2009 Books

This is an early Agatha Christie novel, written in around 1925.
We have a young man called Anthony Cade – a bit of a ne’er do well, but there are strong suspicions of a heart of gold under all that roguish exterior.
Eking out a living in Africa, he encounters a friend who asks him to take [...]

Another Agatha Christie book. I am enjoying reading these – I thought that hercules Poirot would annoy me, but he doesn’t – possibly because he doesn’t appear that much in the books, possibly because… he just doesn’t!
Poirot is shocked, simply shocked! His ultra efficient secretary has made 3 mistakes in one letter. This is absolutely [...]

This is Terry Pratchett’s latest Discorld effort.
I had read relatively poor reviews for this, but I can’t agree – its just as strong as his other works.
The story – the common people of Ankh-Morpork follow football, but it is an unregulated and unsafe game. At the same time, the wizards of Unseen University realise that [...]

Miss Marple is minding her own business – and feeling her age – when a letter appears asking her to attend a London solicitor. She realises that an acquaintance from a few years ago has passed on and has left a strange bequest. He needs justice to be done – and it is Miss Marple [...]

For something different, I have picked up a work of non-fiction.
I enjoy well written history, but don’t read it very often, fiction junky that I am.
“The Courtesans” is a brief description of the lives of 12 “major” courtesans of 19th century France, including Blanche d’Antigny, La barucci, Cora Pearl, Esther Guimond, La Paiva (Therese Lachmann), [...]

I think this is my very first Agatha Christie book – certainly I don’t recall reading any others, although I have seen movie versions many times.
I enjoyed it very, very much.
This is a Hercules Poirot book.
The non-spoiler summary is M. Porot has bought a small weekender in the country near a stately residence call ‘The [...]

Julian May’s works are growing on me.
The Many Coloured Land was a little too graphic for my liking, but the followup Galactic Milieu trilogy was nothing short of genius.
This series was very enjoyable.
I’m looking forward to the sequels

This is The classic Sherlock Holmes book, and it is worthy of the name.
It varies a little from the majority of the Sherlock Holmes works, as it spends a lot of time with Watson thinking he is without Holmes.
The summary: a man has died, and it seems he dies of fright at his family home [...]

Julian May isn’t one of my favourite author’s, but that doesn’t mean I refuse to read her.
I spotted this volume and thought it was worth a grab – and it is.
Picture a world where a continent-sized island was settled by mankind centuries ago, but there were earlier occupants. Mostly they are beyond mankind’s understanding, but [...]

I absolutely loved this book.
Synopsis: Sparky is an actor, wandering a solar system a couple of centuries from now. The ‘world’ is well thought out and fascinating – I don’t want to spoil it for you – and Sparky is a fascinating character. Through flashbacks (which start off a little tedious, but suddenly grab the [...]