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[[Category:New Reviews|Humour]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreview|class-"wikitable" cellpadding="15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE--><!-- van LENTE -->|author= Christopher Fowler-|titlestyle= Bryant and May"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: Strange Tidecenter;"|[[image:1683690346.jpg|ratinglink= 3http://www.amazon.5co.uk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle= Crime"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary= ==[[The thirteenth outing for Bryant and May is looking very much like it will be their lastCon Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. Arthur Bryant is 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 the day, memory lapses are morphing into full-scale hallucinations.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>0857523422</amazonuk>Category:{{{rating}}}{{newreviewStar Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|author=Kevin SmithCrime]], [[:Category:Humour|title=The Voyage of the DolphinHumour]]|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Dublin 1916: Among the unrest and antiComic-British feeling worsened by the threat Cons are a place of conscription into a war seen as nothing to do with the Irishwonder and sanctuary for many people, Trinity College faculty has other distractions. Theyand when Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, he'd like a trophy; s looking for both that and sanctuary with other fans and creators, plus the skeleton chance of an Irish 'giant' to be precisemaybe, just maybe reuniting with his ex. The only glitch However, when his rival is that the main trophy contender, Bernard MacNeill's skeletonfound dead, Mike is somewhere difficult forced to access navigate every dark corner of the con in order to clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and all seasoned explorers are otherwise engaged. There may be hope though. They turn intrusive fans to Fitzmauricezombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and, in doing so, may just unravel a student not good enough for anything elsedark secret behind a legendary industry creator. 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[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]]  <!'' Whether battle cry or epitaph, three men and a dog… and an iguana… are going anyway.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910124826</amazonuk-- Coulton -->|amazonus=<amazonus>1910124826</amazonus>}}{{newreview-|authorstyle=Tony Hawks"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1473669588.jpg|titlelink=Once Upon a Time in the West… Countryhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1473669588/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]|rating=3|genre=Travel|summarystyle=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"vertical-align: top; text-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 onealign: left;"|===[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton]]=== [[image:4star. Things are different with Tony Hawks, as here he has purposefully decided to up sticks from London to Somewherejpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:General Fiction|General Fiction]], Devon – a tiny village where the people who built their own homes decades ago still live in them[[:Category:Humour|Humour]], where slugs are [[:Category:Women's Fiction|Women's Fiction]] Lex Coulton's debut novel is a lot more of a problem for the wannabe lettuce-grower than they are for the metropolitan commuterstory about mistakes, failures, and relationships. The main protagonist, Frances Pilgrim, and where village halls have the power to turn you into both is a Pol Pot dictator if you get on their committee and into sixth form English teacher who has recently fallen out with her best friend Jackson, a quiveringwork colleague, bruise-inducing wreck if youand is grappling with the increasingly eccentric behaviour of her mother. This relationship is complicated by the fact that Frances're the wrong gender s father disappeared at a Zumba class…sea when she was five years old. [[Falling Short by Lex Coulton|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444794809</amazonuk!-- van LENTE -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Marian Keyes"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=Making It Up As I Go Along|rating=4[[image:1683690346.5jpg|genrelink=Entertainmenthttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=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 "vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Con Artist by the wonderful Marian Keyes – but it's a proof copy, so there's no photo of the authorFred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. Even if over the years I have stopped reading her novelsjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], I have always turned to the author picture to remind myself such sights exist in this world. Himself is [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Comic-Cons are a lucky man, place of wonder and sanctuary for sure. But beyond sounding like a letchmany people, what can I say about this – the beautyand when Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, he's third large dose looking for both that and sanctuary with other fans and creators, plus the chance of essaysmaybe, web columns and other journalism? I can start just maybe reuniting with agreeing that I am not the target audiencehis ex. However, but it's easy enough to see from these pages exactly what the target when his rival is. So much like that test you do – you know the onefound dead, that formulates decisions about Mike is forced to navigate every dark corner of the age and commonality of all things con in space order to come up with how many billions of planets are likely clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and intrusive fans to have alien life on zombie obstacle courses – you can narrow things down quite readily hereMike must prove his innocence and, in doing so, and still come up with may just unravel a dark secret behind a huge numberlegendary industry creator.[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0718182529</amazonuk!-- Curran -->}}{{newreview|author= Jean-Yves Ferri|titlestyle= Asterix and the Missing Scroll (Album 36)"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating= 5[[image:1683690133.jpg|genrelink= For Sharing|summaryhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690133/ref=Asterix is those rarest of book seriesnosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; one designed for kids which is actually even funnier when you are an adult"|===[[My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris]]=== [[image:4star. I used to love Asterix as a child, but now that I reread them I can't help but wonder whyjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], because they [[:Category:Historical Fiction|Historical Fiction]] You are so full a lass of hilarious jokes that I definitely wouldn't have understood when I was younger. I laughed loud twenty eight. Plucky, penniless and hard in Regency era London the race is on to myself twice within the first two pages of Asterix and the Missing Scroll, so I'd definitely say that this was find a hit.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1510100458</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Spadge Whittaker|title=Braver Than Britainsuitable suitor - or else doom yourself to life as an eternal spinster. Along your journey you'll be accompanied by Lady Evangeline Youngblood - a fiesty noble eager to save you from a life alone, Occasionally|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=In which Spadge researches Britain's top ten fears and faces them all over the course of fired by a yearrogueish sense for adventure. We're quite a fearful societyWhen it comes to suitors though, you know. And 'll have to make the things we fear most areultimate decision between witty, in order: heights (acrophobia)pretty and wealthy Sir Benedict Granville, snakes (ophidiophobia)wholesome, public speaking (glossophobia)rugged and caring Captain Angus MacTaggart, spiders (arachnophobia)or the mad, small spaces (claustrophobia)bad and terrifyingly sexy Lord Garraway Craven. With orphans, mice (musophobia)werewolves, needles (trypanophobia), flying (pteromerhanophobia)long lost lovers and ancient Egyptian artifcats along the way, crowds (agoraphobia) it's clear this isn't going to be an easy decision... [[My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran and clowns (coulrophobia).Larissa Zageris|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0993429904</amazonuk!-- Jester -->}}{{newreview|author= Mike Bullen-|titlestyle= Trust"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating= 4[[image:Jester_Forever.jpg|genre= General Fictionleft|summarylink= Greg and Amanda are happyhttps://www. Unmarried, but together thirteen years and with two young daughters, they are very much in loveamazon. Dan and Sarah aren't so fortunateco. Their marriage is going through the motions, and they're staying together for the sake of their troubled teenage son. Following uk/gp/product/1510704361?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1510704361]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Forever After: a business conference away from home, one bad decision sends a happy couple into turmoil, and turns an unhappy couple into love's young dreamdark comedy by David Jester]]=== [[image:4star. As secrets and betrayals threaten to send both relationships out of controljpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Paranormal|Paranormal]], there's only one thing that can keep everything from falling apart[[:Category: TrustHorror|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0751559253</amazonuk>}}Horror]], [[:Category:Fantasy|Fasntasy]]{{newreview|author=Dan Rhodes|title=When Michael Holland is a cocky and brash young man who dies and gets made the Professor Got Stuck in the Snow|rating=4offer of his lifetime; immortality.5|genre=General Fiction|summary= Two people are on We follow Michael, a grim reaper and his friends Chip (a stoner tooth fairy) and Naff (a train on stoner in the records department) as they grapple with their way long lives and finding a clean surface to, of all things, a WI meeting where the ladies of All Bottoms will be lectured sit on the nonin their flat. [[Forever After: a dark comedy by David Jester|Full Review]] <!-existence of God. One of the two people is Professor Richard Dawkins, rampant atheist, hectoring scientist chappie, and all-round devotee of ''Deal or No Deal''. The other is Smee, his monoStibbe -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-named assistant, amanuensis or 'male secretary'align: center;"|[[image:Stibbe_Xmas. Smee will come to the fore when the weather sets in and the train journey has to be abandoned some way short of its ultimate destination, Upper Bottomjpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co. Instead the pair fetch up at the isolated yet friendly community of Market Horton, and the only option for accommodation is taken – yes, the dieduk/gp/product/0241309824?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-in21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0241309824]]  | style="vertical-thealign: top; text-wool non-believer has to be housed align: left;"|===[[An Almost Perfect Christmas by a retired vicar and his wifeNina Stibbe]]=== [[image:4.5star. This clash of titanic opinions, peppered with social faux pas aplenty will provide for a particularly English kind of farcical comedy, but one with the legs to go as far as any other Good Books have reached in the past…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910709018</amazonuk>jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}}{{newreviewStar Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|author=Rob TempleHumour]], [[:Category:Short Stories|title=Very British Problems AbroadShort Stories]]|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=Meet, if you haven't already, Christmas – the phenomenon time of the Very British Problemtraditional trauma. In this format they're in pithy little comments (of, ooh, You only have to think about 140 characters in length, the turkey for some reason…) and detail that – once upon a time it was leaving it sat on the minor things in life that we like nothing more than downstairs loo to inflate to a major factor of life. They can involve mannersdefrost overnight, staring at things until they mend themselves, hitting things ditto, or and if that failed the fact hair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best bet. Nowadays it's all having to make sure it's suitably free-range and organic – but not too organic that nobody apart from you can go and I know how visit it, and get too friendly with it to want to queue properlyeat it. And if the idea hits the world outside our shoresChristmas, then – wellthough, you certainly have is of course also a book full time of content regarding our attitude and ineptitude abroadgreat boons.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0751558494</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Fraser McAlpine|title=Stuff Brits Like|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary= With over 100 chapters on different aspects It's cash in hand for a lot of Britain plump people who can hire red suits and Britishnessbeards, this book is both fascinating and hilarious. Just looking at it was always a godsend for postmen with all the list of subjects is enough thank-you letters to produce aunties you saw twice a sardonic twist of decade that stiff upper lip: your parents made you write out in long-hand as a child, and as for the chapters cover topics that range from offal to currymakers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, from pedantry to banter, from conkers to rugby. There may be many chapters but this is no academic tome - each chapter is just two to three pages long, each is written with endearing affection, each is easy did they even try and satisfying sell them any other time of the year? [[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe|Full Review]] <!-- Doescher - and quirkily funny - to read.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1857886348</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= John Samuel-|titlestyle= What I Tell You in the Dark"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Doescher_Will.jpg|ratingleft|link= 3https://www.amazon.co.5|genreuk/gp/product/159474985X?ie= Humour|summaryUTF8&tag=A man called Will is fighting fiercely against corruption – desperate to expose his companythebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=159474985X]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[William Shakespeare's dodgy dealings to the pressForce Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher]]=== [[image:4. Overcome with doubt and fear, he goes to kill himself5star. But, at the exact moment he attaches his noose to the back of the door, he is saved. By a curious housemate or a concerned girlfriend? Nojpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], by an Angel. Not the white-feathered guardian Angel you may expect[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, there was a man called William Shakespeare, but one who wishes was able to help Will achieve his endscreate a series of dramatic histories full of machinations most foul, rulers most evil and so possess rebellious heroes and heroines most sturdy. You may or may not have noticed the body cinematic version of his original stage play for ''The Force Doth Awaken'', but here at last we get the hapless Will actual script, complete with annoying-in order -different-ways-to finish what he started-before droids anew, returning heroes from elsewhere in his oeuvre, and people keeping it in the family til it hurts. It goes without saying that And if you need further encouragement, don't forget his audience only demanded three parts of Henry VI – here the Angel series is hoping things go better than they did with 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 last guy he possessed – a hapless young man from Galilee called Jesus…Seventh by Ian Doescher|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0715650505</amazonuk!-- Goss -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle= John Niven"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title= The Sunshine Cruise Company|rating= 4[[image:Goss_600.5jpg|genre= Humourleft|summarylink= Susan Frobisher and Julie Wickham live in a small Dorset townhttps://www.amazon. Friends since school, they live fairly uneventful lives – Susan has a lovely house and a lengthy marriage to accountant Barry, whereas Julie is doing slightly less well – living in a council flat and working in an old people's homeco. When Barry is found dead trussed up in a sex dungeon, it transpires that he has been leading a hidden life for years, and his expensive fetishes lead to the bank moving to take Susan's home. Struck uk/gp/product/1785942719?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785942719]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by both desperation James Goss and a sense of injustice, Sue and Julie conspire to rob a bank, taking along their friend Jill – a devout Christian conflicted due to lack of money and a terminally ill grandson, and Ethel – a foul mouthed resident of the nursing home longing for adventureRussell T Davies]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>0434023183</amazonuk>Category:{{{rating}}}{{newreviewStar Reviews]] [[:Category:Children's Rhymes and Verse|author=Marie PhillipsChildren's Rhymes and Verse]], [[:Category:Science Fiction|title=The Table Of Less Valued KnightsScience Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|rating=4.5Humour]]|genre=Fantasy|summary=Sir Humphrey has been demoted from King Arthur's Round Table to Consider the Table of Lesser Valued KnightsDoctor. The only way Just how many birthday and Christmas gifts must he have to get hand out each year, were he to keep in touch with even half of his comfier seat back is to redeem himself via companions? He would certainly need a quest. Therefore when damsel Elaine seeks help to find her kidnapped fiancéfew novelty gifts for some of them, Humphrey and his wardsay, the teenage giant Conradfor example, eagerly set forth. Meanwhile in whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate the kingdom life of Tuft, new Queen Martha has run away after a disastrous wedding to… a… well… disastrous Prince EdwinTime Lord and that of some of his friends and enemies. She may not realise As luck would have it yet, but she too will have a job for Humphrey!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099555875</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Tim Flannery|title=The Mystery of the Venus Island Fetish|rating=3|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Meet Archie Meekhe has the space in his TARDIS to stock up in advance, so my advice to him – sorry, her – would be to pop along to his local Earth-based book emporium and get himself ready. HeAnd if you's about to leave the Venus Islandsre working on a shorter timescale, where he's lived for the last five yearswith a shorter lifespan, and return to Sydneythinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, where he'll take his office in well my advice is pretty much the museum and fill it with all the cultural artefacts he's found and wildlife he's plucked or pickledsame. That's not to ignore the fact he'll count as something quite alien himself, with his filled[[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and Russell T Davies|Full Review]] <!-- Ingram -out frame, nearly all-over suntan and totemic tattoo, in amongst other changes to his body>|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Ingram_Kammie. But what's this? When he gets back, he finds one of the main Venus Islands artefacts that caused him to go there in the first place, a huge, macabre ceremonial fetish mask, purloined as corporate artworkjpg|left|link=https://www.amazon. And some of the curators he wishes to work alongside have vanishedco. Is the weird society of the museum he's returning to, perchance, even weirder, stranger and more violent than the cannibalistic society he's waving farewell touk/gp/product/1785451995?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785451995]]  |amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>1922079308</amazonuk>"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|}}{{newreview|author=Roman Dirge|title=The Cat =[[Conversations with a Really Big Head|ratingKammie by Annie Ingram]]===3.5|genre=Graphic Novels[[image:4star.jpg|summarylink= How many picture books are there about cats? And how many do you know that you would really NOT prefer your children to Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It was something of a relief when I encountered Annie Ingram and her cocker spaniel Kammie. You see? If the answer , Annie knows something which has been self-evident to the second question is 'none – yet', scratch that last wordme for a long time: dogs are perfectly capable of communicating with humans and not just on a level of food!, walk! or play!. The title piece in this collection isYou do require extensive training to become fluent, by the author's own admission, his imagining of the Joseph Merrick (the 'Elephant Man') of the feline world – who struggles but most dogs will be perfectly willing to give their time to sneak up behind a mouse when the shadow of his head is a total giveaway, teach you and who can hardly even eat with dignity as bending down all you have to his bowl would break his neckdo is listen. If that's too dark or oddball for you, try the second major piece, which Annie has studied hard: Kammie has a most revealing foreword – ''Dedicated to a certain girl… I hope your life is filled with wonderful accomplishments, love trained her well and all the magic you desire… - But I hope your death is slow and horriblepair have allowed us to share some of their conversations.''[[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- Harris -->1782762876</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Val Hennessy-|titlestyle=Not Far From Dreamland"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Harris_Glass.jpg|ratinglink=4http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/1908943823/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] |genre=General Fiction|summarystyle=Ronald Tonks has reached that stage in life which I call upper middle age"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris]]=== [[image: you've qualified for your pension but not yet got to the free television licence barrier3star. What Ronald ''has'' got jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Teenager Liam Glass is a roof that leaks (there's good reason why mugged and stabbed yards from his home is called 'Camden flat. As the shack')boy lies comatose, a dog who is going bald (in patches) and money that's in very short supply. On desperate journalist Jason Worthington scrabbles for the plus side he has friendsinside scoop, tired police officer Andy Rockham searches for a missing tape, harried politician Jamila Hasan fights for re-election, distraught mother Katrina Glass waits by her son, mostly platonic and usually gym-owner Royland simply finds himself in much the same boat as Ronaldwrong place at the wrong time. But are they downhearted? WellWe follow this host of ensemble characters in a bleak, they are occasionally, but mostly they're generously optimistic and out to make the most kaleidoscopic satire of modern media. [[The Breaking of what they've got, usually bought from charity shops and jumble sales. ''Not Far From Dreamland'' is the story of a year (2012) in the life of Ronald Tonks, his friends and relatives.Liam Glass by Charles Harris|Full Review]] <!-- LENTE -->|-|amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>0704373874</amazonuk>}}{{newreview"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|author=Harry Harrison[[image:Lente_10.jpg|titlelink=Bill, the Galactic Herohttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690222/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]|rating=3.5|genre=Science Fiction|summarystyle=Meet Bill"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. He's a simple farmer – well, he ''is'' taking jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Nine comedians are invited to a correspondence course in being remote Caribbean island under the guise of working with Dustin Walker, a Technical Fertiliser Operator – but fate has something else in storecomedic legend. And so does Each fits neatly into one of the mechanisedarchetypal comic stereotypes: Steve, technologicalthe washed-up has-been who has fallen far from his early days; Zoe, industrial military, which needs several billion grunts to fight the Chingers, in mankind's first interrising female star with a new stand-galactic war. Stillup special coming soon; Dante, at least he gets medals just for signing up. After that it's all downhillwho went from being a kid on the streets to the hardest working road comic in the business; Oliver, and the likes of Petty Chief Officer Deathwish Drang child-like prop comic who can only make that 't get any respect from his peers; Janet, the insult comic who is past her prime; TJ, the nightly variety show host with a straight line down. Reallyreputation for harassing his female colleagues and guest acts; Ruby, the ultra-feminist YouTuber and Blogger with a chip on her shoulder; and William, what hope whose redneck character ''Billy the Contractor'' is therea far cry from his real personality as a posh millionaire. 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 say?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>147320531X'' [[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]] </amazonuk!-- Scott -->}}{{newreview|author=Ian Doescher-|titlestyle=William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Scott_Eliz.jpg|ratinglink=4http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/1788037006/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle=Humour"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary= Join us==[[Elizabeth, good gentles, for a merry reimagining of `Star Wars Episode 1' as only Shakespeare could have written itWilliam... 'Tis a true Shakespearean drama, filled with sword fights, soliloquies and doomed romance…all in glorious iambic pentameter and coupled with gorgeous illustrations. Hold on to your midichlorians: The plays the thing, wherein you'll catch the rise of Anakin!|amazonukMe by S Lynn Scott]]===<amazonuk>1594748063</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Attaboy|title=The Book of Hugs|rating=[[image:4.5star.jpg|genrelink=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]]|summary=A hug's Ally is an ordinary woman with teenage children, a husband and a hug, OK? You either do, or you donjob. Then comes the day when ordinariness flies out of the window. It't. Some people might be s not a little more enthusiastic about coincidence that it's the process whilst others are more elegant same day she finds Queen Elizabeth I in the execution pantry and the Bard of the hug, but basically you just get on and Avon in her bath. What's she going to do it ? Well, Elizabeth and then forget Will have their own ideas about itthat! [[Elizabeth, right?William... and Me by S Lynn Scott|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk>0867197978</amazonuk!-- Rodford -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle= Christopher Fowler"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title= Bryant and May – The Burning Man[[image:Rodford_Surgeon.jpg|ratinglink=4http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178565005X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle=Crime"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary= ==[[The Peculiar Crimes Unit (PCU) has a new set of overlordsSurgeon's Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford]]=== [[image:4star. For reasons that were explored in the previous couple of outings they have been transferred to the City Of London Police. The Met are still jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] In the big players in the area. City second instalment of London Police only police the old citythis series, the square milePrivate Investigator George Kocharyan has been hired by a well-known local man to track down some missing valuables. Bill Galbraith, the financial district in other wordsa world-famous surgeon at Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital who hosts a popular medical television programme, that has very little had his briefcase stolen by his live-in the way domestic servant, Aurora. According to Galbraith, this briefcase contains confidential notes concerning an important patient of street crime, because no-one lives there anymore and his at the hospital. George agrees to look into the people who work there aretheft, by assuming it will be a relatively easy and largestraightforward case – little does he know, either too rich he's about to need to steal, or too smart to have to do so on the streetsenter a world of deceit and dysfunction.[[The Surgeon's Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857522043</amazonuk!-- Jordan -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Catharina Ingelman"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-Sundbergalign: center;"|title=The Little Old Lady Who Struck Lucky Again! [[image:Jordan_Tiny.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.5|genre=Humouramazon.co.uk/dp/1760293814/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=Following the success of ''The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules''"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Our Tiny, the League of Pensioners are back – and this time, they’re in Vegas! I haven’t read the first book but it was on my list when the opportunity arose to review this oneUseless Hearts by Toni Jordan]]=== [[image:5star. The idea of the League of Pensioners marching towards a fairer world through fun and frolics was hugely appealing to me and this is a stand alone novel so I thought I would dive straight in with this one.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1447274903</amazonuk>jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}{{newreview} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Women's Fiction|author=WinshlussWomen's Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|title=In God We TrustHumour]]|rating=4.5|genre=Graphic Novels|summary=To start with, a rhetorical test. How about God As predicted by Caroline and Adam playing badminton day in Janice's mother on Caroline and Henry's wedding day out, until one gets bored their marriage is over, albeit 15 years and decides to create Eve? Or two daughters further along than predicted. Indeed, this is definitely not a good weekend for Janice to be babysitting at Caroline's house. There's the defeater of Goliath split and the saviour awkwardness of the Israelites girls' schoolteacher being one Conan the Barbarian? Or this as other woman for a test – Jesus Himself failing to have a successful session of tequila slammers with Gabriel due to start. Then there's that mistaken identity moment involving the holes through His hands? I barely need mention that in these pages God does battle with Superman, for you to have answered the test neighbours. At least Janice is well adjusted and put yourself firmly in one over her ex-husband Alec. She still dreams of two camps for this book – one very much opposed to buying him, yes, but it's so over! Just as well really… guess who's at the door? [[Our Tiny, and one very much in favour.Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0861662350</amazonuk!-- Taylor -->}}{{newreview|author=David Walliams and Tony Ross-|titlestyle=The Queen's Orang"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-Utanalign: center;"|rating=5[[image:Taylor_Scilly.jpg|genrelink=For Sharing|summary=The Queen felt trapped in the palace with all those stuffed animals which she has been given on foreign tourshttp://www.amazon.co. There are mountains of them and every night she would dream of escaping. When her birthday drew near the family dutifully asked her what she would like as a present. uk/dp/178475515X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Prince was thinking Life of a gold, diamond encrusted stairlift whilst the Duke was considering a great big bottle of brandyScilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor]]=== [[image:4. The Royal Baby had some decorated thimbles in mind, but the Queen became just a little snappish as she explained that what she really wanted was 'One's own orang-utan'5star. And she didn't mean a stuffed one, either.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0008135134</amazonuk>jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}}{{newreviewStar Reviews]] [[:Category:Travel|author=Jack SheffieldTravel]], [[:Category:Humour|title=Silent NightHumour]] |rating=3Meet the Isles of Scilly.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=(I read know they should be called that – the author provides a couple handy guide to the etiquette of Jack Sheffield’s books about five years agotheir name, their nature and location, and enjoyed them very muchetc. They were written ) For our more distant readers, they're several chunks of granite rock out in a similar style to those popularised bythe Atlantic, where Cornwall is pointing, for instancewith just 2, James Herriot or [[:Category:Gervase Phinn|Gervase Phinn]]200 permanent residents. They're big on tourism, told mostly and big on growing flowers in the first person, describing tropical climate the Gulf Stream bequeaths them – although the author’s first couple of weather is bad enough to turn any car to a rust bucket within years as Headmaster at a small village primary school in Yorkshire. The village of Ragley is fictionalThey're so wee, and so idyllic-seeming, as are most of the charactersespecially at night, but the incidents and situations encountered are based on the author’s experienceyou can be mistaken for thinking there would be no need for a police presence.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0552167045</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=J Robert Lennon|title=See You In Paradise|rating=3|genre=Short Stories|summary=Lennon writes with But there is – at least two working at any one time. And one of them in recent years has been Colin Taylor, who has done his official duty – alongside maintaining a relaxedwell-known online existence, easy style and which has brought to life all the whimsical comedy of his characters are instantly recognisable as people from everyday walks work. [[The Life of life, without being in any way stereotypical. Many of the people in these stories are dealing with normal frustrations, and Lennon is cleverly detached enough not to make them individuals that you're obviously supposed to root for (the only exception is the industrialist in the eponymous tale, who is an archetypal capitalist fat cat)a Scilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor|Full Review]] <!-- Lloyd -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_Twas. There are some very clever characterisations – in ''Weber’s Head'', for example, the narrator is a flawed individual whose opinions of his housemate are gradually revealed to be unreliable and unfairjpg|link=http://www.amazon.co. For me, the most unsettling story is ''No Lifeuk/dp/1472125118/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[['', because it portrays a decent couple at Twas the mercy of people more powerful Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and influential than themEmlyn Rees]]=== [[image:3. There is no supernatural or bizarre element at work here, just ordinary characters at the mercy of social power5star.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1781253358</amazonuk>Category:{{{rating}}{{newreview} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|author=Lynne TrussHumour]]|title=Cat out of Hell|rating=3|genre=Horror|summary=Meet Alec Charlesworth. HeIt's retired Christmas Eve and decamped to an isolated coastal cottage with just his dog and loving memories of his colleague wife, Mum has arranged everything. All she now that she has died before her timeto do is await the arrival of the relatives and the food shopping delivery. But Little does Mum know that those two elements alone have the fusty librarian cannot rest too long before engaging in exploring some unusual computer files that were pinged across potential to ruin everything. [['Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by someone at the college he worked at, just before he left. Bizarrely they show photographic Josie Lloyd and audio evidence of a talking cat called Roger, replete with Vincent Price voice – although they are also damaged by being included alongside some bad screenplay attempts about said catEmlyn Rees|Full Review]] <!-- Phinn -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Phinn_Virgin. Worryingly, we soon see what at the most only a few of the characters can, that this cat is being accompanied by unusual and unexpected death – much like Alec's wifejpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co. It's only when Roger testifies to having been pushed through the ends of endurance and out the other side that we begin to doubt where the true evil in this story lies…|amazonukuk/dp/1444779400/ref=nosim?tag=<amazonuk>0099585340</amazonuk>}}thebookbag-21]]{{newreview|authorstyle=Jimmy Hansen and Mychailo Kazybird"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|title=Wallace & Gromit : ==[[The Complete Newspaper Strips Collection Vol 2|ratingVirgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn]]===4|genre=Humour[[image:4.5star.jpg|summarylink=For me there are two important areas of Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Christmas in our house is the cover of this book where three letters are arranged in meaningful ways. The first time we tend to get on a plane and head to either sun or snow, anywhere that is with far, far away from the S-U-N in their obligatory red and white font. No minor paper could hold Wallace and Gromitmadness at home, their adventures have last minute dashes to be in what is (unfortunately) the most widely read tabloid in the country. And elsewhere is C-B-Eshops on Christmas Eve, suggesting and food cupboard stockpiles that even the storytellers at Aardman Animations who would imply supermarkets are not household names are feted and revered as artistic expertsshutting for a month, raising many laughs and much money for nor a mere 36 hours. But I do remember the country courtesy feeling of their creative output. Together these short collections of letters show just how much WaG are major creationsChristmas when I was younger, back when it was magical, and if back when you knew exactly what the proof was needed this much longer collection season would bring with carol concerts and school nativities and Christmas parties. This book is an anthology of their daily comic strips provides those moments, and it in spadestook me right back to the wonder of Christmas as a child.[[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782760822</amazonuk!-- North -->}}{{newreview|-|titlestyle=Dear Committee Members"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|author=Julie Schumacher[[image:North_Romeo.jpg|ratinglink=4http://www.5|genre=General Fictionamazon.co.uk/dp/0356508536/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=Jason Fitger (Jay) is a Professor of creative writing and literature at a small university in the American mid"vertical-align: top; text-west. He is also a frustrated novelist with a colourful personal history, much of which bleeds into his professional life, with interesting results.|amazonukalign: left;"|===<amazonuk>0007586345<[[Romeo and/amazonuk>}}or Juliet by Ryan North]]==={{newreview[[image:3.5star.jpg|titlelink=Mapp and Lucia Omnibus|author=E F Benson|Category:{{{rating=3.5}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|genre=Humour]]|summary=Miss Elizabeth Mapp rules the town of Tilling - she is the centre of the social life, For all those who think tragedy plots are too restricted and spends her days enjoying bridgeprescribed, polite conversation and civilised paintingread on. When Mrs Emmeline Lucas arrives in town (known In these pages you too will see that Romeo had lots of options en route to all as Lucia)hitting the bottle. Likewise, Miss Mapp finds she could have turned away from her life truly shaken uppredestined path at no end of junctures. And to what result? Well, happy marriage and a kid called Ben, as because the cultured, fashionable leads have just banged people's heads together and progressive Lucia makes her home in stopped the townquarrelling, and swiftly rises to the top of the ranks amongst the social scene in Tillingor Death by Tybalt (him) or a long life running an establishment curing murderous women, such as a Lady M (her).[[Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849908478</amazonuk>Full Review]]}}{{newreview|title=Encyclopedia Paranoiaca|author=Henry Beard and Christopher Cerf|rating=4|genre=Popular Science|summary=We're screwed. Wherever we look, whatever we think of doing, there is a reason why we shouldn't be doing it, and people to back that reason up with scientific data. Take any aspect of your daily life – what you eat, how you work, how you rest even, what you touch – all have problems that could provoke a serious illness or worse. And outside that daily sphere there are economic disasters, nuclear meltdowns, errant AI scientists and passing comets that could turn our world upside down at the blink of an eye. Perhaps then you better read this book first – for it may well turn out to be your last…<!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0715649213</amazonuk>}}