Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran.

Caitlin Moran is a columnist with The Times newspaper and this book explains her view of the world. Moranifesto is her political and social analysis of how things could change, if bit by bit everyone altered one little bit.

I enjoyed reading Moranifesto in the same way I enjoy watching a stand up comedian on television. Catlin starts off each chapter in italics, to denote the new content which then leads into a previously published newspaper column she had written. The next chapter continues at a tangent with another introduction in italics and a republished newspaper column. I loved the flow throughout her book and it felt more like a concert than a book. Caitlin discusses many topical issues with a left wing bias that I agree with. I like her writing style which makes for easy reading. She uses a very extensive vocabulary and is not dumbing down our language. Her newspaper columns are very polished and top quality. Caitlin also has a nice humour which makes her writing witty, for example when she explains the joys of having a boyfriend who has access to a car…

I can remember the drunken conversation I had with my friend Sian. Opening a bottle of Baileys, exclaiming, ‘Oh, my God - he took me up the Big Sainsbury’s!’ Then explaining that wasn’t a euphemism, and pointing at all the heavy, jumbo-sized tins I’d been able to buy - because I didn’t have to drag them back on the bus.

... Caitlin writes about many popular topics and I agree with most of her opinions. It was refreshing to read about a woman who likes to wear sensible shoes and outdoor gear. It was nice she highlighted those feminist issues men are ignorant of - me included.

I liked the way that Moranifesto developed, it was almost like having a series of dates with Caitlin because through her newspaper columns, her personality shined and you began to understand the woman behind those opinions. The ending of Moranifesto was very good indeed and would warm the most cynical of hearts. Books and newspaper columns are very different markets but Moranifesto is a good bridge between the two media. I think this is a GOOD read that will entertain the reader and was a refreshing change from my usual diet of crime thrillers, so it gets 4 stars from me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Penguin Random House UK and Ebury Press for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.

A Deadly Thaw by Sarah Ward.

This mystery is set in a fictional Derbyshire small town called Bampton and has people asking the question why? Follow both the police and the residents as they try to solve the mystery over a number of deaths.

This book does thaw, like the title suggests but rather than deadly it is more like a sliced loaf that has been left to thaw overnight on your kitchen counter. It has lots of short chapters which make it reader friendly, in the same way as sliced bread is toast friendly. But that is a problem as these short chapters usually end with a cliff hanger and the next chapter involves another character, leaving you at a loss. Also the format of this novel is not linear and it drops back in time repeatedly before returning to the present day. Then we have a small amount of adultery between the police officers, which is another of my pet hates. Although there are sexual issues involved in this novel, there is no gritty sex to reward the reader.

There is no specialist police work is solving these mysteries around Bampton, making A Deadly Thaw a character led novel. The chapters flit from character to character and this uneven flow made me unable to develop an empathy for any character.

I found this book a frustrating read, the cliff hangers, the time shifting and poor characterisation. Why could Sarah have not featured a real town in Derbyshire to add some realism or local interest to her sorry tale? She featured Whitby and that is very real. I found the pace slow and the whole mystery dragged on and on through the years. One character really enjoyed dragging this story out and was proud to claim "You of all people should know that everything can't be told." and "Then it's all been for nothing."

I think A Deadly Thaw is a tiresome tale with no humour to brighten it up, the best in the whole story possibly being...

He parked in one of the small gravelled areas used by walkers to leave their vehicles. One couple, returning from a hike, gave a condescending look towards Kat's trainer-clad feet. She felt like shouting that she was a local and could wear what the hell she wanted, but what was the point of adding to the prickle of tension she already felt.

...So sorry Sarah, but I found your novel a POOR 2 star read as it did NOT rock my boat.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Faber & Faber for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.

The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

Cass Anderson passes at car in a lay-by on a stormy night. Has the driver broken down or is this the start of a sinister psychological tale?

The Breakdown is a first person narrative, psychological thriller set in Britain. This story works well being told in the first person and I found it very easy to identify with Cass. I liked how creepy this story was and how well it played on our own fears as we get older and our brains are not as sharp as they used to be. Those niggling doubts are fully explored as Cass tries to keep her life on track. I thought the tension was good and realistic. This novel made me think of other people who are forgetful and what was nice is that Cass is such an ordinary woman. I liked how nothing was flash about this story, it was just an everyday tale of coping with busy lives. Then the horror starts to creep in, this could so easily happen to you, the reader!

Okay, the plot was NOT the most original. From the very start you have your doubts. As the story unfolds there are no big surprises but it was still an enjoyable read. This is not just a story for women because men can drive past cars in lay-bys and wonder. Married men also wonder if their wife has told them something earlier or if they are playing mind games? There are so many things to remember in our busy lives, are we becoming forgetful or is something darker coming into play?

The Breakdown is a good novel, there is nothing offensive or shocking about it but it does play on the mind. That is it's biggest strength, how it plays on the reader's mind and for that I give it 4 stars. For such an intense psychological thriller, there was one part that made me chuckle, the multi-storey car park. I can imagine a lot of women in the same situation and it being no surprise to the attendant.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Harlequin UK/St. Martin’s Press for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.

Undertow (B.C. Blues Crime #2) by R.M. Greenaway.

Follow Constables Cal Dion and Dave Leith as they solve murders in North Vancouver, Canada. Although this novel is the second in the B.C. Blues Crime series, it can certainly be read as a stand-alone.

I really liked this book and found it a lovely mix of strong characterisation and a very involved plot. Both constables have their failings but are very good second division players. They both try their level best to bring justice to the victims. They are not glamourous all action heroes but ordinary hard working people. Rather than get a brilliant lead to their enquires, Undertow has the other side to police work, how can we make anything out of this mess? Greenaway really engaged me as a reader, as she strongly got across the feeling of being lost within a police investigation, with nothing adding up.

For readers like me who read books in 45 minute sessions, Undertow is just great because when you are away from the story, thoughts about the novel pop into your head, time and time again. What about this character or that character? Were those details relevant? I wonder if someone is behind all this? What the devil is going on?

I liked the chemistry between all the police officers, in and out of work. Greenaway used their different personalities so well, they drew me in and I thought I was part of the team! I found Undertow a very good read because there was so much to consider. It was not one of those books that you just rolled along with as it quietly entertains. Undertow got my cogs turning as my suspicions changed from one character to the next. I loved the way Greenaway pointed her guilty finger at everyone. I got a lot of pleasure from reading Undertow and can find nothing wrong with this novel. At the end of the story I thought WOW! And slowly from memory all the little bits added up together, all those little details were important and what a brilliant plot. I loved getting things wrong in my head along the way, Greenaway has a great skill of leading the reader up the garden path. Undertow is a very good read and it gets the top score of 5 stars from me.

I have read Greenaway’s first novel Cold Girl, which I also voted 5 stars. It is great to find that her writing quality has not slipped and I have now become a fan of her writing. Looking forward to her next novel and I don’t mind which location she uses as the joy is in the characterisation and the plot.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Dundurn for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.