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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>

There are currently '''{{PAGESINCATEGORY:Reviews}}'by readers from all the many walks of literary life. With author interviews, features and top tens. You'll be sure to find something you' reviews at TheBookbagll want to read here.Dig in!

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==New There are currently '''{{PAGESINCATEGORY: Reviews==}}'''Read [[:Category:New Reviews|new reviews by genre]]at TheBookbag.'''

'''Read Want to find out more [[FeaturesAbout Us|new featuresabout us]].'''? __NOTOC__{{newreview|author=Thomas Trofimuk |title=Waiting for Columbus|rating=4.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=I was hooked instantly by the title. Original, thought-provoking, quirky. The book revolves around a youngish man who has been admitted to an insane asylum (these two words alone make me want to shiver) in modern-day Spain. The staff have their work cut out. He doesn't remember his name or anything at all about his past. He's sporadically violent - and he says he is Christopher Columbus! As the Americans would say, go figure. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330518844</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Julie Highmore|title=The Message|ratingBest New Books=4.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=''The Message'' is very much a twenty first century tale as it all hinges on a voicemail message made from a mobile phone. It is also based on the fact that it is very easy to send a message to one person when it is actually meant for someone else. This is what happens to Jen when she receives a message from her husband Robert. There is nothing particularly special about this message; that is until Jen realises that she is not the intended recipient and then it has a shattering effect on her marriage.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755343018</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Dugald Steer|title=The Dragon Diary: Dragonology Chronicles Volume 2|rating=3|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Daniel and Beatrice Cook are studying Dragonology with Dr Ernest Drake, and are awaiting the hatching of their very own dragon egg. But suddenly their parents have gone missing, an illness is killing dragons and it all smells of evil dragonologist, Alexandra Gorynytchka. Before they know it, the brother, sister and new dragon chick have to deliver Liber Draconis, the dragon diary, and St Petroc's chalice to Dr Drake in Hong Wei, which may hold the secret to the cure. As the back cover reads: ''The future of dragon kind hangs in the balance!'' |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0763634255</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Isabel Ashdown'''Read [[:Category:New Reviews|title=Glasshopper|rating=4|genre=General Fiction|summary=Thirteen-year-old Jake is just like any other boy on the cusp of puberty: new music and Saturday jobs are at the top of his agenda, while girls are the strange exotic creatures that must be looked at but not touched (particularly his pretty Classics teacher)reviews by category]]. But behind closed doors, Jake struggles to cope with his mother's ongoing battle with depression and alcoholism. His father moved out a few weeks ago. So has his older brother, Matthew. That leaves Jake as the man of the house: the one who must remember to get him and little brother, Andy, up in time for school in the morning; the one making toast for dinner; and the one keeping a watchful eye over his mother to make sure she doesn't get herself into any serious trouble.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0954930975'</amazonukbr>}}

{{newreview|author=Kate Lum and Sue Hellard|title=Princesses Are Not Perfect|rating=3.5|genre=For Sharing'''Read [[:Category:Features|summary=Princesses Allie, Mellie and Libby love baking, gardening and building respectively. The day before the big summer party, they suddenly fancy a change and all swap jobslatest features]]. With a hundred punnets of blueberries to pick, a hundred cupcakes to make, and a hundred chairs to build, the children are going to be awfully disappointed if the princesses' new-found interests aren't successful.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0747599297</amazonuk>}}'

'''Read [[Forthcoming Publications|reviews of books about to be published]].{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Avivah Wittenberg-Cox and Alison MaitlandSylvie Cathrall|title=Why Women Mean BusinessA Letter to the Luminous Deep

|genre=Business and FinanceScience Fiction|summary=Do you want There are few greater joys than a book which lives up to improve your business? Make more profits? You probably need to look at the sector which makes 80% of purchasing decisions, a compelling premise. And this is the majority one of the talent and represents 59% of graduates. Womenthem.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0470749504</amazonuk>0356522776

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David Clayton0008517061|title=The Richard Beckinsale StoryDeath in a Lonely Place|author=Stig Abell

|genre=BiographyCrime|summary=A generation probably knows Richard Beckinsale only from repeats on Former Metropolitan Police detective, Jake Johnson, has settled into his rustic life at Little Sky. There’s perhaps a little uncertainty about the UK Gold TV channelsfuture of his life with his vet girlfriend, Livia and from occasional mentions her daughter Diana, as moving in together would mean a lot of 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 context of 'how great he would have been if only…' future she wants for herself and her daughter? In 1978 The Sunday Times Magazine tipped For the moment they’re enjoying life in the 30-year-old sitcom favourite as a rising major star of present and putting the 80s who would blossom into one of future on the great all-round stage actorsback burner. One year later, he was dead.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0752454404</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Thomas Asbridge1786482126|title=The Crusades: The War for the Holy LandJanus Stone (Dr Ruth Galloway)|author=Elly Griffiths

|genre=HistoryCrime|summary=The word Builders were demolishing an old house in Norwich - the site was going to hold seventy-five 'Crusadesluxury' has been misappropriated and often used in various other contexts over apartments - when they discovered the passing yearsbones of a child beneath a doorway. In their original meaning they were There was no skull. Was this a series of holy wars during the medieval era between the Christian and Muslim worldritual killing or murder? Inevitably, Dr Ruth Galloway finds herself working with DCI Harry Nelson. It's difficult as Ruth knows, but Nelson doesn't, fighting for dominion over the Holy Land between 1095 and 1291 that she is pregnant with his child as the defenders a result of western civilization formed expeditions travelling across the face of the known world from Europeone night they spent together some three months ago. Her condition will be obvious before long, their sole aim being not least because Ruth is prone to conquer and defend an isolated swathe sudden bouts of territory centred on Jerusalemsickness.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0743268601</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=M R Hall0008551324|title=The DisappearedDevil You Know (D S Max Craigie)|author=Neil Lancaster|rating=4.5

|summary=We first met Jenny Cooper in [[The Coroner by M R Hall|The Coroner]] when she had just taken over as Coroner It's unusual for Severn Valleyanyone from the Hardie family to approach the police. It's now some months later Neither side likes or has any respect for the other. But Davie Hardie is struggling in prison and whilst shehe's settled into prepared to tell the police where the job to some extent body of a missing person is buried and who was responsible for her relationship with her officerdeath. This person, Alisonhe promises, is uneven someone big and she's still shaky mentally 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 dependant on pills to a greater extent than she would care get an early parole date. Not much to admit. ask, is it? SheThe new Deputy Police Constable doesn's a feisty woman though t think so and determined that she's going even prepared to do the job properlyother 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>0230709850</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ann Pearlman0008405026|title=The Cookie ClubA Stranger in the Family (Maeve Kerrigan 11)|author=Jane Casey

|genre=Women's FictionCrime|summary=Chocolate bonbons with an almond glazeIt's sixteen years since nine-year-old Rosalie Marshall disappeared from her bed one summer night. Peanut butter cookies double dipped in chocolate. Coffee She was never found and raisin hermit biscuitsthe investigation ground to a halt. Crisp vanilla fingers with toasted almonds. Thin crunchy crisps flavoured with molasses Now, her mother, Helena, and gingerher father are dead in their bed.  If youInitially, it looks like a straightforward murder/suicide but there're even s something about the slightest bit peckish after positioning of the bodies that, I guarantee you'll makes DS Maeve Kerrigan and her boss DI Josh Derwent suspicious. What looked as though it was going to be starving by an open-and-shut case is now a complex double murder. Kerrigan is convinced that the time you finish this wonderful book full of festive flavourexplanation lies in Rosalie's disappearance: others (such as Derwent's boss, Una Burt) are less convinced.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847376843</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Carlo Collodi and Sara Fanelli0571379877|title=PinocchioThe Kellerby Code|author=Jonny Sweet|rating=43.5|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=Pinocchio, as you all know, Edward Jevons is a little wooden puppetworking-class young man, who wants to be obsessed with his upper-class friends, Robert and Stanza. Robert's a real boytheatre director. He's very badly behavedalso self-obsessed, demanding, handsome and always getting into troubleentitled and uses Edward to run errands for him. Will Edward has been in love with Stanza since their university days - and he listen 's drunkenly confided how he feels to the advice of Gepetto, the cricket Robert. Most men in Robert's position would stay away from Stanza or the fairy? Will tell Edward that a relationship had begun between them but he become real? What's it not like if he doesn't break into most men: Edward is left to stumble upon the two of them kissing in a Disney song every two minutes?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406317470</amazonuk>dark passageway.

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ursula Dubosarsky and Andrew JoynerJo Callaghan|title=The Terrible PlopLeave No Trace|rating=3.54|genre=For SharingCrime|summary=The rabbits are sitting by When a man is found crucified on the top of a hill in Nuneaton, DCS Kat Frank finds herself assigned to the lakecase alongside her sidekick, munching on cake and carrotsthe AI detective Lock. An apple falls in It's their first live case together, having previously been very successful with several cold cases. But when there is a terrible plopsecond 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. Will they scamper off scared. All be able to solve the other animals join case in time, or will Kat find herself taken off the stampede case and get as far away as they can from the terrible plop. Bear is far too big and grumpy to be scared, so he gets the littlest rabbit to show him just where the scariness lies...potentially, out of a career?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405251379</amazonuk>139851120X

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John Ward1399613073|title=The Comet's ChildMoral Injuries|author=Christie Watson

|genre=Confident ReadersThrillers|summary=Teenage Fin is rescued from his remote forest home by RaggOlivia, Laura and Anjali met on the first man he has ever encounteredday of medical school and their friendship would keep them inseparable for a quarter of a century. Having such Olivia is ruthlessly ambitious, which is a sheltered childhood has equipped Fin with bonus when you aim to be a cardiothoracic surgeon. Laura is a perfectionist and a trauma doctor. Anjali is the free spirit of the speech group and education of she becomes a GP. When we first meet them they're at a noblemandrug and alcohol-fuelled party and it's son but little idea about going to end in tragedy. We don't know who suffered the real worldtragedy or the consequences. Other than relying on his instincts and resourcefulnessTwenty-five years later there will be an eerily similar event that will impact the three friends. This time, Fin has no way of knowing it's their teenage children who to trust, or where he is bound as he leaves home with Raggare involved.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905537123</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Robert Jackson Bennett0241636604|title=Mr ShiversThe Trading Game: A Confession|author=Gary Stevenson|rating=4.5|genre=HorrorAutobiography|summary=Marcus Connelly, If you were to bring up an image of a quietcity banker in your mind, reserved and private man, has recently joined the mass of humanity travelling west in search you're unlikely to think of worksomeone like Gary Stevenson. It's A hoodie and jeans replaces the Midwest in pin-stripe suit and his background is the 1930s East End, where he was familiar with violence, poverty and injustice. There was no posh public school on his CV - but he had been to the Great Depression is in full swingLondon School of Economics. The dustbowl Stevenson is a desperate place and there's none more desperate than Connelly. But Connelly doesn't need a job bright - extremely bright - and he has a wife and facility with numbers which most of us can only envy. He also realised that most rich people expect poor people to be stupid. It was his ability at what was, essentially, a homecard game which got him an internship with Citibank. Connelly isn't missing prosperity; he's missing his daughter Eventually, and he's in search of the man who killed herthis turned into permanent employment as a trader. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1841498572</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Neil Cross1035021803|title=CapturedThe Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder|author=C L Miller|rating=43.5

|summary=Kenny is dying - brain cancer is hitting him just as heIt's barely turning fortytwenty years since Freya Lockwood has been back to the English country village where she grew up. As She's back now because of a result he compiles a short list of rights to wrongrequest for help from her beloved aunt, Carole. Freya's former mentor and Carole's close friend, Arthur Crockleford, is dead and people the circumstances seem suspicious, to create closure withsay the least. One, his ex-wifeArthur was the reason why Freya had not been back to the village: Arthur, might not be easyshe feels, two concern a misguided sense of a guilt of oldlet her down badly. The fourth turns out Even though they were in business together as antique hunters, she has not felt able to be a missing womannear the man or pursue the profession she loved. The journey he takes After the split, she worked in that redemptive exercise is not for a cafe, met and married James (on the rebound from the squeamishlove of her life, who was murdered) and Freya and James have now divorced.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847373976</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=The EconomistAllTomorrowsFutureCover|title=The World of BusinessAll Tomorrow's Futures: From Valuable Brands and Games Directors Play to Bail-Outs Fictions that Disrupt|author=Benjamin Greenaway and Bad Boys Stephen Oram (Editors)

|genre=Business and FinanceScience Fiction|summary=For years I've been a great fan 'Opening up new ways of The Economist's [[Pocket World in Figures 2010 by The Economist|Pocket World in Figures]] series with all thinking about the unbiased statistics which the average person could wantshape of things to come. I was just a little nervous when I opened ''The World of Business'' – just in case it was going to be a disappointment – but I needn't have worried.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846681588</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Rachel Renee Russell|title=Dork Diaries|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=I do like a blurb to be accurate've heard it said that 'technology' is what happens after you're eighteen. So when Well, I saw the back cover must confess that there have been more than a few decades of this book state the obvious to me, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid for girls!", I could rest assuredtechnology in my lifetime. I didn't relax fully, however, for ve kept up reasonably well with what's advantageous to me but I'd read [[Rodrick Rules (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) by Jeff Kinney|m left with the blue one]] feeling that it's all getting away from me. Some of those and found it a bit feebleis - frankly - quite frightening. Of course, I could research the possibilities and the probabilities and [[Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney|end up down rabbit holes without really understanding whether I'm reading someone who knows what they're talking about or the yellow one]] latest conspiracy theorist. I needed people I knew I could trust and found it who could deliver information in a bit fabulous, so way I couldn't guarantee any feminine, pink variant would be worth my timecould understand.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847387411</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Val DoonicanSunny Singh|title=My Story, My Life: Val Doonican - The Complete AutobiographyHotel Arcadia|rating=43.5|genre=AutobiographyThrillers |summary=In 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 1960sterrorists who are rampaging through, killing everyone on site, there is Sam, if Harold Wilson was the personification of politics a wartime photographer and the Beatles the collective icon of youth cultureAbhi, Val Doonican was similarly at the very apex of light entertainmenthotel manager. He may no longer have such a high profile – but he's outlasted them both. Over four decades he has refused As Abhi continues to bow try to passing fads and fashions, remained true to himself, and care remotely for the residents who are still alive in the process hotel, he has never really put forms a foot wrong. As he says towards the endbond with Sam who refuses to be cowed by events, 'When you find and keeps on venturing out of her room to try to capture what it is you do best, and what the public wants from you, then stick with it, and do it as well as you can's happened through her photography.' With Although they only ever talk over the possible exception of his contemporary and long-time professional and personal friend Rolf Harrisphone, it's difficult their friendship grows as Abhi tries to think of another person in showbiz who comes across as more genuinely likeable, help her keep safe and more a genuine case of 'what you they both wait to see is what you get'if they will be rescued before they are discovered by the terrorists.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906779619</amazonuk>086154742X

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Su Tong1529153298|title=The Boat to RedemptionList of Suspicious Things|author=Jennie Godfrey|rating=35|genre=Literary General Fiction|summary=Ku Dongliang It's 1979 and his fatherMargaret Thatcher is Prime Minister. (A woman? I mean, honestly...) She's not what's worrying Miv's family, though. Women have been disappearing. Well, Ku Wenxuanthey've been murdered, are forced but to live on a barge on the river following Ku Wenxuanhave 'disappeared' doesn't sound quite so frightening. Miv's upset because she's fall from grace. Originally believed overheard that her father wants to be move the son of a revolutionary martyrfamily 'Down South'. When you're from Yorkshire, it Down South is eventually proved that Mr Ku was not so - as a resultfrightening, foreign place, his position in society takes a nose-divebest avoided. Dongliang suffers as a result of this For Miv, finding it hard to make friends within the barge community move would mean leaving her best friend, Sharon, and on shoreshe'll do anything to prevent that. Then an orphaned girl moves onto She's not worried about the barges and finds a place in Dongliangdangers or that her Mum's apparently cold heartstopped talking - to anyone. Will she be able to take him out of himself? Or will she, too, turn her back on him?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>038561344X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Colin Cotterill1398524085|title=The Merry MisogynistHas Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?|author=Nicci French|rating=4.5

|summary=Dr Siri Paiboun is now married to Madame Daeng Charlotte Salter was expected at her husband's fiftieth birthday party but never turned up. Her children, sons Niall, Paul and despite the fact that they have a combined age of going on for a hundred Ollie and forty they're behaving like the newlyher daughter, Etty. are all worried but - strangely -weds they areher husband, Alec, is not. Even being the reluctant coroner for Shortly afterwards, Etty and Greg, find the Republic body of Laos can't dampen SiriGreg's enthusiasm for lifefather, Duncan Ackerley, in the river. Well, it can't until he makes It was an easy assumption for the gruesome discovery police to make that a man is wooing and wedding girls in various parts of the country Duncan had murdered Charlie and then murdering them on honeymoon and binding their bodies to trees. What committed suicide when he does to his victims leaves couldn't stand the morgue staff sickenedguilt. ThereThe Salter children are not convinced but there's a determination to find the man responsible little else they can do but get on with their lives and bring him to justicewonder about what really happened.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849160082</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Nicola Davies1035906708|title=Gaia WarriorsDiva|author=Daisy Goodwin

|genre=Children's Non-General Fiction|summary=The best way We tend to read this book is think of Maria Callas as Greek, but she was born to treat it like a magazine: flip the pages Greek parents in Manhattan, New York, in December 1923 and dip inonly moved to Athens when she was thirteen. I can guarantee that you will find something Her original surname was Kalogeropoulos but her father changed it to catch your eye. Fashion addicts could start on page 136 'Callas'Dressing for the climate'', foodies may prefer page 124 ''Rock-star food''. The array of different typefaces and page colours to make it more manageable in the book very easy to browse, and the author excels at explaining difficult concepts in a straightforward wayStates. So certain sections When she was back in it Athens - supposedly so that she could be considered not just as 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 older children or teen readersher elder sister, but as an informative read for adults as wellJackie.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406312347</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Iain BanksChristopher Edge|title=The Steep Approach to GarbadaleBlack Hole Cinema Club

|genre=Literary FictionConfident Readers|summary=It took me Lucas and his friends are all booked in for a movie marathon at their local cinema, a while place that has the nickname of 'The Black Hole'. All big movie fans, they're looking forward to lots of exciting films, and many, many snacks! However, as the movie starts, they very quickly realise that Iain Banks something about this new film format isvery different, most of all, a teller of tales - I would call him a story-teller had this term not became a compliment-cum-invective usually reserved for the Jeffrey Archers and Dan Browns of the modern publishing worldthey are swept up into an adventure they couldn't even imagine. This ability to tell stories - not to plot as much But as they lurch from one film genre to weave a yarn - combines with a penchant for creating appealing contexts for Banks' narratives the next, can they figure out what on earth is going on? Will they ever get back to unfold in (this gets magnificently realised in the world building of his [[:Category:Iain M Banks|Iain M. Banks]] alter-ego) cinema, and populating them with memorable, larger than life but usually short of caricature, characters.to their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0349119287</amazonuk>1839942738

{{newreview|author=Malcolm Walker|title=The Stone Crown|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=Neither Emlyn nor Maxine feel completely at home in Yeaveburgh - yet they both have roots thereRosevear, a remote and partially forgotten island, survives on luring ships into the rocks and plundering the wrecks. Emlyn's come back Mira, like her mother before her, is one of the seven who swim out to survey the town in which he was born because his mother ruins – rescuing any survivors and sister, archaeologists, are working on a dig nearbyany treasure that lies within. His father is in But when the Council Watch lays a care hometrap to end the wrecking, having suffered a nervous breakdownthey capture the island's leader and Mira's father. Maxine returned Desperate to the town to live save him from death, Mira makes a bargain with her grandmother after her mother died of a heroin overdose. Emlyn wreck survivor who is as charming as he is quiet secretive and shywith only coordinates to guide her, she sets off in search of a bit geeky, and lonelyfamily secret that lies buried deep in the sea. Maxine is lonely tooWith only nine days to unearth what might save her father, but she'd never admit it. Sheas her journey takes her from the watched streets of foreign islands to the heart of the smuggler's too spiky and defensive. They both feel like outsidersterritory, Mira must be determined to stop at nothing to save the future of her home and yet they both have a nagging sense that they are where they were meant to bethe ones she holds most dear. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1406321516</amazonuk>0008664730

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ceci JenkinsonJames Sherwood Metts|title=Mirror Mischief (Oli and Skipjack's Tales of Trouble) Planet Storyland

|summary=Sid from Things have been a bit sticky for the pizza shop is on holiday in Africa and she's sent presents to her two best customers, Oli Biggles and Skipjack HaynesEarthlings. Oli's present is a mirror AI and it's not just any mirror as it seems to automation have magical powers. It was perhaps unfortunate that Vernon Surdbeen proceeding apace, the mean maths teacher who punishes anyone who canoften replacing jobs they't re paid to do fractions and Slugger Stubbins, the school bully should be the ones at the wrong end of the magical powers but it seemed quite appropriate other tasks that the first should be transformed into a vulture and the second into a blue-faced baboon.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571249698</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Eloisa James|title=When the Duke Returns|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=''When the Duke Returns'', the newest volume in the 'Desperate Duchesses' series, continues the regency celebrity romp saga where [[Duchess by Night by Eloisa James|Duchess by Night]] left off. The focus, this took time, is on Isidore, the Duchess of Conway: hot-headed, hot-blooded and Italian to boot, she was married by proxy at the age of sixteen and is still a virgin seven years lateraccomplish. Isidore's cunning plot Just as they were beginning to get used to entice back the husband she has never seen from his travels in Asia all this technological change and Africa works perfectly and Simeon, His Grace Duke starting to think of Conway is now back in Englandother, ready new ways to claim his estate spend time, along came an awful pandemic. Life was pretty much shut down and, as Isidore presumesalong with it, ready to claim his beautiful wifeall the many daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0340961104</amazonuk>1736128426

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=John Van der KisteMatthew Tree|title=Sons, Servants and Statesmen: The Men in Queen VictoriaWe's Lifell Never Know

|genre=BiographyLiterary Fiction|summary=Like the first Elizabeth Timothy Wyndham wants nothing more books than are strictly necessary have been written about Queen Victoriato be different from his father, but John Van der Kiste has taken the unusual step a drunk and chronic underachiever whose dreams of being exceptional at any of using the men in her life to illuminate some dark corners which might other wise have remained unexplored. Of course the most famous man in her life, husband his artistic passions all failed miserably and Prince Consort Albert isn't 'son, servant or statesman' as promised by the title who had endless crises of the book, but he established a trendself confidence. Victoria, often regarded as a difficult woman So Tim applied himself to pleasehis studies, would always have a man in her life who would, to a greater or lesser extent, dominate hercultivated his abilities rather than his daydreams and set himself high but achievable ambitions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0750937882</amazonuk>B0CVFXPGP8

{{newreview|author=Maureen Emerson|title=Escape to Provence|rating=4.5|genre=Biography|summary=In Within a remote mountain pass, far away from the 1920s two womenworld, one American, one British, settled in lies Silverton; a town under the south protection of France, both for different reasons. Elisabeth Starr had left her home in Philadelphia after an unhappy childhood and the death, possibly suicide, of her fiancéBriar's, a nephew family of witches who protect the town and the American Presidentwider world from the Darklands. Drawn to ParisThough she has always wished for magic, 'Ellie Briar is the chosen European city first non-witch to be born into her family for the sophisticated generations and well-heeled of the New World'as such since she was young, she worked her training as a nurse during steward revolved around letters and administration rather than spells and potions. When her grandmother suddenly dies, Ellie's cousin Audra becomes the Great War, then moved to Provence where she made her home in an ancient stone houseBriar Witch, the Castellotown's leader, and took French citizenshipEllie takes her place beside her. Winifred (Peggy) Fortescue was As challenges come her way left, right and centre, Ellie uncovers the wife of rare ability to communicate with the Royal Librarian dead, putting her at Windsorthe heart of a maelstrom of chaos. Reeling from one family secret to another, Ellie must decide who retired in 1926 with a knighthood to trust and became a renowned (though hardly successful in financial terms) military historian. After determine what to do as the fall of the poundBriar witches' legacy, it was hard for them to make ends meet in England, and everything they were drawn have sacrificed to find a property in Provence partly by the lifestylesurvive, partly by a favourable exchange rateis under threat.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0955832101</amazonuk>1803364548

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Keith Colquhoun1529900360|title=Beyond ReasonThe Ghost Orchid|author=Jonathan Kellerman

|genre=General FictionCrime|summary=It hadn't been Lt Milo Sturgis'Beyond Reasons 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'' is t need the help of a deceptively complex novel - psychologist only worked for a black comedy about while. Finally, it was Robin, Delaware's partner, who nudged Milo into asking for help again. She knew that the involvement was something that the conflicts within religionman she loved needed. The main focus next case did look simple, though. Two lovers were murdered in the swimming pool of a remote property in Bel Air. He was the plot, Edward Bunyan, heir to an Italian shoe empire and she is a radical within married to an extremely rich man and it's not the Italian. But which of them was the primary target?}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1529395224|title=Letting the Cat Out of the Church Bag: The Secret Life of England who is trying to take religion in a new (Vet|author=Sion Rowlands|rating=3.5|genre=Animals and Wildlife|summary=Siôn Rowlands fell into veterinary science accidentally. His father was a GP and rather amusing) direction in order Rowlands didn't want to get the public interested follow in it again. Bunyan claims to have a direct link with God as well as spiritual powershis footsteps, such as particularly when he considered the strain that being able to levitate and read minds, which leave on-call put on his colleague father's life. When he was seventeen he took the opportunity of doing work experience with a family friend who was a vet and old college friendwas convinced this was the job for him. Before long, Reverend Ralph he was at Liverpool University. It hadn'Marmy' Marmaduke, unsure about both his friendship t - as with Bunyan and so many students - been his own religious beliefsdream since he was a child. If anything, he'd wanted to be a professional footballer.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904529348</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jonathan Hayes 0861541774|title=A Hard DeathNye of Pheasants|author=Steve Burrows

|summary=I havenDCI Domenic Jejeune't read Jonathan Hayes' bestseller 'Precious Blood' so I 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 fresh readerGhurka. Initially, so he faced a charge of manslaughter but evidence came to light that suggested that he might have planned to speakmurder the man. His writing biography on the inside cover of Now he could be facing the book is impressivedeath penalty. My expectations were highDomenic 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. All 5|genre=General Fiction|summary=The Perfect Passion Company is a dating agency in Edinburgh, run by Ness and operating as an alternative to all the ingredients are online apps in place 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 good thrillerwhile. The location Katie is The Everglades in Floridacoming out of a break up with a bad boyfriend, and so jumps at the chance to come home to Edinburgh. BroodingAnd so begins this new story from Alexander McCall Smith, bringing us to an Edinburgh we already love, enigmaticthanks to 44 Scotland Street and the Isabel Dalhousie novels, awebut with some new characters who quickly begin to charm. Katie has no experience in running a business, or in match-inspiring making, but Ness has full confidence in her abilities, and there's always her very helpful (and where we all seem rather handsome) neighbour, William, to expect crocodiles to rear their heads out of the swampy waters every five minutes.lend a hand…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099538644</amazonuk>1846976596

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Colin Cotterill0811771741|title=Curse of the Pogo StickInstaKnits for Baby|author=Melissa Leapman

|genre=CrimeCrafts|summary=Dr Siri Paiboun usually managed Melissa Leapman's ''InstaKnits for Baby'' gives us a collection of knits from toys to control his reactions blankets. Some will be quick knits - others are of the 'long, cosy afternoons in front of Judge Haengthe fire' variety. The projects are divided by the time they'll take to complete - less than five hours, but occasionally he forgot himself five to ten hours, ten to twenty hours and was more insolent than usualtwenty hours. This time All the Laos national coroner (reluctant)projects are attractive, communist (even more reluctantly) and shaman finds himself on a road trip with the judge modern and the Justice Departmentuseable. Nurse Dtui (pregnant and married, although not in the usual order of events) is left to run the morgue along with Mr Geung, who might, or might not be a help, I perhaps show my age when I wonder about 'social-media-worthy projects' but probably not in the way that you might expect. As if that wasn't enough Nurse Dtui discovers a booby-trapped corpse, there's a geriatric hit-person on the loose and Siri is kidnappedme being picky.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849160112</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Nia Pritchard Dean Koontz|title=More Than Just A WeddingThe Bad Weather Friend|rating=24.5|genre=Women's FictionParanormal|summary=If you like novels in which little happens as the story strolls towards its happy endingBenny is having a terrifically bad day. He loses his job, he loses his fiancee, and his house gets trashed. Oh, and someone has delivered a really weird, disturbing coffin-sized object to his home, then Nia Pritchardand it's sequel possible that whoever or whatever was inside is the thing that has trashed his house! The thing is, Benny is the very last person to 'More Than Just deserve all this bad luck. He is a Hairdresser' may suit younice person. A really nice person. If So fortunately for Benny it turns out that the Liverpudlian vernacular and setting pushes your buttonsdelivery to his house is a new friend, a bad weather friend called Spike, then maybe you'll enjoy its light-hearted picture of Scouse lifewho has been sent to help him since Benny is clearly under attack from nefarious forces for being a good person. My mother-in-law Spike is going to take care of Benny, and will probably love it. Icertainly take care of Benny'm sorry to say that it wasns enemies, if he, Benny, and Harper (a waitress slash Private Investigator who finds herself roped into Benny't my cup of tea at alls wild adventure) can figure out who exactly they are.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906784124</amazonuk>1662500491

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Tonya Hurley Adam Stower|title=GhostgirlMurray and Bun|rating=34.5|genre=TeensConfident Readers |summary=Charlotte Usher Murray is desperate supposed to be popular. She has spent the entire summer break transforming herself a humble, tidy and friendly cat, one who is able to try sleep and eat and eat and sleep and fit in with , well, whatever takes his fancy next of the two. But he'ins a bad magician' crowd all in an attempt to try s cat, so his favourite bun has been turned into a hyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, and attract the attention of Damencatflap they both use can chuck them out, not into the regular back garden, but into a popular world of frightening adventure and handsome jockwhiffs. Yet even after all her hard work she still remains invisible at best, despised at worst. Finally, in This time round it drops them into a moment of tragic bad luckViking land, Charlotte chokes on where a gummy beartroll hunter is expected – well, alone in a classroomone much bigger than Murray was, and dies. This isn't the end of the story howeverto be honest, itbut he's actually just the beginning, because Charlotte isnturned up and he't going ll have to let the little inconvenience of being dead get in her way...do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755347714</amazonuk>0008561249

{{newreview|author=Anthony Horowitz |title=Crocodile Tears (Alex Rider)|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Fans of Anthony Horowitz' Alex Rider series have had a two-year wait for this installment of our young hero's escapades and they are not going to be disappointed. HeFragility's fourteen year old now and not only is he being targeted by a hitman, he's also being pursued by a journalist who wants to tell the nation all about the fact that MI6 are using one of his tender years to do their dirty work. The trouble is that he can't be positive that it was a sniper that caused set as the car he was in to skid off a Scottish road and land at the bottom city of a Loch. And MI6 don't seem all that bothered about the journalist, unlessPortland, that isOregon, Alex might be willing cautiously begins to find some simple information emerge from a GM crop research centre, in which case they might be able to have a quiet word with the gentleman.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406310484</amazonuk>restrictions imposed during the covid pandemic

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Cathi Unsworth 1529431735|title=Bad Penny BluesThe Winter Visitor|author=James Henry

|summary=Step into It's February 1991 and Essex is bitingly cold, which made Bruce Hopkins' return all the seedy underbelly of London on the cusp of the Swinging Sixtiesmore surprising. He'Bad Penny Blues' is d been exiled on the story of the hunt Costa del Sol as a wanted drug smuggler for a brutal serial killer targeting prostitutes in the west of the city, at the time decade. The return has come about because he's had a melting pot of immigrants letter from the Caribbean and Irelandhis ex-wife, bohemian artists saying that she's ill and media typeshasn't long to live. It's hard to feel any sympathy when Hopkins is abducted, stripped to his underwear and even peers. Carnaby Street was just becoming sent to a watery grave in the fashion centre boot of London and a new decade promised exciting possibilitiesstolen Ford Sierra.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846686784</amazonuk> Is it a warning from a Spanish gang or a problem closer to home?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Celia Friedman Alex Bell and Tim McDonagh|title=The Wings Glorious Race of Wrath (The Magister Trilogy)Magical Beasts

|genre=FantasyConfident Readers|summary=The first part of Celia Friedman's ''Magister'' trilogy was Eli is a wonderfully dark piece of fantasy. It contained some beasts you wouldn't be surprised to come across busy lad – by day an apprentice in a horror novel the wondrous library we start by visiting with him, and stretched in the idea of magic being evening a draining power to an interesting place psychologicallyhelper at the dessert cafe his gran owns and runs. The second partEli lives with his lovely gran, ''Wings of Wrath'' too – for there is more of a straight fantasy novel, lacking some of generation missing in the horror elements that made the first part such a draw for mefamily. A few short years ago, but itEli's still a very good read.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1841495336</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Bernard P Morgan and Rikin Parekh |title=The Lighthouse|rating=2|genre=For Sharing|summary=Bob the lighthouse keeper tries parents were both lost to warn the village of Quark that there's titular race, a big storm on the way. They don't listen globe-trotting adventure where all entrants have to him, so Bob just sets about making preparations anyway. When the storm comes, navigate the villagers are world in a lot of trouble, but thankfully Bob is on hand to save the day.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904312764</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Peter Blackstock |title=The Secret Symbol: The Original Masonic Documents Behind Dan Brown's Latest Bestseller|rating=3|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summary=Pop Quiz. What links Scott company of the Antarctic, Jim Davidson, Churchill, and Rabbie Burns? Where and when might you come a cropper trying to spell Boaz, but starting with the B? magical beast. And what This has three stages - unless it's thirty-three, or even ten by made the York system?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683734</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jonathan Buckley |title=Contact|rating=2.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Dominic Pattison's life began race anathema to veer off course badly on a Tuesday in May. It's a fairly banal Tuesday. The kind of Tuesday that Dominic probably experiences quite frequently. He feels the need to tell us about it.  In detail.  And, sadly, 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 pair – but she was still annoyed when her father called James Ross for help. Sarah and James had had a relationship some ten years earlier and Sarah really didn't want to work with him, particularly after her marriage. Most people thought that her husband's death in a plane crash had been bad incident at the cruel end eatery leads to a good marriage. Only a few knew that he had been about confession from gran, Eli knows his only hope is to leave her dare to live enter what he most hates, with another woman. It's left Sarah very reluctant the sole aim the prize of magic at the end – the only thing to get involved with any manpossibly save his gran.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0709089430</amazonuk>0571382231