I have come at last to read The Salt Path by Raynor Winn, having heard much about it. I usually hesitate to read much-hyped books, but now, finding it on the shelves in Warwick Books, I’ve given in on this one! The first thing to say is that the cover design artwork for this book,Continue reading “Book Review: ‘The Salt Path’ by Raynor Winn”
Tag Archives: book review
Book Review: ‘The Spirit Engineer’ by AJ West
The Spirit Engineer by AJ West: This fictionalisation of a true story was probably one of the creepiest tales I’ve ever read. The Spirit Engineer by AJ West was published in July 2022. Its creepiness does not come from the purported spirits conjured up by the deceptive Goligher family in 1920s Belfast, but much moreContinue reading “Book Review: ‘The Spirit Engineer’ by AJ West”
Book Review: ‘The Winter Guest’ by W.C. Ryan
I was engrossed by this historical novel set in Ireland in 1921 among The Troubles that exploded in 1919 in the Irish War of Independence after the First World War. The Winter Guest by W.C. Ryan brings our investigator and first person narrator Tom Harkin to the atmospheric, crumbling and haunted ancestral mansion of theContinue reading “Book Review: ‘The Winter Guest’ by W.C. Ryan”
Book Review ‘The Shadowing’ by Rhiannon Ward
Today, I’m pleased to share with you my review of another of my Christmas book gifts: a gothic novel published in 2021 by Orion Books. The Shadowing by Rhiannon Ward is both a captivating read and a learning experience. I read this book in one evening and it gripped me throughout. Variously described on AmazonContinue reading “Book Review ‘The Shadowing’ by Rhiannon Ward”
Book Review: ‘Madam’ by Phoebe Wynne
This gothic novel Madam by Phoebe Wynne held me captive throughout, despite some reservations about the plot and development of ideas. The author builds a strong feeling of creepy, sinister, weird claustrophobia in an exclusive independent girls’ school on the Scottish coast. The main protagonist, Rose, has just been appointed to the highly paid postContinue reading “Book Review: ‘Madam’ by Phoebe Wynne”
Book Review: ‘Down Under: Travels from a Sunburned Country’ by Bill Bryson
Today I’m pleased to share with you my review of one of my Christmas present books. Having visited several of the Australian locations in this book – Sydney, Canberra, Alice Springs, Uluru, Darwin, and the Great Barrier Reef, among several others – I loved reading about Bill Bryson’s experiences there in his brilliant piece ofContinue reading “Book Review: ‘Down Under: Travels from a Sunburned Country’ by Bill Bryson”
Book Review: ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ by Liane Moriarty
Today I’m pleased to share with you my review of a book I greatly enjoyed. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty is set in the idyllic landscape of New South Wales, Australia. The TV adaptation appeared on our screens in 2021 as a TV mini series starring Nicole Kidman and shifted the action to theContinue reading “Book Review: ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ by Liane Moriarty”
Book Review: ‘Cuckoo in the Nest’ by Fran Hill
Today I’m delighted to be sharing my review of an ARC of this debut novel by my friend and very funny fellow-author Fran Hill, ‘Cuckoo in the Nest’, to be published by Legend Press on 26 April 2023. BLURB It’s the heatwave summer of 1976 and 14-year-old would-be poet Jackie Chadwick is newly fostered byContinue reading “Book Review: ‘Cuckoo in the Nest’ by Fran Hill”
Book Review: ‘The Continued Times of Isabella M. Smugge’ by Ruth Leigh
I’m delighted to be bringing you my review of this third Isabella book, as I’ve read and loved the previous two by Ruth Leigh: The Diary of Isabella M Smugge (book 1) and The Trials of Isabella M Smugge (book 2). Author Ruth Leigh The Continued Times of Isabella M Smugge was published by InstantContinue reading “Book Review: ‘The Continued Times of Isabella M. Smugge’ by Ruth Leigh”
Book Review: ‘Do What You Love – Fragility of Your Flame’ by MJ Mallon
Today I am delighted to be sharing with you my review of an advance copy of a new collection of poems, photography and flash fiction by fellow author MJ Mallon. The book is due out on Kindle on 25th November 2022, and the paperback will follow in due course. I’ve read this author’s work before:Continue reading “Book Review: ‘Do What You Love – Fragility of Your Flame’ by MJ Mallon”