Monthly Archives: December 2011

Edge by Jeffery Deaver

Posted on December 29, 2011 by

Corte – no christian name, just Corte – is a “shepherd”. Working for a secretive government agency, he protects witnesses, ensuring that they reach their destinations safely. Henry Loving is a “lifter” – hired by an unknown party, he will … Continue reading →

Posted in Jeffery Deaver, Thriller | 3 Comments

The Last Templar by Michael Jecks

Posted on December 28, 2011 by

In Devon, 1316, an unpopular villager is found burned to death inside his house. Newly appointed bailiff Simon Puttock seems happy to accept that it was an accident but the newly returned lord of the manor, Sir Baldwin Furnshill, seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Furnshill & Puttock, Historical Mysteries, Michael Jecks | 1 Comment

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie

Posted on December 26, 2011 by

“So this is Christmas, and what have you done?” Well, if you’re the villain of the piece, you’ve violently cut the throat of a patriarch on the eve of a family Christmas. And just for good measure, you’ve done it … Continue reading →

Posted in Agatha Christie, Film and TV, Hercule Poirot, Locked Rooms and Impossible Murders | 18 Comments

A Plague On Both Your Houses by Susanna Gregory

Posted on December 23, 2011 by

And so to the last of the major historical mystery novelists that are currently in my firing line – Susanna Gregory. She has written, to date, seventeen novels featuring Matthew Bartholomew, set in 14th century Cambridge and six featuring Thomas … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Mysteries, Matthew Bartholomew, Susanna Gregory | 1 Comment

100 Book Reviews and Counting… One Year of Blogging

Posted on December 22, 2011 by

Well, that’s the first year of my blog. The primary aim was always a selfish one – to break the reader’s block I had developed over the past few years – and, with The Ice Princess making it one hundred … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Top Fives | 5 Comments

The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg

Posted on December 22, 2011 by

And so, with (almost) impeccable timing, if I say so myself, we hit my 100th book review on (almost) my first anniversary. And to celebrate, I thought it was time to try something new – Scandinavian Crime Fiction. Camilla Lackberg … Continue reading →

Posted in Camilla Lackberg, Translated Fiction | 4 Comments

By Murder’s Bright Light by Paul Harding aka Paul Doherty

Posted on December 20, 2011 by

And, after a very careful count, we come to my 99th book review of my first year of my blog – and it’s those men again – Brother Athelstan, Sir John Cranston and, of course, Paul Doherty. I’m trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in Brother Athelstan, Historical Mysteries, Locked Rooms and Impossible Murders, Paul Doherty, Paul Harding | Leave a comment

Absolution by Murder by Peter Tremayne

Posted on December 20, 2011 by

As we head towards my first blogiversary – not my choice of word, but the accepted phrase, apparently – it’s time for another branch on the tree of historical mysteries. Heading further into the dark ages, namely 7th century Britain, … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Mysteries, Peter Tremayne, Sister Fidelma | 6 Comments

The Song of a Dark Angel by Paul Doherty

Posted on December 19, 2011 by

It is November 1302 and a chill wind, known locally as The Dark Angel, sweeps across the Wash, chilling all of Norfolk to the bone. On the cliffs above Hunstanton Bay, the wife of the local baker hangs from a … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Mysteries, Hugh Corbett, Locked Rooms and Impossible Murders, Paul Doherty | Leave a comment

Raven Black by Ann Cleeves

Posted on December 16, 2011 by

And so we continue the actual point of this blog – looking for a classic mystery amongst the multitude of crime fiction written today – with Raven Black by Ann Cleeves. Jimmy Perez is a recently returned native of Shetland, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ann Cleeves, Thriller | 2 Comments