Joe Nuthin's Guide To Life by Helen Fisher

 

Joe-Nathan is different from everyone else, he likes routines and takes everything at face value. His mother has tried to make sure Joe-Nathan can lead an independent life by writing two guides for him to follow. His friends and colleagues at work look out for him, however, Mean Charlie seems to delight in bullying him.

What a wonderful read Joe Nuthin's Guide To Life is. Author Helen Fisher has created a fully formed character in Joe-Nathan. Joe-Nathan is neurodiverse, although we are never told an exact diagnosis, and OCD plays a large part in his everyday life. He likes routines, order and precision. His mother has raised him to be as independent as possible, he has a job he loves and, with a practical guide his mother has written for him, can cook simple meals and carry out simple tasks.

Problems arise when Joe-Nathan's routines are broken. We are given glimpses of this early in the book and your heart really goes out to Joe-Nathan as he flounders, trying to right the situation. Unfortunately, a major event throws Joe-Nathan's life into turmoil, destroying many of the routines he relies on, forcing him out of his comfort zone.

I had a lump in my throat quite a few times while reading Joe Nuthin's Guide To Life. Joe-Nathan is a young man who doesn't have a mean bone in his body, he simply wants to do his job well and stick to the pattern of his life. As a reader I felt very protective towards Joe-Nathan, feeling a sense of anger at the way he was treated by some individuals, but I was also torn, knowing that he could only learn to lead an independent life by dealing with these issues himself. We see how Joe-Nathan's openness and kindness slowly chip away at some of those people who are hostile towards him.

The big messages I got from this are not to make assumptions and that people can change. We see how easy it is to make assumptions based on how people look, Chloe, one of Joe-Nathan's colleagues is a clear example of this. I love Chloe, although if I met her in the street I'd probably avoid her. As for people changing, not only do we see the impact Joe-Nathan has on Mean Charlie, we also see the process of change in Joe-Nathan. Change isn't easy, it terrifies him, but with the help of his friends, he is willing to try.

Joe Nuthin's Guide To Life is a glimpse into the lives of some fabulous characters, a perfectly formed and complete story, however, there's a little part of me hoping and wishing that Helen Fisher might allow us a glimpse into the next chapter of Joe-Nathan's life.

After The Fire by Jane Casey

 

When a fire breaks out in a tower block on a sink estate in London it is up to DS Maeve Kerrigan and the rest of the MIT to investigate. The investigation is extremely sensitive as one of the fatalities is a right-wing MP.

After The Fire is the sixth book in the Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey. Every time I read a book in this series I think "Wow, the best yet", and this was no exception. I raced through, desperate to find the answers to the numerous questions raised during the investigation.

The opening chapters give us a brief glimpse of some of the residents of Murchison House, one of the six tower blocks that make up the Maudling Estate. The focus is on some of the residents of floors ten and eleven as those are the floors impacted by the fire. The description paints a bleak picture. After the fire, it's the lives of these people that are focused on as the police and fire brigade try to fathom what has happened.

First and foremost is was it arson or an accident? There are no quick answers which means the police have to investigate every possibility. Given that there is a strong chance the fire was arson, the police then need to figure out who the intended target was. It was this part of the story that really drew me in. With numerous victims, the pace never let up for a moment as numerous secrets are revealed.

The team is still coming to terms with their boss not being around. DCI Burt is running the squad and this causes friction between her and DI Josh Derwent. Kerrigan seems to spend a lot of her time handling Derwent so that he doesn't go too far and jeopardise his career. I loved the description of Derwent, "the Prince of Darkness", it sums him up perfectly. There seems to be an uneasy truce between Kerrigan and Derwent as Maeve slowly realises that Josh will do anything to protect her, even though he still enjoys winding her up at every chance.

We see a much more vulnerable Kerrigan in this book as she is struggling to come to terms with a number of events from the previous book. Her relationship status is still unsure. The arson itself takes place on the Maudling Estate, a place where Maeve's personal safety was compromised, a situation which still haunts her. Added to all this is the fact her stalker is still around and seems to be able to follow her every move.

Jane Casey has managed to weave all the various plot lines together so that you are completely in the dark, unable to guess the final outcome. As everything is wrapped up we are then witness to a shocking event which leads to a terrifying situation and a fitting conclusion to one of the storylines. Needless to say, I'm already looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Why Mummy Drinks by Gill Sims

 

Ellen has recently turned thirty-nine and is the mother of two primary-aged children. Her life seems to lurch from one disaster to another as she juggles family life and work, constantly comparing herself to the "Yummy Mummies" at the school gates and finding herself lacking.

Thrillers are my favourite genre but having read quite a few recently I decided a short break would be beneficial. I'll read most genres but wanted something light. Having read The Saturday Night Sauvignon Sisterhood by Gill Sims previously I knew that Why Mummy Drinks would fit the bill perfectly.

Why Mummy Drinks shows us a year in the life of Ellen Russell and her family. The year begins in September as her children return to school. Ellen has dreams about being a perfect mother, with everything in her life under control. Unfortunately, reality is anything but. Even though I don't have children I could certainly identify with Ellen.

Ellen's husband, Simon, has settled into family life well, possibly too well. He frequently uses the excuse of working full-time to avoid helping around the house or with the children. His job also gives him the opportunity to escape every now and again on business trips (from which he returns exhausted!). Ellen doesn't want to be stuck in a rut, thankfully she has a couple of friends she can socialise with, allowing her to vent. 

Although this description sounds very much like "normal life" Gill Sims has packed it with funny situations, some of which are so hilarious I found myself laughing out loud. The more hilarious incidents arise from Ellen's new-age sister-in-law and family descending for Christmas. I'll certainly steer clear of smoothies in the future!!!

There is an important message within the story, however. Ellen is constantly comparing herself to the other mothers at the school gates. The ones who are always immaculately turned out, have designer gear and perfect children. Little does Ellen realise that those same mothers are envious of her.

Needless to say, I'm already looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict (Audiobook)

 

Lily Armitage has never wanted to return to Endgane House, the scene of her mother's unsolved murder. The aunt who raised Lily has recently died and her final wish is for Lily and all her cousins to return to Endgame House to play The Christmas Game one last time with the winner inheriting the house.

It was the cover of The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict that appealed to me initially, closely followed by the title and the blurb. I think the black, white and red design works exceptionally well. 

The story begins quickly, immediately drawing the listener in, as we are introduced to Lily and her backstory. Laura Costello pitches the narration perfectly, showing Lily's trepidation at the thought of returning to the place where her mother was murdered. Alongside this, the pace never lets up but doesn't feel rushed.

Lily has no desire to inherit Endgame House, in fact, she'd be happier if she never saw the place again. However, her aunt has promised that by playing the traditional Christmas Game, where riddles are solved to reveal a prize, the clues will also reveal the identity of the murderer. 

Cliches can't be avoided as they are used to add menace to the story; the rules mean that anyone who leaves the property forfeits their chance of winning, phones are confiscated and a snow storm means the house is cut off from the outside world. When one of her cousins is found dead, Lily realises that someone is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to inherit the house and that her own life is in danger.

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen

 

Maggie Bird was enjoying her well-earned retirement until a stranger turned up looking for an ex-colleague. When the stranger later turns up dead on Maggie's drive, having obviously been tortured, Maggie realises you can never really retire from the CIA.

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen is a new series featuring a small group of retired ex-CIA agents who have all chosen to live in the town of Purity, Maine. Having worked in various exotic locations they've chosen somewhere quiet to live a simpler life. Things seem to be going to plan until an ex-colleague is targeted and goes on the run. This brings the CIA to Maggie's door, hoping that she'll have some insight.

The Spy Club is primarily Maggie's story. While "The Martini Club" also consists of Declan, Ben, Lloyd and Ingrid, all of whom have also retired from the CIA, the vast majority of the novel focuses on Maggie's background. Maggie thrives on the danger as she travels the world. It is only when personal relationships develop that she begins to question her job, particularly when she realises the danger those close to her are in. The life that Maggie lives as a spy isn't glamorous, there are no James Bond type settings, but the trips to various countries are appealing. There is a hint of danger in almost everything Maggie does though and some events have devastating consequences.

When one job in particular impacts on Maggie she decides to leave the CIA, this leads to her settling in Purity sixteen years later, hoping that she can lead a quiet life. Unfortunately, she soon learns that you can never really give up the job of being a spy, especially when ghosts of the past are trying to track you down. Aided by the other members of The Martini Club Maggie has to work out who is hunting her before anyone else gets hurt.

It is great to read a novel featuring strong, mature female leads, particularly when the work that they carry out is about intelligence and stealth rather than muscle. I didn't see the big reveal coming and the open-ended nature of the story leaves lots of possibilities for the direction future books can take. Hopefully, any future novels will give us more information about the backgrounds of the other members of The Martini Club.

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen will be published in hardback, ebook and audio on 18th January 2024. My thanks to NetGalley and Transworld Publishers for a review copy.

 

The Secret by Lee Child and Andrew Child

 

It's 1992 and newly demoted Captain Jack Reacher, a military police officer, is sent to join a task force investigating the mysterious deaths of a group of scientists linked to a top secret project in the 1960s.

I've been a fan of Jack Reacher from almost the beginning of the series. Anyone who's read my review of the previous book in the series, No Plan B, will have read about how I stumbled across the series and became hooked. My review of that book also raises the question of whether it's time for Reacher to settle down. Thankfully, book 28 in the series, The Secret, seems to be a return to form.

Set thirty years ago we meet a newly demoted Reacher. Having been raised as an army brat before joining the military himself, Reacher is aware that actions have consequences so has no animosity towards the army for his demotion, he just keeps on doing his job. Reacher is also aware that sometimes force needs to be used to get answers.

When a small group of scientists start dying under unusual circumstances the Secretary of Defense realises that there is a link to a top-secret chemical warfare project back in 1969 which involved the army and the CIA. A task force is hastily assembled with Reacher being joined by people from the CIA, FBI and treasury department. The group is tasked with finding the remaining scientists before anything happens to them, along with finding out who is responsible for the deaths.

We see a familiar writing style now that  Lee Child and Andrew Child are writing together. The storyline rotates between Reacher and other characters in the book, fleshing out each aspect of the storyline. There is plenty of suspense, along with some blurred lines as to who the villains are.

Since the book features a much younger Reacher I had hoped for a little more action. I wasn't disappointed by the scenes which are featured in the book, particularly the one in the bar, I just wanted more. Overall, I was happy with a Jack Reacher story that had me gripped from the start and wondering where it was leading.

The Holiday by T. M. Logan (Audiobook)

 

Kate and Sean, along with their two children, are heading to the south of France to holiday with friends in a luxury villa. Just as they arrive Kate spots a message on her husband's phone which hints at an affair with one of her friends, but which one?

Author T. M. Logan and narrator Laura Kirman set an ominous tone from the very beginning of the audiobook The Holiday. You know something dreadful is coming from the tantalising introduction.

The story then introduces Kate and her family, driving to meet their friends. Kate is suspicious that something is troubling her husband as his mood has changed recently and it's only when she accidentally discovers a text message that her fears are realised. It is impossible not to take Kate's side based on the message she sees and her husband's attitude. You feel her shock and anger when she works out that it must be one of her friends who is having an affair with her husband.

I couldn't understand why Kate didn't immediately confront her husband, apart from it would ruin the story. Being far from home, in a strange environment, probably contributed to her reluctance to act impulsively. 

The writing and narration really add to the atmosphere. You can feel the heat baking you as the group relaxes around the pool. The descriptions of warm sunshine, luscious food and drink, and lazy days make this an ideal holiday read/listen or something to rekindle those memories during the winter months.

You feel as if you are part of the group of friends, even a little voyeuristic, listening in to all the conversations, wondering who the other woman is. The more you listen in the more you realise that there are lots of other secrets waiting to be uncovered. Almost every character seems to be hiding something.

Shocking events lead to all of the secrets, and the identity of the mystery woman, being revealed. I loved the way everything thing fitted together. Even when everything is made clear T. M. Logan still manages to add a couple of twists at the very end.

My only criticism of the audiobook is that I found it difficult to keep track of all the different characters, it would probably have been much easier had I read the book. An added bonus, however, is that I can now watch The Holiday mini-series.