Never the Bride by Paul Magrs

This is the first in a four-book series.

Never the Bride is set in the famous literary town of Whitby. The main characters are Brenda and Effie who end up in awkward situations.

Brenda is full of life, with a past she choses not to tell anyone about – mainly she doubts they will believe her or will end up running her out of town.  She tuns a B&B which is cosy, quiet and efficiently run. Her morning routine is one of ensuring her make up is on just right and her wig looks it’s best.

Effie is funny in her tactlessness; she lives in the house next door to Brenda and runs a junk shop in the lower rooms. Her house is filled with books on magic and the paraphernalia that goes along with it. Effie herself wants nothing to do with the magic and has ‘distanced’ herself from it. No one knows her family line consists of many witches. However, she begins to realise that magic has not ‘distanced’ itself from her.

The first mishap that they encounter is when their usual waitress – Jess - at the ‘Christmas Hotel’ is looking 20 years younger and is acting as if she was 20 years younger. Effie decides to investigate the ‘Deadly Boutique’ that Jess visited, and havoc occurs. Although there is something tantalising about the boutique, but also something unnerving. Brenda and Effie then make another visit and all hell breaks loose.

For some visiting the ‘Christmas Hotel’ and enjoying Christmas anytime of the year may be a wonderful plan, but beware this one is dowdy, grubby and the elves are not as joyous as they should be. The owner rules the roost with staff and guests well under her thumb.

My favourite location in the book is a trip down memory lane to ‘Woolworths’ and their pick n mix – maybe that’s the reason I like the sound of the ‘Deadly Boutique’.

The friendship between Brenda and Effie is tested with a debonair gentleman comes to town and takes a shine to Effie.

The best of the book for me is my imagination linking a village and its Martian visitor with ‘War of the Worlds’ and offspring ensuing, the mind boggles at how that occurred though.

Whitby wouldn’t be the same though without its most famous literary visitor who is not as he once was. He has changed beyond all imagination.

The ending reminds me of a once watched horror movie, when I was a teenager and I didn’t sleep for days.

The location of Whitby is brought to life by the language used and its atmosphere is charged. The characters are wonderfully written and the interactions between them dances of the page.

Brenda is all for a quiet life, something she has always been short on, but it seems ‘fate’ has other ideas. Effie is prim and proper and believes her ‘respectability is vital to maintain her lifestyle. Stumbling into the ‘trouble’ which now surrounds her and Brenda is not welcomed but she takes a breath and accepts her role in the situation.

I cannot wait to read the second in the series.

If your looking for the weird and weirder then this is the book for you.

The Secrets of Ivy Garden by Catherine Ferguson

This is a book about the heartache and the beauty of life. It begins with goodbyes on a railway platform and the end of an era. Holly says goodbye to her beloved grandma who has brought her up from since the age of four, after Holly’s parents were killed in a car accident. We then see Holly eight months later struggling at work, her grief still raw after the death of Ivy four months earlier. Her boss is sympathetic and sends her home early, not for the first time I feel. Holly then goes home and prepares to go back to the village of Appleton where Ivy lived. She is planning to sell 'Moonbeam' cottage Ivy loved. Holly hates the countryside with a passion and even seems to fear it. Her arrival is not straight forward and she meets Sylivan who becomes a friend and she hopes in time maybe more. She doesn’t plan on staying in the village once the cottage is sold, but both the village and some of the villagers have other plans. In Appleton she will either find healing or heartache.

Village life is portrayed wonderfully, it’s not long before Holly’s arrival is sent along the grapevine and everyone knows Ivy’s granddaughter is back and planning to sell the cottage. It also shows the friendship, reviles and emites of village life which often bubble below the surface.

Holly becomes friends with seventeen-year-old Layla whose brother – James - is more than attractive and thirteen years older than Layla. Holly wants to shake her as she moans about her mum and brother – her dad died just before she was born – after all she has a family which Holly longed for as a child. But Layla is bright, fun and caring and helps Holly find her path in life as she helps Layla along hers.

Layla we found out is dyslexic and considers herself stupid but has a wonderful secret which with Holly and Sylivan's help, she finds out that she is not what she believes. The storyline of dyslexia is sensitively written and brings back memories of how I felt at times, before I found out the truth about my inability to write or spell well.

Holly ends up tending to Ivy’s beloved garden after a storm has destroyed it. With Layla's help she begins to understand why Ivy loved gardening so much – although Layla gets her into a tricky situation where she has to use all her wiles, to pretend that she is a more knowledgeable gardener then she is. The only thing she is confident in is who Alan Titchmarsh is. At one point her lack of knowledge is seen as she tackles a crop of tomato plants. The description of the garden is beautiful and even a non-gardener like me is able to see it in all of its splendour.

Holly also ends up discovering Ivy’s diary and with Layla’s 'help' she ends up partly solving the mystery it contains, but it is a surprise to many when the truth is found.

The best line in the book comes after Holly watches a female duck being 'courted' by three males. “Jemima Puddleduck's social life is racier than mine” I wonder how many of us would agree!

The characters are all wonderfully brought to life. Holly we see is growing from her grief into a blossoming flower, ready to begin life again.  Layla is a bolshie teenager with her family, who is insecure but with Holly we see the real her and with the boost given her by Sylivan and Holly is palpable. Sylivan is a delight with a view of life unfamiliar I feel to many. The others stand up and define themselves from those around them and truly show you who they are, the good and the bad. I’m not one to cry when reading but I admit this one, at several points, though had me reaching for the tissues.

A delightful, fun and tearful read.

The Humans by Matt Haig

 

The title ‘The Humans’ made me ask the question what about us humans? intrigued I left the library with a copy.

The story begins with an unknown narrator speaking to readers as an introduction the book he has written explaining his time with us. The readers of the book have the belief that humans are a myth, he tells them we are not and that he has visited, spoken to lived among us. The narrator then goes on to give the readers a clear and deep insight into the human psyche, through the book he has written which in the style of a human novel.

We then see the narrator confused and naked in a service station reading Cosmopolitan, at the start of his journey. All he remembers is suddenly being on a road and in the way of the funny thing’s humans travel around in called cars. Then we see him running from people and desperate to get out of the terrifying rain, as he runs, drivers and passengers spit at him – which he understands as being a friendly greeting.

We learn that the narrator is workacholic Cambridge Mathematics Professor Andrew Martin. He has no deep memories of who he is and believes humans are only interested in violence and greed, yet he also feels our love for one another is our saving grace. We follow him as he learns what it is to be human and who he is, as well as him learning the answers to the many questions he has – such as Why are clothes so important? And What is the correct way to greet people?

Professor Martin is a man who many people I feel could relate to. Many of us at some point will have felt the sense of wondering who we are and what it is to be human, due to mental health issues – although this is not a book about mental health.

Professor Martin is I feel a loveable character who is trying to understand himself, his wife and son – who are encountering who he was before work took their place in his life – and his role in life and in theirs.

Yet we also come across a violent side to him, which could bring everything crashing down.

This is a book which is not afraid to explore human life in its mess and deprivation as well as love and kindness. It could have been shallow and dry, yet it is I feel a deep and sensitive insight into human life, relationships and our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world as an individual and as a member of several groups.

The book is filled with mathematics mainly prime numbers as well as an odd dip into physics and quantum mechanics. A lack of understanding of these areas, I felt did not detract me from the plot or from enjoying the book.

A delightful and insightful read.

 

Molly and the Cat Cafe by Melissa Daley

This is the first in a series of cosy reads about Molly, a tabby cat, who can read her owners and know exactly what they need. Molly is also able to read writing which even too an avid cat lover is a bit of a stretch to far.

Molly here is two years old and lived to begin with an elderly lady. Molly’s spoilt life is brought to an end as her owner gradually fades with dementia. At first, I had little love towards the lady’s son, as he struggles to cope, but as I read, I begin to see the tragedy which unfolds in the lives of those dementia touches. Although I cannot say I came to like the son, I did begin to emphasise with him.

Molly is re-homed with a friend of the son’s, who has three cat hating dogs. Fur flies and Molly leaves with no feral instinct to aid her on her way. We see her however meeting a cat who teaches her all she needs to know and who then waves her on her way, to a new town, where Molly hopes to find a new home.

After many – and sometimes eventful days – Molly finds herself in bin heaven behind the back of a café.Molly is patient and eventually wins the heart of the café owner – Debbie. 

Debbie along with her daughter is an outsider with a painful past and divorce.

The café has few customers but with Molly’s help it gains many more. Molly sits in the windowsill watching the world go by. Many of the customers who do begin to use the café do so because of Molly. Molly being in the window also gives the battle axe who once owned the cafe a reason to get the café shut. Debbie, her daughter, and friends begin the process of registering the café as a cat café with the council - a long process. There are surprises in store for all in involved.

Debbie’s daughter is at first acrimonious to Molly as well as her mother – she had not wanted to move – but with Molly’s help their relationship softens and old wounds heal.

Molly should be an inspiration to all cats around the world.

To some this could be called a ‘fluffy’ read with not much substance, to others it is a light-hearted read with a few ups and downs to keep you interested.

The characters are fun and full of life, even the son is rounded. The battle axe for some reason reminds me of Nora Batty from Last of the Summer Wine. I could see her pushing her shopping trolley along, while giving Wally an ear bashing.

Molly is gorgeous and a little minx with her wrangling to get the humans to do what is needed to save the day. Her potter through the café one day, shows the mishaps cats can get into.

The ending is lovely and shows how cats can bring people together.

If you’re not a cat lover then leave well alone, if you are then enjoy an uplifting cat in charge of life – as they are – story.

The Massacre of Mankind by Stephen Baxter

This is a sequel to HG Well’s War of the Worlds, but it can be read as a standalone, however as it refers to the original you may lose some of the flow, when reading like this.

It is fourteen years since the first invasion from Mars, which was won by Earths germs and bacteria that the Martians had no immunity too. The spaceships used by the Martians have sparked new technological advances in weaponry. It is due to these two factors that humans are confident that they would prevail over the Martians once more, if they choose to re-invade.

However, Walter Jenkins the narrator of War of the Worlds is not so confident. He has been physically and mentally scared from the first invasion and is now obsessed with a second invasion heading Earth’s way. He believes that the Martians would have watched, learned and adapted to what occurred during the first invasion. Walter is proved right and the second invasion is a success.

Human are nothing more than free range cattle, who the Martians harvest at regular intervals to feed on. The scene where young Martians are learning to feed on human blood is gruesome yet so cute. It shows a loving family scene, only not one which we would recognise or want to witness.

We see familiar characters from the original novel which makes this, along with the fabulous writing, I feel a true sequel.

In some ways knowing from the beginning that Walter and others survive is for me a ‘spolier’, yet it is also a comfort as we know old friends once again outwit the Martians. There is however no hint as to how the Earth fares in the end, whether it is human or Martian owned.

Throughout this book we skip from one continent to another, meeting new characters and seeing the invasion and the resistance is playing out, which does bring interest to the plot. But sometimes I felt this distracted from the main plot and added nothing to the story.

The characters are alive, and this includes the Martians, who strut around knowing they own the place – along with us. However, the determination of the resistance is palpable, even if not all the members are likeable.

Many sequels which are written by other authors are let down by their writing, which comes stilted as the author tries too hard to imitate the original author. Stephen Baxter, however, has done a wonderful job not only in his writing but in bringing the atmosphere of the War of the Worlds into his writing.

A well worth read.

The Fleet Street Murders by Charles Finch

This is the third in a series about the Victorian amateur detective Charles Lenox. It can be enjoyed as a standalone.

It is 1867 and a by-election in the Northern town of Stirrington is called after the elected MP dies. Charles is called by the Liberal Party to stand as their candidate.

The next two weeks for Charles are busy. He much to the annoyance of Scotland Yard, begins to investigate the murders of two Fleet St journalists a mile apart from each other. A friend's wife miscarries and Charles' fiancee - who happens to also be Charles' next door neighbour - goes to stay with them. This prompts her to send a letter to Charles postponing their marriage.

The trains in those days were on time and frequent it seems, which allows Charles to flit easily between Stirrington and London. His focus seems to be saving his relationship with his fiancee Lady Jane Grey - does someone like Henry VIII I wonder.

He seems to leave the main bulk of his electioneering to his butler and the parties co-coordinator in the area. The murders he seems to leave to his apprentice - a debit riddled fun loving son of a noble family. 

His flitting backwards and forwards does grate on the nerves those in Stirrington and they do wonder if he is the right candidate, as his hears seems to be more in London then with them. They are worried that this would be the case, when he was the MP and that their worries and troubles would be of no concern to him.

It is a tension filled plot up until the end.

The characters are personalities in their own right, although that is not to say I warmed to all of them. I found Charles condescending and arrogant to a fault.

 

The two murders are carried out in the opening few pages, this sucks you into the story immediately. The fast pace continues throughout, and I felt leaves you reeling from one suspect to another, right till near the end.

The miscarriage I felt was sensitively written and showed not only how it affects the mother, but the father, the rest of the family and friends.

The political story line I felt added nothing to the story except for the tension of Charles going backward and forwards. Saying that the echoes of scandals we have had in recent years, left me wondering how far we have come in the democratic process of voting. The main opponent of Charles is a ghastly man, who expects loyalty from his once employees after moving his brewing factory from the area. Who would have though business and politics going hand in hand.

All in all I found this book enjoyable and would read more by Charles Finch. His writing is compact and fast paced, a good read when the rains falling and life needs some injection of 'fun'.

Waiting for Doggo by Mark B Mills

Doggo is an ugly dog who has a small role to play in the story. He was adopted by Clara from a dogs’ home and is left with her partner of five years after she does a moonlight flit. The story revolves around Dan healing and moving on.

Dan and Doggo do not get on, so Dan takes him back to the home. He leaves a while later with Doggo in tow. A stipulation of the adoption was that Doggo would be castrated, I can almost see Dan and Doggo cross their legs as the female staff member makes snipping motions with her fingers.

We then see Dan in his new job at an advertising company, he decides to take Doggo with him on his first day. The company has a no dog policy, but somehow Dan charms the boss and Doggo is allowed to stay. This is to the consternation of a cat owner, who plays the dirty to get Doggo evicted from his role as office pet.

Dan isn’t faithful to Clara after she has left and sleeps with her sister. He then begins a relationship with his work partner, and life becomes more stable for him after the obligatory hiccups.

Dan also becomes aware that two of the company’s employees are planning on taking the business from its owner. He resorts to shenanigans to protect the owner.

Clara returns and tries to smooth her way back into Dans life, but Doggo takes matters into his own paws.

This is a quick read and is well written, yet it lacks one vital element - Doggo. I wanted to read more about him, a dog with a crush on Jennifer Anderson has so much more in him then he was allowed to show here.

Dan and the plot which revolves around him seem only half constructed, as if they had not grown into fully developed ‘adults’ and had yet to get know each other well enough to be able to have a relationship yet.

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

This is the first in a series. Be warned this is not a book of safe magic.

Rivers of London is set in modern times, when magic has all but died out or at least is well hidden. Peter Grant is a probationary PC who witnesses a murder and in the midst of chasing who he believes the killer to be ends up talking to a ghost. Because of this Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale takes him into his section, it is just him and Peter against the practitioners of magic. It is not only magic Peter has to come to terms with but also the Gods and Goddesses of London and other fantastical people.

The scenes of London are detailed and have been written by someone knowledgeable of London, its sights, sounds and smells which ooze from the page.

If you are expecting a traditional book of magic, forget it This is one of a kind, where magic and the real world collide, mobile phones, well anything technological within the range of magic have their circuits frazzled. 

The language is littered with British humour, which makes the characters full and alive.

The spectical of killing by magic is all too real as skin slides from the face and bones are crushed. 

The characters each have their own personalities and have no reliance on the others to uphold them. Peter's shock and disbelief when he meets Nightingale is well written and I feel reflects how many of us would feel if our whole world was turned upside down. For me this is why Peter seems so real, especially as we see his struggle to come to terms with everything and to learn the art of magic - no wand waving in this book.

The feuding between the Gods and Goddesses of the Rivers is jumpy and explosive, as you are reading you are waiting for someone to throw the first punch. Peter's unenviable position of peace negotiator really sees the characters struggle with this new world.

The crime is solved not just by tracing the essence of magic which is left behind when magic has been carried out, but by good old fashioned police leg work and databases.

If you want a read of wit and dry humour, along with a ride through London with a heavy dose of magic and intrigue then this is a book I recommend. 

The Murder at Sissingham Hall by Clara Benson

This is the first in a series of sleuth Angela Marchmont.

Charles has lived the past few years in South Africa, and is now back in England. He is invited to stay with friends at Sissingham Hall, the home of his ex fiance Rosamund and her husband Sir Neville. 

Sir Neville is murdered and Angela along with Charles searches for his murderer, suspicion falls on each one of the characters.

The book is written in the style of a 1920's mystery. It is not quiet a locked room, but the murder in the manor house is evoked well in the writing. 

The staff are hovering in the background but pay little role in the murder and its consequences. 

The tension between the characters can be seen, especially between Rosamund and Charles, who have seen nothing of each other since the engagement was ended. 

The writing is easy to read and flows seamlessly from one stage to the next and from one setting to another.

The characters are interesting and each is a person in their own right, with no need to lean on another to be brought out in the open.

This is a curl up before the fire, with tea and chocolate cosy murder mystery style of the 1920's era, written in modern times.

A Quiet Life in the Country by T.E. Kinsey

This is first in a series. 

Lady Emily Hardcastle and her lady's maid Flo move into a new Edwardian built house down a small country lane on the way to the large Manor House which is a mishmash of styles the Gloucestershire village of Littleton Cotterell. They have come for a quiet life after a life of intrigue and espionage that is hinted at with half mentioned stories of the past. Yet not long after they have moved, they go for a brazing walk across the fields through the woods and to the horror find a man hanging from a tree branch.To them the death was not due to suicide and with non subtle but effective questioning they discover the truth. 

Flo is a small Welsh woman, who is more then capable in a brawl to come as the best of the crowd. She is from a circus family and many of the skills she learnt come in handy in the new quite life in the country - usually for saving Lady Hardcastle.

The Manor House belongs to Sir Hector and Lady Farley-Stroud who were friends of Lady Hardcastle's parents. They are fun loving and deeply love each other which is evident in their reactions to each other. They at first find it hard to accept Flo as anything other then a servant, but thanks to Lady Hardcastle Flo is soon accepted and welcomed as a friend.

Dora a Maid of the Stroud's is the only person who takes against them. She is especially spite filled towards Flo, who she deems has set herself above the station in which she was born. Dora causes Flo as much trouble as she can, which Flo handles with dignity.

Both characters, are well rounded and the full force of Lady Hardcastle's personalty jumps from the page. Flo is a witty women whose indifferent speech to Lady Hardcastle would and does provoke disgust among some of the upper class. Although Lady Hardcastle is quite up to the challenge and gives as good as she gets to Flo and those of her detractors.

The Chief Inspector soon learns that they are more then a pair of bumbling amateur lady sleuths and accepts the friendship offered.

The characters are relatable and interact well with each other, and the village is described in a way which brings village life off the page. The social norms of the time are evident as are the breaking of them, it is refreshing to read a novel which shows strong women of this time. 

The story is gripping and easy to read with many laughs along the way. To many it may be a distorted view of life in Edwardian times, where servants knew their place, and a Lady would never be so friendly with people of other classes but I like the way the relationships bloom and grow to become solid in later books. 

The clues are all there but are well hidden, so the ending is - or was for me - a surprise.

The village policeman however are shown to be bumbling, who were only able to see even the most obvious clue without help is grating, but is the only real objection I can find with the book.