#RichardAndJudy #Autumn2017 #AmReading

The Richard and Judy Autumn Reads have been announced and wow, what a list! I have read four of the titles and gave three of them 5 star ratings and one of them 4 stars so I think this is a truly excellent selection too pick your next read from - I'm just glad I don't have to pick an overall winner!!

Here are my reviews in case you want to see my thoughts when I read the books earlier in the year......

There is definitely great depth to this novel, it is ultimately a very gripping read about memory, fault, blame, guilt, trust and betrayal. 

This complex novel includes four different narratives and also shifts between past and present day as the reader learns about the events from the point of view of each member of the family. It is about betrayal, love, families and guilt and raises plenty of challenging points as well as just being an exciting read. It is compelling and if you enjoyed The Good Girl you are in for another treat! 

Read my full review of The Betrayals Here

With echoes of Agatha Christie this is a delicious crime novel set in 1939 and vividly brought to life with beautiful writing and great characters. 

Obviously I don't have favourites and would never want to show bias, but, theoretically if I did, then this might be my top pick from this selection! And I would definitely recommend that you start with it! This novel is so absorbing, immersive, well written and compelling you will be totally swept up in it for the whole duration of the cruise on which the story is all about. 

I also chose this for my Bibliomaniac's Book Club so don't forget to look that up if you want further ideas.....!

Read my review of A Dangerous Crossing Here

This is a engrossing novel with which I became entranced by from the first page. The characters are compelling, beautiful, mysterious and disturbing. It is a mesmerising tale of a family who are bound by love, by hatred, by desperation, by secrets, by obsession. It is a story that haunts you while you are reading and then haunts you for days after. I want to read it again. And again.

There was a slight marmite reaction to this book in the blogging world but I adored it. It is eerie, unsettling, disturbing and at times very difficult to read but it is incredibly well written and the characters are just so well crafted it is well worth giving it a go. There is a dual timeline and the two stories are very cleverly weaved together. The characters are truly fascinating and there is a hint of the gothic about the tale as well as a coming of age theme and also the exploration of a dysfunctional family. Impressive.

Read my full review of The Roanoke Girls Here

I really enjoyed this read and was hugely impressed by the author's writing. Land's has managed to construct a very disturbing and complex character with a voice that will send chills down your spine long after you've finished the last line. There is something deliciously dark and truly thrilling about this novel. Read it. If you dare.

Need I say any more? This is an outstanding read with a chilling premise. Highly original and gripping reading. If you are brave enough, you will absolutely love it! A fantastic thriller! 

Bibliomaniac's Review of Good Me Bad Me

For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @KatherineSunde3 or via my blog bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.co.uk or website bibliomaniacuk.co.uk

Eventbrite link to buy Tickets

#CrimeFictionRoundUp #AmListening #ReviewersRecommendations

CRIME FICTION ROUND UP

What's being recommended this week?

I've been listening to the Phil William's show on Radio 5 Live because last night Arifa Akbar and Barry Forshaw were discussing their latest recommendations..... And they came up with some fascinating reads! 

I now have an even longer TBR list! Some of the books they mentioned were already on my list, some I had heard of and some I had to order on Amazon as soon as they started talking about them! There's a great mix of classic crime, crime out this year and one or two still to come in the Autumn. 

If you missed the show you can listen here (the bookish chat is about 2hrs 18min into the show) or have a look below at a few highlights from the show and the books which are now on my TBR list after hearing Phil, Arifa and Barry talk about them! 

What do you think? Would you recommend? Will you be adding to your TBR pile?

The links below will take you to Goodreads to find out more! 

Elmet

A Talent for Murder

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

You Don't Know Me

Gaudy Night

Men Without Women

The Dry

The Girl Who Takes An Eye For An Eye

Two Kinds of Truth

One of Barry's top recommendations was Dodgers by Bill Beverly. I have read this and highly recommend this - I met Bill at Crime Fest and he is a really lovely, interesting person and this good definitely deserves all the awards and accolade it has received!

Dodgers

Happy Reading! 

For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @KatherineSunde3 or via my website bibliomaniacuk.co.uk 

#BibliomaniacsBookShelves #SummerReading

When everything is gone, and the future abandoned, what remains for us?

This is a story about Anna, abandoned in a world that has been ravaged by a virus which has killed all the grown ups. Left looking after her brother, scavenging for food, water and survival, she sets off on a journey desperately seeking someone that will have a cure.

It feels strange to say I enjoyed this novel which is so full of terrifying events and graphic descriptions of a world that is rotting but I did. Anna is quite an extraordinary book; a dystopian novel set in the not too far future in a world without grown ups. 

The opening rips the reader out the security of their armchair and throws them headlong into a scene that is more terrifying than any horror film I have seen. The imagery and chilling atmosphere is highly effective and despite the horror, it is compelling reading and stunning writing. We are pulled into a mysterious setting of "crackling neon lights", dimly lit corridors and bodies strewn in unnatural positions indicating painful, reluctant deaths. 

We then move forward four years and meet Anna, our young protagonist, and to an equally frightening scene as she is chased by a dog. It's a bit relentless but the detailed description means the story is very easy to visualise. The reader uses the clues, hints and reactions of Anna to try and determine what is happening to her and what kind of society she is having to operate within. There are plenty of ominous statements like "Cold things had disappeared with the Grown-ups" and a huge sense of foreboding and hopelessness. 

The story is told through Anna's point of view but I did find the flashbacks to Anna's moments with her mother just before she died powerful and poignant. The extracts from her mother's notebook with instructions telling the children how they can try to survive once she is dead were particularly moving. The writing itself for these sections was very practical and yet evoked a sense of desperation. They reflected the full impact of the outbreak of the virus on the world. Anna clings to these pages like a Bible, a litany and the only way she has of connecting with her mother. It's heartbreaking to think of a mother's last words to her children being about how to 'live in the dark' and her knowledge that she was deserting them to a world that was crumbling around them is conveyed well.

Once Anna has set off on her journey the pace picks up and with more characters, more drama, more interaction and more dangerous situations emerging; the novel becomes more action driven. Essentially though, for me this book was about the characters. I was fascinated by Anna's mother and was liked how her presence, influence and own back story was weaved in and out of the present moment. All the key characters were well crafted and easy to picture and hear speaking. 

The high quality prose is sustained throughout the whole book. It is always lyrical and full of captivating imagery despite the bleak, dystopian setting. There is a often a weighty sense of silence and darkness and it is quite an oppressive read in places. But Ammaniti's polished, accomplished writing is exquisite and always eloquent. I enjoyed this novel. It was a challenging read but a rewarding one. 

Anna was published by Canongate on 3rd August 2017



A retired couple, Gerry and Stella Gilmore, fly from their home in Scotland to Amsterdam for a long weekend. A holiday to refresh the senses, to do some sightseeing and generally to take stock of what remains of their lives. Their relationship seems safe, easy, familiar – but over the course of the four days we discover the deep uncertainties which exist between them.


MacLaverty is a fantastic writer who is able to capture the human condition and the internal struggles of a person with a deft and accomplished hand. His writing is exquisite and eloquent, lyrical and memorable. It is understated yet full of resonance and the simple thoughts, observations and comments by the characters actually are powerful and moving. His observations about the interactions between people capture each nuance, the things unsaid or the things which trigger a thought process and each is caught and handled with a subtle and deft touch. I especially enjoyed his dialogue between Gerry and Stella and often reread their short, candid responses to each other that reflected a lifetime together, a lifetime of routine, living so closely together and love. 

There isn't much I want to say about this novel - not because there isn't anything to say, quite the contrary, but this is novel that is slow, subtle, mesmerising and to be savoured. It takes place over four days as Gerry and Stella take a break in Amsterdam and at first recounts the minutia of their days but gradually, through a variety of incidents that occur while they are exploring the city, set them both individually on a journey of self analysis. More and more is revealed about the complexities of their marriage. More and more is revealed about them, their aspirations, regrets, fears and how they are haunted by past events or past expectations. 

Midwinter Break is not for readers looking for a plot twist, a shocking reveal or a sentimental journey. It is for readers that like a story that seems like a simple retelling of a trip away but actually raises emotional, thought provoking questions for the characters and actually tells a story that is much more profound than it first appears. It is for lovers of language, effortless prose, well structured, elegant characterisation and for those who like to dawdle, consider and feel.

Midwinter Break was published by Vintage Digital on 3rd August 2017. 





This story is based on a premise that will send a chill through any parent's bones. Your baby's wrist gets broken... how did it happen and who is to blame? There is plenty of tension and heartache in this novel as the pain, remorse and guilt felt by each parent, Richard and Sally, and Richard's teenage daughter from a previous marriage, gradually intensifies as the reader tries to work out who to believe and who to trust. It seems everyone could be culpable which not only makes for a dramatic storyline but also a narrative which constantly challenges the reader's judgements.

I enjoyed the concept and thought it was a brave and highly emotive topic to pick - definitely one of those "what if" scenarios which appeals to that rather vicarious nature we have as humans. I also enjoyed the fact that the novel looks at how people behave under immense pressure, how fragile a family unit can be and how people living under the same roof can actually be so out of touch with each other. There is a lot about the overwhelming love a parent has for their child and the impact of a new baby on a marriage - and a step child.

I thought Barnard captured Sally's exhaustion, her dilemmas and guilt about parenthood and her feeling of inadequacy in comparison to her husband's ex wife well and she was a character who was easy to feel sympathy for. I thought Martha's character (the step daughter) was also well depicted; caught on the cusp of adulthood trying to work out peer groups, popularity, love as well as negotiating the dangers of social media. However, I disliked Richard - I think this was the author's intention, as there didn't feel he had much to redeem himself with! But it is always good to have an emotional reaction to a character whether it was intended or not - this in itself shows the writer's skill and craft! It was good to have three characters to follow and the sub plots and different narratives were drawn together well to ensure a dramatic conclusion.

As this is an honest review I'm afraid I do have to be honest.... unfortunately for me, there were a few things that I felt were perhaps a bit cliched and might have been more interesting had they been left out, but that is only my opinion and I wouldn't want to deter anyone else from picking this book up.

I can see that Hush Little Baby will provoke interesting conversations over a cuppa, a bottle of wine and in a book club. It's a solid psychological thriller and a chilling example of domestic noir.

Hush Little Baby is published by Ebury Press on 10th August 2017.



From The Shadows is the perfect title for this new crime series as it is all about what lurks in the shadows and believe me, you won't be turning any lights off ever again once you've read this book - just as you will never get into bed again without checking underneath it first! 

This book has some truly terrifying scenes in it! I loved the anonymous voice that was so deeply threatening and chilled me in the same way the TV series The Fall had with a character who lurks, follows, stalks, sneaks through your stuff, living in the shadows of your life and your home. Shudder. The author had evoked these scenes so effectively that it was like watching an 18 rated movie and the attention to detail meant it was impossible not to visualise what was happening or feel a tingle all down your spine every time this narrative voice intruded into the story. 

But this is not just a murder mystery story, this is a legal thriller and White introduces us to his new protagonist Dan Grant, a defence lawyer. Dan Grant has inherited a case at the last minute and the reader realises very early on that Dan is a lawyer who will stop at nothing and he will follow the evidence to wherever it may lead him and whatever the risk. I don't read a lot of legal thrillers about lawyers and court cases so to me, this character felt refreshing and suitably maverick while still feeing believable. I liked him.

His investigator,  Jayne is also an original character - she's not what you would expect, she is scruffy, downbeat and with a shocking backstory but she is full of grit and very committed to her work. They made a good pairing and from the outset White has established an intriguing plot, set of characters and raised plenty of questions to keep the reader turning the page. 

This is a very readable, enjoyable legal thriller. There is a lot of information at the beginning and a lot of information about the murder, Jayne's past, Dan's colleagues, the defendant and a whole host of conflicting motives and evidence which the reader has to take on board but this also prepares the reader for the fast paced, gripping story that develops. For fans of this genre it will not disappoint!

From The Shadows is published by Bonnier Zaffre on 10th August 2017. 



"If you want to discover Paris, it's better to sit on one of the city's benches. From there you can study several million people trying to find their place in life." 

This is what Mancebo does, sits outside his shop watching the world everyday - "unconsciously registering everything that goes on in the street." Then one evening, in the wind and rain, a woman appears in the shop - in passages that reminded me of Rapunzel, Snow White and some disney  / dahl mash up fairy tale - and asks him to spy on her husband. Why pay a detective when Mancebo sits opposite the building in which her husband frequents, watching everything that goes on? Why pay a detective when Mancebo would be the last person anyone would ever suspect of spying? He says yes. Why not? 

Then there's Helena, sitting in a cafe and as a joke, or out of boredom, she finds herself engaging in a exchange with a strange man who is furtively seeking out someone for some kind of purpose that appears very mysterious. She doesn't really believe he'll fall for her claim that she is the person he has been sent to meet and it really starts out as a game to see how long she can play along with him but it's amazing how convincing she can be based on such a limited conversation! Before she knows it, she finds herself accompanying him to an office building, being given her own office space and paid money to forward emails that are all written in code. 

I was intrigued by this set up, and I was taken with these characters and what was going on immediately!  I enjoyed the gentle, humorous lilt of the author's writing as she described the characters, their internal thoughts, relationships and decisions. And I enjoyed the setting which was wonderfully evoked. 

It is told in alternating points of view and alternating story lines which weave themselves together as the story line evolves. It did take me a while to acclimatise to the different voices as the narrative switches quite sharply but as one is in third person and one first, one male and one female, there is enough to differentiate the voices. After initially settling in to the story with Mancebo so easily perhaps I was a little jolted by the introduction of the second thread but with a little more perseverance and concentration, I was caught up in the story once more.

I think the thing I enjoyed the most though was the writing style. The prose is understated but simultaneously arresting and evocative, if that is possible!  Rostland is able to convey the sights, smell, touch and sounds of the city, the characters, their environments, the situations they find themselves in with a deft hand and I found it a real treat to read such well crafted prose. There were a few lines that really stood out and really showed some nice observations about the characters. 

Waiting for Monsieur Bellivier will be enjoyed by readers who enjoy literary fiction and is published by Orion on 10th August 2017.



So one day you pack your bag, get on a plane and go to New York. New York, new start. New York, new start. Say it enough and it might happen, but how easy is it to run away from your problems and grief and start somewhere new? 

Not that easy, especially when you are Caitlin and you've never done anything like this before. But then she meets Jake and feels like suddenly there might be a reason to stay after all. He even wants to take her away to the Lake to meet his family. So why not? I mean, it does sound like something out of a horror movie but Caitlin tells him this and quizzes him on whether she is his final victim. He claims this is not the case in his quiet, withdrawn but seemingly harmless manner. .......

This isn't a horror movie and Caitlin isn't Jake's final victim - well, that's not strictly true..... but the fate awaiting Caitlin isn't anything like the fate she feared. It's a lot lot worse. 

I enjoyed this story and I enjoyed Caitlin's character. She appears strong and savvy but actually is broken and vulnerable. She yearns for the peace, solace and space that the commune Jake has brought her to by the lake appears to offer. She is even willing to take part in some therapy and confront some of the issues that are haunting her night and day. But as the days continue, it becomes clear that actually Caitlin is not safe here and it is not going to be 'fine'. 

The author has really exploited the idea of control, sleep, nightmares, waking dreams, fugues and psychosis here. I knew that I couldn't quite trust what was going on and I had suspicions about what might be going on but I was entranced by the spell binding power of the writing in the same way that the members of the commune are caught up in the power of their leaders. The use of flashback, memories and mantras to emphasise Caitlin's fragile state of mind, and her familiarity with mental health, are cleverly interwoven into the story so that the reader feels they are losing a grip on their sanity as much as Caitlin is. 

This is a quick read, thankfully, as it is pretty intense and I think reading in one go meant I was really immersed in the mind of Caitlin. I thought this book raised a lot of questions about therapy, healing, what is real, what is perceived to be real and how we try to find ourselves when we are lost. 

It's a menacing tale and the author has created a novel full of suspense, tension, with tautly controlled moments of anxiety, fear and threat. A chilling read and also a thought provoking one.

The Room by the Lake is published on 10th August 2017 by Head of Zeus. 


For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @KatherineSunde3 or via my website bibliomaniacuk.co.uk

#HollySeddon #DontCloseYourEyes #BibliomaniacsBookClub

Bibliomaniac's Book Club: Bonus Edition!

Don't Close Your Eyes

by Holly Seddon 

What is Don't Close Your Eyes about? 

Twin sisters Robin and Sarah haven’t spoken in years.

Robin can’t leave her house. A complete shut-in, she spends her days spying on her neighbors, subtly meddling in their lives. But she can’t keep her demons out forever. Someone from her past has returned, and is desperate to get inside.

Sarah can’t go home. Her husband has kicked her out, forcibly denying her access to their toddler. Sarah will do anything to get her daughter back, but she’s unraveling under the mounting pressure of concealing the dark secrets of her past. And her lies are catching up to her.

Read my 5* review here

I am delighted to welcome Holly Seddon to my blog today as I absolutely love Don't Close Your Eyes, published by Corvus on 6th July 2017, and I think it makes a great book for a book club discussion.  I am even more thrilled that Holly agreed to answer a few questions about her novel and about her own reading first before we get on to the Book Club questions!

Q&A WITH HOLLY SEDDON

Don’t Close Your Eyes has two main characters, Sarah and Robin, who each take turns in telling their story, one in first person and one in third. There is also a dual timeline between 1989 and the present day. What techniques did you use to help you plan the structure and writing of this story?

I used writing program Scrivener and got a lot of headaches. In all seriousness, this was the most complicated structure I’ve ever written (including my third book, which I’ve just finished editing) and I had to plan it very carefully, chapter by chapter, to make sure that it was seamless for the reader. It was actually even more complex at one point because there were extra points of view but thankfully they didn’t make it past the first draft!

The story is also about twins. Why did you decide to make the sisters twins? Which sister came first when you were creating the story or did they both “arrive” at the same time?

I knew the story would be about siblings and blended families, of sorts, but the character who came to me first was Robin. She basically arrived fully formed, with an attitude, style, history, interests and looks already in place. It was almost eerie!

Growing up I had friends who were non-identical twins and always found that very interesting. There are so many expectations with twins, not least that they’ll be identical in looks and character, so I wanted to show some more shades of grey.

There is a lot about mental health in this novel. What effect did that have on you when writing and how did you ensure that your portrayal was not only so convincing and authentic but also so thoughtful and respectful?

Frankly, it’s hard and nerve-wracking writing about experiences that you know some – maybe many - readers will recognise in themselves or those they love. Experiences that people I care about may have experienced in some form. So I take it very, very seriously. I read a lot and also listen to the experiences of others.

I try to be respectful, to err on the side of showing less, not more. I don’t want to be flippant and I do want it to feel authentic or I shouldn’t cover those topics. Do it right, or don’t do it. And I hope upon hope that I’ve done it right.

(I absolutely think you have done it very well - such a tricky one to get right, but I thought it was very well handled indeed. Hopefully other readers agree!) 

What are your top tips for creating tension and effective plot twists in fiction?

Less is more. So often it’s in the not showing, rather than the showing. The hints and the shadows are where the creepiness lies, I think.

Oh and watch as much Alfred Hitchcock as you can get your hands on! Rear Window was an influence on Don’t Close Your Eyes (which is probably obvious to those who have read it) but as well as the films, my middle son and I got really obsessed with the old 1950s/60s series Alfred Hitchcock Presents, which consists of 25 minute episodes of crime, mystery, thriller stories.

Oohh, I did think of Rear Window when I read this, but love the idea of watching the Alfred Hitchcock Presents series! Great tip!

Thank you so much Holly for your fab answers! Now on to a few quick fire questions about your reading! 

If you are or if you were in a book club which book are you reading / would like to read?

I am in a book club and I love it. It forces me to read outside of my genre and, many times, outside of my own interests so I’m exposed to fresh ideas and styles. Last month we read The Power by Naomi Alderman and I had such a book hangover when it finished. God it’s good. I bought a copy for my teenage daughter when I was only a third of the way through because I wanted to discuss it with her too! This month we’re reading The Sellout by Paul Beattie, I’ve not read much yet but it’s made me hoot and howl in despair already.

Great recommendations - I have bought The Power as the lovely Steph at Harpenden Books raved about it so much I couldn't leave without buying a copy! 

If you could ask a book club one question about your book what would it be?

Did you guess the twist? (So far, no one has.)

If you could invite any author / fictional character to a book club, who would it be and why?

Ohhhhh, that’s such a hard one! I went to Harrogate Crime Writing Festival recently and had such a great time. I’ve never met so many authors en masse and I even managed to meet Lee Child, very briefly and awkwardly, so that scratched a lot of ‘must meets’ off the list.  I’m not sure if this is allowed, but can I go for a deceased author? I’d love to meet Agatha Christie. I’d love to know how she was so prolific, I’d love to know if she knew what she was doing when she ran away and I’d love to pick her brains on what makes the perfect mystery set-up.

(That is a great answer!!!! Totally agree with your choice!!) 

What books have influenced your writing? Or which book do you wish you’d written?

Hmm. I’m not very good at saying who has influenced my writing because so much of it is unconscious. I’m quite a visual writer and I think television drama and crime series have had quite an impact on me, not just the new Scandi crop but older shows like Cracker.

Growing up I loved ghost stories (like The Ghost of Thomas Kempe) and adventure yarns (especially Famous Five), the creepier and eerier the better.

I don’t think anyone would liken me to this lot, but as a teenager and young adult I loved Charles Bukowski, Peter Carey, Douglas Coupland and Martin Amis. Yeah, no one is ever going to compare me to them!

I love writers who are crisp and sparing, and I think I’m always trying to get my sentences as simple and clean as possible. Unlike my answers to these questions, sorry!

Do you have one book you are desperate to read this year?

I’m very excited to read I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes of Death by Maggie O’Farrell.  

Thanks so much Holly, these are fabulous answers, some great suggestions and recommendations! I really enjoyed hearing your answers and thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to answer them! 

So now, here are some questions to accompany Don't Close Your Eyes if you choose it as your Book Club read! 

QUESTIONS FOR BOOK CLUB:

The novel is told with a dual timeline and from two different points of view. How challenging, if at all, did you find this as a reader? Did you find this an effective way of revealing the story and the characters?

How authentic did you find the relationship between the sisters? Which sister were you more drawn to and why?

Robin watches another family from her window and makes her own assumptions about what she is seeing. Why do you think the author decided to include this storyline? What point might the author being trying to raise? Does it remind you of any other books or films?

There is a lot about parenting in this novel. What key issues do you think the author is trying to make in this novel regarding parenting and motherhood?

How well do you think this book would transfer to the big screen?  What might be the pros and cons of an adaption? Who might you cast as the key characters?

And, as Holly asked, did you guess the twist?!!


IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY HOLLY SEDDON'S FIRST NOVEL "TRY NOT TO BREATH" 

Amy Stevenson was the biggest news story of 1995. Only fifteen years old, Amy disappeared walking home from school one day and was found in a coma three days later. Her attacker was never identified and her angelic face was plastered across every paper and nightly news segment.

Fifteen years later, Amy lies in the hospital, surrounded by 90’s Britpop posters, forgotten by the world until reporter Alex Dale stumbles across her while researching a routine story on vegetative patients.

Remembering Amy’s story like it was yesterday, she feels compelled to solve the long-cold case.

The only problem is, Alex is just as lost as Amy—her alcoholism has cost her everything including her marriage and her professional reputation.

In the hopes that finding Amy’s attacker will be her own salvation as well, Alex embarks on a dangerous investigation, suspecting someone close to Amy.

Told in the present by an increasingly fragile Alex and in dream-like flashbacks by Amy as she floats in a fog of memories, dreams, and music from 1995, Try Not to Breatheunfolds layer by layer to a breathtaking conclusion.

HAVE A LISTEN TO HOLLY SEDDON ON HONEST AUTHORS PODCAST WHICH SHE CO HOSTS WITH THE FABULOUS GILLIAN MCALLISTER AUTHOR OF EVERYTHING BUT THE TRUTH 

@HonestAuthors

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOLLY SEDDON 

Holly Seddon is a full time writer, living slap bang in the middle of Amsterdam with her husband James and a house full of children and pets. 

Holly has written for newspapers, websites and magazines since her early 20s after growing up in the English countryside, obsessed with music and books. 

Her first novel, TRY NOT TO BREATHE, was published worldwide in 2016 and became a bestseller in several countries. DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES is her second novel.

www.hollyseddon.com

Holly Seddon on Goodreads

Holly Seddon on Facebook

For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @KatherineSunde3 or via my website bibliomaniacuk.co.uk

#TheMusicShop #RachelJoyce #Review

*My thanks to the publisher from whom I received this book via NetGalley in return for an unbiased and honest review*

The Music Shop is a story about good, ordinary people who take on forces too big for them. It's about falling in love and how hard it can be. And it's about music - how it can bring us together when we are divided and save us when all seems lost.

Meet Frank. It's 1988 and the CD has arrived but Frank only deals in vinyl. And he has a gift.

"If you told Frank the kind of thing you wanted, or simply how you felt that day, he had the right track in minutes. It was a knack he had. A gift. He knew what people needed even whey they didn't know it themselves."

In this cramped, music shop rammed full of vinyl, there's Frank, Father Anthony, Maud and Kit; waiting for new customers, watching Frank work his magic - whether it is catching the teenager who steals a Genesis record only to tell him to keep it but please come back to the shop and listen to their early stuff as it as much better, or finding the right piece of piano music that "will arrive like a little raft and carry [this customer] safely home".

And it wasn't long before I pulled up a stool next to them, entranced and entertained by this quirky bunch of characters, the friendship and loyalty that exists between them and Frank's delightful love for music and mending people with the right song. I'm a big fan of bibliotherapy and novels like "The Little Paris Cafe" and this felt similar yet with music - which I think can be more evocative, more powerful and more unifying.

The tone of voice in the novel is perfect, striking a perfect balance between humour, candid observation and beautiful imagery and description. In Frank, Joyce has crafted a character who will stay with the reader long after the book is finished in the same way a beautiful tune echoes through your mind days after you heard it somewhere.

I loved the detail and lengths Joyce went to in talking about music and why vinyl was so much more superior to a CD. When the reps tell him, yet again, to stock CDs because the sound is clean, Frank replies to himself with "What's music got to do with clean? Where is the humanity in clean? Life has surface noise! Do you want to listen to furniture polish?"

Where is the humanity in clean indeed. Perhaps this captures the essence of the novel. It is about humanity. It is about the bits of dirt that snag, that catch us, the stain we can't wash out, the moment or the fear that stops us from saying what we want to say or doing what we want to do. This is a novel about Frank and Ilse Brauchmann - the women who wanders into his shop by accident one day - and it is about the things which make us human; love, grief, fear and hope.

"The gaps and the cracks. Because that was where life really happened, when you were brave enough to free-fall."

As well as the present day story line of Ilse and Frank, we also have flashbacks of Frank and his mother which helps us understand his response to Ilse but also shows us how his passion for music developed. This book is full of educative and informative things about composers and their music and the author must have done a huge amount of research for this novel, but I loved the way this knowledge was conveyed.

"Before the Messiah things were a bit shit for Handel."

This is the way you would want to be taught about music! There are constant references to songs, lyrics and composers in each chapter title and section heading. This is a fully immersive experience and the depth to which the author has used music in her writing is incredible. Joyce can write beautifully and with her own mesmerising lyricism but she is also clearly a sharp, intelligent and observant author.

As the book continues it moves through stages of heartbreak and sadness, bleakness and loss then uplifting passages of love, hope and the power of people to come together and help the one character who is so good at finding the answers for everyone else, find the answers for himself. Even when there are sections that are serious, sad and heavy going there is always a touch of humour, wit and it's impossible not to have a smile or smirk on your face for most of the time you are reading. Again, it's a great balance between being sensitive and moving but never over bearing or dark.

This is a story of characters for whom life doesn't go according to plan. There are people who are imprisoned, scared, trapped in their past but somehow, through music, they're able to come to terms with their failings and begin to find their hopes, dreams and new starts.

The final section of the book - I can't give too many details away as it will totally spoil everything - but oh my goodness, I was wiping away my tears. The description of the scenes were so powerful, so heartfelt, so emotional and so moving that I was utterly engrossed. Joyce does a magnificent job of encapsulating not only all the characters and various plot threads but also more universal themes of music, therapy, community and acts of kindness.

This is an incredibly uplifting book. It illustrates how music can be used as a way to understand yourself, the world around you and a way in which to bring people together. It is a special novel; seemingly simple but actually with a tremendous amount to say.

I loved it. I have been touched by it and by the characters. And I desperately want to hold a vinyl record in my hands! Highly recommend.

The Music Shop is published by DoubleDay on 13th July 2013.

For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @KatherineSunde3 or via my website bibliomaniacuk.co.uk

#TheyAllFallDown #TammyCohen #Review

She knows there’s a killer on the loose.
But no-one believes her.
Will she be next?

Hannah had a normal life – a loving husband, a good job. Until she did something shocking. Now she’s in a psychiatric clinic. It should be a safe place. But patients keep dying.

The doctors say it’s suicide. Hannah knows they’re lying. Can she make anyone believe her before the killer strikes again?

Gosh. I don't know where to begin. This book is incredible.

Tammy Cohen has a significant back catalogue and has also written a fantastic cozy crime novel under the name of Rachel Rhys but I have to say, this novel felt so accomplished, so polished, so confident and so fluent that I was absolutely blown away by it. The writing was faultless and I was utterly swept up in the narrative and carried along right until the very last word. This has to be her best novel yet. And she had set the bar pretty high already.

The premise - a killer in a psychiatric clinic - is in itself such an enormous hook and immediately throws the reader into an atmosphere of tension, suspense and intrigue but what really captivated me was the prose. Cohen is so eloquent and her writing is so striking that the reader cannot help but be consumed by the storyline and it's hard not to become fuelled with compassion for the characters. Her writing can not but provoke an emotive response from the reader.

This is a very different kind of setting from the previous novels I have read by this author and I was fascinated by her decision to set the story in a psychiatric ward. What is so delicious and compelling about this setting is that the protagonist and the characters on which you are relying to tell you the 'facts' are all "mad". Who can you trust? Who could possibly be reliable? Who is not going to be confusing reality with their delusions? As Hannah says,

"You don't have to be mad to live here but...oh, hang on, yes, you do."

But aside from testing the reader with unreliable narrators, if there is a killer on the loose, who is going to believe these girls? Who is going to protect them? Again, in Hannah's words: "people die all the time here....That's what makes it so easy for a killer to hide here, in plain sight."

Deeply gripping. Deeply troubling. Deeply unnerving. Cohen has really nailed it.

I think it was a very brave and bold decision to set the novel in this kind of location and to focus on characters who are suffering from complicated mental illness and seriously chronic conditions. But my admiration is not just because it is brave and bold but because it is brilliantly handled.

"Suffering from mental illness is like suddenly becoming a foreigner in your own country. Close friends and relatives start talking very loudly and very slowly in the belief that you might understand them better. They don't realise it's not the understanding that's the problem, it's the application. When everything that made you you has disintegrated, it's possible to make abstract sense of things without having the first clue how they might be relevant to you." 

Cohen has not used this location for shock, for sensationalism or to steal the next number one slot as a shocking thriller, she has set her book here because it is completely relevant and necessary for the story she wants to tell and the themes she wants to write about. It is appropriate for the characters and as a place in which she can explore their issues, backstories and secrets.

It is a dark and intense read - of course it is, it is about psychiatric patients, but Cohen is an intelligent and thoughtful writer and she has struck a balance of weaving a great tale that explores families, relationships, heartbreak and guilt alongside more deeper psychiatric issues. She pushes the story to a higher level by exploring issues of boundaries, delusion, desire and self deception.

There is a good range of characters created in the novel too - not just in personality, role and purpose but also in terms of their illness and state of mind. Yet some of the most 'damaged' appear to be so observant and perceptive they often point out the obvious more ably that the doctors - and in a tone or style that is so caustic and so brutal it is quite exquisite to watch. There are some great suggestions about who or what madness and rationality look like should you wish to delve deeper or analyse further! In Hannah she has created a character who is sharp, intelligent, witty, sarcastic, someone we root for and yet someone riddled with complications. She fiercely delusional and even though I wondered if I shouldn't like her - and at times you don't - I really did like her a lot.

In the last third of the book, Tammy Cohen excels herself. The depth, the layers, the knitting up of all the unravelling madness into a cohesive conclusion is flawless. It simply blew my mind. This is an impressive book. It has all the elements of a perfect suspense novel and yet Cohen has taken this psychological thriller to the next level. She has achieved much more than just scaring us, teasing us with twists and turns and chilling us to the bone. This is a psychological thriller with huge integrity.

Yes reader, I did like it. A lot. I think this novel is perceptive; it shows a sound and respectful awareness and understanding of mental health, its traps, its destructive and malignant power and Cohen choses not to trivialise anything for a shocking twist or unreliable narrator. But it is also a right good read full of chilling characters, threatening twists, interwoven plot lines and intense moments of suspense and tension. As I said before, incredible.

They All Fall Down is published by Transworld on the 13th July 2017.

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For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @KatherineSunde3 or via my website bibliomaniacuk.co.uk

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Bibliomaniac's #SummerReading #MiniRoundUp

So it's the summer holidays and having the children at home all day is ruining my reading time and blogging schedule!! How very dare they get between a bibliomaniac and her books! And then actual holidays - well, apparently it would be nice to go sightseeing rather than just bury yourself in a book for days on end.... I know, I don't understand it either, but hey ho, there we go! Therefore, over July and August I am going to do a few mini review / round up blog posts just while my bibliomaniac life is on pause...... Thank you for your understanding!!

The Favourite by SV Berlin is published Myriad on 3rd August 2017. My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This is a tome of a book at a delicious 520 pages and I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in it. It's a character driven story which really explores the ins and outs of families, sibling relationships, partnership, marriage, parenting and grief. There are three main characters, Isobel, her brother Edward and his girlfriend Julie and all of them have secrets, dubious motivations and feel aggrieved from misunderstandings which they have let grow into something more threatening and dangerous. They all need these 520 pages to work through these issues - whether they are wholly redeemed or 'fixed' by the end is up to the reader to judge but there is a great mix of emotional growth, changes in character and the exploration of trying to mend dysfunctional relationships to keep the reader entertained, engaged and involved.

Despite the book feeling quiet epic, all the events take place over a relatively short space of time following the death of Isobel and Edward's mother and Isobel's sudden return to England for the funeral. Herself and Edward have been estranged for years and Edward carries a huge amount of resentment towards Isobel which immediately sets up a tense atmosphere. Although he is largely a very unlikeable character with few redeeming features, filled with jealousy, petulance and selfishness I did actually enjoy him the most. He often deliberately says something to "light a grenade" and spark further tension between family members and his thoughts about his girlfriend's sister were very entertaining despite their sarcasm and derision.

Edward's girlfriend Julie is an interesting character. She starts of as "plain, little, timid and watchful but without the underlying spirit of Jane Eyre" but over the course of the novel she grows in strength and confidence. I think her journey was the most unexpected and I did have a lot of sympathy for her throughout the novel as she is the most put upon and most manipulated. And I think the author cleverly leaves the ending for Julie quite ambiguous and deliberately not too neatly resolved which I liked.

Isobel appears to be the main character although takes a little bit of a back seat in the second half of the novel. She is also very well crafted, very easy to relate to and understand and also very easy to feel empathy for as she uncovers the reality of what has been happening at home while she lived in America. There is a sense of suspense and tension surrounding her storyline as well as her need to reevaluate her life, her priorities and her understanding of her family.

This is a book about how toxic families can be but how there is always the potential to save and fix them. Edward and Isobel need to accept, apologise and compromise. Each of them has something they refuse to let go of but the death of their mother has brought them together and is forcing them to confront all their issues with each other and with themselves. I enjoyed the use of memory, different points of view and the way the author played with interpretation. A very worthwhile read and a great book to take away this summer and lose yourself within.

Dying to Live by Michael Stanley is published by Orenda on 30th July 2017. 

*My thanks to the publisher from whom I received this book in return for an unbiased and honest review*

This was an intriguing novel - the first #sunshinenoir novel I have ever read! It is set in Botswana and as my only experience of crime fiction set in this part of the world is "The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency" I was in for a bit of a shock! This is not cozy crime - it most definitely is noir fiction and it is gritty, dangerous, fascinating and full of threatening situations and characters. I was gripped by the opening when a body of a bushman is discovered - the body of an old man who seems to have very young organs. The autopsy reveals an old bullet is lodged in the man's body which immediately throws up a whole host of other issues, questions and intrigue. I was gripped as the plot continued to unfold and introduce a missing local witch doctor. The inclusion of this character really fascinated me and I enjoyed the time spent by the characters chatting about this part of the culture and heritage. It's all necessary for driving the action forward but also appealed to my imagination. 

I enjoyed this book and I liked the characters. I felt it was well crafted, well written, easy to follow and that the complex storyline was well managed. 

It was great to read a new detective series set in a part of the world I knew nothing about. It captures the sense of location, time and place so effectively while simultaneously creating a storyline that adheres to all the rules and conventions of noir fiction. I think it works well as a stand alone and there is a glossary of characters and a map at the beginning of the book which is always appreciated. There is a glossary with a few translations of words at the end but honestly this didn't bother me when I was reading. I think the growth of European and International noir has meant that we are often reading books with unfamiliar names and actually it is perfectly possible to keep track of everyone and everything when you have a book that is well written and well structured. 

This would be a good holiday read for those who enjoy travel and enjoy reading stories set in exotic locations but also for anyone who enjoys a fast paced, action packed, crime novel with a fair level of darkness and threat! 

*My thanks to the publisher from whom I received this book via NetGalley in return for an unbiased and honest review*

The Susan Effect is published by Random House on the 3rd August 2017.

I requested this book as I still remember the impact of Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow and how that was one of the most talked about books when it was published in 1996. I think this book will do as well and Hoeg's style remains distinctive and intelligent. 

This story is about Susan Svendsen who has a special power - people confide in her. They will confess their inner most thoughts without her having to really coax them and then she chooses how to use this information. Now she finds herself with a prison sentence hanging over her head unless she can employ her special talent one more time and aid the Government with their investigation into the Future Committee. 

The novel is narrated by Susan and I really engaged with her voice and her character. She has quite a unique voice and is clearly intelligent and driven. There are many profound statements and observations which I enjoyed. Some of her comments about family life reveal a softer, maternal side to Susan but mostly she has a more scientific and rational attitude to the world. There is a lot of jargon within the novel and a lot of discussion about government issues and the Future Committee so I did find that this novel felt quite complex, sophisticated and for me, required quite a lot of attention and focus. 

The book is propelled forward with a lot of dialogue which makes it very readable and means the characters come to life very quickly. There is a sense of intensity and this is heightened by the impending threat of a prison sentence. The complexity of the investigation that Susan embarks upon also heightens this sense of intensity. Because of the nature of her quest, the book immediately becomes a sophisticated and complex narrative which places the reader in quite a scientific world. 

I was quite caught up with the characters and the dysfunctional relationship between the family members. The characters are all well written and convincing and Susan herself is a good female lead who has a great balance of intelligence, quirkiness, independence and self confidence to make her interesting and fascinating to the reader. I think the pressure and nature of the plot mean that at times there is a feeling of claustrophobia for the reader.

I am glad I read this novel and I did enjoy aspects of it but it was a very complex novel. Hoeg is a sophisticated writer who has a highly accomplished writing style and I'm sure this will be a literary hit this year. 

For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @KatherineSunde3 or via my website bibliomaniacuk.co.uk