Wolfy's wanderings with the written word (2016 edition)

As per normal my reading will be based mainly around selections for my Category Challenge for 2016 (apologies if you’ve already seen my thread there). Not entirely impressed with last year’s efforts so I’m hoping to do much better this year.

Quick links to previous year's reading adventures just in case I want to look back.
2011 Edition
2012 Edition
2013 Edition
2014 Edition
2015 Edition

As usual, comments, discussion, recommendations and general ramblings all welcomed.

List of books I've read in 2016.

1. The City & The City by China Miéville (Msg3 06/01/16) 4½★'s
2. The Killing Lessons by Saul Black (Msg16 27/01/16) 4★'s
3. A Matter of Death and Life by Andrey Kurkov (Msg17 30/01/16) 3½★'s
4. Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig (Msg19 07/02/16) 4★'s
5. Miles, Mystery & Mayhem by Lois McMaster Bujold (Msg20 15/02/16) 4★'s
6. Johannes Cabal: The Fear Institute by Jonathan L. Howard (Msg25 02/03/16) 3½★'s
7. The Last Good Kiss by James Crumley (Msg26 08/03/16) 4★'s
8. The Tooth Fairy by Graham Joyce (Msg27 23/03/16) 4½★'s
9. The Naming of the Beasts by Mike Carey (Msg28 25/03/16) 4½★'s
10. The Laughing Policeman by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö (Msg33 01/04/16) 4★'s
11. Black Powder War by Naomi Novik (Msg33 04/04/16) 3½★'s
12. Wizard and Glass by Stephen King (Msg38 29/04/16) 4★'s
13. The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King (Msg39 12/05/16) 3½★'s
14. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey (Msg40 21/05/16) 4★'s
15. The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly (Msg41 28/05/16) 3½★'s
16. Finch by Jeff VanderMeer (Msg42 02/06/16) 5★'s
17. The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick (Msg44 20/06/16) 3½★'s
18. The Rook by Daniel O'Malley (Msg46 28/06/16) 4★'s
19. Alex by Pierre Lemaitre (Msg46 01/07/16) 4★'s
20. I'm with the Band by Pamela Des Barres (Msg51 09/07/16) 3½★'s
21. Sleepless by Charlie Huston (Msg52 21/07/16) 4★'s
22. Grimspace by Ann Aguirre (Msg53 27/07/16) 3½★'s
23. The Fire Engine That Disappeared by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö (Msg54 02/08/16) 4★'s
24. The New Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko (Msg55 08/08/16) 3½★'s
25. From Aberystwyth with Love by Malcolm Pryce (Msg56 21/08/16) 3★'s
26. Irène by Pierre Lemaitre (Msg57 06/10/16) 4★'s
27. Mardock Scramble by Tow Ubukata (Msg62 21/10/16) 4★'s
28. Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman (Msg65 28/10/16) 3½★'s
29. London Falling by Paul Cornell (Msg66 18/11/16) 4★'s

Separate list for graphic novel reading:

1. The Walking Dead Vol.13 by Robert Kirkman (Msg3 05/01/16) 3½★'s
2. The Walking Dead Vol.14 by Robert Kirkman (Msg3 06/01/16) 3½★'s
3. The Walking Dead Vol.15 by Robert Kirkman (Msg38 16/04/16) 3★'s
4. Y: The Last Man Vol.1 by Brian K. Vaughan (Msg38 27/04/16) 3½★'s
5. Y: The Last Man Vol.2 by Brian K. Vaughan (Msg40 17/05/16) 3½★'s
6. Y: The Last Man Vol.3 by Brian K. Vaughan (Msg41 28/05/16) 3½★'s
7. Y: The Last Man Vol.4 by Brian K. Vaughan (Msg41 28/05/16) 3½★'s
8. Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book Ten by Bill Willingham (Msg61 06/10/16) 3½★'s
9. Y: The Last Man Vol.5 by Brian K. Vaughan (xx/11/16) 3½★'s
10. Y: The Last Man Vol.6 by Brian K. Vaughan (xx/12/16) 3½★'s
11. Y: The Last Man Vol.7 by Brian K. Vaughan (xx/12/16) 3½★'s
12. Y: The Last Man Vol.8 by Brian K. Vaughan (xx/12/16) 3½★'s

The City & The City by China Miéville

Inspector Tyador Borlú of the Besźel police is handed the case of a murdered young woman whose body has been found dumped on a patch of wasteland. At first glance it looks like a simple case of an independent prostitute who may have taken on the wrong client but unfortunately for Borlú things are never quite so simple in his city. It never can be when the twin cities of Besźel and Ul Qoma occupy the same space topographically speaking.

Not only is this a more than competent murder mystery but there’s a deep urban fantasy feel to it too. The idea of the split cities is marvellous and expertly handled by an accomplished author. The world build is again a fascinating construct and while connected to our own through the mention of other countries it’s the fantastical element that really heightens this story A very imaginative work and I look forward to continuing reading more from him in the future. 4½★'s

The Walking Dead Vol.13 & 14 by Robert Kirkman

While the TV show is on break I’ve returned to reading the comics and will continue up to the point that the show has reached. Vol.13 sees Rick and the group settling in to their new lives within Alexandria and taking on roles within the community. Rick takes exception to a spousal abuser whose actions have been previously tolerated as he’s a highly prized asset being a doctor. Will the new sheriff in town be quite so forgiving? Vol.14 sees Alexandria besieged by a herd of zombies after a group of survivors threaten the peace and the resultant gunfire draws the undead towards the community. Who will survive when the walls come down? ? The differences between the book and TV show were quite jarring for a short while but I soon became accustomed to where I’d got to previously in the series. It’s still an enjoyable time seeing how this group of people continue to exist in a world that doesn’t seem to want them to and it’s also fun to see how the show handles certain situations utilising different people to achieve the same ends. 3½★'s each.

Happy new year! Looking forward to following your reading again this year. I too loved The city and the city, though I hadn't expected to as I'm not really a fan of murder mysteries or detective stories. In fact, I think it might even be my favourite of his novels.

Happy new year. I'll be lurking along again :) I didn't share your enthusiasm for The City and the City, but I'll admit to being a bit curious about The Walking Dead - I'm always a couple of years behind the show as I don't have cable, so the idea of catching up on the book versions is quite appealing.

>4 Sakerfalcon: & >5 imyril: Thanks for stopping by!

>4 Sakerfalcon: Perdido Street Station remains my favourite of his works that I've read so far. Still have a couple more on the tbr shelves and a further two to pick up but I have a feeling it'll stay that way. Have enjoyed pretty much everything I've read from him so far though.

>5 imyril: There's a few differences between the two but the overall storyline remains quite similar. Some things happen to different characters and things like that. Biggest difference is obviously the complete lack of Daryl in the comic books though.

Today is my 10th Thingaversary! I have, as is tradition in these parts treated myself to some new books. They are a mix of series continuations and a few others that I've been meaning to get around to at some point.

Fables Deluxe Book Eleven by Bill Willingham
Johannes Cabal: The Fear Institute by Jonathan L. Howard
Miles, Mystery & Mayhem by Lois McMaster Bujold
Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
The Osiris Ritual by George Mann
Seed to Harvest by Octavia Butler
Grimspace by Ann Aguirre
London Falling by Paul Cornell
The Last Good Kiss by James Crumley
The Element of Fire by Martha Wells
Bloody Jack by L. A. Meyer

Have I done well?

Another 10 year. I get the feeling there will be a lot of them this year. Wow. Congrats and enjoy your well-deserved stack.

Happy Thingaversary! May the year bring you many hours of contented reading and piles of excellent books.

>6 AHS-Wolfy: You have done well :) Belated Happy Thingaversary!

Thanks everyone! There's a slight alteration to my order now. Bloody Jack is not currently available from where I ordered it so changed it for The Keeper of Lost Causes instead. Another new series I've been meaning to pick up for a while. Just have to wait for them all to arrive now. The postie is gonna love me!

Happy Thingaversary!

>6 AHS-Wolfy: & >10 AHS-Wolfy: Well done! Some very good authors in there. I was so sorry to hear that Bloody Jack wasn't available. I read that last year and really enjoyed it, so was looking forward to your views. Although I enjoyed it, I probably won't continue the series unless one of the books falls in my lap. It's because I liked the ending of that one so much I didn't want to see changes. :)

>6 AHS-Wolfy: Some great choices! A few that I've read, a few that are on my wishlist, and some I've never heard of. I'll look forward to your reviews when you get around to it.

Happy Thingaversary, and enjoy the new reads!

Happy Thingaversary! You did well. The Miles Vorkosigan book and The Last Good Kiss stick out for me - the latter is an under-read classic, IMO.

The Killing Lessons by Saul Black*

The book opens with the brutal murder of a widowed mother of two and her son so you know you're not in for an easy time over the next few hundred pages. The 10-year-old daughter does manage to escape and become one of the loose threads that the killers leave behind. Will it be enough to help unravel the case for the lead homicide detective, Valerie Hart, that so far has lasted for three years and encompassed eight victims that they know of. Originally the work of just one man but he seems to have gained an accomplice for the last few murders and neither is shy about leaving their DNA at the scene. Unfortunately this doesn't help the police as neither man has been in the system before. The murders themselves are sadistic and cruel with the women raped and tortured before death and the killers always leaves a seemingly random object secreted inside the victim's body. Hour after hour is spent by the police searching through CCTV footage hoping to catch a break but news arrives that another woman has been abducted and evidence points to the two killers as being responsible. Can Valerie and her team catch a break before the body count rises again?

While the nature of a serial-killer thriller is by necessity vicious and violent it seems the author may have toned it down a little from some of his previous work. That's not to say there are no graphic scenes but it, at least to me, didn't seem gratuitous. You do get some of the usual tropes of the genre included especially with the lead detective. While she may have solved her last case, it took its toll on her. She ruined her chance of true love and has now turned to drink to fill the void. Consumed by this new case, it's the last thing she thinks of before sleep and the first when she wakes. She has no life outside of work. Told in short chapters alternating between the different characters which helps keep the pace of the story high and the tension gripping. There is a real feel of not knowing who will survive come the final turning of the page. 4★'s

*A pseudonym of Glen Duncan

A Matter of Death and Life by Andrey Kurkov

Tolya's life, what there is of it, is falling apart. His wife is in the process of leaving him for another man and he can't even muster enough interest to care. Continuing to exist in a meaningless void feels less of an option the more he thinks on it but taking his own life is also out of the question. Nobody would care if he just vanished from the face of the earth. But what if he got someone else to do it for him? Would people remember him then? Would his death be more interesting than his life has been? So he sets the idea in motion by hiring a contract killer to perform such a task. The date, time and place are all set. The only thing he's forgotten is a way to call it off should he change his mind.

Like other books I've read from the author this is a black comedy and very similar in tone to Death and the Penguin. Loosely asking questions on the meaning of life with a plausible situation taken to the extreme. It's a very short novel and simply told with George Bird once again doing a fine job of the translation. A fun, quick read and I'm still on the lookout for more of this author's works. 3½★'s

I'm a big fan of Death and the Penguin. I've got the sequel on my TBR shelf. Good to know about this one.

Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig

Miriam Black is used to death. It's what she sees if she comes into skin-on-skin contact with someone. She's seen so much of it that even violent death has lost the ability to shock. So it must be that the man in her latest vision calling her name as he looks over the shoulder of his killer that has affected her so much. Was it actually Miriam herself he was looking at and why would she be present at such a gruesome death if it was? Usually she only turns up for those that die alone so she can take what she needs to continue her nomadic drink and nicotine filled lifestyle. Miriam has tried to thwart her visions before but somehow fate always manages to get what it wants. Wanting to have nothing to do with the death of Louis the kind and caring truck driver she vows to be nowhere near the scene of the crime when it occurs. Can she get away or will Miriam become victim to fate once again?

This is a dark, gory, foul-mouthed urban fantasy ride that veers towards the horror end of the spectrum. There is a small cast of mostly unlikeable characters (including the protagonist) so if you find this off-putting then this book is probably not for you. Neither if you're a bit squeamish or offended by profanity (there's lots of it - although it does get quite creative at times). Personally I don't mind either as long as they are true to the story or characters involved and here it fits perfectly. The majority of the story is told in present tense with flashback segments of an interview with a magazine reporter used to give insight into Miriam's past and character. It works well and drives the story on relentlessly. This was my first encounter with the author's work but it won't be my last. There's already a couple of sequels to this book with another on the way and I'll definitely be on the lookout for those at the very least. 4★'s

Miles, Mystery & Mayhem by Lois McMaster Bujold

This is the third of the omnibus editions for the Vorkosigan series and contains 2 novels (Cetaganda and Ethan of Athos) and a novella (Labyrinth). Although written at different times and not being continuous these three stories all share a common theme of genetics but examined from three very different viewpoints.

Cetaganda: Miles and his cousin Ivan are sent as diplomatic envoys to the state funeral of the Dowager Empress of the Cetagandan empire. The last thing Illyan said to him prior to departure was to stay out of trouble but how can he when trouble actively seeks him out. Set upon on arrival at the transfer station by a mysterious individual whom they manage to fight off, Miles is left in possession of a strange device. To avoid a diplomatic incident and also to be allowed to carry out his own investigation Miles decides not to report the attack and sets off to find out what he can. Was it someone just trying to escape local justice is is their a more sinister motive behind it all? Miles decides to follow the trail wherever it leads even if it takes him to the very heart of Barrayar's natural enemy.

Ethan of Altos No Miles for this one, except in dispatches, as Dr. Ethan Urquhart, department head of a reproduction centre on the all-male planet of Athos is sent on a mission to procure a new batch of cultured tissue from which to continue to maintain their population when the shipment that has just arrived looks to have been deliberately sabotaged. It's a bit of a culture shock with his first time off-planet and even more so when he encounters his first woman in the shape of Elli Quinn, now a commander in the Dendarii Free Mercenaries. Wanting nothing to do with an "evil female", Ethan quickly divest himself of her entanglements but proceeds to get himself kidnapped and tortured. Is it a case of mistaken identity? Or perhaps there was more to the damaged shipment than first apparent. Maybe he'll need Commander Quinn's help after all.

Labyrinth This one has Miles back at the helm of the Dendarii mercenary company and tasked with the covert retrieval of a scientist who wants to escape the clutches of his employers on the salacious hot-spot in the galaxy, Jackson Whole. It should be a quick pick-up and run away as fast as you can type of thing but nothing is ever quite so simple when Miles is involved. The scientist won't leave without some specimen's he's developed and placed within an experimental creature he's developed for safe-keeping. Unfortunately, it's just been sold to one of the ruling baron's who won't want to part with it any time soon.

A trio of exciting adventure stories encompassing a murder-mystery, espionage and heist scenarios while also examining the ethics and morals of genetic manipulation. Questions that are becoming more relevant as the science of today begins its early exploration into this field. Although the stories concentrate more on the action side of events there is enough here to contemplate the "what if's" of the varying situations. The world-building is excellent as we learn of the socio and political structure of Barrayar's dearest enemies and drop in on the hum-drum existence of life on a space station and catch a glimpse of another cess-pit of humanity. There's also a great bunch of character's, Miles obviously chiefly among them, which I'm looking forward to spending more time with in the future. If I had the next volume in the series I'd be tempted to just plough straight on but I'm going to pace myself and just pick one up every so often. Even though the series is a long one I don't want to run out of new ones any time soon. 4★'s

>20 AHS-Wolfy: I'm glad you are enjoying these. Your approach is the same as mine, even so, I think I only have about three between me and the end of the series thus far. I have never been disappointed in them, although I probably love some more than others.

I binged through all the omnibii in very short order. They're all fun in their own way, although my review for this one isn't that great, I did like the focus on genetic manipulation - something that's increasing in the news today!

>22 reading_fox: One of my favorite aspects of Bujold is that she explores the glorious possibilities of genetic manipulation, but also the dangers and possible outcomes.

>20 AHS-Wolfy: The Vorkosigan books are fun, aren't they. Cetaganda may be my favorite, although I like all of them. She creates such great characters and worlds.

Johannes Cabal: The Fear Institute by Jonathan L. Howard

Having bested the devil and put his hand to a spot of detective work, what's next for our snarkiest of anti-heroes? For his third outing Jahannes Cabal is approached to guide an adventurous trio into the Lovecraftian Dreamlands as they attempt to rid the world of irrational fear. A funded expedition to a place thought beyond his reach is too good an opportunity for Cabal to miss so he agrees to the proposal. Three victims to feed whatever nasties lie in wait should at least give him some time to further his discoveries at the very least.

Like the two preceding books in the series, this is very much a stand-alone novel though to best appreciate the character/setting/motivation it should probably be read after the others. Unfortunately, at least for me, it doesn't reach the heights of those and while it's not a bad book it just doesn't quite do it for me. I'm wondering here if the fact I've never previously entered a world inspired by Lovecraft has let me down a little. I've never been a big fan of horror and as this book edges towards that end of the fantasy spectrum I'm sure others would appreciate this outing more than I. Still, it's a decent adventure story and spending time with Herr Cabal is never dull and you can always add new put-downs to your vocabulary. 3½★'s

The Last Good Kiss by James Crumley

A famous writer has gone on one of his legendary benders and his ex-wife has hired private detective C.W. Sughrue to locate him and see that he makes it home safe before it turns terminal. The chase was a long one but he finally tracks him down in a ramshackle joint in Sonoma with an alcoholic bulldog for a drinking buddy. The meet-up doesn't exactly go smoothly and the writer ends up in hospital after getting shot in a sensitive place. As he's likely to be spending a few days of recovery in hospital, Sughrue agrees to look for the daughter of the owner of the aforementioned ramshackle joint but advises his new client it's unlikely that he'll find anything. Most missing person cases don't get solved if they're not found in the first year and this one's been gone for 10 already so he's not too hopeful of turning anything up. The writer discharges himself from hospital a few days early and tags along in the investigation.

This is hard-boiled detective fiction at its finest. Starting as a drink fuelled road trip it quickly supplies enough twists to make even the soberest reader dizzy. The characters are wonderfully drawn and the dialogue is as snappy as that proverbial crocodile sandwich. The writer's family dynamic is certainly an interesting one. Within the confines of an albeit large ranch he has his ex-wife living with his mother who are both in agreement that they detest his new wife. It provides a wonderful backdrop to what is essentially a dark and violent tale of love, betrayal and the sleazy underbelly of the American Dream. 4★'s

The Tooth Fairy by Graham Joyce

While out playing with his two friends Sam inadvertently loses a tooth. Determining to find out if the tooth fairy really does exist he places it under his pillow before falling asleep and has managed to keep the loss from his parents. Unfortunately for Sam (and the fairy) he awakens to find the tooth fairy skulking about his room and after a brief verbal exchange the fairy takes the tooth and leaves a sixpence in return (this is middle England of the 1960's) and admonishes Sam not to tell anyone of his existence or bad things will happen. What follows is a coming-of-age story with the continual appearance of the mercurial tooth fairy especially at momentous times during Sam's maturing from young boy through adolescence and into young adulthood. A lot of these experiences are not pleasant for anyone involved as the author takes us to the darker edge of what it's like growing up.

I really enjoy Joyce's writing and he's not afraid of making his readers uncomfortable with the situations and thought processes of his characters. He sets the tone perfectly with the fairy tale allusions being firmly grounded in reality. The friendship and travails of the three boys is very well handled and evoked some memories of my own childhood. They go through some tough times but always manage to remain together throughout. I enjoyed the book immensely but not everyone will and I will leave this review with a warning that sexual content and profanity feature heavily in this novel so if that's not for you then you should probably avoid. 4½★'s

The Naming of the Beasts by Mike Carey

This is the 5th (and currently the latest but hopefully not the last) instalment of the Felix Castor books and follows directly on from the previous book of the series. With the demon Asmodeus out in the world thanks to the Anathemata and in full control of Rafi's body, Fix manages to break his downward spiral from his latest bender in order to attend a crime scene consultation at the request of Gary Coldwood (his friend on the force). He quickly comes to the conclusion that the brutally slain woman is the result of Asmodeus' handiwork and will probably be just the first of many, a point that is hammered home on a chance encounter with said demon. As if these events weren't enough to have to deal with it seems that Juliet (the succubus demon) is having some control issues and her wife, Susan the mild-mannered librarian, is in fear for her life. Realising he's out of his depth Fix must do the unthinkable and choose between the Anathemata or Jenna-Jane Mulbridge for help. Both are willing but who's price will be too high to pay?

I know Mike Carey intends to return to this series at some point but in the meantime this is not a bad place to leave it for a while. There is at least a resolution to one of the main overarching plotlines in the story but there is still more to be told. It's an action packed tale weaving several threads around the main plot with Fix being the central character that drives them all. Most of the regular cast make at least a brief appearance and there's room for interesting developments to come on that score too. While this is a self-contained novel I really wouldn't recommend reading it as a stand-alone book. The characters rely on their back-story quite a bit and you would certainly miss out on that if you were to do so but as the preceding four novels are all very good then starting at the beginning wouldn't be a bad thing especially if you like your urban fantasy books to come with more than a hint of noirish overtones. Here's hoping that we don't have to wait too long for the next book to arrive. 4½★'s

>46 AHS-Wolfy: Nice review. The Last Good Kiss is a great book.

>28 AHS-Wolfy: I've read the first Felix Castor book and really need to catch up with the others. Fix is a good lead character and I enjoyed the way the supernatural and "real" worlds interact.

>29 jnwelch: Thank you Joe. It really is a good 'un. Have you tried any of the sequels as I do hope to carry on with the series at some point in time?

>30 Sakerfalcon: It's been a really good series up to this point. Each with a stand-alone story but with the sense of something bigger building in the world overall.

>29 jnwelch: I've read a lot of Crumley, Dave, including ones with Milo Dragovitch (The Wrong Case, Dancing Bear, The Final Country), ones with C.W. Sughrue from The Last Good Kiss (The Right Madness, The Mexican Tree Duck), one with both of them (Bordersnakes) and one with neither of them (One to Count Cadence).

Once I read The Last Good Kiss, I was off and running with his books. I get a big kick out of his writing, as you can tell.

The Laughing Policeman by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö

The fourth entry into the Swedish police procedural series featuring Martin Beck sees nine people gunned down while riding a double-decker bus. Mass murder is not a common occurrence so this is treated as a high profile case but what makes it even more so to the investigative team is that one of the victims was one of their own homicide detectives. As there were no ongoing investigations for him to be working on, the reason he was on the bus in the first place is not readily apparent. Was he having an illicit affair with the nurse he was found next to? Or was there some ulterior motive for his presence? Martin Beck and his team set about trying to discover the killer’s identity and the motive behind such a vicious crime. Tracking their colleague’s last moments might just help them solve the case.

This is the first entry in the series where the socio-political elements that this series is famous for really come to the fore. It starts out with heavy-handed policing of an anti-Vietnam war demonstration where a letter and sodden placards are no match for tear gas bombs, pistols, truncheons and any other element of their arsenal that the police could use for crowd control. The investigation itself meanders to its conclusion through the slow process of eliminating all leads that provide nothing to further their ongoing attempts to solve the case. Jumping on anything that might present a new avenue of approach the team work diligently though not without the odd moment of fun in their interplay. This far in to the series the characters themselves are becoming more rounded and fleshed out and we get to learn more of what drives them and their strengths and weaknesses and I’m looking forward to seeing them develop further in future instalments. 4★'s

Black Powder War by Naomi Novik

The Napoleonic Wars with dragons series continues with this third entry and sees the dynamic duo of Temeraire and Laurence leaving China with the rest of the crew when they receive orders to collect three dragon eggs from their Turkish allies. Seemingly a strange request as there would surely be others closer and time is a pressing concern in the matter as at least one of the eggs is near hatching. Having to take the overland route a guide is hired to see them through troublesome region though not without misgivings to his trustworthiness. It also seems that Lien, the dragon left bereft of her captain in the previous book, is travelling in the same direction and may plan to make trouble for them along the way. After various travails they end up being slap bang in the middle of the Prussian campaign. Can Temeraire’s influence turn the tide against the French or will Lien’s interference only hasten the ongoing march of Napoleon’s armies?

This is a decent continuation of the series but it’s not a great one. There is a sense of stop-start that pervades this book which seems a consequence of the events in which the characters find themselves embroiled. The world building continues to be good and there are some interesting additions to the cast that will hopefully continue to be utilised in future novels. There’s a lot of loose ends left at the conclusion to this book and I’m pleased that there is still enough interest for me to be continuing with the series at some point. 3½★'s

Laughing policeman is one of the best of the series. The only other one I enjoyed as much was #8 - The locked room

Do you recommend The Walking Dead graphic novels, then? I've been told they are much more violent than the show, if that's possible. I've been thinking about borrowing them through the library.

There's probably more action and a little less exposition in the comics than the TV show and that's where the more violent tag comes from. The comics are in black & white (not colour) so that tones it down a little. The basic storyline between the two is quite close but there's usually enough differences to keep you on your toes.

Well, the first one is free for Kindle, so I snagged it. Would look crappy (and SMALL!) on my Paperwhite, but I think it will be great for my tablet. Thanks for the nudge. :o)

Wizard and Glass by Stephen King

The fourth book in the Dark Tower series kicks off immediately after the previous with the travelling party being held at the mercy of Blaine the Mono. A deal is struck that if the ka-tet can find a riddle that Blaine can't answer then safe passage must be provided. However, if by journey's end Blaine has answered all then it will literally be the end of the line for all of them. It would be a short story if they couldn't overcome Blaine (and it certainly isn't that) and so they find themselves in a representation of Topeka, Kansas. Most of the rest of the book is a look back into Roland's past as he realises that he must recount an early adventure that has bearing on their travels. It's a tale of first love, high adventure and derring-do. We are introduced to Roland's childhood friends, Cuthbert and Alain, as they are sent east for their own protection and where Roland will meet Susan Delgado as they become embroiled in the very conflict which their fathers sought to protect them from.

This is quite a long book and actually felt longer than its 840 pages. That's not to say it was bad or a hard read, it wasn't. Just took me a long time to get though it. It's an important story though as it shows how Roland got to be the man he is with the driving passion to seek the dark tower. I really liked the new set of characters too. The three boys heading towards young manhood and their development when events take an unexpected turn towards danger. There's also some great villains in this book as well. From the witch, Rhea, to the hired guns know as the Coffin Hunters. Just when you think it's all over there's one more twist that really sticks the knife in. When Roland's tale is finished will the ka-tet hold together? 4★'s

The Walking Dead, Vol.15 by Robert Kirkman

This volume deals with the aftermath of the breakthrough by a horde of zombies of the walls surrounding Alexandria and their eventual destruction. While the town recovers, Rick decides that Alexandria is still the place to call home and sets about re-fortifying their defences while making plans for the way forward. All the while waiting for Carl to awaken from his coma. Not everyone agrees that Rick being in charge is what Alexandria need though so trouble is never far away. 3★'s

Y: The Last Man, Vol.1 by Brian K. Vaughan

I've also made a start on another series and wanted to pick one that had already completed. Having already sampled Saga and enjoyed it I thought I'd pick this one by the same creator. Yorick Brown along with Ampersand (the helper monkey he was training) are the last remaining males left alive on the planet after a mysterious plague/virus wiped out the rest in one fell swoop. He desperately wants to go find his girlfriend who was on a gap year in Australia when the event happened. Before he can go look for her though he's persuaded to undergo some tests to see if they can find out why he survived when no other males did. It's a fun ride with a wise-cracking hero albeit with a strong sense of moral obligation. Some other fun characters to get to know also but this is very much a set-up book for the series and it's one I'm looking forward to continuing. 3½★'s

The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King

Thought I'd carry on and read more from the Dark Tower series. This entry was actually written after the series conclusion but fits between books 4 & 5 so thought I'd read it now. It doesn't advance the journey at all but does add more background to Roland's character. It's another tale from his past told by Roland to his companions as they wait out a particularly nasty storm.

Roland, accompanied by another young gunslinger in the shape of Jamie DeCurry, has been sent to investigate claims of a skin walker terrorising the town of Debaria and its surrounding area. A skin walker has almost become a creature of myth and legend where a man has the ability to assume animal form and it seems this one can choose any creature it wants. With multiple murders already committed then can the two young gunslingers prevent further atrocities? This tale is split in two and each part bookends the retelling of an old story by Roland to a young survivor from the latest attack to give him courage for an upcoming ordeal.

This was a pretty enjoyable diversion from the ongoing saga and while it doesn't progress the main story it's certainly worth the read. Not only do we get to learn more of Roland as a young man but the story within a story was also quite compelling. Quite good for a cash-in novel. 3½★'s

Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey

Humanity has been spreading out within the solar system with both Mars and the Asteroid Belt having been colonised. The Belters are somewhat resentful that they still have to rely on the Inner Planets for some of their basic needs such as water. The Canterbury is a supply ship hauling glaciers to try and meet this requirement and while on one such supply run receives a distress call and being the only ship in the area has no choice but to divert and provide what aid they can. Executive Officer Jim Holden leads the away mission and becomes a central figure in an escalating conflict when he releases on a galaxy-wide broadcast details of what happens next. Meanwhile on Ceres, port city of the Belt, Detective Miller has been assigned to look for a young girl and return her to her rich parents back on Mars whether she wants to go or not. When tensions within the city start to rise due to the potential upcoming conflict means his case gets put on the back-burner why does he still care so much about the missing girl? When the paths of the righteous Holden and the world-weary Miller cross will even the universe survive their collision?

The story is told by alternating chapters of the two protagonists and with it being an action-oriented book it makes for quite a fast-paced read. It brings the elements of space opera and noirish detective story together and allows each to develop before joining them up and this works quite well for the most part. This is not what I'd call a hard-science book with what technology there is being used to further the plot or action sequences and this also helps keep the pace pushing along. The use of two disparate characters to tell the story also works well and helps build the political landscape and the surroundings in which we find them. The characters themselves may be a little flat but there is enough about them for this not to prove a deal-breaker and is not untypical of the space opera genre that I've read/watched. Speaking of which, I'll definitely be checking out the TV show that's been developed from these books and I'm looking forward to continuing the written form of the series as well. 4★'s

Y: The Last Man, Vol.2 by Brian K. Vaughan

I've also been continuing with the graphic novel adventures of Yorick, Agent 355 & Dr. Mann as they begin their trek across country towards the doctor's laboratory trying to stay at least one step ahead of the people that are chasing after. Their journey is interrupted and they find themselves in a small town that is being well run and quite self-sufficient. It soon becomes apparent that the residents are hiding something. What's the big secret and how will it affect our intrepid group when it is finally revealed? Can they all come together when the Amazons, which include Yorick's sister Hero, finally catch up with them? This is a fun series with some interesting characters which I'm looking forward to getting to know more. I'm already part-way through the next volume so there's no doubt that I'll be continuing on with it. 3½★'s

The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly

Harry Bosch is on trial. The wife of a man he shot and killed in the line of duty 4 years ago has brought a civil suit against the LAPD. Although the shoot was deemed good (the man, Norman Church, was reaching for something under a pillow after being told to freeze, Harry was still disciplined for not following procedure by going in alone. The evidence found at the scene certainly implicated the man as being the serial killer, nicknamed the dollmaker, that the police had been after. But just as the trial starts a note, written in the same style as those left for the original victims, has been found pointing to where another body can be located. When the body is dug up all evidence points to another dollmaker victim and initial investigations show the murder being committed 2 years after Church was killed. Do they have a copycat killer on the loose or did Harry shoot the wrong man? What implications will this have on Harry's trial?

This is the third book in the series and using the backdrop of the trial while investigating the new murder allowed the padding out of what is a fairly basic story. It also provided the opportunity for some of Harry's back story and insight into his character to come to light. The new case throws in a few suspects along with a couple of red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The pacing of the story is good and doesn't get bogged down in the courtroom scenes as these segments are kept fairly short and it's not long before we're returned to the investigation which seems to proceed quickly. One thing that did bother me a little about the investigation though was why the composite sketch from the survivor of the dollmaker wasn't used to narrow down the suspect list of the follower. Did Mora, Locke and Bremmer all look the same? That didn't really affect my enjoyment of the story though and overall it ended up being a pretty decent thriller. I will at some point continue with the series. 3½★'s

Y: The Last Man, Vol.3 by Brian K. Vaughan

Volume 3 of this graphic novel series contains 2 mini-arcs. The first sees Yorrick, 355 & Dr. Mann get involved with a Russian agent who's been sent to America where a Soyuz capsule returns from the ISS which potentially holds another 2 males along with another female astronaut. Maybe Yorrick will lose that "last man" tag after all? The Israeli soldiers that have been chasing after our group finally manage to catch up with them too. Who'll survive when everything comes to a head? The two-part story that closes the volume introduces a troupe of players who decide to put on a play about the last man on Earth when Ampersand (the Capuchin monkey) arrives in their midst. We also get a glimpse of the next antagonist that will presumably provide trouble for the next adventures of Yorrick et al. Still liking the series enough to want to continue on with it. 3½★'s

Finch by Jeff VanderMeer

John Finch is a detective working in the city of Ambergris for the gray cap overlords. He's just been tasked with a case where two bodies have been found dead in a n apartment. Only one of which is human. The other, a gray cap, consists of only the upper half. Where is the other half? What made such a clean cut and why is there so little blood? The bodies look like they fell from a great height so they must have been placed in the apartment after death. With so few clues at the scene, Finch is commanded by Heretic, his gray cap boss, that he'll have to eat the two memory bulbs from the corpses to see what he can find out. This investigation will put Finch right in the confluence of events with so many parties having an interest in what he discovers. As well as pressure from above to solve the case there's the rebels, led by the mysterious Lady in Blue, as well as two other agents, god knows who they're working for, who aren't averse to using strong-arm tactics to get what they want. All of this is set to an impending backdrop of a gray cap project of building two towers that everyone in Ambergris is speculating on. Can Finch survive them all and get to the bottom of what's going on? Or will he end up just another pawn in the ongoing struggles of Ambergris?

This is a classic noir story but with a fantastical setting. Everybody has a secret and nobody is entirely who they seem to be. Plenty of violence to which Finch is neither immune to giving or taking goes along with the clipped dialogue but it's all used to keep the story flying along. The book is split into seven chapters. Each a day of the week that Finch has been given to solve the case. It's an intense and atmospheric read and the world-building is fantastic building on what has come before. While each book of the Ambergris cycle is a stand alone (and this one is no exception) it really builds up the background if you read the others prior to reading this one and you will have a greater understanding of events if you do. This is the last book, so far, of the series but you're left with the feeling that there are more stories to tell in this amazing world if the author cares to tell them. I, for one, would certainly pick them up if he does. 5★'s

Finch is an amazing book. Even though I don't really like crime or noir, Vandermeer had me absolutely gripped by the story and characters. Ambergris is one of my favourite fantastical settings and I too would eagerly read anything else he cared to set there. It is such a rich world.

The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick

Barney Mayerson has just received his draft notice to join the Mars colony. He can probably gt out of it if he wants to but he's not entirely sure that he does. Currently employed as one of the top pre-cognitives for P.P. Layouts, makers of Perky Pat and her accessories which, used in conjunction with the drug Can-D, offers a virtual escape from the humdrum colonial existence. The illegal drug is also manufactured and supplied by P.P. Layouts although if rumours are to be believed it may soon have a competitor and Leo Bulero (P.P.'s boss) isn't too happy at the prospect. Palmer Eldritch has returned after a 10 year absence for a trip to the Proxy system and has brought back a competing product that is supposed to be much better than Can-D. Offering a more full immersion and for longer and without the limits imposed by the supplied layouts. Minutes spent under the influence offers up years of experiencing whatever you want. Immortality and total wish fulfilment could put P.P. Layouts out of business unless Leo finds a way to stop Eldritch by fair means or foul.

As with most of the PKD books I've read so far there are an awful lot of ideas and themes within its 200 page length but it's all put together to form a coherent whole (so far as his books go). The nature of reality, religion and religious experience, drugs, pre-cognitive abilities and genetic engineering are all at least touched upon here. Characters are fairly typical of mid-60's science fiction with women in mostly subservient roles. The ending is not entirely conclusive but fits well with the build up to it. Not one I would recommend to first time readers of this author but if you've tried one or two others prior then you should be fine with this one. 3½★'s

>44 AHS-Wolfy: One of my favorites of his. Glad you had a good time with it.

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

Myfanwy Thomas is a high-ranking official in a secret government organisation, called the Checquy Group, that deals with supernatural threats to the British realm. However, when she wakes up soaking wet in a rain sodden London park surrounded by dead bodies she doesn't realise this. Her memory is gone. So it seems like a godsend when she finds a letter purportedly written by herself that explains a little of her current circumstances and advice on what to do next. Myfanwy is also offered a choice by her former self: Live a brand new life as a completely different person in a different part of the world or adopt her old life and try and find out who betrayed her and put her in her current predicament and seek revenge for what they did to her. Two lockboxes are being held for her at a bank and all she has to do is choose which way she wants to proceed with the rest of her life. Myfanwy's resolve for a new life is suddenly revoked when she is attacked in a supposedly secure location of the bank vault and after somehow managing to survive she changes her mind and decides to see what she can accomplish and find out why her life is in such peril.

The idea of using letters from the old self to the new offers up an interesting way of providing infodumps not just for the character but the reader as well. It's also how we get to know the old Myfanwy as well. A shy, quiet person who is very reluctant to exercise her full powers and much to her teacher's disappointment never reached her full potential. Myfanwy 2.0 is not quite so reluctant to explore her gifts and can't wait for any opportunity try them out (a discussion group could use this for a nature vs. nurture debate I'm sure). There’s also a fine bunch of characters that surround Myfanwy and each has a variety of different powers to utilise in their positions within the Checquy. There’s plenty of humour along the way with one particular set piece providing much hilarity (except for the duck). It’s a very good effort for a first novel and I look forward to the next instalment. 4★'s

Alex by Pierre Lemaitre

Commandant Camille Verhoeven doesn’t do kidnappings on account of what happened to his wife a few years earlier but his boss is insistent and there’s nobody else available to take the case. A young woman has been taken off the street, bundled into a white van by a big lunk of a guy. The only lead they have is a shaky eyewitness report that gives them virtually nothing to go on. Even after a few days when still no one has been reported missing they have next to nothing, not even the name of the victim. The diminutive detective and his team will need all their resourcefulness to dig out the information they need and hope that they’ll find her in time. Meanwhile, Alex (the victim) finds herself naked and locked in a crate suspended off the ground. At the total mercy of her kidnapper she asks him what he wants. “To watch you die” comes the terrifying response.

This is a very good suspenseful thriller with plenty of twists along the way. Verhoeven is an interesting lead character with events in his past shaping him into a formidable detective. His colleagues that make up the rest of the investigative team are also well drawn characters in their own right. The story itself is told in short chapters alternating between Verhoeven and Alex with the tension mounting with each step. It dos get quite brutal at times with both psychological and physical torture on display. This was originally a middle book of a trilogy but was the first to be translated into English (translator Frank Wynne did an excellent job here) and although I do have the original book I decided to go with UK publication order. I don’t feel like I missed anything by doing this as the story stands up well on its own. The only potential problem is that it may have spoiled at least some of the plot of the prequel. I’ll let you know when I get around to it. 4★'s

I just read The Rook and liked it a lot, too, Dave. I saw somewhere that he's planning a sequel. I hope so; I'd like more tales of our friend Myfanwy.

>47 jnwelch: The sequel is out! It's called Stiletto and it's really good.

>48 tardis: Ah, thanks, tardis! I'm off to find it.

>47 jnwelch: I believe the sequel focuses more on two new lead characters instead of Myfanwy.

>48 tardis: Good to know that you enjoyed it.

I'm with the Band by Pamela Des Barres

A kiss and tell memoir from the foremost groupie ever to grace the music scene. Miss P. gives an account of her life from her teenage years and on through the sixties and seventies and lets you in on her thoughts via journal entries written at the time as she hangs out with some of the biggest names in rock. Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, Gram Parsons, Keith Moon, the list is almost endless though she did turn down a date with Elvis. It's not all about the sex and drugs (though there's a lot of that) as we get to follow Pamela as she grows up right there on the page. From fist love and loss, through the hippie years, her dreams of becoming a star in her own right (forming a girl group under the auspices of Frank Zappa and a fledgling acting career) to finally meeting Mr. Right.

This is an enjoyable, uncomplicated look at the life and times of the real-life person that both Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn used as major inspiration for their roles in Almost Famous and The Banger Sisters (loved the former but not seen the latter). Told with charm and wit it's no surprise to learn that the narrator went on to become a journalist. Despite the salacious nature of the book there is still an innocence of spirit that manages to shine through. It wasn't written to titillate but provide an insight of her life and the momentous times in which she lived. My copy includes an update to her life seventeen years after the book was written and plenty of pictures to accompany her experiences and has a cover that I probably couldn't take out in polite company. 3½★'s

Sleepless by Charlie Huston

None of his LAPD colleagues will partner up with Parker Haas and with the city being in the state it currently finds itself then he can't go out alone. His boss offers him a choice of assignments, admin duty or to go undercover looking for any signs of a black market for the only drug that offers any relief to the disease that's decimated the world. SLP, nicknamed sleepless, renders its victims unable to sleep until after months go by in this state kills them in a painful way. It would've been a boring book if he chose the former so we join up with Park's tale having established his cover as a drug dealer and infiltrating the high-end market where he's most likely to encounter Dreamer, the aforementioned drug. It's highly regulated with very limited supply so the value of any illegal trade would be quite significant. When Park recovers a hard drive from a murder scene of some of his new associates it could contain more information than he'd bargained for. He's also not the only one that wants what's on the drive. Jasper is what's known in the trade as a fixer. He's very good at what he does, otherwise he wouldn't have lived so long. He's been hired by a client he doesn't want to disappoint to retrieve the drive regardless of the cost. Can Park survive the inevitable encounter with Jasper while still looking after his infected wife and possibly infected infant daughter and still manage to do the right thing?

Combining elements of noir and police procedural in a post-apocalyptic setting of near modern day Los Angeles where the rich have retreated to their private residences or gated communities and the poor left to fend for themselves. It's a tautly written, often quite violent, thriller with some wonderful characters that are very well brought to life. The book uses the alternating voices of Park and Jasper as their respective stories begin to entwine until they finally come together using the styles of first and third person to readily distinguish between the two. The world-building is excellent and all too plausible. Touches of humour, mostly of the black variety, and moments of real tenderness provide relief from the rest of the bleakness. I've liked everything I've read from this author so far and this one proves no exception. 4★'s

Grimspace by Ann Aguirre

Sirantha Jax is not technically regarded as a prisoner for the Corporation but might as well be. She's a jumper, able to navigate spaceships through Grimspace to reach their destination. Unfortunately her last mission ended disastrously as the ship she was responsible for crash landed on a planet killing over 80 people, many of whom were high level diplomats on their way to an important conference. Her pilot/lover was also amongst the dead as Jax herself was the only survivor but is unable to recall what exactly happened in the final moments before the crash. Ensconced in a psych ward and forced to endure the events she does remember over and over again through dream therapy, Jax is given an opportunity to escape when a mysterious stranger offers her a route out of her current predicament. Obviously he's going to want something in return but will it be more than Jax can pay? March is his name and he and his crew want to break the monopoly that the Corp has on interstellar travel and Jax is instrumental in that plan.

This is an extremely fast paced story, starting at breakneck speed and only increasing from then on with only a slight pause in the middle of the ride for the reader to catch their breath. The fact that there's no real hard science to get to grips with also makes this a very easy book to read. Character's are fine, starting out a little generic but there is some development as the story progresses. I think the romance develops really quickly but when two people are able to get inside each others heads then that can be readily explained. Despite the frenetic pace of the story the world-building is also quite strong. While there is some obvious info-dumping this is also handled quite well with Sirantha Jax being quite a naive person despite her extensive travels as a jumper but adapts to her new situation. While the ending is a little abrupt it's better than stretching out the story too much just for the sake of it. It's the first in a series and one which I'd happily spend more time with the characters that remain. 3½★'s

The Fire Engine That Disappeared by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö

The fifth in the Martin Beck series sees the Chief Inspector take much more of a back-seat role as the latest investigation unfolds. Gunvald Larsson decides to check on a surveillance mission he's in charge of and offers temporary relief to the young policeman on watch. So not even supposed to be there, it's just his luck that the house converted into apartments suddenly explodes. Larsson manages to save several people from the property that is readily becoming engulfed in flame but there are three that don't manage to escape the inferno. One of which is the petty criminal that was the object of the surveillance in the first place. Initial investigations suggest a suicide by this very man much to Larsson's consternation who, after a short spell in hospital due to concussion, decides to take matters into his own hands and pursue enquiries on his own.

This instalment focuses more on the team around Martin Beck and offers glimpses into their personal lives and motivations as well as the social commentary of Sweden at the time these books are set (late sixties/early seventies) that this series has become known for. Again it is the painstaking work of the detectives involved that help to progress the investigation, following all of the clues even if they're heading nowhere. There is no quick fix or momentary flashes of brilliance that help solve the case. Instead it's the knocking on doors, finding the right people, asking the right question and sifting through the clues that will get them to the right outcome. If you want your crime fix to be thrill a minute then you should look elsewhere but if you like a well plotted police procedural then you could do a lot worse than picking up this series. 4★'s

The New Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko

The night watch series continues with this latest instalment, the fifth, and sees Anton Gorodetsky established in his role as a Higher Magician of the Light. While seeing off a colleague at the airport, Anton encounters a prophet and manages an intervention to circumvent the young boy's departure on a doomed flight. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean the boy prophet is safe. It appears as though something is hunting him like other prophets throughout time. Could it be a creature of the Twilight itself? Out to stop a new prophet from uttering his main prophecy? The combined might of the Higher Magicians of the Light don't seem to be able to stop it and it only disappears when faced by the heads of both the Night and Day Watches along with assorted Higher Others. Part two sees Anton sent to find out what he can from Erasmus Darwin, the only prophet to escape from the hunter. Encountering an old friend from a previous adventure in the process. Is Alina the witch there to help or hinder his progress?

As with all of the entries in this series the book is split into three parts but each of these stories roll on naturally from the previous. Plenty of recurring characters for Anton to interact with as well as a new antagonist for him to deal with also. It's a quick and easy read (huge credit to the regular translator Andrew Bromfield must go here) though the overall story is not as good as those that have come before (still fairly decent though). There's plenty of pop-culture references (including Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings) mixed in with the action, humour and social commentary. It's still fun to spend time with Anton and the rest (especially his daughter Nadya who's coming along nicely as a character) and I'll be picking up the next one when it eventually appears. 3½★'s

From Aberystwyth with Love by Malcolm Pryce

This 5th instalment of the noir pastiche series has private detective Louie Knight and his partner Calamity employed by Uncle Vanya to find out what happened to a girl that went missing 30 years ago from the neighbouring town of Abercuawg, now submerged by the lake formed after they built a dam. It seems as though the spirit of the missing girl inhabited Uncle Vanya's daughter over in Hughesovska (a replica town of Aberystwyth built in the Ukraine) so he's trying to understand what happened so he can come to terms with the events that followed. It might mean a trip to Hughesovska for Louie and Calamity so they enlist the services of Mooncalf & Sons for their travel arrangements and also to fence the sock they got from Uncle Vanya as payment for taking the case. Mooncalf can do them a good deal on the trip if they agree to make a delivery for him to a friendly count in Transylvania. He can even help with disguises. They'll travel as spinning wheel salesmen via the Orient Express but will have to watch out for honey trappers. As the investigation continues it may or may not involve trolls, bearded ladies, snuff philatelists and fish milt flavoured ice-cream.

This was another quite dark entry into the series but still contains enough humour to raise a smile every now and then. There's also a certain amount of emotional weight within these pages as Louie contemplates his relationship with Calamity and his own father. It's also been my least favourite of the 5 books I've read so far. I hope that the series isn't running out of steam as there is still one that I haven't gotten to as yet. It's not a bad book and is quite readable, it's just not quite on a par with the others as far as I'm concerned. A shame as I enjoyed the last one quite a lot. 3★'s

Irène by Pierre Lemaitre

Camille Verhoeven is the small of stature Commandant from the Paris Police Nationale. The latest case that he's been assigned to is a particularly savage and brutal killing of two young women. Despite the proliferation of blood and body parts the only real clue is a fingerprint used by the killer as a signature for his work. It links the deaths to a previous case which also remains unsolved. It also comes to light that both crimes are recreations of scenes from famous detective novels. Are there any more killings that fit this pattern and more importantly can Camille and his team prevent any more?

While this is the second book translated to English from the French series it should really be read prior to the first, Alex. There will be major spoilers for this book if you read them the other way around. This is probably the goriest police procedural that I've read with the results of the killer's handiwork vividly described and it's certainly not for the squeamish. An excellent translation from Frank Wynne makes this a very easy read and the very short chapter breaks only increase the tension as the investigation is seemingly heading nowhere. I'll certainly be continuing with this series. 4★'s

You seem to be reading a good many Euro-Noir novels! Is this a passing phase or have you a long-time fondness for this type of crime novel?

They're definitely something I keep an eye out for. I think it started when I joined a few challenge groups on LT in an attempt to broaden my reading. I was already in the global reading group so to differentiate for the 50 US States and European challenges I decided just to select my reading from the crime/mystery/thriller genre.

It's getting close to my annual trip to Leeds for the Anime Day part of their film festival. Slight change this year though as they've decided to call it Animation Day so that they can pad out the selection with a couple of entries not strictly counted as anime. Here's this year's line-up:

Sunday 6th November
11:00 Kizumonogatari – Part 1: Tekketsu & Part 2: Nekketsu
13:45 Belladonna of Sadness
15:45 The Red Turtle + Father and Daughter
18:00 Psychonauts
20:00 A Silent Voice

So starting off with a double bill with the first 2 parts of a youth horror trilogy before moving on to the 1973 adaptation of French historian Jules Michelet’s novel La Sorcière. Next up is the first non-Japanese film co-produced by the renowned Studio Ghibli. It's totally dialogue free so could be interesting. Psychonauts is a Basque animation based on the cult graphic novel by Alberto Vazquez. The day ends with a film examining the consequences of school bullying for the victim and the perpetrator. The links embedded in the titles above will provide more information and trailers for anything you might find of interest.

Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book Ten by Bill Willingham

This volume contains two long story arcs with The Great Fables Crossover and Werewolves of the Heartland being included in their entirety of 9 episodes each. The first of these deals with the continuation of the stories featured in Fables and Jack of Fables as well as adding in The Literals. Snow & Bigby are sent to investigate the veracity of Jack's claim of a threat to all of the Fables everywhere with Kevin Thorn about to write them out of their very existence. Gary and Revise tag along to add their assistance and they all meet up with the Page sisters who are also on Kevin's trail but have become bogged down in a fire-fight with the Genre's. Can they get through and reach Kevin in time before he sets pen to paper? Jack meanwhile has managed to insinuate himself not only into Rose Red's bed but also the position of De-facto leader at the Farm. That's not going to end well is it?

Werewolves is a side-story focusing on, as you might imagine, Bigby Wolf. He has been tasked at scouting new locations to replace the newly destroyed Fabletown and also to investigate a place called Story Town. Bluebeard was funding some kind of operation there and King Cole wants to know what it was. Bigby is surprised to find an old war buddy running the town and even more so when he meets his wife. When last he's seen them they were fighting on opposite sides and Bigby had left them both for dead when a castle had fallen down on them all.

It seems that this series doesn't do endings very well. After all the build up in actually getting to the closure of a major story arc I keep finding myself asking the question "Is that it?". It was still a decent volume in the series and the diversion of the second story was also well delivered but I can't help feeling a little let down when all is said and done. 3½★'s

Mardock Scramble by Tow Ubukata

This is a collection of one future world story that was originally published in three parts. It tells the tale of Rune-Balot, a fifteen-year-old girl with more than a troubled past. Sexually abused by her father before being taken into care where she is forced into prostitution. Escaping from this she finds herself taken in by a more established brothel where she catches the eye of Shell Septinos who then becomes her patron. Unfortunately for Balot this is not a good thing. Shell collects young girls but only when he kills them and turns them into blue diamonds before wiping his memories and Balot is next in line to add to his collection. If not through the intercession of two PI's, one of whom just happens to be a talking mouse, then she would be well on her way to becoming the newest ring on Shell's finger. As it is, her injuries are so extensive that she will need her body to be remade using the latest technology which gives her some extraordinary powers. Balot could then be used in the case that the PI's are building against not just Shell but also the company that he works for.

When I started this story my intention was to just read book 1 but had to continue because of where the split occurs. It's at the culmination of a large battle with the outcome hanging in the balance so I was glad I didn't have to wait to pick up the next one. Part 1 deals with setting up the characters and situation and builds an interesting world for the setting. There's quite a lot of action here too. Part 2 concludes the battle (if not the war) but then slows down quite a lot when the action moves to a casino. There's a lot of play-by-play description of poker, roulette and blackjack and although this sounds boring it was interjected with Balot's feelings and flexing her extraordinary abilities and so wasn't quite as bad as it sounds. Part 3 is the end-game as Balot and her companions try to get what they need in order to win their case and then deals with the aftermath of a very quick trial. There are a couple of very disturbing topics that form the basis of many of the characters within this book but I never felt that they were gratuitous or glamorized in any way. It gets quite philosophical at times as the motivations of the various characters are dissected. This is definitely not a book for everyone but anyone who's seen the movies but wants more depth will certainly find that here. Overall I quite enjoyed it. 4★'s

>62 AHS-Wolfy: This is on my tbr pile. Thanks for the thoughtful review.

>63 Sakerfalcon: Certainly not going to be to everyone's taste but I think you can see that by other posted reviews. The middle part is what will polarise people's opinions. Whether you can bear the slow-down while digging out the more emotional content during the gambling 101 section.

Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman

A bunch of short stories and poems which concludes with a novella. I don't tend to read a lot of short fiction but have been picking at this one for quite a while. For me it was quite a mixed bag so far as quality goes but you can't argue with the quantity as there are nearly 30 entries included in this collection.. There are also introductions to each piece located in a separate section at the beginning of the book. My favourites were Monarch of the Glen (the novella which features Shadow from American Gods), Sunbird (a club set on sampling all the world's gastronomic delights), Bitter Grounds (Ghost story with voodoo element), Keepsakes and Treasures (Introduces a couple of villains who also appear in the novella) and The Hidden Chamber (possibly the creepiest poem I've ever read). Most of the rest were at least enjoyable to a certain extent even if some were instantly forgettable. 3½★'s

London Falling by Paul Cornell

The police have managed to infiltrate the biggest gang in London but are not getting the results they need to crack the case and time is running out for their operation. Rob Toshack has managed to bring a lot of the other gangs under his control and no-one seems to be aware how he accomplishes this as he seemingly uses outside enforcers and nobody has ever seen them. When the police finally raid Toshack's place and take him into custody all they find are his regular cohorts. Something happens during his interrogation that will change the game for everyone especially four of the investigation team. These four become invested (or should that be infected) with the Sight. This allows them to see things that are generally thought of as going bump in the night. The witch Mora Losley is one such creature and it's our intrepid team's responsibility to bring her down. Can they learn enough about their new abilities in time?

This is a police procedural set very much in an urban fantasy frame although the start of the story is very much all the former before transitioning into the latter. It's a lot darker in tone than Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London books and doesn't shy away from the unpleasantness or gory details. It's very well written and the real elements of the tale feel very authentic. The reader also gets to experience a sense of discovery that's not often included in this type of novel and it will be interesting to see how sequels handle things after this initial element has played out. I'm looking forward to finding out though. 4★'s

>65 AHS-Wolfy: I have Gaiman's Trigger Warning sitting here in the living room. Haven't touched it yet, but I suspect I will enjoy it as a collection of shorter, more readily digested reading material. Not up to anything particularly complex these days.

>67 jillmwo: The good thing about shorties collections is that you can just pick at them whenever you feel like it.