Ann Cleeves - Blue Lightning

Jimmy Perez has brought his fiancee to his old home in Fair Isle, which is also the location of a bird research centre, along with the inevitable tourism this attracts.  The woman who runs the site is found murdered, and as the centre is effectively cut off by storms, only one of a handful of residents could have committed the crime, and all seem to have a motive.

Rating: 5/10

Let's get one thing straight here.  I hate being nasty about a book, especially if it is obvious that blood, sweat and tears have gone into producing it, and the guilt weighs heavier if the author is critically acclaimed, but just maybe I expect more of them and am not one of the masses....  Review on SHOTS, link when it's posted.

Next: Susanna Gregory - The Tarnished Chalice

Robert B Parker - Death In Paradise

The worst that Paradise usually has to deal with is the odd homeless dog, and good job too, as Jesse Stone has enough going on in his personal life to cope with.  Then the decomposed body of a young girl is found in the lake.  Jesse has to find out who she is, and why she was murdered.  The answer lies with a local author, who just happens to have a connection with a local heavy.  But Jesse's personal life weighs hard, with his drink problem, and the torment of whether he is still in love with his ex-wife.

My rating: 7/10

It was purely co-incidence that I took out a Parker only a few days after his death, and this is a fairly typical and enjoyable example of his work.  He relies heavily on dialogue, and have to say, if you are a pedant who objects to the word "said" being used more than a couple of times, you won't enjoy them.  If, however, you overlook/ignore/decide it doesn't matter, and concentrate on what is actually being "said" you will note that Parker has a remarkable talent in observing human nature, emotions and understanding the motives behind them.  Also, with the amount of dialogue used, this makes the book easy to read and indeed most people would be able to read an average Parker in an afternoon.

Previously, I had read a couple of Spensers, this is the first Jesse Stone, but although the style is consistent, the personalities are not - albeit both Spenser and Stone are "bad boys" at heart, and in their past.  Also, fairly typical, is that as the hero knows who the villain is, the revealing of the murderer is not particularly surprising, it is how Stone comes to the conclusion - and the resources and methods he uses to find them that are entertaining.

Next: Ann Cleeves - Blue Lightning, for SHOTS

Robert B Parker

I learned today (from a librarian - they are surprisingly knowledgeable in my library, although I must complain about their crime section - thank God for SHOTS) that Robert B Parker passed away at his desk on 18 January.  Confirmed by the web, the best obit is the Telegraph's.  Only just recently started reading a few of his 60 - count 'em - books that he churned out over the years, albeit so far I've found a couple of them like the Curate's Egg, he wrote in a style that I thought had gone out of fashion, and will be looking for more of his novels more diligently.  A Jesse Stone that I took out today will be the next to be read.

I expect that he's currently swapping notes with Chandler. 

Ellis Peters - An Excellent Mystery

King Stephen has been captured and Empress Maud is under siege in Winchester.  St Winifred's is far enough away from the troubles, until two Brothers arrive, Humilis, in a previous life something of a local hero, and mortally wounded, and his companion, the mute and mysterious Fidelis.  A squire previously in the employ of Humilis arrives to ask if he can pursue the woman that Humilis had been affianced to before he took Holy Orders.  The search for the lady escalates into a murder hunt, but Cadfael has other suspicions.

My rating 8/10

Absolutely the very best so far that I've read of the Cadfael chronicles, some of the prose is poignant and incredibly touching.  I read a review somewhere, words to the effect that it was interesting to read about a time when marriage was viewed somewhat differently.  What I think is this makes a heartfelt statement about that wonderful institution, and the true meaning of marriage.  Peters thought out this plot so well, and I admit I was slow to twig the puzzle, as clues are given early on, and she slowly introduces more clues until I think every reader would have got it before it is fully revealed, lifted, if this isn't too cheesy, like the bride's veil at a wedding.  Really love this book, and may get a copy for myself some time.

Next: No idea!  Run out of books, so I'm thinking nothing serious until Saturday 

Caroline Carver - Beneath the Snow

Lisa McCall, a young research scientist, has disappeared out in the Alaskan wilderness. Lisa's sister, Abby  flies out from England to join the rescue team. Abby and Lisa have been estranged for years, driven apart by a terrible row. As soon as she arrives at the freezing outpost, Abby knows there's something wrong. Lisa's cabin has been ransacked and her research material is nowhere to be found. It emerges that Lisa was on the verge of patenting an incredible discovery - facing fierce opposition from the oil-dominated energy market. Abby knows her sister is out there somewhere, battling deep cold and raw terror, while her enemies circle. After so many years of brooding silences and explosive rows, Abby is forced to face up to the past, while her younger sister fights for a future. Abby embarks on the dangerous task of locating Lisa before someone else gets to her first. (taken from Fantastic Fiction description)


My rating 8/10

It doesn't happen very often, but where I've said (though not out loud) with authors such as Bernard Knight, Reginald Hill...and okay, okay Mike Ripley, "where have your books been all my life" finally there is another one to the list and female.  (whisper: prior to this I had not found a female crime fiction author that enthralled me to the point of thinking that was a thumping good read.  Some close, and big names, but no cigar, sorry) Who woulda thought it?  I wasn't expecting much of this story, and I don't mean to be degrading, is just that I didn't expect it to be as good as the later Back With Vengeance that I reviewed for SHOTS.  Actually, maybe it isn't.  But darn it, it is very good.  So Caroline Carver - where have your books been all my life?

Next: Ellis Peters - An Excellent Mystery (probably the last Peters for a while!)

Oh dear...

Realised why I don't read romantic historical fiction anymore.  Despite the fact it may cover an era I'm interested in, doesn't mean I will like it.  It may be me, but within a chapter or two, I  had read too many badly constructed sentences and gratuitous sex scenes (which is worse?) for my taste at least.  No rating, not read, not fair.

Next: Caroline Cooper - Beneath the Snow

Christopher Brookmyre - A Snowball In Hell

Do you hate reality TV and Z-list celebrities so much that you would commit mass murder - and in public?  Simon Darcourt would, albeit that he was presumed dead years before after a failed mission as "terrorist for hire".  Angelique De Xavia is called upon to trap this sadistic killer, but it becomes a lot more personal, as her parents are kidnapped, and more dangerous as she knows to get this solved she must call on her former boyfriend, who is the only suspect in a multi-million pound heist, but happens to be a bit of a magician too.


My rating: 8/10

My first encounter with Brookmyre was his latest, Pandaemonium, which I reviewed for SHOTS (clicking the link takes you to the review).  I was mighty confused by it, but where I say at the end, I may have missed the point - uh - I think I get it now.

Snowball really is an excellent story; I deliberately put it second on the reading order, as I wanted to get the nightmares out of the way first, as Pandaemonium is violent and gory.  However, Snowball is not especially - yes, most of the victims die horribly but it is up to your own imagination to visualise their deaths (that might give you nightmares.)

Brookmyre is very obviously highly intelligent, and there were times when he describes human nature in his prose (usually in the voice of Darcourt), and no matter how despicable you believe the villain to be....you think, my goodness, he is dead right.  I don't know what could disgust you more; the deaths and the motives, or the current vogue that is called in this day and age "light entertainment".

A good ending too, much better than Pandaemonium's, with everyone finding their place, even the walking wounded, and the bad guy gets his comeuppance.  There are more twists in this tale than your average large white bloomer, and just when you think you can see how it concludes, a further twist keeps you entertained and in no way frustrated.

One criticism I have of Brookmyre: my gosh, the man can waffle, with stuff that is not plot related, and at times, dare I say it...boring?  But you can skip a few lines and find something to make you think again, or send you spiraling back into the plot.  Terrific stuff.

Next:  Sarah Bower's The Needle In The Blood.

Ellis Peters - The Devil's Novice

Outside the pale of the abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, in September of the year of our Lord 1140, a priestly emissary for King Stephen has been reported missing. But inside the pale, Brother Cadfael's attention is turned on Meriet, a proud, secretive, nineteen year old novice who has been delivered to the abbey by his over-bearing father the Lord of Aspley, to begin a religious vocation. Meriet, meek by day, is so racked by dreams at night that his howl earns him the nickname of the Devil's Novice. Shunned and feared, Meriet is soon linked to the missing priest's fate. Only Brother Cadfael believes in Meriet's innocence, and only the good sleuth can uncover the truth before a boy's pure passion, not evil intent, leads a novice to the noose. (From Amazon description)


My rating: 6/10


Good, but not great, Cadfael chronicle, suffered a little from that evil of referring back to previous chronicles...let's not go there.  The puzzle was unwound well, but for some reason found it very difficult to read.  Maybe it's the weather or this darn cold I've caught.

Next: Christopher Brookmyre: A Snowball in Hell

Keith Floyd - Stirred But Not Shaken

Keith Floyd's autobiography, as told to James Steen.

My rating: 7/10

I have read a few biographies and autobiographies, and I rate this one second to Johnnie Walker's (I'll reread at some point, been meaning to for ages).  The guy had a fascinating life, albeit heartbreaking at times, if you ever thought that lightning couldn't strike you more than once in a lifetime, you won't believe the turn of events in Floyd's life, some admittedly of his own making, but a lot of them clearly not.

One criticism I have, although his stories are well told and arranged, is that I don't think Floyd was completely honest talking about some of the periods in his life.  You feel some righteous anger for him sometimes, but there are incidents which he just "skips over" as if they had nothing to do with him and could not see where the blame lay.  I don't think he was self-absorbed - if he was then I think he would have known himself better - I think he was more interested in stuff going on around him and in his life to pay much attention to his own behaviour.

I only saw a TV series or two of his, and maybe one book (American Pie), so it would be stupid of me to say that I'll miss him, as unlike the rest of the world, I wasn't that absorbed.  But he was the first, true "celebrity" chef, and the pattern and format of his programmes continued with Stein and Oliver, so the man certainly left a legacy, and it seems he did die (relatively) content.  I admire his bravery and tenacity too - there are few left like him.

Next: Spoiled for choice, an author with a fiction story based around the Bayeux Tapestry (name escapes me), two Ellis Peters, one Christopher Brookmyre and a certain Caroline Cooper.  Not sure which one first, but probably a Peters.

Mike Ripley - Just Another Angel

Fitzroy Maclean Angel is a streetwise, trumpet-playing, cab-driving guy with a penchant for good beer and women, but has mostly stayed out of trouble.  Then he meets Jo Scamp, and it isn't until after his brief, early morning encounter with her that he discovers that not only is she married, but married to a serious villain who breaks bones for a living.  And she needs him to run an errand, which means infiltrating that most dangerous of groups: an all woman CND camp.

My rating: 8/10

Actually, Angel Hunt is more Christmassy than Just Another Angel, and I did pick it up first.  But Just Another had a stronger draw than the other, mostly because I like it more.  Of course, bias doesn't come into at all, oh no.  But in attempting to be subjective, I have read a few debut novels and I have to admit that this one is very good, but unfortunately I had read 10 others in the series before this one and this ended up low on the personal list and why do I feel guilty about it?

But I do, because every time I read it I giggle, annoying the heck out of my better half, and I think it about time I revised the personal list.  Well, I'm the only one hung up about it, the author thinks I'm "discerning", I think I may be just plain crazy.

Have to say, if you're going to start anywhere with this series, start here.  Failing that, Angel's Share.  But you may just wave your free time bye-bye.

Next: Keith Floyd's posthumously published (auto)biography, Stirred but not Shaken.