not an exciting lifedifficult as Ruth knows, but he isnNelson doesn't unhappy. And then Nadine gets a boyfriend and the flat gets rather cramped. And then a box of , that she is pregnant with his mother's possessions arrives. Inside, he finds child as a photo result of the father he's never met and a copy of his birth certificate, which tells him that his father comes from Belizeone night they spent together some three months ago. And suddenly Her condition will be obvious before long, Kid makes a decision. He's going nowhere fast in London, so he's going not least because Ruth is prone to head out to Belize and find the man in the photo. He's on a plane within dayssudden bouts of sickness. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571236200</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David Grimstone0008551324|title=Gladiator Boy vs The Living DeadDevil You Know (D S Max Craigie)|author=Neil Lancaster|rating=24.5|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=[[A HeroIt's Quest (Gladiator Boy) by David Grimstone|A Herounusual for anyone from the Hardie family to approach the police. Neither side likes or has any respect for the other. But Davie Hardie is struggling in prison and he's Quest]] introduced us prepared to Decimus Rex. This seventh book in tell the police where the overall ''Gladiator Boy'' series (and start body of a new sub-series of 6) begins with our heromissing person is buried and who was responsible for her death. This person, Decimus Rexhe 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 friends all having received messages from their former ally Teosentence and to get an early parole date. I say former because they all thought Teo was dead. They Not much to ask, is it? The new Deputy Police Constable doesn't think so and she're all hoping against hope s even prepared to do the other thing that Teo Hardie demanded - make certain that DS Max Craigie and anyone who works with him is really alive, but therekept well away from what's a nagging doubt that their nemesis Slavious Doom is setting a trap for them.happening..|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340989270</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jenny Valentine0008405026|title=Iggy and Me and A Stranger in the Happy BirthdayFamily (Maeve Kerrigan 11)|author=Jane Casey
|rating=5
|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=OohIt's sixteen 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. Now, her mother, Helena, hooray! Iggy and Flo her father are back! We loved dead in their [[Iggy and Me by Jenny Valentine|first outing]]bed. Initially, just as we love all Jenny Valentineit looks like a straightforward murder/suicide but there's books for older readers. Flo's just your everyday run something about the positioning of the mill eight year oldbodies that makes DS Maeve Kerrigan and her boss DI Josh Derwent suspicious. Iggy's What looked as though it was going to be an open-and-shut case is now a normal five year old (going on six)complex double murder. Iggy Kerrigan is convinced that the explanation lies in Rosalie's a funny little thing, Flodisappearance: others (such as Derwent's sweet. They're sisters who do what sisters doboss, in a regular family. They learn to swim, they fall ill, they make cakes, they ride bikesUna Burt) are less convinced. They toddle along with life and have a lovely time. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007283636</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Gene Kemp0571379877|title=No Way OutThe Kellerby Code|author=Jonny Sweet|rating=43.5|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=Alex and Adam are twinsEdward Jevons is a working-class young man, obsessed with his upper-class friends, Robert and theyStanza. Robert're telepathic to boots a theatre director. They He're very closes also self-obsessed, demanding, but are also like chalk handsome and entitled and uses Edward to run errands for him. Edward has been in love with Stanza since their university days - and cheese: Adamhe's looking forward drunkenly confided how he feels to their holiday on Uncle Ben and Aunt SadieRobert. Most men in Robert's farm, position would stay away from Stanza or tell Edward that a relationship had begun between them but Alex canhe't think of anything worse. Adam s not like most men: Edward is always happy to read left to their little sister Emmy, but Alex resents stumble upon the attention she gets (she's disabled, y'see). By and large, they're just ordinary kids, with ordinary grumbles. When the car they're in goes through thick fog and crashes, they find themselves two of them kissing in a town from times past, with inhabitants who don't want to let them leave, and who have an eye on Emmydark passageway.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571244556</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Allan Manham and Penny DannJo Callaghan|title=The Giant CarrotLeave No Trace
|rating=4
|genre=For SharingCrime|summary=Jack When a man is quite found crucified on the gardener. All his hard work means his vegetable patch is awash with lucious veggies. One daytop of a hill in Nuneaton, he decides DCS Kat Frank finds herself assigned to pull up some carrots and make soupthe case alongside her sidekick, but the biggest carrot just wouldn't budgeAI detective Lock. He It's going 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 high profile case that draws a lot of unwanted attention to have their AI Future Policing project. Will they be able to get some chums to help him.solve the case in time, or will Kat find herself taken off the case and, potentially, out of a career?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1843625911</amazonuk>139851120X
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Castle Freeman1399613073|title=All That I HaveMoral Injuries|author=Christie Watson
|rating=4.5
|genre=Literary FictionThrillers|summary=Castle Freeman may sound like two thirds Olivia, Laura and Anjali met on the first day of medical school and their friendship would keep them inseparable for a firm quarter of provincial solicitors but thankfully this Castle Freeman a century. Olivia is ruthlessly ambitious, which is a man very skilled in writing about the law rather than practicing itbonus when you aim to be a cardiothoracic surgeon. In his latest novel Freeman tells an intriguing tale involving local Sheriff Lucian Wing Laura is a perfectionist and his practical yet low-key approach to maintaining order in rural Vermonta trauma doctor. Not for Wing Anjali is the free spirit of the gung ho approach to fighting crimegroup and she becomes a GP. He doesn When we first meet them they't wear re at a uniform, he drives a battered old car rather than the standard issue sheriffdrug and alcohol-fuelled party and it's wagon and his gun, so ubiquitous in US law enforcement, is safely tucked away going to end in his bottom drawertragedy. Everyone in We don't know who suffered the area knows tragedy or the sheriff and by and large they respect him and his slightly unorthodox way of doing businessconsequences. 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>0715639021</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Dan Rhodes0241636604|title=Little Hands ClappingThe Trading Game: A Confession|author=Gary Stevenson
|rating=4.5
|genre=General FictionAutobiography|summary=The first character If you were to mention bring up an image of a city banker in this book 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 a moththe East End, where he was familiar with violence, poverty and injustice. It's a human moth, drawn There was no posh public school on his CV - but he had been to the flame that London School of Economics. Stevenson is bright - extremely bright - and he has a museum facility with numbers which most of suicide - a supposedly cautionary, life-affirming, memento mori, somewhere in Germanyus can only envy. He also realised that most rich people expect poor people to be stupid. Its curator is an old hand It was his ability at lonelywhat was, unloved museumsessentially, fresh from a card game which got him an art gallery in an airport - it didn't take off - who notices the noise of the latest suicide to happen in the museum, and goes right back to sleepinternship with Citibank. A spider crawls Eventually, this turned into his mouth and gets eatenpermanent employment as a trader.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847675298</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Lindsey Leavitt1035021803|title=Princess for HireThe Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder|author=C L Miller
|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=Desi is not It's twenty years since Freya Lockwood has been back to the happiest English country village where she grew up. She's back now because of teenagersa request for help from her beloved aunt, although when are teenage girls ever actually happy? Carole. AnywayFreya's former mentor and Carole's close friend, Arthur Crockleford, her ex-best friend Celeste is doing everything possible to humiliate dead and alienate her from their friendsthe circumstances seem suspicious, and to top it all off Celeste is also dating say the boy Desi has a huge crush on, Haydenleast. (He is perhaps a dubious prospect for Desi since he can't even get Arthur was the reason why Freya had not been back to the village: Arthur, she feels, let her name right)down badly. StillEven though they were in business together as antique hunters, she has landed herself summer job working for a pet store and although it involves being dressed in a furry groundhog costume at least no-one can tell it's her in there. Well, not until Celeste comes along and unmasks herfelt able to be near the man or pursue the profession she loved. In front of Hayden. Desi finds herself feeling more and more like vapour every dayAfter the split, that she doesn't matter or almost doesn't exist. Cue worked in a cafe, met and married James (on the rebound from the fairy-godmother style entrance love of Meredithher life, an agent for Facade which is a magical company that offer jobs to teens with magical potential to work as substitute princesses..who was murdered) and Freya and James have now divorced.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140524612X</amazonuk>
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{{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.''
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=Giles Andreae and David WojtowyczSunny Singh|title=Commotion In The OceanHotel Arcadia|rating=43.5|genre=For SharingThrillers |summary=There's The Hotel Arcadia is a commotion luxury hotel in an unnamed city that has suddenly been violently taken over by a terrorist group. Hiding from the ocean: the dolphins terrorists who are squeakingrampaging through, killing everyone on site, the jellyfish are jigglingthere is Sam, a wartime photographer and Abhi, the hotel manager. As Abhi continues to try to care remotely for the lobsters residents who are clippetty-clapping snippety-snapping. Animal still alive in the hotel, he forms a bond with Sam who refuses to be cowed by animalevents, Giles Andreae (best-known for [[Giraffes Can't Dance Magnet Book by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees|Giraffes Cankeeps on venturing out of her room to try to capture what't Dance]]) takes us s happened through her photography. Although they only ever talk over the underwater adventuresphone, with short, snappy poemstheir 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.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408308452</amazonuk>086154742X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Delphine de Vigan1529153298|title=No and MeThe List of Suspicious Things|author=Jennie Godfrey
|rating=5
|genre=TeensGeneral Fiction|summary=Lou It's 1979 and Margaret Thatcher is a cleverPrime Minister. (A woman? I mean, clever child with an IQ approaching 160honestly... ) She's thirteen, but shenot what's worrying Miv's family, though. Women have been moved up two years at school and she compares her flat chested, nervous self somewhat unfavourably with her fifteen-year-old peer groupdisappearing. Funnily enough Well, her only real friend at school is Lucasthey've been murdered, whobut to have 's seventeen and such a rebel that hedisappeared's been moved down two years. Things at home arendoesn't great for Lousound quite so frightening. Her baby sister died a few years ago and Miv's upset because she's overheard that her mother has been severely depressed ever since. She barely talks, seldom gets dressed. Her father is worn down wants to move the bone with worry and Lou doesnfamily 'Down South'. When you't get a great deal of attention re from him eitherYorkshire, so distracted Down South is he. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408807513</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Paul Magrs|title=The Diary of a Dr Who Addict|rating=3|genre=Teens|summary=Daveyfrightening, in his first term at secondary schoolforeign place, is horrifiedbest avoided. Not only is his For Miv, the move would mean leaving her best friend trying to grow up through the use of a home gym, Sharon, and standing him up on the first morning of term, he also seems she'll do anything to be becoming dismissive of The Showprevent that. Still, he is trying to be esoteric She's not worried about the dangers or that her Mum's stopped talking - just like his sister, painting her face to look like Bowie album sleeves of all things - and Davey knows better. He knows everyone should be enthralled with the spectacle of Tom Baker falling off a building and becoming Peter Davisonanyone.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847384129</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Joshua Ferris 1398524085|title=The UnnamedHas Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?|author=Nicci French
|rating=5
|genre=Literary FictionCrime|summary=Tim Farnsworth seemed to have it allCharlotte Salter was expected at her husband's fiftieth birthday party but never turned up. He loved his wife Jane Her children, sons Niall, Paul and Ollie and her daughter Becka and his job as a partner in prestigious law firm was enjoyable, fulfilling and financially rewardingEtty. are all worried but - strangely - her husband, Alec, is not. The fly Shortly afterwards, Etty and Greg, find the body of Greg's father, Duncan Ackerley, in the ointment river. It was an easy assumption for the police to make that sometimes Duncan had murdered Charlie and then committed suicide when he was overtaken by a compulsion to walkcouldn't stand the guilt. The time of day, the weather or the occasion did Salter children are not matter – when the compulsion came he had to walk until he was physically exhausted and fell asleep immediately after calling his wife to come convinced but there's little else they can do but get on with their lives and collect him. There seemed to be no medical explanation for wonder about what was happening – and Tim and Jane had tried every source they could find – but Tim was still reluctant to accept that this was a mental rather than a physical illnessreally happened.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0670917702</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Michele Monro1035906708|title=Matt Monro: The Singer's SingerDiva|author=Daisy Goodwin
|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Although Robin Cook has written many booksWe tend to think of Maria Callas as Greek, but she was born to Greek parents in Manhattan, New York, ''Intervention'' is the first one that I have read - I'm a Robin Cook 'virgin.' This is a big book in many respectsDecember 1923 and only moved to Athens when she was thirteen. It's a classic, glossy 'coffee table' edition; Her original surname was Kalogeropoulos but her father changed itto 's a big, satisfying read and itCallas's a multi-layered book in that to make it covers many current-day topics which have their roots more manageable in historythe States. In fact, this book is When she was back in Athens - supposedly so multi-dimensional that, you she could argueget appropriate training for her voice - she was raised under the Nazi occupation by a mother who mercilessly exploited her and made no secret of her preference for her elder sister, there are several books within this bookJackie.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0230743633</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Victoria ForesterChristopher Edge|title=The Girl Who Could FlyBlack Hole Cinema Club
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you could fly? It would be such Lucas and his friends are all booked in for a wonderful sensationmovie marathon at their local cinema, soaring through a place that has the air, looping the loop, swooping down over your house and gardennickname of 'The Black Hole'. But have you also stopped to think what other people might think if All big movie fans, they saw that you could fly whilst no one else could? Would children still want 're looking forward to be your friend? What would your family think? The little girl in this storylots of exciting films, Piper McCloudand many, can fly. many snacks! She lives on her parents farm and was always a littleHowever, wellas the movie starts, unusualthey very quickly realise that something about this new film format is very different, and after her mum found her floating in the air one day when she was a baby she decided to home school Piper, rather than expose her to the gossips in the villagethey are swept up into an adventure they couldn't even imagine. But as they lurch from one day, at film genre to the village picnicnext, Piper flies during the baseball match as she tries can they figure out what on earth is going on? Will they ever get back to catch the ballcinema, and suddenly her whole life is turned upside down...to their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0330512536</amazonuk>1839942738
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=P C CastRachel Greenlaw|title=Divine by Mistake (Goddess of Partholon)Compass and Blade
|rating=3.5
|genre=Teens
|summary=Abyssinia, 1820''I can hear the song of the sea. Three Englishment search for The call of the Amarantdeep, a mythical flower with the power over life and death, answering beat in a strange desert oasis. On finding the flower surrounded by decaying faces, they realize that it is cursed, and take a blood oath never to remove itmy heart.''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Carole White and Sian WilliamsJames Sherwood Metts|title=Struggle or StarvePlanet Storyland
|rating=4.5
|genre=AutobiographyConfident Readers|summary=Struggle or Starve is Things have been a collection of autobiographical writings about girlsbit sticky for the Earthlings. AI and automation have been proceeding apace, often replacing jobs they' re paid to do and women's lives in South Wales between the warsother tasks that took time to accomplish. This is a Just as they were beginning to get used to all this technological change and starting to think of other, new edition of a book first published in 1998 by Honnoways to spend time, along came an independent publisher set up to encourage Welsh women writersawful pandemic. Most of Life was pretty much shut down and, along with it, all the contributors in this book came from miners' families and grew up in real poverty and economic insecuritymany daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906784094</amazonuk>1736128426
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Julia GreenMatthew Tree|title=Drawing with Light|rating=5|genre=Teens|summary=Emily doesn't remember her biological mother. She ran away with another man when Emily was just two. Now, her older sister Kat, her father, and her stepmother Cassy make up the family unit and Emily thinks itWe's just fine that way. She doesn't need a mother who didn't want her and has never even tried to get in touch. But then Kat goes off to university, her father buys a rundown house in the middle of nowhere and moves them into a caravan while it's being renovated, and Cassy gets pregnant. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408802732</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Sarah Dessen|title=Along for the Ridell Never Know
|rating=4.5
|genre=TeensLiterary Fiction|summary=Auden has always felt like the odd one out amongst her peers. Her parents - now divorced - are both academics and high achieversTimothy Wyndham wants nothing more than to be different from his father, a drunk and they, especially her mother, want the same for Auden. Auden's older brother is the rebel chronic underachiever whose dreams of being exceptional at any of his artistic passions all failed miserably and so Auden feels as though she needs to be the one who satisfies her mother's ambitionhad endless crises of self confidence. So she works hard and never lets her diligence or conscientiousness slip for even a moment. But she's socially awkward and lacking in experience. She's never had a boyfriendTim applied himself to his studies, hates the colour pink cultivated his abilities rather than his daydreams and can't even ride a bikeset himself high but achievable ambitions. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0141327480</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=Daniel Suarez1529900360|title=DaemonThe Ghost Orchid|author=Jonathan Kellerman
|rating=4
|genre=Crime
|summary=As It hadn't 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 difficult cases. His assertions that there were only open-and-shut cases which didn't need the internet grows and technology advanceshelp of a psychologist only worked for a while. Finally, itwas Robin, Delaware's seems there is nothing you can't dopartner, 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, though. Recent innovations mean you can operate appliances Two lovers were murdered in the swimming pool of a remote property in your own home from another continent and cars are more automated than everBel Air. Huge online games allow users worldwide He was the heir to interact an Italian shoe empire and play against each other in huge arenas. Thanks she is married to social networking, the internet can be addictive an extremely rich man and, yes, Iit'm aware s not the Italian. But which of them was the irony in writing that here.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847249612</amazonuk>primary target?
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Erica Bauermeister 1529395224|title=The Monday Night Cooking School|rating=4.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=The Monday Night Cooking School is Letting the first novel written by American writer Erica Bauermeister and it really is a delicious read in every sense. The novel tells Cat Out of eight very diverse people who attend a cooking class once a month at Lillian's restaurant. Each has a different reason for being there and each has his or her own story to tell. However, over the months that the course is run, they start to bond through the learning experience and their love Bag: The Secret Life of food. It's not the sort of novel where much happens but if you are interested in people and you love food, I am sure you will enjoy this book. Having said that though, I don't think it is a book that should be read if you are trying to diet because you can virtually smell the food as you turn the pages!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141038837</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewVet|author=Marcus Sedgwick|title=Lunatics and Luck (Raven Mysteries)Sion Rowlands|rating=43.5|genre=Confident ReadersAnimals and Wildlife|summary=It's obvious reallySiôn Rowlands fell into veterinary science accidentally. When an earthquake hits Castle Otherhand, Valevine, the head of the household, decides what the place needs is His father was a machine GP and Rowlands didn't want to predict the future, and a new tutor for follow in his two oldest children. And why not? There are only those childrenfootsteps, particularly when he considered the suicidal baby twins, Valevinestrain that being on-call put on his father's dreadful failed inventions and experiments, Edgar life. When he was seventeen he took the raven that narrates this series opportunity of books, doing work experience with a family friend who was a vet and a monkeywas convinced this was the job for him. With bells onBefore long, he was at Liverpool University. Clearly there is not enough weirdness there already to go aroundIt hadn't - as with so many students - been his dream since he was a child.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1842556959</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett|title=The Spirit Level: Why Equality Is Better For Everyone |rating=4.5|genre=Politics and Society|summary= If you asked people why it is (or might anything, he'd wanted to be) a good idea to reduce inequality in a society, many people would assume that reducing inequality works by making the life of the poorest better: that the poor are the ones who benefit from reduction of inequalityprofessional footballer.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141032367</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ken Bruen0861541774|title=The Killing A Nye of the TinkersPheasants|author=Steve Burrows
|rating=4
|genre=Crime
|summary=Jack Taylor returns to his native Ireland with his tail between his legs. HeDCI Domenic Jejeune's been lying low 'over the water' close friend and former colleague, Danny Maik, has taken a short holiday in LondonSingapore to meet up with an old ally, licking his woundsGuy Trueman. Jack (I'm slightly surprised Maik was involved in a street brawl - he would later maintain that Bruen didn't give him he was facing a more Irish name) is man armed with a middleknife -aged, washed-up, disgraced ex-copand he killed a Ghurka. As if that wasn't bad enoughInitially, he also has faced a lot charge of very bad habits. He acknowledges however manslaughter but evidence came to light that 'the new world is designed for non-smokers.' He also admits quite freely and openly suggested that 'An alcoholic has dreams he might have planned to rival that of any Vietnam vet.'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0863224113</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Dave Zeltserman|title=Killer|rating=5|genre=Crime|summary=Here at murder the Bookbag, we've been very impressed with Dave Zeltserman's work thus farman. He uses a wonderful noirish narrative that takes you straight to the heart of Now he could be facing the storydeath penalty. His story telling is very straightforward, not weighing down the story with too much style, but sticking Domenic Jejeune can do nothing to the substance help as any interference from another police force could provoke a diplomatic incident and delivering a hard-hitting work every time. With wouldn''Killer'', he has done the same againt help Danny at all.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184668644X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Roger HargreavesAlexander McCall Smith|title=Mr Nobody (Mr Men and Little Misses)The Perfect Passion Company
|rating=4.5
|genre=For SharingGeneral Fiction|summary=Mr Nobody The Perfect Passion Company isa dating agency in Edinburgh, run by Ness and operating as an alternative to all the online apps in providing a more personal, tailored service. Ness has asked her younger cousin Katie if she could come and look after the business, as Ness is planning to take a trip to Canada to get away for a while.. well Katie is coming out of a break up with a bad boyfriend, he's somebody who sort of is and sort of isn'tso jumps at the chance to come home to Edinburgh. Mr Happy comes across him one day And so begins this new story from Alexander McCall Smith, bringing us to an Edinburgh we already love, thanks to 44 Scotland Street and does his best the Isabel Dalhousie novels, but with some new characters who quickly begin to cheer him upcharm. Who could possibly help Katie has no experience in running a person whobusiness, or in match-making, but Ness has full confidence in her abilities, and there's sort of there always her very helpful (and sort of isn't? Ahrather handsome) neighbour, William, the Wizard!to lend a hand…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405251425</amazonuk>1846976596
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Tony Mitton and Guy Parker-Rees0811771741|title=Jolly Olly Octopus|rating=3.5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Jolly Olly Octopus is giggling underneath the sea. He's soon joined by two tickly turtles, three smiley seahorses, and so on through the numbers. The large cast of underwater animals are having a jolly ol' time, until a shark appears...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846166861</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Mo Smith|title=The Lazy Cook's Family Favourites|rating=4.5|genre=Cookery|summary=These days I get very nervous when I hear about books for 'lazy' cooks, or how to cheat when preparing meals. There's a very simple reason InstaKnits for this: good food, prepared using seasonal ingredients which don't break the budget needs skill and knowledge and neither are the prerogative of the lazy. Mo Smith might like us to think that she's lazy, but take my word for it – she isn't. She might have learned a few tricks for making good food quickly, but she's a woman who knows her onions and all sorts of other food.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749007826</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewBaby|author=Adam Blade|title=Creta the Winged Terror (Beast Quest)Melissa Leapman
|rating=4
|genre=Confident ReadersCrafts|summary=Our hero, Tom, is finding his fishing trip with his father bugged - literally - by a plague of sickening cockroach things. WhatMelissa Leapman's more, the whole land ''InstaKnits for Baby'' gives us a collection of Avantia is suffering some form of horrid heatwaveknits from toys to blankets. Can Tom, recognising yet another threat to his country from the evil Malvel, defeat his nemesis yet again Some will be quick knits - especially as said baddie has as a new weapon of darkness a massive host others are of the roaches, swarming as one giant monster?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408307359</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Karan Mahajan|title=Family Planning|rating=2|genre=General Fiction|summary=Mr Rakesh Ahuja is Delhi's Mister of Urban Development and so farlong, has managed to do well cosy afternoons in his careerfront of the fire' variety. However, his family life is beginning The projects are divided by the time they'll take to take over complete - he already has thirteen children and a fourteenth is on the way. The eldestless than five hours, Arjunfive to ten hours, now a teenager was born ten to Mr Ahuja's first wife, but up til now, Arjun is unaware of this facttwenty hours and more than twenty hours. Sangita Ahuja, All the long-suffering wifeprojects are attractive, is aware that her relationship with Arjun may never be the same againmodern and useable. Meanwhile, Arjun is only interested in one thing I perhaps show my age when I wonder about 'social-media- how to attract the attention of the gorgeous girl on his school busworthy projects' but that's me being picky. What will happen to the family when Mr Ahuja finally tells the truth?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099523299</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Fraser's AutographsDean Koontz|title=Collect Autographs: An Illustrated Guide to Collecting and Investing in AutographsThe Bad Weather Friend
|rating=4.5
|genre=Business and FinanceParanormal|summary=There must be many of us who have at one time had an autograph book or something of the kind as children Benny is having a terrifically bad day. He loses his job, he loses his fiancee, and his house gets trashed. Oh, and asked friendssomeone has delivered a really weird, relations or even celebrities disturbing coffin-sized object to his home, and it'do something's possible that whoever or whatever was inside is the thing that has trashed his house! The thing is, written Benny is the very last person to celebrities in deserve all this bad luck. He is a nice person. A really nice person. So fortunately for Benny it turns out that the hope of obtaining delivery to his house is a personally signed picturenew friend, or even waited patiently at a stage door after bad weather friend called Spike, who has been sent to help him since Benny is clearly under attack from nefarious forces for being a play or concert eagerly clutching a theatre programmegood person. Spike is going to take care of Benny, and will certainly take care of Benny's enemies, if he, Benny, record or CD sleeve and pen in handHarper (a waitress slash Private Investigator who finds herself roped into Benny's wild adventure) can figure out who exactly they are.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0852597525</amazonuk>1662500491
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Derrick NiedermanAdam Stower|title=Number Freak: A Mathematical Compendium from 1 to 200Murray and Bun
|rating=4.5
|genre=Popular ScienceConfident Readers |summary=This Murray is supposed to be a book that definitely does what it says on 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 tintwo. Our author But he's a bad magician's cat, so his favourite bun has the capacity to grab each number between one and two hundredbeen turned into a hyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, and wring it for all its worth - all the special status it might have in our culture (more easy with seven thancatflap they both use can chuck them out, saynot into the regular back garden, 187), all the special properties but into a world of frightening adventure and whiffs. This time round it might possess (perfectdrops them into a Viking land, triangularwhere a troll hunter is expected – well, prime)one much bigger than Murray was, to be honest, but he's turned up and as many other things mathematicians and so on would find of interest. Luckily there is enough here he'll have to make the book well worth a browse for us who would not deem themselves number buffs.do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>071563710X</amazonuk>0008561249
}}
{{Frontpage
|isbn=B0C47LV1PC
|title=Fragility
|author=Mosby Woods
|rating=4
|genre=Literary Fiction
|summary= Can you make a ''Yo birthing person'' joke? And if you could, is the 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.
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stephen Hunter1529431735|title=I, SniperThe Winter Visitor|author=James Henry
|rating=4
|genre=Crime
|summary=You donIt't often find novels or films based on the art of s February 1991 and Essex is bitingly cold, which made Bruce Hopkins' return all the snipermore surprising. Hiding out for hours motionless and then killing someone unseen from hundreds of yards away doesnHe't make for d been exiled on the Costa del Sol as interesting a story as wanted drug smuggler for a face to face shoot outdecade. But with The return has come about because he'Is had a letter from his ex-wife, Snipersaying that she's ill and hasn't long to live. It's hard to feel any sympathy when Hopkins is abducted, Stephen Hunter has managed stripped to his underwear and sent to combine a watery grave in the art boot of the sniper with the art of the crime thriller in a decent readstolen Ford Sierra.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847377777</amazonuk> Is it a warning from a Spanish gang or a problem closer to home?
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lucy Coats Alex Bell and Anthony LewisTim McDonagh|title=The Glorious Race of Magical Beasts in the Jar (Greek Beasts and Heroes)|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Atticus the sandalmaker Eli is heading to the great storytelling competition in Troy. On his way, he meets a number of people and, always eager for busy lad – by day an opportunity to hone his skills, relates to them tales from Ancient Greek myths and legends. The beasts apprentice in the jar of the title? Pandora released them from what wondrous library we mistakenly call her box.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444000659</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jed Mercurio|title=American Adulterer|rating=4|genre=General Fiction|summary=I've often wondered how history would have viewed Jack Kennedy if he'd died a natural death rather than start by an assassin's bullet. As an extension of that I've also thought that he might not have lived that much longer had nature been allowed to take its course. He's one of visiting with him, and in the most-written-about Presidents of all time and finding a new angle – even evening a fictional one – is not easy, but Jed Mercurio has looked helper at Kennedy's adult life through the prism of dessert cafe his sexual peccadilloes gran owns and runs. Eli lives with his health.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099515873</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Joe Treasure|title=Besotted|rating=4|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=It is late August 1982lovely gran, the day when O level results come out. Michael Cartwright already knows he has failed his exams and too – for there is dreading his parents finding out. He, his twin brother Kieran (who has done very well) and their younger sisters are on a generation missing in the family holiday. A few short years ago, staying with their motherEli's parents in Kilross, County Cork. To escape boredom and his parents' anger, he wanders round were both lost to the villagetitular race, a globe-trotting adventure 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 all entrants have far reaching significance.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330511726</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Tim Pears|title=Landed|rating=4|genre=General Fiction|summary=I have hesitated to write this review because, truthfully, I am not ''entirely'' sure that I know what happened at navigate the world in the endcompany of a magical beast. I read it all. I actually read This has made the end several times. And then I skipped back race anathema to the middle, just to check something, before trying pair – but when a bad incident at the end again. I have decided eatery leads to just believe in what I ''think'' happeneda confession from gran, and since I don't want Eli knows his only hope is to spoil it for other readers then I don't have dare to make a complete fool of myself writing down enter what it is I think! And actuallyhe most hates, that mysteriousness is part with the sole aim the prize of magic at the charm of end – the story. So, slight confusion aside, I still gave this book four stars, and this is why..only thing to possibly save his gran.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0434020079</amazonuk>0571382231
}}
