Review | Fenlandphil's Blog

Archive for the ‘Review’ Category

4 Jun

Acts of Convenience, written by Alex Craigie, a review.

Posted by fenlandphil in Acts of Convenience, Alex Craigie, Review. Tagged: Assisted Dying Bill, Book, Book Review, The Voluntary Euthanasia Bill. 4 comments

Acts of Convenience had sat on my TBR pile for a long time. I finally lifted it off the heap last week and started reading it. The Assisted Dying Bill passing through Parliament has given the story a timeliness that perhaps an earlier read wouldn’t have.

Cassie is a nurse, used to early deaths and personal tragedy. The book charts an uneasy glimpse into an ever-increasing dystopian future where the acts of convenience are only convenient for the few wealthy enough to avoid their consequences. The story is of love, coping with adversity and a resolute determination by Cassie, not only to care for and protect her family and friends but to expose wrongdoing. The story’s Voluntary Euthanasia Bill is the first step on an ever-steeper descent on the slippery slope to a troubling future. If we hadn’t seen the decimation of the NHS and the increasing influence of the private sector, most of this story would seem complete fantasy. I sincerely hope it isn’t what it seems, a vision of the future.

If you only read one book this year make sure that this is the one, it is brilliant.

14 Nov

A Turn Up For The Books by Rachael Gray, a review.

Posted by fenlandphil in A Turn Up ForThe Books, crime, murders, Rachael Gray, Review. Tagged: Book Review, crime, Dr Laurel Nightingale, Elderwick, mystery. 4 comments

A locked room and an unresponsive guest in Dorothy Little’s, Tulip Cottage prompts Dorothy to ask her neighbours, Dr. Laurel Nightingale and Albert for help. Later the same day a famous crime author Hugh Quintrell, consults Laurel to help cure his writer’s block. However, the professional relationship he wants with Laurel is not as client and therapist but a collaborative one to solve the crime discovered at Tulip Cottage.

Elderwick, Laurel’s new home has seen a number of murders since her arrival from Somerset a few months earlier, prompting her thoughts that she may be the catalyst. Reluctantly at first together with her friends Albert and Maggie, she sets out to unravel this new mystery.

Elderwick is an ideal village with the Plump Tart Village Bakery, The Snooty Fox Pub and of course the centre of much of the cognitive action, The Pleasant Pheasant tea room. The pictures formed in the mind’s eye are something I particularly enjoyed.

With numerous twists and turns to keep me on my toes, I raced through the book very quickly. I found it an enjoyable read, more please Ms Gray.

12 Oct

Because She Looked Away, written by, Alison Bruce. A review.

Posted by fenlandphil in Alison Bruce, Because She Looked Away, Bodies in the Bookshop, Book Review, Cambridge, Downing College, Review, Ronnie Blake. Tagged: Book, Book Review, books, Parkside police station, Review. 7 comments

Because She Looked Away by Alison Bruce.

The Master’s lodge of Downing College Cambridge, was the impressive venue for the launch of Alison Bruce’s latest book, Because She Looked Away. The launch was organised by Richard and Jon of Bodies in The Bookshop, Cambridge’s specialist crime bookshop. I was fortunate to be invited. There was a long queue of those attending to buy their signed copy.

**The Master’s Lodge Downing College from the garden.**

This book introduces us to a new hero, Detective Sergeant Veronica (Ronnie) Blake. Ronnie’s childhood was traumatic and so are the events that prompt her move to Cambridge. She moves in to live with her half brother, Alex and their orphaned nephew, Noah.

Ronnie joins a small team of detectives, known as the DEAD Team, at Cambridge’s Parkside police station. The unit which is under threat of disbandment, is unable to solve an outstanding unsolved case, Operation Byron. Then a list of three names is passed to the group anonymously, one of the names is that of Ronnie’s sister Jodie. With a fresh pair of eyes Ronnie, with the help of a fellow newcomer to the team Malachi, is able to help the DEAD team start to make progress with this complex enquiry.

This is an intriguing who done it, a crime novel which kept me reading at every opportunity I had. It is easy to understand why Richard, of Bodies in The Bookshop stayed up until 3.30am to finish reading it.

**The all-important book signing** (photo credit Alison Bruce}

I have enjoyed every book of Alison Bruce’s I have read, Because She Looked Away, is the best yet. I thought it was impossible for her writing to get any better, how do you improve on perfection? Somehow she has managed it. I’m looking forward to the next Ronnie Blake book in the series.

17 Sep

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce a review.

Posted by fenlandphil in Book, Cambridge University Library, Rachel Joyce, Review, The Really Popular Book Club, The Unlikely Pilgramage of Harold Fry. Tagged: Berwick on Tweed, Book, books, Cambridge, fiction, Rachel Joyce. 8 comments

I have joined Cambridge University Library’s Really Popular Book Club, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, was September’s chosen book. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend the Zoom meeting to discuss it. I have an unexpected journey to undertake at the same time the meeting is due to happen.

The story starts when Harold Fry receives a letter sent on behalf of a former work colleague, Queenie Hennessy. Harold hasn’t heard from Queenie in twenty years, the letter is from a hospice in Berwick on Tweed. The letter written on Queenie’s behalf, informs Harold that Queenie is suffering from terminal cancer and has very little time left. Harold writes a reply and sets out to post the letter he hesitates at the post box and then at the next one. He decides instead to walk to Berwick on Tweed to see Queenie in person.

Harold’s journey is a remarkable one, not only for the people he meets on the way some of whom and a dog walk with him but also as an examination of his past, his personality, relationships and regrets. The walk north from Kingsbridge in Devon, without preparation, proper hiking equipment a map or compass, is physically arduous, as Harold discovers. Yachting shoes are not ideally suited for a long hike, in all weathers. It was a companion walking with Harold that coined the title The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

As Harold walks, the back story of his life, his marriage to Maureen, his childhood and his relationship with his son David, is slowly revealed. We are drawn into an emotional journey as Harold reflects on these things. It is as much a journey of self discovery for Harold as a physical journey. For myself as the reader I found it incredibly moving and like all really good books The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, will inhabit my thinking for a long time.

31 Aug

A little Bird Told Me by Rachael Gray, a review.

Posted by fenlandphil in A Little Bird Told Me, Rachael Gray, Review. Tagged: Book, Book Review, Novel. 2 comments

Laurel’s first day in her new home, wasn’t exactly ideal. The sudden death of a yet to be acquainted with neighbour can be unsettling, even for someone with Laurel’s experience. Her career had been in end of life care. As the story moves on Laurel begins to question her choice of Elderwick for her new home. However, despite the machinations of a property developer and a pocketed councillor, intent on contentiously bringing new homes and a leisure facility to the village, there are the redeeming features of an excellent village bakery, The Plump Tart, The Pleasant Pheasant Cafe and the Snooty Fox, the village pub.

It isn’t long before murders blight the ideal appearance of the village, whose history has also been darkened by that of the area’s leading family, the Hartfields, owners of Elderwick Hall, the site of the new development. Marcus Hartfield the present occupant of Elderwick Hall is the development’s prime mover.

The story is inhabited by a variety of interesting, colourful, characters both human and animal. A Little Bird Told Me, realistically details the conflicts and friendships within a small village community. However, at its core this is a crime story albeit a cosy one. The revelation at the book’s end is surprising which is as it should be.

For me it was a quick but absorbing read, well done, Ms Gray.

5 Jan

A most Malicious Messenger by Katherine Black a review

Posted by fenlandphil in A Most Malicious Messenger, Katherine Black, minature dachshunds, Review. Tagged: Blackheath, Book, Book Review, murders. 4 comments

May Morrigan lives in her large Blackheath Home with her very elderly mother (Minty) and friend Fletcher, also known as Barbara Bouvier, the other two members of the household are May’s two miniature dachshunds, Bess and George. That is the straightforward part of the book.

The story starts at May’s bookshop when a mysterious text message appears on the phones of everyone in the bookshop. The action is non-stop from that point forward, weaving in and out of unconvential lifestyles and relationships.

Murders follow the receipt of cryptic text messages, which prompts May and her friends to try to track down the murderer.

The scenes are wonderfully set and the descriptions paint vivid pictures of the action. The characters particularly the lusty Minty are interesting and far from run of the mill.

This is the most unusual, funniest book I have read in a long time and one of the most enjoyable ever.

Fenlandphil's Blog A blog from the low country

Archive for the ‘Review’ Category

Acts of Convenience, written by Alex Craigie, a review.

A Turn Up For The Books by Rachael Gray, a review.

Because She Looked Away, written by, Alison Bruce. A review.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce a review.

A little Bird Told Me by Rachael Gray, a review.

A most Malicious Messenger by Katherine Black a review

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