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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=Morris GleitzmanTom Percival|title=NowThe Wrong Shoes
|rating=5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=We first met Felix Will's life is difficult, in ''Once''a multitude of ways. He thought is bullied because he was has 'the luckiest child in the orphanagewrong shoes', since he was has the only one whose parents werenwrong shoes because his dad can't work and doesn't dead. Sadlyhave enough money for even the most basic of things like food, he was wrong about that. We followed and his story in dad can''Then'', in which t work because he and lost his dear friend Zelda are on the run from the Nazis job at the height of college, was working a cash-in-hand job on a building site and had an accident. Throw into that mix the Holocaust fact that his mum and its terrifying Final Solution. In Nowdad are separated, we catch up with Felix many years later. Heand Will's built a good life as a surgeon seems bleak in Australiaevery direction. And yet, and he still has a tiny amount of hope. He is now frustratingly retiredgood at art, unable and clings to operate because the moments of his shaky hands. He's looking after his granddaughterjoy when he is drawing, Zelda's namesakethat feel like a light at the end of a long, whose parents are doctors volunteering in Darfurdark tunnel. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>014132998X</amazonuk>1398527122
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Justine HardySylvie Cathrall|title=In A Letter to the Valley of Mist: Kashmir's Long War - One Family's Extraordinary StoryLuminous Deep
|rating=5
|genre=TravelScience Fiction|summary=KashmirThere are few greater joys than a book which lives up to a compelling premise. Is that not the most romantic And this is one of names? To those of us entranced by tales from the East, it echoes with the same essence of myth as ''Shang-ri-la'' – and for good reason. Geographically situated in the Himalaya but with the abundant fertility of the valley, lakes and meadows, it should be a kind of paradise. To the people who live there, it once wasthem. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846041511</amazonuk>0356522776
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Paul Cave0008517061|title=For Everything Death in a ReasonLonely Place|author=Stig Abell
|rating=4
|genre=Crime
|summary=Meet Joseph RuebinsFormer Metropolitan Police detective, Jake Johnson, has settled into his rustic life at Little Sky. He is one second away from There’s perhaps a very satisfying climax to little uncertainty about the future of his boxing career, and winding up for life with his ultimate punch, when he freezesvet girlfriend, Livia and suffers a strokeher daughter Diana, and ends up in hospital. Overnight someone kills the elderly man as moving in the next bed. Meanwhile, together would mean a policeman hunts down the man who killed lot of compromise: does Jake give up his son. Where are 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 connecting links - future she wants for herself and how could her daughter? For the fact that Joseph was put moment they’re enjoying life in the wrong ward due to a mishap with present and putting the forms imperil future on the rest of his close-knit family?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0956236898</amazonuk>back burner.
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sara Stockbridge1786482126|title=The Fortunes of Grace HammerJanus Stone (Dr Ruth Galloway)|author=Elly Griffiths|rating=4.5|genre=Historical FictionCrime|summary=The short prologue shares with Builders were demolishing an old house in Norwich - the reader a childhood incident in site was going to hold seventy-five 'luxury' apartments - when they discovered the life bones of Grace Hammer. It had a dramatic effect on her and her life thereafter. She is child beneath a changed persondoorway. She's also drivenThere was no skull. She grows into Was this a desirable woman and turns men's heads wherever she goesritual killing or murder? Inevitably, Dr Ruth Galloway finds herself working with DCI Harry Nelson. But sheIt's also smart. Some would perhaps think at this pointdifficult as Ruth knows, why not go 'up westbut Nelson doesn't, bag that she is pregnant with his child as a sugar-daddy and live in luxury for result of the rest of her days? one night they spent together some three months ago. But life Her condition will be obvious before long, not least because Ruth is not as simple as thatprone to sudden bouts of sickness.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099520958</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Rachel DeWoskin0008551324|title=Repeat After Me|rating=4|genre=General Fiction|summary=September 1989: It is a few months after the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, China. Aysha is teaching English at a private language school in New York City. She makes friends with some of her students. Da Ge is angry and disruptive yet attractive and interesting at the same time, and they quickly become involved, although his interest in her is not as romantic as, perhaps, she would like it to be. He asks her to marry him so he can stay in the country. Aysha agrees, although there is still a lot she does not know about the mysterious, unstable Da Ge.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0715638998</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewThe Devil You Know (D S Max Craigie)|author=Nicola Morgan|title=WastedNeil Lancaster
|rating=4.5
|genre=TeensCrime|summary=Jess wants It's unusual for anyone from the Hardie family to study musicapproach the police. Neither side likes or has any respect for the other. SheBut Davie Hardie is struggling in prison and he's prepared to tell the police where the body of a wonderful singermissing person is buried and who was responsible for her death. And so a chance encounter with Jack This person, who needs a singer for his bandhe promises, is exactly someone big and it will be worth the happenstance she'd hoped for. Even better that Jack is so charming and handsome and charismaticpolice doing what he wants. And still better that what he feels wants is to be transferred to an open prison to serve the same attraction remainder of his sentence and to her. How lucky can a girl get? Jack believes in luckan early parole date. In fact Not much to ask, he lives his life by is it. He ? The new Deputy Police Constable doesn't think so and she's even prepared to do a the other thing unless his coin says he can. Newly in love, Jess that Hardie demanded - make certain that DS Max Craigie and anyone who works with him is slowly drawn into his game of chance. Although it worries her a little, she cankept well away from what't know that a time will come when the toss of a coin is the difference between life and deaths happening. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406321958</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Patrick Ness0008405026|title=Monsters of Men A Stranger in the Family (Chaos WalkingMaeve Kerrigan 11)|author=Jane Casey
|rating=5
|genre=TeensCrime|summary=Noise It's sixteen years since nine- visible thought year- dominates the lives of everyone on this settler planetold Rosalie Marshall disappeared from her bed one summer night. Noise is used as a tool of oppression She was never found and as the investigation ground to a weaponhalt. There's a cure Now, her mother, Helena, but the Machiavellian President Prentiss reserves it only for the most loyaland her father are dead in their bed. The Answer are fighting back against his authoritarian regime Initially, it looks like a straightforward murder/suicide but theythere've had to make some terrible choices. Between s something about the positioning of the President's torture bodies that makes DS Maeve Kerrigan and the Answer's terrorist bomb attacks stand Todd her boss DI Josh Derwent suspicious. What looked as though it was going to be an open-and Viola - trying to prevent civil war, trying to hold on long enough for shut case is now a complex double murder. Kerrigan is convinced that the second wave of settlers to arrive. And then, explanation lies in the wake of the PresidentRosalie's disappearance: others (such as Derwent's genocide of slavesboss, the Spackle attackUna Burt) are less convinced. A scout ship finally arrives, but it may be too late to prevent a catastrophic war... |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406310271</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Carl McInerney0571379877|title=The Funniest Football Joke Book EverKellerby Code|author=Jonny Sweet
|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=Who scored the most goals in the Greek Mythology League? The centaur forward. Badoom boom tshhhh. It's Edward Jevons is a football joke bookworking-class young man, packed to the gills obsessed with all sorts of cheesiness his upper-class friends, Robert and sillinessStanza. Funniest ever? Perhaps not, but it Robert's not too bada theatre director.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849391114</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Chris Stewart|title=Three Ways to Capsize a Boat: An Optimist Afloat|rating=5|genre=Autobiography|summary=Books about sailing fall into two sorts: those written by authors who know what they are talking about He's also self-obsessed, demanding, (though sometimes they don't convey it too well) handsome and entitled and those who don't have a clue, but like uses Edward to think they dorun errands for him. Well, Chris Stewart may have started the book Edward has been in love with a light Stanza since their university days - and frothy touch as he's drunkenly confided how he feels to Robert. Most men in Robert's position would stay away from Stanza or tell Edward that a novice sailor, relationship had begun between them but he ends up with 's not like most men: Edward is left to stumble upon the credentials two of an Ancient Marinerthem kissing in a dark passageway.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0956003842</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Keris StaintonJo Callaghan|title=Della Says: OMG! Leave No Trace
|rating=4
|genre=TeensCrime|summary=Ever since she was four, Della has had When a secret crush man is found crucified on Danthe top of a hill in Nuneaton, DCS Kat Frank finds herself assigned to the good-looking and gentle boy who once shared his brand new crayons with case alongside her. And nowsidekick, more than ten years later, he wants to kiss herthe AI detective Lock. It seems too good to be true's their first live case together, and for having previously been very successful with several cold cases. But when there is a while Della fears the whole thing is second body found crucified a jokefew days later, set up by mean girl Gemima. After all, Gemima Kat is Dan's best friend. And then disaster strikes: Della's suddenly struggling with a potential serial killer and a very private and confidential diary goes missinghigh profile case that draws a lot of unwanted attention to their AI Future Policing project. The diary with all Will they be able to solve the case in time, or will Kat find herself taken off the excruciatingly embarrassing entries about Dancase and, her familypotentially, her friends...out of a career?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408304279</amazonuk>139851120X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Liane Moriarty1399613073|title=What Alice ForgotMoral Injuries|author=Christie Watson|rating=4.5|genre=Women's FictionThrillers|summary='This wasn't Olivia, Laura and Anjali met on the worst thing that had ever happened to her…it was just the most ridiculous' laments thirty nine year old mother first day of medical school and their friendship would keep them inseparable for a quarter of threea century. Olivia is ruthlessly ambitious, Alice, who has had the last ten years of her life struck from her memory by which is a blow bonus when you aim to the head in her step aerobics classbe a cardiothoracic surgeon. Alice now thinks she's twenty nine, newly pregnant with her first child Laura is a perfectionist and happily married to Nick a trauma doctor. Anjali is the free spirit of the group and furthermore she hasnbecomes a GP. When we first meet them they't re at a clue what shedrug and alcohol-fuelled party and it's doing at going to end in tragedy. We don't know who suffered the tragedy or the consequences. Twenty-five years later there will be an aerobics class in eerily similar event that will impact the first placethree friends. This time, it's their teenage children who are involved. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141043768</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jonathan Coe0241636604|title=The Terrible Privacy of Maxwell SimTrading Game: A Confession|author=Gary Stevenson|rating=4.5|genre=General FictionAutobiography|summary=Meet Maxwell Sim. Actually, perhaps I should rephrase that so that it doesn't sound like If you were to bring up an imperative instruction - for if you do meet himimage of a city banker in your mind, you might not 're unlikely to think of someone like the experienceGary Stevenson. An exA hoodie and jeans replaces the pin-salesmanstripe suit and his background is the East End, where he's now in after sales (ie he's stuck was familiar with violence, poverty and injustice. There was no posh public school on a customer returns counter in a department store); however his CV - but he is completely awful with regards had been to other peoplethe London School of Economics. His wife Stevenson is bright - extremely bright - and he has run off a facility with their daughter, all his few friends have forsaken him (and his Facebook wall)numbers which most of us can only envy. We start the book with him trying He also realised that most rich people expect poor people to patch things up with be stupid. It was his fatherability at what was, who's safely in Australia. He finds all those who know of essentially, a card game which got him are already aware he's depressedan internship with Citibank. Those who don't know him can find him painfully shy, or able to talk away their will to liveEventually, gabbling on and on about Watford. But this turned into permanent employment as a lot is about to change. He's about to be combined with some people excited about green toothbrushestrader.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0670917389</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Samantha Hunt1035021803|title=The SeasAntique Hunter's Guide to Murder|author=C L Miller|rating=43.5|genre=Literary FictionCrime|summary=It''The Seas'' follows the story of a nameless nineteen-year old girl who is lonely and adrift in a cruel coastal town so far s twenty years since Freya Lockwood has been back to the north of the USA that the roads only run southEnglish country village where she grew up. She misses 's back now because of a request for help from her fatherbeloved aunt, an absent alcoholic sailorCarole. Freya's former mentor and Carole's close friend, while her silence-loving motherArthur Crockleford, who grew up on an isolated island with deaf parentsis dead and the circumstances seem suspicious, worries deeply about herto say the least. Early on in Arthur was the story we get reason why Freya had not been back to the distinct impression that our narrator is not deemed 'normal' by her peersvillage: Arthur, she feels, who call let her all sorts of unflattering thingsdown badly. With nothing to do Even though they were in her small townbusiness together as antique hunters, and no one she has not felt able to do it withbe near the man or pursue the profession she loved. After the split, she spends her time pining for worked in a local alcoholic called Jude who is fifteen years her seniorcafe, met and who refuses her amorous advances married James (on the grounds that it would be wrong. As rebound from the story unfoldslove of her life, Jude who was murdered) and the girl's relationship grows Freya and changes, sometimes in unexpected waysJames have now divorced.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849013934</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=Sheryl Webster and Tim WarnesSunny Singh|title=What Small Rabbit HeardHotel Arcadia|rating=43.5|genre=For SharingThrillers |summary=It's cold 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 terrorists who are rampaging through, killing everyone on site, there is Sam, a wartime photographer and windyAbhi, the hotel manager. Small Rabbit just wants As Abhi continues to stay insidetry to care remotely for the residents who are still alive in the hotel, but Big Rabbit insists that it's fresh, not coldhe forms a bond with Sam who refuses to be cowed by events, and they're going keeps on a walk. He's a bit venturing out of a cheeky scamp is Small Rabbit, so when Big Rabbit says ''her room to try to keep up'', Small Rabbit somehow mishears it as ''jump in the mud'capture what's happened through her photography. As Although they only ever talk over the walk goes onphone, Small Rabbit mishears Big Rabbit time their friendship grows as Abhi tries to help her keep safe and time again, getting up they both wait to all sorts of shenaniganssee if they will be rescued before they are discovered by the terrorists.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0192728679</amazonuk>086154742X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Michael Booth1529153298|title=Sushi and Beyond: What the Japanese Know About CookingThe List of Suspicious Things|author=Jennie Godfrey|rating=45|genre=CookeryGeneral Fiction|summary=Japanese food has a tendency to sound a bit freakish or even controversialIt's 1979 and Margaret Thatcher is Prime Minister. Raw fish(A woman? Octopus ice cream? I mean, honestly...) She's not what's worrying Miv's family, though. Whale meat? Women have been disappearing. Yet it is slowly infiltrating the UK with sushi conveyor belt restaurants popping up everywhere and noodle bars offering Westernised bowls of steaming noodlesWell, they've been murdered, but to have 'disappeared' doesn't sound quite so frightening. In this book Michael Booth takes his wife and two young children Miv's upset because she's overheard that her father wants to experience move the real thingfamily 'Down South'. When you're from Yorkshire, Down South is a frightening, foreign place, best avoided. For Miv, travelling across the whole of Japan tasting an enormous range of foods move would mean leaving her best friend, Sharon, and learning she'll do anything to prevent that. She's not worried about their history, how the foods have been produced and are cooked and eatendangers or that her Mum's stopped talking - to anyone.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099516446</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Lionel Shriver1398524085|title=We Need To Talk About KevinHas Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?|author=Nicci French
|rating=5
|genre=Literary FictionCrime|summary=Politicians continue to argue that the solution to social issues lies with the familyCharlotte 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, so it is timely that at not. Shortly afterwards, Etty and Greg, find the heart body of Lionel ShriverGreg's 2005 Orange Prize winning novel is father, Duncan Ackerley, in the issue of nature vs nurture - what makes a person like he or she is? Is river. It was an easy assumption for the eponymous Kevin born evil or is police to make that Duncan had murdered Charlie and then committed suicide when he influenced by his mothercouldn's coldness towards himt stand the guilt. There The Salter children are no clear answers and thatnot convinced but there's what gives this brave book, which tackles the taboos that some mothers don't bond little else they can do but get on with their children, such powerlives and wonder about what really happened.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846687349</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Elin Hilderbrand1035906708|title=The CastawaysDiva|author=Daisy Goodwin
|rating=4.5
|genre=Women's General Fiction|summary=On the island We tend to think of NantucketMaria Callas as Greek, four couples have forged strong bonds of friendship. Together they live and love, raise their children, share their dreams. It's an idyllic existence and at the same time a very purposeful one. The couples have worked hard but she was born to create the quality of life they now enjoy and nothing can take it away from them. Until now. Greg and Tess are deadGreek parents in Manhattan, the result of what appears to be a sailing accident. They leave behind two young childrenNew York, in December 1923 and six devastated friends, all of whom have to come only moved to terms with what has happenedAthens when she was thirteen. For some there is guilt over final words said or final warnings left unsaid. For others, there is the knowledge that secret relationships will now have Her original surname was Kalogeropoulos but her father changed it to stay that way evermore. 'The CastawaysCallas' is to make it more manageable in the book of States. When she was back in Athens - supposedly so that fateful summer, she could get appropriate training for her voice - she was raised under the accident and its aftermath, but it's more than just that. It's Nazi occupation by a look at the precious role friends mother who mercilessly exploited her and family play in our livesmade no secret of her preference for her elder sister, and how innocent actions or words can change the course of history foreverJackie.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340919825</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jenna BurtenshawChristopher Edge|title=WintercraftBlack Hole Cinema Club|rating=4.5|genre=TeensConfident Readers|summary=The wardens raid villages Lucas and cities his friends are all booked in for people competent to fight in the wara movie marathon at their local cinema, a war nobody knows anything about other than if you’re sent to fight you don’t come backplace that has the nickname of 'The Black Hole'. The last time All big movie fans, they raided Morvane was ten years ago're looking forward to lots of exciting films, taking Kate’s parents with them. Kate is taken in by her uncleand many, Artemismany snacks! However, and grows up in as the book shop with him and her friendmovie starts, Edgar. But now the wardens are backthey very quickly realise that something about this new film format is very different, and looking for more people to fightthey are swept up into an adventure they couldn't even imagine. However, But as they are also looking for lurch from one film genre to the Skilled – a dying breed of people who next, can see through they figure out what on earth is going on? Will they ever get back to the veil of life cinema, and death. They want to build an army of the dead.their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755370961</amazonuk>1839942738
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sarah DessenRachel Greenlaw|title=Infinity (Pocket Money Puffins)Compass and Blade
|rating=3.5
|genre=Teens
|summary=Girl is a teen from small town America. We don't know where exactly, but it's somewhere people drive (which rules out I can hear the song of the likes sea. The call of NYC) and itthe deep, the answering beat in my heart.''s somewhere that has Rosevear, a roundaboutremote and partially forgotten island, survives on luring ships into the rocks and plundering the wrecks. Most Mira, like her mother before her, is one of America doesn't have these the seven who swim out to survey the ruins – instead rescuing any survivors and any treasure that lies within. But when the Council Watch lays a trap to end the wrecking, they have much more sensible crossings and lights and T-junctions – so itcapture the island's a source of intrigue for many of the townleader and Mira's residentsfather. For new driver Girl the roundabout is joint top on her List Of Things To MasterDesperate to save him from death, along Mira makes a bargain with sleeping a wreck survivor who is as charming as he is secretive and with only coordinates to guide her boyfriend Anthony, she sets off in search of a family secret that lies buried deep in the sea. They With only nine days to unearth what might seem entirely unrelated save her father, as her journey takes her from the watched streets of foreign islands to the likes heart of you and me, but to Girl the links are clear. Theysmuggler're both things she will have to deal with for a first time eventuallys territory, but she still can't decide whether Mira must be determined to rush ahead in order stop at nothing to get them out save the future of her home and the way quickly, or put them off for just a little longerones she holds most dear.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0141330775</amazonuk>0008664730
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sarah PrineasJames Sherwood Metts|title=The Magic Thief: FoundPlanet Storyland|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=When we last saw Conn, he had blown up his wizard master's house, was exiled from Things have been a bit sticky for the city of Wellmet, Earthlings. AI and lost his locus magicalus (it's like a magic wandautomation have been proceeding apace, just it's a stone). Heoften replacing jobs they's been unable re paid to do magic ever since, which is rough because he needs his powers now more than ever. A terrible evil is blazing a trail towards Wellmet, intent on destroying the city, and Conn's only hope other tasks that took time to defeat it is accomplish. Just as they were beginning to somehow get a used to all this technological change and starting to think of other, new locus magicalus. He sets out on a quest ways to find onespend time, but the journey is long along came an awful pandemic. Life was pretty much shut down and dangerous, and time is running outalong with it, all the many daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849161917</amazonuk>1736128426
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Amanda Sington-WilliamsMatthew Tree|title=The Eloquence of DesireWe'll Never Know|rating=34.5|genre=General Literary Fiction|summary=The novel starts in the post-war austerity years in England and centres around a middle-classTimothy Wyndham wants nothing more than to be different from his father, traditional family unit. Sington-Williams gives the reader a detailed description drunk and chronic underachiever whose dreams of that period - the bland food, the monotony being exceptional at any of commuting to London (some things don't change) his artistic passions all failed miserably and who had endless crises of course, the rainself confidence. George, his wife Dorothy and their teenage daughter Susan don't really talk to each other. They tend to skirt round issues and walk on eggshells. Appearances are everything. So a suitably fabricated story is told Tim applied himself to their smallhis studies, family circle of George's company move. George has no choice in the matter. So he does what he always has done up till now, he puts a brave face on for the world cultivated his abilities rather than his daydreams and grins and bears it. It's a huge change in their domestic situation. Uprooted to a strange, foreign, tropical country they've only glimpsed in National Geographicset himself high but achievable ambitions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1907230114</amazonuk>B0CVFXPGP8
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=A G Slatter
|title=The Briar Book of the Dead
|rating=5
|genre=Fantasy
|summary='' There's a part of me that wants to keep this just to myself for however long I can. This secret magic of my own, all mine, at last. I just want to enjoy it for a while.''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Brian Wildsmith1529900360|title=Animal GalleryThe Ghost Orchid|author=Jonathan Kellerman
|rating=4
|genre=For SharingCrime|summary=Starting off with It hadn't been Lt Milo Sturgis's fault that Alex Delaware had been badly injured but he felt responsible and even after Alex recovered, Sturgis was reluctant to ask for his help on difficult cases. His assertions that there were only open-and-shut cases which didn't need the help of a crash of rhinoceroses, through psychologist only worked for a corps of giraffeswhile. Finally, a hover of troutit was Robin, and ending up with a dray of squirrelsDelaware's partner, Brian Wildsmith treats us to a beautiful who nudged Milo into asking for help again. She knew that the involvement was something that the man she loved needed. The next case did look at collections simple, though. Two lovers were murdered in the swimming pool of animalsa remote property in Bel Air.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>019272794X</amazonuk> He was the heir to an Italian shoe empire and she is married to an extremely rich man and it's not the Italian. But which of them was the primary target?
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=China Mieville1529395224|title=KrakenLetting the Cat Out of the Bag: The Secret Life of a Vet|author=Sion Rowlands
|rating=3.5
|genre=FantasyAnimals and Wildlife|summary=Meet Billy Harrow, curator of molluscs and other pickled creaturesSiôn Rowlands fell into veterinary science accidentally. Imagine if you will BillyHis father was a GP and Rowlands didn's thoughts on entering t want to follow in his footsteps, particularly when he considered the chamber strain that houses the highlight of being on-call put on his museumfather's tour - an immense squid, housed in life. When he was seventeen he took the opportunity of doing work experience with a family friend who was a glass crate - only to find vet and was convinced this was the entire thing - animal and tank - impossibly removedjob for him. ImagineBefore long, too, the more esoteric kind of policeman and he was at Liverpool University. It hadn't - as with so many students -woman needed to arrive, to tell him that been his exhibit dream since he was the keystone of a mysterious cult with the end of times on their mind, and that they might just like Billy to infiltrate it and see what was precisely whatchild. Just consider - is BillyIf anything, the man who bottled the giant squid, a John the Baptist he'd wanted to this cult, or be a Judas?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0333989503</amazonuk>professional footballer.
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{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=0861541774|authortitle=A N Wilson, Nick Cave, Richard Holloway and Blake MorrisonNye of Pheasants|titleauthor=The Four Gospels with introductions Steve Burrows
|rating=4
|genre=Spirituality and ReligionCrime|summary=I wasnDCI Domenic Jejeune't entirely sure what s close friend and former colleague, Danny Maik, has taken a short holiday in Singapore to expect from this book. I only skimmedthrough the description on Amazonmeet up with an old ally, and understood that four modernwriters were introducing the four GospelsGuy Trueman. What I hadn't really takenMaik was involved in a street brawl - he would later maintain that he was that the introductions are brief - facing a man armed with a few pages each knife - and he killed a Ghurka. Initially, he faced a charge of manslaughter but evidence came to light thatsuggested that he might have planned to murder the bulk of man. Now he could be facing the book consists of the Authorised Version (known as theKing James Version in the USA) of the Gospelsdeath penalty. The whole is publishedin a fairly trendy looking paperback format, with the idea ofappealing Domenic Jejeune can do nothing to people who are not particularly religious, but who seethe Bible help as valuable ancient literatureany interference from another police force could provoke a diplomatic incident and wouldn't help Danny at all.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847678351</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Chris Welch and Lucian RandallAlexander McCall Smith|title=Ginger Geezer: The Life of Vivian StanshallPerfect Passion Company|rating=4.5|genre=BiographyGeneral Fiction|summary=RedheadsThe Perfect Passion Company is a dating agency in Edinburgh, they sayrun by Ness and operating as an alternative to all the online apps in providing a more personal, feel more pain than tailored service. Ness has asked her younger cousin Katie if she could come and look after the rest business, as Ness is planning to take a trip to Canada to get away for a while. Katie is coming out of us. They may even have a layer of skin too fewbreak up with a bad boyfriend, and so jumps at the chance to come home to Edinburgh. However literally true And so begins this might benew story from Alexander McCall Smith, bringing us to an Edinburgh we already love, it certainly seems thanks to be 44 Scotland Street and the case for Vivian StanshallIsabel Dalhousie novels, but with some new characters who quickly begin to charm. As his second wife says Katie has no experience in running a business, or in this excellent bookmatch-making, but Ness has full confidence in her abilities, 'Thereand there's nothing between him always her very helpful (and all the sensations the world has rather handsome) neighbour, William, to give us'.lend a hand…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1841156795</amazonuk>1846976596
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Paul Cookson0811771741|title=The World At Our FeetInstaKnits for Baby|author=Melissa Leapman
|rating=4
|genre=Children's Rhymes and VerseCrafts|summary=With the World Cup just around the corner, football is on everyoneMelissa Leapman's lips. Paul Cookson, Poet in Residence at the [http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/ National Football Museum], has compiled the best football poems ''InstaKnits for young children.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>033051086X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Karen Abbott|title=A Most Rebellious Debutante|rating=3|genre=WomenBaby''s Fiction|summary=Lucy Templeton, daughter gives us a collection of Lord Templeton, fell in love with her dancing masterknits from toys to blankets. It wasnSome will be quick knits - others are of the 't entirely unusual for a seventeen year old girl to feel this waylong, but it was better that it was unheard of when she was caught cosy afternoons in his arms. A substantial sum front of money for the dancing master ensured that he would disappear and Lucy was sent to stay with her married sister as punishmentfire' variety. She was not to attend parties or social functions and must spend her The projects are divided by the time looking after her sisterthey's young children ll take to complete - less than five hours, five to ten hours, ten to twenty hours and doing good works, until such time as the Templetons could get her married offmore than twenty hours. All might have gone according to their plan had she not had a chance encounter with the notorious Lord Rockhaven projects are attractive, modern and a stolen kiss catches her heartuseable. I perhaps show my age when I wonder about 'social-media-worthy projects' but that's me being picky.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709090315</amazonuk>
}}
|rating=4.5
|genre=TravelParanormal|summary=The title of this book suggests another travel book about adventure in the frozen north, but Sara Wheeler mixes her tales of her own travels with some history of polar exploration and Benny is having a serious examination of the impact of visitors and of those who wish to exploit the Arctic’s natural resources on the region and its peopleterrifically bad day. Rather than setting off on another expedition to reach the North Pole He loses his job, she travels around bits of the Arctic divided between different countries and governments, including Chukotka (Russia), Alaska (USA), Canada, Greenlandhe loses his fiancee, Svalbard (Norway) and Lapland (Russia and Scandinavia)his house gets trashed. There is a huge amount of material in the book but Wheeler organises Oh, and presents it in someone has delivered a very readablereally weird, disturbing coffin-sized object to his home, accessible style.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099516888</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Austin Wright|title=Tony and Susan|rating=5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Edward Sheffield hadn't exactly been Susanit's childhood sweetheart, but after a family tragedy left him homeless he came to live with Susan and her parents for a year so possible that he could finish school. Susan didn't particularly want him there but accepted that it whoever or whatever was inside is the right thing that has trashed his house! The thing is, Benny is the very last person to dodeserve all this bad luck. Years later they met at university when Edward was studying law and after He is a short relationship they marriednice person. A really nice person. The marriage wasn't entirely successful; Edward gave up law So fortunately for Benny it turns out that the delivery to become his house is a new friend, a writerbad weather friend called Spike, relying on Susan's teaching income who has been sent to support them, but whilst he spent help him since Benny is clearly under attack from nefarious forces for being a month away in a remote cabin 'to find himself' Susan found Arnold insteadgood person. Many years – Spike is going to take care of Benny, and three children – later Susan receives a manuscript from Edward. She waswill certainly take care of Benny's enemies, if he said, always his best critic Benny, and he would like her opinionHarper (a waitress slash Private Investigator who finds herself roped into Benny's wild adventure) can figure out who exactly they are.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848870205</amazonuk>1662500491
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Michael WolffAdam Stower|title=The Man Who Owns the News: Inside the Secret World of Rupert Murdoch|rating=3.5|genre=Politics Murray and Society|summary=There can be few people who are unaware of the name of Rupert Murdoch. Over four decades he's built News International into a seventy billion dollar corporation from its original Australian base. His position in the UK media is such that he's courted by politicians and has what many believe to be an excessive amount of power for someone who is not elected and is not even a UK citizen. He's now expanding into Southeast Asia and in his eightieth year it's still difficult to imagine when – or where – he will stop.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099523523</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Meg Rosoff|title=Vamoose (Pocket Money Puffins)Bun
|rating=4.5
|genre=TeensConfident Readers |summary=There are lots of reasons not Murray is supposed to become be a teen mum while still at school – there’s your loss of freedomhumble, for a starttidy and friendly cat, plus the fact that babies spend their days crying one who is able to sleep and eat and eat and sleep and pooing, not to mention well, whatever takes his fancy next of the fact they’re expensivetwo. But what happens to Jess is something that no one he's a bad magician's cat, so his favourite bun has warned her about: she goes been turned into hospital a hyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, and gives birth to the catflap they both use can chuck them out, not into the regular back garden, but into a bouncing baby mooseworld of frightening adventure and whiffs. Which This time round it drops them into a Viking land, where a troll hunter isexpected – well, one much bigger than Murray was, it has to be saidhonest, slightly odd. As she and boyfriend Nick struggle through first-time parenthood but he's turned up and learn he'll have to deal with the Unique Challenge of having a non-homo-sapien child, there’s a lesson for all of us about biting off more than we can chew and unpredictable consequences.do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0141329149</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.
}}
{{Frontpage
|isbn=1529431735
|title=The Winter Visitor
|author=James Henry
|rating=4
|genre=Crime
|summary=It's February 1991 and Essex is bitingly cold, which made Bruce Hopkins' return all the more surprising. He'd been exiled on the Costa 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 she's ill and hasn't long to live. It's hard to feel any sympathy when Hopkins is abducted, stripped to his underwear and sent to a watery grave in the boot of a stolen Ford Sierra. Is it a warning from a Spanish gang or a problem closer to home?