Phantom by Jo Nesbo. A Harry Hole thriller. I fear that the series is becoming a bit formulaic - I know detective fiction generally is, but the Hole stories are feeling a bit on repeat, and getting more far fetched. There is a big shock with one of the recurring characters that is unexpected, but there's too much "action" where you know where it's going and the whole (no pun intended) Harry vs the rest of the world is becoming a bit jaded. I hope they pick up, as I already have the next couple in the series lined up to read...
I know what you mean. Have just read his latest Harry Hole book, Killing Moon, and that felt really far fetched.
The Girl in the Eagles Talons - Karen Smirnoff. The seventh Girl with the Dragon Tattoo book. Bit different this one, Smirnoff has put her own take on it, whereas I felt David Lagerkrantz tried to copy Stig Larsson's style more. The story is a good one, but I wasn't keen on the jumping around of timelines, and the sections of inner dialogue. Quite a few times I wasn't even sure whose inner dailogue I was supposed to be listening to. Lisbeth Salander finds herself in a new, unexpected situation - I do look forward to seeing how that develops.
I have just finished Walker RN he was the commander of an WW2 Anti U Boat unit. It's not a area I knew much about. Pre war he was deemed not to have the right leadership qualities for promotion. But he turned out to be an excellent war timer Leader.
Can't remember if I mentioned The Birdwatcher by William Shaw when I read it last year, but it was very good. Set in Dungeness, it's half about a semi-retired policeman (who spends his spare time birdwatching) helping a new Detective who has transferred from London with her teenage daughter in tow. Slow burning and really atmospheric, really enjoyed it.
I've this week read the follow up which follows another case with the Detective, DS Cupidi - apparently there's five in the series. Again, really good - Dungeness feels like a character, really well done in terms of location. Quite dark, and again slow burning but the clues are dotted throughout once you realise etc.
About three quarters of the way through Thurston Moore’s Sonic Life. Well written and a fascinating study of mid to late 70s punk and post punk in the US. Recommended if you’re a fan of Sonic Youth and or this type of music.
MW Craven again, Nobody's Hero. Stonking! So many twists, and the dastardly crime plan is brilliantly conceived. 2nd Ben Koenig novel, this was fantastic.
Digress .. Inside the Factory Series 9:5 .. how hardbacks are manufactured .. a must for any book lover, how your favourite protagonists arrive on the bookshelf
9:6 Is how sausage rolls are made .. take yer pick .. host Paddy McGuiness is a slight improvement on Tourettes Gregg
Marching Powder by Rusty Young. An astonishing real life story of a British drug smuggler banged up in Bolivia,s most notorious jail. You have to buy your way in and buy your own cell!
Marching Powder by Rusty Young. An astonishing real life story of a British drug smuggler banged up in Bolivia,s most notorious jail. You have to buy your way in and buy your own cell!
Great book. Unbelievable how it works in those nicks. If you like that Damage Done is a similar read on the Bangkok Hilton
The Time Machine - H.G. Wells wrote timeless sci-fi. A short read but full of enduring ideas. His imagination was so far ahead of its time.
Russia, Revolution and Civil War 1917-21. Usually I love Anthony Beevor's historical narratives. This one is typically excellent for the first 250 pages but runs a bit flat until the final 100 pages. Too easy to get lost among the new names added to each page and all the small skirmishes we're introduced to. Keeping track of what is going on proves impossible. Learned quite a bit but needed a good editing and a clearer overview. Russia is obviously ludicrously large so it is understandable that tracking a Civil War across such a huge geography can get disorientating. Never previously realised what a large presence the British military had in Russia during the conflict and the amount of manpower they contributed to the Whites.
The Graduate - Impossible not to read with Hoffman's performance of the main protagonist in mind. Most people think the film was better, which might well be the case but the book is a short and droll read in its own right.
The Wager - Set to be turned into another Scorsese and Di Caprio film, I think with a release next year in mind. An amazing tale told in a rollicking way. I enjoyed Grann's Lost City of Z (and the film), whilst being disappointed with Killers of the Flower Moon (the film was far superior), so it's good to see a return to form with this page turner. Just the right length for a non-fiction read. A bit of local history covered early on about the press gangs forcing local sailors in Greenwich area onto the boats in Deptford docks prior to launching the mission.
The Graduate - Impossible not to read with Hoffman's performance of the main protagonist in mind. Most people think the film was better, which might well be the case but the book is a short and droll read in its own right.
The Wager - Set to be turned into another Scorsese and Di Caprio film, I think with a release next year in mind. An amazing tale told in a rollicking way. I enjoyed Grann's Lost City of Z (and the film), whilst being disappointed with Killers of the Flower Moon (the film was far superior), so it's good to see a return to form with this page turner. Just the right length for a non-fiction read. A bit of local history covered early on about the press gangs forcing local sailors in Greenwich area onto the boats in Deptford docks prior to launching the mission.
Also enjoyed The Wager. If you like a shipwreck tale and haven't read it, In The Heart of the Sea is superb (don't be put off by the truly awful movie adaptation).
Interesting that you enjoyed the film version of the Flower Moon more. I thought the book was gripping because you don't know who is committing the murders, whereas the film tells you straight away.
Ted from 'Gone Fishing' his pawtobiography Funny, insightful and touching. Fellow dog owners will recognise all too well the ecstasy and agony of sharing their (relatively) short lives.
After Never Let Me Go, which was excellent, I read Remains of the Day - superb. Now on Klara and The Sun which is good so far.
Enjoyed all three but Remains of the Day is unquestionably his masterpiece (the film is actually quite good as well - Hopkins at his usual best - but it was always going to be impossible to live up to the quality of the book).
Nickel Boys - First I'd read from Colson Whitehead but will pick up more in future. The film told the tale in a chaotic and confusing way but still somehow made for a reasonable picture. The book is far superior. Harrowing but told with righteous heart and anger.
After Never Let Me Go, which was excellent, I read Remains of the Day - superb. Now on Klara and The Sun which is good so far.
Klara and the Sun is a fantastic book, preferred it to Never Let me Go. Haven't read Remains of the Day. Klara and the Sun, I was expecting it to get a lot darker than it did
For anyone who likes gritty crime fiction. I have a couple of books that you might be interested in. If you like authors such as JD Kirk, Val McDermid, MW Craven then you might like these.
The first book in the series is called Cut Short by BD Spargo. It was published a year ago and has an average rating on Amazon of 4.6 stars. Until Saturday evening the Kindle book is on sale for just 99p. So if you want to try a new author, now is a good time to get a copy.
The second book in the series Witch Hunt by BD Spargo, is currently on pre-order on Amazon with this Saturday as the publication date.
I can't claim that these are unbiased recommendations as I wrote the books! But I am a Charlton fan of 40 years and many people who go to away games in the North and Midlands might recognise my face on my Amazon profile. I have also posted here many times here under a different name.
As weeks go this has been probably one of the best for me, winning at Wembley on Sunday and then my 2nd book published the following Saturday. Though I probably until yesterday have been focussed far more on the football than all the book marketing things I should have been doing.
After Never Let Me Go, which was excellent, I read Remains of the Day - superb. Now on Klara and The Sun which is good so far.
Klara and the Sun is a fantastic book, preferred it to Never Let me Go. Haven't read Remains of the Day. Klara and the Sun, I was expecting it to get a lot darker than it did
After Klara - which was superb but very sad - now onto Debbie Harry’s autobiography Face It.
Comments
I've this week read the follow up which follows another case with the Detective, DS Cupidi - apparently there's five in the series. Again, really good - Dungeness feels like a character, really well done in terms of location. Quite dark, and again slow burning but the clues are dotted throughout once you realise etc.
Off to find number 3!
It's got rave reviews and I did enjoy it, not sure I would give it the same rave review but then again, I don't read from a critics perspective.
9:6 Is how sausage rolls are made .. take yer pick .. host Paddy McGuiness is a slight improvement on Tourettes Gregg
Russia, Revolution and Civil War 1917-21. Usually I love Anthony Beevor's historical narratives. This one is typically excellent for the first 250 pages but runs a bit flat until the final 100 pages. Too easy to get lost among the new names added to each page and all the small skirmishes we're introduced to. Keeping track of what is going on proves impossible. Learned quite a bit but needed a good editing and a clearer overview. Russia is obviously ludicrously large so it is understandable that tracking a Civil War across such a huge geography can get disorientating. Never previously realised what a large presence the British military had in Russia during the conflict and the amount of manpower they contributed to the Whites.
The Wager - Set to be turned into another Scorsese and Di Caprio film, I think with a release next year in mind. An amazing tale told in a rollicking way. I enjoyed Grann's Lost City of Z (and the film), whilst being disappointed with Killers of the Flower Moon (the film was far superior), so it's good to see a return to form with this page turner. Just the right length for a non-fiction read. A bit of local history covered early on about the press gangs forcing local sailors in Greenwich area onto the boats in Deptford docks prior to launching the mission.
Interesting that you enjoyed the film version of the Flower Moon more. I thought the book was gripping because you don't know who is committing the murders, whereas the film tells you straight away.
Funny, insightful and touching.
Fellow dog owners will recognise all too well the ecstasy and agony of sharing their (relatively) short lives.
The first book in the series is called Cut Short by BD Spargo. It was published a year ago and has an average rating on Amazon of 4.6 stars. Until Saturday evening the Kindle book is on sale for just 99p. So if you want to try a new author, now is a good time to get a copy.
The second book in the series Witch Hunt by BD Spargo, is currently on pre-order on Amazon with this Saturday as the publication date.
I can't claim that these are unbiased recommendations as I wrote the books! But I am a Charlton fan of 40 years and many people who go to away games in the North and Midlands might recognise my face on my Amazon profile. I have also posted here many times here under a different name.
As weeks go this has been probably one of the best for me, winning at Wembley on Sunday and then my 2nd book published the following Saturday. Though I probably until yesterday have been focussed far more on the football than all the book marketing things I should have been doing.