Books & Reading Thread 2025
- Thread starter RobMCFC
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Berts Neck
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- Joined
- 2 Jan 2014
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Yes remember it..Hever is wonderful, smaller than Leeds..Got a bit pissed off when they started to do balloon rides which looked over my gardens !!!what you or may not know is that many Dickens books were serialised before becoming a full novel. Was surprised to learn this fact. My most favourite author. Now not being pretnentious.If you like Dickens Dostoyevsky is a close second. It is a hard read in many respects unless you understand the Russians revert to partronyms so the same person may have two names !!
RobMCFC
Well-Known Member
stoneblue
Well-Known Member
22/23 On Wings of Eagles – Ken Follett
Have just finished this, like everyone else I really enjoyed it
Have just finished this, like everyone else I really enjoyed it
stoneblue
Well-Known Member
23/23 The Trial - Rob Rinder
After the Q3 read (On Wings of Eagles) I thought I’d go for something completely different.
Apart from The Satsuma Complex I tend to shy away from celebrity authors but I chose this because it was on offer (for 99p) and I was attracted by the storyline. This is the debut novel by Rob Rinder.
Adam Green is a trainee barrister and is assigned with his pupil-master to the defence of the accused in the murder of a hero detective. Adam is not convinced of the of the guilt of the accused whereas his senior barrister disagrees and resents the fact that this case is taking him away from the case of a lucrative client. Adam digs into the life of the accused and the deceased and unearths some intriguing facts about both.
Some of the characters come across as stereotypes, the lead character comes across as too good to be true at times and the reveal at the end comes across as rushed and a little contrived.
Nevertheless it is an entertaining read and I’ll probably give the next book in the series a go.
One further thing…I thought I’d share a couple of lines from the book that made me chuckle!
After the Q3 read (On Wings of Eagles) I thought I’d go for something completely different.
Apart from The Satsuma Complex I tend to shy away from celebrity authors but I chose this because it was on offer (for 99p) and I was attracted by the storyline. This is the debut novel by Rob Rinder.
Adam Green is a trainee barrister and is assigned with his pupil-master to the defence of the accused in the murder of a hero detective. Adam is not convinced of the of the guilt of the accused whereas his senior barrister disagrees and resents the fact that this case is taking him away from the case of a lucrative client. Adam digs into the life of the accused and the deceased and unearths some intriguing facts about both.
Some of the characters come across as stereotypes, the lead character comes across as too good to be true at times and the reveal at the end comes across as rushed and a little contrived.
Nevertheless it is an entertaining read and I’ll probably give the next book in the series a go.
One further thing…I thought I’d share a couple of lines from the book that made me chuckle!
RobMCFC
Well-Known Member
Looking at the style of the cover, the publishers are clearly going for the Richard Osman crowd.
A lot of people seem to be falling over themselves with praise for Osman, who I think comes across great on the TV, but they shouldn’t have let him near a book. I said at the time, I can’t believe that an editor didn’t pull him up on the writing in the first half of his debut. A few good ideas but tedious writing and child-like execution. Oh and too many TV luvvy in-jokes.
Anyway, no idea if Rob Rinder’s book is anything like this, but all of the above ramble is my way or saying I’m not supporting all these TV starts writing books! Judy Murray, Anton Du Beke etc, it’s just too much.
Apologies, rant over.
I'm with you on this. Stick to what you're good at and leave the real authors to write proper stories. There are enough books being written without celebs muscling in on the act (autobiographies apart). I've not been drawn to any of them so far, except for The Satsuma Complex, and I blame others for that!
RobMCFC
Well-Known Member
Whilst The Satsuma Complex was OK, it did smack of a TV star writing a book and therefore having license to go anywhere with the story (and not in a good way).
I get why publishers follow this model, by the way. It's an easy formula: get a well known celeb to write a book = an instant guarantee of sales. Job done. Doesn't matter whether it's any good or not.
1. Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch. 7/10.
2. The Racketeer - John Grisham. 5/10.
3. Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz. 9/10.
4. The Longest Kill - Craig Harrison. 8/10.
5. Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka. 8/10.
6. The Satsuma Complex - Bob Mortimer. 7/10.
7. The Garderobe of Death - Howard of Warwick - 6/10.
8. A Village in the Third Reich - Julia Boyd, Angelina Patel - 9/10.
9. Three Days in June - James O'Connell - 9/10.
10. The Guv'nor - Lenny McLean - 10/10.
11. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen - 7/10.
12. The Rescue - Andy McNab - 7/10.
McNab draws from his own knowledge and experiences, and interviews with those involved, to tell the story of the rescue of four aid workers, captured by insurgents in Afghanistan in 2012. I think it is heavily fictionalised, but McNab isn't a bad story writer, so the book remains interesting from start to finish.
British SAS and US Navy SEALs carry out the joint operation, which is a major success. There is no loss of life of the hostages, Brits or Yanks, and total obliteration of the enemy.
Not bad if you like this sort of thing, but it wouldn't be the first SF book on my recommended list.
2. The Racketeer - John Grisham. 5/10.
3. Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz. 9/10.
4. The Longest Kill - Craig Harrison. 8/10.
5. Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka. 8/10.
6. The Satsuma Complex - Bob Mortimer. 7/10.
7. The Garderobe of Death - Howard of Warwick - 6/10.
8. A Village in the Third Reich - Julia Boyd, Angelina Patel - 9/10.
9. Three Days in June - James O'Connell - 9/10.
10. The Guv'nor - Lenny McLean - 10/10.
11. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen - 7/10.
12. The Rescue - Andy McNab - 7/10.
McNab draws from his own knowledge and experiences, and interviews with those involved, to tell the story of the rescue of four aid workers, captured by insurgents in Afghanistan in 2012. I think it is heavily fictionalised, but McNab isn't a bad story writer, so the book remains interesting from start to finish.
British SAS and US Navy SEALs carry out the joint operation, which is a major success. There is no loss of life of the hostages, Brits or Yanks, and total obliteration of the enemy.
Not bad if you like this sort of thing, but it wouldn't be the first SF book on my recommended list.
1. Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch. 7/10.
2. The Racketeer - John Grisham. 5/10.
3. Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz. 9/10.
4. The Longest Kill - Craig Harrison. 8/10.
5. Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka. 8/10.
6. The Satsuma Complex - Bob Mortimer. 7/10.
7. The Garderobe of Death - Howard of Warwick - 6/10.
8. A Village in the Third Reich - Julia Boyd, Angelina Patel - 9/10.
9. Three Days in June - James O'Connell - 9/10.
10. The Guv'nor - Lenny McLean - 10/10.
11. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen - 7/10.
12. The Rescue - Andy McNab - 7/10.
13. Hunting the Hangman - Howard Linskey - 8/10.
Reinhard Heydrich was tipped to be the successor to Hitler. He had been entrusted by the Fuhrer to devise and carry out the Final Solution. In 1942 he was based in Prague, overseeing the conquered Czechoslovakia.
This is the story of how two Czech nationals, trained by British SOE, were inserted back into their homeland to carry out the audacious assassination of Heydrich.
The attempt was successful. It led to severe recriminations, and ultimately to the betrayal of the two agents and their support network. The two were unable to flee their homeland, and were hunted down and killed.
This is a well researched book, written in the style of a thriller. Characters are nicely depicted, and there is plenty of jeopardy and tension in the story.
2. The Racketeer - John Grisham. 5/10.
3. Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz. 9/10.
4. The Longest Kill - Craig Harrison. 8/10.
5. Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka. 8/10.
6. The Satsuma Complex - Bob Mortimer. 7/10.
7. The Garderobe of Death - Howard of Warwick - 6/10.
8. A Village in the Third Reich - Julia Boyd, Angelina Patel - 9/10.
9. Three Days in June - James O'Connell - 9/10.
10. The Guv'nor - Lenny McLean - 10/10.
11. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen - 7/10.
12. The Rescue - Andy McNab - 7/10.
13. Hunting the Hangman - Howard Linskey - 8/10.
Reinhard Heydrich was tipped to be the successor to Hitler. He had been entrusted by the Fuhrer to devise and carry out the Final Solution. In 1942 he was based in Prague, overseeing the conquered Czechoslovakia.
This is the story of how two Czech nationals, trained by British SOE, were inserted back into their homeland to carry out the audacious assassination of Heydrich.
The attempt was successful. It led to severe recriminations, and ultimately to the betrayal of the two agents and their support network. The two were unable to flee their homeland, and were hunted down and killed.
This is a well researched book, written in the style of a thriller. Characters are nicely depicted, and there is plenty of jeopardy and tension in the story.
RobMCFC
Well-Known Member
Isn’t the film Operation Crossbow (from the 70s/early 80s) about the same subject?1. Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch. 7/10.
2. The Racketeer - John Grisham. 5/10.
3. Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz. 9/10.
4. The Longest Kill - Craig Harrison. 8/10.
5. Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka. 8/10.
6. The Satsuma Complex - Bob Mortimer. 7/10.
7. The Garderobe of Death - Howard of Warwick - 6/10.
8. A Village in the Third Reich - Julia Boyd, Angelina Patel - 9/10.
9. Three Days in June - James O'Connell - 9/10.
10. The Guv'nor - Lenny McLean - 10/10.
11. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen - 7/10.
12. The Rescue - Andy McNab - 7/10.
13. Hunting the Hangman - Howard Linskey - 8/10.
Reinhard Heydrich was tipped to be the successor to Hitler. He had been entrusted by the Fuhrer to devise and carry out the Final Solution. In 1942 he was based in Prague, overseeing the conquered Czechoslovakia.
This is the story of how two Czech nationals, trained by British SOE, were inserted back into their homeland to carry out the audacious assassination of Heydrich.
The attempt was successful. It led to severe recriminations, and ultimately to the betrayal of the two agents and their support network. The two were unable to flee their homeland, and were hunted down and killed.
This is a well researched book, written in the style of a thriller. Characters are nicely depicted, and there is plenty of jeopardy and tension in the story.
EDIT - not far off, it was Operation Daybreak (1975)
1. Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch. 7/10.
2. The Racketeer - John Grisham. 5/10.
3. Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz. 9/10.
4. The Longest Kill - Craig Harrison. 8/10.
5. Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka. 8/10.
6. The Satsuma Complex - Bob Mortimer. 7/10.
7. The Garderobe of Death - Howard of Warwick - 6/10.
8. A Village in the Third Reich - Julia Boyd, Angelina Patel - 9/10.
9. Three Days in June - James O'Connell - 9/10.
10. The Guv'nor - Lenny McLean - 10/10.
11. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen - 7/10.
12. The Rescue - Andy McNab - 7/10.
13. Hunting the Hangman - Howard Linskey - 8/10.
14. The Easy Day was Yesterday: The extreme life of an SAS soldier - Paul Jordan - 4/10.
I feel cheated. Look at the book cover - it looks like a classic biography of a former Special Forces soldier. Extreme life. Yesterday was easy, compared to today. SAS. The book just doesn't live up to expectations. Maybe I should have researched it a bit more.
I don't often fail to finish a book once I've got through a few chapters, and I persevered with this one. It didn't really grip my attention though. I read it on my Kindle, and this also meant it prevented from starting On Wings of Eagles, which is annoying.
The title comes from something Paul Jordan heard during the training phase for the SAS. His life story didn't accurately reflect the title.
There is a chapter about Australian SAS selection. There is a very long chapter about how the author supported the United Nations in Rwanda during the civil war. (This is the most interesting chapter in the book, and it is enlightening). That's it in terms of SAS action. The rest of the book covers the author's work in protection, and some family history. But the book is predominantly about when the author accidentally crossed the Indian border, and spent 24 days in an Indian prison as a consequence.
I wouldn't recommend this to anyone looking for elite forces war stories, but if you want to avoid getting banged up in prison in India, this is essential reading.
2. The Racketeer - John Grisham. 5/10.
3. Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz. 9/10.
4. The Longest Kill - Craig Harrison. 8/10.
5. Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka. 8/10.
6. The Satsuma Complex - Bob Mortimer. 7/10.
7. The Garderobe of Death - Howard of Warwick - 6/10.
8. A Village in the Third Reich - Julia Boyd, Angelina Patel - 9/10.
9. Three Days in June - James O'Connell - 9/10.
10. The Guv'nor - Lenny McLean - 10/10.
11. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen - 7/10.
12. The Rescue - Andy McNab - 7/10.
13. Hunting the Hangman - Howard Linskey - 8/10.
14. The Easy Day was Yesterday: The extreme life of an SAS soldier - Paul Jordan - 4/10.
I feel cheated. Look at the book cover - it looks like a classic biography of a former Special Forces soldier. Extreme life. Yesterday was easy, compared to today. SAS. The book just doesn't live up to expectations. Maybe I should have researched it a bit more.
I don't often fail to finish a book once I've got through a few chapters, and I persevered with this one. It didn't really grip my attention though. I read it on my Kindle, and this also meant it prevented from starting On Wings of Eagles, which is annoying.
The title comes from something Paul Jordan heard during the training phase for the SAS. His life story didn't accurately reflect the title.
There is a chapter about Australian SAS selection. There is a very long chapter about how the author supported the United Nations in Rwanda during the civil war. (This is the most interesting chapter in the book, and it is enlightening). That's it in terms of SAS action. The rest of the book covers the author's work in protection, and some family history. But the book is predominantly about when the author accidentally crossed the Indian border, and spent 24 days in an Indian prison as a consequence.
I wouldn't recommend this to anyone looking for elite forces war stories, but if you want to avoid getting banged up in prison in India, this is essential reading.
1. Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch. 7/10.
2. The Racketeer - John Grisham. 5/10.
3. Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz. 9/10.
4. The Longest Kill - Craig Harrison. 8/10.
5. Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka. 8/10.
6. The Satsuma Complex - Bob Mortimer. 7/10.
7. The Garderobe of Death - Howard of Warwick - 6/10.
8. A Village in the Third Reich - Julia Boyd, Angelina Patel - 9/10.
9. Three Days in June - James O'Connell - 9/10.
10. The Guv'nor - Lenny McLean - 10/10.
11. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen - 7/10.
12. The Rescue - Andy McNab - 7/10.
13. Hunting the Hangman - Howard Linskey - 8/10.
14. The Easy Day was Yesterday: The extreme life of an SAS soldier - Paul Jordan - 4/10.
15. The Visitor - Lee Child - 7/10.
This is the fourth Jack Reacher book by Lee Child, written in 2000, and going by the title Running Blind in the USA. I've read a few Reacher novels and always really enjoyed them, and this one didn't disappoint in terms of action and excitement. The dialog is convincing too.
In this one, Reacher links up with the FBI to solve a case involving a serial killer targeting female US Army veterans. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, and Child ties up all the loose ends nicely at the conclusion.
It's a real page turner, taking me just five days to complete. (I'm on a beach holiday). But there were a couple of points that let it down for me. Neither a cop on guard outside, or a criminal in the house heard Reacher kick the front door down. Also, none of the FBI experts worked out the method used by the killer, which was so obvious, I had it sussed after a few chapters?
Good book, could have been better.
2. The Racketeer - John Grisham. 5/10.
3. Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz. 9/10.
4. The Longest Kill - Craig Harrison. 8/10.
5. Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka. 8/10.
6. The Satsuma Complex - Bob Mortimer. 7/10.
7. The Garderobe of Death - Howard of Warwick - 6/10.
8. A Village in the Third Reich - Julia Boyd, Angelina Patel - 9/10.
9. Three Days in June - James O'Connell - 9/10.
10. The Guv'nor - Lenny McLean - 10/10.
11. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen - 7/10.
12. The Rescue - Andy McNab - 7/10.
13. Hunting the Hangman - Howard Linskey - 8/10.
14. The Easy Day was Yesterday: The extreme life of an SAS soldier - Paul Jordan - 4/10.
15. The Visitor - Lee Child - 7/10.
This is the fourth Jack Reacher book by Lee Child, written in 2000, and going by the title Running Blind in the USA. I've read a few Reacher novels and always really enjoyed them, and this one didn't disappoint in terms of action and excitement. The dialog is convincing too.
In this one, Reacher links up with the FBI to solve a case involving a serial killer targeting female US Army veterans. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, and Child ties up all the loose ends nicely at the conclusion.
It's a real page turner, taking me just five days to complete. (I'm on a beach holiday). But there were a couple of points that let it down for me. Neither a cop on guard outside, or a criminal in the house heard Reacher kick the front door down. Also, none of the FBI experts worked out the method used by the killer, which was so obvious, I had it sussed after a few chapters?
Good book, could have been better.
Last edited:
RobMCFC
Well-Known Member
Books
This was good fun for the most part, but I prefer my fantasy books to be closer to the real world, with just a little bit of magic to keep them interesting. During the climax of this book, there’s a fight between two Gods, and I never enjoy fights where there’s two all-powerful beings – it just isn’t interesting to read.
However, for most of the page count, there’s enough to keep me invested in the story. The refreshing point of view here is that the story focuses on a band of evil villains who get together to fight off an army of holy knights. The book is basically in three parts – in the first, we meet each of the villains as their old captain gets them back together. In the second, they make a stand in a town as the holy knights attack and in the third, it all gets a bit much as the gods turn up.
The best aspect of the book is the characters. Amongst the villains there’s an old pirate captain, a orc intent on making a name for herself in battles, a fiendish alchemist who devises horrendous war machines and best of all, Lorimer Felle – a vampire who has sworn to win back his town from the conquering knights. Whilst these characters aren’t quite up with the best in the genre, they are at least well written and three dimensional.
- Cunning Folk – Adam L.G. Nevill - 8/10
- Bad Apples – Will Dean – 7/10
- The Winter Road – Adrian Selby – 6/10
- The Dark Place – Damian Vargas – 9/10
- Act of Oblivion – Robert Harris – 7/10
- The Tyranny of Faith – Richard Swan – 7/10
- The Game – Micah Richards – 8/10
- The Ticket Collector from Belarus – Mike Anderson and Neil Hanson – 8/10
- The Satsuma Complex – Bob Mortimer – 6/10
- Notes on an Execution – Danya Kukafka – 9/10
- And Away … – Bob Mortimer – 7/10
- Dead Man's Blues - Ray Celestin – 8/10
- On Wings of Eagles – Ken Follett – 8/10
- Priest of Gallows – Peter McLean – 8/10
- Quantum Radio – A.G.Riddle – 3/10
- The Maleficent Seven – Cameron Johnston – 6/10
This was good fun for the most part, but I prefer my fantasy books to be closer to the real world, with just a little bit of magic to keep them interesting. During the climax of this book, there’s a fight between two Gods, and I never enjoy fights where there’s two all-powerful beings – it just isn’t interesting to read.
However, for most of the page count, there’s enough to keep me invested in the story. The refreshing point of view here is that the story focuses on a band of evil villains who get together to fight off an army of holy knights. The book is basically in three parts – in the first, we meet each of the villains as their old captain gets them back together. In the second, they make a stand in a town as the holy knights attack and in the third, it all gets a bit much as the gods turn up.
The best aspect of the book is the characters. Amongst the villains there’s an old pirate captain, a orc intent on making a name for herself in battles, a fiendish alchemist who devises horrendous war machines and best of all, Lorimer Felle – a vampire who has sworn to win back his town from the conquering knights. Whilst these characters aren’t quite up with the best in the genre, they are at least well written and three dimensional.
ell
Well-Known Member
I got done by the same book a few years ago, crap.1. Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch. 7/10.
2. The Racketeer - John Grisham. 5/10.
3. Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz. 9/10.
4. The Longest Kill - Craig Harrison. 8/10.
5. Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka. 8/10.
6. The Satsuma Complex - Bob Mortimer. 7/10.
7. The Garderobe of Death - Howard of Warwick - 6/10.
8. A Village in the Third Reich - Julia Boyd, Angelina Patel - 9/10.
9. Three Days in June - James O'Connell - 9/10.
10. The Guv'nor - Lenny McLean - 10/10.
11. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen - 7/10.
12. The Rescue - Andy McNab - 7/10.
13. Hunting the Hangman - Howard Linskey - 8/10.
14. The Easy Day was Yesterday: The extreme life of an SAS soldier - Paul Jordan - 4/10.
I feel cheated. Look at the book cover - it looks like a classic biography of a former Special Forces soldier. Extreme life. Yesterday was easy, compared to today. SAS. The book just doesn't live up to expectations. Maybe I should have researched it a bit more.
I don't often fail to finish a book once I've got through a few chapters, and I persevered with this one. It didn't really grip my attention though. I read it on my Kindle, and this also meant it prevented from starting On Wings of Eagles, which is annoying.
The title comes from something Paul Jordan heard during the training phase for the SAS. His life story didn't accurately reflect the title.
There is a chapter about Australian SAS selection. There is a very long chapter about how the author supported the United Nations in Rwanda during the civil war. (This is the most interesting chapter in the book, and it is enlightening). That's it in terms of SAS action. The rest of the book covers the author's work in protection, and some family history. But the book is predominantly about when the author accidentally crossed the Indian border, and spent 24 days in an Indian prison as a consequence.
I wouldn't recommend this to anyone looking for elite forces war stories, but if you want to avoid getting banged up in prison in India, this is essential reading.
stoneblue
Well-Known Member
24/23 Bournville - Jonathan Coe
Bournville tells the story of a family growing up in the Birmingham suburbs from the end of WW2 through to 2020. The story is told around 7 key events in modern British history, starting with VE day in 1945 and ending with its 75th anniversary in May 2020.
The story focuses on different family members and their relationships through the years and the narrative maps our changing attitudes towards a number of issues including race and homosexuality.
Older Blue Mooners will recognise and reminisce about memories of days gone by such as England’s World Cup win in 1966 and events such as the Royal Wedding (Charles & Diana).
I have read a couple of Coe’s books before (The Rotter’s Club series) and he is a supreme chronicler of the ordinariness of daily life.
This is an easy read with some genuinely funny elements.
Bournville tells the story of a family growing up in the Birmingham suburbs from the end of WW2 through to 2020. The story is told around 7 key events in modern British history, starting with VE day in 1945 and ending with its 75th anniversary in May 2020.
The story focuses on different family members and their relationships through the years and the narrative maps our changing attitudes towards a number of issues including race and homosexuality.
Older Blue Mooners will recognise and reminisce about memories of days gone by such as England’s World Cup win in 1966 and events such as the Royal Wedding (Charles & Diana).
I have read a couple of Coe’s books before (The Rotter’s Club series) and he is a supreme chronicler of the ordinariness of daily life.
This is an easy read with some genuinely funny elements.
1. Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch. 7/10.
2. The Racketeer - John Grisham. 5/10.
3. Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz. 9/10.
4. The Longest Kill - Craig Harrison. 8/10.
5. Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka. 8/10.
6. The Satsuma Complex - Bob Mortimer. 7/10.
7. The Garderobe of Death - Howard of Warwick - 6/10.
8. A Village in the Third Reich - Julia Boyd, Angelina Patel - 9/10.
9. Three Days in June - James O'Connell - 9/10.
10. The Guv'nor - Lenny McLean - 10/10.
11. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen - 7/10.
12. The Rescue - Andy McNab - 7/10.
13. Hunting the Hangman - Howard Linskey - 8/10.
14. The Easy Day was Yesterday: The extreme life of an SAS soldier - Paul Jordan - 4/10.
15. The Visitor - Lee Child - 7/10.
16. Jamaica Inn - Daphne Du Maurier - 8/10.
I made a start on this two years ago, before embarking on a four day campervan holiday to Cornwall which included a visit to the eponymous hostelry. The holiday was pretty full on, and I didn't get past the first chapter, so I decided to start afresh this week.
Following the death of her mother, Mary Yellan takes residence with her aunt, at Jamaica Inn on the desolate Bodmin Moor. Her uncle, Joss Merlyn is the landlord of the inn. He has a reputation as a drunkard, a dangerous villain, such that nobody visits the inn any more, except the landlord's criminal associates.
Mary meets Joss's younger brother Jem, also a villain, and falls in love with him.
Within a few months of her arrival at the inn, Joss becomes involved in one final desperate act that has devastating consequences on him and his gang. But who is the criminal mastermind behind all the nefarious activity? Could it be the drunkard, Joss himself? Could it be his younger, more astute brother, Jem? Or could it be another?
Written in 1936, set in the 1820s, the book has definitely stood the test of time as a significant gothic thriller. It has danger, suspense, some unexpected plot twists and turns, and a romantic element. It's one of those books you need to read before you die that actually justifies being in such a list.
2. The Racketeer - John Grisham. 5/10.
3. Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz. 9/10.
4. The Longest Kill - Craig Harrison. 8/10.
5. Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka. 8/10.
6. The Satsuma Complex - Bob Mortimer. 7/10.
7. The Garderobe of Death - Howard of Warwick - 6/10.
8. A Village in the Third Reich - Julia Boyd, Angelina Patel - 9/10.
9. Three Days in June - James O'Connell - 9/10.
10. The Guv'nor - Lenny McLean - 10/10.
11. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen - 7/10.
12. The Rescue - Andy McNab - 7/10.
13. Hunting the Hangman - Howard Linskey - 8/10.
14. The Easy Day was Yesterday: The extreme life of an SAS soldier - Paul Jordan - 4/10.
15. The Visitor - Lee Child - 7/10.
16. Jamaica Inn - Daphne Du Maurier - 8/10.
I made a start on this two years ago, before embarking on a four day campervan holiday to Cornwall which included a visit to the eponymous hostelry. The holiday was pretty full on, and I didn't get past the first chapter, so I decided to start afresh this week.
Following the death of her mother, Mary Yellan takes residence with her aunt, at Jamaica Inn on the desolate Bodmin Moor. Her uncle, Joss Merlyn is the landlord of the inn. He has a reputation as a drunkard, a dangerous villain, such that nobody visits the inn any more, except the landlord's criminal associates.
Mary meets Joss's younger brother Jem, also a villain, and falls in love with him.
Within a few months of her arrival at the inn, Joss becomes involved in one final desperate act that has devastating consequences on him and his gang. But who is the criminal mastermind behind all the nefarious activity? Could it be the drunkard, Joss himself? Could it be his younger, more astute brother, Jem? Or could it be another?
Written in 1936, set in the 1820s, the book has definitely stood the test of time as a significant gothic thriller. It has danger, suspense, some unexpected plot twists and turns, and a romantic element. It's one of those books you need to read before you die that actually justifies being in such a list.
stoneblue
Well-Known Member
25/23 Paradise - Patricia Wolf
This is the 2nd book in the series from this author and I read and enjoyed the first, “Outback”, earlier this year. Again it features DS Walker as the central character. As this story starts he is in the Gold Coast to recover from injuries received at the end of the first book and he’s also awaiting the outcome of the Review Board into his actions at that time.
This book has two main story threads, the first a home invasion in which a young mother is murdered and her child badly injured. The second is the presence in the area of the leader of a drug gang and his associates.
Although he is supposed to be on light duties, DS Walker soon finds himself embroiled in the murder investigation and is also drawn into the activities of the drug gang.
A decent addition to the Aussie noir genre.
This is the 2nd book in the series from this author and I read and enjoyed the first, “Outback”, earlier this year. Again it features DS Walker as the central character. As this story starts he is in the Gold Coast to recover from injuries received at the end of the first book and he’s also awaiting the outcome of the Review Board into his actions at that time.
This book has two main story threads, the first a home invasion in which a young mother is murdered and her child badly injured. The second is the presence in the area of the leader of a drug gang and his associates.
Although he is supposed to be on light duties, DS Walker soon finds himself embroiled in the murder investigation and is also drawn into the activities of the drug gang.
A decent addition to the Aussie noir genre.