Harper Collins Archives - Page 8 of 10

Book review: The Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan

February 20, 20203 min read

I’ve heard Irish-born Australian-dwelling author Dervla McTiernan speak on a number of occasions, met her briefly and follow her on social media. She’s confirmation of my belief that authors (whose books I enjoy) are always likeable and engaging ‘off’ the page as well as on.

Though I liked her debut, The Ruin (the first in the Cormac Reilly series) I didn’t love it as much as most. Of course it went on to win a million awards so it says something about my judgement!

I actually preferred her second novel, The Scholar, again featuring Cormac. And now that I’ve read her third book in the series, it’s knocked its predecessor of its mantle. The Good Turn, is easily my favourite of the three (to date); so readers need not fear McTiernan has peaked!

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Book review: The Dilemma by BA Paris

January 4, 20203 min read

I read BA Paris’s Bring Me Back in 2018 and rated it highly. I follow Paris on Twitter so have been seeing news of her latest release The Dilemma quite a bit. I wasn’t exactly sure when it was out however, so delayed reading it until after 2020 ticked over.

Interestingly this is another book which reminded me I’m a presumptuous smart-arse. I kept considering exaggerated eye-rolls thinking how obvious the plot/s of this book was / were going to be (there are a couple of threads). I assumed I knew EXACTLY what the twists and secrets were. And… I was wrong. Yet again.

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Book review: The Lost Summers of Driftwood by Vanessa McCausland

December 14, 20194 min read

This book by journalist and Sydneysider Vanessa McCausland came as a bit of a surprise. Its cover is beautiful but implied more whimsy than is on offer in the book. Which is a good thing for me as I struggle with ‘lightness’. It’s a hard book to describe in many ways… there are elements of romance, some meaning-of-life navel gazing and certainly some suspense.

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Book review: Riverstone Ridge by Mandy Magro

November 13, 20192 min read

I’ve not read any of Mandy Magro’s books before though heard of the Far North Queensland-dwelling author who has over a dozen novels to her name.

This appealed as it sounded as if it included some suspense and though I don’t read ‘romance’ I don’t mind romantic suspense. (Or apparently books featuring ‘romantic elements’ which I hadn’t realised was a sub-genre of some sort!)

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Book review: The Stranger Inside by Lisa Unger

October 9, 20194 min read

Lisa Unger’s been one of my go-to authors for more than a decade or so. I think I only discovered her work when she attended the Brisbane Writers’ Festival in 2009, but I’ve read everything she’s written since.

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Book review: Perfect Silence by Helen Fields

August 25, 20182 min read

I hadn’t realised this was part of a series when I requested it and though there were things I’d obviously missed in the first three books, it didn’t impact at all on my enjoyment of the fourth in the Scottish police series. In fact, it made me keen to read the previous installations… even though I guess I know some of what must eventuate; but I loved the characters and am confident enough in Fields’ ability to spin a good yarn that I’m keen to spend more time with her creations.

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Book review: The Ones You Trust by Caroline Overington

August 20, 20183 min read

I’ve now read quite a few of Caroline Overington’s novels (such as The One Who Got Away ) and almost every time I review them I comment on the fact that they reflect current and very contemporary issues.

Her latest, The Ones You Trust, is no different.

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Book review: Bring Me Back by BA Paris

March 15, 20182 min read

Publishers usually don’t like bloggers or reviewers to review a book toooo long before its release – a rule I may be breaking here. The early version of Bring Me Back by BA Paris I received was published in early March. I think. However… other versions aren’t being released until mid 2018. So… I’m not actually sure if you’ll be able to get this one yet.

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