My Review (5 stars out of 5) England, May 1536. Following the execution of Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell continues his climb to power and wealth, while Henry VIII settles into a brief marriage with Jane Seymour. Cromwell strives to keep his head unparted from his body, dealing with threats of invasion, plots against himself and…
Author: colingarrow
‘The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner’ by Alan Sillitoe
My Review (4 stars out of 5) Thought to be a groundbreaking work on its first publication, The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner is a collection of short stories describing the lives of working-class people in the Midlands during the fifties and sixties (the title story relating the thoughts of a Borstal boy who finds…
‘The Wicked of the Earth’ by AD Bergin
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Newcastle, 1650. Parliamentarian spy James Archer travels back to the city of his birth in search of his sister Meg, missing in the aftermath of Newcastle’s witch trials. Amid an atmosphere of treachery, deceit and lies, Archer strives to find someone he can trust who might lead him…
‘Afua’ by Karl Drinkwater and Christoffer Petersen
My Review (4 stars out of 5) This is the second book I’ve read by Karl Drinkwater, though I’m not familiar with Christoffer Petersen’s work. Set in the Lost Solace universe, this is a sci-fi story featuring a strongminded heroine in the form of Afua. A fairly short read, the world of Lost Solace is…
‘Something Wicked’ by Carol Ann Lee
My Review (5 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) In 1612, ten people from Pendle were executed as witches. Most of the information known comes from Thomas Potts’ Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches, but now true-crime author Carol Ann Lee takes an in-depth view of the case, exploring the lives of the people involved, their backgrounds and…
‘Unnatural Exposure’ by Patricia Cornwell
My Review (5 stars out of 5) A series of murders committed thousands of miles apart sets Kay Scarpetta on a path to find the connection. But discrepancies with the most recent corpse suggest someone else may be behind the killings. When another body is found, however, the body points to a sinister and deadly…
Best Reads of 2024
A little while ago, I shared some of my all-time favourite murder mysteries on Shepherd, while at the same time promoting one of my own books. The service is free for authors, so it’s worth giving it a go. You can see my page here: The best murder mysteries featuring unusual amateur sleuths. This time…
‘Pet Sematary’ by Stephen King
My Review (5 stars out of 5) About to start a new job, Louis moves his family from Chicago to a rambling house in Maine, where his kids will have room to play and explore. The only downside is the main road between the house and the elderly neighbours across the street, where heavy trucks…
‘The Detective Gone Gray’ by Jake Needham
My Review (5 stars out of 5) A diplomatic reception at a Bangkok university would normally be pretty tiresome, but when a lone gunman appears, the scene becomes one of mass murder. Former detective Sam Tay – now feeling his age and worrying about the future – is approached by Interpol to help with the…
‘The Cursed Writer’ by Holly Hepburn
My Review (5 stars out of 5) In her basement office within the Baker Street Building Society, Harriet (Harry) White has been given the job of responding to mail addressed to Sherlock Holmes. A telegram asking for the great detective’s help prompts Harry to investigate. A nephew of the author Philip St John is convinced…
Colin Garrow 