The weather has been poor but the plants haven’t minded at all!

Viewing

The Responder. ***** BBC. Martin Freeman acting brilliantly in this second series. Violent at times and occasionally depressing. The viewer can end up unsure whether they’re watching fiction or a documentary.

Through a Glass Darkly: The Salman Rushdie knife attack **** BBC Harrowing account of the incident and Rushdie’s recovery. I already knew a lot of it having read in-depth reviews of his book ‘Knife’ but if you haven’t, watch this! Followed by:

The Satanic Verses 30 years on.**** BBC Presented by a Muslim journalist who explored the way the fatwa etc. shaped attitudes to Islam including views among the Muslim community and people who had left the faith. Interesting and well done.

We’ve been watching, with varying degrees of shock/horror/etc, the Post Office Inquiry, the Covid Inquiry and the Infected Blood Scandal Inquiry. All streamed on BBC Parliament.

Reading

A lot of wonderful books this month, possibly because I stuck mainly with known and trusted authors!

The superb:

Home from Nowhere by Jackson Marsh.***** Starts to introduce some of the characters who will appear in the later series. Main focus, Jasper, who is ‘rescued/poached’ from Kingsclere. He is a talented musician and his parentage is the mystery. The next volume, One of a Pair ***** follows Jasper and his love for Billy even when it seems the Atlantic might separate them. A murder mystery holds the key to a happy ending.

The Prayer of the Night Shepherd by Phil Rickman***** Jane is working for the Stanner Hotel and gets involved with a group of spiritualists, the Chancery family, and the arguments about the source of Conan Doyle’s hound of the Baskervilles. The Smile of a Ghost***** Ludlow. Mumford retires and his nephew falls from the castle tower. Two possible non-paranormal explanations. The Deliverance ‘panel’ gets off to a rocky start. The Remains of an Altar***** Merrily and Lol are involved with Elgar enthusiasts in the Malverns while Jane finds a ley line in Ledwardine. The Fabric of Sin***** Mystery, murder and rape in and around a Templars’ church and farmhouse. Lol’s Boswell suffers. Jane risks driving unaccompanied and decides to go for archaeology.

I should point out again that I am re-reading the Merrily Watkins series alongside the book of photographs of the area plus accompanying text by Phil Rickman. It’s great to have what is effectively an illustrated version!

The Queen’s Seal by Chloe Garner***** Stasia has o use her merchanting skills to defeat the enemies of the queen. Short story at end with a focus on Spike and his crew of rogues and thieves – didn’t enjoy it much and won’t follow that series but will continue with this.

Death in the Spires by KJ Charles***** Totally gripping murder mystery set in Oxford round about 1900. Surprising ending.

Teas’d by Vin George***** Not often I give five stars to a novella but this is a delightful interlude in the Evergreen Council series. A riddle-strewn task set for Charlie by Dalziel serves to entertain whilst adding immeasurably to the character development not only of the main characters but minor ones too, such as Pavel. Reviewed in slightly more depth for PRG.

Point of Hopes by Melissa Scott and Lisa Barnett***** A re-read, for a review for Scott. I love the Astreiant series. I lost my print copies in the fire and was thrilled to find this being re-released and up for review. I hope the rest of the series follows. Brilliant world building and a slow delicate romance set among fascinating crime investigations on another world where astrology rules all lives.

And the excellent:

Taking a risk by Barbara Elsborg**** is a short story prequel to her novel Fen**** Well written mm romance (Ripley and Fen) which had just enough drama to lift it out of the ‘sweet’ category but not enough to make it a thriller. Sequel/extra epilogue is Fen and Ripley in Japan**** which happens before the epilogue of Fen, and recounts the longed-for trip.

A Clap of Thunder by Nazri Noor.**** Jack and Xander go to Verdance (fairyland) to ensure Cathee’s invasion is not too violent.

And Nothing but the Truth by Charlie Cochrane**** Nicely competent police procedural with Adam and Robin in the background as the established pairing. Hamish is the new dog… I mourn Campbell. A man whose wife died of Covid is found murdered in the woods.

Model Citizen by Lisa Kasey**** Exciting introduction to Haven Investigations and a hint about the next volume – which I hope to read. Oliver is a model who takes over his brother’s PI firm with help from close friends and Kade, who was in the marines with the brother. (Just checked price of next volume and will wait in hopes for sale…)

Finding their roots by Tris Lawrence**** Intriguing start to a paranormal romance series. Reviewed in more depth for Scott.