Alison Baillie

A second psychological thriller from this author. Eminently readable in a beautiful setting. Loved it!

A Fractured Winter

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My review -

When a neighbour’s small daughter is abducted from their idyllic Swiss village, Olivia becomes obsessive about the safety of her own children, particularly Lara, the missing girl’s best friend. Events from Olivia’s past loom large in her mind. This is a psychological thriller in which the beautiful setting is almost a character in itself. It’s a study in watching a person’s past come back to trouble her. It begins with a feeling of unease which ramps up until there’s a definite knowledge that something is very wrong. Only Olivia seems to see that – and the reader. At the climax of the story, things come very close to home for Olivia. I enjoyed this story very much. I love the author’s clear and easy style. Always a pleasure to read.

David Haynes

There are some authors whose books I leap on the minute they're published. David Haynes is one of them!

Klondike Slaughter

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My review -

Gold fever! The great rush to stake a claim and get rich. This cracking adventure story sees ex lawman Jake and his friend Willie join up with other individuals, including a native Tlingit Indian, to help one another over the gruelling passes and dense wooded terrain on the way to Dawson. Naturally, not everyone is friendly and helpful, and they make enemies as they travel. There are people wanting them dead.

The excitement in this really ramps up when we find that there is something else tracking the group; something that’s messing with their minds. David Haynes incorporates outdoor adventure with horror and legend. It’s a potent mix and it’s done very well. It’s atmospheric, with the snow and the rain as constant enemies. I suspect a lot of good research has gone into this book but the reader isn’t hammered with it. It just makes it very convincing and readable. A thoroughly gripping book.

C J Harter

A new author to me, and what a stunning debut! 

Rowan's Well

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My review -

This is a story about friendship, love, upbringing, loyalty and so much more. We follow two young men, Matt and Will, from their first meeting at university, through their marriages to twin sisters, and beyond. The tale that unfolds is at times heart-breaking but never boring. The writing is beautiful and the story totally gripping. I stayed up far beyond my bedtime to finish this. It’s that kind of book and I heartily recommend it.

Jim Webster

More tales from Jim's imaginary Land of the Three Seas. These are light amusing and invariably wise.

Tallis Steelyard. The Festival and other stories

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My review -

Another selection of tales from Port Naain, as told by jobbing poet Tallis Steelyard. Read about the underpinnings of dancing matrons, the secret beneath the undergarments of a gentlewoman of the town, the resurrection of a dead mercenary, and much more. This is a gentle comedy of manners in a world so different from our own. The author writes affectionately of his world and his characters, and I share that affection. Lovely stuff.

Denzil Meyrick

This book is the first in a series. Sometimes, you just know you'll be back!

Whisky from Small Glasses

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My review -

DCI Jim Daley is sent from Glasgow to investigate a body on the west coast. The area is another world to Jim and his sidekick – and then more bodies turn up. What I enjoyed about this book was that the main character felt absolutely real. He had his own burdens without being the caricature ‘maverick cop’ so fashionable now. The story works through a haze of gossip in the small community and Jim and his colleagues have to deal with a death for which he blames himself. This is the first in a series and is very well set up with plenty of possibilities for future stories. I found it extremely compelling and I know I’ll read more.

Malcolm Hollingdrake

This is a short story - a quick read - but it has a great purpose. Proceeds to the British Legion. 

The Penultimate Man

Amazon.com link

My review -

This is a short story about Harry’s experiences towards the end of the first World War. It encapsulates the hopeful elation of young love and the terrible losses of the battlefield. One is glorious, the other tragic. It’s a poignant and affecting read, and the profits go to the British Legion. Well worth a read.