REVIEW: Dead Man's Grip by Peter James (warning contains spoilers)!

Dead Man's Grip by Peter James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Peter James's last book concerned a serial killer working from 1997 to the present, this book is very much in the present.

A fatal road traffic accident leads to a series of mafia hits, and Roy Grace has to solve the crime(s) and save the day once again.

One of the things I love the most about the Roy Grace series is the settings. I know the area a little and the descriptions of locations always feel so real to me, this outing is no exception.

Featuring a potential return of Sandy, Roy Grace's long missing wife, and also a cameo appearance from Yac (and those Christian Louboutin's), this tale is a breakneck read from start to finish.

I particuarly like the character of Tooth, even though he was a bad guy, and was actually glad that he survived (perhaps to return in the future)?

The only thing that I found a little unbelievable was some of the police procedural, would an officer really travel on blues and twos to a dead body? If they do they shoudln't - the dead are dead, no sense in adding more dead, but perhaps this is true I don't know. It didn't seem factually or morally right - who knows.

A recommended read, if you like a good crime novel, and especailly if you have read any of the previous Roy Grace stories!

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What's the Time? #pupdate

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Wilson and His Hollow Treat Ball

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The ball Wilson is playing with is hollow and has a couple of treats inside which are slightly larger than the holes you fill the ball with. Provides hours of entertainment!

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Watering Tomatoes With Pop Bottles

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Dogs get the news: They are bestsellers. Lenore runs amok

via youtube.com

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So You Got A Kindle

So, like me you've got a kindle or some other kind of e-reader. Great isn't it? I think so, I've read more since I've had it and it enables me to carry many books rather than one or perhaps two. This suits my reading style, because sometimes I want a change of pace during the day with my book reading, and my kindle means I can cover all eventualities.

But now it means I buy less books from bookshops, I still go in and browse but I don't buy so much, I now only buy from stores if the books not available on kindle and then if I'm online shopping in the kindle store and a book I want to read isn't there I might buy online anyway rather than on the high street.

Now what about unintended consequences? I'm one kindle owner amongst many. There have already been reports of kindle book sales exceeding paperback sales for the first time, so what if all kindle owners are no longer buying books from the high street stores. What impact is that having on those bookstores?

It's not my intention to drive a bookstore out of business by my shopping habits. I love bookshops, but if I still want to visit them, they need to remain viable as a business.

Now the only big high street chain is Waterstones. They are owned by the same group as HMV, the music store and HMV are busy going to the wall as they're sales drop (reportedly as a result of the rise of digital music and players). If HMV does fold, will Waterstones follow? What will happen to the high street bookstores? More independents? Doesn't seem like a good business model, does it? Perhaps more coffee shops where you can sit and read your kindle and shop online for more books via the free wi-fi? Finally where does this leave libraries? Particular with public sector cuts too?

I have no answers to my questions, or what if anything I can do about it, but I'm giving it some thought.....

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David Hewson - The Villa of Mysteries

The Villa of Mysteries by David Hewson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started reading the Nic Costa series past half way, and have gone back to the beginning to catch up with those i've missed.

A tale of ritual murder, the mafia and dark crimes this is one of the best in the series, that I've read so far.

I judge a good book by one that I read in every spare moment, and this one is one of those.

The setting is bought alive by David Hewson's knowledge of Rome and this makes the crimes even more real.

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Roses are Starting To Flower

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Jon Katz - Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm

Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is Jon Katz's first children's book, and is a tale of his four dogs; Rose, Izzy, Frieda and Lenore, who live with him on Bedlam Farm.

A relatively short book it is beautifully illustrated with Jon's own photographs. Recommended for dog lovers and children of all ages ;)

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A Season for the Dead by David Hewson

A Season for the Dead by David Hewson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first in the Nic Costa series, rattles along at a fantastic pace, with twists and turns as it goes. A grizzly sequence of murders connected with a mysterious woman in the fantastic backdrop of Rome bought vividly to life by David Hewson.

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Random Allotment Photographs (1st May 2011)

Despite the bindweed and creeping buttercup, the food crops are doing nicely.  All photos taken using Hipstamatic app on iPhone.

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Audioboo Review: Lost (contains spoilers)

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