Simon Mayo

Kit Chaplin, an English teacher in a London school, discovers that a handful of his pupils are having a strange ticking noise coming from their ears; his daughter Rose has a video of her best friend’s ear emitting a similar noise. Internet searches throw up videos of other people’s ears doing the same thing in various parts of the world. It could be some kind of tinnitus, but tinnitus isn’t contagious, and this illness seems to be spreading.

Inevitably, as news of this virus starts to show more spread, people start to panic, schools close and hospitals are overwhelmed (sound familiar?). Soon, the ticks aren’t only leading to people going deaf, they are dying too. The race to identify the mystery illness and to find a vaccine is on.

Before being given this book I had absolutely no idea that DJ Simon Mayo wrote novels. Looking at his output it seems that he mainly writes for the YA market and this is exactly where this one should be aimed.

I found it fast paced, I liked the relationship between Kit and his daughter Rose and was initially gripped by the search for what this virus was but towards the end felt that Mayo suddenly tried to change the book from being a thriller into a spy novel, which given its location, once the action moved out of London, (I won't say where) made the outcome seem extremely predictable.

'Tick Tock' is a quick read that draws on your fears of those early pandemic days and it’s very different to books I usually read, but although its not a bad book it isn't a great one either. show less

Here’s a basic rule of thumb – if Mark Kermode writes something, I’ll read it. I’ve read – and loved – his three previous books, and therefore looked forward to reading this one. It’s co-authored with Simon Mayo, who is his co-host on Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review (broadcast on BBC Radio 5 on Friday afternoons).

Happily I was not disappointed, but for anyone else who has read Kermode’s previous works, it may be worth noting that this is much more of a dip-in-and-out type show more book, if you wish it to be. That’s not a criticism – I enjoyed it a lot and would definitely recommend it.

The premise behind the book is that movies are able to cure many of life’s ailments and dilemmas. (Obviously, they are not suggesting that you eschew proper medicine!!) So there are movies to pick you up when you’re down, movies to help you decide whether you want to have children or not, and movies to bring down an excitable mood. They also look at movies which in themselves could do with some ‘medical’ attention – for example, those which would have benefitted from being shorter in running time.

There are several chapters, each with an essay discussing the subject of that particular one, which delves into the histories of some films, and tells some interesting and amusing anecdotes. There are interludes where the ‘doctors’ are in their surgery attending to a patient, and usually end up prescribing an appropriate movie. There are also lists of films for every topic. Be prepared for your watchlist to grow!

If you like movies, this one is definitely worth a read. You can do what I did and read it straight through, but as I alluded to earlier, you can also dip into this book between other books. show less

Knife Edge is a fast moving thriller set in the journalists’ world. Seven co-ordinated attacks have occurred across the city and another reporter is in danger, culminating in a game of cat and mouse.

Although I did think this was a well written, edge of your seat type of story and it definitely takes you on a rollercoaster of a ride, it didn’t really hit the mark for me. I’m not a fan of political thrillers, especially ones featuring terrorists. I read this via the Pigeonhole app and show more when I saw it was available, I thought I’d give it a go. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! However, I couldn’t really engage with it - it started off well but I began to lose interest towards the middle of the book. Nevertheless, I think it would make a fantastic film.

Most other Pigeonhole members loved it, so I’m in the minority with my feelings here. I’m more of a psychological mystery type of girl. If you enjoy action packed, plot driven thrillers, you’ll love this one. show less

I heard the author interviewed before reading the book, so had a good idea what to expect. A complex plot with multiple characters, not all surviving far into the book. The story is written from the point of view of Famie Madden, experienced journalist at a London press agency, several of whose investigative journalists are killed in a terrorist attack. Famie takes it upon herself to try to track down the perpetrators, risking herself her daughter and colleagues. Interestingly nearly all the show more positive characters are women and the villains men! The author makes good use of local knowledge of Coventry from his time at Warwick university. show less