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Sunday October 31, 2021

Books in October

  • The Night Fire by Michael Connelly BOM-TheNightFire.jpg

    Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch join forces once again... In fact we have essentially three story lines loosely interwoven - each one featuring his three main protagonists: Bosch, Haller, and Ballard. Along the way he includes a few interesting police anecdotes, which I am sure he has picked up from real-life reminiscences. The latter makes it almost a short-story collection, along the lines of the Frost novels - a technique that served the TV serialisation very well.
    Although some readers did not much appreciate the book, and see it as pointing the way for Bosch's exit, I enjoyed it very much. I can see Connelly might be thinking along these lines, but, although his days as a paid police investigator may be numbered, Bosch is only slightly older than the author himself, so I see no reason why he would not continue as long as Connelly continues to write. All he is showing is that Bosch can be a key player without having to be the "main (wo)man". As far as Bosch's health is concerned, I am sure Connelly is including realistic (if not his own) experiences of what it's like to age.... His days of great physical exertion are over - even to the (realistic again) degree of not being able to tail a suspect reliably for any prolonged length of time.


  • A Step So Grave and The Turning Tideby Catriona McPherson
    BOM-TheTurningTide.jpg BOM-AStepSoGrave.jpg
    We are into 1935 and Dandy has to cope with the prospect of her eldest's forthcoming marriage. The families are united at the potential in-laws' island home, with Dandy having great misgivings, which are only confirmed as she perceives that Donald seems more entranced by his potential Mother-in-Law, Lavinia, (says it all), than with Mallory, his betrothed. That aside - in fact, we are observing the great social changes of the period, and Mallory proves herself to be a dependable "modern" woman with relatively socialist ideas who is destined (in the fullness of the next two books) happily enough to take on an estate without the erstwhile expectations of a full complement of household servants.
    Needless to say all does not go well at Wester Ross, where they have to deal with a gruesome murder, which does nothing to enhance the mood for romance and wedding bells.

    In the second book, Dandy and Alec are called away to help solve the problem of a ferryman (woman) who has apparently experience a psychotic episode. The solution might seem simple ie engage the help of the medical profession, were there not an added mystery surrounding the drowning of a young man known to Dandy, who apparently fell into the water while inebriated....
    It seems that everyone has secrets and each tells a different story; nothing seems to add up.

    As usual, these books are splendidly researched, and set in marvellously historic locations - obviously with some imaginative embroidery. I always want to visit these places after reading the books, such that I begin to think Catriona should be sponsored by the Scottish Tourist Board.

  • The Woolly Hat Knitting Club by Poppy Dolan [Read by Lizzie Wofford]
    BOM-TheWoollyHatKnittingClub.jpg
    The story begins with Dee Blackthorn, a highly focussed PR executive working in a (I hope not quite realistic) cut-throat company, when she is unexpectedly (and undeservedly) fired. This is a disaster on many levels but it does mean she can more easily step in to help her brother, who badly needs assistance - and along the way she reconnects with some old friends from "back home". I originally chose this book on the strength of the title, (which seemed to nicely encompass my interests), and also the cover, (which - along with the title - implied it would be a light-hearted story about a club). I had a preconceived idea that it would be like, for example, the Jane Austen Book Club, ie mainly about the meaning of life etc, and which could have centred on any activity.
    However, likening it to other works doesn't give it enough credit. I loved it as a romcom, and I cannot praise Poppy enough for a really delightfully fresh and entertaining book.
    Poppy's conversational style means it is perfect as an audio book, and Lizzie Wofford gives excellent voice to Dee. The conversations are so natural, they read almost like a script; along with the highly visual descriptive detail, I felt it could translate easily into a live performance.
    Surprisingly to me, I identified probably more with Dee than the "lovely craft people" (even though I hope I am one), and new Mothers, (definitely not one); oddly, I found the details about Dee's business and commercial life of more interest than the knitting. After the first few chapters I did begin to wonder who exactly the book was aimed at as it seemed a bit Mills & Boonish - and I hasten to say I don't necessarily mean that in a derogatory sense since M&B are very skilled in what they do. A bit more reading, however, and it became much clearer to me that, of course, this is a romantic (comedy) novel and as such, anyone who knows this author's work will know exactly what to expect and thoroughly enjoy it - as I did.
    [In addition, I have to mention that, although there is a lot of knitting, we're not too bogged down with it, and congratulations are due that all the technical detail is completely correct - nothing worse than constantly being bugged by inaccuracies in a subject you know well!.]

  • Murder Under the Sun by Agatha Christie [Read by Hugh Fraser]
    BOM-MurderUnderTheSun.jpg The stories are:
    • The Rajah's Emerald - featuring James Bond (no - not THE James Bond)
    • The Oracle at Delphi - featuring Mr Parker Pyne
    • Wasp's Nest - featuring Hercule Poirot
    • A Death on the Nile - featuring Mr Parker Pyne (no - not THE Death on the Nile)
    • Problem at Pollensa Bay - featuring Mr Parker Pyne
    • Have You Got Everything You Want? - featuring Mr Parker Pyne
    • Triangle at Rhodes - featuring Hercule Poirot
    • The House at Shiraz - featuring Mr Parker Pyne
    • Double Sin - featuring Hercule Poirot
    • The Gate of Baghdad - featuring Mr Parker Pyne
    • The Regatta Mystery - featuring Mr Parker Pyne
    • The Pearl of Price - featuring Mr Parker Pyne
    • The Man from the Sea - featuring Mr Satterthwaite and Harley Quin
    Some I have listened to before as part of other collections but with different narrators.

Posted by Christina at 6:57 PM. Category: Books of the Month

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