BOEKWÊRELD INCWADI YELIZWE

CHALLIS, Sarah Footprints in the sand.- Headline, 2006. Stack up on good reads… A romantic novel of adventure set in West Africa. It tells the story of two young English cousins who travel to Mali to scatter their eccentric great-aunt’s ashes. The story of their journey and what they learn along the way, about both their SABRINA GOSLING BANKS, Iain great-aunt and themselves, makes good reading. Challis’s novels are reliably entertaining. Book selector The steep approach to Garbadale.- Little, 2007. ABBOTT, Jeff Family drama from this award-winning CHANDRA, Vikram A kiss gone bad.- Orion, 2004. Scottish author who also writes science Sacred games.- Faber, 2006. Panic.- Time Warner, 2006. fiction under the name Iain M Banks. The Chandra’s 900-page epic of organised crime central event in this social comedy is a Panic is an exciting and gripping thriller about and corruption in Mumbai has been described gathering of the Wopuld family both to a young documentary filmmaker on the run. It in a local magazine for men as ‘simply celebrate Grandma Win’s birthday and to is a stand-alone title, not part of Abbott’s series unputdownable… It plunges you into another decide whether to accept the lucrative offer of suspense novels featuring Whit Mosley, but world, one you wouldn’t choose to live in, but from American investors to buy the family just as enjoyable. I really like Mosley, the rather will find increasingly difficult to leave.’ (Best Life game-playing business. Filled with humour, laid-back, definitely unconventional judge in Port 10/2007.) social commentary, and spot-on observations Leo, Texas. The best place to start reading the of families and family relationships this is a series is with A kiss gone bad, in which he is still wonderfully engrossing read. CHILD, Lee a rookie judge. It is an action-packed, violent, The enemy.- Bantam, 2004. pacy crime thriller with quite a convoluted plot. BOOTH, Stephen The hard way.- Bantam, 2006. We have two more series titles in stock, but all Scared to live.- HarperCollins, 2006. his books are worth recommending. Bad luck and trouble.- Bantam, 2007. Dying to sin.- HarperCollins, 2007. The hard way and Bad luck and trouble (which Booth’s police procedurals, set in the Peak should be in the libraries soon) are the two ADICHIE, Chimamanda Ngozi District and featuring police detectives Ben latest entries in the gripping Jack Reacher series Half of a yellow sun.- Fourth Estate, 2006. Cooper and Diane Fry, are atmospheric and of thrillers. He is a popular figure: an ex-military This Nigerian author’s first novel, Purple gripping, with a strong sense of place, good cop, an unencumbered loner, tough, intelligent, hibiscus, was a great success, both commercially characterisation and interesting relationships. attractive to women, and always moving on. and critically, winning the Commonwealth These are the 7th and 8th titles in this While Child’s readership is predominantly male, First Book Award. She has followed it with gripping crime series. For those new to the the number of women readers has grown another winner - a rich and powerful story set series, you’ll regret it if you don’t start at the tremendously. I am a great fan. The killing in 1960s Nigeria during Biafra’s struggle for beginning - with Black dog. floor began the series but his 2004 novel, The independence. What particularly impressed me enemy, an exciting military crime thriller, is set was how easily Adichie reels the reader in. She BOYLE, T Coraghessan chronologically earlier than the others and would never loses sight of the personal, focussing on Drop City.- Bloomsbury, 2003. serve as a good introduction to the series for two very different twin sisters and the impact Talk talk.- Bloomsbury, 2006. any new readers. the civil war has on their lives and the lives of Drop City ‘describes the experiences of those close to them. A deserved winner of the an idealistic Californian hippie commune CONNOR, John 2007 Orange Prize. transplanted to the wilds of Alaska - and A child’s game.- Orion, 2006. what happens as these two vastly different Falling.- Orion, 2007. ANDERSON, Scott communities collide. A wonderful evocation Police procedurals set in West Yorkshire - the Triage.- Macmillan, 1998. of 1970s’ America…’ (Bookseller 20/12/02.) 3rd and 4th in a series of violent, gripping crime A memorable debut novel from an award- Talk talk is a fast-paced suspense story novels with an intriguing central character: winning war correspondent about the recovery about identity theft. ‘Dana Halter races Karen Sharpe, an ex-MI5 undercover agent now of a shell-shocked photojournalist. It’s a across America in a bid to confront the man haunting and riveting exploration of the effects who has stolen her identity, leaving in his of war on the human psyche. wake massive debts and criminal charges in  her name.’ (Bookseller 14/4/06.) Boyle is a BLAKE, Victoria good writer and an accomplished story-teller and these are two of his most readable novels. Skin and blister.- Orion, 2006. This is Blake’s third novel. Her first, Bloodless CARROLL, Claudia shadow, introduced her very likeable female He loves me not…he loves me.- Bantam, sleuth, Sam Falconer, a private eye and former 2004. world judo champion. In this her brother, an First novel from an Irish actress - an Oxford don, is kidnapped, apparently as a way entertaining story set in rural Ireland at of getting hold of their father who was a SAS the ancestral home of the impoverished assassin in Ireland. This is a good crime series Davenport family. To make some money, which makes entertaining reading. I have just they offer their house as a location for read her most recent novel, Jumping the cracks, a new movie. This is great fun; humour, which is perhaps a bit darker than the others, romance, eccentricity, and a likeable central but just as enjoyable. character in Portia, all combine to make this an enjoyable read. There is a sequel too.

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working as a police detective. The events in A DOWLING, Finuala FRENCH, Nicci child’s game have left her in a fragile state. At Flyleaf.- Penguin, 2007. Catch me when I fall.- Penguin, 2006. the beginning of Falling, she had been working A charming novel, the second from this Until it’s o v er.- Penguin, 2007. fraud and theft cases for the past year, but local poet and Kalk Bay resident. For more The duo of Observer journalist Nicci Gerrard is called in as police liaison to deal with the about it see the Between the lines column in and her husband, Sean French, has written a traumatised 6-year-old daughter of a pregnant September/October 2007 issue of the CL. n umber of compulsiv el y readab le psychological woman who had been brutally murdered. This thrillers. Some of them, lik e Secr et smile and gripping series is extremely popular, but should EARLS, Nick Land of the living, I f ound almost oppressiv el y ideally be read in order, beginning with Phoenix. Bachelor kisses.- Pan, 1999. tense b ut impossib le to put do wn. Catch Perfect skin.- Macmillan, 2001. me…, about an attractiv e extro v ert whose DALLAS, Sandra These are two Australian novels in the ‘lad- lif e seems to spiral out of control, is the same. The Persian Pickle Club.- Arrow, 1996. lit’ category. The author is a medical doctor She k eeps on doing things: irresponsib le, wild A charming first novel set during the who won a Betty Trask Award for a previous things, that just mak e her situation w orse. Depression. Queenie, our very likeable book. Bachelor kisses is the story of a young Until it’s o v er is set in a London comm unal narrator, tells the story of how the arrival of a man in the 90s, a medical student called Jon. house where Astrid Bell, a bicycle courier, liv es. city woman, Rita, and the discovery of a dead Perfect skin carries on the story but it can A neighbour accidentl y knocks her off her bik e body effects the group of women who meet stand alone. (I haven’t read the first one). Jon, and then later is f ound m urdered. The police weekly to quilt, chat or be read to. A delightful a thirty-something plastic surgeon, is now a become suspicious when other bodies start story with a strong rural simplicity and reserve widower with a baby. I thoroughly enjoyed turning up - all in some wa y link ed to Astrid. to it. this - it is witty, moving, romantic, and great fun. This is a most enjo y ab le read, just as gripping and suspenseful b ut not as o v erwhelming EDWARDS, Kim as some of their earlier books. All are ideal DARWIN, Emma The memory-keeper’s daughter.- Penguin, beach reads. The mathematics of love.- Headline Review, 2005. 2006. During a blizzard a doctor delivers his wife of GALE, Patrick A wonderful debut novel written by a twins. He decides to send his daughter, who Friendl y fir e.- Fourth Estate, 2005. descendent of Charles Darwin, this is an has Down’s syndrome, to an institution, telling Notes from an exhibition.- Fourth Estate, historical novel, ‘set partly in the 19th century, his wife that she died - but the nurse, in turn, 2007. where Major Fairfield is escaping memories decides to keep the baby and bring her up as of Waterloo and a lost love, and partly in the her own. This first novel, an emotional drama, ‘Gale’s man y fans are accustomed to the 1970s, where teenager Anna finds herself sent has proved extremely popular in the UK. appearance, ev ery tw o y ears or so , of a to stay with her eccentric uncle and falling for new no v el, each as polished and mellifluous an older man.’ (Bookseller 7/4/06.) ELLIOTT, Kate as the last. At the same time, each book Crown of stars.- Orbit, 2006. tak es on a startlingl y original tangent, f ocus and method.’ (Independent 17/8/07.) He is DESAI, Kiran This is the 7th and final book in her engrossing one of m y fav ourite authors b ut I think he’s Hullabaloo in the guava orchard.- Faber, 1998. fantasy series of the same name. The often o v erlook ed. An y one unfamiliar with sequence begins with King’s dragon. The inheritance of loss.- H. Hamilton, 2006. his w ork is in f or a treat - all his books are Desai (daughter of the writer, Anita Desai) won FALLON, Jennifer w orth reading. Unf ortunatel y, some, lik e Little the 2006 Man Booker Prize for her second The lion of Senet.- Orbit, 2005. bits of bab y, are no longer in stock. Here novel, The inheritance of loss, which is set in are his tw o most recent no v els. Friendl y India in the mid-1980s. The clever and comic Eye of the labyrinth.- Orbit, 2005. fir e is a w onderful coming-of-age story set Hullabaloo tells the story of Sampath, a man Lord of the Shadows.- Orbit, 2005. in an English pub lic boarding school. The who is a bit of a loser and misfit, until he gains Here’s another wonderful fantasy series by heroine is 14-y ear-old Sophie who is an avid fame and respect as a guru when he takes an Australian author and called The second reader. Notes from an exhibition is about refuge up a guava tree. While not everybody’s sons trilogy. Set in the world Ranadon, where famil y relationships, bipolar disorder, and the cup of tea, this is certainly an impressive debut. there is no night because its two suns shine relationship betw een mental illness and artistic so brightly, these are absorbing, intelligent creativity. ‘A psychologicall y astute tale about a fantasies filled with plot and counterplot, troub led artistic mother…as rich and in v entiv e political and religious rivalries, and a large cast as w e expect from this brilliant author. Its of well-drawn characters. These entertaining, understated, tragic conclusion is as mo ving as layered novels will be a great find for anyone an ything Gale has written.’ (Guardian 11/8/97.) looking for a new fantasy author. They certainly show that the science fiction/fantasy GARDNER, Lisa scene in Australia is thriving. Hide.- Orion, 2007. FERRIS, Joshua Author of the Pierce Quincy/Raine Conner Then we came to the end: a novel.- Viking, crime series with a new title that is not part 2007. of that series, b ut a sequel to her 2005 book, Set in a Chicago advertising agency threatened Alone, which also f eatured Bob b y Dodge, with closure, this first novel is a darkly comic previousl y a police sniper, no w a detectiv e. exploration of office life. ‘Regardless of This is another chilling psychological crime vocation, you know these people, and, what’s thriller. A w oman reads in the newspaper worse, you see yourself in them.’ (Library that her m ummified remains hav e been f ound Journal 1/1/07.) in an underground cav ern in the grounds of the state mental hospital. This is bound to be popular with Gardner’s man y fans.

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GEORGE, Elizabeth enjoyable Soldier son trilogy, is likely to be just Canada, in 1991. The novel looks at the effects With no one as witness.- Hodder, 2005. as popular as her others. Set in a new world an abduction such as that can have on a family. What came before he shot her.- Hodder, unrelated to her previous series, it follows Bethany is grown up with a child of her own 2006. the life of Nevare Burvelle, the second son of now, but throughout her life she had been the Lord of the Kingdom of Gernia, and his conscious of an abscence - her elder brother With no one as witness is the latest crime preparation for and education at the King’s had been abducted when she was a baby and novel in her series featuring the aristocratic Cavalla Academy. her mother had always believed that he would policeman, Thomas Lynley, his working-class return some day. The novel opens with a sidekick, Barbara Havers, and the other description of her mother following a man home characters in his circle. In this one he HORTON, Lesley from the supermarket and bludgeoning him to investigates his first serial killer case. This Devils in the mirror.- Orion, 2005. death. is just as absorbing as ever, but it also has a The hollow core.- Orion, 2006. sting in its tail - a tragedy that will shock loyal The third and fourth titles in this gritty, KERNICK, Simon series readers. What came before he shot absorbing series of British police procedurals her is a companion volume to the series and set in multi-cultural Bradford, and once again Relentless.- Bantam, 2006. something quite different. It provides the featuring DI John Handford and DS Khalid A nail-biting thriller about an ordinary man on background to what happened in the previous Ali. This is good crime fiction, with something the run. This is a stand-alone book, not one of book. ‘It takes a long bus ride into London’s a bit different because one of the main Kernick’s London cop novels. John Meron is mixed-race slums to tell the backstory of the policemen is Muslim. Devils in the mirror a young, happily-married father of two whose kids... The hero of this tale is an 11-year-old involves the murder investigation into the life changes with a phone call one Saturday boy named Joel…George took a gamble death of a girl who was found suffocated on afternoon. Exciting and very readable. with this one, and it pays off brilliantly.’ (Time the moor. Evidence suggests it may have been 23/9/06.) I was a bit reluctant to read this, a ritual killing. In The hollow core a woman KING, Jonathon thinking it would be too depressing, but was is gunned down in a parking garage in front of Eye of vengeance.- Orion, 2006. completely hooked once I began. George her husband and daughter as the family return This new book is something of a departure for does an excellent job. from celebrating the daughter’s 25th birthday, King, not part of his enjoyable Max Freeman and she dies in hospital soon after. It was sequence of crime novels. This one is concerned HANNAH, Sophie deliberate, not random, she was the intended with the question of what happens when victim, but no one can understand why. There Little face.- Hodder, 2006. a journalist finds himself no longer simply a are many twists and turns, complications and Hurting distance.- Hodder, 2007. reporter observing and commenting on events subplots before the mystery is resolved. This Two chilling psychological thrillers from this but somehow becomes a participant as well. is good crime fiction - definitely a series worth award-winning poet. In Little face a woman Crime reporter Nick Mullins realises that there’s checking out. believes her 2-week old daughter, Florence, a link between sniper shootings and the profiles was swapped with another baby while she was of criminals he’s written for the paper. An out. No one believes her. In Hurting distance HOSSEINI, Khaled intelligent and entertaining crime thriller with a the police aren’t particularly interested when A thousand splendid suns.- Bloomsbury, 2007. realistic newspaper setting. Naomi reports her married lover missing, but ‘Afghan-American novelist Hosseini follows up start to take her more seriously when she his best-selling The kite runner with another MCCARTHY, Cormac changes her story claiming that he raped her searing epic of Afghanistan in turmoil. The No country for old men.- Picador, 2005. at a stag party. ‘Hannah constructs her novels story covers three decades of anti-Soviet The road.- Picador, 2006. like a 19th century conjuror using smoke and jihad, civil war and Taliban tyranny through the mirrors, until the great reveal. The plot twist lives of two women... His tale is a powerful, I have been a great fan for many years. The has been there all along staring you right in the harrowing depiction of Afghanistan, but also road (which won the Pulitzer Prize) is a face - pure genius.’ (Bookseller 16/11/07.) a lyrical evocation of the lives and enduring beautifully-written apocalyptic novel about a hopes of its resilient characters.’ (Publishers father and son on the road, traveling through HISLOP, Victoria Weekly 26/2/07.)  The island.- Review, 2005. This first novel, a multi-generational saga ISHIGURO, Kazuo set on a remote Greek island, had mixed Never let me go.- Faber, 2005. reviews: ‘an unwieldy debut,’ ‘historical romp,’ This is a wonderfully-engrossing, ‘a romantic page-turner but a little shallow.’ elegantly-written novel in which a 31- I haven’t read it but am including it here year-old woman recalls her childhood because it was the Richard and Judy Book spent in the cloistered, privileged Club’s top Summer Read of 2006 - the public school of Hailsham. While it is does the voting, so obviously a great many disturbing it isn’t harrowing, and one people in Britain loved it. comes away glad to have read this beautifully-rendered story. It was HOBB, Robin definitely my favourite to win the Shaman’s crossing.- Voyager, 2005. Man Booker Prize of its year. Forest mage.- Voyager, 2006. Renegade’s magic.- Voyager, 2006. JEAN, Wendy This author uses two pseudonyms: this one for Unstolen.- Pan, 2006. epic traditional fantasy and Megan Lindholm This very readable first novel was inspired for contemporary fantasy. Hobb is the more by a true story - the abduction of Michael popular. This new fantasy sequence, the Dunahee from a school playground in Victoria,

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a scary post-holocaust America. This is before the forthcoming movie. An Observer has not heard from his imprisoned father for a something of a departure for McCarthy but reviewer wrote: ‘It is, I think, the best thing he decade.) Highly recommended. it will still appeal to his fans, and I think will has ever written and I read it (at first) as one get him new ones. I loved it, as did many might drink a good wine, relishing every word, MATLWA, Kopano reviewers who selected it as a book of the not wishing to swig too fast, not wanting it to Coconut.- Jacana, 2007. year in 2006. The Cape Argus reviewer chose be over.’ (Observer 16/9/01.) No country for old men as one of her This award-winning debut novel from a young Cape Town medical student has been widely four best novels for 2007, calling it ‘a literary McINTOSH, Fiona masterpiece’. This modern-day Western praised. For more see article and review in Betrayal.- Orbit, 2006. thriller has been widely praised. I haven’t the September/October 2007 issue of CL. read it yet and I know of people who have Revenge.- Orbit, 2006. not enjoyed it. I gather a strong stomach is Destiny.- Orbit, 2006. MOSSE, Kate required. Mars-Jones remarks in the Observer: This Trinity trilogy is terrific - I was immersed Labyrinth.- Orion, 2005. ‘As a prose stylist…[he] is like a man who in the books for days. It’s good traditional The historical religious quest genre is very spends hours in front of a mirror getting his fantasy, with strong characters, interesting popular at the moment and this is a book in hair to sit just right, but will break your jaw if world-building and an absorbing plot. that genre that many readers loved. ‘Mosse’s you tell him he’s beautiful.’ Roos wrote: ‘Some page-turner takes readers on another quest books are so perfect that I am filled with MCNAB, Andy for the Holy Grail, this time with two closely envy at the writer - this is one.’ (Cape Argus Aggressor.- Bantam, 2005. linked female protagonists born 800 years 31/12/07.) However, I don’t think this is the apart.’ (Publishers Weekly 23/1/06.) book for readers new to his work; rather try Recoil.- Bantam, 2006. his wonderful Western, All the pretty horses Crossfire.- Bantam, 2007. and its sequels in The border trilogy, but note McNab’s first book was Bravo Two Zero, MOYES, Jojo that the lack of quotation marks in his books about his experiences with the SAS in the Silver Bay.- Hodder, 2007. takes some getting used to. Gulf War. He was the British Army’s most A warm, entertaining novel set in a small highly-decorated serving soldier when he Australian coastal town with a close-knit McEWAN, Ian left. He then turned to fiction, writing a community and low-key tourist trade of number of best-selling military and espionage dolphin and whale watching. Their way of Atonement.- Cape, 2001. thrillers, beginning with Remote control life is threatened when a young, ambitious On Chesil Beach.- Cape, 2005. (1997) which introduced Nick Stone, an ex- property developer arrives from England McEwan’s latest, On Chesil Beach, is a short, SAS soldier working for British Intelligence. with plans for a huge resort development. elegant novel in which he traces the history After discovering the murdered bodies of a Moyes has created a rich cast of interesting of a doomed relationship. A young couple, fellow SAS soldier and his family, Stone goes characters and perfectly captured the both virgins, come to Chesil Beach on their on the run with the only survivor, the 7-year- different feelings and responses of people in honeymoon in 1962. Although they are in old daughter. He’s just not sure from whom a community under threat. Her story-telling love, their wedding night experiences colour or why. Here are the 7th, 8th and 9th titles appears effortless and, as always, the reader the rest of their married life. ‘Known for his in this compelling series of action-packed, comes away satisfied. dark portrayals of humankind, the acclaimed very readable thrillers. In Aggressor Stone British novelist takes on a sexually-frustrated ‘is catapulted into terrorism and intrigue, ORFORD, Margie marriage in his newest work.’ (Time 18/6/07.) from the villages of Azerbaijan to the city Like clockwork.- Oshun, 2006. It’s an accomplished work and a quick, easy lights of Istanbul, with the US secret services’. read. There is another novel, an earlier work, (Bookseller 12/08/2005.) Recoil is set mainly Blood rose.- Oshun, 2007. Atonement, which I also want to recommend in Africa, while Crossfire is set in Iraq where The first two books in a 7-book local crime here, especially to anyone unfamiliar with Stone is working as bodyguard to a TV crew. series featuring journalist and part-time police his writing. It’s a rich, powerful and deeply One of the reporters saves Nick’s life but profiler, Dr Clare Hart. The first book is set satisfying novel that I would urge you to read then disappears soon afterwards, presumed in Cape Town and the second in Walvis Bay. kidnapped. These have been well received and are to be published in many languages. An Afrikaans MATAR, Hisham In the country of men.- Penguin, 2006. A Libyan writer’s moving and compelling first novel. Set in 1970s Libya, a time of great political turmoil, the book focuses on one particular period: the summer holidays of 1979 when the narrator was nine years old. It is an impressive debut - a powerful yet readable novel and a convincing portrayal of this period in history as seen through the eyes of a child. (There is an autobiographical element to the book. Matar has not been back to Libya since 1979 and

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translation, Soos klokslag, should be in the series. Rankin’s compelling Rebus series, set in DI Vincent Ruiz, takes centre stage in Lost libraries soon. the seamier underside of Edinburgh, is surely (aka The drowning man). He is found, barely one of the best. The naming of the dead is alive, clinging to a buoy in the Thames and is PENNY, Louise set during the G8 summit in Gleneagles. Exit in a coma for a few days. When he recovers Still life.- Headline, 2005. music involves the investigation into the death he has lost his memory, but no one believes Dead cold.- Headline, 2006. of a dissident Russian poet - as engrossing him. Ruiz also features in The night ferry but The cruellest month.- Headline, 2007. as always but with a bittersweet quality to it in a more minor role. He is retired now and because Rebus retires at the end of it. I can’t it is Ali Barba, the young Sikh policewoman A delightful Canadian series of three novels believe that this is really the end of this long who used to work with him, who is the which need to be read in sequence. They series. central protagonist. She has recovered from are most enjoyable traditional-style detective her injuries (her back was broken in the first stories, all featuring the rather jaded but book) and is ready to resume official duties enormously appealing policeman, Armand ROBERTSON, James when she is contacted by a friend who thinks Gamache of the Surete du Quebec, and the The testament of Gideon Mack.- H. Hamilton, someone is trying to steal her unborn baby. small community of Three Pines. The first 2006. Ali’s investigation leads her into the dangerous book won many awards but I actually think ‘Robertson has not shied away from tackling world of sex trafficking and an international her writing has improved with each book. major theological and religious issues. It is baby-selling conspiracy. These are all sharply- They all have a distinctly Canadian flavour the life story of a minister in the Church of plotted, fast-paced thrillers which make for - the tensions between French and English, Scotland and his eventual fall from grace, and most enjoyable reading. I certainly hope this the harsh Canadian winter, and so on. The it contains an entirely convincing account of a isn’t the last we hear of Ali Barba or Ruiz. sophisticated Gamache is an endearing meeting with the devil. I really found this one character and Penny has painted a colourful of the most thought-provoking novels I have portrait of the village and its cast of quirky and read in a long time.’ (Bookseller 10/3/2006.) ROBSON, Justina often eccentric characters. These really are Keeping it real.- Gollancz, 2006. charming. ROBINSON, Kim Stanley Selling out.- Gollancz, 2007. Forty signs of rain.- HarperCollins, 2005. Books 1 and 2 in Quantum gravity, a post- POLLEN, Bella holocaust science fiction series with a strong Fifty degrees below.- HarperCollins, 2006. Hunting unicorns.- Macmillan, 2003. fantasy element. The setting is a world Sixty days and counting.- HarperCollins, 2007. Midnight cactus.- Macmillan, 2006. changed by the Quantum Bomb of 2015 that A near-future trilogy of eco-thrillers about destroyed the boundaries between dimensions Hunting unicorns is a quirky romantic comedy global warming and climate change. so that humans, elves, demons, and others live in which an American journalist is sent to alongside each other. After nearly dying from England to write a piece on the decline of the elf-inflicted injuries, Lila Black, a 21-year-old British aristocracy. An entertaining book which ROBINSON, Peter special agent, is built up into a kind of nuclear- was voted favourite summer read by viewers Piece of my heart.- Hodder, 2006. powered cyborg. When on bodyguard duty of the Richard & Judy TV show. Midnight Robinson’s series of rural police procedurals to an elf rock star, she gets cactus is a bit different - it’s an absorbing started about 12 years ago with Gallows trapped with him in an story set in the desert lands of Arizona close view, when the sophisticated, urbane, and elaborate game caused by to the Mexican border. Alice and her two thoroughly likeable Chief Inspector Alan Banks wild magic. Imaginative small children move there from London, to an moved from the CID in London to a post and colourful, this series abandoned mining town which her husband in the Yorkshire Dales. The books are well could be described as had bought with plans to turn it into a desert crafted, with complex characters, intriguing, a kind of cyberpunk resort. There they ‘must adjust not only to thought-provoking plots, questions of moral fantasy. Although there the deceptively dangerous desert climate but and philosophical ambiguity, and vividly-painted are some serious also to the cowboy culture and the border descriptions of the country setting. And of undertones about politics… Pollen tells a darker story here but course there’s always rock music - in this also deftly mixes in comical dialogue from new one even more than usual. There are  the Coleman kids, a beautifully-evoked desert two time-frames in the story: the setting, and an intriguing romance.’ (Booklist murder of a young woman at a 15/10/06.) rock festival in the 1980s, and the contemporary police investigation PYNCHON, Thomas into the murder of a music Against the day.- Cape, 2006. journalist. For those who have not yet met Alan Banks there’s a Something for the more serious and treat in store. determined reader is Pynchon’s latest - an historical novel written in densely-detailed prose beginning in 1893 with the adventures ROBOTHAM, Michael of a group of young balloonists and ending Suspect.- Time Warner, 2004. after the First World War. One reviewer Lost.- Time Warner, 2005. called it ‘brilliant if sometimes exasperating’. The night ferry.- Sphere, 2007 RANKIN, Ian Three linked crime novels The naming of the dead.- Orion, 2006. from an Australian ex-journalist, all set in Exit music.- Orion, 2007. London. The main protagonist in Suspect is If one is looking for gritty, urban police a clinical psychologist, Joseph O’Laughlin, who procedurals, there are some excellent British suspects a patient of murder and then himself becomes the prime suspect. A policeman,

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class conflict, racial prejudice and so on, it is TEMPLE, P eter substance too in its exploration of issues essentiall y an entertaining romp . With its witty The br ok en shor e.- Quercus, 2006. lik e prejudice, class and oppression. ‘Terrific dialogue, cast of w ell-dra wn characters, pop An ex-journalist (originall y from South Africa), first no v el... Tackling a major social issue, this culture ref erences, intrigue, and sexy, fast-paced, Temple is a m ulti-a ward-winning Australian thought-pro v oking no v el is recommended f or action-pack ed plot, Quantum Gr avity is great fun. author, best kno wn f or his Jack Irish thrillers. readers who enjo y intelligent, literate fantasy.’ His books ha v e onl y recentl y been pub lished (Libr ary Journal 15/9/06.) SHRIVER, Lionel f or a wider mark et - Br ok en shor e, a stand- We need to talk about Ke vin: a no v el.- alone crime thriller, was the first. A ‘tautl y- WHITLOW, Robert Serpent’s Tail, 2005. written tale of a homicide detectiv e returning Lif e support.- W Pub . Group , c2003. This po w erful and compelling exploration of to his home to wn to rehabilitate after a Lif e e v erlasting.- WestBo w, 2004. devastating case, b ut finding a local crime the parent-child relationship w on the Orange Jimmy.- WestBo w, 2005. rev ealing the to wn’s hidden past’, it reall y is Priz e f or Fiction in 2005. ‘In a series of brutall y- The Santee series is a popular choice f or those introspectiv e missiv es to her husband... Eva tries a w onderfull y-engrossing crime thriller with a strong Australian f eel to it. It has been wanting readab le legal thrillers with a strong to come to grips with the fact that their 17- Christian angle. y ear-old son, Kevin, has killed sev en students and enormousl y successful o v erseas, garnering tw o adults with his crossbo w... In crispl y-crafted heaps of praise and winning the Duncan sentences that cut to the bone of her f eelings La wrie Dagger f or Best Crime No v el of the WILLIAMS, Liz about motherhood, career, famil y, and what it Year. (Bookseller 7/4/06.) Darkland.- Tor, 2006. is about American culture that produces child Bloodmind.- Tor, 2007. killers, Shriv er y anks the reader back and f orth WAGNER, Jan Costin This is dark, gothic science fiction where betw een b lame and empath y, retrib ution and Ice moon.- Harvill, 2006. the story mo v es betw een w orlds and f orgiv eness.’ (Booklist 1/5/03.) A translation of this German writer’s first comm unities which are not onl y v ery diff erent no v el - a psychological crime thriller set in ph ysicall y b ut ha v e v ery diff erent systems of STACEY, L yndon Finland. CID detectiv e, Kimmo Joentaa, is organisation and go v ernment. Vali, an assassin, Mur der in mind.- Hutchinson, 2007. in v estigating a serial killer who apparentl y sits was betra y ed b y Frey, a man who was both This new no v el is another entertaining horse- b y the bedsides of his victims watching them her mentor and her lo v er. Her quest is to find racing thriller. When his friend and f ello w jock ey, die. Kimmo himself has been sitting watch at him to find out the reasons f or his betra y al. Jamie Mullen, is suspected of the m urder of the deathbed of his belo v ed y oung wif e. A There is quite an emphasis on politics and the attractiv e Sophie Bradf ord, Matt Shepherd haunting no v el b ut thoroughl y enjo y ab le - the society, gender issues and f eminism, ethics wants to find out the truth, so decides to do writing is compelling and the detectiv e, Kimmo , about the treatment of animals, and so on, some in v estigating of his o wn. For all those Dick a complex and attractiv e character. Wagner b ut, ev en though she raises all these questions Francis fans out there, I recommend Stacey’s is a great find. Recommended f or readers and issues, the story still mo v es at a rapid books. There are six so far - all exciting, v ery who ha v e enjo y ed the fiction of Scandina vian pace and is filled with action. These are readab le horsy thrillers that I think reall y fit the authors lik e Mank ell, Hoeg, Karin Fossum, gripping, in v entiv e no v els that sho wcase the bill f or those looking f or a Francis-style read. Kerstin Ekman, and Arnaldur. author’s considerab le w orld-b uilding skills. I Actuall y, I think they ha v e a bit more substance can recommend them, b ut they are not f or than some of the slighter Francis books and, of WALTERS, Minette the fainthearted - this is scary stuff (often nightmarishl y so), and violent. course, a more modern f eel. Ideal beach reads. De vil’s f eather.- Macmillan, 2005. Walters has a winner with this no v el in which WILLIAMS, Niall a sadistic serial killer is using the chaos and confusion of the w orld’s conflict z ones F our letters of lo v e.- Picador, 1997. to co v er his m urders. A w oman news A lo v el y, l yrical deb ut no v el about tw o Irish correspondent w orking in Sierra Leone families - a dream y, passionate story f or those and Iraq suspects a mercenary w orking readers who enjo y a touch of magic realism. f or a private security firm, b ut then is herself kidnapped and tortured. ZUSAK, Markus The book thief.- Doub leda y, 2007. WHITFIELD, Kit This sophisticated no v el set during the Second Bar eback.- Cape, 2006. World War had been pub lished in both adult The setting f or this hard-boiled and juv enile editions. It w on the 2007 Boek e fantasy thriller is a parallel w orld Priz e and has been recommended to me b y a where ‘99% of the population are colleague who lo v ed it. ‘Death itself narrates w erew olv es. The remaining 1% this deepl y aff ecting tale of y oung book lo v er are drafted into DORLA, the Liesl, her lo ving f oster parents, and the Jew Department f or the Ongoing hiding in their basement. They struggle, with Regulation of Lycanthropic Activity, their small, poor comm unity, to endure the a m uch-hated organisation with the difficult doub le-edged dangers of Nazi German y. job of k eeping the peace at full moon. Then Zusak’s poignant trib ute to w ords, survival, and one of DORLA agent Lola Galley’s friends their inevitab le entwinement is a tour de f orce is m urdered and she sets out to track do wn to be not just read b ut inhabited.’ (Horn Book the killer’. (Bookseller 5/5/06.) The film rights Guide 1/10/06.) to this engrossing no v el ha v e been sold. It has the pace, danger and excitement of the best action thrillers, b ut has some depth and 2 0 0 7

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