Maggie James

Maggie James is a new author to me and looks like becoming a favourite.

Guilty Innocence

Amazon.com

My review -

In a story which will have real-life echoes for many, two eleven year-old boys kidnap and kill a toddler. Mark Slater is one of those boys and with his new identity he has carved out a place in society for himself. He has a decent job and a girlfriend, even though he is not supposed to have a relationship because of his child-killing conviction. Mark knows he's innocent. We find out about him, the other boy, the dead child's family and his girlfriend, Natalie. Mark acknowledges his own weakness. I was longing for him to come good.

This is a great story, detailing the effects of bullying, parental indifference, fear turning to hatred, and the gradual eating away of these things on a person's confidence and self-belief. Maggie James writes clearly and eloquently. She has a deceptively easy style in which she can convey so much. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, this is definitely the book for you

Charlie Wade

A new author to me and I enjoyed this mad story.

The Spy With Eczema

Amazon.com

My review -

Barry is a spy. His life is lonely, boring and pretty chaotic. He becomes involved with Don, who accidentally retrieves a data stick with top secret information on it. Don, ostensibly on sick because of a bad back, fancies his chances with Nicole, a French girl working in an English second-hand book shop. Mix in an offshoot of the Freemasons and things get complicated.

I enjoyed this story with its off the wall ideas and strange, and occasionally strangely likeable, characters. There was plenty going on, lots of people to whom it all happened and the denouement, although the story felt complete, promised more. I don’t always want something earth-shatteringly deep. If you want a bit of good entertainment, this is the book for you. I enjoyed it very much.