132,625
edits
Changes
no edit summary
<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=Anthony Horowitz Tom Percival|title=Crocodile Tears (Alex Rider)The Wrong Shoes|rating=45
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Fans of Anthony HorowitzWill' Alex Rider series have had s life is difficult, in a two-year wait for this installment multitude of our young hero's escapades and they are not going to be disappointedways. He's fourteen year old now and not only is bullied because he being targeted by a hitmanhas 'the wrong shoes', hehas the wrong shoes because his dad can't work and doesn's also being pursued by a journalist who wants to tell t have enough money for even the nation all about the fact that MI6 are using one most basic of things like food, and his tender years to do their dirty work. The trouble is that he dad can't be positive that it work because he lost his job at the college, was working a sniper that caused the car he was cash-in to skid off -hand job on a Scottish road building site and land at the bottom of a Lochhad an accident. And MI6 don't seem all Throw into that bothered about mix the journalistfact that his mum and dad are separated, unlessand Will's life seems bleak in every direction. And yet, that he still has a tiny amount of hope. He isgood at art, Alex might be willing and clings to find some simple information from a GM crop research centrethe moments of joy when he is drawing, in which case they might be able to have that feel like a quiet word with light at the gentlemanend of a long, dark tunnel.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1406310484</amazonuk>1398527122
}}
{{Frontpage|author=Sylvie Cathrall|title=A Letter to the Luminous Deep|rating=5|genre=Science Fiction|summary= There are few greater joys than a book which lives up to a compelling premise. And this is one of them.|isbn= 0356522776}}{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Cathi Unsworth 0008517061|title=Bad Penny BluesDeath in a Lonely Place|author=Stig Abell
|rating=4
|genre=Crime
|summary=Step Former Metropolitan Police detective, Jake Johnson, has settled into the seedy underbelly of London on the cusp of the Swinging Sixtieshis rustic life at Little Sky. 'Bad Penny Blues' is the story of the hunt for There’s perhaps a brutal serial killer targeting prostitutes in little uncertainty about the west future of the cityhis life with his vet girlfriend, Livia and her daughter Diana, at the time as moving in together would mean a melting pot lot of immigrants from compromise: does Jake give up his off-grid and relaxing life to move in with Livia or does Livia move to Little Sky despite her reservations about whether or not this is the Caribbean future she wants for herself and Ireland, bohemian artists her daughter? For the moment they’re enjoying life in the present and media types, and even peers. Carnaby Street was just becoming putting the future on the fashion centre of London and a new decade promised exciting possibilitiesback burner.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846686784</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Celia Friedman 1786482126|title=The Wings of Wrath Janus Stone (The Magister TrilogyDr Ruth Galloway)|author=Elly Griffiths|rating=4.5|genre=FantasyCrime|summary=The first part of Celia FriedmanBuilders were demolishing an old house in Norwich - the site was going to hold seventy-five 's luxury''Magister'' trilogy apartments - when they discovered the bones of a child beneath a doorway. There was no skull. Was this a wonderfully dark piece of fantasyritual killing or murder? Inevitably, Dr Ruth Galloway finds herself working with DCI Harry Nelson. It contained some beasts you wouldn's difficult as Ruth knows, but Nelson doesn't be surprised to come across in , that she is pregnant with his child as a horror novel and stretched result of the idea of magic being a draining power to an interesting place psychologicallyone night they spent together some three months ago. The second partHer condition will be obvious before long, ''Wings of Wrath'' not least because Ruth is more prone to sudden bouts of a straight fantasy novel, lacking some of the horror elements that made the first part such a draw for me, but it's still a very good readsickness.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1841495336</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Bernard P Morgan and Rikin Parekh 0008551324|title=The LighthouseDevil You Know (D S Max Craigie)|author=Neil Lancaster|rating=24.5|genre=For SharingCrime|summary=Bob It's unusual for anyone from the lighthouse keeper tries Hardie family to warn approach the police. Neither side likes or has any respect for the village of Quark that thereother. But Davie Hardie is struggling in prison and he's prepared to tell the police where the body of a missing person is buried and who was responsible for her death. This person, he promises, is someone big storm on and it will be worth the waypolice doing what he wants. They don't listen And what he wants is to be transferred to an open prison to him, so Bob just sets about making preparations anyway. When the storm comes, serve the villagers are in a lot remainder of troublehis sentence and to get an early parole date. Not much to ask, but thankfully Bob is on hand it? The new Deputy Police Constable doesn't think so and she's even prepared to save do the dayother thing that Hardie demanded - make certain that DS Max Craigie and anyone who works with him is kept well away from what's happening.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904312764</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Peter Blackstock 0008405026|title=The Secret Symbol: The Original Masonic Documents Behind Dan Brown's Latest BestsellerA Stranger in the Family (Maeve Kerrigan 11)|author=Jane Casey|rating=35|genre=Spirituality and ReligionCrime|summary=Pop QuizIt's sixteen years since nine-year-old Rosalie Marshall disappeared from her bed one summer night. What links Scott of She was never found and the Antarcticinvestigation ground to a halt. Now, Jim Davidsonher mother, ChurchillHelena, and Rabbie Burns? her father are dead in their bed. Where and when might you come Initially, it looks like a cropper trying to spell Boaz, straightforward murder/suicide but starting with there's something about the B? positioning of the bodies that makes DS Maeve Kerrigan and her boss DI Josh Derwent suspicious. And what has three stages What looked as though it was going to be an open- unless itand-shut case is now a complex double murder. Kerrigan is convinced that the explanation lies in Rosalie's disappearance: others (such as Derwent's thirty-threeboss, or even ten by the York system?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683734</amazonuk>Una Burt) are less convinced.
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jonathan Buckley 0571379877|title=ContactThe Kellerby Code|author=Jonny Sweet|rating=23.5|genre=General FictionCrime|summary=Dominic Pattison's life began to veer off course badly on Edward Jevons is a Tuesday in Mayworking-class young man, obsessed with his upper-class friends, Robert and Stanza. ItRobert's a fairly banal Tuesday. The kind of Tuesday that Dominic probably experiences quite frequentlytheatre director. He feels the need to tell us about it. In detail. And's also self-obsessed, sadlydemanding, not in a particularly engaging style.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0956003869</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jessica Porter |title=Sicilian Sunset|rating=3|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Sarah Livingstone's jewellery business was struggling but she was still annoyed when her father called James Ross handsome and entitled and uses Edward to run errands for helphim. Sarah Edward has been in love with Stanza since their university days - and James had had a relationship some ten years earlier and Sarah really didnhe't want s drunkenly confided how he feels to work with him, particularly after her marriageRobert. Most people thought that her husbandmen in Robert's death in position would stay away from Stanza or tell Edward that a plane crash relationship had been the cruel end to a good marriage. Only a few knew that begun between them but he had been about to leave her to live with another woman. It's not like most men: Edward is left Sarah very reluctant to get involved with any manstumble upon the two of them kissing in a dark passageway.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089430</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sushila Anand Jo Callaghan|title=Daisy: The Lives and Loves of the Countess of WarwickLeave No Trace
|rating=4
|genre=BiographyCrime|summary=Born Daisy Maynard When a man is found crucified on the top of a hill in 1861Nuneaton, DCS Kat Frank finds herself assigned to the Countess of Warwick lived a colourful life by any standardscase alongside her sidekick, the AI detective Lock. It's their first live case together, having previously been very successful with several cold cases. She was notoriously promiscuousBut when there is a second body found crucified a few days later, Kat is suddenly struggling with a spendthrift who did not hesitate to try potential serial killer and provoke a royal scandal very high profile case that draws a lot of unwanted attention to shore up her parlous finances, and although she relished her lifestyle their AI Future Policing project. Will they be able to solve the fullcase in time, she spent several years fighting wholeheartedly for or will Kat find herself taken off the pioneer socialists in Britain.case and, potentially, out of a career?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0749909773</amazonuk>139851120X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Suzy Brownlee 1399613073|title=The Littlest Detective in London|rating=3|genre=Confident Readers|summary=''The Littlest Detective in London'' is the first in this series of children's books by Suzy Brownlee and will soon be followed by the continuing story of Clementine Cordelia Bird's exploits in Paris. The books are aimed at young girls, aged between around eight and fourteen. Clemmy (as she is known) is nine years old, but looks younger, due to her being rather small. However, she makes up for this by being brave and inventive. We learn early on that her mother disappeared in mysterious circumstances and the books have the underlying theme of Clemmy trying to find her mum again.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0956122205</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewMoral Injuries|author=Alex Hesz and Bambos Neophytou |title=Guilt Trip: From Fear to Guilt on the Green BandwagonChristie Watson
|rating=4.5
|genre=Politics and SocietyThrillers|summary=Did you know that HorlicksOlivia, that great sleep aidLaura and Anjali met on the first day of medical school and their friendship would keep them inseparable for a quarter of a century. Olivia is ruthlessly ambitious, which is a bonus when you aim to be a cardiothoracic surgeon. Laura is sold in India as a start-perfectionist and a trauma doctor. Anjali is the-day energy boost? Not another concoction under the same brand, but free spirit of the Exact Same Product.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>047074622X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=P C group and Kristin Cast |title=Tempted (House of Night)|rating=3|genre=Teens|summary=Last time we left Zoey, she'd just banished Kalona, an ancient fallen immortal, from the Tulsa House of Night, along with evil High Priestess Neferetbecomes a GP. Stevie Rae When we first meet them they's Red Fledglings were regaining their humanity, but Stark, second ever Red Vampire, was badly injured. Her official boyfriend was Erik, but she's reat a drug and alcohol-Imprinted with Human, Heath, fuelled party and Stark had pledged a Warriorit's Oath going to herend in tragedy.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905654804</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jackie French and Bruce Whatley |title=Emily and We don't know who suffered the tragedy or the Big Bad Bunyip|rating=4|genre=For Sharing|summary=The authorconsequences. Twenty-illustrator partnership five years later there will be an eerily similar event that created will impact the 'Diary of a Wombat'three friends. This time, [[Pete the Sheep by Jackie French|Pete the Sheep]] and it'Josephine Wants to Dance' bring all s their Aussie characters together in a Christmas book with a Antipodean twistteenage children who are involved.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007324278</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mary McCarthy 0241636604|title=The GroupTrading Game: A Confession|author=Gary Stevenson
|rating=4.5
|genre=Literary FictionAutobiography|summary='Given the attention paid If you were to relations between the sexesbring up an image of a city banker in your mind, it would be tempting you're unlikely to call The Group a forerunner think of today's chick litsomeone like Gary Stevenson. It's not.' So writes Candace Bushnell, the writer behind A hoodie and jeans replaces the TV series Sex pin-stripe suit and his background is the CityEast End, in where he was familiar with violence, poverty and injustice. There was no posh public school on his CV - but he had been to the introduction to this new Virago Modern Classics edition London School of The Group by Mary McCarthyEconomics. First published in 1963, this novel Stevenson is about the lives of bright - extremely bright - and he has a group facility with numbers which most of young women after leaving college in 1933us can only envy. He also realised that most rich people expect poor people to be stupid. It was his ability at what was, including careersessentially, relationshipsa card game which got him an internship with Citibank. Eventually, sex, babies, parents, and moneythis turned into permanent employment as a trader. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1844085937</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Charlie Huston 1035021803|title=My Dead Body (Joe Pitt Casebook)|rating=4|genre=Horror|summary=Joe PittThe Antique Hunter's New York is one riddled with Vampyres, infected by a Vyrus that makes them drink blood and die in the sun. It is also a wasteland of lawless tribes of Vampyres, gang warfare carving up Manhattan into territories, each with their own leaders, specialist workers, fighters, animosities. As we start book five, Joe's New York is actually a subterranean one, as he hides from everyone in the sewers and tunnels, until the enterprise of a top dog character flushes him out, and tells Pitt Guide to find his daughter - a messianic poster girl for the future of the city.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1841496820</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewMurder|author=Aeronwy Thomas |title=My Father's Places: A portrait of childhood by Dylan Thomas' daughterC L Miller
|rating=3.5
|genre=AutobiographyCrime|summary=Aeronwy Thomas was six It's twenty years old when since Freya Lockwood has been back to the English country village where she grew up. She's back now because of a request for help from her beloved aunt, Carole. Freya's former mentor and her family came to settle after a nomadic existence at LaugharneCarole's close friend, Arthur Crockleford, on is dead and the Welsh coastcircumstances seem suspicious, in 1949to say the least. Dylan used Arthur was the reason why Freya had not been back to broadcast regularly on the BBCvillage: Arthur, and while he continued she feels, let her down badly. Even though they were in business together as antique hunters, she has not felt able to travel to London regularly for be near the man or pursue the profession she loved. After the purpose (as well as to carouse with friends split, she worked in his old haunts)a cafe, somewhere off met and married James (on the rebound from the beaten track love of her life, who was a more suitable working environmentmurdered) and Freya and James have now divorced.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849010056</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=Keith HernSunny Singh|title=Bangers and MashHotel Arcadia|rating=43.5|genre=Home and FamilyThrillers |summary=Keith Hern found The Hotel Arcadia is a small lump luxury hotel in his neck and when the results of an unnamed city that has suddenly been violently taken over by a terrorist group. Hiding from the tests came terrorists who are rampaging through he tried to put the appointment off as he had something more pressing to do, but the doctor was insistent. He knew then that he had cancer. The lump in his neck waskilling everyone on site, in factthere is Sam, a secondary tumour with wartime photographer and Abhi, the primary being in the back of his tonguehotel manager. But As Abhi continues to try to care remotely for the secondary tumour residents who are still alive in the discovery hotel, he forms a bond with Sam who refuses to be cowed by events, and keeps on venturing out of the primary might have been too late for successful treatmenther room to try to capture what's happened through her photography. Keith takes us through Although they only ever talk over the discovery of his cancerphone, his reactions their friendship grows as Abhi tries to the diagnosis, his treatment help her keep safe and they both wait to see if they will be rescued before they are discovered by the titular meal of bangers and mash – the first solid food which he had attempted for some timeterrorists.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1904312772</amazonuk>086154742X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Janet Charters and Michael Foreman1529153298|title=The GeneralList of Suspicious Things|author=Jennie Godfrey|rating=45|genre=For SharingGeneral Fiction|summary=General Jodhpur keeps his soldiers busyIt's 1979 and Margaret Thatcher is Prime Minister. (A woman? I mean, honestly...) She's not what's worrying Miv's family, though. Women have been disappearing. Well, they've been murdered, polishing their boots and practising shootingbut to have 'disappeared' doesn't sound quite so frightening. He Miv's upset because she's overheard that her father wants to become move the most famous general in the whole worldfamily 'Down South'. One day When you're from Yorkshire, Down South is a frightening, he's thrown off his horseforeign place, and discovers the joys of lying in the grassbest avoided. On his walk home For Miv, he gets a chance to smell the flowersmove would mean leaving her best friend, Sharon, and soon sets she'll do anything to prevent that. She's not worried about putting his soldiers the dangers or that her Mum's stopped talking - to more peaceful activitiesanyone.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0763648752</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alison Jackson and Keith Graves1398524085|title=Desert Rose|rating=4.5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Desert Rose is mucking out the pig stalls, when she stumbles across a giant gold nugget. She decides to buy the fattest hog in Texas, so she can win first prize at the state fair - a gal's gotta have a dream. However, she gets one highfalutin hog who won't do as it's told, so she ropes in all the other inhabitants of Laredo to help her out, and win the prize.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408802198</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewHas Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?|author=Gary Blackwood|title=Mysterious Messages - A History of Codes and CiphersNicci French
|rating=5
|genre=Children's Non-FictionCrime|summary=ThereCharlotte Salter was expected at her husband's something utterly cool about codes fiftieth birthday party but never turned up. Her children, sons Niall, Paul and Ollie and ciphersher daughter, Etty. It's are all worried but - strangely - her husband, Alec, is not just . Shortly afterwards, Etty and Greg, find the spies with their secret world, itbody of Greg's father, Duncan Ackerley, in the mystery of an ostensibly random set of letters or picturesriver. It's being able was an easy assumption for the police to unravel them make that Duncan had murdered Charlie and see what theythen committed suicide when he couldn're hidingt stand the guilt. It The Salter children are not convinced but there's a combination of geeky riddle solving (and geeks are cool, so there) and uncovering the unknown meanings. Gary Blackwood treats us to a history of codes and ciphers, looking at little else they can do but get on with their creation, the stories behind them, lives and how to crack themwonder about what really happened.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0525479600</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Daniel Pennac1035906708|title=DogDiva|author=Daisy Goodwin
|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=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 moved to Athens when she was thirteen. Her original surname was Kalogeropoulos but her father changed it to 'Callas' to make it more manageable in the States. When she was back in Athens - supposedly so that she could get appropriate training for her voice - she was raised under the Nazi occupation by a mother who mercilessly exploited her and made no secret of her preference for her elder sister, Jackie.
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Christopher Edge
|title=Black Hole Cinema Club
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Dog was the runt of the litter. Unwanted. Half-drowned Lucas and left to die on a rubbish tip, you can imagine better starts his friends are all booked in life for this scruffy-looking little puppy. But it's not so bad. Black Nose takes him under her wing and gives him a little of her milk and movie marathon at their local cinema, a lot place that has the nickname of her love. More importantly, she teaches him the rubbish tip ropes and gives him as much advice about doghood and ownerhood as she possibly can. And then... there's an accident. The last thing Black Nose says to Dog is Hole'. All big movie fans, they'If you go re looking forward to the townlots of exciting films, and many, many snacks! However, watch out for as the cars. Dodgemovie starts, little onethey very quickly realise that something about this new film format is very different, rememberand they are swept up into an adventure they couldn't even imagine.''|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406322741</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Donna Blinston|title=Make New Year's Resolutions and Keep Them Using NLP|rating=2| But as they lurch from one film genre=Home and Family|summary=It's coming up to that time of year again – you know it's the one where you make resolutions about next, can they figure out what on earth is going on a diet, getting more exercise, stopping smoking or losing weight. ? If Will they last a week into ever get back to the New Year you're probably doing well – and then you're left with a feeling of failure. Donna Blinston offers advice on how to make your resolutions cinema, and how to keep them – and I needed this advice as much as the next couch potato.their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1904312845</amazonuk>1839942738
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Robert CrowtherRachel Greenlaw|title=Cars - A Pop-Up Book Of AutomobilesCompass and Blade
|rating=3.5
|genre=Teens
|summary=Welcome to Viking times. The land is ruled by a pitiless and greedy Chieftain, Bjorn Svanson, who always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Thora. She is a healer – very useful when you're going to set out on a voyage, and also very pretty. The Chieftain's destination is I can hear the land song of fire and ice, also known as Iceland. Impatiently, the Chieftain kidnaps Thora, but what he doesn't know is that Thora has powerssea. Yes, a historical fantasy where The call of the heroine has powers – didn't see that coming did you? She can read auras and at timesdeep, see the futureanswering beat in my heart. And what she sees is her new master's murder. Before you know it, he has been stabbed and Thora and a mysterious male slave are free. What is their destination still? The land of fire and ice. Impersonating Bjorn Svanson, the male slave commandeers his ships and they sail away to Iceland, where a precarious future awaits. Will Svanson's men follow them across the oceans for revenge? Can they live with what they have done? Will they ever get a chance to be together? |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192728814</amazonuk>}}
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=James FitzsimmonsSherwood Metts|title=The Hudbrax Hoard (Sabrax Clyke Series)Planet Storyland|rating=34.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Meet Sabrax ClykeThings have been a bit sticky for the Earthlings. Not allowed AI and automation have been proceeding apace, often replacing jobs they're paid to sit around in the hole in the dry-stone wall he do and his family call home, other tasks that took time to accomplish. Just as they were beginning to get used to all this technological change and admire the pretty girl who's just moved in next doorstarting to think of other, he's persuaded by an urgent message from distant relatives to go new ways to their aid regarding some unmentionablespend time, along came an awful predicamentpandemic. His journey there Life was pretty much shut down and the task itself will involve metal dragons, odd standing stonesalong with it, earth-shattering movements, and unearthly nastiesall the many daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0955644216</amazonuk>1736128426
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jane RayMatthew Tree|title=Snow WhiteWe'll Never Know|rating=34.5|genre=For SharingLiterary Fiction|summary=Jane Ray has taken the classic fairy tale of Snow WhiteTimothy Wyndham wants nothing more than to be different from his father, the dwarves a drunk and the wicked queen, chronic underachiever whose dreams of being exceptional at any of his artistic passions all failed miserably and created beautiful three-dimensional tableauxwho had endless crises of self confidence. It's a much-loved story that everyone is familiar withSo Tim applied himself to his studies, cultivated his abilities rather than his daydreams and this is a great opportunity to rediscover a classic in an interesting new wayset himself high but achievable ambitions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1406311839</amazonuk>B0CVFXPGP8
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Chris Van DusenA G Slatter|title=The Circus Ship|rating=3.5|genre=For Sharing|summary=When a circus ship sinks off the coast of Maine, the animals escape and make their home in a nearby town. They soon enchant the locals, who in turn decide to protect the animals from the greedy circus-owner. Very loosely based on the sinking of the ''Royal Tar'' in 1836, ''The Circus Ship'' is a fun picture book that animal-lovers will enjoy.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>076363090X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Wayne J Harris|title=Sins Briar Book of the AngelDead|rating=3.5
|genre=Fantasy
|summary=Dr Gideon Matthews, '' There's a shouty hellfire and damnation preacher, has part of me that wants to keep this just delivered a sermon all about the evils of women being allowed into the church hierarchy and, on his way home afterwards, he is murdered. The following day to myself for however he wakes up in hospital or, actually, an angel called Gabriel finds himself inside Dr Matthews' body, able to recall Dr Matthews' memories and thoughts and feelings but acting now as himselflong I can. Gabriel goes a little bit wildThis secret magic of my own, finding himself overwhelmed by the new feelings and desires he experiences in this bodyall mine, sinning left, right and centre and causing scandal at his every movelast. He is also wondering I just want to enjoy it for what purpose he has been brought into this body and finds that he is dreaming about a demon, someone who is persuading an unknown monk to commit murders in Godwhile.''s name and who seems to be getting closer and closer to Dr Matthews in order to kill him too...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1438994699</amazonuk>}}
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Children's Trust1529900360|title=The Walrus and the Carpenter and Other Favourite PoemsGhost Orchid|author=Jonathan Kellerman|rating=3.54|genre=Children's Rhymes and VerseCrime|summary=Celebrities, including [[:Category:Richard Hammond|Richard Hammond]], Paul OIt hadn't been Lt Milo Sturgis'Grady, Sienna Miller, McFly s fault that Alex Delaware had been badly injured but he felt responsible and Lorraine Kellyeven after Alex recovered, have chosen their favourite poems Sturgis was reluctant to ask for this anthologyhis help on difficult cases. All proceeds from His assertions that there were only open-and-shut cases which didn't need the book go to [http://wwwhelp of a psychologist only worked for a while.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/ The Children Finally, it was Robin, Delaware's Trust]. It's a fantastic charitypartner, who nudged Milo into asking for help disabled childrenagain. She knew that the involvement was something that the man she loved needed. The next case did look simple, though. Two lovers were murdered in the swimming pool of a remote property in Bel Air. He was the heir to an Italian shoe empire and I urge you all she is married to buy a copy of an extremely rich man and it''The Walrus and s not the Carpenter'' to support Italian. But which of them.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140632650X</amazonuk>was the primary target?
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Roger Scruton1529395224|title=I Drink Therefore I AmLetting the Cat Out of the Bag: The Secret Life of a Vet|author=Sion Rowlands
|rating=3.5
|genre=Popular ScienceAnimals and Wildlife|summary=Roger Scruton is Siôn Rowlands fell into veterinary science accidentally. His father was a conservative philosopher GP and composerRowlands didn't want to follow in his footsteps, best known for particularly when he considered the strain that being on-call put on his father's life. When he was seventeen he took the opportunity of doing work on philosophy experience with a family friend who was a vet and musicwas convinced this was the job for him. Before long, but who shares Platohe was at Liverpool University. It hadn's belief that 'nothing more excellent or valuable than wine t - as with so many students - been his dream since he was ever granted by the gods to mana child. If anything, he' and in this book seeks d wanted to combine his two interests of philosophy and the fruits of the vinebe a professional footballer.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847065082</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stephen M Irwin0861541774|title=The DarkeningA Nye of Pheasants|author=Steve Burrows
|rating=4
|genre=Crime
|summary=DCI Domenic Jejeune's close friend and former colleague, Danny Maik, has taken a short holiday in Singapore to meet up with an old ally, Guy Trueman. Maik was involved in a street brawl - he would later maintain that he was facing a man armed with a knife - and he killed a Ghurka. Initially, 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 wouldn't help Danny at all.
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Alexander McCall Smith
|title=The Perfect Passion Company
|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=This book has The Perfect Passion Company is a dating agency in Edinburgh, run by Ness and operating as an alternative to all the 'S' word written all over itonline apps in providing a more personal, tailored service. NoNess has asked her younger cousin Katie if she could come and look after the business, not sex - supernaturalas Ness is planning to take a trip to Canada to get away for a while. So, it's got all things Katie is coming out of a break up with a bit spookybad boyfriend, not-quite-right, strange coincidencesand so jumps at the chance to come home to Edinburgh. They are sprinkled throughout like rock salt. I must admit that when I read And so begins this new story from Alexander McCall Smith, bringing us to an Edinburgh we already love, thanks to 44 Scotland Street and the blurb on the back cover Isabel Dalhousie novels, but with its supernatural theme, I gave an inward groansome new characters who quickly begin to charm. Not really my cup of tea. But I'm openKatie has no experience in running a business, or in match-minded making, but Ness has full confidence in her abilities, and Ithere'll read anything once. I'm glad I did. Irwin is Australian. For some reason I haven't read too many books by Australian authorss always her very helpful (and rather handsome) neighbour, William, so I was keen to get reading.lend a hand…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0751543969</amazonuk>1846976596
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Tanya Landman0811771741|title=The Head is Dead (Poppy Fields Murder Mystery) InstaKnits for Baby|author=Melissa Leapman
|rating=4
|genre=Confident ReadersCrafts|summary=MeetMelissa Leapman's ''InstaKnits for Baby'' gives us a collection of knits from toys to blankets. Some will be quick knits - others are of the 'long, cosy afternoons in front of the fire' variety. The projects are divided by the time they'll take to complete - less than five hours, once againfive to ten hours, Poppy Fieldsten to twenty hours and more than twenty hours. When tasked to create All the projects are attractive, modern and useable. I perhaps show my age when I wonder about 'social-media-worthy projects' but that's me being picky.}}{{Frontpage|author=Dean Koontz|title=The Bad Weather Friend|rating=4.5|genre=Paranormal|summary=Benny is having a murder mystery experience for terrifically bad day. He loses his job, he loses his fiancee, and his house gets trashed. Oh, and someone has delivered a school fete she really weird, disturbing coffin-sized object to his home, and it's possible that whoever or whatever was inside is only surprised to find the headmistress - a newly employed battleaxe thing that no-one seems has trashed his house! The thing is, Benny is the very last person to like - deserve all this bad luck. He is a real-life victim of an assassinnice person. A really nice person. And there So fortunately for Benny it turns out that the delivery to his house is only a school field full of suspectsnew friend, 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 person. Can she Spike is going to take care of Benny, and her best friendwill certainly take care of Benny's enemies, if he, brainbox GeorgeBenny, solve the day and make the staff room Harper (a safer place to be? And where does the invisible sheepdog come in?!waitress slash Private Investigator who finds herself roped into Benny's wild adventure) can figure out who exactly they are.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1406314633</amazonuk>1662500491
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jonathan Buckley, Mark Ellingham and Tim JepsonAdam Stower|title=The Rough Guide to Tuscany Murray and UmbriaBun|rating=4.5|genre=TravelConfident Readers |summary=ThereMurray is supposed to be a humble, tidy and friendly cat, one who is able to sleep and eat and eat and sleep and, well, whatever takes his fancy next of the two. But he's a bad magician's cat, so his favourite bun has been turned into a general Rough Guide to Italyhyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, and the catflap they both use can chuck them out, but revisiting again this regional guide in not into the process of writing up our trip to Tuscany two years agoregular back garden, I was reminded but into a world of how good indeed this particular Rough Guide isfrightening adventure and whiffs. I bought This time round it because I wanted drops them into a Viking land, where a troll hunter is expected – well, one much bigger than Murray was, to supplement the general Rough Guide to Italy I had with more detailed coverage of the region in which we were going be honest, but he's turned up and he'll have to spend the whole trip - and I was extremely happy with the result.do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1843530554</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=Susan Ostler1529431735|title=Flirt Diva - For Women Who Want to be Bold and Sassy and have a Fabulous Life!The Winter Visitor|author=James Henry
|rating=4
|genre=LifestyleCrime|summary=There are lots of timetabled books It's February 1991 and Essex is bitingly cold, which made Bruce Hopkins' return all the more surprising. He'd been exiled on the marketCosta del Sol as a wanted drug smuggler for a decade. The return has come about because he's had a letter from his ex-wife, saying that promise she's ill and hasn't long to transform everything from your employability live. It's hard to the size of your thighs in a certain number of weeksfeel any sympathy when Hopkins is abducted, if you commit stripped to their programme, his underwear and this book is really just another one sent to add to the 'scheduled self-improvement' pile. Except we're not talking here about dropping a dress size watery grave in time for Christmas, or sailing through that oh-so-important interview to land the job boot of your dreamsa stolen Ford Sierra...for this book is Is it a warning from a 6 week guide to ''Getting Loved Up'' that promises to put its participants (and as you'll learn, you're more than Spanish gang or a mere reader with this title) on the fast track problem closer to romance. Gosh.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904312799</amazonuk>}}home?