Books - A Perfect Travel Companion

Books are an integral part of many business and leisure trips, and now that more than a few of us have an e-reader such as the Kindle, we can travel with as many books as we like, without worrying about the weight.

The Kindle has also opened our world to an entire army of new authors, people we may never have stumbled across previously. But whether the decision be based on more attractive pricing compared to the regular authors we read, or simply the great reviews you get on amazon.co.uk and such like, these new authors are proving themselves to be more than capable than the famous names that used to adorn our bookshelves.

Some of the books below are serious books, others comedy, some fiction and non-fiction.

My favourite series / authors at the moment? Peter May is probably my favourite author at the moment. I love the amount of research he puts into his books and in addition to being a lot of fun, I always learn quite a few things from reading them. Conrad Jones is another favourite, as is Alex Smith's DCI Kett series, Robert White's Rick Fuller series, all Jeffrey Archer's work, Mark Dawson's John Milton Series, Simon Beckett's David Hunter series and Chris Carter's Robert Hunter series.

Do also check out the first of our HD video interviews with famous authors: Jake Needham.

If you use Amazon for your e-books, then you may have wondered whether subscribing to Kindle Unlimited is a good idea, or not. It is a great service and if you spend more than £7.99 per month on books, then you may even be able to save some money. However, there are a few things that I do not like about the service: 1) Kindle does not tell you whether you have read the book before, like it does if you buy it; 2) If you make highlight text or make a note in a book, you lose it when you return the book to Kindle Unlimited (which you have to do as you can only have 10 at a time). This is the biggest problem for me, as I want to keep those highlights to read occasionally; 3) Some authors are not in Kindle Unlimited at all and others only have some of their books in Kindle Unlimited so sometimes you still have to buy a book if you want it.

If you have any suggestions on books that you have read and would like us to review, please contact us with details.

The Books

Currently reading: The Killing Habit by Mark Billingham.

Reading Deception (James Ryker Series Book 6) by Rob Sinclair is like sticking your finger in an electric socket, it won't let you go and, unlike the real thing, is not an unpleasant experience. It is non-stop action and another terrific read from this author.

The Journey Back by Conrad Jones skates that very fine line between a rollercoaster on steroids and being too unbelievable to be an enjoyable read, and yet Conrad Jones manages it perfectly. Hard to think that this book is as good as the first in what is currently a three-book series. The two books have really surprised me and I found them extremely difficult to put down. They are gruesome in parts, will most likely make you cry, will surprise and shock you, and could well teach you a thing or two about humanity. I have always enjoyed Conrad Jones' books and these may be his best work yet. You MUST read them in order. This is not one of those series you can pick up anywhere, they absolutely must be read in the correct order. Really looking forward to reading the third book - The Journey Home - in this series.

The Journey by Conrad Jones is very different from all the other Conrad Jones books that I have read, but certainly no less entertaining and it may even be his best yet! The book is an absolute roller coaster with twists, turns, happy and sad moments, as well as plenty of action. It also makes you think and shows you a very real, human side to the migrant issue that we in the West may not think enough about. It is one of those books that you will find very hard to put down, and once you finish it will give you pause, some time to reflect on what you have just read. In fact, it is one of those books that will stay with you long after you have finished it, maybe even make you a better person than the one who started it. I am very happy that I have read this book and am already looking forward to the second in this series, as I cannot even begin to think how the author is going to better it. An absolutely brilliant, eye opening, thought provoking piece of work. Please do read this book, I cannot praise it highly enough and would be saddened if it did not win many awards.

I am not the biggest fan of books with stories that partly take place in the future, and 27 years is a very long time to assume what technology will be available in that year. To put that in perspective, Google did not even exist 27 years ago, neither did ASIATravelTips.com / TravelNewsAsia.com, and much of the internet. Tech is moving so fast these days with the power and obvious potential of  AI / neural networking already beginning to worry many, and Huawei announcing that the brand new P60 Pro smartphone can send SMS directly via satellite without even having a mobile connection. But please don't let that stop you reading this book, as it is an another absolutely brilliant piece of work from Pater May. Wow, what an adventure Winter Grave by Peter May is. The book delivers in every way, surprise, fear, intelligence and delivery. Brilliant, brilliant book.

The Calling of the Grave (David Hunter Book 4) by Simon Beckett is another brilliant book by this author. Full of twists and turns and interesting details to learn about the nature of death. Possibly not quite as good as his previous three as I am sure some people will be able to work out one of the twists long before it is revealed. Despite that, it is another great piece of work and thoroughly enjoyable read and I am looking forward to reading the next two in the series.

Wow, wow, wow! Written in Bone (David Hunter Book 2) by Simon Beckett is an exceptionally good book, great even. Not only does the book take place in the Outer Hebrides, an area of the UK that I so desperately want to visit, but it is full of twists and turns, likeable characters and some less likeable. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to starting the 4th book in the series as I seem to have read book 3 already!

Genesis by one of my favourite authors, Chris Carter, does not disappoint in any way. In fact, the book exceeded even my lofty expectations, and while gruesome in parts is another brilliant piece of work by this very talented author. Just a pity that now we will have to wait a considerable amount of time for the next in the Robert Hunter series. If you have not read any of this series before, I do recommend that you read them in order. Brilliant, but not for the faint of heart.

I was sad to finish Still Life (Book 6 in the Karen Pirie series) by Val McDermid because I have read all six books in the series in a row and I know that the next installation won't be out for some time yet. What an amazing author. I did not realise, but there are only two female authors I read - one is J. K. Rowling writing as Robert Galbraith, and the other Val McDermid - who I did not even realise was a woman until about the second or third book when I did a little more research. Amazingly, each book in this Karen Pirie series seemed to get better. They have certainly increased my hunger to travel to Scotland. Brilliant book.

Broken Ground (Book 5 in the Karen Pirie series) is another brilliantly well written book by Val McDermid, who really is a masterful writer and immensely talented storyteller. Amazingly, book 5 is even better than books 3 and 4, which were themselves terrific reads. I have never been to Scotland, although I did do a video interview in 2011 with Mr. Malcolm Roughead OBE, who was then Chief Executive of Visit Scotland, and it has been a country to which I have long been drawn. Bizarrely, many of my favourite authors' books base their stories in different parts of Scotland, and this latest work by Val McDermid had me Googling Ullapool and other places featured in the book, and my list of must visit places in Scotland keeps getting longer and longer. I also noticed that when Nicola Sturgeon tweeted some of the books she had read during 2022, one of Val's books was in that group and I will need to go back and check which, as Mrs. Sturgeon does feature in Book 5. If you have not yet started reading this series, do read them in order. Brilliant!

Wow! The Skeleton Road (Book 3 in the Karen Pirie series) and Out of Bounds (Book 4 in the Karen Pirie series) by Val McDermid are two more amazing novels by this author. I am extremely impressed with this author's writing style and the research she puts into her books.

My reading has been slower than normal, and I am hoping to get back to it soon. Having said that, I finished A Darker Domain (Book 2 in the Karen Pirie series) by Val McDermid and have already started reading the third in the series. I am not a fan of books that jump between two different periods of time as it is so easy to get confused, and that certainly happened when I read the very last chapter. Despite that, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to getting my teeth into the third book.

Although I believe The Distant Echo (Book 1 in the Karen Pirie series) by Val McDermid was perhaps longer than it needed to be, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and sense that I am going to have fun reading the rest of the books in this series. As I have previously mentioned when reviewing other books from different authors, I love reading stories that are based in Scotland as it is a country I yearn to visit one day and love to learn about the different places and get some unique insights into the Scottish way of life and local customs. With Val McDermid's books you get all that, and also a little of the language and way of speaking too. I do not watch TV so I have no idea how the book has been portrayed on the screen, and frankly do not care, I just hope the series gets even better from here.

Wow! What an amazing book Deep Cover (How I Took Down Britain’s Most Dangerous Gangsters) by Shay Doyle and Scott Hesketh is to read. Extremely interesting, thought provoking and disturbing all at the same time. I certainly didn't expect it to be as good as it turned out to be, and I must say that anyone that does the kind of work that Shay Doyle did, deserves better from the police force and the country as a whole. The book should be a must read for any managers, whether they work in the police or not, as it certainly highlights how easily bad decisions can be made, how some managers are able to get the best from the people who work for them, and how others can spot talent and know how to nurture it and maximise its effectiveness, while others simply haven't got a clue. It also covers strength of character, mental health, criminality, relationships and so much more. Wow!

Before you begin A Disturbing Thing Happened Today by Conrad Jones, I strongly suggest you sit down and fasten your seat belt, as the book grabs you from the very start and does not slow down until the very end. I have enjoyed all Conrad Jones books so far and this is no exception, and it moves at such a fast pace that you are almost left breathless by the end. An enjoyable read, and I am certainly looking forward to Conrad's next book!

The Road to STagnant is another lighthearted, humorous and fun adventure by Giles Curtis. I have read every single one of his books and they are nearly always a welcome distraction from all the spies, killing and action that many of the other books I read contain. He does need to work on his French a little, however.

While I did enjoy Tennessee Night - the 8th Jack Nightingale Supernatural Thriller by Stephen Leather, I really wish Jack Nightingale did not smoke as much. That's just my personal opinion, but in this day and age I do not see why Stephen Leather has to promote smoking in this way. It does not add anything to the story, and many other authors manage to create interesting characters without promoting smoking. Despite that, I did enjoy this book and look forward to reading the next few books in the series.

Having read most of Stephen Leather's books and loved 95% of them, I was really looking forward to reading Dirty War - the 19th Spider Shepherd thriller. If you have read and enjoyed previous Spider Shepherd books then this one will not disappoint - even if the fist bumping does get a bit annoying at times (he even explains not once, but twice, why he prefers the simplicity of a fist bump when meeting women). As with other books in this series, they are well researched and I find myself learning a lot about procedures available to the police, special forces, security services and terrorists, all very fascinating, if not a little scary. He also covers the very messy US-troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. A very enjoyable read.

Although beautifully written, I felt that Over My Dead Body (William Warwick Book 4) by Jeffrey Archer did not flow quite as smoothly from the previous book in this series as the others have. Despite that, this is another book by Jeffrey Archer that I absolutely loved and had difficulty putting down. I am really enjoying the elegance, humour and stories within each of these books.

Jeffrey Archer is such an eloquent writer that I find his books an absolute pleasure to read, and Turn a Blind Eye (William Warwick Book 3) is certainly no exception. The third book in the William Warwick series contains all the culture, art and court room action of previous books mixed in with plenty of twists, turns and unexpected surprises. Another delightful book from Baron Archer.

It has been so long since I read a Ryker novel that I was worried I miss out on some of the enjoyment of this book, the latest in the series. I needn't have worried as Protector by Rob Sinclair is a fun and easy read that takes place in the south of France. I have read almost all of Rob Sinclair's work and do enjoy his books.

Thankfully, Brass Vows (Gabriel Wolfe Thriller - Book 13) by Andy Maslen does not include any political statements about Hong Kong / China as the author did with one scene in Book 12 of the Gabrie Wolfe thrillers. As with most of Andy's books, they are an enjoyable read as long as you give the author plenty of editorial license as most of the scenes are very unrealistic. Good holiday book as long as you do not think too much.

I would have liked Crooked Shadow (Gabriel Wolfe Thriller - Book 12) by Andy Maslen a lot more if it had not been for one scene in Hong Kong where the brother and sister duo beat up riot police. This really left a very sour taste in my mouth as there was absolutely no need for Andy to make such a political statement and no need to include it in the book.

Although I enjoyed The Assassin's Gift by Ian C. P. Irvine it is not his best. It certainly gives you a very good insight into Scotland and plenty of ideas for a holiday there, and for that I am grateful. Ian splits his books into two parts, the first part is free and the second book you need to pay for. They are also available as an Omnibus edition which saves you having to download them separately.

I am a very big fan of Ian C. P. Irvine's books. They are funny, different, interesting, educational, full of plenty of twists and turns, and great fun to read. Having said that you must remember that he cuts his books into two pieces, the first book is free but to finish it you must buy the second book which is normally £1.99. There are also omnibus editions available so you do not need to bother and get both books in one. Say You're Sorry by Ian C. P. Irvine is another very enjoyable book by this author, where I found myself laughing out loud, almost crying at other moments and then wondering where on earth he gets his ideas from. If you have never read this author's work, give him a try, just be prepared to get addicted!

Oh, wow! Typhoon by Wing Commander Mike Sutton reads like fiction, but it's not, it is an absolutely incredible true story which will keep you captivated from the moment you start it. I do not mind admitting that this book took me totally by surprise. Granted, I have never read a book written by a pilot about flying fast jets, but I sincerely hope that Mike Sutton starts using his experience to write some fiction, because I will certainly read them. I cover aviation on a daily basis in the travel news featured on this website but I learned so much about becoming a fast jet pilot, what they go through when they are at war, their fears and concerns, how much work goes into maintaining the jets and so very much more. I absolutely loved reading this book, and cannot recommend it enough. Brilliant!

I have read every book by Mark Dawson and must admit to being a very big fan. They are fun, well written and very hard to put down! The Avenger - an Isabella Rose Thriller is no exception, and while I do prefer the John Milton series, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest Isabella Rose adventure. I did find the end quite sudden and rather unfulfilling, but can only imagine that will be answered in the next book. One thing learned from this book is how beautiful Perpignan looks. I have lived in France, but never been to Perpignan, and as a fair bit of this book takes part in the city I Googled it to take a look and it is certainly now on my to do list. What a stunning city!

I have yet to be disappointed by a book by Damien Boyd, and his latest - Carnival Blues (DI Nick Dixon Book 12) - is no exception. Before reading this book, I had never heard of squibbing and found myself Googling it (as I do many things when reading) to learn that it is a pretty big event that claims to date back to 1716 and may even have its routes in the 1605 Guy Fawkes' gunpowder plot to blow up the House of Parliament. Of course health and safety issues mean it has changed a lot in recent years but still looks pretty impressive from the YouTube videos I looked at. The book itself certainly did not disappoint as it has plenty of subplots and clever police work. Very enjoyable, and another great piece of work from Damien Boyd. Already looking forward to book no. 13!

After having just finished Dead Ground, the fourth book in this series, I was really excited to start The Botanist (Washington Poe Book 5) by M. W. Craven. There is no doubt that the story is excellent, and the second half of the book flows as smoothly as his writing in Book 4. Where M. W. Craven seems to have a small problem, at least in my opinion, is deciding whether this is a standalone novel or truly part of a series. If it is the latter, which surely it should be, then there is no need to go into so much detail about all the characters, who they are, their backgrounds and what their skills are. I can't help but wonder whether he reads any series himself, if he did, he would see that other authors are able to write a series of 10 or more books without having to re-start the character descriptions as if it were the first in the series in every book! I know that is a little harsh, but I find it annoying, which is a pity as the story was clever and entertaining. Also, what was all that in the acknowledgements about the covers of his books setting a new trend and becoming an inspiration for authors and publishers around the world?!! Seriously, there is nothing unique about the covers, they are similar to what most other crime thriller fiction books have had for decades.

I was worried about reading Dead Ground (Washington Poe Book 4) by M. W. Craven as I did not enjoy the third book as much as I loved the first two in the Washington Poe series. The reasons are Poe became uncharacteristically aggressive and started saying really dumb things, plus there were some inconsistencies with the first two books which grated. I am therefore extremely pleased to report that M. W. Craven is back to his best in Dead Ground and you will find it hard to put this book down as it has twists, turns and plenty of surprises. Another excellent book, possibly the best in the series so far, and I highly recommend it, especially if you have read the others in the series.

Grimm Up North (DCI Harry Grimm Crime Thriller - Book 1) by David J. Gatward is a good start to what has the potential to be a great series. There were moments in this first book though that I truly cringed, but the author obviously has immense talent and I have a feeling that future books in the series will improve on those few moments, which probably should have been edited out, or at least edited down. I will certainly be reading the subsequent books in this series as I did learn a thing or two about Yorkshire, the other side from where I am originally from!

Every Mother's Son - DCI Kett Crime Thrillers Book 7 by Alex Smith is another book by this author that is absolutely thrilling to read. It is difficult to tell you about this book without giving anything away, and I really do not want to spoil any of your fun. I will say that it is really great to catch up with the Kett family and join them and the others on this latest challenging and rather dark adventure. I love this series and am very much looking forward to reading this Book 8. If you have not read any of the DCI Kett thrillers before, I do recommend reading them from the beginning as it will make all the subsequent books all the more enjoyable. Brilliant work, Alex Smith!

Coffin Road by Peter May is another outstanding book by this incredibly talented author. I know I have written that before and will undoubtedly write something similar the next time I read one of his books, but his style of writing and the research that goes into each book fully deserves the praise. This book is again based in Scotland's west coast, in the Outer Hebrides to be exact, an area of the world I have always wanted to visit. The book is full of insights into the islands that make this part of Scotland so very special, it also covers bees and the importance they play to our very existence. With plenty of twists and turns, a little love and a lot of hard work, Coffin Road will not disappoint. Oh, and in case you are wondering what the Flannan Isles Lighthouse looks like, you can read about its history and see a nice picture here.

Having lived away from the UK for so long I have not seen any of Jack Dee's work, on stage or elsewhere, so when his book - What Is Your Problem? - was on promotion at Amazon for 99p, I had a quick 'Look inside', liked what I read and bought it. Yes, I know, the last of the big spenders, but if you take care of your pennies, the pounds will... Anyway, I am glad I did get it as I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will certainly buy more of his work. I particularly liked the end which is about travel, social media and how we used to avoid those people who would show us slide projections of their trips. Back, before the internet was born. Very enjoyable read, although next time I hope he makes the footnotes the same size as the rest of the text as it was difficult to read on the kindle without resizing the font.

Stone Cold Dead, a DCI Robert Kett Novel by Alex Smith, is another brilliant addition to the series. While some books written in a series can be read individually, I do recommend you to read these in the order they were written as you will most certainly enjoy and understand them more. Stone Cold Dead is the sixth DCI Robert Kett novel and it delivers on every front - plenty of action, suspense, mystery, humour, twists and turns. Whilst some series can start to get old, these books seem to get better and better, and I am eagerly looking forward to reading book seven. Brilliant.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading Firewater Blue by Caimh McDonnell which has plenty of great Irish humour as well as a terrific story and plenty of action to go with it. Have enjoyed all the Bunny McGarry books, in fact, with the exception of the The Stranger Times - which I did not enjoy at all, I have loved all Caimh's books and hope there are many more books featuring Bunny in the future.

A Funny Life, The Autobiography by Michael McIntyre is the comedian's second autobiography and while I did read the first, I do not remember much about it. Not that it was bad, I am pretty sure it was a thoroughly enjoyable and insightful read, but it was first published in 2010 and when you read as much as I do, some/most eventually fade from memory. Should you buy A Funny Life if you have read Life and Laughing? Definitely. A Funny Life is a truly excellent book that highlights just how quickly life can change, and even how the most successful people have moments of doubt and failure. The book is full of laughter, insecurities, good times, bad times, positive energy, a loving family and the power of team work. It really does have it all and I lapped it up quicker than most other books I read as it was just so hard to put down. Brilliant, a joy to read.

When you find an author you love reading and start going through each and every one his books, you know for sure that eventually you will have to stop and wait for the author to write new ones as he certainly cannot write them at the speed I am devouring them. I'll Keep You Safe by Peter May is another excellent book by this truly outstanding author. It taught me more about the Isle of Lewis than perhaps any of his previous books that I have read, and for that I am grateful as it is a part of the world I yearn to visit one day. One thing I learned was that the Isle of Lewis hosts a celebration of traditional Gaelic music every year. HebCelt it is called, and this year took place from 13-16 July. Yet another reason to visit the west coast of Scotland and the islands that make up the Hebrides. The book itself is based in Paris and the Isle of Lewis, and while it has enough twists and turns to make Alton Towers jealous it still manages to be extremely informative and educational. I am already looking forward to reading more books by Peter May.

Wormwood (Group Fifteen Files) is another excellent, thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking book by Mark Dawson. Based mainly in Pripyat, the ninth atomgrad to be founded in the Soviet Union, the town is about 90 kms from Kiev and was designed and created to attract and house workers of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power station. The book features MI6, FBI, KGB and plenty of unexpected twists and turns to keep you fully absorbed by the story. Covering a topic like nuclear power, the reactors which create said power and our own search for clean fuel of the future, this book is a clever and interesting look into that inner sanctum, even if only in a fictional setting based to some extent on reality, that may well leave you wondering if the implausible is truly possible. Another excellent book from this terrific author.

Reading A Silent Death by Peter May took longer than it normally would, nothing to do with its quality, just that I have been very, very busy the past few weeks and reading, even a book written by one of my favourite authors, was trumped by the desperate need for sleep! Having said that, Peter May's books never fail to impress, he really is that good. I love how he invests time researching the places where the books take place, and I find myself Googling places and other things he writes about more than I do with many other authors. A Silent Death is a very enjoyable read and brief glimpse at life in southern Spain. I can't say there were too many surprises this time, but it did give me a better understanding of the difficulties that people who are both blind and deaf go through on a daily basis and how technology helps them to communicate. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more from this great author.

The first book of the I Spy, I Saw Her Die by Ian C. P. Irvine duology (or should that be, diptych?) is free and there is nothing stopping you from reading that and not buying the second book, but you really should not do that as while the first book is extremely enjoyable, the second book adds the ingredients that elevates them both from being good books to being absolutely outstanding. I had never read any of Ian C. P. Irvine's books before, but will be reading them all now. To say I loved these two books, is somewhat of an understatement. The author takes you on a roller coaster of a journey, with plenty of intersecting themes and storylines keeping you entertained and eager to read on. As with nearly all my favourite books, these two made me think and I learned things from them, and that always make me happy. I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of his books. Bravo, Ian C. P. Irvine!

I enjoyed parts of Kill Day by Andrew Raymond, who is obviously a talented author, but there were other moments which were so unbelievable that I could not help but wish he'd spent a little more time to work it differently. Granted, the book is a work of fiction and the author does have a license to be creative, but there are at least three or four major parts of the books, where I found myself shaking my head and wondering if I should stop reading there and then. I will read the second book in the series, and I just hope that Andrew has employed a better editor or advisor to elevate his work from being just OK, to being a great book and you can't wait for the next in the series.

Despite a very sudden and I felt awkward jump from Billy passing Selection to the next stage of the book when he leaves the SAS, I really enjoyed reading The Hard Way by Mark 'Billy' Billingham and was surprised that it contained so many details about the SAS Selection process, more than I have ever read before. However, I would have preferred the transition from battling for SAS selection to the next stage of his life to have been smoother, and would also have liked to learn at least a few things about the jungle part of Selection and at least a few things that happened once he was in the SAS - at least the bits he could tell us, but there is none of that. It really is therefore a book of two parts, a truly amazing first half where you learn about his mischievous youth, how he started boxing, why he entered the military and how a spur of the moment decision put him in the Parachute Regiment and eventually from there the SAS. The second part is rather mundane, but that could be because I was disappointed in the sudden jump of what must have been a massive portion of his life in the SAS. It does get more interesting towards the end, but that transition really irked me. Billy certainly is an inspiration to others, myself included, and I really appreciate him sharing his incredible journey and thoughts on going just that little bit further. I rarely watch TV, but will Google him and watch some of the shows and interviews he has done as I am sure he makes a great motivational speaker. Great read.

Review of Born in a Burial Gown (Avison Fluke) by M. W. Craven to come.

When I first started reading Book of Souls (Inspector McLean 2) by James Oswald I was concerned about the short chapters as I am not a fan of that style of formatting and even stopped reading James Patterson's books when he started doing that. Thankfully, it is not something that continued through the book and by the time I had finished it I was pleased I did as it is a very enjoyable crime thriller based in Scotland. At times when I was reading it, I could not help but wonder whether I would start picking up and using Scottish terminology (such as youse, ah, aye and others) as there certainly is plenty of that in the book, which really just added to the fun. Whether any Scottish words make it into my next video interview, only time will tell! I will definitely be reading more books in this series and by the author.

Cry Baby was written by Mark Billingham in the year 2020, but takes place in the 1990s. A few authors seem to be doing this of late and it makes for a very strange read, as you cannot help but wonder why they are not using mobile phones, GPS, the internet etc. Sure it is quaint, and reminds me of my teenage years when mobile phones were just starting to be used, people still recorded audio to tape, the internet was just getting started etc. etc. Despite all that, as I do personally prefer a book written today with current technology being deployed throughout, it is an enjoyable, yet certainly disturbing read.

Wow, what an outstanding, powerful, thought provoking and enjoyable book Entry Island by Peter May is to read. Wow. This book has certainly cemented my admiration for Peter May's work. The amount of research he puts into his books ensures that the reader will certainly learn more than a few things by the time they have finished it. Entry Island covers a difficult time in the Hebrides when the potato famine struck and people were forced from their ancestral homes and land and sent/travelled by sea to Canada where those who survived the treacherous journey settled. When I read one of this author's books I find myself constantly Googling facts and locations, and this book taught me a lot about Scottish and Canadian history, the name Matheson cropping up as it does in so many of Peter's books for obvious reasons, and really makes you appreciate how lucky many of us are to live with today's technology and without many of the hardships that those living in the 18th and 19th century had to endure. A truly outstanding book, one of the best I have read in a very long time.

You will need to strap yourself in and get ready for a rollercoaster ride when you read Run Rabbit Run (a DCI Robert Kett novel) by Alex Smith. as it is packed full of action, twists, turns and surprises. This fast paced novel, the fifth in the DCI Robert Kett series, will leave you breathless at the end. Sadly, it also needs you to suspend the analytical side of your brain to enjoy it. I love this series, and can't wait to read the 6th and subsequent books, however this book's storyline is so unrealistic, so implausible that you really do need to just sit back, enjoy the ride and don't think too much. If you think too much about what is happening, you won't enjoy it as much. I do recommend it, especially if you have read the series from the beginning, but I do hope that the next books in the series are somewhat more realistic, or just even plausible.

When I was a young teenager I had a board on the wall of my bedroom to which I would pin pictures of all the places around the world I hoped to one day visit. There was the vibrant city of Hong Kong, the beautiful beaches and azure waters of Philippines, the efficient and clean city of Singapore, the temples and beaches of Thailand, the classic image looking down at Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and a couple from the west coast of Scotland as well as the Shetland and Orkney islands. I have visited four of those places, lived and worked in three of them, but have yet to visit Brazil and Scotland. It is the latter, Scotland which keeps on calling me, constantly increasing my hunger to visit and discover its rugged beauty. I think that is one reason, I love crime thrillers based in Scotland so much as it gives me a greater understanding and insight into the beautiful country, geography, food and so much more. Ahead of the Game (a DCI Logan Crime Thriller - Book 10) by JD Kirk is no exception. Based mainly around Glencoe and Glasgow, the book contains a lot of humour and more laugh out loud moments than you might expect from a detective novel, but that is all the more reason to read it. I do like how JD Kirk builds and develops characters who seem to be able to easily reach out and connect with the reader, showing their vulnerabilities, fears and also strengths. I did think the ending was slightly weak and could possible have been worked differently, but overall I loved this book and will certainly be reading many more of JD Kirk's novels, including the DCI Logan books I may have missed.

Plain Dead by Andy Maslen is the third book in the Detective Ford Thriller series, but as I read the previous two so long ago it took me a while to remember what happened in them. Plain Dead is another enjoyable read from Andy Maslen, and the book was certainly entertaining, highlighting the difficulties that detectives face balancing parenthood with difficult investigations, and many other things such as religion, relationships, the army and more. It won't win awards, but is a solid 4-star book (on Amazon's 5-star rating scale).

Unless written by a master such as Jeffrey Archer, I am not the biggest fan of short stories and rarely read them. The Cutting Season by M. W. Craven certainly has all the ingredients for a fun and enjoyable short story, but is let down somewhat by extremely poor formatting and to an extent editing as well, with far too many annoyingly short chapters given names they do not need. I cannot understand why this has been done, as all it does is add extra pages to an already short book. The Cutting Season by M. W. Craven is not a bad book, it just needs to be reformatted and edited in places. One interesting thing I learned from the book is why Bluetooth is called Bluetooth. I had no idea.

The two authors of The Blissfully Dead (A Detective Lennon Thriller Book 2) - Mark Edwards and Louise Voss - have delivered another disturbing, yet enjoyable thriller in this the second book in the Detective Lennon series. The book highlights the potential dangers and pitfalls of social media - some I had not even heard of before, as well as boy bands and their obsessed teenage girl fans, delivering plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader entertained throughout. Whilst the book certainly contains most of the extremely predictable crime fiction cliches found in the majority of other detective novels these days, I am still looking forward to the third book in the series, if there is going to be one.

I was so pleasantly surprised by From the Cradle (A Detective Lennon Thriller Book 1) by Mark Edwards and Louise Voss that I have already started to read the second in the series. For anyone who has children this book is a chilling reminder of just how easily things can go very wrong, even in the most orderly and well to do families. The book moves along at a steady pace and contains enough twists, turns and secrets to keep you interested until the very end. Whilst the book covers the darkest nightmare of any parent, it is not gory or bloody, and the main character is likeable and humble. I am hoping the second book in the series is just as good, or even better.

SAS: Sea King Down by Mark 'Splash' Aston and Stuart Tootal is without a doubt the best true story that I have ever read about war and the SAS. Not only is it extremely well written, but I was surprised to find so much good humour present as well. There were even a couple of times, one of which involved seals and another sheep, that I actually laughed out loud. There are also some very sad moments, and others that make you sit back and really think. Without wanting to give anything away, one particular moment that I will remember for some time to come is the wave, you will know what I mean when you read it, but that moment, the bravery, uncertainty and the humanity in that simple gesture has really stuck in my mind. The book takes a very human and humble look at the SAS, life as a soldier and the challenges one faces, as well as the Falklands war. It certainly makes you appreciate everything all the brave men and women did to ensure victory. A truly excellent read from a very, very brave man and an excellent author (Colonel Stuart Tootal) who I sincerely hope has written many more books.

Blood Water Falls, the second DCI Bone Scottish Crime Thriller by TG Reid, certainly seems to improve on the inaugural book in the series, Dark is the Grave. The author tells us a little more about the area and the book flows more smoothly. That said, it is all a bit obvious with few surprises and more totally unrealistic moments. It is still one of those books which does not manage to immerse the reader within the story, instead, the reader just watches the story unfold from afar. While it is an easy read, it still lacks that special ingredient that separates a great book from an average book, and I won't be reading the third in the series.

Dark is the Grave by TG Reid is the first in the DCI Bone Scottish Crime Thriller series and the first book by this author that I have read. Whilst I enjoyed it in parts, I cannot help but feel the book needs polishing. The story lacks depth and I found myself reading it from the surface rather than being wrapped up in it completely. I also did not feel sufficient a connection with the characters, nor the location, which is a pity as I am sure there is a lot to learn about this beautiful part of Scotland. Certain moments in the book - especially the end - seem to have been put together too hastily, without any real thought as to how it works, or even reads. TG Reid obviously has talent, but I feel he needs someone to help him fine tune the finished product and rework parts of the book. I do have the second book in the series as it was on promotion at 0.99p, so will read that next.

Whip Crack, a DCI Robert Kett Novel by Alex Smith is the fourth book in the DCI Kett Crime Thrillers series. Despite Whip Crack being a good story with plenty of action, twists and turns, it did not grab me in the same way the previous books in the series did, and I really do not know why. I enjoyed it thoroughly, but felt there was something missing. Whatever it was, it certainly won't stop me from buying and reading the 5th book in the series.

The Fourth Sacrifice by Peter May is the second in his China Thriller series and, despite the fact that it was originally published in 2000, I absolutely lapped it up and can't wait to read the third book. I am not normally a fan of books written so long ago as there is a tendency to forget and I often find myself wondering why aren't they doing this, or using that technology. This book, for example, mentions a video player and video tapes in a luxury apartment, even the Alta Vista search engine makes an appearance which certainly made me chuckle and brought back memories of the early days of the internet as Alta Vista was launched in 1995 and bought by Yahoo in 2003. Apart from that, the age of the publication does not in any way interfere or detract from one's enjoyment of reading it. Peter's books are always extremely well written and researched, and in this book you will learn even more about China's history, Chinese culture, the city of Beijing, Xian, the Terracotta Warriors, and get to enjoy a few delicious meals on the entertaining journey that the story takes you on. Loved it!

After reading so many books written by British authors recently, it took me a while to get into John's American style of writing. I enjoyed the story, the concept, and loved the diving, so in that regard Ocean Prey, a Lucas Davenport & Virgil Flowers novel (31) by John Sandford is certainly worth reading. The book is certainly enjoyable, and I am glad I read it, but once I had finished I did not find myself desperate to read John's next book.

I do not mind admitting that I read A Del of a Life - Lessons I've Learned by David Jason (real name Sir David John White) with more than a little trepidation. I have never met Sir David, nor any of the others from the Trotter family or their circle of friends and acquaintances, but they shared our family living room with us on many an evening over many years, making us laugh out loud, often until it hurt, and even at times making us cry. Such is the magic that the entire team of Only Fools and Horses created, that you can watch the same episodes over and over and they never seem to get old, the jokes no less funny than they were the very first time you heard and watched them being performed. Even during the festive season, three generations of my family would sit around the TV set to watch and enjoy Only Fools and Horses' Christmas Special. It was something we all looked forward to, anticipated, loved. Having lived abroad for much of my adult life, I only really know Sir David from his time as Del Boy, a little when he was in Open All Hours and now I have read his book and learned he was Danger Mouse, from that too! Only Fools and Horses is something I have turned to so many times when I needed a pick me up, a laugh, something to give you the kick up the backside to get on with it and give it a shot. That's why, when reading a book by someone who, along with the cast and crew that created Only Fools and Horses, has given you and different generations of your family so much pleasure, over so many years, that you are worried the book - perhaps even the author - may not live up to your expectations in the written word. I needn't have worried. Sir David comes across as extremely likeable, humble, a hard worker, a trier and someone who always gives it his best shot. All that shines through in this book, and I found him, the book and his way of writing to be motivational, an inspiration and a joy to read. "There are no small parts, only small actors," said Konstantin Sergeyevich Stanislavski, a seminal Soviet and Russian theatre practitioner in the 19th century, whose words Sir David seems to have lived his life by. Thank you for truly making a difference, Sir David.

In many ways, The Fire Maker by Peter May is far scarier than any book featuring serial killers, torture and the like. As I was writing this review I realised that I could only say so much without giving away the story. I ended up deleting a whole chunk of text I had written as it contained too many spoilers, without actually telling you anything. Peter May is an amazing author. He does so much research into the topics and stories he writes about, that they are so very believable and realistic. So believable, that if you read this book in 2022 or beyond, you will never think it was first published in 1999 (apart from in a couple of places, one of which writes about a dial-up connection). I will be reading the rest of the series once they are on promotion, but as an expat who has lived in Asia for over 25 years, I really loved this book as it features a country that so many in the West do not understand. China. So many Westerners have no idea just how large the cities are, nor how absolutely massive the country is as a whole. Many do not know about the truly amazing technological and infrastructure developments that have taken place in the past 10 years especially, nor the many things that have been done to alleviate poverty in the country. The one thing that did shine through, is the love that all Asian's have for street food. It really is the best food in the world - fresh, cheap and so flavourful. Which makes me wonder why I have never tried Jian Bing (煎饼), which features a lot in this book. Make no mistake, on my next trip to China I am going to make Jian Bing a priority even over Dim Sum at a local restaurant, and that's saying something! The book is also one of the few I have read that thanks someone I used to know personally from my time in Hong Kong - Kevin Sinclair MBE, who sadly passed away from cancer in 2007.

Whilst I did not like the diary-style of this book (and kept forgetting which year we were in), I still loved reading it. Open Side: The Official Autobiography by Sam Warburton is thought provoking and inspirational. He is obviously a very cool bloke, who is blessed with a nice and loving family. His love and respect for them shines through, as does his hunger to succeed and his passion for Wales - as a country and as a team - as well as the almighty British and Irish Lions. I was on the pitch working as an accredited photographer when the British and Irish Lions played the Barbarians in Hong Kong on their way to tour Australia in 2013. And while I normally take pictures pitch-side during the world-famous Hong Kong Sevens every year, that Lions match is something I will always remember. Sadly, Sam did not play in that game, but just being able to see the Lions in action, to see some of the best players in the world interact with fans, unselfishly devoting time to sign shirts, programmes and other mementoes with a smile and good humour was heart warming. A fair bit of this book is devoted to the Lions, and rightly so, Sam captained the Lions to victory in 2013 and to a nail-biting, bruising and thrilling test draw in New Zealand four years later. He also talks about his desire to be a one-team player, the anguish cetralised contracting caused, injuries, his weaknesses and how he overcame them, his respect for others, his admirable work ethic, how he almost moved to France and his love for playing for his country. I have never seen Sam play in person, but have always admired his work ethic and effort on the pitch, even though I am English! After reading this book, I have even greater respect for him, and can only hope that his desire to continue working with the Lions in some capacity - whether as manager or something else - in the future comes true. I am also hopeful that some of the things I have learned from reading this book I will be able to use in my own life, to make me a better manager and a better person. Thanks, Sam, and good luck!

The Black House by Peter May is an absolutely outstanding book. Scotland is a country which has been calling out to me for many years, its islands, beaches, rugged beauty, history, great food, people and of course, the whisky! I have never been, although I very nearly made it to the Outer Hebrides, but that was just before COVID19 struck and the trip was cancelled. I will surely go to Scotland one day, as there are so many parts of the country I want to see, I am just not sure I will want to leave once I do. The Black House takes place on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides archipelago, and Peter May provides readers with a truly remarkable look into the natural beauty to be found there, its traditions and way of life. The book has unexpected twists and turns, and takes readers on a journey that I am sure will make many want to visit the island so they can experience it for themselves. Peter has obviously done a lot of research, and that is what makes this book really stand out. I love learning new things and this book certainly delivers on that front, and I kept finding myself Googling things that he had written about, like Harris Tweed, the different areas/beaches he visited and so much more. I also love the fact that he brings to life the brave tradition of the Sula Sgeir guga hunt, an annual event that is unique to the area, dates back to the 15th century and is something which proudly continues to this day. The Black House is part of a three-book series, and I am eagerly looking forward to reading the other two books - The Lewis Man (book two) and The Chessmen (book three).

What a Flanker by James Haskell, a British and Irish Lion squad member and England international, who, after retiring in 2019 was thinking about joining MMA before deciding instead to try stand up comedy. Potentially no less brutal, but a very wise decision, I think. This book is very unusual. The first 20% or so is absolutely hilarious, as James tells us about the drinking games and debauchery that he has witnessed and been part of during his life thus far. The book then starts to talk more about rugby and life as a professional player. When I started reading What a Flanker, I loved it and told anyone that would listen how funny it is and how they should buy it. As the book progressed, however, an underlying trend seemed to emerge that irked me. I felt there was a lot of finger pointing within the main middle section of the book and it always seemed to be someone else's fault. In addition to that, James seems to have either a rebellious streak and/or a disregard for authority figures, unless they are doing things the way he wants them to be done. One example of this is when he ordered a bottle of wine for 12 big pro rugby players (yes, do the unbelievable maths on that share!) in New Zealand, for example, even though they were told not to by management and even though he admits others looked uncomfortable at the idea. And, to top it all off, the wine ended up costing $100 per bottle, which he then blames on the waiter. Despite that, What a Flanker is a great read, funny and insightful. Having also lived in France and Japan, I would have loved those sections to be longer, though I am pleased he encourages others to try living and working abroad as it really does broaden your perspective and understanding of life. James is only 36 years of age at the moment (March 2022) and it would be interesting to know what he himself will think about this book if he reads it when he is a wiser and more mature 50 years of age. Did I enjoy this book and would I buy it again? Yes, and definitely! Will I buy his new book, Ruck Me? No, probably not.

The 2019 CWA Gold Dagger Award Winner, M.W. Craven, is an exceptional author and I absolutely loved the first two books in his Washington Poe series which are based in Cumbria, England. Something changed in the third book, however. The style of writing in the third book was, in parts, ever so slightly different. Poe had suddenly become a lot more aggressive, a lot more frequently, saying dumb things like "look into my eyes" (on more than one occasion!).... There are also a few minor inconsistencies between the first two books and the third, which grated slightly, and there is one scene which was so ludicrous I almost stopped reading the book entirely. A pity as the first two books were outstanding. I have not yet read the 4th or 5th books in this series, and I will, I just hope they are as well written as the first two, and not a follow on from the style of the third.

Simon Beckett's David Hunter series can be a little gruesome in parts, but I do not mind that, and have thoroughly enjoyed reading the first few books in the series. Any book I find myself learning new things from I am going to enjoy and there are some fascinating facts in these books, that I found myself Googling to learn more about. He does not discount very often, so when you see them on offer, grab them!

Having read nearly all of Jeffrey Archer's books, I was pleased to see a new series had been launched. The William Warwick Novels are sublime, and reminded me of how consistently great an author Archer is. He is a lyrical wizard, and reading his written word is a delight and something I eagerly try to learn from. A true master at work, without any doubt.

Another author I discovered recently via Amazon UK's Kindle Daily Deals is Alex Smith and his DCI Kett series which is very well written, educational and an absolute pleasure to read. I am only up to his 4th book in the series as he does not seem to discount his books very often.

I had not even heard of Conrad Jones until his books came up on promotion at Amazon and once I had started reading them I could not stop! Based mainly in North Wales, one of my favourite places in the world, the books are well written with plenty of twists, turns and unexpected outcomes. Brilliant, I just wish he would write more.

As Stephen Leather had heavily discounted a lot of books I went on a bit of a binge and read The Runner - a really great book full of adrenaline packed action that will leave you wanting him to create a new series, Short Range - the 16th Spider Shepherd Thriller and it doesn't disappoint, and two of his Jack Nightingale collection of short stories. Already looking forward to more Spider and who knows, perhaps some Sally Page...

The Birdwatcher was the first book by William Shaw that I have read and I bought it as reviewers on Amazon UK suggest reading this book before you start the DS Alexandra Cupidi series. Problem I have now, is I do not really like Cupidi, I much preferred the main character of this book, Sergeant William South but he does not seem to have his own series. I will try another of the Cupidi books to see if she becomes any more likeable, but otherwise I won't continue which is a pity as William Shaw is a terrific writer and I thoroughly enjoyed The Birdwatcher. His books are also quite expensive so best to look out for any that may be on promotion.

Looking at my to read list it seems I have quite a few of Mark Edwards' books still to get through. Recently finished The House Guest which was an enjoyable few days of entertainment with quite a few unexpected twists and turns.

If you enjoy MI5 / SIS books with a bit of UK-based police work thrown in, then read Motive. It is a BRILLIANT book by Alan McDermott. Very cleverly written, with plenty of twists and turns, Motive certainly eats away at the amount of sleep you will get as it is so hard to put down. It is almost as if the story the book contains has drawn you in and you find yourself on a treadmill you can't stop and don't want to get off. I am not going to tell you anything about the story, just get the book, you won't regret it.

Having read all of the Tom Gray series, and enjoyed them thoroughly, I was uncertain whether to read the latest book, the prequel - I like books to move forward, not backwards. I needn't have worried, Gray Genesis: A Tom Gray Prequel by Alan McDermott is just as good as the books that follow, or precede it depending on how you look at it, and it was interesting to see how Tom Gray became what he is in the series. Another great read from Alan.

Life... With No Breaks by Nick Spalding is Nick's first book and unlike the book's title, I did take a break - a permanent one in this case. I like some of Nick's work and you can clearly see how he has made improvements to his writing style from this book to his more recent titles. Those improvements were VERY much needed, as I could not get into this book at all as there was just too much rambling nonsense. I will take a break from Nick for a while, but please do not let this put you off his recent books, they are very much worth reading.

Mad Love by Nick Spalding is a very funny book that had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion. There were other moments, however, when I wanted to reach into the pages and slap Adam and the author Nick, as the storyline became increasingly unbelievable and extremely frustrating. Without giving too much away, I hope, from the bad back to the big Oli moment - about 20/25% of the book - should be completely rewritten. Don't get me wrong, it is not poorly written, Nick is a great writer and there are plenty of funny bits, the problem is that It is just too unbelievable and as such grates. That said, I managed to persevere through those pages and make it to the end, and I am glad I did. Fun, but annoying read.

This is the second time I have tried to read Dead Lions by Mick Herron but I just cannot get into it, which is very annoying as I bought most of the Slough House series when they were on promotion at 99p each. Last time I made it into the second chapter before giving up, this time I gave up before then, when a cat is used to describe characters. We are all different and have different tastes, but from my own personal perspective and opinion - which granted, does not necessarily mean anything - I have no idea how this author gets the rave reviews he gets. No idea, at all. Sorry.

Having read the first four books in Rob Sinclair's James Ryker series I was very pleased to see that The White Scorpion, the fifth book, had recently been released. The book takes place mostly in Africa, it is fast paced and full of action, with even the hint of a potential romance thrown in for good measure. An enjoyable read, and looking forward to book number six.

There is a very simple reason that Mark Dawson's John Milton series is my favourite - the books are great, full of action, likeable characters and terrific stories. The Man Who Never Was, the 16th book in the series, does not disappoint and just leaves you yearning for more - which, according to Mark Dawson, will be in Autumn when he publishes Killa City - John Milton's 17th book. Can't wait.

If you look on Amazon, A Litter of Bones: A Scottish Crime Thriller (DCI Logan Crime Thrillers Book 1) by JD Kirk has got excellent reviews, 1042 at the time of writing this - 79% of which are 5 stars. I personally wouldn't give it 5 stars, and would probably go for 3 or 4. The book is well written, the story line is ok and the characters are ok too. And sadly, that's just it, it is all a bit bland, lacking the spice that makes you buy the next book in the series. Perhaps I have read too many books of a similar genre recently, and while authors do tend to improve after the first book in the series, I think I will move on.

Unrest (Detective Sergeant Striker Book 1) and Six (Detective Sergeant Striker Book 2) by Robert White. I read these two books because of how much I enjoyed Robert White's Rick Fuller series. Both of the Detective Sergeant Striker books are entertaining, humourous in parts, and it was nice to see some familiar names from the Rick Fuller series make brief appearances. That said, I did not enjoy the Striker books anywhere near as much as the Rick Fuller series, and I hope Robert White concentrates more on that series rather than trying to keep Striker alive.

Down Among the Dead by Damien Boyd is the 10th book in the hugely popular and extremely enjoyable DI Nick Dixon series, and it is another great read. If you have read the other books in this series then you will not be disappointed. I have never been to Somerset but I do like how this particular book features some of the area's history. Thoroughly enjoyed it and am already looking forward to book number 11.

The Rick Fuller series (all six books) by Robert White. It took me a little while to get used to Robert's style of writing but once I did, this series instantly became one of my all time favourites and I cannot wait for more. Full of action, good humour and camaraderie the book follows the battles that ex-SAS man Rick Fuller and Des Cogan take on to earn a living and right some wrongs. The books are written through the eyes of the three main characters which is very different from the normal third-person narrative we are all so used to, but I absolutely loved them. The books are not very long, but I do not think I have ever read six books in a series so quickly. LOVE THEM!

I do enjoy reading Nick Spalding's books, they are very well written, easy to read and fun. I recently finished Dry Hard and Logging Off by Nick and enjoyed them both. Dry Hard is about a family struggling with alcoholism and learning how social media can help, whilst Logging Off is about taking time off from the internet, the benefits and problems that that causes. Both a lot of fun and certainly worth getting if you want some light entertainment.

Typical! I question whether Stephen Leather has ever written a bad book in one of my recent reviews below, and the next book I read by him is the worst of his I have ever read. Not only does Penalties have more unbelievable and ridiculous scenes in it than any reader should be subject to, the football game goes on and on, and on, and I found myself eventually skipping past all those pages. I have loved most of Stephen Leather's books, so I can only imagine it was one of his first earlier books - or he did not write it. If I was him, I would delete it from Amazon as anyone who reads that is unlikely to read anything else by him unless they already know how good his other books are. What a shocker!

I have not read a Jake Needham book for a while, so was pleased to see that The Girl in the Window was in Kindle Unlimited and downloaded it. The book is very enjoyable and as it is set in Singapore it was nice to read more of DI Samuel Tay's adventures there. Certainly, a pleasant read with some nice twists and turns to keep you entertained. However, as an ex-smoker of about 40 strong cigarettes per day, I do not like the constant smoking. It is excessive, and as Jake seems to almost be promoting the enjoyment factor of said habit, I can only wonder whether it is brand placement. As someone who fought for many, many years to give up smoking, I never ever want to fall under its spell again and prefer my books to be as smoke-free as possible. Hopefully Samuel Tay will give up soon.

The House in the Woods by Mark Dawson. I am a very big fan of Mark Dawson's books, especially the John Milton series - which is my favourite, so I was a little apprehensive when he launched a new series of a very different genre - Atticus. Based in England, The House in the Woods is a regular detective / court room / mystery adventure with Atticus as the amiable ex-Sergeant Detective now private investigator, and his dog Bandit. The book is very enjoyable, although a little obvious. I am looking forward to the second in the series as that will be a better indication of what to expect. Having said that, I do hope that writing Atticus is not eating up time that could be used to write more John Milton books, that would be a pity.

A God Almighty Scandal by Gilles Curtis. I have enjoyed all Gilles Curtis' books thus far, they are silly and fun to read - a pleasant distraction, but did not finish this one as there are certain elements that I simply did not enjoy reading about.

Moving Targets by Stephen Leather, Rogue Warrior by Stephen Leather, Plausible Deniability by Stephen Leather. Does Stephen Leather write any bad books? If he does, perhaps he shreds them before they make it to press! These were the first of Stephen's 'novellas' that I have read as they were only recently added to Kindle Unlimited. Terrific reads as always and I hope he adds more books to Kindle Unlimited.

No Further (Gabriel Wolfe series) by Andy Maslen, Torpedo (Gabriel Wolfe series) by Andy Maslen, Three Kingdoms (Gabriel Wolfe series) by Andy Maslen, and Ivory Nation (Gabriel Wolfe series) by Any Maslen. Somewhere along the line, the numbering of Andy's Gabriel Wolfe series seems to have been mixed up. For example, Ivory Nation is listed on Amazon UK as book 11 in the series, but further down on the same page it is listed as book 10. Regardless of that, any of the totally unbelievable, annoying and sometimes unconnected moments of the first few books in the series have been ironed out, and I am now thoroughly enjoying this series and look forward to the next one.

I absolutely love Mark Dawson's John Milton series and was very excited to finally get my hands on his latest book, Bright Lights. The book is everything you want from a John Milton adventure, clever, fast paced, thought provoking and plenty of action. It is a great book that will leave you wanting more of the same.

The People vs. Alex Cross by James Patterson is the second Patterson book I have read recently, and it did not disappoint. I used to read all Patterson's books when they came out, but something stopped me from reading them for a while and I am glad that I have started enjoying his books again. Another great read.

You know that feeling when you start reading a book and have this gut instinct that it's going to be great, and you're going to have to devour the entire series? Yes, that's how I felt after reading a few pages of Cold Granite (Logan McRae, Book 1) by Stuart MacBride, and I have no doubt that I will read the rest of the series as soon as they are on promotion. Set in Scotland there is a lot to like about Stuart's style of writing, he does not over complicate things, many of the characters are likeable, and you can tell he has a great sense of humour as you'll often find yourself chuckling during parts of the book. Great read if you enjoy detective books. Can't wait to read the next one, but as the price jumped from £2.99 this morning to £5.49 tonight, it won't be until it comes back down again!

My thoughts after reading Battle Scars: A Story of War and All That Follows by Jason Fox are very mixed and I am going to let them settle before i write a brief review. Do check back please,

Before I bought my first Kindle in 2011, I was a very big fan of Harlan Coben and had read most of his books up to that point. Since then however I have not bought many, as I find his e-books to be a little pricey for my liking and only buy them when they are on promotion. Reading Run Away, after I had bought it in the Amazon Daily Deals, reminded me of what a great writer he is, and what I have been missing. The book is fast paced and covers all sorts of issues such as fatherhood, families, drugs, adolescence and much more. Was a great read and I sincerely hope that Harlan adds more of his recent books to the Amazon Daily Deals so I can once again read more of his work.

I doubt Strangeways: A Prison Officer's Story by Neil Samworth will win any prizes for the quality of writing, but it is a fascinating account of Neil's experiences working in two different prisons in England. I have read a few prison-related books before, but they tended to be the 'locked up abroad' variety of the inmate's experiences. This is very different as it gives you an unique insight into the life of a Prison Officer, his fears, thoughts, ideas and demons. I certainly learned a few things from this book so am pleased that I read it.

I started reading Made in Scotland by Billy Connelly (Sir William Connelly, CBE) and have enjoyed the first quarter of the book, but decided to put it on hold for a while to read something else. I am sure it won't be too long before I pick it up again.

Cross Justice is the first book by James Patterson I have read in a long, long time. Many moons ago, before even the Kindle was invented, I used to read all James Patterson's books and loved each and every one. Then his style changed and the chapters suddenly became just a few short pages long. Sometimes just two or three pages would make up a chapter. That's when I stopped reading his books. I am glad to say that Cross Justice does not have those short chapters that I dislike so much and was an enjoyable read with a nice twist at the end that brought a tear to my eye. The book is a mix between a courtroom drama and a detective book and is set in a small town in mid-America. I am not sure it did enough for me to start reading all James' books again, but I certainly enjoyed this one.

One problem of always shopping in the Daily Deals at Amazon, is that if you do buy an entire series which is on promotion and then do not really enjoy it, you have of course wasted money. I tried to enjoy Slow Horses, the first book in Mick Herron's Jackson Lamb Thriller series, but had to drag myself through the first third of the book which was incredibly slow, and then, even after things had improved slightly, still did not really enjoy it. There are too many characters, and while the storyline was a potentially interesting one, I did not really connect with any of them. I have bought all the books in this series, and even though I did try and start the second book, I have decided to put it down and read something else. I may come back to it, but doubt it.

I am surprised that there are so many negative reviews for Then I Met You by Matt Dunn on Amazon.co.uk as I did enjoy it. Granted, it is not as good another of his books - Home - which was terrific, but it was still a nice lighthearted read about two people trying to move on and find love. Good buy if you like romantic comedy and it is on promotion.

I am a very big fan of Mark Dawson's John Milton series, but I was not impressed - read annoyed, that he decided to rewrite some of the Beatrix Rose novels and put sell them "Previously published as". As a fan of Mark's work I of course want to read all his books, but I do not want to read variations of his early books, or see characters that I thought were dead come back to life again. Having said that I did buy Tempest a Beatrix Rose Thriller, because it was £0.99 and was not listed "Previously published as". While I did enjoy the book, it still grates me that I am reading about Beatrix Rose and not her daughter Isabella. I hope this is not a trend he is going to continue as there's really no need when his John Milton and Isabelle Rose books seem to be doing so well. It would not be the first time that I have stopped reading an author. I stopped reading James Patterson when each of his chapters became three pages long, and I gave up on Lee Child's Jack Reacher quite a while ago when I thought they lacked the substance of earlier books. Hopefully Mark will concentrate on John Milton and Isabella Rose and leave Beatrix to rest in peace.

Home is the best book I have read by Matt Dunn thus far. It is a heart wrenching, tear provoking, laugh out loud book that highlights the importance of family, home and being content. Home is about a young man who returns to the small seaside town in England where he was born, after living in London for 18 years. His father is terminally ill with cancer and only has a few weeks left to live, his ex-girlfriend married the school bully, and Josh has a holiday in Sri Lanka planned with his current love. Despite this being a fun, and often humourous, book to read, I doubt many people will be able to get through it all without at least one tear being shed. Thoroughly enjoyed Home by Matt Dunn and highly recommend it.

There is no doubt that Andy Maslen is a very good writer and I enjoyed the first seven books in his Gabriel Wolfe series and will most likely read the rest when they are on promotion. However, I did not connect with the main character as much as I did with those in other series such as John Milton, Nick Dixon, Tom Grey, Spider Shepherd, Robert Hunter etc., there is just something missing. Whether this is because of a lack of spice, the depth of character, or something else entirely, I do not know. The books, especially the first four, also had a very annoying tendency to have at least one moment which will make you consider putting it down completely, a moment so far fetched or disconnected to the series of events that you are reading about, they make no sense at all and you may find yourself groaning in frustration. Oh, and HK$900,000 has never been £30,000, it is about £90,000, depending on the exchange rate which normally fluctuates between 9 and 12 HK$ to the GBP. Still, they are an enjoyable read, and Andy manages to connect each book in the series without too much repetition, something which often happens with other authors. I do look forward to reading the next books in the series.

I absolutely loved reading Kitchen Confidential by the late, and much loved, Anthony Bourdain. I learned a lot from this book - some useful tips for my kitchen, and some useful things to remember as a consumer who enjoys going to restaurants. It's a very enjoyable book, it's just sad that he left us all so early and won't be able to write any more.

I may have mentioned this before, but there are very few, if any, books by Stephen Leather that I have not enjoyed. Though I have not read any of his short stories, I have read almost all his other books. The Bag Carrier is another excellent read and moves at such a pace that you will find it hard to put down. Taking place for the most part in London, the book covers a number of issues that affect the UK at the moment. Another terrific read by Stephen Leather.

The Face of Evil - The True Story of the Serial Killer Robert Black by Chris Clark and Robert Giles. It only takes a few seconds to grab someone. That is what I learned from this book, and something I will keep in mind when I am with the younger members of my family and close friends. This book, while very interesting and disgusting (due to the type of person Black is), is too repetitive in parts, and probably slightly too long. When the author admits towards the ends that some of the following chapter they've already covered in previous chapters then you know you're in for a hard time. The book also raises questions about assumptions and assumed guilt based on very flimsy circumstantial evidence, which I am not comfortable with at all.

Dumped Actually by Nick Spalding is not the first of Nick's books that I have read, he tends to do a lot of promotions which is great and encourages me to buy more and more! His books are lighthearted, humourous reading that make a great interlude between all the blood and action that make up the books I normally read. Dumped Actually is very enjoyable, and as most people have been dumped at least once in their lifetime, it is easy to relate to. I especially liked this book as Nick is a writer at an online magazine which I found interesting. It has also reminded me that I have always wanted to jump out of a plane. With a parachute, I should add, though I am sure a few of my acquaintances would rather I forget that particular piece of equipment when I do give it a go!

I have read every single book by Giles Curtis, despite the fact that he never seems to discount them! Mind you, at just £1.99 a book it shouldn't break the bank. His latest book, Sin and Seduction in St Petersburg, is just as silly and fun to read as all the others. These are great books to fit between the heavier, action-filled thrillers that I love to read. Great fun!

It took a long time for Beyond the Point by Damien Boyd to go on promotion in Amazon's Daily Deals but eventually it did and I snapped it up. It is the 9th book in the DI Nick Dixon series and I enjoyed this one just as much as the others. I like the fact that the books are set in the south of England and that there is little repetition. While you do not have to, I do recommend that you read this series in order.

The Robert Hunter series by Chris Carter is NOT for the faint of heart, as it is seriously gruesome (really, really gruesome) in parts, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Seems that Chris has also affected the other books I read now, as when their author describes a scene, I think to myself - that's nothing compared to what Robert Hunter has seen! I read the entire series - all eight books - one after the other, and I am missing them already. I can only hope that Chris puts pen to paper again soon as I love the action, blood, phsycology and the chase. The fact that Robert Hunter is also a big fan of Scotch Whisky is also a plus, and I have found myself googling a few of the single malts that he enjoys in the book. It is also interesting to learn more about Los Angeles, somewhere I have not yet visited, and have a small list of a few bars that I certainly want to try when I do! NOT for the faint of heart, but a very enjoyable series.

I am a very big fan of Stephen Leather's books, and the latest book of his that I read - Tall Order - did not disappoint. I like how he uses current events around the world to give his stories more bite. It is the 15th Spider Shepherd thriller so if you have read the previous fourteen than you have no excuse not to read this one as it is just as good, if not better than the others. Another great read from Stephen.

I follow Amazon's Daily Deals almost religiously, and when an entire series by Craig Robertson was featured I snapped them all up. I was a little concerned about reading the first book in the series - Random - as it is written from the killer's perspective, rather than the detective's, but I needn't have worried and enjoyed it thoroughly. After Random I read the entire series in order: Snapshot, Cold Grave, Witness the Dead, In Place of Death and Murderabilia, finishing with his latest book, which is not part of the series, The Photographer. I enjoyed them all thoroughly and have learned a lot about Scotland and even a few Scottish words. About half way through the series one of the characters really got on my nerves as I felt he/she was just too aggressive, but I struggled on and thankfully things improved in subsequent books. Will definitely be buying more of Craig Robertson's books.

Change in plan! Previously I used to write mini reviews of the books I had read and clump them together per author, but as I now try and read as much of an entire series by one author as I can in one go, and then go back to it as the next books in the series are discounted, I decided to simply write about each book as I read them and keep the most recent at the top. So from now on I won't be updating the below mini-reviews of authors, in the hope that everything above should be much more up to date.

If you have enjoyed Lee Child's Jack Reacher series then you are almost guaranteed to love the John Milton series by Mark Dawson, especially if you are British. Do read all the books in the series in order, so as you fully understand the characters and storyline. Personally, I find the John Milton series far more realistic and enjoyable to read than Lee Child's Jack Reacher, especially the more recent Reacher novels. Mark Dawson's work has so impressed, me that after finishing the entire John Milton series (one book after another - yes all twelve, and I can't wait for more), I immediately read all his books in the Soho Noir series, and then moved straight onto the Beatrix Rose books and have loved them all. The only books of Dawson's I do not read are the novellas as I do not like this recent short story trend on amazon. Until recently, I had not even heard of Mark Dawson, but now I am totally addicted to his work, especially the John Milton series. Great stuff.

Read Will Patching's three Doc Powers / DI Carver thriller books - Mutilated, Remorseless and Gas Lighting and thoroughly enjoyed them. While the books, which are best bought together rather than separately, won't be to everyone's taste as they can be quite gruesome at times, the characters are real and interesting, and the story lines have plenty to keep readers entertained. An interesting insight into the mind of psychopaths! Will's very first book, The Hack, is mainly based on Koh Samui in Thailand and is another excellent read that I highly recommend.

Enjoyed the first eight books in the Joe Hunter series by Matt Hilton. Another ex-special ops character fighting to do good. Much lighter reading than the previous books by Jack Randall, though they are nonetheless enjoyable. There's plenty of action, but by book 7 I started to get a little bored with them, and wished there was a little more substance to the stories. Not only that, but the books have jumped dramatically in price to almost £5 each. That's a lot compared to the £0.99 I spent during a recent promotion, and will wait until they come down in price before reading the rest of the series.

Finished the entire Jack Randall series, written by Randall Wood. While these are action / special ops / detective thriller books, I really enjoyed how they cover some very hot and extremely current topics, raising some very important if not controversial questions in a relatively in-depth manner. Very enjoyable and books which make you think, which is always a plus.

Just finished James Barrington's excellent Agent Paul Richter series - all six books of them. If you enjoy action, travel, special ops and spy thrillers etc. then you should definitely give this series a try as they are very hard to put down once you begin. Agent Paul Richter is an ex-Royal Navy pilot who has been recruited by one of those mysterious agencies that the SIS can never officially acknowledge. He is much more than a maverick, but he gets the job done even if he does quite often resort to rather unorthodox manners. Many of the books in the series raise a lot of interesting yet extremely disturbing questions. Topics like eugenics (mentions Singapore), biological warfare and the origins of the AIDS virus, suitcase bombs, remote viewing and plenty of other things. The sixth book is especially interesting (from a travel industry perspective) as a lot of it takes place in Dubai and features two of Jumeirah Group's most famous hotels - the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and the iconic Burj Al Arab. Am definitely looking forward to many more great reads from this author.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading all Andrew Peterson's Nathan McBride series, though I do wish he had put all the series into one download rather than sell each book separately (even when sold as a collection). If you enjoy action packed, special forces-style, thrillers then you will really enjoy these books. Look forward to more.

Again, if you like spy / action thrillers then look no further than Tim Stevens. I first read his Joe Venn series, then moved straight onto his John Purkiss (the Ratcatcher) series, and then also thoroughly enjoyed his Martin Calvary Trilogy. His books are very well written with some clever twists and plenty of action. Do buy his box sets as they save you a little money and make it easier to read the entire series. Very enjoyable, and hard to put down. Looking forward to his future work.

I had never heard of Conrad Jones until recently and started with The Child Taker and Slow Burn before reading the entire Detective Alec Ramsay series and then moving straight on to his Hunting Angels Diaries. He is another of these new authors that you would not normally get to read as an expat living overseas, but thanks to Kindle we have access, and how very grateful I am that we do. His kindle books are not the cheapest, and his set collections don't seem to save you much money either, but once you have read a few of his books you can expect to be addicted. His books are violent in places, and cover some rather gruesome but real issues, but they are excellent reads. The only negative to his books is that he can be very, very repetitive in places, especially when describing characters which if you read the series in order you already not. Frankly, it is enough to almost make you want to stop reading, and Conrad would do well to read some series written by other authors (such as Tim Stevens outlined above) who do not have the same problem. And ironically, as this is a travel news website, if it were not for Conrad Jones I doubt I would be planning to visit Barmouth in Wales on my next visit to England! Google it, the beach looks amazing!

Ed James. His Scotland-based Scott Cullen series of crime thrillers / police procedurals are excellent. Not only are they a great read, but you will also find yourself learning a little Scottish as well! For example, "Back of three" does not mean just before 3 o'clock as you may assume, it actually means just gone 3 o'clock, such as ten past or the like. That's Scottish. Do read the books in order, as while it is not absolutely necessary, that is how you will get the best out of them. Definitely an author to watch as once you have read the first I would be very surprised if you don't read them all!

Oliver Tidy. At the end of his first book Oliver writes, "Not being a professional in any respect of the book creation business...". Well, I heartily disagree. After reading his first book - Rope Enough, I could not stop myself from devouring all of the Romney and Marsh series. Having finished them, I went on to read the six books in the fast-paced Acer Sansom series. Those two series are very different, the Romney and Marsh being an English police detective series and Acer Sansom being more of a special forces / action series. Both are very enjoyable. Unfortunately though, I did not enjoy his third series at all. The two books in the Booker & Cash Series, Bad Sons and He Made Me, are extremely slow compared to the Acer Saansom series, and not written in the same way. While bits were OK, it is almost as if Oliver was trying too hard with those two books, and they completely lost the speed and action of his previous two series. I have every confidence that Oliver could become one of the top crime/thriller writers in England, I just hope that future series are more like the first two than the third one.

Free Country: A Penniless Adventure the Length of Britain by George Mahood. I absolutely loved this fun journey of two young men cycling from one end of the country to the other - LEJOG (Land's End to John O'Groats) as it is known - without spending a single penny. And with over 780 five stars on amazon.co.uk and over 155 four stars, it is obviously a big hit with many others too. You do not need to be into cycling to enjoy this book, just the sense of humour, generousity encountered and spirit of adventure make it a very worthwhile read. I liked it so much, I immediately bought his next book, Every Day is a Holiday, but I could not really get into it in the same way. I will try again, but it definitely did not have the same impact that his book about his LEJOG journey did.

Stephen Edger - Remember his name, because he is an immense talent when it comes to writing books that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and will be responsible for more than a few sleepless nights when you just cannot put the book down. Started with Trespass - which at the time of writing is a free book on Amazon Kindle, and just finished the amazing book Integration. The latter was so good that instead of moving on to the next author I just had to order the next in the series, Redemption which was also terrific and then Snatched. Keep it up Stephen!

Simon Toyne - Absolutely loved his three books - Sanctus, The Key and The Tower (to be read in that order). You will find yourself googling parts of the stories to discover whether they are truly fictional or not! Best religious thriller I have read since the first Dan Brown books came out.

The David Raker Collection (Books 1-4) - by Tim Weaver. Tim Weaver is an author to keep a very close eye on. He has the story-writing ability to be one of the very best. His books are not the cheapest on the Kindle, though the trilogy of the first three David Raker books does help you to save a little of your hard earned money, so get that rather than buy them individually. The books are terrific with all the twists and turns, and solid characters you want from a thriller. Having said that, there is one particular moment towards the end of the second book when you will be tempted to try and reach out of the pages and slap the author, but thankfully he (and David Raker) seems to have learned from his mistake quite early on in the third book. Don't let that put you off though, these books are of the highest quality and are some of the best I have read in a long time. Already looking forward to the fifth book in the series for more from Tim Weaver!

Soldier I - The Story of an SAS Hero - by Michael Kennedy and Pete Winner. If you are interested in Special Forces, and in particular the SAS then this is a terrific book, one of the best I have ever read. It even gives you detailed insights into SAS selection. This book is non-fiction and details historical events such as the Battle of Murbat, the Iranian Embassy siege in London and much, much more. Very interesting and educating read.

Sniper / Gunnery Sergeant Kyle Swanson Series by Gunnery Sergeant Jack Coughlin (and at times Donald A. Davis). At the time of writing this mini-review there are six books in the highly entertaining series, with the seventh expected some time in H1 2014. At first, the books were released and promoted as the Sniper Series and it was a little confusing what happened to books 1 and 4. It now seems that this has changed slightly to the Gunnery Sergeant Kyle Swanson Series. As there are a few references to past events featured in earlier books, I would recommend you to read them in the correct order: Kill Zone (1), Dead Shot (2), Clean Kill (3), Act of Treason (4), Running the Maze (5) and the sixth book - Time to Kill. If you enjoy special ops action books then you will most likely love these. They are very enjoyable, informative and easy to read and we are already looking forward to next books in the series.

Stephen Leather - Has Stephen ever written a bad book?! If he has, we have not yet come across it. Stephen is one of our favourite authors, and over the years just seems to get better, and better. He has fully embraced the digital age, and now not only publishes his regular full length books, but also often comes out with short stories that cost just £0.77. Private Dancer should be a must read for any single guy planning to visit Thailand for the first time, and the rest of his books - while of a completely different topic - are all just as entertaining.

Michael Connelly - we are very big fans of most of Michael Connelly's books. The kindle version of his books can be expensive though, so watch out for promotions or read something else until the one you wants becomes cheaper.

The Big Mango, The Ambassador's Wife, Laundry Man and a World of Trouble ALL by Jake Needham - As far as we know, Jake has only written two books we have not yet read - The Umbrella Man and Killing Plato - and they are very much on our "to do" list. It is always enjoyable to read an author that not only has a skill for writing, but also has a true knowledge and understanding of the cities you know and love so much. Jake knows his stuff when it comes to Thailand, Singapore and to some extent Hong Kong. If those cities interest you, and you are looking for a thriller / detective story based in this part of the world then look no further. Jake Needham's books are always an enjoyable and informative read, with an often quite daring take on things to spice up the story a little.

Tom Gray Series by Alan McDermott - Six good books which offer readers a little espionage, terrorism and of course some action from the SAS! While the books may not be up to the level of writing or suspense that authors like Tim Stevens or James Barrington achieve, they are still a good distraction and an enjoyable read.

Second Life, A Very Unchristian Retreat, It's All About Danny, Looking Bloody Good Old Boy, The Wildest Week of Daisy Wyler, The Badger and Blondie's Beaver, The Hedonist's Apprentice, Newton's Balls, Faecal Money - A Very Lucrative Cr*p, and Hell, Hull and Epiphanies ALL by Giles Curtis. If you enjoy English humour, want a book that will crack you up and make you desperate for the next to come out, then you really should read some of the books by Giles Curtis. All the books, except for Second Life, are connected in some small way, and it does help if you read them in order. Start with A Very Unchristian Retreat then read It's All About Danny before reading Looking Bloody Good, Old Boy, then The Wildest Week of Daisy Wyler. Having said that, it would not matter if you did read them in a different order, but there are some little jokes you will miss out on if you do. I cannot recommend these books highly enough, and my only surprise is that they do not have more stars and positive reviews on Amazon. Update: While I really enjoyed his first five books (Second Life, A Very Unchristian Retreat, It's All About Danny, Looking Bloody Good Old Boy, The Wildest Week of Daisy Wyler) I felt the following three (The Badger and Blondie's Beaver, The Hedonist's Apprentice and Newton's Balls) were not as fun, nor as enjoyable. I still read them, but was losing faith and was close to removing Giles from my must read list. Thankfully though, Giles seems to have got his funny bone back in the ninth and tenth books (Faecal Money - A Very Lucrative Cr*p and Hell, Hull and Epiphanies), and I am pleased to report that they are just as good as his first five. Let's hope that continues!

Barmy Army, The Crew, Top Dog, Billy's Log, and Wings of a Sparrow ALL by Dougie Brimson - I first started reading Dougie Brimson to learn more about football hooliganism in England. Started on Barmy Army before moving to The Crew and then Top Dog. The more I read Dougie Brimson's books the more I like them. Granted in Wings of a Sparrow there is a ton of spelling and grammatical errors, especially in the second half, but the storyline was fun and fascinating, as was Top Dog, The Crew, Barmy Army and even the diary style Billy's Log. Most definitely aimed at a male audience, especially those that enjoy football, these books are well thought out and very entertaining to read. I look forward to reading more from Dougie Brimson.

Bite: The most gripping thriller you will ever read by Nick Louth. No, it's not. Could not even get half way, and won't be trying to go any farther.

Blowback by Michael Forwell with Lee Bullman - Another drug smuggling-related book! This one focuses on huge quantities of marijuana and takes place primarily in Thailand and Singapore. The book is extremely entertaining and hard to put down. It is quite mind blowing just how these guys made their living, and avoided capture in doing so. It is much more than just a book about smuggling, Blowback has heart and as such is a moving story.

Life and Laughing: My Story by Michael McIntyre - Today Michael McIntyre is one of the most famous and successful stand up comedians in the world. But how did he get there, what challenges and obstacles did he overcome? This book is not only an excellent insight into the lives of one of the most popular entertainers on the planet, but this rivals any self-motivational business book you have ever read. An amazing story, an amazing journey and most of all an amazing man and book. Read it!

Standing in Another Man's Grave by Ian Rankin - VisitScotland should buy Ian Rankin a nice bottle of good single malt, or two, because every time I read one of the Detective Rebus books it makes me want to visit the glorious country of Scotland! I have read most of Ian Rankin's work, and admire him greatly as an author, despite charging too much for the electronic version of his new books. This latest book in the Detective Rebus series will not disappoint, although to be honest I did find the ending a little soft and not quite what I had expected. Still, Ian Rankin is one of the best authors around and if you can buy the kindle version of his books at a price you are comfortable with then even better!

Blood, Sweat and Tears by Bear Grylls - You probably know of Bear from the TV hit series Wild Man, and if those programs impressed you then you will love his book. It does take a little while to get going, but once it does then you learn what motivates Bear, and how he has accomplished many of the amazing things he has. Not only an enjoyable book to read but also a great motivational book as well. Highly recommended.

Marching Powder by Rusty Young - This is the real-life account of Thomas McFadden, a black Englishman and cocaine trafficker, who was caught in Bolivia trying to smuggle cocaine out of the country. The book concentrates on the weird, yet intriguing, way life works at San Pedro prison in the heart of La Paz. The prison, which at one stage allowed tourists to visit and even stay over night, made it into Lonely Planet as one of the most bizarre tourist destinations in the world. A very interesting, entertaining, and eye-opening read.

Snowing in Bali by Kathryn Bonella - Bali is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, millions flock there to enjoy the sun, sand and surf, or just to unwind in luxurious villas spread out among the rice paddies, or nestled up against a favourite beach. This book opens your eyes to an entirely new Bali, a world that many know little, or nothing, about. A fascinating read into the life of drug traffickers that made Bali their home, selling narcotics to make themselves rich despite knowing full well the dangers and risks they were taking.

Hotel K by Kathryn Bonella - This book is an amazing insight into life as a prisoner of Kerobokan Jail, Bali's notorious prison. You will learn how the prison works, and how all those prisoners cope - or don't - with the situation they find themselves in. Kerobokan Jail is home to nationalities from around the world, including many that have made headlines around the world.

Much OLDER Book Reviews

The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity by Daniel Reid - An absolute must have for anyone interested in health, losing weight, and living life to the most. A book, which if read with an open mind, can open a thousand or more doors  which can help lead you in a happier and healthier life.

Uri Geller Magician or Mystic - by Jonathan Margolis - Uri Geller is regarded by some as the most talented magician to have ever lived, by others not as a magician at all but as a human with very unusual paranormal mystic powers and by others as a fraud allowing people to believe one thing while using trickery. This book excellently written by J. Margolis investigates Uri Geller's entire life and offers us an intriguing insight into this amazing mans life and powers. Excellent read if you are interested in magic and or paranormal mystic powers.

Hardship Posting Volume 2 - by Stuart Lloyd - This, the second volume of the popular Hardship posting reviewed below, starts off on a negative note, with the author informing us, that no, for love, nor money we cannot have the telephone numbers of the two girls on the front. Very disappointing and something they should improve on in volume 3. Having said that the book is an excellent read full of stories from present or past expats and their funny experiences within Asia. Some of the stories make you want to hit that particular author over the head with a very heavy hammer but the majority will make you laugh with an understanding of fellow expats. As you can not buy this from Amazon please go to your local bookshop. By the way if you click on the cover you will see a really large version of the cover open in a new window. At least we know what you want !!!

The Blue Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver - WOW. We can highly recommend all of Jeffery Deaver's books for anyone interested in good story lines, and some amazing twists that keep you guessing until the very end. The Blue Nowhere is no exception but is one of if not his best. Based on the internet and the frightening ability of computer wizards this book will leave you quite amazed and you will never be able to look at your computer in quite the same way. Excellent buy.

Pest Control by Bill Fitzhugh - is not a new book, but is outrageously funny, and a great read for anyone looking to have a great time between the pages. The story line is great, and while unbelievable will keep you amused for hours. Great read if you want a good laugh.

Undercurrents by Frances Fyfield - What a beautifully written and well molded book. This is the first Frances Fyfield that we have read but will most definitely not be the last. The characters are excellently portrayed, the plot intriguing and with a couple of surprises along the way it is difficult to put down. The use of the English language also stands out and Frances Fyfield has done an excellent job using her extensive language skills to write this magnificent book. Excellent.

Roses Are Red - by James Patterson - As with all James Patterson's books this is another superb read. One of his Alex Cross novels Roses are Red is exciting all the way through. The end however is an enormous surprise and a bit of a let down as it is completely unexpected, it also has for some unknown reason over 100 chapters ! Great buy though.

Losing My Virginity - by Sir Richard Branson - An incredible read, and a true insight into one of the greatest British entrepreneurs of all time. Can be a little too honest in places, but the passion that can be found in the writing and the real look at the world of business, is outstanding. We can't wait for the sequel!

Girlfriend 44 - by - Mark Barrowcliffe - Comedy is a difficult thing to put on paper and even more so into a book, Mark Barrowcliffe achieved this with side cracking results. A must read, for anyone, and a unique journey into the male mind. Excellent.

Mayan Prophecies - by Adrian Gilbert and Maurice Cotterell - a timeless masterpiece that looks into the hidden lives and meanings of the Mayan people and culture. This deep book, will open your eyes to far more than you would ever imagine possible. Although very heavy in places, the book is an excellent read. Edgar Cayce on Atlantis - A very interesting, but short book on the works of Edgar Cayce, a well known American psychic and his comments on the existence and cross existence of Atlantis - the hidden continent.

The Tutankhamun Prophecies - by Maurice Cotterell - Oh boy, this book, similar in style to the Mayan Prophecies, goes even further into the principles of the intelligence of the Egyptian people, the sun, the Mayans and into the tomb of Tuntankhamun. The book is definitely a must buy. As not only does it dwell into the past, but also brings in factors that we see in every day life today. We only advise you to buy this book if you can read it, with an entirely open mind. Amazing.

Hardship Posting - by Stuart Lloyd - Living in Asia ? Thinking of moving out there ? Have lived life as an expat ? Yes ! Then read this book, it will crack you up and make you realise that you are not as demented as you possibly once believed. Great fun, about the strange lives that expats lead.

The Orion Mystery by Robert Bauval and Adrian Gilbert - A very complicated book in places that looks at the star system and how the Egyptians used it thousands of years ago. Very interesting read.

Culture Shock Thailand - by Robert and Nanthapa Cooper - from the well known Culture Shock series of books, this is definitely as very good read if you are planning to come to Thailand whether it be just for a holiday or to live.

The Empty Chair - by Jeffery Deaver - what a great read, all of Deaver's books are great and this is no exception, it keeps turning with mystery, intrigue, information, and is so captivating you will not want to put it down. Excellent read as are all JD's books.

The Bombmaker - by Stephen Leather - Once again, Stephen Leather has managed to turn out a book that has you turning the pages with great admiration, and excitement, but leaves you wondering when his next book will come out. This book talks with a frighteningly good authority on the subject of bomb making, so let's just hope that all the facts are not too accurate! The book is great, fun and fast paced although there are not as many twists and turns as in his other books this is definitely a great buy.

Pearl - by Frank Delaney - An excellent book written with a beautiful use of the English language. Touching on the issues of post world war crime, and football hooliganism, the book manages to keep you turning the pages, wanting more. There are sufficient twists and turns to keep you reading this, without putting it down. Described by the Daily Telegraph as "something exceptional and utterly gripping".

Private Dancer by Stephen Leather - One of Stephen Leather's first books, and it became so hugely popular as a free .pdf download that Stephen eventually published it properly and started to make some well deserved money from it. Private Dancer is a must read for any guy visiting Thailand (or other parts of south east Asia), especially if they are going to visit some of the more notorious nightlife areas of the country/region. Extremely well written, highly entertaining and frighteningly accurate. An absolute cracker.