Capsule book reviews in 255 characters or fewer. Ish. A reading diary (1st Jan 2019 onwards) by Eamonn Griffin.
Ballard and Bosch investigate a cold case murder file brought to Harry by the widow of his mentor. The 22nd in the sequence (also involving lawyer protagonist Mickey Haller) is a confident, detailed, and crisp yarn packed with the author’s customarily authoritative procedural detail and empathy for his leads. Recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
Biographies of five women united by their links to an infamous series of killings. Enthralling corrective to a century-plus of sensationalist coverage dismissive of the victims. Some lapses into journalese and guesswork at times, but this is nevertheless an accessible, necessary and fascinating book rightly giving those murdered due to their lives.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A photo-book of the surviving Art Deco cinemas originally built for the Odeon chain. A lovely bit of social history; each image is presented with a brief overview of the building in question’s life. Some continue as movie houses, others are bingo halls, are derelict, churches, shops, nightclubs. As the book indicates, fewer than half of the 140 built remain, and none of them are unchanged.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
Spider-Man’s origin, and his clashes with the Green Goblin, Otto Octavius and others, retold with a 1930s setting. Fun reworking of existing ideas and characters, with a nod to the Spider-Verse. Accessible for newbies like me – which helps – and gleeful in its mashup of Expressionism and PI tropes. Not essential, but diverting.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
An overview of Spartan military and related philosophies. A clear and straightforward introduction, intended both as a primer for soldiers and to those addressing other conflict areas (creative struggles, etc). Useful and direct, not least if you appreciate the same author’s fiction and wider writings on creativity.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A follow-up to the 2012 first volume, giving an insider’s perspective on how to be an actor, in all that this entails. Useful insights for anyone linked with creative and gig-based working – not just boards-troublers – that might be summarised in three words: positivity, politeness, professionalism. Best read with Book 1, but a valuable reality check nevertheless.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
Jack Reacher investigates part of his family history; trouble ensues. The 23rd Reacher novel is business as usual, with writing as lean, muscular and efficient as its protagonist. The parallel narratives are well-handled, and even if the bad guys’ plan is easily-guessable, there’s plenty to enjoy. Series fans won’t be complaining.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
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