The Dillen Doll Set at the turn of the nineteenth century, Jez Lowe’s first novel brings together characters from folk songs of the period, including the central figure of Dolly Coxon from the Tyneside song, “Do Li A”. The story attempts to explain why an impoverished woman from the Tyne quayside should have been celebrated…
Category: Humour
‘The Hound of the D’Urbervilles’ by Kim Newman
The Hound of the D’Urbervilles (Audiobook) Professor Moriarty and his new sidekick Colonel Sebastian (Basher) Moran take on a whole series of dastardly deeds in this tale of Victorian ne’er-do-wells. They team up with a variety of villains, including the wicked Irene Adler (when she turns up with an interesting proposition), encounter the likes of…
‘The Fry Chronicles: An Autobiography’ by Stephen Fry
The Fry Chronicles: An Autobiography (Audiobook) Following on from the highly successful, ‘Moab Is My Washpot,’ (Stephen Fry’s autobiography of his early years), the award-winning comedian, actor, author, director and presenter continues the story of his various antics in and out of the limelight, with this delightful volume. I often read books in the wrong…
‘Holy Island’ by LJ Ross
Holy Island When the hunt for a killer leaves him in need of a sabbatical, Detective Chief Inspector Ryan withdraws to the island of Lindisfarne – Holy Island – where he tries to distance himself from a harrowing case. But he’s soon hauled back from his leave of absence when, in the days leading up…
‘Peril at End House’ by Agatha Christie
Peril at End House (Audiobook) When a young woman recounts a series of apparent mishaps, Hercule Poirot, holidaying in Cornwall, is intrigued. Along with his friend Hastings, he sets out to investigate what he believes to be a threat to the woman’s life. But how do you solve a murder that hasn’t been committed? I…
‘The Magic Vodka Wardrobe’ by Sheila Patel
The Magic Vodka Wardrobe Sisters Shaz and Trace work in the family corner shop by day but spend their nights glugging vodka and disco-dancing with Aunt Sheila in a magical wardrobe. With characters including Tattoo Tony and Dammit Janet, this is a surreal story that could rival any TV soap-opera, apart from the lack of…
‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Audio Book) Following his adventures with Tom Sawyer and the murderous Injun Joe, Huck Finn fakes his own death to escape his alcoholic father and with his slave pal Jim, travels down the Mississippi through the Deep South. I tried reading this book many years ago but was never able…
‘Look Fast or Die Slow’ by David Six
Look Fast or Die Slow When a serial killer taunts Frank Bruno with mysterious messages, the former detective is puzzled to say the least. The murderer’s victims – brutally butchered – are piling up rapidly and it soon becomes obvious that the trail of bodies leads straight to Frank’s own door. While his ex-partner, Lieutenant…
Book Reviews, Books, Characters, Crime, History, Humour, murder, mystery, Political, Thriller, True Crime
‘A Very English Scandal’ by John Preston
A Very English Scandal: Sex, Lies and a Murder Plot at the Heart of the Establishment In the House of Commons, Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe, together with a small group of intimate friends, plots to get rid of a thorn in his side. Thorpe’s ex-lover Norman Scott is getting in the way of a…
‘No Bodies’ by Robert Crouch
No Bodies Environmental health officer and part-time sleuth, Kent Fisher, finds himself caught in the middle of another mystery when he agrees to investigate the disappearance of Daphne Witherington, wife of a family friend. But Daphne isn’t the only missing woman in Downland and Kent is soon rubbing people up the wrong way as he…
Colin Garrow 