Dec 22, 2007
Cocaine Blues – Kerry Greenwood
Introducing Phryne Fisher – intelligent, beautiful, wealthy and seductive, with more than her fair share of wit and sass, and a desire to find something more distracting to occupy herself than flying planes, driving fast cars or listening to boring society talk. In the first of the Phryne Fisher mysteries, our heroine takes herself to Melbourne. It is the late 1920s, and within days she is caught up... read more
Dec 22, 2007
Just One Look – Harlan Coben
Harlan Coben had been recommended to me, as he was apparently a master of page turning suspense with an ability to give a twist comparable to Robert Goddard. Therefore, I started Just One Look with high hopes and I am pleased to say, I wasn’t disappointed. As I understand, this is one of Coben’s books which reads as a stand-alone story, rather than the continuation of one of his pivotal heros... read more
Dec 19, 2007
Summary: A beautiful story of a young girl’s survival through the second World War. It is a story of hope, love and, most importantly, Death, who tells the story. The backdrop of Nazi Germany is exquisitely painted and the story is poetic and tragic at the same time. It is a work of art.
Pace: Magnificently written so the pace is almost irrelevant. You simply have to keep reading.
Main Characters: ...
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The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
Dec 16, 2007
Summary: A young girl is found murdered in a local Catholic girls school in Philadelphia, and it becomes evident that this isn’t just a one off killing. But determining who the serial killer is isn’t easy – don’t be too sure you’ve guessed it because there are plenty of twists and turns in this novel.
Pace: Fast and twisty. Make sure you have a long train journey to read it in...
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The Rosary Girls – Richard Montanari
Dec 14, 2007
Summary:
The glorious introduction of a sassy, intelligent Victorian heroine who finds herself investigating the mysterious death of her husband alongside the dark, handsome Nicholas Brisbane. Entertaining, funny and cleverly plotted.
Pace: Fast and amusing, and always keeping you guessing
Main Character: Lady Julia Grey
This book is like…what Elizabeth Bennett would have been if she hadn’t...
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Silent in the Grave – Deanna Raybourn
Dec 13, 2007
Summary:
Twenty years ago a little girl was abducted from a church during a Christmas midnight mass and was never found. New evidence comes to light suggesting maybe she wasn’t murdered, but investigating means uncovering dark secrets. Unfortunately the secrets are flimsy, the characterisation is poor and the story just isn’t worth the time.
Pace: Very fast due to the shallow story line and...
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The Devil’s Companions – John Misto
Dec 11, 2007
Summary:
A harrowing and poignant account of one man’s experience of the First World War in France and the journey his granddaughter takes 60 years later to discover what she could about him. The strength of this book is in the story of the grandfather and the powerful descriptions of his time in the trenches. The discovery phase of the 1970s is disappointing.
Pace: Mid-paced, and have the tissues...
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Birdsong – Sebastian Faulks
