Whenever I read blogs or Twitter posts by an author who’s just finished the first draft of their WIP (work in progress), I always wonder if I’m the only person in the world who thinks first drafts are just another way of saying, ‘what I’ve written is crap so I’m going to do it all…
‘A Dutiful Son’ by Kelly Miller
My Review (4 stars out of 5) Struggling to honour his father, Fitzwilliam Darcy is faced with a dilemma when the old man determines that Elizabeth Bennet is not the girl for his son. When Darcy’s sister Georgiana gets chummy with Elizabeth, Darcy hopes his father will recognise her qualities, but love and duty seem…
‘The Vesuvius Club’ by Mark Gatiss
My Review (4 stars out of 5) When several British scientists turn up dead, Edwardian painter and secret agent Lucifer Box sets off across Europe to track down those responsible. Leaving his residence at 9 Downing Street, Box delves into all things seedy and debauched as he follows the clues and the dead bodies to…
‘Killing the Invisible’ by Keith Dixon
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Detective Inspector Walter Watts tries not to let emotions get in the way of his job, but the murder of a young girl lands him with some difficult decisions. Moved to a temporary post with the Porthaven Council, Watts finds himself facing off against some obstinate characters, including…
The Upstanding Writer
I’ve written elsewhere about my habit of standing up to write, but it’s always useful to reconsider ways of working to see if they’re still effective. For the last ten years my day job has been in occupational therapy, a role which involves a bit of driving and a bit of desk work. Long-standing back…
‘Thames Valley Tales’ by Tim Walker
My Review (4 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) This collection of nine short stories is inspired by the author’s experience of living in Thames Valley towns, mixing modern-day themes with tales and legends from the area between London and the heart of rural England. As with all short story collections, there are those which stand…
‘Not Dead Yet’ by Peter James
My Review (5 stars out of 5) When American pop icon Gaia Lafayette is set to star in a movie to be shot in her hometown of Brighton, Roy Grace is put in charge of her security. Meanwhile, a vicious gangster is released from prison and a headless torso is found on a chicken farm.…
‘Forever Young’ by Hayley Mills
My Review (4 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) Actress Hayley Mills recounts her journey from an untroubled childhood in post-war Britain, to worldwide fame as a child actor. Coming from a well-known theatrical family (John Mills, Juliette Mills etc), she got to know a host of famous actors, writers and directors, including Walt Disney, Bryan…
‘Go Not Gently’ by Cath Staincliffe
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Private investigator Sal Kilkenny must manage childcare and domestic chores while checking up on an errant wife and snooping around a nursing home. When a man suspects his wife of playing away, he asks Sal to find out where she goes. Meanwhile, an elderly woman worried about her…
‘The Way of All Flesh’ by Ambrose Parry
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Edinburgh, 1847. Medical student Will Raven begins an apprenticeship to the renowned Dr Simpson where he meets housemaid Sarah Fisher – who also has an interest in medicine. Though the two initially don’t hit it off, they share a concern about a series of gruesome deaths in the…
Colin Garrow 