The Hooligans of Kandahar by Joseph Kassabian.

Joseph is a soldier in the US Army and was deployed for a tour of duty based around Kandahar in Afghanistan. Follow Joseph and learn what it is like to serve as an American soldier in a combat zone.

The Hooligans of Kandahar is a very personal memoir and as Joseph explains at the start of his book…

All stories in this book are based on events that happened between May 2011 and May 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Times, places, details and names have been altered to protect my fellow soldiers from any adverse actions due to their conduct during our deployment together.

...This book covers all aspects of Army life at the sharp end. The reader does not need to know anything about military life because everything is explained. Joseph guides you through all the jargon so you understand what all the acronyms mean and do on the ground. I learned all about EOD techs and ANFO.

I liked how this book was not glamorous but showed the US Army with all it’s faults and frustrations. I liked how Joseph ran through a long list of things that bugged him and his fellow soldiers. He moaned about management, organisation and transport. I loved how he explained the equipment and technology they were using, like biometrics, drones, night vision goggles and the Thor system. 

Joseph vividly describes the smell of Kandahar with it’s ditches and sewage. He mentions in fair detail the living conditions and poverty endured by the Afghans.

I liked how Joseph told his story which enabled the reader to understand the culture within the US Army. It is not a dull story and there is a fair amount of banter and humour to enjoy, very much in the style of the popular American television series Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The attitude of the squad came through, loud and clear.

I really enjoyed reading The Hooligans of Kandahar. I found it to be enlightening, informative and a joy to read. This book is very frank and pulls no punches. I am very pleased that Joseph made a great effort and kept a diary that he has put it into the public domain. 

I think that this book is an OUTSTANDING read and it gets the top score of 5 stars from me. Forget where you stand on the American invasion of Afghanistan OR Iraq - this book is such a good read. Joseph paints a very powerful picture which is nicely summed up at the end when he writes…

While my body was standing there in Texas, my mind would never leave Afghanistan. The blood-soaked mountains of that country would be with me until the day I died.

Thanks to the publisher TCK Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book on the understanding that I publish a review.

The Hooligans of Kandahar was written in 2017 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hooligans-Kandahar-Not-Stories-Heroic-ebook/dp/B07D26JRXJ

https://www.tckpublishing.com/

https://joekassabian.com/

The Entitled (a Nicole Graves Mystery book 5) by Nancy Boyarsky.

Nicole Graves is a Private Investigator living in Los Angeles. Although this is the fifth book in the series, The Entitled can be read as a stand-alone. This time Nicole has been given the task of escorting back from London, UK a 17 year old schoolgirl called Abigail Fletcher. Only Abigail has a reputation of being a handful and with her parents’ wealth, considers herself entitled. It appears to be a simple escort job, what could possibly go wrong?

I enjoyed reading The Entitled and loved how London was described from the point of view of Americans coming to Britain to work. I found the outlook of Nicole and Abigail refreshing to read. Yes, the plot could work anywhere in the world but it was a treat for it to be located around a city I am familiar with. It was nice how Nancy did not use the tired old tourist landmarks but explored further afield. I loved how Nancy fitted lots of detail into her scenes and was particularly impressed by the mention of the unusual floors and roof of Belgravia Police Station.

British readers will find it odd that a novel set in London is written in American English due to the spelling and the use of words that are commonly used in Los Angeles but not in the UK. But go along with this as this is an American view of London.

I liked the plot surrounding the problems that Abigail was going through, some chapters were from her point of view which added a lot to the overall story. The pace of this story was good with no dull bits to plough through. The Entitled covered a lot of ground giving the reader lots to consider. This was not a simple mystery but a very entertaining and refreshing read with numerous sub-plots to enjoy.

Character development was good and I liked how Nancy let the reader have their suspicions about each and every one of them. I liked Nancy’s writing style, it is clear and very easy to follow. This novel has a quality that I am unable to fault. The Entitled is a polished OUTSTANDING mystery that gets the top score of 5 stars from me.

Thanks to the author for sending an ARC of her novel on the understanding that I publish a review.

The Entitled was written in 2020 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

Missing in Wales/Silent Cry by Jenny O’Brien.

Izzy Grant and her boyfriend Charlie Dawson are the proud parents of their newborn baby Alys. To give Izzy a break, Charlie takes their daughter out on his own, only they do not return home. A search is started but Alys and Charlie are simply Missing in Wales.

This novel is a mystery approached from two viewpoints. Izzy tries all avenues available to her as an average member of the public to find Alys and Charlie. For the officers of Dyfed-Powys Police in Pembrokeshire, this is your usual missing person enquiry.

I really enjoyed reading Missing in Wales and loved the short chapters from Izzy or Detective Constable Gaby Darin. There were many leads to explore and many questions to ask. As the years passed neither the amateur mother or the professional police were able to solve the mystery of what happened to Alys and Charlie. From the many clues the reader will make their own mind as to what happened to a father and his daughter. This mystery made for a very entertaining read. The pace was steady and the doubts were plenty.

Character development was fine but it was the plot that set this book apart from your regular police procedural. When I got to page 159 which is 62% through this book, I had a light bulb moment and I thought I knew what had happened. But this did NOT spoil my enjoyment of this book because further doubts were put in my way to make my hunch NOT a certainty.

I think Missing in Wales is a great mystery that ticked all the boxes, so it gets the top score of 5 stars from me.

Missing in Wales is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2019 but republished in 2020 as Silent Cry.

The House Party by Mary Grand.

Beth goes with friends and family to a house party on the Isle of Wight. Beth is gossiping to Kathleen out of earshot of everyone else at this luxury home along the cliff top. When the other guests approach, Kathleen abruptly stops the conversation and assures Beth she will tell her the rest later. However, the next day Kathleen falls to her death from the cliff at the bottom of her garden. Did Kathleen slip, commit suicide or was she pushed? Follow Beth as she gets to the bottom of this mystery fatal fall.

I loved this mystery and the way it was told. The author’s voice carried over from Mary’s previous novels and once again the lead character has a cocker spaniel, this time called Ollie. Mary has a cosy writing style, like a grandmother regaling times gone by. I liked how every character, all present at the house party, had a part to play. Beth had suspicions about everyone at the party, including her own husband, son and daughter. I had a lot of empathy for Beth as Kathleen had finished their conversation with that most frustrating of comments that she would tell Beth later. In everyday life it, “I’ll tell you later”, is very, very annoying but when that person dies before explaining, it can be torturous. Beth is then caught in the trap of all the characters not sharing with her what Kathleen may have said to them because those conversations were said in confidence.

I loved the plot of The House Party. Central to the theme of this mystery was whether Kathleen slipped, committed suicide or if she was pushed. If the reader guessed Kathleen was pushed, then every character could have been the bad guy.

I found The House Party to be a very entertaining mystery. I liked the pace and how Beth worked through the clues to solve the tragedy. I loved how there was lots to consider before getting to the conclusion. The clues will nag at you, especially between reading sessions. I loved how there was no padding in this story, it was all rich content with countless what-ifs. I feel this novel should appeal to both crime and cosy mystery fans. The House Party ticked all the boxes for me, so get’s the top score of 5 stars. There was one short line that made me smile…

Beth felt she was back in Wales; the lady was obviously looking to chat.

...As any husband on furlough in Wales due to the coronavirus will tell you, so very, very true. Thank goodness for unlimited landline calls.

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

The House Party was written in 2020 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon.

Madeline Whittier is 17 years old and she does not go outside her home because she has Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, basically she is allergic to the world. However, new neighbours move into the house next door and Madeline spots a teenage boy called Olly. Follow Madeline as she looks out of her window and dreams of a life outside.

Everything, Everything is a debut novel but you would never guess it because her writing is of such high quality and polished. I loved the format of this book, first person with a linear time scale. Madeline wonderfully describes her life to the reader so that we know what it is like to be trapped in her home and to fear the big, dangerous outside world. The story is so engaging and although told from a female perspective, blokes can so easily relate to it.

There is a lot of romance here but it is not slushy or off-putting. The romance is soft and tender, drawing the reader in with hope. You can only wish for things to turn for the better with Madeline.

I loved the philosophy weaved into this story. The dialogue shared with the reader leads to some wonderful quotes to take away with you…

“Everything’s a risk. Not doing anything is a risk. It’s up to you.”

“It’s not your fault. Life is a gift. Don’t forget to live it.”

“You’re not living if you’re not regretting.”

...I thoroughly enjoyed reading Everything, Everything. Many people are finding it a challenge staying at home during the Coronavirus pandemic which makes this book extremely easy to relate to. I just wish that Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales would read this book and reconsider his decision to keep Wales stuck at home, lagging and trapped behind the rest of the UK, as most of Great Britain eases out of lockdown. Although this book is set in California, readers in lockdown around the globe can relate so easily to Madeline’s entrapment.

Everything, Everything is basically a love story but with a lot more thrown in. It is a TOP CLASS read with a happy ending that gets 5 stars from me.

Everything, Everything was written in 2015 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

Signal Failure by David Wailing.

Follow Emily as she catches the Night Tube home at 03:47 westbound along the Piccadilly Line. The London Underground is a reliable form of public transport, what could possibly go wrong? Her train has stopped between stations, far below the night time streets. Then the doubts set in and Emily has to decide to stay in her seat or do something.

I thought this book was BRILLIANT. David creates an intense atmosphere through his very descriptive high quality writing. There is so much tension as David gives you the feel of being a Transport for London passenger. This tale is creepy and builds on the fear that can grasp any passenger without notice on the London Underground. Signal Failure is highly charged and the horror exposed is an exciting read. David really taps into the buzz and feel of the London Underground. He plays on the fears of what lurks behind the walls of the mysterious ghost stations.

Signal Failure was simply a joy to read. It is only 37 pages long but although it is short, it is VERY GOOD. This is great for seasoned readers and ideal as a gateway book for newbie readers. Enjoy this 5 star book which should appeal to everyone, not just Londoners or transport enthusiasts. Oh, and the brilliant ending just hangs with you. Think about that when you spot pedestrians waiting to cross the road at junctions. London can be quite anonymous and now you know why. 

Signal Failure is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2016.

A Rhondda Miscellany by Glyndwr Edwards.

This is a strange little book of just 109 pages, mostly containing only very old black and white photographs. Glyndwr Edwards has produced a very personal photo-book featuring old family members, their stories and very brief descriptions of the history and locations around Rhondda in South Wales.

This book is very much like a family photo album that has suddenly been thrown into the public domain. Remember how years ago families would have printed photographs and on the back of each photo, notes would be handwritten, name, location and date. This is how this book feels to anyone who has not met Glyndwr or his family.

On Goodreads, Glyndwr has written a wonderful blurb for this book. However, the writing in his book is of a far lower quality. The text reads more like a notebook to jog the author’s memory. The details of the locations and people are very brief. There is no structure to this book and it lacks depth. It is not an entertaining read, the presentation is POOR and I do not feel that Glyndwr could hack it as a tour guide. Forget the likes of Brendan Sheerin, the exceptional presenter of Coach Trip on Channel 4 television, Glyndwr is more like the boring old bloke sat on a park bench who tries to catch the attention of passers-by. Glyndwr claims that the explosion at Glynfach Colliery in 1856 with 114 dead, was the worst mining disaster in Britain. However, a quick buzz on the internet shows that the worst mining disaster in Britain was at Senghenydd Colliery in 1913 when 439 miners were killed. For a local man, Glyndwr should be aware of both tragedies as Glynfach is only 13 miles away from Senghenydd across the River Taff.

A Rhondda Miscellany mentions riots in Merthyr Tydfil 1802, Tredegar 1816, Nantyglo 1822 - the Bread and Blood Riots, Merthyr in 1831 and the Tonypandy riots 1910 to 1911 which makes this listing very much like a flyer for Farmfoods, choose any 3 for £5, mix and match for £10 and £2 off if you spend £25.

A Rhondda Miscellany is an example of vanity publishing. It is very light reading and is a coffee table book. This is not a book for readers but for people who want to glance at something. It is a disposable distraction just like the free Aldi shopping magazine. Thankfully I picked up a free copy shortly after it was published and am very glad I did not waste my money on this 1 star novelty.

A Rhondda Miscellany was written in 2015 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.