Poetry: "Stressed Unstressed: Classic Poems to Ease the Mind"

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." Rudyard Kipling

This is a collection of poems which have been selected to fill our minds with more positive thoughts. It is "bibliotherapy"- reading for wellbeing. The poems have been chosen as a kind of prescription to help people when they are feeling stressed, anxious, sleepless or panicky.

The poems are organised in to 12 "chapters" ranging from "Stress Beating" to "Grieving" to "Feeling Alone" to "Seizing the Day". There is a straightforward, accessible introduction providing some clear and simple guidance as to how to read a poem and why poetry is particularly effective in calming the soul. Each section is prefaced with a short introduction relevant to the poems and purpose of that section. For example the first section entitled "Stopping" shows the reader how focusing on the cadence, rhythm and tempo of a poem can slow down your breathing, heart rate and induce a sense of calm. "Poetry as a beta-blocker for the soul".

Other sections show how by giving a poem your full attention, you can focus on "being in the moment" which encourages happiness and contentment; how concentrating on the images and meaning in a poem will allow you to escape from all your other thoughts and concerns - an act of mindfulness. The rhythm of poetry can create a kind of heart beat, by which you can regulate your own; the patterns creating harmony and balance which in turn can be felt by the reader. Reading some of these brief introductions made me realise just how powerful poetry can be and just how useful it might be in the art of mindfulness and just how medicinal it is.

The poems featured are mainly classics from a whole range of poets like Wordsworth, R S Thomas, Emily Bronte, Rossetti, Housman, Jennings and Robert Frost. There are some of my favourites and some I had forgotten or not come across before. I like how they have been organised and it is definitely a book I would dip in and out depending on my mood / interest. I don't think this has to just be for people who are stressed, but for anyone looking to take 5 minutes out of their busy day and spend a few moments absorbed in something totally different. Picking up a poem is sometimes easier than returning to the next chapter in your book and even if you are not much of a poetry reader this should not put you off. There is nothing mysterious, academic or inaccessible about these poems or the way in which they are presented. It is a must have for anyone who enjoys poetry and hopefully looks at familiar poems in a new light with room for fresh interpretation and use.

For more recommendation and reviews, please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up to receive future posts via email.

"Everything Love Is" Claire King

A poignant, mysterious, and unforgettable story of love, and of the happy endings we conceive for ourselves.

The book opens in 1968 with a woman who dies while giving birth on a train; the passenger who assists her claims the child for herself. It then switches to the narrative of Baptiste Molino, a therapist living on a houseboat moored on the edge of Toulouse. He is with his a new client Amandine Rousseau who has visited him because she has heard he makes people happy. "I don't believe anyone else can make you happy," is his gentle, considered reply, "But you can be helped to find your own way there." Amandine wants to feel alive, to fall in love. 

And from this point, the thoughtful, benevolent, compassionate Baptiste who spends his time helping his clients to navigate through their own stormy waters- never making waves of his own - is entranced by the enigmatic Amandine. For the first time he finds himself unable to "see" into a client, unable to "solve" her problem and identify what it is she needs. 

As well as his work, Baptiste is also searching for the identity of his birth mother. A woman who has left no clues behind except a violin, a wooden statue and a word inked into the skin of her arm. 

We are also introduced to Sophie, a young waitress at the local bar. She and Baptiste are close and "after hours of dealing with doubt and hesitation her unshakeable self assurance was like a cold shower at the end of a hot day." They "recognised something in each other that fit like salt on butter or lemon on fish." Sophie wants to help Baptiste rediscover love and passion, to explore the world rather than hiding behind his clients; to find more meaning in his life rather than helping others search for meaning in their lives. 

There is some beautiful imagery and metaphor in this book - in fact it is swimming in it. I loved the comparison of Baptiste with a kingfisher. Unlike other creatures who only see themselves when they look into water, the kingfisher sees right down below the surface to everything that is beneath. "This," Sophie observes, "is what you do with people." There are some recurrent images about birds ("Flocks  of little black notes migrating like starlings across the page", "Words fluttered as though caged in my mind. I didn't know which ones to set free.") and of course, the numerous references and descriptions of water are essential given the placement of the houseboat and the themes of freedom, memory, life, exploration, adventure and time. 

Baptiste is very philosophical and reflective. I liked how his nights are full of ideas as he tries to process his sessions with his clients: "In the slow drift into sleep when the mind softens and unravels, intuition speaks.....dawn will decide if they make sense." The writing feels quite hypnotic - heightened by the closeness of water and the sense of floating on soft waves and a continuous gentle rocking. The language is creative and metaphors are used by the characters and the author to explore the idea of love. 

There are some fantastic allegories for love. Baptiste's mother asks him if he thinks love is like a butterfly, "that you have to catch....no, love is like a garden, you have to put your mind to it and grow it." Different characters have different experiences of love to share with him. Baptiste's friend Etienne says love has make him happy, yet miserable, changed him for the better and for the worse. Amandine says love is "spending your waking hours being terrified of losing what is most precious to you." This is a novel about love - and everything love is. It is a love story but not in the conventional sense. It is up to Baptiste to discover love and all its happiness, pain, joy and sorrow. 

The relationships between the characters is very well written. These are people with a deep understanding of each other. A gentleness with each other. A connection with each other. Baptiste's parents give him excellent counsel and so does the youthful and aspirational Sophie. 

There is also the interjection of an anonymous voice between Baptiste's chapters and to be honest, I spent a while wondering whether I had missed something vital as I wasn't completely sure who the voice belonged to and how it fitted in with the story. However, keep going and all becomes very clear, and when it does, the novel becomes something much more powerful and poignant. My relationship with the characters became more involved and I was caught up in the sadness of the plot. I think King's deliberate technique to make the reader feel like they aren't fully grasping the unfolding of events, the chronology or how the pieces of the jigsaw fit together is effective. It works well because of the author's exploration of memory, loss, confusion and love. Her writing about memory is powerful and there is some very compelling descriptions. 

There is a dream like quality to this slow, considered novel. The french location adds a little more mystique and I definitely was reminded of novels such as "The Red Notebook" , "The Reader on the 6.27" and "The Little Paris Bookshop." King's writing is comparable to Joanne Harris and Maggie O'Farrell. 

I must say, it took me a while to get into it but once I did, I was very touched by it and feel like it will be one of those "hidden gems". I would recommend this book - don't overlook it or give up, it's hugely rewarding and I think one I will still be thinking about for days to come. It's a read to take your time with and savour. I leave you with one final quote which illustrates King's use of metaphor: 

"When travelling by train, no matter how set you are on your destination, it only takes one set of points to switch and you are veering off in an entirely new direction." 

Thus is life.

My thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel in return for a fair and honest review.

For more recommendations and reviews, please follow me on twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up to receive future posts via email.

YA "One" Sarah Crossan

This is a unique and moving story told through the honest, pragmatic and unsentimental voice of Grace. Crossan's novel is written in free verse and in June it was awarded The Bookseller's YA Book Prize 2016 - just one of many prizes for which I'm sure it will be nominated.

"One" is the story of conjoined twins Grace and Tippi, named after Tippi Hedren and Grace Kelly - 2 of Hitchcock's biggest stars who were "so beautiful it sometimes feels like a cruel joke." They are conjoined from the hips down and have defied medical history by surviving for 16 years, although "lucky isn't really how I would describe us."

"As time ticks by / the chances of us / suddenly / ceasing / to be / get / quite /high / that's just a fact / that will / never / go / away.........I suck it up."

Living as a conjoined twin is described without any undue sensationalism, as to Tippi and Grace it is normal. They have adapted to their life together. They have ways of operating effectively together. Sometimes it's frustrating - for example, "I cannot watch a film in secret / and even with my headphones / on / I know that Tippi hears the tinny hissing / of my music / in her own ears." But, as with waiting for each other, "It's what happens / when / you're bound like we are / to a body too stubborn / to peel itself apart at conception," - this is just the way it is and ultimately they share everything and are everything to each other.

Yet Grace tells us how she struggles to become invisible and longs to be normal and boring, not amazing.

"Normal  is the Holy Grail / and only those without it / know its value"

Sometimes she wants to speak for herself and to be seen just as Grace, not always with Tippi. She wants "eyes to focus on me without the tiniest hint of horror." What Grace tells us is at times heartbreaking and always poignant, but her voice remains candid with such a matter of fact tone, that even when her sadness and longing creep in, it doesn't become over sentimental or gratuitous. Crossan has struck a brilliant balance of exploring the emotional, physical and mental journey of teenage conjoined twins that evokes empathy and understanding without voyeurism or pity. As Grace herself says, "hatred's better than sympathy."

Starting a new school, they make new friends. Yasmeen is HIV positive and the girls form a bond with her, knowing how it feels to be "burdened at birth /by a curse your mother /never knew she was under." They also meet Jon. Tippi warns Grace that they can never fall in love, but for Grace this comes too late.

Half way through the book the twins decide to monetise their quite unique life to relieve the family of its financial burden.  They turn to reporter Caroline who has plagued them for years and she arrives to film the family every day and reveal the inside story of living as a conjoined twins. This allows Crossan to subtly raise some thought provoking points and ask intrusive questions without making the book trite or hackneyed. Grace's voice constantly the more intelligent, more observant, more philosophic. For example, Caroline says, "You laugh a lot. It's inspiring. You embrace life." "What am I supposed to do with life other than embrace it," Grace flatly replies. These twins are girls who are well balanced and essentially happy. They are inspirational but not because of their conditions, because of their grounded perspective.

Then something happens. Something they hoped would never happen. Neither of them can admit it to the other. This section of the book is painful but also reflects that actually, this is a family that is no different to any other family faced with the most devastating of decisions. I would like to quote more from these elegant and exquisite passages but will refrain- only to avoid spoilers and possibly my tears. There is some beautiful symbolism through the image of a Russian Doll which is filled with several smaller dolls, until the smallest is so tiny it is barely anything at all, but without it, the doll would never be complete.

As I said, the book is written in free verse, so although it is thick and runs to over 400 pages it is actually a very quick read due to each page being one "poem". Each page is given a different heading and is about a different topic, day, incident, emotion, reflection which prevents all the ups and downs (and there are some very down bits) of such a story from becoming overwhelming, depressing or too harrowing. It keeps moving, the pace and structure carefully considered in order prevent overly dwelling on things but still providing enough detail to make the characters, emotions and events authentic and three dimensional. Words linger - in fact the visual effect of extra space at the bottom of the last stanza on each page and the new title on the next, encourage a reflective pause. Crossan's choice to write in this style is inspired and original. It makes the story fresh and completely engaging. The images, symbolism and inference are precise and affecting. The shape of the words on the page adds a whole other layer to the content and I loved the way it changed to reflect certain events and stages of the girls' lives. I also think it is important to see novels written in less conventional forms which opens up a whole new realm of self expression, creativity and imagination for teenagers.

This is a novel I will read again and again and again and again and probably notice something different or deeper each time. I totally admire what Crossan has achieved. At the end of the book, Crossan says it was an honour to write it but I felt it was an honour to read it. I can only imagine what she much have gone through researching and writing this but the result is so impressive. The brevity of her words, the empty space surrounding the lines and words is so effective; what is not said becomes as interesting and resonant as what is said.

I have read "The Weight of Water" (also written in free verse) and "Apple and Rain" (also nominated for prestigious awards) and thoroughly enjoyed them both. I recommend all of these three books for young adults (and fully grown ones too) who love language, issue based books, original characters and well written stories.

YA "Swan Boy" Nikki Sheehan

This is a quirky, original and uplifting story about Johnny and how he learns to overcome bullying at school.

13 year old Johnny has to look after his little brother, Mojo, while his mum is at work and they adapt to life as a single parent family following the death of their father. They live in London and when he starts his new school, Johnny is troubled by Liam and the "Populars". In an attempt to get out of the punishment of litter duty following another altercation between himself and Liam, Johnny opts to attend a dance lesson instead and is introduced to the world of ballet. In his complicated, difficult life, dance suddenly offers Johnny some space, clarity and empowerment in a way he could never have imagined.

This is an unusual story. At first it reads like many other contemporary Young Adult novels and creates an authentic situation, with a likeable character who is trying to cope with all the usual teenage issues as well as dealing with the added pressure of his grieving family. Johnny does his best, but there are times when the responsibility of looking after Mojo, helping out around the house and trying to help Mojo negotiate his way through his grief, take their toll. Then on top of this, he is bullied at school by the unpleasant Liam and his crew.  

On a school outing to Regents Park there is a rather strange incident with a swan, leading everyone to call Johnny "Swan Boy". Reflecting on what happened, Johnny picks up a lone swan feather and takes it home. Mojo then loses it out of the window as they talk about flying. Johnny races out on to the street to recover it but it has disappeared. Mojo then draws it for him (something he's talented at even if it is often on the table top) so "he doesn't need to go out and look for it again." Both suddenly seem aware of the importance of this feather. 

This incident with the swan and his need to keep the feather, plants a seed in Johnny's mind - he is convinced that he has some kind of understanding with the swan, that somehow it was protecting him, that they are somehow connected. This is felt more deeply when he realises the dance class are practising "Swan Lake".

The story continues with an element of magic. As his dancing skills develop, Johnny embraces the desire to fly. He immerses himself in the idea of becoming a swan. He imagines his neck lengthening, wings from his back, the sensation of pushing off into the sky. He practises leaping and leaping and leaping. He discovers tiny tufts of downy feathers appearing on his chest........

Although not really comparable, I was reminded a little of Natalie Portman's portrayal of the obsessive dancer in "Black Swan" (rated 15) but this is obviously much more heartwarming and gentle - much more similar to "Billy Elliot". Indeed Mrs Cray could be played by Julie Walters. This novel reminded me of David Almond's "Skellig", maybe a slight nod to Roald Dahl (maybe also slight similarities with Matilda's ability to make things happen with her mind), with elements of Melvin Burgess - but without the need for any rating or warning - it's not controversial in the way some of Burgess' books are sometimes perceived to be. It is also similar to stories by writers like Sarah Crossan and Sally Nichols or authors that scatter their images with ethereal references and the blurring between reality and dream.

This book is about self empowerment, self esteem, learning to overcome situations and learning to fly. It is well written and fluent. The main character is very likeable and his relationship with his brother is very affecting. The family dynamics are very touching and very credible. Young adults will relate to the frustration Johnny sometimes feel as he yearns for some freedom and flexibility instead of watching Mojo every evening. It deals with grief and death with sympathy and sensitivity; it's hard not to shed a slight tear when Johnny takes Mojo to "visit" their father - truly a kind of "coming of age" moment for both boys. 

Sheehan clearly understands her audience and clearly understands how to write for Young Adults. Her dialogue is authentic and at times very poignant. It is a very good read. The reader does need to suspend belief a little at times but it still feels a very natural narrative and although not entirely believable, it does not feel overly far fetched. The symbolism and imagery is pertinent and reinforces the ideas Sheehan is exploring. The ending is so effective -very moving and resonant.

A great book about bullying, families, friendship and dance!

My thanks to Nikki Sheehan and One World Publications for the free copy in return for a fair review. I was delighted to get a chance to read this book and am intrigued by what other tales Sheehan might choose to tell!

For more reviews and recommendations follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniac) and for reviews of children & YA fiction look me up on minibibliomaniac.wordpress.com 

"The Wrong Hand" Jane Jago

This is a book that tackles a story line that some will find difficult, some will find controversial and for some, it will provoke comparisons with Jamie Bulger who was abducted and murdered in 1993. I think it would make a good read for a book group as actually poses several thought provoking questions about evil, nature/nurture and rehabilitation. It also explore themes like honesty and the consequences of living with secrets.

In summary, the story is about Danny Simpson and Graham Harris who abducted 3 year old Benjamin and murdered him. We meet them at various stages in their lives, but mainly the novel looks at what happens following their release -7 years after they committed such a horrendous crime, and their subsequent adult years as they attempt to move on with "ordinary" lives. It also follows the lives of Rachel and Matthew Allen, Benjamin's devastated and broken parents.

The novel took me a while to get into as I felt like I'd missed a few chapters somewhere - Jago assumes we're already aware of the premise and therefore begins by starting in the middle with Danny being prepared for his release back into society at the end of his prison sentence. At this point we're a little unsure who we are reading about, what exactly has happened and how the various characters are connected. We learn that Danny was given a cover story in order to survive life in prison and now he is being given a cover story to survive life on the outside. He's not a pleasant character, there is no sympathy generated despite the revelation that Dan is as terrified of living as he is of dying and the terrifying threat of being found out all over again is having a detrimental affect on his emotional and metal stability, his ability to actually forgive himself, pick up a "normal" life or ever recover from the shock of what he actually did. I think this is deliberate in order to create some distance between us - either to make it clear that our relationship with this character is going to be conflicted or to protect us a little from becoming too upset by the details and reality of the crime. Perhaps in a way, it might help us to read about Danny as we are kept a little removed.

There are several characters to meet very early on, each with a different chapter and a different involvement with Benjamin. There are narratives from Rachel, Matthew, Danny and Liam (aka Graham). The novel plays around with the chronologically as we follow the different threads - sometimes back to before the crime, sometimes just after, after the boys' release and then also bringing us up to date with the boys now as young men. This encourages pace and a more complex exploration of the topic. It gives Jago a chance to create a range of characters and write about a range of interesting positions and relationships. It gives her a chance to explore different reactions to crime, grief, death, violence and rehabilitation. It did mean it took a while to get into and a moment or two to acknowledge where in the chronological order of things that particular chapter fell and which character we were reading about, but as the book continues I think it makes it more tense and more interesting. It prevents it from becoming trite or cliched and means it retains elements of a psychological drama.

Rachel's sections are quite harrowing. Her mental anguish and the lasting impact of losing a son are obviously crippling. She has two children - one of which was "born under the shadow of the event" and subsequently is more serious, more reserved and more wary of life. Rachel drives her 13 and 9 year old to school and back everyday. They are always in her sight. They have never been on a sleepover, "her all consuming anxiety ruled their lives." She is terrified that any "happiness will lead to complacency." I absolutely relate to and completely understand this behaviour following her devastating loss but I did find her passages quite heavy going and oppressive.

Matthew's grief is equally all consuming - he has just put all his energy into tracking down the two culprits knowing that they are now released and living somewhere in the UK. The language used to describe his plight is very powerful: despair, drowning, bewilderment, blackness, unreachable grief. It was really insightful to read about how people "turn away - no platitude forthcoming"; their response very different to when other parents are trying to cope with death and loss. Benjamin's death represents every parent's worst nightmare and therefore Rachel and Matthew are almost isolated in their grief. The writing is taut but emotional and intense.

Liam's character is not black and white. Unlike Danny, he seems more redeeming and is now in a seemingly healthy relationship. However, the news that his girlfriend is pregnant provokes extreme reactions from him. He is immediately thrown into huge distress- should he confess the truth of his past to Catherine? How can he ever possibly consider being a father? What sort of child would he produce? What sort of father would he be? He doesn't want a child, but could this be the only way he can learn to forgive himself and move forward - change the course of his future? Fascinating questions and emotions for Liam to muddle through which are sure to provoke a heated discussion from any reader.

The revelation of the back stories of Graham / Liam and Danny is good. Reading about their police interviews straight after their arrest includes little details like the detective bringing in boxed juices and having to explain what is unique about a fingerprint. It jars with the reader, reminding them that these boys were merely children themselves - are they knowingly capable of such cruelty? How instinctive or primeval is the reaction or impulse to commit violence or suppress extreme curiosity? How and when do we develop a conscience and how exactly is this taught or learned? What impact does our upbringing, parental influence, environment and genetics have on our social conditioning? Reiser, the journalist writing about the case, asks all these questions. It cleverly gives Jago a platform from which to include a more "academic" voice and angle on this controversial topic.

I liked the jigsaw like puzzle of the chronology and interwoven narratives. I think it was really clever to finish with Rachel's version of the actual day Benjamin went missing. It is simple - so normal, so usual, so everyday. So blameless and so completely in no way incriminating or as a result of anything she did or didn't do. Far too chilling for any parent to read.

It is a haunting novel. It is one of extreme emotions - from the overwhelming grief of Rachel and Matthew, the psychopathic behaviour of the young boys, to the horror of "adult" Danny, to the contentious position of Liam as he considers fatherhood. It is a novel about how far ripples from a mistake spread, how deep they can go and for how long they can continue to upset the water.

It is hard not to read this novel without remembering other cases in the news that are similar, particularly that from 1993 and perhaps this affects the way we respond to certain characters. Jago has tried to create characters that challenge this judgement and considers the complexities of people's personalities and behaviours. I'm not sure it is a novel to "enjoy" but I was captivated and it did keep me turning the page. It is a book I would want to discuss in more detail with other readers and would be really interested to see how other people found it.

My thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in return for a fair review.

For more recommendations and reviews, please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up to receive future posts by email.

"Outside Looking In" by Michael Wood

I am absolutely delighted to kick off Michael Wood's Blog Tour for "Outside Looking In" published by Killer Reads and currently available on Kindle for the bargain price of £1.99. The paperback will be released on July 28th. My thanks to Michael and his publishers for giving me such an honour!

This is the second book in Michael Wood’s compelling new crime series featuring DCI Matilda Darke. Perfect for fans of Stuart MacBride, Val McDermid, and James Oswald.

There is no time to settle in gently to this story - Wood throws you straight in to a graphic scene of an injured woman with horrific injuries in a car outside an elderly couple's house. Before you can pause for breath, the reader is pushed on to the next chapter which is all about the disappearance of 7 year old Carl Meagan and the murder of his grandmother. Carl's parents, Philip and Sally, blame South Yorkshire Police and DCI Matilda Darke for failing to solve this case. For Darke, Carl was the starting point of "a year long nightmare that snowballed into a cataclysm of self destruction". Here Wood begins to pick up on the back story of Darke which is hinted at in the first book "Unknown." We are reminded that her husband died 12 months ago from a brain tumour and that this personal loss had a devastating effect on her professional judgement in a way that would stay with her for the rest of her life. This recap also means that this novel works as a stand alone as well as a much anticipated sequel. However, I would recommend that you did read book one first so that the dramatic denouement retains its powerful effect!

Wood then continues to add layer upon layer to his accomplished detective thriller by introducing several other serious crimes and shocking incidents. Lois Craven and Kevin Hardaker are found bludgeoned and shot to death. There are reports of aggravated burglary, a body thrown from a roof, more shootings and evidence of extortion. Matilda Darke struggles to stay on top of the increasingly complicated events, making colossal effort to work out a link between all the victims and prove not only to the newspapers but also to her superiors and colleagues, that she is still an effective, credible, capable detective, deserving of their respect. This is a gripping story full of seemingly unconnected motives and crimes that are in fact connected - if only Darke can solve the puzzle in time.

Darke is as believable as she was in book one. Her character is developed really well and responds to the reader's eagerness to learn more about her. As permitted with a sequel, Wood spends more time letting the reader find out more about her backstory and personal life. I like the conflict she represents- she is a good detective but everyone is against her, wishing her to fail. She is plagued and haunted by the death of her husband and the huge psychological effect this has had on her. We know she is dedicated, hard working, thorough and clever but simultaneously are privy to her failings and weaknesses. She is fallible and there is part of the reader that wonders whether she should be at work and whether she truly is up to the demands of the job. We worry that she might lose her grip, that she might make mistakes, that the journalists may be rewarded for their smug criticisms but all along want her to succeed and know that she can. The incorporation of her therapy sessions is interesting and perhaps as well as breaking up the intensity of the brutal crimes, it also acts as a clever device allowing Wood to reveal what she is going through. Unbeknown to the rest of the department, Darke is also secretly dealing with personal threats and stalking. Her mental health issues raise questions within the reader's mind which results in a compelling sub plot and cleverly supports the ever growing tension within the main murder investigation. It is unusual to see our heroines so vulnerable and exposed. It is unusual to see such fragility. I particularly liked the description that "she tried to get things in perspective but nothing was fitting. It was like she had all the pieces of the jigsaw but they were from different boxes."Her private struggle and persistence to solve the crime are admirable and show her to be a character of grit who is being unfairly criticised by the police force. I think it is interesting to meet a protagonist who feels such intense guilt and responsibility about solving the crime and who puts themselves under such pressure. Ultimately, Darke is brave, honest, committed and full of integrity.

The short chapters encourage the reader to fly through the pages as there is a relentless progression and escalation of twists and turns. The dialogue is well paced and accurately captures all of the many characters who become involved in this complex narrative. As the thriller continues, the links to the first book become more important as Wood begins to pick up lose threads and pull them together and there are some fantastic revelations towards the end of the story. There is a huge cast of victims, police officers, witnesses, criminals and suspects in this book and all are fully developed, three dimensional, purposeful characters.

The ending is excellent. I thought the story was resolved and finished.....but no, there were more shocking twists and turns to follow in a nail biting climax! Even in the final page of the Epilogue, Wood can't resist a further revelation that lay the path for another book and another thrilling outing for Matilda Darke. I can not wait.

Wood is a cruel tease. He knows how to captivate, control and manipulate his readers. He has left me hungry for more and I'm sure you will be too! This is a series that is definitely worth investing in - financially and mentally!

Please search for my post "For Reasons Unknown" for a review of the first book in this series and have a look at the banner below to follow the tour for more reviews, Q&As and interviews! http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/05/for-reasons-unknown-michael-wood.html

For more recommendations and reviews please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up to receive future posts via email.

"Nomad" James Swallow

Synopsis:
Nomad Marc Dane is a MI6 field agent at home behind a computer screen, one step away from the action. But when a brutal attack on his team leaves Marc as the only survivor - and with the shocking knowledge that there are traitors inside MI6 - he's forced into the front line. However the evidence seems to point towards Marc as the perpetrator of the attack. Accused of betraying his country, he must race against time to clear his name. With nowhere to turn to for help and no one left to trust, Marc is forced to rely on the elusive Rubicon group and their operative Lucy Keyes. Ex US Army, Lucy also knows what it's like to be an outsider, and she's got the skills that Marc is sorely lacking. A terrorist attack is coming, one bigger and more deadly than has ever been seen before. With the eyes of the security establishment elsewhere, only Lucy and Marc can stop the attack before it's too late.

I was really pleased to receive this book from the publishers, Bonnier Zaffre. The quotes that accompanied the press release included "an intelligent, likeable, believable hero faced with a credible threat.......accelerating towards a terrifying conclusion," and "a white-knuckle, lip-chewing thriller". I couldn't wait to make a start.

This book redefines the phrase "fast paced". It is absolutely loaded with action, characters and continuous unfolding drama and excitement. I had been expecting something a little bit more gentle - the words "espionage" suggesting James Bond or a more traditional Spy thriller but this is so much more. It is highly sophisticated and presented with incredible detail that it is highly credible and indeed realistic. For me, it compares more with "Bourne Identity" and "Homeland" - with a plot line and cast of characters that demands your full attention and draws you in to a complex web of terrorism, MI6, national intelligence agencies and military contractors. The narrative is very fluent and moves at speed, the reader immediately dragged into the action and despite the number of scenarios, locations, characters and events introduced rapidly in the opening chapters, Swallow's confident and clear style ensures it's accessible and easy to follow rather than overwhelming.

It is a long book. The hardback seemed particularly daunting as it can't hide the reality of how long 487 pages is in the way a kindle can -and I must admit, it did make me a little apprehensive - particularly as I couldn't just slip it in my bag and read discreetly. But I need not have worried. Within moments, I was right there and before long I felt like I was settled in the cinema watching a compelling action thriller. The chapters are relatively concise and with several changes in location and story threads, the reader easily makes progress through the pages.

Terrorism is a contentious and controversial subject - perfect for writers and film makers alike. As Swallow writes in the beginning of the story, "terrorism in Europe was a cancer spreading without concern for borders or nation states." It is probably the thing most feared by the public. Swallow's novel shows us how complex radical terrorist organisations are, how difficult they are to fight and how deeply threatening they can be due to the pure drive and conviction of those behind them. It shows us how large these organisations are - as well as the organisations trying to fight them - and it was quite an insight. As with all current espionage thrillers, particularly one dealing with extremists, there is a colossal amount of violence in the book; killings, guns, weaponry, constant threats of death or injury hanging over each word spoken and every action taken. It is a brutal world, full of risk. For me, this was a little overwhelming but I know plenty of friends who would devour this sort of storyline and will be recommending it to them!

There is a lot to keep a handle on, but it is all cleverly interwoven and pulled together with skill. I liked the main protagonist Mark Dane who, as Ben Aaronovitch said, is likeable and believable. This is not usually something I would choose to read and therefore I might have struggled to keep track of things a little more than someone who enjoys this genre, but I certainly recognise the quality of this book and hope it receives the accolade it deserves.

My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and their generosity in sending me a copy in return for a fair review. You can also read more from James Swallow on my recent post where he took part in a Q&A session with me.

Swallow has 15 years of experience in fiction, television, radio and journalism and this is very obvious. You can follow him on Twitter @jmswallow or jamesswallow.blogspot.co.uk

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