March 2024
We maintain staunchly that a reviewer has done their job if someone with little interest in a topic or area of the genre marches off smartly to read the book. Sharon, who’s only ever seen about 50 films, now wants to read The Art of Horror Movies, thanks to Linda’s review (which mentions Basil Fawlty, but unusually leaves out Doug and Dinsdale Piranha, who are renowned for their ability to pop up in the most unlikely reviews!)
Naturally we’re far too nice to nail your head to the floor! Instead, we’ll beam helpfully and point you towards a splendid selection of reviews this issue. And we hope you’ll feel inclined to meander into parts of the genre that you wouldn’t usually poke a shapely toe into. There are some intriguing settings, including small-town Yorkshire and even smaller town USA, the London Underground, a packet ship on its way to America, and corners of New York where you won’t spot a tourist.
You can read the reviews by clicking on the links below …
A Pen Dipped in Poison by JM Hall, reviewed by Viv Beeby
Nasty anonymous letters have been sent to the staff and friends of St Barnabus Primary Academy. Retired teachers Liz, Pat and Thelma meet once more at their special table at Thirsk Garden Centre cafe to discover who is behind this wicked campaign before someone gets fatally hurt.
A Stranger in the Family by Jane Casey, reviewed by Linda Wilson
A nine-year-old girl vanished from home 16 years ago. Now her adoptive parents have been found dead in what looks like a murder-suicide. But DS Maeve Kerrigan isn’t convinced the case is as straightforward as it seems.
An Honest Living by Dwyer Murphy, reviewed by Chris Roberts
A New York lawyer has abandoned lucrative copyright law for small jobs which give him space to explore the city he loves – and his receptiveness to the unorthodox takes him to some unusual places.
Blue Water by Leonora Nattrass, reviewed by Sylvia Maughan
An important political treaty is being carried on the packet ship Tankerville to America for signing. Some of the passengers are on board in order to protect it. Others have very different agendas.
Hunting Time by Jeffery Deaver, reviewed by Kerry Hood
Colter Shaw is working again – hot on the trail of a missing mother and her daughter on the run from the woman’s abusive husband, who has been released early from prison. Shaw must use all his survival skills to keep them, and himself, alive.
Mark My Words by Muhammad Khan, reviewed by Linda Wilson
When Dua Iqbal’s hopes of working on a prestigious student newspaper are dashed, she sets up an online paper. What she doesn’t expect is opposition from her fellow students and a clash with those controlling the lucrative drugs trade in her home town.
No One Saw a Thing by Andrea Mara, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
The London Underground. Nearly 300 stations, pulsing with thousands of commuters. It’s a dark and dangerous warren for Sive’s lost six-year-old daughter.
Shadows Reel by CJ Box, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Joe Pickett and his wife Marybeth become involved in a bid to recover some Nazi memorabilia, and falconer Nate Romanowski takes a trip to recover stolen raptors.
The Art of Horror Movies by Stephen Jones, reviewed by Linda Wilson
The expanded second edition of An Illustrated History: The Art of Horror Movies provides a visual tour of movie history through informative, engaging text, copious film posters and other advertising material
When Ghosts Come Home by Wiley Cash, reviewed by Chris Roberts
The crash-landing of a mysterious plane creates a challenge for the local sheriff and brings to the surface tensions in the community.
Please welcome author Sarah Moore Fitzgerald to the Countdown chair. We like her no-nonsense advice to her teenage self. And we are both sighing nostalgically for a trip to Co Clare and Doolin in particular. And that’s a wonderful image of Sarah perched on a rock on the Atlantic Way, tootling along on a tin whistle …
Our friends at Reviewing the Evidence have been busy, so pop over there to see what’s new among the US and Canadian releases.
If you’d like to subscribe to our update email which we send into cyberspace every time there’s a new issue out, drop us a line (the email address is on our About page).
If you're following us on X/Twitter, you can find us at
.
Naturally we’re far too nice to nail your head to the floor! Instead, we’ll beam helpfully and point you towards a splendid selection of reviews this issue. And we hope you’ll feel inclined to meander into parts of the genre that you wouldn’t usually poke a shapely toe into. There are some intriguing settings, including small-town Yorkshire and even smaller town USA, the London Underground, a packet ship on its way to America, and corners of New York where you won’t spot a tourist.
You can read the reviews by clicking on the links below …
A Pen Dipped in Poison by JM Hall, reviewed by Viv Beeby
Nasty anonymous letters have been sent to the staff and friends of St Barnabus Primary Academy. Retired teachers Liz, Pat and Thelma meet once more at their special table at Thirsk Garden Centre cafe to discover who is behind this wicked campaign before someone gets fatally hurt.
A Stranger in the Family by Jane Casey, reviewed by Linda Wilson
A nine-year-old girl vanished from home 16 years ago. Now her adoptive parents have been found dead in what looks like a murder-suicide. But DS Maeve Kerrigan isn’t convinced the case is as straightforward as it seems.
An Honest Living by Dwyer Murphy, reviewed by Chris Roberts
A New York lawyer has abandoned lucrative copyright law for small jobs which give him space to explore the city he loves – and his receptiveness to the unorthodox takes him to some unusual places.
Blue Water by Leonora Nattrass, reviewed by Sylvia Maughan
An important political treaty is being carried on the packet ship Tankerville to America for signing. Some of the passengers are on board in order to protect it. Others have very different agendas.
Hunting Time by Jeffery Deaver, reviewed by Kerry Hood
Colter Shaw is working again – hot on the trail of a missing mother and her daughter on the run from the woman’s abusive husband, who has been released early from prison. Shaw must use all his survival skills to keep them, and himself, alive.
Mark My Words by Muhammad Khan, reviewed by Linda Wilson
When Dua Iqbal’s hopes of working on a prestigious student newspaper are dashed, she sets up an online paper. What she doesn’t expect is opposition from her fellow students and a clash with those controlling the lucrative drugs trade in her home town.
No One Saw a Thing by Andrea Mara, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
The London Underground. Nearly 300 stations, pulsing with thousands of commuters. It’s a dark and dangerous warren for Sive’s lost six-year-old daughter.
Shadows Reel by CJ Box, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Joe Pickett and his wife Marybeth become involved in a bid to recover some Nazi memorabilia, and falconer Nate Romanowski takes a trip to recover stolen raptors.
The Art of Horror Movies by Stephen Jones, reviewed by Linda Wilson
The expanded second edition of An Illustrated History: The Art of Horror Movies provides a visual tour of movie history through informative, engaging text, copious film posters and other advertising material
When Ghosts Come Home by Wiley Cash, reviewed by Chris Roberts
The crash-landing of a mysterious plane creates a challenge for the local sheriff and brings to the surface tensions in the community.
Please welcome author Sarah Moore Fitzgerald to the Countdown chair. We like her no-nonsense advice to her teenage self. And we are both sighing nostalgically for a trip to Co Clare and Doolin in particular. And that’s a wonderful image of Sarah perched on a rock on the Atlantic Way, tootling along on a tin whistle …
Our friends at Reviewing the Evidence have been busy, so pop over there to see what’s new among the US and Canadian releases.
If you’d like to subscribe to our update email which we send into cyberspace every time there’s a new issue out, drop us a line (the email address is on our About page).
If you're following us on X/Twitter, you can find us at
. Linda and Sharon
Ten words to sum up your working life to date ...
Challenging, fun, interesting, wide-ranging, shape-shifting, sometimes strange, surprising, slightly mad.
Nine things you can see from where you're sitting ...
Laptop, phone, desk, trees, dog, candle, books, coffee cup, chocolate.
Eight minutes to prepare a meal. What's it going to be ?
Rigatoni with pesto. Both are pantry staples in my house.
