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[[Category:New Reviews|Humour]]__NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{Frontpage|class-"wikitable" cellpaddingauthor="15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE--> <!-- Jester -->Dean Koontz|-| styletitle="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|The Bad Weather Friend[[image:Jester_Forever.jpg|left|linkrating=https://www.amazon.co4.uk/gp/product/1510704361?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1510704361]] 5| stylegenre="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Paranormal|summary===[[Forever After: Benny is having a dark comedy by David Jester]]=== [[image:4starterrifically bad day.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Paranormal|Paranormal]] He loses his job, [[:Category:Horror|Horror]]he loses his fiancee, [[:Category:Fantasy|Fasntasy]] Michael Holland is a cocky and brash young man who dies and his house gets made the offer of his lifetime; immortalitytrashed. We follow Michael Oh, a grim reaper and his friends Chip (someone has delivered a stoner tooth fairy) and Naff (a stoner in the records department) as they grapple with their long lives and finding a clean surface to sit on in their flat. [[Forever After: a dark comedy by David Jester|Full Review]] <!-- Stibbe -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Stibbe_Xmas.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0241309824?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbagreally weird, disturbing coffin-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0241309824]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Short Stories|Short Stories]] Christmas – the time of traditional trauma. You only have sized object to think about the turkey for that – once upon a time it was leaving it sat on the downstairs loo to defrost overnighthis home, and if that failed the 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 possible that you can go and visit it, and get too friendly with it to want to eat it. Christmas, though, whoever or whatever was inside is of course also a time of great boons. It's cash in hand for a lot of plump people who can hire red suits and beards, it was always a godsend for postmen with all the thank-you letters to aunties you saw twice a decade thing that your parents made you write out in long-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? [[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe|Full Review]] <has trashed his house!-- Doescher -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Doescher_Will.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/159474985X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=159474985X]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[William Shakespeare's the Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, there was a man called William Shakespeare, who was able to create a series of dramatic histories full of machinations most foul, rulers most evil and rebellious heroes and heroines most sturdy. You may or may not have noticed the cinematic version of his original stage play for ''The Force Doth Awaken''thing is, but here at Benny is the very last we get the actual script, complete with annoying-in-different-ways-person to-before droids anew, returning heroes from elsewhere in his oeuvre, and people keeping it in the family til it hurtsdeserve all this bad luck. And if you need further encouragement, don't forget his audience only demanded three parts of Henry VI – here the series He 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]] <!-- Goss -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Goss_600a nice person.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.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 James Goss and Russell T Davies]]=== [[image:4really nice person.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Children's Rhymes and Verse|Children's Rhymes and Verse]], [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Consider the Doctor. Just how many birthday and Christmas gifts must he have to hand So fortunately for Benny it turns out each year, were he to keep in touch with even half of his companions? He would certainly need a few novelty gifts for some of them, say, for example, whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate the life of a Time Lord and that of some of his friends and enemies. 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 delivery to his local Earth-based book emporium and get himself ready. And if you're working on house is a shorter timescalenew friend, with a shorter lifespanbad weather friend called Spike, and thinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, well my advice is pretty much the same. [[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 -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Ingram_Kammie.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785451995?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785451995]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[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 relief when I encountered Annie Ingram and her cocker spaniel Kammie. You see, Annie knows something which who has been self-evident sent to me help him since Benny is clearly under attack from nefarious forces for being a long time: dogs are perfectly capable of communicating with humans and not just on a level of food!, walk! or play!good person. You do require extensive training Spike is going to become fluenttake care of Benny, but most dogs and will be perfectly willing to give their time to teach you and all you have to do is listen. Annie has studied hard: Kammie has trained her well and the pair have allowed us to share some certainly take care of their conversations. [[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|Full Review]] |} {{newreview|author= Charles Harris|title= The Breaking of Liam Glass|rating= 3|genre=Crime|summary= A flawed but reasonably entertaining swipe at modern media. ThereBenny's plenty here to likeenemies, if he, Benny, and plenty not to. But good structure and scramjet pace keep this one flying to the final pageHarper (a waitress slash Private Investigator who finds herself roped into Benny's wild adventure) can figure out who exactly they are.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1908943823</amazonuk>1662500491

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Fred Van Lente1529153050|title= Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder MysteryBritain's Best Political Cartoons 2022|author=Tim Benson|rating= 4|genre= Humour|summary= Nine comedians are invited to a remote Caribbean island under the guise of working with Dustin Walker, a comedic legend. Each fits neatly into one of the archetypal comic stereotypes: Steve, the washed-up has-been who has fallen far Seeking some light relief from his early days; Zoe, the rising female star with a new stand-up special current political turmoil which is coming soon; Dante, who went from being a kid on the streets to the hardest working road comic in the business; Oliverseem more and more like an adrenaline sport, the child-like prop comic who canI was nudged towards ''t get any respect from his peers; Janet, the insult 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-feminist YouTuber and Blogger with a chip on her shoulder; and William, whose redneck character Britain's Best Political Cartoons of 2022'Billy the Contractor'. Sharp eyes will have noted that we' is a far cry re not yet through the year: the cartoons run from his real personality as a posh millionaire4 September 2021 to 31 August 2022. Of course, all nine agree because ''when God almighty walks down on a beam of light and asks for your help, Who can imagine what there will be to come in the hell else are you going to say2023 edition?''|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594749744</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=S Lynn Scott1785633074|title=Elizabeth, William... and MeStaggering Hubris|author=Josh Berry

|summary=Ally Members of Parliament like us to believe that the country is an ordinary woman with teenage childrenrun by politicians, a husband and a job. Then comes headed by the day when ordinariness flies out of Prime minister - the window. It''primus inter pares'' (that's not a coincidence for those of you who are Eton and Oxbridge educated) but the reality is that itthe ''prime''s movers are the special advisers - the SPADS - who are the driving force behind the same day she finds Queen Elizabeth I government. We are in the pantry and privileged position of having access to the memoirs of Rafe Hubris, the man who was behind the skilful control of the Covid crisis which was completely contained by the Bard end of Avon in her bath2020. What's she going You might not know the name now but he will certainly be the man to do? Well, Elizabeth and Will have their own ideas about that!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1788037006</amazonuk>watch.

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= E G Rodford0571365884|title= The Surgeon's CaseMy Mess is a Bit of Life: George Kocharyan Mystery 2Adventures in Anxiety|author=Georgia Pritchett|rating= 4|genre= Crime Autobiography|summary=In the second instalment of this series, Private Investigator George Kocharyan Georgia Pritchett has always been hired by anxious, even as a well-known local man child. She would worry about whether the monsters under the bed were comfortable: it was the sort of life where if she had nothing to track down some missing valuablesworry about she would become anxious but such occasions were few and far between. Bill Galbraith, On a world-famous surgeon at Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital who hosts visit to a popular medical television programmetherapist, has had his briefcase stolen by his live-in domestic servantas an adult, Aurora. According when she was completely unable to Galbraith, this briefcase contains confidential notes concerning an important patient of his at the hospital. George agrees to look into the theft, assuming speak about what was wrong with her it was suggested that she should write it will be a relatively easy down and straightforward case – little does he know, he's about to enter 'My Mess is a world Bit of deceit and dysfunctiona Life: Adventures in Anxiety'' is the result - or so we are given to believe.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>178565005X</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Toni JordanJohn Boyne|title=Our Tiny, Useless HeartsThe Echo Chamber

|summary=As predicted by Caroline George Jackson is thirty-three years old, absolutely gorgeous to look at - and Janicesingle. She's mother on Caroline not had sex for eight months and Henryshe's wedding day, their marriage stuck in the karma trap: an awful lot of bad luck is over, albeit 15 years being visited on her and two daughters further along than predicted. Indeed, this is definitely not she has a good weekend real talent for Janice to be babysitting at Caroline's houseattracting drama. ThereHer life's chaotic: she dealt with the leak from the split and shower by putting something down at the awkwardness bottom of the girls' schoolteacher being stairs to absorb the water - then the shower fell through the roof whilst she was in it and left her, stark naked, staring at the other woman for a startpervy postman. Then thereShe only has to take her mother's that mistaken identity moment involving dog out for a walk for her to end up with dog poo spattered across her face - and a photo being taken by someone who shares it around the neighboursoffice. At least Janice }} {{Frontpage|author=David C Mason|title=Pandora's Gardener|rating=3|genre=Crime|summary= John Cranston is well adjusted and over her ex-husband Alec. She still dreams of hima gardener, although what he did before he became a gardener, yeshe claims, but it's so over! is classified. Just That is just as well really… guess who's at because he is about to be caught up in a criminal / spy / terrorist plot, where only he can save the door?day. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1760293814</amazonuk>0956180523

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Colin TaylorJester_Forever|title=The Life of Forever After: a Scilly Sergeantdark comedy|author=David Jester|rating=4.5|genre=TravelHorror|summary=Meet Michael Holland is a cocky and brash young man who dies and gets made the Isles offer of Scillyhis lifetime; immortality. (I know they should be called that – the author provides We follow Michael, a handy guide to the etiquette of their name, their nature grim reaper and locationhis friends, etc.Chip (a stoner tooth fairy) For our more distant readers, they're several chunks of granite rock out and Naff (a stoner in the Atlantic, where Cornwall is pointing, records department) as they grapple with just 2,200 permanent residents. They're big on tourism, their long lives and big finding a clean surface to sit 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 yearstheir flat. They're so wee, and so idyllic-seeming, especially at night, 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 time. And one of them in recent years has been Colin Taylor, who has done his official duty – alongside maintaining a well-known online existence, which has brought to life all the whimsical comedy of his work.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>178475515X</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees1683691172|title=William Shakespeare'Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parodys Much Ado About Mean Girls|author=Ian Doescher|rating=32.5

|summary=ItA long time ago, in a galaxy far away, all the Star Wars films were crunched up against Shakespeare, and the marriage seemed a perfectly suitable one. So much so – so easily did the plots and characters converse in Shakespearean dialogue, and behave with Shakespearean stage directions – that the producers tried again, with [[William Shakespeare's Christmas Eve and Mum has arranged everything. All she now has Get Thee Back to do is await the arrival of Future! by Ian Doescher|Back to the relatives and Future]] no less. And that worked. But simultaneously they put a real test out. A film I can't even really remember seeing was transcribed into the original Elizabethan lingo. A cult following I had never followed whatsoever was given the food shopping deliverybrand new, yet oh so ancient, dressing. Little does Mum know that Here was the true challenge – would I manage to enjoy this, based on little foreknowledge? Oh damn those two elements alone have shiny gold stars for letting the potential to ruin everything.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1472125118</amazonuk>game away…

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ryan North168369094X|title=Romeo and/or JulietWilliam Shakespeare's Get Thee Back to the Future!|author=Ian Doescher|rating=34.5

|summary=For all those who think tragedy plots are too restricted and prescribedA long time ago, read on. In these pages you too will see that Romeo had lots of options en route to hitting the bottle. Likewise, she could have turned in a publishing house far away from her predestined path at no end of junctures. And to what result? Well, happy marriage and a kid called Ben, because the leads have just banged people's heads together and stopped the quarrelling, or Death by Tybalt (him) or a long life running an establishment curing murderous women, such as a Lady M (her). |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0356508536</amazonuk>}} <!-- Phinn -->*[[image:Phinn_Virgin.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1444779400/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] ===[[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:HumourIan Doescher|Humoursomeone]]thought it wonderfully wacky to rewrite the story of Star Wars in Shakespearean pentameter, [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Christmas colliding two entirely different genres and styles in our house is the time we tend to get on such a plane and head to either sun or snow, anywhere that is far, far away from clever way they seemed perfectly suited. It was then duly repeated for all the madness at home, last minute dashes to other films in the shops on Christmas Evemain Star Wars cycle, and food cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting clearly someone's buffing their quills ready for a monthEpisode Nine, nor a mere 36 hours. But I do remember the feeling title of Christmas when which became public knowledge the day before I was youngerwrite. In the hiatus, back when it was magicalhowever, and back when you knew exactly what the season would bring effort has been made to see if the same shtick works with carol concerts and school nativities and Christmas parties. This book is an anthology of those momentsother texts, and it took me right back to the wonder of Christmas as a child. [[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn|Full Review]]<br> {{newreview|author= Kieran Crowley|title= Shoot|rating= 4|genre= Crime|summary= I make something of a habit of being late to discover good writers, riff on other seemingly unlikely source materials in this case getting to Crowley after he is no longer with usiambs. The result is that what is billed as ''an F.X. Shepherd mystery'' with all the optimism of there being And could we have anything more suitably unsuitable-seeming than Back to come has the poignancy of beingFuture, if not the last with its tales of a short linetime travel, certainly one of a few. F.X. Shepherd – he doesn't like his first name and prefers just "Shepherd" isbullying, technically, a columnist. He's been sacked by one New York newspaper and is writing a weekly column for another. 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 the book, you'll see what I mean) expects him to turn in some genuine journalism as well: front page, seat of your pants stuff. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783296518<parent/amazonuk>child strife like no other?

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Gray Jolliffe1473669065|title=The First Ever Christmas: And Who to BlameQueenie Malone's Paradise Hotel|author=Ruth Hogan

|summary=If I tell you a secretTilda returns to Brighton, will you promise not to tell anyone? Well, I really don't like Christmas: ittidy away the remains of her mother's my least favourite time of year and whilst some people count down life after her death. Whilst there, she returns to the day itselfParadise hotel, I look forward to that point when I a haven for eccentrics and misfits. A place where people can say be themselves, and let go of thoughts that it's all over for another yeartorment them elsewhere. It's all too commercialised Little wonder that Tilda cannot forgive her mother for mebanishing her as a child, with a coating from this place of faux religionwonder. I've never found it in With the least funny - that ishelp of Queenie Malone, until I found Gray Jolliffe's ''The First Ever Christmas: And Who's to Blame''. Amazinglycaring, I'd never encountered Gray Jolliffe eitherand gregarious, but I'm a convert to his skills as a cartoonist (if not Tilda begins to pick apart the idea of Christmas) after reading this collection of Christmas-themed cartoons from his archivetricky and uncertain relationship she had with her sometimes cruel and distant mother.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1445663503</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jonathan Pugh1683690346|title=Pugh's New Year's ResolutionsThe Con Artist|author=Fred Van Lente|rating=4.5

|summary=If there's one thing that's Comic-Cons are a place of wonder and sanctuary for certainmany people, and when Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, ithe's looking for both that and sanctuary with other fans and creators, plus the world is changingchance of maybe, just maybe reuniting with his ex. We're dating online, we're communicating in ways that make email seem redundantHowever, and when we're shopping we just tell a website where and when it can be deliveredhis rival is found dead, and how much leeway they have Mike is forced to swap our wishes for whatever it is they do bring us. But those changes are also supposed navigate every dark corner of the con in order to be affecting us clear his name – we're supposed from cosplay flash mobs and intrusive fans to use a smart watch to tell us if we're moving or notzombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and, we have to keep up with the latest fadsin doing so, 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 eatmay just unravel a dark secret behind a legendary industry creator.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780722885</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Luke Rhinehart1473669588|title= InvasionFalling Short|author=Lex Coulton|rating= 4.5|genre= Humour |summary=Super-intelligent furry aliens suddenly appear from another universe. And theyLex Coulton've come to earth to have fun. Alien Louie follows fisherman Billy Morton home one days debut novel is a story about mistakes, failures, and he and his family quickly come to love the playful alienrelationships. But when Louie starts using their computer to hack into government and corporate networksThe main protagonist, stealing millions from banks to give to othersFrances Pilgrim, they realise that Louie and his friends mean trouble. As Billy and his family begin is a roller coaster ride of fame and fortunesixth form English teacher who has recently fallen out with her best friend Jackson, as well as a ranking high on the FBI's most wanted list, the Government soon decides that these aliens are terrorists, work colleague and must be eliminated. Whilst the aliens are playing games they hope will help humans to see is grappling with the insanity increasingly eccentric behaviour of her mother. This relationship is complicated by the American political, economic and military systems, they soon come to realise that the Powers fact that Be donFrances't play games: they make wars father disappeared at sea when she was five years old. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1785651757</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Rod Green1683690133|title=Only Fools My Lady's Choosing|author=Kitty Curran and Horses: The Peckham ArchivesLarissa Zageris

|genre=Entertainment Humour|summary=We You are in the world of one a lass of the country's most famous and well-loved sitcoms – even if it was sorttwenty-of killed off for Christmas 2003eight. Yes, there have been specials sincePlucky, penniless and more repeats to clog up in Regency-era London the BBC schedules than race is really pukka, but very few people failed on to succumb find a suitable suitor - or else doom yourself to its charms at one time or anotherlife as an eternal spinster. IAlong your journey, you'm sure there have been books before now celebrating the stonyll be accompanied by Lady Evangeline Youngblood -faced reception of ''that'' drop through the open bar hatcha fiesty noble eager to save you from a life alone, and fired by a rogueish sense for adventure. When it comes to suitors though, you''that'' chandelier scene, but this is much more meaty. Purporting ll have to be make the family archivesultimate decision between witty, found dumped in Nelson Mandela Housepretty and wealthy Sir Benedict Granville, the documents here were passed from pillar to postwholesome, from one council worker in a department with a clumsy acronym to anotherrugged and caring Captain Angus MacTaggart, from them to or the police – mad, bad and now here they are being published for their social history worthterrifyingly sexy Lord Garraway Craven. Will enough readers find them of worthWith orphans, werewolves, as long lost lovers and ancient Egyptian artefacts along the series quietly celebrates its 35th birthday?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849909245</amazonuk>way, it's clear this isn't going to be an easy decision...

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Mara WilsonStibbe_Xmas|title= Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental FameAn Almost Perfect Christmas|author=Nina Stibbe|rating= 4.5|genre= AutobiographyHumour|summary= Mara Wilson has always felt a little young and a little out Christmas – the time of place: as the traditional trauma. You only child on a film set full of adults, have to think about the first daughter in turkey for that – once upon a house full of boys, time it was leaving it sat on the sole clinically depressed member of a cheerleading squaddownstairs loo to defrost overnight, a valley girl in New York and a neurotic in California, and an adult if that failed the world still remembers as a little girlhair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best bet. Tackling everything from how she first learned about sex on the set of Nowadays it's all having to make sure it'Melrose Places suitably free-range and organic – but not too organic that you can go and visit it,'' and get too friendly with it to losing her mother at a young age, want to getting her first kiss (or was eat it kisses?) on a celebrity canoe trip. Christmas, to not being cute enough to make it in Hollywoodthough, these essays tell the story is of course also a time of one young womangreat boons. It's journey from accidental fame to relative obscuritycash in hand for a lot of plump people who can hire red suits and beards, but also illuminate it was always a universal struggle: learning godsend for postmen with all the thank-you letters to accept yourselfaunties you saw twice a decade that your parents made you write out in long-hand as a child, and figuring out who you are as for the makers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, did they even try and where you belong. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0143128221</amazonuk>sell them any other time of the year?