My Review (5 stars out of 5) Abandoned by her husband in 1980s Glasgow, Agnes Bain hopes for a new start. But she soon seeks solace in alcohol, while her children do all they can to keep her from harm. Her youngest son, Shuggie, knows he’s different to other boys but if he can set…
Category: Characters
‘Avalon Sky’ by Jill Todd
My Review (4 stars out of 5) Seeking respite in rural Somerset, TV historian Kit and his wife agree to compile a village history for a friend. When the friend disappears and his dog is found dead, Kit sets about tracking the killer. But the historian has his own issues to deal with, and things…
‘A Wordsmith’s Guide to Writing Authentic Dialogue’ by Elizabeth M Hurst
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Elizabeth M Hurst has written much about the craft of writing, as well as study guides, critical essays and novels, so it’s fair to say she knows what she’s talking about. This book is about dialogue – what it should do, what it shouldn’t do, and how to…
‘Shadow Hunt’ by Tom Bale
My Review (4 stars out of 5) Former cop Joe Clayton takes a job as a bodyguard for businessman Valentin Nasento and his wife Cassie. Living with the family in one of half a dozen houses on a little island called Terror’s Reach, Joe hopes to keep his head down until he can sort his…
‘Storm of Mercia’ by MJ Porter
My Review (4 stars out of 5) King Wiglaf must oust the Vikings from the border with Wessex. He commands Icel and Ealdorman Ælfstan’s warriors to set off and locate the Viking raiders. But Icel’s mission is plagued by difficulties which could prevent him getting back to Tamworth. This is book 9 in the Eagle…
‘On Creating a Series…’
Creating a new series is a bit of a challenge for any author – not only must you come up with a bunch of brand-new characters, but you also need to know where they live, what work they do and any interesting pasts they’ve had before appearing fully-formed in a new adventure. I’m not a…
‘Reacher – The Stories Behind the Stories’ by Lee Child
My Review (4 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) Originally written as a series of new introductions to special editions of his books, Lee Child expounds on the ideas and inspirations behind the Jack Reacher novels from Killing Floor to Blue Moon. Like Stephen King, Child is a pantser (an author who doesn’t plot their novels),…
‘Embouchure’ by Archibald Fitz
My Review (4 stars out of 5) An American artist, jazz buff and sci-fi writer lives with his Italian muse in Quebec’s Bohemian enclave of De Lorimier. When his business partner is killed by a bomb, he finds himself in the spotlight as a suspect in the investigation. But hints of French terrorism, the Mafia,…
‘Making Contact and Other Short Stories’ by Joy Mutter
My Review (5 stars out of 5) This is Joy Mutter’s third collection of short stories and once again it demonstrates her ability to mix light-hearted topics with more sinister themes. Having read most of her books, I’m more than familiar with her writing style and this one is stamped with all her usual hallmarks.…
‘Broken Bones’ by John Carson
Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Broken Bones, via Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources Blurb Some bodies just won’t stay buried… After putting a stop to one of Edinburgh’s most notorious serial killers 3 years ago, DCI Liam Brodie is known as a man who can handle – and solve – the…
Colin Garrow 