Bryant & May: The Burning Man By Christopher Fowler

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The Burning Man by Christopher Fowler
Series: Bryant & May #12

Published by DoubleDay (March 26th 2015)
Pages: 416 
Format: Hardcover 
Source: Publisher (NetGalley)

Rating: 3.5

Synopsis:

London is under siege. A banking scandal has filled the city with violent protests, and as the anger in the streets detonates, a young homeless man burns to death after being caught in the crossfire between rioters and the police.

But all is not as it seems; an opportunistic killer is using the chaos to exact revenge, but his intended victims are so mysteriously chosen that the Peculiar Crimes Unit is called in to find a way of stopping him.

Using their network of eccentric contacts, elderly detectives Arthur Bryant and John May hunt down a murderer who adopts incendiary methods of execution. But they soon find their investigation taking an apocalyptic turn as the case comes to involve the history of mob rule, corruption, rebellion, punishment and the legend of Guy Fawkes.

At the same time, several members of the PCU team reach dramatic turning points in their lives – but the most personal tragedy is yet to come, for as the race to bring down a cunning killer reaches its climax, Arthur Bryant faces his own devastating day of reckoning.

‘I always said we’d go out with a hell of a bang,’ warns Bryant.

My Thoughts:

I have to say that I was a little unsure about requesting The Burning Man by Christopher Fowler to read this title seeing as it looked like being the latest in a long running series.  I also hate to read any series out of sequence. However the cover was very appealing and the synopsis indicated that it would be an amusing, interesting read, and something very different from my usual crime reads. The author on his website assures readers that the series can be read in any order or as a stand alone. In view of this I requested a copy.

Mr Fowler did not fib at all, there was enough information on each character that I didn't feel disadvantaged by not reading previous books in the series.

The opening chapter introduces the cast of characters by means of a 'staff roster'.  Also included is an excerpt from a speech by Mr Arthur Bryant given to the City of London Police Crime Directorate, and a highly amusing memo from the long suffering PCU Chief, Raymond Land.

From the outset I knew I was going to enjoy reading, The Burning Man, and at times it had me laughing out loud in public places.  I'll give an example of the humour; "...no more pawning items from the Evidence Room until payday..." and "...the entrance halls' visual-recognition system has been removed after Mr Bryant proved it could be cheated by the addition of a hat...".

The Burning Man was an enjoyable, highly amusing read about a team of misfits working in the Peculiar Crime Unit (PCU).  At the centre of which are two main character's Bryant & May, a totally mismatched elderly police duo.  Bryant is somewhat untidy and dishevelled, both in appearance and manner.  May is his polar opposite, immaculate in appearance and highly organised. The setting is present day London during the Guy Fawkes' celebrations, alongside this angry protests are raging over a banking scandal. During the ensuing riots a homeless man is set alight and burns to death while sleeping in a doorway.

The PCU is brought in to investigate what should be a simple case of accidental death and hope to tie things up quickly.  A subsequent death throws new light on the case and the PCU find themselves investigating a double murder.

Both characters appear completely out of step with modern policing but they still manage to get results using old fashioned policing practices, incorporating unorthodox methods of investigation in order to solve crimes.

A highly entertaining and humorous crime thriller accompanied by Bryant's interesting historical facts and anecdotes about London.  I definitely recommend it to newcomers and those already familiar with the world of Bryant & May.

Unfortunately in this latest story the octogenarian detective seems to be losing his memory causing him to be confused and forgetful. If this is an indication that this may be the last we are to hear of the duo I can console myself that I have the previous instalments to catch up with.

ARAB JAZZ by Karim Miske

WATERSTONES Link

Arab Jazz by Karim Miské

Translated by Sam Gordon

Page Length: 304 (H/B)

ISBN: 978-0857053114

Publisher: Quercus Books (MacLehose Press) - February 2015

Source: A whopping big thanks to the publisher

Rating:

Genre: Crime Noir, Thriller, Multi Cultural Religious Tension, Black Humour

Book Synopsis:

Kosher sushi, kebabs, a second hand bookshop and a bar: the 19th arrondissement in Paris is a cosmopolitan neighbourhood where multicultural citizens live, love and worship alongside one another. This peace is shattered when Ahmed Taroudant’s melancholy daydreams are interrupted by the blood dripping from his upstairs neighbour’s brutally mutilated corpse.

The violent murder of Laura Vignole, and the pork joint placed next to her, set imaginations ablaze across the neighborhood, and Ahmed finds himself the prime suspect. However detectives Rachel Kupferstein and Jean Hamelot are not short of leads.

What is the connection between a disbanded hip-hop group and the fiery extremist preachers that jostle in the streets for attention? And what is the mysterious new pill that is taking the district by storm?

In this his debut novel, Karim Miské demonstrates a masterful control of setting, as he moves seamlessly between the sensual streets of Paris and the synagogues of New York to reveal the truth behind a horrifying crime.

My thoughts:

Prophetic with hindsight of recent tragic events of the Charlie Hebdo murders in Paris by religious extremists, and with increasing tension surrounding religious extremist groups, Arab Jazz by Karim Miské (originally written two years earlier) is set in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, where the inhabitants live in, not so much, a multicultural melting pot as a seething bubbling cauldron of religious hatred which is about to boil over. Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Jehovah's witnesses all live in close proximity to each other. Add corrupt police officers, rising tension between these groups, sociopolitical issues, oh and of course murder, then you have this engrossing gripping and all too realistic read.

Ahmed Taroudant is a loner and a dreamer. He also has some mental health issues. Ahmed prefers to stay in his apartment daydreaming, reading poetry and crime novels.  Until, that is, the day he finds his neighbour, Laura Vignole, savagely murdered in her apartment located directly above his.  Enter detectives, Jean Hamelot and Rachel Kupferstein. The two detectives discover that Ahmed has a key to Rachel's flat, however they do not believe that he is their prime suspect, and this is where it's gets interesting. Ahmed, desperately wants to find the killer as he believes he has been set up to take the blame.

The characters are vividly portrayed, and fully fleshed out.  I really got a feel of who they were and how their life experiences had shaped their personalities. Of particular interest to me was Jean and the dark demons from his past. His, is an unsettling character that could certainly be developed and I would love to read more about him and the duo's adventures.

Albeit a seriously prophetic, gritty crime thriller there are also some humorous moments for instance when a pair of killers are attempting to dispose of the body of one of their victims. It is perverse but also amusing.

The pace is initially slow but progresses steadily into a riveting read that definitely held my interest throughout.  The plot is uncomplicated but the relationships between the developing characters and their religious beliefs, and the unravelling of events were a little confusing.  I compiled my own crime scene chart (in a note book, not a huge wall mounted one!) and had great satisfaction lining up the characters and their developing relationships to each other. There is a fair amount of data, and backfill information so this process was definitely beneficial to me in keeping pace as the story unfolded.

The one niggle I had was the slightly 'Scooby Doo' mystery reveal at the end, but that's such a small niggle it's hardly worth noting, although I did detract a point on an otherwise 5/5 rating.

I loved it and definitely recommend it to anyone interested in unusual crime noir with a twisted edginess.

Karim Miské is a journalist and documentary maker and is born to a Mauritian Muslim father and a French Atheist Marxist mother. Arab Jazz is an exciting debut novel and I'm eager to see what he does next.

Arab Jazz is translated from the original French into English by Sam Gordon.  I'm usually a little wary of translated novels as they don't always work well in my opinion but this is extremely well done.

Gushing over ... Just read it!

SPEAK by Louisa Hall & The Girl From The Garden by Parnaz Foroutan

Two absolutely fantastic titles out later in the year are, 'SPEAK' by Louisa Hall, and 'THE GIRL From THE GARDEN' by Parnaz Foroutan.

Reviews will follow closer to the publication dates, but I am so excited about them that I couldn't wait to mention them.

SPEAK by Louisa Hall

Ecco, July 2015 (US)

Orbit, February 2016 (UK)

Rating: 5/5

Book Synopsis:

A thoughtful, poignant novel that explores the creation of Artificial Intelligence—illuminating the very human need for communication, connection, and understanding.

In a narrative that spans geography and time, from the Atlantic Ocean in the seventeenth century, to a correctional institute in Texas in the near future, and told from the perspectives of five very different characters, Speak considers what it means to be human, and what it means to be less than fully alive.

A wrenching and heartfelt debut novel

THE GIRL From THE GARDENby Parnaz Foroutan

Ecco, August 2015 (US)

Rating: 5/5

Book Synopsis:

Set in the Iranian town of Kermanshah at the turn of the twentieth century, THE GIRL IN THE GARDEN is the intimate, poetic, and brutal story of a young woman beholden to the schemes and strictures of a male world. In a cloistered household of wealthy Jewish merchants, at a time when a woman’s worth is measured only by the number of male heirs she can produce, Rakhel, a barren young bride, must do the impossible: produce a son and satisfy her husband Asher’s wild desire for preeminence. Their struggle slowly rends their family asunder, dividing Asher from his family and breaking the delicate bonds between the women of the house, which have grown like flowers in a garden as they battle impossible odds to save Rakhel and her place in the household.

Kolymsky Heights by Lionel Davidson Update

Waterstones Link

Kolymsky Heights by Lionel Davidson

Published: March 2015 - Faber & Faber

Page length: 496

Source: Purchased

ISBN: 9780571326112 (Waterstones Exclusive)

Progress Update: Unfortunately I didn't feel compelled to finish this one and 'DNF'd after reading one hundred pages or so.

Kolymsky Heights is an intelligently written espionage thriller which had the feel of a John le Carré novel and I really wanted to like it especially with all the 'buzz' at work about how good and what a fantastic author Lionel Davidson was. I really can't put my finger on why it didn't click with me, but even though this wasn't right for me I would still, as a result of the positive reviews from colleagues, definitely recommend it to fans of, John le Carré, Lee Child, and Frederick Forsyth.

No Rating as DNF'd : May try again some time

Link to original post: click here

The Centenary of the Armenian Genocide - 24 April 2015

In January this year, Amal Clooney (George Clooney's wife) went before Europe's top human rights court to represent Armenia against a Turkish politician found guilty of denying that the Armenian genocide ever happened.   There is still widespread denial from the Turkish that the 'genocide' took place and even rationalise killing of Armenians at the time as a 'retaliative' response to their rebellious and aggressive actions towards the Ottoman State.  Hopefully any publicity will contribute to bringing an end to this senseless denial of atrocities instigated by the Turkish leaders.

On April 24, 2015 Armenians will commemorate the centenary of the Armenian genocide. Up to 1.5 million were slaughtered. Many were forced to convert to Islam. However conversion didn't save them and as the momentum of killings intensified few escaped.

Reading the accounts of torture and murder from a hundred years ago I couldn't help thinking about the victims being subjected to just the same depravity today in this troubled world and that how, depressingly, history continues to repeat itself. The 

There will still be those who deny the atrocities, and there will be others who will be horrified and sickened by the detailed description of brutality, torture and murder done to these people. Therefore, it is imperative that we heed and do not ignore these warning signs from the past.

Publications due for release to commemorate the centenary are:

Operation Nemesis by Eric Bogosian; Sacred Justice by Marian Mescrobian MacCurdy;
"They Can Live in the Desert but Nowhere Else": A History of the Armenian Genocide (Human Rights and Crimes against Humanity) By Ronald Grigor Suny;
An Inconvenient Genocide: Who Now Remembers the Armenians? By Geoffrey Robertson;
The Great Fire: One American's Mission to Rescue Victims of the 20th Century 's First Genocide by Lou Ureneck, and a graphic novel by Josh Blaylock called Operation Nemesis: A Story of Genocide & Revenge.

Sacred Justice: The Voices and Lagacy of the Armenian Operation Nemesis- Armenian Studies Series by Marian Mescrobian MacCurdy

WATERSTONES Link

Sacred Justice: The Voices and Lagacy of the Armenian Operation Nemesis- Armenian Studies Series by Marian Mescrobian MacCurdy

Page Length: 363

ISBN: 978-1412855037

Source: Publisher (e-copy)

Publisher: Transaction Publishers (30 March, 2015)

SYNOPSIS:

Sacred Justice is a cross-genre book that uses narrative, memoir, unpublished letters, and other primary and secondary sources to tell the story of a group of Armenian men who organized Operation Nemesis, a covert operation created to assassinate the Turkish architects of the Armenian Genocide. The leaders of Operation Nemesis took it upon themselves to seek justice for their murdered families, friends, and compatriots.

This book includes a large collection of previously unpublished letters that show the strategies, personalities, plans, and dedication of Soghomon Tehlirian, who killed Talaat Pasha, a genocide leader; Shahan Natalie, the agent on the ground in Europe; Armen Garo, the center of Operation Nemesis; Aaron Sachaklian, the logistics and finance officer; and others involved with Nemesis.

The author tells a story that has been either hidden by the necessity of silence or ignored in spite of victims’ narratives. This is the story of those who attempted to seek justice for the victims and the effect this effort had on them and on their families. The book shows how the narratives of resistance and trauma can play out in the next generation and how resistance can promote resilience. Little has been written about Operation Nemesis. As we approach the centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, it is time.

MY THOUGHTS: Sacred Justice

On the death of her mother, Marian Mesrobian MacCurdy became the custodian of the private  and correspondence of her grandfather Aaron Sachaklian.  It is from this collection of  previously unpublished and original source material that Marian compiled her book.

Through the private letters between Aaron and his wife Elisa we are privy to an intimate account of their relationship.  What it must have been like for them during Aaron's long absences while he secretly helped to mastermind 'Operation Nemesis' and Elisa's struggle to cope alone in a strange new country, during her pregnancies and births of their children.

Marian shares memories of her grandfather, a happy, jovial family man and it is hard to imagine that this personable man who took great pride in himself and who took pleasure in his children, was also at the same time able to distance himself to coordinate and organise retributional killings. Additional letters found show us that Sachaklian and the assassins suffered tremendously, first for the loss of family and compatriots and then for their part in the assassinations. They suffered in silence to deliver justice to the killers, the only retribution the Armenians have seen to date.

'Sacred Justice' reads like a taut spy thriller and invokes vivid images of the people and what they endured.

Eric Bogosian, author of 'Operation Nemesis', said of 'Sacred Justice', “There are rare revelations in this book that cannot be found anywhere else.”

I highly recommend 'Sacred Justice' for anyone interested in the subject, and because of the wealth of new source material valuable to students studying the history of genocide.

Sacred Justice is one of three books to be published this year with Operation Nemesis by Eric Bogosian  being the second.  The final being a graphic novel by Josh Blaylock called Operation Nemesis: A Story of Genocide & Revenge is due to be published in April 2015.

Operation Nemesis: The Assassination Plot That Avenged the Armenian Genocide by Eric Bogosian

WATERSTONES Link

Operation Nemesis by Eric Bogosian

Print Length: 288 pages

ISBN: 978-0316292085

Source: Publisher (e-copy)

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (21 April 2015)

SYNOPSIS:

A masterful account of the conspiracy of assassins that hunted down the perpetrators of a genocideIn 1921, a small group of self-appointed patriots set out to avenge the deaths of almost one million victims of the Armenian Genocide. They named their operation Nemesis after the Greek goddess of retribution. Over several years, the men tracked down and assassinated former Turkish leaders. The story of this secret operation has never been fully told until now.

Eric Bogosian goes beyond simply telling the story of this cadre of Armenian assassins to set the killings in context by providing a summation of the Ottoman and Armenian history as well as the history of the genocide itself. Casting fresh light on one of the great crimes of the twentieth century and one of history's most remarkable acts of political retribution, and drawing upon years of new research across multiple continents, NEMESIS is both a riveting read and a profound examination of evil, revenge, and the costs of violence.

MY THOUGHTS: Operation Nemesis

Eric Bogosian gives an informative insight to Turkey, and of its historical relationship with, or tolerance of, its Armenian citizens. He then follows by telling the story of Soghomon Tehlirian an assassin who seeks to avenge the murder of his family. Tehlirian, himself is a survivor of the deportations and mass murders losing all but one member of his family.  His soul purpose in life thereafter is to hunt down and kill those responsible.

The story is all the more captivating as there are some incredibly distressing and horrific scenes recounted. Some so harrowing and depressing that at times I found it hard to continue reading. Fortunately, I persevered and was engrossed as the narrative concentrated on Tehrilan's obsessive, pursuit of his targets.

Using new material and memoirs Operation Nemesis reads like a gripping espionage thriller.  I had to remind myself that it was non fiction and not a novel penned by Graeme Green or John LeCarre.

Utterly compelling and staggeringly well written. Highly recommended.

KOLYMSKY HEIGHTS by Lionel Davidson

Waterstones.com Link

This one looks like it could be my next favourite read. I'm really excited about reading 'Kolymsky Heights' by Lionel Davidson, published by Faber & Faber and released today, 18 March 2015.

The Waterstones 'exclusive' arrived in store this afternoon and I was immediately drawn to the cover and after reading the blurb just cannot wait to get reading it.

It's already caused a bit of a buzz amongst our booksellers in our other stores so I guess it's also destined to be a winner with other book readers.

Kolymsky Heights is not a new publication, it was originally released in 1995 and received great reviews but seems to have fallen by the wayside until Phillip Pullman rediscovered it and said it was the best thriller he's ever read. Huge praise indeed and I'm so looking forward to what promises to be an exciting adventure.  I'll post a review when I've read it.

Please note that the book cover shown is an exclusive to Waterstones.

The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg

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The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg

Hardcover: 350 pages

Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY) (16 Sept. 2014)

Source: Review copy (digital) from Publisher

ISBN: 978 0307952493

Book Synopsis:

An Afghan woman's life expectancy is just 44 years, and her life cycle often begins and ends in disappointment: being born a girl and finally, having a daughter of her own. For some, disguising themselves as boys is the only way to get ahead. Nordberg follows women such as Azita Rafaat, a parliamentarian who once lived as a Bacha Posh, the mother of seven-year-old Mehran, who she is raising as a Bacha Posh as well, but for different reasons than in the past. There's Zahra, a teenage student living as a boy who is about to display signs of womanhood as she enters puberty. And Skukria, a hospital nurse who remained in a Bacha Posh disguise until she was twenty, and who now has three children of her own. Exploring the historical roots of this tradition, The Underground Girls of Kabul is a fascinating and moving investigation.

My Thoughts:

'The Underground Girls of Kabul' by Jenny Nordberg is an immensely informative, insightful and compelling read. Nordberg obviously did extensive research on the practice in Afghanistan of 'basha posh'.  I was not aware of the practice but not surprised.

Having lived in the Middle East I can appreciate a little of the difficulties muslim women face daily living in this often oppressive, male dominated environment.  A woman's life outside the home is practically impossible without a male family member to escort them and I understand the necessity for the compromise in order to be able to get things done, or simply be respected.

The reportage is intelligently written in a compelling, non judgmental manner and brings to light the cultural and religious reasons, benefits and disadvantages of having, and being a 'basha posh'.

Highly recommended.

I would like to thank the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this enlightening, outstanding title.

The Harder They Come: A Novel by T.C. Boyle

• The Harder They Come: A Novel by T.C. Boyle
• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Ecco Press
• Published: 31 March 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 9780062349378

THE HARDER THEY COME, by T.C. Boyle is a realistic character driven plot centred around three main characters; Sten, Adam and Sara.  This is a compelling tale about the relationship between these flawed damaged people, and touches on some complex often contradictory moral issues from various perspectives.

Seventy year old ex-marine, Vietnam veteran Sten is reluctantly hailed a hero when, on vacation to Central America with his wife, he disarms and kills a mugger, one of a gang that has been menacing elderly tourists during group tour stops made in Costa Rica.

Sten is uncomfortable at first with the praise and hero status he receives from his fellow holiday makers and from people when he returns home to Northern California. 

Inevitably Sten accepts the complimentary drinks and praises, but then faces the polemic emotional extreme when his own son Adam kills two people.

Sara, a 40 something divorcee, is a believer in the anti authoritarian movement and manages to get herself into trouble with the law on a pretty minor issue, refusing to wear a seat belt. In the process her much loved dog is impounded and she is taken into cells. Upon release she picks up a young hitchhiker, Adam, and rants about the law and how she's going to get her dog back.

Adam, a loner and self trained survivalist in his 20's has serious mental health issues.  He calls himself Colter and has adopted the lifestyle of his role model.

Sara's paranoia and Adam's schizophrenia is a volatile mix and as Adam becomes increasingly more unstable and loses his grip on reality.  It's only a matter of time before events spiral to an explosive and violent tragedy.

Highly recommended. 'The Harder They Come' left me thinking about things long after turning the final page. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and learned a little about John Colter the original mountain man in the 19th Century. This is my first T.C. Boyle novel but most certainly not my last.

I look forward to recommending 'The Harder They Come' to customers visiting the bookstore.

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy from the Publisher via NetGalley for an honest, unbiased review.

The Girl on the Train, By Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train

Paula Hawkins

Random House UK, Transworld Publishers

Doubleday

Published: 15/1/15 (Hardback)

ISBN: 9780857522313

Rachel travels everyday on the same commuter train. The train always waits at a particular signal stop overlooking the back gardens of a row of houses where she once lived. Rachel invents a perfect life for the perfect couple she  compulsively watches during these stops.  There is, however, one garden she cannot bear to look at. It reminds her that her life is not perfect like 'Jess' & Jason's'.  Until one day everything changes.

What did Rachel see ?

Hitchcock's 'Rear Window' meets SJ Watson's 'Gone Girl' !

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN is narrated in the first person by its three main, 'strong', characters; Rachel, Megan (Jess) & Anna.  Fabulously flawed, and pretty unlikeable, but utterly compelling they each give us their personal account of the events as they unfold.

I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping and compulsive debut psychological thriller from Paula Hawkins. It had several twists and surprises which kept me reading well into the early hours.

I highly recommend 'The Girl on the Train'.  A gripping, psychological thriller that will hold you captive until the end.

I have had great pleasure in recommending this title to customers visiting the bookstore and look forward to doing the same when released in paperback later in the year.

Disclosure: Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy for an unbiased, honest review.

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Eight Minutes by Lori Reisenbichler

 

Eight Minutes by Lori Reisenbichler

Release date: February 17, 2015

Summary:
On the night that Shelly Buckner finally became a mother, she very nearly became a widow. Her husband, Eric, seriously injured in a car accident on the way to the hospital, was dead for a full eight minutes before being revived—all while Shelly was in labor. Those eight minutes changed everything Shelly thought was possible.

Three years later, their son, Toby, brings home an imaginary friend. But he’s no ordinary playmate—John Robberson is a fighter pilot and Vietnam vet. As Toby provides unlikely details about John’s life—and Toby’s tantrums increase—Shelly becomes convinced that John was real and now wants something from Toby. But her husband has his doubts, and as Shelly becomes involved, even obsessed, with finding out the truth, their marriage begins to disintegrate. Torn between protecting her child and keeping the peace with her husband, Shelly desperately searches for a way to finally put John Robberson out of their lives.

My Thoughts:
A decent enough easy read about souls and reincarnation and the effects one lost soul has on the family involved.

The pace was steady and unhurried and kept me interested throughout. However, the last few of chapters, I felt, just fizzled out.

Readers of 'Her Fearful Symetry' by Audrey Niffenegger should enjoy this fun read.

I look forward to recommending 'Eight Minutes' to customers visiting our bookstore.

Disclosure: I received a digital review copy for my, honest, opinion.

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from real stores where you can

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Station Eleven by Emily Mandel

Station Eleven by Emily Mandel

Publication Date: September 9, 2014

Genres: Fiction, Dystopic, Apocalyptic

Publisher: Pan Macmillan / Picador

Hardcover: 352 pages

ISBN-13: 9780385353304

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis:
DAY ONE : The Georgia Flu explodes over the surface of the earth like a neutron bomb. News reports put the mortality rate at over 99%.
WEEK TWO : Civilization has crumbled.
YEAR TWENTY : A band of actors and musicians called the Travelling Symphony move through their territories performing concerts and Shakespeare to the settlements that have grown up there. Twenty years after the pandemic, life feels relatively safe. But now a new danger looms, and he threatens the hopeful world every survivor has tried to rebuild.

STATION ELEVEN Moving backwards and forwards in time, from the glittering years just before the collapse to the strange and altered world that exists twenty years after, Station Eleven charts the unexpected twists of fate that connect six people: famous actor Arthur Leander; Jeevan - warned about the flu just in time; Arthur's first wife Miranda; Arthur's oldest friend Clark; Kirsten, a young actress with the Travelling Symphony; and the mysterious and self-proclaimed 'prophet'.
Thrilling, unique and deeply moving, this is a beautiful novel that asks questions about art and fame and about the relationships that sustain us through anything - even the end of the world.

My Thoughts:
At the centre of Station Eleven is the famous actor Arthur Leander who dies on stage during a production of King Lear. Within hours of his unexplained death Georgia Flu hits with devastating effect, mercilessly killing 99% of the world's population.

Leap forward 20 years and life has come to resemble something like the tales of Chaucer, with a traveling troupe of musicians and actors performing Shakespearian plays to the townspeople they meet along the way. In this new age life is in stark contrast to the pre apocalyptic world. Distrust, and the threat of violence from those they encounter is an every day occurrence. If they are to survive, keeping their wits about them is imperative.

Station Eleven leaps back and forth in time and gives an in-depth recounting of the characters lives, and how they or historical artefacts are all interconnected from each timeframe.

Each character was fully fleshed out and believable. I don't think I had a favourite but I was drawn to Miranda, and in particular her relationship with Arthur.

I absolutely loved the way the story unfolded. It is a beautifully written novel and I was pretty disappointed when it came to its end.

Station Eleven is a first rate apocalyptic, dystopic, sci-fi tale. A delightful read which I highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this title. I am looking forward to recommending Station Eleven to our Waterstones customers.

Suffer the Children Craig DiLouie

Suffer the Children

Craig DiLouie

Publisher: Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books

Permuted Press

Publish Date: May 20 2014

ISBN: 9781476739632

Price: £8.99

Rating: 4 out of 5

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 19:14"

Synopsis:
From an acclaimed horror writer, a chilling tale of blood-hungry children who rise from the dead in this innovative spin on apocalyptic vampire fiction.

Suffer the Children presents a terrifying tale of apocalyptic fiction, as readers are introduced to Herod’s Syndrome, a devastating illness that suddenly and swiftly kills all young children across the globe. Soon, they return from the grave…and ask for blood. And with blood, they stop being dead. They continue to remain the children they once were…but only for a short time, as they need more blood to live. The average human body holds ten pints of blood, so the inevitable question for parents everywhere becomes: How far would you go to bring your child back?

My Thoughts:
I have read other titles by Craig DiLouie and am a fan of his particular writing style which is mature, intelligent and character based rather than 'all out' action driven. Suffer the children is a very different, creative retelling of the vampire tale which although not all gore, blood and guts is definitely creepy and had me feeling queasy from many of the scenes depicted.

Herod's Syndrome has killed every pre-pubescent child worldwide and nothing can be done to save them. However, they are able to reanimate with sacrifices made by their loved ones.
Suffer the Children follows several families and is told from their perspective.  There is a gradual build up of tension as the characters personalities, and values change with the ongoing desperation to obtain the 'medicine' needed to keep their children alive, and ultimately how far they will go in order to achieve their aim.

Very dark and bleak, plausible and realistic, DiLouie's world descends into chaos as the governing forces lose control, and society rapidly spirals into a lawless apocalyptic nightmare.

I highly recommend Suffer the Children to all horror fans and anyone interested in a thought provoking read about human nature and how far we, as a race, are willing to compromise our humanity for the sake of our loved ones, and to what cost.

Thank you Permutted Press via NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this title.

Taste of Beirut : 175+ Delicious Lebanese Recipes from Classics to Contemporary to Mezzes and More by Joumana Accad

Taste of Beirut : 175+ Delicious Lebanese Recipes from Classics to Contemporary to Mezzes and More by Joumana Accad

Published by HCI Books

US Publish Date: September 2, 2014

UK Publish Date: October 10, 2014

ISBN: 978-0757317705

Paperback : 320 Pages

£16.99

Rating: 5 out of 5

"A culinary masterpiece of authentic dishes from the Mediterranean and Middle East."

Firstly, a big thank you to the Publisher via NetGalley for allowing me access to a digital review copy of 'A Taste of Beirut' by Joumana Accad.  Although this absolutely has got to be bought in hard copy to appreciate fully, the digital copy was a welcome tease taster.

The recipes are divided into sections including, breads, breakfast, sandwiches, soups, mezzo delights, main dishes, pastries and drinks. All the recipes have easy to follow instructions making them attractive to a beginner to Middle Eastern cuisine as well as the novice.

Joumana has created a stunning debut cookbook with over 150 fabulous recipes inspired by her grandmother, 'Teta' on how to recreate authentic, mouth watering Lebanese dishes. The photographs took me right back to when I lived in the Middle East and experienced the fantastic Lebanese pastries and Lebanese bread.

This is a definite 'must have', hard copy cookery book to add to my collection and I highly recommend it. I can't wait to get making my own fresh bread and make more use the fragrant sumac my friend gave me as a leaving present !

Joumana Accad is the creator of the blog 'TasteOfBeirut.com' which features Lebanese recipes for home cooking.

The Sweetness: A Novel Sande Boritz Berger

The Sweetness: A Novel

Sande Boritz Berger

AuthorBuzz

She Writes Press

Pub Date   Sep 23 2014

ISBN:978-1631529078

Rating: 2.75 out of 5

Amazon Synopsis:
Early in The Sweetness, an inquisitive young girl asks her grandmother why she is carrying nothing but a jug of sliced lemons and water when they are forced by the Germans to evacuate their ghetto. "Something sour to remind me of the sweetness," she tells her, setting the theme for what they must remember to survive.

Set during World War II, the novel is the parallel tale of two Jewish girls, cousins, living on separate continents, whose strikingly different lives ultimately converge. Brooklyn-born Mira Kane is the eighteen-year-old daughter of a well-to-do manufacturer of women’s knitwear in New York. Her cousin, eight-year-old Rosha Kaninsky, is the lone survivor of a family in Vilna exterminated by the invading Nazis. But unbeknownst to her American relatives, Rosha did not perish. Desperate to save his only child during a round-up of their ghetto, her father thrusts her into the arms of a Polish Catholic candle maker, who then hides her in a root cellar─putting her own family at risk.

The headstrong and talented Mira, who dreams of escaping Brooklyn for a career as a fashion designer, finds her ambitions abruptly thwarted when, traumatized at the fate of his European relatives, her father becomes intent on safeguarding his loved ones from threats of a brutal world, and all the family must challenge his unuttered but injurious survivor guilt. Though the American Kanes endure the experience of the Jews who got out, they reveal how even in the safety of our lives, we are profoundly affected by the dire circumstances of others.

Survivor guilt is a force that endures—whether within the context of the tragic wars of yesterday and today, or the ongoing trauma within a family. Set during WWII, and inspired by true events, The Sweetness is the story of two Jewish girls, cousins, living on separate continents—one a child in hiding, one a teen who dreams of escaping to Hollywood—whose strikingly different lives promise to converge.

My Thoughts:
Upto approx 50% I'd have given 4 stars. Now it's degenerated into a cross between Mills & Boon with a touch of 50 Shades... However I can't be too sure as I've not read 50 Shades.

I was so enchanted by the first half of this novel which centres around the privileged lifestyles of Mira, her aunt Jeanette, and family in Brooklyn.  A bittersweet tale with its stark contrasts between Mira's world and her 8 year old cousin Rosha's traumatic world of loss, despair and death in Vilna, but also of kindness and hope with the people who shelter her.

The blossoming love affair of Mira and her beau was endearing but at around 52% the story just didn't progress in the way I had imagined it would.

Whilst 'The Sweetness' by Sande Boritz Berger wasn't for me I can see it being popular for mainstream fiction readers who like a light, easy read about love, family life and loss set around a privileged Jewish family during the war.

I would like to thank the publisher via NetGalley for allowing me to review this title.