Liar Liar

Liar Liar by M.J. Arlidge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

'Liar, liar, pants on fire. Hangin' on a telephone wire!' Liar Liar - great title and yes - it's a scorcher from M J Arlidge. Starts at 100mph and maintains a relentless pace. His typical short chapters maintain a breathless page turner as DI Helen Grace faces another fearsome adversary. Southampton is alight, a firestarter has the city in fear in this gripping thriller, the fourth in the Grace series. It's scary, it's dark and twisted and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. DI Helen Grace is one tough heroine although she hides a damaged past that has resulted in a penchant for S&M. The one part of her character that I am not too fond of but it does add to the tension. If you haven't yet read "Eeny Meeny", "Pop Goes The Weasel" and "The Doll's House" - the first three in this series - then you should. Then enjoy this chilling read. I did....

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Bertie - Always In My Heart

SADNESS IN PARTING - JOY IN REMEMBRANCE

Today. With leaden hearts Ros and I visited our veterinarian practice to collect Bertie's ashes. His remains rest in a beautiful rosewood casket. I tried hard not to cry but the tears came when the nurse put the box into my hands. She held my arm for a few moments. A tear ran down her cheek too. She had known Bertie for many years.

I came across these words today:

The tide recedes but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand.

The sun goes down, but gentle warmth still lingers on the land.

The music stops and yet it echoes on in sweet refrains...

For every joy that passes, something beautiful remains

Bertie, you brought great joy to our lives and we will always miss you - our beautiful, fearless, vocal, lovable lad. Rest in peace now. We will think of you every day.... 

The Grief of a Cat

How long does a cat grieve over the loss of a soulmate? A week? A month? Longer? Oliver and Bertie were constant companions for more than fourteen years. Oliver is now 14½ years old. His soulmate Bertie died 11 days ago. Oliver seems - lost. He still wanders the house and garden - alone. He looks for Bertie. His mood has changed. His demeanour is sorrowful. His eyes are sad. Mood changes - listless. How do you mend the broken heart of a beloved cat? It breaks my heart to see Oliver like this.

I miss Bertie so much, Oliver, as you do. I wish I could bring him back. But I can't. I know you are sad. So am I. I will comfort you as much as I can because I love you too.

And Riley is trying to be your new soulmate. I know he doesn't understand bereavement. But I think - deep down - he misses Bertie too. 

It's time to move on Oli....

A Tiger In The Sand

A Tiger in the Sand: Selected Writings on Nature by Mark Cocker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another wonderful collection of distilled articles by Mark Cocker, one of my favourite writers on nature and wilderness. The book contains over 100 articles originally published in The Guardian and Guardian Weekly during the nineties and noughties. This is a hugely varied and most enjoyable selection, the writing evincing qualities more usually associated with poetry than with prose. He covers the vast skies and wildlife riches of his home county of Norfolk along with stories of his encounters with penguins, whales, lions and elephants; blackbirds, thrushes, mountain gorillas and the one-horned rhinoceros. His attention to detail and the precise use of language is a joy. Highly recommended for lovers of nature and conservation.

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The Girl In The Spider's Web

The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off, as a huge fan of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, I thoroughly enjoyed this fourth installment written by Swedish journalist David Lagercrantz. I have read a number of reviews that have been less than complimentary. Well, I disagree. The return of Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist is handled carefully. The plot is complex involving artificial super-intelligence, a web of intrigue that stretches to the Swedish secret police, international gangsters, hackers and even the US National Security Agency. It is a complex mystery and you might want to bone up on prime-number factoring, singularities and events horizon to add to the enjoyment. It is a slow burn, punctuated by bursts of action before a page-turning finale.

So, don’t be put off by negative reviews. If you enjoyed the Millennium trilogy (and you should read this first if you haven’t) then I am sure you will enjoy The Girl In The Spider’s Web. Certainly gets my 5 Star recommendation.

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You

You by Caroline Kepnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't recall reading anything quite like this. How Caroline Kepnes gets into the mind of the obsessive Joe is extraordinary, frightening, chilling. Not for the feint-hearted this, full of 'ripe' language and very, very creepy. The pace is relentless, found myself at times gasping for breath. You really won't want to put this down. Be ready to be shocked to the core...

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