Schmuck the Buck A new take on the Rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer story, featuring Larry the Jewish caribou, who gets bullied at school. Treated badly by pretty much everyone, he nevertheless saves the day in time for Christmas with a shrewdly sent message. Written by someone called Exo Books, this is both a curious and charming little tome…
‘Refusal’ by Felix Francis
Refusal Six years after investigator Sid Halley’s retirement, a request from racing authority chairman Sir Richard Stewart looks like pushing Sid back into the sleuthing game. But the former jockey-turned-detective has no desire to revive a line of work that got him shot, beaten up and thrown in the path of danger on a regular…
‘Escape from Samsara’ by Nicky Blue
Escape from Samsara When Barry (a time-travelling ninja and part-time gardener), sets off on an epic adventure in a bid to unleash his inner ninja and find his missing father, he enters a surreal world where anything can and does happen. With a cast of characters including a talking hedge, a metal-head mother and ghostly…
‘Heist’ by Howard Sounes
Heist (Audiobook) In February 2006, an unlikely gang of would-be villains stole £53 million from a cash warehouse in Tonbridge, Kent. Rocketing the caper into the annals of British crimes such as the Great Train Robbery, the theft was audacious in its premise and, at times, positively farcical in its execution. Subtitled ‘The True Story…
‘No Remorse’ by Robert Crouch
No Remorse When Mr Trimble dies in Nightingales retirement home, Kent Fisher is suspicious, and not only because of the puzzling set of numbers the old man left him. Is the death due to natural causes, or could there be something sinister going on? Manager Miss Rudolph doesn’t like answering Kent’s questions, but receptionist Louise…
‘Oliver Twist’ by Charles Dickens
Oliver Twist Brought up in the workhouse, orphan Oliver escapes to London and finds himself caught in Fagin’s criminal underworld. Everyone knows the basic plot of this classic tale, but I was surprised to learn how much of it was new to me. It turns out that the many film and TV versions rarely do…
‘The Paradise Trees’ by Linda Huber
The Paradise Trees Returning to her childhood home to share the burden of caring for her estranged and fragile father, Alicia Bryson finds unpleasant memories of her life there crowding in on her. Determined that her eight-year-old daughter will enjoy the ‘holiday’, Alicia is torn between doing the right thing and putting as much distance…
‘Deception Wears Many Faces’ by Maggie James
Deception Wears Many Faces Ex-pat artist Lyddie comes home to her native Bristol after her younger sister attempts suicide. But Ellie’s state of mind turns out to be the result of a con-man who has stolen both her savings and her confidence. Vowing revenge, Lyddie determines to track down the villain and bring him to…
‘Blue Skin’ by Steven Jenkins
Blue Skin A mysterious disease is encroaching on the human race, creating new vampiric hybrids. With a ban on reproduction, anyone giving birth to the new blue-skinned babies must hand over their offspring to the Government – or face dire consequences. For Freya, keeping her brother hidden is the only real option. Billed as ‘A…
‘Tears of Fire’ by Gordon Bickerstaff
Tears of Fire Two blood-thirsty sisters prepare to take revenge on the people who killed their parents. A private nursing home gets rid of people whose relatives don’t want them around any more. And former SAS soldier Zoe is about to face the ultimate penalty for killing members of the Silsden family. So begins the…
