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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, books for the home. They're sometimes our own books or books from the local library. They're often & self-published 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 plus author [[:Category:Interviews|interviews]], and all sorts of [[:Category:Lists|& top tens]] - all of which you can find on our [[Features]] page.</metadesc>

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{{newreview|author=Nigel McCrery|title=Core of Evil|ratingThe Best New Books=4|genre=Crime|summary=Violet Chambers becomes Daisy Wilson through an aromatic cup of tea, flavoured with Christmas roses.

'"There are all kinds of horrible things in the Christmas rose," she said, watching to see whether Daisy could still hear her. "Helleborin and hellebrin are both like digitalis, which I've also used before, but there's saporin and protoanemonin as wellRead [[:Category:New Reviews|new reviews by category]]. It's a very nasty cocktail."''<br>

And now Daisy has met her rather sticky - and graphically effluent - end, and Violet has become Daisy, Daisy sets her sights on a new town, a new identity and, most importantly, a new victim. Daisy has problems with her memory - the identities go back so far that sometimes she can barely remember who is she is now, let alone all the whos she's been before, and most certainly not ''Read [[:Category:Features|the who with whom she beganlatest features]]. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847243843</amazonuk>}}'''

'''Read [[Forthcoming Publications|reviews of books about to be published]].{{newreviewFrontpage|author=John Van der KisteTom Percival|title=Jonathan Wild: Conman and CutpurseThe Wrong Shoes|rating=45|genre=HistoryConfident Readers|summary=Born towards the end of the seventeenth century Jonathan Wild was to become the eighteenth centuryWill's most famous criminallife is difficult, plying his trade in a rather curious fashionmultitude of ways. He was born in Wolverhampton of parents described as is bullied because he has 'the wrong shoes', he has the wrong shoes because his dad can'mean but honestt work and doesn't have enough money for even the most basic of things like food, and his dad can't work because he lost his job at the college, was working a cash-in-hand job on a building site and had an accident. It seems likely Throw into that he first travelled to London as mix the servant of a lawyer where he was eventually to settlefact that his mum and dad are separated, leaving his wife and child to fend for themselvesWill's life seems bleak in every direction. It was whilst serving And yet, he still has a term tiny amount of imprisonment in Wood Street Compter that he mixed with hope. He is good at art, and clings to the cream moments of London's criminal underclass and learned joy when he is drawing, that feel like a light at the rudiments end of his tradea long, dark tunnel.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848682190</amazonuk>1398527122

  {{newreviewFrontpage|author=K M GrantSylvie Cathrall|title=Paradise Red (Perfect Fire Trilogy)A Letter to the Luminous Deep

|genre=TeensScience Fiction|summary=We There are back in the south of France for the third and final time. In one corner, the 'French', with King Louis and his henchmen rampaging through, warring in the name of peace. In another corner, the local people, struggling in the harsh environment and none too pleased few greater joys than a book which lives up to see their corner of the world the location for religious wars, with the Cathar ''heretics'' also presenta compelling premise. The lines are drawn, in a realistically convoluted way, and And this book will see one of our heroes cross is one such line, just as other people make their own momentous decisions. It will take all the narrative skills of the land itself to get the story across to usthem.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847247075</amazonuk>0356522776

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Camilla Noli0008517061|title=The Mother's TaleDeath in a Lonely Place|author=Stig Abell

|genre=Women's FictionCrime|summary=''It is early eveningFormer Metropolitan Police detective, Jake Johnson, has settled into his rustic life at Little Sky. I am suckling my infant son… We are picture perfect. Madonna and child''.  No doubt There’s perhaps a little uncertainty about it: a new mother totally smitten the future of his life with his vet girlfriend, Livia and her son. Zach is adorable. Quiet. Undemanding. A happydaughter Diana, generally relaxed, child. Gorgeous.  But Zach isn't her firstas moving in together would mean a lot of compromise: does Jake give up his off-born. First there was Cassie. A child who entered the world screaming grid and has since learned exactly what power she can wring relaxing life to move in with such lungs. Not yet two years old, Cassie adores Livia or does Livia move to Little Sky despite her father, but even him reservations about whether or not this is the future she manipulates. wants for herself and her daughter? Her mother she terrorisesFor the moment they’re enjoying life in the present and putting the future on the back burner.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1409101584</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=AQA 633361786482126|title=More Brilliant AnswersThe Janus Stone (Dr Ruth Galloway)|author=Elly Griffiths|rating=4.5|genre=TriviaCrime|summary=If youBuilders were demolishing an old house in Norwich - the site was going to hold seventy-five 've got luxury' apartments - when they discovered the bones of a question you can text those nice people at AQA 63336 and they'll do their best to provide you with child beneath a prompt and accurate answerdoorway. Over the last five years they've answered some twenty million questions and each autumn they publish There was no skull. Was this a book ritual killing or murder? Inevitably, Dr Ruth Galloway finds herself working with the best and most interesting of the year's answersDCI Harry Nelson. ThereIt's difficult as Ruth knows, but Nelson doesn't, that she is pregnant with his child as a result of the one night they spent together some fun three months ago. Her condition will be obvious before long, not least because Ruth is prone to be had in this year's booksudden bouts of sickness.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683262</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Patrick O'Brien0008551324|title=The Devil You Are The First Kid On MarsKnow (D S Max Craigie)|author=Neil Lancaster

|genre=For SharingCrime|summary=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's prepared to tell the police where the body of a sci-fi future of no danger whatsoevermissing person is buried and who was responsible for her death. This person, with no technological breakdownhe promises, is someone big and no fatal meteor strike, but that of course it will be worth the police doing what he wants. And what he wants is only to be expected for this markettransferred to an open prison to serve the remainder of his sentence and to get an early parole date. I say Not much to ask, is it more to highlight how well the book has been illustrated. ? Digital airbrush techniques The new Deputy Police Constable doesn't think so and more have taken she's even prepared to do the antiseptic sheen off the whole experience, but have still allowed for a great detail in the machinery, other thing that Hardie demanded - make certain that DS Max Craigie and also a lovely warmth in the face of the lad weanyone who works with him is kept well away from what're empathising withs happening.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0399246347</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mary Naylus0008405026|title=The DresskeeperA Stranger in the Family (Maeve Kerrigan 11)|author=Jane Casey|rating=45|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=Things are pretty grim for PickyIt's sixteen years since nine-year-old Rosalie Marshall disappeared from her bed one summer night. She is thirteen years old, being bullied at school, was never found and has the investigation ground to spend a halt. Now, her weekends helping her singlemother, Helena, working mum to take care of her little brother and her senile grandmotherfather are dead in their bed. One eveningInitially, at her Granit looks like a straightforward murder/suicide but there's house, she goes up into something about the positioning of the attic bodies that makes DS Maeve Kerrigan and tries on an old dress that she finds inside an old chesther boss DI Josh Derwent suspicious. The dress turns out What looked as though it was going to be magic, an open-and she suddenly finds herself back -shut case is now a complex double murder. Kerrigan is convinced that the explanation lies in 17th Century LondonRosalie's disappearance: others (such as Derwent's boss, struggling with 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 strange working-class young man who is calling her , obsessed with his upper-class friends, Robert and Stanza. Robert'Amelias a theatre director. He' s also self-obsessed, demanding, handsome and is trying entitled and uses Edward to kill herrun errands for him. Picky ends up embroiled Edward has been in Amelialove with Stanza since their university days - and he's 17th century life as she tries drunkenly confided how he feels to find out the truth of who Robert. Most men in Robert's position would stay away from Stanza or tell Edward that a relationship had begun between them but he's not like most men: Edward is attempting left to murder her, at stumble upon the same time as trying to avoid arousing suspicion with her strange behaviour whenever she returns to the present daytwo of them kissing in a dark passageway.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0956122280</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=John Abbott Nez Jo Callaghan|title=Cromwell Dixon's Sky-CycleLeave No Trace

|genre=For SharingCrime|summary=Meet Cromwell DixonWhen a man is found crucified on the top of a hill in Nuneaton, DCS Kat Frank finds herself assigned to the case alongside her sidekick, the AI detective Lock. HeIt's a real tinkerertheir first live case together, forever in a barn or somewhere building something manically unusualhaving previously been very successful with several cold cases. Luckily - although his long-suffering mother may disagree 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 word - he's around at the birth draws a lot of powered flightunwanted attention to their AI Future Policing project. Will his plans for they be able to solve the case in time, or will Kat find herself taken off the case and, potentially, out of a pedalled air machine workcareer?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0399250417</amazonuk>139851120X

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sue Moorcroft1399613073|title=Starting OverMoral Injuries|author=Christie Watson|rating=4.5|genre=Women's FictionThrillers|summary=The story opens when Tess bumps her old reliable car into Olivia, Laura and Anjali met on the first day of medical school and their friendship would keep them inseparable for a quarter of a breakdown truckcentury. That's rather convenient Olivia is ruthlessly ambitious, since she isn't hurt, and the guy driving it which is able a bonus when you aim to tow her to his garage, be a cardiothoracic surgeon. Laura is a perfectionist and then give her a lift to her new hometrauma doctor. Naturally, since this Anjali is the free spirit of the group and she becomes a GP. When we first meet them they'chickre at a drug and alcohol-lit' genre, Tess fuelled party and the truck-driver, who goes by the unlikely name of Ratty (an abbreviation of his surname) feel mutual antipathy of the sort thatit's clearly going to lead, sooner end in tragedy. We don't know who suffered the tragedy or the consequences. Twenty-five years laterthere will be an eerily similar event that will impact the three friends. This time, to strong attractionit's their teenage children who are involved.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906931224</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mary Beard0241636604|title=It's The Trading Game: A Don's LifeConfession|author=Gary Stevenson|rating=4.5|genre=LifestyleAutobiography|summary=Professor Mary Beard, feisty Cambridge classics don, keeps If you were to bring up an eye open for architectural detail wherever she goes. Even on holiday, she notices the changing urban landscape and records interesting parallels with ancient cities in her sparky blog. She is engaged image of a city banker in writing a detailed history of Pompeii and suddenly realisesyour mind, whilst perambulating the backstreets you're unlikely to think of the Mexican city of Oaxacan, that this is exactly what Pompeii must have been someone likeGary Stevenson. She observes A hoodie and jeans replaces the low rise shops, dirt tracks across dusty streets pin-stripe suit and his background is the close juxtaposition of rich and poor. Impressive portals of grand residential properties tower above humble workshopsEast End, where he was familiar with violence, poverty and this prompts her into imaginative reconstructioninjustice. In her blog, from which this intriguing book is culled, she tells us about just how Oaxacan encourages her There was no posh public school on his CV - but he had been to ponder again the curious cart ruts London School of PompeiiEconomics. She even finds walls splashed Stevenson is bright - extremely bright - and he has a facility with political slogans numbers which most of us can only envy. He also realised that are just like Roman ''dipinti''most rich people expect poor people to be stupid. Indeed It was his ability at what was, here in Mexicoessentially, the local library displays a card game which got him an edifying message in Spanish which originates in Cicero's speech in his Pro Archiainternship with Citibank. Eventually, ''Science and letters are the nourishment of youth and the diversion of old agethis turned into permanent employment as a trader.''|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846682517</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Kate Tremayne1035021803|title=The Loveday ConspiracyAntique Hunter's Guide to Murder|author=C L Miller|rating=43.5|genre=Historical FictionCrime|summary=Trevowan Manor It's twenty years since Freya Lockwood has been back to the home of the Loveday family for generationsEnglish country village where she grew up. It will still be owned by a Loveday but St John Loveday lost the house on the throw She's back now because of a dice before killing himself – and now his cousin Tristan has the houserequest for help from her beloved aunt, Carole. St JohnFreya's former mentor and Carole's twinclose friend, AdamArthur Crockleford, vows that he will punish is dead and the circumstances seem suspicious, to say the man responsibleleast. Amelia has Arthur was the reason why Freya had not been forced from Trevowan and is now living back to the village: Arthur, she feels, let her down badly. Even though they were in a cottage with business together as antique hunters, she has not felt able to be near the man or pursue the other dispossessed womenprofession she loved. As if this wasn't enough of After the split, she worked in a problemcafe, her son met and married James (on the rebound from the love of her first marriagelife, Richard, has become even more than wayward who was murdered) and Freya and Amelia is forced to make a difficult choiceJames have now divorced.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755347676</amazonuk>

{{newreview|author=Julian Barnes|title=Staring at the Sun|rating=4|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=JeanI've heard it said that 'technology' is what happens after you's first Incident involved Uncle Lesliere eighteen. Well, hyacinths and golf teesI must confess that there have been more than a few decades of technology in my lifetime. It I've kept up reasonably well with what's perhaps best forgotten, advantageous to me but Jean doesnI'm left with the feeling that it't forgets all getting away from me. Uncle Leslie figures large in her life Some of it is - frankly - mostly on the golf quite frightening. Of course - until , I could research the War comes possibilities and he runs away to America. He's replaced by Tommy Prosser, a grounded pilot who once saw the sun rise twice in one day probabilities and excites as many questions in Jean as he ever answers. Tommy is replaced by Michael, a policeman, whom Jean eventually marries. He doesnend up down rabbit holes without really understanding whether I't know why minks are excessively tenacious of life and he doesnm reading someone who knows what they't much care. But Jean doesre talking about or the latest conspiracy theorist. She cares much less for the Dutch cap that Michael sent her off to obtain before the wedding I needed people I knew I could trust and much less again for their rather disastrous adventures who could deliver information in the bedrooma way I could understand. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099540096</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Alexandra BruceSunny Singh|title=2012: Science or SuperstitionHotel Arcadia

|genre=Popular ScienceThrillers |summary=The fuss about 2012 Hotel Arcadia is a luxury hotel in an unnamed city that has not started just recentlysuddenly been violently taken over by a terrorist group. Hiding from the terrorists who are rampaging through, killing everyone on site, there is Sam, a wartime photographer and Abhi, the hotel manager. The first book As Abhi continues to try to feature care remotely for the residents who are still alive in the story was from hotel, he forms a Yale professorbond with Sam who refuses to be cowed by events, and keeps on venturing out of her room to try to capture what's happened through her photography. Although they only ever talk over the phone, 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 List of Suspicious 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, in 1966though. Women have been disappearing. WeWell, they've also had prog rock bands named after Popol Vuhbeen 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 Maya creation mythfamily 'Down South'. When you're from Yorkshire, Down South is a frightening, foreign place, best avoided. But as For Miv, the crunch date of December 21stmove would mean leaving her best friend, Sharon, 2012 - and she'll do anything to prevent that. She's not worried about the winter solstice dangers or that year her Mum's stopped talking - nears, itto anyone.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1398524085|title=Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?|author=Nicci French|rating=5|genre=Crime|summary=Charlotte Salter was expected at her husband's becoming a very big story indeedfiftieth birthday party but never turned up. Even though it sounds absurd 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 end body of a 5Greg's father, Duncan Ackerley,125-year long cycle of in the Maya calendar, which started on August 13th, 3114BCE - or river. It was judged an easy assumption for the police to start make that Duncan had murdered Charlie and then, committed suicide when they came across this concept a couple of thousand years into that period. Surely they he couldn't predict stand the future from their guilt. The Salter children are not convinced but there'primitive' state s little else they can do but get on with such accuracy?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1934708283</amazonuk>their lives and wonder about what really happened.

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jeff Kinney1035906708|title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog DaysDiva|author=Daisy Goodwin

|genre=Confident ReadersGeneral Fiction|summary=It is a truth universally acknowledged that school summer holidays are We tend to think of Maria Callas as Greek, but she was born to Greek parents in Manhattan, New York, in December 1923 and only enjoyable if you want moved to enjoy summerAthens when she was thirteen. Greg here doesnHer original surname was Kalogeropoulos but her father changed it to 'Callas't want to notice make it, and would prefer to spend his days curtains drawn, face glued to late night TV or a computer game, hand either clicking away at a controller or shovelling more manageable in snacksthe States. The last thing he needs, then, is his When she was back in Athens - supposedly so that she could get appropriate training for her voice - she was raised under the Nazi occupation by a mother, on a ''family togetherness'' trip, who mercilessly exploited her and on a budgetmade no secret of her preference for her elder sister, with bad ideas of what Greg should be doing insteadJackie.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141327650</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Rick YanceyChristopher Edge|title=The Monstrumologist: The Terror BeneathBlack Hole Cinema Club

|summary=In late 19th century AmericaLucas and his friends are all booked in for a movie marathon at their local cinema, young Will Henry a place that has been the apprentice nickname of the stern'The Black Hole'. All big movie fans, forbidding Dr Warthrop since the death they're looking forward to lots of his parentsexciting films, and many, many snacks! However, who were also employed by as the doctormovie starts, they very quickly realise that something about this new film format is very different, and they are swept up into an adventure they couldn't even imagine. The twelve year old boy has seen many things in his service But as they lurch from one film genre to the monstrumologist - a specialist in monsters - but nothing next, can prepare him for they figure out what on earth is going on? Will they ever get back to the fateful day when an elderly grave robber brings the doctor the twin corpses of a young girl cinema, and the headless creature with fangs in his chest who had tried to feast on her.their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>184738546X</amazonuk>1839942738

{{newreview|author=Stella Whitelaw|title=Midsummer Madness|rating=4|genre=WomenRosevear, a remote and partially forgotten island, survives on luring ships into the rocks and plundering the wrecks. Mira, like her mother before her, is one of the seven who swim out to survey the ruins – rescuing any survivors and any treasure that lies within. But when the Council Watch lays a trap to end the wrecking, they capture the island's Fiction|summary=Youleader and Mira'll like Sophie Greshams father. She wanted Desperate to be an actress but suffers save him from paralysing stage fright death, Mira makes a bargain with a wreck survivor who is as charming as he is secretive and when the side effects became too much for with only coordinates to guide her , she worked behind the scenes. She's sets off in search of a very good prompt despite the fact family secret that you need to wrap up very warmly to survive lies buried deep in the prompt corner she loves sea. With only nine days to unearth what might save her father, as her journey takes her job and most from the watched streets of foreign islands to the cast in heart of the theatre company. Itsmuggler's a bit of a shock though when she realises that the guest producer from New York is Joe Harrisonterritory, the man she helped out when he had Mira must be determined to stop at nothing to eat save the future of her home and nowhere to sleep. Sophie was a little softer in those days – in the meantime ones she's had to develop a protective shellholds most dear.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0709089147</amazonuk>0008664730

 {{newreview|author=Bonnie Greer|title=Obama Music|rating=3|genre=History|summary=This is an interesting read, but unless I'm missing something, the focus of the book seems a little difficult to grasp. It's best if I start with the author's intentions as set out in her Prologue. It is a mixture of tales of her own life growing up on the South Side, she writes, interspersed with stories and observations about Obama, linking it with the music, musicians and music scene, past and present, including hip hop, country, classical, and rock'n'roll. All of these, she notes, were heard on the President's Inauguration Day. To them she adds the blues, gospel, soul and jazz of the South Side, when the people began to build the great institutions and great solidarity that enabled him to become the most powerful man on the planet.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906558248</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=P J Parrish|title=Dead of Winter|rating=4|genre=Crime|summary=Loon Lake, Michigan is picture-postcard pretty – an idyll that sits serenely and snugly in the midst of a pine-peppered winter wonderland. Louis Kincaid needs a little serenity in his life and on arrival in Loon Lake he feels almost as if he has come home. Life has not been easy for Kincaid. A troubled, unhappy child of mixed race, passed around various institutions and foster homes, Louis figures that if he is going to put some integrity back into the world, he will need to wear a badge to do it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847391346</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Russell Celyn JonesJames Sherwood Metts|title=The Ninth Wave (New Stories from the Mabinogion) Planet Storyland

|genre=Literary FictionConfident Readers|summary=Pwyll rules Things have been a medieval-style fiefdom in a post-climate change Walesbit sticky for the Earthlings. Life is different in many ways - thereAI and automation have been proceeding apace, often replacing jobs they's a new-but-old social order built on feudalism re paid to do and other tasks that took time to accomplish. Just as they were beginning to get used to all this technological change and horsepower is the main means starting to think of transportother, new ways to spend time, along came an awful pandemic. But in many ways it's Life was pretty much the same - people still fight one anothershut down and, towns still have sink estatesalong with it, rich boys still have too much time all the many daily social interactions on their hands and precious little meaning in their liveswhich they depend so heavily. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1854115146</amazonuk>1736128426

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Owen SheersMatthew Tree|title=White Ravens (New Stories from the Mabinogion)We'll Never Know

|summary=In the old taleTimothy Wyndham wants nothing more than to be different from his father, Branwen is the sister a drunk and chronic underachiever whose dreams of Bendigeidfran - the giant King being exceptional at any of Britain. She marries the King of Ireland, who doesn't treat her well. She manages to send Bendigeidfran a message via a tamed starling his artistic passions all failed miserably and war and killings ensue. In this new tale, a young girl has just walked away from her brothers who, in the wake had endless crises of the devastating foot and mouth outbreak, are despoiling their heritage by rustling and illegally slaughtering sheepself confidence. She meets an old man who tells her a story involving the superstitions about the ravens in the Tower of London, propaganda work during World War IISo Tim applied himself to his studies, cultivated his abilities rather than his daydreams and an equally doomed love affairset himself high but achievable ambitions. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1854115030</amazonuk>B0CVFXPGP8

{{newreview|author=Jennifer Bohnet|title=Follow Your Star|rating=3.5|genre=WomenWithin a remote mountain pass, far away from the world, lies Silverton; a town under the protection of the Briar's Fiction|summary=It's three years since Nanette Weston left Monaco. She'd been engaged to , a Formula 1 racing driver family of witches who protect the town and had lived the life of wider world from the wealthy but a serious car accident had ended all thatDarklands. The accident could have killed Though she has always wished for magic, Ellie Briar is the first non-witch to be born into her fiancé family for generations and as such since she lost was young, her driving licence because of 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 alcohol she'd consumed. Her slow recovery was hindered by Briar Witch, the end of her engagement but shetown's found some contentment in being a nanny to two young childrenleader, and Ellie takes her place beside her. When As challenges come her friend way left, right and employercentre, VanessaEllie uncovers the rare ability to communicate with the dead, remarries putting her at the heart of a maelstrom of chaos. Reeling from one family secret to another, Ellie must decide who to trust and takes an extended honeymoon in the Amazon Nanette is asked determine what to take do as the children back Briar witches' legacy, everything they have sacrificed to Monaco where their father livessurvive, is under threat.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0709089090</amazonuk>1803364548

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=J R Stephenson1529900360|title=Crooked JusticeThe Ghost Orchid|author=Jonathan Kellerman|rating=2.54|genre=General FictionCrime|summary=Meet Barry Johns. YouIt hadn'll see him coming - het been Lt Milo Sturgis's five hundred pounds if fault that Alex Delaware had been badly injured but he's an ouncefelt responsible and even after Alex recovered, Sturgis was reluctant to ask for his help on difficult cases. Just don't ever lend him money His assertions that there were only open-and- he wonshut cases which didn't pay it back. A businessman with a share need the help of a nightclub on Cyprus, he goes there psychologist only worked for a customary breakwhile. Finally, and finds his sort-of moll-type sort-of girlfriend has been installed as it was Robin, Delaware's partner, who nudged Milo into asking for help again. She knew that the involvement was something that the bar dancerman she loved needed. He manages to tread both on The next case did look simple, though. Two lovers were murdered in the toes swimming pool of his local colleague and some Greek rivalsa remote property in Bel Air. And when a rival in London chases him up for thousands of pounds owed he decides He was the heir to an Italian shoe empire and she is married to pack up an extremely rich man and shut up. Itit's a big stone that hides him, but he leaves a very awkward trail for everyone wanting to upturn it and get their revengenot the Italian.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0955855713</amazonuk> But which of them was the primary target?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stephen Baker1529395224|title=They've Got Your NumberLetting the Cat Out of the Bag: The Secret Life of a Vet|author=Sion Rowlands|rating=43.5|genre=Popular ScienceAnimals and Wildlife|summary=If you are Siôn Rowlands fell into veterinary science accidentally. His father was a GP and Rowlands didn't want to follow in his footsteps, particularly when he considered the slightest bit paranoid, worry strain that being on-call put on his father''Big Brother'' is always watching or like to believe that you are not s life. When he was seventeen he took the opportunity of doing work experience with a number, but family friend who was a free man (or woman), then vet and was convinced this may not be was the book job for youhim. Before long, he was at Liverpool University. It hadn't - as it will do nothing to dispel any of those worrieswith so many students - been his dream since he was a child. Ifanything, on the other hand, you think 'the mathematical modelling of humanityhe' sounds like one of the sexiest things ever, and are chomping at the bit d wanted to learn more about it, then you might well be interested in what Business Week journalist Baker has to saya professional footballer.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099507021</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Rebecca Tope0861541774|title=Fear in the CotswoldsA Nye of Pheasants|author=Steve Burrows

|summary=Thea Osborne is a house sitter by profession. When people go away she moves into their homes and looks after their animals and the property. This time itDCI Domenic Jejeune's winter close friend and she's spending former colleague, Danny Maik, has taken a month short holiday in the Cotswold village of HampnettSingapore to meet up with an old ally, Guy Trueman. It wouldn't be Maik was involved in a street brawl - he would later maintain that he was facing a man armed with a job for all of us but Thea delights in getting to know the local people knife - and the areahe killed a Ghurka. In the past she's also been involved with the police in solving various cases Initially, he faced a charge of manslaughter but it looks as though evidence came to light that suggested that he might have come planned to an end as murder the relationship she had with DS Phil Hollis has crumbledman. For Now he could be facing the first time Thea feels like an outsider – and a foolish one - when she finds footsteps in the snow which lead to a body in a nearby fielddeath penalty. When the Domenic Jejeune can do nothing to help as any interference from another police finally arrive the body has disappeared force could provoke a diplomatic incident and the police obviously wonder if shewouldn's imagined it t help Danny at all.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749007478</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Tad TulejaAlexander McCall Smith|title=A Dictionary of Foreign Words and PhrasesThe Perfect Passion Company|rating=34.5|genre=Home and FamilyGeneral Fiction|summary=Take The Perfect Passion Company is a look at the cover design of this bookdating agency in Edinburgh, run by Ness and you'd be mistaken for thinking this was a trivia compendium for operating as an alternative to all those foreign words that have taken part the online apps in our English language since whenever they crossed over from their original homesproviding a more personal, tailored service. But Ness has asked her younger cousin Katie if she could come and look after the title business, as Ness is definitely honest, planning to take a trip to Canada to get away for this a while. Katie is coming out of a break up with a dictionary book firstbad boyfriend, for referenceand so jumps at the chance to come home to Edinburgh. And so begins this new story from Alexander McCall Smith, bringing us to an Edinburgh we already love, thanks to 44 Scotland Street and a browser for the trivia buff secondIsabel Dalhousie novels, but with some new characters who quickly begin to charm. Katie has no experience in running a business, or in match-making, but Ness has full confidence in her abilities, and there's always her very helpful (and rather handsome) neighbour, William, to lend a hand…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0709089562</amazonuk>1846976596

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Anne Rice0811771741|title=Angel TimeInstaKnits for Baby|author=Melissa Leapman|rating=2.54|genre=General FictionCrafts|summary=Toby OMelissa Leapman's 'Dare is an extremely efficient hit man with a passion 'InstaKnits for music, history and playing his beloved lute. HeBaby''s also something gives us a collection of a lost soul having turned his back on God many years agoknits from toys to blankets. One day while on a Some will be quick knits - others are of the 'joblong, cosy afternoons in front of the fire' he is visited variety. The projects are divided by an Angel who offers him a chance at redemption. Toby agrees to become the Angeltime they's human instrument ll take to complete - less than five hours, five to ten hours, ten to twenty hours and help save lives rather more than take themtwenty hours. All the projects are attractive, modern and useable. He is sent on an assignment to help a Jewish couple accused of murder in 13th Century England I perhaps show my age when I wonder about 'social-media-worthy projects' but that's me being picky.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701178140</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ian MortimerDean Koontz|title=1415: Henry V's Year of GloryThe Bad Weather Friend|rating=4.5|genre=HistoryParanormal|summary=The medievalBenny is having a terrifically bad day. He loses his job, he loses his fiancee, and his house gets trashed. Oh, and someone has delivered a really weird, in fact timedisturbing coffin-honouredsized object to his home, view of King Henry V as one of Englandand it's greatest heroes possible that whoever or whatever was propagated though not originated by Shakespeareinside is the thing that has trashed his house! The thing is, and again more recently Benny is the very last person to some extent by Olivier's portrayal in filmdeserve all this bad luck. He is a nice person. A really nice person. At least one historian So fortunately for Benny it turns out that the delivery to his house is a new friend, a bad weather friend called Spike, who has called been sent to help him since Benny is clearly under attack from nefarious forces for being a good person. Spike is going to take care of Benny, and will certainly take care of Benny's enemies, if he, Benny, and Harper (a waitress slash Private Investigator who finds herself roped into Benny'the greatest man that ever ruled England''s wild adventure) can figure out who exactly they are.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0224079921</amazonuk>1662500491

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Deborah GregoryAdam Stower|title=Dancing With The DeadMurray and Bun|rating=34.5|genre=Literary FictionConfident Readers |summary=I wanted Murray is supposed to be a humble, tidy and friendly cat, one who is able to read sleep and eat and eat and sleep and, well, whatever takes his fancy next of the two. But he's a bad magician'Dancing with s cat, so his favourite bun has been turned into a hyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, and the Dead''catflap they both use can chuck them out, because I'm interested in family history. The blurb on not into the regular back garden, but into a world of the book also mentioned Gill – our heroine of the piece frightening adventure and whiffs. This time round it drops them into a Viking land, where a troll hunter is expected – well, one much bigger than Murray was moving from Bristol (my current home) , to Lincolnshire (where I was born be honest, but he's turned up and brought up). I felt with all these links, the novel could not fail he'll have to interest me – but this was not the case.do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1904529305</amazonuk>0008561249

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Miss ReadB0C47LV1PC|title=Christmas at Thrush GreenFragility|author=Mosby Woods

|genre=Women's Literary Fiction|summary=Set in the rural village of Thrush GreenCan you make a ''Yo birthing person'' joke? And if you could, this book is the latest in a series surrounding familiar characters. There question should you make it? Or is the feisty Ella Bembridgequestion if you did, who would it land? The catch is finally having to admit that old age is creeping up as her eyesight failsthe answer for both could well be... Friends such as Dimity and Charles Henstock are concerned about her, but she refuses to accept any help. Albert Piggott has decided it's time to retire now that his wife, Nelly, is a successful cafe owner and can afford to take care of him! And relative newcomer Phil Hurst and her husband are arranging the local nativity play, despite a number of set-backsno. Will everything be in place for Christmas? And will independent Ella make a decision about her future?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1409101592</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Matt and Dave|title=Yuck's Robotic Bottom|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=It's concerned me for a while that itFragility's relatively easy to pick up early readers for girls – princesses' is set as the city of Portland, magic soft toysOregon, mermaids and pets abound – but there's a much smaller choice for boys. It's important too with early readers that cautiously begins to emerge from the content is ''interesting'' and reading becomes more than just something which you ''have'' to do at school and moves into being fun. Matt and Dave have found restrictions imposed during the answer in Yuck.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847382991</amazonuk>covid pandemic

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John E Smelcer1529431735|title=The Great DeathWinter Visitor|author=James Henry

|genre=General FictionCrime|summary=It'As Western Europeans settled Alaskas February 1991 and Essex is bitingly cold, they brought with them diseases against which made Bruce Hopkins' return all the indigenous people had no natural immunitymore surprising. At He'd been exiled on the beginning of the twentieth century, fully two thirds of all Alaska natives perished from Costa del Sol as a wanted drug smuggler for a pandemic of measles, smallpox, and influenzadecade. No community was spared. In most cases, half of a village The return has come about because he's population died within had a week. In some casesletter from his ex-wife, there were no survivors. It was the end of an ancient way of life. Natives still refer to the dreadful period as the Great Death.'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1842709194</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Maxine Barry|title=River Deep|rating=3.5|genre=Womensaying that she's Fiction|summary=Two young women both have a love of the Thames. Melisande Rayill and hasn's beloved hotel, the Ray of Sunshine is on the river bankt long to live. It's here that guests come who want hard to feel any sympathy when Hopkins is abducted, stripped to be pampered his underwear and looked after in the way that only the best hotels can do well, but when Wendell James checks in sent to the hotel it's not pampering he's looking for. He's buying a piece of land not far from the Ray of Sunshine and he's sussing out the competition. There's something personal watery grave in there too – if his new hotel means that the Ray boot of Sunshine goes under then that would be an added bonusa stolen Ford Sierra. There's just Is it a warning from a slight doubt in his mind when Spanish gang or a red-haired maid catches his eye.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709088930</amazonuk>}}problem closer to home?