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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>

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{{newreview|author=Nigel McCrery|title=Core of Evil|ratingThe Best New Books==4|genre=Crime'''Read [[:Category:New Reviews|summary=Violet Chambers becomes Daisy Wilson through an aromatic cup of tea, flavoured with Christmas rosesnew reviews by category]].'''<br>

'"There are all kinds of horrible things in ''Read [[:Category:Features|the Christmas rose," she said, watching to see whether Daisy could still hear herlatest features]]. "Helleborin and hellebrin are both like digitalis, which I've also used before, but there's saporin and protoanemonin as well. It's a very nasty cocktail."'

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 the who with whom she began''Read [[Forthcoming Publications|reviews of books about to be published]]. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847243843</amazonuk>}}

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John Van der Kiste0008517061|title=Jonathan Wild: Conman and CutpurseDeath in a Lonely Place|author=Stig Abell

|genre=HistoryCrime|summary=Born towards the end of the seventeenth century Jonathan Wild was to become the eighteenth century's most famous criminalFormer Metropolitan Police detective, Jake Johnson, plying has settled into his trade in rustic life at Little Sky. There’s perhaps a rather curious fashion. He was born in Wolverhampton little uncertainty about the future of parents described his life with his vet girlfriend, Livia and her daughter Diana, as ''moving in together would mean but honest''. It seems likely that he first travelled to London as the servant a lot of a lawyer where he was eventually to settle, leaving compromise: does Jake give up his wife off-grid and child relaxing life to fend move in with Livia or does Livia move to Little Sky despite her reservations about whether or not this is the future she wants for themselves. herself and her daughter? It was whilst serving a term of imprisonment For the moment they’re enjoying life in Wood Street Compter that he mixed with the cream of London's criminal underclass present and learned putting the rudiments of his tradefuture on the back burner.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848682190</amazonuk>

{{Frontpage|isbn=1786482126|title=The Janus Stone (Dr Ruth Galloway)|author=Elly Griffiths|rating=4.5|genre=Crime|summary=Builders were demolishing an old house in Norwich - the site was going to hold seventy-five 'luxury' apartments - when they discovered the bones of a child beneath a doorway. There was no skull. Was this a ritual killing or murder? Inevitably, Dr Ruth Galloway finds herself working with DCI Harry Nelson. It'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 three months ago. Her condition will be obvious before long, not least because Ruth is prone to sudden bouts of sickness.}}{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=0008551324|title=The Devil You Know (D S Max Craigie)|author=K M GrantNeil Lancaster|rating=4.5|genre=Crime|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 missing person is buried and who was responsible for her death. This person, he promises, is someone big and it will be worth the police doing what he wants. And what he wants is to be transferred to an open prison to serve the remainder of his sentence and to get an early parole date. Not much to ask, is it? The new Deputy Police Constable doesn't think so and she's even prepared to do the other thing that Hardie demanded - make certain that DS Max Craigie and anyone who works with him is kept well away from what's happening.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=0008405026|title=Paradise Red A Stranger in the Family (Perfect Fire TrilogyMaeve Kerrigan 11)|author=Jane Casey

|genre=TeensCrime|summary=We It's sixteen years since nine-year-old Rosalie Marshall disappeared from her bed one summer night. She was never found and the investigation ground to a halt. Now, her mother, Helena, and her father are back dead in their bed. Initially, it looks like a straightforward murder/suicide but there's something about the south positioning of France for the third bodies that makes DS Maeve Kerrigan and final timeher boss DI Josh Derwent suspicious. In one corner, What looked as though it was going to be an open-and-shut case is now a complex double murder. Kerrigan is convinced that the explanation lies in Rosalie'Frenchs disappearance: others (such as Derwent's boss, Una Burt) are less convinced.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=0571379877|title=The Kellerby Code|author=Jonny Sweet|rating=3.5|genre=Crime|summary=Edward Jevons is a working-class young man, obsessed with King Louis and his henchmen rampaging throughupper-class friends, warring in the name of peaceRobert and Stanza. Robert's a theatre director. In another cornerHe's also self-obsessed, the local peopledemanding, struggling in the harsh environment handsome and entitled and none too pleased uses Edward to see their corner of the world the location run errands for religious wars, him. Edward has been in love with the Cathar Stanza since their university days - and he''heretics'' also presents drunkenly confided how he feels to Robert. The lines are drawn, Most men in Robert's position would stay away from Stanza or tell Edward that a realistically convoluted way, and this book will see one of our heroes cross one such line, just as other people make their own momentous decisions. It will take all relationship had begun between them but he's not like most men: Edward is left to stumble upon the narrative skills two of the land itself to get the story across to usthem kissing in a dark passageway.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847247075</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Camilla NoliJo Callaghan|title=The Mother's TaleLeave No Trace

|genre=Women's FictionCrime|summary=''It When a man is early evening. I am suckling my infant son… We are picture perfect. Madonna and child''.  No doubt about it: found crucified on the top of a new mother totally smitten with hill in Nuneaton, DCS Kat Frank finds herself assigned to the case alongside her son. Zach is adorable. Quiet. Undemanding. A happysidekick, generally relaxed, childthe AI detective Lock. Gorgeous.  But Zach isnIt't her s their first-bornlive case together, having previously been very successful with several cold cases. First But when there was Cassieis a second body found crucified a few days later, Kat is suddenly struggling with a potential serial killer and a very high profile case that draws a lot of unwanted attention to their AI Future Policing project. A child who entered Will they be able to solve the world screaming case in time, or will Kat find herself taken off the case and has since learned exactly what power she can wring with such lungs. Not yet two years old, Cassie adores her fatherpotentially, but even him she manipulates. Her mother she terrorises.out of a career?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1409101584</amazonuk>139851120X

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=AQA 633361399613073|title=More Brilliant AnswersMoral Injuries|author=Christie Watson|rating=4.5|genre=TriviaThrillers|summary=If you've got Olivia, Laura 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 question bonus when you can text those nice people at AQA 63336 and they'll do their best aim to provide you with be a cardiothoracic surgeon. Laura is a prompt perfectionist and accurate answera trauma doctor. Over Anjali is the free spirit of the last five years group and she becomes a GP. When we first meet them they've answered some twenty million questions re at a drug and each autumn they publish a book with the best alcohol-fuelled party and most interesting of the yearit's answersgoing to end in tragedy. ThereWe don's some fun to t know who suffered the tragedy or the consequences. Twenty-five years later there will be had in this yearan eerily similar event that will impact the three friends. This time, it's booktheir teenage children who are involved.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683262</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Patrick O'Brien0241636604|title=You Are The First Kid On MarsTrading Game: A Confession|author=Gary Stevenson

|genre=For SharingAutobiography|summary=It is If you were to bring up an image of a scicity banker in your mind, you're unlikely to think of someone like Gary Stevenson. A hoodie and jeans replaces the pin-fi future of no danger whatsoeverstripe suit and his background is the East End, where he was familiar with no technological breakdownviolence, poverty and injustice. There was no fatal meteor strike, posh public school on his CV - but that he had been to the London School of course Economics. Stevenson is bright - extremely bright - and he has a facility with numbers which most of us can only envy. He also realised that most rich people expect poor people to be expected for stupid. It was his ability at what was, essentially, a card game which got him an internship with Citibank. Eventually, this marketturned into permanent employment as a trader. I say it more }}{{Frontpage|isbn=1035021803|title=The Antique Hunter's Guide to highlight how well the book Murder|author=C L Miller|rating=3.5|genre=Crime|summary=It's twenty years since Freya Lockwood has been illustratedback to the English country village where she grew up. Digital airbrush techniques She's back now because of a request for help from her beloved aunt, Carole. Freya's former mentor and more have taken Carole's close friend, Arthur Crockleford, is dead and the circumstances seem suspicious, to say the antiseptic sheen off least. Arthur was the whole experiencereason why Freya had not been back to the village: Arthur, but have still allowed for a great detail she feels, let her down badly. Even though they were in business together as antique hunters, she has not felt able to be near the man or pursue the profession she loved. After the machinerysplit, she worked in a cafe, met and also a lovely warmth in married James (on the rebound from the face love of the lad we're empathising withher life, who was murdered) and Freya and James have now divorced.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0399246347</amazonuk>

{{newreview|author=Mary Naylus|title=The Dresskeeper|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Things are pretty grim for PickyI've heard it said that 'technology' is what happens after you're eighteen. She is thirteen years oldWell, being bullied at school, and has to spend her weekends helping her single, working mum to take care I must confess that there have been more than a few decades of her little brother and her senile grandmothertechnology in my lifetime. One evening, at her GranI've kept up reasonably well with what's house, she goes up into advantageous to me but I'm left with the attic and tries on an old dress feeling that she finds inside an old chestit's all getting away from me. Some of it is - frankly - quite frightening. The dress turns out to be magicOf course, I could research the possibilities and she suddenly finds herself back in 17th Century London, struggling with a strange man the probabilities and end up down rabbit holes without really understanding whether I'm reading someone who is calling her knows what they'Amelia' and is trying to kill herre talking about or the latest conspiracy theorist. Picky ends up embroiled I needed people I knew I could trust and who could deliver information in Amelia's 17th century life as she tries to find out the truth of who is attempting to murder her, at the same time as trying to avoid arousing suspicion with her strange behaviour whenever she returns to the present daya way I could understand.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0956122280</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=John Abbott Nez Sunny Singh|title=Cromwell Dixon's Sky-CycleHotel Arcadia|rating=43.5|genre=For SharingThrillers |summary=Meet Cromwell DixonThe Hotel Arcadia is a luxury hotel in an unnamed city that has suddenly been violently taken over by a terrorist group. He's Hiding from the terrorists who are rampaging through, killing everyone on site, there is Sam, a real tinkererwartime photographer and Abhi, forever the hotel manager. As Abhi continues to try to care remotely for the residents who are still alive in the hotel, he forms a barn or somewhere building something manically unusual. Luckily - although his long-suffering mother may disagree bond with that word - heSam who refuses to be cowed by events, and keeps on venturing out of her room to try to capture what's around at happened through her photography. Although they only ever talk over the birth of powered flightphone, 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. Will his plans for a pedalled air machine work?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0399250417</amazonuk>086154742X

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sue Moorcroft1529153298|title=Starting OverThe List of Suspicious Things|author=Jennie Godfrey|rating=45|genre=Women's General Fiction|summary=The story opens when Tess bumps her old reliable car into a breakdown truckIt's 1979 and Margaret Thatcher is Prime Minister. (A woman? I mean, honestly... That) She's rather convenientnot what's worrying Miv's family, though. Women have been disappearing. Well, since she isnthey't hurtve been murdered, and the guy driving it is able but to tow have 'disappeared' doesn't sound quite so frightening. Miv's upset because she's overheard that her father wants to his garagemove the family 'Down South'. When you're from Yorkshire, and then give her Down South is a lift to her new homefrightening, foreign place, best avoided. Naturally For Miv, since this is the move would mean leaving her best friend, Sharon, and she'chick-litll do anything to prevent that. She' genre, Tess and s not worried about the truck-driver, who goes by the unlikely name of Ratty (an abbreviation of his surname) feel mutual antipathy of the sort dangers or thather Mum's clearly going stopped talking - to lead, sooner or later, to strong attractionanyone.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906931224</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mary Beard1398524085|title=It's A Don's LifeHas Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?|author=Nicci French

|genre=LifestyleCrime|summary=Professor Mary BeardCharlotte Salter was expected at her husband's fiftieth birthday party but never turned up. Her children, feisty Cambridge classics donsons Niall, keeps an eye open for architectural detail wherever she goes. Even on holiday, she notices the changing urban landscape Paul and Ollie and records interesting parallels with ancient cities in her sparky blogdaughter, Etty. She is engaged in writing a detailed history of Pompeii and suddenly realisesare all worried but - strangely - her husband, whilst perambulating the backstreets of the Mexican city of OaxacanAlec, that this is exactly what Pompeii must have been likenot. She observes the low rise shops Shortly afterwards, dirt tracks across dusty streets Etty and Greg, find the close juxtaposition body of rich and poor. Impressive portals of grand residential properties tower above humble workshops, and this prompts her into imaginative reconstruction. In her blogGreg's father, from which this intriguing book is culledDuncan Ackerley, she tells us about just how Oaxacan encourages her to ponder again in the curious cart ruts of Pompeiiriver. She even finds walls splashed with political slogans It was an easy assumption for the police to make that are just like Roman ''dipinti'Duncan had murdered Charlie and then committed suicide when he couldn't stand the guilt. Indeed, here in Mexico, the local library displays an edifying message in Spanish which originates in Cicero The Salter children are not convinced but there's speech in his Pro Archia, ''Science little else they can do but get on with their lives and letters are the nourishment of youth and the diversion of old agewonder about what really happened.''|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846682517</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Kate Tremayne1035906708|title=The Loveday ConspiracyDiva|author=Daisy Goodwin|rating=4.5|genre=Historical General Fiction|summary=Trevowan Manor has been the home We tend to think of the Loveday family for generations. It will still be owned by a Loveday Maria Callas as Greek, but St John Loveday lost the house on the throw of a dice before killing himself – she was born to Greek parents in Manhattan, New York, in December 1923 and now his cousin Tristan has the houseonly moved to Athens when she was thirteen. St JohnHer original surname was Kalogeropoulos but her father changed it to 'Callas's twin, Adam, vows that he will punish to make it more manageable in the man responsibleStates. Amelia has been forced from Trevowan and is now living 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 cottage with the other dispossessed women. As if this wasn't enough mother who mercilessly exploited her and made no secret of a problem, her son from preference for her first marriage, Richardelder sister, has become even more than wayward and Amelia is forced to make a difficult choiceJackie.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755347676</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Julian BarnesChristopher Edge|title=Staring at the SunBlack Hole Cinema Club

|genre=Literary FictionConfident Readers|summary=JeanLucas and his friends are all booked in for a movie marathon at their local cinema, a place that has the nickname of 'The Black Hole's first Incident involved Uncle Leslie, hyacinths and golf tees. It's perhaps best forgotten All big movie fans, but Jean doesnthey't forget. Uncle Leslie figures large in her life - mostly on the golf course - until the War comes and he runs away re looking forward to America. He's replaced by Tommy Prosserlots of exciting films, a grounded pilot who once saw the sun rise twice in one day and excites as many questions in Jean , many snacks! However, as he ever answers. Tommy the movie starts, they very quickly realise that something about this new film format is replaced by Michaelvery different, a policeman, whom Jean eventually marries. He doesn't know why minks and they are excessively tenacious of life and he doesnswept up into an adventure they couldn't much careeven imagine. But Jean does. She cares much less for as they lurch from one film genre to the Dutch cap that Michael sent her off next, can they figure out what on earth is going on? Will they ever get back to obtain before the wedding cinema, and much less again for to their rather disastrous adventures in the bedroom. real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099540096</amazonuk>1839942738

{{newreview|author=Alexandra Bruce|title=2012: Science or Superstition|rating=3.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=The fuss about 2012 has not started just recently. The first book to feature the story was from Rosevear, a Yale professorremote and partially forgotten island, in 1966survives on luring ships into the rocks and plundering the wrecks. We've also had prog rock bands named after Popol VuhMira, like her mother before her, is one of the Maya creation mythseven who swim out to survey the ruins – rescuing any survivors and any treasure that lies within. But as when the Council Watch lays a trap to end the crunch date of December 21stwrecking, 2012 - they capture the winter solstice that year - nears, itisland's leader and Mira's becoming father. Desperate to save him from death, Mira makes a very big story indeed. Even though it sounds absurd - the end of bargain with a 5wreck survivor who is as charming as he is secretive and with only coordinates to guide her,125-year long cycle she sets off in search of a family secret that lies buried deep in the Maya calendarsea. With only nine days to unearth what might save her father, which started on August 13th, 3114BCE - or was judged as her journey takes her from the watched streets of foreign islands to start then, when they came across this concept a couple the heart of thousand years into that period. Surely they couldnthe smuggler't predict s territory, Mira must be determined to stop at nothing to save the future from their 'primitive' state with such accuracy?of her home and the ones she holds most dear.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1934708283</amazonuk>0008664730

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jeff KinneyJames Sherwood Metts|title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog DaysPlanet Storyland

|summary=It is Things have been a truth universally acknowledged bit sticky for the Earthlings. AI and automation have been proceeding apace, often replacing jobs they're paid to do and other tasks that school summer holidays are only enjoyable if you want took time to enjoy summeraccomplish. Greg here doesn't want Just as they were beginning to get used to notice it, all this technological change and would prefer starting to spend his days curtains drawnthink of other, face glued new ways to late night TV or a computer gamespend time, hand either clicking away at a controller or shovelling in snacksalong came an awful pandemic. The last thing he needsLife was pretty much shut down and, then, is his motheralong with it, all the many daily social interactions on a ''family togetherness'' trip, and on a budget, with bad ideas of what Greg should be doing insteadwhich they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0141327650</amazonuk>1736128426

{{newreview|author=Rick Yancey|title=The Monstrumologist: The Terror Beneath|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=In late 19th century AmericaWithin a remote mountain pass, far away from the world, young Will Henry has been lies Silverton; a town under the apprentice protection of the sternBriar's, forbidding Dr Warthrop since the death a family of his parents, witches who were also employed by protect the doctortown and the wider world from the Darklands. The twelve year old boy Though she has seen many things in his service to always wished for magic, Ellie Briar is the monstrumologist first non- witch to be born into her family for generations and as such since she was young, her training as a specialist in monsters - but nothing can prepare him for steward revolved around letters and administration rather than spells and potions. When her grandmother suddenly dies, Ellie's cousin Audra becomes the Briar Witch, the town's leader, and Ellie takes her place beside her. As challenges come her way left, right and centre, Ellie uncovers the fateful day when an elderly grave robber brings rare ability to communicate with the doctor dead, putting her at the twin corpses heart of a young girl maelstrom of chaos. Reeling from one family secret to another, Ellie must decide who to trust and determine what to do as the headless creature with fangs in his chest who had tried Briar witches' legacy, everything they have sacrificed to feast on hersurvive, is under threat.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>184738546X</amazonuk>1803364548

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stella Whitelaw1529900360|title=Midsummer MadnessThe Ghost Orchid|author=Jonathan Kellerman

|genre=Women's FictionCrime|summary=YouIt hadn't been Lt Milo Sturgis'll like Sophie Gresham. She wanted to be an actress s fault that Alex Delaware had been badly injured but suffers from paralysing stage fright he felt responsible and when the side effects became too much even after Alex recovered, Sturgis was reluctant to ask for her she worked behind the sceneshis help on difficult cases. SheHis assertions that there were only open-and-shut cases which didn's a very good prompt despite the fact that you t need to wrap up very warmly to survive in the prompt corner she loves her job and most help of the cast in the theatre companya psychologist only worked for a while. ItFinally, it was Robin, Delaware's a bit of a shock though when she realises partner, who nudged Milo into asking for help again. She knew that the guest producer from New York is Joe Harrison, involvement was something that the man she helped out when he had nothing to eat and nowhere to sleeploved needed. The next case did look simple, though. Sophie was Two lovers were murdered in the swimming pool of a little softer in those days – remote property in Bel Air. He was the meantime heir to an Italian shoe empire and sheis married to an extremely rich man and it's had to develop a protective shellnot the Italian.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089147</amazonuk> But which of them was the primary target?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Bonnie Greer1529395224|title=Obama MusicLetting the Cat Out of the Bag: The Secret Life of a Vet|author=Sion Rowlands|rating=3.5|genre=HistoryAnimals and Wildlife|summary=This is an interesting read, but unless I'm missing something, the focus of the book seems a little difficult to graspSiôn Rowlands fell into veterinary science accidentally. ItHis father was a GP and Rowlands didn's best if I start with t want to follow in his footsteps, particularly when he considered the authorstrain that being on-call put on his father's intentions as set out in her Prologuelife. It is a mixture of tales When he was seventeen he took the opportunity of her own life growing up on the South Side, she writes, interspersed doing work experience with stories a family friend who was a vet and observations about Obama, linking it with was convinced this was the music, musicians and music scene, past and present, including hip hop, country, classicaljob for him. Before long, and rock'n'rollhe was at Liverpool University. All of these, she notes, were heard on the PresidentIt hadn's Inauguration Dayt - as with so many students - been his dream since he was a child. To them she adds the bluesIf anything, gospel, soul and jazz of the South Side, when the people began he'd wanted to build the great institutions and great solidarity that enabled him to become the most powerful man on the planetbe a professional footballer.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906558248</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=P J Parrish0861541774|title=Dead A Nye of WinterPheasants|author=Steve Burrows

|summary=Loon LakeDCI Domenic Jejeune's close friend and former colleague, Michigan is picture-postcard pretty – Danny Maik, has taken a short holiday in Singapore to meet up with an idyll that sits serenely and snugly old ally, Guy Trueman. Maik was involved in the midst of a pinestreet brawl -peppered winter wonderland. Louis Kincaid needs he would later maintain that he was facing a man armed with a little serenity in his life knife - and on arrival in Loon Lake he feels almost as if he has come home. Life has not been easy for Kincaidkilled a Ghurka. A troubledInitially, unhappy child he faced a charge of mixed race, passed around various institutions and foster homes, Louis figures manslaughter but evidence came to light that suggested that if he is going might have planned to put some integrity back into murder the world, man. Now he will need could be facing the death penalty. Domenic Jejeune can do nothing to wear help as any interference from another police force could provoke a badge to do itdiplomatic incident and wouldn't help Danny at all.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847391346</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Russell Celyn JonesAlexander McCall Smith|title=The Ninth Wave (New Stories from the Mabinogion) Perfect Passion Company

|genre=Literary General Fiction|summary=Pwyll rules The Perfect Passion Company is a medieval-style fiefdom dating agency in Edinburgh, run by Ness and operating as an alternative to all the online apps in providing a more personal, tailored service. Ness has asked her younger cousin Katie if she could come and look after the business, as Ness is planning to take a trip to Canada to get away for a post-climate change Waleswhile. Life Katie is different coming out of a break up with a bad boyfriend, and 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 the Isabel Dalhousie novels, but with some new characters who quickly begin to charm. Katie has no experience in many ways 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…|isbn=1846976596}}{{Frontpage|isbn=0811771741|title=InstaKnits for Baby|author=Melissa Leapman|rating=4|genre=Crafts|summary=Melissa Leapman's ''InstaKnits for Baby'' gives us a newcollection of knits from toys to blankets. Some will be quick knits -but-old social order built on feudalism and horsepower is others are of the main means 'long, cosy afternoons in front of transportthe fire' variety. But in many ways it The projects are divided by the time they's much the same ll take to complete - people still fight one anotherless than five hours, towns still have sink estatesfive to ten hours, rich boys still have too much time on their hands ten to twenty hours and more than twenty hours. All the projects are attractive, modern and precious little meaning in their livesuseable. I perhaps show my age when I wonder about 'social-media-worthy projects' but that's me being picky. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1854115146</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Owen SheersDean Koontz|title=White Ravens (New Stories from the Mabinogion)The Bad Weather Friend

|genre=Literary FictionParanormal|summary=In the old tale, Branwen Benny is the sister of Bendigeidfran - the giant King of Britain. She marries the King of Ireland, who doesn't treat her well. She manages to send Bendigeidfran having a message via a tamed starling and war and killings ensueterrifically bad day. In this new tale He loses his job, a young girl has just walked away from her brothers whohe loses his fiancee, in the wake of the devastating foot and mouth outbreakhis house gets trashed. Oh, are despoiling their heritage by rustling and illegally slaughtering sheep. She meets an old man who tells her someone has delivered a story involving the superstitions about the ravens in the Tower of Londonreally weird, propaganda work during World War IIdisturbing coffin-sized object to his home, and an equally doomed love affair. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1854115030</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jennifer Bohnet|title=Follow Your Star|rating=3.5|genre=Womenit's Fiction|summary=It's three years since Nanette Weston left Monaco. She'd been engaged to a Formula 1 racing driver and had lived the life of possible that whoever or whatever was inside is the wealthy but a serious car accident had ended all thing that. has trashed his house! The accident could have killed her fiancé and she lost her driving licence because of thing is, Benny is the alcohol she'd consumed. Her slow recovery was hindered by the end of her engagement but she's found some contentment in being a nanny very last person to two young childrendeserve all this bad luck. When her friend and employer, Vanessa, remarries and takes an extended honeymoon in the Amazon Nanette He is asked to take the children back to Monaco where their father lives.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089090</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=J R Stephenson|title=Crooked Justice|rating=2.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Meet Barry Johnsa nice person. You'll see him coming - he's five hundred pounds if he's an ounceA really nice person. Just don't ever lend him money - he won't pay So fortunately for Benny it back. A businessman with turns out that the delivery to his house is a share of a nightclub on Cyprusnew friend, he goes there for a customary breakbad weather friend called Spike, and finds his sort-of moll-type sort-of girlfriend who has been installed as the bar dancersent to help him since Benny is clearly under attack from nefarious forces for being a good person. He manages Spike is going to tread both on the toes take care of his local colleague Benny, and some Greek rivals. And when a rival in London chases him up for thousands will certainly take care of pounds owed he decides to pack up and shut up. ItBenny's a big stone that hides himenemies, but if he leaves , Benny, and Harper (a very awkward trail for everyone wanting to upturn it and get their revengewaitress slash Private Investigator who finds herself roped into Benny's wild adventure) can figure out who exactly they are.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0955855713</amazonuk>1662500491

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Stephen BakerAdam Stower|title=They've Got Your NumberMurray and Bun

|genre=Popular ScienceConfident Readers |summary=If you are in the slightest bit paranoidMurray is supposed to be a humble, tidy and friendly cat, worry that ''Big Brother'' one who is always watching or like able to believe that you are not sleep and eat and eat and sleep and, well, whatever takes his fancy next of the two. But he's a numberbad magician's cat, but so his favourite bun has been turned into a free man (or woman)hyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, and the catflap they both use can chuck them out, then this may not be into the book for youregular back garden, as it will do nothing to dispel any but into a world of those worriesfrightening adventure and whiffs. If This time round it drops them into a Viking land, on the other handwhere a troll hunter is expected – well, you think 'the mathematical modelling of humanity' sounds like one of the sexiest things evermuch bigger than Murray was, and are chomping at the bit to learn more about itbe honest, then you might well be interested in what Business Week journalist Baker has but he's turned up and he'll have to say.do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099507021</amazonuk>0008561249

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Rebecca TopeB0C47LV1PC|title=Fear in the CotswoldsFragility|author=Mosby Woods

|genre=CrimeLiterary Fiction|summary=Thea Osborne is Can you make a house sitter by profession. When people go away she moves into their homes and looks after their animals and the property. This time it's winter and she's spending a month in the Cotswold village of Hampnett. It wouldnYo birthing person''t be a job for all of us but Thea delights in getting to know joke? And if you could, is the local people and question should you make it? Or is the area. In the past she's also been involved with the police in solving various cases but question if you did, would it looks as though land? The catch is that might have come to an end as the relationship she had with DS Phil Hollis has crumbledanswer for both could well be... For 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 field. When the police finally arrive the body has disappeared and the police obviously wonder if she's imagined it allno.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749007478</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Tad Tuleja|title=A Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases|rating=3|genre=Home and Family|summary=Take a look at ''Fragility'' is set as the cover design city of this bookPortland, and you'd be mistaken for thinking this was a trivia compendium for all those foreign words that have taken part in our English language since whenever they crossed over Oregon, cautiously begins to emerge from their original homes. But the title is definitely honest, for this is a dictionary book first, for reference, and a browser for restrictions imposed during the trivia buff second.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089562</amazonuk>covid pandemic

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Anne Rice1529431735|title=Angel Time|rating=2.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Toby O'Dare is an extremely efficient hit man with a passion for music, history and playing his beloved lute. He's also something of a lost soul having turned his back on God many years ago. One day while on a 'job' he is visited by an Angel who offers him a chance at redemption. Toby agrees to become the Angel's human instrument and help save lives rather than take them. He is sent on an assignment to help a Jewish couple accused of murder in 13th Century England.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701178140</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewThe Winter Visitor|author=Ian Mortimer|title=1415: James Henry V's Year of Glory|rating=5|genre=History|summary=The medieval, in fact time-honoured, view of King Henry V as one of England's greatest heroes was propagated though not originated by Shakespeare, and again more recently to some extent by Olivier's portrayal in film. At least one historian has called him ''the greatest man that ever ruled England''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224079921</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Deborah Gregory|title=Dancing With The Dead|rating=3|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=I wanted to read ''Dancing with the Dead'', because I'm interested in family history. The blurb on the back of the book also mentioned Gill – our heroine of the piece – was moving from Bristol (my current home) to Lincolnshire (where I was born and brought up). I felt with all these links, the novel could not fail to interest me – but this was not the case.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904529305</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Miss Read|title=Christmas at Thrush Green

|genre=Women's FictionCrime|summary=Set in the rural village of Thrush GreenIt's February 1991 and Essex is bitingly cold, this book is which made Bruce Hopkins' return all the latest in a series surrounding familiar charactersmore surprising. There is He'd been exiled on the feisty Ella Bembridge, who is finally having to admit that old age is creeping up Costa del Sol as her eyesight failsa wanted drug smuggler for a decade. Friends such as Dimity and Charles Henstock are concerned The return has come about herbecause he's had a letter from his ex-wife, but saying that she refuses 's ill and hasn't long to accept any helplive. Albert Piggott has decided it It's time hard to feel any sympathy when Hopkins is abducted, stripped to retire now that his wife, Nelly, is a successful cafe owner underwear and can afford sent to take care a watery grave in the boot of him! And relative newcomer Phil Hurst and her husband are arranging the local nativity play, despite a number of set-backsstolen Ford Sierra. Will everything be in place for Christmas? And will independent Ella make Is it a warning from a Spanish gang or a decision about her futureproblem closer to home?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1409101592</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Matt Alex Bell and DaveTim McDonagh|title=Yuck's Robotic BottomThe Glorious Race of Magical Beasts

|summary=It's concerned me for Eli is a while that it's relatively easy to pick up early readers for girls busy lad – princessesby day an apprentice in the wondrous library we start by visiting with him, magic soft toysand in the evening a helper at the dessert cafe his gran owns and runs. Eli lives with his lovely gran, mermaids and pets abound too – but for there's is a much smaller choice for boysgeneration missing in the family. ItA few short years ago, Eli's important too with early readers that parents were both lost to the content is ''interesting'' and reading becomes more than just something which you ''titular race, a globe-trotting adventure where all entrants have'' to do at school and moves into being funnavigate the world in the company of a magical beast. Matt and Dave have found This has made the race anathema to the pair – but when a bad incident at the eatery leads to a confession from gran, Eli knows his only hope is to dare to enter what he most hates, with the sole aim the prize of magic at the end – the answer in Yuckonly thing to possibly save his gran.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847382991</amazonuk>0571382231

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John E Smelcer178763681X|title=The Great DeathKnife Skills for Beginners|author=Orlando Murrin

|genre=General FictionCrime|summary='As Western Europeans settled Alaska, they brought with them diseases against which the indigenous people had no natural immunity. At the beginning of the twentieth century, fully two thirds of all Alaska natives perished from Chef Paul Delamare took a teaching job at a pandemic of measles, smallpox, and influenzaresidential cookery school in Belgravia. No community was spared. In most cases, half of a village He didn's population died within t really want to but celebrity chef Christian Wagner had a week. In some cases, there were no survivors. It was the end of an ancient way of life. Natives still refer getting both men and women to the dreadful period as the Great Deathdo what he wanted. Paul '|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1842709194</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Maxine Barry|title=River Deep|rating=3.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Two young women both have a love of the Thames. Melisande Raysomehow''s beloved hotel, got the Ray of Sunshine is on the river bank. Itimpression that he's here that guests come who want to d be pampered and looked after in at the way that only the best hotels can do wellschool to assist Paul, who had a broken arm, but when Wendell James checks in to the hotel itdidn's not pampering t turn out that way. The teaching - and the problems - are all his own. The one thing hehadn's looking t expected was forsomeone to turn up dead. He's buying a piece of land not far from Unfortunately, he was the person who discovered the Ray of Sunshine body and he's sussing out the competition. There's something personal in there too – if his new hotel means everyone knows that the Ray of Sunshine goes under then police consider that would person to be an added bonus. There's just a slight doubt in his mind when a red-haired maid catches his eyethe prime suspect.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709088930</amazonuk>