Brummie Blogger

Vanished by Liza Marklund

At a derelict port in Stockholm, two brutally murdered men are found by a security guard. In the same area a young woman, Aida, is on the run from a deranged gunman.

Meanwhile, journalist Annika Bengtzon is approached by a woman wanting her story published in the Evening Post. She claims to have founded an organization to erase people's pasts - giving vulnerable individuals a completely new identity.

Annika helps Aida to get in touch with the foundation. But as she begins to investigate this woman's story, more bodies turn up and she finds herself getting dangerously close to the truth - that all is not as it seems...

According to the note in the front of the book, chronologically the events in this book follow on from Exposed. The note goes on to say that although the Annika Bengtzon novels form part of a series, they can just as easily be enjoyed on their own.

To some extent I'd agree with that. After all, I am reading them out of sequence myself. I would still say though that the first in the series, Exposed, should be read first, as the events in that are referred to in the other books and I think it's best if you don't know about them when you read it.

This is now the fourth book by the author that I've read and I'm still very keen to read more. I really like the character of Annika and it was interesting to go back in time from the later books that I've read to find out how she got to where she is in those. Annika is so stubborn and tenacious. Even when she's really down she doesn't give up. And she's so well written that you feel that you almost know her.

I like how the books have intelligent themes to them. The author doesn't insult you by dumbing things down so you get an interesting read as well as a thrilling one. There was a nice twist to this one with one character not being who you thought they were. That was nicely done.

Definitely recommended, but do read Exposed first.

The Watchtower - Lee Carroll

This is the second book in the trilogy that began with Black Swan Rising. I read that a few weeks ago as part of the Transworld Book Club and loved it so much that I had to get my hands on this second book. Although the first book was fairly self-contained it left me curious enough about the characters and what was going to happen to them next that I needed to read more.

Synopsis - taken from back cover of book:

The last in a long line of women sworn to guard our world against evil, jeweller Garet James is struggling to come to terms with who – or what – she really is.

Will Hughes, the alluring four-hundred-year-old vampire who tasted her blood and saved her life, could help, but he’s disappeared. Garet believes he’s in France, searching for the Summer Country, the legendary land of the Fey where he might be freed from his vampire curse.

Desperate to understand her legacy, Garet follows Will. In Paris, she encounters strange, mythic beings – an ancient botanist metamorphosed into the city’s oldest tree, a gnome who lives beneath the Labyrinth at the Jardin des Plantes, a dryad in the Luxembourg Gardens – meetings that convince her she is on the right path.

But Garet is not the only one trying to find the way in to the Summer Country – and the closer she gets, the more dangerous it becomes...

So, The Watchtower. Where the first book takes place mostly in New York, this one takes you further afield as a lot of Garet's story takes place in France. Part of that is in Paris and the descriptions of Garet's time there are wonderful. There's a blurring of the real Paris and the parts that exist only in the author's imagination. And now in mine. From Paris, Garet and her new companion, who is a fabulous character, travel in search of the Summer Country.

Not all of the book is from Garet's point of view this time. Some of it is set in the past and tells Will's story. You learn how he met Marguerite and became a vampire in the first place. His story is interwoven with Garet's and is full of detail. I really enjoyed that part of the book as it added a lot of background to the character. You also learnt quite a bit about Marguerite at the same time.

Towards the end of the book the story gets more and more intriguing. It builds the tension up right to the last page and the ending is superb. I won't give it away but it certainly had me thinking trying to analyse what had happened over the past few pages. I think I know who and what, and maybe why, but I really need the third book to find out for sure. And to find out how it all ends.

The Bomber - Liza Marklund

This is the fourth and final book from this round of the Transworld Bookclub and if it isn't too much of a pun, I'd like to say that we're going out with a bang. Yeah, I know. Big groan. I do think the best one may have been saved until last, although it's so difficult to say when you're comparing such different genres as I've been sampling.

A massive thanks to Transworld for the books, all of which I've enjoyed.

Synopsis:
Crime reporter Annika Bengtzon is woken by a phone call in the early hours of a wintry December morning. An explosion has ripped apart the Olympic Stadium. And a victim has been blown to pieces.

As Annika delves into the details of the bombing and the background of the victim, there is a second explosion. These chilling crimes could be her biggest news story yet. When her police source reveals they are hot on the heels of the bomber, Annika is guaranteed an exclusive with her name on it.

But she is uncovering too much, and soon finds herself the target of a deranged serial killer...

  The story is about a journalist called Annika Bengtzon who works at an evening newspaper in Stockholm. She's recently been promoted to the head of the crime desk so is facing some challenges at work as not all of her colleagues are happy about that. You learn a lot about Annika and how she struggles to balance her home and work life. There's just enough of that to give you a feel for the character and make her come alive.

There are several other characters that are described in less detail but that you become familiar with too. Some you like and some you really don't. It's a great mix of people, just like normal life.

Because of the author's background there is plenty of detail about the workings of a newspaper and I found that to be fascinating. I don't think I've read a crime novel set in that particular environment before and it made a refreshing change.

The book starts with Annika and her team having to cover a bombing just before Christmas. I liked the way the book was divided into each day so you got a clear picture of events and you also realised just how long the days were for the characters. The book got more tense as each day went on, not only because of the continuing actions of the bomber, but also because of Annika's home life and problems with work colleagues.

I loved the ending. I had an inkling that something like that was going to happen but I got the details completely wrong. It was beautifully done, keeping the tension just right.

My only criticism is that it wasn't long enough. This was one of those books where I could quite happily have read for a few more chapters to find out what happened afterwards, but then that may be me just being greedy.

I've just checked on Amazon and there are three more books by Liza Marklund, all about Annika Bengtzon. Guess I'm going shopping then...

Death Sentence - Mikkel Birkegaard

When I got back from holiday I had three weeks worth of mail behind the door, and included in that was a white envelope with the familiar Transworld logo on it. There's nothing like a good book or three to counteract the post-holiday blues. This one is the third book in the current round from the Transworld Book Club and I was keen to read it so I bumped it to the top of the To Be Read pile.

Synopsis -

A murder committed on paper, safely within the confines of a novel, is one thing. To see that same crime in the real world, is something else entirely. . .

Frank Føns is a very successful crime writer. His novels, famed for their visceral descriptions of violent death, have made him a household name. But now someone is copying his crimes. For Frank what once seemed a clever, intriguing plot twist, has suddenly become a terrifying, blood-spattered reality.

In the novel, a redhead who was scared of water is drowned. In the mirror-image of the real world, she has become an ex-girlfriend chained and left to die at the bottom of the harbour. A corrupt police-officer tortured to death becomes a contact who dies with fear in his eyes. Someone is taking Franks’ fiction and using it to destroy his life. The writer must become the detective.

In fiction, the bad guy always gets caught, but in real life there is no such guarantee. Fear becomes real. The knife cut hurts like hell. Our narrator may not survive. No-one is promising you a happy ending. For Frank what had once been a game is now a matter of life and death.

The book starts with a murder and you soon learn how unpleasant the death of the victim was. The murders in the book are graphic and described in some detail in some cases, and are quite imaginative. I rather liked that.

The narrator and main character was a complicated man. I couldn't decide if I liked him or not. At times I felt sorry for him but at others I felt he deserved what happened to him. He was most definitely one of my suspects at one point, along with several other main characters at various times. Was he hallucinating or were these dreadful things really happening? Could he be blacking out and doing the terrible murders himself? Lots to ponder as I read.

The ending was a huge shock. The last chapter was defintely not for anyone squeamish, but the very end was something I could never have predicted. I won't say any more as I hate spoilers but it was very refreshing to come across something so different.

I really enjoyed this. I felt slightly off balance while I was reading it, slightly unsettled. And this, of course, is how you should be feeling when reading a book like this. I'll definitely be reading more by this author.

Teacher, Teacher - Jack Sheffield

My second book in the Transworld Book Club challenge came nice and quickly and it was one that I'd been looking forward to.

The cover on my copy is slightly different to the above and the tag line says 'A hilarious account of a year in the life of a village school.' As I laughed out loud several times while reading this and giggled several times more, I'm not going to argue with that. It was definitely more than this though. It was also charming and heart-warming, and a few chapters left me with a slight moistness around the eyes.

Oh dearie me though, some of the things that those kids came out with. I'd love to share the one particular anecdote with you, but it's just not suitable blog fodder. I repeated it to Stephen and he roared with laughter and demanded to know more. This is the chap who does not read books. I wish he did, he would love this one.

I liked the way each chapter started with the entry from the official log entry for the school and the chapter that followed was what actually happened. The bits that couldn't go in the official entry, as it were.

I thought it might be similar to the books by Gervase Phinn as I loved those, and that's the reason that I chose this particular book. They come at the story from different angles though. This book follows the same cast of children and teachers so you get a different feel to it than the ones by Gervase Phinn. I think I like them both equally.

If you like reading about the things that kids say and do, and like a good reminisce about the seventies with plenty of pop culture references thrown in, this is a great read. Lots of laughs and a few tender moments too.

 

Black Swan Rising - Lee Carroll

 This is a review for The Transworld Book Club and I'll start off with the blurb from the back cover of the book.

"Jeweller Garet James isn't the same as everyone else.

She just doesn't know it yet.

With her fair share of problems – money (lack of), an elderly father, a struggling business – Garet should be just like any other young, single New Yorker. If only it was that simple...

It began with the old silver box that had been soldered shut. All Garet had to do was open it. A favour for the frail owner of the antiques shop. Who wouldn’t help?

Only then things start to change. Garet doesn't notice at first, the shifts are barely perceptible. But the city is beginning to reveal a darker, long-hidden side. Figures, shadows, flit in and out of her vision. She finds herself drawn to the mysterious Will Hughes. He’s a stranger and yet Garet feels she has known him for an eternity?

And whatever escaped the box has no intention of going back in..."

I've been reading this over the past few nights and may have stayed up a bit later than I should have a couple of times. I have really, really enjoyed this book and will definitely be getting the next book in the series. It was beautifully written, with just enough description to sketch a picture for you and draw you in. I loved the whole concept of it, with all the different Fey and the tale of Garet's mother. I enjoyed the way the story enfolded and the way you kept finding out more pieces of the puzzle. I was intrigued by all the different characters that were introduced and would love to see more in the next book. The way Garet's abilities grew was fascinating too. I especially enjoyed reading about the auras. They were so well described that I found myself imagining what they would look like on people that I know.

There was one bit in the book that just tickled me, so I'm going to share it. Garet is visiting one of the Fey and comes across this sign on the way. "If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you." I want that sign up where I work!

Towards the end of the book, I glanced to see how many pages were left and was worried to see that I was nearly finished. I was worried that it wouldn't be wrapped up by the end. It was, of course, and very well too. Not rushed at all - there was even time to tidy up a few loose ends and add a gentle teaser into the next book. Which as I said, I'm definitely going to be getting.

Transworld book group

Those lovely people at Transworld are doing it again. Remember I joined in with The Great Transworld Crime Caper? They gave away books for people to read and review. A lovely selection of books it was too. This time it's not just crime books, it's a whole range of books. Just look here for details.

I'm part of the Transworld Book Group

 I've picked four great looking titles by authors that are new to me. It's a nice varied selection and I'm really looking forward to reading them. These are the ones that I've chosen:

The Bomber - Liza Marklund
Black swan rising - Lee Carroll
Death sentence - Mikkel Birkegaard
Teacher, Teacher! by Jack Sheffield

If anyone else wants to join in, it's EU residents only and there's still plenty of time to sign up. The full list of books to pick from is at the link above. C'mon. It's fun, and a great way to try new authors. *grin*

 

Echoes from the dead by Johan Theorin

 
This is the third and final book read and reviewed for the Great Transworld Crime Caper. This one is set in Sweden and I selected it as I've enjoyed other books set in and around Sweden such as those by Stieg Larsson.

The book starts off with the events of twenty years ago, when a boy went missing, and gives you just enough information to make you think you know what happened. Then it cuts to the present day and with the amateur detective work of the main characters, combined with a series of flashbacks, you gradually find out the real story of what happened that day and what lead up to it.

The action was mostly set on an island just off the Swedish mainland and it was very well described. It was easy to visualise the characters going about their business. The island sounded at times beautiful and picturesque and then sometimes harsh and menacing.

I liked the way you were constantly given just enough information to keep you interested and to keep you guessing. I'd like to say that I thought I knew who the bad guy was halfway through the book, but as I'm pretty sure that I suspected every single character at one point or another, that's not much of an achievement. In the end, I was pretty surprised by how it turned out, which is just how I like it.

The Chemistry of death by Simon Beckett

 

This is the second book that I've read for the Great Transworld Crime Caper and the first book by Simon Beckett that I've read. It won't be the last though as I really enjoyed this one.

It had the best opening of any thriller that I've read in ages. It drew you straight into the book and gave you a taste of what was to come. I loved all the forensic details, and thought that there were just enough to make it interesting and realistic, without being too gory. I almost guessed who the killer was at one point but dismissed them only to follow down the wrong trail. But then the fictional police did the same so I guess that's just good writing.

The book is set in a small Norfolk village where a doctor gets involved in helping the police when a body of a woman is found. Then another woman disappears and the small community starts to get paranoid. It seems to bring out the worst in some people, tempers boil over and secrets come out. There's a lot going on but never too much to keep track of.

It had a lengthy and suspense-filled ending which had me turning pages as fast as I could digest them. It was superb. And kept me holding my breath to the last page.

Sacrifice by S. J. Bolton

This is my first review for the Great Transworld Crime Caper. I was really excited when this book arrived. It's a lovely thick book and the cover looked very tempting. I liked the tagline - You're born. You live. They die. Mysterious, eh?

It's about a consultant surgeon, who has recently moved to the Shetland Isles with her husband. She's not having the best of days when she discovers a body of a young woman in her field. This discovery leads to questions with no apparent answers, and when her curiosity leads her to follow them up, things start to get scary. As soon as she uncovers one set of answers, more questions pop up and soon she doesn't know who to trust.

This was so easy to read and so very difficult to put down. There was a sense of danger as I was reading that compelled me to keep going. Every time I thought it was safe to start breathing again, the tension would gear up another notch and keep my eyes glued to the page. It was superb. 

The descriptions of the Shetlands were beautiful and really added to the atmosphere. The medical descriptions felt well researched and the folklore was very interesting. And disturbing.

I really enjoyed this and will be looking out for the author's second book, Awakening.