Stoke Book Chat May
The Cold Way Home by Julia Keller
Characters that feel authentic with plenty of personal demons, a strong plot and a real mystery make this, the second book in the Belle Elkins series an enjoyable and logical crime read. Our reviewer especially enjoyed the setting of a defunct psychiatric hospital which added spooky vibes a story that was inspired by real events. Each story in the series stands alone, but the characters were originally introduced in a Killing in the Hills.
This Much is True by Miriam Margolyes
Legendary actress Miriam Margolyes reflects on 80 years of her life, much of which was spent in the theatre and covers a huge scope. She's very funny and smart and there are plenty of anecdotes as well as commentary on politics, Israel and current events. Well supported with lots of photos, Miriam's voice comes through strongly and is a super read despite the swearing!
Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith
The 6th book in the Cormoran Strike series, Ink Black Heart is a whopping 1000 pages long, many of which are in the form of tweets, which didn't appeal to our reader. This installation seems light on plot compared to other outings for this character.
Epic - Adventures Across Aotearoa by Ray Salisbury
A series of expeditions across and around Aotearoa by foot and in kayak, including Graeme Dingle and Jill Tremain's traverse of the South Alps in the 1970s to Paul Caffyn's kayak odyssey. The book is a fascinating read that shows the changing face of adventure in New Zealand and is well supported with lots of excellent photos. Our reader particularly enjoyed the story of Geoff Chapple who pioneered the Te Araroa Trail, and Ray Salisbury's own tale.
The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar
The fictionalised real story of Johanna Bonger who was married to Theo van Gogh, brother of the legendary painter who also died young, leaving Johanna, 28 years old with a baby, the heir to the van Gogh legacy.
A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle
On a cruise from Southampton to New York City, a man dies, but is it accident or murder. Handily, there's a policeman onboard who teams up with a ship's officer to investigate. Full of intrigue, this is a straight forward simple read with a surprisingly twisty ending. An enjoyable and relaxing read.
A Death in the Parish by Richard Coles
Two very different priests including Canon Daniel Clement who we first meet in Murder Before Evensong, clash over their different approaches to Christianity in this cosy murder mystery. Our reader enjoyed how the clergy are involved in the lives of their rural village parishioners and there is good character development between the two very different priests.
Ladies Midnight Swimming Club by Faith Hogan
A rural village in coastal Ireland is the setting for this story of three woman forming friendship around midnight swims. Dead husbands, aging, health problems and broken relationships bring these woman together, to form a lovely relationship. Our reader thinks it would be ripe for a good movie!
An unusual and unsettling book about trust, set in Wellington in the 1980s. The voice of the 13 year old narrator came through strongly and this was a really excellent, multilayered read.
Question 7 by Richard Flanagan
A memoir, biography and history about Flanagan's Father's experiences as a slave labourer in Japan during WWII, but also about HG Wells and the atom bomb. The audio book was excellent. Read a full reviewer written by our reader here.
Billy and the Giant Adventure by Jamie Oliver
A senior fiction novel (aimed at 8-12 year olds) by the famous chef, this is a beautiful, funny and delightful story with lovely illustrations. Dad is making up a bedtime story (inspired by Oliver's real life parenting exploits), it's full of fairies and goblins and lots of food, of course interweaving the author's cheffy background. Our reader enjoyed the recipes at the back of the book!
