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[[Category:New Reviews|Humour]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreview|class-"wikitable" cellpadding="15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE--><!-- van LENTE -->|author=Ian Doescher-|titlestyle=William Shakespeare's the Force Doth Awaken"width: Star Wars Part the Seventh10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1683690346.jpg|ratinglink=4http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle=Science Fiction"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary=A long time ago==[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], in a galaxy far away, there was [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Comic-Cons are a man called William Shakespeare, who was able to create a series place of dramatic histories full of machinations most foulwonder and sanctuary for many people, rulers most evil and rebellious heroes when Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, he's looking for both that and heroines most sturdy. You may or may not have noticed sanctuary with other fans and creators, plus the cinematic version chance of maybe, just maybe reuniting with his original stage play for ''The Force Doth Awaken''ex. However, when his rival is found dead, but here at last we get Mike is forced to navigate every dark corner of the actual script, complete with annoying-con in-different-ways-order to-before droids anew, returning heroes clear his name – from elsewhere in his oeuvrecosplay flash mobs and intrusive fans to zombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and, and people keeping it in the family til it hurtsdoing so, may just unravel a dark secret behind a legendary industry creator. And if you need further encouragement, don't forget his audience only demanded three parts of Henry VI – here the series is so popular we're on to part seven – surely making this over twice as good…[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]]  |amazonuk=<amazonuk>159474985X</amazonuk!-- Coulton -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=James Goss and Russell T Davies"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1473669588.jpg|titlelink=Doctor Whohttp: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of Time Lord Verse (Dr Who)//www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1473669588/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |ratingstyle=4.5"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||genre=Children's Rhymes and Verse |summary=Consider the Doctor=[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton]]=== [[image:4star. Just how many birthday and Christmas gifts must he have to hand out each yearjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:General Fiction|General Fiction]], were he to keep in touch with even half of his companions? He would certainly need a few novelty gifts for some of them[[:Category:Humour|Humour]], say, for example[[:Category:Women's Fiction|Women's Fiction]] Lex Coulton's debut novel is a story about mistakes, failures, whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate the life of a Time Lord and that of some of his friends and enemiesrelationships. As luck would have itThe main protagonist, Frances Pilgrim, he is a sixth form English teacher who has the space in his TARDIS to stock up in advancerecently fallen out with her best friend Jackson, so my advice to him – sorrya work colleague, and is grappling with the increasingly eccentric behaviour of her – would be to pop along to his local Earthmother. This relationship is complicated by the fact that Frances's father disappeared at sea when she was five years old. [[Falling Short by Lex Coulton|Full Review]] <!-- van LENTE -->|-based book emporium and get himself ready. And if you're working on a shorter timescale, with a shorter lifespan, and thinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, well my advice is pretty much the same.|amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>1785942719</amazonuk>}}{{newreview"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1683690346.jpg|authorlink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=Annie Ingramthebookbag-21]]|title=Conversations with Kammie|rating=4|genrestyle=Pets"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|summarylink=It was something of a relief when I encountered Annie Ingram and her cocker spaniel Kammie. You seeCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], Annie knows something which has been self[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Comic-evident to me for Cons are a long time: dogs are perfectly capable of communicating place of wonder and sanctuary for many people, and when Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, he's looking for both that and sanctuary with humans other fans and not just on a level creators, plus the chance of ''food!''maybe, ''walk!'' or ''play!''just maybe reuniting with his ex. You do require extensive training to become fluentHowever, when his rival is found dead, but most dogs will be perfectly willing Mike is forced to give their time navigate every dark corner of the con in order to teach you clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and all you have intrusive fans to do is listen. Annie has studied hard: Kammie has trained her well and the pair have allowed us to share some of their conversationszombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and, in doing so, may just unravel a dark secret behind a legendary industry creator.[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1785451995</amazonuk!-- Curran -->}}{{newreview|author= Charles Harris-|titlestyle= The Breaking of Liam Glass"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1683690133.jpg|ratinglink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690133/ref=nosim?tag= 3thebookbag-21]] |genre=Crime|summarystyle= A flawed but reasonably entertaining swipe at modern media. There"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[My Lady's plenty here to like, Choosing by Kitty Curran and plenty not toLarissa Zageris]]=== [[image:4star. But good structure and scramjet pace keep this one flying to the final page.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1908943823</amazonuk>Category:{{{rating}}}{{newreviewStar Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|author= Fred Van LenteHumour]], [[:Category:Historical Fiction|title= Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder MysteryHistorical Fiction]]|rating= 4|genre= Humour|summary= Nine comedians You are invited to a remote Caribbean island under the guise lass of working with Dustin Walkertwenty eight. Plucky, penniless and in Regency era London the race is on to find a comedic legendsuitable suitor - or else doom yourself to life as an eternal spinster. Each fits neatly into one of the archetypal comic stereotypes: Steve, the washedAlong your journey you'll be accompanied by Lady Evangeline Youngblood -up has-been who has fallen far a fiesty noble eager to save you from his early days; Zoea life alone, the rising female star with and fired by a new stand-up special coming soon; Danterogueish sense for adventure. When it comes to suitors though, who went from being a kid on the streets you'll have to make the hardest working road comic in ultimate decision between witty, pretty and wealthy Sir Benedict Granville, wholesome, rugged and caring Captain Angus MacTaggart, or the business; Olivermad, bad and terrifyingly sexy Lord Garraway Craven. With orphans, werewolves, long lost lovers and ancient Egyptian artifcats along the child-like prop comic who canway, it's clear this isn't get any respect from his peersgoing to be an easy decision... [[My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris|Full Review]] <!-- Jester -->|-| style="width: 10%; Janet, the insult comic who is past her primevertical-align: top; TJ, the nightly variety show host with a reputation for harassing his female colleagues and guest acts; Ruby, the ultratext-feminist YouTuber and Blogger with a chip on her shoulderalign: center; and William, whose redneck character ''Billy the Contractor'' is a far cry from his real personality as a posh millionaire"|[[image:Jester_Forever.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co. Of course, all nine agree because ''when God almighty walks down on a beam of light and asks for your help, what the hell else are you going to sayuk/gp/product/1510704361?''ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1510704361]]  |amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>1594749744</amazonuk>"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|}}===[[Forever After: a dark comedy by David Jester]]==={{newreview[[image:4star.jpg|authorlink=S Lynn ScottCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Paranormal|title=ElizabethParanormal]], [[:Category:Horror|Horror]], William... and Me[[:Category:Fantasy|rating=4.5Fasntasy]]|genre=Humour|summary=Ally Michael Holland is an ordinary woman with teenage children, a husband cocky and brash young man who dies and a job. Then comes gets made the day when ordinariness flies out offer of the windowhis lifetime; immortality. It's not We follow Michael, a grim reaper and his friends Chip (a stoner tooth fairy) and Naff (a coincidence that it's the same day she finds Queen Elizabeth I stoner in the pantry records department) as they grapple with their long lives and the Bard of Avon finding a clean surface to sit on in her baththeir flat. What's she going to do? Well, Elizabeth and Will have their own ideas about that!|amazonuk=<amazonuk[[Forever After: a dark comedy by David Jester|Full Review]] <!-- Stibbe -->1788037006</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= E G Rodford-|titlestyle= The Surgeon's Case"width: George Kocharyan Mystery 210%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Stibbe_Xmas.jpg|ratingleft|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0241309824?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN= 40241309824]] |genre= Crime |summarystyle=In the second instalment of this series, Private Investigator George Kocharyan has been hired "vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[An Almost Perfect Christmas by a well-known local man to track down some missing valuablesNina Stibbe]]=== [[image:4.5star. Bill Galbraithjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Short Stories|Short Stories]] Christmas – the time of traditional trauma. You only have to think about the turkey for that – once upon a worldtime it was leaving it sat on the downstairs loo to defrost overnight, and if that failed the hair-famous surgeon at Cambridgedryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best bet. Nowadays it's Addenbrookeall having to make sure it's Hospital who hosts a popular medical television programmesuitably free-range and organic – but not too organic that you can go and visit it, has had his briefcase stolen by his live-in domestic servantand get too friendly with it to want to eat it. Christmas, Aurora. According to Galbraiththough, this briefcase contains confidential notes concerning an important patient is of course also a time of his at the hospitalgreat boons. George agrees to look into the theftIt's cash in hand for a lot of plump people who can hire red suits and beards, assuming it will be was always a relatively easy godsend for postmen with all the thank-you letters to aunties you saw twice a decade that your parents made you write out in long-hand as a child, and straightforward case as for the makers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – little does he knowwell, he's about to enter a world did they even try and sell them any other time of deceit and dysfunction.the year? [[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>178565005X</amazonuk!-- Doescher -->}}{{newreview|author=Toni Jordan-|titlestyle=Our Tiny, Useless Hearts"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Doescher_Will.jpg|left|ratinglink=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/159474985X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=5159474985X]]  |genrestyle=Women"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[William Shakespeare's Fictionthe Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|summarylink=As predicted by Caroline and Janice's mother on Caroline and Henry's wedding dayCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], their marriage is over[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] A long time ago, albeit 15 years and two daughters further along than predicted. Indeedin a galaxy far away, this is definitely not there was a good weekend for Janice man called William Shakespeare, who was able to be babysitting at Caroline's housecreate a series of dramatic histories full of machinations most foul, rulers most evil and rebellious heroes and heroines most sturdy. There's You may or may not have noticed the split and the awkwardness cinematic version of the girlshis original stage play for ''The Force Doth Awaken' schoolteacher being the other woman for a start. Then there's that mistaken identity moment involving , but here at last we get the neighbours. At least Janice is well adjusted and over her exactual script, complete with annoying-in-different-ways-to-husband Alec. She still dreams of himbefore droids anew, yesreturning heroes from elsewhere in his oeuvre, but and people keeping it in the family til it's so over! hurts. Just as well really… guess whoAnd if you need further encouragement, don's at t forget his audience only demanded three parts of Henry VI – here the door?series is so popular we're on to part seven – surely making this over twice as good… [[William Shakespeare's the Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1760293814</amazonuk!-- Goss -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Colin Taylor"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Goss_600.jpg|title=The Life of a Scilly Sergeantleft|ratinglink=4https://www.amazon.co.5uk/gp/product/1785942719?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785942719]]  |genrestyle=Travel"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary=Meet the Isles of Scilly. ==[[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of Time Lord Verse (I know they should be called that – the author provides a handy guide to the etiquette of their name, their nature Dr Who) by James Goss and Russell T Davies]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Children's Rhymes and Verse|Children's Rhymes and locationVerse]], etc.) For our more distant readers[[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], they're several chunks of granite rock out in [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Consider the Atlantic, where Cornwall is pointingDoctor. Just how many birthday and Christmas gifts must he have to hand out each year, were he to keep in touch with just 2even half of his companions? He would certainly need a few novelty gifts for some of them, say,200 permanent residents. They're big on tourismfor example, whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate the life of a Time Lord and big on growing flowers in the tropical climate the Gulf Stream bequeaths them – although that of some of his friends and enemies. As luck would have it, he has the weather is bad enough space in his TARDIS to turn any car stock up in advance, so my advice to a rust bucket within yearshim – sorry, her – would be to pop along to his local Earth-based book emporium and get himself ready. TheyAnd if you're so weeworking on a shorter timescale, with a shorter lifespan, and so idyllic-seemingthinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, especially at night, you can be mistaken for thinking there would be no need for a police presencewell my advice is pretty much the same. But there is – at least two working at any one time. And one [[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of them in recent years has been Colin Taylor, who has done his official duty – alongside maintaining a wellTime Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and Russell T Davies|Full Review]] <!-- Ingram -->|-known online existence, which has brought to life all the whimsical comedy of his work.|amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>178475515X</amazonuk>}}{{newreview"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Ingram_Kammie.jpg|author=Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Reesleft|titlelink='Twas the Fight Before Christmashttps: A Parody//www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785451995?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785451995]]  |ratingstyle=3.5"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||genre=Humour|summary=It's Christmas Eve and Mum has arranged everything=[[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram]]=== [[image:4star. All she now has to do is await the arrival of the relatives and the food shopping delivery. Little does Mum know that those two elements alone have the potential to ruin everything.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]], [[:Category:Humour|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1472125118</amazonuk>Humour]]}}{{newreview|author=Ryan North|title=Romeo It was something of a relief when I encountered Annie Ingram and/or Juliet|rating=3her cocker spaniel Kammie.5|genre=Humour|summary=For all those who think tragedy plots You see, Annie knows something which has been self-evident to me for a long time: dogs are too restricted perfectly capable of communicating with humans and prescribed, read not just on. In these pages you too will see that Romeo had lots a level of options en route food!, walk! or play!. You do require extensive training to hitting the bottle. Likewisebecome fluent, she could but most dogs will be perfectly willing to give their time to teach you and all you have turned away from her predestined path at no end of juncturesto do is listen. And to what result? Well, happy marriage Annie has studied hard: Kammie has trained her well and a kid called Ben, because the leads pair have just banged people's heads together and stopped the quarrelling, or Death allowed us to share some of their conversations. [[Conversations with Kammie by Tybalt (him) or a long life running an establishment curing murderous women, such as a Lady M (her). Annie Ingram|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0356508536</amazonuk!-- Harris -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle= Gervase Phinn"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title= The Virgin Mary's Got Nits[[image:Harris_Glass.jpg|ratinglink= 4http://www.amazon.co.5|genreuk/dp/1908943823/ref= Humournosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle= Christmas in our house is the time we tend to get on a plane and head to either sun or snow"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris]]=== [[image:3star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], anywhere that [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Teenager Liam Glass is far, far away mugged and stabbed yards from his Camden flat. As the madness at homeboy lies comatose, last minute dashes to desperate journalist Jason Worthington scrabbles for the shops on Christmas Eveinside scoop, and food cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting tired police officer Andy Rockham searches for a monthmissing tape, harried politician Jamila Hasan fights for re-election, nor a mere 36 hoursdistraught mother Katrina Glass waits by her son, and gym-owner Royland simply finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. But I do remember the feeling We follow this host of Christmas when I was youngerensemble characters in a bleak, back when it was magical, and back when you knew exactly what the season would bring with carol concerts and school nativities and Christmas partieskaleidoscopic satire of modern media. This book is an anthology [[The Breaking of those moments, and it took me right back to the wonder of Christmas as a child.Liam Glass by Charles Harris|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444779400</amazonuk!-- LENTE -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle= Kieran Crowley"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lente_10.jpg|titlelink= Shoot|ratinghttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690222/ref=nosim?tag= 4thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle= Crime"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary= I make something of a habit of being late to discover good writers, in this case getting to Crowley after he is no longer with us==[[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. The result is that what is billed as ''an F.X. Shepherd mystery'' with all the optimism of there being more jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Nine comedians are invited to come has a remote Caribbean island under the poignancy guise of beingworking with Dustin Walker, if not the last of a short line, certainly a comedic legend. Each fits neatly into one of a few. F.X. Shepherd – he doesn't like his first name and prefers just "Shepherd" isthe archetypal comic stereotypes: Steve, technically, a columnist. He's the washed-up has-been sacked by one New York newspaper and is writing a weekly column for another. I don't know much about journalismwho has fallen far from his early days; Zoe, but I'm guessing one column the rising female star with a week doesn't pay much as new stand-up special coming soon; Dante, who went from being a rule…which explains why Shepherd's soap-washed-foul-mouthed editor (read kid on the book, you'll see what I mean) expects him streets to turn the hardest working road comic in some genuine journalism as well: front pagethe business; Oliver, seat of your pants stuff. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783296518</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Gray Jolliffe|title=The First Ever Christmas: And Who to Blame|rating=5|genre=Humour|summary=If I tell you a secretthe child-like prop comic who can't get any respect from his peers; Janet, will you promise not to tell anyone? the insult comic who is past her prime; WellTJ, I really don't like Christmas: it's my least favourite time of year the nightly variety show host with a reputation for harassing his female colleagues and whilst some people count down to guest acts; Ruby, the day itselfultra-feminist YouTuber and Blogger with a chip on her shoulder; and William, I look forward to that point when I can say that itwhose redneck character 's all over for another year. It's all too commercialised for me, with Billy the Contractor'' is a far cry from his real personality as a coating of faux religionposh millionaire. I've never found it in the least funny - that isOf course, until I found Gray Jolliffeall nine agree because 's ''The First Ever Christmas: And Who's when God almighty walks down on a beam of light and asks for your help, what the hell else are you going to Blamesay?''. Amazingly, I'd never encountered Gray Jolliffe either, but I'm a convert to his skills as a cartoonist (if not to the idea of Christmas) after reading this collection of Christmas[[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]] <!-- Scott -->|-themed cartoons from his archive.|amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>1445663503<"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Scott_Eliz.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1788037006/amazonuk>ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]}}{{newreview|authorstyle="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|=Jonathan Pugh|title=Pugh's New Year's Resolutions|rating=4[[Elizabeth, William...5and Me by S Lynn Scott]]===|genre=Humour[[image:4.5star.jpg|summarylink=If there's one thing that's for certainCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Ally is an ordinary woman with teenage children, it's that the world is changinga husband and a job. We're dating online, we're communicating in ways that make email seem redundant, and Then comes the day when weordinariness flies out of the window. It're shopping we just tell s not a website where and when coincidence that it can be delivered's the same day she finds Queen Elizabeth I in the pantry and the Bard of Avon in her bath. What's she going to do? Well, Elizabeth and how much leeway they Will have to swap our wishes for whatever it is they do bring us. But those changes are also supposed to be affecting us – we're supposed to use a smart watch to tell us if we're moving or not, we have to keep up with the latest fads, and we're supposed to prick our ears up and take note when the proverbial 'they' change their minds about what we're supposed to eattheir own ideas about that! [[Elizabeth, William...and Me by S Lynn Scott|Full Review]] <!-- Rodford -->|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780722885</amazonuk>}}{{newreview-|authorstyle= Luke Rhinehart"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title= Invasion[[image:Rodford_Surgeon.jpg|ratinglink= 4http://www.amazon.co.5|genreuk/dp/178565005X/ref= Humour nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=Super"vertical-intelligent furry aliens suddenly appear from another universe. And theyalign: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Surgeon've come to earth to have fun. Alien Louie follows fisherman Billy Morton home one day, and he and his family quickly come to love the playful aliens Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford]]=== [[image:4star. But when Louie starts using their computer to hack into government and corporate networksjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], stealing millions from banks to give to others[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] In the second instalment of this series, they realise that Louie and his friends mean trouble. As Billy and his family begin Private Investigator George Kocharyan has been hired by a roller coaster ride of fame and fortune, as well as a ranking high on the FBI-known local man to track down some missing valuables. Bill Galbraith, a world-famous surgeon at Cambridge's Addenbrooke's most wanted listHospital who hosts a popular medical television programme, the Government soon decides that these aliens are terrorists, and must be eliminatedhas had his briefcase stolen by his live-in domestic servant, Aurora. Whilst According to Galbraith, this briefcase contains confidential notes concerning an important patient of his at the aliens are playing games they hope will help humans hospital. George agrees to see look into the insanity of the American politicaltheft, economic assuming it will be a relatively easy and military systemsstraightforward case – little does he know, they soon come he's about to realise that the Powers that Be donenter a world of deceit and dysfunction. [[The Surgeon't play gamess Case: they make war. George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk>1785651757</amazonuk!-- Jordan -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Rod Green"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Jordan_Tiny.jpg|titlelink=Only Fools and Horseshttp: The Peckham Archives//www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1760293814/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]|rating=4|genre=Entertainment |summarystyle=We are in the world of one of the country's most famous and well"vertical-loved sitcoms – even if it was sortalign: top; text-of killed off for Christmas 2003align: left;"|===[[Our Tiny, Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan]]=== [[image:5star. Yes, there have been specials since, and more repeats to clog up the BBC schedules than is really pukka, but very few people failed to succumb to its charms at one time or another. Ijpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Women'm sure there have been books before now celebrating the stony-faced reception of s Fiction|Women''that'' drop through the open bar hatchs Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] As predicted by Caroline and Janice's mother on Caroline and Henry'that'' chandelier scenes wedding day, but this their marriage is much more meaty. Purporting to be the family archivesover, found dumped in Nelson Mandela Housealbeit 15 years and two daughters further along than predicted. Indeed, the documents here were passed from pillar to post, from one council worker in this is definitely not a department with a clumsy acronym good weekend for Janice to another, from them to the police – be babysitting at Caroline's house. There's the split and now here they are the awkwardness of the girls' schoolteacher being published the other woman for their social history wortha start. Will enough readers find them of worthThen there's that mistaken identity moment involving the neighbours. At least Janice is well adjusted and over her ex-husband Alec. She still dreams of him, yes, but it's so over! Just as well really… guess who's at the series quietly celebrates its 35th birthdaydoor?[[Our Tiny, Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849909245</amazonuk!-- Taylor -->}}{{newreview|author= Mara Wilson-|titlestyle= Where Am I Now?"width: 10%; vertical-align: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fametop; text-align: center;"|[[image:Taylor_Scilly.jpg|ratinglink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178475515X/ref=nosim?tag= 5thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle= Autobiography"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary= Mara Wilson has always felt ==[[The Life of a little young and a little out of placeScilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category: as the only child on a film set full of adults, the first daughter in a house full of boys{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Travel|Travel]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Meet the sole clinically depressed member Isles of Scilly. (I know they should be called that – the author provides a cheerleading squadhandy guide to the etiquette of their name, a valley girl in New York their nature and a neurotic in Californialocation, and an adult the world still remembers as a little girletc. Tackling everything from how she first learned about sex on the set of ''Melrose Place) For our more distant readers,they'' to losing her mother at a young agere several chunks of granite rock out in the Atlantic, to getting her first kiss (or was it kisses?) on a celebrity canoe tripwhere Cornwall is pointing, to not being cute enough to make it in Hollywoodwith just 2, these essays tell the story of one young woman's journey from accidental fame to relative obscurity, but also illuminate a universal struggle: learning to accept yourself200 permanent residents. They're big on tourism, and figuring out who you are and where you belong. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0143128221</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Tony Stuart|title= Writing Lines|rating= 4big on growing flowers in the tropical climate the Gulf Stream bequeaths them – although the weather is bad enough to turn any car to a rust bucket within years.5|genre=Humour|summary= George Gordon Wentworth (1946They're so wee, and so idyllic-2011) lived seeming, especially at night, you can be mistaken for thinking there would be no need for a humdrum lifepolice presence. He was a barely adequate teacher in a fairly world renowned independent school in Kent and kept a copious diary of his quotidian existenceBut there is – at least two working at any one time. Most And one of what he recorded was dross. Howeverthem in recent years has been Colin Taylor, amongst all the utterly uninteresting tailings of who has done his life there were some nuggets and grains to catch the attention. Author Tony Stuart has created these amusing anecdotesofficial duty – alongside maintaining a well-known online existence, panning them out over twenty six episodes which give us has brought to life all the best whimsical comedy of Wentworth – comedy goldhis work. From losing all the pupils in his charge on a school trip to being arrested on suspicion [[The Life of terrorism; from waking up in bed between the married couple the morning after their wedding, to destroying a ski run; from appearing fullScilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor|Full Review]] <!--frontal naked in a sheepLloyd -farmers' gazette to triggering an air-sea rescue; Wentworth was, blinkered and befuddled, the subject – of these and so many more unlikely but highly amusing events.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1524634441</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Graham Fulbright-|titlestyle=Driving Mad"width: Maniacs, Morons and the Advanced Motorist's Club10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_Twas.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/1472125118/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle=Humour"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary=I passed my driving test when John F Kennedy was in ==[['Twas the White House Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and I've recently had to reapply for my driving licence having achieved a venerable ageEmlyn Rees]]=== [[image:3.5star. When I started driving the roads were kinder, more forgiving places - or put another way, the idiots were fewer jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It's Christmas Eve and further betweenMum has arranged everything. I don't know how long Graham Fulbright All she now has been driving, but he certainly knows his motoring morons to do is await the arrival of the relatives and in ''Driving Mad'' he brings us a fictional sample of their eccentricitiesthe food shopping delivery. Well, I'm pretty certain Little does Mum know that they're fictional - but these days you never knowthose two elements alone have the potential to ruin everything...[['Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783062584</amazonuk>Full Review]]}}{{newreview<!-- Phinn -->|author=Mario Giordano-|titlestyle=Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating=4[[image:Phinn_Virgin.jpg|genre=Crimeleft|summarylink=Poldi had not long been widowed when she decided to move from Bavaria to Sicily with the intention of drinking herself to deathhttp://www.amazon.co. She could, of course, have done this in Germany, but she felt that a sea view was essentialuk/dp/1444779400/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn]]=== [[image:4.5star. Once there, new friends, family already resident on the island and the corpse of a young manjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], his face blown off by a shotgun, whom she found on [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Christmas in our house is the local beach, intervened time we tend to give her life some meaning. For get on a while she was a suspectplane and head to either sun or snow, but anywhere that (and her wig) were no obstacle to her falling for Commissario Vito Montana who was assigned to investigate is far, far away from the case. Assisting him (or having him assist her) came naturally madness at home, last minute dashes to Poldi the shops on Christmas Eve, and before long there was an investigative and personal partnership. At least so far as Poldi food cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting for a month, nor a mere 36 hours. But I do remember the feeling of Christmas when I was concerned.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1908524693</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Grady Hendrix|title= My Best Friend's Exorcism|rating= 5|genre= Horror|summary=1988younger, back when it was magical, Charleston, South Carolina. High and back when you knew exactly what the season would bring with carol concerts and school sophomores Abby nativities and Gretchen have been best friends since fourth gradeChristmas parties. But after This book is an evening anthology of skinny-dipping goes disatrously wrongthose moments, Gretchen begins and it took me right back to actthe wonder of Christmas as a child...different. She[[The Virgin Mary's moody. She's irritable. And bizarre incidents keep happening whenever she's nearby. Abby's investigation leads her to some startling discoveries Got Nits by Gervase Phinn|Full Review]] <!-- North -- and by the time their story reaches its terrifying conclusion, the fate of Abby and Gretchen will be determined by a single question: Is their friendship enough to beat the devil?>|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594748624</amazonuk>}}{{newreview-|authorstyle= Kevin MacNeil"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=The Brilliant and Forever[[image:North_Romeo.jpg|ratinglink= 3http://www.amazon.5|genre= Humour|summaryco.uk/dp/0356508536/ref= You know sometimes when someone tells a joke, everyone else laughs, and you're sat there wondering what was so funnynosim?|amazonuktag=<amazonuk>1846973376</amazonuk>thebookbag-21]]}}{{newreview|authorstyle= Christopher Fowler|title= Bryant and May"vertical-align: Strange Tidetop; text-align: left;"||rating= ==[[Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North]]=== [[image:3.55star.jpg|genrelink= CrimeCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]]|summary= The thirteenth outing for Bryant For all those who think tragedy plots are too restricted and May is looking very much like it will be their last. Arthur Bryant is prescribed, read on compassionate leave whilst tests are continuing, which are likely to confirm that he is suffering from Alzheimer's. His condition is worsening almost by In these pages you too will see that Romeo had lots of options en route to hitting the daybottle. Likewise, memory lapses are morphing into full-scale hallucinationsshe could have turned away from her predestined path at no end of junctures.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857523422</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Kevin Smith|title=The Voyage of And to what result? Well, happy marriage and a kid called Ben, because the Dolphin|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Dublin 1916: Among leads have just banged people's heads together and stopped the unrest and anti-British feeling worsened quarrelling, or Death by the threat of conscription into Tybalt (him) or a war seen as nothing to do with the Irish, Trinity College faculty has other distractions. They'd like long life running an establishment curing murderous women, such as a trophy; the skeleton of an Irish 'giant' to be preciseLady M (her). The only glitch is that the main trophy contender, Bernard MacNeill's skeleton, is somewhere difficult to access [[Romeo and all seasoned explorers are otherwise engaged. There may be hope though. They turn to Fitzmaurice, a student not good enough for anything else. Fitzmaurice agrees, picking his friends Crozier and Rafferty to go with him. So… ''Gentlemen, lace up your strongest boots and pack your warmest underwear – we're all off to the bloody Arctic!'' Whether battle cry or epitaph, three men and a dog… and an iguana… are going anyway./or Juliet by Ryan North|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910124826</amazonuk!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->|amazonus=<amazonus>1910124826</amazonus>}}{{newreview|author=Tony Hawks|title=Once Upon a Time in the West… Country|rating=3|genre=Travel|summary=I have often complained in a jokey voice to my partner about life in the sticks, and the way she moved me from an inner-city flat to slumming it in the suburbs with fewer busses, no takeaways within walking-and-keeping-food-hot distance, and no 'Polish' shops for a can of beer whenever you fancy one. Things are different with Tony Hawks, as here he has purposefully decided to up sticks from London to Somewhere, Devon – a tiny village where the people who built their own homes decades ago still live in them, where slugs are a lot more of a problem for the wannabe lettuce-grower than they are for the metropolitan commuter, and where village halls have the power to turn you into both a Pol Pot dictator if you get on their committee and into a quivering, bruise-inducing wreck if you're the wrong gender at a Zumba class…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444794809</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Marian Keyes|title=Making It Up As I Go Along|rating=4.5|genre=Entertainment|summary=Oh, how the book reviewing gods like to give, and equally like to take away. Here before me is a brand, spanking new collection of journalism by the wonderful Marian Keyes – but it's a proof copy, so there's no photo of the author. Even if over the years I have stopped reading her novels, I have always turned to the author picture to remind myself such sights exist in this world. Himself is a lucky man, for sure. But beyond sounding like a letch, what can I say about this – the beauty's third large dose of essays, web columns and other journalism? I can start with agreeing that I am not the target audience, but it's easy enough to see from these pages exactly what the target is. So much like that test you do – you know the one, that formulates decisions about the age and commonality of all things in space to come up with how many billions of planets are likely to have alien life on – you can narrow things down quite readily here, and still come up with a huge number.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0718182529</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Jean-Yves Ferri|title= Asterix and the Missing Scroll (Album 36)|rating= 5|genre= For Sharing|summary=Asterix is those rarest of book series; one designed for kids which is actually even funnier when you are an adult. I used to love Asterix as a child, but now that I reread them I can't help but wonder why, because they are so full of hilarious jokes that I definitely wouldn't have understood when I was younger. I laughed loud and hard to myself twice within the first two pages of Asterix and the Missing Scroll, so I'd definitely say that this was a hit.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1510100458</amazonuk>}}