A backyard game of cricket becomes a lesson in selflessness as the bowlers, children and adults alike try to get Rusty out. Terms which apply only to cricket are used and explained: squire cut, six and you’re out, spin bowl, and so on, as the story explains how Rusty developed his amazing skills.
Each time he bats one of the bowlers over the fence Bandit tells us how he manages to do this. When Rusty was batting and Tiny bowling his pace made it impossible for Rusty to stay at the crease, but a letter from Dad gives him the impetus needed to stay at the crease. Dad tells him everyone has two choices when confronted by something overwhelming; to step back and retreat or step forward and play. He chooses to step forward and hits the ball. Consequently he is able to demolish every ball bowled at him. Similarly when a bowler decides to use the crack in the pitch in front of Rusty, he hits the ball well again, Bandit telling us of the pitch he played on with his friend who lived in a yard where no one put effort into the garden, leaving it pitted with holes and obstacles. Here Rusty cut his teeth on hitting balls turning after hitting a crack. And each time Rusty bowls one of the bowlers around the pitch another story is given about how he developed that skill.
Rusty stays at the crease for the afternoon and eventually he hits a ball to enable his little sister to catch it and get him out. A sob in the throat moment.
And that, says Dad, is what cricket is all about, answering the question posed at the start of the afternoon.
This wonderful story extols many worth while virtues: selflessness being but one. Without flagging the point this seemingly simple story is full of humour as the kids and adults alike step up to bowl Rusty out. That he remains is a tribute to the time spent practising, encouraging the readers to try and try again, not to give up. As with all the Bluey books, the relationship between parents and children is warm and encompassing, and life lessons are presented almost as a byproduct of the delightful stories.
After his father's 'accidental' death at sea, his stepmother Queen Nimh and stepbrother Prince Delbayne invoke ancient Lagin law that only those who can summon the mysterious wolfhounds can become king, and Prince Lir, the rightful heir, is to be banished from his beloved homeland forever. The prince is a scholar not a warrior and acquiesces to his fate, but in an apparent act of generosity, Prince Delbayne pleads his stepbrother's case and it is agreed that if Prince Lir can complete an ancient quest he will be able to return.
Thus Prince Lir finds himself on a mission to rescue a young maiden being held captive by the dragon Lasvarg on his island, not realising that it is all part of a devious, malicious plan and dark magic concocted by his not-so-nice brother to ensure that Lir never returns to assume his place on the throne... But then, Delbayne does not realise that brains can overcome brawn.
Created by two who have each been the Irish children's laureate, this is a story reminiscent of the quests of old, drawing the reader into the fantasy of kings and queens and dragons and maidens needing to be rescued with its twists and turns in the plot while its superb illustrations bring times gone by to life. You can almost envisage this as a Lord of the Rings-esque movie, and while it has the traditional good versus evil as its underlying theme, because Prince Lir keeps his father's words "The trick to it... is to work with what is around you," it has a refreshing new perspective because rather than trying to trick the dragon and kill it to save Cethlenn, Lir uses his brains to cure the dragon's ailments caused by the mould in his damp cave, mend his broken wing, and restore his fire-breathing powers, forming a partnership that eventually outwits and outlasts Nimh, Delbayne and even Lagin itself.
This is an illustrated novella that would make an ideal introduction to this genre as a read-aloud merging the traditional elements and feel of the classic quest with more modern themes.
Themes Dragons.
Barbara Braxton
The exchange by John Grisham
Hachette, 2023. ISBN: 9781399724838. (Age:Adult - Young adult)
Mitch McDeere, like all Scully and Perishing lawyers, spends 250 hours a year doing pro-bono work. Mitch is happy to do the work for disadvantaged clients, but he has had his fill of death row cases. When asked, as a favour, to do just one more, Mitch finds himself back in Memphis, where, many years ago he was responsible for blowing the whistle on a corrupt law firm and he visits one of the other lawyers whose career was destroyed. Mitch and his family had to disappear after the corrupt firm was shut down, living in Italy for some of the years. Fifteen years later, Scully and Perisher, one of the world’s largest law firms, takes on a job for an international construction company suing the Libyan government for non-payment. Mitch, now a partner, and Giovanna, daughter of one of the firm’s senior partners, travel to Libya to scope out the job as, someone is “paying by the hour, so why not have some fun” p. 76. While there, Giovanna is abducted and the rest of the story is about obtaining an astounding amount of money to give the terrorists to secure her release. The billing of this as “The much-anticipated sequel to The Firm” which was released 30 years ago, was puzzling, the only connections were the characters Mitch and his wife Abby. It seemed at the start that it might be more, but a sudden shift to the kidnap story left any connection behind. After that it is really just about Mitch travelling the world trying to persuade powerful men to help raise the ransom money, often over meals in expensive restaurants where no one has an appetite for the food. In spite of the many different security, intelligence experts and bodyguards working for the company we are repeatedly told about, both the abduction and the hostage contact were unbelievably easy. I found the whole money raising exercise boring and the many one dimensional characters forgettable. The depiction of women seemed dated, they are beautiful, emotional and carry large bags in which they rummage for the phone. The ending lacked resolution but by then I didn’t care.
With absolutely stunning illustrations, the story of a determined snail called Henry unfolds as he tries to climb the stalk as other snails do.
Luxurious greens cover the pages as Henry is born, raindrops falling from the large garden foliage. He sees the other snails climb the stalks and he watches them, trying to copy their skills.
He grips the stalk, using his tentacles to wind around the leaf, but he slides back down. He is not producing enough slime to slime his way up. He decides to do it another way and tries covering his body with honey, which attracts the bees, and finds that tree sap is too sticky. So he tries another way - exercise. He lifts strawberries, rolls seeds across his underbelly, lifts cherries and drags pebbles.
With his new strength he tackles the biggest flower stalk in the garden, but halfway up he finds he cannot go any further. A slug on the leaf helps him go the last little way to the top. At the top he is amazed at the view he has of the whole garden, and then he comes down. After watching Henry’s strenuous efforts, the other snails want to learn his skills. He teaches them all he has learnt, and eventually they are so good they form a circus, Henry’s Circus.
This charming tale is about striving, about doing your best, about not letting one disappointment stop your effort, of trying a different way. All point to the effort Henry makes in striving to do his best.
Marvellous illustrations fill each page, engaging the younger reader, having a giggle at the bee hovering over Henry’s honey covered body or the attempts by Henry to slime his way up the stalks. Younger readers will love peering beneath the foliage to find the insects lurking in the garden, and be amazed at the variety of flowers and vegetables grown in the garden.
New Frontier, 2023. ISBN: 9781922326836. (Age:11-15) Recommended.
An intriguing and gripping murder mystery tale with elements of the mystical, with visions from the past intruding into the present. Young 13-year-old schoolgirl, Grace, purchases an op shop coat that replaces a too-small and derided coat. The discovered velvet coat, with its glamour from the past, improves Grace’s appearance amongst her peers but it also mysteriously transports her into the past and gives her a vision of the life and death of its previous owner. These visions lead her and her friend Suzy into a search for the murderer, who may still be alive despite the passing years. Grace and Suzy’s intelligence gathering mostly happens without adult help, because who would believe the premise that you had ‘dreamed’ the evidence?
As a murder mystery fan, I quite enjoyed this youthful journey into the genre. With 13-year-old characters, this story begins as a teen growing-in-independence tale with coloured hair, school mean girls and classes to attend, but transitions into the murder mystery genre quickly. The tension increases fairly rapidly because the young girls become targeted in a more adult violent way and their own lives are threatened. The suspense grows in a mature murder-mystery style and this story rapidly becomes more stressful as the investigation continues. Readers who enjoy the mystery genre (and dabble in fantasy realism) will enjoy this book. There are some minor believability aspects, but not enough to destroy the entertainment value. Readers aged 11 - 15 will enjoy this book, with the independent young teens experiencing an edgy uncertainty through most of the tale.
Themes Murder mystery, Dreams and visions.
Carolyn Hull
The last kids on Earth and the Monster Dimension by Max Braillier
In this, the ninth book of the series, Jack and Quint slip through a rift into the Monster Dimension in their bid to stop the utter destruction of their post-apocalyptic world. Armed with Jack’s Cosmic Hand, Quint’s inventiveness and small pink sticky, Globlet’s capricious assistance they blunder about, lurching from one cliffhanger to another, pursued by Frankenstein creatures bent on their destruction. There are enhanced mad monsters from previous books and they find unusual modes of transport like the rotting monster corpse raft and a taxi mounted on a hand. The friends don’t judge by appearances and some of the most fearsome monsters turn out to be misunderstood and they find allies in the strangest forms. The newsprint format doesn’t do justice to the energetic, expressive illustrations located within the text, including some very squishy monsters, with added speech bubbles. There are ruthless female monsters and so many inventively named characters it is hard to keep up, but the pace is so fast that it doesn’t seem to matter. The added deprecating humour and fun word play make this a winner and of course it leaves readers with more questions than answers, setting us up for the tenth book. Readers new to the series will still enjoy the ride but will want to go back and read the previous books or just catch up viewing the Netflix series.
This is a small hardback pocket-size collection of aphorisms and instructions related to kindness. Designed for young readers, the green and white pages contain small quotes related to kindness. It is a simple reminder book for 8–11 year-old children. It is cute in size, visually appealing and encouraging. Collated by a child psychologist, it could easily sit in a school counselling office or on a teacher’s desk for the ‘just right moment’ for a little kindness.
“Hired by companies to break into buildings and hack security systems, Jack and her husband Gabe are the best penetration specialists in the business. But after a routine assignment goes horribly wrong, Jack arrives home to find her husband dead. To add to her horror, the police are closing in on their only suspect – her.” Publisher. Almost paralysed by grief, Jack initially cooperates with the police who interview her at the station but it becomes increasingly apparent that she is the only suspect. She contacts her sister Hel for support as well as Cole, her husband’s best friend but does not want to put them into danger. Deciding to go it alone to find the killer she follows a trail of clues but the police keep tracking her down. Why did her husband take out an insurance policy in her name shortly before he died? Who can she trust? Who is the killer?
The background of Jack and Gabe’s business is fascinating and the early chapters of the book will keep the reader enthralled as Jack sneaks inside buildings to find the weaknesses in their security systems. The technology used to track Jack down is fascinating as well, although the thrill of the chase, told in a countdown of eight days, keeps the adrenaline pumping as Jack races from one crisis to another to keep ahead of the police and find the murderer.
This is a thriller that is very hard to put down. It is fast paced, with a feisty heroine who is immediately engaging and a clever twist at the end. A perfect escapist read. Fans may like to try Turn of the key another thriller by Ruth Ware or The murder rule by Dervla McTiernan.
Themes Thriller, Technology.
Pat Pledger
Standing in the shadows by Peter Robinson
Hodder & Stoughton, 2023. ISBN: 9781529343175. (Age:Adult - Young adult)
In 1986 Nick Hartley is living in a typical student share house when his ex-girlfriend, Alice Poole, who has the upstairs flat, is found murdered in a nearby park. Detectives interview Nick intensively, especially as the Yorkshire Ripper had recently struck nearby. Nick is eventually discounted but he has his own suspicions as Alice’s boyfriend, Mark Woodcroft, has disappeared. The unsolved murder nudges Nick towards a career in investigative journalism. When an archaeological dig in 2019 at Eastvale near the A1 uncovers a human skeleton that is definitely not Roman, Detective Superintendent Alan Banks must work out the identity and find the killer from the meager forensic information gleaned from the remains. Banks draws his team together to first identify the body then look into his past for clues as to how he came to be murdered. The two threads are well constructed with authentic details that identify the settings, especially the 1980’s student digs, protest rallies and the impact of John Lennon’s death. The characters of Banks and his team have been developed over the previous 27 stories and fans will recognize references to events in the previous books, like the skeleton discovered “In a Dry Season”. Banks’ love of vintage vinyl is showcased and there is a general feeling of nostalgia like when he recognizes the theme from the TV series Z Cars, reflecting “he was probably the only person in the pub who knew what it was” p. 202. There are some lovely descriptions of the Yorkshire Dales scenery and some clever plotting so the book does stand alone successfully. This final book from Peter Robinson, who died after completing it, will be treasured by fans who have been following Banks and his team in books and in the TV series for many years.
Nate Bass, already nicknamed ‘Mr Fish’ by his future students, has come to Port Flinders, on a short term replacement teaching position, staying in very basic camp accommodation close to dark threatening mangrove swamps. It’s a fishing town renowned for its annual drowning girl festival where a female figurine is cast into the ocean and pelted with stones until it sinks, in order to bring in a good fishing season. The problem is that perhaps some people take the tradition too seriously, and that is maybe why there have been a number of recurring drownings not investigated as fully as they could have been.
It also becomes slowly apparent that Nate is not a newcomer to this town; it is a place where he has spent some time in his childhood, and there are repressed memories that could be connected to the mysteries that linger on. Things become confusing when a drowned body is recognised as the same girl that died 15 years earlier. How could that be?
Lando keeps the chapters moving along, with the story told mostly from Nate’s perspective, but with interleaving accounts of the experiences of a group of boys 15 years ago. Gradually the two threads connect. The plot is not an easy one to follow, as there are many surprises along the way that will keep the reader guessing. Nate has a fellow investigator in his developing friendship with Irena, the bar manager who has stayed on to film the annual drowning event.
For me, the set-up where the author has the characters examine and explain events to each other is a technique that doesn’t sit well - it’s like the author has to put into words the things the reader probably has failed to follow or understand. But it is certainly required in this context as there are so many twists to the storyline that it would be difficult to be presented in any other way. This is a book for readers of detective novels, who enjoy the challenge of sorting through the possible scenarios and motivations, with a conclusion that defies any conjecture.
It is also a novel in the budding Australian genre of detective fiction where the hero or investigator has their own flawed past history, and I’m sure that the many readers who enjoy this book and its predecessor The whispering will be waiting for the next offering from Veronica Lando.
The first in the Elemental Blessings series, Troubled Waters introduces us to the world of Welce where babies are given blessings when they are born. The blessings are divided into Elay (air/soul), Hunti (wood/bone), Sweela (fire/mind), Coru (water/blood), Torz (Earth/flesh), with three Extraordinary blessings of synthesis, triumph and time. Zoe Ardelay is Coru, keeping her village always supplied with water. She is devastated by the death of her father, Navarr Ardelay, and when Darien Serlast arrives to take her to Chialto, the capital of the country, she follows him believing that she has been chosen to be the fifth wife of the king. She manages to slip away and hide on the shores of the mighty Marisi River, where she comes to the realisation that she is the Coru Prime with extraordinary power over water and blood.
Shinn’s authorship strength lies in her ability to build up a completely believable world that combines magic, intrigue and a country that is just beginning to leave the horse drawn form of transport behind, with the introduction of elaymotives. Her stories are always character driven. Zoe is a young woman, just learning to be independent and to control her power, while trying to understand Darien Serlast, who is Hunti, strong and determined. Their romance simmers slowly, but never overtakes Zoe’s story.
Danger faces Zoe and the royal princesses as her Coru abilities start to unravel the secrets that the royal family are hiding. There is intrigue, attempted murder and bitter rivalries at the court, and readers will delight in Zoe’s growth in maturity and skill.
Troubled waters is followed by Royal airs, Jeweled Fire, Unquiet land and Whispering Wood, and is a favourite series when I need feel good books to colour my life.
Mick Herron is well known for his gripping spy thrillers. This stand-alone work will have the reader in the grip of intrigue, bewildered by the extent of the corruption at play in the political world and at times on the very edge of their seat.
The book opens with “The worst smell in the world is dead badger” and quickly envelops the reader in a thrilling chase that ends with depositing the reader within the hidden halls of the British Secret Service. The language is sumptuous and the witty dialogue is at once darkly humorous and loaded with hidden meanings or sarcasm. The reader is invited to keep reading between the lines to pull threads together and uncover the hidden mystery.
Mick Herron has crafted a nuanced plot and added depth to his richly drawn characters who, though flawed, are deeply interesting for the reader. While some of the characters are truly suffering under the weight of career despair and political idiocy/malevolence, there is a humanity that shines through. This is important as the stakes are high in this book. An inquiry into the secret service is under way. The ‘Monochrome’ inquiry led by civil servants Griselda Fleet and Malcolm Kyle was promised unrestricted access to confidential information, however the fine print revealed another truth.
The intricate and complex storyline moves seamlessly between the conspiracies and tragedies of 1994 Berlin and present-day London. We learn the language of the spooks (joes, dogs and milkmen) along with the lure of power, the perils of ambition and the price of vengeance.
This is an immensely entertaining and satisfying read.
Themes Espionage, Relationships (friends, romance), Mystery, Crime, Suspense, Cold War.
The tyranny of faith is the second book in the Empire of the wolf series, sequel to The justice of kings. In this book, we follow Sir Konrad Vonvalt and his allies Helena, Bressinger and Sir Radimir who having survived the Battle of Galen's Vale in book one, now must return to the capital city Sova to deal with intrigue, rebellion and ultimately a quest that releases dark and truly disgusting and terrifying powers.
This action book is not for the fainthearted. If it were released to the movies, it would have a highly restrictive classification as the violence is visceral beyond what this reader could endure - it was quite enough to cope with the evocative imagery created through the written word. Examples will certainly not be given in this review as this reader is trying to erase them from her head:)
Author Richard Swan has created a page turner with every chapter ending with cliff hangers like... "It was a decision I would come to bitterly regret."..." And then I was falling down into oblivion." "...she stopped abruptly as Vonvalt collapsed to the floor." The subject matter deals with violent and strategic battles and other challenges for the Sovan Empire (map in front of book) which our hero Vonvalt and his comrades have to negotiate and fight their way through. Richard Swan appears to be well acquainted with a number of disciplines as The tyranny of faith draws richly and deeply from history, literature, architecture and theology. Echoes of many of the major world beliefs, bureaucracies and religious and political structures including rituals, creeds, orthodoxies and orders can be found mirrored in a confronting manner in this book. The age old construct of the quest is married with murder, kidnap and necromancy. Unearthly hideous powers are unleashed through the practices of evil men and the results are graphic.
The action is seen through the eyes of Helena. She is a resolute, loyal and fearless character who in The tyranny of faith is developing from apprentice level towards what the reader imagines will be higher station if not the highest in the empire as she is required to survive and save others in formidably dangerous situations. But... as in all good series one cannot find out everything about where Helena is headed in book two! Helena's allies are well rounded characters and in the nexus between the human and magic world and the death and bloodshed that results from crossing boundaries between these worlds there is sometimes the chance for the relief valve of humour, particularly with Sir Radimir's very human use of the F...word ( which defuses horrific situations)
This reader has to agree with reviewer Nicholas Eames. The tyranny of faith is "Utterly compelling...thoroughly engrossing." Richard Swan is a Sunday Times bestselling author for good reason. His descriptive power builds atmosphere and tension and the depth of detail in the construction of the medieval like human world aswell as coexisting other worlds is impressive. The reader can expect a thrilling, credible, well-structured plot, fine characters, riveting action and cinematic settings.
Lovers of fantasy, murder and the supernatural will be waiting on the final instalment of Empire of the wolf to be released in February 2024.
Themes Medieval battles, Faith, Loyalty, The after-life, Dark power.
Gods of the Wyrdwood is a dark fantasy story from critically acclaimed British author R J Barker. The first in a new high fantasy trilogy Forsaken, Gods of the Wyrdwood is perfect for fans of epic and immersive tales.
We meet the lone forester Cahan du Nahere, a man who was taken from his family as a boy and spent years training to fulfil a violent prophecy. Interestingly, Barker eschews the bildungsroman element such a story might indicate and rather than watching Cahan grow into adulthood, we meet him as a man in his thirties. Disillusioned and bitter, Cahan only wants to be left alone at his small farm in the woods to tend his animals and try to forget the past. He has forsworn any use of the powers and training that once meant he was to destined to be powerful person in the land. Unfortunately for Cahan, despite his vow not to become involved in the struggles and machinations of those around him, he cannot stay hidden and isolated forever. Against his will, Cahan is drawn into a battle against vicious forces where he will have to finally decide what is more important: his freedom or his conscious.
Gods of the Wyrdwood is a dark and violent read but it is an excellent one. Barker has created a vivid fantasy world of which, in this first book, we are only allowed to glimpse a small part. Compelling characters, intricate plotting and a superb twist in the novel’s final pages means that it will feel like a long wait until the next instalment of the series arrives on shelves.
Themes Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Religion, Nature, Magic, War, Power, Identity, Friendship.
Whether you are a massive fan, or new to the work of Patricia Cornwell, this latest book in the Kay Scarpetta series will have you churning with suspense as you fly through the pages.
The story jumps straight in to Kay Scarpetta leaving for the scene of two brutal and extraordinary deaths. Scarpetta is working in difficult circumstances, not always amongst friends. The reader hears her internal thoughts as she navigates a political world that is as dangerous as the suspects she is closing in on.
This gripping thriller has the reader enthralled from the first page. Patricia Cornwell includes cutting-edge forensic technologies in her work along with the latest in AI technologies. The high stakes implications of AI in the work of criminals and law enforcement are seamlessly woven through a complex narrative that keeps the reader guessing until the end. The reader also receives a crash course in avoiding thermal imagers. Signature management is another evolving area of military and defence organisations.
Patricia Cornwell is a master at writing crime and her much loved character, Kay Scarpetta, is feisty in this latest story. Kay effectively questions and reflects on the mysterious and the malevolent, as the reader remains conscious of a watching presence across the book. Kay is also showing maturity and wisdom in her relationships in this book – taking care to maintain and nurture her relationships with colleagues and family while experiencing tremendous pressure and adversity.
The book ends with the reader knowing this story is not quite completely resolved and eagerly awaiting the next book.
