My Review (5 stars out of 5) At a New Year’s Eve ball in a Brighton hotel, a woman is attacked as she returns to her room. When another woman is assaulted, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is reminded of a series of crimes from twelve years earlier – crimes he was not able to solve.…
‘The Looming Tower’ by Lawrence Wright
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Covering more than five decades, The Looming Tower describes the growth of Islamic fundamentalism, the rise of al-Qaeda, and the communication and other failures within the CIA and other agencies that led to the attacks on the World Trade Centre. Lawrence Wright charts the lives and development of…
‘The Last Party’ by Clare Mackintosh
My Review (5 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) Celebrity Rhys Lloyd throws a party on New Year’s Eve but some of the guests have their own special reasons for attending. Before the night is over, a murder is committed, casting suspicion on everyone present. Since the death occurred close to the England/North Wales border, local…
‘West Winds’ by Riaz Phillips
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Celebrating Caribbean cooking and the flavours of Jamaican cuisine, Riaz Phillips has put together a substantial collection of recipes that range from simple soups and jerk chicken to protein-rich smoothies and vegan corn beef. This is a hefty tome packed with colour photographs and hundreds of recipes old…
‘The Devil’s Defender’ by John Henry Browne
My Review (5 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) For forty years, lawyer John Henry Browne has defended people who some might think were undefendable. From Facebook folk hero Colton Moore to Kandahar massacre perpetrator Sergeant Robert Bales, Browne has often taken cases that appear unwinnable. His most famous client, however, is one of America’s most…
‘Seven Bridges’ by LJ Ross
My Review (5 stars out of 5) DCI Ryan’s plans to leave Newcastle in search of a killer are put aside when DC Jack Lowerson turns up on Ryan’s doorstep one night in a state of utter despair. Another officer is dead and Lowerson may be to blame. But in order to ensure everything is…
‘And Brother it’s Starting to Rain’ by Jake Needham
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Now retired from Singapore CID, Sam Tay has time on his hands. When John August comes calling asking a favour, Sam isn’t sure what to make of it. August needs help tracking down a woman involved in a murder plot – a plot to kill John August. Knowing…
‘Personal’ by Lee Child
My Review (5 stars out of 5) On a bus heading for Seattle, Jack Reacher picks up a copy of the Army Times. In the personals column he finds a message aimed at one particular person – Jack Reacher. Having already read about someone taking a shot at the French president, and knowing he owes…
‘Stone of Fire’ by JF Penn
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Oxford University psychologist Dr. Morgan Sierra is thrown into a race-against-time quest when her sister and niece are kidnapped. Morgan discovers she must track down the twelve stone pendants once owned by the Apostles. Knowing she and her sister have two of the relics, Morgan will need all…
‘Unlawful Killings’ by Wendy Joseph QC
My Review (5 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) High court Judge Wendy Joseph QC relates six cases that are characteristic of the many murder trials she presided over during a ten-year period at the Old Bailey. Her writing style is witty and highly intelligent, though never difficult to read or heavy handed. The six cases…
Colin Garrow 