Book Advisor: What can I read to the boys this weekend?

I love a biblio-challenge! This time the request was suggestions for bedtime reads around the campfire for 8-10 year old boys ....... I hope some of these will suitably warm their toes - or chill them to the bone!

Short Stories:

Kevin Crossley Holland is an established children's author and this is a collection of very short stories - all about 2 pages long. The stories cover a good range of themes including ghosts, shopping, adventure and animals and are entertaining and fun. 

Campfires and storytellling - it's the place for sharing ghost stories right?! Including folk tales, urban myths as well as original stories, this collection has over 40 stories all about 2 pages long. A good introduction to "spooky" tales and also quite a lot of fun!

Billed as a collection of "short stories and poems about football, by a fantastic line up of children's authors, football writers and players" this has got to be a hit with any young boys!


My son really enjoyed this collection of stories - the Second World War seems to be another subject which truly captivates young boys. These stories are a bit lengthier and so they would suit a longer session but my 9 year old has read and reread this collection.


Most famous for his "Alex Rider" series for slightly older boys, this book contains the complete collection of his short horror stories. Horowitz is a talented writer and I used these stories when I was teaching as thought they were chilling, unnerving, full of clever twists, unexpected endings and suspense. I did use them with Years 7 & 8 (ages 11-13) so it might be worth reading through yourself first to check suitability for a younger age group but he's definitely an author to encourage your boys to read! He has also written a series of detective stories which include titles like "The Devil and His Boy", "The French Confection" and "South by South East" which are all about 180 pages long and very entertaining and humorous mystery stories that would suit 8-11 year olds.

I like the use of brackets around the words "& girls"!! I haven't read this but it includes 10 short stories about adventure, animals and historical settings and sounded like it would be worth adding to the list.

Books for the Campfire:


You can't go camping without taking a bit of Bear Grylls with you! All the boys I know are fascinated by this slightly unhinged adventurer! This is the first book in a series of 8 featuring 13 year old Beck Granger who is stranded in the jungle with no food, no compass and no hope of rescue. But, luckily, he is the world's youngest survival expert........


Again, if you're off for a weekend of surviving in the outside world, who better to take along with you! My son is flying through these titles - this is the first in the Falcon Chronicles, there are 3 to date. The story is about Saker and Sinter (a boy and a girl) who are on the run from India to the Himalayas and China, pursued by hunting dogs, mercenaries, spies, thieves and assassins in his quest to set free the tigers. I'm exhausted already!

Other Books For Boys:


This is a brief 64 pages long so could be easily read in a couple of sittings. Cornelia Funke is an established children's author with a gift for story telling and her titles are always popular. This tale is about Matt and Lisa and the mysterious change that seems to be coming over Matt as the moon rises....


Another great children's author who can always be relied on for an entertaining read! This is a kind of reimagining of "Danny Champion of the World" - in lycra! Jake's dad, George, is a builder. Spends all week knocking down buildings, all weekend knocking down wrestlers! Then Jake spots a competition in the USA....... This is a funny, humorous book full of jokes and a good book to be shared between father and son. It's about 190 pages long and is well illustrated.


Another highly acclaimed author-and possibly with the most titles under his belt - is the great Morpurgo. This book is 90 pages long so again could be read with the children over a weekend. Robbie McLeod and his wolf cub are both orphans searching for somewhere to call home. Set against the backdrop of the time of Bonnie Prince Charlie and a land full of rebellious fighters this is another spellbinding tale from the master!


Made to look like Blyton's "Island Adventure" series and feeling a bit like her Famous Five / Secret Seven books, this is a book packed with mystery, suspense and adventure. There is a whole series of them and we have them all! My son raced through several of them on holiday and keeps the others in a pile, making them last and saving them for when he wants a real treat or for school holidays! I think that's enough of a recommendation in itself!


This is an hilarious read full of brilliant illustrations, comic interjections, witty asides and a good storyline with vivid characters. This is Michael Rosen's slightly crazy and suitably madcap novel about Malcolm and his awful, boring and bossy uncle. You'll want to read it as much as your son!

More Traditional or Classic Books


I bought these at a bargain price from "The Book People" and they have been a real hit. I love Marcia William's books - they are always spot on and always captivate young people making traditional stories completely accessible; bringing them alive with spirit and humour. The illustrations are equally appealing. When I was teaching, I always used to use her versions when introducing Shakespeare, Chaucer or Greek Myths with all the year groups from 7-13 (ages 11-18) as they extract the key events and most interesting details so affectively. Each tale is 40 pages long, with lots of small illustrations on most pages making them a quick read, condensing the plot and characters into something bite size and enticing.


This is a really lovely. The "Classic Collection Box Set for Boys" by Ronne Randall includes "Gulliver's Travels", "Robinson Crusoe", "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", "Robin Hood" and "The Three Musketeers." Each book is 48 pages long with illustrations accompanying the text. They are very readable and great introductions to these timeless stories of adventure and bravery. Have been a really great buy and a great way to make boys familiar with traditional stories without being put off by dense text or complex vocabulary.


This is Michael Rosen's favourite book! Originally printed in 1929, this is the story of Emil who sets off on a train journey to Berlin and ends up meeting with a group of detectives and having all sorts of adventures. This is a text revered and respected within the world of Children's Fiction. It's appeal seemingly still as strong as nearly a hundred years ago!

I hope this provides a few ideas for something to read around the campfire - or while the water is boiling for a brew!

For more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat, follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up for email notification on future posts.

Book Advisor: Bibliomaniac designs a reading list for Rachel's trip!

My friend Rachel is doing something amazing this Easter! She is running the Palestine Half Marathon for the Amos Trust. Rachel is not a runner. She only went on her first run in October! She has never been to Israel. This is more than a holiday, and more than just a run.

Rachel has just commandeered her daughter's kindle ready for the flight (Rachel has not travelled on a plane in over 20 years) and for the week she will be away from her family, doing last minute training, travelling around the Holy Land taking in historical sights, running and recovering. She hasn't had time for much reading lately. What should she load onto her kindle to accompany her on this once in a lifetime trip?

Books about Running
I can't personally vouch for these titles as haven't read them - but have researched and considered their appeal as a runner and reader myself before including!

This is currently free on kindle so really, what's not to try?! It is 26 very short stories about running and is designed to inspire you to get up from the sofa, get your trainers on and get out. The reviews are a little mixed but all say it does inspire you to run and motivate you to jeep going. The stories are criticised for being a little too short but maybe for Rachel's trip, a short burst of motivation at the end of each evening or over breakfast might be just what she needs as the big day looms nearer?


This has much better reviews and is highly praised for being "wonderful", "hilarious" and "inspiring." Heminsley couldn't run around the block - now she can run marathons. I think this would be perfect for Rachel - maybe she could write about her own running journey after reading about this one? One reviewer posted the following comments:
this isn't just about running: it's about achieving more than you ever thought was possible. It's really inspirational. My favourite line: when people asked her how she managed to start running, she answered: "I decided to be able to." Couldn't we apply that to everything in our lives?
I think this sums up what Rachel is doing as well and therefore think she would enjoy this read. I'm tempted to order it as well!


This is just 180 pages long and is comprised of training logs, travelogue and memoir. It is about Murakami's preparation for his 2005 New York Marathon and is reviewed as "inspirational". From the comments I've read about this book, it sounds as if the writing style might be a bit impenetrable at times but generally worth pursuing as it appears to be regarded as a bit of a "classic" amongst the running community.

Unfortunately this book isn't out until June but it sounds like a great read for all female athletes and sports fans. Anna Kessel is a  sport's writer and this is her "engaging and inspiring call to arms for women and girls to reclaim sport on their own terms." Kessel asks as exercise for women has finally gone mainstream, why are there still so many obstacles in their way? Why is there still a distinct lack of female sport celebrities, lack of women in the stadium audience at football matches and missing from the park during friendly kickabouts?

Books about Travel / Lifetime Goals


Alright, this wasn't a big hit at Book Club (even after we had treated ourselves to the film afterwards!) and it is a bit cliched. The narrator is a bit self involved with not as much insight as the blurb and reviews imply, but it is about a woman searching for a deeper meaning within her life and answers to the "big" questions. It is a book about travel and meditation. It felt like it ought to have a position in this reading list. It's a very straight forward read which you'll fly through. It was a bestseller and was very popular when it was first published, receiving lots of press coverage so there is obviously something within it that appealed to people! Some of you may enjoy it.......!!



This is much more well received with 4/5 star ratings on Goodreads and a 5/5 star rating from a friend who is widely read and whose judgement I trust implicitly so even though I haven't read it, I feel confident including here. I have added the blurb from Goodreads which seems to sums up the novel about the 22 year old author's journey of self discovery:
Told with suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

Books Set in "Foreign" Locations


I read this in 2008 for the BookClub I was in at the time. It made a terrific impression on me. I was recovering from a minor op and with childcare in place, I was left to lie in bed reading- absolutely gripped and completely transported to the world it was describing, totally bound up in the lives of the characters. Some of it is harrowing, a lot of it thought provoking and all of it is beautifully written. Engrossing. It was a hit with BookClub and scanning through Goodreads, it has 5 star ratings from nearly all of my friends - and all the reviewers too! A tremendous accomplishment. This is a stunning novel about women, friendship and love. It is haunting, spellbinding, heartbreaking and a must read.


Patrick Gale's novels are always to be relied on for an intelligent, thoughtful, tender story. This is the story of Cornwall based artist Rachel Kelly and her family as they come to terms with her death. Each section is told from a different viewpoint as they piece together the mystery of her life and the legacy of secrets that she has left behind. It is touching, humane and witty. I recommend any of his books.


This was another "BookClub" read from a while ago, but actually it was the discussion I had with a friend about it which really sticks in my mind and reminds me that this is a book worth recommending. Rose Tremain is a talented, skilled and much admired author whose books often take an interesting idea or explore marginalised or ostracised groups of people. This book is more conventional and accessible that some of her others and tells the tale of Lev, a 42 year old immigrant from Eastern Europe who comes to London to seek his fortune. Seeing London through his foreign and unfamiliar eyes is really thought provoking and the novel is full of insight. It is a great book for discussion and also as a reflection on our changing society.


I am drawn to novels set in Victorian Australia that deal with the arrival of the colonials. It is an emotive period in history but I'm fascinated by the harshness of the country, the absolute fight for survival in a country not designed for the Western World and the daily futile struggle of the white people to try and make a living there. This book has haunted me since I read it. It's set in 1806 and tells of William Thornhill who is deported, with his wife, to New South Wales. The story is about their adaption (and the adaption of the whole colonial community) to their new life and the attempts to secure a successful way of life there. There are some traumatic events portrayed in the book but what is really resonant is the complete lack of understanding between the two groups of people; it wasn't just a language barrier that separated them from the indigenous people but an entire way of life. A fascinating, thought provoking, historical read.


All three of Dinah Jefferies novels are beautifully told stories set in exotic locations with convincing historical detail and well crafted characters. Set in the 1920s, this is about 19 year old Gwen who arrives to join her new husband at his tea plantation in Ceylon and sets out to be the perfect wife. But life on the plantation is not as she expected. There is resentment, secrets, hidden pasts and Gwen has to try and make sense of her new role, her new relationship, her new position and her new life in a new, foreign country.

I would also add "The Help", "Americanah", "A Man Called Ove" and "Shoes for Anthony" here - all previously recommended on earlier posts!

Books on 99p Offers  / Gripping Thrillers for a Complete Slice of Escapism and Relaxation! 

Here's a list of thrillers currently on offer that I highly recommend for a great, fast, psychologically thrilling read!

"The Hidden Legacy" GJ Minett
"Into the Darkest Corner" Elizabeth Haynes
"Chosen Child" / "The Attic Room" Linda Huber (£1.99 currently)
"The Good Girl" Mary Kubica (99p)
"The Good Girl" Fiona Neill
"The Girl in the Ice" Robert Bryndza (99p)
"The Good Mother" A L Bird (99p)
"The Accident" C L Taylor (99p)
"After You'd Gone" Maggie O'Farrell (99p)
"The Girl with No Past" Kathryn Croft (£1.99)

Fiction Books inspired by the Bible


A  fast paced, sensationalist religious conspiracy thriller which will be an easy, page turning read full of twists, mystery and excitement. This will be something to caught up with during the flight or moments of nervousness!


This book was published in 1996 and I borrowed it from the library a couple of years later to take on a holiday to Rome. It's light, contrived in places, romanticised at times and full of cliffhangers, secrets, revelations and adventurers. It's probably more one to borrow or buy second hand but as these escapist "guilty pleasures" reads often are, it's memorable and enjoyable. It's a significant 430 pages long but I remember becoming immersed it in and that it a very quick and easy read. Here's the blurb to see if it tempts you!
For a thousand years her existence has been denied. She is the legend that will not die–Pope Joan, the ninth-century woman who disguised herself as a man and rose to become the only female ever to sit on the throne of St. Peter. Now in this riveting novel, Donna Woolfolk Cross paints a sweeping portrait of an unforgettable heroine.


This book was an absolutely massive success when it was published in 2005 and to be honest I don't know many people that haven't read it! It is based on Dinah from Genesis and is an affecting story about the lives of biblical women. It is one book which everyone I know has rated a 5 star read. It is incredibly well written, evocative piece of work full of masterful story telling and historic detail. Well worth a reread if it's already on your shelves!


This is a mere 81 pages long - easily a one sitting read, from the talented Colm Toibin. This novel explores Mary from a more unique and unheard perspective as she reflects on her torment and grief over her time as a mother and tries to reconcile herself with events and her emotions. Toibin can always be relied upon for a provocative and haunting read.

While we're talking about different interpretations of Mary, I want to include this poem by the great Carol Ann Duffy here - it's based on a Max Ernst painting showing Mary smacking the infant Jesus. Food for thought........

The Virgin Punishing the Infant

He spoke early. Not the goo goo goo of infancy,
but I am God. Joseph kept away, carving himself
a silent Pinocchio out in the workshed. He said
he was a simple man and hadn’t dreamed of this.

She grew anxious in that second year, would stare
at stars saying Gabriel, Gabriel. Your guess.
The village gossiped in the sun. The child was solitary,
his wide and solemn eyes could fill your head.

After he walked, our normal children crawled. Our wives
were first resentful, then superior. Mary’s child
would bring her sorrow … better far to have a son
who gurgled nonsense at your breast. Googoo. Googoo.

But I am God. We heard him through the window,
heard the smacks which made us peep. What we saw
was commonplace enough. But afterwards, we wondered
why the infant did not cry, why the Mother did.

A bit of a mammoth list but hopefully lots for Rachel to choose from - and something to suit whatever frame of mind she finds herself in!

www.amostrust.org
www.justgiving.com - Rachel Wakefield

For more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat, follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up for email notifications of future posts

Books that caught my eye over the last fortnight

I have been completely distracted over the last two weeks by some absolutely brilliant books!

 

Fever At Dawn by Peter Gardos
I was lucky enough to get a copy of "Fever at Dawn" through NetGalley after having heard previews about it from several sources. What initially interested me was the premise and the setting (Sweden, just after WW2) as it was a slightly different angle from other WW2 based stories I'd read. What completely held my attention was the tender, compassionate and affecting love story. It is published on the 7th April. My full review is available in a previous post.

Five Rivers Met On a Wooden Plain by Barney Morris
This is a story which celebrates language, imagery, stories and the imaginary world. Five rivers running into one; five people each with their own story but all linked by one event. If you love words, you'll love this book which comes out in April. My full review is available on a separate post and I would highly recommend this literary novel.

183 Times A Year by Eva Jordan
I lost a whole day to this - appropriately (or inappropriately!) it was Mother's Day and I saw a photo of the cover on Twitter while having breakfast. It was 99p on kindle and I fancied a light, humorous read. I love the way you can discover a complete gem of a book so unexpectedly! I haven't stopped recommending this book to my friends since! I usually approach books about mums with a little trepidation, but this book really hit the spot. Funny, poignant, authentic and entertaining. Full review accessible on this blog site.

The Finding Of Martha Lost by Caroline Wallace
I was explaining this novel to a friend. She interrupted me (it needed to happen) and said, "You're a little bit in love with Martha aren't you?" I am. Fantastic concept and so imaginative. Martha has inspired me enormously this week. For my full review check out my separate post.

I'm getting carried away again - I could add a couple more but this post is supposed to be about other things I've spotted not an advert for all my other reviews! So what else is new?



The Light Between The Oceans
I read this book a long time ago but it has to be one of my favourites and several friends since have agreed it was their best read for 2015. So I was delighted to see it is coming to the big screen soon. Check out the trailer at culture street.com or via @CultureStAus and see it for yourself! Make sure you read the book before you see the film!

Dr Thorne
Sticking with adaptations  - the TV series of Anthony Trollope's book began last week. I enjoyed it - good cast, good costumes and historical setting, good plot and perfect for a Sunday night. I hope it encourages you to have a go at the books  - they are very readable.


Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama
This is a Japanese Crime Fiction novel which sold over 1 million copies in six days in Japan when it was released. It is a huge 635 pages and 81 chapters long and the review I read described it as like "binge watching a box set, this is binge reading!" It is about two missing girls from crimes separated by fourteen years. The blurb says it is "the nightmare no parent could endure, no detective could solve and a twist no reader could predict." It may be one for the summer holiday due to its length but I'm definitely interested!

I read a review of this via bibliophilebookclub.com and think it sounds like a great read. Another psychological thriller - I just can't resist them! Here's the blurb from Goodreads - see if it captures you as well!
When Autumn fails to return home from school one day, Laura goes looking for her. She finds a crowd of older children taunting her little girl.

In the heat of the moment, Laura makes a terrible choice. A choice that will have devastating consequences for her and her daughter...


Margaret Forster's final novel was published last week following her recent death. The reviewer in the Guardian said this "portrait of a stigmatised, headstrong and fractured woman was compelling," with a "taut and suspenseful narrative" and characterisation that was "complex and dynamic". Sounds like a captivating read.


This is another author of whom we are all very familiar and probably like me, always excited when they produce a new novel! There have been some great reviews and blogs about this book and it seems as if it is another engaging and beautifully written tale. One reviewer claimed it to be her most graceful and richly imagined work yet. Can't wait to read it - think it'll be a real treat!




I'm off now to read this - curtesy of NetGalley. I requested it after reading a blog post about the next best psychological thrillers of 2016. It's a staggering 784 pages long so rest assured, there won't be many tweets or blogs next week - this is going to take a while I think, however gripping it is!!!

Happy Reading! For more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat, follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up for email notifications of future blog posts.

My Review of "The Last of Us" by Rob Ewing

It was the cover of this book that caught my attention. The silhouettes, children looking outwards as if searching for something and the simple black and white image implied a stark innocence and a sense of desolation. The blurb then sealed it for me. A pandemic has wiped out the entire population on a remote Scottish Island in the Hebrides. Only five six children remain. This is the story of their survival.

"Being an explorer you get skilled at knowing. I know what a cup of tea left for months looks like......" and the difference between how dogs and cats will try to survive until finally the you learn that "dogs are found at doors, cats at windows."

So opens Ewing's bleak story of survival. Rona, the narrator, explains how to "search" the empty homes scattered across the island village, which houses to avoid, which smells to avoid and what is safe to take from cupboards which "jump with mice".

Elizabeth, the leader, is focussed on a routine. Every day they brush their teeth, they turn the radio dial to try and find a signal, they conserve the batteries in their torches and on the DVD player, they have a "shopping list" for when they go "searching". They play at schools and try to keep up with their learning and they have rules. And lists, lots of lists. This is how they survive in their "war against giving in. Against forgetting. For knowing how to survive." This is how they stay hopeful that one day adults will return and save them.

Elizabeth is resourceful, calm, practical and carries the burden of leader well. She insists on making the children remember the world "before".

"Remembering is all we've got. The past is precious. It has to be correct."

But Rona wants to make a "new ending. Where nobody gets sick, the electricity comes back, like it should have done." Rona finds her memories are disappearing or becoming tainted. She is haunted by the past and by her last memories with her mother. She recounts dreams and flashbacks from before the world changed. She talks to her mum, she asks for her help; her thoughts, memories, day dreams all fusing together in a lyrical and poetic narrative. The repetition of remembering and grasping hold of the past is highly effective and emphasises the desolate and hopeless plight of a group of plucky children trying to survive in a desolate wasteland.

As other critics have also commented, it is reminiscent of "Lord of the Flies". When Calum Ian and Duncan decide to challenge Elizabeth's authority in an enviable turn of events, it prompts a dramatic chain of events which will change the course of their lives on the island.

This is not a depressing read. Yes, the landscape is barren and bleak, yes their situation is desperate and their search for rescue is futile. Yes, there is a plentiful description of death, illness and the rotting away of the "old world". Yes, it triggers a fear in all of us about the potentially real risk of devastating viruses. But the innocence of Rona's narrative, the determination and composure of Elizabeth, her nurture for Alex and her need for establishing some rational control through her lists and rules, creates a more haunting and spell binding atmosphere rather than the horror story it could have easily slipped into becoming. Ewing has achieved something more sophisticated, haunting and thoughtful. His use of dream like reflections and memories is absorbing and effectively used to reveal character and events slowly with tenderness and sensitivity. He captures the children's resignation, hollowness and unavailing search for escape and rescue powerfully. The last section of the book where Rona's desolate narrative begins to spiral as she slips in and out of reality, gradually taken over by loneliness and the solitude of the isolated island is gripping and unforgettable. His use of sentence structure and pace equally effective in evoking atmosphere.

This is a great read which will enthral teenagers who like dystopian novels or stories about an adult free world. It will appeal to readers who liked "Lord of the Flies" and is although it is set in a very real world which could indeed be in any of our near futures, it has the appeal, drama and merit of other novels in this genre like "Hunger Games" and "Divergence".

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication in April in return for an honest and fair review.

For more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat, please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up for email notifications of future blog posts.

My Review of "The Good Mother"

As with all good psychological thrillers, this one opens by building intrigue and curiosity from the very first sentence. The girl in the prologue is not given a name, or an age although she is obviously a child, and she is getting into a car with someone she doesn't know very well to meet someone she knows equally little about. She has obviously done this before and while making sure Mummy isn't watching, she shows enough awareness of her actions to wonder whether Mummy would really mind about what she is doing or not. "He" seems to think she would. 

The scene is set. The reader's imagination fired up and working overtime already! Then we are left hanging as chapter one starts with the first person narrative of a new character, Susan. 

And there's no let up with tension and atmosphere here either. Susan's narrative is a frantic succession of short sentences and questions. It is a really exciting way to create a situation as the reader is as confused as Susan and joins her in a desperate attempt to make sense of what is going on. It cunningly conveys Susan's distressed state of mind and bewilderment about where she is and how she got there.

What we do realise is that Susan is being held captive. She has a daughter, Cara, who is also being held prisoner in the same building as Susan can hear her voice through a grate in the wall. But that is all. There are echoes of Donoghue's "Room" except Susan is much more agitated and appears in more immediate danger. She can't sit still. She paces. Stands up. Sits down. "Why am I here?" she repeats again and again. She is concerned only for her daughter and how they can escape. She sends Cara messages assuring her they'll survive this and telling her how much she loves her. Susan is a good mother. Bird's ability to maintain the endless stream of broken thoughts and constant questions is impressive and I don't think I've read a book where this sort of narrative voice is sustained over so many pages. 

We are also introduced to the voice from "The Other Side of the Door." This is the voice of the captor and it is anonymous and suitably mysterious. His sections only create more questions rather than offer any clarity about what's happening. This male voice is obsessed, controlling and clearly has a plan for Susan which is not going to be a good one but at the same time he feels less malevolent and there is a sense of fallibility surrounding him. 

The chapters are equally short and I lost track of the number towards the end as my eyes were too busy racing ahead to the story but it must have ranked up to well over 85. 

I must admit, although I was engaged with the story and forming a relationship and empathy with Susan, by the time I had reached 65% on my kindle I was beginning to wonder where the novel was leading and how much longer I could read the rambling stream of Susan's frenetic thoughts and dialogue. The other sections by the captor and Alice (a friend of Cara's) are also written in a similar style; sometimes I felt a little overwhelmed by the level of confusion and disorder all these voices were producing. It was getting trickier and trickier to untangle what was going on and work out who was a reliable narrator and who was distorting the truth.

Then, everything changed. 

Oh. My. Word. 

The last quarter of the book is an absolute shocker and make me realise that I had completely underestimated Bird's skill. It completely changed my entire view of the book. 

I cannot say anymore at all without spoiling it but I would suggest you get a copy - currently a ridiculous 99p on kindle in the run up to its publication on 4th April. Persist with Susan's story as the pay off is honestly worth well and truly completely worth it. I have heard many critics and reviewers tiring of the phrase "psychological thriller with a twist" as it can spoil the ride for the readers but in this case, it is an exacting description of the novel. This is a one sitting read kind of book. The kind with a twist that will have you gasping out loud. I'm sorry I ever doubted the author's ability to present me with something so thrilling and thought provoking. This book is definitely going to end up on the best sellers list and I can see it being adapted to film successfully too. 

I recommend this book for fans of psychological thrillers and popular crime fiction.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication in return for a fair and honest review. 

For recommendations, reviews and other bookish chat, please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up for email notifications of future posts

My Review of "The Couple Next Door"

I spotted this on NetGalley and as a mother of young children I could not resist requesting it! The premise of this novel is that Anne and Marco Conti are invited for dinner next door; it's been made clear no children are welcome and at the last minute their babysitter has cancelled. Their daughter is barely six months old. She is asleep. She can't get out of her cot. They are only next door. They will check her every half an hour. They will take the baby monitor with them. Marco assures Anne it will be fine. 

When Anne checks her at midnight, baby Cora is fast asleep. She rejoins the party and tries to relax with the rest of the group where everyone, including Anne, have had more than they ought to drink. When they return home at 1am, the front door is open. The cot is empty. 

Lapena throws us straight into the drama of the evening. Her choice of pertinent adjectives, and the internal dialogue of Anne, allow Lapena to skilfully convey character and the set up of a marriage already filled with tension. This is all efficiently established within the very opening paragraphs. We meet an exhausted, over emotional mother whose feelings of inadequacy are dominating her evening with the glamourous, flirtatious Cynthia. The intimidating and unlikeable Cynthia is set on monopolising Anne's drunk husband Marco, who is frustrated by Anne's depressive state of mind. 

By a mere 2% on my Kindle, the harrowing disappearance of Cora has been discovered. Anne is overwhelmed and her wail "is a horrible keening sound, like an animal in pain." It is such an igneous idea for the start of a thriller - the classic "What if...." question will immediately draw in the reader. And how many readers, like me, will be thinking of times when they may have been sorely tempted to make the same decisions as the Conti's did? Under pressure, under the desperation for a night out, to escape their financial or work worries, or the need not to have the burden of complicated childcare arrangements ruling your social life, people are pushed to make all sorts of decisions. Once Anne realises what has happened, she knows how they will be judged. She knows how "terribly judgemental mothers are....how good it feels to sit in judgement of someone else." There is nothing more emotive, or that stirs up a heated debate with such volcanic speed, than a discussion about parenting! A perfectly sensational opening premise. 

The investigating detective, Rasbach, is experienced, calm, considered, supportive and resolved to finding Cora and her kidnapper. He has seen much over the course of his career and his questions, though apparently routine and straightforward, actually reveal an underlying suspicion and shrewd analysis of what might lie behind this family. He adds valuable insights about how Marco interacts with Anne and his in laws and equally how Anne is treated by her parents. He immediately implies that there is much more going on here than a straightforward opportunist abduction. 

The characters are well crafted. Anne is frail, vulnerable and emotionally irrational. She is suffering from Post Natal Depression and has been sheltered and over protected by her overbearing parents. She is not equipped to cope. This is at times a little frustrating but she has been shaped by her upbringing and then further by a husband who has gone to equal lengths to "protect" her from reality. 

Marco is a man of conflict. He wants to be in control but very quickly, under only the smallest amount of pressure, he begins to unravel. He has spent his life trying to prove his worth, trying to build a business and an income to mean they can be free from Anne's parent's financial handouts. He is insecure and trying to play a game in which he is completely out of depth. 

Cynthia and her husband Graham are deeply unpleasant people. They are selfish, manipulating, uncaring and false. Anne's father is also arrogant, patronising and self important. Suspense and tension is created by the fact that each character wants control of their situations and the people around them. Each are trying to protect someone or something, each is trying to put right the dreadful situation and each thinks they are doing the right thing. Each is competing to be the "alpha controller," the main manipulator. By revealing the character's thoughts Lapena almost makes the reader an accomplice in the crime themselves. We are bombard with a lot of information at certain points of the novel and our omniscient position actually feels rather compromising.

The writing is simple with basic, often very short, sentences arranged in short paragraphs. Information, events, thoughts and dialogue are presented clearly and without any unnecessary imagery or added description. This ensures a fast paced read and alongside the constant switching between the narratives of the different characters, there is a constant desire to read on and on and on. This writing style and structure is completely appropriate for this novel. It emphasises the fact that the story takes place over a very short period of time and shows how quickly things can escalate. It keeps reminding the reader of the sense of urgency in criminal cases like this. This concise and brief  style is particularly effective in the last 10% of the novel where it produces a sense of panic and of events spiralling out of control. It mirrors the strain of the characters as everything begins to break down around them. 

This story is about people under pressure and the lengths people will go to under that pressure. It's about of what people are capable. Everyone is vulnerable  Everyone is susceptible  It's about how well we really know each other. It asks us - what would you do? 

This is Lapena's debut novel. She shows a promising new voice and an eye for a good plot. Nothing is more interesting than ordinary people making ordinary decisions and then seeing what happens next. 

I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a fast, easy read full of twists. It is a very satisfying thriller and does everything a good gripping read should. 

"The Couple Next Door" is published in July 2016.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for a fair and honest review. 

For more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up for email notifications of future posts. 

My Review of "Little Boy Blue" by M J Arlidge

Synopsis:
DI Helen Grace is no stranger to tragedy but when a body is found in a Southampton nightclub, the death cuts too close to the bone. Hiding her personal connection to the victim -and a double life which must remain hidden at all costs - Helen becomes a woman possessed, working her team around the clock to follow every lead........

This is actually the 5th book in the DI Helen Grace series and I'm ashamed to say that I have only actually read the first one "Eeny Meeny" - although this is something I will be rectifying having enjoyed this crime thriller! However, it doesn't matter if this is your first, third or fifth outing with DI Grace -enough background information is conveyed so that the reader has all the information they need in order to fully follow the plot and relate to the main characters.

I was quite shocked at how quickly I was thrown into the action - I literally did not have time to finish the first sentence before events had started unfurling. And there's no holding back; this is not for the faint hearted! This is a story set in the underground scene of S&M and there is some graphic detail and portrayals within the opening pages and throughout the novel. But what was really captivating was the anonymous voice and their menacing statements: "Would they get it? Would they realise what they were dealing with? Only time would tell." That's some opening!

Helen Grace is an interesting character. She is flawed. She physically pushes herself. She is gutsy, determined and solitary. She has a past. In this book, her personal and professional life become intricately mixed up with each other and the "threat of exposure is as great as the threat of a serial killer." Arlidge has achieved a highly original, convention busting yet very convincing character to whom the reader is drawn and for who they feel empathy and admiration. I was impressed with this. I also found the concept of the detective being as embroiled with the underworld as the perpetrator interesting and a rather different angle than the usual plot lines.

All the characters in this detective fiction novel are flawed, full of hidden pasts and dark secrets. There is quite a large cast of people - police, officials, criminals, victims and suspects - all damaged, all potentially capable of committing a crime. No one is who they say they are. Arlidge ensures that we will be kept guessing right up to the last minute. Although there are many of them, all the characters are well crafted and credible and the dialogue is convincing and authentic. The number of different characters makes the book move along at a good pace and maintains the reader's interest as the view point switches quickly, laying clues, hints, intrigue and suspense in every paragraph. I found it a very quick read and was pulled along by the narrative.

I can't say much else without spoiling it for you but here's a great quote from the book which I think will tempt you!
In the time it takes for the sun to rise and set again, secrets have been revealed, accusations made and a families happiness shattered......

All I will say is that the ending was absolutely thrilling and the best part of the whole novel. I was completely thrown and shocked - I desperately kept trying to turn the page as I could not believe this was how it ended! Now I will have to continue with Book 6! Let's hope it's not too long to wait!

I recommend this book to all fans of crime fiction and lovers of detective fiction. I would also encourage anyone else to try it as to a certain extent, it redefines our expectations of what makes a good detective character.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review.

For more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat, please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up for email notifications on the right for future posts.