A Pitying of Doves - Steve Burrows

A Pitying of Doves - Steve Burrows

Apparently this is the second in the series of ‘Birder Murder' mysteries but not having the read the first one was no barrier to enjoying this one. The crime/thriller/detective genre is in many ways oversubscribed these days and I think a writer needs a unique yet plausible angle to really pique and sustain the interest of those loving this genre. Having an interest in birds myself went a long way to endear this book to me and the writers own love and knowledge of ornithology was almost palpable here so I feel that box is ticked. I was momentarily reminded of Ann Cleeves The Crow Trap but only momentarily.

Inspector Domenic Jejeune is a Canadian detective living in Norfolk and, as is the fashion these days for fictional detectives, is a conflicted, somewhat flawed character. I did wonder sometimes whether he was somewhere on the spectrum as I found him hard to get to know. There were plenty of other characters, maybe as flawed, but somehow more accessible. I also felt there was plenty for development for all of them. My understanding is that there are to be more in the series. Perhaps it would be something of a first to have a whole team as your main ‘character’ and allow them to develop through a series of novels.

The plot is as twisty and as convoluted as you would wish in a good crime yarn. I also liked the way the ornithology theme was ever present, crucial to the story but not to the extent that it saturated the readers’ sensibilities. It would have been easy for that to happen. 

It kept my interest going, sufficiently to consider seeking out the first story and I am grateful to Real Readers for the opportunity to read this novel.

The Midnight Watch - David Dyer

The Midnight Watch - David Dyer

When this volume popped thorough my letterbox from Real Readers I was ecstatic!! This could not have been a more appropriate choice of book for me. Long have I been a student of the Titanic, the history of the ship and all the events surrounding it before, during and after the tragedy. I have even had the unbelievable privilege, many years ago, of meeting a Titanic survivor which I still regard as one of the highlights of my life. (She had very strong opinions about Captain Lord).

This novel tells the story of the Californian and her captain Stanley Lord, no spoiler I don't think as history documents his part well. 

And so I loved this book. I accepted it as an historical, fictional account of a controversial aspect of the whole Titanic phenomenon. The details were known and familiar to me. So I responded to the authenticity of the research. I enjoyed the fact that the writer has placed it within a broader social context as it is sometimes too easy to look at an historical event in isolation. I took delight too in the human aspects of this fiction; we have the public perception of many of the persons featured in this history but the writer attempts to burrow beneath that and encourages us to see them as people, human beings with their strengths and their weaknesses. All this, too, from a debut novel? Can it get any better?

But…. (There had to be a but didn't there? ) How much appeal will this book have to anyone with scant knowledge of the Titanic? Does the book have enough momentum to keep an indifferent reader satisfied? I’m not sure it does. Publication date is due to coincide with the anniversary of the sinking, that may propel it along a little further. But if I am to be objectively honest I doubt this book has a wide appeal. It is very well written and I think Titanic ‘fans’ (for want of a better word) will lap it up but beyond that I fear appeal and interest will be limited. I would love to be wrong though. And I hope I am.

Gold Fame Citrus

Gold Fame Citrus - Claire Vaye Watkins

I received a copy of this from Real Readers to review and I am grateful for the opportunity to read this purposeful new fiction. 

An intriguing title, for sure.  As I began to read it seemed to have all the hallmarks of a debut novel, extravagant descriptions and an abundance of detail from an enthusiastic writer that is often not sustained throughout the whole book.

But as I plunged into the meat of the story I realised this poetry is very much the style of this young author. Some of the writing is exceptional.

As a bare bones story there is much that is reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy and James Dashner. And I suppose it was the references to the dune sea and the scarcity of water but I was fleetingly reminded of Frank Herbert’s Dune.

None of the characters are especially nice people, but they are trying to survive in a not very nice world. And nothing is at it seems. 

I think this is an ambitious work for a first novel and there is something here that makes me think we either have a pretention that defies true literary fiction or we are on the brink of a unique and significant new talent. I fervently hope it is the latter.

Is this just another dystopian tale of pre apocalyptic demise, love, betrayal and survival or is it an intuitive allegory of the  current state of our world? 

And the answer to that question is, I think, what will define this as landmark novel or something to be dismissed. 

I am dithering on the fence with my answer but I just have this goosebumpy feeling that this book is important.

David Bowie

I was numb on Monday. I couldn't quite believe what I had heard. And it is isn't that I am an obsessive Bowie fan. I loved his early work but I went though a period of finding him just okay. However I thought The Next Day was excellent and I was finding BlackStar quite haunting and now I find it was prophetic. How is it that the death of someone you never knew can affect you as much as this has affected me? I remember Al Stewart's  song 'Post World War 2 Blues' from the 'Past, Present and Future' album - I can still remember the last time I cried 
The day that Buddy Holly died 
I never met him, so it may seem strange Don't some people just affect you that way
And maybe that's just it, some people affect you that way...............

Killing Eva

I waxed lyrical in my praise of Alex Blackmore’s first novel Lethal Profit and I had already decided to buy the next one if and when she wrote another. I am happy to say that Real Readers sent me the next one. And I am enjoying it just as much as the first.

I was delighted to be reacquainted with Eva. And straight away we were thrust into the meat of this novel from the first sentence. No messing about!! 

My first fear was whether Ms. Blackmore could deal with the dreaded ‘second album syndrome’. She could and she did so admirably. I think there is that comfort that you get from another book in the series. But there is much reference to what has gone before and maybe because I have read Lethal Profit it all makes sense to me I’d like to think that anyone could enjoy this novel even if they hadn't read the first one.

I’m giving nothing away but I found this book as enjoyable as the first. We are still subjected to some of Eva’s fashion dilemmas! And she still amazes me with her ability to survive unscathed from some of the dreadful situations she finds herself in. I think I said of Lethal Profit that it was almost but not quite sci fi and I was struck again by the vaguely sci fi flavours.Only this time I think it is very skilful to offer this as a subtle seasoning to what is predominantly a conspiracy thriller.

There is so much suspense and tension that I felt quite drained at times. The concluding cliffhanger is a bit of a gamble I think. Lovely to think there will be another book in the series but does an ending like that satisfy a reader enough to guarantee their loyalty for the next book?
Interesting, given the amount of time between one book and the next. On TV we often ‘only’ have to wait a week for the next episode but here it’s a little longer and I think a writer really has to be sure that they have sustained their readers’ interest. 

Myself, I can't wait!!!!

Beginnings

Hello.
If you are reading this I thank you from the heart of my bottom. I am new to this blogging lark but I have seen Julie and Julia so I know the potential. There is a chance I will simply be speaking to myself or maybe I will reach a wider audience. Exciting.
I read a lot of books and I review those books so I thought I would start a blog which includes those reviews but I also want space to express my thoughts and feelings about any issues that consumes my sensibilities at any given time. I may rant even. I shall call that 'brogging'. And when I am reviewing books I will call that 'brooking'. Just so we are clear on the terms. No need for a glossary just yet but who knows where this will lead.