Isabel Bannerman’s book, The Star-Nosed Mole, was published by Pimpernel Press on 23 September 2021. Isabel kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about The Star-Nosed Mole. The Star- Nosed Mole is a sort of salad of delicious scented titbits that did not go into my book about scent in…
B: A Year in Plagues and Pencils by Edward Carey – review
Published by Gallic Books Publication date – 4 November 2021 Source – review copy ‘I blame the pencil. I hadn’t meant to do it. I wasn’t thinking. It just happened that way.’ In March 2020, as lockdowns were imposed around the world, author and illustrator Edward Carey published a sketch on social media, with a…
Reshma Ruia – Q&A
Reshma Ruia’s short story collection, Mrs Pinto Drives to Happiness, was published by Dahlia Publishing on 12 October 2021. Reshma kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about Mrs Pinto Drives to Happiness. Mrs Pinto Drives to Happiness is a collection of short stories that spans continents and cultures. The…
Under the Reader’s Radar – celebrating the quiet novel
There are thousands upon thousands of books published each year. Only a small percentage of those make it to the best-seller list. That doesn’t mean that the rest aren’t worthy of reading. It may be that they are written by self-published authors who don’t have the marketing knowledge or a small independent publisher who doesn’t have…
Diana Rosie – Q&A
Diana Rosie’s latest novel, Pippo & Clara was published by Pan on 6 January 2022. Diana kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about Pippo & Clara. Sometimes, it’s the smallest decisions that have the biggest consequences. Mussolini is in power and war is not far away. A ten-year-old girl…
A Taste for Poison: Eleven deadly substances and the killers who used them by Neil Bradbury – review
Published by Harper North Publication date – 20 January 2022 Source – review copy As any reader of murder mysteries can tell you, poison is one of the most enduring — and popular — weapons of choice for a scheming murderer. It can be slipped into a drink, smeared onto the tip of an arrow…
C E Rose – Q&A
C E Rose’s novel, The House on the Water’s Edge, was published by Hera on 9 December 2021. She also writes as Caroline England. Caroline kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about The House on the Water’s Edge. Struggling with the challenges of new motherhood since the birth of…
Robert Lloyd – Q&A
The Bloodless Boy by Robert Lloyd was published by Melville House on 4 November 2021. Robert kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about The Bloodless Boy. It’s a London-based historical thriller set in 1678, so in the later part of Charles II’s reign. A boy is discovered on the…
Balancing the Books – December 2021
So 2021 is behind us. Some will be sad to see it go, others glad. 2022 stretches out before us but as is the case with all years, will no doubt soon see us saying “how can it be this date already”. December saw many books arrive and not only the ones I bought and…
A Will to Kill by R V Raman – review
Published by Pushkin Vertigo Publication date – Source – review copy MIST, MOUNTAINS, MURDER. Ageing millionaire Bhaskar Fernandez has invited his relatives to the remote, and possibly haunted, Greybrooke Manor, high up in the misty Nilgiris. He knows his guests expect to gain from his death, so he writes two conflicting wills. Which one of…
From First Page to Last 