The Space Between Time
by Charlie Laidlaw
(1 Review)
There are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on Earth... Emma Maria Rossini appears to be the luckiest girl in the world. She's the daughter of a beautiful and loving mother, and her father is one of the most famous film actors of his generation. She's also the granddaughter of a rather eccentric and obscure Italian astrophysicist. But as her seemingly charmed life begins to unravel, and Emma experiences love and tragedy, she ultimately finds solace in her once-derided grandfather's Theorem on the universe. The Space Between Time by Charlie Laidlaw is humorous and poignant and offers the metaphor that we are all connected, even to those we have loved and not quite lost... more»»
Review by Nigel 21st November 2020

Rebel Thirds
by Jillian Torassa
(1 Review)
After the End of All Things, The Ten Colony Council enslaved all of the Third Class Citizens (the Smarts who helped destroy the world) in order to protect the more upright members of the dwindling population. Jade Doe is one of these Thirds, learning to control her inherent Knowledge so that she can redeem herself by aiding the society in which she lives. When she learns of a deadly secret, however, she must make a decision: Should she risk her life, her friends, and her very soul in order to bring freedom to all of what's left of mankind? Or should she do as she's always been told and devote her life to the voracious, violent, virtuous First whom she must serve until the day she dies? Rebel Thirds by Jillian Torassa is the first book in the Rebel Thirds trilogy and is followed by Scorned Seconds and Fallen Firsts... more»»
Review by Chrissi 21st November 2020

Not Working
by Lisa Owens
(1 Review)
Now and again we all lie awake wondering what on earth we're doing with our lives... don't we? Claire Flannery has had more than a few sleepless nights lately. Maybe she shouldn't have walked out of her job with no idea what to do next. Maybe she should think before she speaks - and maybe then her mother would start returning her calls. Maybe she should be spending more time going to art galleries, or reading up on current affairs, and less time in her pyjamas, entering competitions on the internet. Then again, maybe the perfect solution to life's problems only arises when you stop looking for it... more»»
Review by Ben Macnair 21st November 2020

Resurrection Bay
by Emma Viskic
(1 Review)
Caleb Zelic can't hear you, but he sees everything and never forgets a face. His childhood friend has been brutally murdered - fingers broken, throat slit - at his home in Melbourne. Tortured by guilt, Caleb vows to track down the killer. But he's profoundly deaf; missed words and misread lips can lead to confusion, and trouble. Fortunately, Caleb knows how to read people; a sideways glance, an unconvincing smile, speaks volumes. When his friend Frankie, a former cop, offers to help, they soon discover the killer is on their tail. Sensing that his ex-wife may also be in danger, Caleb insists they return to their hometown of Resurrection Bay. But here he learns that everyone - including his murdered friend - is hiding something. And the deeper he digs, the darker the secrets... more»»
Review by Ben Macnair 21st November 2020

Edge Of Danger
by Jack Higgins
(2 Reviews)
Master thriller writer Jack Higgins plunges Sean Dillon into his ninth action-packed adventure - racing against time to prevent an assassination that would shock the world. Half British and half Arab, Paul Rashid is proud to be both heir to the ancient Dauncey Place in England and the leader of the Rashid Bedouin of Hazar in the Persian Gulf. He is a man for whom family honour is everything. So when he uncovers an international conspiracy that threatens to use any means necessary, including murder, to deprive his family of the oil wealth that is their birthright, he vows to gain vengeance - and to make sure the world takes notice. When rumours of Rashid's audacious plan reach London, the security forces waste no time in sending undercover enforcer Sean Dillon to stop him. Helped once again by White House security insider Blake Johnson, Dillon must overcome foes old and new as he is caught up in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse that takes him from Ireland to the USA and from the heart of the English countryside to the deserts of Hazar… and the very edge of danger... more»»
Review by Lisa 21st November 2020

Daydreams of Angels
by Heather O’Neill
(1 Review)
Daydreams of Angels - Tall Tales and Twisted Fairy Stories: A cherub breaks all the rules when he spends one night with a girl on earth; Snow White and Rose Red forge a unique way to survive the Paris occupation; A soldier is brought back to life by a toymaker, but he's not grateful; And a child begins the story of a Gypsy and a bear, who have to finish it themselves. These are old stories, but not as you know them. These are set not in the forests of Europe or fantasy worlds, but on the battlefields of World War Two and the wilderness of downtown Montreal. With her blazing imagination, irreverent humour and arresting prose, Heather O'Neill twists them anew: more magical for their realism, more profound for their darkness; captivating, witty and wicked... more»»
Review by Ben Macnair 21st November 2020

The Constant Rabbit
by Jasper Fforde
(1 Review)
England, 2020. There are 1.2 million human-sized rabbits living in the UK. They can walk, talk and drive cars, the result of an Inexplicable Anthropomorphising Event fifty-five years ago. And a family of rabbits is about to move into Much Hemlock, a cosy little village where life revolves around summer fetes, jam-making, gossipy corner stores, and the oh-so-important Best Kept Village awards. No sooner have the rabbits arrived than the villagers decide they must depart. But Mrs Constance Rabbit is made of sterner stuff, and her family are behind her. Unusually, so are their neighbours, long-time residents Peter Knox and his daughter Pippa, who soon find that you can be a friend to rabbits or humans, but not both. With a blossoming romance, acute cultural differences, enforced rehoming to a MegaWarren in Wales, and the full power of the ruling United Kingdom Anti Rabbit Party against them, Peter and Pippa are about to question everything they'd ever thought about their friends, their nation, and their species. It'll take a rabbit to teach a human humanity... more»»
Review by Nigel 1st June 2020

The Hunters of Pangaea
by Stephen Baxter
(1 Review)
The Hunters of Pangaea by Stephen Baxter was published by NESFA Press to commemorate the author's (and artist's) appearance as Guest of Honour at Boskone 41 in 2004. Collection of eighteen stories and five essays. Introduction (John Cramer and Kathryn E Cramer); The Hunters of Pangaea (a spinoff from Evolution); The Modern Cyrano; Family History; Raft; Clods; Wild Extravagant Theories: The Science of The Time Machine (essay); The Ant-Men of Tibet; Martian Chronicles: Narratives of Mars in Science and SF (essay); The Orchards of the Moon; The Song; Moon Wizard; The Moon is Hell (essay); Behold Now Behemoth; A Midsummer Eclipse; Prospero One; A Brief History of Half Time: Football in Science Fiction (essay); Imaginary Time; The Burster; The Adventure of the Inertial Adjustor; The Dinosaur Hunter; The Flight of the Taikonauts (essay); The Mandate of Heaven; First to the Moon!... more»»
Review by Paul Lappen 1st June 2020

Man (Dis)connected
by Philip Zimbardo and Nikita S. Coulombe
(1 Review)
Young men are failing as never before - academically, socially and sexually. But why is this so? What are the implications? And what needs to be done about it before it's too late? Philip Zimbardo and co-writer Nikita Coulombe examine the modern meltdown of manhood and how this is manifest in the lives of young men today. They consider such factors as absent fathers, and legislation favouring women, which contribute to many men lacking social skills and direction in their lives. Most controversially, Zimbardo argues that readily available hardcore pornography and exciting gaming realities provide digital alternatives that are less demanding and far more appealing for many than sex, sports and social interaction in the real world. Immersion in these alternative realms is playing havoc with these boys' cognitive development, their ability to concentrate and their social development, allowing girls to excel in the real world where social skills are a source of success. By illuminating the symptoms and causes of these gloomy trends, Zimbardo and Coulombe shed light on how we arrived at this state of affairs and, most significantly, what the solutions might be... more»»
Review by Ben Macnair 1st May 2020

Ava and Pip
by Carol Weston
(1 Review)
Meet outgoing Ava Wren, a fun fifth grader who tries not to lose patience with her shy big sister. When Pip's 13th birthday party turns into a disaster, Ava gets a story idea for a library contest. But uh-oh, Ava should never have written Sting of the Queen Bee. Can Ava and her new friend help Pip come out of her shell? And can Ava get out of the mess she has made?
Great for parents and educators looking for a heartwarming read incorporating messages of sisterhood, identity, and helping others
"A love letter to language." - The New York Times... more»»
Review by Molly Martin 1st May 2020

The Reputation Game
by David Waller and Rupert Younger
(1 Review)
The Reputation Game – The Art of Changing How People See You. It’s a game you’re already playing, whether you like it or not. You can choose to ignore it and remain at the mercy of what others say about you, or you can take the time to learn how it works. For those who do the potential benefits are unlimited. Through pioneering research and interviews with a host of major figures ranging from Jay-Z and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman to Bernie Madoff and Man Booker prize-winning Hilary Mantel, Waller and Younger reveal the key mechanisms that make and remake our reputations, providing the essential guide to the most important game in business and in life... more»»
Review by Ben Macnair 1st May 2020

The Best Cat in the World
by Leslea Newman & Ronald Himler
(1 Review)
Even the best cat in the world doesn't live forever, and Victor is very sad when his beloved cat, Charlie, dies. His mother suggests getting a new cat, but Victor isn't so sure. Finally, when the vet tells Victor she has another cat that really needs a home, Victor agrees to give the new cat a chance. But the new cat, Shelley, isn't like Charlie. She doesn't look like Charlie, or act like Charlie, or like to do the things Charlie used to do. With all these differences, is there any chance that Victor can learn to accept and love Shelley? Leslea Newman's gentle story honours the full range of a child's feelings after losing a favourite pet, while Ron Himler's soft pencil and watercolour illustrations capture Victor's poignant emotions as well as the playful antics of his new kitten... more»»
Review by Molly Martin 1st April 2020

The Navigator
by Eoin McNamee
(1 Review)
Time travel adventure in which a boy joins a rebel uprising against a sinister enemy – The Harsh – in order to repair the fabric of time. Owen's ordinary life is turned upside-down the day he gets involved with the Resisters and their centuries-long feud with an ancient, evil race. The Harsh, with their icy blasts and relentless onslaught, have a single aim – to turn back time and eliminate all life. Unless they are stopped, everything Owen knows will vanish as if it has never been... But all is not as it seems in the rebel ranks. While Owen is accepted by new friends Cati and Wesley, and the eccentric Dr Diamond, others are suspicious of his motives. Could there be a Harsh spy in their midst? Where and what is the mysterious Mortmain, vital to their cause? And what was Owen’s father’s role in all this many years before? As he journeys to the frozen North on a mission of destruction, Owen comes to understand his own history and to face his destiny... more»»
Review by Paul Lappen 1st April 2020

The Beautiful Indifference
by Sarah Hall
(1 Review)
The Beautiful Indifference is a collection of intensely erotic and disarming tales, which span centuries, contemporary life and the future, and evoke landscapes as diverse as London's metropolis and lake Vuotjrvi in the Finnish wilderness. A woman who chooses not save her drowning lover. A frustrated housewife who arranges an appointment with the mysterious 'Agency'. A girl enamoured with a notorious Cumbrian horse-breeding family who innocently unleashes their wrath. Each story rotates on an axis of survivalism - natural and medical, physical and sexual - so that wolves and humans alike are exposed and hunted across the pages, then hung like elegant trophies. Uniquely disturbing and deeply erotic, this collection confirms Sarah Hall as one of the greatest writers of her generation. The Beautiful Indifference includes Butcher's Perfume, which was short-listed for the BBC National Short Story Prize in 2010... more»»
Review by Ben Macnair 1st April 2020

The Love Detective: Next Level
by Angela Dyson
(1 Review)
Note to self: Do not screw this up. When Clarry Pennhaligan, rookie private detective and unlikely heroine, takes on her second case, she is determined to master the art of smart. All she has been asked to do is to infiltrate a group of women who share a rather unusual way of spending their spare time. Shouldn't be too demanding, she thinks, nothing to it. But, after her first clumsy steps reveal secrets that may best be kept hidden, her investigation gains momentum and events take a bizarre and sinister turn. Out of her depth and working above her paygrade, Clarry soon faces a very real danger. Things just got Next Level... more»»
Review by Chrissi 1st March 2020

Who Wants a Dragon?
by James Mayhew & Lindsey Gardiner
(1 Review)
Who wants a dragon, all fiery and bright? A lost baby dragon, alone in the night? A lost baby dragon, alone in the night is looking for somebody to love. He is pink and cuddly and very cute, and his misadventures will have readers laughing, as he frightens a knight and gives the king and queen a good scare. But when the little dragon finally finds his mama, he, and readers, will know that he's found someone who loves him. An utterly delightful tale, filled with fairytale characters and the all important happy ending! Young children will love exploring the fairy-tale castle and finding out who is just right to love the little dragon... more»»
Review by Molly Martin 1st April 2020

Fictional Alignment
by Mike French
(1 Review)
Our culture is generated by machines. It’s ten years after Android Writer PD121928 from An Android Awakes was fed into a sink grinder by its replacement PD121929. The human prostitute Sapphira, believing PD121929 to be PD121928 for all that time has tried and failed to save PD121929 from being destroyed for selling fewer than a hundred copies of its novel. Sapphira herself has written the bestselling novel Humans (An Arrangement of Minor Defects) based on the stories PD121928 told her on the night they first met. It has been marketed by Altostratus as the first work of fiction by a human for over a hundred years. Unhappy, a handful of zealot androids massacre the senate and a new regime is formed fuelled with a passion to eradicate the evil of fiction from android society. This message has been approved by The Bureau for Fictional Alignment... more»»
Review by Nigel 1st March 2020

Dark Tangos
by Lewis Shiner
(1 Review)
After the breakup of his marriage and his forced relocation to Buenos Aires, Rob Cavanaugh's life was going downhill fast. Until he met Elena. She was smart and beautiful and danced like a dream. But she had a history that she said he could never understand, a history that went back to the Dirty War of the 1970s, when government death squads brought a new word to the world: the Disappeared. Then he learned that the past is never over in Argentina. Beyond the bright lights and the seductive tango music lay the open wounds of kidnapping, torture, and betrayal - and one last chance for redemption... more»»
Review by Paul Lappen 1st March 2020

All The Wicked Girls
by Chris Whitaker
(1 Review)
Everyone loves Summer Ryan. A model student and musical prodigy, she's a ray of light in the struggling small town of Grace, Alabama - especially compared to her troubled sister, Raine. Then Summer vanishes. Raine throws herself into the investigation, aided by a most unlikely ally, but the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous her search becomes. And perhaps there was always more to Summer than met the eye. For fans of Lisa Jewell, Holly Seddon and Local Girl Missing, All the Wicked Girls is a gripping thriller with a huge heart from an exceptional talent... more»»
Review by Ben Macnair 1st January 2020

Dark Energy
by Robison Wells
(1 Review)
Five days ago, a massive UFO crashed in the Midwest. Since then, nothing - or no one - has come out. If it were up to Alice, she’d be watching the fallout on the news. But her dad is director of special projects at NASA, so she’s been forced to enroll in a boarding school not far from the crash site. Alice is right in the middle of the action, but even she isn’t sure what to expect when the aliens finally emerge. Only one thing is clear: everything has changed. e are not alone. They are here. And there’s no going back. Perfect for fans of The Fifth Wave and the I Am Number Four series, Dark Energy is a thrilling stand-alone science fiction adventure from Robison Wells, critically acclaimed author of Variant and Blackout... more»»
Review by Paul Lappen 1st January 2020

Deep Cover
by Mara Moore
(1 Review)
The simplest way to the truth was pillow talk. That was the FBI Special Agent’s Max Armstrong’s plan until it all went south. His every word to Ashley Pepper - the woman he was investigating and falling in love with - was a lie. Each sweet caress a treason act intent on gaining her trust. He never meant to fall for a woman only hungry to climb the DC’s cutthroat ladder of success. But he did. And if she’s not the murderer, she’s next on the hit list. All bets are off. Can he be both investigator and protector and find out the truth? Deep Cover by Mara Moore is a sexy romantic suspense FBI agent thriller. It talks about politics and campaigns, but it is not political. It has sizzling, dirty words in it, so if you're looking for something other than a romance novel, take a chance on steamy fun... more»»
Review by Paul Lappen 21st November 2020

The Witches of Vegas
by Mark Rosendorf
(1 Review)
By using their magic, the Witches of Vegas become the number one act performing on the Las Vegas Strip - a great achievement for them, but not so much for the magicians - who can't possibly keep pace. Isis Rivera is the adopted fifteen-year old daughter of the Witches of Vegas. Zack Galloway is the teenage nephew and assistant to the last magician left in the city. Although they should be rivals, when Valeria, a four-hundred-year-old witch with a long-seeded grudge against humanity arrives in Sin-City, both teens act to bring their families together to stop the evil hag in her tracks. But can the combined witches' powers and the ingenuity of the magicians be enough to stop Valeria from taking over the city and possibly the world... more»»
Review by Molly Martin 21st November 2020

Born to Be an Entrepreneur
by Kristyna Zapletal
(1 Review)
A book for mindful entrepreneurs. This is not your typical business book. And it is not your typical start-up book, either. This book has been written for an aspiring entrepreneur who aims at addressing needs of people in their community to create a positive social impact, while maintaining control over their own physical and mental wellbeing. "Entrepreneurs are born imperfect like anyone else: they struggle and cry, flog themselves with doubts, and experience rejection considerably more often than they do praise. Yet, they don't give in to shame. They are survivors who manage to strike a fire in a wasteland. They keep the candle of dream burning in the middle of a shitstorm." The author defines entrepreneurship as a means to delivering value, where all starts and ends with self-improvement... more»»
Review by Paul Lappen 21st November 2020

The Payback
by Hilary Hawke
(1 Review)
Claudia Lopez waits for her husband at Newark International Airport, unaware that he's gone into hiding in the wake of a botched drug deal. Now, eight hours after completing the long flight from Bolivia with their infant daughter, she's stranded in the bustling arrivals building, wondering what to do next. At first, Margot Fortune, the elegant and sympathetic woman who offers her a ride to Manhattan, appears to be her salvation. Claudia will discover that appearances can be deceiving. Her world will be turned upside-down when, adrift in an unforgiving city, she's threatened with the kidnapping of her baby if she fails to pay back her husband's drug debt. As Claudia desperately searches for a way out of her nightmare, Margot leads her on a harrowing tour of the Big Apple's dark underbelly and into the shadowy world of high-priced prostitution, drugs and violence... more»»
Review by Molly Martin 21st November 2020

Ava and Pip
by Carol Weston
(2 Reviews)
Meet outgoing Ava Wren, a fun fifth grader who tries not to lose patience with her shy big sister. When Pip's 13th birthday party turns into a disaster, Ava gets a story idea for a library contest. But uh-oh, Ava should never have written Sting of the Queen Bee. Can Ava and her new friend help Pip come out of her shell? And can Ava get out of the mess she has made?
Great for parents and educators looking for a heartwarming read incorporating messages of sisterhood, identity, and helping others
"A love letter to language." - The New York Times... more»»
Review by Amelie G. (11) 4th July 2020

Mesmer's Disciple
by Edward Swanson
(1 Review)
New York City in 1847 is a boiling stew of ethnic gangs, foul living conditions, and runaway crime. Police Captain Alvord Rawn effectively meets violence with violence until one bloody night he goes too far. Forced to resign, Alvord agrees to help a wealthy society woman locate her missing son, the rising artist Charles Deas, who has been painting and exploring the frontier areas west of St. Louis. Deas has fallen under the spell of the mysterious Count Abendroth, a practitioner of mesmerism. Under the Count’s sinister occult guidance, Deas’s paintings have grown darker and more intense, verging on madness. When Alvord arrives in St. Louis, he finds that Abendroth is much more than a charlatan, and that he is massing his dark powers for nefarious ends. Abendroth is unwilling to let Deas leave without a fight, which is just fine with former Police Captain Alvord Rawn, because fighting is what he does best... more»»
Review by Paul Lappen 1st June 2020

The Shape of Night
by Tess Gerritsen
(1 Review)
If the walls could talk... they'd tell her to leave. Now. When Ava arrives at Brodie’s Watch, she thinks she has found the perfect place to hide from her past. Something terrible happened, something she is deeply ashamed of, and all she wants is to forget. But the old house on the hill both welcomes and repels her and Ava quickly begins to suspect she is not alone. Either that or she is losing her mind. The house is full of secrets, but is the creeping sense of danger coming from within its walls, or from somewhere else entirely.
'Beguiling! Gerritsen is at her atmospheric best in this spine-tingling tale of a lone woman, an old house, and all the secrets everyone tries to hide.' Lisa Gardner... more»»
Review by Ben Macnair 1st June 2020

Chickenfeed
by Minette Walters
(1 Review)
A body is found in a chicken run...
Based on the true story of the ‘chicken farm murder’ which took place in Blackness, Crowborough, East Sussex in December, 1924. Norman Thorne was found guilty of the murder of Elsie Cameron, but even at the time of his execution there were doubts about his guilt. Still swearing his innocence, Norman Thorne was hanged on 22 April 1925. Bestselling author Minette Walters brings a thrilling story to life in Chickenfeed.
This is a crime novella (121 pages) by English writer Minette Walters, published as part of the Quick Reads, designed to promote literacy through short, simply written and fast moving stories... more»»
Review by Ben Macnair 1st June 2020

The Love Detective
by Angela Dyson
(2 Reviews)
Clarry is 26, attractive, funny - and on the road to nowhere. Living a makeshift existence as a waitress, she knows life should be led with some sort of plan, but unfortunately planning is something she needs to get around to. Enter her best friend Laura with a seemingly simple request: check out Simon, estate agent and new boyfriend, to make sure he really is interested in Laura and not the solicitor help she can provide. Clarry is no detective, unless you count tracking down where her next tip is coming from. Still, what harm could a little amateur sleuthing do? With the aid of Flan, a glamorous septuagenarian, Flan's lover, and a cast of colourful characters from the restaurant she works at, Clarry plunges into the investigation with a few pitfalls, pratfalls and a dodgy moment where she's mistaken as a pole dancer (and not in a good way). It isn't until 1) she discovers that Simon's a two-timing creep, and 2) in a sinister turn, she uncovers an evil criminal enterprise, that she realises amateur sleuthing is not for the faint of heart... more»»
Review by Ben Macnair 1st May 2020

We Are the Destroyers
by D. K. Lindler
(1 Review)
Captain Bel’lar can’t accept that he’s lived all this before. Overconsumption is destroying his home planet, and synthetic foods are turning his people into degenerated mutants under the control of the Brotherhood of Syn. As one of the few remaining but persecuted Organs - those who still live the organic lifestyle - Bel’lar and his small crew must escape from their dying world to the semi-mythical blue-white planet. They are to discover if it is really what the prophecies say it is: a place for humanity to make a new beginning. But the visions of his beautiful companion Ry Sing, a mystic and seer shake Bel’lar. She tells him that eons ago, Bel’lar was also faced with the burden of saving his people from their own greed. Only then he was the Great One, the sacred head of their religion. He had seen no other way to liberate them from their collision course with environmental destruction and spiritual degradation than to purify the planet in a great cataclysm… As Bel’lar, Ry Sing and the rest of the elite team embark on their mission to save mankind, the truth of the vision begins to reveal itself, and Bel’lar’s destiny is set before him. But will he be able to avoid it this time? Or is he fated to live the vision once again... more»»
Review by Paul Lappen 1st May 2020

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann & Dania Sheldon
(1 Review)
Science and religion have two seemingly opposing views of the universe’s biggest questions. But what if the real story told you they were both right? Vancouver, 2009. Physics engineer and CEO Daniel Friedmann loves solving problems. When the avid scientist dives deep into scripture, he’s faced with questions he feels compelled to answer: Is it possible to harmonise the scientific timeline for the development of the universe with the biblical timeline described in Genesis 1? How do the evolution of human history and prophecies surrounding the End of Days fit in? His quest for answers takes him and his nephew Seb on an incredible journey through the ages, discovering the lives and works of mystics, prophets, sages, philosophers, scientists and biblical commentators. Follow Dan and Seb as they discover answers to some of the biggest questions in science and religion. The Biblical Clock is a fascinating and entertaining read, digging deep into the universe and solving its well-kept mysteries... more»»
Review by Paul Lappen 1st May 2020

Ava and Taco Cat
by Carol Weston
(1 Review)
The second installment in Carol Weston's lauded Ava series. Ava Wren desperately wants a cat for her 11th birthday - but gets way more than she bargained for when she adopts a rescue cat. When Ava Wren hears about an injured yellow tabby with mismatched ears, she becomes obsessed and wants to rescue him. She even picks out a perfect palindromic name: T-A-C-O-C-A-T. But when Taco joins the family, he doesn't snuggle or purr - all he does is hide. Worse, Ava's best friend starts hanging out with Zara, a new girl in fifth grade. Ava feels alone and writes an acclaimed story, The Cat Who Wouldn't Purr. What begins as exciting news turns into a disaster. How can Ava make things right? And what about sweet, scared little Taco... more»»
Review by Molly Martin 1st May 2020

The Friendship Cure
by Kate Leaver
(1 Review)
Our best friends, girl friends, bromances, Twitter followers, Facebook friends, long- distance buddies and WhatsApp threads define us in ways we rarely acknowledge. There is so much about friendship we either don t know or don t articulate: why do some friendships last a lifetime, while others are only temporary? How do you break up with a toxic friend? And maybe the most important question: how can we live in the most connected age and still find ourselves stuck in the greatest loneliness epidemic of our time? It s killing us, making us miserable and causing a public health crisis. What if meaningful friendships are the solution, not a distraction? In The Friendship Cure, Kate Leaver s much anticipated manifesto brings to light what modern friendship means, how it can survive, why we need it and what we can do to get the most from it. From behavioural scientists to best mates, Kate finds extraordinary stories and research, drawing on her own experiences to create a fascinating blend of investigative journalism, pop culture and memoir... more»»
Review by Ben Macnair 1st April 2020

Professor Challenger: New Worlds, Lost Places
Edited by J. R. Campbell & Charles Prepolec
(1 Review)
Brilliant, belligerent and bearded in equal measure, incapable of suffering fools, or journalists, gladly, the greatest scientific mind of his generation - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Professor George Edward Challenger - returns in ten all-new tales of scientific adventure and wonder. This original anthology, from the authors and editors who brought you the Gaslight Sherlock Holmes series, sees Challenger and his stalwart company including the reporter Malone, big game hunter Lord John Roxton and the skeptical colleague Professor Summerlee, travel across space and witness the ravages of time, narrowly eluding a dinosaur's bite only to battle against the invasive red bloom of alien foliage, then plunge deep into the mysteries hidden within the Earth and reach out to the moon and into the heart of the unknown. Strap yourself in for chills, thrills and challenges to the unknown in exciting new worlds and lost places with literature's foremost scientific adventurer... more»»
Review by Paul Lappen 1st April 2020

Class Murder
by Leigh Russell
(1 Review)
Geraldine Steel is back for her tenth case. Reunited in York with her former sergeant, Ian Peterson, she discovers that her tendency to bend the rules has consequences. The tables have turned, and now he's the boss. When two people are murdered, their only connection lies buried in the past. As police search for the elusive killer, another body is discovered. Pursuing her first investigation in York, Geraldine Steel struggles to solve the confusing case. How can she expose the killer, and rescue her shattered reputation, when all the witnesses are being murdered?
For fans of Peter James, Angela Marsons and Robert Bryndza... more»»
Review by Ben Macnair 1st March 2020

Wind Follower
by Carole McDonnell
(1 Review)
A fourth tribe has come to the land of the three tribes - and the light-skinned newcomers are fated to change the tribes' way of life and religion. Satha, a dark-skinned woman from a poor Theseni clan, and Loic, her wealthy young Doreni husband, are too busy forging their new life together to pay much heed. But when Satha is dishonoured and Loic must avenge her, they find themselves drawn into a cultural battle. Kidnapped and enslaved, Satha strives to retain her autonomy. Loic struggles against Arkhai, spirits who fear his quest will lead him to the true god whose place they have usurped. With the Creator's aid, there remains hope the two will be reunited and find their mutual destiny - even if it means losing the love and respect of their comrades, families, clans, and tribes... more»»
Review by Molly Martin 1st March 2020

America: The Farewell Tour
by Chris Hedges
(1 Review)
America, says Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Chris Hedges, is convulsed by an array of pathologies that have arisen out of profound hopelessness, a bitter despair, and a civil society that has ceased to function. The opioid crisis; the retreat into gambling to cope with economic distress; the pornification of culture; the rise of magical thinking; the celebration of sadism, hate, and plagues of suicides are the physical manifestations of a society that is being ravaged by corporate pillage and a failed democracy. As our society unravels, we also face global upheaval caused by catastrophic climate change. All these ills presage a frightening reconfiguration of the nation and the planet... more»»
Review by Paul Lappen 1st January 2020

The Perfect Girlfriend
by Karen Hamilton
(1 Review)
Meet Juliette. She's intelligent, driven, committed - and in love. Juliette loves Nate. She will follow him anywhere. She's even become a flight attendant for his airline, so she can keep a closer eye on him. They are meant to be. The fact that Nate broke up with her six months ago means nothing. Because Juliette has a plan to win him back. She is the perfect girlfriend. And she'll make sure no one stops her from getting exactly what she wants. True love hurts, but Juliette knows it's worth all the pain. Karen Hamilton's The Perfect Girlfriend is a frightening depiction of unbridled obsession, where love and pure hatred grapple on a knife edge... ... more»»
Review by Ben Macnair 1st January 2020

Quondam
by Jayel Gibson
(1 Review)
According to legend, only the dragonspawn born of both Man and dragon can unseat the usurper queen and restore order and magick to Quondam. When Cwen of Adracmora falls through a mysterious portal into Quondam, she discovers her fate and the world's are intertwined in ways that will drag her, heartbroken and vengeful, into the heart of a devastating war. With the help of an elder wizard, and the sorceresses B’rma and N’dia, the dragonspawn and Cwen of Aaradan embark on an epic journey to undo the folly of a god... more»»
Review by Molly Martin 1st January 2020