No Sweet Sorrow

DCI Daley and his team are concerned about the use of drugs in Kinloch which intensifies with the apparent arrival of new drug dealing in the area. But when a group of Oxford University students arrive to prepare for an expedition to Mount Everest and one of them is assaulted when trying to obtain drugs it is obvious that drug related issues have definitely escalated.

When the fathers of two of the students arrive to remove their sons from Kinloch, Jim Daley and his team are removed from the investigation. It is obvious that the local drug dealing is not the main reason for events occurring in the town. It is also obvious that people with power are attempting to impede the investigation.

As well as providing a fast paced crime novel set on the west coast of Scotland the author allows the reader to immerse themselves in the lives - both professional and private - of the main characters. Jim Daley speaks regular English and although several of the characters, including Brian Scott, use Scots dialect when they speak it is easy to follow. However Brian does have a tendency to use words incorrectly in sentences, especially when he uses quotations to emphasise a point he is trying to make, much to the amusement of the other characters.

No Sweet Sorrow by Denzil Meyrick is number 11 in the DCI Daley series featuring Jim Daley, Brian Scott and the former fisherman, Hamish.The books are easy to read and difficult to put down as the reader becomes immersed in the lives of the characters in Kinloch and the crime needing to be solved. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.

Armour of Light

Ken Follett is a great storyteller. The Armour of Light tells the story of families living in Kingsbridge, England, covering the period  1792-1824. Two major events - The Industrial Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars - greatly affect the lives of those living and trying to make a living in the town.

The first part of the book explores how a group of people depends on the textile industry for their livelihood, first as spinners or weavers working in their own homes and then as workers in factories which grow larger and use larger equipment employing fewer people. The novel also explores the relationship between employers and employees and the move to create trade unions as the workers attempt to ensure that they have a say in their working conditions.

The second part of the novel tells of the impact of the Napoleonic wars on the families of Kingsbridge and describes the experiences of some of the Kingsbridge residents involved in the battles at this time.

But the novel is primarily about individual people and how they struggle to survive under conditions where their control over their lives is limited by those who believe that they are the people of power in the community. The rise of Methodism is another theme of the book.

The Kingsbridge series consists of five books - The Evening and the Morning (beginning 997); The Pillars of the Earth (beginning in 1135); World Without End (beginning in 1327); A Column of Fire (beginning in 1558) and now The Armour of Light (beginning in 1792).

Shakespeare: the Man who Pays the Rent

When Brendan O'Hea conducted a series of interviews with Dame Judi Dench, he did not initially plan to turn the research into a book. Fortunately he changed his mind and has produced not only Judi Dench's reminiscences about the many Shakespearean plays in which she has performed but also also her thoughts about plays, acting and the theatre.

It is interesting to read an actor's view on roles she has performed and the different interpretations produced depending on who directed the play and in which theatre it was performed. Many of the plays were ones that I was introduced to at school and university so I enjoyed reading the interpretation of someone who has performed the plays for a living. The sections of the book that I also found interesting and entertaining were entitled Play, Company, Fireside Ramblings, Rose Theatre, Failure, Rehearsal, Critics, Shakespeare's Language, Audience, Changing Times and Future of Shakespeare. These provided an introduction to being an actor performing in the theatre.

As the title suggests there is much humour in the recollections as Dame Judy looks back on her many roles as a Shakespearean actor. Illustrations throughout the book are sketches made by Judi Dench.

Black Sheep

During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the Australian economy was dependent on the sheep industry and large pastoralists held a position of economic and social power in the country. Black Sheep by Judy Nunn is primarily set from the 1880s to 1920. 

James Wakefield is the son of a shearer and spent his early life travelling with his father around properties in Queensland. Then came the Shearers' Strike at Barcaldine in May 1891 where shearers marched through the streets of the town demanding better pay and conditions. After his father was killed, James changed his name and set off for a new life in a new state. After meeting Ben McKinnon whose family own a property near Goulburn, James has the opportunity to start his life again.

James' father had taught his son to read by reading him a book of nursery rhymes and explaining their true meaning. James' favourite rhyme was 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' and he and his father often discussed the different interpretations of a black sheep. Throughout the book the reader meets a number of characters to whom this term may apply.

Overtime James becomes an entrenched member of the McKinnon family and starts his own family. Then comes the First World War and its impact on the family, not just young men going off to serve their country but the business opportunities for pastoralists to supply the army with wool and leather for uniforms and military equipment.

Black Sheep is a family saga with episodes of Australian history as part of the back story. The novel often contains descriptions of of violence and there are also sections discussing sexual activity and attitudes. It is a story of the establishment of power within an industry as well as within a family.

Lola in the Mirror

A teenage girl and her mother spend their lives moving from one part of Australia to another to escape the past. At each location they change their names. The girl often asks her mother who she really is but her mother says that she will reveal the girl's identity when she turns eighteen. However the mother drowns in the river trying to save another mother's baby and the girl is left to discover her true identity on her own.

The young girl is an artist and regularly sketches images of the challenges she faces as she seeks to discover her true identity. She does have friends among many of the houseless (not homeless) who live in Brisbane and also frequents a welfare agency where some support is available. However there is constant danger, especially from Flo and her cohorts who sell drugs and exert violence on those in debt to her. The young girl seeks solace and advice from the image that sometimes appears in a broken mirror as she attempts to sort out her life.

In Lola in the Mirror Trent Dalton has created a story that is often dark and violent but is also a story of love and compassion and the fight for survival and contains moments of humour. Life is not easy for the young artist, however she is determined to fight the obstacles placed in front of her and discover her own path in life.

At the beginning of each chapter Paul Heppell has created one of the girl's sketches complimenting the theme of the chapter. A premise running through the book is that one day the girl's artwork will appear in the art gallery in New York when she becomes a famous artist.

Trent Dalton has written a compelling study of life in parts of Australia not seen or understood by most people. However throughout the novel there is a belief that eventually the girl should be able to determine her own future. This confronting story with a thread of hope is definitely one of the best books that I have read this year.

From a Far and Lovely Country

It has been a while since I read any of the books in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series so, for old times sake, I decided to read the latest book in the series, From a Far and Lovely Country by Alexander McCall Smith. Once again I was transported to the world inhabited by Precious Ramotswe and Grace Makutsi and their family and friends in Botswana.

My mother enjoyed reading the stories in this series and would lend the copies that I gave her to friends to also enjoy.

In this book they investigate the Cool Singles Evening Club which is suspected of deceiving single women by pairing them with married men. They also attempt to reunite a lady from America with family members in Botswana. Another moral dilemma is how to react when presented with a birthday present which is the wrong size. 

Precious Ramotswe always manages to find a positive solution to the problems encountered even when the solution may take a different path from the expected outcome. As the character looking for family members explains at the end of the book - 'I came looking for people ... and I found a country'.

This book is number 24 in the series.

Dirty Thirty

As the title suggests, Dirty Thirty is number 30 in the Stephanie Plum series by American author, Janet Evanovich. Readers of this serious of entertaining, humorous crime novels know what to expect and will not be disappointed. 

When a local jeweller asks Stephanie to investigate a robbery at his store she does not envisage the dangers that she and Lula will encounter as they search for the person accused of the robbery. As Morelli is in Miami on police business Stephanie is entrusted with looking after his dog, Bob. As Bob is inclined to destroy furniture and other items when left alone for too long he joins the team for much of the investigation.

Some of the FTAs that Stephanie and Lula pursue are routine, however some prove to be more of a challenge. With Morelli away Stephanie has to rely on Ranger for assistance, especially when her car becomes undrivable and her apartment is firebombed - routine events in the life of Stephanie Plum. When it is obvious that Stephanie has become a target it becomes necessary to bend the rules to solve the crime.

Everyone on this train is a suspect

Everyone on this train is a suspect by Benjamin Stevenson is a sequel to Everyone in my family killed someone. When Ernest Cunningham boards the Ghan in Darwin to take part in the Australian Mystery Writers' Festival he does not envisage that once again he will encounter a number of murders during the trip to Adelaide. He was searching for inspiration for his next book but the train trip produced more than he bargained for.

Once again the reader is challenged to solve the crimes as Ernest explains his theories about what has occurred and refers to how other crime novelists solve and reveal crimes. This book is another entertaining and often humorous Australian crime novel.

Resurrection Walk

After a successful case resulting in the release of a wrongly accused prisoner, defence attorney Mickey Haller decides to enlist his half brother, former detective Harry Bosch to assist him in reviewing cases of other prisoners requesting help after falsely being imprisoned for a crime. Both Mickey and Harry agree that the case of Lucinda Sanz requires investigation. Cindi was arrested for the murder of her former husband. She had accepted a nolo condendere plea at the insistence of her lawyer, however she always maintained her innocence. The task was now to prove it.

The novel recounts the work and thoughts of Mickey in the first person and Harry in the third person as they build their case. They then have to convince the judge that Cindi was not involved in the crime. Investigations indicated that Cindi's former husband was involved in a police crime clique and that false evidence had been used to ensure that Cindi appeared guilty. Much of Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly involves the trial and the the hunt for additional proof that Cindi is innocent. When a gaoled prisoner is proven not guilty the release of the prisoner is referred to as the resurrection walk.

An excellent crime novel.

Of Angles and Eagles

In Of Angels and Eagles L F McDermott has written a historical fiction novel about the possible lives of four of her ancestors who arrived as convicts in the early days of the first settlement at Norfolk Island. From 1788 to 1807 a settlement of convicts and farmers was established on the island until the decision was made to close the settlement and relocate those living on the island back to Port Jackson or to Van Diemens Land.

As I have 4 x great grandparents who lived on Norfolk Island from 1790-1805 before resettling at Hobart Town, I was interested to read the author's imagining of the lives of her ancestors in a similar situation.

This novel is the first book in the Garth Trilogy.

The Seven

Another excellent crime novel by Chris Hammer. The Seven is set in the irrigation area of New South Wales where seven families are prominent in the management of the local irrigation scheme and much of the land covered by the scheme. When a body is found in one of the irrigation channels the police investigation discovers that all is not what it seems at Yuwonderie.

When Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchanan arrive in the area to investigate the murder they discover similarities to another murder of a family member of The Seven thirty years earlier. Could the two cases be connected?

There are three threads that reveal the story in the novel - correspondence between Bessie Walker and her mother in 1913, the death of Davis Heartwood in 1993 and the recent death of Athol Hasluck. 

Davis decided not to run the family property after his grandfather's death. Instead he wanted to continue his studies at university, starting with an honours thesis on the early development of the irrigation scheme at Yuwonderie. His initial investigations show that nine families had planned to set up the scheme, three families had dropped out to be replaced by one more family. It soon becomes obvious that many questions needed to be answered. Then Davis and his girlfriend disappeared. Ivan and Nell discover that current members of The Seven are also wary of investigations into the history of the local area. There has obviously been corruption in place for many years but uncovering it proves to be a challenge.

Wandering through life: a memoir

In Wandering Through Life Donna Leon recounts a number of events and describes some of the people who have been a part of her life. Donna Leon was born in the USA in 1942 and is the well known author of the Commissario Brunetti series set in Venice - 32 books so far.

Donna Leon lived in Iran, China and Saudi Arabia teaching English to tertiary students before moving to Venice in 1981 where she lived for thirty years. She now lives in Switzerland. In Wandering Through Life she tells thirty short stories relating to her life. She starts with her family who came from different parts of Europe and Ireland before describing living in the Middle East and China. Part three of the book contains stories relating to Italy, particularly Venice. One chapter contains a copy of the letter that is handed out to visitors visiting the Questore looking for Commissario Brunetti and his colleagues. Part four contains stories of life in the mountains of Switzerland plus reflections on her life. Throughout the book the author's love of classical music is shown.

Wandering Through Life provides glimpses into the life of Donna Leon, an important contributor to modern crime fiction.

Let it crow! Let it crow! Let it crow!

Another fun Christmas themed read by Donna Andrews. In Let it Crow! Let it Crow! Let it Crow! Meg Langslow ends up competing in a reality television program, Blades of Glory, after her friend and mentor, Faulk, had been attacked and injured. The series is being filmed in a large tent at Ragnar's gothic style mansion. Meg, Michael and the twins have moved into the house along with most of the others associated with the program. Then the body of one of the contestants is found in a field. Chief Burke and his team work on the case, occasionally calling on Meg for assistance.

This is number 34 in the Meg Langslow series and much of the action is concerned with the blade making  television program. Meg has the opportunity to work at blacksmithing, (she is a blacksmith), but still has time to help with the investigation. Crows are also the stars of the book, observing the activities of the guests on the property and even helping from time to time. The novel also provides an insight into the making of reality television programs. Then just before Christmas it finally starts to snow, adding to the Christmas atmosphere in this American cosy crime story.

Past Lying

April 2020 in Edinburgh during lockdown. DCI Karen Pirie is working from home reviewing a series of cases that have been transferred to the Historic Crimes Unit which she runs. Then a phone call from Jason, one of her colleagues, presents Karen and her team with a new case. A staff member at the National Library had been sorting through new items deposited in the archive collection when she discovered a document that could be related to the murder of Lara Hardie twelve months earlier. Karen decides that her team should investigate the case.

Carrying out a police investigation during lockdown presents additional challenges for Karen and her team as they attempt to unravel the true meaning of the short story that has been discovered. Life during COVID-19 in Edinburgh features strongly in this novel and having experienced a series of COVID lockdowns in Victoria during 2020 and 2021 this background to the story resonated strongly. The strategies of chess also feature in the novel as Karen and her team work to unravel the true meaning of the story found in the archives of a well-known author.  

Past Lying by Val McDermid is no. 7 in the Karen Pierie series. As with the other books in the series the challenges faced by the characters in the book are an important feature of the novel.

Blueback

My eleven year old grandson and I both enjoyed reading Blueback by Tim Winton recently. Tim Winton has written a number of books showing his love and respect for oceans and recently appeared in a documentary series on the ABC - Ningaloo: Australia's ocean wonder. A film has also recently been made based on the book, Blueback.

Abel and his mother live at Longboat Bay south of Perth. They both love the sea and frequently take a boat into the bay and then dive and explore the clear water. On these expeditions Abel meets a large Groper who he names Blueback and much of the book is about the relationship that develops between this fish and Abel. 

As he grows up Abel learns to love the the sea around Longboat bay and is reluctant to leave the area to attend school and later university. He becomes a marine biologist and travels the world but he eventually realises that his heart remains in Longboat Bay and its surrounding environment. The importance of respecting and maintaining the marine environment is an important theme in this book.

The Long Farewell

The Long Farewell: the perilous voyages  of settlers under sail in the great Australian migration by Don Charlwood was originally published in 1981. The fifth edition of the book was published in 2015.

Don Charlwood has used excerpts from diaries and log books of emigrants travelling to Australia in the middle of the nineteenth century to tell the story of Australian migration. In the book he discusses the perils of such a journey, the route taken, the types of sailing ships and auxiliary steam ships that made the journeys, conditions in Britain causing people to emigrate to another country, preparation required for the trip, leaving home, accommodation on board ship, the crew, surgeons and health, messes and dining, life on board ship and the arrival. The book is well illustrated and there are detailed notes, bibliography and index. The full diaries of three travellers are also included.

This is a well written book providing valuable information for anyone researching this period of Australian history, family history or interested in the history of ships.

The restless kings

The sub-title for The Restless Kings by Nick Barratt is Henry II, his sons and the wars for the Plantagenet Crown. They were certainly members of a dysfunctional family living in what could only be described as chaotic times.

When William the Conqueror took over the governing of England he and his family were also responsible for Normandy and other parts of France. The Restless Kings examines the constant conflicts in keeping controls of these lands and acquiring additional lands through marriage. There were constant differences with kings in France with subsequent battles. There was also conflict with the church not to mention the barons vying for power.

Henry II had tried to bring in powers for the organisation of the governance of Britain with mixed results. He also tried to provide his sons with land and some power. However the four sons - Henry, Richard, Geoffrey and John - had their own visions and desires for power. Henry and Geoffrey died before their father leaving Richard as king when their father died. 

In reality however, Richard was more interested in military campaigns including involvement in one of the Crusades than ruling England. When he became king he spent three months in England including his coronation and organising finances for his crusading ventures. He later spent another week or two before returning overseas to other interests. Meanwhile the country was in financial crisis. 

When John became king he was left with disputes across the channel which ending up in England losing control of Normandy. Back in England there was rebellion from the barons and constant disputes with the church. There was growing resentment of the assumed total power of kings over their subjects and eventually the Magna Carta was drawn up shortly before John died.

During these years of chaos structures began to be implemented regarding organisation of England's finances and general laws. Unfortunately there were times when kings such as John did not behave rationally resulting in unfortunate decisions for the country. For all his faults, and there were many, John was the first of the Plantagenet kings to make ruling England his prime concern.

Reading this book in October 2023 you can't help but conclude past events involving the search for power at all costs by governments and parliamentary parties and also religious groups still exists in the world today.

The bone hacker

Temperance Brennan and Andrew Ryan now live in their new apartment in Montreal and are discussing when and where they should go on holiday. However, during a storm a man standing on a bridge appears to be hit by lightening and when the body is finally located Tempe is called in to help identify the body. It is then  discovered that not only had he been murdered but he was a visitor from the islands of Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean Sea.

When Tempe alerts the police in Turks and Caicos the police superintendent says she will come to Montreal to assist in the investigation. It then becomes obvious that she really wants Tempe to assist her with a similar cold case investigation back on the islands. However when they arrive at the islands a boat is found with five bodies on board. Then the police superintendent is murdered. All in all not the greatest advertisement for tourism to the islands. 

Tempe does what she can to investigate the deaths of the cold case victims. Meanwhile it becomes obvious that all the deaths are linked to a crime that could affect countries throughout the world.

As in all the books in this series Kathy Reichs, as a forensic anthropologist, provides clear descriptions of the various organisations and procedures involved in solving a case. Tempe is dedicated to her work but is also compassionate with a sense of humour that helps keep her sane in an often tiring and dangerous job. The Bone Hacker is number 22 in the Temperance Brennan series and well worth reading as part of the series or as a stand alone book.

A clear flowing Yarra

The subtitle of A clear flowing Yarra by Harry Saddler is 'visions of Melbourne's river as it is and could be'. The author provides an interesting look at the Yarra River and some of its tributaries that are a feature of Melbourne and many of its suburbs. The book contains interviews with people from many of the groups who care about the river and its environs and work to preserve the river. The author also discusses some of the animals, birds and reptiles that can be found near the river.

Much of the work consists of his musings about whatever topic he is writing about resulting in a rambling and sometimes repetitive discussion. The book, though, does contain some informative information about the Yarra River and its environs.

Normal rules don't apply: short stories

Normal rules don't apply is an apt title for this collection of short stories by Kate Atkinson. The book contains a collection of eleven loosely connected short stories introducing the reader to a variety of characters and situations. The stories combine elements of mystery, fantasy, folklore, humour, drama and much more. 

The scene is set in the first story - The Void - where for five minutes each day the world is reset. This theme is continued in a story later in the book - Gene-sis. One character who appears in a number of stories is Franklin who spends much of his time questioning decisions with 'what if?' which is also the title of the final story which ties some of the threads occurring in other stories together. There are lots of dogs and horses and cats - some may even talk. One story occurs in a parallel world while another brings back the spirit of someone who has recently died. There is also a fairy-tale queen who does not keep a promise made to a witch - the effects of this also appear briefly in another story.

This is a fun collection of stories to read due to the variety of styles and topics combined with the realisation that a person or location or event from another story has been incorporated into the new story. The stories, in many cases, also encourage us to think about how we live our lives and how our lives are affecting our world.

Review:

Normal rules don't apply by Kate Atkinson - a mixed bag of stories Guardian 30 August 2023

The Disorganisation of Celia Stone

Celia Stone is a control freak. Her life is totally organised not just by to-do lists but also an analysis of pros and cons for her decisions which she keeps in her diary. This organisation is directed not just for her own actions but for the life of her husband, Jes. Her life is managed to minute detail - the amount and type of food eaten, amount of exercise undertaken, meditation, visits made to family members, money spent on various items, type of fabric used in clothes, aversion to anything that might harm the environment ...

Celia works full time and has just completed her first first book which is about to be published. Life is looking good. Then, when Celia is about to turn 34, Jes suggests that they should consider having a baby. This plan is not on her schedule.

Following Celia's journey, this novel looks at issues such as handling grief, mental health, body image and healthy eating as Celia struggles to recognise what she really values in her life.

Post Captain

Patrick O'Brian wrote 21 books in the Aubrey & Maturin series. Post Captain is the second book in the series. There had been a short lull in the war with France but when Englishman Jack Aubrey and Irishman Stephen Maturin were travelling through France they had to hide when the call was made to arrest all Englishmen. They eventually reached safety in Spain.  At Maderia they boarded the East Indiaman, Lord Nelson,which was  returning to England. It proved to be an eventful journey with the ship being captured by the French before being recaptured by the English.

Back in England Jack was looking for a post on a new ship but positions were scarce until eventually he took command of a new untried ship, Polychrest. Jack had no choice but to take the position as he was in debt and bailiffs were after him to arrest him. The only place of safety was aboard ship. The novel basically deals with the rollicking adventures at sea on ships including the Polychrest and its crew, many of who are learning on the job. The book also recounts the tenuous relationships of Jack and Stephen with two women they left behind in England.

I was aware of this series of books when I worked in public libraries but decided to read this one as an article about the ship, Lord Nelson, mentioned that chapter five of this historical fiction novel was based on the capture of the ship in 1802. In 1808 Captain Charles William Hutton was in charge of the ship on its fifth voyage when it disappeared off the coast of Madras.  Captain Hutton was my 4 x great grandfather. I was therefore interested in reading this fictional account of the ship's second voyage and then continued reading the novel.

Lord Nelson East Indiaman - Wikipedia

Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society

Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society by Sophie Green is a book about friendship, hope, community and the love of gardening. It is set in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, a settlement by the sea and the national park and with a warm climate throughout the year - a great place for people to live and relax and enjoy the world around them. It is also a place where people can reflect on past events and determine their future.

The story, set in 1987, is about Cynthia, Lorraine, Elizabeth and Kathy as they work together with Barb and Shirl to help bring gardens back to life. The garden club, first established in the 1950s, was once a thriving group of women who enjoyed time in the garden, but now only Barb and Shirl remain. However when they are asked to help Elizabeth with her garden the membership of the group is revitalised.

We gradually learn of the stories of the four younger women, the challenges to be faced and decisions to be made. As they begin to enjoy the experience of gardening, friendships form and they all benefit from the support offered by new friends and the chance for a break from daily concerns.  

Each chapter of the book features a month as the narrative progresses and the name of a plant grown in the area.

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens

When the Cinnamon Gardens Nursing Home was established in a suburb in western Sydney it was to be a place where older people from all backgrounds and religions could live together during their final days. The owners of the nursing home relocated to Australia after the turmoil of the civil war in Sri Lanka, especially the persecution of Tamils. Although many of the residents were from Sri Lanka and followed the Hindu religion people from other countries and religions also lived at Cinnamon Gardens. It was a place of peace until the nursing home and staff were targeted because, in the views of some people, they were 'un-Australian'.

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran is about family and memory, community and race. Much of the novel describes the atrocities that occur in a civil war largely based on race and religion. It also emphasises the importance of history in truly understanding the past and the dangers of reinventing the past to prove current actions and beliefs. 

The novel is particularly relevant in Australia (and other countries) today as some groups try to assert their beliefs, especially in regard to religion and ethnicity, to prove their superiority over others who may appear to be different.

In this novel the story is set in Sri Lanka during the war and in present day Sydney. As we learn about the past history we also learn about the present and come to know the main people portrayed in the book. We also learn about Sri Lankan food.

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandranis the winner of the 2023 Miles Franklin Award awarded to "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases".

The Last Devil to Die

The Last Devil to Die is the fourth book in the Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman. Stephen's friend, antiques dealer Kuldesh Sharma, is found dead in his car. He had been shot. Why? It is soon discovered that a package that he was minding is missing. Members of the Thursday Murder Club want answers.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim, residents of Coopers Chase Retirement Village, investigate with the assistance of Donna and Chris, members of the local police force. It soon becomes apparent that this is a drug related crime as the bodies of a number of drug dealers are found. Who will be the last devil to die?

Members of the the Thursday Murder Club also help a new member of the retirement village who has become involved in a romance scam. 

Like the other books in the series the exploits of the Thursday Murder Club members are described with humour however this novel is not just about a group of elderly people trying to solve a crime. Richard Osman also provides a compassionate account of the effects of dementia - not just on the person with dementia but also how families and friends of the person with dementia are affected.

Thank you Richard Osman for allowing us to enjoy another adventure with the Thursday Murder Club.

Ripper

Three people were murdered in a small town located off the main road between Sydney and Melbourne. When seventeen years later another murder occurs after a proposal is made to operate a tour of the murder sites in the town, the small town of Ranier is once again gripped in fear as memories of past events resurface. Gemma Guillory, who witnessed the death of one of the victims many years previously, now faces the trauma of the latest murder occurring outside her tearooms and the fears of the past reemerge. 

Ripper by Shelley Burr is another gripping crime novel set in a small community where everyone seems to have a secret and nothing is as it first appears. Gradually we learn about the three people who were the original victims and their interaction with the town. One of the victims was never identified and there are several theories as to her identity. A parallel story occurs in a prison where a prison officer encourages a prisoner and former private investigator, Lane Holland, to establish whether the unidentified victim was the prison officer's missing daughter.

Ripper is another action packed Australian crime novel set in a small town with a hidden past and many complex characters providing an insight into the consequences of a person's actions on other people. 

The raging storm

When Jem Rosco returns to Greystone there is speculation among the locals as to why he is there. And then he disappears again. When a body is found in a small boat off Scully Cove during a storm, Matthew Venn and his team are called in to investigate.

Like many small communities there are numerous stories as to what might have happened in the community, now and in the past. Many of the inhabitants of this north Devon town belong to the Barum Brethren, a sect that Matthew's parents belonged to, as did he until he rebelled when a teenager. Returning to this region therefore brings back many memories from the past. The rivalry between Jen Rafferty and Ross May continues as they assist in the investigation.

Scully Cove appears to be a key to the investigation, but why? A second body is found at the cove then another key character disappears. As to be expected there are lots of twists and turns until the crime is solved.

The Raging Storm is the third book in the Two Rivers series by Ann Cleeves.

Fire with Fire

Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire, at least that is what Ryan and Elsie Delaney believe as they take over the Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Laboratory with the intention of regularly destroying police laboratory samples until their daughter, aged five when she disappeared two years earlier, is found. They have also taken three hostages.

Fire with fire by Australian author, Candice Fox, is set in Los Angeles. While the LAPD and the SWAT teams are in place, police officer Charlie Hoskins and recently fired police recruit, Lynette Lamb, set out to discover what happened to Tilly Delaney. 

For five years Hoskins was under-cover with a ruthless bikie gang. Police recently raided the gang making many arrests however the three leaders are still at large and are after Hoskins. Forensic evidence relating to the gang that Hoskins collected is stored at the laboratory under siege. Lamb is furious at having been fired on her first day in the police force and wants to prove that she is more than capable of being a good police officer. Hoskins and Lamb make up a strange but determined team.

This is an action packed novel from start to finish with complex characters that we learn more about as the story progresses. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I suspect that this is not the end of the investigations of Hoskins and Lamb.

The adventures and memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

This Vintage Conan Doyle edition contains the collection of the short stories originally published in the books The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. 

Dr Watson, the narrator and observer in these short stories, accompanies Sherlock Holmes as he solves puzzles and crimes that the police have difficulty resolving. The importance of the case varies in each story and very occasionally Holmes is outwitted but it is fun to try and follow the clues, obvious and not so obvious, and work out the solution.

There are twenty-four stories in this compilation all, of course, set in Victorian England. Times may have changed but it was good to become immersed again in the world of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. Looking at the range of films and television series based on Sherlock Holmes and the number of Sherlock Holmes inspired mystery series books, the writings of Conan Doyle and his two main characters continue to be relevant in the 2020s.

Slaughter Park

Harry Belltree disappeared to Far North Queensland after his wife, Jenny, said she no longer wanted to see him again. But when Jenny disappears leaving her baby with her sister, Kelly Pool travels to Queensland to find Harry and bring him back to Sydney. Harry knows that his wife is in danger and that the only solution is to solve the mystery of his parent's death which seems to be behind events threatening his family. 

Harry is unable to return to the police force but he still has a few contacts who unofficially assist him as does Kelly Pool. Kelly needs information for an article that she is writing for a Sydney newspaper but she is also grateful to Harry for saving her life. Harry knows that Jenny has gone into hiding and sets out to find her. He also realises that she must remain hidden until the case is solved.

Meanwhile the police are investing a series of murders discovered in Slater Park which becomes known as Slaughter Park. How are these murders connected to Harry's family investigation.

Slaughter Park is the final volume in the Belltree Trilogy by Barry Maitland. The over-riding story in the series flows from one volume to  the next with an additional crime as the focus of each book.There are lots of murders, however the author has ensured that the books are easy to easy to read with constant action and insight into the lives of the main characters. I was able to borrow copies of the three books in the series from my local library. It is advisable to read the books in order to fully follow the story.

Ash Island

After police detective Harry Belltree recovers from being shot he is transferred to Newcastle. Not long after arriving in the town Harry investigates the finding of a body at Ash Island. The investigation  intensifies as more bodies are discovered and police attempt to discover the connection between them.

It soon becomes obvious that events from the past continue to follow Harry. When he investigates a case of domestic violence, Harry is recognised by the accused though Harry is not sure why. Then his home is bombed and Harry and his wife return to Sydney. Both Harry and Jenny realise that they need answers as to why Harry's parents were murdered three years previously if they are to live a 'normal' life again. As the danger to Harry's family increases, he does not know who to trust.

Ash Island by Barry Mortimer is the second volume in the Belltree Trilogy.

A history of Ash Island - Australian Museum

Crucifixion Creek

Harry Belltree is a detective in the NSW police force. Previously he served as a member of the Australian armed forces in Afghanistan where he saw many deadly events so to some extent becomes immune to the violence that he encounters working in homicide. But Harry is still troubled by the death of his parents in a car crash three years earlier. His wife, who was also in the car, is now blind. Harry knows that this was no accident and is determined to find out who is responsible.

Meanwhile a number of events have occurred in / near Crucifixion Creek and when Harry meets a journalist, Kelly Pool, who is looking for leads for stories he occasionally provides her with leads for stories. Harry is officially restricted in the investigation as his brother-in-law is one of the victims. However he sets out to carry out his own unofficial investigation into what turns out to be a minefield of corruption.

Crucifixion Creek by Barry Maitland is the first book in the Belltree Trilogy. It is a fast paced, often violent, crime thriller that is easy to read and difficult to put down.

Tales of the unexpected

Between 1979-1986 nine series of the television program Tales of the Unexpected were screened on television, later in the evening. Episodes in the television series were based on short stories written by British author, Roald Dahl. Sixteen of the short stories appear in this book. Larger collections of Dahl's short stories have also been published.

Contents include Taste - Lamb to the slaughter - Man from the south -My lady love, my dove - Dip in the pool - Galloping Foxley - Skin - Neck - Nunc Dimittis - The landlady -William and Mary - The way up to heaven - Parson's pleasure - Mrs Bixby and the colonel's coat - Royal jelly - Edward the Conqueror. 

Written as one would expect from Roald Dahl, the stories contain a mix of humour and the macabre with a usually unexpected twist at the end. Although some of the stories appear a little out-dated they provide an easy entertaining read, especially when there is not enough time to read a novel.

I borrowed this book from the library when my grand-daughter was given a list of short stories to read to learn how writers create tension in their stories. 'Lamb to the slaughter' and 'The landlady' were two of the stories on the list.

Killing Moon

Harry Hole had retreated to the United States where he attempts to forget the past by drinking himself into oblivion. But Harry cannot stay out of trouble and when a friend is captured by debt collectors he agrees to take on a job in Norway provided that there is enough money to pay his friend's ransom.

Harry is hired by a business tycoon to help police solve the crime for which the media is blaming him. Two girls who had recently attended the same party have disappeared and eventually are discovered, dead. Who is behind the killings and why? 

Killing Moon by Jo Nesbo is number 13 in the Harry Hole series. The story, as well as murder, includes addiction to drugs and alcohol, drug dealing, child molestation, sexual activities, friendship as ongoing themes. Different sections of the story are interwoven throughout the novel which also includes a series of red herrings to mislead the reader and numerous twists and turns that multiply towards the end of the book. It is indeed a great read and difficult to leave before finishing the novel.

The Librarianist

Bob Comet is a retired librarian living alone in a house inherited after the death of his mother. He spends most of his time reading and going for an occasional walk. On one occasion he comes across an elderly woman standing still gazing at a display in a Seven / Eleven. Bob notices that she is wearing a lanyard which includes the name of the home where she lives so he guides her back to where she belongs. Bob is shown around the home and decides that he may be able to help as a volunteer. 

Gradually Bob gets to know the residents on his regular visits to the home. Then an event occurs that triggers Bob's memories of past events in his life - growing up in the 1940s including a time when he ran away from home, and his relationship with Connie and Ethan.

The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt is a book about self discovery and about relationships. It is about evaluating the events of the past in order to understand life in the present.  This story of the relationships of people sometimes on the edge of society is told with quiet humour.

Demon Copperhead

The winner of the 2023 James Tait Black award for fiction is Demon Copperhead by American author, Barbara Kingsolver. The writing of this book was inspired by Charles Dickens' novel, David Copperfield published in 1850 which traces the life of the main character as he struggles to grow up and survive during difficult times in Victorian England. He gradually learns that despite the difficulties that he faces there are people who will try to help him.

In Demon Copperhead Damen's father dies before his birth and his mother attempts to bring him up in a community of poverty in Virginia. This had been a mining area but by the beginning of the twenty-first century the mines are closed and the people who remain in the area struggle to survive. Much of the population, including Damen's mother, are addicted to a variety of substances and when Damen becomes an orphan he becomes a victim of a foster care system where boys spend time with adults who are only interested in the money they receive for fostering a child, not helping a child in need.  

As in David Copperfield there are people prepared to help Damen but he is not always ready to accept assistance when it is offered. This is a story of poverty, unemployment, drug and alcohol addiction, death and a failed foster care system, but at the end it also a story of survival against all odds.

My father once told me that when reading a book you should read at least forty pages before deciding to go no further. I seriously thought of giving up on this book, especially in the early chapters, but once the author concentrated on letting the main character tell his story in real time, instead of providing description of his environment and early years, I decided to keep reading and did finish this long story. 

The book is only 546 pages but I am sure that it would have been more readable at 300 pages. There is only so much repetition of misery until, in my opinion, it becomes too much. However the many good reviews of this novel show that other readers have a different opinion.

Birder, she wrote

When Meg and her grandmother set out to help a neighbour locate a long forgotten cemetery on his property they also find a recently dead body at the location. As the victim has managed to upset many people in the community Meg and other members of the community assist the police in discovering the murderer. 

The visit of a journalist writing a story about Meg's grandmother for a women's magazine adds further complications to Meg's life as does her father's attempts to establish a beehive in Meg's garden. Mayor Shiffley has also asked beg to investigate complaints from new residents known as the NIMBYS.

Humming birds and bees feature prominently in the thirty-third book in the Meg Langslow Mystery series. Another amusing, relaxing read.

Lenny Marks gets away with murder

Although Lenny Marks gets away with murder by Kerryn Mayne is a crime novel it primarily deals with the conflicts faced by a school teacher, now in her thirties, as she attempts to deal with the mental and physical damage she encountered as a child so she can learn to better relate to the people and situations that make up her life today.

At the age of eleven Lenny was separated from her mother to live first with her grandmother and then with foster carers. Lenny's last memory of her stepfather were the words this is all your fault. During the novel the real events are revealed as Lenny gradually remembers pieces of the story of her childhood and discovers the truth.

Although the novel deals with family violence and the effects of such violence, it is also a study of learning to understand and come to terms with past events in order to live a 'normal' life. It is also about learning who are your real friends and accepting their help.

The Escapades of Tribulation Johnson

The Escapades of Tribulation Johnson by Karen Brooks is definitely a rollicking good story set in Restoration England. With the name of the main character being Tribulation the reader can be reasonably sure that chaos will follow her.  When Tribulation is banished from the family home she moves to London to live with her cousin Aphra Behn, a playwright, writer and one time spy.

In London, the only way that Tribulation can initially earn her living is working in the theatre as an actress or as a prompter. Because she has connections many of the members of the theatre company are jealous and it is not easy for her to become accepted. 

Political unrest abounds in London in 1679. Charles II is back on the throne but there is much discussion regarding who his successor should be. Catholic and anti-Catholic sentiments abound threatening the lives of ordinary people. This is also a time when women are not allowed to assert themselves and give their opinions. Young ladies are expected to be demure and obey the men in the family. As an aspiring writer Tribulation must publish her work as anonymous or use a pseudonym for her own protection.

The theatre scene in London is the setting for much of the book. This work of historical fiction is set out in the style of a play with five acts and scenes within each act. Most of the chapters are narrated by the fictional character of Tribulation Johnson interspersed with occasional chapters by an observer. 

Many of the characters were people living at the time however other characters, including Tribulation, are purely fictional. The novel therefore provides a fictional account of a historical time period. A list of characters at the back of the book indicates characters who are real and those who are fictional.

Online articles about Aphra Behn

Aphra Behn - The British Library

Aphra Behn - Encyclopedia Britannica  

Aphra Behn - Poetry Foundation

The Air Raid Book Club

When Gertie Bingham and her husband, Harry, opened the Bingham Bookshop they did not envisage the impact that this venture would have on the local community. Set mainly during the Second World War, The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons shows the importance of community for survival and the role that books might play in contributing to this sense of community.

When Gertie is first asked by a friend if she will provide a home for a Jewish refugee from Germany she refuses. Gertie is still grieving over the death of Harry and is considering selling the bookshop. She does not need another responsibility. But then she changes her mind and Hedy becomes an important part of her life. 

The experiences of Gertie and her neighbours during the horrors of The Blitz and the subsequent raids cause Gertie and her friends to look for a distraction and, for them, the obvious answer is books. The monthly book club which had been a feature of the shop was transferred to the air raid shelter during times of danger. Discussing books they had read helped those in the shelter to become lost in another world for a short time before they had to face the danger caused by the German bombs.

The novel also focuses on the experiences of refugees such as Hedy whose families remain in occupied countries and also of loved ones fighting overseas in the armed forces. What is happening to them? Will they ever see them again?

The Air Raid Book Club is another welcome addition to recent novels on the experiences of families during war.

Grounded: a journey through landscapes, sanctuaries and sacred places

James Canton started writing Grounded during the COVID pandemic when England was in Lockdown. Restricted in where he could travel he decided to explore some of the special sites close to home including landscapes and religious sites. The plan was to research what had made these sites special over a period of time and why some sites may no longer be considered significant. In England many of the churches have been built on the sites of earlier churches and in some cases on sites that were considered special before Christianity. Why were these sites chosen for religious buildings?

Once restrictions had been lifted he was able to travel further afield and visited locations in Wiltshire including West Kennet Long Barrow and Coneybury Hill (close to Stonehenge but in  use a thousand years earlier). What was the significance of these sites that thousands of years ago people had chosen the site to bury the dead or to share a celebration. How could you begin to visualise what people living up to 6,000 years ago saw around them.

The author then examined some recent finds that were probably votive offerings including the Garboldisham Macehead, antler bone axes and wooden carvings such as the Dagenham Idol. One of the author's conclusions is that to the hunter gatherers in England the most sacred places could be those connected to the living. He suggests that people today should not see themselves as separate from nature. It is not possible to see the world as people in the past saw it but it is still possible to view glimpses of their world and what it might have meant to them. Being aware of our environment, including special places, helps us to remain grounded.

Missing Pieces

Recently I read The Chessmen by Peter May, the third book in the Lewis Trilogy crime series. Part of the story revolved around a collection of chess pieces found on Lewis in 1831. Missing Pieces by Jennifer Mackenzie Dunbar is a historical fiction novel about four sets of chess pieces carved in the twelfth century. Many of the pieces washed up on the shores of Lewis after the ship carrying the pieces was wrecked. 

In this novel we learn the story from those who had contact with the chess pieces - Magrit who carved the pieces in Iceland in 1190; Morven and Seamus who discovered the shipwrecked chess pieces in 1190 and arranged to have them hidden; Mhairi and Calum who discovered the chessmen again in 1831.

The novel is also about Marianne who works at the British Museum and arrives in Lewis to prepare a display of some of the pieces in the small museum at Lewis. At Lewis she is assisted by Agnes and Euan as well as her mother, Shona, as they decide to look for the pieces that were never found.

Marianne also has to contend with workplace bullying from her supervisor in London, has to reestablish her relationship with her mother and also decide whether she wants to meet her son who she gave up for adoption when she was sixteen. While working on Lewis, Marianne discovers new friends as she decides what is really important in her life.

Southern Aurora

It is the mid 1980s and Jimmy lives in the poorest section of a small country town in New South Wales with his mother and his young brother, Sam. His older brother, Mick, is in gaol, again. His mother sometimes drinks too much when she is depressed. Then there is Charlie who sometimes lives with them but when he abuses family members returns to his own lodgings. Life certainly has its challenges.

Southern Aurora by Mark Brandi provides Jimmy's view on his life. He is in grade five at school and finds it difficult to make friends, especially as he is not good at sport. With his brother away, Mark feels responsible for the family and blames himself when things go wrong. He tries to look after Sam who attends a special school and he keeps an eye on his mother's welfare. 

When it is announced that a billy cart race is to be held at school Jimmy feels that he can really become involved, however even this does not go entirely to plan. It does though allow Jimmy to get to know Don, an elderly neighbour who encourages Jimmy to realise that although life can be unkind at times he cannot control everything. Others too need to help resolve life's problems.

The Southern Aurora is the train that used to travel between Melbourne and Sydney. The railway line passed through the town where Jimmy lived and children used to wave to passengers on the train and dream of one day escaping on the train themselves. The train was named after the southern lights that sometimes can be seen brightening up the sky in the southern hemisphere.

Broken Bay

Broken Bay by Margaret Hickey is set on the Limestone Coast of South Australia. Detective Sergeant Mark Ariti is visiting Broken Bay for a short break from work and family issues. While he is there experienced cave diver,  Mya Rennik, disappears. But the body retrieved from the cave is not Mya. Mark is requested by senior officers to remain in the area and investigate the case of the mystery diver and to also be present when the divers eventually retrieve Mya's body from the sink hole.

It is soon obvious that numerous secrets are held by members of families who have lived and worked in the area for many years. Before long Mark learns of two other deaths in the past that may or may not have been accidents. Then there is a murder in the town. A team of detectives from Adelaide arrives to attempt to unravel the mysteries that seem primarily to involve the Doyle and Sinclair families.

This is a novel that I just wanted to keep reading. Like so many Australian crime novels the scenery plays an important part in the story. The sink holes and underground caves are beautiful but sinister and the myriad narrow passageways joining caves can be horrific. Add to this mysteries spanning more than twenty years, the recent deaths and the secrets held by community members all help to hold the attention of the reader. Mark is also trying to resolve his own family issues.

Broken Bay is the third book in the Detective Sergeant Mark Ariti series.

Wake

Set in the fictional community of Nannine in outback New South Wales, WAKE by Shelley Burr is another title in the growing number of  excellent Australian crime books.

Private investigator Lane Holland arrives in the area hoping to investigate the case of Evelyn McCreery who disappeared nineteen years earlier. For several years his mission has been to investigate cold cases involving the disappearance of young girls. However he is presented with a case involving the disappearance of Crista Rennold who had also lived in the area. As Lane carries out his investigations the reader learns about events that have occurred in Lane's past that impact on his interest in these cold cases.

There are many twists and turns and dead ends throughout the novel until Lane is able to prove his theory about what happened to the missing girls.

According to a community forum, MyMurder, quoted throughout the novel WAKE stands for Wednesday Adams Killed Evie. To discover the significance you will have to read the book.

Review:

Murder in the brain-broiling heat and red dust of the outback - New York Times, 21 July 2022.

Homecoming

When Jess returns to Australia after almost twenty years in London she is determined to discover the true stories of past events that have never been revealed to her. Her grandmother, Nora, has had a fall and is seriously ill in hospital. Jess tried to communicate with her grandmother in the hospital but the only words offered at the end of one visit was Issy, help me ...he's going to take her from me. What did this mean? Jess was determined to discover the truth.

Nora had been Jess's prime carer when Polly, her mother had relocated to Queensland so the relationship between Jess and her mother had been strained for many years. When Jess discovered that there was a mystery about events that had occurred at a large house owned by Nora's brother in the Adelaide Hills in 1959 she decides to find out the true story as she suspects that this may be the cause of strained relationships in the family.

 Homecoming by Kate Morton is set in Tambilla in the Adelaide Hills in December 1959 and in London and Sydney in December 2018. Much of the plot is also revealed via a book written about the tragic events that occurred on Christmas Eve at Halcyon, Tambilla. Pages torn from a diary and a letter help Jess to unravel what happened at that time. Gradually Jess and Polly learn the true family story.  

This is not a book to read in a hurry but one to read when there is time to spend becoming immersed in the journey leading to Jess's gradual understanding of the truth about her family.