The Not So New 2024 50 Books a Year - Thread 2

56. The Suspect, Rob Rinder

I’m often loath to read “celebrity” novels and do wonder how much of the writing they actually do, but I did enjoy this. A well-loved breakfast TV presenter dies horribly on set after eating a dish prepared by the show’s chef, and junior barrister Adam becomes involved with the case. The legal team background seemed authentic, as I would have expected, and the story was entertaining. My only quibble would be that the book contained a major spoiler about the plat of his first novel, which I now plan on reading!

It was your review, TerriBull that made me reserve it at the library.

I loved it Sparklefizz William Boyd is fast becoming one of my favourite authors along with John Boyne. Quite good at the library, It's BO these days Boyd and Boyne, positively side by side!

Book 72 The Romantic by William Boyd

I was confused by this "faux biography" and had to google whether the main character, Cashel Greville Ross, was a real person.

This is the story of his life which was adventurous and full of luck and loss. He travels the world as a soldier, a farmer, a lover, a fighter, a writer and even a crook.

It is quite a saga full of highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies.

I would give it 8/10.

#88. Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz.

Just started this. Have been reading some reviews on the tv forum about last night’s episodes, (haven’t watched it yet), and the reactions seem rather mixed and ‘confusing’.

Perhaps if I read it before watching it will make more sense.

It seems intriguing a few chapters in.

103-The Favour-Nicci French.
When Liam unexpectedly turns up in Jude's life after ten years without contact, asking for a favour, she can't say no. He has a hold over her from the past, but Jude did not imagine this favour would end so horribly.
I was a huge fan of the Frieda Klein series, so the twists and turns in this book came as no surprise.

Book 71 Parting Shot by Linwood Barclay

This book was ok.

It centres around a town called Promise Falls where a teenager is killed by a drunk driver and the community wants answers.

It doesn't matter that the accused is a kid himself. All they see is that he took a life and got an easy sentence. Social media outrage builds and vicious threats are made against the boy and his family.

When private investigator Cal Weaver is called in, he finds himself caught up in a cold-blooded revenge plot. Someone in the town is threatening to put right some wrongs ....

Book 59
The Dark Wives - Anne Cleeves
Always love a Vera, this was no exception, a murdered man, a missing girl, the story is centred around a very inadequate care system, but Vera, Joe Charlie and new girl Rosie are on the trail.
Reliably good read.

Book 60
Lord Jim at Home - Dinah Brooke
This is a very unusual and very unsettling book.
Giles Trenchard is born between the wars to an upper middle class family.
His nanny is a cruel sadist, his father is a bully, and his mother is weak, too weak to save her poor boy from unspeakable cruelty.
He goes to Rugby, he copes better than the reader might have expected, but he is ultimately a failure, so after a far from glittering school experience, joins the navy, to the embarrassment of his family, he doesn’t even have a commission.
But he does his bit, he isn’t decorated, but there is no cause for complaint , and for Giles, his boat is his home, and his fellow sailors his family, so understandably, when he’s de mobbed, he becomes aimless.
He’s a really strange character, he’s feckless, dirty, drinks too much, he is bailed out time after time by his father, but eventually he steals from his parents, and they despair of him.
The ending is shocking, I did not see it coming, at the end I didn’t know if he was pure evil, or a really sad victim of his horrendous early years.

Oreo, I hope you can find it, it was lent to me, and was published in 1999.

Hellogirl1

Book 172, Somewhere a Bird is Singing, by E.V.Thompson. A lovely read, set in the slums of Plymouth`s Barbican in the late 19th century.

Sounds good will have to look it up.We visited Plymouth and the Barbican a few years ago, and went to the very good aquarium there and the gin distillery.I could just imagine how it would have appeared in the 19th century awful slums and now it just looks quaint.

# 127 - Three decades of Stories by Patrick Gale.
Not normally keen on short stories but I’m enjoying these. I’m very fond of Patrick Gale books.

Allira

Not sure of the number.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

I wasn't sure at first but I became engrossed and invested in Eleanor's story.
Recommended.

Read it a few years ago and loved it.😻

Yes, AliBeeee, a great book. Glad you enjoyed it.

I loved that book AliBeeee, good to know you did too.

#74 was The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne. I bought this in a charity shop after it was discussed on this thread. I loved it, absolutely wonderful book. Thank you to whoever recommended it (TerriBull perhaps?). 9/10

Book 173, Locked In, by Kerry Wilkinson. I really enjoyed this, the author`s first book, but also the first of a series featuring Det/Sgt Jessica Daniels.

I mean driving while drugged

Why would they search his house due to being stopped for a driving offence?

It was a drugs raid so maybe they found drugs in his car, or maybe he was drugged while driving.

Maggierose

Mayhem, a memoir by Sigrid Rausing. You may remember the shocking case of Hans Rausing who was stopped by police for a driving offence which led to a drugs raid on his multi million pound home, complete with a full staff, who were not allowed, however, to enter the private rooms. Police found the decomposing body of Eva Rausing hidden under the mattress with clothes and TVs piled on top and covered by a tarpaulin. This was a couple of months after she died of a heart failure due to drug abuse. Sigrid is Hans’ sister and she had to go through the court system to gain custody of their four children when Hans and Eva relapsed into drug addiction. It’s not a sensational read, but rather more meditative as Sigrid communicates the awful difficulties of living with addiction in the family. Even a family as unimaginably rich and privileged as this one.

Sounds like a very interesting read. Why would they search his house due to being stopped for a driving offence?

Book 172, Somewhere a Bird is Singing, by E.V.Thompson. A lovely read, set in the slums of Plymouth`s Barbican in the late 19th century.

#87. Without Trace by Leigh Russell.

Maggiemaybe

Thank you for mentioning The Christmas Appeal, TerriBull. I loved The Appeal and I love a Christmas story at this time of year, so what’s not to like? I’ve added it to my current pile of library downloads. As it’s short, I should get through it this time before they claim it back.

Maggiemaybe, yes it's short, and I don't think there'll be a waiting list for it now, it's been out a while.

I did that FGT, when I read that book, a couple of years ago now. I think I spent more time Googling lighthouses than I did reading the book

I finished ‘The Lamplighters’ yesterday morning and thoroughly enjoyed it. The ending didn’t disappoint and it had me racing through it. I’m not starting another book just yet as I’m happily Googling about lighthouses in general. 😁

Thank you for mentioning The Christmas Appeal, TerriBull. I loved The Appeal and I love a Christmas story at this time of year, so what’s not to like? I’ve added it to my current pile of library downloads. As it’s short, I should get through it this time before they claim it back.