Buried Deep, by Penny Grubb, Reviewed.

The wonderfully idiosyncratic heroine, Annie Raymond, appears first in Penny Grubb’s detective

novel, Like False Money. Buried Deep is the fifth book in the series, and this well-imagined detective has significantly developed along the way.

This story holds the reader’s interest from the beginning and never lets go. The reader easily understands Annie; her faults making her a believable creation and endearing her to us as she struggles with the difficulties sent her way. In this book, she has to work with the flawed police detective, Webber. He brings his own problems, prejudices, insights and skills to the tale, building the book into something bigger than a simple crime novel.

Penny has a way of wearing the skin of her characters, even the villains, so that the reader cares what happens. But Annie and Webber are the ones we really empathise with, in spite of their faults, or maybe because of them.

The nature of the crimes in this story will disturb some readers, but crime fiction is designed to make people think, to bring the real world into the safe environment of our homes where we can experience it without personal danger.

As always, with this author’s work, there are shocks, moments of unexpected illumination, many twists and turns, and a complex puzzle to solve. And the developing pace of the story engages the reader as both Annie and Webber are led into great danger. The denouement builds slowly at first, then the pace increases with the tension until it becomes impossible to book the book down until it’s finished. And a satisfying finish it is.

Buried Deep is more than just a crime novel. It is a well-written, engaging, absorbing and truly attention-demanding piece of fiction. If you like your crime enlivened with humour, human failings, realism, and intelligence, this book is for you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and heartily recommend it.

Falling Through the World, by Rachel Clarke, Reviewed.

I read this novel as part of the research I’m undertaking before writing an account of my own experience of ME/CFS. The book is written from the point of view of a teenage girl brought down by this dreadful condition. It’s an honest, funny, moving and, at times, harrowing account of the life of a sufferer.

The reader is exposed to the prejudices of the ignorant, the helpless ignorance of the general medical profession, the casual cruelty that can come from friends and relatives, and the total lack of understanding that so frequently accompanies this much-misjudged condition.

Although this is a novel, it’s also a work that encapsulates the reality of ME/CFS. At the same time, it captures the fears, hopes, dreams and sorrows of a teenage girl and, to some extent, those of her family and friends.

A well-written story, full of hope, questioning, self-doubt, frustration and ambition, it carries the reader on waves of emotional ups and downs as the narrator describes what’s happening to her. Not a long novel, it nevertheless manages to incorporate most of what it’s like to live with ME/CFS, and provides readers with useful clues as to how sufferers, their families, and their medical helpers can best be approached.

There is the strong possibility that all readers will have some contact with either a sufferer or a member of the family of a victim. Because of this, I recommend the book to all. It’s punchy, accessible and short enough for all to read. Please do that, and educate yourself about this condition that attacks and ruins the lives of so many people of all ages.

Related articles

• Giant ME/CFS Research Project Launched!
• Use of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to distinguish gene expression subtypes of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).
• What is the Difference between CFS and ME?
• Exhausted: Why can't we figure out chronic fatigue syndrome?

#BookADayUK; A Reader Event For October. Day 15

Not my edition, but mine has lost its dust jacket and
a plain blue cover makes no sense.

What do we have for today, in the #BookadayUK promotion for independent book shops?
This event, run by the Books Are My Bag.com website, suggests for today the following: 'Best home in literature'

I could choose Bilbo's house in Lord of the Rings, I suppose, but I like to look out of the windows. There are many opulent homes in many of the novels I've read, but I'm not too keen on excess. Hundreds of different homes must've been described in the thousands of novels I've read over the last 50/60 years. But the one that sticks in my mind, possibly enhanced and romanticised by the passage of the years, is a house called 'Heronswood' (I think) in Howard Spring's novel, My Son, My Son. The house is set on the upper slope of a headland in Cornwall, with one side of the wooded land leading to the sea coast and the other leading down to a private quay on the River Fowey. So, this place has all the elements I would love in a house. It's surrounded, but not enclosed, by trees. It's in an elevated position. It's within walking distance of the sea, and it has a river frontage free from the danger of flooding. What else could a civilised human being require, except, perhaps, now I'm reaching that age when I feel the cold, a location in a warmer clime?
So, that's my choice. What's yours?

Related articles

• #BookADayUK; A Reader Event For October.
• News: Books Are My Bag 2014
• October is #BookADayUK - Enjoy!

Exploring Character and Place in A Seared Sky #4

Ylcrat

A tiny island, Ylcrat sits precariously in the middle of the Shylnah Sea. Precariously? Its volcanic cone is active and destructive. Difficult to land here, due to its geography, and the islanders have a reputation for cannibalism. Merchants and the wider world think of the population as backward and uncivilised and give the island a wide birth. Anyone venturing here has to have a pressing reason. So what takes our intrepid voyagers this way?

The cone lies at the northeastern end, and rumbles moodily most of the time. But, occasionally, larger explosions rock the island. No time to be a stranger here.

The men don’t work, but play at hunting, though their games rarely provide any meat. The women are slaves in all senses of the word, providing food, sex, entertainment and shelter for the men. With no permanent relationships, resulting children are raised communally by the women.

The people are ruled by a magical man whose origin, length of life and even appearance are all hidden. He has a mystic hold over the women, allowing him to control them; though he, uniquely, doesn’t abuse them sexually.

Where the islanders originated, how they came to the island, and how long they’ve lived here are all factors lost in the annals of time.

Here we first encounter a remarkable young woman. Myllthlan, as she will come to be known, plays a critical part in the adventure. But to tell you more would expose too much of the tale. You’ll have to read the book to find what she does.

The 4^th in a series of pieces on characters and places featured in Joinings: A Seared Sky. This background information, isn’t covered in the book, but should enhance the reading experience. For some of my people, there’ll be a character drawing, supplied by Alice Taylor, maybe a video interview, and accompanying script. I may do short pieces of fiction, deepening knowledge of certain minor characters as well.

For the places, I may use sections of the map, to indicate location, along with a description of the place, as I see it, and, where appropriate, links with characters. Perhaps I’ll indicate the way of life there with a short anecdote or story. I won’t reveal any of the main story, either as already published or as written in the series, merely enhance readers’ enjoyment of the trilogy by providing more information. I hope this gives pleasure to those who’ve bought the book and, perhaps, persuades others to take that step.

Pronunciation hints:

Ylcrat = ill – krat

Myllthlan = milth – lan

Shylnah = shill - nar

Names are pronounced phonetically. But this is my take on them; how I hear them in my head. You may pronounce them as you wish; reading is, after all, active rather than passive.

Related articles

• Exploring Character and Place in A Seared Sky #3

The 12 Days of Launch Countdown: Day 3

Yin Yang via 

https://openclipart.org/

Are there really only 3 days to go until the launch of A Seared Sky: Joinings? 

No wonder I’m excited!

In the spirit of that well-loved seasonal song, I offer you the 12 days of countdown.

In reverse order.

And, on the third day of countdown, I give to you

Three themes a threading:

Good versus evil – what epic fantasy could exist without this one?

Hypocrisy in religion – unusual for the genre, but a spur to great adventure

Love conquers all – of course it does! Uncommon in epic fantasy, but bringing another layer to the complex story.

Which characters are good, which evil? Who is most guilty of hypocrisy? Who is in love, and will their romance end in triumph or tragedy? Find out when you read A Seared Sky: Joinings, launched on 30 March by Fantastic BooksPublishing.

Come along to the party and enjoy the fun of the book launch, wherever in the world you live. Virtual, online so that everyone can ‘attend’, and only a click away; right here. You can be one of the first to get the paperback or ebook; or both!