Review – Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession @MumblinDeafRo @Ofmooseandmen @JanetEmson #LeonardAndHungryPaul

One thing I’m grateful for during lockdown is reading. Thankfully I’ve still been able to read although I know there are plenty of people who’ve found it difficult. I’ve still been tucking into my Crime and thrillers but I saw a competition tweet from the lovely Janet Emson on Twitter and on a whim I entered. Very surprisingly I won and my prize was Leonard and Hungry Paul. Now I know that Janet has been raving about this book for months so I decided to read it as soon as it arrived. So huge thanks to Janet! Before I give you my thoughts, here’s the blurb.

 

The Blurb

LEONARD AND HUNGRY PAUL is the story of two friends who ordinarily would remain uncelebrated. It finds a value and specialness in them that is not immediately apparent and prompts the idea that maybe we could learn from the people that we overlook in life. Leonard and Hungry Paul change the world differently to the rest of us: we try and change it by effort and force; they change it by discovering the small things they can do well and offering them to others.

My Review

If you’re an avid book reader then you’ll probably know the ‘first line’ game where classic books are instantly recognisable from their opening sentence. I’d like to think in a few years’ time that Leonard and Hungry Paul will be added to that list with these immortal words:

‘Leonard was raised by his mother alone with cheerfully concealed difficulty, his father having died tragically during childbirth.’

Of course, the name ‘Leonard’ would be a massive clue but I certainly read this line twice and a wry smile appeared on my lips. It beautifully sets the tone of the book. As the blurb states, Leonard and Hungry Paul would normally be overlooked in society apart from their nearest and dearest. There’s nothing that sets them apart and yet, as we discover, these two men have much to give.

There’s not a plot as such but the story is leading up to Hungry Paul’s sister’s wedding. Although Leonard and Hungry Paul are the chief narrators, we also hear from Hungry Paul’s parents, Peter and Helen, and his sister, Grace. Like One Christmas Night by Hayley Webster, this book excels in observation. There were times when I laughed out loud and others when I winced with all too honest pain. So different from my normal choice, it’s gentle, funny, brutally honest but full of hope. For those of you wanting something to soothe you during this troubled time, I don’t think there’s a better book you could read.

But I think there’s a message in here for all of us, myself included, and that’s not to overlook the quiet people on the fringe. The ones who may not have the best fashion sense or know how to handle themselves at the Christmas party. For as the blurb says, it’s these people who will change the world ‘through their appreciation of all that is special and overlooked in life’.

You can buy Leonard and Hungry Paul direct from the publishers, Bluemoose Books here.

Or here.

 

The Author

Ronan Hession lives in Dublin with his partner and two children. His band Mumblin’ Def Ro was shortlisted for The CHOICE MUSIC awards.

 

 

Review – Grave’s End by William Shaw @william1shaw @riverrunbooks @QuercusBooks #GravesEnd

A big thank you to Riverrun at Quercus Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review Grave’s End, the latest book in the DS Alex Cupidi series by William Shaw. Before I give you my thoughts, here’s the blurb.

The Blurb

A BIZARRE DISCOVERY

An unidentified cadaver is found in a freezer in an unoccupied luxury house. No-one seems to know or care who it is or who placed it there. When DS Alexandra Cupidi is handed the case, she can have no idea it will lead her to a series of murderous cover-ups and buried secrets. Namely the discovery of the skeleton of public-school boy, Trevor Grey, beneath a housing development.

A HISTORIC CRIME

His disappearance twenty five years earlier had almost passed unnoticed. But as evidence surfaces that his fate was linked to long suppressed rumours of sexual abuse, Cupidi, her teenage daughter Zoe and her friend Bill South find themselves up against powerful forces who will try to silence them.
A BURIED LIFE

Digging deep into the secrets that are held underground leads to Cupidi’s realisation that crime and power are seldom far apart. There are dangerous connections between the two cases, which are complicated by Constable Jill Ferriter’s dating habits, a secret liaison and the underground life of Trevor Grey’s only friend.

The most riveting and atmospheric DS Alexandra Cupidi novel so far, Grave’s End confronts the crisis in housing, environmental politics, the protection given to badgers by the law. With meticulously mastered characters and a brooding setting, this third book in the series confirms William Shaw as one of the finest crime writers.

My Review

Ever since meeting DS Alex Cupidi in The Birdwatcher, she’s become my favourite female fictional detective. I’ve read all the books she’s featured in and it feels as though she’s finally more settled in Dungeness. She’s less worried about her work colleagues and her reputation and more focused on her family and friends. She may be the main character in Grave’s End  but she’s not the star. That role falls to the badger. Yes, you heard me correctly. When I first found out that one of the narrator’s was going to be a badger, I was a little surprised. However, William Shaw has absolutely pulled this off and those chapters were my favourite.

But of course, Grave’s End isn’t just about a badger. An amorous estate agent and his girlfriend find a body in a freezer in a large, empty house up for sale. This kicks off a story about house building on the greenbelt and the environmental impact – particularly on badgers – but also deals with corruption, bullying, and of course, murder.

Grave’s End is ingeniously plotted and there are more twists and turns than the rollercoaster at Margate Dreamland. And if it wasn’t for the badger, the truth may never have been discovered. William Shaw’s books have featured in my top ten reads for the last three years. I don’t see that changing this year. A brilliant read.

 

Grave’s End is due for publication in HB on July 23rd. To buy the currently available e-book click here.

 

The Author

William Shaw has been shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger, longlisted for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year and the CWA Gold Dagger, and nominated for a Barry Award. A regular at festivals, he organises panel talks and CWA events across the south east.

His DS Alexandra Cupidi series – and the standalone bestseller The Birdwatcher – are set in Dungeness Kent. He also writes the acclaimed Breen & Tozer crime series set in sixties London. He worked as a journalist for over twenty years and lives in Brighton.

Blog Tour – The Weight of Small Things by Julie Lancaster @TheMirrorBooks #TheWeightOfSmallThings

A big thank you to Mel Sambells at Mirror Books for inviting me to take part in the blog tour for The Weight of Small Things by Julie Lancaster. When Mel sent out the initial email I was very intrigued by the premise of the story. But before I give you my thoughts, here’s the blurb.

 

The Blurb

Nine-year-old Frankie Appleton likes to count gates.

One day she hopes to design the perfect gate – a gate to keep the bad things out.

Little does she know that the bad things have already got in.

Now her mother is dead, and the only other person with a house key has disappeared.

Frankie thinks she knows who it is. But first she has to prove it.

A delicately brutal exploration of what lies behind closed doors, and of the secrets and lies that form the fabric of every family, The Weight of Small Things is as charming as it is chilling.

 

 

My Review

I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of him but there’s a man called Willard Wigan who produces the most incredible sculptures. They’re so tiny they fit on a pinhead or in the eye of a needle. To the naked eye they’re barely there but under a microscope there’s extraordinary detail. I very much had this in mind when I read The Weight of Small Things. This is a book that takes the lives of its characters and puts them under a microscope. Nothing is hidden, everything is laid bare and we see every tiny microscopic detail.

Frankie Appleton is a fairly precocious child. She has a wisdom beyond her years and a fascination for gates. But the battered gate leading to her house can’t keep out bad people and Frankie then has to face a life with no gates at all.

I don’t want to give too much away but Frankie and her mother, Peggy, are the main narrators of this very moving novel. It reminded me of Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson with Frankie taking a similar role to Ruby Lennox in narrating the family story. There are so many themes dealt with in this novel including postnatal depression and domestic abuse. But we don’t just hear from Frankie and Peggy. There are other characters’ stories to read, different patterns in this patchwork quilt of a book. The stories do link but I was left with more questions than answers. There was so much more I wanted to know.

Overall, this is a book that toyed with my emotions on many fronts. I was heartbroken for Frankie who never got the love she deserved from her mother. Peggy’s despair was very real and at times hard to read. Expect to be affected by this book, to be disquieted, to feel downright scared for Frankie. Expect the characters to stay with you for quite some time. Expect to be utterly amazed that this is a debut novel. I look forward to reading more from Julie Lancaster.

 

The e-book of The Weight of Small Things can be bought here.

The paperback will be available in August.

 

About the author

Julie Lancaster lives in Staffordshire where she was born. She worked in academic and public libraries – writing in her spare time. She has been a travel agent, a university admissions assistant and a volunteer counsellor. She loves true crime and crime fiction. This is her first novel.

 

 

Review – The Beekeeper of Aleppo @christy_lefteri @ZaffreBooks #TheBeekeeperOf Aleppo

Thank you to Zaffre books for inviting me to read and review The Beekeeper of Aleppo. Before I tell you my thoughts on this wonderful book, here’s the blurb.

 

The Blurb

In the midst of war, he found love
In the midst of darkness, he found courage
In the midst of tragedy, he found hope

The Beekeeper of Aleppo

What will you find from his story?

Nuri is a beekeeper; his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo – until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape.

As Nuri and Afra travel through a broken world, they must confront not only the pain of their own unspeakable loss, but dangers that would overwhelm the bravest of souls. Above all – and perhaps this is the hardest thing they face – they must journey to find each other again.

Moving, powerful, compassionate and beautifully written, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit. Told with deceptive simplicity, it is the kind of book that reminds us of the power of storytelling.

 

My Review

I’m not sure where to begin in reviewing The Beekeeper of Aleppo. Do I start with the beautiful prose? Or the ingenious way of switching between timeframes? Or the characters who left me heartbroken? Or do I start with, this might be fiction but it’s a very real experience for so many people even as I write this? I think this is the main thing you have to keep in mind the whole time you’re reading this outstanding novel.

Nuri and Afra had a good life in Aleppo. Nuri had a successful beekeeping business with his cousin Mustafa, producing honey and other honey-based products. Afra sold her paintings in the busy marketplace. Their son Sami was an absolute delight. Then the war started. And everything changed.

Christy Lefteri leaves us in no doubt as to the trauma suffered by Nuri and his family. But it doesn’t end with the war. In an attempt to reach safety, we travel with Nuri through battlefields and navigate treacherous seas. Then there’s the people whose hearts aren’t filled with altruism but greed. There were times when it was almost unbearable to read and that’s where Christy Lefteri’s beautiful prose came into play. Her words led me through the worst times.

I think reading this during lockdown heightened the experience for me. At first I wasn’t sure if I should read it during such a stressful time. However The Beekeeper of Aleppo helped to put things into perspective for me. All I have to do is stay home (I know this isn’t the same for so many keyworkers). I don’t have to flee my home, my country, with only a few belongings. I don’t have to trust people who you wouldn’t normally trust to feed your cat. I don’t have to cross a sea in a small boat with many other people or live in a camp or a park. The Beekeeper of Aleppo left me counting my blessings with a tear in my eye. A stunning read. Thank you for letting me read it.

To buy The Beekeeper of Aleppo click here

Or contact your local bookshop to see if they have a delivery service available during this time.

The Author

Brought up in London, Christy Lefteri is the child of Cypriot refugees. She is a lecturer in creative writing at Brunel University. The Beekeeper of Aleppo was born out of her time working as a volunteer at a Unicef supported refugee centre in Athens.