The Silent Invasion: Red Shadows

Many thanks go to NetGalley and to the publisher, papercutz.com, for granting me access to a free advance readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The first graphic novel I'm reviewing on my relaunched blog is The Silent Invasion: Red Shadow, which is set in America in the 1950's, during the cold war and is what I'd like to call Spy-Fi. It follows Matt Sinkage, a reporter who has some connection with a mysterious event that happened six months previously which he has no recollection of...only that it involves UFOs. Now he is monitored by the FBI and is under suspicion of being a communist agent or sympathiser...but is the truth so simple?

The simplistic nature of the drawings in this graphic novel bring the sinister side to this story to the fore. They are monochrome, 50's style images, similar to those you can see on the cover image. The story itself is a cross between The X-Files and The 39 Steps, but it flows quite well. However, one negative is that some of the characters look very similar so it is easy to get them confused and not realise at first which one is talking.

Overall, I liked it, but it wasn't a love. However, I would continue to read later volumes if they became available.

Star rating: 4/5

The Dead Ringer

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books), for granting me access to an advance readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

By now, my regular readers will know that I am an avid reader of golden age crime fiction (Agatha Christie, John Bude, G.K. Chesterton etc.) but I also like to dabble with modern crime books. M.C. Beaton is one writer I've read before, mostly her Hamish MacBeth series, but this is the first Agatha Raisin mysetery I've stuck my nose in.

I must admit, I was quite impressed by this one. It feels like a golden age murder mystery in the style, but clearly is set in the modern day (mentions of Brexit being one obvious clue!). I found it really easy to read with very few negatives. Perhaps the main character falling in love with every man she seems to meet got a bit...irritating at times, but it didn't distract too much from the importance of the plot, which twisted and turned like a slippery eel. I had some vague idea who the murderer was, but I was never totally sure until fairly late in this book.

Overall, I liked it and will possibly read more of these books at a later date. For now, though, I think I need a return to fantasy and science fiction for a change of scene!

Star rating: 4/5

This book will be published on October 2nd 2018

Jane Goodall

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

It is very rare for me to read a children's picture book, whether for review or just in my daily reading, but Jane Goodall, the subject of this new Little People, Big Dreams book, is someone I have admired for many years for her work with chimpanzees in Africa. As such, I decide to break my habit just this once...

I'm not an expert on picture books, but the images in this volume are beautiful. The text that appears is simple to understand and is true to Jane's story. The writer, Isobel Sanchez Vegara, has used easily understandable language which most children will understand, and the whole book should interest anyone with an interest in science and nature.

Star rating: 5/5

Richard Hull Crime Double

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for sending me advanced readers' copies of these two books in exchange for honest reviews.

So, here's the first double review of my new blog. This time it's two British Library crime classics from the golden age of detective fiction, and two very different books by the same author, Richard Hull.

The Murder Of My Aunt

The Murder Of My Aunt tells the story of young Edward Powell and his personal vendetta with his aunt, Mildred, who he lives with in the small fictional Welsh town Llwll. Ann Mildred seems to do is badger and bother poor young Edward, so much so that he eventually decides to try to kill herin a variety of different ways.

I loved this book! It has instantly become one of my favourite crime novels of the era (just ask my students!). In many regards, it feels like the kind of crime novel P.G. Wodehouse would have written. Edward is a typical Wooster-like character, and Mildred is very much like the aunts from the Jeeves and Wooster stories. All through the book I was egging on Edward as he struggled with his life with his aunt. But, just like any good crime novel, there is a twist in the tale...and what a twist this book has! I actually gasped out loud, I was that shocked!

But I don't want to spoil it for you...

Star rating: 5/5

This book is available now

Excellent Intentions

Henry Cargate, the new owner of Scotney End Hall, is dead, killed for seemingly altruistic motives. Four people are suspected of his murder, but in court, only one can sit in the dock. This book follows the court case against our mystery defendant, who is not revealed until near the end. Even then, will this person be found guilty or not guilty? 

The idea of having the plot of the novel follow the court case is clever, something I've not come across before, and having that tell the plot to the reader is a wonderfully inventive piece of work. However, I found large parts of this book to be less inspiring and it was very obvious to me who the accused was. I think I missed some of the evidence given as a result of this. However, this Excellent Intentions is a well written book and the victim very unlikeable from the descriptions given.

Not my favourite, but still an unusual read.

Star rating 3.5/5

This book will be available from October 2nd 2018

Just a final note to say that I liked Hull's writing and clever plot ideas so I hope to bring some more reviews of his work to you in the future!