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 {|class-wikitable" cellpadding="15"=='''19 SEPTEMBER30 MAY'''==<!-- Jamie -->{{Frontpage|-isbn=B0CYV674G2| styletitle="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Swanton Morley (John Tanner)|author=David Blake[[image:1908745819.jpg|linkrating=http://www3.amazon.co.uk/dp/1908745819/ref5|genre=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Crime| stylesummary="verticalIt seemed like an open-align: top; textand-align: left;"|===[[Surfacing by Kathleen Jamie]]=== [[image:5starshut case. A man, covered in mud and blood - and carrying a knife, comes into the police station shouting that he hasn't killed the man.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:History|History]]A body at the bottom of a freshly dug grave at Swanton Morley church - he's been stabbed to death. DCI John Tanner is just back from his honeymoon, [[:Category:Travel|Travel]], [[:Category:Autobiography|Autobiography]] Sometimes when people suggest that you read a certain book, they tell you which coincided with the birth of his daughter Samantha. You would think he'd be grateful for an easy answer but the words 'perverse'this one has your name on itand 'John Tanner'were made for each other. Mostly we take them He's sleep-deprived to the point of falling asleep at their word, or not, but rarely do we ask them why they thought so, unless it turns out that we didn't like the book. Thatwork but he's a rare experience. People who are sensitive determined to hearing a book calling your name, rarely keep going - probably because he can't get it wrongany sleep at home. In this case I was told why. The blurb speaks of the author considering }}=='''an older, less tethered sense of herself.4 JUNE'' Older. Less tethered. That's not a bad description of where I am. Add to that my love of =={{Frontpage|author=Stuart Douglas|title=Lowe and Le Breton Mysteries - Death at the natural world, of those aspects of the poetic Dress Rehearsal|rating=3.5|genre=Crime|summary=During location filming for his 1970's sitcom 'Floggit and lyrical that are about style not formLeggit', and substance most leading man Edward Lowe stumbles across the dead body of all, about connection. Of course this book had my name a woman on itthe edge of a reservoir. It was written for me. It would have found its way to me eventually. I am pleased The police seem happy to have assign it fall onto my path so quickly. [[Surfacing by Kathleen Jamie|Full Review]]|} {|class-"wikitable" cellpadding="15" =='''1 OCTOBER'''== <!-- Marie Luas an accidental death, but something about the whole thing bothers Lowe, Stuart Moore and Chris Wildgoose -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1401280048he enlists the help of a fellow actor, John Le Breton to help him investigate matters further.jpg|link=http://www They travel across the country during their days off filming, uncovering more possible murders and, seemingly, a link to death during the Second World War.amazon.co.uk/dp/1401280048/ref=nosim But is there really a link between the deaths? And will they manage to uncover who is responsible before more people lose their lives?tag=thebookbag-21]]|isbn=1803368209}}| style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|='''6 JUNE'''==[[Batman: Nightwalker: The Graphic Novel by Marie Lu, Stuart Moore and Chris Wildgoose]]{{Frontpage|author=Saima Mir|title=Vengeance|rating=3.5|genre=Thrillers[[image:4star.jpg|linksummary=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Teens|Teens]], [[:Category:Graphic Novels|Graphic Novels]] I was instantly intrigued by the premise of this novel – an organised crime syndicate in the north of England run by a Muslim woman. The young man called Bruce Wayne is fact that it was the second in a very noticeable one series I hadn't read didn't stop me – he can hardly go anywhere without people – bystanders, paparazzi, I've jumped midway into a few series before (on page and screen) and suchlike – reminding him heit needn's t be a billionaire at the age of eighteen. Feeling rather stuck with the legacy hehindrance if it's inherited from his murdered parents, he wants to do charitable deedsgood enough. But one night, when he speeds off in his posh new car in pursuit of And that wasn't a criminal, he goes too far as far as the authorities are concernedproblem here. Vengeance swiftly brings you up to speed, and gets given the most unlikely stretch of community service instead – cleaning in the home for violent criminals that is Arkham AsylumI never felt lost. There he learns of some other people who also allege charitable intent – the Nightwalkers, a gang who steal any ten|isbn=0861541561}}{{Frontpage|author=Kieran Larwood and Joe Todd-figure bank account contents they can, and murder the ownerStanton|title=Dungeon Runners: Hero Trial|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Meet Kit. Can he get close to one Like most of the people in his world, it seems, he is an avid fan of them and get Dungeon Running – the truth sport where a team of their schemeswarrior, mage and healer enter specially prepared, or will the manipulative Madeleine be a step too far for century-old, magical mazes, and race to the young do-gooder? [[Batman: Nightwalker: The Graphic Novel by Marie Luexit, Stuart Moore perhaps bothering with the treasure or the big bad and Chris Wildgoose|Full Review]]|} {|class-wikitable" cellpadding="15"==the points they grant you along the way. Unfortunately for Kit, the only thing he'''3 OCTOBER'''== <!-- Jansson -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:190874572Xs seen of the latest race on the inn TV equivalent is that one team has been retired, eaten, and a new trio of questors is needed.jpg|link=http://www Possibly very unfortunately indeed for Kit, he has taken to the goading from the token bully of his world and stumbled into declaring he'll enter as a team.amazon.co.uk/dp/190874572X/ref=nosim What chance does this friendless, muscle-free-zone have in actually managing that, and how could he possibly hope to succeed?tag|isbn=thebookbag-21]]1839945184}}{{Frontpage| styleauthor="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Jenny Valentine|title=Us in the Before and After|rating=5|genre=[[Letters from Tove by Tove Jansson (Author)Teens|summary=Elk and Mab are best friends, Boel Westin (Editor)or more than that even, Helen Svensson (Editor), Sarah Death (Translator) ]]=== [[image:5startheir friendship is a once in a lifetime connection.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Autobiography|Autobiography]] Back at the beginning of the century I went They meet as children one day on holiday to Nepal. I met a wonderful Finnish woman trip out but unfortunately they don't get each other's contact details at the time. But then chance brings them back together, and we became sort of friendsthey are inseparable. I can't remember if it was on that holiday or a later one that Paula told me I really had to read Tove Jansson. I do know that it was four years later that I finally acquired an English translation of The Summer Book Something has happened though, something terrible and tragic, and that I eagerly awaited the 'now they must work through their grief, and their friendship, together.|isbn=1471196585}}=='Sort Of'' translations of the rest of Jansson13 JUNE'''s work and devoured them as soon as I could get my hands on them. [[Letters from Tove by Tove Jansson (Author), Boel Westin (Editor), Helen Svensson (Editor), Sarah Death (Translator) =={{Frontpage|Full Review]]isbn=1635866847|title=The Lavender Companion<!-- Susan Hill -->|author=Jessica Dunham and Terry Barlin Vesci|-rating=4.5| stylegenre="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|Lifestyle[[image:1784742783.jpg|linksummary=http://www.amazonIt's strange, the things that make you ''immediately'' feel that this is the book for you.co.uk Before I started reading ''The Lavender Companion'', I visited the author's [https:/dp/1784742783www.pinelavenderfarm.com/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21website]]  | style="vertical-align: top; textand there's a picture of a slice of chocolate cake on the homepage. I don't eat cakes and desserts -align: left;"|===[[The Benefit of Hindsight but I wanted that cake viscerally. (Simon SerraillerThere's a recipe in the book, which I'm avoiding with some difficulty!!) by Susan Hill]]=== [[image:5starThen I started reading the book and I was told to make a mess of it. Notes in the margins are sanctioned.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating You get to fold down the corners of pages. You suspect that smears of butter would not be a problem. I ''loved'' this book already.}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime=='''4 JULY'''=={{Frontpage|Crime]]author=Max Boucherat|title=The Last Life of Lori MillsA superficial look would suggest to you that Simon Serrailer has been lucky and - all things considered - his life is as good as it could be|rating=4. He5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=We meet Lori on the first evening she's back got the house to herself – no neighbour to pop in, babysitter poorly, mother at work after a long break to recuperate from the violent incident which cost him his arm and almost his life, just an avidly rule-breaking eleven year old, on her lonesome. When he's not at work heWhat could possibly go wrong? Snuggled in a blanket fort, she has one main intention, and that is to log on to Voxminer, the world-building, critter-collecting game that is a hit in Lori's spending his time in the cathedral roof drawing the medieval angels which are being restoredworld. ThereBut first Lori has a tiny inkling that this stormy night doesn's talk of an exhibition of his drawings. Lafferton seems to be quite settled as far as crime is concerned until one night when two local men open their front door to a couple seeking sheltert find herself entirely on her own, and then she finds something even more spooky. It's For the usual story server she and her bestie and nobody else should be able to enter shows signs of a broken-down cartampering. When malevolent eyes spark up on her phone screen, and her safe place in the game has been doctored – well, where is a phone which won't make a call. The man are generous and welcoming and have no suspicions that the couple are simply there to plan a robbery. It's a serious error of judgement in the course of this investigation which will throw Simon Serrailler's future into doubt. [[The Benefit of Hindsight (Simon Serrailler) by Susan Hill|Full Review]] <!-- Thakur -->girl to turn?|isbn=0008666482}}{{Frontpage|author=Jenny Lecoat|title=Beyond Summerland|rating=4|-genre=General Fiction| stylesummary="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:140638853XJean lives on Jersey with her mother where they are celebrating the end of the occupation.jpg|link=http://www During the war, Jean's father was arrested for listening to a banned radio and soldiers took him away one night, leaving Jean and her mother waiting for years for news of him.amazon.co.uk/dp/140638853X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Somebody Give This Heart As the British finally free the Channel islands from the Nazis, and the war is finally over, their hopes rise that they will finally learn what became of him. But will the truth come as a Pen by Sophia Thakur]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|linkrelief, or will it raise further questions around what else happened during the war? Who was the informer who told the Nazis about the radio? And what other secrets have been kept throughout the occupation?|isbn=Category:{{{rating}}1846976537} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]], [[:Category:Teens|Teens]] Sophia Thakur's debut anthology is a collection of poems that are all unique, whether in relation to their style, length or theme. The collection is split into four sections, titled 'grow','wait','break'and 'grow again', guiding you through a process which is one of the foundations that the anthology is built on. Each section begins with a foregrounded title page containing various small pieces of writing, ranging from a quote by a Nigerian playwright, to African proverbs. This provides a nice introduction to the section before you are immersed into the beautifully written and eloquent poems that Thakur has clearly put her heart and soul into. [[Somebody Give This Heart a Pen by Sophia Thakur|Full Review]] <!-- Jamie Smart -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:bookreviewercentre.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910989460/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Flember: The Secret Book by Jamie Smart]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Confident Readers|Confident Readers]] A mysterious island. A strange and mystical power called Flember. A boy-inventor called Dev, who uncovers a long forgotten secret. And a giant, red robot bear?! The sleepy village of Eden is about to descend into hilarious chaos - can disastrous Dev save his brand new best friend? Find out in this fully illustrated mad-cap adventure. [[Flember: The Secret Book by Jamie Smart|Full Review]] <!-- Jamie Littler -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:0241355222.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/ISBN/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Frostheart by Jamie Littler]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Confident Readers|Confident Readers]] Way out in the furthest part of the known world, a tiny stronghold exists all on its own, cut off from the rest of human-kin by monsters that lurk beneath the Snow Sea. There, a little boy called Ash waits for the return of his parents, singing a forbidden lullaby to remind him of them... and doing his best to avoid his very, VERY grumpy yeti guardian, Tobu. But life is about to get a whole lot more crazy-adventurous for Ash. When a brave rescue attempt reveals he has amazing magical powers, he's whisked aboard the Frostheart, a sleigh packed full of daring explorers who could use his help. But can they help him find his family . . . ? [[Frostheart by Jamie Littler|Full Review]] <!-- Moriarty -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1913101037.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1913101037/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"| ===[[The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Confident Readers|Confident Readers]] Bronte doesn't miss her parents, and she's not particularly sad when she learns of their terrible fate at the hands of pirates. And why should she be? After all, they just dumped her on Aunt Isabelle (without even asking if it would be a convenient arrangement for either party) when she was a baby. They swanned off to have adventures, and never once came back to check if their only child was healthy and happy. [[The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty|Full Review]]|} {|class-"wikitable" cellpadding="15" =='''9 OCTOBER'''==<!-- Aimee Lucido -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1406389331.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1406389331/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[In the Key of Code by Aimee Lucido]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Confident Readers|Confident Readers]] Emmy is moving with her parents halfway across America, to follow her father's dreams of a big break in his music career. She leaves behind her friends and her school in Wisconsin, and moves to California, knowing only what she has heard in songs. Her struggle to settle into her new life, make friends and feel happy and confident again, is agonisingly told in a way we can all relate to. There are many new opportunities and setbacks, taking the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions, but it isn't until Emmy joins a coding class using computer language that she begins to feel she might have a chance to feel like she truly belongs.[[In the Key of Code by Aimee Lucido|Full Review]]|}{|class-wikitable" cellpadding="15"=='''19 OCTOBER'''==<!-- Belinda Landsberry -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1925820025.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1925820025/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Once, I was Loved by Belinda Landsberry]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:For Sharing|For Sharing]] Tock, the toy rabbit, is in a box of toys going to the charity shop. He realises that he's not wanted any more, but muses that it wasn't always this way. ''Once'', he says, ''I was loved''. And he tells us of all the children who have loved him over the years. [[Once, I was Loved by Belinda Landsberry|Full Review]]|} {|class-"wikitable" cellpadding="15" =='''31 OCTOBER'''==<!-- Peter F Hamilton -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1447281357.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1447281357/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Salvation Lost by Peter F Hamilton]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]] In the twenty-third century, humanity is enjoying a comparative utopia. Yet life on Earth is about to change, forever. Feriton Kane's investigative team has discovered the worst threat ever to face mankind – and we've almost no time to fight back. The supposedly benign Olyix plan to harvest humanity, in order to carry us to their god at the end of the universe. And as their agents conclude schemes down on earth, vast warships converge above to gather this cargo. Some factions push for humanity to flee, to live in hiding amongst the stars – although only a chosen few would make it out in time. But others refuse to break before the storm. As disaster looms, animosities must be set aside to focus on just one goal: wiping this enemy from the face of creation. Even if it means preparing for a future this generation will never see. [[Salvation Lost by Peter F Hamilton|Full Review]] |}{|class-"wikitable" cellpadding="15" =='''3 NOVEMBER'''== <!-- Eoin Colfer -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:0008324859.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0008324859/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Fowl Twins by Eoin Colfer]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Confident Readers|Confident Readers]] Relax, everyone – our old friend Artemis may be off planet, but the baddies aren't getting away with skulduggery any time soon because they now have not one but two members of the Fowl family to contend with. Those cute little twins are now eleven (and, frankly, cute no longer) and in this, their first independent adventure, they meet a troll and without even trying manage to make two deadly enemies: a nobleman obsessed with immortality whatever the cost (to other people), and an unusual interrogator-nun. The boys are chased, kidnapped, arrested and even killed (though not for long), all with the help of one trainee fairy. [[Fowl Twins by Eoin Colfer|Full Review]] |}{|class-"wikitable" cellpadding="15"=='''7 NOVEMBER'''==<!-- Keret -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1609809319.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1609809319/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Long-Haired Cat-Boy Cub by Etgar Keret, Aviel Basil and Sondra Silverston (translator)]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Confident Readers|Confident Readers]] One day a boy is in the zoo with his father, when the man gets called away on urgent business. The boy isn't hustled into a cab and taken home first, though, no – he's given hot dog money, and taxi money, and told to just stick around on his own and enjoy himself. Well, it's no surprise that the orphan-for-an-afternoon sensation the lad feels doesn't make him happy, and so he thinks of a species name for himself, and curls himself up into an empty cage, as if he were a new exhibit. And it's then the drama begins… [[Long-Haired Cat-Boy Cub by Etgar Keret, Aviel Basil and Sondra Silverston (translator)|Full Review]] |} {|class-"wikitable" cellpadding="15"=='''12 NOVEMBER'''==<!-- Claire North -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:williamabbey.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0316316849/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Pursuit of William Abbey by Claire North]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:General Fiction|General Fiction]], [[:Category:Paranormal|Paranormal]], [[:Category:Fantasy|Fantasy]]  When William Abbey fails to prevent the lynching of a young boy in 1880's South Africa, he finds himself cursed by the grieving mother. A naïve English Doctor, he slowly learns the weight of the curse upon him, as the shadow of the dead boy begins to follow him across the world. Never stopping, always growing – it crosses oceans and mountains in pursuit of William. As he finds himself unable to resist speaking the truths that he hears in others, he also learns that the dark shadow is deadly – and seeks to kill the one he loves the most… [[The Pursuit of William Abbey by Claire North|Full Review]]|} {|class-"wikitable" cellpadding="15" =='''14 NOVEMBER '''== <!-- Gardner -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1786695227.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786695227/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Invisible in a Bright Light by Sally Gardner]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Confident Readers|Confident Readers]] The beginning of this excellent story will leave the reader more than a little confused: who is the man in the green suit, what is the Reckoning, and why are rows of people in a cave? But stick with it – Ms Gardner is very cleverly letting us experience the same disorientation as our heroine. We watch in dismay as the strange man, who seems to have no eyes, does his best to persuade her to answer his questions. But for some reason Celeste, despite her bewilderment, remains wary and gives nothing away. [[Invisible in a Bright Light by Sally Gardner|Full Review]] <!-- Holliday -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1912374854.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1912374854/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Violet by S J I Holliday]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Thrillers|Thrillers]] I've never been but understand that travelling is all about meeting new people and forming instantaneous bonds with people in often chance situations. Well that's exactly what happens when the two main/only characters meet in a travel agency in Beijing - Carrie is unsuccessfully trying to get a refund on an extra ticket for the Trans-Siberian train and Violet is trying to unsuccessfully buy a ticket for the same sold-out journey. As the two team up, travelling through Mongolia, Serbia and into Russia, it could've been the start of a beautiful friendship but this a thriller after all so it quickly becomes a tale of obsession, manipulation and toxic friendships. [[Violet by S J I Holliday|Full Review]] <!-- Will Carver -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1912374838.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1912374838/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Nothing Important Happened Today by Will Carver]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:General Fiction|General Fiction]] Nothing Important Happened Today is a dark, twisted, difficult read. Stories about cults often are, but this is different; it's written with a sense of style that is quite unlike anything I've read before. I can't remember ever having read a novel with such an odd, distinctive narrative voice. While a slim and relatively small book, the slow-moving nature of the plot makes it feel far larger than its 276 pages. [[Nothing Important Happened Today by Will Carver|Full Review]] |}{|class-"wikitable" cellpadding="15" =='''9 JANUARY 2020'''== <!-- Sarah Alderson -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1473681847.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1473681847/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[In Her Eyes by Sarah Alderson]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Thrillers|Thrillers]] Ava lives a charmed life, but those things sometimes rub other people up the wrong way. One evening she returns from a night out with a friend, and before she can finish her bedtime routine, her home, and her life, are under attack: masked men have broken in and are demanding money from her husband, while her young daughter cowers beside him. In the scuffle than ensues, Ava is hurt, badly. When she wakes up in hospital she can barely remember what happened, but she knows it was life-changing. With her daughter still fighting for her life in a room down the corridor, Ava has a lot to contend with as she tries to recover, wills her daughter to recover, and attempts to piece together what happened and why. [[In Her Eyes by Sarah Alderson|Full Review]] |}