Monday, November 7, 2011

Beyond All Evil: Two monsters, two mothers, a love that will last forever





Beyond All Evil tells the true story of two women whose lives were torn apart when on the same day, just a few miles apart, their husbands murdered their children.

In pre-meditated acts of unspeakable cruelty, two men chose that day to enact revenge in the most horrendous way possible, on the wives who had dared to leave them.

June Thomson and Giselle Ross, two people who were total strangers to each other, have now formed a firm friendship and lend support to each other in a way no-one else in the world can.

No-one, unless their children have been murdered by their partners, can possibly understand how those women feel. But they understood each other's grief.

June Thomson lost daughter Michelle, 25, and son Ryan, 7, when her husband, Rab, stabbed them during an access visit.

Just 5 hours later and 50 miles away, Giselle Ross learned that her estranged husband Ashok Kalyanjee has slit their sons' throats while taking the kids out on an access visit.

Two year old Jay Jay first, while his older brother watched in terror, then Paul, aged just six.

Husband and wife team newspaper reporters and award wining journalists Marion Scott and Jim BcBeth have co-written Beyond All Evil, along with Giselle Ross and June Thomson.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Top 10 Best Selling Books November 2011

The top 10 best selling books in the UK in November 2011 are as follows:
  1. Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography by Walter Isaacson
  2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
  3. One Day by David Nicholls
  4. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
  5. Guinness World Records 2012
  6. The Drop by Michael Connelly
  7. Gangsta Granny by David Walliams
  8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney
  9. 1Q84 Books 1 & 2 by Haruki Murakami
  10. Snuff: Discworld Novel 39 by Sir Terry Pratchett

The Help by Kathryn Stockett




Now a Hollywood movie, The Help is an amazing book you will thoroughly enjoy.

Authoress Kathryn Stockett has managed to write a superb novel that will make you feel as if you are right there in Jackson, Mississippi, in the early 1960s.

The Civil rights Movement had begun, and the difference between the rich white people and their black maids was wide.

One young white woman wanted to change things.

Miss Skeeter was a young college graduate who with the help of two black friends, Aibileen and Minnie, both maids , decided to write a book.

The story is told through the narratives of each of the three women.

You will laugh, you will cry, but you will love their characters and not want to leave them when you reach the end of the book.

And what better thing can you say about a book?

Guinness World Records 2012




Do you remember when you were a kid being delighted to receive a copy of the Guinness Book of World Records at Christmas?

It would keep you absorbed for hours with all the information and interesting facts and records inside those glorious covers.

The new Guinness World Records 2012 is out, having been updated on the 15th of September, 2011, and is chock full of records both old and new.

Marvel at the International Space Station.

Read about the London Olympics.

With over 900 new stunning full colour photographs, hundreds of amazing bite-sized facts and an incredible 3D jacket cover, this beautifully bound hard back book with make a great Christmas present.


Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney




Cabin Fever is the latest offering by Jeff Kinney in his hugely popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Aimed at kids aged 8 and above, children the world over cannot get enough of Jeff Kinney's books.

In Cabin Fever,  Greg Heffley, who has 'starred' in the whole Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, is in trouble.

He is the prime suspect after some school property got damaged, and it wasn't his fault, not really.

A blizzard strands his family inside their home, but he knows that when the thaw comes, he is going to have to face the music.

Meanwhile, he is trapped indoors with his family instead of being out playing, and it is the holidays.


Author Jeff Kinney is an online game designer and developer as well as being a New York Times best selling author.

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes




Winner of the 2011 Man Booker Prize, Julian Barnes's The Sense of an Ending is a beautifully written slim volume about a man who, later in life, looks back with regret for things he did in his youth.

Each word is carefully crafted and not padded out like you see in so many books.

Tony Webster remembers in detail the many philosophical conversations he had with  his friends at a middle-class public school in the 1960s.

He needs to look back to make sense of events that have happened since.

The ending is totally unexpected and if you'd not fully understood the book as you were reading it, this will make you want to go back and read it again, as suddenly all the slots fall into place.

This book has invariably been described as "masterful", "imaginatively crafted", "elegant", "wonderful" and "beautifully written" to mention a few comments from the top book critics.

Buy it yourself and see what you think. You are sure to not be disappointed.

Snuff: Discworld Novel 39 by Terry Pratchett




In Snuff: Discworld Novel 39, Sybil, Commander Vimes's wife, insists he has a break at her ancestral pile in the country.

Green fields, fresh air, relaxation.

Not quite. It is not long before Vimes finds himself investigating a murder while leads to an even graver crime being committed.

Previously, Sir Terry Pratchett's books brought us stories that we humorous with an undertone of morality. In this latest Discworld novel, the morality is more deeply entrenched and the humour less so.

There are some funny scenes throughout, but in the main it is serious book that will make you think.

Some critics have even suggested that Sir Terry Pratchett's illness may be affecting his writing. He is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.

1Q84: Books 1 and 2 by Haruki Murakami


 If you have read any of Haruki Murakami's previous books, you might find it a lot easier to get the grips with the surrealism portrayed in 1Q84, which is a parody of George Orwell's 1984.

The letter 'Q' in Japanese sounds like the number 9, hence the title.

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author who has successfully broken the East/West barrier, and is probably the most famous author ever to come out of Japan.

Even the staid Guardian has described him as "one of the world's greatest living novelists".

1Q84 is based around two main characters who are seemingly living on parallel universes within the same city.

He is a writer and teacher, and she is a female assassin.

Their lives are inextricably drawn towards each other, and while at the start of the book you may be perplexed as to their relationship, all will be revealed, slowly.

An amazing book. Highly recommended.

If you are new to Haruki Murakami, it is advised you read After The Quake first.

The Drop by Michael Connelly



The Drop is yet another fantastic Harry Bosch story by the one and only Michael Connelly.

Harry Bosch is just three years away from retirement and he has been placed in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP).

He is desperate for more cases, and he gets his wish, with two on the one day.

First, the Regional Crime Lab throws up a positive DNA match for an unsolved rape and murder that took place in 1989.

Only problem is the accused, who is currently locked up for a different rape, would only have been 8 years old at the time.

Has something gone wrong at the lab?

Then a councilman's son dies after falling from a hotel balcony. Did he jump or was he pushed?

Councilman Irving demands Bosch investigate his son's death, despite previous enmity between the two men.

Bosch discovers that a serial killer has been operating in the city for up to 30 years, and that there is a deep political conspiracy going on that involves the police department at political level.

Typical Michael Connelly. Just pure brilliant.

Gangsta Granny by David Walliams



This is a must for children everywhere! In fact, never mind the kids - I want to read it!!

Gangsta Granny is the latest offering from best selling author David Walliams, who has been described as the new Roald Dahl.

11 year old Ben is unhappy at being forced to stay at his grandmother's every Friday night. She is boring. All she wants to do is make cabbage soup and play Scrabble. In Ben's own words "She’s the boringest grandma ever".

But Grandma is not all she appears to be.

She was once an international jewel thief, and she's always dreamt of stealing the Crown Jewels.

Would Ben help her?

Gangsta Granny will have kids laughing out loud!

David Walliams is one of those authors who can get inside kids heads and write in a straightforward way using kids' direct logic to explain things - he has the ability to create a child's eye view of the world.

This book will make you want to curl up in corner, giggling away at the antics you are reading about, never mind the kids!

Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography by Walter Isaacson



This is the book they have all been talking about. Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography, written by best selling author Walter Isaacson, is a fascinating insight into the life of the man who co-founded the giant Apple corporation and who sadly died on the 5th of October, 2011, aged only 56.

From is adoption as a baby, through his earlier live, his loves, his trials and tribulations, this biography takes you through the life of man whose famous quotes includes the lines:


Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful, that's what matters to me.
Steve Jobs

The man who was hugely successful not once, but twice in his life, leaves a tremendous inspirational legacy to the young and up and coming entrepreneurs of this world.


Walter Isaacson has written a book that is clear, succinct and highly enjoyable.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Witness by Cath Staincliff



As the title suggests, Witness  is about the reactions of witnesses to a crime which could happen anywhere. In this instance it involves gangland figures in Manchester, but it could be in any UK city.

A teenage boy is shot down. The immediate witnesses to the scene are in danger and have to struggle with their own demons as to whether or not they will appear in court for the prosecution, knowing their own or their family's lives could be at risk.

In Cath Staincliff's Witness, the story centres around 4 witnesses.

Fiona, a midwife, hears the gunshots and attends to the dying boy.

Mike, a delivery driver on his rounds, finds himself having to choose between testifying in court or losing his own family.

Cheryl, a single mum, has the dilemma of speaking out now, despite the obvious dangers, or risking her child growing up in the same climate of fear.

Zak, a homeless man, has little to lose and more to gain by speaking out.

This is a well-paced and fascinating read which places ordinary people in a situation most of us wouldn't want to be, but which could happen to any one of us.

The One You Love by Paul Pilkington



Described as a fast paced thriller, The One You Love by Paul Pilkington is not to be missed.

Action-packed, the story revolves around actress Emma Holden, who is due to marry her fiancé, Dan, in two weeks time.

On the eve of the hen/stag night, he goes missing, and Emma discovers her brother's battered and bloody body in their London apartment.

The race is on to discover what happened.

Full of unguessable twists and turns, you will find The One You Love hard to put down, and you will be kept guessing right up until the very end.

An excellent novel, well worth reading.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Top 10 Best Selling Books UK August 2011

The top 10 best selling books in the UK in August 2011 are as follows:
  1. Cold Kill by Neil White 
  2. Falling Star by Diana Dempsey 
  3. Negotiate by Jill Laurell 
  4. That Summer in Ischia by Penny Feeny 
  5. The Dukan Diet by Dr. Pierre Dukan 
  6. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 
  7. Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes 
  8. Confessions of a GP by Benjamin Daniels 
  9. One Day by David Nicholls
  10. When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman

Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

Into the Darkest Corner



Into the Darkest Corner is a very impressive first novel by Elizabeth Haynes, that will grip you from the very start.

It's a psychological thriller about a normal woman who develops Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, through the behaviour of another close to her. We see close at hand how a woman is affected by domestic violence, willing her to get out of her situation.

This is a real page turner that is best read when you have no other pressing activities to take you away, but don't read it late at night or you may not be able to sleep!

Into the Darkest Corner is one of the best books on the market which is highly recommended reading, unless you are of a very nervous disposition.

Available in Kindle and Paperback.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes




It is hard to believe that The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is once again a best seller, and in the 21st century too!

This collection of short stories about  the master of crime solving, Sherlock Holmes, by the one and only Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is now wowing a brand new audience that are probably the great-great grandchildren of the people who first helped Sir Arthur Conan Doyle shoot to stardom.

Originally published in The Strand Magazine, each complete short story is a whodunnit murder/mystery that will keep you guessing right up until the end.

All 12 of the short stories are written from the viewpoint of Watson, Sherlock Holmes's trusted friend.

Set in Victorian Britain, the language used throughout is easily readable and highly absorbing. Having read those stories years ago, it's been a joy to re-visit them once more.

This is a must for every family home. Brilliant stuff. Classic yet timeless could best describe The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Available in Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Audio download and Paperback.

That Summer in Ischia by Penny Feeny

That Summer in Ischia



A beautifully-written first novel by Penny Feeny, That Summer in Ischia is a story spanning 3 decades.

Best friends Helena and Liddy both travel together to the island of Ischia off Italy's coast in the Mediterranean to take up positions of au pairs to two wealthy Italian families.

With dreams of love and romance under the hot summer sun, the two friends find themselves under police arrest when a child in their care goes missing.

Held separately, their friendship falls apart as they blame each other.

25 years later, they accidentally meet up and journey back to Ischia to find out what really happened.

This is a wonderful book, well written. The reader is drawn in to their lives and That Summer in Ischia is hard to put down, wanting to know what happens next.

A great summer read that will leave you wanting to read more by Penny Feeny.

That Summer in Ischia is available in both Kindle and Peperback.

Negotiate by Jay Laurell

Negotiate



The title 'Negotiate' seems to have confused a lot of readers of this fantastically-paced book by Jay Laurell, as there is very little negotiating actually going on!

Invariably described as one of the best books in a decade, Negotiate is set in the US where persons under the control of the mysterious Diablo have set a series of bombs in 8 FBI buildings in 8 different cities.

If they are set off, thousands of lives will be lost.

President Stanton cannot accede to terrorist demands due to the governments frequently affirmed policy, yet is aware that a terror worse that 9/11 will be unfolded should those bombs explode.

Tremendous drama in Negotiate, this is a thriller that will thrill. This is a book that is very hard to put down, and should appeal to a wide range of readers.

Available in Kindle edition.

Falling Star by Diana Dempsey

Falling Star




Falling Star is a delightful first novel by Diana Dempsey.

Set mainly around the life of Natalie Daniels, the fictitious news anchor on a US TV channel, whose boss, with one eye on budget and the other on the ratings, want to dump her for a younger and cheaper model.

Meanwhile, Natalie's husband has left her, and a new man steps into her life in the form of a gorgeous Australian TV news agent, who is about to propose to someone else.

This book is funny, and uplifting, and fast-paced, and a wonderful read.

It would seem Diana Dempsey has experience of working in TV news channels, as the details in her book would suggest a great deal of working knowledge.

Falling Star might be a book for the girls, but try it, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Falling Star is available in both Kindle and Paperback.

Cold Kill by Neil White

Cold Kill



Cold Kill is the 5th book in a series by British crime thriller writer Neil White but can be read as a standalone book by its own.

A policeman's daughter is murdered in horrific circumstances. Three weeks later, a crime boss's daughter is murdered in similar fashion.

Detective Sergeant Laura McGanity finds herself in danger as the killer closes in on his next target.

Meanwhile intrepid reporter Jack Garrett is also on the case, and while researching for his story, he finds the two cases are linked.

This book is fast-paced and gripping, and a thoroughly enjoyable read, and Neil White is quickly establishing himself as one of the great crime thriller writers, such is the popularity of his books.

Available in Kindle or Paperback.

Previous books in this series with the lady detective and the male reporter include:

Lost Souls

Fallen Idols

Dead Silent

Last Rites

Confessions of a GP by Benjamin Daniels

Confessions of a GP



Confessions of a GP is written by a real doctor using the pseudonym of Benjamin Daniels.

At only 27 he simply does not have the experience to write an authoritative angle, but what we have instead is a fairly short book with short chapters, telling us amusing tales about his patients - like the octogenarian who visits the doctor but can't remember why he made the appointment to come, or the woman demanding antibiotics for what is obviously a simple viral infection.

It has been generally well-received, however, and for light reading, is quite delightful. Funny in places, and serious in others (like dealing with death), it is an insight into the life a busy GP which will perhaps make you smile next time you have to visit your doctor.

Confessions of a GP by Benjamin Daniels is available in Kindle, Paperback and Audio.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman

When God Was a Rabbit, by Sarah Winman

When God Was a Rabbit is the first novel by Sarah Winman, and readers seem to either love it or hate it.

It follows two people, brother and sister, as they make their way through life.

Elly is born in 1968 and the first part of the book is aptly named 1968 as we follow her through her childhood in the south of England and onwards with close reference to brother Joe.

We laugh and we cry as events unfold, both world and local, as the children grow up to become adults, and then face the trials and tribulations that accompany friendship, love, relationships and events.

At times very funny, and at other times very serious, 20 or 30 somethings should find plenty to empathise with.

One Day by David Nicholls

One Day by David Nicholls


One Day
by David Nicholls follows the life of two people, Emma and Dexter, who meet on the night of their graduation on St Within's day in 1988, and agree to meet yearly afterwards.

With character plays between the people they become, One Day is easily readable and enjoyable as we learn about their lives, their personalities and how they interact with each other every 15th of July.

By the end of the book we have become so attached to these characters, we feel sad that the book has finished, and that in itself makes it very readable.

David Nicholls previous work include his huge bestseller, Starter for Ten

The Stranger's Child by Alan Hollinghurst



The Stranger's Child by Alan Hollinghurst.

We have waited 7 long years for Alan Hollinghurst's long-awaited follow up novel to his Man Booker award winning previous novel, The Line of Beauty


It has been well worth the wait, The Stranger's Child follows the lives of two families from the brink of World War I right through the whole of the 20th century.

Beautifully written and easily readable, the story of The Stranger's Child, beings in the summer of 1913 when upper class poetry student stays the weekend at his Cambridge University friend George Saul's house called Two Acres.

The events of that weekend intertwine the two families irrevocably, and we see a changing Britain through their eyes throughout the next 80 years.

Highly recommended reading.

A Feast for Crows: Book 4 of a Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin

A Feast for Crows: Book 4 of a Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin.

 Many readers have confessed to feeling a disappointment with this book after the epic rise of George RR Martin's earlier books in the same series,  A Song of Ice and Fire.

Many of the earlier characters are barely mentioned, as they have been saved for another of his books, A Dance With Dragons: Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire (Song of Ice & Fire 5)


Instead we have the Martells of Dorne seeking revenge, and many other characters carrying out horrific and foul deeds brought about through political intrigue and dark magic.

Some readers loved this book so don;t let this put you off. Some feel it is the best in the series, so it is up to you, the reader, to decide if A Feast for Crows is for you.

A Storm of Swords, 2 Blood and Gold: Book 3, Part 2 of a Song of Ice and Fire by George R R Martin


A Storm of Swords, 2 Blood and Gold: Book 3, Part 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire by George R R Martin is a continuation of his colossal and stunning epic series.

Widely acclaimed as the best yet, in  A Storm of Swords, 2 Blood and Gold the Lannisters and Tyrells are now allied together, presenting an overwhelming force for the Starks.

Beyond The Wall, John Snow is on a spying mission to learn the plans of the wildlings, but finds his loyalties torn.

Meanwhile Daenerys Targaryen is attempting to amass an army from the cities of Slaver's Bay over the far Eastern waters and finds herself entrenched in freeing the peoples there, delaying her return to Westeros.

A Storm of Swords, 2 Blood and Gold is unputdownable!

A Storm of Swords, Steel and Snow, Book 3, Part 1 of A Song of Fire and Ice by George R R Martin

A Storm of Swords, Steel and Snow, Book 3, Part 1 of A Song of Fire and Ice by George R R Martin is a continuation of his highly-acclaimed epic series.

The third book is split into two parts and in A Storm of Swords, Steel and Snow, winter rapidly approaches the Seven Kingdoms which have been torn apart by war and feuds.

A little bit of magic creeps into this book so insidiously you'll hardly notice the change, but this is another powerful story that'll have you on the edge of your seat, rapidly turning pages, absorbed in the action and desperate to know what happens next.

In A Storm of Swords, Steel and Snow, Brother Mance Rayder prepares to lead the wildlings from the Northern borders South towards The Wall.

Newly crowned Robb Stark in the House of Stark in the North has to stretch his defences against not only the threat coming from the wastelands, but from the Lannisters to the South where his sisters are held captive.

How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

How to be a Woman by The Times columnist Caitlin Moran.
This book is a laugh out loud book about modern women and our role in today's society. While feminism is a bad word in many quarters, How to Be a Woman takes a light hearted look at the world through a teenager's eyes in 1980s and forward. This is sure to touch a chord whether you are male/female, old or young. Described as the funniest book for ages, it also has a deeper message that women today can identify with.
High recommended reading and well worth nipping over the Amazon to read the reviews before you buy the book.

Best Selling Books UK July 2011

  1. How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran 
  2. A Clash of Kings: Book 2 of A Song of Fire and Ice by George R R Martin 
  3. A Game of Thrones: Book 1 of A Song of Fire and Ice by George R R Martin 
  4. The Dukan Diet by Dr Pierrre Dukan
  5. A Storm of Swords, Steel and Snow: Book 3, Part 1 of A Song of Fire and Ice by George R R Martin
  6. A Storm of Swords 2 Blood and Gold: Book 3, Part 2 of a Song of Fire and Ice by George R R Martin
  7. A Feast for Crows: Book 4 of A Song of Ice and Fire by George R R Martin
  8. The Stranger's Child by Alan Hollinghurst
  9. One Day by David Nicholls
  10. When God was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman

Saturday, June 4, 2011

A Clash of Kings: Books 2 of a Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin

A Clash of Kings by George R.R.Martin


The second volume in A Song of Ice and Fire, A Clash of Kings is just as exciting and gripping as the first.

The Seven Kingdoms are divided and in tatters, while beyond The Wall to the north comes a great cold, bringing with it the walking dead.

The stories are told from the points of view of various members of the Stark family, the once and future kings, whose father had been brutally murdered.

With its dark air and medieval setting, A Song of Fire and Ice is a fantasy series for adults that can rival Tolkein's Lord of the Rings

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 1) by George R.R. Martin

A Game of Thrones by George R.R.Martin


Invariably described as the best new fantasy trilogy since Stephen Donaldson's "Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" - and I loved those books - A Game of Thrones is the first of three in the series called A Song of Fire and Ice.

The Seven Kingdoms south of The wall are threatened with rivalry, greed, treachery and war. Meanwhile a darker force is moving in beyond the Wall.

Each chapter in the book is named after the character whose viewpoint you are learning about, and there are many characters each of which are utterly believable. There is no good, nor evil. Everybody is in shades of grey. In this world with a recorded history of 8,000 years, you live or you die.

Invariably described as gripping, highly readable, wonderful, highly recommended, A Game of Thrones is not one to miss!

London Calling (Inspector Carlyle 1) by James Craig

London Calling by James Craig 


James Craig has written a winner with this action-packed political thriller.

Our hero of the day is down-to-earth London Police Inspector John Carlyle whose job it is to track down a brutal murderer.

The country is in the middle of a General Election and the leader of the opposition, Edgar Carlton, a powerful and ambitious man from an upper class background, goes out of his way to ensure the killer is not found, because it could compromise his position.

An exciting and fast-paced thriller, this book is un-put-downable and a thoroughly good read as well as insightful into the world of power and murky politics.

Hard Landing: The First Spider Shepherd Thriller by Stephen Leather

Hard Landing by Stephen Leather


Hard Landing: the First Spider Shepherd Killer is a thoroughly enjoyable book about undercover agent Jack Shepherd, who, as Bob MacDonald, is caught red-handed carrying out an armed robbery.

Fast -tracked off the the remand wing of a category A British prison, he continues his undercover work behind bars.

Full of believable characters from the other prisoners to the wardens, this is an action-packed British thriller of the highest quality.

Daddy's Home by A.K. Alexander

Daddy's Home by A.K.Alexander


Daddy's Home is a crime thriller about a man who befriends single mothers so that he can get close to her children, hence the title "Daddy's Home".

But unlike a real Daddy, this Daddy turns nasty and kills them when things are not going well for him. The San Diego Police Department are investigating the murders and trying to track the killer down, but none more so than Crime Scene Investigator Holly Jennings, herself a single mom, whose best friend and her family become a victim of this evil entity known as "The Family Man".

Holly is also fighting her own personal demons, feeling guilt for the death of her husband while resisting an affair with an attractive veterinarian Brendan O'Neill.

Full of twists and turns, this book can move the reader to tears at times, dealing as it does with such sensitive issues as child murders.

Daddy's Home seems to be a book you'll either love or hate, if you can ignore the typos and errors throughout the book.

Mommy, May I? by A.K. Alexander

Mommy, May I? by A.K.Alexander


Mommy May I? is  fast-paced thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat.

 Action-packed, exciting and utterly readable, Mommy May I? is the story of a once-powerful super-model, Helen Shea, whose life has relaxed a bit now that  is no longer modelling and is instead running her own modelling agency.

Her daughter, 16 year old Frankie, who she gave up for adoption when she was a baby, comes tentatively back into her life. Just as mother and daughter start to get to know each other again, along comes an evil serial killer intent on ripping apart their lives forever.

You are going to love this one! Great book!

The Dukan Diet by Doctor Pierre Dukan

The Dukan Diet by Dr. Pierre Dukan


Women (and men)  the world over are losing weight fast and KEEPING IT OFF, thanks to Dr. Pierre Dukan who developed The Dukan Diet diet plan 10 years ago. You may have read about it on the internet, but no-one explains it so well, and the science behind why it works, than the author himself.
There are basically 4 stages to the Dukan Diet:

  1. Attack - during this phase that lasts several days you are only allowed to eat from a list of 70-odd lean proteins and water.
  2. Cruise - stay on Cruise until you have achieved ideal weight loss by alternating protein only days with protein plus vegetable days.
  3. Consolidation - Gradually adding starches and fats back into your diet in a carefully controlled way, plus the introduction of celebratory meals.
  4. Stabilisation - Maintain your target weight by following three simple rules, fully explained within the book.
I'm a fan of low-carb dieting and I know it works. In fact, a friend just now is following the Dukan diet and she is not only slimmer, she looks better too.

Truth Dare Kill by Gordon Ferris

Truth Dare Kill by Gordon Ferris


Truth Dare Kill is set in post-War London.Lead character is Danny McCrae and he is a private detective.

No normal PD, Danny McCrae is haunted and damaged by things he did and saw in France during the War and he suffers blackouts and flashbacks and has all this to deal with, as well as the struggles of day-to-day living in a bombed and devastated London.

Follow Danny as he searches through the rubble of London looking for clues to help his rich client, Kate Graveney, while battling black-outs that sometimes last days at a time, bringing Danny into trouble with the Law and other enforcers before this book reaches its exciting final conclusion.

Widely thought to be an excellent book that readers do not want to put down.

The Unremarkable Heart by Karin Slaughter

The Unremarkable Heart by Karin Slaughter

The Unremarkable Heart is a short story, a teaser to make you want to read Karin Slaughter's full length novels coming out soon.

And you will want to read them because Karin Slaughter is a master story teller, capable of weaving believable tales in a manner that keeps you glued to the pages, wanting more.

The Unremarkable Heart can be read in under an hour, and tells the story of June Connor, who is dying of cancer. It is more her thoughts and feelings being divulged, with trips down memory lane of things her family have done in the past, all in the last few hours of her life.

Readers have described the first third of the story as depressing, but that it then suddenly gets really interesting and a fantastic tale is told, albeitly on the short side.

Bone and Cain by David Belbin

Bone and cane by David Belbin
Bone and Cain a political thriller set in Nottingham in the last 1990's, which according to reviews has been warmly received all round.

A young MP helps quash the conviction of a man accused of the murder of a policeman and his wife, but this man, Ed Clark, later attempts to rape the MP and admits to her that he was in fact guilty.

During the course of the story and with elections looming, the MP, Sarah Bone, meets up with old university flame Nick Cane who is fresh out of prison having served 5 years for an illegal cannabis growing operation. The biggest question on his mind is 'who grassed him up?'

He is now driving a mini-cab and a colleague of his is Ed Clark, the man whose conviction MP Bone helped to quash.

Pressure is growing on Sarah, as the dead policeman's sister, Polly Burton, demands a fresh enquiry into her brother's death and is making it  a political issue with the upcoming election.


Sarah herself has grave doubts about the Ed Clark's release as she realises she may have helped a gross injustice, and is determined to find out the truth.

Reviewers have stated that this book is a little bit difficult to get into at the start, but then it become un-put-downable with a great storyline that leaves the reader feeling knowledgeable about how election campaigns are run.

Best Selling Books UK June 2011

  1. Bone and Cain by David Belbin 
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  5. Mommy, May I? by A.K. Alexander 
  6. Daddy's home by A.K. Alexander 
  7. Hard Landing: The First Spider Shepherd Thriller by Stephen Leather 
  8. London Calling (Inspector Carlyle 1) by James Craig 
  9. A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 1) by George R.R. Martin 
  10. A Clash of Kings: Books 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin