Shuggie Bain, by Douglas Stuart (2020)

Set in Thatcherite Britain in the early 80s this is the story of a young boy, raised by an alcoholic mother in the tenements and schemes of and around Glasgow. The story is, in part, autobiographical. At the beginning of the novel we are introduced to a young man who is working on a deli …

The Thursday Murder Club, by Richard Osman (2020)

Richard Osman is one of those affable, gentle types who I'm sure started out somewhere in comedy and rose to TV ubiquity whilst I was on holiday or something. Since conquering TV-land I suppose the next logical frontier is publishing. So great is Osman's star that, I believe, a 6 or 7 figure bidding war …

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (1934)

Whilst at the end of a trip to Syria Poirot is called back to London on urgent business. He secures a compartment on the Orient Express and sets upon his long west-ward journey from Istanbul. The carriages are unusually full, so says the Director of The Train Operator, M. Bouc, friend and confidante of M …

Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell (2020)

Hope you're all sitting down because I'm actually going to review a book that creeps into this decade! So, a book club read - not one I would have chosen. You can imagine my dismay then when I saw the mountainous pile on the table. This is a vast book - something like over 500 …

Lord Edgware Dies by Agatha Christie (1933)

Lady Edgware, the beautiful yet self-absorbed young wife of Lord Edgware, wants a divorce so she can marry and advance further up the social ladder. However, upon learning the unexpected news that her husband will grant her what she wishes, a scandal engulfs London as Lady Edgware is accused of murder when her husband is …

End of year round up 2022

It's that time of year again when I get to tell you about the books I managed to finish! What a long time ago this all seems. I began on the Poirot cannon with The Mysterious Affair At Styles. The Last House on Needless Street was a recommendation from a friend. I thoroughly enjoyed this …

Year End Round Up: Part 1

Oh hi. You may remember me. I used to read books and share my half baked ideas with the world. After my rather fabulous trip to Europe (which I only got round to sharing half of - think there’s a pattern emerging) I got super busy with work and writing. And the house. We’re at …

Travels – Aigues-Mortes and Arles

Back to the UK and it's overcast and about 20 degrees cooler than in Europe. No matter though as I have some pictures to remember our rather fabulous trip. Aigues Mortes France - and certainly in the south - is known for its Citadels. Those towns and villages that are often to be seen perched …

Notes on the Road Days 9 & 10

The day has finally come. We have to say au revoir to Saint-Gilles in Gard and head north. Our overnight stop is in Champagne. Bien sur. Pool at the house in Saint-Gilles. This is the only picture I took of where we stayed! We left early for one of two reasons. 1. it’s a 7 …

Notes on the road Day 8

When the wind starts to blow in Mary Poppins heralding her departure from one family to another, similarly with the winds hitting up to 50mph in the south of France, it was time for us to be back on the road. Whilst the weather in the south of France has been gloriously hot it does …

Notes on the road Day 7

If this were a movie I’d be the character on the brink of collapse, throwing in the towel and offering up my morsels of food to those younger and more deserving (a bit like Partridge). But, people, we’re only driving through France! All is not lost. We had to navigate around Lyon. Not for the …

Notes on the Road Day 6

Cologne to Dijon via Luxembourg today. Perhaps Luxembourg is most well known for something to do with the Eurovision Song Contest but as I have never quite caught on to the whole irony of watching this I can’t for the life of me remember what it is. However, along with everyone else who was on …

Notes on the Road Day 5

After a little sojourn in the UK for 3 days we are back on the road to Europe. This is a mix of holiday and band tour and, because we like to make things doubly exciting our first stop is Cologne, Germany to see Jack White. But of course, I hear you cry. Why wouldn’t …

Notes on the road Day 4

After a little bit of a leisurely start our next and final port of call is the Muddy Roots Europe festival. The weather wasn’t great in Rotterdam so we lurked around in the hotel reception. We managed to catch up with some of the bands. It’s a curious lifestyle gigging and touring. After partying with …

Notes on the road Day 3

It’s true what they say about losing track of time and days. I have no idea what day of the week it is and told someone we had been in a completely different city to one we’d just come from. So today. Today was even more of an epic drive than the Hamburg trip. We …

Notes on the road Day 2

I’m sure you’ve all heard the jokes about drummers. Renowned for being a little unhinged maybe. So to trust one with the van keys could be considered a little reckless. Today was the Long Trip between Liege and Hamburg - or so we thought. Anyhoo, we got to Hamburg in record time thanks to Ray. …

Notes on the road Day 1

This is a non book related post! Sorry it’s getting a little spammy around here, but here goes… Bring a roadie has its benefits but all said and done it’s a long old day being rocknroll. So we’re off on the north European tour with Thee Scarecrows AKA. The morning began with a 5am wake …

The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope (1894)

Another Audible here and the third of my swashbuckling adventure stories. I must add that the recent run of books have all been chosen at random. I have to say this book really confounded my expectations. I had imagined it to be more...well, more high brow. I think I might have based this assumption on …

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy (1905)

Well! What a fun old time was had here. Let me take you back to the French Revolution in 1792. The women were beautiful, the men handsome and fearless, the French were scoundrels. These are the perilous tales of one secret agent and his brave band of loyal followers rescuing the French aristocracy who are …

Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian (1970)

Hi! Remember me? It's been a while and I thought I might bundle a few reviews together but this one was practically good to go, so here it is! This is a 'dad' book. Many years ago he suggested I read HMS Ulysses by Alistair Maclean (which I loved) and he also mentioned this one …