"Reynard Shotwood, no longer a boy, not yet a man, had pushed the last of his dead shipmates overboard two days before." Reynard is a young lad on his uncle's fishing boat, pulled into duty to help protect England against the Spanish Armada. We met him after things have got astray, his crew and family … Continue reading The Unfinished Land – Greg Bear
"Shelby Cox woke with a start." We first met Shelby back in Trouble on the Books, and in my review of that I said it wasn't my favourite, bookshop/library-based cosy mystery. Still, the series is charming and well written, so I do keep seeming to come back to it... The main plot of this one is … Continue reading A Deadly Chapter – Essie Lang
"The merriment of moments before had dissolved into panic; chairs were dragged back, wine glasses tumbled to the floor." Rose is surprised to be offered the role of Head of Classics at Caldonbrae Hall, a prestigious girls' boarding school. She's an outsider to their upper-class institution, and at least a decade younger than the rest … Continue reading Madam – Phoebe Wynne
Westworld has been some of the most outstanding and enjoyable TV I can remember seeing. Season 1 blew me away, twisty and mind bending, mixing the Western with hard sci-fi. Season 2 tried to one up everything - more outstanding performances, more tricks with time lines, more high-tech theme parks, and just more wow. To … Continue reading Westworld (season 3)
"Do you ever wish you could talk to someone who asked the right questions about every part of your life and being - every single time?" What's Your Story promises to provoke self-enquiry by asking the 'right' questions, ones that will "push you beyond who you are right now", hard questions that will ultimately help … Continue reading What’s Your Story – Rebecca Walker & Lily Diamond
"The two men stood on the rooftop, watching the city toss and turn in its sleep." Hannah is feeling rather desperate for work when she lands a job as the assistant editor with the Stranger Times newspaper. As a result, she hasn't actually researched the publication much - and is more than a little shocked … Continue reading The Stranger Times – CK McDonnell
"What kind of man am I?" An unconventional vicar, a scandal, and a sudden move to a small village. It's supposed to be a fresh start for single parent, Rev Jack Brooks, and 14-year old Flo, dragged along against her will. But dark things lurk in Chapel Croft's past. Martyrs, burning girls - celebrated with … Continue reading The Burning Girls – CJ Tudor
"'Attention.' I clinked my knife against my glass." This is the sixth book in the Mystery Bookshop series, following bookshop owner and wannabe mystery writer, Sam Washington, as she repeatedly stumbles across murders - and reasons to investigate! This time, and to shake the series up a little, I imagine, she's off to London and … Continue reading A Tourist’s Guide to Murder – VM Burns
It's been some 70 years since Amazonian Princess and demigod, Diana (Gal Gadot), left the island of Themyscira to aid Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) fighting in World War 1. Spoiler alert, the pilot did not survive that movie, and it seems our Wonder Woman has been pining for all that time. Urm, yeah? Girl power, … Continue reading Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
"Have you ever come up with amazing New Year's resolutions like losing weight, starting to save money, setting up your own business, exercising regularly, changing your career, eating more healthily or quitting smoking?" Ah yes, New Year's Resolutions - and as the intro says, come February most of them will be long forgotten or guilty … Continue reading Why the F*ck Can’t I Change – Dr. Gabija Toleikyte
