‘Not long ago by old green trees, The spring brought sun and bumble bees.’ This collection of simple, rhyming poems about Roglins – fictional creatures who live in the woods – is supported by clear, black and white pictures that show the creatures at play and at rest. There’s a sense of progression as you […]
‘We were destroying the planet all along, weren’t we?’ The potential destruction of Earth as a result of climate change is a key theme of this interesting novel, delivered rather bluntly through characters like Madge and the Narrator, but also through reference to earlier historical events. However, the real philosophical crux of the novel is […]
‘Jukes cried out in agony before toppling onto the ground like a skittle struck by a bowling ball.’ Murder. Kidnap. Mayhem. And that’s just the opening few pages. Tony Bassett is back with the sixth book in his DCI Roscoe and DS Roy series, although this time it’s not just the criminal gang causing mayhem: […]
I loved this book and look forward to Doyle’s next case. Oh, you want more information than that? Ok. If you like police procedurals, you should definitely read this. More information than that? Well, if you insist… What’s it about? When a woman’s broken body is found at the bottom of a cliff, it’s up […]
‘I took the job in a panic as my life hit the buffers and the money ran out.’ This might not sound like an auspicious beginning, but as ‘The Volunteers’ beautifully records, Carol’s decision to take on a new role within wildlife conservation, and specifically the group of volunteers she learns to manage as a […]
I was intrigued to read about the work of a forensic anthropologist. I’ve not read any earlier books in the series, so I’m not sure how typical this is, but can confirm that ‘Fire and Bones’ works well as a standalone. What I do know is that when Detective Deery asks Brennan why she is […]
All jobs come with hazards. For mortuary technician Cassie Raven, there’s the disturbing possibility that a corpse on her table may turn out to belong to someone she knew, added to the even more disturbing possibility that the dead body might still have something to say… What’s it about? This is a mystery with four […]
‘Not coming home.’ After thirty two years together, Bea thinks her marriage is rock solid. She believes that as their love was born from the darkest days of her life, they’ve already survived the worst life can throw at them, but when Niklas disappears after a minor argument, she’s stunned to learn that he believes […]
‘Whoever did it must have read it.’ When local author and recently retired teacher Liam Allerton is found drowned in Barnes Pond, just like the retired teacher in his debut novel, it’s a curious case of life imitating art – or rather, his death imitating his art – but when DI Garibaldi reads Allerton’s novel, […]
Imagine that you have ended up in prison, as a result of poverty and constrained life choices. Now imagine being told that you will serve out the rest of your prison sentence on the other side of the world – and you are unlikely to ever find your way home. Such is the fate facing […]