Paul Hoffman - The left hand of God

This is a very interesting book. Ah ha I hear you say that usually means she is not keen on it! Well that is not quite correct I did enjoy it but was a little confused as to whom it was targeted. Clearly this is a cross over book. It is aimed very much at the Trudi Canavan market. However, it has some really witty and sly commentaries going on about teenage boys, - and girls for that matter, and society as a whole. This really appealed to me and shows the range of the author. However it did mean that the novel was a bit of a see-saw between these conflicting areas. there was also a great deal about tactics and weaponary, and a teen romance.... so you can see that this book attempts to be all things to everyone. Does it work? I am not sure.Clearly with the release of the advertising video below it is expected to be big, so time and the public will tell.

This book is set in a fantasy world of the early middle ages type, our hero a 14/15 year old boy escapes from the brutal regime of the Redeemers and explodes on the world as a naive, witty, violent and ignorant young man. I have to say that he is really rather cool ( Am I showing my age here? is anyone cool these days?), a bit of an Edward Cullen for the fantasy world.

I should warn that it is part of a trilogy and like all good fantasy it finishes on a cliff hanger....

Deanna Raybourne - Silent in the Sancuary - Silent on the Moor

I thoroughly enjoyed the first title in this trilogy Silent in the Grave, see below. These are just as good.
In Silent in the Sanctuary we are introduced to the family home of the March's, they are snowed in, particularly relevant with our current weather. What then ensues are ghosts, murder by strangulation, attempted murder through poison , oh, and an jewel robbery. There is of course a limited number of guests from which to choose to solve the crimes and it is great fun. they are advertised as witty and they are. A very amusing romp!

This is the final book in the trilogy. Her we have our intrepid heroine pursuing her love up to Yorkshire to try and resolve their relationship once and for all. There are some very witty nods to Wuthering heights here and I really loved it.
Once again of course, we have attempted murder by poison, murder by drowning, death, madness and romance. A heady blend and thoroughly entertaining!

I also enjoyed the gypsy thread that ran through these books, and very much the highlighting of the plight of women from all classes in society of the time.

Incidentally her next book is about vampires, can't wait!

Anna Davis - The Jewel Box

Looking back I can see I was rather sniffy about Anna's previous title The Shoe Queen. I am glad I persevered as this book is excellent. It really is very funny. This book is about an 'it' girl of the 1920's and she writes a weekly newspaper column. It is these columns that litter the book that really make it, they are so amusing. This is basically a historical romance but as a light enjoyable read it was great, just what I needed to amuse me over the Christmas period.

Jacqueline Winspear - Among the Mad

This is another Maisie Dobbs mystery. I once again really enjoyed it. These now are less murder mysteries but more mysteries solved by psychology. Interestingly there is a very similar plot in this novel to Anne Perry's WW1 series, terrorism with a political motive. The book also addresses the terrible plight of old and disabled soldiers from the trenches, particularly those that are psychological damaged. So there are lots of modern parallels. It is these themes that would make this a very interesting reading group read.

Rose Melikan - The Counterfeit Guest

This is the second book featuring our daring heroine Mary Finch. The first being The Blackstone Key, see below. I love being absorbed into a really good historical mystery novel and this book really fits the bill. It is set in the Napoleonic era, Britain is at war with France and spies , agent provocateurs, heroes and villains abound. It is a great romp, fantastic escapism, ideal curled up cosy on a winter night or warm beside a pool on holiday. Her next book, the Mistaken Wife is out in April 2010 and I look forward to reading it. Will Mary find true love or will her career as a undercover agent be the death of her? The next installment tantilisingly awaits us.

Kate Mosse - The Winter Ghosts

You can tell I was busy reading over Christmas can't you, and what is more fitting than an excellent ghost story. Kate once again returns to France, this time set after the First World War and up to 1933.

This is beautifully written and leads us slowly and surely to the dramatic conclusion. The descriptions of the countryside around the Haute Vallee in the Pyrenees, really take you there and you can well imagine the Cathars whispering on the wind. I think it would make an excellent reading group book, due to the themes of war, family loss, and religious fanaticism to name a few. It is also a shorter read and more manageable for a group that perhaps meets monthly. The idea of putting in drawings to illustrate it, is really inspired and adds to the whole period style of the book. A very classy package.

Louise Penny - The Brutal Telling

This is the latest in the Inspector Gamache series, and the fifth title. They just get better. Please do read them from the beginning as we gradually get to know the characters as the books progress. They really are a sort of Donna Leon, Midsommer Murders and absolutley delightful, aside from the brutal murders of course!! However even these are handled well, and these books should appeal to all fans of classic crime or who dunnits........