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[[Category:General Fiction|*]]
[[Category:New Reviews|General Fiction]]==General fiction==__NOTOC__{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Brooke MorganJenny Lecoat|title=TrappedBeyond Summerland
|rating=4
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Ellie Walters is 36Jean lives on Jersey with her mother where they are celebrating the end of the occupation. During the war, divorced and keen Jean's father was arrested for listening to start a new life banned radio and soldiers took him away from her cheating one night, leaving Jean and control-freak ex-husband. Fulfilling a life-long dream, she decides to take her 15-year-old son, Tim, to live with her in the small town mother waiting for years for news of Bournehim. As she soon becomes good friends with her next-door neighbourthe British finally free the Channel islands from the Nazis, Louisa Amoryand the war is finally over, Ellie their hopes rise that they will finally feels she is making a life learn what became of her ownhim. She begins to feel But will the truth come as a sense of freedom and independence but for how long? When strange events start occurring Ellie is forced to face some painful and guilty memories connected to a tragic accident nineteen years ago; memories which she would rather forget. It is clear that someone has discovered her well-kept secret and is reluctant to let her forget about relief, or will it. As a campaign of terror against Ellie unfolds she must come to terms with raise further questions around what else happened all those years ago and try to discover during the war? Who was the informer who her tormentor is. Vulnerable and afraid, she relies on Louisa's friendship to help her through told the Nazis about the ordeal. However, when a misunderstanding causes a rift between Ellie and Louisa's son, Joe, radio? And what other secrets have been kept throughout the women's friendship is threatened. Alone and afraid, she suddenly finds herself trapped in a nightmare from which she must do all she can to escape.occupation?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099536285</amazonuk>1846976537
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Margaret AtwoodOnyi Nwabineli|title=The Handmaid's TaleAllow Me to Introduce Myself
|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=In Anuri spent her childhood on display to the nearworld, thanks to her step-future USA that they call Gileadmother Ophelia's increasingly popular presence on social media, society has changed. For the worsewhere she posted every step of Anuri's childhood for sponsorships and influencer deals and, basically, of coursemonetary gain. The population Now Anuri is dying out, in her twenties and people who are capable of breeding the next generation are given a cherished status of Handmaid - gifted she is slowly trying to any male of enough esteem, called a Commander, who balances the household with his wife regain her confidence and what is practically a walking womb. Other women to get drudge workher life back, or run horrid finishing schools for suing her step-mother to take down the Handmaids, or are packed off to what are reported to be polluted hellholes abroad, for laborious work for lifecontent about her. Men are restricted too - Handmaids are off-limits Anuri is battling alcoholism, failing to everybody but their Commanderstart her PhD, undergoing therapy and secretly abusing people online and those households are patrolled carefully by other eunuch typesreceiving money from them for doing so. It's up to our nameless narrator and main characterMost importantly, howevershe is desperately worried about her little sister, to show us just how cherished who is the status new focus of Handmaid feelsOphelia's online empire. Can she save her sister, and perhaps herself and her relationship with her father at the same time?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099511665</amazonuk>0861546873
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Carmine Abate1529153298|title=The Homecoming PartyList of Suspicious Things|author=Jennie Godfrey
|rating=5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=The riddle It's 1979 and Margaret Thatcher is the whole crux of the bookPrime Minister. (A woman? I mean, honestly... ) So weShe're taken right backs not what's worrying Miv's family, though. Women have been disappearing. Well, albeit brieflythey've been murdered, but to have 'disappeared' doesn't sound quite so frightening. Miv's upset because she's overheard that her father wants to Bavaria in move the year 1886, via the Prologuefamily 'Down South'. SoWhen you're from Yorkshire, the scene Down South is now seta frightening, foul play is most definitely afoot and lots of questions should pop into the reader's mindforeign place, best avoided. Such as who? Why? etc. So farFor Miv, the move would mean leaving her best friend, so goodSharon, I thoughtand she'll do anything to prevent that. We then fastShe's not worried about the dangers or that her Mum's stopped talking -forward straight to present-day Germany and due to an unfortunate hunting accident, something which was a secret, is no longeranyone.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0241952123</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Padgett Powell1035906708|title=The Interrogative MoodDiva|author=Daisy Goodwin|rating=24.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=SoWe tend to think of Maria Callas as Greek, but she was born to Greek parents in Manhattan, what is a novel? Does it need a plotNew York, climax in December 1923 and resolution? Characters who grow? A setting? Themes which explore the human condition? And must it entertain? Padgett Powell challenges our perceptions of fiction with a book that explores what only moved to Athens when she was thirteen. Her original surname was Kalogeropoulos but her father changed it is to be a novel, but without any preconditions. How far he succeeds is down 'Callas' to make it more manageable in the individual readerStates. But I thought I'd give it When she was back in Athens - supposedly so that she could get appropriate training for her voice - she was raised under the Nazi occupation by a gomother who mercilessly exploited her and made no secret of her preference for her elder sister, Jackie.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683661</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ken FollettAlexander McCall Smith|title=Fall of GiantsThe Perfect Passion Company|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=This The Perfect Passion Company is a thumpingdating agency in Edinburgh, great read at 850 pages. We meet a clutch of families who are run by Ness and operating as an alternative to all vastly different the online apps in terms of classproviding a more personal, outlooktailored service. Ness has asked her younger cousin Katie if she could come and look after the business, values etcas Ness is planning to take a trip to Canada to get away for a while. I have to admit Katie is coming out of a break up with a bad boyfriend, and so jumps at the outset that chance to come home to Edinburgh. And so begins this is new story from Alexander McCall Smith, bringing us to an Edinburgh we already love, thanks to 44 Scotland Street and the first Ken Follett book I've read even although two of his previous books are in my ever-growing 'Isabel Dalhousie novels, but with some new characters who quickly begin to read' pilecharm. So although I know of himKatie has no experience in running a business, my reading expectations were wideor in match-open.making, but Ness has full confidence in her abilities, and there's always her very helpful (and rather handsome) neighbour, William, to lend a hand…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0230710077</amazonuk>1846976596
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Linda SargentDean Koontz|title=Paper WingsThe Bad Weather Friend|rating=4.5|genre=General FictionParanormal|summary=In Benny is having a wood in Kent two children played happily terrifically bad day. He loses his job, he loses his fiancee, and his house gets trashed. Oh, and as is the way with children they sometimes went where they shouldn'tsomeone has delivered a really weird, disturbing coffin-sized object to his home, but and it 's possible that whoever or whatever was inside is the nineteen fifties and thing that has trashed his house! The thing is, Benny is the worry was more about whether they would injure themselves by falling down an abandoned well than the problems which we worry over half very last person to deserve all this bad luck. He is a century laternice person. It was A really nice person. So fortunately for Benny it turns out that the delivery to his house is a new friend, a place bad weather friend called Spike, who has been sent to help him since Benny is clearly under attack from nefarious forces for plans being a good person. Spike is going to take care of Benny, and gameswill certainly take care of Benny's enemies, projects if he, Benny, and Harper (a waitress slash Private Investigator who finds herself roped into Benny's wild adventure) can figure out who exactly they didn't always tell their parents about and generally growing up. Ruby loved climbing trees and longed to fly. Peter was more sensible but the pair were inseparableare.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0956483305</amazonuk>1662500491
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Michelle PaverKatherine Howe|title=Dark MatterA True Account|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=It's January 1937 Hannah Masury is living in Boston, having been sent to live with a family who run an inn, and dark clouds of impending war are gathering over Europebeing made to work there from a young age. Jack Miller When she hears there is to be a hanging of some pirates in Londonthe town, working as a clerk she decides to go and watch. Enthralled and living horrified in equal measure, Hannah finds herself embroiled in one lonely rooma young boy's death at the hands of two vicious pirates. He should probably think himself lucky because many people have neither job nor home in this Great Depression She hides away, but he doesnso that they don't. He feels lonely find and kill her too, and isolated then to escape them completely she runs away to sea, dressing as a boy and angry that joining the notorious Ned Low's pirate ship as a career cabin boy. She soon finds herself in research physics was snatched away from him by economic circumstance. So when the chance thick of becoming the wireless operator for an Arctic expedition comes alongthings when there is a mutiny on board, he jumps at it - even though the team comprises and from there we are caught up in her rip roaring tale of life on the exact privileged young men he most resentsocean waves. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1409123782</amazonuk>0861547438
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Janet Evanovich1471180158|title=Wicked AppetiteMaybe Tomorrow|author=Penny Parkes|rating=34.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Take one rather ditzy girl. Add a funny, extrovert friend, and another, more sensible one. Stir Jamie Matson works in two seriously attractive men, an unhinged pet or twoupper-class grocery store, for a man who's a slapstick plot and an unending series control freak with all the subtlety of carsa half brick. What have you got? A Janet Evanovich novel! This Jamie's son, Bo, 'has been his problems'. He's asthmatic and the formula for more you read, the winning more you'll suspect that he'Stephanie Plums on the autistic spectrum. Sometimes Jamie needs to take time off at short notice - she' series for years, about s a hopelessly incompetent bounty hunter who never quite manages frequent flier in the local A&E and sometimes Bo's not fit enough to go to choose between school. Missed shifts or the two hunks need to be away on time to pick Bo up from school are occasions when Jamie can be controlled and put in her life, and it has given much pleasure and amusement. But even the best formulas get stale, so this year Ms Evanovich has branched out into something newwrong. Well, almost It was going to come to a head.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755352769</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alan HamiltonB0CKD1L5JL|title=Two UnknownRadio Free Olympia|author=Jeffrey Dunn
|rating=4
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=The story Petr is based 'between the wars', the 1920s to be exactan orphan. We're introduced to Rescued by the main characters: a small family unit of motherstrange, father and two children. On the surface this normalreclusive Bear, middle-class set-he is brought up all appears fine - but underneath, things are far from fine. The fatherbustling cities and busy human society, Ian is actually in the step-father to the twinsforests of Washington's Olympic Peninsula. And through various detailed After Bear dies and sometimes unusually lengthy parent-child conversations a brief sojourn in human company, and chats armed with only a pirate radio transmitter, Petr goes on a journey through the reader is filled in with forest, broadcasting the background story. A bit staccato in placesstrange, I have to admitwild and rarely heard voices he encounters.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1907230130</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Brian FreemanSarah Marsh|title=The Bone HouseA Sign of Her Own|rating=43.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=The novel opens with one After a bout of the central charactersscarlet fever as a child, MarkEllen Lark loses her hearing. And straight away we see that he has an eye for the girls - young girlsSuddenly plunged into a world of silence, it would seemeverything about her life changes. He's Living in a married mantime when the use of sign language was seen as something only savages do, so tongues start Ellen is sent to a school where she is taught to waglip read, but physically restrained from signing. The book's front cover depicts a house going From here, she ends up in flames another school studying under Alexander Graham Bell who has been teaching the deaf and on using a system called Visible Speech. At the very first page there's another mention of firesame time, Billy Joel's hit song 'We Didn't Start The Fire.' SoBell is working on other inventions and ideas, fire seems as if it's going to play an important part and Ellen finds herself unwittingly caught up in this book. And it does. Big-timea complicated tangle of espionage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755348788</amazonuk>1035401614
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Rebecca HuntB0BC3YTCMR|title=Mr ChartwellGood Girls Die|author=Ayura Ayira
|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=For a couple of years now Esther Hammerhans has lived alone and money ''This story is a little tightnot for everyone. She works in the House of Commons library but it doesn't pay particularly well. Letting the spare room to a lodger seemed like a good idea, but she's somewhat surprised when she sees Mr Chartwell's silhouette. It's the size of a mattress and Mr Chartwell is a dog. A large black dog.
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alice de Smith1472263936|title=Welcome to LifeThe Figurine|author=Victoria Hislop|rating=3.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=It's the 80s. Freya is 14 and an only childwas in 1968 that Helena McCloud made her first trip to Greece. She lives with was alone: her parents in Cambridge. So farmother, Greek by birth, so normal. Except... Freya's had left the family home life is slightly a-typical. Sheand refused to return, but Mary and Hamish (Helena's on first name terms with the parental figures (no affectionate ''Mum'' or ''Daddy'' hereparents) and is under the distinct impression felt that they spend their days imagining life it would be a pity if Helena grew up without knowing her grandparents or understanding herGreek heritage. Her best friend is a middle aged housewife on whose son she has a rather too obvious crushtrip to the family apartment in up-market Kolonaki would be the first of several annual visits. Her mother communicates with She grew to love her through lists grandmother and the family's maid, Dina, but was wary - and shows frightened - of her affection in grandfather, retired general Stamatis Papagiannis. He was proud of his close connections to the oddest waysJunta and expected his family to uphold his values but saw no reason to accommodate them. Her His prejudices included Helena's red hair and green eyes - inherited from her father has just moved his business associate in, but he's not just sleeping in the spare roomScottish ancestors.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1843549840</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Alex DrydenDean Koontz|title=The Blind SpyAfter Death|rating=43
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=The author writes under Michael Mace, Head of Security, at a top secret biological research facility, is among 55 people who die when a pseudonym and he has worked virus is released in intelligence, so he should know what he's talking a bio- and writing abouthazard accident. He concentrates on the battle for supremacy (Finding himself in a makeshift mortuary, covered in plastic, he has a sense that something very, very bad has happened to him – and we've been here before) only him – as Russia he sits up and looks around at the USA clash. The story itself is an intricate one. Full shrouded bodies of agents/counter-agents, spies/double spies and the like and appearances by members of the CIA his dead friends and MI6 amongst othersformer colleagues. If you like spy thrillersAs he recovers his senses, then this novel will suit you down to the groundhe realises that there is something different about him; he can ''feel'' everything. Lots of furtive and secretive missions all over the place to keep the reader guessing and interested.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755373332</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Andrea Newman|title=A Bouquet of Barbed Wire|rating=2.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=For those of you who've never heard of it, A Bouquet of Barbed Wire was most famous as a landmark 70's TV series based on this 1969 novel by Andrea NewmanEverything''. I Michael isn'd never read the book before - in fact I'm not even sure I knew there t ''wasMichael'' a book - or seen the TV series but I was aware of the controversy it created at the time ofrelease so lapped up the chance to read the rerelease, accompanying the remake of the TV series which has just startedanymore.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846687721</amazonuk>1662500467}} {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David WilliamsB0BVDC2VWH|title=11:59The Grave Listeners|author=William Frank
|rating=4
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=The back cover blurb informs village is isolated and poor. It's surrounded by a Witching Forest. And the reader that this novel was a semivillagers subsist largely by farming Uphegia plants - its bread-finalist in like fruit provides nutrition and its blossom provides herbal medicines. The black wood of the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awardforest provides heat and warmth, roofs on homes, and even gallows, if needed. And The fear of being buried alive is an existential superstition in the front jacket village and that is stylish and the reason Volushka, a bit Hitchcockdrunken, self-esque. All the signs looked promising for indulgent, lazy lout of a decent readman is tolerated. But did it deliver?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0956373356</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=William NicholsonB0BYF82CXT|title=All the Hopeful Lovers|rating=4.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=I had previously read Nicholson's ''The Society Of Others'' and thoroughly enjoyed it so I was looking forward to reading this book. Nicholson writes a modern-day story which is relevant and bang up to date. We first meet Laura and Belinda. Two middle-aged, middle-class wives and mothers. Feeling sort of okay with their lives generally but all too aware also, that the marital 'spark' in their marriages is now a low peep Semi- if there at all. Belinda in particular, knows she is bumbling along in life. She's not sure what to do to make things more interesting in the sex department. A fling would probably help - but would it be the answer?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184916388X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewDetached|author=Ruth Dugdall|title=The Woman Before MeDeborah Stone
|rating=4
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=We're introduced to one of the female central characters, Rose. There's been Bill and Amanda are living in a serious semi-detached house fire and a baby has been involved. Rose is implicated. But is she innocent or guilty? Unfortunately for Rose, she's been stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time - and she's put behind bars. Five years is a long time for a young woman with the rest depressing rut of her life to lead. Even more soboredom and disappointment, if you're telling anyone when Terry and everyone that you areFiona – glamorous, successful and very much in love – move in factnext door. Despite their different outlooks on life, innocent of the crimecouples befriend each other and life appears to improve for both pairs. But all is anyone listening?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1907461159</amazonuk>not what it seems, and their increasingly interconnected relationships are fated for tragedy.''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=John BuchanShalini Boland|title=The Island of Sheep (John Hannay)Silent Bride|rating=3.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Richard Hannay is feeling oldAlice and Seth are a match made in heaven. He looks at himself is everything she has been searching for; handsome, accomplished, clever, funny; total and his contemporaries and sees a spread of complacency. Luckily - or perhaps very unluckily utter husband- an old pledge will come to haunt himmaterial. His earlier career She is all he could possibly want in Africa saw Hannay a wife; beautiful, successful, confident… and his friends swear to protect a man from others - so the inevitable proposal is eagerly accepted by Alice and now a second generation of animosity the wedding is ripe for Hannay to step in planned and be a protective detectiveset. Add in a supposed treasure hoardWhen the much-anticipated day arrives, Alice is walked down the aisle by her father, beaming with pride and excitement as she surveys the congregation – their friends assembled to celebrate this joyful day and when Seth turns to face his approaching bride, Alice's world implodes because she has absolutely no idea who knows where the man at the altar is, who is waiting for her to become his last journey might end up?wife.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>184697156X</amazonuk>1662507089
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jed Rubenfeld1787636003|title=The Death InstinctGirls of Summer|author=Katie Bishop
|rating=5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Itwas the summer when Rachel Evans turned eighteen that she and Caroline went backpacking around Greece and arrived on the island. Rachel wasn's three years since we were all blown away by [[The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld|The Interpretation of Murder]] t exactly innocent but Jed Rubenfeld is back with the sequelshe was, perhaps, naive, so when thirty-four-year-old Alistair Wright started to take an interest in her, which takes place ten years latershe was flattered rather than wary. And what It was quite a decade that has been, with the appalling tragedy while before he made any sort of the First World War physical approach to her and the influenza outbreak which followed. There's a hope by that things are getting better as New York moves into the twenties and Stratham Younger and Captain James Littlemore meet up for the first time in ten yearsshe was obsessed by him. They're in Wall Street Alistair worked for Henry Taylor, looking after his interests on September the sixteenth – just as a quarter of a ton of explosives is detonated island and in particular in the worst terrorist attack in bar where all the country's hundred and fifty year historygirls either worked or partied.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755343999</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Katherine Hall PageAmanda Craig|title=The Body in the FjordThree Graces|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Page gives us another ''The Body In The..Few styles of contemporary fiction interest me like the state-of-the-nation novel.There'' book within a tried and tested format. The book jacket covers are always bright and jazzy and this one is no exception. We're deep in Norway, its picturesque countryside and world-famous fjords. We are in s something so utterly compelling about any writer who can catch hold of the company atmosphere of two different but interesting women. Mother the day and daughter. Pixcapture it, crafting an image of the daughter (I think the name sounds country as if it belongs to someone young) is a mother stands in middle-age with teenage childrenone particular moment. She has responsibilities, but To say that Amanda Craig is skilled at times doing this would be embarrassingly inadequate: she behaves like a sixteen year old and I suppose that is part 's practically synonymous with the genre of her appealcontemporary social fiction at this point. She cannot seem to say ''no'' to anyone and now finds herself enlisted to solve an unexplained death and has such a missing person. The latter is gift for weaving the ongoing issues of the more important as day into the missing personlives of her characters in a way that feels natural and lived-in, Kari, is related to Ursula's best friend. Yesnever making them ciphers for social commentary but instead fully realised people, perhaps a few too many names at the beginning of the book to grapple grappling with but it soon settles downissues far larger than themselves.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0709090641</amazonuk>140871468X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Marcelo Figueras152915118X|title=KamchatkaPineapple Street|author=Jenny Jackson|rating=34.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Initially I was very excited ''Pineapple Street'' is the story of three women: Sasha, Darley and Georgiana. Darley and George are sisters and interested when The Bookbag was given this novel Sasha is married to reviewtheir brother Cord. Set at a time in which I lived in Buenos Aires They're Stocktons, I was looking forward to only Sasha isn't a fictionalised account of these traumatic years - made all Stockton by birth so she isn't readily accepted into the tribe. The problem's exacerbated when the more appealingclan matriarch, Tilda, as the narrator purported asks Cord and Sasha if they'd like to be move into the eldest of the family's two sons - 10 year old 'Haroldo' as he comes Pineapple Street property. Tilda and Chip have renovated and downsized to be knownanother property, having by necessity left his former identity behind. In this respecta street or so away, I was to be sadly disappointedwhich they own. The majority They won't need any of the novel comprises recollections furniture from an adult Haroldo - not quite what the Amazon blurbPineapple Street, nor the précis on the coverso Sasha and Cord can move straight in. Nominally, leads they had a choice but that wasn't the reader reality. Darley and Georgiana start to believe! In fairness, call Sasha 'the author cangold digger'. She't be blamed for this - but I felt mislead by the dust jacket - which may have coloured my enjoyment, and which lead, s living in part, ''their'' family home. They use it so often that they abbreviate it to 'the relatively low star rating which I gave the bookGD'.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1843548267</amazonuk>
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|rating=4
|genre=General FictionCrime|summary=The book's cover 84 year old Edie has lived in the same small town for almost her whole life, but now she is facing a very good clue move as her son wants to move to its content: weapons dripping in blood another house and decapitated heads. The novel starts bring Edie to live with Professor Edward Quinn on a rather unusual journeyhis family, as Edie is starting to lose her memory. It seems to end abruptly and in plenty of spilled bloodHowever, gore and horrendous scenes Edie is tormented by the memory of carnage. Meanwhileher childhood friend, in AtlantaLucy, USAwho went missing over 60 years ago, Dr Cortez has been cheating on his wife. His one-night stand proves satisfactory and interesting in the worry that there was a secret she was keeping for Lucy that somehow might be the thing that reveals the truth of what happened all sorts of waysthat time ago. Suddenly, he After 'seeing's involved Lucy in an extremely worrying medical situation. It needs to be sorted - and quickly. Cortez is a youngthe high street, modern professional but he's human alsojust as she was the last time she saw her, so not without his hang-ups. The conversations between himself and his even more successful wife, are bang on. They hit the right note. Many will identify with the couple. At times you can almost hear the friction between themshe starts to find pockets of memories coming back to her. And yet as she remembers the man-to-man conversations between Charlie Cortez past, she is forgetting more and his buddy Dan are terrific. Trying hard more in her day to be big shots in a social situation when really they are out of their depthday life. A great introduction to this part of Will she uncover the storytruth about Lucy's disappearance before her move, I thought.and before her memories are gone forever?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0434019364</amazonuk>1804181250
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Madelaine Lucas
|title=Thirst for Salt
|rating=5
|genre=Literary Fiction
|summary= ''Love, I'd read, was supposed to be a light and weightless feeling, but I had always longed for gravity''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Geoff Dyer0008506337|title=Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi|rating=3|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Meet Jeff. He's a journalist living in London, with a fine line in delaying his work effort and a keen eye for detail. He can see how the world is made better by a smile from a random shopkeeper - yet seems too grumpy to try it himself. Instead he suspects his habit of walking round, mouthing or speaking out his own inner thoughts is making him seem a scary old man. He can partly address this, by dying his hair. And he can stop walking round London when he gets commissions to report back from the modern arts Biennale in Venice. Soon, however, the only work of art he's at all worried about goes by the name of Laura...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184767271X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewThe Garnett Girls|author=Diane Chamberlain|title=Secrets She Left BehindGeorgina Moore|rating=45
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=This is the third novel IThe love affair between Margo Garnett and poet Richard O've read Leary was all-consuming, apparently on both sides. Margo was just sixteen when they fell in love. Richard was twenty-one and described by Diane Chamberlain and I felt Margo's mother as if I was visiting 'an old friendolder man'. I enjoyed Her parents worried that Richard's influence would take her away from what they felt she could achieve - going to Oxford and having a glittering career. In the other two books event, they eloped and this one looked promisingRichard took her away from the Isle of Wight. Margo did go to Oxford and went on to become a well-respected journalist. The couple had three children: Rachel, Imogen and Sasha. Although many Life was lived in London and holidays were spent at Sandcove, the family home on the Isle of Wight. Even then the characters spill over doubts about Richard's drinking were never far from [[Before the Storm by Diane Chamberlain|Before The StormMargo's mind: ''she would never be able to leave him in charge'']] this current book is a stand alone. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>077830387X</amazonuk>}}
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Diana Evans1914585402|title=The WonderDashboard Elvis is Dead|author=David F Ross|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Lucas and Denise have been brought up I reviewed David F Ross's book [[There's Only One Danny Garvey by their grandmother on David F Ross|There's Only One Danny Garvey]] a canal boat in west London, after the death couple of their parents. Now they are in their 20s, years back and remember being absolutely floored by how powerful and their grandmother Toreth is goneaffecting it was. Denise is a practical and responsible young woman, getting on with her job as It was a floristgripping, but her younger brother Lucas is a dreamer, still trying to establish what he wants to do with his lifeemotionally wounding read, and increasingly distracted by trying to find out more about his identity, about who his parents were, especially his father.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099479052</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Margaret Henderson Smith|title=A Question rereading my review of Answers|rating=3.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Harriet Glover lives with her partner who's reluctant to commit himself to marriage. It's not it my main takeaway was that he hasn't had time to make up his mind – their two children are at the stage where they I might produce grandchildren. His excuse is that he can't see the point as they already share a surname through chance, so what difference would marriage make? Mark's not ''entirely'' insensitive (well, some of the time…) but he can't understand Harriet's need for that reassuring piece of paperhave lavished enough praise on it. Until then she's going to be wondering if his eyes are wandering elsewhere. Harriet's not entirely immune either: she finds the headmaster of the school where she teaches quite irresistible.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845493281</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Anne TylerLucy Ashe|title=Noah's CompassClara and Olivia
|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=ItThe year is 1933. The place? Sadler's always a red letter day to sit down to an unread Anne TylerWells. This is her eighteenth published novelBallerinas Clara and Olivia are sisters, twins no less. For any readers Identical on the outside but not already fans of her books, this American writer observes we learn, on the ordinary in order inside. And not on stage, either. Because there's a lot that builds a dancer. Some things that can be taught or learnt – discipline, attention to excel at detail – and some things, that 'making 'je ne sais quoi'', that don't come from the familiarclassroom. A stage presence, a charm, strangea ''joie de vivre''. The difference between a hard-worker, and a star.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099539586</amazonuk>0861544080
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Bernie McGillHeather Fawcett|title=The Butterfly CabinetEmily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries
|rating=4
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=This novel Emily Wilde is an expert academic scholar on faerie lore, and she has been based on facttravelled extensively, and researched meticulously, to write her life's work, the very first encyclopaedia of faeries. McGill moves back Whilst she is brilliant at research and forth speaking to faeries, she is not so good with various characters' storiespeople. A child has died So when she finds herself far, far North in the family home and small village of Hrafvsnik, having somehow offended the mothervillage matriarch, Harriet has been tried in a court of law and found guilty. The fact that she is a practicalnot sure what she has done, no-nonsense woman who does not wear nor how to redeem herself and put her final investigations for her heart book back on her sleeve does not go down well with the majority of the juryright track. She has also committed another crimeEnter Wendell Bambleby, her dashingly handsome and insufferable rival who arrives unexpectedly, almost equally as graveall charm and delight, she has sullied the family name of her husbandmuch to Emily's frustration. He But why is a prominent and respected member of the local community. he here? What does he want? Nothing will be And what exactly is going on with the same again for either of them.faerie folk around Hravsnik?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755370686</amazonuk>0356519120
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jean Kwok1398515388|title=Girl in TranslationThe Boy and the Dog|author=Seishu Hase and Alison Watts (translator)
|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=When Kimberly Chang and her mother emigrate to First of all, it was the USA from Hong Kong they believe thatearthquake, true to deep in the American Dreamocean floor, their lives are about to get better. Howeverwhich created the tsunami and this, although Kimberly's aunt paid their air fares and arranged their green cards she is intent on getting her money back. She arranges their accommodation in a run-down part of Brooklyn in a building where they are turn, caused the only tenantsnuclear meltdown. Their apartment has broken windows, no heating and is rife with cockroaches The result was complete and ratsutter devastation. The aunt arranges work for Kim's mum in her husband's Chinatown factorydeaths were uncountable, paying her a pittance for piece work and then taking most the loss of her salary away for repayments on their flights and their accommodationlivelihoods was widespread. Huddled around The fact that many pets were separated from their oven for warmth, wearing layers owners came far down the list of clothing made from material they found in priorities but - six months after the trash, their lives seem incredibly bleaktsunami - Kazumasa Nakagaki discovered a dog outside a convenience store. But Kimberly has brains, and determination, and she is adamant He wasn't a dog person but the convenience store owner's comment that she will find a way he would call Public Health prompted Kazumasa to take care of her motheropen his car door and Tamon the dog jumped in.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905490623</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Helon HabilaChristopher Bowden|title=Oil on WaterMr Magenta
|rating=4
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=The book opens with two local journalists on Christopher Bowden's latest novel is a rather dangerous trip. Zaq, old-timer and cynic but still has the skills to seek out patient untangling of a good story and apprentice Rufus. A British oil engineerseemingly ordinary woman's wife has gone missinglife, believed kidnapped and the two journalists are following carried out by her trailnephew after she has died. Zaq comes across as an interesting character; all-seeing, all-knowing albeit likes The aunt who always provided a safe harbour and a drink or two. He's happy to impart years little bit of knowledge indulgence to Rufus a young nephew had had a much more interesting life than that nephew Stephen had ever realised and tells it seems to him that ' ... the story is not always the final goal.' What's really important, what the readers want an obligation to know and what sells newspapers is ' .find it all out.. the meaning of the story.'|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0241144868</amazonuk>B0B6Z9VJDW
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Laura ElliotJennifer Mason|title=Stolen ChildPartitions of Unity
|rating=4
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=The title of the book leaves us Here at Bookbag Towers, we first met Elizabeth Cromwell, dominatrix and unintentional detective in no doubt as to what it's all about. It does exactly what it says on the tin. But those two[[Preposterous: An Elizabeth Cromwell Mystery by Jennifer Mason|Preposterous]], small words are wrapped up in plenty when she investigated and unravelled a series of emotions for the characters involveddisappearances. In some ways''Partitions of Unity'', it's worse than she sets her mind to solving a deathmurder. With death, there's closure but with a baby being stolen there's living hell. And, as you would expect, some characters cope with all of this better than others.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847561462</amazonuk>B09LQR9FRF
}}
|rating=4
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Evereyone's favourite, Bertie, is still struggling with his over-protective, over-zealous mother Irene. Poor Bertie. He still has yoga class, saxophone lessons, Italian lessons, and he longs to go away Five strangers come together in one moment as a suicide bomber prepares to Scout camp, but really doesn't want detonate his mum to come along as vest on a helperLondon tube line. AndAs their fates overlap, as the title suggests, he story is looking forward to being seven. His little brothertold in backwards order, Ulysses, is getting bigger and has developed an interesting reaction to their mother, whilst Irene herself goes missing in a rather mysterious manner...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846971454</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Shannon Burke|title=Black Flies|rating=3.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Ollie Cross has failed leading up to get into medical school. While he thinks about what he plans to do, he takes a job as a paramedic on the tough streets of Harlem, New York City, and finds his whole perspective on life and death beginning to shiftfateful moment.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099535491</amazonuk>1914585186}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Frances KayJennifer Mason|title=MickaPreposterous: An Elizabeth Cromwell Mystery
|rating=4
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Micka ''A struggling poetry zine, a mom-and Laurie are two ten year old boys. They're -pop mobile diner in the same class at school and are friendsNorthern California redwoods, of a sort. They both have vivid imaginations400-meter hurdler who just missed the 2004 Olympics, and Lauriea women's plans involve finding track coach with a magical bone and using it yen for murder. Micka lives with his mum (who can't read and is often drunk) and his two older brothers who get into fightsbullwhips, are involved in crime, and who abuse Micka physically and sexually. Laurie lives a billionaire with his parents, until they suddenly break up, and he is left with his mum who seems to be having a breakdown. The book is told from the point of view state-of -the two boys-art S&M dungeon, and so as we see how their own lives are falling aparta man serving a life sentence in Alabama, sympathising with theman enigmatic signature, we also read with horror their own descent into violence.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330513826</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Susan Wiggs|title=Just Breathe|rating=4|genre=Women'K(s Fiction|summary=Sarah may be struggling to make , x), on a living off itcheap oil painting, but she does enjoy her job as a cartoonistan erotic art dealer in Georgia... She's been through a lot recently, including her husband's battle with cancer, and her alter ego Shirl provides an outlet for a lot of the emotions and confusion she's feeling.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0778303543</amazonuk>}}
}}