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 …