The Quick and the Read

Book Review: ‘Walking the Invisible’ by Michael Stewart

Thanks to HQ Stories for my proof copy of this book – and grovelling apologies for not having reviewed this earlier. As always, opinions are my own regardless of how I acquired the book.

This book was published in June 2021 in hardback – there’s also an (excellent) audiobook version available which I listened to alongside reading.

When I read the blurb for this book, I was instantly intrigued. While I’m no lover of nature and have no desire to wander the Yorkshire moors in all weathers (as this writer has done), I do love literary heritage. So of course I want to know about the buildings and villages and landscapes that inspired the Brontes.

Book Review: ‘A Memory for Murder’ by Anne Holt

I’ve developed a bit of a taste for Scandinavian crime thrillers – so I was very pleased to be introduced to Anne Holt’s writing by Readers First. Thank you to them and Corvus for my review copy. As always, opinions are entirely my own.

The book starts with the assassination of a Norwegian MP in a cafe – an attack in which private investigator, Selma Falck, is also hit. Looking for answers about who killed her friend, Selma works sometimes alongside the police, sometimes with journalists and her own contacts to piece together a puzzle that has far-reaching implications for her country. In doing so, she finds her life in danger again as yet more killings threaten to undermine the stability and peace of Norway…

Blog Tour: ‘We Are All Liars’ by Carys Jones

Thanks to NetGalley and Orion for my copy of this book for review and my place on the blog tour.

From the Publisher:

We’re best friends.
We trust each other.
But…

We are all liars.

Allie, Stacie, Diana, Emily and Gail have been by each other’s sides for as long as they can remember. The Fierce Five. Best friends forever. But growing up has meant growing apart. And little white lies have grown into devastating secrets.

When Gail invites the increasingly estranged friends to reunite at her Scottish cabin, it could be the opportunity to mend old wounds and heal the cracks in their friendship. But when a freak snowstorm rocks the cabin and one of the girls is found dead on the ice, their weekend away becomes a race against time – and each other – to get off the mountain alive.

(Audio)Book Review: ‘Written in Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind’ by Sue Black

I’m very fortunate to have a lovely hardback copy of this and also the audiobook version so this is a combined review as I swapped between them at will!

Normally at this point I’d thank whoever granted me a review copy but I can confirm I bought this one with my own pennies after reading Black’s previous (excellent) book ‘All That Remains: A Life in Death’.

For those of you who aren’t aware, Professor Dame Sue Black is a forensic anthropologist who has worked on some absolutely fascinating cases over a long career. She has a mind-bogglingly long list of letters after her name, awards coming out of her ears and bucketloads of plaudits from just about everyone that matters in her scientific field.

Book Review: ‘Glide’ by Alison Jean Lester

I was contacted by the author to review this novel and she kindly provided my review copy – thank you to Alison Jean Lester for my book, ‘Glide’ coaster and postcard. This has not influenced my review – as always, opinions are my own.

I’ll admit I didn’t fully know what to expect from this novel. I knew it was a study of human relationships, had some psychological drama and also featured photographs alongside the text – all of which intrigued me!

Book Review: ‘Deep Cover’ by Leigh Russell

I am always up for a good police procedural and jumped at the chance to read this – I’d heard so many good things about this series which focuses on DI Geraldine Steel. Thanks to No Exit Press for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

September 2021 Wrap-Up and October TBR

It’s been a slow reading month for me – being back in the classroom is busy and reading has taken a back seat to work.

Still, I managed to read 8 books in September and finished my Goodreads challenge for the year – 100/100 books read! That won’t stop me reading on though – I have some gorgeous October reads planned…

All my books this month were 3 or 4 stars – my favourite was ‘The Royal Art of Poison’ by Eleanor Herman which was an unexpected treat of an audiobook.

Book Review: ‘The Christie Affair’ by Nina de Gramont

I love crime novels – especially Agatha Christie’s – so jumped at the chance to read this fictionalised account of the period during 1926 when Christie disappeared for 11 days. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy of this book, to be published in January 2022.

Book Review: ‘Lying Ways’ by Rachel Lynch

It’s no secret that I love DI Kelly Porter so a new book from Rachel Lynch is always a treat. This is the ninth in the series – a great series that I’ve followed since the start.

This book is centered on HMP Highton, a prison in a remote bit of the already pretty remote Lake District. When a newly released convict is found tortured and killed shortly after leaving Highton, DI Kelly Porter and her team are horrified at the brutality of the crime. When a second ex-convict is killed in similar circumstances, it seems that there is a dangerous killer on the loose…but the leads keep taking the team back within the prison walls.

Book Review: ‘Put a Wet Paper Towel on It: The Weird and Wonderful World of Primary Schools’ by Lee and Adam Parkinson

I’m a teacher. Mainly a secondary level one, although I do have primary-age children so the school world explored by brothers Lee and Adam Parkinson in this book is not entirely alien to me. I had also seen posts by Mr P on Twitter but hadn’t made the connection with this book – the @ICT_MrP account is (I think) run by Lee.

This book is an entertaining jaunt through life as a teacher. It covers all the parts of the school year that are part and parcel of teaching life – the parents’ evenings, the school play, assemblies…plus the primary school belief that a wet paper towel can cure all ills. Headache – wet paper towel. Bruised knee – wet paper towel. Major arterial bleeding – wet paper towel. True.