Matthew Ross is the author of Death of a Painter. His latest novel, The Red Admiral’s Secret, is published by Red Dog Press on 3 February 2021. Matthew kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about Mark Poynter. Mark Poynter is the reluctant protagonist in my novels: a series of…
Trace Elements by Donna Leon – review
Published by Arrow Publication date – 24 September 2020 Source – own copy ‘They killed him. It was bad money.’ A dying hospice patient gasps these cryptic words about her recently-deceased husband. Brunetti softly promises he will look into what appears to be a private family tragedy. He discovers that her husband worked for a…
Six Degrees of Separation – from Hamnet to The Railway Children
Six Degrees of Separation is the brainchild of Kate from Books Are My Favourite and My Best. Each month there is a different starter book and through six books, with what can be, on my part, extremely tenuous links, you see which book you end up at. The starter book this month is Hamnet by Maggie…
Alan Lucas – Q&A
Alan Lucas is the author of You Don’t Need Therapy: 7 Steps to Sorting Your Self Out, is published by Blink Street Publishing on 12 January 2021. Alan kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about You Don’t Need Therapy: 7 Steps to Sorting Your Self Out. It’s a one-stop…
Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey – review
Published by Persephone Books Publication date – 23 April 2009 Source – own copy A short novel that was first published in 1932 by a niece of Lytton Strachey: in this ‘sharp, unsentimental domestic comedy, the weather is something less than cheerful the day Dolly Thatcham marries the Hon Owen Bingham: “In the furious March…
Victoria Dowd – Q&A
Victoria Dowd is the author of The Smart Woman’s Guide to Murder, published by Joffe Books on 5 May 2020. Victoria kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about The Smart Woman’s Guide to Murder. It’s the first in a series of classic murder mystery books. Ursula Smart, along with…
Balancing the Books – December 2020
So 2020 is over. 2021 heralds perhaps much of the same, though this time we are at least forewarned as to what to expect in the coming weeks and months. We can only hope that each day becomes a little easier and do the best we can to see ourselves through the current lockdown. December…
2021 – the reading year ahead
So 2020 is nearly over and many will be pleased to see the back of it. I’ve read some great books this year and I’m already looking forward to what’s in store next year. Whilst I’m not one who worries about how many books I’ve read or whether I’m missing out on the latest proof…
Reposed Bespoke Book Box – review
So Christmas has been and gone. Some of you may have received books under the tree, others may be bookless. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket or forgot to buy that gift and want to get something a little different then the Reposed Bespoke Book Box may be for you. Over…
Book Post – Book Subscription Services
It’s round about this time of year that panic can set in. Three days until Christmas and still have presents to buy. What do you get the committed bookworm? Books are the obvious choice but unless you’ve been given a handy list (or spreadsheet) how do you know which to get? Well that’s where you…
