Chris Nelson's Blog

'Virginia's Sisters' is an enthralling and impressive collection of Feminist literature which opens up a world populated by remarkable characters whose stories need to be heard. That being said this is not an anthology purely for those who might term themselves 'Feminist'. Rather it is a collection of fabulous stories told by writers whose literary skills are unquestionable.
The stories themselves range from the introspective to the philosophical and provide much food for thought. Several give the reader an insight into the lives women were expected to lead throughout history - and indeed, as the authors here were spread across the globe, it reflects the roles patriarchal systems placed upon women in so many countries in the past - and in some cases still do.
There are some incredibly moving works in this collection and the inclusion of some exceptional poetry adds even greater depth to the book as a whole. Another great feature here are the quotes which are inserted between each work - a clever nod to current trends.
It is true that not every story will appeal to every reader - something which I, personally, found to be the case, but there is no disputing the quality or the creativity on offer throughout this fine book.
I cannot recommend this collection highly enough.

The cover of this book instantly brought to mind images of cheap horror B movies, so it was a pleasant surprise to find that the stories contained within it were far from half-baked ideas.
The collection contains a variety of takes from the disturbing to the horrific, and from the dystopian to fantasy, and the author certainly has an original mind. The writing is clear, concise and easy to read whilst descriptions are vivid and not overly long and character development is strong throughout.
The shorter stories, in my opinion, are the strongest in this collection, and show the greatest originality. 'Hondo Rane…' is a fantasy based story and, I felt, a little too formulaic - although, if one enjoys fantasy tales, then this does hold its own. The other longer story 'The Floating Brain' is, for the most part, highly original, and its short chapters work very effectively.
This is definitely a collection for lovers of the TV series theTwilight Zone, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark, twisted tales.

'A Piece of Me' is an intensely personal collection of poetry through which Day-Joel explores a range of themes such as love and loss, self-discovery and growth through her own, unique experiences.
This having been said, most of the poems here are very relatable and it is easy for the reader to identify themselves, and their own experiences, through her words. She writes with a clarity which is easy to read yet contains subtle poetic style which seeps under one's skin, enabling her voice to come through as if it were the reader's own. In one sense her tone is almost conversational - if you are expecting poetry written to a formula you won't find it here - and this makes every word 'real' and many of the poems seem to come with a flood of nostalgia; even the slightly darker verses come with the feeling that 'out of darkness comes light'.
One thing I did really like was the poet's use of a commentary attached to each of her poems. Whilst not essential to the understanding and appreciation of each piece, I did feel that they gave an insight not only into her as a person but also into how many of our life experiences are shared.
Recommended for lovers of uplifting and affirming poetry.

The Scars We Don't See is a quite remarkable collection of short stories which will enthuse, inspire and fascinate any reader who enjoys quick, stimulating reads.
The writing is clear and concise with beautiful description which paints vivid scenes without ever being overly florid. Some of the stories are vignettes with characters who are sketched with precise detail but leave plenty of room for the reader to employ their own imagination. Many of the pieces are more observational in tone, yet are very relatable, and Cassa's style of writing allows the reader to immerse themselves fully in the situations that she creates.
Some of the stories are based on personal experiences and memories, and are, as such, quite introspective and personal, yet each one resonates effectively with the reader. The reality of Cassa's work is both inspirational and thought-provoking, and her skillful and poetic use of language is a pleasure to read.
Personally I really like the way she employs language as a tool to stimulate the reader's own imagination, knowing exactly what to include and precisely where to leave spaces.
The Scars We Don't See is a collection that I will return to again and again.
Highly recommended.

Part stream of consciousness, part memoire, part poem and part metaphoric conceit, Cave's book chronicals not so much a musical tour (both literally and figuratively) as a tour of the artist's thoughts whilst doing what he must (and indeed wants to) whilst being separated from his true 'home'.
What stands out is Cave's unique style of prose poetry, and it is almost impossible to read this without hearing his voice.
Any fan of Cave's music will surely love this book - for the partially curious it is worth reading if only for it's exploration of what constitutes a 'novella'.

This is a superb collection of original, disturbing and unsettling stories written in distinctive style. Each tale is written with vivid description which really draws the reader in, but also leaves a lot of space for the readers own imagination. The stories contained within this collection will leave an indelible mark on the reader.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

'Don't Fear the Reaper' is a well-paced, exciting and engaging mystery-thriller which takes the reader into a world of murky, dangerous and hidden government agencies. Original and skillfully written it is full of the grit that one might expect without the glamour that is so often portrayed elsewhere. Yes, there are several references made to cities more 'associated' with espionage and subversive activities such as Berlin, Prague and Vienna, but most of the action takes place in and around London and the (unassuming) South and South-East of England. And this results in the story being both more realistic and more relatable.
An intriguing opening introduces the reader to the lead character who is, refreshingly, female. Astrid is a strong, but ultimately flawed, woman whose backstory is unveiled in a series of flashback memories. It is, indeed, these flaws that engage the reader and give her character depth and realism in what is (action aside) a very character-led story.
The story itself is complex but not complicated and, as it progressed, I found myself being more and more drawn in by it. It is full of twists and turns (some of them unexpected) right up until its gripping conclusion, where the reader is left wanting more - fitting, really, as this is the first of a series of books featuring the protagonist.
One feature of this book which I think French employs with particular success is the use of double narrative: the bulk of the writing carries the story in the third person, but a second narrator (the antagonist) tell events from their perspective which adds an extra level of interest.
Oh, and did I mention the great musical references that run through the story?
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys not only thrillers and mystery stories but also readers with a penchant for stories featuring a strong female lead

Osman builds successfully on the characters created in the first book 'The Thursday Murder Club' in a thrilling mystery which has more twists and turns than one would think possible. If anything this volume is an easier read than his debut in that Osman has polished his writing style to provide a story which races along with no side-tracking issues.
The characters are all well-rounded and true to life, as is the plot, which, whilst full of unseen twists, is consistently believable. It would certainly help to get a grip on the characters if the first book has been read - especially as there are lots of references made to the first story, but this is by no means a negative.
No spoilers - I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good crime-based mystery.

The Time Traveller's Murder by Andrew S. French

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


'The Time Traveller's Murder' is a novel which is tricky to categorise - part mystery, part thriller and part Sci-Fi, it excells in crossing between genres to create an engrossing and entertaining story.
Set in the near future it tells the tale of an ex-detective (now turned private investigator) who gets drawn into an elaborate investigation involving time travel. However, as the story unfolds, French brings in several sub-plots which are interwoven cleverly and keep the reader engaged (and indeed guessing) as the main plot progresses.
From the opening line: 'Detective Inspector Harry Hook flexed his fingers in anticipation of strangling a man' we are introduced to characters who are rounded, three-dimensional and believable and French's strong, realistic use of dialogue serves well to enable them to be visualised clearly. The back-stories of the main characters are drip-fed into the novel cleverly, helping to provide the reader for a deeper understanding of both them and their motivation.
The Sci-Fi element of the story is well researched and explained effectively, but also poses some interesting philosophical questions about the nature of time travel.
From the first chapter - which sets both the scene and tone of the book and gives the reader an outline of the lead character - we are lead through a series of twists and turns, many of which are quite unpredictable, and I found myself being sucked deeper and deeper into the book the more I read. Music plays a strong role throughout the book (look closely at the chapter titles!) and acts as a reminder that, despite time moving forward, links to our pasts are everywhere.
If I were to level any criticism at this book (and it is a very minor point) it would be that I found one or two phrases to be a little stereotypical.
Overall this is a fantastic read which I would recommend for anyone who enjoys a good mystery, detective story, thriller or, indeed, a slice of Sci-Fi.




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Imelda May clearly has a gift when it comes to the written word. This collection contains some wonderfully composed poems which move from the witty to the sensitive, the passionate to the deep with skill and verve. Most have a rhythm which reveals itself to the reader as the poem unfolds; it is no surprise that they are lyrical given her musical background though. Unlike some poetry collections I found myself returning to several of the poems; either because they revealed more upon further reading or they were just finely written and a pleasure to read.
The book itself is beautifully presented, and the illustrations work well not only to enhance the poetry but also to add, in my opinion, a little 'fun'.
Poetry, by its very nature, is a very personal beast, and this is very clear in much of the subject matter about which May writes. One or two of the poems appear almost as snippets or sketches for longer works - but then whoever set a length for the 'perfect' poem?
All in all this is a great collection which is well worth exploring
Highly recommended.