I’ve written before about this wonderful series by Gillian Hamer.  I was hooked by the first in the series, The Charter – well-drawn characters, a strong sense of place, good dialogue, a rattling good story, a murder mystery, a touch of the supernatural, a treasure hunt, a thriller and adventure story, and well researched history… Read More »

Richard and Judy Book Club choices rarely disappoint – I don’t always enjoy them all, but they usually draw my attention to some writers and books I might not otherwise have discovered.  When the 2013 Summer Reads were announced, I found I’d already read three of them.  One I really loved, in my top ten… Read More »

Many, many years ago – well, twenty actually – I read Judy Astley’s Just For The Summer and knew I’d found a writer I could love. I’ve dipped in and out of her books since then, always thoroughly enjoying them, with their real characters, families you can believe in, situations you can identify with (and… Read More »

I don’t recall where I first came across Beth Gutcheon – her books aren’t easy to find in the UK – but I’m guessing it must have been one of those “if you like this” features on Amazon.  I must have liked the look of her books – I have Still Missing and The New… Read More »

When reading at the weekend, I have some rules – I can read before getting up, but must not sit down with it again until after lunch.  With this wonderful book, I tore up the rulebook and read it in one glorious sitting.  I was absolutely fascinated by this story narrated by Matthew Homes, a… Read More »

I began reading this lovely book on our hottest day of the year so far, sitting in the garden, and it was the perfect setting in which to savour it.  Cora, a countess with a complicated romantic history, who having moved around Europe after a mysterious departure from England in her youth, moves to live… Read More »

My decision to pick up this book was influenced by Rachel Abbott’s prolific tweets urging followers to buy – I finally gave in.  But it’s the greatest tribute to any writer that having finished it – and “unputdownable” is much overused but truly describes this book – I immediately visited Amazon again and downloaded another,… Read More »

I remember the days when I used to take half a suitcase of books on holiday – just in case I ran out – but these days it’s so much easier to just load up your Kindle with some favourite authors and know you’re ok for a fortnight.  I read this book under such difficult… Read More »

My 87 year old mother tells me that The Silver Locket (free on Kindle at time of writing) is one of the best books she’s ever read – sadly I can’t endorse that because the book (along with its sequels The Golden Chain and The Penny Bangle) is still languishing on my Kindle, awaiting its turn.… Read More »

Barbara Erskine is so very good at what she does – open one of her books and you know you’ll be dipping into history, there will be strong characters and stories in all the time frames, there will be a touch of magic and supernatural, some romance, and that you’ll find it unputdownable and enjoy… Read More »

I looked forward so much to reading this book – “The Kite Runner” and “A Thousand Splendid Suns” will always be in my top ten of all time, and I wondered how on earth Khaled Hosseini could follow them up. With something even better maybe? I have to say maybe not, but “And the Mountains… Read More »

I’m slightly ashamed to say that Ann Weisgarber’s debut novel, The Personal History of Rachel Dupree, has sat on my bookshelves unread since I bought it in 2009, having been attracted by its longlisting for the Orange Prize.  If it’s half as good as this one, it won’t be sitting on my shelves for much… Read More »

This book absolutely blew me away – beautifully written, staying well on the right side of mawkish (Emma is a lovely young character, and her naive viewpoint gives the book a beautifully light touch, with touches of welcome humour at times), an incredibly moving story of love and depressive illness and loss and the impacts… Read More »

I started my love affair with Maeve Binchy’s writing back in 1982 with the original release of Light A Penny Candle – I still have the book club hardback – and I’ve read (if not always loved) everything she’s written since then.  I thought she lost her way just a little around Nights of Rain… Read More »

Like everyone else it seems, I discovered Elizabeth Haynes’ writing through her magnificent debut, Into the Darkest Corner. Her second, Revenge of the Tide, was good too, but maybe lacking a little something for me.  But as for this one – it really is absolutely fantastic, arguably her best yet, and I’ve honestly never read anything quite like… Read More »