A comic tale of middle-class manners where the dark humour is biting as Muriel Spark paints a picture of gross characters happy to moan about each other in one breath while hugging in the other. Set around a dinner party, we meet a number of couples as they prepare for the event. With a spate of burglaries occurring in the area there also seems to be a connection to the feast. Spark is a reassuring favourite writer who never fails to captivate me.

This is a challenging read but once you get into the rhythm of the prose style it is immensely rewarding. Bill Shankly is a complicated character ,obsessive about football and success for Liverpool fc, but also incredibly humble and humane. The last 200 pages when we follow him in retirement are incredibly moving with his willingness to talk to anyone at anytime being notable. If the stories told are true it is a remarkable tribute to a great man.

My final holiday reading review is for this 2023 booker nominated family saga. I recall enjoying Skippy Dies a few years ago, so with mixed reviews, I was unsure how this book wd go as we follow the 4 members of the Barnes family through the collapse of the Irish economy. Sprawling in scope, I loved the slow reveal secrets that explain characters' decision-making + emotional reaction to events. I really enjoyed the narrative +was totally absorbed

It doesn't look like I've moved other than to grab wine + pizza, but book 2 on our holidays was this very good spy thriller set in bahrain after the Arab spring revolts. Shane Collins is a jaded CIA operative, divorced, and a heavy drinker living in the American community, having to temper his anger at a younger boss. When he is attracted to a bahranian woman, and he becomes attached to his source in the protest movement, the story gains pace.

In anticipation of reading Demon Copperhead I decided to take this classic on holiday, making my luggage 2lb heavier. I have not read it before and was soon totally lost in a world I thought I knew already. The characters are astonishing from the well-known Uriah Heep and Micawber to the wonderful Mr Dick and Traddles. I can only imagine the anticipation of waiting for a new chapter to appear each week. A brilliant read.

Thought I'd try the first maeve kerrigan having heard Jane casey talking about the most recent. She is an enjoyable character, being the only female detective in an all male murder squad. In this story , what appears to be another victim of a serial killer, has Maeve wondering about anomalies which allow her to prove how good a police officer she is. Enjoyable and will read more in the series.

A memoir about the author's love of a small North East coastal town Withernsea. Adam moved with his family as a teenager, + in a series of essays, he tackles his memories, which are, in turn, funny ( I laughed out loud about seaside seagulls), to the moving thoughts about his older brother. Mens' mental health is a significant theme in this book, which I found explored a difficult theme very well with reflection also upon family + aging. Very good

There's something comforting abt reading Anne Tyler, knowing that there are so many more of her novels that I have yet to try. Delia Grinstead is a 40 yr old mother, wife, + sister, these are her roles in life, so on a day at the beach she simply walks off + creates a new home with a job in a town she does not know. I loved how Delia, in turn, discovers her identity while her family adjusts to her absence. Should it have ended as it did, not sure.

Catching up on last weekends rdng + this v good spy story. Scarlet King is a British agent who, in 1946, helps kidnap a German scientist to Eng + then rises through the ranks of the secret service nearly to head MI6. When historian Max Archer is invited to meet Scarlet in her 90s, she has a story to tell which could be a bigger scandal than the Cambridge 5 + the establishment tries to stop the leak. Fast paced,+ well researched, the pages flew by.

This excellent story centres on 3 people returning to Vienna Post ww2 for a new life. Pr Adler confronts nazi suspicion in his old lab in a brilliant scene. Kanakis is a rich exile who wants to buy property + surround himself in admirers. Resi is a beautiful teenager sent to family. Compelling read.
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This was an enjoyable bit of gentle crime set in 1901 in the inner temple of the English legal system. When the Lord chief justice is found murdered on the steps of Gabriel Ward KC'S Chambers, he is told to investigate the crime. With his forensic intelligence, he is a very readable character who also has to deal with a trial concerning the authorship of a child's mouse story. The crocheted Paddington bookmark is a lovely fathers day present.

I am enjoying our latest foray into the persephone catalogue + so far this is an interesting tale of several individuals returning to Vienna post ww2. This was a very powerful scene in which Pr Adler is confronted by Dr Krieger + ends up justifying himself. Very powerful+ required a reflective pause
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I do like stories set in faded English seaside towns + this setting of lost glamour perfectly suited this story of 2 very different women confronting their past + current lives. Lydia was part of a one hit pop duo who has been asked to accept an apology from a man who sexually assaulted her and flees to stay with her old friend. Joyce, a woman in her 40s, lives with her mother who treats her as a sister + smothers her life. Very readable, + v sad.

A darkly funny crime story set in Glasgow. Trigger warning for violence. DI Alison McOist (Ally McOist in Glasgow is a constant joke) is suspected by colleagues of being dodgy but is pulled into various crimes in which a local car wash seems central. When a local gangster who Ally wants to nail is interested in the car wash, the plot thickens. Really great characters + a dark plot meant this was a cracking read altho very dark and violent.

Irl grp last night had an Orwell themed chat about Wifedom + this excellent retelling of 1984 from the perspective of Julia. We discover about a childhood in which she betrays her patents, her work in the ministry, and Obriens recruitment of her to use sex to reveal male enemies of big brother. If the world wasn't increasingly resembling the dystopian society imagined 70 years ago, this would have been a fun read, but today, it felt disturbing.

In a great episode of Take Four Books the author talks abt his own family (disgraced lawyer father who opens a bureau de change on the irish border + br who is kidnapped by gangs) which inspired this fictionalised story again of a true tale of a murder/suicide. At the centre is Lorraine, who is gangster Paddy's lover + as the rivalry + gang wars of the Irish troubles the bk builds to the climax with which the bk has opened. Brilliant writing.

A book I finished last weekend as I try and read the women's prize shortlist. Interesting to be in the head of a 45 year old artist who hits a mid life crisis as she goes on a cross country drive to NY but stops halfway where she renovates a motel room + has a non consummated sexual encounter with a ynger man. What follows is the exploration of her sexual encounters as she rationalises her life. Its taken me a week to process, + still not sure.

A fascinating story of a woman lost in the shadow of a man's life story, a tale as old as time. Eileen O'Shaugnessy wrote a dystopian poem '1984' before her husband George's opus, went to Spain & helped order the republican fight leading to her facing death on both fascist + stalinist blacklists,+gave ideas toward Animal Farm, but is barely mentioned in Homage to Catalonia or biographies of Orwell. An excellent book that was compelling read.

The dramatic opening to this women's prize winner (sat in a pile for some times) then gives way to the story of a man redeeming himself by caring for his brother and sister in laws children as well as other curious characters he meets over the next year. A strange tale and Harry Silver is an endearing character who seeks forgiveness for his actions, which caused the crisis. It's darkly funny, an enjoyable read.

Nothing like reading in the park which is what we found ourselves doing at the weekend and this tye 7th in the merrily Watkins series finds the diocesan exorcist faced with the mystery of an apparent suicide from the tower in ludlow Castle mirroring that of a famous haunting (apparently true tale). Usual enjoyable story.

Two women from similar London Muslim backgrounds meet in a Syrian camp for isis brides. Nadia is a UN worker, an academic, who wants to derdicalise the women who have been living with isis husbands, often young and impressionable. Sara is one of those who joined isis. A book about a very important subject as states remove individual citizenship, but told in an accessible Manor with humour and from an informed writer. A good read.

A while since I delved into the world of
28 Barbary Lane and with Aids now having begun its impact the 'family' Michael at a loss enjoys a London flat exchange with a naval officer awol from the Royal yacht. Mary Ann and Brian, meanwhile, are unsure about trying for a baby as Mary Anne's TV career blossoms. Loved it and love this community. I'll try not to leave so long until the next.

A great piece of writing bringing the trilogy about black Texas Ranger Darren Matthews to a close. The author nails the politics of America today as a politician who has his eyes on greater rewards finds the indictment of a black law officer a personal crusade. Attica Locke is brilliant on race and politics as the story centres on the disappearance of a black student in a very white Uni house, as well as a creepy village created by a big company.

The last Dublin murder squad series is a twisty story in which a bit part character takes centre stage. Antoinette Conway, a woman of colour, is disliked by her colleagues except for her partner Steve. When they are allocated the murder of a woman in her flat, their boss has an older DS babysit them who appears to steer them off course. Is it Antoinettes's paranoia, or is the case set up for her fall? Great storytelling in a great series.

An excellent read in which 3 older women go to their recently deceased friend house to sort through her belongings. The gap in the group creates new tensions as all 3 struggle to adjust to new dynamics. The women are brilliantly portrayed as they have to accept ageing in a world where older women are often ignored despite their talents + personality. Stone Yard Devotional was so good, + this makes me want to read more of the author's work, v good

In a Spanish boat terminal two aged Irish men Maurice and Charlie hand out flyers in their search for a young woman. What follows in thus brilliantly told novel is the story of their life as we find out more about how these are not two gentle pensioners + the young girl is part of their past. Beautifully told but with a gloriously dark humour and sinister undertones. 5*

When picked for my next reading grp I groaned + after meeting the 3 sisters in the 1st 3 chapters abt each of them i didn't feel that I wanted to invest in a model, a corporate lawyer, + a boxer the first two with addiction issues. But as I persevered, I found the relationships relatable particularly as they deal individually with grief of a dead sibling. The dynamics of each to the other was well done, + I put it down gripped + glad I'd read it.

This is one of those books that I keep seeing everywhere at the moment so I thought I'd give it a go. Set in the 1970's in a West Yorkshire village two teenage girls become obsessed with the Yorkshire ripper and set out to find if he is someone hiding in plain sight in their community. The book is more about tensions in families and other issues than the ripper with lots of obligatory references to 1970's culture. An enjoyable read 3.5*

I think everyone has posted about the melodrama in this book. Certainly the characters couldn't be more extreme in traits with Nigel being a perfect villain + Betty his nemesis with a tension filled ending. I liked the political aspect with the emphasis on US progress while Britain is in decline
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Another very enjoyable book from the DS Alex Culpidi series set in Dungeness. When a body is found in the freezer of a property on the market for sale, a chain links it to the development of land for new houses, which houses badger setts and local wildlife. The subsequent investigation touches on local mp's , businessmen, and environmental campaigning. Really good series, and I plan to read the next one soon.

Set in a rambling country house, this is the story of Alison + Charles, who bring up their 6 children with the help of au pair Ingrid. As adults the children reflect on an unconventional childhood + strange parents, + we learn more of the secrets in this middle-class English family. Penelope Lively is adept at drawing out jealousies and tensions within families, and I love her writing. Always entertaining. Cake + tea brings mothers day to a close

I picked this up in the library and it is an excellently scary set of tales based in a haunted hotel on the fens. The underlying them is treatment of women over the years from the opening images of a woman blamed by villagers for children's deaths by plague, to hotel staff being mauled by lascivious men. The reading was enhanced by my then listening to the BBC series which came first + led to the book. Definitely worth reading and enjoyably creepy

Set in Tenessee in 1952 this is a great story of a family of 3 brothers + a father who is returning after a long absence. The father E F Bloodworth, in his 70s has a reputation for violence in the past and for playing the banjo. The bk also focuses on his grandson Fleming. This was a really enjoyable family drama with great characters and some brilliant scenes. Evokes the region + tensions within families, as well as the exuberance of youth well

Irl grp tonight had a good discussion abt Cal, + this great tale of Sean, a young irish man who, on returning from his degree in Liverpool to Belfast, is drawn back into a life dominated by the next party. A random act of violence drags him further down a path to oblivion until he meets an old friend, mariead. A story of the difficulty of life in a city in which the young are still impacted by the past + whether an individual can escape. V good.

A curious story that combines wonderfully ascerbic humour from Lydia, a London journalist, who returns to her Welsh cottage with her put upon friend Betty, with lovely descriptive writing. Lydia + Betty mingle with the locals and enjoy the various relationships that allow Lydia scope for her barbs. There is also a strange supernatural thread + commentary by a curious absent character, Angharad, which perhaps added little. Very enjoyable ⬇️

I was a little unsure abt the idea of a prequel when I have travelled over 20 years in the Tom Torne series but this was a great page turner that explains a lot of the detective's back story. Set in 1996, as the country is gripped by the European championship, a little boy is snatched in a park under the eyes of the two mothers. As the plot unfolds, we learn of thornes dissolving marriage and how he met Phil Hendricks. Good read

Last week, I read the 11th Dave Robicheaux, which, as usual, followed the similar formula and usual themes in Dave's life. Here he finds out that his mother, who left him, + his dad inbthe 60's was killed by cops. His search for the killer finds him against corrupt police and politicians as well as a rogue hit man. Enjoyable but I did feel after 11 books, the same formula and themes are getting a little too familiar. May leave bk 12 for a while .

A beautifully told story abt a young Catholic man living with his father in a loyalist community at the height of the troubles. Haunted by his part in the killing of a local police man he tries to get out of more ira activity. When he meets the widow of the victim, a love affair seems inevitable but doomed. A brilliant book that I couldn't put down + was immersed in brilliant writing. I saw the film in the 80s so will be interested to watch again

A gloriously dark tale of an English family. May has remarried the gruff retired colonel Herbert , using her money they buy a monstrous house as his daughter Alice and her 2 children, Elizabeth + Oliver, leave the home. The children's ill-fated love lives are explored with portraits of various characters being caustic + very funny. Men in this book are particularly ridiculous, but it is the ending that allows the writer to wallow in black humour.

After the events in book 1, Hella returns to 1950's Helsinki, having been kicked out of the police and working as a private investigator. When she is asked to look into the murder of a sex worker, she quickly clashes with two police officers who were involved in her dismissal. A very enjoyable crime novel set in 50's Finland, which alternated chapters from hella and one of the officers. Will read book 3 soon.

I very much enjoyed this inter War story of two families and the widowed matriarchs who are very different with parenting styles that put each other at odds. The story of the impact on the children who, in the end, seem lost while the g/children appear to be a thriving new generation.
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Catching up with last weekends reading and knowing that there are no more shardlake books, the stories of Giordano Bruno set in Elizabethan England are an enjoyable alternative. The 3rd finds our Italian ex monk going to Canterbury to save the life of Sophia, who has been accused of murdering her husband while his spy master Walsingham wants him to look into a plot to use the bones of Becket to start a Catholic plot. Good fun, historical crime.

Another fascinating trio into the fascinating life of Maya Angelou. It opens with a brilliant portrait of an aging Billie Holliday spending days in Maya's home, moves to NY + Maya involved in the civil rights movement as well as acting + bringing up her son, before her setting off the Africa with her South African freedom fighter husband. What a life. Written poetically but so compelling a tale, you can't put it down.

In rdg grp next week we are doing the 2 Celias , Dale + Fremlin. I enjoyed this one immensely as Celia Fremlin builds the tension page by page in a story of sisters whose resentment of each other is magnified by the potential of a the older sibling former lover returning from prison to have revenge. Dark but also capturing the claustrophobia of English seaside holidays. Good fun all around.

Not my best photo but the blurring reflects the mystery of this enjoyable haunted house story which starts with twin teenagers Tim + Abi creating their own haunted photo in their attic where they obsess abt the supernatural to their parents despair.
Two years later, 1974 , + Tim finds himself in Yarlings a Suffolk mansion reputed to be haunted with a grp of misfits experimenting with séances + planchettes. I enjyd this spooky read, good creepy fun

I picked this up on a charity stall, + it proved to be a cracking spy story that had me hooked to the last page. When John Craig, a yng American, bumps into a former professor in Paris, he hears a story of a nazi camp officer who everyone believed dead appearing on the same streets. When the pr is found dead, Craig is drawn into the hunt for a nazi who spied for Russia. Intricate plotting stands shoulder to shoulder with le carre, a joy of a find.

A devastating picture of racial brutality towards young black adolescents which was heartbreaking in the realisation that the story of the Nickel reform school is based on a true story in which the state failed to protect those entrusted to their care because of colour.
Elwood + Turner are the 2 boys at the centre of this absorbing story, which captures their ambition + hope to see it destroyed. I couldn't put it down + felt saddened by the end.

The darkest of dark humour in this story introduces me to the mind of celia dale + early 1960's England as two villainous characters swindle old ladies out of their meagre assets. The seedy nature of their enterprise finds Maisie + Josh Evans taking elderly Flo into their home + quickly manipulating her into a grim life trapped in her bedroom. The image of Josh creating his scrapbook will stay with me for a while. Bleak but bizarrely I loved it.

This will be my 1st 5* + my 1st willy vlautin. The story is of ordinary Americans just abt surviving in a society where life is tough. We follow Leroy, an Iraq veteran, who wants to kill himself, + his dreams in a hospital bed .Pauline is a nurse working hard shifts, and Freddie manages the home where Leroy lives as well as in a hardware store. Incredibly moving, a sorry story of America, brilliant characterisation, + a compelling bleak tale.

Latest Karen Pirie was good fun. Set in lockdown a librarian at the national archives links a crime writers manuscript to the disappearance of a young woman. With lots of nods and winks to the Scottish crime writing community, I think val macdermid enjoyed making the villains fellow crime writers. I enjoy the characters in the series, + it also still feels strange remembering lockdown. Hopefully, a new one soon + maybe a further TV adaptation