P.R.’s Comments (group member since Mar 22, 2016)

P.R.’s comments from the Devon Book Club group.

This sounds fascinating, and I would love to be entered in the giveaway. Many thanks, Ian!

My highlight for 2019 must be finding two outstanding authors and gobbling up their books! The first is James Oswald, who writes thrillers with a hint of mystery. His ‘Inspector McLean’ series, beginning with ‘Natural Causes’ is set in Edinburgh.

He’s also started a new series with a female protagonist Constance Fairchild, the first of which ‘No Time to Cry’ is outstanding.

The other author may be well known to many of our readers: Elly Griffiths. I’m hooked on the Dr Ruth Galloway series at the moment.

Karen wrote: "My favourite was Germinal

And a surprise favourite series for me was the Whiteoaks of Jalna by Mazo de la Roche. It's the humour she shows when writing about the strong characters of ..."
I'd almost forgotten about this lovely series which I must confess to having read in the 1960s when I was still at school. Perhaps it's time for a revisit. I remember feeling devastated when I finished the series, and promptly reading it all over again!

Kathy wrote: "P.R. wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Mystery and intrigue and a hint of romance - down by the sea! I'm thrilled and grateful to have been long listed for the DLF writing prize again this year, this time with..."
My pleasure Kathy - I loved it. Devon, gripping plot, great characters... what's not to love? :)))

Kathy wrote: "Mystery and intrigue and a hint of romance - down by the sea! I'm thrilled and grateful to have been long listed for the DLF writing prize again this year, this time with [bookcover:The Silence Bef..."
This was on my Wishlist, so thank you very much Kathy, I've bought it and will, of course, review it. Can't wait to start it! :)

Margaret wrote: "I published my first novel in 2014. It is called ‘Crucial Evidence’ and it begins where most crime novels finish with the arrest of the offender. But have they arrested the right person? ‘Crucial E..."
These sound really interesting, Margaret! I'm off to Amazon to take a look :)

Margaret wrote: "I published my first novel 'Crucial Evidence' in January 2014. I had bought a publishing package because I was very nervous about doing it all myself. It worked reasonably well but I always felt th..."
This sounds like my kind of book, Margaret, and I can't wait to read it! Well done on taking back control and good luck with the relaunch :)

Welcome Mary! :)

Thanks so much Ian, I had no idea about this!

Ian wrote: "P.R. wrote: "Better late than never, I've just finished: That Still and Whispering Place by Kathy Shuker. I thoroughly recommend it as a good Christmas read! I think it's my #6 in t..."

Oh thank you Ian, I keep meaning to do so and completely failed!

Kathy - it's my pleasure!

Better late than never, I've just finished: That Still and Whispering Place by Kathy Shuker. I thoroughly recommend it as a good Christmas read! I think it's my #6 in the A-Z of Devon Writers, so I'm way behind you, Ian!

Here's my review:

The title of this book perhaps does not do justice to how gripping the underlying plot really is. In the Kindle version you don't really see the cover (you can, but I never look!) which in the tactile versions more than hints at its genre, so it came as something of a surprise to find myself hooked right from the start.

This is a beautifully written and well structured novel. At times it seemed to dawdle, which I why I have deducted a star, but it picked up pace and raced along towards the end. I liked the main character and sympathised with her situation - something which not many authors achieve as well as Kathy Shuker does here.

Would I read it again? Yes, and more!

Kathy wrote: "Not a new book, but my most recent, That Still and Whispering Place, set in Cornwall, is on special offer on multiple digital platforms at 99p in the UK. It's a limited time offer.
The tag-line: An..."
Ooh - thank you Kathy! This was on my wish list, and I've now bought it :)

Michelle wrote: "Hi everyone
Ian very kindly accepted my application to join this group so I just thought it might be nice to introduce myself.
My name is Michelle Kenney, l live in South Devon and I’ve just signe..."

Michelle your books sound intriguing and I'm definitely going to follow the links! Welcome :)

J.G. wrote: "Trollope makes good radio drama, too. I've been listening to the Pallisers, and to the programme about the author himself on Radio 4. This is a perfect example of where audio books/radio have their..."

I too listened to 'The Pallisers' on Radio 4 via iplayer and thoroughly enjoyed it. Until now I haven't managed to read any of Trollope's books, so I was pleasantly surprised.

Elizabeth wrote: "Just read book 3 in the DI Nick Dixon series by Damien Boyd. Review posted on Amazon and on Goodreads, and repeated here as entry to the competition: "Kickback is book ..."
Thanks Elizabeth, you've just sold it to me! And the Kindle version is only 99p which is a steal... :)

I just remembered Lucy Pinney.

I've been browsing through the list for another book to read and review, but I've found there are quite a few authors who appear on the list but for whom I can find no information at all about what they have written. Just a thought, but might there be some on the list who are simply readers, not authors?

My third book in the A-Z of Devon Writers Challenge has been: The Last Treasure of Ancient England

This book drew me back to the kind of mystery/adventure stories I read as a child and to my own child. Written in the vein of C S Lewis, Marjorie Phillips and in some ways J K Rowling (Harry Potter series) it is one of those tales which can be equally enjoyed by a teenager and an adult. There is a wonderfully old-fashioned feel of 'good and bad' about the story. It is also remarkably packed with historical facts, many of which are intriguing.

The story is divided into three sections time-wise, the first part set around the Norman conquest and subsequent events, the main part in the twentieth century - nineteen eighties - and the third which peppers the main part, is set in the nineteen thirties. They blend together extremely well.

The plot centres around a schoolboy and his friends attempting to solve a mystery. In the beginning, though, we are led through the first part of that mystery which takes place in the eleventh century, the final twist being pushed into the third section. Odd, ghostly or supernatural happenings are well described as they enter the plot, and the story never lingers for too long on anything.

The school in which the main section is set is a remarkably old-fashioned private school with which the author is extremely familiar. The majority of the action takes place in Devon, although the area around Hastings and Norman France have been well researched and are beautifully described.

This book is very well-written and I enjoyed it. I must comment though, that as an older adult reading it, the school setting was amusing but much of the school-type adventure would, I feel, be more appealing to a far younger reader. This is simply a personal view, and not exactly a criticism, but I have deducted a star from my rating as I felt the book's audience was not really me! Would I read it again? I might.

[Note about the Kindle version: at the end of each chapter the words 'Go to top' indicate that perhaps this version was written in html? A simple edit removing these intrusive little words would be a great improvement, especially as the author(s) has gone to so much trouble with lovely chapter headings!]

My second book in the A-Z Challenge - Death And Deception
I found myself enjoying this book far more than I expected, as I usually find 'police procedurals' have a tendency to be formulaic. Not this one! The plot is excellent, with enough twists and turns to lead the reader in a number of false directions. The main character, Dan Hellier, is most likeable and I was quickly on his side as things began to go wrong.
The kindle version of the book needs a really good edit as it is peppered with formatting errors. It says a lot for the quality of the story that I found myself so engrossed as to be prepared to overlook them, and I have not deducted any stars for this reason.
Would I read it again? Yes, and I will now read more of this author.

Mel wrote: "Thank you, P.R. Just come across this. So humbling to receive such a positive review of Time to Shine. Glad you enjoyed the Exeter location, too."
I loved it Mel. Looking forward to reading more of your work! :)

My first book in the A-Z challenge - Time to Shine by Mel Menzies.

A beautifully written and engrossing book concerning the lives of two women whose past and present are unravelling and interacting. The familiar setting (to me) of Exeter is drawn with affection and balances with impeccable charm the clever psychological insights and structure. Some may find this story slow, but the action is all there in every small description of how life can change in moments from calm, serene and 'normal' to fraught with tension, confrontation and even hatred. An excellent book. Would I read it again? Most definitely.