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Never Go Back by Lee Child
I am trying to work my way through the selection of Lee Child books on our shelves. I find them easy to read and, if I'm reading at...
authorvalpenny
Mar 153 min read
31 views
0 comments


Bad for Good by Graham Bartlett
I met up with Graham Bartlett again at Newcastle Noir, in December. The festival is run by the inimitable Jacky Gramozi Collins (aka Dr...
authorvalpenny
Feb 13 min read
27 views
0 comments


Red Daisy by Gemma Owen-Kendall
I have just finished reading a book, Red Daisy , by an author new to me, Gemma Owen-Kendall. Not only that, but the genre, fantasy...
authorvalpenny
Jan 152 min read
29 views
0 comments

Whatever it Takes by Joy Wood
When an author makes a gift of a book, it is a generous gesture. Joy wood gave me a copy of her new novel, Whatever it Takes, without...
authorvalpenny
Oct 30, 20243 min read
23 views
0 comments

The Little Ice Cream Shop by the Sea by Lizzie Chantree
I have always enjoyed books by Lizzie Chantree and was delighted when I had the chance to meet her when she lectured at a conference...
authorvalpenny
Oct 2, 20243 min read
15 views
0 comments


The Lady's Favour by A.J. Roberts
The Lady's Favour is comprised of three novellas written by A.J. Roberts and combined to produced a satisfying novel. This book includes...
authorvalpenny
Aug 10, 20242 min read
17 views
0 comments


Proof of Life by Karen Campbell
I live in a village in South West Scotland and was delighted when, a few years ago, Karen Campbell ran a writers' workshop in the library...
authorvalpenny
May 11, 20242 min read
20 views
0 comments


Find You First by Linwood Barclay
I usually like Linwood Barclay's books. They are nicely plotted with an overtone of humour and when I see one I haven't read I will pick...
authorvalpenny
Apr 20, 20242 min read
12 views
0 comments


Missing The Deadline by Joan Livingston
I have read every book in Joan Livingston's Isabel Long series so it will not surprise anybody that I enjoy the books. The author is...
authorvalpenny
Feb 10, 20242 min read
12 views
0 comments


The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows
When this book was book of the month at my book group, I sighed. Generally speaking I do not like books written as a series of letters. ...
authorvalpenny
Jan 13, 20242 min read
37 views
0 comments


Funeral Note by Quintin Jardine
I have read many of Quintin Jardine’s books and much prefer his Bob Skinner character to his Oz Blackstone series. In Funeral Notes, a...
authorvalpenny
Jan 6, 20242 min read
7 views
0 comments


The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell
The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell was book of the month for our village book group. There was a wide variety of views about it, but...
authorvalpenny
Nov 15, 20233 min read
15 views
0 comments


A Gentle Nudge by Mason Bushell
For a long time, short stories seemed to be out of fashion. Occasionally,well-known writers like Ian Rankin, Agatha Christie and Jeffrey...
authorvalpenny
Aug 28, 20232 min read
29 views
1 comment


The Boy in Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
The book was recommended to me by my nephew, Mathew because he had enjoyed the book so much. The Blurb Nine-year-old Bruno knows nothing...
authorvalpenny
Aug 5, 20233 min read
3 views
0 comments


The Mission Song by John le Carre
Joining a book group is a great way to read outside your usual genres and away from the authors you normally choose. When my book group...
authorvalpenny
Jul 29, 20232 min read
16 views
0 comments


The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
A friend bought and read The Thursday Murder Club for her group but didn't want to keep it, so gave it to me. I should have known... The...
authorvalpenny
Jul 22, 20232 min read
43 views
0 comments


Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson has a cult following and was recommended to me by the co-ordinator of the first book...
authorvalpenny
Jul 12, 20233 min read
11 views
0 comments


The Narcissist’s Daughter by Craig Holden
Craig Holden is the author of several novels including The River Sorrow, The Last Sanctuary, Four Corners of Night, The Jazz Bird and...
authorvalpenny
Jul 8, 20232 min read
20 views
0 comments


Wasted by Mark Johnson
Wasted was book of the month at my book club. It is the autobiography of Mark Johnson who suffered a poor and violent childhood. He...
authorvalpenny
Jul 5, 20233 min read
29 views
0 comments


Lies Behind the Ruins by Helen Matthews
I recently read Lies Behind the Ruins by Helen Matthews. I had enjoyed all the previous books by her that I had read, so I thought this...
authorvalpenny
Jun 3, 20233 min read
41 views
0 comments
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