Simon & Schuster UK Archives - Debbish Archive

Book review: House of Correction by Nicci French

Tuesday, September 1, 2020 Permalink

House of Correction by Nicci French is the latest standalone by the married couple Nicci Gerrard and Sean French. It’s an interesting book. I initially engaged with our lead Tabitha though was a little baffled by her naiveté about her predicament (ie. in jail on remand but assuming ‘the truth will set her free’). Then we see a side of her that had me realising she was perhaps not entirely a nice person. And – though I can cope with unreliable or unlikeable narrators if they’re psychopaths or sociopaths, I wasn’t sure I’d cope with one who was just a bitch.

Book review: Mr Nobody by Catherine Steadman

Saturday, January 25, 2020 Permalink

I’ve been reading so many twisty books lately. I mean, I know I read a lot of novels of suspense and psychological thrillers so it’s what you expect, but authors are obviously working a lot harder to keep we readers guessing.

I’m usually pretty good with the whodunit stuff, but I’ve floundered a bit lately and Catherine Steadman’s Mr Nobody was very much like that.

This is the second book of Steadman’s I’ve read and her 2018 novel Something in the Water was chosen for Reese Witherspoon’s popular book club.

Book review: The Lying Room by Nicci French

Saturday, September 28, 2019 Permalink

I was surprised to read this was the first Nicci French (Nicci Gerrard / Sean French) standalone novel in 10 years. I’ve got quite a few on my bookshelves so it made me feel a little old. Of course I’ve not really been smitten with the Frieda Klein series, though have enjoyed the last few more than the first couple.

And I really enjoyed much of this novel and (unsurprisingly, cos I’m not great at delaying instant gratification) read it in a sitting. I was a tad disappointed with the end as it felt a little anti-climatic but I’d enjoyed everything that came before.

Book review: Hunting Evil by Chris Carter

Wednesday, May 29, 2019 Permalink

I have inadvertently come and gone from this series featuring Detective Robert Hunter from LAPD’s Ultra Violent Crimes Unit. (And yes, each time I have a giggle at the ‘ultra’ and try to remember to add the ‘n’ in violent.)

I’ve enjoyed the books I’ve read (here’s my review of the 2018 release ) and am pretty consistent now but – as it would happen – this is actually a sequel to an earlier book in the series and even the author Chris Carter recommends we read its precursor.

However… #spoileralert: I hadn’t read it and survived.

Book review: Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman

Sunday, August 5, 2018 Permalink

This book was chosen by Reese Witherspoon for her bookclub so probably doesn’t need the support of little ol’ me here in the land down-under.

Which is probably a good thing as – though I certainly enjoyed it – I wasn’t as enamoured as I’m assuming readers like Reese were.

Book review: Providence by Caroline Kepnes

Wednesday, July 11, 2018 Permalink

The backcover blurb for this book makes it clear it’s not like Caroline Kepnes’ fabulous debut novel You, or its sequel, Hidden Bodies. So I was prepared for something quite different.

And it starts well. Our main characters are interesting, the disappearance of Jon (and even his reappearance) intriguing. But it seemed to get a bit lost after that and I wasn’t sure even Kepnes knew where she wanted to take us.

Book review: The Wanted by Robert Crais

Saturday, December 30, 2017 Permalink

I am extremely ashamed to admit that *I think* The Wanted by Robert Crais is the first book I’ve read in his Elvis Cole series.

I was going to say I have no idea why, but if I’m completely honest I guess I’ve perhaps conjured up some image of a wannabe Elvis Presley in my mind and have thought he’d be kinda naff (apologies to fans of Elvis or Elvis look-alikes but I Just. Don’t. Get. It: the allure of Elvis so many years later, or the whole Vegas culture), but our private detective wasn’t at all like that.

Elvis Cole was younger than I expected and I actually really really liked him!

Book review: Kill the Father by Sandrone Dazieri

Wednesday, January 11, 2017 Permalink

It’s weird when a book becomes something you’re not expecting. I recently read a book that ventured into the mystical… and I wasn’t quite ready for it. This book by Sandrone Dazieri – the first UK release for the author of 8 novels and 50 screenplays – was good. Indeed, I demolished the first half in a sitting. But – it became something kinda different as Dazieri introduced elements that, well… while they may have made sense to many, were less of interest to me.

Book review: The Girl from Venice by Martin Cruz Smith

Saturday, October 29, 2016 Permalink

As I’m not a fan of historical fiction I wasn’t quite sure how long I would last with this latest release by Martin Cruz Smith. And – although it wasn’t a riveting read – I found myself quite enchanted by the story of the Italian fisherman Cenzo, and Giulia… the girl he found in the lagoon.