A couple of years ago I went to a storytelling evening on Orkney. I persuaded others to come along with promises of a dram by a peat fire, squishy leather chairs and some magnificent Orcadian folklore. I have never been so wrong about anything in my life…
The Defenceless
11 September 2015 by Leave a Comment
When I put together my mid-year top ten books I included Kati Hiekkapelto’s debut novel, The Hummingbird – a fabulous Finnish crime novel with great new heroine Detective Anna Fekete as its lead character. When Orenda Books asked me to participate in the Blog Tour…
Pride
9 September 2015 by Leave a Comment
I used to work with a man who has a mission to uncover hidden LGBT history in the UK. He has told me stories that are little known about gay men and lesbians across Britain – it’s vitally important that these stories are heard. They form part of our social and cultural history…
The Good Neighbour
8 September 2015 by Leave a Comment
I found out a couple of days ago that one of our lovely neighbours has put their house up for rent. I’m sorry that they are leaving because they are nice people but it’s worse than that – we’re now stuck in the hellish situation of not knowing who our new neighbours are going to be…
The Daughter’s Secret
2 September 2015 by Leave a Comment
Every now and then a story pops up in the press about a teacher who has had an affair with a pupil and is (rightly) jailed for their abuse of trust. Less often the papers fall over themselves with puritanical excitement when a teacher and pupil actually run away together…
Crimson Tide
27 August 2015 by Leave a Comment
A submarine, as brilliantly portrayed in J.S. Law’s cracking novel Tenacity, is a fabulous setting for a tense and claustrophobic thriller. There’s limited space, a small group of people and no escape. Throw in highly trained military officers, nuclear weapons
A Proper Family Adventure
24 August 2015 by Leave a Comment
I have a wonderful friend who works in the cruise industry who has occasionally invited me to join him on the ocean waves. For one reason or another I’ve not yet been able to take him up on the offer, even though I’ve always wanted to experience a cruise holiday…
The Art Of Baking Blind
21 August 2015 by Leave a Comment
It’s that time of year again – Wednesday nights are sacrosanct and anyone who dares to whisper a hint of spoiler is shunned from my social circle. The Great British Bake-Off is back and I’m in baked goods heaven. The success of Bake-Off…
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
19 August 2015 by Leave a Comment
One of the films I’ve enjoyed most in the past few years is The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. The story of a group of old people who go to live in India was genuinely heart-warming and blessed with a fabulous cast of the best of British acting talent including Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith…
A Colder War
18 August 2015 by Leave a Comment
While I’ve read a lot of crime novels over the years, I’m much less experienced with spy fiction. I’ve read Casino Royale, but no other Bond book and I’m sure I must have read a couple by John Le Carre at some point, but other than The Constant Gardener I don’t have any recollection of them…