Loosely based "Back to School" themed reads for grown ups!

It's back to school time so I thought I'd write a post about some of the books I've read this summer that cover some of the themes related to school (some more tenuous than others!). Hope you find something to pop into your satchel and slip inside the cover of whatever it is you're supposed to be reading at your desk (who would do that - certainly I never did... *blushes profusely and looks sheepishly at floor*).



Meet Patrick Owen as he wearily faces the daily challenges of teaching in a school in London. He's proud to admit that he's not punched anyone yet. Yet. But what happens when a man whose button has been pressed just once too often makes a snap judgement and his whole life begins to unravel.....

This is a gritty read. Its portrayal of teaching in a London school is brutal, as is the frightening reality of gang culture and its impact on teenagers. I'm not sure how I would categorise the genre of this book as essentially it is a story of crime, intimidation, bullying, murder and gangs. It is compelling and there is plenty of tension so it could be defined as a thriller or crime thriller. However, for me, what really stood out wasn't the plot, but Read's writing. His descriptions of characters, teenagers, teaching, schools and the community in which he based the novel, were so vivid, intelligent, insightful and humorous I could have read volumes of it. I found the emotions, decisions and dilemmas of his protagonist Patrick the most engaging and well written passages. 

Patrick Owen is an ordinary man but a very memorable character. Read's writing is very clever; it conveys an atmosphere of depression, dead-end hopelessness, apathy and quite a bleak picture of society through eloquent, striking, powerful images. It's intense but distinct and will leave a huge impression on the reader. It is a literary read with an original blend of menacing yet engrossing characters and imagery. I imagine this book to be a bit like a film captured in black and white, grainy shots that are cut together with deliberately abrupt editing, seemingly improvised and unscripted. 

It's well worth a read and I am definitely going to look out for any further novels from this writer. It's an impressive debut. Bold. Original. Controversial. Maybe not for everyone as Patrick is not always an easy character to relate to, but ultimately Read's writing is a treat. 4/5 stars from me!

My full review can be found herehttp://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-art-teacher-paul-read.html

Available on kindle from Sept 1st 2016




Not really school based, this book is about a boy, a father and autism. I have read a few books about parents with children who have autism very recently ("Love Anthony" by Lisa Genova, "Harmony" by Carolyn Parkhurst) and I've included this book here as I think all these novels make us think about how each child is unique, learns differently, interprets the world differently and needs supporting differently. As our children re-enter the classroom, it's a good time to make some resolutions about how we are going to support them all this academic year. Here are my thoughts about "A Boy Made of Blocks".

This is a tender novel, inspired by Stuart's own relationship with his son who has autism, about a father trying to rebuild his complicated relationship with his son and how they begin to bond over the computer game of Minecraft. It's an emotional read with moments of sadness, frustration and anger but yet full of humour, warmth and love. It reads very much like a Nick Hornby or David Nicholls book; accessible, fluid, easy and engaging- a good light read.

What is really engaging about this book is the down to earth tone of narrative and the very "up front" and honest voice of Alex. He is a very likeable character; he is ordinary, he is fallible, he mishandles things, he makes mistakes. He is a parent trying to do his best. This book is an emotional journey for him but it is written with a gentle warmth. It is not moralistic or patronising. Although a very valuable and interesting account of autism, it is as much about parenting, marriage and facing responsibilities and a great read for anyone with children. It didn't feel like a novel "about autism", it felt like watching Hugh Grant in an amiable Saturday afternoon movie. 4/5 stars from me!

This book is available from 1st Sept 2016 on Kindle and in Hardback. 

Read my review in full here: http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/07/a-boy-made-of-blocks-keith-stuart.html

Josh and Ben are nine years old and best friends, until a single, careless act in the school playground destroys the lives of both families – and wrenches their small Manhattan school apart. As both mothers Maddie and Joanna try to find out what really happened between the boys, they discover the truth is far more complicated and painful than either of them could have ever realised… with lasting repercussions for both families.

I did enjoy this book. It was quite compulsive but that could have been because I was waiting for the twists and compounding dramatic events which is promised from the blurb. Not that this isn't delivered - in fact towards the end it is really quite harrowing. I literally did cover my hand with my mouth in distress at one particular sentence. I honestly felt very moved by the final climatic denouement. 

Hewitt weaves quite a tangled web where the relationships between the characters are confused and complicated. Both women are affected by previous issues and experiences which clouds their perspective and rationality. As well as themes of parenting, supervision and guilt, there is a lot about motherhood, pregnancy, love, relationships and marriage. This is not a book for the emotionally fragile! 

I loved the premise of the novel. I thought it was a really clever situation to explore and as a mother of school aged children (and a lunch time supervisor!) it really did make me go cold at particular moments. It is a bit like "The Slap" but much more accessible with a much more redeeming cast of characters. To me, it also felt a little like Jodi Picoult in the sense that Hewitt has picked a highly emotive topic and really looks at the ensuing dilemmas from a range of perspectives. It is thought provoking. 

I did read it quickly; I did find Hewitt's style and language very enjoyable and easy to read. She structures her story very successfully, throwing a cliffhanger or new piece of information in just when you think you have figured everything out. There are some great twists and plenty of suspense. 3/5 stars from me.

My full review can be found at 

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7714610-katherine




A stark but uplifting story of bullying and redemption, for anyone who's ever been a weirdo. A story of abuse and survival, of falling down and of starting again, and of one woman's battle to learn to love herself for who she is, The Lonely Life of Biddy Weir is Lesley Allen’s startlingly honest debut novel, perfect for fans of Rowan Coleman and Julie Cohen.

"The Lonely Life of Biddy Weir" is not an easy book to read at times. We first meet Biddy, aged 30, making a telephone call to a chat show running a phone in about bullying. The opening description is full of bird imagery - a theme which permeates the entire novel- and not only effectively captures Biddy's trepidation and emotion at this moment in the narrative, but is also used to illustrate her fragile yet unique and naively innocent personality as the book continues.

It takes a little while to adapt to Allen's narrative style. She is a master of language and description but at first this is disguised through the simple, childlike manner of writing. However, this understated, innocent voice effectively reflects and mimics not only Biddy's character but I think also reduces some of the impact of the events of which we read. By keeping a more childlike perspective on events it helps to not overwhelm the reader or make it sensationalised or sentimental. It remains raw, real and authentic. It's been a while since I've become so entranced by characters that I feel my pulse rate increase as I read about them and find myself muttering responses under my breath as I see them acting out their role in the novel. I really lived and breathed this story.

This book is special. It tackles a depressing topic but through it has created a character of stunning uniqueness. You will be enthralled. It is a captivating read and Allen's prose is impressive. This is her debut and I can't wait to read more of her writing - she is clearly talented and full of imagination and talent.

All I can say is read it. And may this book be dedicated to all Biddy Weirs. May all of them overcome their demons, survive and learn to live again.

Without a doubt, 5/5 stars from me and one of my most favourite reads of 2016. This book was published on Kindle and in paperback from April 2016.

You can read my full review here http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-lonely-life-of-biddy-weir-lesley.html


I have included this novel as it is a coming of age story that includes passages about his childhood and school days as we join Jacques on his journey.

"Jacques" is Tanya Ravenswater’s beautiful and touching coming-of-age novel of loss, longing, falling in love and finding a place to call home. And, most importantly, of the power of the relationships that help us along the way. Jacques is a young French boy who finds himself orphaned and torn away from everything he knows. Forced to move to England to live with his guardian – the pompous and distant Oliver – Jacques finds himself in a strange country and a strange world.

It is a slow, measured read. It is about character, relationships, coming of age and love. Despite being so contemporary and set in the late 1980s, it had the feel of a more classical novel, maybe even a little like Dickens or a darker Laurie Lee, but certainly reminiscent of Forster and L P Hartley.

I liked Ravenswater's description. Her evocation of place and atmosphere was always so effective and always managed to effortlessly imply more about the character or events. For example, when Jacques talks about his new school he describes the "dark runners of its corridors, blackboards scored with monotonous lines.... I reduced myself to a scarcely noticeable grey dot."

This is a very original read. It is one of those books which you read with ease and surprising speed but then find yourself contemplating for days after. Ravenswater's ability to capture the male voice of Jacques with such conviction and authenticity is highly impressive and it is hard to accept this is a debut novel. 3/5 stars from me!

My full and detailed review can be found here http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/08/jacques-tanya-ravenswater.html




A poignant story about dealing with grief through the magic of reading and friendship.

The story is about 10 year old Calypso whose mum has died a few years ago and her father, who is clearly emotionally struggling to cope with his grief, throws himself into writing his own book ("A History of the Lemon") leaving everything else to Calypso. As a passionate reader, she retreats into her own world of books and fiction. When she meets new girl Mae at school, the girls' shared love of reading and writing stories draws them together and shows Calypso a way to understand her world, feelings and family.

There is much about the power of books and stories in this novel. Cotterill is clearly a passionate bibliomaniac and the references to other novels and the way the girls' enthuse about reading and talk about the fictional characters as if they are real, enhances Cotterill's own fictional characters, plot and atmosphere. The power of writing to heal (both adults and children), to say what can't be said aloud or face to face, to process, to confront and see clearly, is incredibly powerful. A strong case for the use writing therapy within mental health if ever there was one. I could not tear my eyes away from these passages, even when I had to feel around me for my discarded, already sodden, tissue. 

I'm interested in how many children's books tackle the issue of grief, loneliness, solitude and mental illness at the moment. This is certainly a book which could be used to support children with difficult emotional lives. It would be a great read for any young adult as books are always a useful tool for empathy, curiosity and the start of a tricky conversation. There is a certain safety in exploring difficult feelings and ideas through the pages of fiction. But I would end by saying that above all this is a novel about a beautiful young girl and her empowering journey of self discovery. It is a book of warmth, friendship, love, hope and inner strength! I'll leave you with a final quote from Calypso:

"the strongest people are the ones who love others and let themselves be loved back. If you have inner strength but no one to love, what is it for?" 

Nothing but 5/5 stars for this book! Definitely one of my favourites in 2016. Published in May 2016. 

Read my much longer, much more effusive review here: http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/05/a-library-of-lemons-jo-cotterill-ya.html

There are so many more I could include here but these are all recently published and hopefully there is something new here for you to discover! Happy reading and I wish you all a positive, exciting and enjoyable start to the new term, wherever and at whatever stage of your journey this September finds you! 

For more reviews and recommendations please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk) 

"Harmony" Carolyn Parkhurst

Iris is your "typically developing" child, your yardstick for normalcy. You take her for haircuts without worrying she'll scream the moment anyone touches her ears. ....Essentially from the moment she was born, Tilly has always been Tilly. She met most of her milestones and had all her shots, and there's never been a moment you can pinpoint as the instant she went off the developmental rails. 

Autism isn't exactly what Tilly has....labels oversimplify but they also serve a purpose. "She's on the autistic spectrum" gets you understood; but when you say PDD-NOS, all you get are blank stares. 

Alexandra and Josh Hammond have two daughters, Tilly and Iris. Tilly is clever but has behavioural issues that have seen her expelled from every school she's attended. As she hits adolescence her increasing anarchic behaviour gets worse and Alexandra, in desperation, turns to Scott Bean, self styled parenting guru, for help. 

They move to Harmony, Bean's "family camp" for "troubled children" in New Hampshire. No phones are allowed and car keys are confiscated; there is a creeping menace that Camp Harmony may not be the healing retreat that the family is seeking. Then a catastrophic event changes their lives forever. 

This is a very well written book told through the alternating viewpoints of Alexandra and Iris which offers different perspectives about the family's dynamics and the everyday effect Tilly has on their lives.

Alexandra's chapters are cleverly written in the second person and I found the use of "You" a very direct way to force the reader to engage with her character and develop empathy towards her situation. Is it not difficult to feel for her as she struggles to deal with Tilly - who although the family adore her and recognise the gifts and talents she has, is an exceptionally trying child to parent. Irrational, unpredictable, never sure what might upset her, frustration that she can't manage simple tasks and the embarrassment at her sudden interjections or announcements in conversations are recounted with honesty. Some of the situations and Tilly's use of colourful vocabulary are entertaining and humorous; this assures the reader of the affection and love Alexandra has for Tilly but also underlines how inappropriate Tilly's behaviour is in public.

"Don't assume anything: if you tell her not to pick up her food with her fingers, she may lean forward and put her mouth directly on the plate. ....Don't let your own anxiety about her behaviour get in the way of giving her what she needs."

Alexandra's love for Tilly is undeniable. Her anxiety and concern for her daughter is heart rendering. She feels guilt that she is somehow responsible and has dedicated herself to trying to do the right thing for Tilly. Parkhurst's writing in these sections is not sentimental or over indulgent. It is succinct, blunt, down to earth. I particularly enjoyed Alexandra's wry comments about imagined posts on FaceBook  that reflected the pressure -or dare I say shame- of being a parent of a child with antisocial behaviour.

Iris's narrative is told in first person and Parkhurst has created another distinctive voice - different from her mother's but as convincing and well rounded. Iris can recognise the way Tilly's mind works differently:

"It's like the rest of us have our brains cooped up in a little box, and we're always bumping into the walls whenever we try to think about anything too big......Tilly never hits those walls. It's like she flies right through."

But she also aware of the issues the family deal with and is well practised in coping with potentially tricky situations. The moment when she realises the consequences of being the "normal" child in the family is poignant:

"I'm totally average and it's disappointing to know that "Neurotypical" is the way my mom describes me to people when she doesn't know I'm listening."

Iris is an intelligent, mature, emotionally balanced child. When they move to Camp Harmony it is she who seems to have the more advanced understanding of the other "troubled" children there rather than the charismatic Scott Bean. For example, following a particularly dramatic moment when one of Scott's planned activity (involving fire....) goes wrong, the focus is automatically on Scott - not the fire or the "troubled" child. Iris is "the only one who thinks to put my arms around Hayden and give him a hug as he cries and yells for the bright, pretty thing that Scott gave him and then took away."

Parkhurst leaves the reader to consider the exact danger of Camp Harmony and Scott Bean. Bean is a persuasive person who prays on parents at their most vulnerable. The extract from his Parenting Blog is full of rhetorical tricks, playing on modern parent's guilt and neurosis about things like technology and the deadly invisible dangers of plastics etc in a calculated and premeditated manner. His final threatening statement that "These kinds are coal-mine canaries, and we can't even see how hard they're struggling to stay upright on their perches" would push any sensible parent into his arms. Let alone a couple who are at their wits end.


"In another world you make it work. .....[imagine that] on the night Scott Bean comes to speak at a library not far from your house, Iris is sent home from school with a stomach bug, Josh is out of town and you don't want to hire a sitter. .....Later when you hear his name on the news you shake your head and think, "What a wacko"....You would never get mixed up in anything like that.....But, instead, this is where you are. Sitting with your husband in the last shambles of the day."

I enjoyed this book. It comes highly recommended by Jodi Picoult which is a solid indication about what kind of story it is and who it will appeal to. Helen Ellis is also a fan and I can imagine it will be well received by anyone who wants an accessible, down to earth, well written story about a family under pressure and what happens when they take a risk to save themselves. There is no "sugarcoating" as another reviewer also comments, but the prose is compassionate, endearing and satisfyingly compelling.

Harmony is published by Sceptre on 8th Sept 2016 in Hardback.

Carolyn Pankhurst was born in New Hampshire and grew up in Boston. She is the New York Times best-selling author of "Lorelei's Secret", "Lost and Found" and "The Nobodies Album". She has a son with Aspergers and drew a lot of her inspiration for "Harmony" from her personal experience. She now lives in Washington DC with her husband and their two children.

My thanks to Bookbridgr and Sceptre for the advanced copy in return for a fair and honest review.

For more recommendations and reviews please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)

Richard & Judy's Autumn Book Club Reads

I must confess, I love a Richard & Judy read! They seem to pick books which have gripping story lines, beautiful writing and memorable characters. I can never resist buying the lot however hard I try! So I was very excited to see the new list for Autumn 2016 and WOW what a brilliant list!

Fortunately for my bank balance and the Amazon delivery team, I have had the pleasure of reading several of the titles already (and I am jealous of those who still have them all to discover!) so here are my reviews - condensed versions from the originals - to help you chose your first R&J Book Club choice!


This is a psychological thriller with a difference. It is an exploration of the hidden character in a murder investigation. It puts the spotlight on the peripheral characters who are never usually given a voice. It looks at what happens after the main event when the mask slips, when the partners of the criminals are left to come to terms with the knowledge that their husbands are monsters. The reader is already presented with the main facts - it is not their job to particularly to solve the crime here, but rather work out who to believe and if in fact anyone is truly what they claim to be. 

Barton uses the popular device of alternate voices for each chapter. We follow "the widow", "the detective" and "the reporter". I liked these honest headings. The narrative flips between present day (2010) back to the disappearance of Bella in 2006 and then jumps between 2007 and 2008 as the investigation and court hearing of Glen proceeds. The chapters are short which keeps the novel moving at a good pace and the disrupted chronology, use of flashbacks and different perspectives creates intrigue and suspense. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger or a hint about the truth. 

This is a novel about deception, lies, secrets and appearances. It is a novel about love - whether it is misdirected, misunderstood or confused with duty and obligation. It is an exploration of how people present themselves, what is real and what is pretence. Barton keeps you guessing throughout the whole novel and the ending has some surprising twists and revelations. 

I liked it. The language is very straightforward and full of pace. Barton writes fluently and builds characters succinctly. It is a light read with all the key elements of a satisfying thriller. It takes a slightly different viewpoint from other thrillers and I liked that there were no particular heroes or villains or even massively likeable characters. I think this matched Barton's aim to focus on the background figures in a high profile case who are often voiceless or forgotten about when in fact their reaction to the events, and even their knowledge of events, is more interesting and intriguing. 

Full review at http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/02/my-review-of-widow-by-fiona-barton.html



The opening is quite intriguing, albeit a little confusing as it doesn't start in the usual manner of detective fiction, but, believe me, by the end of the first chapter, you'll be hooked!

Manon is a great main character. She is sharp, witty and sarcastic. Her observations and conversations (including the profanities!) with Bryony (her friend) and Harriet (her boss) bring an unexpected humour to the novel; it felt strange to be laughing and snorting while reading a book about a missing person - but it works. It really works.

Of course, this is a very serious book too. There is plenty of depth, emotion and highly developed characters. Manon is a complicated character; trying to come to terms with her age, loneliness and disappearing hopes of motherhood as well as being highly dedicated to solving the mystery surrounding the missing Edith. She is clearly intelligent and passionate -not just about justice, but about saving people.

The latter half of the book is really engaging as events begin to move towards the climatic denouement. The emotional tension is quite raw and it was a surprising, complex and very clever journey of suspense, tension and grief.


The best thing about the book was that all the characters are very relatable, authentic and convincing. The dialogue and relationships between them all is engaging, believable and the links between the characters are really well developed. I liked Steiner's writing style a lot. She is able to capture moments, people and situations with quite unassuming descriptions that reflect her gift for insight and highly perceptive observations.

You can find the full review of "Missing Presumed" at http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/08/missing-presumed-susie-steiner.html



























There are a lot of interesting ideas covered within this story - belonging, love, guilt, life, death, reincarnation, parenting, grief - and there is a cast of characters who are able to represent different perspectives and attitudes which adds several layers to the plot. The italic sections with stories of reincarnation create intrigue and suspense. 

This book feels a lot like a Jodi Picoult or Diane Chamberlain novel in the sense that the author has chosen a reasonably controversial or sensitive theme and explored it through a set of vulnerable characters and through very emotional scenes. Unfortunately, for some reason which I really can't quite put my finger on, this wasn't really the book for me and I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped to. I do seem to be in a tiny minority though as all the other reviews I've seen have been really effusive and glowing. I think it will be a popular read.


I absolutely loved this thoughtful novel which has clearly had a deep affect on people and to be honest, it is probably one of my favourite reads of 2016. The thrust of this book is an exploration of freedom and the different types of prisons we build for ourselves - not just externally with physical walls and boundaries, but also internally through our mental and emotional states.

Anna Hope's prose is excellent. The writing is lyrical. The opening description of Ella attempting to flee the asylum is gripping and the jumbled short phrases capture the sense of her fear, confusion and desperation. The setting of the bleak Yorkshire Moors exaggerates the desolate atmosphere and sense of being ostracised and rejected from the rest of society. The derisive words used to described the "depraved and degenerate" "specimens", the "lunatic paupers" confining them to the "chronic ward"- their "feeble mindedness" which causes them to be treated as a "weaker", "inferior race", captures the cruelty of their plight. Hope's arresting descriptions embody the sense of confusion and befuddlement that consumes the "patients".

Hope has researched this novel thoroughly. The articles about Eugenics are horrifying and make this novel thought provoking and poignant. It is a real investigation of different degrees and experiences of madness, what people perceive to be madness and which characters are truly suffering from madness. The novel is also about power, obsession, love and a insight to the social and political time. It is captivating. It is stunning writing. The characters stay with you and I found the more peripheral character of Clem and her journey particularly engrossing as well as poignant and moving. This is a hugely atmospheric tale with vivd characters. I highly recommend you read it and decide for yourself who is the "superior" mind and the importance of valuing the true healing powers of music and literature.

For my full review please see http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/02/my-review-of-ballroom-by-anna-


This is a lovely, gentle, heartwarming read about books, small town communities, friendship and love. Meet Sara Lindquist, a Swedish bookworm who unexpectedly loses her job in a bookshop where she has worked for 10 years. Although she believes reading books isn't a bad way to live your life, she yearns to do something different - to experience something "big".

Sara's mantra is "a person for every book, a book for every person." And it's not just the other towns folk in Broken Wheel who need healing with her new venture of a bookshop when she finds herself looking for a new start in America, Sara too needs to find a purpose. She needs to feel like she belongs somewhere and to do this she needs confidence, adventure and romance. Perhaps some "reality" rather than hiding between the safe pages of a novel "where people are always better, nicer, friendlier."

I  really enjoyed the headings Sara chose to label her shelves with in the new shop: "Sex, Violence & Weapons" for thrillers, "Small Town Life", "Warning Unhappy Endings" for some classics like John Steinbeck's novels, "Short but Sweet" for the short but sweet! I think this book would be shelved perfectly under "For Friday Nights and Lazy Sundays" and "Happy Endings For When You Need Them." I'm quite inspired to reorganise my shelves under these headings!

This book is a little predictable, it does follow the well worn path of a romantic chick lit tale of friendship and self discovery, but do you know, what's wrong with that? I spent the evening curled up, engrossed in this charming, well written book about a kindred spirit who wants to spread her love for books, heal people and find a true sense of "coming home". I enjoyed being part of Sara's journey and was pleased that by the end she realises "once upon a time she hadn't wanted to be anything other than a minor character - to be the protagonist was too much to ask...but now..."

Sara learns to see that people can be as treasured as books and can be worth as much. She learns how dreams can be followed in real life rather than just in books and sometimes, reality can be as rewarding, happy and fulfilling as fiction.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to bury themselves books, identifies with fictional characters more often than real ones and who is looking for a book with a happy ending! If you liked "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society", "The Little Paris Bookshop", the "Big Stone Gap" series, "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe" or "The Rejected Writers' Book Club" you will almost certainly enjoy this book!

For a more detailed review check out http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-readers-of-broken-wheel-recommend.html




I read "The Paris Wife" a few years ago and it was one of those novels that quietly exceeded all my expectations, quickly becoming one of my favourite reads for that year and one I often recommend. I was keen to read the new McLain title; again it is also a fictionalised account of a real person, Beryl Markham, who grew up in Kenya becoming a pioneering horse race trainer and a record breaking pilot in the 1930s.

Beryl is an interesting character. The novel feels very much a journey of emotional discovery as she strives to find her place in the world. She is a talented, bold, unintimidated woman who wishes for equality and to be given the same opportunities as men. In many respects she succeeds later on with her career but her late teenage years are spend trying to reconcile herself with the restrictive life of a female in a high profile marriage. Even her successes in training a winning horse are celebrated more fully by Jock, who stands to make more fame and financial gain then her. Jock changes too as the relationship continues to struggle and Beryl refuses to conform. He is worried about his name, his reputation, his family and is a proud, controlling man. Their marriage becomes a sad pretence.

McLain writes with vivid description and there are some beautiful phrases and imagery throughout the novel. I found Beryl an appealing, likeable character. Although fallible and not always reasonable, she had flair and individuality. There are some poignant moments within the story and ultimately Beryl completes her physical, spiritual and emotional journey and finds reconciliation. She makes bold decisions and often disastrous ones - either ill fated or selfishly- she makes some decisions which might not enamour her to the reader but it makes for a rich tapestry and fascinating tale. She is a woman of adventure and ambition who seeks to be unconventional. I enjoyed the story, the character and the setting. I did feel transported to another country and era and I thought the closing lines of the novel were very resonant.

It is an easy and interesting read and McLain's style is very accessible and enjoyable.

My more thorough review is at http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/04/circling-sun-paula-mclain.html



The novel opens with the shocking discovery of Nathan's body and then we watch the subsequent events unfolding over the period of a week as the police open an investigation placing Fran as their main suspect. Through Fran's flashbacks and glimpses of old memories, the reader has to piece together the real truth behind this marriage and the real truth behind Nathan's death.

Although engaging, I wouldn't describe it as the straightforward racy, vivd thriller, full of cliffhangers that usually defines this genre. Fran is suffering from so much anxiety, confusion and some kind of post natal depression that the events and recollections are like a jagged jigsaw which has lost several vital pieces. It was a page turner, but in the sense that I was keen to muddle through the chaos of Fran's thoughts and wanted to see if Kent's final resolution matched my deductions.

Fran is an intriguing protagonist. It is hard to know whether to feel sympathy towards her because of her propensity to be a victim or stand in judgement towards her because of some of the decision she has made. It is also impossible to work out how reliable and truthful she is. I always like an unreliable narrator and her reluctance to admit what it is she is frightened of despite the continuous needling from the police is cleverly managed to maximise the suspense. It is also effective in creating a conflicting opinion of Nathan and the secrets he may have been hiding. Kent taunts us with Fran's haunting fear - so many times we get so close to finding out what secrets Fran harbours and why she is so frightened but just as Fran's memory cuts out, so too does the reader's hope of any easy answers. I did find Fran a confusing character to relate to as at times she appears quite unhinged or too weak but by the end of the novel I completely understood what Kent had set out to achieve and how effectively she had done this.

I liked the way Kent manipulated the reader so you were never really sure how to respond to the main characters and whether they were victims or villains. She keeps her cards tight to her chest which in turn creates tension and suspense until literally the last page.

This was an engaging and intelligent read, Kent is an able writer with quite a literary style. At times, because of the number of different characters, threads and overall evocation of confusion and lost memories, it required a little more effort but the extra concentration pays off!

I think "The Loving Husband" is like S J Watson's "Before you go to Sleep" in the sense that a character is trying to work out through the fog to find out what is happening. Fran's mixture of confusion, fear or self deception means information is withheld from the reader without either character or reader realising. As with "Before you go to Sleep" there is a sense of urgency as the reader faces the challenge of trying to sort out the snippets of memory into a coherent narrative. Kent uses some of the techniques seen in "Gone Girl" - characters are suddenly shown to be something they are not and both have shocking denouements that throw all of what the protagonist ever knew into question.

My full review is at http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-loving-husband-christobel-kent.html



So this is the only book left for me to read - don't worry, I will be rectifying this shortly!! Here is the blurb from Goodreads - sounds a bit like Jason Bourne to me which bodes exceptionally well!!! 

Evan Smoak is a man with skills, resources, and a personal mission to help those with nowhere else to turn. He's also a man with a dangerous past. Chosen as a child, he was raised and trained as part of the off-the-books black box Orphan program, designed to create the perfect deniable intelligence assets—i.e. assassins. He was Orphan X. Evan broke with the program, using everything he learned to disappear.

Now, however, someone is on his tail. Someone with similar skills and training. Someone who knows Orphan X. Someone who is getting closer and closer. And will exploit Evan's weakness—his work as The Nowhere Man—to find him and eliminate him. Grabbing the reader from the very first page, Orphan X is a masterful thriller, the first in Gregg Hurwitz's electrifying new series featuring Evan Smoak. 

Happy reading folks and do let me know what you make of this Autumn's Richard and Judy reads by leaving a comment below! 

The Richard and Judy summer winner was the wonderful "Dictionary of Mutual Understanding" by Jackie Copleton which has also been one of my top reads this year. My review can be read at http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-review-of-dictionary-of-mutual.html

"As I Descended" Robin Talley

Maria Lyon and Lily Boiten are their school’s ultimate power couple—even if no one knows it but them.

Only one thing stands between them and their perfect future: campus superstar Delilah Dufrey.

Delilah runs the school, and if she chose, she could blow up Maria and Lily’s whole world with a pointed look, or a carefully placed word.

But what Delilah doesn’t know is that Lily and Maria are willing to do anything—absolutely anything—to make their dreams come true......

This YA novel transcends so many genres I'm not quite sure how to begin my review! It is a story of love, gay relationships, power plays within a boarding school, murder and madness. It is a tale that is ghostly, magical, fantastical and supernatural. It is chilling, unsettling, gripping and highly original despite the fact that the story line is one of the most famous in literary history! 

Talley's novel is a reimagining of "Macbeth". It is refreshing. It is clever. It is well written; every word chosen as wisely and each piece of punctuation placed as carefully as Shakespeare did with his play. The passages are powerful, the characters are realistic, the dialogue is well constructed and it is a successful contemporary update of a timeless story. 

Some of the key ingredients in "Macbeth" are witchcraft, power, murder and madness. How brilliant to transfer these themes to the setting of a modern day, elite boarding school. It's inspired. It's effective. 

Talley shows huge creative and imaginative skill through her modernisation of the ancient story. The book opens with a Oujia board where the planchette takes on a life of its own as the characters watch, each convinced the other is moving it, as curious messages are spelt out. From here on, the story rapidly gains momentum, propelling you forward as the characters become more and more embroiled in a downward spiral of deadly games.

There are quite a few main characters to relate to and engage with. All have important roles within the plot and each are effectively developed through strong dialogue, description and narrative. Talley is able to draw characters that will both resonate with and be relatable to her YA audience. They are memorable characters; their emotional fragility well expressed. 

The location and setting of the haunted school create the feel of a gothic horror story and Talley exaggerates this gothic feel by adding ghostly sightings, communications with spirits, dreamlike experiences and a descent into chaos and madness which is palpable and consuming, making the novel a truly spine tingling read. 

I must confess, I have taught "Macbeth" numerous times and it is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays. I really enjoyed seeing what Talley did with it and how she reinterpreted characters, relationships and situations. I really enjoyed her incorporation of direct "borrows" from the original script and how she subtley wove in other key moments from the play to enhance her own very fresh retelling. Her new take on the dialogue, famous key speeches and supernatural aspects of the play are fresh, vivid and inspired. 

I would quote from the text but the passages I highlighted while reading are too long and too numerous. I was unable to whittle down the lines or select any key phrases without taking away some of their beauty and effect. I was particularly impressed with the way Talley's sentence and paragraph structure was able to mimic the internal dialogue of the key characters so well. 

I would recommend this book. It is different from a lot of other things I have read recently and also different from "Lies We Tell Ourselves" (which I rated 4/5). I don't think you need to have read Macbeth - or even like Shakespeare at all -to enjoy it as it definitely works as a stand alone story. 

I think it will really appeal to a YA audience as it is full of complicated relationships, peer group dynamics and dark spirits. It did not feel like a Literature lesson, it felt like watching an episode of something like "Pretty Little Liars" combined with Donna Tartt's "Secret History", a dose of Susan Hill and a dollop of Edgar Allen Poe. Well worth a read. And yes, if I was teaching "Macbeth", this book would also be a compulsory read for all students! 

My thanks to Harper Collins HQ and Net Galley for an ARC of this title in return for a fair and honest review. 

For more recommendations and reviews you can follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk) 

"The Bad Things" Mary Jane Riley

I enjoyed this a lot. For me, it started off as a very competent thriller with all the usual ingredients, but the last third really packed a punch and even when I thought I had it all worked out, Riley had a few last minute twists to throw in!

This is quite a harrowing story about loss, parenting, relationships and mental illness. There are some incredibly sad passages and deeply traumatised characters but Riley handles all these things with sensitivity and balance. The writing is emotive but this also ensures tension, suspense and a real engagement with the characters.

The main protagonist is Alex, sister to Sasha. Sasha's two young children disappeared 15 years ago - only the body of one of them found. Life has never been the same since and each sister still struggles to continue with every day life even after such a long period of time. Sasha's marriage has disintegrated and Alex finds it hard to commit to relationships, as well as juggling the parenting of her own son who has grown up in the shadow of the family's terrible history. Then Jackie Wood, the woman jailed as an accessory to the children's murder, is released from prison and Alex, a freelance journalist, decides to chase her for an interview........

As soon as I had read the blurb of this novel, I knew I wanted to read it. For any parent, it is unnerving to read about children who are taken as it has to be our worst nightmare, but at the same time, it always makes for a compelling, emotional read, particularly with recent memories of some of the more high profile cases reported in the news.

Riley expertly creates convincing characters in detail. Alex's character is consumed by the dilemma of meeting with Jackie Wood - her professional duty, her duty to her sister, her duty to her nephew and niece, her duty to her own son and to her own boyfriend. She struggles to deal with her own issues as well as the responsibility she feels towards her sister. Following an intense opening sequence, Alex's poor judgement and panic lead her into the very thick of the investigation following Jackie's release and this is exciting- I did question how convincing her behaviour was, but don't worry, Riley has it all worked out and as events continue to unspool, Alex's reticence to tell the truth become explained by the hints about the further darker secrets she is trying to hide.

Inspector Kate Todd, who was involved with the children's disappearance 15 years ago, is recalled to the case. She is an equally engaging character. Once again, haunted by the memories of finding the little boy's body all those years before and the repercussions of this trauma case still affecting her personal life today.

Crime writer Corrie Jackson appeared in an article recently about a top tips for writing. She quoted something she always tries to keep in mind when writing - every character, however big or small in the overall story arc, is the protagonist in their life. I thought this very fitting when I read "The Bad Things." There is quite a wide cast of characters but, like Agatha Christie also does, she encourages us to focus on a couple of main people, becoming absorbed in their narratives and not really taking that much notice of the people milling about in the background. Then as the book reaches its climatic ending, we realise that actually we have been looking at the wrong faces and listening to the wrong voices. Riley develops an intense backstory for each of her characters and the importance of this is increasingly obvious in the final stages of the story. The way the threads converge together and join up all the dots is exceptionally rewarding and gripping.

Although I had some inklings and suspicions about what I thought was going on, which were largely proved to be right, I enjoyed the fact that Riley allows you to do this. In fact, she leads you happily down this path- but then suddenly trips you up a few times just when the end is in sight; just enough to knock your breath out of your sails as you race through the final pages. She is the story teller here and she is in control of the story!

On a totally different note, the location and settings are also very visual. Set in Norfolk / Suffolk, the description is vivid and I enjoyed reading about places I could easily imagine while on holiday in the county.

"The Bad Things" is a good read. I am really keen to read the next book in the series now and will definitely be keeping track of anything Riley publishes. I'm pleased to have discovered her books!

For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)

"You Belong To Me" Samantha Hayes

I am a Samantha Hayes fan and although I have only read a couple of her titles, I have bought more and am saving them up for when I need a "go to" thriller that I know will grip me and hold me in a suitable mode of suspense and tension for the duration of the pages.

This is the second in a series featuring DI Lorraine Fisher, but I haven't read the first book and it didn't affect my understanding - it seemed to work equally well as a standalone novel. It was interesting see read a police procedural thriller from Hayes as the other titles I have read by her do not have a detective as a protagonist. Hayes has obviously researched her writing and the all the details regarding the police investigation  are faultless.

Hayes doesn't hold back - the opening of the book feels like she's pulled a pin on a grenade and lobbed it straight into her reader's path. Several different plot lines erupt in the opening chapters and the repercussions continue to rise and ripple like a tsunami until the final pages - all 480 of them! I literally did not know what had hit me when I started reading!

The prologue and first chapter reminded me of Elizabeth Haynes "Into the Darkest Corner" as we meet a character clearly broken by a dangerously controlling relationship. Hayes establishes fear, tension and suspense immediately. Then, in Chapter 2, we meet DI Lorraine Fisher at an appointment with her Doctor where she confesses to suffering from anxiety. She seems very much under pressure following a murder case where she feels she failed the victims and thinks she did not do enough to save them. As well as her demanding job she is juggling a family of teenage girls and her husband also works on the force, which seems to provoke further tension between them. It seems to be very popular to have a troubled female detective as a protagonist who fights their own inner demons alongside the real ones, so this book really does include all the necessary ingredients for a gripping thriller and Hayes has created a compelling detective with whom we are invited to relate to and invest in. Although Fisher's situation is complicated and we become very involved in her emotional fragility, this is clearly justified as I'm guessing Hayes has plans for subsequent books and an ongoing series. Fisher has to be very three dimensional and intriguing enough to pull this off, which I think she is.

Isabel is equally demanding on the reader. Hearing of her parent's death while in India, she comes home with the assistance of an apparent stranger who then proceeds to offer her further hospitality. I was a little dubious about her willingness to accept so much from Owen and of some of her decisions, but I was hooked enough to want to read on and was happy to overlook a few slightly contrived moments for the greater good of a well paced read. Isabel is clearly devastated, upset, grieving and also hiding from a deep and dark past. Her narrative is confused and peppered with clues, hints, references which all come together at the end and clearly Hayes has done this deliberately to develop character and tension, but it does mean the book requires 100% of your concentration!

This is quite a long book at around 480 pages and there is a lot going on. Each character is significantly complex and battling many issues. Each has an intense back story and each story thread is absorbing and compelling. I did find that I had to concentrate quite a lot more on keeping up with everything that was happening and a few times had to be really clear which narrative I was involved in as the chapters alternate between Lorraine and Isabel and both are written in first person.

Ultimately I liked the incredible twists and turns that flung my mind around faster than a high speed carousel. The ending was suitably shocking and rewarding. I read it relatively quickly which helped me to keep track of everyone - particularly as the reliability of the character's narratives are discredited and truth behind their stories are quite intertwined. Some of the reviewers have criticised the plot for being a little too far fetched. Perhaps this is so. Hayes has been ambitious and has juggled a lot but I was happy to be carried along for the ride. I mean, it's fiction after all and for me, a bit of pure escapism.

I do have to say I preferred "Until You're Mine" and "In Too Deep" (which I gave 4/5 and 5/5 stars respectively) and they are both stand alone thrillers. I am looking forward to working my way through Hayes other titles as I think she is a good writer of contemporary psychological thrillers.

"You Belong To Me" was published in 2015 by Random House.

For more reviews and recommendations please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)

"Can Anybody Help Me" Sinead Crowley

It was crazy really, she had never met the woman, had no idea of her real name but she thought of her as a friend. Or, at least, the closest thing she had to a friend in Dublin.

Struggling with a new baby, Yvonne turns to netmammy, an online forum for mothers, for support. Drawn into a world of new friends, she spends increasing amounts of time online and volunteers more and more information about herself.

When one of her new friends goes offline, Yvonne thinks something is wrong, but dismisses her fears. After all, does she really know this woman?

But when the body of a young woman with striking similarities to Yvonne’s missing friend is found, Yvonne realises that they’re all in terrifying danger. Can she persuade Sergeant Claire Boyle, herself about to go on maternity leave, to take her fears seriously?

I liked this thriller. It's a relatively easy read - although not light in content, the writing is fluent, effortless and not gratuitous. The main characters feel authentic with relationships, concerns and problems that will be recognisable to anyone with any experience of motherhood, marriage, extended family and social media. What is perhaps most refreshing about Crowley's novel, is the angle at which she decides to explore the risks of social media. Rather than focusing on how the misuse of social media can affect teens and younger children, she reveals how adults unwittingly expose themselves and make themselves vulnerable. How many of us have Twitter accounts, Facebook pages, instagram accounts? How much information could a stranger find out about you in a matter of clicks, however careful you think you've been? And how many hundreds of people do you communicate with daily based on a minute profile of less that 100 characters that could have been penned by anyone? *puts hand up sheepishly* 

The real appeal of this book is how Yvonne, a new mother, a new wife and new to the city, ends up becoming part of a group of mums who swap parenting advice, or gather to "whinge and moan" about the endless routine of changing nappies, feeding, husbands and sleepless nights. There is nothing unusual about this - in fact, how many of us have bonded with complete strangers during those early days of motherhood when you suddenly feel almost alienated from your single friends or colleagues; your world completely redrawn by the arrival of your new child? For Yvonne, this bonding takes place via an internet forum. Again, nothing unusual or untoward about this in today's current obsession with social media sites and our craving for an online presence. And for Yvonne, and some of the other members, it offers a chance to socialise without having to negotiate leaving the house or an opportunity to hide the real you behind an online nickname. 

Then one of her "friends" disappears from the conversations and fails to post anything for a while. This is when the suspense and mystery build and alongside a police inquiry, Crowley also raises questions about just how much we are revealing of ourselves online through our supposed coded statements. I can't say much more without spoiling it for those who have not read it, but I found the role of the online community in this police inquiry and crime thriller really interesting and enjoyed the interjection of the online threads in and amongst the main narrative sequence. It reflects how many of us process our news, feelings and friendships in this day and age. 

I also like the characters. Yvonne and Claire are well crafted. Both women want to embrace and enjoy motherhood but also find it tiring, demanding and exhausting. Sergeant Claire Boyle is particularly frustrated by how her pregnancy is affecting her ability to work as she is a diligent, committed police officer with an admirable drive to do her job the best way she can. They are fallible, they are not perfect but they are real and this makes them appealing and likeable. Crowley particularly captures the effect of tiredness and sleep deprivation on the rational and emotional disposition of a woman - as well as the loss of identity that can sometimes come with the initial period of being a stay at home mother - and how this can prove to be the downfall of some of the characters in this fast paced read. 

There are several different threads to hold on to tightly as Crowley develops the story line with two main protagonists and a colourful cast of many more- all mothers -whether of young children, newborns or expectant. The chapters are also broken up with "live" forum conversations from the website "netmammy" which initially seem a little random and indicative of the sort of comments to be found on these kind of sites, but as the story progresses the reader needs to scan these excerpts more carefully as the names, clues and comments become more significant to the dramatic finale. Even through these brief snippets of advice, comment, humour and despair, the character are very much alive and vivid and it is a credit to Crowley that she can make them so viable from such succinct and deft use of dialogue. 

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a modern, fast paced page turner with realistic characters who are not afraid to share their real feelings about motherhood and partners. Sergeant Claire is a determined character who captures the dilemma of many modern career women and Yvonne is an equally relatable character who finds herself struggling to function in the haze of early motherhood. Crowley evokes an atmosphere of exhaustion, blurriness and mental haze through her protagonists which also creates tension, suspense and empathy. The main plot line of a missing person has all the ingredients of a satisfying police procedural novel with the right amount of twists, turns, revelations, shocks and suspense. It is a solid crime read. 

I guessed the ending wrong. Twice. The last paragraph left me with a shudder. 

For more recommendations and reviews please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)