THE BEAST IN THE JUNGLE – Louis Bayard
ISBN 978 1 84854 234 1 Published by John Murray This is a very difficult book to review. It is filled with suspense like a strong psychological thriller, but it’s also rather historical in feel, and is a crime story in many ways, too. The basic plot is simple enough: in 1914 the former US President, Theodore … Continue reading
The Templar’s Penance
There are times when I put up a video on my YouTube channel and soon get a series of questions that I hadn’t thought of at the time. So, if you want to see the original video, you can find it here – and thanks to Hans van der Boom for his questions. Apologies for not speaking … Continue reading
Scams
This one fails on so many levels. Still, I’m glad that the Manchester employee is keen to apologise for his lack of English. BEGINS Hello, I am Richard Wong a staff of one of highly reputable financial institution here in Manchester, United Kingdom, and I am the head of operation. I am pleased … Continue reading
Refreshing old stories
Today I have the joy of starting to write one book I first thought up ten years ago, while also looking at an edit of a book I wrote at about the same time. I have been a writer for an appalling twenty years now. It’s shocking to think of all those years having … Continue reading
Dear Hachette,
Originally posted on Blair MacGregor:
Dear Hachette, I’m a nobody. Let’s get that out of the way right now. I don’t have a contract with you or any of your peer companies. But I’ve known and listened to writers and editors for the last twenty years, and many of those conversations would never be placed in writing…
Newmark and Totty
This case is getting more and more ridiculous. Now we learn that the Tory MP who’s just quit was groomed – and I use that term advisedly – over months. He was contacted by a reporter pretending to be a young Tory supporting PR girl. The conversations were initiated by this “girl”. They were conducted … Continue reading
Review: The Devil in the Marshalsea by Antonia Hodgson
ISBN: 9781444775433 This is a nice change for me. It feels as though I’ve become a modernist, reading this. I’ve been transported from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century. This book is the winner of the 2014 CWA Historical Dagger Award, I’m told. Tom Hawkins, the wayward son of a country curate has been living … Continue reading
If It Looks Too Good To Be True …
So, this weekend we’ve lost another minister in the government. A man who is no doubt presently working hard today to keep his marriage together. What happened? Well, a man of moderate age, Brooks Newmark (crazy name, crazy damn fool) was sent texts and messages. These purported to come from Sophie, a young woman who … Continue reading
Review of A LOVE LIKE BLOOD By Marcus Sedgewick
Published by Mulholland Books Paperback ISBN 9781444751925 price at £7.99 It is rare to pick up a book by an author one hasn’t read or heard of before, and to be so entirely blown away by the quality of the writing and the plot. I was sent this book in a pile of books to … Continue reading
Review of THE VANISHING WITCH By Karen Maitland
Published by Headline Review in paperback, trade paperback and hardback. Hardback ISBN: 9781472215000 I am very glad to be able to say that Karen Maitland is a good friend. Still, this is not a log-rolling exercise. I have a very simple policy when it comes to books. I do not like to give positive … Continue reading
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