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[[Category:New Reviews|Humour]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreview|authorclass-"wikitable" cellpadding=Nina Stibbe"15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->|title=An Almost Perfect Christmas<!-- Hogan -->|rating=4.5-|genrestyle=Humour "width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|summary[[image:1473669065.jpg|link=Christmas – the time of traditional traumahttp://www.amazon.co. You only have to think about the turkey for that – once upon a time it was leaving it sat on the downstairs loo to defrost overnight, and if that failed the hairuk/dp/1473669065/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best bet. Nowadays italign: left;"|===[[Queenie Malone's all having to make sure it's suitably free-range and organic – but not too organic that you can go and visit itParadise Hotel by Ruth Hogan]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:General Fiction|General Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], and get too friendly with it [[:Category:Paranormal|Paranormal]] Tilda returns to want Brighton, to eat ittidy away the remains of her mother's life after her death. ChristmasWhilst there, thoughshe returns to the Paradise hotel, is of course also a time haven for eccentrics and misfits. A place where people can be themselves, and let go of great boonsthoughts that torment them elsewhere. It's cash in hand Little wonder that Tilda cannot forgive her mother for banishing her as a lot child, from this place of wonder. With the help of plump people who can hire red suits Queenie Malone, caring, and beardsgregarious, it was always a godsend for postmen Tilda begins to pick apart the tricky and uncertain relationship she had with all the thankher sometimes cruel and distant mother. [[Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel by Ruth Hogan|Full Review]] <!--you letters to aunties you saw twice a decade that your parents made you write out in longvan LENTE -->|-hand as a child, and as for the makers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, did they even try and sell them any other time of the year?|amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>0241309824<"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1683690346.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690346/amazonuk>ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]}}{{newreview|authorstyle=Ian Doescher"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||title=William Shakespeare's the Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh|rating=4.5=[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]===|genre=Science Fiction[[image:4star.jpg|summarylink=A long time agoCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], in [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Comic-Cons are a galaxy far awayplace of wonder and sanctuary for many people, there was a man called William Shakespeareand when Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, he's looking for both that and sanctuary with other fans and creators, who was able to create a series of dramatic histories full plus the chance of machinations most foulmaybe, rulers most evil and rebellious heroes and heroines most sturdyjust maybe reuniting with his ex. You may or may not have noticed the cinematic version of However, when his original stage play for ''The Force Doth Awaken''rival is found dead, but here at last we get Mike is forced to navigate every dark corner of the actual scriptcon in order to clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and intrusive fans to zombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and, complete with annoying-indoing so, may just unravel a dark secret behind a legendary industry creator. [[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]]  <!-different-waysCoulton -to-before droids anew, returning heroes from elsewhere in his oeuvre, and people keeping it in the family til it hurts>|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1473669588. 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…jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1473669588/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||amazonuk=<amazonuk>159474985X</amazonuk>==[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton]]===}}{{newreview[[image:4star.jpg|authorlink=James Goss and Russell T DaviesCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:General Fiction|title=Doctor WhoGeneral Fiction]], [[: Now We Are Six HundredCategory: A Collection of Time Lord Verse (Dr Who)Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Women's Fiction|Women's Fiction]]|rating=4.5|genre=ChildrenLex Coulton's Rhymes debut novel is a story about mistakes, failures, and Verse |summary=Consider the Doctorrelationships. Just how many birthday and Christmas gifts must he have to hand The main protagonist, Frances Pilgrim, is a sixth form English teacher who has recently fallen out each yearwith her best friend Jackson, a work colleague, were he to keep in touch and is grappling with even half the increasingly eccentric behaviour of his companions? her mother. He would certainly need a few novelty gifts for some of them, say, for example, whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate This relationship is complicated by the life of a Time Lord and fact that of some of his friends and enemiesFrances's father disappeared at sea when she was five years old. As luck would have it, he 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[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton|Full Review]] <!-- van LENTE -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-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 samealign: center;"|[[image:1683690346.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1785942719<http:/amazonuk>/www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]}}{{newreview|authorstyle=Annie Ingram"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|title=Conversations with Kammie|rating=4|genre=Pets|summary=It was something of a relief when I encountered Annie Ingram and her cocker spaniel Kammie[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. You see, Annie knows something which has been selfjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Comic-evident to me for Cons are a long time: dogs are perfectly capable place of communicating with humans wonder and not just on a level 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 other fans and creators, plus the chance of ''food!''maybe, ''walk!'' or ''play!''. You do require extensive training to become fluentjust maybe reuniting with his ex. However, 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 zombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and the pair have allowed us to share some of their conversations, in doing so, may just unravel a dark secret behind a legendary industry creator.[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk>1785451995</amazonuk!-- Curran -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle= Charles Harris"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1683690133.jpg|titlelink= The Breaking of Liam Glasshttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690133/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |ratingstyle= 3"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||genre=Crime|summary= A flawed but reasonably entertaining swipe at modern media. There=[[My Lady's plenty here to like, Choosing by Kitty Curran and plenty not to. But good structure and scramjet pace keep this one flying to the final pageLarissa Zageris]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1908943823</amazonuk>Category:{{{rating}}}{{newreview|author= Fred Van LenteStar Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|title= Ten Dead ComediansHumour]], [[:Category: A Murder MysteryHistorical Fiction|rating= 4Historical Fiction]]|genre= Humour|summary= Nine comedians You are invited to a remote Caribbean island under the guise lass of working with Dustin Walker, a comedic legendtwenty eight. Each fits neatly into one of the archetypal comic stereotypes: StevePlucky, penniless and in Regency era London the washedrace is on to find a suitable suitor -up has-been who has fallen far 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 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, the child-like prop comic who can't get any respect from his peers; Janetbad and terrifyingly sexy Lord Garraway Craven. With orphans, werewolves, long lost lovers and ancient Egyptian artifcats along the insult comic who is past her prime; TJway, the nightly variety show host with a reputation for harassing his female colleagues it's clear this isn't going to be an easy decision... [[My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran and guest acts; Ruby, the ultraLarissa Zageris|Full Review]] <!-- Jester --feminist YouTuber and Blogger with a chip on her shoulder>|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: 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 say?''uk/gp/product/1510704361?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1510704361]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594749744</amazonuk>==[[Forever After: a dark comedy by David Jester]]===}}[[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{newreview{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Paranormal|author=S Lynn ScottParanormal]], [[:Category:Horror|title=ElizabethHorror]], William... and Me[[:Category:Fantasy|rating=4.5Fasntasy]]|genre=Humour|summary=Ally Michael Holland is an ordinary woman with teenage childrena cocky and brash young man who dies and gets made the offer of his lifetime; immortality. We follow Michael, a husband grim reaper and his friends Chip (a job. Then comes the day when ordinariness flies out of the window. It's not 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![[Forever After: a dark comedy by David Jester|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1788037006</amazonuk!-- Stibbe -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle= E G Rodford"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Stibbe_Xmas.jpg|titleleft|link= The Surgeon's Casehttps: George Kocharyan Mystery 2//www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0241309824?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0241309824]]  |ratingstyle= 4"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||genre= Crime |summary=In the second instalment of this series, Private Investigator George Kocharyan has been hired =[[An Almost Perfect Christmas by a well-known local man to track down some missing valuablesNina Stibbe]]=== [[image:4.5star. Bill Galbraith, a world-famous surgeon at Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital who hosts a popular medical television programmejpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], has had his briefcase stolen by his live-in domestic servant, Aurora[[:Category:Short Stories|Short Stories]] Christmas – the time of traditional trauma. According You only have to Galbraith, this briefcase contains confidential notes concerning an important patient of his at think about the hospital. George agrees turkey for that – once upon a time it was leaving it sat on the downstairs loo to look into the theftdefrost overnight, assuming it will be a relatively easy and straightforward case – little does he know, heif that failed the hair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best bet. Nowadays it's about all having to enter a world of deceit make sure it's suitably free-range and dysfunction.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>178565005X</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Toni Jordan|title=Our Tinyorganic – but not too organic that you can go and visit it, Useless Hearts|rating=5|genre=Womenand get too friendly with it to want to eat it. Christmas, though, is of course also a time of great boons. It's Fiction|summary=As predicted by Caroline cash in hand for a lot of plump people who can hire red suits and Janice's mother on Caroline and Henry's wedding daybeards, their marriage is over, albeit 15 years and two daughters further along than predicted. Indeedit was always a 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, this is definitely not a good weekend and as for Janice to be babysitting at Caroline's house. There's the split the makers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, did they even try and the awkwardness sell them any other time of the girls' schoolteacher being the other woman for a startyear? [[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe|Full Review]] <!-- Doescher -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Doescher_Will. Then there's that mistaken identity moment involving the neighboursjpg|left|link=https://www.amazon. At least Janice is well adjusted and over her ex-husband Alecco. She still dreams of him, yes, but it's so over! Just as well really… guess who's at the door?uk/gp/product/159474985X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=159474985X]]  |amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>1760293814</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Colin Taylor"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|title=The Life of a Scilly Sergeant|rating=4.5|genre=Travel|summary=Meet [[William Shakespeare's the Isles of ScillyForce Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher]]=== [[image:4.5star. (I know they should be called that – the author provides a handy guide to the etiquette of their namejpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], their nature and location[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] A long time ago, etc.) For our more distant readersin a galaxy far away, there was a man called William Shakespeare, they're several chunks who was able to create a series of dramatic histories full of granite rock out in the Atlanticmachinations most foul, where Cornwall is pointing, with just 2,200 permanent residentsrulers most evil and rebellious heroes and heroines most sturdy. TheyYou may or may not have noticed the cinematic version of his original stage play for ''The Force Doth Awaken''re big on tourism, and big on growing flowers but here at last we get the actual script, complete with annoying-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. They're so wee, and so idyllic-seemingdifferent-ways-to-before droids anew, especially at nightreturning heroes from elsewhere in his oeuvre, you can be mistaken for thinking there would be no need for a police presence. But there is – at least two working at any one timeand people keeping it in the family til it hurts. And one of them in recent years has been Colin Taylorif you need further encouragement, who has done don't forget his official duty audience only demanded three parts of Henry VI – alongside maintaining a well-known online existence, which has brought to life all here the whimsical comedy of his work.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>178475515X</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees|title=series is so popular we'Twas the Fight Before Christmasre on to part seven – surely making this over twice as good… [[William Shakespeare's the Force Doth Awaken: A ParodyStar Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher|rating=3.5Full Review]]|genre=Humour|summary<!-- Goss -->|-| style=It's Christmas Eve and Mum has arranged everything"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Goss_600. All she now has to do is await the arrival of the relatives and the food shopping deliveryjpg|left|link=https://www.amazon. Little does Mum know that those two elements alone have the potential to ruin everythingco.|amazonukuk/gp/product/1785942719?ie=<amazonuk>1472125118</amazonuk>UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785942719]]}}{{newreview|authorstyle=Ryan North"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|title=Romeo and/or Juliet|rating=3.5|genre=Humour|summary=For all those who think tragedy plots are too restricted [[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and prescribed, read onRussell T Davies]]=== [[image:4.5star. In these pages you too will see that Romeo had lots of options en route to hitting the bottle. Likewisejpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Children's Rhymes and Verse|Children's Rhymes and Verse]], she could have turned away from her predestined path at no end of junctures[[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Consider the Doctor. And Just how many birthday and Christmas gifts must he have to what result? Wellhand out each year, happy marriage and were he to keep in touch with even half of his companions? He would certainly need a kid called Benfew novelty gifts for some of them, say, because the leads have just banged people's heads together and stopped the quarrellingfor example, or Death by Tybalt (him) or a long whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate the life running an establishment curing murderous women, such as of a Lady M (her)Time Lord and that of some of his friends and enemies. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0356508536</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Gervase Phinn|title= The Virgin Mary's Got Nits|rating= 4.5|genre= Humour|summary= Christmas in our house is the time we tend As luck would have it, he has the space in his TARDIS to stock up in advance, so my advice to him – sorry, her – would be to get on a plane and head pop along to either sun or snowhis local Earth-based book emporium and get himself ready. And if you're working on a shorter timescale, anywhere that is farwith a shorter lifespan, far away from the madness at homeand thinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, last minute dashes to well my advice is pretty much the shops on Christmas Eve, and food cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting for a month, nor a mere 36 hourssame. But I do remember the feeling [[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of Christmas when I was younger, back when it was magical, Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and back when you knew exactly what the season would bring with carol concerts and school nativities and Christmas parties. This book is an anthology of those moments, and it took me right back to the wonder of Christmas as a childRussell T Davies|Full Review]] <!-- Ingram -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Ingram_Kammie.jpg|left|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1444779400<https://amazonuk>}}www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785451995?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785451995]] {{newreview|authorstyle= Kieran Crowley"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|title= Shoot|rating= 4|genre= Crime|summary= I make something [[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It was something of a habit of being late to discover good writersrelief when I encountered Annie Ingram and her cocker spaniel Kammie. You see, in this case getting Annie knows something which has been self-evident to Crowley after he is no longer me for a long time: dogs are perfectly capable of communicating with us. The result is that what is billed as ''an F.X. Shepherd mystery'' with all the optimism of there being more to come has the poignancy of being, if humans and not the last just on a level of a short linefood!, certainly one of a fewwalk! or play!. F.X. Shepherd – he doesn't like his first name and prefers just "Shepherd" isYou do require extensive training to become fluent, technically, a columnist. He's been sacked by one New York newspaper but most dogs will be perfectly willing to give their time to teach you and all you have to do is writing a weekly column for anotherlisten. I don't know much about journalism, but I'm guessing one column a week doesn't pay much as a rule…which explains why Shepherd's soap-washed-foul-mouthed editor (read Annie has studied hard: Kammie has trained her well and the book, you'll see what I mean) expects him pair have allowed us to turn in share some genuine journalism as well: front page, seat of your pants stufftheir conversations. [[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783296518</amazonuk!-- Harris -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Gray Jolliffe"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Harris_Glass.jpg|titlelink=The First Ever Christmashttp: And Who to Blame//www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1908943823/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |ratingstyle=5"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||genre=Humour|summary=If I tell you a secret, will you promise not to tell anyone? Well=[[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris]]=== [[image:3star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], I really don't like Christmas[[:Category: it's my least favourite time of year Humour|Humour]] Teenager Liam Glass is mugged and whilst some people count down to stabbed yards from his Camden flat. As the day itselfboy lies comatose, I look forward to that point when I can say that it's all over desperate journalist Jason Worthington scrabbles for another year. It's all too commercialised the inside scoop, tired police officer Andy Rockham searches for a missing tape, harried politician Jamila Hasan fights for mere-election, distraught mother Katrina Glass waits by her son, with and gym-owner Royland simply finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. We follow this host of ensemble characters in a coating bleak, kaleidoscopic satire of faux religionmodern media. I've never found it in the least funny [[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris|Full Review]] <!-- LENTE -- that is, until I found Gray Jolliffe's ''The First Ever Christmas: And Who's to Blame''. 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>|-themed cartoons from his archive.|amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>1445663503<"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lente_10.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/amazonuk>dp/1683690222/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]}}{{newreview|authorstyle=Jonathan Pugh"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||title=Pugh's New Year's Resolutions==[[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating=4.5}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|genre=Humour]]|summary=If there's one thing that's for certainNine comedians are invited to a remote Caribbean island under the guise of working with Dustin Walker, it's that the world is changinga comedic legend. We're dating onlineEach fits neatly into one of the archetypal comic stereotypes: Steve, we're communicating in ways that make email seem redundantthe washed-up has-been who has fallen far from his early days; Zoe, and when we're shopping we just tell the rising female star with a website where and when it can be deliverednew stand-up special coming soon; Dante, and how much leeway they have who went from being a kid on the streets 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 notthe hardest working road comic in the business; Oliver, we have to keep up with the latest fads, and wechild-like prop comic who can're supposed to prick our ears up and take note when t get any respect from his peers; Janet, the proverbial 'they' change their minds about what we're supposed to eat.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780722885</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Luke Rhinehart|title= Invasion|rating= 4.5|genre= Humour |summary=Superinsult comic who is past her prime; TJ, the nightly variety show host with a reputation for harassing his female colleagues and guest acts; Ruby, the ultra-intelligent furry aliens suddenly appear from another universe. And they've come to earth to have fun. Alien Louie follows fisherman Billy Morton home one day, feminist YouTuber and he Blogger with a chip on her shoulder; and his family quickly come to love William, whose redneck character ''Billy the playful alien. But when Louie starts using their computer to hack into government and corporate networks, stealing millions Contractor'' is a far cry from banks to give to others, they realise that Louie and his friends mean troublereal personality as a posh millionaire. As Billy and his family begin Of course, all nine agree because ''when God almighty walks down on a roller coaster ride beam of fame light and fortuneasks for your help, as well as a ranking high on what the FBIhell else are you going to say?'s most wanted list, the Government soon decides that these aliens are terrorists, and must be eliminated. Whilst the aliens are playing games they hope will help humans to see the insanity of the American political, economic and military systems, they soon come to realise that the Powers that Be don't play games[[Ten Dead Comedians: they make war. A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk!-- Scott -->1785651757</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Rod Green-|titlestyle=Only Fools and Horses"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: The Peckham Archivescenter;"|rating=4[[image:Scott_Eliz.jpg|genrelink=Entertainment http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1788037006/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |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;"|===[[Elizabeth, William... 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 anotherMe by S Lynn Scott]]=== [[image:4. I'm sure there have been books before now celebrating the stony-faced reception of ''that'' drop through the open bar hatch, and ''that'' chandelier scene, but this is much more meaty5star. Purporting to be the family archivesjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Ally is an ordinary woman with teenage children, found dumped in Nelson Mandela House, the documents here were passed from pillar to post, from one council worker in a department with husband and a clumsy acronym to another, from them to job. Then comes the police – and now here they are being published for their social history worth. Will enough readers find them day when ordinariness flies out of worth, as the series quietly celebrates its 35th birthday?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849909245</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Mara Wilson|title= Where Am window. It's not a coincidence that it's the same day she finds Queen Elizabeth I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood in the pantry and Accidental Fame|rating= 5|genre= Autobiography|summary= Mara Wilson has always felt a little young and a little out of place: as the only child on a film set full Bard of adults, the first daughter Avon in a house full of boys, the sole clinically depressed member of a cheerleading squadher bath. What's she going to do? Well, a valley girl in New York Elizabeth and a neurotic in CaliforniaWill have their own ideas about that! [[Elizabeth, William... and an adult the world still remembers as a little girl. Tackling everything from how she first learned about sex on the set of ''Melrose Place,'' to losing her mother at a young age, to getting her first kiss (or was it kissesMe by S Lynn Scott|Full Review]] <!-- Rodford -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Rodford_Surgeon.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178565005X/ref=nosim?) on a celebrity canoe trip, to not being cute enough to make it in Hollywood, 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 yourself, and figuring out who you are and where you belong. tag=thebookbag-21]]  |amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>0143128221</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Surgeon's Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford]]= Tony Stuart|title= Writing Lines|rating= 4.5|genre=Humour[[image:4star.jpg|summarylink= Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] In the second instalment of this series, Private Investigator George Gordon Wentworth (1946Kocharyan has been hired by a well-2011) lived a humdrum lifeknown local man to track down some missing valuables. He was a barely adequate teacher in Bill Galbraith, a fairly world renowned independent school in Kent and kept -famous surgeon at Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital who hosts a copious diary of popular medical television programme, has had his quotidian existencebriefcase stolen by his live-in domestic servant, Aurora. Most of what he recorded was dross. HoweverAccording to Galbraith, amongst all the utterly uninteresting tailings this briefcase contains confidential notes concerning an important patient of his life there were some nuggets and grains to catch at the attentionhospital. Author Tony Stuart has created these amusing anecdotes, panning them out over twenty six episodes which give us the best of Wentworth – comedy gold. From losing all the pupils in his charge on a school trip George agrees to being arrested on suspicion of terrorism; from waking up in bed between look into the married couple the morning after their weddingtheft, to destroying assuming it will be a ski run; from appearing full-frontal naked in a sheep-farmersrelatively easy and straightforward case – little does he know, he' gazette s about to triggering an air-sea rescue; Wentworth was, blinkered and befuddled, the subject – enter a world of these deceit and so many more unlikely but highly amusing eventsdysfunction.[[The Surgeon's Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk>1524634441</amazonuk!-- Jordan -->}}{{newreview|author=Graham Fulbright-|titlestyle=Driving Mad"width: 10%; vertical-align: Maniacs, Morons and the Advanced Motorist's Clubtop; text-align: center;"|[[image:Jordan_Tiny.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/1760293814/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 the White House and I've recently had to reapply for my driving licence having achieved a venerable age. When I started driving the roads were kinder==[[Our Tiny, more forgiving places - or put another way, the idiots were fewer and further betweenUseless Hearts by Toni Jordan]]=== [[image:5star. I donjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Women's Fiction|Women't know how long Graham Fulbright has been drivings Fiction]], but he certainly knows his motoring morons and in '[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] As predicted by Caroline and Janice'Driving Mads mother on Caroline and Henry'' he brings us a fictional sample of s wedding day, their eccentricitiesmarriage is over, albeit 15 years and two daughters further along than predicted. WellIndeed, Ithis is definitely not a good weekend for Janice to be babysitting at Caroline's house. There'm pretty certain that theys the split and the awkwardness of the girls're fictional - but these days you never know...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783062584</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Mario Giordano|title=Auntie Poldi and schoolteacher being the Sicilian Lions|rating=4|genre=Crime|summary=Poldi had not long been widowed when she decided to move from Bavaria to Sicily with other woman for a start. Then there's that mistaken identity moment involving the intention of drinking herself to deathneighbours. At least Janice is well adjusted and over her ex-husband Alec. She could, still dreams of coursehim, have done this in Germanyyes, but she felt that a sea view was essential. Once thereit's so over! Just as well really… guess who's at the door? [[Our Tiny, new friends, family already resident on the island and the corpse of a young man, his face blown off by a shotgun, whom she found on the local beach, intervened to give her life some meaningUseless Hearts by Toni Jordan|Full Review]] <!-- Taylor -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Taylor_Scilly. For a while she was a suspect, but that (and her wig) were no obstacle to her falling for Commissario Vito Montana who was assigned to investigate the casejpg|link=http://www.amazon. Assisting him (or having him assist her) came naturally to Poldi and before long there was an investigative and personal partnershipco. At least so far as Poldi was concerned.|amazonukuk/dp/178475515X/ref=nosim?tag=<amazonuk>1908524693</amazonuk>thebookbag-21]]}}{{newreview|authorstyle= Grady Hendrix"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||title= My Best Friend's Exorcism|rating= 5=[[The Life of a Scilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor]]===|genre= Horror[[image:4.5star.jpg|summarylink=1988, Charleston, South Carolina. High school sophomores Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fourth grade. But after an evening Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Travel|Travel]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Meet the Isles of skinny-dipping goes disatrously wrong, Gretchen begins to actScilly...different. She's moody. She's irritable. And bizarre incidents keep happening whenever she's nearby. Abby's investigation leads her (I know they should be called that – the author provides a handy guide to some startling discoveries - and by the time etiquette of their story reaches its terrifying conclusionname, the fate their nature and location, etc.) For our more distant readers, they're several chunks of Abby and Gretchen will be determined by a single question: Is their friendship enough to beat granite rock out in the devil?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594748624</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Kevin MacNeil|title=The Brilliant and Forever|rating= 3Atlantic, where Cornwall is pointing, with just 2,200 permanent residents.5|genre= Humour|summary= You know sometimes when someone tells a joke, everyone else laughsThey're big on tourism, and you're sat there wondering what was so funny?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846973376</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Christopher Fowler|title= Bryant and May: Strange Tide|rating= 3big 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= Crime|summary= The thirteenth outing They're so wee, and so idyllic-seeming, especially at night, you can be mistaken for Bryant and May is looking very much like it will thinking there would be their lastno need for a police presence. Arthur Bryant But there is on compassionate leave whilst tests are continuing, which are likely to confirm that he is suffering from Alzheimer's– at least two working at any one time. His condition is worsening almost by the dayAnd one of them in recent years has been Colin Taylor, memory lapses are morphing into fullwho has done his official duty – alongside maintaining a well-scale hallucinationsknown online existence, which has brought to life all the whimsical comedy of his work.[[The Life of a Scilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857523422</amazonuk!-- Lloyd -->}}{{newreview|author=Kevin Smith-|titlestyle=The Voyage of the Dolphin"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction[[image:Lloyd_Twas.jpg|summarylink=Dublin 1916http: Among the unrest and anti//www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1472125118/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-British feeling worsened by the threat of conscription into a war seen as nothing to do with the Irish, Trinity College faculty has other distractions. They'd like a trophyalign: top; the skeleton of an Irish text-align: left;"|===[['giant' to be precise. The only glitch is that Twas the main trophy contender, Bernard MacNeill's skeleton, is somewhere difficult to access Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and all seasoned explorers are otherwise engaged. There may be hope thoughEmlyn Rees]]=== [[image:3. They turn to Fitzmaurice, a student not good enough for anything else5star. Fitzmaurice agrees, picking his friends Crozier and Rafferty to go with himjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It's Christmas Eve and Mum has arranged everything. So… ''Gentlemen, lace up your strongest boots and pack your warmest underwear – we're all off All she now has to do is await the arrival of the bloody Arctic!'' Whether battle cry or epitaph, three men relatives and a dog… and an iguana… are going anywaythe food shopping delivery.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910124826</amazonuk>|amazonus= Little does Mum know that those two elements alone have the potential to ruin everything. [['Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees|Full Review]] <amazonus>1910124826</amazonus!-- Phinn -->}}{{newreview|author=Tony Hawks-|titlestyle=Once Upon a Time in the West… Country"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Phinn_Virgin.jpg|left|ratinglink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1444779400/ref=nosim?tag=3thebookbag-21]] |genrestyle=Travel"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||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 ==[[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Christmas in our house is the suburbs with fewer busses, no takeaways within walking-time we tend to get on a plane and-keeping-food-hot distancehead to either sun or snow, and no 'Polish' shops for a can of beer whenever you fancy one. Things are different with Tony Hawksanywhere that is far, as here he has purposefully decided to up sticks far away from London to Somewherethe madness at home, Devon – a tiny village where last minute dashes to the people who built their own homes decades ago still live in themshops on Christmas Eve, where slugs and food cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting for a lot more of month, nor a problem for the wannabe lettuce-grower than they are for mere 36 hours. But I do remember the metropolitan commuterfeeling of Christmas when I was younger, back when it was magical, and where village halls have back when you knew exactly what the power to turn you into both a Pol Pot dictator if you get on their committee season would bring with carol concerts and school nativities and into a quiveringChristmas parties. This book is an anthology of those moments, bruise-inducing wreck if you're and it took me right back to the wrong gender at wonder of Christmas as a Zumba class…child. [[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444794809</amazonuk>Full Review]]}}{{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.<!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0718182529</amazonuk>}}