Visitor by C.J. Cherryh

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


How does C.J. Cherryh do it? How can she provide such a magnificent plot twist, refresh the series, and provide more insights into how to deal with other cultures? She's brilliant and keeps the reader thinking and wondering about things worth considering. She's a great SF writer.

'Visitor' might be the 17th novel in the Foreigner series but it's no stale tag-on. As ever Cherryh writes well, her dialogue is good and it's easy to tell who is who from their speech. Her characters do not stay the same, but grow and surprise, like real people.

The story line seems - for 3/4 of the novel - to be about the problems on the space station and coping with the Kyo, alien visitors. It's when the readers discover why the Kyo have come to visit so quickly that things receive a whole shake up and turn about.

Bren has to deal with the new problem, pacify the Kyo, and help settle the Reunion humans on the atevi planet. Instead of having a successful conclusion Bren now has weighty secret to keep and the reader leaves him about to shatter Starship captain, and friend, Jase with the burden of the secret.

I am waiting, anxiously, Ms Cherryh, for the next volume, please hurry!



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Book Review: The Bones of You

The Bones of You by Debbie Howells

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A slightly unusual murder mystery this novel, it's more a psychological look at the effects of murder on a community and the friends of the bereaved. It is also a study in childhood neglect.

Rosie, perfect oldest daughter in a perfect family, in a delightful comfortable village, disappears. Some days later her body is found and everyone begins to unravel. The story is told by Kate, friend of the bereaved family, but there are chapters by Rosie\s ghost/spirit.

Well worth a read, well written, tricky plot and excellent characters.



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book review Coridors of the Night by Anne Perry

Corridors of the Night by Anne Perry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I am always delighted to find a new Anne Perry, whether it is a Monk or a Pitt novel. This is a Monk novel and a little different from the usual plot line. Anne Perry always leaves a reader with something to think about and 'Corridors of the Night' touches closely on a topic which is just as relevant today.

That is one of the joys of a well written historical. It can tackle topics which are sensitive today and because the setting is the past, make readers see more clearly the problem, at a distance from the present hot debate.

'Corridors of the Night' deals with medical/scientific research, what is and is not acceptable in the effort to save lives. It's always a difficult topic, and certain things - animal experiments, experiments on prisoners, the rights of the individual - make it a real hot potato. In the novel we have a doctor and chemist experimenting with blood transfusion.

We simply accept this as standard procedure but in Victorian times it's accepted that people die from loss of blood, and there is no way to prevent it. It wasn't until 1901 that blood groups were discovered and so enabled doctors to make successful blood transfusions. One can imagine how desperate doctors and nurses were to see blood transfusions working in Hester Monk's day.

And so the story starts with Hester standing in for a sick friend at a hospital she has not worked in before. Dr Rand welcomes her special skills learnt nursing during the Crimea. His brother, the chemist, is delighted with her. When she discovers children locked in a secret ward, who are being used to supply blood, things start to become more than criminal, it's all about ethics. When a dying man, wealthy and obsessed with living, demands treatment for his blood disease, then Hester finds herself facing the ethical dilemma. Not so Hamilton Rand. Kidnap, mayhem and court trials follow. As readers we are made to think because Hester knows how vital it is to humanity to learn how to give a blood transfusion. She is torn between ethics and that huge step to save lives.

As usual Anne Perry gives readers a well written story. Her word choice is always delightful and her dialogue nicely Victorian without being obscure. The tone of this novel is more sombre than usual, but it is, as ever, a great read with a story that lingers and makes readers think.








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A Review

Hot Money by Dick Francis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is one of my favourite Dick Francis novels. It has all his trademark touches, the tight writing, excellent characters and dialogue, and a great plot.

Someone is trying to kill Malcolm Pembroke, has already murdered his wife. But Malcolm, the man with the golden touch and millions, five ex-wives, nine children has a stubborn wish to live. The problem is that the police are getting nowhere and Malcolm is scared, so he approaches his estranged son, Ian, the jockey and racehorse trainer for help. And it soon becomes obvious that it is one of the family trying to kill Malcolm.

One of the joys of a Dick Francis is the characters who are 3D, 'real' people and when they speak it is quite clear who is who. Ian is an interesting character as is his father. The rest of the family come alive, warts, problems and all, as Ian investigates. We see the foibles and follies of a group of people who want their father's money - well some of it - right now. And the ending is sad but it is also a reminder of what obsessions can do to people.

The book was published in 1987. It is still relevant and a cracking good read.



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