GUEST POST REVIEW: BIRDMAN.

Here with another review is the lovely Leanne who if you haven't already done so you can meet here.

BIRDMAN (Jack Caffery #1) by MO HAYDER.

FIRST SENTENCE: North Grenwich.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Chapter 43, Page 307) 'Indeed it is.' Bliss sat down behind his desk, and stretched his arms, lacing his hands together and cracking the bones. 'My birthday!'

MY THOUGHTS: DI Jack Caffery's first case with the Metropolitan Police's crack murder squad is a nasty one. Five naked female bodies discovered buried on a London construction site, mutilated and horribly degraded. The killer has left an unsettling calling-card with each corpse and Caffery's team must rush to identify him before he selects another victim.

This is Mo Hayder's debut novel and it is very, very gritty. Shocking yet very well written, the novel covers a huge range of disturbing taboos - including necrophilia. paedophilia and prostitution. I consider myself to be pretty unshockable, but even I was shaken a couple of times!

In spite of the disturbing subject matter, Hayder's characters are rounded, strong and believable. In particular, DI Jack Caffery's history still haunts him and his obsession with past events is described very well by the author.

This is an astonishing first novel and Hayder certainly holds nothing back. Despite this, however disturbing the plot, I never once felt that Hayder was attempting to shock just for the sack of it; every dreadful event was was added for a good reason.

Birdman is definitely not for the faint-hearted or the easily shocked and I would urge that readers use caution when deciding if this book is for them. But I am extremely glad that I reviewed this book, as I really did enjoy it. (I'm not sure what that says about me, of course!)

Leanne.

GUEST POST REVIEW: BLACK HILLS.

Today I'm pleased to once again be sharing a book review by Leanne.


BLACK HILLS by NORA ROBERTS.

Black Hills is set in the dramatic hills of South Dakota, where the narrative begins in 1989, before moving to 1997 and then 2009.

Cooper 'Coop' Sullivan and Lil Chance's relationship is at the heart of this book: Robert initially describes how a chance encounter with a cougar cements the youngster's burgeoning friendship and ignites a lifelong passion for big cats in Lil, before they fall in love as teenagers and grow apart ad adults. When ex-cop and criminal investigator Coop returns to South Dakota in 2009, he that Lil is now Dr Lillian Chance and has opened a successful big cat reserve.

Black Hills is very much a coming of age tale, which is diversified with the added danger of a hunter who is lurking in the Black Hills. Who is he and why is he prowling the hills? Lil and Coop begin a new journey as they fight to not only to protect the animals in the reserve, but to stay safe themselves as they struggle to also safeguard their increasingly fragile relationship. Can things ever return to the way they were before they feel in love?

Power and nature are huge themes throughout Black Hills. from the might of Coop's Harley Davison motorbike to the natural intensity of the hills and creeks surrounding the Chance Reserve, Roberts uses continuous symbolism to create huge impact throughout the story. 

I enjoy reading crime books and felt that the cover of Black Hills may attract attention and encourage those who don't read regularly to give it a go. I do, however, personally feel that despite Black Hills being portrayed as a crime thriller, I would feel that its genre is actually a modern romance. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it will certainly encourage me to read more of Nora Roberts' offerings in the future.

Leanne.

GUEST POST REVIEW: THE HAUNTING.

Today I'd like to once again welcome Leanne with another of her book reviews.

A previous guest reviewer on Pen and Paper, Leanne, who if you haven't already done so can meet here, is a work colleague of Mr T who is instrumental in organising the World Book Night events that have proved so popular at their place of work. 


ALAN TITCHMARSH - THE HAUNTING.

FIRST SENTENCE: It was not a day for death.

MEMORABLE MOMENT: (Chapter 35: 72 Godolphin Street, Portsmouth: 17 April 1816, Page 214) 'you were right not to steal, Anne. It can only lead to trouble, sooner or later. Here: take these.'

MY THOUGHTS: As part of a promise to myself that I must read something different to my normal type of fiction every so often, I recently delved into this novel - and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would!

Harry Flint is recovering from the devastating blow of a short-lived and failed marriage. As part of the fresh start he so desperately craves, he jacks in his job as a teacher and moves to a run-down old cottage with an overgrown garden. He now has more time on his hands to research his mysterious family tree - but will he ever get to the bottom of it? And when an attractive woman introduces herself as his new next-door neighbour, will Harry have the courage to turn their blossoming friendship into something more?

The Haunting is an endearing novel which flits between the years of 1816 and 2010; as a result, the past and present collide in this book, with very intriguing consequences. A smattering of the supernatural helps the story along and the reader is drawn into the cosiness of the plot.

This definitely isn't the kind of book I'd usually read but, after a slightly slow start, I was intrigued.

LITERARY LABELS: Cosy, historic, lovely.

Leanne.

Thanks for yet another insightful review Leanne. I actually read and reviewed this novel a while back. To read my thoughts on it click here. TT

MEET LEANNE.

With reviews of books such as Lynda La Plantes Prime Suspect and more recently Sophie Hannah's Hurting Distance and Robert Muchamore's Maximum Security  I thought it might be nice to formally introduce you to Leanne. TT

ABOUT ME.

My name is Leanne and I live in the little leafy town of Ryton, in the Tyne Valley. I work with with Mr T and have counted the Terrys as good friends for almost a decade now.

I have a full blown obsession with literacy - in particular the importance of reading. I've been an avid reader since I was a tiny girl and I truly feel that it has shaped my life.

I will be lucky enough to be popping up on Tracy's wonderful blog every so often as a guest reviewer, so it's probably about time I told you lovely folks a bit more about myself. As I could happily waffle on all day, I felt it may be slightly less torturous for you if I made two lists ...

Things I love and value above all others:

• My long suffering other half, Joe
• My awesome family and friends
• My Bedlington Terrier, Willow
• All books - in particular crime, historical fiction and cosy murder mysteries
• The authors Sharon Bolton, Mari Hannah, MC Beaton & Richard Montanari
• The smell of new books

• Animals (especially dogs, otters and penguins)
• Chips
• Chicken and leek pie
• Country pubs
• Football
• Whitby
• Cider
• Cooking
• The Hairy Bikers
• Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
• Trance music
• Eating out
• Snow
• The countryside
• History
• Billy Connolly

Things I hate:

• Arrogance
• Bullying
• Racism & fascism 
• Wasps
• Flying
• Celery
• Animal cruelty
• Parsnips
• Rudeness - in particular individuals who have a lack of manners
• Sharks
• Negativity
• Being too hot
• Blood.

Leanne.

GUEST POST REVIEW: MAXIMUM SECURITY (CHERUB #3)

A previous guest reviewer on Pen and Paper, Leanne is a work colleague of Mr T who is instrumental in organising the World Book Night events that have proved so popular at their place of work. I'd like to welcome her in a series of guest reviews that will include amongst others Hurting Distance by Sophie Hannah, Maximum Security by Robert Muchamore and The Haunting by Alan Titchmarsh.


MAXIMUM SECURITY (CHERUB #3) by ROBERT MUCHAMORE.

FIRST SENTENCE: What is CHERUB?

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Chapter 31 BRAZIL, Page 249): 'Lauren woke with a fright. She caught half a seconds glance inside the old man's toothless mouth before the whole world turned black.'

MY THOUGHTS: Maximum Security is the third in the CHERUB series of Young Adult books, detailing the adventures of child secret agent James Adams as he is tasked with breaking a young prisoner out of a US maximum security jail.

I was very impressed with Muchamore's third CHERUB offering. He covers a wide range of topics, including racism & racial tension, homophobia and mental illness, which makes the book meatier than most other teenage novels. This is a very modern adventure tale: Muchamore doesn't shy away from showing just how tough conditions are in Arizona Max Prison and there are numerous scenes of violence to support this. Also, as with previous books in the CHERUB series, the characters do swear: this is always in context and proves that the author is well aware that his readers are teenagers and young adults, not young children.

As I enjoyed The Recruit (the first novel in the CHERUB series), I broke my golden rule with Maximum Security - I jumped straight into reading the third book before I'd read the second! Thankfully, it was entertaining, exciting and completely exhilarating, so I don't mind I mucked up reading the series in order.

LITERACY LABELS: Thrilling, adventurous, teen fiction.

Leanne.

Thanks for that Leanne. You can see my review of The Recruit here. TT

GUEST POST REVIEW: HURTING DISTANCE.

A previous guest reviewer on Pen and Paper, Leanne is a work colleague of Mr T who is instrumental in organising the World Book Night events that have proved so popular at their place of work. I'd like to welcome her in a series of guest reviews that will include Hurting Distance by Sophie Hannah, Maximum Security by Robert Muchamore, The Haunting by Alan Titchmarsh.

HURTING DISTANCE by SOPHIE HANNAH.

FIRST SENTENCE: This is not my story.

MEMORABLE MOMENT: (Part ll, chapter 21, Page 288) 'Unusual name, isn't it? Sarge? What's-'

MY THOUGHTS: Naomi Jenkins and Robert Haworth are in love. They conduct their extra-marital affair every Thursday, between 4pm and 7pm, from Room 11 in the Traveltel Hotel at Rawndsley East Services. But one day, Robert doesn't show up.... has something sinister happened to him? Or has he just ended things with Naomi suddenly?

With her second novel, Sophie Hannah has spun a dark, creepy and thrilling tale. Her first psychological thriller, Little Face, was a best seller and I feel that Hurting Distance is better still. The characters are tormented, brutal and shadowy, plus the storyline improves as the narrative goes on. Initially, I felt that the scenario was pretty unbelievable - but as it developed, I became immersed in the plot. When reading Little Face, at times I struggled to identify with the lead character. I was concerned that the same thing was happening leading up to the first major twist, but I soon realised that the characters and plotline was stronger this time round.

Hannah does a very special thing when she writes: she ensures that the reader feels constant and ever-changing emotion when thinking about the characters. I ran through a full range of reactions with the main character, Naomi Jenkins: I hated, pitied, and then sympathised with her at different points within the book. That in my humble opinion, means that the author has done her job properly.

LITERACY LABELS: Chilling, deep, memorable.

- Leanne.

WORLD BOOK NIGHT: PRIME SUSPECT.

Following on from World Book Night  and mine and Mr T's reviews today I'm delighted to be bringing you Leanne's review of ...


PRIME SUSPECT by LYNDA LA PLANTE.

WBN BOOK BLURB: Click here to view.

FIRST SENTENCE: Mrs Corrina Salbanna was woken from a deep sleep by the sound of the front door banging in the wind.

MEMORABLE MOMENT: (Chapter Ten, Page 303) Every single man had signed the petition. Tennison’s eyes brimmed with tears.

LEANNE'S THOUGHTS: Prime Suspect is the first novel in the Prime Suspect trilogy, featuring DCI Jane Tennison as a tough, straight-talking senior female officer, locked in a continuous battle to prove her worth to male members of the chauvinistic and very traditional Metropolitan Police Force. Having been a little too young to enjoy Prime Suspect as a TV series in the ‘90s, I was intrigued when the title was selected as one of the World Book Night 2015 giver choices. I decided to make Prime Suspect my first choice and I’m very glad I did.

Lynda la Plante’s characters are spot on. Tennison is portrayed as a feisty, self-assured woman who will let nothing stand in the way of her ambition; yet la Plante also allows the reader to gain an insight into the softer side of the DCI’s character. 

The plot is extremely tightly written, with no obvious gaps at all. The fast, relentless pace of the narrative sweeps the reader along and, by the end, I didn’t want to put the book down!

I thoroughly enjoyed Prime Suspect. I’ll certainly read the two remaining books in the trilogy and I’m also very interested in reading la Plante’s ongoing Detective Anna Travis series as a result of checking out the author’s website. Great stuff!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thanks to Leanne for not only sharing her thoughts on Prime Suspect but also along with Mr T for arranging the event which saw the giving away of almost 100 books to students and staff. TT

VIVIEN'S HEAVENLY ICE CREAM SHOP.

VIVIEN'S HEAVENLY ICE CREAM SHOP by ABBY CLEMENTS.

SOURCE: Read and reviewed on behalf of fellow blogger Lindsay @ The Little Reader Library on whose blog my review appeared last week.

THE BOOK {According to the back cover}: When Imogen and Anna unexpectedly inherit their grandmother Vivien's ice cream parlour, it turns both their lives upside down. The Brighton shop is a seafront institution, but though it's big on retro charm it's critically low on customers. If the sisters don't turn things round quickly, their grandmother's legacy will disappear forever. 

THE LITTLE OLD LADY WHO BROKE ALL THE RULES: TAKE TWO.

Originally posted on Lindsay's site, I thought I'd share my review here today for those who had missed it and might be interested in reading it.

THE LITTLE OLD LADY WHO BROKE ALL THE RULES by CATHARINE INGELMAN-SUNDBERG. 

SOURCE: Read and review on behalf of fellow blogger Lindsay @ The Little Reader Library.

THE BOOK {According to the back cover}: 79-year-old Martha Andersson dreams of escaping her care home and robbing a bank.

She has no intention of spending the rest of her days in an armchair and is determined to fund her way to a much more exciting lifestyle. Along with her four oldest friends - otherwise known as the League of Pensioners - Martha decides to rebel against all of the rules imposed upon them. Together, they cause uproar with their antics protesting against early bedtimes and plasticky meals.

As the elderly friends become more daring, they hatch a cunning plan to break out of the dreary care home and land themselves in a far more attractive Stockholm establishment. With the aid of their Zimmer frames, they resolve to stand up for old aged pensioners everywhere - Robin Hood style. And that's when the adventure really takes off . . .

FIRST SENTENCE {Prologue}: The little old lady gripped the handles of her zimmer frame, hung her walking stick next to the shopping basket and did her best to look assertive.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 385}: ' .....Those damn old pensioners got into the people carrier with their zimmer frames, but are now leaving it without them. They haven't even got walking sticks. Didn't I tell you they were shady types?' Inspector Lonnberg pointed at the oldies in the dark.

MY THOUGHTS: At last an 'international best seller' that I've actually enjoyed. 

A story about a pensioner (and her friends), The League Of Pensioners, behaving badly. Whilst I can understand comparisons being made between this novel and The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window And Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson (see my review here) I'm personally loathe to do so except to say that in my opinion this is a far superior read.

Far-fetched? Without a doubt and yet unlike the afore mentioned One hundred Year Old Man the author never strays into the absurd. But more than anything else The Little Old Woman Who Broke All The Rules is a wonderfully quirky alternative crime novel that takes many of the stereotypes about elderly people and turns them upside down.

A more or less constantly funny novel (I did think certain bits fell slightly flat) full of memorable characters that I readily took to heart. Whilst written by a Swedish author (The English translation is extremely well done by Rod Bradbury) the almost farcical nature of some of the scrapes Martha and her fellow conspirators (also known as the League of Pensioners) found themselves in put me in mind of one of those old Ealing Comedies.

And yet very much up to date. The social commentary on topics such as the potential vulnerability of the elderly in residential institutes more concerned with their profit margins is exemplary.

INTRODUCING REBECCA HAZELL, AUTHOR OF THE TIGER AND THE DOVE SERIES.

Warning: Contains spoilers: some plot lines are discussed in the below post.

Having taken part in The Tiger And The Dove Book Tour - you can see my reviews of The Grip Of God Here and Solomon's Bride tomorrow - today I'm delighted to welcome author Rebecca Hazell who asks .....

DOES HISTORICAL FICTION DIFFER FROM MAIN STREAM FICTION?

When I sat down to write this blog about my historical trilogy, The Tiger And The Dove, I asked myself this question. My answer was 'not much', but would you agree with me? As I see it, historical fiction is a broad genre, stretching from serious to action-filled to romantic. Sometimes the plots of lighter historical fiction seem less about transporting the reader to another era than about telling a modern story in an exotic setting. But could you say the same about any kind of main-stream fiction: some is light or fantastic, some is action-filled or romantic, some makes you think.

So where would my three novels fit in? Told as a memoir, my heroine's tale is both a coming of age story and a contemplation of one of the most violent times in history. In it you can learn how history comes back to haunt us. We only need to look at the troubles right now between Ukraine and Russia or Russia and Western European countries: their seeds were planted centuries ago because of the Mongol invasions, which happen to be the setting for my first novel. So I'd place the trilogy into the serious fiction category but leave some wiggle room for romance, since people of every century do seek love.

Why mostly serious? Well, you can't read about the thirteenth century and feel light hearted. In the first volume, The Grip Of God, Princess Sofia of Kievan Rus', is captured and enslaved by a Mongol war captain. The Mongols were among the most successful conquerors in history, their empire second in size only to the British Empire. Think violent, primitive, superstitious, and ruthless, and you'll get an idea of the kind of people Sofia faces in her struggle to survive. And yet people of all sorts befriend her, and at the end help her escape.

In the second novel, Solomon's Bride, having fled from Iran, Sofia encounters a much more sophisticated culture also devastated by Mongols, but now she must extricate herself from a feared branch of Islam known as the Assassins. They are bent on overthrowing the Islamic establishment and the Mongol juggernaut through political murders -that's how the word assassination came to be. While Sofia does find her way west into Crusader lands, her journey is far from over. And, though the serious contemplative aspect of Sofia's story continues, this novel will satisfy the most romance-loving reader and offer some surprises as well.

In the final novel, Consolamentum, Sofia might just find love and home, but with the shadow of both a 'holy war' and of the French Inquisition looming over her, merely being a foreigner can get her into trouble. The conclusion of the trilogy might leave you feeling not just about a character, a distant time, and a compelling plot but also about what Sofia's life might have to say about our modern era.

A final note: one of the challenges of writing this saga was that of crossing two genres, the serious and the romantic. While it has been done, it isn't easy; some readers want a hot story, and others want both plot and history, and some want history and enough plot to carry them along. I sought to satisfy to all three by offering a dark romance, an allegory of our own times, and accurate history brought to life by a dramatic story.

- Rebecca Hazell.

Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper. All original content on http://pettywitter.blogspot.co.uk/ is created by the website owner, including but not limited to text, design, code, images, photographs and videos are considered to be the Intellectual Property of the website owner, whether copyrighted or not, and are protected by DMCA Protection Services using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act Title 17 Chapter 512 (c)(3). Reproduction or re-publication of this content is prohibited without permission. In addition I would also urge that if you are reading this on any other page you contact the original blog owner/reviewer.

GETTING TO KNOW ME WITH DIZZY C.

Getting to know you me

Getting to know all about you me ......

(Original lyrics HERE)

       Care to join me over at Dizzy C's place where I'm today's featured Book Buddy?

You do?

Well, what are you waiting for?

Grab your coat and come and join us HERE at her Little Book Blog where you are sure of a warm welcome. 

Oh and be sure to say hello to authors Carol E Wyer, Amanda Egan and Jennifer Gilby Roberts all of whom are taking part in today's Festive Fun.

Please note All original content on http://pettywitter.blogspot.co.uk/ is created by the website owner, including but not limited to text, design, code, images, photographs and videos are considered to be the Intellectual Property of the website owner, whether copyrighted or not, and are protected by DMCA Protection Services using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act Title 17 Chapter 512 (c)(3). Reproduction or re-publication of this content is prohibited without permission.
In addition I would also urge that if you are reading this on any other page you contact the original blog owner/reviewer.

HOLIDAYING WITH THE PETTY WITTER'S.

It was some time ago that NRI GIRL first talked about this challenge and though I had always intended to take part various things got in the way ...... by various things read computer problems. Still, better late than never, today I'm happy to bring you a post by our guest Flat Stanley. PW

Good morning/afternoon/evening wherever you are, its Flat Stanley here.


Friday 8th July.


Having arrived safely from Blogospere in the early hours, after a brief nap and a piece of Stottie Cake (not a cake at all but rather a type of flat bread traditionally eaten here in this part of the world) I was whisked off to a 40th birthday party - not just any birthday party though, a fancy dress birthday party with the theme of Dickens in which my hosts went as a flower seller (hence me with the flowers ..... oh and the almost finished drink) and The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come.

What a great night it was, lots of gothic style costumes, some Victorian story telling and singing AND a Miss Haversham inspired cake complete with sugar-spun 'cobwebs'. Oh and the 'natives' were so friendly, especially the birthday girl who seemed particularly pleased to meet me as the photograph below shows.

SUNDAY 10th July.

Tonight it was off to see The National Ukele Orchestra in concert at The Sage (that's the building not unlike a giant shell) with Mr PW before meeting PW and 'The Quiz Team' back at the Innisfree for last orders.

What a fantastic night, who would have thought the ukele could be so versatile - honestly, they played everything ranging from Hendrix, to Bowie, Black Sabbath to Wagner.


FRIDAY 14th July.

Today being the first day of Mr PW's holiday, we spent the afternoon relaxing by watching two DVD's. TRON:LEGACY and Invictus. 

I must say I enjoyed Tron but, like PW, thought it all a bit, well, like an advert for a computer game. Now, as for Invictus .... I know PW didn't really fancy this one but all three of us ended up watching it and thoroughly enjoying it.


FRIDAY 22nd JULY.

After a quiet day pursuing the books in the Petty Witter library, it was off to a birthday BBQ - not that I got too close to the flames you understand.

Another friendly lot I must say, there were kisses all round though I must say his 5 o'clock shadow tickled a little.

Well fed and watered out came the musical instruments with two of Mr PW's work colleagues on the drums and two playing guitars - one of them having written a song especially for the occasion.


SUNDAY 24th JULY.

My last evening with the Petty Witter's, Lisa from Germany arrives tomorrow for three and a bit weeks. 

Spent eating Italian food in a very nice little restaurant, Marco Polo's in Newcastle, I had the pleasure of meeting several other bloggers and their partners. One of them , the guest of honour, Grandmere Mimi (that's her pictured with me above) was even partly to blame for PW starting Pen and Paper for it was with Grandmere's and Mr PW's encouragement that PW began blogging.

HUSBANDLY EDITORIAL - NO MEDIA MONDAY TODAY AS HER LADYSHIP AS BEEN LAID LOW AND BEEN IN BED SINCE FRIDAY AFTERNOON. SHE IS FEELING A TAD BETTER TODAY SO HOPEFULLY NORMAL SERVICE WILL BE RESUMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SHE WISHES ME TO APOLOGISE FOR HER LACK OF VISITING AND RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS. I'LL CONTINUE TO POST THAT WHICH SHE HAS PREPARED, DAY TO DAY AND HOPE THAT SHE WILL BE UP AND ABOUT SOON. - HD

THE LITTLE PRINCE.

Remember Lisa the young German student who stayed with us last last summer? Well, she will be staying with us again this year.

One of her favourite books, Lisa offered to review the Little Prince for Pen and Paper.

THE LITTLE PRINCE by ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPERY.


The author antoine Saint-Exupery describes the experience of the narrator who lands in a desert and meets the little prince who comes from a very small planet with only some flowers and with three volcanoes when one day a beautiful rose grows so that he tries to care for her but the rose is quite conceited and in the end he has to leave his planet because he's so depressed and disappointed. The interest of the book is on the experiences of the little book with adults, different sorts of people, the narrator, a fox and a snake.


This book is divided into 27 chapters and nearly every chapter only describes one experience from the boy. 


The situation at the beginning of the book is that the narrator drew pictures in his past but he had to stop it as the grown-ups couldn't understand his pictures and he thought that it was to difficult for him always to explain what his pictures were about.


A vivid description of how he met the prince and learns more of him begins until the 20th chapter in which the little prince leaves the earth to go back to his own planet.


The book describes the relationship between the narrator and the little Prince who tells the narrator the experiences he made during his journey with six different sorts of people; the king, the conceited man, the tippler, the businessman, the lamplighter and the geographer.

After their first encounter the reader is introduced to people the little Prince has seen and how he either didn't like them or that the problem was he liked them but their place was to small to live there with two people.


After a complex series with six different sorts of people he meets the narrator on the 7th planet called the earth. After that he meets flowers, and every flower looks like his rose and that makes him sad. He next becomes friend with a fox who explains to him that his rose is unique because the prince has chosen it to be his friend.


The result of that knowledge is that the prince understands how important the flower is for him and that he wants to return to his little planet.

It emerges that the Prince returns to his planet when a snake bites him. It seems as if the prince has died but the truth is that his body is dead and though tragic, the book ends happily as his soul is back on his beloved planet.


Lisa.

BONE IDLE.

First reviewed on MISHA'S BLOG way back in November 2010 I thought I'd repost this for those of you who may have missed it.

BONE IDLE by SUZETTE A. HILL.

The Reverend Francis Oughterard is the vicar of St Botolph's and genteel murderer of parishoner Mrs  Elizabeth Fotherington. So far excluding arrest (but with fears of imminent exposure), he is in the grip of his blackmailing pal, the shady Nicholas Ingaza, who forces him to steal a valuable figurine of a prancing pig. Naturally the project backfires, plunging the hapless vicar into further skulduggery and leading to embarrassing complications for him and his pompous bishop, Horace Clinker. Once again it is up to the world-weary cat, Maurice and intrepid mongrel, Bouncer, to save the reverends bacon.
..... From the outer back cover.

FIRST SENTENCE: When Detective Sergeant Sidney Samson appeared on my doorstep to announce the reopening of the Elizabeth Fotherington murder enquiry I thought at first that I was hallucinating.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (was there one?): "Can't you deliver a little homily on the use of chewing gum as a prelude to dental decay and sin?"

Looks and sounds like it should be a fun read, right? Well I certainly thought so.

The third outing in the Francis Oughterard series, Bone Idle, I am informed is set in 1950's England.

Not exactly what I was expecting, in fact absolutely nothing like I was expecting, I disliked this book from early on. Poorly and lazily written, I was one-step ahead of the author all the way through so there were no surprises in what was billed as a mystery.

Then there was the fact that the story was told by three differently individuals - the 'Vicar's Version', the 'Cat's Memoir's' and the 'Dog's Diary' - which could have been interesting but wasn't. In fact all it really did was make a 366 (large print) book seem even longer than it was as often the story was told three times albeit from a slightly different perspective.

What about the characters then? Surely there was some good characters. In a word, no. Almost without exception the author had decided on strange names (Maude Tubbly Pole, Edith Hopgarden) for most of her creations and so what might have been comical if she had left this to a few became nonsensical, bordering on the absurd. They were also stereotypical, the 'boozy' vicar, the gossiping female parishioners, shall I go on? And as for Maurice (the cat) and Bouncer (the dog) -  I feel they could have been a golden opportunity to write something just that little bit different but this, sadly, failed to happen.

Bone Idle was a library book read.

glitter-graphics.com

WHAT AN HONOUR.

They say a change is as good as a rest and today I'm having a rest - well sort of.

Honoured to be a guest host on Misha's blog, suitcase packed, I'll see you OVER THERE with my review of:-

See you tomorrow when 'normal' (or what passes for normal on Pen and Paper) services resume. x