The names Bond, James Bond and this is a good little diversion. A good story and not over the top in anyway.
Friday, October 23, 2020
THE DUBLINERS - James Joyce
14 short stories and a novella concerning various citizens of Dublin. Each story has the protagonist having an epiphany in regards what they are doing or their lives in general.
I first read this years ago and some of these stories stayed with me. Great writing and the only writing of Joyce's I've ever been able to pick up and read.
Monday, October 19, 2020
DEATH AT THE PRESIDENTS LODGING - Michael Innes
This is Innes's first effort published in 1936. Its a good mystery even if it gets a bit convoluted toward the end. The President at a university college is murdered and the killer can only be one of his colleagues.
When Innes was good he was good, when he was ordinary he was awful. He kept publishing stories for another 50 years after this and from the ones I've read he only goes close to this story a couple of times.
HERCULE POIROT'S CHRISTMAS - Agatha Christie
Even for Christie this is a cheat on a staggering scale. Not one of her best
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
THE KRAKEN WAKES - John Wyndam
The earth is invaded by aliens who create havoc from deep within our oceans.
Some good banter from the husband and wife who the story concentrates on and although it follows a similar pattern as "Day of the Triffids" it lacks any tension with the story being spread out of a decade.
Not Wyndams best.
THE DROP & THE LIST - Mick Herron
Two novellas featuring some of the characters that make up the Slough House series. The Drop adds some back ground to a few of these characters but you are not missing out on anything by now reading this.
Friday, October 9, 2020
THE SPANISH GAME - Charles Cumming
First time I've read Cumming. I found this hard work due what I thought as a very stupid hero. I'll try another one but in this he takes himself a bit seriously
LONDON RULES- Mick Herron
Another Slough House novel and this apart from a good story and some of the funniest dialogue I've read. Jackson Lamb, what a brilliant character.
DEAD LIONS - Mick Herron
The best of the Slough House books so far, its actually the second in the series which is better read in order
SAFE HOUSE - Andrew Vachess
These Burke novels are completely over the top but they carry a serious message regarding harm to women & children.. They stand a re-read
DANCING BEAR - James Crumley
Crumley is amazingly under rated. I think he's one of the best to come out of the US. he rates with Hammett, Chandler, Waugh.
He didn't write much as he was too busy drugging & drinking but whats he has written is legend. Read and re-read
BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN - Len Deighton
This reads like a Bond spoof, thankfully Deighton got much better after this early outing
SLOW HORSES - Mick Herron
A unit of British Intelligence who have all cocked up and are banished to a boring existence evidently to stop them causing problems. They are made up of drug users, compulsive gamblers and those suffering mental health issues. The unit is run by Jackson Lamb who will go on to become one of the great fictional characters.
Great fun
THE LABOURS OF HERCULES - Agatha Christie
A short story collection, light as anything but thats what Sundays are for
DARKNESS AT NOON - Arthur Koestler
An outstanding read and it explains the communist mentality. Been my book of the year. Read & re-read
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