The group as a whole enjoyed the book. It was easy to get into, well written and an interesting and different storyline although some found the middle section a little slow. Some of us disliked all the characters although the plot was interesting, but others had a liking for Lily. Some admitted to having had interesting conversations with total strangers on long haul flights (though none about murder!) and could quite see that someone in a drunken ramble might admit to wanting to kill his wife, without really believing that anything was going to be done about it. The storyline did degenerate though, as all the main characters turned out to be quite laid back about murder, indeed serial murder. Some did feel that there was a strong undercurrent of misogyny in the book. The female characters are either evil temptresses (Lily and Miranda), sluts (Polly) or doolally (Lily’s mum) whereas the men are decent people who are basically victims who can’t themselves. One very small point – we were intrigued that the Inspector’s cat was called Pyewacket, named after a witch’s familiar spirit and would have thought that would have fitted Lily better! On the whole it was an interesting page turner although the detrimental effect on the Inspector’s career was lamented as it was felt that he was basically a good guy! Perhaps it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if one of the many murderers had gone against the tide and not carried out the deed? Altogether a very enjoyable, easy read and we gave it an overall mark of 7/10

Our group agreed that this book was easy to read, although not very memorable. The characters were quite complex but not likeable. There were many things unexplained. The ghosts were not at all frightening and were written in a very ‘matter of fact way.’
The book was not plot driven but relied on the characters, which were well described. There were light-hearted parts to the book.
During the book Trenton changed and matured, Mina changed a little, but the other characters stayed very much the same.
The ‘plot’ was unpredictable, with time going back and forward quite easily. The author tried to make the house a character in the story, but did not really pull this off.
All the characters, including the ghosts were looking for closure of some type and the ending (i.e. the fire) was predictable.
Trenton knew about the ghosts from quite early on in the book this could be because he was going through puberty, or possible because he was slightly brain damaged as a result of the accident he had earlier in his life. This would have made him receptive of the supernatural.
We understand that the author had previously written for teenagers and this came through in this book. If we could ask the author a question, we would like to know if this book was based on her own experience in any way.
A likeable, easy to read book, our group gave it an average mark of slightly above 6.

A benefactor with seemingly psychic empathy starts sending Anna Browne, a conscientious and introverted receptionist, luxurious gifts. Predictably, receiving anonymous parcels has mixed blessings and despite initially feeling good about being in the limelight, there are skeletons that Anna would rather leave in the closet.

Early on, and still with about 350 pages to go, some of our reading group had guessed the identity of the mystery philanthropist. We discussed the height of the reception desks in London tower blocks and whether the staff behind them were really visible enough that you could spot a new brooch at twenty paces. Anna’s friendly colleagues seem uncharacteristically enthralled by and attracted to each new addition to her appearance. It was disappointing at the end when the mystery gift giver is revealed but there is no explanation as to why she chose the gifts that so resonated with aspects of Anna’s past life – we felt that perhaps Anna read some special meaning into what were in fact very random presents


This was an easy-to-read, unmemorable adult fairy story. A good holiday read perhaps but on the whole not for our group

Average score 4/10

Most of our book club members finished and enjoyed this book and we felt it was well written. The plot was strong and we were impressed with the personalities of the main characters. The book was easy to read from the start and was quite a page turner. Although it was not a quick read, we mostly felt that we needed to see what had happened.
No one liked Dana as a person, either before or after her experience. Her rudeness and disability was discussed and we did know of instances where some of this had happened.
There was one comment that the book was predictable and that Tim Carver was the obvious culprit. Others did not spot him as a suspect until later on, although there were questions about why he left West Point, and he was rather a ‘golden boy’
Mum was a believable character, who calmed down as the book continued. She was understandably over- protective of her daughter.
Roger again was not a likeable character and most of us felt that he may have been the father of Casey’s baby and her murderer.
John and his alcoholic father were red herrings, although John had a bad time as a child and he did not trust anyone. I think we all realised that the body in the barrel was John’s mum rather than Casey.
We felt on the whole that the ending was realistic and liked the fact that the author resisted any temptation to tie up all loose ends Out of 10 we scored the book 7.5

Most of our group finished this book and found it a quick enjoyable read. A well written ‘who-dun-it’
We were engaged immediately with the story, but felt it went downhill a little in the middle, mainly because of the amazing recuperative abilities of Jodie {the main character}. This made it a little cartoonish – as in Tom and Jerry. Her physical abilities after her hospital stay were rather unbelievable. Jodie was a powerful woman, perhaps too powerful to get our sympathies and none of us felt an empathy with her. We felt that we would like to have had more information on the controlling behaviour included in the book and felt that many things were glossed over with none of the characters really being “fleshed out” sufficiently. Perhaps Ms McCarthy was trying to include too many strands into the book. The ending was a surprise to most although many had already guessed that the daughter was still alive.
Whilst verging on the fantastic in some places the general consensus was that it was a well written, easy to read, page turner and we did enjoy the book. We gave it a mark of 7 out of 10.

Blue Light Yokohama by Nicholas Obregon

The main comment about this book was the difficulty with the Japanese names. It was felt that a list of characters and possibly a map of the area would have been a welcome addition .
We did learn quite a lot about the Japanese way of life, particularly the pecking order in the police service but were surprised that the seemingly ultra-respectful language and behaviour masked an underlying cynicism and misogynism.
Most of us found the detective’s childhood interesting, but the fact that we did not link the child to the adult until it was clearly spelled out was confusing. The time frame went back and forth without warning and it was disjointed and made for difficult reading at times.
Most of our group were engaged immediately but less so as the book continued. Some found that the book lacked substance and therefore interest but others though that the plot was interesting for the most part.
The main character was complicated and quite difficult to understand and we felt that there were deliberate and unnecessary complications included in the story with characters and storylines that went nowhere.
The main theme, the cult of the black sun, was again confusing but the plot twists were unexpected and interesting for most.
We found the novel was atmospheric and we learned a little about life in Japan.
Our score out of ten was 6 out of 10

Those of our group who started the book, read on to the end. They found the plot weak and forgettable. It took a while to get into the book and was disappointing even when it got going.
We felt that April seemed to be an unlikely goddess and that Noah must have been in his own little world and rather drippy not to have noticed what she was like.
The characters did not change during the book. We felt that we would have liked to know more of the murder of April’s stepfather and also we thought that Ella could have been developed more than she was, as she was the real victim in the story. Will was the baddy from the start, so no surprises there.
It was felt that the storyline went to and from the past rather too often, and with no warning.
We were puzzled by the relevance of the title, but thought it was possibly something to do with the letter from April at the end of the book.
We felt that the book was disappointing and would not recommend it to others, although we understand from one of our number that the author’s first book is better.
Out of ten, we scored this book as a 6

We had a mixture of opinions on this book. Many enjoyed it very much, as they liked hearing about the politics of the newsroom whereas others found that less interesting
The in fighting in the newsroom made some of the characters look perfect, but underneath they were interesting but flawed. We felt that the murder was just a hook for the story of the newsroom politics, although some of us felt that we would have liked to hear more about it.
We found the start of the book rather confusing, but that was probably because we were thinking too much about the missing person.
Although the main characters did not change we began to see them develop and realise their true colours towards the end of the book
The title was interesting but the relevance of it was not clear to everyone although some found it clever and the cover was eye catching but perhaps not as relevant to the story.
We liked the ending and for some of us it was a pleasant change to avoid the usual predictable sentimentality .
We found the book well written and fairly interesting, particularly the introduction of "dark money" and some of us would have liked to heard more of the story of Evelyn Carney.
Out of 10, we scored this book 6

This book was well received by the majority of our readers. They felt the writing conveyed the bleakness and atmosphere of the area, Dungeness, very well and it was easy to read. The story of the investigation of a murder by a community policeman, William South, in conjunction with Cupidi a police woman new to the area was interesting and well written. South’s relationship with Cupidi’s daughter as they shared his passion for birdwatching was particularly well drawn. The murder investigation uncovered links to the murder of South’s father in Northern Ireland during the troubles. However we were unsure how Cupidi was led to connect the two murders and to determine how South was involved.
The overall feeling was that the first two thirds of the book were interesting and believable but that the final third felt rushed with too many bodies and conclusions reached with what appeared to be no real evidence. Having said that most said they would like to read more by this author and would recommend the book to others. We gave it an overall score of 6.5 out of 10.

This was a mildly disturbing and rather creepy book which, however, was very easy to read. Most of our members finished and enjoyed the book but did not like the characters. Those who did not enjoy the book very much did finish reading it because they had to know what happened in the end.
All of the characters had their secrets and the book kept us guessing as to what they really were which certainly kept everyone’s interest. The plot, although quite slow, was engaging, concentrating on how the characters reacted to events.
The flat was interesting, but we felt would be difficult to live in. We could not imagine getting rid of everything that makes us an individual. Emma did cheat, because she was at heart untidy, but she would accept any rules to live in a nice flat, in a good area, in the middle of London.
In answer to the question ‘what would you ask the author’ we wanted to know what sort of house he lived in, is it minimalist and modern as in the book, or cluttered and cosy, or somewhere in between. Also we wondered if there is going to be a sequel with the new girl.
Altogether we felt the book was well written, engaging and interesting and all of us wanted to know how it ended. Although we were mostly in agreement there was still plenty to discuss about the characters and the events.
Out of ten we scored this book 6.5

This book divided our book club; some really liked it and others not so much.
Those who enjoyed it found it an easy read, very interesting enjoying both the stories. They enjoyed the different time lines and found both love story lines equally interesting.
Those who didn't found the writing style poor and both the story lines depending on too many unlikely scenarios and coincidences to be believable.
Most of the group finished the story as they wanted to find out what happened but unfortunately mostwere disappointed with what they considered an unbelievable ending. Both groups however would have liked to have more information about deserters.

The average score was 6 out of 10.
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Most of our number finished the book and the vast majority thought it well written although the contents divided us with some thinking it was very good and others not enjoying it at all. Some felt that it took some getting into and that once in it was worthwhile whereas others found it an unrewarding slog. A few of us really enjoyed it from start to finish finding the subject matter interesting particularly the background of the astronaut and the nutella eating spider was enjoyed by all.
We found the contents amusing, if not laughing out loud funny. and the ending fitting . On the whole we are looking forward to further work from this author.
We gave it an average score of 7 out of 10.

Everyone in our club read, finished and enjoyed this book which is a recommendation and a rarity! It was well written, easy to read, funny and sad in equal parts and with an interesting story running through it. We thought the rules were those which most people automatically know and try to adhere to but even “normal/typicals” struggle with the one that says you have to adapt them to suit the situation. Not being familiar with this type of situation we were unsure whether the way the story developed was entirely realistic but it was very enjoyable. The parenting of both mother and father left a lot to be desired and Elvira managed to grow up and eventually function at a reasonable level in general society in spite of their efforts rather than because of them. In the case of teaching her the nuances of male/female relationships her upbringing left a lot to be desired and caused Elvira considerable difficulty.

The characters were well drawn and developed and the story drew us in making us want to know what happened next. Altogether a very enjoyable read and we scored it a very healthy 7.5 out of 10.

This book divided our group with some really enjoying it and others not so much! However all were agreed that it makes a good “summer read” and should be enjoyed as that. Those who disliked it found the characters and plot thin and the storyline was unbelievable, particularly the ending. Those who liked it enjoyed the glamour, setting and romance of the book although again most thought the ending a little rushed and contrived. No-one thought it really memorable. A good summer read but nothing more. The average score was 7 out of 10

After some trepidation because of the very strong language and tricky subject matter this book was chosen for our book club to review and it proved to be an extremely good choice – although it divided opinion it also provided an enormous amount for discussion. One thing we were all agreed on was the strength of the writing both in style and substance.
Most of us found the different characters hard to identify at first and perhaps a family tree at the front of the book may have been helpful here. However, those who prefer character driven books found it extremely interesting whereas those preferring plot driven were left wanting. We all agreed that the characters were extremely well drawn (all with their own peculiarities and idiosyncracies) and also that we have our own strangeness – some more than others!
This was a marmite book but well worth trying and certainly well worth reading as a book club pick. We gave it a 6 out of 10.

We all agreed that this was an easy read and most of us were interested and wanted to know how the story developed. Although none of the characters were considered likeable, it was intriguing to see their fairy tale lives unravel to show the darkness underneath for all of them. The ending was a surprise for most of us and we found the very last paragraph creepy and a little distasteful. Some of us loved the whole story but others not so much so overall we gave it 6 out of 10

There was a big drawback to the enjoyment of this book for many of our members which was that the type used was just far too small. Quite a few who started reading the book and who would have liked to continue just had to give up because they could not deal with the small text – what a shame.
There was one other factor which some of us found difficult was the number of characters and all their back stories which could make the beginning feel disjointed and confusing. However, those of us who did struggle on were in the main rewarded with an enjoyable story with enough in it to make it well worth while. We felt it was very well written invoking the feel of the south and the horrors of the ongoing battle with the north. Despite being written by a man we felt that he captured very well what it was to be a teenage girl in those times, isolated from the mainstream and with no men around. Johnny was believable as the dashing young soldier, wounded and in need of loving care and attention, and his effect on this feminine household was well depicted and believable. He found each one’s weakness and exploited it to the full whilst maintaining that they were the only one he really loved. The amputation scene, we felt, reflected the times they lived in and how they just had to deal with whatever life threw at them.
The story unfolded well and the eventual inevitable ending felt right and just given all that had happened and might still happen. The final part threw a different light on things and they may have acted differently had they known before but hindsight is such a wonderful thing!
We gave it an average mark of 6 out of 10 from those who were able to read at least the majority of it.

When this book was first given out as the book for review this month one or two were very doubtful if they would enjoy or even be able to read it based on the cover “blurb” and that it did not appear to be the sort of book they normally enjoyed. However, much to some readers’ surprise, this really turned out to be a page turner for most of the group – great build up of tension and well disguised protagonist and plot so very much enjoyed by most of us. One or two guessed the “baddie” but not the reason for their actions and all thought it well written with interesting, if not particularly likeable, characters. One of the group had already starting reading another book by this author and most of us would recommend it to others. Good choice for a book club and we gave it an average score of 7 out of 10.

Our book club thought this was a well written, interesting and enjoyable book. Although none of the characters were particularly likeable their stories were engrossing. The realities of the class system in America at that point in time – late 19th early 20th centuries – was a surprise to us as we had not expected that it was as important as it appears to have been. We were also surprised at how the women seemed to run the society with men appearing to just provide the money. Some of Alva’s actions in relation to her daughter seemed at odds with her later disregard for societal norms and her fervent belief and activism in the women’s suffrage movement but these sorts of contradictions in terms of what women are expected to do and what they really want to do still exist of course. Altogether an interesting and enjoyable read and we gave it a mark of 7 out of 10.

This book was loved by our book group. They found the writing easy and the story and characters interesting and enjoyable. Although the story constantly shifts back and forth in time they did not find this a problem as it sometimes can be . The different periods of history and the characters from them were well written and the consensus was that it was a fun, light hearted and entertaining novel.
Altogether one of our favourite group reads and it scored an average of 8 out of 10.

This Little Dark Place by A.S. Hatch
Steph
I quite enjoyed this book, and it’s the first book that I’ve finished in a long time. I liked the fact that it was quite a direct book and straight to the point. I don’t like the excessive use of flowery language and descriptions. I liked the description of the cabin and I could almost see it.  I’d even give this book an 8 I liked it that much

Gill
I enjoyed reading this little dark space as it was such a page turner
All characters I could relate to
My emotions keep switching from one character to another
I originally thought Lucy was going to end up being Dans inmate pen pal
Good ending in a way as it was quite dark but left you with hope for all their futures except of course poor Ruby
I’d give it 8

Chris
Quite enjoyed this book. The story line kept me interested and I liked the way the story was told through the letter although I did sometimes get a little confused about the time line. I did keep wondering where he was writing the letter from until nearly the end!
I didn't particularly like any of the characters but thought they were well described.
I felt that the Halloween preparation was a little over the top, I'm sure that he would have been found guilty with less evidence.
A good book that helped pass the time.
I  would give it  6.5

Mabe
I was drawn in from the word go.

It had so many twists and turns and the characters were well described and it was a big surprise to me that Lucy was in fact his daughter.

I felt sorry for Daniel life wasn’t brilliant for him his stepfather is a monster his wife walks out on him and then....  Ruby lands in his life, I had Ruby down as the baddie right up until she ended up in the trunk.

Very well written and I think it would make a good film.

7 out of 10

Carolyn
I thought this book was ok for a quick read but it wasn't very thrilling. There were a lot of red herrings like the bikers and Dan's first wife who was quite obsessive and I thought she had killed Oscar the parrot for a while.Then when Ruby came out of prison Dan was very suspicious of her. He seemed a very odd character as did most of the others.
I quite liked how the story was told by Dan writing to his daughter but it didn't come together very well.

I give it 4




Helen
I would give the book 5/10. I was interested enough to finish but didn’t like any of the characters at all, and found the bit where Ruby tracked him down and then when he locked her  in a box totally unbelievable.  Although the author tried to create a twist with Ruby it wasn’t very good! Can’t believe the parrot had to be a victim either - too predictable!! 
So not great really!

Eve
This was a dark psychological thriller, but became rather muddled at times.  This could be because I read it on a Kindle edition and was unable to turn back and forward as I would have liked.  The story was predictable and it did not take much to guess at the ending.  I quite liked the way it was written in the form of letter to and from a prison. I found the book easy to read, but perhaps it glossed over some areas.  I would mark it as a 7.

Michelle
I’ve just finished the book- read in 48 hours. It was a rocky start. I was getting confused by the women’s names and didn’t like the uncertainty of where Daniel was- in jail, in a mental institution, in a care home? Once I got past that and in to the build up of the characters though, it started to flow. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters and didn’t feel any sympathy for them. I found the fact that Ruby slipped in to the trunk to be unbelievable.  But how believable is Daniel as a narrator? Was his description of that part true? The curse of reading so many books is that there is rarely a “twist”. I had guessed that Lucy was Daniel’s daughter very early on, so Victoria’s bump at the court house was unsurprising. The biggest twist for me, I suppose, is that it wasn’t as crazy and frantic an ending as I expected. I expected a manic, knife wielding Ruby attacking a defenceless Daniel or Victoria. No such drama.

7 out of 10 from me. Considered 6, but I did read it quickly and I was kept engrossed and entertained, which has to be worth an extra point.

Margaret M
I enjoyed this book and found it surprisingly easy to deal with the different times 
It was good at holding my attention and I thought the unveiling of the motives and character of the main protagonists was well done
8/10

Arleen
Can't remember anything about it but I know I really enjoyed it and would give it an 8.

Sonia
I enjoyed this book - well written, good plot and surprising twists along the way. Really thought that Lucy was a prison pen pal as he, Daniel, had been earlier in the story. Although the baddie could only really have been one of two characters it was still interesting enough to keep my attention.  I thought all the characters were a bit flaky - particularly Daniel with his chopping and changing of who he considered to be his "true love" (which was a part of the book I found a little unlikely) it was all in all quite an interesting read, well written and went at a pace that was reasonable.  Interesting that his day job in politics played no part in his writing.  

I would give it - if I'm feeling generous - a 7 out of 10.

Only 3 of us managed to finish this book which tells you that it was not for most of us. Those that did appreciated the research that went into it and were interested in the period but that did not make up for the disjointed story lines. Would make a better TV or film drama than a book. Average score 4.5 out of 10

On the face of it a story about bringing electricity to a rural part of West Ireland would not sound very appealing but in fact this book was so well written, the characters and environment so well portrayed that it was a real pleasure to read for some in our group although about half of us felt the opposite and didn't engage with or finish reading it. Of those who did read it the average score was 8 out of 10.

For the great majority of our reading group this was a much enjoyed book. It was beautifully written and the description of the locale brought it vividly to life. We could feel the draining heat and the dust whilst sitting in our chairs! Interesting and engaging plot and characters well drawn. We really wanted to know how it all turned out and was not disappointed. Very good. 8 out of 10.

sbilsby

Three things happen in Chandra's life at the beginning of the book. He falls off his bike,
has a heart attack and has missed the coveted Nobel prize yet again. Not a lot else could go wrong one would think. He has spent so much time working hard, his wife left him and not all of his three grown up children are speaking to him. He revaluates his life and wonders if he could take a break away from students and his now lonely life. He was advised to take a break and to find his Bliss.
He eventually finds happiness and peace but he has a long road ahead of him before he attains it. He attends a retreat and meditates to find himself. His children realise how hard he is trying to be an understanding father, and eventually it pays off and the children start to come around to look on him with more understanding.
The book was interesting and I enjoyed reading it. I was a little disappointed as I thought it was going to have more humour. Several of the short review's said it was hilarious and very funny. I didn't laugh once.
I give this book 7/10

The blurb of this book told us that it was ‘searingly funny’ , witty, hilarious etc. I found it none of these things. In fact not comic in any way, as far as I was concerned. However, I did enjoy the book.
I found it easy to read with a gentle story. In my opinion it was not funny but rather sad in places, as Chandra tried to change his life, and his family, who did not want to be changed.
The characters and family members were not particularly likeable, which seems to be the trend in books lately, however there was always the hope that they might conform to the life Chandra wanted to live. The book was slow to read in places, possibly because I did not find it humorous at all. I have read a few reviews and I think it was just me that found no humour. I would give it a score of 7

I found this book so easy to read that I finished it quite a long time ago
I enjoyed it and found the characters believable
The contrast between the logical professor and the world of feelings he was forced into was well written and the inter- generational differences rang true A pretty good book but not very memorable
That may be my declining faculties! 7/10

I tried. Really, I did. I just found the book so bland. Actually, I found the professor so bland. I didn’t like the characters- his daughter, his ex wife and her husband, the other students. I gave up, unfortunately. So, I best not give it a score as I didn’t read it all.

I found this easy to read and quite enjoyed it. It was funny but had a serious side to it as well. I liked Chandra and felt for him with his relationships with his children. I give it 6

Professor Chandra's Dr tells him that the stressful life he is leading is slowly killing him, he advises him to stop working and go and find his bliss. This takes us on his very bumpy journey to achieve it.
His reflections on his life and his attempts to regain his families love and favour are uplifting and often funny.He does get there in the end having learnt that a life loving and nurturing his family would have been so much more fulfilling than his work and his many fruitless attempts to win the elusive Nobel Prize. I did liked the book and give it a 7.

From the blurb, I thought this would be a light, easy read. However, I found that the text covered some profound aspects of disappointment and disillusion e.g. disappointment in his career, disappointment at the breakdown of his marriage and disappointment as to the relationship with his children. This was not a light- hearted read. Nevertheless the Professor's droll and dry wit made me laugh at times. All in all I enjoyed the Professor's journey of self discovery.I give it a 6.

I'm going to be honest I decided I didn't like the book based on the title and the write up of it so I didn't bother downloading it. So I'm giving this book a miss.

Sorry but I haven't read enough of the book to give a review. Started to read it and got into it quite easily and found bits quite funny and thought I would enjoy it but soon got bored with it. The characters were quite complex and I found that I couldn't relate to them

I really enjoyed this book. Although the plot was a simple one about a small family, the writing was really good, with plenty of clever observations. It allowed you to like, dislike and empathise with all of the characters as they dealt with the ups and downs of their family life. I think that the Professor and his family all evolved over the course of the book to become better, happier versions of themselves, and I was keen to find out what happened to them all. 8/10

I could not get engaged with this book at all and found myself skim reading a lot of it. Very bland just not my kind of book and certainly did not live up to the hype on the cover. Just a 3 out of 10 from me.

Average score approximately 6.5 out of 10

Helen
I really enjoyed this book. I found the characters engaging and the writing evoked the setting very clearly - I could picture the village and the French culture. I enjoyed the storyline, and thought that the ending was appropriate. I’d like to know more about the history underpinning this story as I was unaware of this and would also read more in this series. 9/10

Sonia
I found this book very bland and it was difficult to get really engaged with either the characters or the storyline. As I have zero interest in food and alcohol I found the emphasis on that throughout, and the concentration on women's appearance and attractiveness, quite tedious and the progress of the investigation too slow. Sadly not one for me although I know I am not in the majority here! I would give it a 4 out of 10 as it was a relatively easy read.

Chris
Really enjoyed this book. It was well written and an easy read and you couldn't help but like Bruno. The WW2 history was interesting and the descriptions of the area and the food and wine gave an insight into life into rural France albeit probably a little romanticised.
I found the twist in the plot at the end about who had committed the murder well thought out and unexpected.
I will give it 8

Mabe
This book gave me great pleasure to read. I loved the portrayal of the peaceful French hamlet which was majorly changed when a grisly murder takes place . The main character Bruno the policeman was a joy, as was reading the book it was a complete escape from our Covid world.

I will be reading more books from this series I wish they would make it into a tv series where we could escape into the beautiful French countryside and it's way of life and enjoy a good detective story as well.

I give it 8.

Carolyn
I found Death in the Dordogne easy to read. I liked Bruno. He was organised and efficient and seemed to have a good work-life balance unlike a lot of fictional detectives who drink a lot and are miserable.The violent murder was a bit surprising, possible because of the quiet rural setting where the people seemed friendly and accepting of each other.
The WW2 connection was interesting and the plot quite well thought out. I liked it and give it 6.

Becky
I’ve only managed to get up to chapter 8 as I started reading it late in the month having just joined. At the moment I’m struggling to get into the book - although I do feel the story is now starting to pick up. I think part of this is being thrown so many characters in the first few chapters… the writer has introduced many village members and at chapter 8 I’m not sure how relevant this is but it’s made it a bit hard for me to follow. Feel it’s a bit unfair for me to give a rating at the moment so early on - however, I will keep reading

Arleen
This story was taken in a little town in France where everybody knows all about their neighbours and nothing happens that can remain a secret. That is, until a dreadful murder has been committed. The murder was horrific as the elderly man had had his stomach cut open and on his chest the murderer had cut into it the sign of the hated swastica. For a town where everyone knows everyone else, this man was not known. Only going to his family for his meals, being driven between both homes. Bruno, the towns policeman didn't know where to start looking.

The old man came out into the town to watch a procession and was recognised by the murders as the man who, during the second world war sent thousands of Jews to their deaths. They decided to take matters into their own hands to avenge the thousands of Jews he had killed.

As the murderers were old men, it was decided between the Mayer and the policeman not to arrest them as they didn't have many years left and they would be judged by a higher authority when they died.

This was a really good read and I enjoyed it. 8/10

Eve
I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read. I thought the plot was clever, interweaving it with the problem the village was having with the EU regulations. The story about the resistance fighters, still being against one another after the war was very unusual. I understand that this is the first in a line of detective books by Mr Martin and I would be pleased to read more. It looks like Bruno is sure to have more romances and we are sure to learn more about him.
I would give this book the score of 8

Margaret
I loved it
The descriptions of life in la France Profonde were so beautiful and the way the people got round the rules they regarded as petty and bureaucratic was a delight
It also cast a light on the long shadow of conflict and division within the community
I shall seek out more in the series to remind me of why I like France
9/10

Gill
I loved reading this book The intrigue of French rural politics was wonderful
Having had two holidays in the Dordongne I can picture the settings
Indeed there were lots of little ceremonies going on whilst I was there
He writes with humour and I can’t wait to read his next book
Loved it
9 out of ten for me

This book was not to everyone's taste it has to be said although all agreed that it was well written. The lack of speech marks was difficult for some to follow and not too many found the will to read to the end. One thing that was unclear was where the Kibsu originated and whether the Trackers were from the same lineage. The mixture of fact and fiction was appreciated and the time shifts helped to explain the main purpose of Mia and Sarah and to outline just how long they had been working towards their goal. The references to climate change were pertinent and enlightening again to show how long the problem has been recognised and necessary actions considered. We felt the story ended too abruptly but then realised that it was intended to be the first of a trilogy. Very few felt they would read the next books. We gave it a score of 6 out of 10 which reflected some who scored it very highly and those who did the opposite. A marmite book.

This book only enjoyed by a very small minority of our book club. Most could not get very far into the book before giving up completely; two read it all the way through and really enjoyed it but it was very much a marmite book so not one for our book club sadly.

Most of our members thought this to be a beautifully written, sensitive portrayal of mental ill health and the aftermath of a suicide. The storyline was interesting and all the characters were well portrayed and developed. The difference between the treatment of depression then and now was noted. The one quibble most had was that the ending seemed a little too neat but apart from that the book was thoroughly enjoyed by most. Our average mark was 6 out of 10

Ffion
Definitely a slow burner. It took a good 100 pages until I became invested in the story and the characters. While the authors style was not particularly to my taste, the theme of love and loss was definitely something I could relate to. Upon reading the the last couple of chapters I was left with a heaviness in my chest and an overwhelming feeling of sadness. If I were to mark it out of 10, I would give it 5 and half.

Mabe
This book was an enjoyable read for me as I love any book that has historical interest and being set in 16th century Venice was most enjoyable it was easy to imagine it all happening there.
I liked the two love stories connect through history brought together by the manuscript . A good page Turner.
I give it a 7.

Eve
Here we go with a Short review done on my phone.
This book said in the blurb that it is a page Turner. I fear I do not agree. I found it tedious and I had to force myself into reading it. I have a few chapters left to read and cannot face reading more. The characters did not change through the book. In fact they were all rather 'beige. It was a good idea as a story line, but it did not seem to be going anywhere. I may have missed something as the reviews were good. However for myself I can only give it a 3.

Carolyn
I found this book really slow to get into. It didn't get going until fairly near the end. I had to keep reading parts again because my mind had wandered. Might have just been me. Having said that, I did find some bits interesting, the war against the Ottoman empire and the Venetian galleasses. Also the restoration of the diary. The romantic stories didn't do it for me.
I give it 5.

Cat
I enjoyed this book. I liked the concept of the historical story combined with the present day. The historical narrative was far better in my opinion, with a strong female lead character and interesting sub characters, and the social context well described. The modern-day narrative was a bit insipid in comparison. Whilst Chiara followed her dreams and pursued a career against all odds, the modern-day Rose's story was an obvious 'woman needs man' romance, despite her talents in her own career. The brutal violence described in horrifying detail during the historical battle was unexpected! I'm not sure it belonged in this book. Overall though, very readable 7/10

Chris
I quite enjoyed this book, I found the different time lines worked well, although the present day was a bit too much of a romance for me. The historical storyline took a while to get into as I found the names confusing but it became more interesting as the story developed. A well researched book and well written. I will give it a 7

Michelle
I tried… But I made the mistake of picking up the audio book (because I had a busy driving week) and the narrator’s voice was awful! Totally put me off.

Glenda
I didn't or couldn't get into it..
I found it a variation on a theme.
I have read many books in a similar story line 4/10

Arleen
I love Historical novels and this book ticks all the boxes. I have been to Venice and I could picture the sights and sounds. I couldn't get to grips with the book to start with. All the foreign names etc, but that was because I couldn't concentrate fully. I soon got into the story and I couldn't put the book down. I liked the idea of the two eras and moving from one time to the other. I liked the characters and felt so sorry that Giovanni was going blind. I learned so much from this book, about the war and the people. It just transported me into another world. I am happy to give it 9/10

Steph
I’m half way through, I should finish it as I’m off this week. Its probably not the best book I’ve read, but the fact that I want to finish it says something as I haven’t managed to finish a book this ear yet.
All I can say is that it’s a nice easy read and not overly complicated, just what I need at the moment.

Kirsty
I will start by saying this isn't the normal type of genre that I would chose to read. However, it was chosen for a book club I have started and being an eclectic reader I thought I would give it a go. I must admit it took me a while to get into as I was very confused about what was happening where until I realised each chapter alternated between present day and the 1570's. Once I had worked this out it became more enjoyable. I enjoyed reading the present day storyline more than the 1570's but I did also enjoy the historical aspect and the authors notes at the end were also quite intriguing. The book was well written and focuses on 2 forbidden romances, one in present day between a married artist William and a single book shop owner Rose and the other between Giovanna an artist and Chiara a courtesan. Giovanna's forbidden love becomes mirrored by Rose's and the storylines intertwine perfectly. The characters were well defined and realistic. I was invested in Rose, Giovanna and Chiara but thoroughly disliked William after he treated Rose. There was also a bombshell dropped in which was surprising and unexpected. Overall an intriguing historical romance that I would give a rating of 8/10

Rachel
I really liked the premise of this story and I thought the prose was pretty and descriptive, although strayed into cheesiness at times. I'm not a fan of 'instant love' as a trope, so William and Rose's intense, immediate connection felt a little silly, and never even went anywhere anyway. It was interesting that Rose ended up with Lucas instead, but the author didn't flesh out his character enough for me to really care about him. Everything just felt very low stakes as nothing really happened.
The plotline set in Venice was interesting, and I liked how real life issues were woven into the story, but I found Chiara as a character to be a bit too perfect. I didn't like that Gio essentially decided not to be with Chiara because he was going blind - quite an ableist message! 5 out of 10

Sonia
This book was not for me sadly despite my initial feeling that it would be - history, mystery and set in Italy what's not to like? Unfortunately there was something about the writing style - and I can't identify what - that left me cold and I found it very difficult to engage with the characters or the story. Putting in two love stories did not help me either as that is not my favourite genre. I struggled on against my better judgement but it did not improve and I was glad when I was finished! What a missed opportunity for this writer - all the ingredients were there for a really good story but it just did not deliver at all and was a chore rather than a pleasure. I can only give it a 3 out of 10 and that is being generous.

Ffion
I couldn’t put the book down, and I’m not too sure why. Yes I liked the story and even grew to like the characters. At times the author jumped so much I had to put aside all my questions and roll with it, the ending was the same, I went scroll to the next page but there wasn’t another page. The story felt incomplete but kept me captivated. I would give it a 7/10.

Carolyn
I wasn't drawn into this book straightaway. It's not one I would normally pick. I wasn't keen on having the two strands, they seemed to interrupt each other to start with. It was better as it went on.
I liked the idea that the pandemic was caused by global warming and the ending was clever. Harry seemed a bit of an idiot and I'm not sure he could have buried the cow in that way. I liked the robot. He told it like it is, humans never do the best for the planet, just the best for themselves. Mainly I enjoyed it and give it 7.

Rachel
This was a very interesting read! I started this book without any idea of the genre, and during the first chapter I thought that this was going to be a very different sort of book. The end of the first chapter felt like a nice twist. I really liked the dual perspective of Harry and the scientists. although the interaction with the computer dragged sometimes, and I found myself skimming those bits. I enjoyed the pace of the book overall, and I was always genuinely curious as to what the ending would be. The characters were interesting and likable. The only downside for me was the fact that some questions were raised and not answered, such as Harry remarking that the relationship between the two sisters seemed odd. I expected an explanation for that. It was a bleak ending, but I would be interested in reading a sequel! 8/10

Cat
I enjoyed Under the Blue. I found the main character's (Harry's) personality really original and interesting, as was his uncomfortable relationship to the two girls. It was funny that he didn't notice the pandemic starting... working from home I can empathize with that possibility.
The development of the AI was suitably unnerving.
I think it could have been made clearer what was happening at times (in particular with the people working with the AI and the ending) but overall I found this to be a good page turner. 7/10.

Michelle
A very brief “6” from me. Wasn’t the most exciting read but I read it and was interested throughout. I do have a penchant for a post apocalyptic novel, so this was a good choice.

Arleen
I did enjoy this book and found it hard to put down. I found the first part with the robot a bit boring but the rest of the book was very interesting. It made you think just how we are ruining this beautiful world we live in. It was strange how the book was written before Coronavirus hit us.

I found the main characters very interesting and could identify with them. It shows how Coronavirus/or other, without any medical help could just about wipe out humanity. A very scary thought.

Although I found the robot went over the same ground over again and again (and I did read it all) I still enjoyed the rest of the book to the extent of giving the book 8/10

Eve
I did not enjoy this book at first, I found it difficult to understand. However, I carried on and eventually rather enjoyed the story about the man and two women, who were trying to get to Africa away from the nuclear reactors. I found this part of the story enjoyable, if rather frightening as it was rather realistic. The computers however, I found difficult to understand and found them less interesting. The story about the pandemic and global warming is of course very up to date and certainly makes us think about the future. I would not call this book enjoyable exactly, but certainly interesting. The only drawback being the muddled writing about the computers. I would score it - 5

Sonia
I really enjoyed this book and appreciated how the various strands of a pandemic, artificial intelligence development and the challenges of a global warming were woven together. I was actually more interested in the development of the robot's intelligence and particularly how the concept of ethics gradually evolved - something that seems to have bypassed our government! Interesting to see how individuals might or might not cope with global warming. I found it an absorbing read and would give it 7 out of 10.

Chris, Yvonne and Mabe
Chris skip read parts and gave it 5. Yvonne and Mabe didn't read enough so no score

Average score was 6.5

The general consensus seems to have been that this was an inoffensive if not exciting or inspiring book and the average score was 5.5. Individual reviews are below.

Rachel
Very evocative with pretty prose. I felt myself wanting to spend the summer in the town! I liked the protagonist grappling with her emotions and her relationships with the other characters - but the plotline with the lights fell a bit flat and petered out. I thought the story would have been better without it. The pacing also felt a bit slow at times. I also found the relationship between Natasha and Marcus a bit confusing, not really understanding why they stopped being friends. 7/10

Eve
Beauty of the Impossible Things. I read most of this book but really could not bring myself to finish it. I found that towards the end, the dialogue became so similar that it was impossible to know if I was reading something I had read before. The characters were rather wishy washy, none of them particularly likeable or not likeable. It was an easy book to read, but I fear it did not encourage me to finish the book, as nothing seemed to happen and the conversations were so similar. Disappointingly, I can only give it a score of 3.

Arleen
I will give it 5/10. I found it an easy read but with not much substance.

Cat
I enjoyed this book. Most of the characters were odd or written in an odd way. The supernatural element of the story was held in doubt all the way through but maybe what mattered more was how the main character Natasha felt about her 'gift' rather than whether it was real or not. I didn't see the point of the therapist meetings - they didn't seem to add anything to the story or enlighten us in any way. I felt that the story of what happened was enough. I thought the atmosphere of the seaside town was brilliantly done. There was a bit too much of a build up of 'what happened that summer' so it felt a bit anti-climactic but still a good read so 6/10

Selina
This was not a genre that I would normally read and had no idea what to expect. The story centres around just one summer in the life of Natasha, a 15 year old girl who has precognitive abilities. It is told retrospectively 30 years later when Natasha looks back on her life during sessions with her Therapist.
She is a lonely child, living with her young, beautiful, Mother who keeps herself and Natasha isolated, seemingly because she is ashamed of being an unmarried Mother. The story is set in a small seaside town in Ireland where such things possibly assume greater importance than readers elsewhere would expect.
Characters in the book are described only from Natasha’s perspective and lack any real depth. They are there only as a backdrop to the events that are unleashed as a result of decisions made by Natasha over that one fateful summer.
How Natasha reacts to her abilities, coupled with the difficulties of adolescence, cause anguish both to herself and to her Mother, as jealousy, fear of separation and manipulation by others all play their part. All of those things are relevant to the decisions she then makes.
It was not a ‘page turner’ but neither was it a difficult read. I read to lose myself in a good story and whilst I found the basis for this one quite interesting, for me it needed to go deeper. I did not feel involved. The impact of all that had happened was never really felt. The therapy angle suggested that the repercussions were huge, but these were never explored. I wanted to know more about what happened afterwards (and even before), both to Natasha and all the other characters, that fateful summer. For that reason I felt very dissatisfied when I came to the end.
This would not be an author from whom I’d eagerly be awaiting the next novel, or one I’d pick up out of choice. I award it only 5 for that reason. I could not identify with the main character and really did not like her very much - but maybe that was the point?

Ffion
Within the opening pages I thought this book would be right up my street, especially with the mention of therapist and client- a link to my job! But alas that didn’t last, the therapist made only had a handful of mentions in the book.

It was an interesting idea, and I liked all the characters and the heaviness to their lives. Yet, the story felt incomplete at the end. I still had so many questions. I do think it was a well written story, likeable characters, an interesting dynamic between mother and daughter- I just wanted a little more from the story.

I’d give the book a 7/10



Carolyn

Although I wouldn't normally have chosen The Beauty of Impossible Things to read I found it easy and quick to read and quite enjoyed it. I liked most of the characters and felt sympathetic towards Natasha who had a lot going on in her head, her Dad leaving, thinking she wasn't as attractive as her Mum, foreseeing events, guilt about Marcus and Lewis dad's deaths etc.
Doctor Black seemed a bit odd and not very helpful. I didn't find it haunting or scary though.
I give it 6

Sonia
I did not expect to like this book as it is not a genre I would normally pick but I found that as it went on the more I enjoyed it but I would find it hard to explain why!. None of the characters were particularly likeable but that didn't matter and I found Natasha cruel in many ways. Several of the characters seemed a bit pointless to me - Dr Black for one and the therapist for another. Both seemed to come in and then out of the story without adding to it and the lights seemed irrelevant in the end. A strange story but not unpleasant, well written and easy to read. I would give it a 5

Kirsty
So sorry after trying a few times I just couldn't get past 100 pages on this one. Not for me

Rachel
I found this quite an unsettling read. I thought the beginning was very strong, and I was drawn into the story immediately. I really liked the character of Daisy. I quite liked Paul, although he seemed a bit two-dimensional. He seemed to exist just as a love interest and not much else. I couldn't stand Robert, and don't really understand why Daisy decided to stay with him. I thought the love triangle between Mike, Cassie and Lucas was very strange. The bizarre friendship between Mike and Stephen, however, was very compelling. Overall, I think I liked it. 7/10

Carolyn
The Electric was easy to read although it did flick about from person to person and back and forth through time. There were a lot of characters who all seemed very troubled. The parts where Mike was being beaten were uncomfortable to read. I liked Daisy, she came across as a strong person and I felt for Lucas who because of being deaf had difficulties fitting in at school. I didn't really like or dislike it. I give it 5.

Cat
I thought the characters were great. The story was interesting but didn't fulfil my expectations. I didn't really feel like there was a plot arc. It all felt on a similar level of sadness from beginning to end. The ending felt anticlimactic but also fitted in with the rest of the book. 5/10

Eve
I found the book easy to read. The characters and the story seemed rather bland. There were aspects of the story that could have been interesting, but we're glossed over. I felt for the deaf boy trying to learn in a mainstream school. The fact that some of the teachers had beards was something I had not thought of before. It also seemed unkind of his mother not to want him to use sign language. The book was quite short, so I feel it could have been extended to make a more exciting read. I would like to have read more about the policemen at the beginning of the story. I would give it a 6.

Yvonne
A well written book dealing with the ups and downs of family life. I was drawn to Daisy and could empathise with her struggles as a policeman's wife and the need to escape from time to time to the glamorous world of films.Also, Lucas's experiences of being a deaf boy in a main stream school setting and his coping strategies were very credible. Here was a family across many generations dealing with trauma and loss.I found the time span, from the Fifties to the Nineties unsettling at times. A book of intrigue moving from reality to fiction with ease.
I give it a 7.

Arleen (from the best of her recollection and from her sickbed!)
I enjoyed the book very much but got a bit confused towards the end with the different characters. 8 out of 10

Sonia
I really enjoyed this book - it was well written and the characters all well drawn. I enjoyed the parts about Daisy, Robert and Paul more than the stories around their children Mike and Linda but the grandson Lucas brought my interest back. The contrast between Robert in the first part where they were in Brighton and he was a loving, kind and caring man and the Robert that he became after their move to London was stark and you could feel how his character slowly deteriorated with his desire to make more money and have more power. Daisy's love of the cinema and the rekindling of her early friendship with Paul was fascinating to follow and the way in which they became her saviour and joy was moving. Similarly Lucas's struggle with his deafness and the differing expectations of his grandmother, parents and then the teaching assistant Cassie was well written and touching. The storyline of Mike and Stephen and their violent encounters was difficult to read and I found a little too unpleasant. The story of the Daisy and Robert's death and the eventual uncovering of the truth was well handled and believable. Altogether an enjoyable read, holding my attention throughout and I give it 7 out of 10

Average score 6.5

Ffion
I’ve spent the entire afternoon and evening ready ‘The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot’ and it’s my favourite book yet by far!
I don’t have much to say about it, it touched on so much of my work, I think it was a truest special story.
Simply beautiful. 10/10

Carolyn
I found this book easy enough to read and did finish it but didn't really connect with it. It seemed to jump about a bit and there was a lot about the life of Margot that I didn't find very interesting. 4/10

Rachel
I loved this book, even though I cried pretty much solidly for the last third of it. Lenni and Margot were such engaging characters. I found it really interesting to see how the world changed around Margot, from the Second World War, to the sixties and to present day. I also saw thought that it was beautifully written, and I loved the relationship between Lenni and Arthur. I loved the ending, too, partially devastating, but still with some hope. There were a couple of things which didn’t quite work, such as Lenin telling her father not to visit anymore and him agreeing, because we’re meant to believe he’s a good father, and the fact that Margot finds something which makes her happy when she’s sixty-nine, then waits another fourteen years to pursue it. 9/10

Eve
This was an easy to read tearjerker. The stories and history of Lenni and Margot were interesting but in my opinion did not flow well. I liked the character of Father Arthur, but did not find either of the main characters particularly likeable, although I think I was supposed to. I found the book rather disappointing and give a score of 5

Michelle
No review from me, Sonia. I couldn’t get past the first few pages. Think that might have been me rather than the book though!

Mabe
What a story .
It was filled with love ,friendship. humor and of course sadness at the end. I loved the beautiful way this journey for Lenni and Margot was told by glimpsing into their past it drew a perfect picture of what their long and sadly short lives had been like and when Lenni came to her final days she was surrounded by love from all the friends she had made within the hospital walls .
I loved it I won't forget this book and so don't hesitate to give it a resounding 10

Cat
I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting, well written and a page turner. The friendship between Lenni and Margot was beautiful but also fun. I really liked the side characters as well, in particular the vicar and Margot's second husband. I thought it was very clever how M & L's life stories were woven into the present through their art project. I did get slightly confused between the temp and the art teacher but I think that was my fault. A fantastic read, 8/10.

Kirsty
This book is devastatingly heart-breaking and beautiful. I absolutely love the unique storyline and the fact that two women with such a large age gap create this beautiful friendship is just gorgeous. There are very few books I have come across with a young and elderly protagonist becoming such good friends and I absolutely loved it!! It is an absolute rollercoaster ride of emotions filled with love, hate, romance, heartbreak, anger, laughter, regrets, family, love, loss, secrets, friendship and so much more. It is one of the most unforgettable books I have ever read!! It tells the story of 17 year old Lenni and 83 year old Margot and how they meet in the hospital. Lenni has cancer and Margot heart problems. Between them they have loved 100 years and want to celebrate this by painting a picture for each year of their lives. They tell the stories of their past lives, loves and regrets and Marieanne's evocative writing skills sucks the reader straight into the storyline with the characters, hospital and the past coming to life around them. I was absolutely mind blown when I realised this was her debut novel!! I mean WOW!! If this is her first book I just cannot wait to read her future books and if they are a quarter as amazing as this one they are guaranteed to be absolute page turners!!! This is just one of those rare books that words just cannot express how powerful and emotional it is. It will make you cry both tears of happiness and sadness. The fact that Marianne has done her research absolutely shines through so a huge congratulations Marianne! One of my pet hates is when authors don't research their topics and then the book is littered with unnecessary mistakes which can spoil the story for me. The multiple narrative brings the story to life along with the descriptions and ensures the reader can see everything that is going on and what the characters are thinking and feeling. When I was reading this book I could feel my heartbeat speeding up as I was getting a dark sense of foreboding the deeper into the book I got and I ended up with tears streaming down my face so make sure you get those tissues ready!! It is one of those books that I just simply could not put down and I walked around everywhere with my kindle and the book. Every chapter ended in a way that I had to know what was going to happen next and then it would move on to the next chapter and do the same so I blew through this in one sitting. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with them and going through their pain, love, and suffering. While you are reading this you are going through a journey of love and loss, heartbreak, secrets, love, and regrets and so, so much more. It really is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I was utterly glued to the pages and I could not bring myself to put it down. I was carrying the book around to read it every chance that I got. You need to clear your schedules and get the tissues at the ready because you will not be able to put this book down. There are some tough topics are explored with realism and sensitivity, that all culminated in a very gripping and powerful page turner. This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time and although it could be a difficult read at times with emotions running high I would seriously recommend it to anyone and everyone!!

The characters were all very strong and realistic and Marianne's writing ensured they jumped off the pages at me. My heart went out to each of the main protagonists for different reasons during different chapters. I absolutely loved Lenni's absolutely fantastic, strong and attitude filled personality. She doesn't want to die and fights every chance she gets to live as much as she can with the restrictions she is meant to stick to, but doesn't always. She is such a strong young woman and my heart bled for her. The fact that she refuses to lie down and let what she has left to live pass her by but to make the most of it makes her such a strong female role model to so many people both in her situation and not. She is such a smart and mature woman who is an adult not only for herself but for her father too which I found deeply sad. Lenni tells us about her short 17 years, her first and last kiss, her father who leaves her side as he "can't see her like this" and her alcoholic mother. I must admit her father really annoyed me with his attitude and "can't see you like this" attitude and I have spoken to other cancer survivors who told me their friends didn't visit for that same joke of a reason. It is never nice to see someone you love suffer but they are the ones suffering and to use this as an excuse to abandon them makes me sick!! Anyway, enough of my rant but it does make me love her even more. Lenni made me laugh so many times with some of the things she came out with I had tears running down my face. What an amazing woman!!! On the other side of the age spectrum we have the absolutely fantastic Margot who may be 83 but she does not suffer fools gladly and has the same spunk as 17 year old Lenni. Margot is full of life and I absolutely lost myself in her storytelling about her childhood, her father who was left distraught after the war, her marriage ripped apart by tragedy, heartache and loss and new love found. An absolutely amazing woman and if I grow to be half as feisty as her I will be very happy!! If your expecting a sweet little old lady then you will be shocked by this purple coated strong lady who also refuses to back down. The friendship between these two women is absolutely stunning and something that everyone would be grateful to have. They are bonded by tragedy but wrapped in love, the adopted mother and daughter pair which proves blood is not always thicker than water!! Among Margot and Lenni we also meet Father Arthur and New Nurse among many others but these are the ones who stuck out to me the most. I absolutely loved how Lenni and Father Arthur also develop this unlikely bond that is filled with laughter, random questions and love and he is definitely another unforgettable character who will always stay with me. I also enjoyed meeting New Nurse who gets to see Lenni at her weakest and strongest but also Learns from her and they also develop a beautiful unforgettable bond. Arthur and New Nurse are both beautiful and caring people who want the best for Lenni although she doesn't always see it this way. I won't say anymore about the characters as I don't want to go into too much detail at the risk of spoiling it for other readers but Marianne has done an amazing job at bringing each of the characters to life. 10/10

Sonia
This was a beautiful book from start to finish written so well that it was hard to believe it was a first novel! All the characters fully fleshed out and interesting from Lenni and Margot to Arthur and New Nurse and all the others - wonderful. That the author was able to make it humorous as well as so moving and believable was a particularly skilful piece of writing. Not a book I would have been drawn to from the cover and the blurb but by goodness it was so well worth reading. For me there was nothing that jarred or felt out of place or not quite believable - absolutely brilliant work. I have very rarely laughed or cried at a book but I did both for this one.I am not surprised that it is already scheduled to be made into a film and I can't wait for her next book. I have no hesitation in giving it a 10 out of 10.

Average Score 8

Ffion
I must say I was not taken by this story. I’m uncertain what the point of the whole book was. I believe it could have been a series of novels exploring so much more than the surface of the characters and the mismatch story. While I did enjoy the authors style of writing that is all I’ve taken from it.

Unfortunately it’s a 2/10 for me.

Eve
I did manage to finish this book, using quite a lot of speed reading. This was because I found it rather boring at times. There were several interesting characters, but these were not developed. The story jumped from theme to theme and between characters to such an extent that the individual stories got lost. Unfortunately I found that although this was an interesting idea, it was not well developed. As a whole I felt that the book could have been a great deal shorter, I certainly lost interest at times. The stories of the 2 angels might have been interesting, had it been given more time. I would give it a mark of 3

Carolyn
Given that this book was a fantasy about women growing wings I did still quite enjoy it and found it easy to read. I thought Edward was a strange mix of religion and science. He seemed reasonable at the start but became increasingly unhinged as the story progressed. I wasn't comfortable with him cutting off the woman's wings. The four women were strong. The ending was a bit too neat and I found it hard to imagine Etta flying about. I suppose it was about women overcoming obstacles put in place by men and living their own lives. I give it 7.

Cat
This is the most I've enjoyed a book in ages. A gothic, feminist, fantasy novel with interesting characters and a very original plot. I was hooked all the way through. 9/10.

Helen
I didn’t expect to enjoy this book, but I was intrigued from the start. Suspending disbelief, I found the story engaging, and I was rooting for the strong female characters from the start. I didn’t read deeply into the story, I just enjoyed it for what it was, which was a well-told tale with a twist. I did skim through the stories told by one of the main characters as I found they didn't add much to the actual story.
Awful about the dogs of course, but I was able to get past this and I’m glad I did. 8/10

Kirsty
I wasn't quite sure what to think of this when I first started it. It did take a while for me to get into but I persevered longer than I normally would due to the unique storyline. I'm pleased that I did as although I didn't love to I did quite enjoy most of it, although not all. It was definitely something different to the genres I am used to and it's always nice to have a change now and again! The characters were all very strong with their own individual personality and different lives and Liz really captivated each of their differences perfect. Her evocative writing skills dragged me deep into the storyline where I could see everything come to life. It was also very thought provoking and intriguing with its subject matter. I enjoyed reading from the different characters perspectives although it did take me a while to get into who was who which was frustrating at times. I absolutely despised the animal cruelty which I found unnecessary and didn't help my enjoyment of the book at all, doing just the opposite. I enjoyed the multiple themes written throughout the book which were interesting. Although hard to score this one for multiple reasons as some parts I enjoyed, others I hated I think it will have to be a 5/10 for me

Average score is 5.5

Eve
I enjoyed this book very much. It was an easy to read book with a believable story. The characters were pleasant and well meaning and it was easy to imagine the scenario. Annie had
Lived a hard life without much in the way of love. A similar story for henrietta who had been unfairly blamed for the death of her baby brother. I imagine it was the autism or whatever it was that gave henrietta the tenacity to continue and find the answer in the end it was a good ending, although I felt all along that kath was not dead. Everything turned out well in the end,which i know is not necessarily the case in real life- but made this a pleasant book to read. I also liked the outcome for Dave as he happily qualified as a therapy dog which he enjoyed I would give this book 10

Arleen
I found this book an easy book to read. I wasn't too sure I was going to read it as I had lost a loved one to Cancer only recently. I did find the book was very well written and quite matter of fact, not dwelling too much on suffering and death.
The character's were very likeable and Henrietta and Annie were the main characters in the story. I liked the way Henrietta went out of her way to find Annie's lost sister. Altogether an interesting story of friendship and caring.
I will give this book 9/10

Carolyn
I didn't think I was going to like this book and it took a while to get into it but I did quite enjoy it. It was easy enough to read and there weren't too many characters. I liked Annie and after her husband died she became more the person she would have been if she hadn't been controlled and abused by him. There was a lot a guilt in the story even by Henrietta who shouldn't have been guilty. Her parents had blamed her for the death of her brother when it was their responsibility. She had carried that guilt all her life and it had changed her. It was Annie who told her it wasn't her fault.
I give it 6

Cat
I loved this book. I thought the mystery/detective element was great, nicely suspenseful and unexpected. I loved the characters, especially Henrietta. I thought her character development throughout was really well done too. It was entertaining, moving and really well written. 9/10

Mabe
I loved this book and give it 8 out of 10.

Helen
I enjoyed this book. It isn't a genre that I normally read, but I found it easy to get into the story. I thought Henrietta and Annie were characters who were described well. I quite liked them, and wanted to find out more about their developing friendship. I think that other characters were a bit too stereotypical, but I thought Dave was a good dog.
The book covered elements of loss and grief that did at times feel well thought through, and quite touching. Although the storyline was a definite work of fiction, I still wanted to find out what happened to them all. The ending was a bit too neat, but I didn't really mind that. 8/10

Rachel
I wouldn’t say I loved this book, but it was an easy and enjoyable read. While some characters felt like caricatures at times (Henrietta could be a bit too obviously robotic and Terry was cartoonishly villainous), the story was also very moving. I felt genuinely sad for Annie and how she felt she had wasted her life. I can see how several characters in awful situations felt trapped with no way out and the writing at time was heart-wrenching and poignant. 7/10

Kirsty
I was absolutely mind blown when I had finished this epic page turner and I went to add the rest of her books to my Amazon wish list only to discover that THIS is her DEBUT novel!! I mean just WOW fair play!!! I absolutely loved this addictive, compelling, mysterious and fascinating page turner!!! I honestly loved absolutely everything about it from the characters to the settings. It was just one heck of an amazing read!!! This book begins to telling Henrietta's story. Henrietta is a strange character with many quirks and very stilted conversation skills. However, I absolutely loved how she is so matter of fact about things and does not understand pointless conversation. I had the impression that she may have autism with how she took everything so literally. Henrietta gets a job working in The Rosendale drop-In Centre as an interviewer and transcriber for The Life Stories Project. The Life Stories Project is an absolutely wonderful idea and it did make me wonder if there is something like that in place at the moment and if not then Jo should definitely start it. the Life Stories Project is a way to tell your life story to your family so they can have something that tells your story after you pass away. The Rosendale drop in centre is for those with cancer and Henrietta's first Life Story customer is Annie. Annie starts telling her life story but when she gets to the part where her sister Kath drowned Henrietta is determined to find out what happened to her. Throughout the book Henrietta and Annie form an absolutely amazing multi generational friendship which is completely unexpected by them both. The reader gets to go back in to Annie's past to 1974 where what truly happened to Kath is slowly revealed and it was nothing like what I expected!! I loved the multi generational friendship that is formed, the fact that we get to see what is going on from multiple perspectives and that we travel into both Kath and Henrietta's pasts. They both have heart-breaking histories for similar reasons. Their parents were all awful people, they were both made to feel guilty for something that they were innocent of and they both lead isolated lives. It is a rollercoaster ride of emotions from happiness to anger, joy to heartbreak and so, so much more. Jo deals with several difficult topics which include domestic abuse, blackmail, rape, childhood trauma, drowning, cancer and the horrendous treatment of children by their parents. Jo does an absolutely amazing job of weaving these subjects into an absolutely amazing storyline and the fact that she has experience and researched these areas absolutely shine through the pages. Filled with suspense, mystery, family, friendship, heartbreak and so much more this book is an absolutely addictive and epic read!! I absolutely love, love, LOVED the unique storyline!! I have read so many books that it is getting harder and harder for me to find a truly unique plot but Jo absolutely smashes it out of the park with this one!! The storyline is absolutely action packed. I completely devoured it in a few hours and loved absolutely every second of it!! There was no way I could put this book down until I had finished it. I picked it up and even though I kept telling myself just one more chapter I just could not put it down as every time I went to something happened which meant I had to read just one more again until I ended up reading it in one sitting having been glued to my book for a few hours!! Jo's evocative writing skills and descriptions really brought the storyline to life and I just cannot wait to get hooked into his next book!!! This book will suck you in and keep you gripped in the pages until your thrown out at the end with a racing heart!! A truly unforgettable one in a million page turner!!!! I absolutely loved meeting and getting to know Henrietta, Annie and of course Dave as individuals as well as together as friends along with the many other fascinating characters throughout the book including Audrey, 'Upstairs Woman' lol, Mia, Cath, Cerys and many others, some not so much! I enjoyed watching Henrietta and Annie meet and bond while getting closer while trying to complete Annie's life book and also solve the mystery of Kath before it's too late for them all. I was completely invested in them all throughout and Jo's fantastic evocative writing skills and descriptions ensured they all came to life in front of my eyes. The fact that this is Jo's debut novel yet she has managed to create these amazing, unique and strong characters is just absolutely amazing!!! They were all absolutely fascinating, intriguing and unforgettable!!!I really enjoyed getting to meet most of them and learning all about their histories and discovering their stories. I would absolutely LOVE to see this book turned into a series with more Life Stories being written!! Hint hint Jo ???? !!! I genuinely loved getting to know most of the characters and was completely invested throughout!! It just goes to show how fantastic Jo's writing skills are as she completely brought them all to life for me. An absolutely fantastic selection of unique characters that all worked together perfectly to create an absolutely chilling and addictive page turner!!!
Definitely a 10/10 from me!!

Sonia
I really enjoyed this book although I would not have picked it up off the shelf! It was very well written and the characters well drawn and developed. From a slow and uncertain start, Henrietta and Annie developed a real, caring friendship which supported them both. It was interesting to see how a death by drowning and how that was originally - wrongly - perceived affected each of them and how the unravelling of the truth eventually enabled each of them to find some peace - Henrietta was able to begin a more productive life and Annie was able to have a peaceful death. It was too neatly tied up at the end but that did not jar too much. However, I did find it a little unbelievable that Dave was able to transform himself enough from an extremely aggressive and difficult to control dog to become a therapy dog! I give this book a 7 out of 10.

Average score 8 out of 10

Arleen
When I read the reviews at the front of the book from the staff at Orion, from the managing Director until possably the tea lady. I thought I was in for a good read. I started the book but almost gave up with the many F words and a couple of C words as well. I found the story boring and not to my taste. Until, it all started to came together and then I was pleased I had continued.

I was amazed that if you have a foster child you mustn't hug or tell the child you love them, I found that dreadful. No wonder Bess found 'love' with Boy. The consequence of that being an unwanted pregnancy. Living with foster parents who then had their own child was very difficult for Bess. She really was the odd one out. Kisses and cuddles for Riss but none for her as it wasn't allowed. There must be a reason for that rule but I can't understand it. Her saving grace was her friend Eshal and her family. At least she had someone to confide in.
The abortion clinic was very well written and I was shocked, as I had no idea what went on to expel a foetus. My heart went out to Bess to go through that. I am pleased that the book ends with Bess going to college and following her dream.
I give it 7/10

Rachel
I loved this book so much. I was absolutely hooked and couldn’t stop reading. My heart just went out so much to Bess, who has been dealt such a difficult hand. I couldn’t stand Lisa, obviously, and Rory was a complete coward. Clarissa seemed very sweet, though, and was the only one who thought of Bess as her family. I hated Boy from the start, but understood how Bess, vulnerable and starved of affection as she was, could be sucked into a relationship with him. I loved how all the characters, however good or bad they were, felt human and authentic. The style of writing was beautiful and captivating and the plot was heartbreaking. Loved every second.
10/10

Eve
I found this book sad. Bess had not ever been loved in her 15 years, it seemed that all she ever wanted was a normal family life, which included love she thought she had found this in Boy, unfortunately he was far too self centred and a flawed person himself.
The story of the arranged marriage seemed to be well dealt with, although I felt that the mother dealt rather kindly with Eshal when she refused.
The book ended well with the girls still close friends. Bess was lucky to get a social worker that helped her rather that the first one, Henry, who did not understand her at all. The abortion was quite scarey and Bess must have been in a bad way to contemplate doing this to herself. This book was worth reading- not sure if I would call it enjoyable, it is a difficult read. I would give it a score of 8

Carolyn
Just to say I really couldn't get into this book and only managed about 100 pages before I gave up. Not sure if I should give a score but it would be a 3.

Kirsty
I must be honest and admit that it took me about 50/60 pages before I really started getting into this book. I struggled at first with the dialogue and the lack of apostrophes during conversations. It's only when I realised it was actually in a type of diary format that this made more sense. What I loved about this book is how Kirsty covers so many 'forbidden' and/or sensitive topics such as grooming, racism, forced marriage, the care system and abortion and manages to weave it into an interesting and thought provoking storyline. It is not the sort of book I would have thought to pick up and neither is it the type of book I would go out of my way to recommend to someone. However, on saying that I do think it is a book that should be made available in all secondary schools due to the topics it covers. There was a great variety of characters and I changed my thoughts and feelings on them as I went through the book. I wasn't a huge fan of Bess at the start but she grew on me and my heart went out to her the more I got to know her life. It made me sick how her foster mother blatantly treated her differently from Clarissa. I was also saddened to read that as a foster parent that she wasn't allowed to hug her either. Mind you, I don't think she would have even if she could!! I could not abide the way her eyes lit up at the thought of more money from Bess having a child and how she was more concerned about that than what Beth was going through. I really admired Clarissa for her maturity, understanding and the way she looked out for Bess. Considering she is only 11 years old she definitely had a grown up head on her shoulders. I was absolutely disgusted by Boy and his actions throughout the book. I loved seeing the friendship between Bess and Eshal develop throughout the book. My heart did go out to Eshal as she was in such an awkward position with her family and I was annoyed with Bess on several occasions as she overlooked her friends problems. I was both shocked and pleased by the reactions of Eshal's parents who I really liked from the start. I found them to be much better parents towards Bess than her own so called foster parents were. Overall I found it to be an eye opening and intriguing read that covered an excellent amount of topics that need to be discussed more openly.
I would give this book a 7

Sonia
Although I am not fond of this style of writing - first person, present tense - I did quite enjoy it in the end. I confess to being able to skim read most of it without losing any of the sense and although I did not find it riveting or a page turner it was quite an interesting story and felt very true to life in many ways. Of necessity I suppose many strands of the story were designed to pull at the heart strings but it was not overly sentimental and felt quite realistic. (It would be very interesting to see what an American author would make of this story - I suspect we might have ended up with a very different book but that as they say is another story.) I would give it almost 6 out of 10.

Average score : 7 out of 10