Review:- Susanna GREGORY – “The Mark of a Murderer”

Year Published: -2005
Where the book was from:- Pensby Library
ISBN: - 0 316 72640 0
Pages: - 465pp
Genre: - Historical crime
Location:- Cambridge, 1350s
How I came across it: - Library
Rating: - ***** ***
One sentence summary:- Another Matthew Bartholomew tale in which the strange behaviour of our hero physician is as much the talk of the town as is the latest series of murders in which he is involved.

AUTHOR Notes:- See “A plague on both your houses”

Review:- Ann GRANGER – “A Mortal Curiosity”

Year Published: - 2008
Where the book was from:- Pensby Library
ISBN: - 978 0 7553 2048 6
Pages: - 312pp
Genre: - Historical crime
Location:- Hampshire, 1864
How I came across it: - Continuing this author’s works
Rating: - ***** ****
One sentence summary:- The second Lizze Martin /Ben Ross crime story sees Lizzie involvced in more murders as she goes to be a companion in Hampshire.

Describe the plot without giving anything away:-
Lizzie is asked to be a companion to a woman who is recovering from childbirth but whose child has died. The woman will not accept that herchild is dead but there’s no do8bting the corpse in the garden has departed this life.

General comments:- Set in 1864 the background detail is as much fun as the criminal element of Ann Granger’s story

AUTHOR Notes:- Ann Granger, born 1939, held various jobs in the diplomatic service and now lives near Oxford.

Review: James FOLLET – “The Temple of the Winds”

Year Published: -
Where the book was from:- My own copy
ISBN: - 9780727855688
Pages: -
Genre: - Science Fiction
Location:- fictional – nr Chichester
How I came across it: - Pensby Library booksale
Rating: - ***** ***
One sentence summary:- Science fiction in the John Wyndham style about a town cut-off from the rest of the country after a strange occurrence in the local swamp.

Describe the plot without giving anything away:-
In Pentworth, near Chichester, supplies of electricity, gas and water are mysteriously diminishing. Then, suddenly, a force field surrounds the town, through which no-one can pass, and the population is completely cut off from the outside world by an unknown force.

General comments:-
Is there such a thing as cosy science fiction? If so, this is it.

Quotations:

AUTHOR Notes:-
James Follett (born in the UK in 1939) has written twenty bestselling novels, including The Tiptoe Boys (filmed as Who Dares Wins), over fifty radio and TV scripts and numerous computer games strategies. He created BBC Radio 4's widely acclaimed SF serial, Earthsearch. He lives in England and Spain.

More catching up

Having finished the adult Discworld books I have now just read the three Tiffany Aching children's books by Terry Pratchett.

The Wee Free Men

A Hat full of Sky

The Wintersmith

Catching up

Some of the books I have read over the last few weeks-

James FOLLET – “The Temple of the Winds” (cosy science fiction) ***** **

Peter TREMAYNE – “Act of Mercy” (Sister Fidelma – Irish mystery 666AD) ***** ***

W. J. BURLEY – “Wycliffe’s Wild-goose Chase” (cosy crime) ***** **

W. J . BURLEY – “Wycliffe and the Quiet Virgin” (cosy crime) ***** **

S. T. HAYMON – “Death of a Warrior Queen” ( D I Ben Jurnet – cosy crime) ***** **

Ruth RENDELL – “No More Dying Then” (Wexford - crime) ***** **

Terry PRATCHETT – Discworld Series

I’m in the process of re-reading the whole Discworld series – I’m up to 24 so far..... It’s hard to decide what rating to give them. First time round many of them would have rated a ten. Second time round a few still do. I’ve tried to rate them as I would have done first time round.

Discworld

1. The Colour of Magic (1983) ***** *****

2. The Light Fantastic (1986) ***** *****

3. Equal Rites (1987) ***** *****

4. Mort (1987) ***** *****

5. Sourcery (1988) ***** ****

6. Wyrd Sisters (1988) ***** *****

7. Pyramids (1989) ***** ****

8. Guards! Guards! (1989) ***** *****

9. Eric (1990) ***** ****

10. Moving Pictures (1990) (not re-read) ***** ****

11. Reaper Man (1991) ***** *****

12. Witches Abroad (1991) ***** *****

13. Small Gods (1992) ***** *****

14. Lords and Ladies (1992) ***** *****

15. Men at Arms (1993) ***** *****

16. Soul Music (1994) ***** ****

17. Interesting Times (1994) ***** *****

18. Maskerade (1995) ***** *****

19. Feet of Clay (1996) ***** ****

20. Hogfather (1996) (not re-read) ***** ****

21. Jingo (1997) ***** *****

22. The Last Continent (1998) ***** ****

23. Carpe Jugulum (1998) ***** *****

24. The Fifth Elephant (1999) ***** *****

25. The Truth (2000) ***** *****

26. Thief of Time (2001) ***** *****

27. Night Watch (2002) ***** *****

28. Monstrous Regiment (2003) ***** *****

29. Going Postal (2004) ***** *****

30. Thud! (2005) ***** *****

31. Making Money (2007) ***** *****

32. Unseen Academicals (2009) ***** *****

Terry Pratchett is one of the most popular authors writing today. He lives behind a keyboard in Wiltshire and says he 'doesn't want to get a life, because it feels as though he's trying to lead three already'. He was appointed OBE in 1998. He is the author of the phenomenally successful Discworld series and his trilogy for young readers, The Bromeliad, is scheduled to be adapted into a spectacular animated movie. His first Discworld novel for children, THE AMAZING MAURICE AND HIS EDUCATED RODENTS, was awarded the 2001 Carnegie Medal.