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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=Ian MathieSylvie Cathrall|title=The Man of PassageA Letter to the Luminous Deep|rating=3.5|genre=AutobiographyScience Fiction|summary=Ian Mathie's association with Africa began when his father was posted There are few greater joys than a book which lives up to what was then Northern Rhodesia when Mathie was just four years old. School was in a convent and was run by German and Italian nuns and for a while he was the only white child amongst a couple of hundred Africanscompelling premise. Even when he was joined by others he was still part And this is one of an ethnic minority although he didn't realise it! He was taught in the local language and grew up with the local children. It was his home and was to be the centre of his life for decades to comethem.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0955312418</amazonuk>0356522776
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=K A S Quinn0008517061|title=The Queen Must Die (Chronicles of the Tempus) Death in a Lonely Place|author=Stig Abell
|rating=4
|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=In this historical time-travelling extravaganzaFormer Metropolitan Police detective, Katie Berger-Jones-Burg (I knowJake Johnson, it's has settled into his rustic life at Little Sky. There’s perhaps a mouthfullittle uncertainty about the future of his life with his vet girlfriend, but stay with me) is the Livia and her daughter Diana, as moving in together would mean a lot of Mimi, an excompromise: does Jake give up his off-girl band member who has been married three times, so far, hence Katie's hyphenated name. Katie has come home from school grid and relaxing life to find that Mimi has gone off move in with another man, Dr Fishberg, and as she begins Livia or does Livia move to stress Little Sky despite her reservations about whether or not this is the potential new addition to her surname future she crawls into her hidey-hole space beneath her bed to escape wants for a little while. Here she keeps her diary and her stash of books, herself and she curls up to read her latest book, a compilation of letters from Princess Alice, Queen Victoria's youngest daughter. ? She starts to feel a bit sleepy, but is suddenly startled awake by a flash of light. She finds herself For the moment they’re enjoying life in Victorian England, underneath a sofa the present and staring into putting the future on the eyes of Princess Alice, who is just as startled as she isback burner.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848873700</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Robert Williams1786482126|title=Luke and Jon|rating=5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Luke's mum died in a car accident a while ago and since then his father has let things go. The house has been repossessed and they are forced to move to a new town. The new place is falling down - it's all they can afford after the debts were paid. Neither Luke nor his father are really that bothered - what can a house be when there's no mum to fill it with her brightness and vivacity and love? The bottle of whisky that has begun to live in his father's hand though - that's a worry for Luke; that makes him feel rather sick inside. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571249639</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewJanus Stone (Dr Ruth Galloway)|author=Melanie Rose|title=Coming HomeElly Griffiths
|rating=4.5
|genre=Women's FictionCrime|summary=We meet Builders were demolishing an old house in Norwich - the site was going to hold seventy-five 'luxury' apartments - when they discovered the narrator bones of this story drinking coffee from a thermos in child beneath a lay-by, on a cold grey daydoorway. All her worldly possessions are travelling with her in her car, including her cat There was no skull. She has clearly made some momentous decisionWas this a ritual killing or murder? Inevitably, and is on her way to somewhere newDr Ruth Galloway finds herself working with DCI Harry Nelson. I assumed that It's difficult as story unfoldedRuth knows, Ibut Nelson doesn'd learn more about her and where t, that she was going.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847561063</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=P C Cast|title=Divine by Choice (Goddess is pregnant with his child as a result of Partholon)|rating=3|genre=Fantasy|summary=A few the one night they spent together some three months after the Formorian warago. Her condition will be obvious before long, Shannon Parker not least because Ruth is living the high life. Hailed as Goddess Incarnate, married to a man (well, centaur) who was born prone to love her, carrying her first child, the next daughter sudden bouts of Epona and royally spoiled with amazing jewels and clothes, life really can't get much bettersickness.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0778303586</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stephanie Tillotson0008551324|title=Cut on the BiasThe Devil You Know (D S Max Craigie)|author=Neil Lancaster
|rating=4.5
|genre=Short StoriesCrime|summary=If It's unusual 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'Cut on s prepared to tell the Bias'' police where the body of a missing person is in your local bookshopburied and who was responsible for her death. This person, he promises, you is someone big and it will surely be won over by worth the feisty coverpolice doing what he wants. Stories about women And what he wants is to be transferred to an open prison to serve the remainder of his sentence and their clothes are about identityto get an early parole date. Not much to ask, is it? The new Deputy Police Constable doesn't think so what better start and she's even prepared to a set of short stories than a fashion statement cover featuring do the bags in which said clothes arrive home?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906784132</amazonuk>other thing that Hardie demanded - make certain that DS Max Craigie and anyone who works with him is kept well away from what's happening.
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Nick Hornby0008405026|title=Juliet, NakedA Stranger in the Family (Maeve Kerrigan 11)|author=Jane Casey
|rating=5
|genre=General FictionCrime|summary=A clever, comic delight, pitchIt's sixteen years since nine-year-perfectold Rosalie Marshall disappeared from her bed one summer night. She was never found and the investigation ground to a halt. Now, astutely observedher mother, particularly insightfulHelena, must-readand her father are dead in their bed. Crumbs. Whatever else is Initially, it looks like a straightforward murder/suicide but there to say about Nick Hornby's latest book something about the positioning of the bodies that isn't already plastered on this newlymakes DS Maeve Kerrigan and her boss DI Josh Derwent suspicious. What looked as though it was going to be an open-and-published paperback edition? shut case is now a complex double murder. I can only report Kerrigan is convinced that the explanation lies in Rosalie's disappearance: others (such as Derwent'Juliets 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 his upper-class friends, Robert and Stanza. Robert's a 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'Nakeds position would stay away from Stanza or tell Edward that a relationship had begun between them but he'' bowled me over with yet another Hornby strikes not like most men: Edward is left to stumble upon the two of them kissing in a dark passageway.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141020644</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Joanne OwenJo Callaghan|title=The Alchemist and the AngelLeave No Trace
|rating=4
|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=When Jan's parents die of the plague, he a man is sent to found crucified on the great city top of Vienna to live with his aunt and uncle. His uncle is a distinguished alchemisthill in Nuneaton, andDCS Kat Frank finds herself assigned to the case alongside her sidekick, hoping to take the boyAI detective Lock. It's mind off his grieftheir first live case together, hires him as his apprentice. Jan loves the work, learns quickly, and soon the two of them are on the verge of perfecting a serum said to bring the dead back to lifehaving previously been very successful with several cold cases. But then his uncle when there is a second body found deadcrucified a few days later, Kat is suddenly struggling with a potential serial killer and Jan is being whisked off a very high profile case that draws a lot of unwanted attention to Prague by his vain and calculating aunttheir AI Future Policing project. She has her own plans for Will they be able to solve the serumcase in time, or will Kat find herself taken off the case and she will stop at nothing to accomplish them., potentially, out of a career?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444001507</amazonuk>139851120X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Tom Connolly1399613073|title=The Spider TrucesMoral Injuries|author=Christie Watson
|rating=4.5
|genre=Literary FictionThrillers|summary=The title Olivia, Laura and Anjali met on the first day of medical school and their friendship would keep them inseparable for a quarter of this debut novel by Tom Connolly a century. Olivia is enigmaticruthlessly ambitious, mysterious. It draws the reader in - just like which is a fly bonus when you aim to be a spider's webcardiothoracic surgeon. And in fairness 'The Spider Truces' does exactly what it say on the tin as the main character, Ellis, Laura is obsessed a perfectionist and terrified in equal measure, of spidersa trauma doctor. ... and when you live in an old house, as Anjali is the O'Rourke family does, there are plenty free spirit of spiders the group and other creepy crawlies about.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0956251528</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=William Hussey|title=Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=Jake is she becomes a rather solitary personGP. He When we first meet them they's bright but bored by school re at a drug and alcohol-fuelled party and heit's obsessed with horror comicsgoing to end in tragedy. We don't know who suffered the tragedy or the consequences. He owns Twenty-five years later there will be an amazing collection and he knows all eerily similar event that will impact the stories and myths and folklores off by heartthree friends. Little does he realise that everything he reads about is real This time, and the Demontide is almost upon himit's their teenage children who are involved. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192731904</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mary Yukari Waters0241636604|title=The FavoritesTrading Game: A Confession|author=Gary Stevenson
|rating=4.5
|genre=Literary FictionAutobiography|summary=This story is set If you were to bring up an image of a city banker in Kyotoyour mind, Japan, starting in June 1978you're unlikely to think of someone like Gary Stevenson. Fourteen year old Sarah Rexford A hoodie and her Japanese motherjeans replaces the pin-stripe suit and his background is the East End, Yokowhere he was familiar with violence, have come back from the US to stay with family for a few weekspoverty and injustice. Sarah There was born and brought up in Japan no posh public school on his CV - but has lived in he had been to the US with her mother and white American father for five yearsLondon School of Economics. She Stevenson is very conscious bright - extremely bright - and he has a facility with numbers which most of the differences between life in Kyoto and in Fielder's Butte, Californiaus can only envy. He also realised that most rich people expect poor people to be stupid. Here in Kyoto It was his ability at what was, the womenessentially, including Sarah and her mum, go shopping every day for food, and the food is very different – in a card game which got him an opening sceneinternship with Citibank. Eventually, Sarah is trying to explain to her grandfather what she normally has for breakfast in the US, and becoming aware of the gulf between her life in Japan and in Californiathis turned into permanent employment as a trader.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847392334</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Laura Powell1035021803|title=The Master of MisruleAntique Hunter's Guide to Murder|author=C L Miller|rating=43.5|genre=TeensCrime|summary=In It's twenty years since Freya Lockwood has been back to the ArcanumEnglish country village where she grew up. She's back now because of a request for help from her beloved aunt, fortunes could be won and lostCarole. The bizarre otherworldFreya's former mentor and Carole's close friend, Arthur Crockleford, just is dead and the slightest shift away from our owncircumstances seem suspicious, had been home to a life-altering game of chance, power and intelligence, based on say the tarotleast. Four teenaged Londoners Arthur was the reason why Freya had not been witness back to thisthe village: Arthur, then playersshe feels, let her down badly. But Even though they'd found it wantingwere in business together as antique hunters, and she has not felt able to level be near the playing field, had thrown out man or pursue the rulebookprofession she loved. With thatAfter the split, howevershe worked in a cafe, met and married James (on the referee is no more, and rebound from the Lord love of Misrule is in charge. Freeher life, too, to smother all of Britain with his unique brand of scratch-card lotterywho was murdered) and Freya and James have now divorced. Soon all humanity might be out of luck.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408302373</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=Rose TremainSunny Singh|title=TrespassHotel Arcadia|rating=43.5|genre=Literary FictionThrillers |summary=Set 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 hills of Southern Franceterrorists who are rampaging through, killing everyone on site, Trespass there is Sam, a novel about sibling love wartime photographer and rivalryAbhi, disputed territory and ultimately revengethe hotel manager. In As Abhi continues to try to care remotely for the French corner residents who are Aramon Lunel, resident of the Mas Lunel, and his sister Audrun who lives in a cottage still alive in the grounds. In the English corner are Victoria Vereyhotel, he forms a garden designerbond with Sam who refuses to be cowed by events, and keeps on venturing out of her partner, an untalented watercolourist, Kittyroom to try to capture what's happened through her photography. The catalyst that brings these together is Although they only ever talk over the arrival in France of Anthony Vereyphone, Victoria's sister whose exclusive antiques business in London is failing their friendship grows as Abhi tries to help her keep safe and who decides to follow his sister in finding a new life in France. Aramon is tempted they both wait to sell his family Mas by the lure of 'foreign' money even see if that means that his sister's house has to they will be destroyed to secure rescued before they are discovered by the dealterrorists.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0701177942</amazonuk>086154742X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Philip Ardagh1529153298|title=The Wrong End List of the Dog (Grubtown Tales)Suspicious Things|author=Jennie Godfrey|rating=4.5|genre=Confident ReadersGeneral Fiction|summary=If you havenIt't been to Grubtown befores 1979 and Margaret Thatcher is Prime Minister. (A woman? I mean, then feel welcomehonestly.. .) ItShe's not what's worrying Miv's an auspicious day for the town of grubby and inept people with names like Rambo Sanskritfamily, though. Women have been disappearing. Well, and Mango Claptrapthey've been murdered, as wellbut to have 'disappeared' doesn't sound quite so frightening. For today is Miv's upset because she's overheard that her father wants to move the day of film star Tawdrey Hipbonefamily 'Down South's gala charity premiere. But thereWhen you's to be no galare from Yorkshire, and little charity eitherDown South is a frightening, when a pelican (and not the town mascot eitherforeign place, but a different one) comes and steals - yesbest avoided. For Miv, steals - the beloved dog Snooks - yesmove would mean leaving her best friend, Sharon, Snooks - from where he was living and she'll do anything to prevent that. She's not worried about the fine life in Tawdreydangers or that her Mum's hair stopped talking - yes, hairto anyone.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>057124792X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Christi Phillips 1398524085|title=The Devlin DiaryHas Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?|author=Nicci French|rating=35|genre=Historical FictionCrime|summary=It 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 1672 not. Shortly afterwards, Etty and Hannah DevlinGreg, find the body of Greg's father, Duncan Ackerley, a young widow with a skill in the river. It was an easy assumption for (illegally) practicing medicine finds herself being all 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 kidnapped by King Charles IIthere's advisors little else they can do but get on with their lives and forced to use her skills to treat his mistress, Louise de Kerouallewonder about what really happened.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847393489</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Pauline Fisk1035906708|title=In the TreesDiva|author=Daisy Goodwin
|rating=4.5
|genre=TeensGeneral Fiction|summary=Since his mother diedWe tend to think of Maria Callas as Greek, Kid has been staying with Nadine and flipping burgers but she was born to Greek parents in a fast food joint after school. It's not an exciting lifeManhattan, New York, but he isn't unhappy. And then Nadine gets a boyfriend in December 1923 and the flat gets rather crampedonly moved to Athens when she was thirteen. And then a box of his mother's possessions arrives. Inside, he finds a photo of the Her original surname was Kalogeropoulos but her father hechanged it to 's never met and a copy of his birth certificate, which tells him that his father comes from Belize. And suddenly, Kid makes a decision. HeCallas's going nowhere fast to make it more manageable in London, so he's going to head out to Belize and find the man States. When she was back in Athens - supposedly so that she could get appropriate training for her voice - she was raised under the photo. He's on Nazi occupation by a plane within daysmother who mercilessly exploited her and made no secret of her preference for her elder sister, Jackie. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571236200</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=David GrimstoneChristopher Edge|title=Gladiator Boy vs The Living DeadBlack Hole Cinema Club|rating=2.54
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=[[A Hero's Quest (Gladiator Boy) by David Grimstone|A Hero's Quest]] introduced us to Decimus Rex. This seventh book Lucas and his friends are all booked in for a movie marathon at their local cinema, a place that has the overall nickname of 'The Black Hole'Gladiator Boy. All big movie fans, they'' series (re looking forward to lots of exciting films, and start of a many, many snacks! However, as the movie starts, they very quickly realise that something about this new sub-series of 6) begins with our hero, Decimus Rexfilm format is very different, and his friends all having received messages they are swept up into an adventure they couldn't even imagine. But as they lurch from their former ally Teo. I say former because one film genre to the next, can they all thought Teo was dead. They're all hoping against hope that Teo figure out what on earth is really alivegoing on? Will they ever get back to the cinema, but there's a nagging doubt that and to their nemesis Slavious Doom is setting a trap for them...real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0340989270</amazonuk>1839942738
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Rachel Greenlaw
|title=Compass and Blade
|rating=3.5
|genre=Teens
|summary=''I can hear the song of the sea. The call of the deep, the answering beat in my heart.''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Gene KempJames Sherwood Metts|title=No Way OutPlanet Storyland|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Alex Things have been a bit sticky for the Earthlings. AI and Adam are twinsautomation have been proceeding apace, and often replacing jobs they're telepathic paid to boot. They're very close, but are also like chalk do and cheese: Adam's looking forward other tasks that took time to their holiday on Uncle Ben and Aunt Sadie's farm, but Alex can't think of anything worseaccomplish. Adam is always happy Just as they were beginning to read get used to their little sister Emmy, but Alex resents the attention she gets (she's disabled, y'see). By all this technological change and large, they're just ordinary kidsstarting to think of other, with ordinary grumbles. When the car they're in goes through thick fog and crashes, they find themselves in a town from times past, with inhabitants who don't want new ways to let them leavespend time, and who have along came an eye on Emmyawful pandemic.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571244556</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Allan Manham Life was pretty much shut down and Penny Dann|title=The Giant Carrot|rating=4|genre=For Sharing|summary=Jack is quite the gardener. All his hard work means his vegetable patch is awash , along with lucious veggies. One dayit, he decides to pull up some carrots and make soup, but all the biggest carrot just wouldn't budge. He's going to have to get some chums to help himmany daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1843625911</amazonuk>1736128426
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Castle FreemanMatthew Tree|title=All That I HaveWe'll Never Know
|rating=4.5
|genre=Literary Fiction
|summary=Castle Freeman may sound like two thirds Timothy Wyndham wants nothing more than to be different from his father, a drunk and chronic underachiever whose dreams of a firm being exceptional at any of provincial solicitors but thankfully this Castle Freeman is a man very skilled in writing about the law rather than practicing it. In his latest novel Freeman tells an intriguing tale involving local Sheriff Lucian Wing artistic passions all failed miserably and his practical yet low-key approach to maintaining order in rural Vermontwho had endless crises of self confidence. Not for Wing the gung ho approach So Tim applied himself to fighting crime. He doesn't wear a uniformhis studies, he drives a battered old car cultivated his abilities rather than the standard issue sheriff's wagon and his gun, so ubiquitous in US law enforcement, is safely tucked away in his bottom drawer. Everyone in the area knows the sheriff daydreams and by and large they respect him and his slightly unorthodox way of doing businessset himself high but achievable ambitions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0715639021</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.''
Within a remote mountain pass, far away from the world, lies Silverton; a town under the protection of the Briar's, a family of witches who protect the town and the wider world from the Darklands. Though she has always wished for magic, Ellie Briar is the first non-witch to be born into her family for generations and as such since she was young, her training as a steward revolved around letters and administration rather than spells and potions. When her grandmother suddenly dies, Ellie's cousin Audra becomes the Briar Witch, the town's leader, and Ellie takes her place beside her. As challenges come her way left, right and centre, Ellie uncovers the rare ability to communicate with the dead, putting her at the heart of a maelstrom of chaos. Reeling from one family secret to another, Ellie must decide who to trust and determine what to do as the Briar witches' legacy, everything they have sacrificed to survive, is under threat.|isbn=1803364548}}{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Dan Rhodes1529900360|title=Little Hands ClappingThe Ghost Orchid|author=Jonathan Kellerman|rating=4.5|genre=General FictionCrime|summary=The first character to mention in this book is a moth. Ithadn't been Lt Milo Sturgis's a human mothfault that Alex Delaware had been badly injured but he felt responsible and even after Alex recovered, drawn 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 flame that is help of a museum of suicide - psychologist only worked for a supposedly cautionarywhile. Finally, life-affirmingit was Robin, memento moriDelaware's partner, somewhere in Germanywho nudged Milo into asking for help again. She knew that the involvement was something that the man she loved needed. Its curator is an old hand at lonelyThe next case did look simple, unloved museums, fresh from an art gallery though. Two lovers were murdered in an airport - it didn't take off - who notices the noise swimming pool of a remote property in Bel Air. He was the latest suicide heir to happen in the museum, an Italian shoe empire and goes right back she is married to sleepan extremely rich man and it's not the Italian. A spider crawls into his mouth and gets eaten.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847675298</amazonuk>But which of them was the primary target?
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Lindsey Leavitt1529395224|title=Princess for HireLetting the Cat Out of the Bag: The Secret Life of a Vet|author=Sion Rowlands
|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident ReadersAnimals and Wildlife|summary=Desi is not the happiest of teenagers, although when are teenage girls ever actually happy? Anyway, her ex-best friend Celeste is doing everything possible to humiliate and alienate her from their friends, and to top it all off Celeste is also dating the boy Desi has a huge crush on, HaydenSiôn Rowlands fell into veterinary science accidentally. (He is perhaps His father was a dubious prospect for Desi since he canGP and Rowlands didn't even get her name right). Stillwant to follow in his footsteps, she has landed herself summer job working for a pet store and although it involves particularly when he considered the strain that being dressed in a furry groundhog costume at least noon-one can tell itcall put on his father's her in therelife. Well, not until Celeste comes along When he was seventeen he took the opportunity of doing work experience with a family friend who was a vet and unmasks herwas convinced this was the job for him. In front of HaydenBefore long, he was at Liverpool University. Desi finds herself feeling more and more like vapour every day, that she doesnIt hadn't matter or almost doesn't exist- as with so many students - been his dream since he was a child. Cue the fairy-godmother style entrance of MeredithIf anything, an agent for Facade which is he'd wanted to be a magical company that offer jobs to teens with magical potential to work as substitute princessesprofessional footballer...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140524612X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Giles Andreae and David Wojtowycz0861541774|title=Commotion In The OceanA Nye of Pheasants|author=Steve Burrows
|rating=4
|genre=For SharingCrime|summary=ThereDCI Domenic Jejeune's close friend and former colleague, Danny Maik, has taken a commotion short holiday in the ocean: the dolphins are squeakingSingapore to meet up with an old ally, the jellyfish are jiggling, and the lobsters are clippettyGuy Trueman. Maik was involved in a street brawl -clapping snippetyhe would later maintain that he was facing a man armed with a knife -snappingand he killed a Ghurka. Animal by animal Initially, Giles Andreae (best-known for [[Giraffes Can't Dance Magnet Book by Giles Andreae he faced a charge of manslaughter but evidence came to light that suggested that he might have planned to murder the man. Now he could be facing the death penalty. Domenic Jejeune can do nothing to help as any interference from another police force could provoke a diplomatic incident and Guy Parker-Rees|Giraffes Canwouldn't Dance]]) takes us through the underwater adventures, with short, snappy poemshelp Danny at all.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408308452</amazonuk>
}}
|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Although Robin Cook The Perfect Passion Company is a 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 written many booksasked her younger cousin Katie if she could come and look after the business, ''Intervention'' as Ness is the first one that I have read - I'm planning to take a trip to Canada to get away for a Robin Cook 'virginwhile.' This Katie is coming out of a big book in many respectsbreak up with a bad boyfriend, and so jumps at the chance to come home to Edinburgh. It's a classicAnd so begins this new story from Alexander McCall Smith, glossy 'coffee table' edition; it's a bigbringing us to an Edinburgh we already love, satisfying read thanks to 44 Scotland Street and it's the Isabel Dalhousie novels, but with some new characters who quickly begin to charm. Katie has no experience in running a multi-layered book business, or in that it covers many currentmatch-day topics which have their roots making, but Ness has full confidence in history. In facther abilities, this book is so multi-dimensional thatand there's always her very helpful (and rather handsome) neighbour, you could argueWilliam, there are several books within this book.to lend a hand…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0230743633</amazonuk>1846976596
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Victoria Forester0811771741|title=The Girl Who Could FlyInstaKnits for Baby|author=Melissa Leapman
|rating=4
|genre=Confident ReadersCrafts|summary=Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you could fly? Melissa Leapman's ''InstaKnits for Baby'' gives us a collection of knits from toys to blankets. It would Some will be such a wonderful sensation, soaring through quick knits - others are of the air'long, looping cosy afternoons in front of the loop, swooping down over your house and gardenfire' variety. But have you also stopped to think what other people might think if they saw that you could fly whilst no one else could? Would children still want to be your friend? What would your family think? The little girl in this story, Piper McCloud, can fly. She lives on her parents farm and was always a little, well, unusual, and after her mum found her floating in projects are divided by the air one day when she was a baby she decided time they'll take to home school Pipercomplete - less than five hours, rather than expose her five to the gossips in the village. But one day, at the village picnicten hours, Piper flies during the baseball match as she tries ten to catch the ball, twenty hours and suddenly her whole life is turned upside down...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330512536</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=P C Cast|title=Divine by Mistake (Goddess of Partholon)|rating=3.5|genre=Fantasy|summary=Shannon Parker, broke Oklahoma English teacher, likes a good bargain hunt at an auction. But she gets more than her money's worth when she buys a vase with her likeness painted on ittwenty hours. Somehow transported to All the magical world of Partholonprojects are attractive, Shannon finds herself in the shoes of Rhiannon, her mirror doublemodern and useable. Along with Rhiannon I perhaps show my age when I wonder about 's station as Goddess Incarnate, Shannon finds herself landed with her doublesocial-media-worthy projects' but that's less than enviable reputation and a Centaur husbandme being picky.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0778303578</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jon MayhewDean Koontz|title=MortlockThe Bad Weather Friend
|rating=4.5
|genre=TeensParanormal|summary=AbyssiniaBenny is having a terrifically bad day. He loses his job, 1820he loses his fiancee, and his house gets trashed. Three Englishment search for the Amarant Oh, a mythical flower with the power over life and death, in someone has delivered a strange desert oasis. On finding the flower surrounded by decaying facesreally weird, they realize that it is curseddisturbing coffin-sized object to his home, and take a blood oath never to remove it. London, 1854. 13 year old knife thrower Josie performs with her guardian 's possible that whoever or whatever was inside is the Great Cardamomthing that has trashed his house! The thing is, an especially gifted magician who we quickly learn Benny is Chrimes, the coward of the original three Englishmenvery last person to deserve all this bad luck. Their relatively peaceful existence He is shattered when three macabre Aunts (note a nice person. A really nice person. So fortunately for Benny it turns out that the capital letterdelivery to his house is a new friend, never a bad weather friend called Spike, who has been sent to help him since Benny is clearly under attack from nefarious forces for being a good sign…) descend on themperson. Spike is going to take care of Benny, and Cardamom instructs Josiewill certainly take care of Benny's enemies, if he, with his dying breathBenny, to find the twin brother heand Harper (a waitress slash Private Investigator who finds herself roped into Benny'd never told her about and destroy the Amarants wild adventure) can figure out who exactly they are.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408803925</amazonuk>1662500491
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Carole White and Sian WilliamsAdam Stower|title=Struggle or StarveMurray and Bun
|rating=4.5
|genre=AutobiographyConfident Readers |summary=Struggle or Starve Murray is supposed to be a collection 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 autobiographical writings about girlsthe two. But he' and womens a bad magician's lives in South Wales between cat, so his favourite bun has been turned into a hyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, and the catflap they both use can chuck them out, not into the warsregular back garden, but into a world of frightening adventure and whiffs. This is time round it drops them into a new edition of Viking land, where a book first published in 1998 by Honnotroll hunter is expected – well, one much bigger than Murray was, an independent publisher set up to encourage Welsh women writers. Most of the contributors in this book came from minersbe honest, but he' families and grew s turned up in real poverty and economic insecurity.he'll have to do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906784094</amazonuk>0008561249
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{{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.
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sarah Dessen1529431735|title=Along for the RideThe Winter Visitor|author=James Henry|rating=4.5|genre=TeensCrime|summary=Auden has always felt like the odd one out amongst her peers. Her parents - now divorced - are both academics It's February 1991 and high achieversEssex is bitingly cold, and they, especially her mother, want which made Bruce Hopkins' return all the same for Audenmore surprising. Auden He's older brother is d been exiled on the rebel and so Auden feels Costa del Sol as though she needs to be the one who satisfies her mothera wanted drug smuggler for a decade. The return has come about because he's ambition. So she works hard and never lets her diligence or conscientiousness slip for even had a moment. But letter from his ex-wife, saying that she's socially awkward ill and lacking in experiencehasn't long to live. She It's never had hard to feel any sympathy when Hopkins is abducted, stripped to his underwear and sent to a boyfriend, hates watery grave in the colour pink and can't even ride boot of a bikestolen Ford Sierra. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141327480</amazonuk> Is it a warning from a Spanish gang or a problem closer to home?
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Caroline Moorehead Alex Bell and Tim McDonagh|title=Dancing to the Precipice : Lucie De La Tour Du Pin and the French RevolutionThe Glorious Race of Magical Beasts
|rating=4
|genre=HistoryConfident Readers|summary=Two hundred years agoEli is a busy lad – by day an apprentice in the wondrous library we start by visiting with him, with and in the fall of evening a helper at the monarchy dessert cafe his gran owns and runs. Eli lives with his lovely gran, too – for there is a generation missing in the Napoleonic wars, France underwent one cataclysmic change after anotherfamily. There A few short years ago, Eli's parents were many who witnessed and experienced both lost to the volatile age at first handtitular race, a globe-trotting adventure where all entrants have to navigate the world in the company of a magical beast. This has made the race anathema to the pair – but few left when a more detailed record than bad incident at the subject of this biographyeatery leads to a confession from gran, Lucie-Henriette DillonEli knows his only hope is to dare to enter what he most hates, Marquise Marchioness de La Tour du Pinwith the sole aim the prize of magic at the end – the only thing to possibly save his gran.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099490528</amazonuk>0571382231
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