My Review (5 stars out of 5) When new patient Randle McMurphy arrives on her ward, dictatorial Nurse Ratched is not about to let him disrupt her daily routine, or that of the other patients. But McMurphy aims to have fun and soon begins to persuade his fellow inmates to challenge the nurse and her…
Author: colingarrow
‘Never Go Back’ by Lee Child
My Review (4 stars out of 5) Finally reaching his destination in Virginia, Jack Reacher heads for his old army unit – the 110th Military Police. Intending to take the unit’s commanding officer Major Susan Turner out for dinner, Reacher finds the major has been detained in a military prison. Faced with accusations against his…
‘Hustle’ by Owen Mullen
My Review (5 stars out of 5) When a gang rob a jewellery store, things don’t go as planned. Leaving two people dead, the thieves decide to grab a customer as hostage. Unfortunately, the hostage turns out to be Nina Glass—sister of gangland boss Luke Glass. But sending Luke the usual ransom demand isn’t quite…
‘Desperate Passage’ by Ethan Rarick
My Review (5 stars out of 5) In October 1846, as part of the last wagon train making the westward migration towards California, the group that became known as the Donner Party were forced to dig in at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Unable to make the arduous climb to finish their journey…
‘Laidlaw’ by William McIlvanney
My Review (5 stars out of 5) The murder of a young woman in Kelvingrove Park brings rebel detective Jack Laidlaw onto the streets of Glasgow. Laidlaw’s unconventional approach unsettles his new sidekick but the pair gradually begin to track the killer down. Trouble is, the cops aren’t the only ones looking for justice… This…
‘The Legacy of the Pan Book of Horror Stories’ by Johnny Mains
My Review (3 stars out of 5) The series known as the Pan Book of Horror Stories ran for 30 volumes between 1959 and 1989. In this latest version, editor Johnny Mains has collected a host of new stories along with several from the original series. As a teenager, this series was one of…
‘Poetic Justice’ by Mark Tilbury
My Review (5 stars out of 5) In this new assortment of stories, thriller writer Mark Tilbury presents five twisted tales of murder and revenge. As with all short story collections, there are those that stand out and others that don’t quite hit the spot. For me, the first two are the best: In ‘Last…
‘Sherlock Holmes & the Singular Affair’ by MK Wiseman
My Review (5 out of 5 stars) Long before partnering up with Doctor Watson, Sherlock Holmes fulfils the role of the world’s only consulting detective from his apartment at 59 Montague. When a client arrives claiming that her fiancé is not her fiancé, Holmes initially sees the case as of being little interest to him.…
‘Telling Tales’ by Ann Cleeves
My Review (5 stars out of 5) When fifteen-year-old Abigail Mantel is murdered, her own father’s girlfriend is jailed for the crime. Ten years later, evidence comes to light proving Jeanie Long’s innocence—which means Abigail’s killer is still on the loose. Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope is sent to the village of Elvet to look at…
‘When the Children Return’ by Barry Kirwan
My Review (4 stars out of 5) Ten years on from the invasion of Earth by the Axleth, Nathan, Sally and the others, along with their AI pilot Ares, are heading for home. Intending to take back their planet whatever the cost, they soon encounter problems when they find the Athena is being tracked by…
