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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]].{{Frontpage|author=Sylvie Cathrall|title=A Letter to the Luminous Deep|rating=5|genre=Science Fiction|summary= There are few greater joys than a book which lives up to a compelling premise.. and Emily thinks she's seen a ghostAnd this is one of them. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007258100</amazonuk>0356522776
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Daniel Suarez0008517061|title=DaemonDeath in a Lonely Place|author=Stig Abell
|rating=4
|genre=Crime
|summary=As Former Metropolitan Police detective, Jake Johnson, has settled into his rustic life at Little Sky. There’s perhaps a little uncertainty about the internet grows future of his life with his vet girlfriend, Livia and technology advancesher daughter Diana, it's seems there is nothing you can't do. Recent innovations as moving in together would mean you can operate appliances in your own home from another continent a lot of compromise: does Jake give up his off-grid and cars are more automated than ever. Huge online games allow users worldwide relaxing life to interact and play against each other move in huge arenas. Thanks with Livia or does Livia move to social networking, Little Sky despite her reservations about whether or not this is the internet can be addictive future she wants for herself and, yes, I'm aware of her daughter? For the irony moment they’re enjoying life in writing that herethe present and putting the future on the back burner.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847249612</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Erica Bauermeister 1786482126|title=The Monday Night Cooking SchoolJanus Stone (Dr Ruth Galloway)|author=Elly Griffiths
|rating=4.5
|genre=Women's FictionCrime|summary=The Monday Night Cooking School is Builders were demolishing an old house in Norwich - the site was going to hold seventy-five 'luxury' apartments - when they discovered the first novel written by American writer Erica Bauermeister and it really is a delicious read in every sense. The novel tells bones of eight very diverse people who attend a cooking class once child beneath a month at Lillian's restaurantdoorway. There was no skull. Each has Was this a different reason for being there and each has his ritual killing or her own story to tell. However, over the months that the course is runmurder? Inevitably, they start to bond through the learning experience and their love of foodDr Ruth Galloway finds herself working with DCI Harry Nelson. It's not the sort of novel where much happens difficult as Ruth knows, but if you are interested in people and you love foodNelson doesn't, I am sure you will enjoy this book. Having said that though, I don't think it she is pregnant with his child as a book that should result of the one night they spent together some three months ago. Her condition will be read if you are trying obvious before long, not least because Ruth is prone to diet because you can virtually smell the food as you turn the pages!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141038837</amazonuk>sudden bouts of sickness.
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Marcus Sedgwick0008551324|title=Lunatics and Luck The Devil You Know (Raven MysteriesD S Max Craigie)|author=Neil Lancaster
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=It's obvious reallyunusual 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. When an earthquake hits Castle OtherhandThis person, Valevinehe promises, is someone big and it will be worth the head of the household, decides police doing what he wants. And what the place needs he wants is a machine to predict be transferred to an open prison to serve the future, remainder of his sentence and a new tutor for his two oldest childrento get an early parole date. And why notNot much to ask, is it? There are only those children, 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=A Stranger in the suicidal baby twins, ValevineFamily (Maeve Kerrigan 11)|author=Jane Casey|rating=5|genre=Crime|summary=It's dreadful failed inventions 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 experimentsher father are dead in their bed. Initially, Edgar it looks like a straightforward murder/suicide but there's something about the raven positioning of the bodies that narrates this series of books, makes DS Maeve Kerrigan and a monkeyher boss DI Josh Derwent suspicious. With bells onWhat looked as though it was going to be an open-and-shut case is now a complex double murder. Clearly there Kerrigan is not enough weirdness there already to go aroundconvinced that the explanation lies in Rosalie's disappearance: others (such as Derwent's boss, Una Burt) are less convinced.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1842556959</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett0571379877|title=The Spirit Level: Why Equality Is Better For Everyone Kellerby Code|author=Jonny Sweet|rating=43.5|genre=Politics and SocietyCrime|summary=If you asked people why it Edward Jevons is (or might be) a good idea working-class young man, obsessed with his upper-class friends, Robert and Stanza. Robert's a theatre director. He's also self-obsessed, demanding, handsome and entitled and uses Edward to reduce inequality run errands for him. Edward has been in a society, many people love with Stanza since their university days - and he's drunkenly confided how he feels to Robert. Most men in Robert's position would assume stay away from Stanza or tell Edward that reducing inequality works by making the life of the poorest bettera relationship had begun between them but he's not like most men: that Edward is left to stumble upon the poor are the ones who benefit from reduction two of inequalitythem kissing in a dark passageway.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141032367</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ken BruenJo Callaghan|title=The Killing of the TinkersLeave No Trace
|rating=4
|genre=Crime
|summary=Jack Taylor returns When a man is found crucified on the top of a hill in Nuneaton, DCS Kat Frank finds herself assigned to his native Ireland with his tail between his legsthe case alongside her sidekick, the AI detective Lock. HeIt's their first live case together, having previously been lying low 'over very successful with several cold cases. But when there is a second body found crucified a few days later, Kat is suddenly struggling with a potential serial killer and a very high profile case that draws a lot of unwanted attention to their AI Future Policing project. Will they be able to solve the water' case in Londontime, or will Kat find herself taken off the case and, potentially, out of a career?|isbn=139851120X}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1399613073|title=Moral Injuries|author=Christie Watson|rating=4.5|genre=Thrillers|summary=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, licking his woundswhich is a bonus when you aim to be a cardiothoracic surgeon. Laura is a perfectionist and a trauma doctor. Anjali is the free spirit of the group and she becomes a GP. Jack (IWhen we first meet them they'm slightly surprised that Bruen didnre at a drug and alcohol-fuelled party and it's going to end in tragedy. We don't give him a more Irish name) is a middleknow who suffered the tragedy or the consequences. Twenty-agedfive years later there will be an eerily similar event that will impact the three friends. This time, washed-it's their teenage children who are involved.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=0241636604|title=The Trading Game: A Confession|author=Gary Stevenson|rating=4.5|genre=Autobiography|summary=If you were to bring upan image of a city banker in your mind, disgraced exyou're unlikely to think of someone like Gary Stevenson. A hoodie and jeans replaces the pin-copstripe suit and his background is the East End, where he was familiar with violence, poverty and injustice. As if that wasn't bad enough, There was no posh public school on his CV - but he also has a lot had been to the London School of very bad habitsEconomics. He acknowledges however that 'the new world Stevenson is designed for nonbright - extremely bright -smokersand he has a facility with numbers which most of us can only envy.' He also admits quite freely and openly realised that 'An alcoholic has dreams most rich people expect poor people to rival that of any Vietnam vetbe stupid. It was his ability at what was, essentially, a card game which got him an internship with Citibank. Eventually, this turned into permanent employment as a trader.'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0863224113</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Dave Zeltserman1035021803|title=KillerThe Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder|author=C L Miller|rating=3.5
|genre=Crime
|summary=Here at It's twenty years since Freya Lockwood has been back to the BookbagEnglish country village where she grew up. She's back now because of a request for help from her beloved aunt, weCarole. Freya've been very impressed with Dave Zeltsermans former mentor and Carole's work thus farclose friend, Arthur Crockleford, is dead and the circumstances seem suspicious, to say the least. He uses a wonderful noirish narrative that takes you straight Arthur was the reason why Freya had not been back to the heart of the storyvillage: Arthur, she feels, let her down badly. His story telling is very straightforwardEven though they were in business together as antique hunters, she has not weighing down felt able to be near the story with too much style, but sticking to man or pursue the substance and delivering a hard-hitting work every timeprofession she loved. With ''Killer''After the split, she worked in a cafe, he has done met and married James (on the rebound from the same againlove of her life, who was murdered) and Freya and James have now divorced.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184668644X</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=Tony Mitton and Guy Parker-ReesSunny Singh|title=Jolly Olly OctopusHotel Arcadia
|rating=3.5
|genre=For SharingThrillers |summary=Jolly Olly Octopus The Hotel Arcadia is giggling underneath a luxury hotel in an unnamed city that has suddenly been violently taken over by a terrorist group. Hiding from the sea. He's soon joined by two tickly turtlesterrorists who are rampaging through, killing everyone on site, three smiley seahorsesthere is Sam, a wartime photographer and so on through Abhi, the numbershotel manager. The large cast of underwater animals As Abhi continues to try to care remotely for the residents who are having still alive in the hotel, he forms a jolly olbond with Sam who refuses to be cowed by events, and keeps on venturing out of her room to try to capture what' times happened through her photography. Although they only ever talk over the phone, until a shark appears..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.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846166861</amazonuk>086154742X
}}
{{Frontpage|isbn=1529153298|title=The List of Suspicious Things|author=Jennie Godfrey|rating=5|genre=General Fiction|summary=It's 1979 and Margaret Thatcher is Prime Minister. (A woman? I mean, honestly...) She's not what's worrying Miv's family, though. Women have been disappearing. Well, they've been murdered, but to have 'disappeared' doesn't sound quite so frightening. Miv's upset because she's overheard that her father wants to move the family 'Down South'. When you're from Yorkshire, Down South is a frightening, foreign place, best avoided. For Miv, the move would mean leaving her best friend, Sharon, and she'll do anything to prevent that. She's not worried about the dangers or that her Mum's stopped talking - to anyone.}}{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1398524085|title=Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?|author=Mo SmithNicci French|rating=5|titlegenre=Crime|summary=Charlotte 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, is not. Shortly afterwards, Etty and Greg, find the body of Greg's father, Duncan Ackerley, in the river. It was an easy assumption for the police to make that Duncan had murdered Charlie and then committed suicide when he couldn't stand the guilt. The Lazy CookSalter children are not convinced but there's Family Favouriteslittle else they can do but get on with their lives and wonder about what really happened.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1035906708|title=Diva|author=Daisy Goodwin
|rating=4.5
|genre=CookeryGeneral Fiction|summary=These days I get very nervous when I hear about books for 'lazy' cooksWe tend to think of Maria Callas as Greek, but she was born to Greek parents in Manhattan, New York, or how in December 1923 and only moved to cheat Athens when preparing mealsshe was thirteen. ThereHer original surname was Kalogeropoulos but her father changed it to 's a very simple reason for this: good food, prepared using seasonal ingredients which donCallas't break to make it more manageable in the budget needs skill and knowledge and neither are the prerogative of the lazyStates. Mo Smith might like us to think When she was back in Athens - supposedly so that she's lazy, but take my word could get appropriate training for it – her voice - she isn't. She might have learned was raised under the Nazi occupation by a few tricks for making good food quickly, but she's a woman mother who knows mercilessly exploited her onions and all sorts made no secret of other foodher preference for her elder sister, Jackie.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749007826</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Adam BladeChristopher Edge|title=Creta the Winged Terror (Beast Quest)Black Hole Cinema Club
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Our hero, TomLucas and his friends are all booked in for a movie marathon at their local cinema, is finding his fishing trip with his father bugged - literally - by a plague place that has the nickname of sickening cockroach things'The Black Hole'. WhatAll big movie fans, they's morere looking forward to lots of exciting films, and many, many snacks! However, as the whole land of Avantia movie starts, they very quickly realise that something about this new film format is suffering some form of horrid heatwavevery different, and they are swept up into an adventure they couldn't even imagine. Can Tom, recognising yet another threat But as they lurch from one film genre to his country from the evil Malvelnext, defeat his nemesis yet again - especially as said baddie has as a new weapon of darkness a massive host of can they figure out what on earth is going on? Will they ever get back to the roachescinema, swarming as one giant monsterand to their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408307359</amazonuk>1839942738
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Rachel Greenlaw
|title=Compass and Blade
|rating=3.5
|genre=Teens
|summary=''I can hear the song of the sea. The call of the deep, the answering beat in my heart.''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Fraser's AutographsJames Sherwood Metts|title=Collect Autographs: An Illustrated Guide to Collecting and Investing in AutographsPlanet Storyland
|rating=4.5
|genre=Business and FinanceConfident Readers|summary=There must be many of us who Things have at one time had an autograph book or something of been a bit sticky for the kind as children Earthlings. AI and asked friendsautomation have been proceeding apace, relations or even celebrities often replacing jobs they're paid to 'do something', written and other tasks that took time to accomplish. Just as they were beginning to get used to all this technological change and starting to celebrities in the hope think of obtaining a personally signed pictureother, or even waited patiently at a stage door after a play or concert eagerly clutching a theatre programmenew ways to spend time, record or CD sleeve along came an awful pandemic. Life was pretty much shut down and pen in hand, along with it, all the many daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0852597525</amazonuk>1736128426
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Derrick NiedermanMatthew Tree|title=Number Freak: A Mathematical Compendium from 1 to 200We'll Never Know
|rating=4.5
|genre=Popular ScienceLiterary Fiction|summary=This is a book that definitely does what it says on the tin. Our author has the capacity Timothy Wyndham wants nothing more than to grab each number between one and two hundredbe different from his father, a drunk and wring it for chronic underachiever whose dreams of being exceptional at any of his artistic passions all its worth - all the special status it might have in our culture (more easy with seven than, say, 187), all the special properties it might possess (perfect, triangular, prime), failed miserably and as many other things mathematicians and so on would find who had endless crises of interestself confidence. Luckily there is enough here So Tim applied himself to make the book well worth a browse for us who would not deem themselves number buffshis studies, cultivated his abilities rather than his daydreams and set himself high but achievable ambitions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>071563710X</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=Stephen Hunter1529900360|title=I, SniperThe Ghost Orchid|author=Jonathan Kellerman
|rating=4
|genre=Crime
|summary=You donIt hadn't often find novels or films based 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 the art of the sniperdifficult cases. Hiding out for hours motionless His assertions that there were only open-and then killing someone unseen from hundreds of yards away doesn-shut cases which didn't make need the help of a psychologist only worked for as interesting a story as a face to face shoot outwhile. But with Finally, it was Robin, Delaware'Is partner, Sniper'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 simple, Stephen Hunter has managed to combine though. Two lovers were murdered in the art swimming pool of a remote property in Bel Air. He was the sniper with heir to an Italian shoe empire and she is married to an extremely rich man and it's not the art Italian. But which of them was the crime thriller in a decent read.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847377777</amazonuk>primary target?
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Lucy Coats and Anthony Lewis1529395224|title=Letting the Cat Out of the Bag: The Beasts in the Jar (Greek Beasts and Heroes)Secret Life of a Vet|author=Sion Rowlands|rating=43.5|genre=Confident ReadersAnimals and Wildlife|summary=Atticus the sandalmaker is heading Siôn Rowlands fell into veterinary science accidentally. His father was a GP and Rowlands didn't want to the great storytelling competition follow in Troy. On his wayfootsteps, particularly when he meets considered the strain that being on-call put on his father's life. When he was seventeen he took the opportunity of doing work experience with a family friend who was a number of people vet andwas convinced this was the job for him. Before long, always eager for an opportunity to hone he was at Liverpool University. It hadn't - as with so many students - been his skillsdream since he was a child. If anything, relates he'd wanted to them tales from Ancient Greek myths and legends. The beasts in the jar of the title? Pandora released them from what we mistakenly call her boxbe a professional footballer.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444000659</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jed Mercurio0861541774|title=American AdultererA Nye of Pheasants|author=Steve Burrows
|rating=4
|genre=General FictionCrime|summary=IDCI Domenic Jejeune've often wondered how history 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 have viewed Jack Kennedy if later maintain that he was facing a man armed with a knife - and he'd died killed a natural death rather than by an assassin's bulletGhurka. As an extension Initially, he faced a charge of manslaughter but evidence came to light that I've also thought suggested that he might not have lived that much longer had nature been allowed planned to take its coursemurder the man. He's one of Now he could be facing the most-written-about Presidents of all time death penalty. Domenic Jejeune can do nothing to help as any interference from another police force could provoke a diplomatic incident and finding a new angle – even a fictional one – is not easy, but Jed Mercurio has looked wouldn't help Danny at Kennedy's adult life through the prism of his sexual peccadilloes and his healthall.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099515873</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Joe TreasureAlexander McCall Smith|title=BesottedThe Perfect Passion Company|rating=4|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=It is late August 1982, the day when O level results come out. Michael Cartwright already knows he has failed his exams and is dreading his parents finding out. He, his twin brother Kieran (who has done very well) and their younger sisters are on the family holiday, staying with their mother's parents in Kilross, County Cork. To escape boredom and his parents' anger, he wanders round the village, where he meets Fergal Noonan, training to be a priest, and lively Peggy O'Connor. He has his first kiss and a bit more with Peggy. The family soon goes home to Cheltenham, but their brief visit to Ireland will have far reaching significance.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330511726</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Tim Pears|title=Landed|rating=45
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=I have hesitated The Perfect Passion Company is a dating agency in Edinburgh, run by Ness and operating as an alternative to write this review because, truthfully, I am not ''entirely'' sure that I know what happened at the end. I read it all. I actually read the end several timesonline apps in providing a more personal, tailored service. And then I skipped back to Ness has asked her younger cousin Katie if she could come and look after the middlebusiness, just as Ness is planning to check something, before trying the end again. I have decided take a trip to just believe in what I ''think'' happened, and since I don't want Canada to spoil it get away for other readers then I don't have to make a complete fool of myself writing down what it is I think! while. And actually, that mysteriousness Katie is part coming out of the charm of the story. So, slight confusion aside, I still gave this book four starsa break up with a bad boyfriend, and this is why...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0434020079</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jeff Somers|title=The Eternal Prison|rating=3.5|genre=Science Fiction|summary=This book stands out in the high-energy, hard-edged sci-fi adventure/thriller genre, in that it covers two stories so jumps at the same timechance to come home to Edinburgh. In one chapter And so begins this new story from Alexander McCall Smith, bringing us to an Edinburgh we have Avery Cates, practically the best gun-for-hire in his post-apocalyptic North Americaalready love, being told thanks to kill one of the most protected 44 Scotland Street and important people left in the worldIsabel Dalhousie novels, by other, almost as important people, in the cruel mix of powerplays that make up the current politicsbut with some new characters who quickly begin to charm. In the other corner is CatesKatie has no experience in running a business, being thrown or in prison match- one of those basicmaking, hell-on-earthbut Ness has full confidence in her abilities, surrounded by miles of desertand there's always her very helpful (and rather handsome) neighbour, prisons. HereWilliam, too, he will be told to do jobs for other people...lend a hand…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1841497053</amazonuk>1846976596
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=A.Roger Ekirch 0811771741|title=Birthright: The True Story That Inspired KidnappedInstaKnits for Baby|author=Melissa Leapman
|rating=4
|genre=HistoryCrafts|summary=They say truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, and it is not unusual Melissa Leapman's ''InstaKnits for novels Baby'' gives us a collection of knits from toys to be based partly on factblankets. So it was in Some will be quick knits - others are of the case of Robert Louis Stevenson's ''Kidnapped''long, Sir Walter Scott's ''Guy Manneringcosy afternoons in front of the fire'variety. The projects are divided by the time they'll take to complete - less than five hours, and at least three othersfive to ten hours, all of which can point ten to twenty hours and more than twenty hours. All the saga of James Annesley for inspirationprojects are attractive, modern and useable. I perhaps show my age when I wonder about 'social-media-worthy projects' but that's me being picky.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0393066150</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Laila Lalami Dean Koontz|title=Secret SonThe Bad Weather Friend|rating=34.5|genre=General FictionParanormal|summary=''Secret Son'' Benny is the story of Youssef El-Mekki, the slum-dwelling teenage son of single mother Rachidahaving a terrifically bad day. Youssef has always been told that He loses his father is deadjob, so when he finds out loses his fiancee, and his mother house gets trashed. Oh, and someone has lied delivered a really weird, disturbing coffin-sized object to conceal his home, and it's possible that whoever or whatever was inside is the fact thing that he was born out of wedlockhas trashed his house! The thing is, he plunges headlong into an identity crisisBenny is the very last person to deserve all this bad luck. He tracks down is a nice person. A really nice person. So fortunately for Benny it turns out that the delivery to his real fatherhouse is a new friend, a wealthy businessman bad weather friend called Nabil Amrani Spike, who has been sent to help him since Benny is clearly under attack from nefarious forces for being a good person. Spike is surprisingly enthusiastic about his illegitimate songoing to take care of Benny, and will certainly take care of Benny's arrival. Nabil has recently fallen out with his daughter enemies, if he, Benny, and he seizes this opportunity to mould Youssef Harper (a waitress slash Private Investigator who finds herself roped into the obedient son he has always wantedBenny's wild adventure) can figure out who exactly they are.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0670918296</amazonuk>1662500491
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Bonnie Hearn HillAdam Stower|title=Star Crossed: Aries RisingMurray and Bun
|rating=4.5
|genre=TeensConfident Readers |summary=Ordinary teen Logan McRae discovers an old book called Murray is supposed to be a humble, tidy and friendly cat, one who is able to sleep and eat and eat and sleep and, well, whatever takes his fancy next of the two. But he'Fearless Astrologys a bad magician'. Can the book help her s cat, so his favourite bun has been turned into a hyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, and her friends get the boys catflap they wantboth use can chuck them out, catch not into the vandals who are shocking their school with pranksregular back garden, but into a world of frightening adventure and win her the approval of cantankerous English teacher Mr 'Frankenstein' Franklin? whiffs. This time round it drops them into a Viking land, where a troll hunter is a novel written for teens expected – of course it can.well, one much bigger than Murray was, to be honest, but he's turned up and he'll have to do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0762436700</amazonuk>0008561249
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Gabrielle LordB0C47LV1PC|title=January (Conspiracy 365)Fragility|author=Mosby Woods
|rating=4
|genre=TeensLiterary Fiction|summary=Callum Can you make a ''Yo birthing person'' joke? And if you could, is wandering along home on New Year's Eve when crazed itinerant accosts himthe 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.
''They killed your father! TheyFragility'll kill you! You must survive the next 365 days!'' The man is carted off in an ambulance, and Cal tries to shrug off set as the incident but it's not easy. How did the man know his name? How did he know that Cal's father was dead? Who could possibly want to kill a run city of the mill adolescent like him? What is the Ormond Singularity that the man kept shouting about? And the thing isPortland, Oregon, Cal's father had written cautiously begins to him shortly before returning home already in emerge from the restrictions imposed during the throes of a fatal illness. His father was vague on detail, but is pretty sure he was on to something big. Could there be a connection? |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340996447</amazonuk>covid pandemic
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Steve Feasey1529431735|title=Changeling: Blood WolfThe Winter Visitor|author=James Henry
|rating=4
|genre=TeensCrime|summary=Trey It's February 1991 and Essex is bitingly cold, which made Bruce Hopkins' return all the more surprising. He'd been exiled on the last living hereditary werewolf - or so he thinksCosta del Sol as a wanted drug smuggler for a decade. So when The return has come about because he discovers he has 's had a long-lost uncle, he shrugs off all objections letter from his vampire guardian, Lucien and catches the first available plane to Canada. When he arrivesex-wife, he finds saying that not all werewolves are fearsome, forbidding and courageous creatures. And theyshe're certainly not all family-friendly. His uncle is old, half-blind and alcoholic. He lives in filth s ill and he couldnhasn't give a fig for Treylong to live. But there is a pack out there, and it It's vicioushard to feel any sympathy when Hopkins is abducted, bloodthirsty stripped to his underwear and rapidly spinning out sent to a watery grave in the boot of controla stolen Ford Sierra. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330470493</amazonuk> Is it a warning from a Spanish gang or a problem closer to home?
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Cliff McNish|title=Savannah Grey: A Horror Story|rating=5|genre=Teens|summary=Savannah Grey is doing her best to settle into her latest foster placement - Annette is really nice; she's warm and kind Alex Bell and respects her adolescent charge's privacy. But Savannah has perenially itchy feet and she finds it difficult to make lasting relationships. She's never had a boyfriend and friendships are often fleeting. Nina is the only one that seems to stick around. Then her throat gets sore. Then Annette tells her that she's making odd noises at night. Savannah knows her body is changing and she's developing powers that she doesn't understand. Then the leaves start to swirl for no apparent reason and the birds to behave oddly. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1842551124</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Daren KingTim McDonagh|title=Frightfully Friendly GhostiesThe Glorious Race of Magical Beasts
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Pamela Fraidy has gotten herself locked Eli is a busy lad – by day an apprentice in the attic wondrous library we start by visiting with him, and in the evening a leggy spiderhelper at the dessert cafe his gran owns and runs. Her fellow frightfully friendly ghosties are doing all they can to help her Eli lives with his lovely gran, but it's not easy to pick up too – for there is a key and carry it up generation missing in the stairs if you don't have a bodyfamily. In the process of rescuing their friends A few short years ago, they also decide Eli's parents were both lost to make friends with the stilltitular race, a globe-alives who inhabit their house. The ghosties are fed up of trotting adventure where all entrants have to navigate the still-alives being so mean - running off screaming every time world in the ghosties say hello.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847249930</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Aravind Adiga|title=The White Tiger|rating=4.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Balram Halwai, a Bangalore entrepreneur (company of sorts) and a natural philosopher, hears that there is a planned visit from magical beast. This has made the Chinese leader to India race anathema to learn the source of Indian entrepreneurial talent. Balram knows that pair – but when a bad incident at the story he will be told by the Indian leader will be eatery leads to a long way confession from the true story of modern Indian life, and so resolves, over the course of seven nightsgran, Eli knows his only hope is to write dare to enter what he most hates, with the Chinese premier with sole aim the story prize of his life and his own journey from a poor son of a rickshaw driver to magic at the end – the head of his own business.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1843547228</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jane Casey|title=The Missing|rating=4.5|genre=Crime|summary=In 1992, Sarah Finch's twelve year old brother Charlie says only thing to her ''Tell mum I'll be back soon.'' Sixteen years later, possibly save his family are still waiting to find out what happened to him. Now in her twenties, Sarah is teaching at a local private school while looking after her uncaring mother, who since Charlie's disappearance has slid into alcoholismgran.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0091935997</amazonuk>0571382231
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