The Case of Robert Quarry by Andrew Garve

Review  by Maryom

Detective Chief Superintendent Burns is looking forward to his retirement. He's only got a week left at work and he and his wife have plans to leave immediately on a caravanning trip to the south of France - something they've been looking forward to for a long time. Then, at the last minute he's pulled into investigating the death of a local industrialist, Robert Quarry. Suspicion falls at first on the militant trade unionist responsible for the strike at Quarry's factory, then the police discover that Quarry had rigged himself an alibi for the time of the murder.


First published in 1972 The case of Robert Quarry has been 're-released' by Bello - an imprint of Pan Macmillan which specialises in rediscovering older books and re releasing them digitally or as 'print on demand' hard copies.

The Case of Robert Quarry is an extremely enjoyable whodunnit from the days before DNA analysis and psychological profiling - almost from another world to today's thrillers. Being able to check the DNA at the crime scene would have made DCS Burns' job an awful lot easier! The plot hinges more on motive versus alibi much in the way of an Agatha Christie mystery. The story follows the investigation team as enquiries lead them first one way, then another - and, although giving clues to who the villain may have been, keeps the reader guessing till near the end.

Maryom's reviews - 4 stars
Publisher - Bello 
Genre - Adults Fiction, crime

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Tabitha Posey was Ever so Nosey by Julie Fulton

Illustrated by Jona Jung

Review by The Mole

Tabitha was a nosey child, always asking questions and giving no-one any peace. A trip to the zoo however may change that a little bit but who knows?

Told in captivating rhyme the tale bounces along in fast action keeping the reader engaged with humour throughout. The illustrations are very colourful, full of detail and beautifully cartoon in style.

This one is bound to be a hit with the early readers, both girls and boys. Let's not discount the read and share value though as this will delight the reader each time it's read as much as the first.

This is bound to be a hit!

Publisher - Maverick Books 
Genre - Children's Early Reader, Picture book

Born Weird by Andrew Kaufman

review by Maryom

When they were born Annie Weird gave each of her grandchildren what she believed to be a blessing; to always be safe, have hope, never be lost, to forgive everything, to be strong. Now Annie has come to believe that these blessings were nearer to curses and wishes to gather all of her grandchildren to her bedside so that at the moment of her death - the date and time of which she's exactly predicted  - the 'blessings' can be lifted. So favourite grand-daughter Angie is set the task of assembling them all. Achieving this is harder than it sounds - the Weird family have gone their separate ways and not seen each other in years but after a brief demonstration of Annie's powers, Angie is convinced that the seemingly impossible must be undertaken.

Born Weird is a rather difficult book to define - it's a light-hearted read looking at a serious subject; a quirky story of family life that explores the concept of too much protection being a bad thing but with a 'fairy-tale-gone-wrong' feel to it. The blessings bestowed on the Weirds by a well-meaning grandmother have turned over the years into curses - "blursings" is the word they coin for it.  Being sheltered from the knocks and blows of life has stopped the Weirds fully engaging with it and finding their 'happy ever after'.
Is it enough to say that I really, really enjoyed this book? It had oddly been sitting on the TBR pile for some time but once I picked it up I didn't want to put it down - or for it to end.

I can't think of another book to liken this to but if I were comparing it to a film I'd suggest two of my favourites - Juno or (500) Days of Summer.

The author's previous novel, The Tiny Wife, is a book that I've had on my radar as a 'must read' for some while - now I really mean to track it down.

Maryom's review -  5 stars
Publisher - The Friday Project
Genre - Adult fiction

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One For Sorrow by M E Mayer

Review by The Mole

It's 535 AD in Constantinople and John, a slave and ex soldier, has risen in the ranks to become Justinian's, Byzantium's Emperor, right hand man. When John finds his friend, The Keeper Of The Plate, murdered in an alley he is given leave to find the killer. Intrigue builds when the Emperor and his wife, Theodora, rescind that permission... but will John risk life and limb to continue his investigation?

I found this book slow to start and maybe even a little naive at first - although that probably doesn't make any sense except to me - but after the first couple of scene setting chapters the story takes off.

You are taken to early Christian Byzantium with John, who encounters the poorest of the poor and the richest of society and treats them all with great respect - well almost all. I really felt that I learned a fair amount of how society was probably structured and how they interacted at that time but most of all I really enjoyed this book.

Did I guess who had done it? Well, no. To say the plot twists and turns is not really true but the profile of the crimes - did I not say that the body count doesn't stay at one? - keeps altering and so therefore so do(es) the likely killer(s) in the readers mind.

A thought provoking historical crime story that will keep you reading - and enjoying.

Publisher - Head Of Zeus
Genre - Historical crime fiction

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The Hunters by Chris Kuzneski

review by Maryom

Fearing the advance of German troops in WW1, the Romanian government organised the removal of the country's treasures - art, jewellery and lots of gold. Shipped to Russia it somehow got lost during the turbulent years of war and revolution. Now a team is being put together to try and track it down...

The Hunters is the first of a new series from Chris Kuzneski - and it has a little bit of feel of the TV pilot programme about it. A crack team has been assembled of three men and two women, all experts in their fields - from leading military operations, stealing to order, knowing all there is to about computers or guns to an in-depth knowledge of languages and history. They're still at the stage of getting to know each other - trying to prove their worth, a combination of bonding and jostling for position in the team - and this takes up rather a lot of the story-line.
The opening chapters really had me gripped but then I felt things sagged a little before coming to an all-action climax. It wasn't quite my sort of action thriller. There was far too much detail on guns and armaments - I know this sort of detail probably thrills a lot of readers but for me a gun is a gun. I'd have liked it balanced in the team's research methods which mostly seemed to be take a lucky guess.

Taken all round, an interesting start to a series that I hope will improve as it goes along.

Maryom's review - 3.5 stars
Publisher - Headline Publishing
Genre - Adult Action Adventure

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Trucilla's Wedding Cake by Corinne V Davies

Illustrated by El Ashfield

Review by The Mole

Trucilla is not a nice person and her brother and sisters are well aware of this. She bullies everyone and after the unexpected deaths of both parents in mysterious circumstances she decides she will steal her sister's boyfriend and get married. But for once will her siblings let her get away with it? And if she doesn't get away with it then will they get away with it? The whole town hopes so.

The story is told entirely in rhyme and although split into chapters the verse continues as one long tale. The story is funny throughout and the book is illustrated with many detailed and entertaining pictures in striking colours. Great fun to read to youngsters and share the pictures with, but early readers will enjoy it for themselves.

After the tale there is an epilogue which consists of a TV style interview with the siblings and the vicar involved in the story. Once again, a funny tale to be shared with a couple of voices perhaps. And finally with confessions from the author and ending with the "Forgiveness Song".

This book is also available in Audio Book format (CD or MP3 download) that is read by Pab Roberts and has additional content in the form of the vicar recording the "Forgiveness Song" - it sounds like it was great fun to make but the epilogue and confessions are not included in the audio version.

All in all it's another great piece of entertainment from this slightly zany pairing.

Publisher - Ral Publications
Genre - Children's 7+

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Buy Trucilla's Wedding Cake - Story and Music (Audio CD) from Amazon

Stendhal: Roman Tales translated by Susan Ashe

Review by The Mole

Marie-Henri Beyle was a prolific writer and, reading the introduction, he wrote under many pen names, one of which was Stendhal. His better known works include  Le Rouge et le Noir (The Red and the Black, 1830) and La Chartreuse de Parme (The Charterhouse of Parma, 1839). In this book the translator, Susan Ashe, takes three of his lesser known tales, The Abbess of Castro, Vittoria Accoramboni and The Cenci, and translates them for modern day readers while "whilst staying true to Stendhal’s style and brilliance." The tales purport to be true but historians feel that they deviate a great deal from documented accounts.

The introduction is something than made me think more about 'translations' than I would normally. I have often wondered how it's possible to translate poetry in particular as the nuances of the original language never repeat in the next one so much has to be lost. Even Shakespearean English loses something to modern day reader unless they are instructed in the meanings of some of the original language. In this we are told "Susan Ashe's translation, designed for the contemporary reader, concentrates on the narrative drive and drama of each story". Clearly any book, when translated cannot be translated literally but when is it a translation and when is it a retelling? The 11 page introduction is a bit of an insight in itself into both Stendahl and the art of translation.

The Abbess of Castro is the longest of the 3 tales and tells the story of young love that is not approved of by family. It also gives an insight into the politics of the time, brigands, attitudes and life in general. While reading I felt the writing style to be very Dickensian and the story moved swiftly. I found it difficult to read at first but that was probably me - it wasn't what I wanted at the time, but when I went back and started again I found it most engaging and I read it with a thirst for more. This, like the other two stories, does not end happily but still most enjoyable - at the right time.

Vittoria Accoramboni is once again a story of love... or is it lust?... that leads to murders. Once again, retaining the Dickensian feel but a tale that is very much shorter but none the less compelling or enjoyable for it.

The Cenci is a story of abuse, murder and injustice. Once again giving insights into the attitudes of the time to such issues and the value of life. Yet again an enjoyable tale.

The book ends with a list on notes, essays and glossaries to help to give context to the stories and the history surrounding these tales. The book also contains the Preface to The Cenci by Percy Bysshe Shelley and an essay by Charles Dickens on the Cenci Portrait.

All in all a very enjoyable read if the mood is right. If you don't manage to get started then put it to one side and return when your mood may be more agreeable to murder, mayhem and treachery.

Publisher - The Friday Project
Genre - Adult Historical Fiction