Black Notice by Patricia Cornwell

Hi, well that’s me back from my holidays I did not do too much reading as by the time evening came and bedtime I was deadbeat and could not keep my eyes open for very long but I did manage one book. In Braken Cottage there is a big bookcase full of books most are not to my taste but some of them are. This year I spotted a Patricia Cornwell book I had not read I don’t know how I missed this one it is the tenth of the Scarpetta series. The last Scarpetta I read was very disappointing but this being a older one it was great in fact I had to bring it home with me as I still had about 50 pages to read when it was time to come home so I owe the cottage one book. A great book but a bit old for all you fan of Patricia Cornwell you no doubt read it ages ago. A new scarpetta is due out in October and believe it or not it's the sixteenth and will be called 'Scarpetta'. 8/10. for Black Notice.

The Ladykiller

                                   

Good afternoon, have had a busy week reading, laptop connection has been bad and so has the desktop think we managed to fix it yesterday I get so annoyed with it and have little patience so I usually just leave it alone for a while. Sorry I diverse I am supposed to be writing a book review. ‘The Ladykiller’ by Martina Cole is not for the faint hearted in fact it was a bit too much for me a times but I do not like to give up on a book and the story itself was compelling enough for you to want to find out how it was going to end. I of course knew roughly how it was going to end as I had read ‘Broken’ which is the sequel to this book first and that more or less told you what was going to happen I hope this will teach me to try harder to read books in the proper sequence. The characters are great in this book I just about fancied Patrick Kelly myself reading this book he is very fanciable even for an oldie like me. It is a very graphic violent book but there is not as much bad language in it as there is in some of her other books. It is over 625 pages long so it is a big read but very compelling I got through it quickly because of internet problems or it would have taken me quite a bit longer to get to the end.

After the last three books I have read I must read something a bit more gentle so I am going to start Sam Bourne’s ‘ The Last Testament’ Stu says it is very good so I will give it a try. Martina Cole’s The Ladykiller gets a 7/10 worth reading. Till next time, Love

Joan.

 

Tags: Martina Cole, The Ladykiller Book review

The Mermaids Singing.

                                    

Good Afternoon, I always seem to update this journal on a Saturday afternoon maybe because Stu usually watches the sport and I am at a loose end for a couple of hours. This weeks book was ‘The Mermaids Singing’ by my favourite author (Thanks to Jan for pointing me in this direction) Val McDermid. This book is the first of the Tony Hill stories which lead to the TV series ‘Wire in the Blood’ which is very successful and I enjoy it too. This book told a very gruesome story and had me cringing at times it was so graphic. With this being the first book of the series it tell you a lot about Tony Hill that you do not get from the TV programs and for that alone is well worth reading. I found it difficult to put down and read it in just a few days which is the best way to read something like this. I would recommend this book to all thriller lovers but you do need a bit of a strong stomach for it. This deserves a 9/10

 Till next time  Love Joan.   Happy reading.

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Clean Break Val McDermid.

                                        

Good afternoon, well that’s another great book finished. With the weather being so kind this week we have managed to sit in the garden for a few hours each day with the exception of Tuesday when we had heavy showers. I love Kate Brannigan books they always have a good plot and are full of humour too, I laugh out loud when I am reading about her exploits they are very funny. I think this is McDermid’s light side where as the Tony Hill and her stand alone novels are all very serious stuff. I love the way in nearly all her stories she manages to get a visit to Scotland included into the web. It was lovely being back in my favourite garden chair sitting in the sun with a good book, looking forward to many more days like this soon that is after the hail and snow clears again. Clean Break gets 8/10 great book. Till next time Love .

                                  Joan.

 

Tags: Val McDermid, Kate Brannigan

The Killing Hour.

                                  

Good Evening, boy have I found a new author her name is Lisa Gardner. Maybe I have been sleeping and you may have discovered the lady before me what have I been missing. I have read this book very quickly as I just could not put it down. If the rest of her books are anything like this one I will be a very happy bunny. As usual it is another thriller but you know that by now that’s the kind of books I like. You will not believe this but this is another book within a series this was no 4 it did not say anything about this on the cover and I did not discover it I looked up the author on Fantastic Fiction but fortunately did not matter. She has written plenty of books so will have to keep a lookout for more of her work. Don’t want to say too much if you want to know about her have a look on the website Fantastic Fiction. As I have said before it is a great sight for readers. Will have to give this great thriller 9/10. Till next time Love

Joan.

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Broken. by Martina Cole.

                                        

Good Afternoon, have just finished Broken by Martina Cole to say you enjoyed such horrific story would not be right but I did find it unputdowndable if there is such a word. It is a big book and I read it in just under a week which is quick for me in the wintertime, sounds strange but I read more in the summer sitting in the garden. It is a very disturbing story but the characters are very strong, it is well written although the language is a bit colourful to say the least but it something you come expect from Miss Cole. In this book I did not find the language as gratuitous as in some of the other books of hers I have read. Made my usual mistake in reading the second book of a series first but I had read about 100 pages before I noticed I had the first one sitting on the shelf. The first one is called ‘The Ladykiller’. Am looking forward to reading that one but not just yet as I like to chop and change a bit. Will give this 8/10. Till next time Love,

                                                                                                           Joan.

Tags: Martina Cole.

Snow Blind. P.J. Tracy.

                                  

Good Evening, have been sitting curled up with my book this afternoon as it has been a cold windy day not as bad as it was in the book that I have just finished. Snow Blind was a great thriller a real page turner and the title was spot on. It snowed all the way through the story and by the end it was six feet deep. I have heard some of our j-land friends speak of very deep snow worse than we ever get here nowadays and this book really brings it home how bad it can be. If you have read any of P.J.’s books you will know her characters, this is their forth book and it’s the same format at before. The Monkeewrench team are not in this one so much but there is a new lady sheriff that’s has a big roll. Its one of those books that has you reaching for the thermostat and a blanket it makes you feel so cold. What next don’t know……………………. 8/10

 

                                                                                Love Joan.

 

 

Tags: P. J. Tracy. Monkeewrench