The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh

Set in the late 1800’s we follow Frances’s metamorphous from a spoilt child, into a capable woman, from when her father dies, though her passage to Africa and beyond, to having to choose husband or lover. We follow not only her trials and tribulations but also the love story. Oh boy what a love story!

McVeigh really has captured the essence of the period in this beautiful, exciting, descriptive novel. The vocabulary paints a picture with her words, the sights, smells and emotions are all here, in the same fashion as Bronte, Hardy and Gaskell would have conveyed.  However, she has one modern skill of editing, and therefore the book is not long winded where it’s not required. She also has us on the edge of our seats reading speedily to keep up with the pace and to know what happened next.

McVeigh made me care about Francis, Edwin and William and all of the other characters. I appreciated the hardships that the drought and the smallpox epidemic in 1878 would have caused in South Africa. I also felt the desperation for rain, and the consequences if it does not come in time. 

This novel left me with a thirst for McVeigh’s next book, and also for the next chapter in Frances’s life. I want to know what happened next.

The Commuting Bookworm 03/01/12

The Fall by Claire McGowan

Charlotte’s life could not get more perfect, she is to be married to her price charming, Dan in one weeks time, he a city trader and therefore money is not a problem and therefore the wedding was to be the fairytale day we all dream of. The diet was going well, her mother was driving her mad, but in one week it will all be happening, what she has lived for, planned for, her and Dan will become Mr & Mrs. But then the week before, Dan drags them off to a new club up town, where the events of that evening will see both of their lives turned upside down and inside out.

Keisha, is not a bad girl, just unlucky in love, but she loves her daughter, and in order to get her back she must make some tough decisions and complete the actions and just when she finally thought she got it all straight her mum dies in hospital. She is totally alone piecing together the events of one fateful night.

Keisha and Charlotte become reliant on each other for different reasons, and what with your friendly copper Haggerty this unwraps a psychological crime story that will have you staying up late, just to finish a bit more. McGowan knows how to slowly unwrap the story like a burlesque striptease, slowly, provocatively and she respects her readers and knows they are intelligent.

This a brilliant debut novel by someone who may well give Martina Cole a run for her money.

The Dead Sea Deception by Adam Blake

Kennedy is a cop who is suspended from the armed response team and therefore on attachment, but not only that due to her telling the truth two of her previous team will be sacked, therefore Kennedy is not liked by the other detectives.

Tillman was a double glazing sales man before his family mysteriously disappeared without trace; he joined the army, and then became a mercenary. 13 years on and he is still searching for Rebecca his wife.

Both damaged souls who will end up on the same quest but for different reasons, her for redemption, him for answers.  Add into this a plane crash in Arizona, several murders and mysterious melanin deficient people who are incredibly apt with a sica blade and you have yourself an adventure.  

Adam Blake is a master story teller, and this book is like a hybrid of Dan Browns The Da Vinci Code and Andy McNab’s The Grey Man, making a page turning jolly good read.

If you like your books to be a bit like onions, giving you lots of layers to peel back, and you are able to keep in perspective the fact it is a story and not fact, this book is for you.

This really is a book that should not be judged by its cover or strapline, it has been under-rated and if more people gave it a chance I could really see this being a bestseller.

The Commuting Bookworm 09/12/11

Run Rabbit Run by Kate Johnson: Choc-Lit out 07/04/12

Sophie Green is an ex-spy. An MI5 officer has been shot dead with her gun, her fingerprints are all over his office, but she swears she is innocent. Her boyfriend Luke Sharpe is tall, tanned, sexy and does not do commitment, is a MI6 spook, or was until his girlfriend kills.

Jack de Valera, English by birth, but is a bounty hunter in the US, until he is framed for the murder of a Supreme High court judge, Irene Shepherd, he is on the run, all they way into Sophie’s arms, nicks her gun, ties her up, connect the dots and then they go on the run together.

This novel is a great read; it’s a cross between Chic Lit, Spooks and carry on spying. Its not to be taken too seriously but Johnson has done her research and treats her readers with respect. She pulls the strands in, with some great curve balls throw in to send you down the garden path.

There are however gaps, some could probably be plugged by reading her Sophie Green back catalogue, others like how does Sophie fly from JFK to London and then back again but keeping her gun? These need to be resolved or ignored in the readers mind.

Run Rabbit Run is Chic Lit with muscles, and therefore I would highly recommend it for a nice easy read, either whilst commuting, holidaying or just whilst soaking in the bath to relax. You will not be disappointed. 

The Commuting Bookworm 29/03/12

Never Coming Home by Evonne Wareham

Kaz Elmore has allowed her 5 year old daughter to go on an access visit to the US to spend time with her father, Kaz’s ex-husband. There is a tragic accident and Jamie, Kaz’s daughter is pronounced as dead at the scene.

Devlin a Security Consultant happens to be driving by and cradles a little girl whilst she dies in a car crash, on a visit to the UK he feels compelled to visit the mother Kaz and offer his condolences and reassurance that her daughter did not suffer. 

Without too many spoilers we then follow the story to Italy, Germany, we have family skeletons, a protégée, and many surprises. At no point whilst reading this book is it possible to predict what is coming.

Wareham treats her readers with respect, and the book is pacey,  but reliable and has enough depth to be worth reading, but it is not stuffy, difficult or taxing.

Brilliant book, and if you only buy one book this month I would recommend that this is the one.

The Commuting Bookworm 15/03/12

I’ll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Emily is different to most girls in her year, she has more depth, she cares about the environment and she can see beyond the surface. Therefore when a boy holds her hair whilst she is being sick outside the church, she does not notice his clothes, or his shabby hair.  Sam had not known anything other than travelling around with his abusive father, and his little brother who can’t breathe properly. So when he connects with Emily and her family, and they accept him and Riddle his little brother, it was only going to mean one thing once his father finds out. MOVING!

I’ll Be There, is part adventure, part introductory Chic Lit for teens, and part social study. Ultimately though it becomes a wonderful ‘will they or won’t they’ adventure, with some bits of subtle humour. When first reading this book, it is not overtly obvious that it is actually written for the teen market, the story is very structured and the characters are built, so that you slowly become attached. It is not all sugar coated candy although, there is sufficient real life stuff to make the story believable. Without writing any spoilers, there comes a point in this book that turns it into a real page turner for all.

I loved this book, I loved they way it all comes together with the many different facets of all personalities. The social problems it highlights, the medical problems, some of which are every day, but if you have lived with asthma you will understand what it is like and you can imagine what it would be like if it remains untreated. However, Sloan writes it so tantalizingly bit by bit, teasing you first, and then delivering the ending. Sloan knows her audience; she wraps all the characters up in the end, leaving no loose ends. There are many personalities that teenagers would be able to relate to in this story. I will be passing this on to a teenager cousin, and if you have any teenagers you need to buy for this year, then I would highly recommend this book for them, they will not be disappointed.

Dolphin Way by Mark Caney

Dolphin Way

I was not sure when I received this book, if it was my cup of tea. However once I started to read, I could not put it down and I have read it in four days flat, which is quick for me.

It’s a very Cane and Able type of story but the imagery in it, and the imagination that Mark has used is wonderful. Also it makes you think about what we are doing to our environment. It also gives you an idea of perhaps how us "walkers" are perceived

Although written for the adult market, I think this would be especially interesting to teenagers too.

It was so good I intend to recommend it to my book group when we choose next year’s books and I can’t wait for the next

one Dolphin Way

: Captured, so hurry up Mark and get it written.

The Commuting BookWorm 01/07/11