No Plan B by Lee Child & Andrew Child

 

When a woman falls in front of a bus everyone is convinced she has committed suicide, apart from Jack Reacher. Reacher is convinced he witnessed someone push the woman. Local police aren't interested and this makes Reacher even more determined to find out what happened and track down the people responsible. This leads him into conflict with an organisation that run correctional facilities.

I'm a huge fan of the Jack Reacher series. I vividly remember purchasing my first book over twenty years ago. WHSmith were running one of those promotions where you could purchase three books for a set amount. I'd managed to pick five books and needed a sixth. Killing Floor had one of those handwritten shelf edge recommendations so I thought I'd give it a try. I wasn't blown away, it was ok as far as thrillers go, however my Mum loved it. I went straight out and bought the sequel, Die Trying, and that was the book that got me hooked. From that moment on I bought each new book as soon as it was published in hardback. Twenty years on and I'm still addicted but I am beginning to wonder if it's time for Reacher to settle down.

Right from the start there is a very malevolent feeling to the storyline. The opening is dark and the action is gritty, as you would expect from Reacher. The reader is immediately filled with the same questions as Reacher; what has he actually witnessed and why does someone want the woman dead? Why are the police quick to accept suicide as cause of death?

The story jumps between a wide variety of characters; the CEO of the organisation running a correctional facility, the warden of the prison, a grieving father and a teenage runaway as well as Reacher himself. It is a complete mystery until the very end as to how all of these characters are connected and this makes the story very drawn out and the pace slow.

Fans of the series will be familiar with Reacher and his background. In previous books this is explained as he offers support to whoever is in need of his help. That background detail was barely mentioned in this book and anyone new to the series might be puzzled as to the characters nature. There was also far more dialogue than action. When Reacher has to resort to physical violence we are used to his thought processes as he decides who to tackle first and how. These thought processes are sadly lacking and the degree of violence is quite gritty.

The conclusion seemed very rushed and ended quite abruptly. Overall this felt like a completely different character and series to the one I love. Maybe I have to accept that this is the direction the series is taking as Andrew Child has a greater hand in the storylines. Or maybe it's just time for Reacher to retire? Will I read another book in the series? Of course I will, I wouldn't desert Reacher.

Christmas In The Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal (Audiobook)

Heartbroken after her fiance ends their relationship, Shannon Kelly can no longer afford the flat they had together and has to return home to the village of Emerald Bay. The family pub is the hub of the village and with her sisters returning home for Christmas she is bound to be kept busy and her mind off her broken relationship. Shannon swears off relationships completely but fate has other plans when she meets a handsome American tourist.

I was quickly drawn into the story, particularly when the narrator has a beautiful Irish accent. Shannon comes across as very real and down to earth. You immediately sympathise with her because of her relationship ending and this having the knock on effect of her having to move out of her flat.

The village of Emerald Bay is one of those magical places that we all dream of stumbling across on our travels or living in. There are a host of eccentric characters and everyone knows each other and watches out for their neighbours. 

When Shannon meets a handsome American stranger you know exactly how the story is going to end. The problem for me is that throughout the story Shannon repeatedly pushed James away, rebuffing his advances on more than one occasion. When they do eventually get together the climax seemed very rushed, I wanted fireworks and bells, a spark of magic.

While the majority of the storyline is light and fluffy there is also a serious element which looks at one of the darker sides of Irish history. This really added some depth to what could have been a very run of the mill romance.

Christmas In The Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal is available in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a review copy.

 

Killers Of A Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

An elite, all female, group of assassins are approaching retirement age. The clandestine organisation they work for sends them on a retirement cruise. When they realise that they are now marked for assassination a game a cat and mouse begins as they try to figure out why they've been made a target and who is responsible.

This book is such fun. I read quite a few of Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey series a number of years ago and assumed this would be a period thriller (I really should read the blurb more carefully rather than just jump at a name I enjoy). Killers Of A Certain Age certainly isn't a period thriller, unless you count the 1980's as historical.

As I was reading I kept thinking "this is a cross between Charlie's Angels, Mission Impossible and The Golden Girls". We open in 1979 with a newly formed team of four female assassins carrying out a mission. The dialogue is crisp and witty, a tongue in cheek humour that continues throughout the story. There is pace, intrigue and action as Billie, Mary Alice, Natalie and Helen use their skills and feminine wiles to deal with their target. 

The story then jumps forward forty years and we discover that our group of four are about to retire after a successful career. As a reward the organisation they work for send them on a luxury retirement cruise. However, the skills the women have honed over forty years are always on alert and they realise they've now become the target. 

The story jumps backwards and forwards over a forty year period as we learn why the group was formed and who they work for. Some of the action and dialogue is dated and sexist but this fits perfectly with the time period. When the action moves back to now we see how modern the group of four are and that they have the ability to take on anyone. The action and pace never lets up throughout. You are constantly rooting for the group of friends to clear their names and be victorious. I really do hope that we'll see more from the team in the future.

Killers Of A Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn will be published on 9th March 2023 in paperback format. Hardback, ebook and audio format are available now. My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy.

 

 

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

Sally Diamond is 42 years old. For over 20 years it's just been her and her adoptive father living an isolated existence in Ireland. When her father dies at home Sally follows his instructions and puts his body out with the bins. When news of her actions begins to spread the press begin to show an interest in "Strange" Sally Diamond and we discover her traumatic background that has been hidden from the public for almost 40 years.

WOW! This book deserves to be huge. The central character, Sally Diamond, while intriguing is also one you will empathise with and love as you learn her backstory. Sally is strange, she takes everything literally, hence following her fathers throw away comment of putting his body "out with the bins". Sally is naive and childlike, she hates interacting with people and even pretends to be deaf so she doesn't have to talk to anyone. Sally avoids making eye contact with people and loses her temper easily leading to her tearing her own hair out. These are all traits that we recognise. Her father, a psychiatrist, has always told her she's socially deficient, we would probably describe her as being on the autistic spectrum.

As Sally comes to terms with being on her own she sticks to the routines she has always had. She's not worried about being alone as she doesn't like interacting with people. Thankfully some of the people in the village are truly compassionate and rally round to support her. This support is essential as news from the past looms and we discover that there is much more to Sally's background. We learn that Sally isn't autistic, her behaviour and mannerisms stem from a traumatic childhood. A childhood her adoptive parents have hidden from her, along with hiding her from the world.

The story of Sally's early life is truly horrific. Thankfully write Liz Nugent doesn't glorify the horror, it is told with sympathy and care. As the world and the past invade we see how brave Sally is in coming to terms with her past and forging a future.

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent will be published on 2nd March 2023 in hardback and ebook format. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for a review copy.

 

The Institution by Helen Fields

In The Institution, a high security home to the criminally insane, a young nurse is brutally murdered. Her unborn baby has been cut from her body and is now being held for ransom. Dr Connie Woolwine, a psychological profiler, is tasked with infiltrating the ward the murder took place on to see if she can discover the whereabouts of the baby. A ward which is home to the worst serial killers in the country.

Right from the beginning we have a seriously creepy story that will have you on edge from beginning to end. Combine this with a knowledge of writer Helen Fields and you know no-one is safe. The introduction unveils the despicable crime which has taken place. This then leads into the description of The Institution itself; set in the middle of nowhere, located next to a huge dam, all adds to the sense of isolation. Inside the building we get a sense of claustrophobia, despite the isolated location, as we read about the solidity of the walls and the numerous mechanisms in place as staff move from one building to the next, between floors and from one room to another. All designed to keep the patients and the staff safe.

The patients are terrifying. There are only five patients on the ward Connie infiltrates, they are the worst of the worst. Each one has been found guilty of atrocious crimes. As Connie interviews each one we learn their background and realise that despite being classed as insane they are all highly intelligent and master manipulators. Even more terrifying are the staff, people Connie should be able to work alongside and trust. Each one seems to be hiding something and you do wonder if one of them could be responsible.

Dr. Connie Woolwine is very empathetic and she uses this to get to know the patients and staff, however we are continually aware that there is a time pressure to find the baby and this adds to the overall intensity of the story. As events begin to move at a frenetic pace you feel the panic that Connie is in and wonder if she is going to be able to save the baby and herself.

The Institution by Helen Fields will be published on 2nd March 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a review copy.

 

Murder Most Royal by S. J. Bennett

 

A severed hand is washed up on the Norfolk coast. Being Christmastime The Queen is in residence at Sandringham and recognises the hand as belonging to an old friend of the family. With the aid of her assistant private secretary, Rozie, The Queen is determined to discover what happened. In the course of her investigation she stumbles across a range of crimes including money laundering, a hit and run, and drugs.

Murder Most Royal is the third book in the Her Majesty The Queen Investigates series from S. J. Bennett. In the first book, The Windsor Knot, the setting was Windsor Castle. The second book, A Three Dog Problem, took place at Buckingham Palace. In the third book the action takes place at Sandringham. The change of setting for each book gives us greater insight into the lives of the royal family. You get a real sense that being at Sandringham The Queen is able to relax and really enjoy being with her family, it's a chance for her to recharge her batteries before returning to formal duties at "the gilded office block" that is Buckingham Palace.

This book, more than the previous two, made The Queen seem much more "normal". From all the books we are well aware that The Queen enjoys being out of doors, keeps boots in the car just in case and loves being around animals. In this story we see that at Sandringham there are lots of family traditions and a chance to live life away from the prying eyes of the press and public. All of this really humanised her.

Writer S. J. Bennett has done a fantastic job of portraying all members of the royal family. As I was reading the interactions between The Queen and Prince Phillip I could hear their actual voices. The rest of the family spring to life from the pages as we discover their Christmas traditions.

Subtle humour is seen throughout the story, from the comment about Buckingham Palace being a "gilded office block on the roundabout" to the "problem solving" as The Queen calls her investigations. We also have the silly gifts that the royal family exchange at Christmas, after all what do you give someone who already has everything?

There are some very modern elements to the story. The village grapevine still consists of the queue at the Co-op but has now been supplemented by WhatsApp groups for knitters, embroiderers and crocheters. The environment is featured by the mention of rewilding by some landowners and the craze for wild swimming is highlighted.

There were times when I struggled a bit with the story. I loved all the different crimes that appeared throughout, showing that even royalty are never far from the seamier side of life. However, I struggled to keep track of the vast array of characters and their inter-connections. Thankfully this doesn't detract from the overall story, one which is very poignant.

Murder Most Royal by S. J. Bennett will be published on 10th November 2022 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Zaffre Books for a review copy.

Black Hearts by Doug Johnstone

The Skelf women, Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah, run a combined funeral business and private investigation firm. More often than not one arm of the business develops into work for the other side of the firm. In this fourth outing we see the women deal with a missing person case, a vengeful spirit and a stalker.

Black Hearts is set a year after the events of book three in the series, The Great Silence and the family are still trying to come to terms with what happened. Jenny, more than anyone, has been effected the most by what her ex-husband did. This has surfaced in self-destructive, risky behaviour. Readers of the series will be empathetic towards Jenny, knowing full-well the terror she faced and the actions she had to take. For the past year Jenny has been waiting for news, for confirmation, so that she can begin to let her guard down, start the healing process and learn to live again. Unfortunately someone has other ideas.

Dorothy, the matriarch of the family, plays a lesser roles this time around. Her Californian upbringing is reflected in her spirituality so it's not surprising that she is drawn to a case of a spirit haunting and physically hurting a widower.

Hannah, Jenny's daughter, discovers she has a stalker. I found this to be the most unsettling part of the story. We learn how easy it is for someone to gain access to your life through social media and how your life can be turned upside down by identity theft. 

There are some lighter moments; the opening chapter features a family funeral which descends into a fight at an open graveside and ends with pure slap-stick comedy. However, it's the all consuming darkness of grief that is at the heart of each part of the story, as we discover that everyone handles grief differently. 

Black Hearts by Doug Johnstone is available now in paperback, ebook and audio format. 

What July Knew by Emily Koch

 

In the sweltering hot summer of 1995 July Hooper turns ten. July's birthday has always been a bittersweet event as it's also the anniversary of her mother's death. On her second birthday July's mother was killed in a car accident. Since that day no-one talks about her mother, Maggie. Overtime July has become desperate to know more about her mother and has managed to glean 18 facts about her, facts she keeps hidden like secrets. July desperately wants to know more and when her teacher sets a holiday project to learn about a family member it seems like an ideal opportunity. Little does July realise that her quest to know more is going to have cataclysmic effects on her life.

Right from the start this is a story that is going to break your heart. July Hooper is a child desperate to be loved but only seems to receive rejection, antipathy, derision and violence. Despite being described as "nice, sweet and good natured" little affection is shown towards her. July isn't an annoying, needy child trying to wheedle her way into people's affections, she spends the vast majority of her time in the shadows, trying to stay out of everyone's way and not annoy anyone.

July is desperate for her father's approval. Over time she has learned the signs for when he is in a bad mood and she will have a "lesson to learn", a lesson that will involve some form of physical abuse. I was filled with anger that a young child should have to live in a situation like this and incredibly sad that July believes this type of behaviour is normal and acceptable. July tries to excuse the abuse as she is aware that in the following days her father's temperament will have improved and he will show her some affection; the loving touches and comments she craves.

Contrasted with the abuse July receives is the kindness shown towards her step-sister, Sylvie, who is the same age. Sylvie is an attention seeker who thinks nothing of telling tales, thus causing more problems for July. Sylvie's mother, Auntie Shell, is cool towards July. The behaviour of these characters make you want to snatch July away from the household and protect her. It is only as you move through the story that you realise they are terrified of July's father, Mick. He hasn't abused them physically but there is definitely coercive abuse happening.

July's maternal grandmother offers some relief. She adore's her grand-daughter but is still struggling to come to terms with the death of her daughter, she's also no match for Mick Hooper.

Unable to ask questions about her mother July begins to seek information elsewhere. Being set in 1995 this means having to ask people, use parish records or search newspapers stored on microfiche. This all adds to the nostalgic feel of the story. During her search July receives lots of conflicting information, this raises her hopes that her mother may still be alive. As a reader I then had just as many questions as July. Where is Maggie Hooper? Why won't anyone talk about her? Why has she abandoned July?

What July Knew by Emily Koch will be published on 9th February 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Harvill Secker publishers for a review copy.

The Prisoner by B. A. Paris

 

In the middle of the night newly married Amelie and Ned Hawthorpe are abducted from their home. Their captives keep the couple separated. Amelie is locked in a pitch black room with nothing more than a bare mattress and access to a bathroom for weeks. The kidnappers have demanded a ransom from Ned's wealthy father, however he's refusing to pay. As the days stretch on Amelie is determined to escape.

There is a blistering start to the story as we are instantly in the grips of the kidnapping. You feel the tension and the terror as Amelie awakes in the middle of the night and describes what is happening. Your interest is then immediately piqued by a couple of comments from Amelie. Her thought processes are "Grab the knife" which is hidden under her pillow and "I can outwit him; I've done it before". I needed to know why Amelie was sleeping with a knife under her pillow and what exactly she meant by having outwitted him before.

The pace of the opening doesn't let up until we are catapulted approximately four years into the past. Chapters then alternate between the terror of Amelie's captivity and her desperate attempts to escape with how she ended up alone in London at the age of sixteen. We learn that orphaned Amelie, living in hostels or on the streets was befriended by Carolyn who took her under her wing. 

Thanks to the support of Carolyn and a couple of her friends Amelie is able to get her life back on track and eventually gets a job working for Ned Hawthorpe at his magazine. When Ned whisks her off to Los Angeles and offers her a business deal Amelie is a little awe struck but convinced she is fully in control, little does she realise the nightmare is about to begin - in more ways than one.

On more than one occasion I was convinced I knew where the story was going, only to have the rug pulled out from under me. It's fantastic when a thriller writer keeps you guessing. Up to the two-thirds mark this story had all the hallmarks of a superb thriller, then there was the introduction of a slightly "fairy-tale" element which spoilt the story for me. I fully appreciate this element was necessary for the revelations in the conclusion, I just wonder if those revelations could have been handled differently. Apologies if that sounds a little vague, trying to ensure my review is spoiler free.

The Prisoner by B. A. Paris will be published on 3rd November 2022 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder Books for a review copy.

 

How To Kill Men And Get Away With It by Katy Brent (Audiobook)

Instagram influencer Kitty Collins has it all. She's heiress to a family fortune, her "job" is posting all about her life on social media and she wants for nothing. On a night out a man she meets refuses to take no for an answer and tries to follow her home. Following a scuffle the man ends up dead. When Kitty realises she's got away with it she sets out to deal with similar predators.

This audiobook was a breath of fresh air. With tongue firmly in cheek author Katy Brent has created an iconic character in Kitty Collins. Similar in vein to the character Dexter Morgan we have a female serial killer with her own code and moral agenda. Kitty is the classic "It girl" so there are lots of references to designer labels, eating out and partying. Being set in the present day and in London social media plays a huge part in the story.

Obviously the theme of the story is quite dark, Kitty is a vigilante for all women who feel unsafe, women who've been harassed when they are out or made to feel afraid on their way home at night. The #MeToo movement plays a big part towards the later part of the story where we see that the behaviour of predatory men is ignored because of their wealth and power. The author handles it all with a light touch and at no point detracts from the seriousness of the issue.

As we get to know Kitty we discover that as well as her dark side she is also hiding a number of secrets. Kitty is desperate to keep all of her secrets hidden and this becomes a major problem when her stalker (part and parcel of being an influencer, no biggie) starts hinting that they know exactly what Kitty has been up to. Kitty begins to doubt everyone around her as she wonders if her stalker is someone very close to her.

I really do hope that we get to see Kitty Collins again, maybe she can do a Joe Goldberg and relocate.

How To Kill Men And Get Away With It by Katy Brent is available in ebook and audio format. Paperback will be available 16th February 2023. My thanks to NetGalley and HQ Stories for a review copy.

 

In The Blink Of An Eye by Jo Callaghan

DCS Kat Frank is returning to work after the death of her husband. She's asked to lead a pilot program using artificial intelligence alongside ordinary police officers to review cold cases. Kat is vehemently opposed to using AI and hopes that she will be able to show it has no part to play in her role. The small team initially looks at the case of a student who has been missing for five months and quickly realises there is a possible link to another missing person case.

I have heard a lot about this book via Twitter so was keen to read it. Jo Callaghan has put a new twist on the genre of crime thrillers. 

I love science fiction TV and films (less so books) and the author has done an excellent job of portraying the artificial intelligence, AIDE Lock, in the story. As Lock contributes to the team I could imagine the monotone delivery, similar to Commander Data in Star Trek. We are reminded that AI seeks no personal gain, has no bias and always speaks the truth. Speaking the truth does lead to some tactless comments, sometimes funny, other times incredibly sad.

As the cold cases are investigated we see that there is a battle between data driven investigation and intuition, that "gut feeling" or nagging doubt. Throughout the story we see that both AI and the police make assumptions that can lead to wrong avenues being investigated.

Kat Frank is supported by a small team of officers and a professor of AI. All of these characters are well fleshed out, each dealing with their own issues which has a bearing on how they see the investigation going. I really do hope that the team returns in a sequel.

In The Blink Of An Eye by Jo Callaghan will be published on 19th January 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for a review copy.

 

Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey

 

Maggie and Jon started dating at the age of nineteen. They've been together for ten years, married for the last two. When Maggie suddenly asks "Is this working?" the relationship meets an abrupt end. Newly single Maggie struggles to come to terms with being on the road to divorce at the age of twenty-nine.

I really struggled with this book, I'm obviously the wrong demographic. You're probably asking why I bothered with it. The blurb from the publisher said it was "hilarious and addictive" and "laugh-out-loud funny, razor sharp and painfully relatable". The relatable is probably why this book didn't grab me. The lead character, Maggie, is half my age and struggling with being alone for the first time in her life.

I could not find any redeeming qualities in Maggie, she's completely self-centred and comes across as unhinged a lot of the time. When her ex-husband starts ghosting her you do have some sympathy but towards the end of the book you gain a greater understanding of the relationship and that sympathy quickly disappears.

There are some positives in the story. Maggie is fortunate to have a solid friendship group but even they begin to give up on her eventually. Toronto, where the story is set, comes across as vibrant, bohemian and safe.

Author Monica Heisey was a script writer for Schitt's Creek and because of this I desperately wanted to enjoy this book, hence my continuing to the end rather than giving up. I also found quite a lot of the narrative very Canadian/American which didn't translate well to the UK.

I am sure that a younger demographic, who are relaxed using social media and dating via apps will get far more pleasure from this novel than I did.

Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey will be published on 19th January 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and 4th Estate for a review copy.

The Mysterious Case Of The Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

A bundle of documents consisting of transcripts of conversations, printouts of WhatsApp messages, copies of emails, pages from novels and extracts from a screen play outline a journalists investigation into the Alperton Angels. Eighteen years ago a young girl escaped a religious cult, the Alperton Angels. With her she had a baby the cult were going to sacrifice. While the incident sparked public interest and a number of books and TV programs little is known about the individuals involved. As journalist Amanda Bailey delves into the case she begins to discover a series of alarming discrepancies.

Fans of previous novels by Janice Hallett will have an idea of what to expect in The Mysterious Case Of The Alperton Angels. This time round we have a mystery story based on a wide variety of media, a kind of The Appeal and The Twyford Code combined. Once you get used to the style for each type of medium you fly through the story. You have a sense of being an accomplice trying to solve the mystery and that keeps the pace moving.

There are a lot of characters to keep track of, the main ones being journalists Amanda Bailey and Oliver Menzies. Forced to collaborate we slowly discover that they work in a cut-throat business and that they have history. We don't actually find out much about their previous encounters until late in the story, this then causes a few of the pieces in the puzzle to fit together.

As the investigation unfolds we come across lots of conflicting information. This could be a result of faulty memories since the events happened 18 years ago. There's even questions raised about the actual date of the events. Or is there something more sinister happening? Is there a conspiracy? As people close to the case suddenly begin to die you do wonder if there is some kind of cover-up, or is it "other worldly"?

Manipulation is a big theme throughout. The ring leader of the cult was able to manipulate people to do what he wants and even though he's in prison he's still able to exert that same power over some people. We also discover that Amanda uses manipulation regularly to get what she wants. This also results in some tactless comments which are very funny.

There are so many twists and turns along the way your head is spinning by the end. I honestly don't know how Janice Hallett manages to keep track of the various plots as she's writing. All the threads are tied up neatly at the end, at which point you want to go right back to the beginning and start double checking everything you've read.

The Mysterious Case Of The Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett will be published in hardback on 12th January 2023 and in ebook format on 19th January 2023. My thanks to NetGalley and Viper Books for a review copy.

 

September 2022 Reads

 

September has been my most diverse reading month since starting this blog. I've always read quite widely but thrillers are my "go to" so tend to dominate my reading pile. Last month a lot of the proofs I requested to review just happened not to be in the thriller category.

The thrillers that I did read were absolute crackers. I loved 1979 from Val McDermid when I read it last year so was keen to see where the author would take Allie Burns in the sequel. A time jump of 10 years to 1989 works very well. Allie has a change of job, change of location and some of the biggest news stories of the 80's to deal with. I found the book very nostalgic as I'm old enough to remember many of the incidents very clearly. Nerves are on edge throughout as Allie puts her life at risk to get the story.

There was also the return of The Thursday Murder Club in The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman. When the club take on the cold case of a murdered TV reporter who's body was never found they end up dealing with more than they bargained for. Lots of new characters are added to the story and some meatier roles for Donna and Chris. Elizabeth is put in a very difficult position as the story takes an unexpected twist and she has to use all her spy craft to solve the problem. There is a lot of humour throughout, some close calls and some very tender moments.

The next genre I'd categorise is "feel good" fiction. I came across Matt Cain earlier in the year when I read The Secret Life Of Albert Entwistle. In Becoming Ted we have a man who is not afraid to be openly gay but is afraid to admit other areas of his life are not what he wants. He's afraid to tell his family he doesn't want to be involved in the family run business and he's afraid to put his dream of being a drag queen in to reality. When Ted's husband leaves him he examines his life choices. Thanks to a blossoming new relationship and friends, old and new, Ted finally acts on what he really wants.

Food is the theme of Good Taste from Caroline Scott. A writer in 1930's England is given the brief of writing about the history of English food. We see how regional variations abound for some well known foodstuff. We also get a glimpse of how every part of an animal was utilised for meals. What really struck me about this story was how much society has changed in seventy years but the same issues remain; a North/South divide, soup kitchens feeding the hungry, a decline in the high street and a lack of cooking skills among the population.

A very tongue in cheek premise features in Last Circle Of Love by Lorna Landvik. This is one of those authors I keep meaning to read (I have a couple of her books on my TBR), mainly because of the intriguing titles, but never seem to get around to it. A church group of older women decide to raise funds by writing an "ABC of Erotica". This raises quite a few eyebrows. What they end up with is a lot of shared memories and rekindled romances because the end product isn't erotica but a collection of stories about love.

It's hard to believe that Milly Johnson has written 20 novels. Her recent book, Together, Again contains many of the elements we are used to in her novels, however the tone of this one is a little darker. Three sisters return home to arrange their mother's funeral. The women have never been close because of the age gaps and a lack of parental tenderness. By sharing memories they are able to come to terms with the past and also deal with issues they are facing in their current lives.

The next two books certainly don't have a feel good element. I find it difficult to categorise Forever Home from Graham Norton. Despite living together as a couple for 10 years, Carol is kicked out of her home when Declan goes in to care because of early onset Alzheimer's. Declan's children are determined to sell the house Carol had promised would never be sold. When Carol's parents think they are doing the right thing by buying the house they make a startling discovery. Part mystery, part farce, I couldn't put this down. I just had to know what was happening and where the story was going. My first book by Graham Norton but certainly not my last.

My last fiction read of the month was We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman. An incredibly moving story about life-long friends dealing with one of them dying. There is no soft and fuzzy start, no gradual build up. You are immediately hit with Edi being given the news that she has a couple of weeks to live. We then see best friend Ash spending all her available time with Edi, reminiscing and making her remaining time as happy and comfortable as possible. While Ash is using all her time and energy to support Edi, we see that Ash has an incredible support network looking out for her. You'll definitely need tissues for this one.

I managed to review a couple of non-fiction books this month. Both books are published by Dorling Kindersley. In Simply Maths we have a reference book that covers a range of mathematical concepts. Meant to be an introduction for people who are interested in finding out more I felt that this book fell a little short. Too many diverse topics covered in very little depth to give a real understanding. This is more of a mathematical dictionary. Our World In Numbers is aimed at children of primary age and covers a wide range of topics; space, nature, history and more. The book is visually stunning and will fascinate any child (or adult) who has a thirst for knowledge and facts.

Two audiobooks listened to this month, both of which were romances. I really liked the characters in Ten Years by Pernille Hughes. When Ally dies her fiance, Charlie, and best friend, Becca, are manipulated to meet each year and carry out a task from an unfulfilled bucket list. The problem being Charlie and Becca don't get along, they're chalk and cheese. Over the space of 10 years we see how the characters grow, deal with some hilarious situations and gradually realise that they deal with grief differently. They also learn that love can come along more than once.

The second audiobook, A Year Of Finding Happiness from Lisa Hobman also deals with grief. Greg is struggling to come to terms with the death of his girlfriend and feels guilty when he is attracted to Mallory. A tentative friendship is formed, tentative because Greg keeps saying the wrong thing. Over the space of a year their feelings for each other develop and they both find closure for past relationships. The narrator, Greg Miller Burns, has a lovely lilting voice that made this an enjoyable listen. Music plays a strong part in the romance, Greg uses songs to say the things he struggles to articulate.