March Round Up

 

Sarah Pearse – The RetreatI read The Sanatorium and thoroughly enjoyed it so I was interested to read the follow up. I enjoyed that, too, but I thought it had many similarities with the first story. I suppose it’s not necessarily a bad thing – if the formula works use it? But I think it could only work for so long before it became tedious and as a reader you knew exactly what was coming.

 

Andrew Hyde – To Muddy Death

Andrew is a local author, and I had the pleasure of attending his book launch at our local library. He signed a copy of the book for me. I didn’t know anything about him before the event. This is his debut novel, and I was impressed for the most part. It’s a crime story and its pretty gripping. 

 

Richard Osman – The Last Devil to Die

I’ve been borrowing these from my library. Reserving them as it happens, because they are so popular I don’t think they even see the shelves!! But you can’t control when they are going to become available, so I read this last in the series before The Bullet That Missed. I don’t think it matters. They’re easy reading and very entertaining.

 

Brian Chaucer – Seventy-Seven and Counting

This was a delightful autobiography by a gay man who, in his seventies, upped sticks and relocated to Lithuania – as you do! It’s a delightfully honest and entertaining account of a life lived to the full. Brian tells of the challenges he faced when moving to another country as well as his past life in this country. He has turned his hand to any number of jobs and ventures which he recounts in the most readable detail. 

 

Alex Michaelides – The Fury

I have a prized signed copy of The Silent Patient, but I’ve not read his second book yet. This, third, was another loan from my brilliant library. Full of twists and turns but I didn’t enjoy it as much as The Silent Patient.  I fear my expectations were too high, I found myself underwhelmed. That’s niot to say I didn’t enjoy it for I did but I wasn’t wowed.

 

Christina Maraziotis – Ghost

I’ve had a copy of this for a while but at over 700 pages I needed to know I had plenty of time to read it! It’s the third in the series and they are all hefty tomes. They are historical novels set in the US. There are many more books planned for the series and I am always astounded by the author’s passion and commitment for her stories and characters. 

 

Lionel Shriver – Mania

This is a fascinating dystopian tales of an alternate 2011 where there is ‘Mental Parity’ No such thing as intelligent and no such thing as stupid, all are equal. So anyone can be a brain surgeon! Chaos ensues and woe betide anyone who might oppose the regime. Shriver’s main character does and how. Thought provoking read. 

 

William Shaw – The Wild Swimmers

I’ve read all of William Shaw’s books from Breen and Tozer to Alex Cupidi. As well as being darn good crime yarns, they are set in a part of the country that I’m familiar with which I always think adds something to the story! Or is that just me?

Jonathan Koven - Mystic Orchards

Won't say too much about this as it is for a future blog tour! It's a beautiful collection of poetry.