Christmas Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley

From malevolent snowmen to Father Christmas - with a difference ... Chris Priestley is on absolute top form in these atmospheric, clever and thoroughly chilling stories. Add a new kind of thrill to the fluffiest of seasons with seven brilliantly conceived examples of why you'd better be good at Christmas time. For stories which can be enjoyed by the whole family, unwrap these perfectly formed festive tales of terror, each with a gripping yarn and genius twist.

Singing carols may never seem quite the same again ... especially after dark.

--

Ever since I cracked open Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror back in 2008 I've been a fan of his blend of the macabre and sinister, and since I'm a sucker for all things Christmassy, there was no way I was going to miss this one. The question I needed answering was whether he was going to maintain the high standard I expect from him or if the edginess of his work was going to be eroded by a capitulation to popular sentiment. CToT -currently only available as an ebook-features seven short stories, opening with 'The Green Man'.

The Green Man tells the story of Stephen Levenson, home for the christmas holidays and trying avoid arguments with his mother. What he finds this year though is that his mother has embraced a spirit of change and has had his stepfather gather armfuls of holly from the ancient hill on their lands, a hill that his father had taught him never to trespass on. His intention to avoid arguments crumbles as he tries to fathom why she would do such a thing, but for the sake of a good Christmas, he grits his teeth. But the fear and respect his father treated the hill with weren't misplaced, and when night closes over the house there's more than Santa's generosity to worry about. The twist left me staring at my kindle mouthing 'whoa' for a moment before I greedily tabbed into the rest of the stories.

Trying to decide which of the seven was my favourite has been far harder than I thought it would be. Each has so much going for it and the quality of the writing and the sheer macabre wonder of the twists in each is consistently high. After annoying Liz by thinking out loud (aka arguing with myself like a madman), I've decided on "In the Bleak Midwinter" for the sheer tragic horror of it. It's also, now that I think about, the only one of the stories that doesn't see any of the characters dying..! 

Midwinter starts off nice enough, with choirboys from the local church out carol-singing to raise money for repairs to the church roof, and quietly skimming a small percentage off to divvy out amongst themselves. Amongst them is Simon, who unfortunately owed the local bully a wad of cash after succumbing to the recent craze of playing cards. When the others decide to call it a night, Simon argues for them to do a few more houses, but is outvoted and they start heading back to the village, guided by the light of their sole lantern and singing for the fun of it. It's then that one of the other boys says that they shouldn't be singing in a graveyard. Of course, in the way of boys around the world, they immediately begin to sing louder.. and soon discover that they should've listened to their friend. What follows is so wonderfully chilling it makes me weep to think that of the drivel that the BBC is wasting money on instead of bringing stories like this to more people. 

Suffice to say I should never have doubted that Priestley would deliver anything less than a smorgasbord of dark delights. Do what you must, but buy a copy of the Christmas Tales of Terror for whatever e-reader you have. Read them to your kids or save them for yourself. You won't be sorry.

You can visit Chris's website here or visit his blog here.

The Arvon Book of Crime and Thriller Writing by Michelle Spring & Laurie R King

This cover nabbed from Blackwell's website as I couldn't find another

This is the second book in the Arvon series of books on writing. Written by two distinguished writers in the field, Michelle Spring and Laurie R. King, the book reveals, with riveting honesty, why and how authors are drawn to write about crime. The book also features fascinating insights from twenty-six top crime-writing guests. The Arvon Book of Crime and Thriller Writing is a detailed, practical guide to writing every kind of crime story, from classic whodunits to fast-paced thrillers. The book's objective is to bring together some of the lessons and insights that the authors and contributors have learned over their careers, to help the readers to free their creative minds, while also studying the solid technique behind writing in this genre. The Arvon Book of Crime Writing captures the essence of Arvon teaching into a practical handbook for writers, packed with tips and advice from leading novelists as well reflections on the genre itself and practical instruction on great storytelling.

The Arvon Foundation runs professional writing courses by published writers and provides expert tuition and creative support.  The Arvon Book of Crime Writing is divided into three sections: 

Part 1 - Essays on critical issues in the genre
Part 2: Guest Writers - 25 contributors offering advice and tips 
Part 3: How To Write Crime

I picked up a copy of TABoCaTW last week from my "local" Waterstones on Oxford Street as it just looked so interesting.  Also - I realise this is a silly thing - it is the perfect size.  Unlike a lot of non-fiction how to books, this is only slightly bigger than a standard sized paperback novel, so it fits easily in my bag to cart about on commute.  I took it back to the office, read some of it in my lunch time, read it on my commute home, read it before bed...read it some more, emailed and fan-girled at Laurie R King (who responded to my fan-girl email *swoons* with good and charming grace) and so I thought I'd review it on MFB as I know a lot of you guys are aspiring writers too.

I love crime and thrillers.  I admire people like SJ Bolton and Val McDermid, George Pelecanos, Tess Gerritsen - the list is long - who continuously write great books with engaging characters and great storylines.  Getting the chance to sit in on one to one snippets of advice from them via this book is one of the bonus features for me.

Here is a breakdown of the contents (I apologise for the not-so-great photos) that will give you an idea of what's contained in this neat package:

Each section feels personalised and the authors speak to their readers in a relaxed way, explaining concepts and offers suggestions on how to best approach certain things when writing scenes / characters.

I knew immediately after finishing Part 1 that I needed to share this with you guys - the book might be about Crime and Thriller Writing but it's foremost about writing and connecting to your audience, about engaging them and making them want to keep on paging through to the end of the book they've spent money on.

Two sections resonated in Part 1 especially - Reflections as well as Ways of Writing.  Ways of Writing dealt with how both Michelle and Laure write - the more organic development writer (otherwise known as the pantser) and the one who plans meticulously and follows the outline.  I think most writers fall in between both of these but it's so interesting seeing the two of them lay out how they write.

The sections on early decisions (POV, series, standalone etc) can easily be transferred to writers who write fantasy, literary fiction, science fiction, children's and YA titles.  Ways of Writing is once again touched on in the Plotting section, taking us deeper into the Organic writers' mind then into the Orderly writer's mind.

Part II - is what it is.  Interesting essays from a variety of well known successful writers about plotting, setting, sub-genres, voice...a great resource which neatly leads on to Part III about getting your story across to the audience.

I say again, this great pocket rocket book may be aimed at Crime and Thriller writers and readers, but it will behoove (check me out, Sarwat and Steve Feasey, I am using the word behoove!) any aspiring writer to get a copy of this as the advice is solid and universal and presented in a far better way than a lot of "how to write" books out there.  It also helps that the book is modern, relying on current authors and advice and publishers for their information and essays - it was published just last week! - and the examples that are referred to are all easily accessed and attainable.

I'm super pleased with my purchase and think a lot of aspiring writers and fans of crime and thriller writers will be too.

Pottermore Revealed!

Here we go - straight from the horse's mouth - the Pottermore Press Release

J.K. Rowling today, Thursday 23rd June, answered mounting speculation about the nature of her new project and announced Pottermore, a unique and free-to-use website which builds an exciting online experience around the reading of her hugely successful Harry Potter books, and is partnered by Sony.

The announcement today was heralded by the revealing of the website’s name via an online search for its letters, and a ‘coming soon’ holding page which received over a million visits within 36 hours of launching.

For this groundbreaking collaborative project, J.K. Rowling has written extensive new material about the characters, places and objects in the much-loved stories, which will inform, inspire and entertain readers as they journey through the storylines of the books. Pottermore will later incorporate an online shop where people can purchase exclusively the long-awaited Harry Potter eBooks, in partnership with J K Rowling’s publishers worldwide, and is ultimately intended to become an online reading experience, extending the relevance of Harry Potter to new generations of readers, while still appealing to existing fans. As the Pottermore Shop develops, it is intended that it should include further products designed specifically for Harry Potter fans, offering a potential outlet for Sony products and services related to Pottermore. In keeping with Harry Potter’s international appeal, the site will launch in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish, with more languages to follow.

In the new website, the storyline will be brought to life with sumptuous newly-commissioned illustrations and interactive ‘Moments’ through which you can navigate, starting with the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s (Sorcerer’s) Stone. On entering, you choose a magic username and begin your experience. As you move through the chapters, you can read and share exclusive writing from J.K. Rowling, and, just as Harry joins Hogwarts, so can you. You visit Diagon Alley, get sorted into a house, cast spells and mix potions to help your house compete for the House Cup.

At a press conference at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Rowling revealed some key features of the website. In an announcement which will thrill fans, she described how she has brought to life both the Sorting Hat and Ollivanders experiences from her books for the first time on Pottermore, by revealing the questions asked by the Sorting Hat - which places newcomers into their Hogwarts houses according to their characteristics - and the magic behind the Wand Chooser – which finds the right wand for each user from over 33,000 possible combinations. She also revealed glimpses of the new information she has provided on some of the best-loved characters.

J.K. Rowling’s announcement on YouTube and sony.com today revealed that Pottermore (along with the Pottermore Shop) will be open to all users in October 2011. From today, 23rd June, fans can submit their email addresses on Pottermore.com in order to be contacted by the site following the opening of registration on 31st July, Harry’s birthday. Also on that date, an online challenge will be launched, whereby the first million people to complete their registration will gain early entry into the website, and help put final touches to the experience.

J.K. Rowling commented,

“I wanted to give something back to the fans that have followed Harry so devotedly over the years, and to bring the stories to a new digital generation. I hope fans and those new to Harry will have as much fun helping to shape Pottermore as I have. Just as I have contributed to the website, everyone else will be able to join in by submitting their own comments, drawings and other content in a safe and friendly environment – Pottermore has been designed as a place to share the stories with your friends as you journey through the site.”

Pottermore has been made possible with the support and partnership of Sony.

Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Sony Corporation, commented:

“Sony's association with J.K. Rowling's Pottermore brings together one of the world’s most innovative brands with the most successful book series in history, in a pioneering partnership that will help shape the future of story-telling. We are proud to be a part of it, both at this momentous announcement, and as we collaborate on its development over the coming years.”

On Sony’s partnership of Pottermore, J.K. Rowling commented:

“As I think people know, I am very protective of Harry and have always been very selective with any new initiatives, but I am totally committed to making this partnership with Sony and this wonderful new website a success. There are many companies I could have worked with on this ultimate digital expression of Harry Potter’s universe, but it is Sony’s unique philosophy of creativity in harmony with technology that made them my first choice as main partner. The spirit behind Sony’s make.believe philosophy is one that rings true with Pottermore’s own values.”

The detailed creative execution has been led by TH_NK, a leading UK digital agency, under the supervision of J.K. Rowling and the Pottermore management team, in co-operation with Sony. J.K. Rowling’s publishers, Bloomsbury in the UK and Scholastic in the USA, as well as her international publishers worldwide, have been active supporters in the creation of pottermore.com and the Pottermore Shop. Warner Bros, the makers of the hugely successful Harry Potter film franchise, is also one of the partners who have worked to support the launch of Pottermore through a variety of marketing, promotional and other efforts, and will continue to collaborate as the project grows.

The storyline of the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, will go live on the site in early 2012. The Pottermore Shop opens when the site opens to all in October, selling complete ranges of the eBooks and digital audiobooks in a selection of languages, exclusively.

Designed for fans of all ages, the website has been created with child safety in mind, employing best practice and compliance with internet codes of practice in the UK, Europe and USA, and elsewhere.

www.pottermore.com

Images from the Pottermore Site - these look like screengrabs, so if you click them they will show up bigger.

The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

January 1946: writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, a founding member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And so begins a remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name.

I'll be fair and say I was initially not certain about how the author will pull off the story but I had just finished reading The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and was keen to try something else set in this sort of time.

I picked TGL&PPPS up with some trepidation.  And within the first few pages I was utterly charmed and giggling to myself.  The book is a revelation, using only letters by way of progressing the story, we are immediately thrown into the life of Ms. Juliet Ashton, who is a bit of a free spirit.  A journalist and writer with great skill, slightly eccentric and utterly sweet, she lived through wartime London living in Chelsea and writing a column for The Spectator.  (Her revelation as to why she broke off her engagement with a young man on the eve of him going to battle had me in stitches because really, I could understand 100% where she was coming from).

Now that the war was over she is being lauded as a great success by her publisher.  She embarks on a crazy tour of the UK where she is feted and lauded.  And it is during this time that she receives her first letter from Dawsey Adams, one of the members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.   The letter is sweet and intriguing and Juliet can't help but be taken with the amazing name of their society.  So she enquires for more information.

And by means of this single letter, the correspondence starts, not just between Dawsey Adams but also other members of the Society and Juliet.  They speak about how the Society started (quite by accident) and about the hardships and friendships created on Guernsey when the Germans invaded. I admit that I knew very little about this and never really gave it any thought.  As their stories unfolded and the humanity of the mess they found themselves in was revealed, my heart broke.  I think there  has been a distance between then and now that has numbed us from the reality of the war-time, so reading these small personal accounts really brought it home to me as a reader what an incredible time these people lived through.

I fell hopelessly in love with Juliet.  But then I also fell in love with the characters from Guernsey.  I admired their strength, their cleverness and their determination to survive in the face of such awful adversity.  Their stories moved me, made me laugh and cry and giggle aloud.  Here were people who felt as real as my own family and friends.

What I loved most about this book is how by focussing on books and literature this group of diverse people were brought together and it is what kept them together.  Yes, they were all sharing the same hardships but their souls soared when they came together to discuss books and writing, allowing them to rise above the awfulness of their situation. 

There is this one passage that really struck me and had me swallowing against a big knob in my throat.  The character is not a learned man, a professional man.  He is probably not a person we would think anything about because he comes across as a bit stupid and slow and even remarks about that in his letter to Juliet.  But Eben Ramsey's letter to Juliet has affected me the most and it reads as follows (as he's read Shakespeare and come to - unexpectedly - like it):

"Do you know what sentence of his I admire the most? It is, 'The bright day is done, and we are for the dark.' I wish I'd known those words on the day I watched those German troops land, planeload after planeload of them...All I could think of was, Damn them, damn them, over and over again. If I could have thought the words, 'The bright day is done, and we are for the dark', I'd have been consoled somehow and ready to go out and contend with circumstance…"


I've not done it justice in this review, at all.  I would say that this is a book about reading and books and literature and war and love and laughter.  It's quite slender but it is packed full of Ms. Shaffer's love for the written word.  It is deeply sad that this was both her first and her last book as she passed away in February 2008.  She asked her niece Annie Barrows to help her complete the book and I have to say, it is a great loss that such a great voice has been silenced.  But I am thankful that she took the chance and listened to her friends and family and wrote it because it is books like these that change the world in small important ways.

The Guernsey Potato Peel Pie and Literary Society is a book like no other I have ever read.  I think it really has changed the way I think about WWII but it has also delighted me and given me real pleasure, making me want to press it into everyone I know's hand to read.  It literally rocked my world.  I hope it does the same for you.

The Journal of Dora Damage by Belinda Starling

Synopsis

London, 1859. By the time Dora Damage discovers that her husband Peter has arthritis in his hands, it is too late – their book-binding business is in huge debt and the family is on the brink of entering the poorhouse. But Dora proves that she is more than just a housewife and mother. She resolves to rescue her family at any price and finds herself irrevocably entangled in a web of sex, money, deceit and the law.

I'm on a mini personal quest this year to get reading those books that have slipped below my radar. You know the ones - you see them and think they look good but other, newer and shinier ones keep getting in the way. The Journal of Dora Damage was passing through my library on the way to another when I saw it lying on the desk. I couldn't believe that I still hadn't got round to reading it and snapped it up.

We meet Dora just as she finds out that her rent is past due and the family book binding business is losing one of its best employees. Her husband Peter's arthritis is so bad that it causes him agony if he tries to work. When Peter goes missing Dora realises that she and her epileptic daughter have nothing to eat and are in real danger of getting thrown out of their home. After selling various items just to get food Dora realises that she needs a long term solution and decides to start binding books herself, following Peter's instructions. In desperation she persuades the awful bookseller Diprose to commission some work. From here she's introduced to Sir Jocelyn who has a vast amount of formerly illegal pictures and works that he wants re-binding. From here Dora is drawn into a dangerous and shadowy world of the upper classes and their pornography.

The book has a massive amount of fascinating historical detail and I felt as though I was alongside Dora every step of the way. Although I knew the sort of desperate life unprotected women could have in Victorian England I was surprised at how quickly you could slip from safety to the poor house and the fine line that women walked between respectability and having a dubious reputation. The Journal of Dora Damage isn't just a story of historical accuracy - it's also a love story and one of awakening and self-discovery for Dora.

The Journal of Dora Damage is a gem of a book. It both educates and entertains, horrifies and heartens in one fell swoop. Dora is a wonderful heroine, resourceful and unaware of her own attractions. People often refer to Victorian era books as being Dickensian but this is the first I've read that actually deserves that title. I read it knowing that the author sadly died before the book was published which is a terrible loss both to her family and the world as I think she would have had a wonderful career.

The Dead of Winter by Chris Priestley

Michael Vyner recalls a terrible story, one that happened to him. One that would be unbelievable if it weren't true! Michael's parents are dead and he imagines that he will stay with the kindly lawyer, executor of his parents' will ...Until he is invited to spend Christmas with his guardian in a large and desolate country house. His arrival on the first night suggests something is not quite right when he sees a woman out in the frozen mists, standing alone in the marshes. But little can prepare him for the solitude of the house itself as he is kept from his guardian and finds himself spending the Christmas holiday wandering the silent corridors of the house seeking distraction. But lonely doesn't mean alone, as Michael soon realises that the house and its grounds harbour many secrets, dead and alive, and Michael is set the task of unravelling some of the darkest secrets of all.

Dead of Winter starts with an introduction by the main character, Michael Vyner, as he sits down to record the strange and terrible events that shaped his life. Thereafter it shifts into the past, and we meet Michael as he stands at his mother’s freshly dug grave, his only companion the stiff-backed lawyer handling their meagre estate. There he’s given the news that he is to be taken in by the aged benefactor whose support his mother had reluctantly accepted after Michael’s father gave his life to save in a past conflict.

Michael’s understandably less than enthusiastic, and sets off into the bleak, fog drenched fenlands that surround his new home with a heavy heart and no little foreboding. Matters soon take a turn for the strange in Chris’s distinctly gothic manner, and from thereon in Michael’s world becomes one of disembodied whispers, shadowy apparitions and a growing sense of dread as Hawton Mere begins to relinquish the secrets buried within its walls. Michael is a conflicted character, haunted by the grief of his mother’s recent death, plucked from everything familiar and thrust into a strange new world presided over by his even stranger benefactor, a man he can’t help but resent for what he represents. His loneliness and fear are offset by his awkward but genuine interactions with the staff, and the scenes amidst the warmth and bustle of the kitchen contrast starkly with the subtle malevolence that grips the rest of the house and each is enhanced by the other. It’s cleverly done and very effective.

Dead of Winter is a delightfully dark gem and reaffirms my opinion of Chris as a masterful storyteller. His voice is very distinctive and like his previous works, it begs to be read aloud on a dark and stormy night - an audio version would go on my wishlist in a heartbeat.

Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody

Synopsis

In a world struggling back from the brink of apocalypse, life is harsh. But for Elspeth Gordie, born with enhanced mental abilities, it is also dangerous. Survival is only by secrecy and so she determines never to use her forbidden powers. But it is as if they have their own imperative and she is brought to the attention of the totalitarian Council that rules the Land.

Banished to the remote mountain institution of Obernewtyn, she must throw off her cloak of concealment and pit herself against those that would resurrect the terrible forces of the apocalypse. Only then will she learn most truly who and what she is . . .

Elspeth is determined to uncover the plot and so, accompanied only by her cat, Maruman, embarks on a terrible adventure full of danger, the conclusion to which promises not just uncertainty about her safety but also that of many around her.

I've always been a bit wary of post-apocalyptic stories since being forced to watch Threads at school when I was fourteen. Anyway, what with The Forest of Hands and Teeth being such a wonderful book I thought I'd give Obernewtyn a chance. This series has been a huge hit in Australia and is now published here with the next in the series set to be released in August and the rest in 2011.

Obernewtyn could have been a bit grim if it wasn't for the wonderful characterisation. Elspeth has a wry sense of humour despite the situation she finds herself in. She's full of self-reliance and belief; she's determined to succeed which makes the book uplifting in a strange way. In fact, the book is beautifully character driven and I cared about what happened to Elspeth by the end of the first chapter. After her transfer to Obernewtyn (a place for Misfits - those afflicted by the nuclear incident in a way not noticed at birth) she is forced to endure harsh conditions whilst exploring the strength of her telepathic gift. She meets Matthew, who is also telepathic, and Dameon, an empath. For the first time she allows herself to relax and make friends. Her concern grows for Selmar and Cameo; two girls who are being experimented upon. Selmar's mind seems to have completely unravelled since she arrived and Cameo seems to be heading the same way.

Unsettling things are taking place and Obernewtyn is not the retreat for Misfits that everyone believes. Elspeth tries to discover the meaning behind the experiments. The story takes a dark turn and becomes a complex mystery. What's wrong with the mysterious Doctor Seraphim? What sort of person are the guardians of Obernewtyn looking for? Who is using Cameo's body to talk to Elspeth? Why does the head of the farm, Rushton, hate Elspeth from their first meeting? As the time passes and autumn turns to winter the mystery deepens and twists. Intertwined with the action are stories and reminisces of the time before the nuclear explosion. All of our modern day technology was destroyed and life has returned to a simpler time, even books are illegal and have been burnt but the characters constantly wonder what has become of everything that has been before.

The tension builds to a wonderful finale as Elspeth finally learns the secret and discovers the full extent of her powers. The second book, The Farseekers, promises to be an even more exciting book as a result. I understand why these books have been so popular and hope that they find a new and admiring audience.

Tales of Terror from the Tunnel's Mouth - Chris Priestley

Robert Harper is going back to school, and it is the first railway journal he has ever made alone. And it is not a very usual sort of railway journey. The train stops at the mouth of a tunnel and in order to help pass away the time a strange woman dressed in white tells Robert stories. But these are not the kind of stories normally told to a child. Soon Robert is both entranced and terrified by the strange woman and her macabre stories.

Prepare to be chilled to the bone as Robert discovers just how frightening it can be to be alone on a train with only strangers to keep you company.


Some books are made for summer, for reading on the beach, or at leisure on a sofa in a comfy coffee shop somewhere. Then there's Tales of Terror, perfectly suited for those nights when you're trapped in a creaking old inn on a desolate, storm wracked moor.

As with Uncle Montague and the Black Ship, Chris has given us a trove of deliciously dark and gothic flavoured treats, each one sporting a macabre sting in the tail and written with an old fashioned slant that's perfectly suited to his style of storytelling. The stories are capped with David Roberts' delightfully spiky and Tim Burtonesque black and white illustrations which accentuate the unique quirky voice that the stories have.

A new governess

'Gerald' was a particular favourite of mine from this collection, a truly spooky and unsettling little story that really should be read by candlelight.

I thought I'd guessed the the identity of the strange woman who entertains young Robert with the tales and the way the overall theme of the story would pan out, but here too there was a dark 'n sneaky twist.

All in all, it's a wicked read and one that I can't recommend enough for when the nights draw close and winter's fingers scratch at your windows.

Pastworld - Ian Beck

Witness the coolness:




We will be going to the book launch for Ian Beck's new young adult novel PastWorld tomorrow (Thursday) night, so I'll report back and if there are promo things, I'll make sure to grab some and have an impromptu giveaway.

Grass by Catherine MacPhail (Guest Review)

We are very lucky to have nabbed Matt Imrie, the Teen Librarian, to do us a review of this excellent novel by Catherine MacPhail.

Synopsis

It would have been hard to miss what was written on the wall. Painted in giant whitewashed letters.

SHARKEY IS A GRASS

I hadn’t a clue who Sharkey was, but I knew one thing. Sharkey was a dead man.
Leo and Sean are best mates, they live in a town dominated by gang culture and lead by three brutal gang leaders Armour, McCrae and Nelis.

The sense of menace is faint but palpable from the early pages of the novel. Leo (the main character) and his friend Sean have grown up surrounded by the violence and fear that the gangs provoke, but are relatively untouched by the lifestyle that the criminals lead. Leading a life that most young people experience – following their local football team, avoiding the school bully boys and living a fantasy life of pretend CSI their lives are untouched by crime until, during a game of urban trespass Leo stumbles over a cache of guns in an abandoned house. Too frightened to tell even his best mate, Leo’s life turns into one governed by fear. Fear of discovery, fear of what the weapons will do in his town and fear of being labelled a grass if he ever told anyone about what he had discovered.

Things take a turn for the worse, when, while sneaking home one night he witnesses the brutal murder of McCrae, and is seen by the gunman –gang leader and hardman Armour. Terrified, he says nothing, but Armour knows that him and knows that he has kept his mouth shut and begins to involve himself into Leo’s life.

Through the novel we witness Leo’s attitude towards Armour and the life he presents begin to waver. On the one side is his family – loving and fearful of the criminals that infest the town and Armour, on the surface a violent criminal but claiming to want peace, to end the gang wars and go legit. Leo’s life changes, the bullies, once the bane of his life now look at him in fear, his father lands a job after months of unemployment and Veronika the girl he has loved from afar is now interested in him.

Leo’s life, once a simple black and white world is changed into one of shades of grey. His father and Armour both want peace, but his dads route of peaceful protest and signature gathering seems less likely to succeed that Armours idea of buying off his remaining opposition, so Leo agrees to perform small favours for Armour becoming a go-between between him and Nelis.

The deeper that Leo gets involved in Armour’s world the more his relationships with friends and family changes. His earlier choices once made agonisingly become easier as he drifts further from his moral centre. The honour he perceives within the criminal world becomes more meaningful than his relationships with friends and family, and, rather than become a grass he instead becomes ‘Armour’s Boy’ and dedicates himself to helping Armour forge a lasting peace.

His hero-worship of Armour is destroyed, when he overhears his plans to locate Nelis’ stash of guns and turn him in to the police. Outraged Leo confronts Armour who threatens his life and family if he grassed on him.

Alone and afraid Leo must rely on his ingenuity to remove the threat to himself and family without Armour becoming aware of his plans.

Grass is a phenomenal crime thriller for Young Adults, Catherine MacPhail has crafted a gripping and realistic story that avoids the easy ‘crime is bad’ message and instead portrays how easy it is to get sucked into a criminal underworld and illustrates the importance of knowing who your friends are.

Let's talk about...

books, of course!

I spotted the Spread the Word campaign's kicked off for 2009.

From their website:

Thousands of books are published every year, and only a small percentage makes the mark that it should.

The World Book Day team asked publishers large and small to submit books they thought deserved to reach a wider readership – most specifically those that would make good subjects for discussion, those that don’t merely entertain, but give greater food for thought.
From the many submissions received, we have selected fifty titles we feel fulfil the criteria. Each and every one brings something different, refreshing and stimulating.

This is an opportunity to vote for your favourite book on the list, so that we can find The Book to Talk About 2009.

This year we have included both fiction and non-fiction on the list, with something for all interests and tastes.

I am really excited about this project - I know many of the books nominated are worthy of winning but I would - selfishly - like to highly three of four of these which I have read and really enjoyed or am planning to read.

Firstly, the novel by an amazing author which I would personally like to thank for being an inspiration to work further on my own writings and to continue growing My Favourite Books: Daniel Clay. He wrote the amazing Broken which I reviewed shortly before it was published. I cannot recommend it enough as it is tremendously topical, both heartwarming and eyeopening at the same time.

Secondly, read it for its plotting and fantastic use of symbolism: The Season of the Witch by Natasha Mostert. Again, a book I hugely enjoyed, being deeply mystical, intricately plotted and artfully capturing the duplicitous nature of women and how trying to do the right thing hardly ever seems like doing the right thing.

Thirdly, The Archivist's Story by Travis Holland. This is one I am currently reading and I'm finding myself deeply affected by it. I won't say more until I've finished reading but for such a slender volume it packs a huge punch.

Fourth, one which I've received from Beautiful Books but not yet had time to read, so I'll make sure I get to it! The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato. The description makes you salivate, wanting more and from the comments on the Spread the Word site, it's been received with open arms.

Happy reading!

Tales of Terror from the Black Ship, Chris Priestley

I was absolutely delighted when this dropped through the letterbox.

I packed it in my bag for lazy day out we had planned, expecting to be able to read it at my leisure. However, things didn’t quite go as planned and on the drive home we found ourselves stuck in the gigantic parking lot known as the M25. Sick of the drivel on the radio and the CD’s in the player, I asked Liz to dig out the Black Ship and read me a page or two.

After only a little pleading, she agreed and so it was that the newest Tales of Terror were told to me as they should be. I can’t remember the last time anyone read to me; I can happily say that the Tales are perfectly suited for this kind of storytelling. If you like your kids clinging to you at night I’d recommend reading these as bedtime stories!

Not surprisingly, given the title, this volume of Tales has a nautical theme. We meet the sickly siblings Ethan and Cathy as they wait for their father to return one storm lashed night. In the deep of the night they answer a knock on the door, and we meet the enigmatic Mr Thackeray, a sailor seeking shelter from the storm that rages beyond the Old Inn. To repay their kindness and pass the time, he kindly offers to tell them stories from the high seas, terrifying tales which couldn’t possibly be true..

Chris has a talent for tension. It lurks in every sentence, a gently nagging feeling that something isn’t right.. it takes hold early, and becomes increasingly insistent until the dreadful truth of things spills out. The tales are laced with mischievous menace,told with relish and beg to be read out loud by firelight. On Halloween.

‘The Boy in the Boat’ was a particular treat, the promise of something dark and dreadful woven through every sentence, staying with you long after you’ve turned the last page. It creeped Liz out completely.

Dave Roberts’ scratchy illustrations suit the tone of the book perfectly, flavouring the pages with a sense of childish mischief and lurking horror.

All in, it's a wonderful book and a welcome addition to my hoard. I can only hope there’s more to come- it would be a crying shame if there isn’t.

Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror, Chris Priestley

It seems quite fitting that I’m here writing this with thunder stalking the night and dead leaves whispering their secrets in the backyard. Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror is a deliciously dark and wonderfully macabre collection of stories that deserve to be read by candlelight ..when you’re alone.

Sitting by the fire in the study of his old and very dark house, the enigmatic uncle Montague regales young Edgar with fantastic stories of wonder and terror, bringing the oddities lining the walls to life, while the wind tugs at the shutters and strange thumps resound from the deserted rooms above.

More than a collection of classically gothic horror, a darker undercurrent runs through uncle Montague’s stories, inexorably dragging something dreadful to the surface, something that will make his uncle’s warning ring very true..

“You would not like it here after dark…”

Chris Priestley has done a great job – I absolutely loved this book, devouring it in two sessions. His stories are fresh and served with generous lashings of atmosphere; any one of them could be expanded into an enthralling novel on it’s own. For me, Winter Pruning takes the prize –top notch! It brings elements of Grimm and Poe and classic, black-and-white horror together beautifully.

More! More!



You can visit the website here.

Kiki Strike - Inside the Shadow City, by Kirsten Miller

The front cover alone sold me on this story even before the publishers Bloomsbury decided to send it onto me to read and review: Five delinquent girl scouts, one secret city beneath Manhattan and a butt kicking girl superspy.

I mean, seriously – you couldn’t have asked for a better teaser trailer!

Extract:

The girl last to answer sat at the back of the class, hidden behind Lizzie Fitzsimmons, who was well into a growth spurt that wouldn’t end until she reached the eight grade and a full six feet.

“You in the back,” said the principal. “Don’t think you can hide. Tell me. What would you like to be?”

“Dangerous,” said the hidden girl, without a second’s hesitation.

End of Extract

This is our first introduction to Kiki Strike – a mysterious young teenage girl, small for her age, who is very fair, very pretty and who has an amazing amount of skill and criminal mindedness.

She teams up with Ananka who tells the story of Kiki Strike, Inside the Shadow City. Together they find the Irregulars, a group of extraordinary misfits who, like a crack squad put together by Danny Ocean himself, bring their various talents to play, in order to form a group of girls who seriously kick butt. Thank the heavens they are on the side of good….or are they?

Kiki Strike will make an excellent flick. It has everything, princesses, parties, glitz and glam, an underground city full of potential lost treasure, conspiracies, kung fu movies, friendship, misunderstandings and a pretty cool twist in the tale.

The girls are all fun and believable, with their various talents: Betty Bent brings her amazing talent for disguises and flair for fashion to the group whilst Deedee Morlock is the chemist extraordinaire and Luz Lopez kicks butt as inventor and tinker with Oona Wong being the hacker and forger beyond par. Ananka Fishbein is the everyday girl, the one who is slightly plump, a bit clumsy, but hugely intelligent and completely wasted as a student at the Atalanta School For Girls. Kiki forges them together with bonds of friendship and we watch the girls grow and have fun together.
Throughout the story we follow the girls on their adventures as they explore and discover more and more of the Hidden City beneath Manhattan’s streets. But you can’t help but think that there is more to Kiki’s story of just wanting to explore and see what is going on.

And there is. So much more that I was more than just slightly taken aback once it started unravelling.

I won’t spoil the story by going into too much detail but let me just say that if Kirsten Miller wrote scripts for movies and tv shows we would all be bald for plucking at our hair – she knows how to lead you around by the nose!

Kiki Strike is a fun, riveting and unputdownable read that takes you on a rollercoaster ride through Manhattan like you’ve never experienced before.

I cannot wait for the follow-up – Kiki Strike and the Empress’s Tome, due at the beginning of August from Bloomsbury.

The Bloodline Cipher, Stephen Cole

This is my first introduction to a book by Stephen Cole and I have to say it is a rollickingly good read.


Intended for an YA audience, the book sweeps you along at a cracking pace. The writing is good, down to earth and it is an easy read.


The characters are fun with some moments of brevity. They are all young thieves and outlaws, working for a dubious character called Coldhardt (what a fantastic name!) and like Charlie's Angels they are get sent out on missions. Only thing is, there is nothing sunny and fluffy about this lot.


This is the book synopsis cripped from Amazon:


Jonah and the rest of the elite team of teenage thieves have been sent on a mission by Coldhardt to retrieve an ancient grimoire. He believes it to be a magical book of the law of the dead. Something like that could fetch a very good price in the right market. But when they go in to get it, they discover another team of thieves has beaten them to it. Even more disturbingly, this team is better trained, and better informed. It seems Coldhardt's old mentor, a man he thought was dead, is not only very alive, but has a highly efficient rival organisation, and a devilish plan to wipe out Coldhardt. Only the best will make it. In a thrilling adventure with brilliant plotting and fiendish twists, join Jonah faces his toughest challenge yet - but will it be his last?


There are guns, chases, explosions, exploding eyes (I kid you not) crossbows, murder, death, mayhem. Why this series hasn't been picked up to be turned into a mini-series is beyond me. It will appeal to a wide range of audience, not just teens. There are gadgets, gizmos, intrigue, smoldering girls and did I mention fire and explosions?



This is the third in the series, with Thieves Like Us and The Aztec Code preceding it - but having said that, it works on a completely standalone way too as you get caught up pretty quickly on the various characters - but in a clever non-preachy kind of way, so kudus to the author on that score.

The rival gang that appears on the scene is not at a nice bunch at all and offer an interesting and rather brutal counter-point to Jonah's crew who are all very focussed but completely taken unawares by the rival gang's appearance and their brutality.


Personally I love the Nathanial Coldhardt character as he has tremendous scope, with enough of an enigmatic persona to make you think he could grow to easily become a Bond villain...with a plot that might actually work and not one to be easily stopped either.


This is for fans of the young Bond series, Alias, Kyle XY and the Alex Rider series of books.

The Aviary Gate, Katie Hickman

Synopsis (from Katie's site)

Elizabeth Staveley sits in the Bodleian library, holding in her trembling hands a fragment of ancient paper. It is the key to a story that has been locked away for four centuries, the story of a British sea captain's daughter held captive in the sultans harem.

Constantinople, 1599. There are rumors and strange stirrings in the sultan's palace. The chief black eunuch has been poisoned by a taste of a beautiful ship made of spun sugar. The sultan's mother faces threats to her power from her son's favorite concubine. And a secret rebellion is rising within the palace's most private quarters.

Meanwhile, the merchant Paul Pindar, secretary to the English ambassador, brings a precious gift to the sultan. As he nears the palace, word comes to Pindar that the woman he once loved, Celia, may be alive, and hidden among the ranks of slaves in the sultan's harem. Can this really be the same Celia who disappeared in a shipwreck? And if it is, can the two be reunited?

******

I was absolutely thrilled to receive this from Bloomsbury and couldn't wait to get stuck in, having read Katie's previous book, Daughters of Britannia and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Allow me to share the first line of the one page Proluge with you and tell me, honestly, that you do not immediately want to go make some tea, get some biscuits out and settle down in a quiet spot to read this in one fell swoop!

The parchment, when Elizabeth found it, was the amber colour of old tea, frail as leaf mould.

Just that one line hooked me, and I had to have more. Immediately!

The book is set both in present day, moving from Oxford to Istanbul, and in the past, in the year 1599 with the setting being Constantinople (now Istanbul).

Katie Hickman using a guile to tease out the story of Celia Lampard, her fiance Paul Pindar and the scholar, Elizabeth Staveley, who is researching their story in modern times.

She gives a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of the Sultan's Harem. Her research is immaculate and her characterisation stunningly vivid. Her prose is rich and luxurious but not nauseatingly flowery. She writes well, with a good grasp of the lives of these hidden women. The book abounds with political intrigue, romance, spies, poisons and spoiled concubines.

This is an excellent read and it masterfully written, bringing several storylines together in a very clever finale. My only regret is that it had to end!

I initially didn't much like Elizabeth as she came across as a bit aloof but then the author cleverly revealed Elizabeth's innate sadness and the dislike evaporated. There are some amazingly strong female characters in the book, such as the Sultan's mother, who is ruthless, cunning and a highly intelligent manipulator. She is a catalyst for much that happens in the story and genuinely found myself warming to her although you knew that she might not be the nice lady she pretended to be.

I would really recommend this book for a long slow luxury read.