**4.5 stars** Everything But the Truth is a bang on target domestic noir, a page turner of the highest order and, thank the book Gods, manages to avoid**4.5 stars** Everything But the Truth is a bang on target domestic noir, a page turner of the highest order and, thank the book Gods, manages to avoid all the dull as ditch water standard cliches of the genre whilst playing brilliantly into all the reasons why we readers love this stuff.
Jack and Rachel have not been together that long, but for Rachel it has been one of those “this is right” life moments – so an early in the relationship pregnancy does not seem as daunting as it might have done. Preparing to settle down to domestic bliss, one night Rachel catches a glimpse of an email, one that suggests there may be horrific hidden secrets in Jack’s past.
Now here’s what I loved – we all have secrets and that is true – Gillian McAllister uses that to great affect, Jack may be hiding something but so is Rachel and the yin yang of how much honesty is actually required for a successful relationship was at the heart of this for me. Rachel becomes obsessed, perhaps even going slightly mad in her quest for the truth but her own truth lies hidden in the mire also. Everything But the Truth is a beautifully drawn character study, a love story with a twisted path and an occasionally haunting glimpse into human psyche.
There is real depth to the plotting, exploring all the layers underneath that one thing we are waiting to find out, this is not a novel that sets out to shock with THAT moment (the one that, lets face it, most of us see coming a mile off these days) but more a slow unwinding of the personalities involved until they face themselves head on. It is that gentle yet utterly gripping unravelling that will keep you reading this long into the night. Cleverly done, genuinely compelling.
Ok so I’ve been sat here for a while having no earthly idea what to say about Sirens that could possibly get across how emotionally traumatised I am rOk so I’ve been sat here for a while having no earthly idea what to say about Sirens that could possibly get across how emotionally traumatised I am right now having been put through the wringer by debut author Joseph Knox – with whom I shall be having words. Serious words. Here we are (at time of writing) gone 11pm on a Sunday night and I seriously doubt I’ll be sleeping anytime soon. Someone for the love of everything send me all the ice cream…
I can’t remember the last time I read a crime novel that was quite definitively a crime novel but at no point felt like one to me -from the opening salvo until I finally put it down my life was irrevocably linked to the lives of the characters that live within the pages, to Manchester where they reside and to the story unfolding before me. The writing is stunningly immersive, dark yet beautiful, violently gripping and the emotional resonance does not let up for a single second.
The whole thing will haunt me, I just know it will – you always know when those books come along, the ones that stay with you, this one will do that. If you are going to ask me why then the answer is no idea.
Possibly it lies with Detective Aiden Waits who outwardly is your usual damaged detective but don’t let the blurb fool you, there is nothing standard about this character. Just wait. Yes I did that.
Possibly it is the Sirens of the title – the girls who live a dangerous and knifes edge life within the drug trade – it might even be the dangerous men at the heart of THEM – maybe just maybe its the city. The living city which breathes around them.
Take your pick.
The plotting is taut and authentic, nothing is unlikely, everything is horribly gorgeously realistic but the writing talent comes often in the sparsity of prose used to create a mental image. With a few sentences Joseph Knox creates a whole world of emotion, often less is more – he hits you right in the gut dammit, not just occasionally with a twist or a turn but every blinking moment. There were times during the reading of it that I literally forgot to breathe and had to take a sudden gulp. Look now I’m back in it, where is that darned ice cream already…
For those of you reading this who know me just think back to the last few books I’ve been fanatical about and accept your fate – you WILL be reading Sirens whether you like it or not. YOU WILL THANK ME I PROMISE because…
Sirens is intense, twisted, gorgeous and heart breaking on so many levels that I cannot even begin to speak to them here.
In ye olde Domestic Noir genre you get a mish mash of reads, some good, some bad, some really excellent and not many done by male authors. Although a In ye olde Domestic Noir genre you get a mish mash of reads, some good, some bad, some really excellent and not many done by male authors. Although a few. If A Line of Blood is anything to go by then perhaps more should be entering the fray.
What I loved about it was it was so much more about the dysfunctional family than it was about the possible crime. The next door neighbour kills himself (probably, or did he?) his body is discovered by Alex and son Max and then off we go - into a tale of 3 people, Husband, Wife, Child, all of whom are entirely disturbing and completely frustrating. In a good reading way. I wanted to slap the lot of them frankly but I could NOT look away from the drama unfolding.
Told by Alex, the story goes on a beautifully constructed twisty path of domestic insanity where everyone is hiding something and nobody is entirely trustworthy. Quite aside from the "who did what to who" where no possibility seems too unreasonable, you have some very insightful and thought provoking character studies, an addictively absorbing style of writing (yes Millicent your name by the end was tattooed on my soul) and quite honestly no idea where it was all going to end.
Those are the best stories right? Right.
Clever writing, clever plotting, divisive and undeniably unlikeable characters who will get stuck in your head, when it comes to this particular popular sub genre this is the way to do it.
The Wolf Road is an incredible novel – dark, intriguing, absolutely beautifully written with one of the strongest and most memorable character voices The Wolf Road is an incredible novel – dark, intriguing, absolutely beautifully written with one of the strongest and most memorable character voices I have ever read.
This is Elka’s story – and BOOM what a story it is. Her parents gone, lost in a storm, taken in by “Trapper” and brought up in the wild, until one day she discovers something sinister about her saviour and sets out on a journey across a wild and bitter landscape, a journey that will take her to unexpected places and unexpected people. Chased by her mentor and the law, nothing about this is going to be easy for Elka.
She will take you with her though, the gorgeous descriptive prose is totally immersive, the setting coming alive around you – a primitive and chilly post apocalyptic world cleverly set in no time or place specifically but all the more real for it. Primitive and unforgiving, The Wolf Road is part road trip, part drama, part mystery but the heart of it is this one girl, Elka. You will never forget her.
The Wolf Road may be beautiful but it is also relentless and often surprising, sometimes violent, sometimes peaceful, but always fascinating and I was totally riveted. There is a mystical magic to be had here, the author weaves somewhat of a spell around you via Elka and her unique way of telling the tale – the whole thing has an eerie, mesmeric vibe to it that is really difficult to put into words – but that is absolutely and completely creatively vivid and exquisite. I loved every minute.
One crime leads to another in Sam Blake’s “Little Bones” – a perfectly paced and brilliantly addictive tale with a dark heart and a banging main charaOne crime leads to another in Sam Blake’s “Little Bones” – a perfectly paced and brilliantly addictive tale with a dark heart and a banging main character in Cathy “Cat” Connolly.
Starting off with the haunting discovery of tiny bones in a wedding dress, the author weaves a twisty and authentic tale, cleverly plotted for maximum effect, you just have to keep turning and turning those pages. One of those stories with roots in history, an intersecting and intriguing puzzle, just the type of story within crime fiction I love to get my head around – at turns surprising and emotive, fully absorbing from start to finish.
The multiple viewpoints work brilliantly, there is no rush to judgment more a slow and engaging exposure of titbits of information, carefully placed reveal moments and some truly impressive character building – and boy that ending, I did sit there with my mouth hanging open looking vaguely stupified for a while after finishing it. I both love and hate when that happens – bring on the next book fast please….
I wouldnt call Little Bones a crime thriller, more a crime story – proper storytelling and one that I could easily imagine as episodic television – Sam Blake leads you slowly but inexorably towards a conclusion that may surprise you and on the way she takes the time to build the tension, give her characters real and very separate voices and as I mentioned earlier then throws you off a reading cliff. Excellent. This is what we like.
Little Bones comes highly recommended from me and Sam Blake has been added to my must read list....more
First of all big thumbs up to Sophie Kent. Deliciously well drawn, intriguing, drags you along with her in her wake as she enters the murky world hidiFirst of all big thumbs up to Sophie Kent. Deliciously well drawn, intriguing, drags you along with her in her wake as she enters the murky world hiding under the seemingly glamorous fashion industry and she has an emotive and engaging back story. So right there with Breaking Dead you are already onto a winner…
Then on top of that you get a pacy, intelligent and bang on thriller, darkly observant and grimly realistic that has the added benefit of being a real page turner – I barely drew breath through this one, a rocking read first page to last. I probably inhaled some caffeine at some point but one afternoon and this was done. No messing. You won’t put it down unless someone forces you to do something useful. I’m not usually terribly useful anyway but any hope that my loved ones had that I might make some dinner or something soon faded when they took a look at me. “Mums got her reading face on” was the comment from my 8 year old.
I loved the layers Corrie Jackson put in, the little descriptive things that built such a gutsy picture, sometimes heart wrenching, walking the line between keeping it real and keeping it entertaining really well. This is one of those books you put down and go YAY another author to add to the must read list. Or in my case, Oh God really? whilst glaring at the randomly strewn book piles everywhere. Still, roll on book two. After all there is no such thing as too many (brilliant) books. As an aside Twenty7 seems to be finding an awful lot of them. Not had a bad read from them yet.
A big tick in ye olde recommendation box from me....more
Tall Oaks was an amazing read – talk about sucking you in and eating up a day, that is basically what this novel did to me this last weekend. Clever, Tall Oaks was an amazing read – talk about sucking you in and eating up a day, that is basically what this novel did to me this last weekend. Clever, atmospheric and with possibly the most diverse and divisive set of characters found together in one book, Tall Oaks is the story of one community, its rythym and rhyme and the people that live there.
The small town vibe is brilliantly described, holding it all together is the smart and psychological mystery element – just what DID happen to 3 year old Harry – the journey Chris Whitaker takes us on to find the answers is a deeply absorbing, character driven joy to read. Rather than focus solely on the investigative track, Tall Oaks is all about people and the secrets they keep – not all of those secrets relevent to anything external, what you are doing here is watching lives unfold and somewhere in there the answers will be found.
You’ll find yourself totally engaged with every little thing going on – I mean I worried about the wedding cake, briefly considered taking up bird watching and one scene involving a Pizza Hut, a “Gangster” and a whole load of paperwork had me crying with laughter. Chris Whitaker keeps a darkly humerous tone running through a lot of the narrative, whilst never losing sight of the fact that the heart of this story involves a missing child. It is at turns emotionally distressing and then hilarious – in truth life does go on, you cannot remain in limbo forever, no matter the tragedy, this is something that is captured so well.
All the characters are intensely well drawn, the setting is pitch perfect, the dialogue crackles most especially when Manny is involved – oh Manny how I will miss you. If ever there was a perfect character in fiction Manny is it. I defy you not to fall in love. Incredible. They all are but he deserves special mention.
From the haunting and really quite scary opening salvo to the utterly unexpected and totally killer ending, the goings on in the town of Tall Oaks will grip you entirely. The rich and descriptive writing style, the sometimes slow stroll sometimes fast run towards the ultimate resolution, the sheer ability the author has to distract you from the realities will keep you reading until BAM he hits you with the truth in real knockout fashion. Pure brilliance.
Highly Recommended. In my running for book of the year....more
LOVED this. Adore Harry Kent. Love a criminally good medical drama and Rob Mccarthy is the first author in ages who can make the medical side both excLOVED this. Adore Harry Kent. Love a criminally good medical drama and Rob Mccarthy is the first author in ages who can make the medical side both exciting, authentic AND understandable. Plus murder and mayhem and all sorts of other stuff. Excellent all round. I may need a Dr.
Lucky enough to be able to interview the author for the blog tour coming up on release and a full review will follow then.
Loved The Good Liar. A clever and winding tale looked at all the wrong way round and upside down but so brilliantly addictive with a dry yet compellinLoved The Good Liar. A clever and winding tale looked at all the wrong way round and upside down but so brilliantly addictive with a dry yet compelling style.
We start with Roy meeting Betty for the first time on a "blind" date. I was immediately hooked due to the way this was presented by the author and I knew right there that this was going to be one that would engage me. Saying anything else on the plot, bar the fact that it moves backwards in time in our learning curve about Roy, whilst moving forward on how their relationship develops, would necessarily spoil things so lets just leave that there.
The Good Liar managed to often surprise me. My main reason for liking it so much is how Nicholas Searle blurs the lines, so whilst he doesn't hide anything you really have no clue what is going to happen until it happens. A really excellent construction, something that not many can do well, this is assured plotting and compelling stuff.
It is not perfect - it does ramble on occasion, sometimes you would like things to just get on - but overall this was a terrific debut, one that messsed with my head and gave me pause for thought. Character wise it is just simply terrific. Excellent job. Really really interested to see what this author comes up with next....more
I’m a bit late reviewing Stasi Child, which has actually caused much hilarity but in the end I win. As I knew I would…
The thing with Stasi Child is th I’m a bit late reviewing Stasi Child, which has actually caused much hilarity but in the end I win. As I knew I would…
The thing with Stasi Child is that it doesnt matter that this is a late review because that book has stayed with me. When I rather randomly decided that today would be the day, I thought I’d have to remind myself of the read somewhat but then discovered that I remembered it pretty much in its entirety – the political landscape, Karin Muller a completely engaging character, the beautifully done descriptive sense of it all – I guess in a lot of ways that is the biggest compliment I could pay it considering the number of books I read, take it as read that this is really really good…
There are lots of reviews of this novel out there -many speaking to how David Young has recreated with a huge dose of creative genius the stifling and claustrophobic atmosphere and reality of 1970’s Berlin – and that he has. Whether you know something or nothing of this period of history you’ll get it – in fact you’ll be right there as events unfold. For me as a reader that is when it works – Allowing the truth of the time to unfold within the story, underneath the narrative, the characters live it so YOU live it – much better than random history lesson type info dumps in some historical novels…
For me though its always about the emotional resonance of a story and Stasi Child had emotional resonance in spades – this was a book I devoured – along with the deep and lasting sense of history you get a banging good story, a proper page turner with absolutely the most gorgeous and absorbing writing style. I mean what else can you ask for really..
Well you want decent characters who you can identify with, want to follow down the rabbit hole, root for or alternatively wish fiery painful death upon – you can put a big tick in that box also. Karin as a main protagonist incredibly well drawn and full of depth I LOVED her (big big book love because I just wanted her to win godarnit) – as she wakes up to the realities of her country and the way it works, begins to doubt her own loyalties, her journey is totally engaging and I was with her all the way. Surrounded by an eclectic and enigmatic cast (Klaus Jager hmm) of others, there was not a single dull moment in the entirety of Stasi Child, not once did attention wander and really I only put it down to feed the kids. Apparently it is frowned upon not to do so.
Belting crime story too. The tale twists and turns, thought provoking and so addictive, weaving its way through the historical flavouring, the character arcs and just so perfectly constructed to engage and inform and entertain, really storytelling doesnt get much better than this. David Young is a bit of a genius but sssh don’t tell him I said that. I may NEVER see my blog post if he is too busy preening. Plus I’d really like another book from this author soon. Writing up this review has made my chronic impatience kick in.
Brilliant brilliant book. Just read it (you won’t need to weep)...more
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