January 2024
We’re baccccck, as Arnie didn’t quite say in The Terminator (and coincidentally, Vanda Symon, our interviewee this issue, would happily take him for a drink!) We’ll gloss over our year from hell and instead cross all appendages that 2024 will be considerably less fraught.
Allow us to ease you into the new year with a selection of reviews where you won’t be struggling for something to read next, whatever your taste. Have a look below at our whizzy new at-a-glance editorial format and see what tickles your fancy.
Deadly Ever After by Ben Aaronovitch (created by), Celeste Bronfman (writer), Andrew Cartmel (script editor), Jose Maria Beroy (pencils), David Cabeza (inks), Jordi Escuin Llorach (colours), Jim Campbell (letters), David Leach (editor), reviewed by Linda Wilson
When the stories in a book of fairy tales starts coming to life, two young river goddesses are determined to get to the bottom of a problem that they inadvertently sparked off.
Desperation in Death by J D Robb, reviewed by Sylvia Wilson
Lt Eve Dallas investigates The Academy, where young girls are trained for their future lives as slaves.
Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica, reviewed by Kerry Hood
A happily married surgeon leaves the house one day and does not return. His wife admits to having a furious row with him before he left, just one of the downs in a long-term marriage of standard ups and downs. But after several days, he has not returned home.
Look Both Ways by Linwood Barclay, reviewed by John Verpeleti
Sabotage results in fully autonomous cars taking over an island as a promotional event’s organiser tries to find her two children.
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane, reviewed by Chris Roberts
When teenager Jules Fennessy fails to return home, her mother Mary Pat goes looking for her. And one way or another, she will have answers.
The Burning Time by Peter Hanington, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Journalist William Carver investigates a prominent Australian whose projects are aimed at combating climate change.
The Last Devil to Die by RICHARD OSMAN, reviewed by Viv Beeby
Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim, four geriatric residents of Coopers Chase, are pursued by assorted hoodlums and psychopaths after they are caught up in the disappearance of a large quantity of missing drugs.
The Murder of Anton Livius by Hansjorg Schneider (translated by Astrid Freuler), reviewed by Chris Roberts
A death on an allotment on the French border with Switzerland proves problematic for the Basel police, and Inspector Hunkeler is expected to assist.
The Shark and the Scar by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, reviewed by Linda Wilson
When Jay wakes up in hospital, he knows something terrible has happened, but he has no memory of how he got there. All his dad wants is for him to get well. What he doesn’t want is to talk about how Jay got his injuries.
Please welcome Kiwi writer Vanda Symon to the Countdown hotseat this issue. We’re intrigued by her busy and varied life, and fully intend to gate-crash her night out with some very eclectic drinking chums. And we’d like to make it clear that Dolly Parton is a goddess and we want to sit either side of her and monopolise her shamelessly!
If you have a minute, take a look at what our friends at Reviewing the Evidence have been up to and catch up with their latest reviews of US and Canadian releases.
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Allow us to ease you into the new year with a selection of reviews where you won’t be struggling for something to read next, whatever your taste. Have a look below at our whizzy new at-a-glance editorial format and see what tickles your fancy.
Deadly Ever After by Ben Aaronovitch (created by), Celeste Bronfman (writer), Andrew Cartmel (script editor), Jose Maria Beroy (pencils), David Cabeza (inks), Jordi Escuin Llorach (colours), Jim Campbell (letters), David Leach (editor), reviewed by Linda Wilson
When the stories in a book of fairy tales starts coming to life, two young river goddesses are determined to get to the bottom of a problem that they inadvertently sparked off.
Desperation in Death by J D Robb, reviewed by Sylvia Wilson
Lt Eve Dallas investigates The Academy, where young girls are trained for their future lives as slaves.
Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica, reviewed by Kerry Hood
A happily married surgeon leaves the house one day and does not return. His wife admits to having a furious row with him before he left, just one of the downs in a long-term marriage of standard ups and downs. But after several days, he has not returned home.
Look Both Ways by Linwood Barclay, reviewed by John Verpeleti
Sabotage results in fully autonomous cars taking over an island as a promotional event’s organiser tries to find her two children.
Perilous TImes by Thomas D Lee, reviewed by Linda Wilson
An Arthurian knight teams up with a group of climate change protestors to take on a corrupt government and a fire-breathing dragon in a battle to save the country from an environmental disaster.Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane, reviewed by Chris Roberts
When teenager Jules Fennessy fails to return home, her mother Mary Pat goes looking for her. And one way or another, she will have answers.
The Burning Time by Peter Hanington, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Journalist William Carver investigates a prominent Australian whose projects are aimed at combating climate change.
The Last Devil to Die by RICHARD OSMAN, reviewed by Viv Beeby
Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim, four geriatric residents of Coopers Chase, are pursued by assorted hoodlums and psychopaths after they are caught up in the disappearance of a large quantity of missing drugs.
The Murder of Anton Livius by Hansjorg Schneider (translated by Astrid Freuler), reviewed by Chris Roberts
A death on an allotment on the French border with Switzerland proves problematic for the Basel police, and Inspector Hunkeler is expected to assist.
The Shark and the Scar by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, reviewed by Linda Wilson
When Jay wakes up in hospital, he knows something terrible has happened, but he has no memory of how he got there. All his dad wants is for him to get well. What he doesn’t want is to talk about how Jay got his injuries.
Please welcome Kiwi writer Vanda Symon to the Countdown hotseat this issue. We’re intrigued by her busy and varied life, and fully intend to gate-crash her night out with some very eclectic drinking chums. And we’d like to make it clear that Dolly Parton is a goddess and we want to sit either side of her and monopolise her shamelessly!
If you have a minute, take a look at what our friends at Reviewing the Evidence have been up to and catch up with their latest reviews of US and Canadian releases.
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. It's great to be back, and thank you all for your patience!
Linda and Sharon
Ten words to sum up your working life to date ...
From fish and chips cook, to researcher, and everything in between.
Nine things you can see from where you're sitting ...
My tea tray, the snoring cat, an out-of-control monstera plant, my overgrown garden, an excessive to-do list, a Leonardo da Vinci helicopter model, today’s fountain pens, 28 bottles of ink, a can of fly spray.
Eight minutes to prepare a meal. What's it going to be ?
Cheese and relish toasted sandwich – that’s a meal, right?
