Tag Archives: Valerie Penny
‘Orrible ‘Ooligans by Harry Hunter
My friend, Harry Hunter, kindly gave me a copy of his new book, ‘Orrible ‘Ooligans, and it seemed only right to prepare a review, but as ever, it is an honest review. Harry’s first book, Taking the High Road, a book of short stories, is also reviewed on this site at https://bookreviewstoday.info/2014/10/22/taking-the-high-road-by-harry-hunter/. The new book, ‘Orrible …
The Real CSI: A Forensics Handbook for Crime Writers by Kate Bendelow
I first have to declare an interest: Kate Bendelow is a good friend and it is to her I turn when I have forensic and scene of crime questions relating to my crime novels. I was, therefore, delighted when I learned that she was writing a book on that very subject. As always, I will …
I See You by Clare Mackintosh
Recently, when I was on my travels, I found a book my husband had been looking for, so I bought it and, as I had the opportunity to buy another book for half price, I chose I See You by Clare Mackintosh. Clare Mackintosh is a British author from Bristol. She, like novelist Karen Campbell, …
Kindred Spirits: The Royal Mile by Jennifer C Wilson
I first met Jennifer C. Wilson over a year ago at the writers’ inspiration the is The Swanwick Writers’ Summer School. Although she was already a published author, she is such an open, friendly person who works to nurture aspiring authors. It is hard to remember that Jeniifer is a marine biologist by training, who developed …
Winchester Writers’ Festival 2017
I was recommended to attend the Winchester Writers’ Festival by the author, Simon Hall. Some of Simon’s books are reviewed on this site: The Balance of Guilt at https://bookreviewstoday.info/2016/12/27/the-balance-of-guilt-by-simon-hall/ and The Dark Horizon at https://bookreviewstoday.info/2016/06/03/the-dark-horizon-by-simon-hall/. I took his advice and attended the festival this year. I am glad I did. The Winchester Writers’ Festival runs over a …
Odd Girl Out: Being Autistic in a Neurotypical World by Laura James
I read a review about Odd Girl Out in a newspaper. I have friends and have had clients on the autistic spectrum, but it is not really a condition I understand. So, the idea of reading a book written by a women with asberger’s syndrome, about life with the condition appealed to me. The author, …
The Blackhouse by Peter May
I first met Peter May some years ago in 2014, the year he won the McIlvanney Prize, for his novel Entry Island at the Bloody Scotland Crime Writers’ Festival. He is a quiet, courteous man, but one whose work I had never read until The Blackhouse became book of the month for our book group. The …
Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah
Sophie Hannah had a fine reputation as a writer (indeed her poetry is taught in the GCSE syllabus) before she raised Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot from the dead. Generally I am not a fan of such derivative works and find them unnecessary. I do not understand why writers cannot create their own chararcter rather than …
Burning Air by Erin Kelly
Erin Kelly is one of my favourite authors. I frst met her a couple of years ago when she was tutoring at Swanwick Writers’ Summer School. She is an excellent tutor and wrote one of my favourite novels, The Poison Tree, which is reveiwed on this site at https://bookreviewstoday.info/2016/10/11/the-poison-tree-by-erin-kelly/ as is her novel, The Ties That …
The Darkest Goodbye by Alex Gray
I enjoy the crime novels that Alex Gray writes. She is surely the crown princess of Tartan Noir. The Darkest Goodbye is both tense and topical. It is the thirteenth book in Alex’s DCI Lorimer’s series and starts when young DC Kirsty Wilson, whose father is soon to retire from the force, is faced with …
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