Book review - The Stolen Manuscript by Ray E. Spencer

Tim Tender, the main protagonist, had studied criminology at college, which is where he learned to unravel mysteries. He enjoys reading detective novels by Raymond Chandler and aspires to be a Private Investigator. The body of prize-winning writer Jake Venom has turned up, and the manuscript he had gone out to post has disappeared! Mrs. Vicki Venom employs Tim to solve the crime. However, not only did Vicki not report her husband missing for two days she also did not seem that upset or surprised at her husband's murder. Who does Vicki fly off to stay with once the funeral plans are in place? Why was there a dictionary with highlighted words placed on Jake's body? Furthermore, what do these words spell out? 

I love Raymond Chandler's books, and this is written in a similar vein. It was very clever how the author hinted at writers of detective novels, their books, and films in this genre. For instance, he names his main character Tim Tender after the film Tender Nightmare. Tim likes to dress like Philip Marlowe, and this is remarked on several times in the book. However, because the author puts so many quotes and references in the book, it felt like he was reviewing these books rather than writing his own. Ray E. Spencer needs to concentrate on his own ideas! 

More things that I disliked about this book are that Spencer fills it with unnecessary detail. When the characters go to restaurants, we learn very little from their conversations, but we know every minute detail about the food, the waitress, and the decor. Due to this, I kept losing track of the story and had to reread chapters, making the book a slow and tedious read! Also, I didn't particularly appreciate that there were many unnecessary conversations. This book would be much more enjoyable if the author cut down on all the boring conversations and used them to give details that help move the story along. I read the Kindle book, which has yet to be edited or proofread, as I found grammar errors throughout! There are also details in the book which have not been checked for accuracy, such as the ashes from a cremation being collected the same day for scattering; this could not possibly happen! 

Due to all the negatives and the fact that I did not enjoy The Stolen Manuscript by Ray E. Spencer, I give a rating of 1 out of 5 stars. Spencer needs to rewrite this book and get a professional to thoroughly edit and proofread the new copy before publishing!

Kindle book review - The face of Fear by R. J. Torbert

Deborah is the daughter of William Lance, a self-made millionaire. Since her mother died when she was thirteen, there have been just the two of them, which has made her father very protective of her. Deborah is now twenty-six and in a relationship with her father's assistant Robert Simpson. William is uneasy because of the big age gap but otherwise is pleased for the couple. One Saturday, Deborah meets William for lunch before he sees her drive onto the Bridgeport Cross Island Ferry. She is due to meet up with her best friend, Patty Saunders, for dinner and a concert. Deborah never arrives!

As the ferry leaves the dock, a stranger punches Deborah in the face and knocks her out. Two men with him help put her in the boot of his car. There are no clues, and nobody sees this happen. Detectives Powers and Johnson have never met Deborah, but she becomes a big part of their lives as they work hard to find her before the kidnapper's deadline. Detective Powers thinks he knows how the kidnapping occurred and enlists friends and colleagues to put his theory to the test. Unfortunately, it all goes horribly wrong! Why has Deborah been kidnapped? Is Robert Simpson hiding a secret? Moreover, who is Ghostface? Read The Face of Fear by R. J. Torbert to find answers to these questions and solve the mystery.

I disliked lots of things about this book. Torbert repeats himself throughout. For example, on page fifteen, Torbert writes that Joey constantly walks around the restaurant keeping an eye on the staff and customers. Two lines further on, he says that Joey was famous for constantly walking around the restaurant, making sure everything was running smoothly. This happens regularly throughout The Face of Fear, and I struggled to finish the book. Because of the repetitions, the story is slow to move on and becomes boring! 

I enjoyed the banter between Powers and Johnson, which added a touch of humor. The concept for this complicated story is excellent but could have been better executed and needs a professional editor and proofreader to knock it into shape. I found mistakes on most pages, sentences that ran on, spelling errors, and the wrong grammar. Torbert changes his mind on details constantly. For example, on page two hundred and seventy-three, Detective Johnson meets a friend's dog for the first time, and while petting her, he sees her dog tag, which reads Minty, and in the same sentence, Torbert writes that the detective says '"Hey, Monty!" There are also huge mistakes in a chapter entitled 'Saturday, June 25th' where everyone refers to the day as Sunday! 

I rate The Face of Fear by R. J. Torbert 1 out of 5. I give it one point because the ending was unexpected, and I was surprised when I discovered who Ghostface was! I have taken four points away due to all the errors I have already mentioned and the fact that many supporting characters are unnecessary. They are very one-dimensional and do not add anything to the story. I also found the main characters very stereotyped and predictable. 

Once all the mistakes have been corrected, The Face of Fear will be an engaging and exciting read. But as it stands, I would not recommend it to anyone; however, if you enjoy thrillers involving crime, murder, and detectives and can ignore the errors, then you would enjoy this book. There are swearing and sexual references, so it would be best suited to adults.

Kindle Book Review - Rock's Wages by Vivian Doolittle

In 1976, twenty-three-year-old Ricky Harris was the lead singer and bass player for the Windy City rock group. He is feeling good. He has a bottle of whisky and a cigarette in his hands. He has just played a sellout concert and is in love with Angie. Life could not be better. When he finds Angie in their hotel room having sex with his best friend, Ricky's life falls apart! Ricky is heartbroken. He jumps in his car and drives around aimlessly until he sees a man being thrown off a bridge into a canal by two thugs. Ricky jumps into the water to save the man. Once he gets the stranger to dry land, Ricky realizes he is too late and the man is dead.

Ricky sees that the man looks very similar to him and swaps clothes, driving license, and keys with the man, then drags him into his car before pushing the car and the man back into the canal. Ricky Harris is now dead, and Thor Swenson lives. Who was Thor Swenson? What have Ricky and Thor got in common? Moreover, what happens forty years later when retired Detective Mick Thorne reopens the case of the rocker who is found at the bottom of a canal in his car? To find the answers to these questions, read Rock's Wages by Vivian Doolittle.

I enjoyed reading Rock's Wages. It was fascinating knowing what had happened to Ricky and Thor but reading how Thorne gradually gets to the answer. This well-written story has been thoroughly researched and planned. Vivian Doolittle pays attention to every detail, whether writing about the 1970s or 2010s. I liked how Doolittle used Ricky changing into Thor to get the young rock star off alcohol and drugs and create a new, improved version of him. The twist in the tale whereby Ricky is singing the songs he wrote forty years before, but as his new persona Thor, is brilliant. 

I disliked nothing about Rock's Wages. Vivian Doolittle takes the reader through a roller coaster of emotions with ease. She sensitively tells of a person living with cancer. Raunchily describes rock bands and gigs. It tells of an ex-policeman's struggles to find the truth behind a cold case. There is sex rough and drug-fueled, and sex gently built up to with romantic dates. I laughed, sighed, held my breath, and cried my way through this brilliant book.

I recommend Rock's Wages to anyone who enjoys a murder mystery with a bit of romance and a lot of heart. There is profanity and sexual references, so it would only be appropriate reading for adults.

I read the Kindle version of Rock's Wages by Vivian Doolittle, which I give 4 out of 5. I enjoyed everything about this book, but there were many grammar errors. Once this book has been professionally edited and proofread, it will get a worthy 5 out of 5 from me!

Book Review - Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg

 

Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg begins by introducing us to Raoul Martez. Raoul has just retired from a career in the army, where he had become a shooting instructor. He is now looking for a job to support him while he returns to night school to get qualifications and better career prospects. Raoul becomes a garbage collector joining Trinity Waste Management, the biggest waste management company in the town. The work is backbreaking, and often the trucks go out with a two-person crew when they are supposed to be manned by three men.

Mr. Samuels, the vice president of operations, is always angry. He thinks nothing of yelling at his staff or beating them up. Then the CEO of Trinity is found murdered,  stuffed into a large garbage bin. Enter Hank Boucher, an ex-U.S. Navy Seal for fifteen years who decided to retire at thirty-six. Having had six months of intensive training, Hank is now a Central Intelligence Agency agent, and investigating the murder is his first assignment. Why has the FBI not been assigned to the case? How are Raoul Martinez and his driver Hubert Manton involved? Moreover, is Mr. Samuels the murderer? Read Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg to find out the answers to these questions.

The only thing I liked about Murder in the Garbage was the deference and respect with which Greenberg portrays the job of garbage collection. Greenberg makes some essential points about our throw-away society; he makes one of Raoul Martinez's hobbies, upcycling. He also includes a conversation with Martinez and his partner about the different types of rubbish thrown away in rich and poor areas. This made me reassess my efforts to recycle and reuse.

I am disappointed that there was little else to like about Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg. The book has yet to be edited or proofread; there are a lot of grammar and spelling errors. I was not impressed that the author changed his mind about the name of the waste disposal company partway through the book. For example, on page eight, "Hello, Triangle Waste Management, Linda Bailey speaking, may I help you?" but by page ten, it is being called Trinity Waste Management example "What you said is true. Might I ask why you picked Trinity to apply to?". Moreover, many long-winded conversations lead nowhere, and every new character, no matter how small their part, is described in great detail, including their height and weight. This makes the book boring!

I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars as it needs proofreading and editing, there needs to be clarity over the company's name, and Greenberg uses unnecessary descriptions to make the story appear a lot more interesting than it is!

I would recommend this book to adults who like gentle murder mysteries which have mild swearing but no sex. There is some stereotyping of Mexican people. Moreover, no man can walk past a woman in this book without fancying her. So if you find these attributes offensive, then Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg is probably not for you.

Book Review - Visiting With An Angel by Jerry A. Greenberg

 

Visiting With An Angel by Jerry A. Greenberg begins with Jerry mulling over his life. He has two children he sees little of as they live so far away; his wife is dead, and so are many of his friends. He knows that he is getting older and won't be alive forever. Jerry thinks about what he will leave behind, which makes him wonder about his ancestors and how their lives may have influenced him. He wonders if he is the black sheep of the family. Jerry has been a writer, while the ancestors he knows about have been professional people. 

Jerry decides to research his genealogy. From his parents, who were born in the United States, back through his grandparents, who were Eastern European Jews. His first stop is the cemetery which is one hundred miles away! What work did Jerry's great-grandpa do? What has happened to the pine forest, which was next to Jerry's family home growing up? Which of Jerry's ancestors ran away to join the circus? Read Visiting With An Angel by Jerry A. Greenburg for the answers to these and other questions. Along the way, you will also meet Ray, Jerry's cat, his best friend, and confidante.

The history that Jerry found out about Poland and America is fascinating. He traced his fourth great-grandfather back to Poland in the late seventeen hundreds and discovered that Polish people did not have surnames then! I felt the deep emotions in Jerry's life. His love for his family and his overwhelming loneliness now most of them have died. It was clever how Jerry A. Greenberg transitioned from the present day to the nineteen fifties by visiting a café he had visited often as a child. Exiting the café, he could only see the people and places of his youth. Visiting With An Angel by Jerry A. Greenberg is well-thought-out, and the characterization is brilliant. Greenberg writes about the past, but he writes so vividly that I felt the story was taking place now. 

I disliked nothing about Visiting With An Angel. The cover art is beautiful and fits the story well. Jerry's humor and love for his family and friends shine through the book, making it a delightful read. There are also no swearing or sexual references.  

I recommend Visiting With An Angel by Jerry A. Greenberg to adults who enjoy history and autobiographies. But this book is so much more. It is also about ghosts, the supernatural, and the mysteries of life. Greenberg uses all these elements to tell the story of his life and the family and friends who influenced the man he is today. 

I want to give Visiting With An Angel by Jerry A. Greenberg 5 out of 5 stars. It is well-written, and the editing is perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Jerry's life and all the wonderful family and friends he has made along the way.

I would like to thank Jerry A. greenburg for a free copy of Visiting With An Angel in exchange for my unbiased review.  

You can see more of my reviews here :  http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Audio book review - 1979 by Val McDermid

 

1979 is the first instalment in the Allie Burns series set against the bustling backdrop of nineteen-seventies Glasgow. The story introduces us to Allie Burns. Allie is a young journalist whose investigative work leads her into a world of murder, corruption and terror. It is January nineteen seventy-nine. The year has brought strikes, blizzards, political unrest and power cuts. However, the bad news is a chance for Allie to move on from the "women's stories" to which the editors at the Scottish daily The Clarion have confined her. She becomes close friends with budding investigative journalist Danny Sullivan. Together, they uncover a story of international tax fraud involving Scots ultranationalists who plan to cause mayhem ahead of a referendum on breaking away from the UK. Danny and Allie's stories quickly get attention and create enemies for the two young reporters. As they get closer to breaking the news, will Allie and Danny find their lives on the line? Read 1979 by Val McDermid to find out.

Drawing on McDermid's experiences as a young journalist, 1979 is redolent of the thundering presses, hammering typewriters, and wreaths of the smoke of the Clarion newsroom. It is the latest suspenseful addition to McDermid's crime pantheon. It is compulsive, enthralling, and atmospheric. It not only looks at crime and the city's gritty underbelly but also touches on the changes in technology, fashion and music. The novel explores class, gender, sexuality, and politics alongside a high-stakes investigation into corruption and unrest in Glasgow in the Seventies. A riveting, captivating, and propulsive start to a series that shows much promise.

I was surprised to read that in Scotland it was still illegal for people to be gay until 1981. I liked the way McDermid dealt with the fact that Danny was gay and how that had an effect on his life.

I listened to the audiobook, which is eleven hours and six minutes long. Sadly the thing I disliked about this audiobook was the fact that the reader, Katie Leung, often mispronounced words. I thought this was because she is Scottish and the book is set in Scotland, but having researched the words, they should be pronounced the same as in England.

I want to give this book 3 out of 5 stars. It is an exciting read, but the ending is disappointing, and the Allie I got to know whilst listening to the audiobook would not have jumped into bed with Rhona after hearing that her best friend Danny had been murdered. I am also taking one star off for the mispronunciation of the reader as this should have been picked up on and is as bad as grammar and spelling errors in a print book!

Book review - House of Eire by June Gillam

 

House of Eire by June Gillam begins with Hillary Broome, a writer, and her husband Ed, a detective. They live in California. Hillary is busy finalizing plans for a two-week belated honeymoon in Ireland with Ed, their seven-year-old daughter Claire and Ed's mother, Sarah. They will stay with their friends Seamus, a solicitor, and his American wife, Bridget, living in Galway. Bridget has been studying the history of Ireland and wants a memorial built to honor the Irish people. Seamus has been working with Dermot Connolly, an American developer who plans to buy land to build a Disneyland-style theme park. Connolly has decided on land where Bridget wants to build her memorial and is taking devious measures to get his way.

Hillary has been trying to trace her family tree. Her mother ran off, leaving Hillary when she was ten; she hopes that researching the Irish family background will help her find out why. Why has Bridget been receiving strange dolls in the post? Can Seamus convince Bridget to build the monument outside the theme park? Is the rumor that Connolly runs an Irish Mafia true? Why do nightmares plague Bridget? Moreover, what is Seamus not telling Bridget? For the answers to these and other questions, read House of Eire by June Gillam.

I liked the sensitive way June Gillam approaches Irish history. Having traced my Irish ancestry, I felt the pain Bridget suffers every time she finds another piece of evidence of the troubled times the Irish poor went through. Quote from page fifty-one "But, there are hundreds and thousands more who lived and died without mention—I feel for them, and I wasn't even born here!" Many interesting themes are touched upon, and the tension builds slowly. House of Eire is the third book in the Hillary Broome series, but I found it easy to read as a stand-alone book.

The first half of House of Eire is unnecessarily long and detailed. The story takes a long time to build up, and the many long-winded conversations really could have moved the story along more. June Gillam tends to end each chapter with something dramatic, which often feels forced and awkward. I did not find the conclusion was worth the wait. The book was described as a mystery, but there are very few surprises, which I  found disappointing. House of Eire does not seem to have been edited or proofread at all. I found many errors in spelling and grammar throughout the book.

I recommend House of Eire by June Gillam to adults who enjoy reading fictional books about Ireland, murder, and mysteries. There is swearing in the book, which makes it inappropriate for a younger audience.

I want to give House of Eire 3 out of 5 stars. I have removed one star due to the lack of proofreading and the other because the conversations were far too long-winded, making the book drag. I would have liked there to have been more depth to what could have been an exciting story, and the ending was disappointing.

book review - That Weekend by Kara Thomas

 

That Weekend by Kara Thomas begins with Claire waking up in the middle of a pathway with no memory of how she got there. She has no memory of the last day. An entire day wiped from her memory! When Claire breaks up with her cheating boyfriend just before the school prom, her best friends Kat and Jesse invite her with them for a camping trip. She has been friends with them for years, and she is ready for some fun after her heartbreak. However, when Claire wakes up, her friends are missing. They have vanished without a trace, and everyone looks to Claire for answers. The trip has become a nightmare Claire cannot even remember! Why is Claire on her own on a pathway in a forest? What has happened to Kat and Jesse? Why does Kat's grandma hate Jesse? Moreover, how is Kat's cousin involved in the mystery? To find answers to these questions, read That Weekend by Kara Thomas.

The story starts slowly. While we wait to find out if Claire's memory returns, it feels right that the pace is slow. The story only gains momentum halfway through when Claire starts an investigation of her own. She follows some bizarre clues, and the book becomes more interesting. While I was hoping for a little more mystery, danger, and edge, I was entirely unprepared for the twist that happened and took me utterly by surprise!

I was hoping for more danger and more chills. I wanted a page-turning mystery that gripped me. That Weekend was a good read, it just was not the chilling mystery that I was hoping for. True, I needed to find out all the who, what, where, when, why, and how of everything, and some shocking details came out throughout the book's second half. The ending was where things became exciting.

I recommend That Weekend by Kara Thomas to readers who enjoy mystery. This book still has enough mystery and shocks to make it an enjoyable read.

I rate That Weekend by Kara Thomas 3 out of 5 stars. It was readable but did not have the edge-of-the-seat shocks, twists and turns I want from a murder mystery.

Book review of Hemiphos by stefanie Jacob

Hemiphos by Stefanie Jacob begins at Edar Laxon's mansion in the Vosper Peninsular. It is a ruined castle perched on top of a hill. The elderly aristocrat who once lived there had vanished one night years before. None of the residents dare to go near it since the disappearance of John Hopper. They believe supernatural beings haunt the castle! Visitors to the town have often been curious enough to want to check out the castle themselves, but most of them never returned, and those that did had been driven insane! 

Three teenagers, Jason, Roxanne, and Pyrrhus, swim in a lake near the castle. Jason says that he has been inside the castle many times. The three have spent nearly all their time together since they were children, and Pyrrhus and Roxanne do not believe his boasts. They take up Jason's dare to enter the castle with him that evening. Do the teenagers make it out of the castle alive? What secrets do they uncover? Roxanne was told her father is dead, but she knows he is alive; what is the mystery surrounding him? Read Hemiphos by Stefanie Jacob to discover the answers to these and other questions.

There is absolutely nothing I disliked about Hemiphos by Stefanie Jacob. This book reminded me of being a child and devouring the stories written by the brothers, Grimm. It is a story that blends mystery, ghosts, and the supernatural seamlessly. There is a slow build-up, but Stefanie Jacob has written a powerful dark fairy tale that takes the reader on a magical journey introducing ghosts, spirits, and wolves with unique powers. Every chapter has some new element which kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next. 

I recommend Hemiphos by Stefanie Jacobs to older teenagers and adults who enjoy fantasy fiction involving ghosts, mystery, and a sprinkling of romance; this enchanting book has many secrets to uncover. "For Christ's sake" and "Bollocks" are used, which makes the book inappropriate for a younger audience.

I want to give Hemiphos 4 out of 5 stars. The book has been translated into English perfectly, and I found no grammar or spelling errors. The cover art is beautiful and gave me a feel for the story before I even began to read it. The last chapter is excellent and left me wanting more. I am pleased that this is the first book in a trilogy.

 

Review of Ubiquita by Gary Winstone

 

Ubiquita by Gary Winstone begins with Daniel fighting his way through a forest. He is exhausted, has various injuries, and is wet through. We do not know why he is there or where he is going, but it will soon be sunset, and he is not safe! Daniel builds a fire to ward off animals and keep him warm; he removes an unusual golden necklace with a triangular medallion from around his neck, which he inherited from his grandad. Daniel is taken back to when he was eight and his grandad was dying. His grandad gives him a journal in which he has written down all his adventures, and he makes Daniel promise to continually explore and try new things. Daniel became a palaeontologist fascinated by nature and travelled the world. He is so wrapped up in his own life that he loses touch with his father until a telegram arrives saying his father has had a severe decline in health and he needs to come back to England. Daniel's dad is dying, and while he sleeps by his bed, Daniel is woken by a strange light as the medallion glows and moves and gives life to three golden, winged creatures. What is this magic? Why did Daniel's father hide the medallion and journal from Daniel and pretend it was missing? What will Daniel find when he explores what happened in Peru a hundred years before? Furthermore, who or what is Ubiquita?
 

Ubiquita is Gary Winstone's first foray into writing science fiction. I was fascinated by the adventures in this well-written and well-thought-out novella. I loved how Gary Winstone describes death and how eight-year-old Daniel understands it. This is beautifully descriptive and pulls at the heartstrings. Winstone is very poetic when he waxes lyrical about the medallion, for example, location ninety-six "Before long a rippling sphere filled the centre of the medallion, gently rotating, swirling, casting warm light across the room." I particularly like this sentence which I think should be a mantra for everybody, location six hundred and ninety-three "The more you know, the more you know you don't know." Gary Winstone shows an excellent knowledge of physics and astronomy. This book has a slow build-up to an exciting ending which I did not expect.

The cover is the one thing I dislike about Ubiquita by Gary Winstone. It looks like someone has drowned, and it does not give the reader an insight into this brilliant science fiction story which takes the reader on a mysterious adventure.

I recommend this to adults who enjoy science fiction, adventure and mysteries. There is some swearing in the book, which is inappropriate for a younger audience.

I absolutely love Ubiquita by Gary Winstone. There are several grammar and spelling errors, but these do not detract from the story, and I rate it a resounding 5 out of 5 stars! The book is brilliantly written and beautifully captivating right from the start, and Ubiquita is a novella I will remember long after reading it. I look forward to reading more books by Gary Winstone!

Children's book review - Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula by R. F. Kristi

 

Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula by R.F. Kristi begins one Sunday morning. Inca, the Siberian cat, and head of the detective agency, has gathered with her friends to admire a magnificent Siberian tiger painting. It has been purchased by Solo, the owner of the mansion, and the tiny cottage where Inca, her animal family, and their human mom, Missy, live. Later that day, Inca's ears prick up when she hears Missy telling Solo that she has been chosen to judge a prestigious patisserie competition in South Korea. Missy is an award-winning cheese maker. Moreover, the organizers will arrange a special event to introduce Missy's new cheese creation. All the animals have passports and are very excited to hear they will be going too. Solo and his dog Terrance are also joining them on the trip. When the family and friends arrive at Incheon airport, they are met by Mr Ye-Jun, their tour guide. Missy is pleased to hear that he will also be their translator. Mr Ye-Jun is a sad man, and when Inca and her detectives hear it is because he cannot see his sister in North Korea, they devise a plan to reunite the siblings. Who is Enzo, and why do Missy and her pets hate him? What does Missy find is missing when they arrive at the airport? Furthermore, do the cat detectives succeed in their mission?
 

Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula is the eighth book in the Cat Detectives series. However it is unnecessary to have read the rest of the books. R.F Kristi has spent some time researching the different types of animals and has put much work into making the story entertaining and, at the same time, educational. Children will love learning about the types of animals, Korean culture, and the divisions between North and South Korea. I was pleased to see a family tree at the beginning of the book, which details which cats belong to Missy. There is also a page with pictures of all Inca and Company detective agency members with some background information.

My one dislike was the use of baby words. For example, on page thirty-one, "Terrance had transformed from a mild-mannered gentlemanly doggy to a fierce snarling Terrance."

I recommend this book to younger children who enjoy mystery stories featuring animals and can read by themselves. It would also be an excellent book for parents to read to their younger children.

There were a couple of grammar errors but not enough to stop me from rating Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula by R.F. Kristi 5 out of 5 stars. This is a delightful book that entertains while also educating young children. I look forward to reading this series to my granddaughter when she is old enough to enjoy it!

 

Thank you to R. F. Kristi for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Now I can See The Moon by Bonar Ash

 

Now I Can See The Moon by Bonar Ash begins in nineteen fifty-five in Surrey, England. It begins by telling us about Milly and her best friend, Izzy. The girls are seven years old and are inseparable. They spend much of their time in the attic, where Milly feels closest to her mother. Milly's mother, Miranda, died the year before. Luke, who grew up next door to Miranda and was her lifelong friend, becomes Milly's guardian and caretaker of their big house. The story then moves on ten years, and we begin learning about the other people who live in the house. The two lodgers are Esme and Felix. Babe, the housekeeper, is a surrogate mother to Milly. Also, Pascale, the one person in the house who hates Milly, was Miranda's childhood nurse. By this time, Luke is an award-winning carpenter running a successful business. Several women in the village are hoping he will want to have them as romantic partners.

Since her mother died, Milly has been plagued by a recurring nightmare: she falls off a boat into the water. She always wakes up at the point where she would have drowned, but Milly has no memory of ever being on a boat, and no one in the house can help her. As Milly gets older, she starts to see that most of the people she knows have secrets which they have been keeping from her. What is the nightmare all about? Why is Felix estranged from his daughter and granddaughter? Why does Pascale, who worshipped Miranda, hate Milly so much? Furthermore, what is the secret that everyone but Milly seems to know?

I loved the description Bonar Ash used for the child's view of where people go when they die. For example, on page one, "I could lose myself in the night sky with its overwhelming stars. I would search the glittering mass, looking for answers. I wondered if Grandma and Grandpa and my mother had somehow got tangled up in them and were wandering about, wondering what on earth had happened and why they couldn't come home." Some of the writing is almost poetic, which was beautiful to read. For example, on page thirteen, "I reached under the bed, which lolled like a vast beached boat in the middle of the attic floor."

I learnt a lot about the social history of the sixties. Babe loves music, so the top singers of the day are mentioned at one point, as are the advertising jingles. For example, on page eighteen, "go to work on an egg", it was lovely to have these reminders of a life my parents grew up in. However, as the book progresses, there are constant quotes from books and songs; these start to feel like padding; they are distracting and not helpful in helping the story progress. I would prefer the author to take all the quotes out and have a shorter book!

There are also many quotes from French songs which Miranda loved. It would have been nice to have a translation at the back of the book. The flow of the story was interrupted by having to keep googling to find out what the translation was.

Now I Can See The Moon by Bonar Ash started with great potential. However, the continuous quotes soon became tiresome. They were used to pad out the story, did not feel relevant in most cases, and I felt they were lazy on the author's part. The overuse of french song lyrics with no translation also spoilt the flow of the story considerably. Furthermore, I  feel the storyline is an unlikely one. Luke would have been eighteen or nineteen when Miranda died. Nevertheless, he was happy to take on the responsibility of a six-year-old girl. I have never met a teenage boy who could look after themselves, let alone a young child!

The editing was very good. I only found three errors. However, due to the mentioned dislikes, which spoiled the book for me, I want to give Now I Can See The Moon by Bonar Ash 3 out of 5 stars

I recommend this book to adult readers, especially people who enjoy a mystery with a hint of romance. There is some swearing, so I do not think this book is appropriate for younger audiences.

Thank you to Bonar Ash for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Clean Kill by Nick Everard

 

Clean Kill by Nick Everard revolves around several stories. John Gault whose wife Jenny has recently died of cancer has just started a new relationship with Sarah Hall. The husband of the latter committed suicide a year ago. John has a son Tom who, together with his wife, Emma, has taken over the running of the family farm. John is only fifty-five but has spare time on his hands now. Writing a murder mystery is something he has always wanted to do, and encouraged by Sarah, he begins.

Carl Barrow, a self-made millionaire who made his money through nefarious ways, is described as a wide boy. He has just been released from prison and has been on remand for over a month. His wife Cynthia is displeased when he is released at the trial, and she walks out. A Panorama investigation is shown on BBC, all about Carl's strange acquittal. The programme gives John the idea that his book will be about someone who kills a stranger just because they have heard about them in the news and have come to hate them.

Carl begins to retaliate against the people involved in the documentary. The BBC arrange round-the-clock protection for everyone. Why do the protectors suddenly walk out? How is Carl connected to Sarah's husband's suicide? What lengths will John and Sarah go to get the book written? 

I like Nick Everard's excellent plot and subplots woven into the story. It could have been confusing with so many characters in Clean Kill, but Everard brings them all to life with his descriptions. He has done a great job of mixing several stories without causing any confusion, and I like how the book progresses. I particularly liked how Nick Everard drip-feeds the reader on how the characters tie up. I enjoyed the way John and Sarah dissect every part of the novel John is writing. In chapter thirteen, John and Sarah discuss what gun would be best to use and take an A.410 gun and some old tins of paint up to the spinney. Everard has researched guns thoroughly. 

There is swearing in Clean Kill by Nick Everard. However, it is always appropriate to the character in the story and not used unnecessarily. For example, on page seventy-six, "You have made a friend of mine very angry. You fucked around with his life, so now he's fucked around with yours. Don't do it again, or it'll be worse."

One of my criticisms is that John has only been a widower for two months and had been happily married to Jenny for twenty-nine years prior to her death. I do not think anyone could get over their grief that quickly! The editing lets this great book down as I found several grammatical errors and confusion on page 192 quote, "The cheap new trainers he'd bought for what he termed "the event" were already in the back of the Volvo" it was Sarah who bought the trainers, not John!

I want to rate Clean Kill 4 out of 5 stars due to the errors. I am really disappointed that I had to reduce a star as Clean Kill is an entertaining page-turner with a satisfying ending. This book is an easy read. However, it keeps you on your toes, turning the pages to discover what will happen next and wondering where the story will lead at the climax. 

I would recommend Clean Kill by Nick Everard to adults who enjoy a well-thought-out whodunnit with lots of twists, turns, and surprises. There are mild sexual references, mainly hinted at and left to the reader's imagination, and swearing.  

Thank you to Nick Everard for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Stolid by Aaron D Key

 

Stolid by Aaron D Key begins with a man thumbing a lift in the torrential rain, a young man pulls over, and the rain-drenched Stolid gets in the car, believing he has a lift to London. Stolid is lulled to sleep by the warmth. When he wakes up, the car is parked in a layby on a quiet lane. The young driver tells Stolid that he knows him and only went out that evening to find him. Stolid's story is then told through flashbacks of his life.

Stolid had two relationships with older men. He was sleeping rough when Joseph offered him a place to stay. Stolid realises he has romantic feelings for Joseph; sadly, the relationship does not last Joseph and Stolid have too many insecurities about their sexuality. Stolid meets Jonathan things are looking up for Stolid. He has passed his exams and has been offered the two jobs he has interviewed for. So what has led to him being out in the pouring rain and accepting a lift from a strange young man? Moreover, does Stolid learn who the young man is?

Aaron D Key is a very talented writer. I love his descriptions which are almost poetic at times, e.g. page seventy-three, " I walked between the houses to the sewered stream where a fatted moon's reflection split into a moving picture of stained glass punched with light". I particularly liked that sex in the relationships was hinted at, and the reader is left to imagine what happened. I thought the ending was fantastic; it had a real twist which I had not expected. I am delighted that this book is part of a series, and I look forward to reading the next one.

The only thing I disliked was that although the flashbacks worked well, I got slightly lost in places because the sentences were so wordy.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. There are a couple of editing mistakes, but Stolid by Aaron D Key is beautifully written, and the plot is well thought out.

I recommend this book to adult readers, especially lovers of romance, particularly gay men trying to come to terms with their feelings. It would also be an excellent read for people who enjoy a good mystery with a difference. Because this is about men having relationships with men, I do not think it would appeal to readers with particular religious convictions.

Thank you to Aaron D Key for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Wrath of Anwen by Gareth J Hughes

 

Wrath of Anwen by Gareth J Hughes revolves around the fictional Welsh coalmining village of Cwm Derw in a peaceful valley in Wales. The village has been here for centuries, and life has changed very little. Sons leave school and follow their ancestors into the mines.

It is the summer of nineteen sixty-seven, and Iolo, the Colliery Overman, has had a hard day at the mine. There has been a vast flood of water which has stopped production! That evening, he arrives home to find the house cold, no housework done and no dinner. Iolo has suspicions that his wife Anwen is having an affair, and he is sure he knows who Anwen's lover is. He feels that the community knows and is laughing at him behind his back. Iolo can take it no more and starts to plan his wife's and her lover's death! Will he use his shooting gun and say it is an accident? Will he hide their bodies in a dark tunnel in the mine? They live in a small community; how can he kill them without causing suspicion?

Then came the wild cat strikes, and the miners stopped working to fight for better pay and conditions. The community now has more time to talk about the disappearance of Anwen and her lover. How will Iolo cope with Ethel, the nosey neighbour's suspicions and her amorous advances? Furthermore, will Iolo get caught?

I liked Gareth J Hughes's idea for this book, and the descriptions of the wild cat strikes and the mines and their workings are brilliant, but the main storyline revolving around Anwen and her love affair is hugely confusing.

There are lots of grammar mistakes; it is a great shame that the editing and proofreading of Wrath of Anwen by Gareth J Hughes have let the book down so badly! In addition, I did not appreciate that the author masks some swear words in the book. For example, location two seven two, "Maldwyn keep an eye on the blutty horizon you're up and down and causing problems, the face looks like something from a  blutty fairground ride?" he shouted. The word bloody has already been used in the book, and I cannot believe miners would be mindful of swearing! Furthermore, I found parts of the book challenging to follow, as, in every paragraph, the characters are in different locations.

I rate Wrath of Anwen by Gareth J Hughes 2 out of 5 stars. I have knocked stars off for the grammatical errors, the confusing storyline and the fact that the story did not work for me. As Hughes is an ex-miner and knows this world inside out, I believe he would be better off writing a factual book about mining which I would love to read!

I would recommend this book to adults who want to learn more about Wales and coal mining in the nineteen sixties and nineteen seventies.

 

Thank you to Gareth J Hughes for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and Richard Dilallo

 

 

Gaby Summerhill is in her early fifties, she was widowed three years ago, and her four grown-up children have left home and have their own lives. Gaby often communicates with her children via video. At the beginning of  December, they each get a video telling them that Gaby is getting married again on Christmas day. Gaby has been proposed to by three men who are wonderful friends, and she is going to announce her future husband at the wedding. Will it be fifty-four-year-old Tom Hayden who grew up with Gabi? Or fifty-two-year-old rabbi Jacob Coleman who helps her run a breakfast club for local homeless people? Or maybe fifty-five-year-old Martin Summerhill, who is Gaby's brother-in-law? Only Gabi knows, and she is telling no one until the day of the wedding, not even her nosey best friend, Stacey Lee!

Meanwhile, Gabi's children have problems of their own Claire; her eldest daughter, is married to Hank. Hank only works part-time as he wants to spend the rest of his time either smoking weed or meeting up with his friends, Claire has been putting up with his behaviour toward the children, despite struggling to make ends meet. However, now that Hank has hit her and she has discovered their fourteen-year-old son Gus is also smoking weed, what direction will her future take? Lizzie, the middle daughter, is a homebody. She works in Walmart part-time and enjoys family life with her husband Mike and her eight-year-old daughter Tallulah. When Mike is diagnosed with a brain tumour, Lizzie takes it in her stride, taking Mike to his endless hospital appointments and chemo, but when Tallulah asks if her daddy is going to die, what answer can Lizzie give? Emily, the youngest daughter, is a high-flying lawyer and her husband Bart is a resident in neurology. Emily always pushes herself to do better and burns the candle at both ends. She also has a boss who makes sexual advances that are not entirely unwanted! With Emily and Bart spending very little time together, how will all these pressures affect their relationship? Seth is the baby of the family and the youngest son. He lives with his girlfriend Andie, a commercial artist. Seth works in a tedious job and longs to be a published novelist. His first novel 'Dream Chasers' is with an editor, and Seth is on tenterhooks. Will she think his book is good enough to publish?

The book differs from the style of book I tend to think of as the typical James Patterson genre; murder, investigation, thrillers, detective, and mystery novels. There is still an element of mystery as we do not know who Gabi's lucky man will be. I loved the little teases throughout the book, which constantly changed my mind about who it would be. This book has humour, sadness, tension, and a lot of love. I liked the little hints that made me think I had guessed who the groom would be, but I was left guessing right to the end. I think Gabi made the right choice!

I did not particularly like that everyone called Gabi by her given name. Even her children and grandchildren call her Gabi.

I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed it very much. I think this would be enjoyed mainly by female fans of James Patterson, it is a love story with a difference, and I am not sure it would appeal to men so much.

I would like to thank my mum for recommending that I read this book.

Book Review - Zona: The Forbidden Land by Fred G Baker

 

Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker is written in three parts. The first part introduces Grant Taylor, a 32-year-old single man who works part-time at the University of Chicago and conducts paleogeography research. It is 2015, and Grant has just arrived in Russia. His scientist Uncle, an explorer, whom Grant was close to, disappeared a year ago while on an expedition to an area usually off-limits and has been pronounced dead.

Grant has inherited his Uncle Randall's house, wealth, and belongings.      While sorting these out, Grant finds secret hiding places containing an envelope full of money, several unique keys, a loaded gun, and ammunition. Furthermore, a letter in a bank safe deposit box is only marked for Grant's eyes, highlighting Randall's enormous concerns about the trip. Why did Randall have a loaded gun? Moreover, what do the keys open? The book's second part describes Grant taking part in a further expedition to Zona, and the third part takes us to the heart of the Camp at Zona itself. Along the way, Grant meets many intriguing characters. Grant puts himself in danger to discover what happened to his beloved Uncle Randall. Is Randall dead, or is he very much alive?

There is so much that I love about this book. Fred G. Baker is a very talented author who thinks of
everything to give readers the best possible experience from his book. I found it very useful that at the front of the book are maps of traveling to Zona and a map of Zona itself together with a diagram of the campsite. These are handy additions and helped me to follow the story better. I enjoyed Baker's similes in this book. For example, on page fifty-four, "I felt like a peanut in a vise, and the squeezing was just going to get worse." I enjoyed learning about all the characters who come to life on the page, in particular Boris Ustinov, Randall's Lawyer, who had much more than a passing interest in Randall's expedition to Zona. Trina Ustinov, a niece of Boris, is a beautiful legal aid trained in science and law. Grant starts a relationship with her but still does not feel she is to be trusted, and Captain Oleg Godunov, a fellow scientist, warns Grant that there is more to his Uncle's disappearance than is being told!

I did not find a single part of the book which I did not enjoy. Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker is a fantastic story that is well edited, I did not find a single mistake in spelling or grammar.

I want to rate Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker 5 out of 5 stars. It is a fantastic and absorbing read which I thoroughly enjoyed!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books involving science fiction, mystery, romance, adventure, and intrigue, as Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker has all of these in spades. There is a reasonable amount of strong swear words, so I would suggest it is aimed at an adult audience.

Thank you to Fred G Baker for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Blanket Immunity by Adam Van Susteren

 

 

Blanket Immunity by Adam Van Susteren begins by introducing us to Joanna 'Jo' Channing, who, after several years as a Deputy District Attorney, has run for Judge with financial help from her parents. When she is not appointed, she quits her job and sets up on her own as a Criminal Defense Lawyer. Today is her first day, and she wonders how to attract clients when there is a knock on her office door, and Brad Gecina becomes her first client. Brad, a policeman, has been suspended because a woman claims he stalked and raped her. When Jo looks into all the evidence, it seems that the rape victim is lying. Brad pushes for blanket immunity, which will protect him from future prosecution for crimes related to his testimony. When Jo achieves this by pulling strings, she thinks that is the end of the case.

Jo gains her second client when she visits Tai Nguyen for a lawyer friend. Tai is a small-time drug dealer arrested for possession with intent to distribute. Tai needs Jo's help to pass a message to Marcos Omar; he is worried that he will be killed if Omar does not get the message. When Jo gets in touch with Omar, he becomes Jo's third client. Along the way, Jo meets Dzuy Gong, a character who seems too good to be true. Within minutes of the meeting, Dzuy has offered to go with Jo to a family dinner to diffuse the tension between Jo and her younger sister Jami. Dzuy is pulled into a desperate situation with Jo, Omar, and Brad. Someone has been lying! Who? How far will Jo go to make amends?

Van Susteren's characters in Blanket Immunity are so well described that you can picture them while reading the book. I enjoyed how Van Susteren showed so many sides to the characters. Jo is a strong, independent woman but shows her soft side when interacting with her family and Dzuy. I loved how Jo struggles between helping her cash-strapped parents out, e.g., on page twenty-three, "She dreamed about helping her parents and paying off her campaign debt." and keeping her professional and moral integrity even when offered more money than she can imagine. I enjoyed how the characters jelled with one another, and their interactions felt right. I felt throughout Blanket Immunity that Adam Van Susteren had either been in the law profession at one time or had thoroughly researched the subject. It could have been a very heavy-going book, but the author writes in such a way that I felt the subject was well explained without any unnecessary detail.

I was not impressed when I came to page one hundred and seventeen, which had a whole conversation in Spanish, I had no idea what the conversation was about, and this spoilt the flow of the story. I also found many grammar errors, e.g., on page one hundred and twenty-one, "Aaron starting writing on his pad." I did not feel that this was professionally proofread or edited.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I have taken one star off for the grammatical errors and the Spanish conversation, which I felt was unnecessary to the story as it was neither translated nor explained. Hence, it meant nothing to the reader. I was disappointed I had to reduce a star as this book is fast-paced and enjoyable. It is a book you can lose yourself in, an actual page-turner!

I would recommend Blanket Immunity to anyone who enjoys a gripping legal thriller with several stories running alongside one another. I would only recommend this to an adult audience as it has rape, murder, and drug-taking scenes.

Thank you to Adam Van Susteren for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Hattie Vavaseur by M. Rebecca Wildsmith

 

M Rebecca Wildsmith introduces the reader to Hattie Vavaseur when she is at a funeral. Hattie is perturbed that she doesn't know why she is at the funeral and has no idea who has died! After the funeral, Hattie is whisked off by John Bertram, who seems to think that at one time he was employed by Hattie as a chauffeur, to a mansion with a taciturn owner. In the beginning, I wondered if Hattie had dementia, it's not until chapter 4 that we find out the truth of Hattie's situation. Until then, all we know is that Hattie can only remember being a child brought up by a strict aunt and uncle who disliked her and that Hattie hates the color pink. Every character brings their own story, which means the reader is constantly on the edge of their seat, turning the pages to find out what happens next. We travel with Hattie while she learns about her past and future. Wildsmith is a writing genius. Her book contains humor, mystery, suspense, ghosts, the supernatural, and romance.

M Rebecca Wildsmith gave excellent descriptions of the people and places, and they became real instantly, which I really enjoyed. I also liked that the reader is slowly given information about Hattie's situation. There are constant twists in the tale which keep the reader on their toes. I also thoroughly enjoyed the humor throughout the book.

This book should have been a quick and easy read, but Wildsmith continually uses outdated words interrupting the flow of the story while the reader checks their meaning. For instance (on page 20), 'Hattie descended the grand staircase in the main hall, smartly dressed in her befurbelowed blue suit.' It is almost as if the author has looked up all the most complicated and outdated wording in the dictionary and tried to use all of it in this book; it may not be such a significant issue to other readers, but I found this both annoying and frustrating.

I recommend this to anyone who likes a good old-fashioned murder mystery with lots of twists and turns and some romance thrown in for good measure. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and will be looking out for more books by this author.

Thank you to M. Rebecca Wildsmith for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.