The Silence - Alison Bruce

A second outing with Alison Bruce following The Siren.

Again it's a DC Gary Goodhew crime thriller. This time there are a series of deaths with accident and suicide amongst them going back a period of years.

For me Alison Bruce stands out because of her cutting wit. I get the feel reading some of the lines that she would make a pretty good stand up comedienne as well as being an excellent author.

Llewellyn-Bowes at his best would not be able to describe settings as accurately as Bruce and with him we usually have the advantage of being able to see the setting.

Add to that a complete awareness of characters and the whole thriller comes together near perfectly. Portrayal of an early victim gives a very clear picture of desperation.

The only group of characters without comparable substance for me were the potential victims. They just didn't come across as vividly as other players.

Subtle dynamics between the junior PC Gully, Goodhew's boss DI Marks, colleague Kincaide and Goodhew give added dimension to the book with very different relationships between each two people.

Kincaide is a character desperate to succeed and aware of his own failings. He covers this with blustering arrogance. It would be great to see his character a bit more in one of the next books.

At £18.99 for the hardback this was an expensive read but I got my pennies worth.

Would I buy another? Yes

Publisher - Constable

Book Barn Bristol

In an effort to avoid motorway stops I'm trying to find stops just away from the main drag. Obviously there's an added benefit if there are a few books for sale. Even more of a benefit if there are a million or so. At £1 each. With cakes. And good coffee. Book Barn  fulfills all of this and is a veritable warren of bookshelves.

It means that bookbuying is done in stages with frequent coffee stops.


Definitely adds a little time to the journey but even with multiple purchases it cost less than the motorway and no rush, bustle, no dried up food.    




                                                                           

The boy who fell to earth - Kathy Lette

A drift away from crime thrillers to read the latest offering featuring autism/aspergers hot on the heels of Jodi Picoult. This one's more adept from a personal experience point of view as the author has a child with the condition.

For me the downside has to be the author's trademark one liners. In a book this thick they get incredibly wearing and take away from the enjoyment.

Overall the book's a reasonably ok read- what does happen to family dynamics when a child is diagnosed? Does a marriage make it? How do relationships work?

A chick lit with a bit of a twist.

Would I read another? No

Publisher - Transworld 

H K Cafe - Aberdeen

In the glory that is the Aberdeen Indoor Market hidden behind a narrow door off Union Street is the HK Cafe. When I went the few tables were mainly occupied by Chinese people, something I usually hope means the food is good.
Helpfully the menu is in both written and picture form with the pictures being the more accurate of the two :)

My trip to Aberdeen was at Hogmanay so it wasn't too long before one of the customers came over clutching her (Japanese) mobile and asking for the correct spelling. And then she came back. Apparently I couldn't spell Hogmanay as her phone did not recognise the word. With it written on my serviette she took herself, the phone and the serviette back and decided to trust me on the spelling. Maybe one day Nokia will do Scottish phones?
Over to food and it's a good as expected served with a bucket of coffee, at minimal cost and piles of it. Don't make the mistake of thinking you need a side order- you don't.
Nestled in amongst a great butcher, a second hand furniture store, a jeweller and a piercing/tattoo parlour amongst others this is well worth. a visit

Stonemouth - Iain Banks

Having just got back from a place very, very similar to Stonemouth called Stonehaven close to Aberdeen this was tempting. And then someone gave it to me.

It was my first Iain Banks novel. Not my last.

It is an unusual tale of a lovestruck exile from Scotland who returns for a local gangsters funeral. The love of his life is the precious daughter of the gangster family and they're not best pleased to see him.

The reader meets the schoolfriends, the family, the gangsters and the local policeman. Throughout the book there is a feel of the slapstick and definitely some 'snerk' moments best kept for when you're not on the bus!

Parallel to today's storyline runs the history behind it, the schoolfriends growing up years and escapades and what went wrong in the love story.

Excellent fun book. Surprising with the number of references to Apple, Iphone that they're not the publishers – and now they get even more publicity.

Recommended for a change from the norm.

Publisher - Abacus

Belmont Cinema - Aberdeen

New Year's Day, grey, Aberdeen and Life of Pi is showing in this independent cinema. It's one I already knew of because it also boasts a bookcrossing zone in it's cafe bar in the basement.
Nevertheless it's not often you ask for tickets and an enquiry is made of you as to whether or not you have to pay. Free cinema? Apparently if you buy membership at £32 for an individual you get 3 free tickets. A closer listen to a south coast accent persuaded the ticket office that it was unlikely we were members. Full price then but not until 2 pensioner ladies next to us had got free tickets and discounts on their drinks and sweets.
Consolation prize for us? "Help yourself to a film poster" We did.
Onwards into the very empty cinema (this was after all the day after Hogmanay) and we are faced with armchair sized comfortable seating, all very swish.
Several film trailers later and Life of Pi started in 2d. Brilliant representation of the book and an excellent friendly experience all round in Aberdeen.
Note to PictureHouses - In Colchester we have this...

it needs buying and it would be great if you fancied a little shift south...:)

Grey Souls - Philippe Claudel

Following reading Monsieur Linh and his child it was an immediate trip out to buy another Claudel.

This one is written in the same spare way and is an especially thin paperback.

Similarly again it packs a punch at the end.

Based in France during the first world war it is set in a village close to the front. Within hearing distance of the fighting but with a population mainly exempt from call up through their occupations the village is privileged. It's also the first port of call for injured soldiers on their way back to hospitals.

After a young girl is killed the police, prosecutors and village people are keen to find the culprit quickly. Possibly the wrong culprit? The interrogation is brutal but there is no gratuitous violence in the book. Several story lines thread through including that of the prosecutor and the policeman adding their own harsh reality.

Another beautifully written book from Claudel leaving me looking forward to the next.

Publisher – Phoenix