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This an horrifically sad book on which to end the year. His Father's action as he went to the truck 'He tried to smile, helplessly raised his hand and waved goodbye, as if I were setting out into life and he was already greeting me from beyond the grave'.

At 33% of the book I was close to giving up. The humour was not doing anything for me. The pace was slow and I couldn't warm to the characters.
However I'm still going at 45%: Something has happened which has suddenly made me want to continue> Without a spoiler, I can't say what.
This was on the way to 1*, is now at 3*: Potential for higher

This is turning out to be much better that I expected. The pace is good and the characters are interesting. From the reviews of others I expect this to keep me interested to the end. Already know it will be a 4 o5 * rating

This is developing into a stunning, gripping story.

Certainly a 5* rating

This is another 'not all in one sitting' book. It is very well written and is providing an insight into how Hitler managed to develop such a following in post WW1 Germany.

Without doubt this is building up to a 5* rating.
I love the setting, the development of the characters is intriguing and the pace of the story is swift.
If it keeps going like this it is one I'll be recommending.

Please wait for my final review; this book is a slow burner, but at the stage I have reached it is becoming stunning as a piece of historical fiction. I am intrigued by the section where the 'hero' is trying to communicate with the natives

I am still reading this, but I'm having a break: it is a very disturbing book. although I have read many other accounts of the Holocaust; this is so well written that it conjures up such graphic mental images. I need something a bit lighter to red, then I will come back to this. I will be rating it 5* without a doubt.

Having purchased this book on a visit to Auschwitz, I have put off reading it: The combination of a well written book and my mental images to place some of this in context is making this a harrowing read.

It took a while to get into this book. Now that characters are established it is getting better all the time. Part 2 is proving to be intriguing. Must get back to it!

This book is stunning, real pace and close links to real events.

The central characters are interesting and there are plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I have no idea how this one will end!

The early promise of a good story is certainly developing.
" You see, I am a friend of the London detective who was shot......I would hate you to cheat justice by dying before the judge makes an example of you".
The characters are believable and the quality of the descriptive writing is making this an enjoyable book to read.

This is a promising start. In the first 6 chapters many of the central characters have been met.
The central one being Amos Hawke, who has arrived in Cornwall to assist with tracking down the murderer of 3 people. I love the descriptive language: Quote: "When Amos rode along the narrow lane to keep his first rendezvous....a quarter-moonwas playing hide and seek with the cirrus cloud that peppered the night sky."

I nearly gave up the first few chapters were long and complex. I couldn't really see where it was leading.

Now, I'm fully hooked.

There are alternate short chapters, which are clearly telling a story.

Sage, the central character has been befriended by Josef.

"Inside each of us is a monster; inside each of us is a saint. The real question is which one we nurture the most, which one will smite the other."

So far this is a promising book. The main characters established so far are leading into a swiftly developing story, involving life in occupied France,

I have high hopes for this book,the first I have read by this author.

This book has already got me totally captivated.

Fougasse says to Luc " If you try to fight back...they will take reprisals on the whole village....it is more ugly than even your worst nightmare"

With that Luc sees his family taken away.

I am intrigued by the way this story is being woven.

Klara says to Jenni: 'I feel you pulling my story out of me like a length of wool'. 'As though I am unravelling you?'

The descriptions of Java during the occupation seem so real.

I am fully intrigued by the story so far.

Nicholas, the main character is starting to seek the murderer.

I'm learning new theatrical terms from the Elizabethan era.

The arrival of Susan provides an unexpected twist; I wonder how this will fit in?

The family saga is certainly developing well and I love the descriptions of the life and characters on Exmoor.

The passage dealing with the 'visits' to the churches is really enjoyable.

I am finding the political and religious intrigue which takes place off Exmoor to be a bit hard to link to the family saga at present.

The descriptions of Exmoor are brilliant.

I love the way the characters are developing and the links to the history of the time are being developed.

Set about a hundred years after The House of Lanyon, but this book has the same sense of family saga which keeps me turning the pages.

So far so good!

My first impressions? I am going to like this book a lot.

Daniel, the central character is back home in Cornwall. There are glimpses at what has happened to him in France.

These are inter-woven with the development of characters from his childhood.

The quality of the writing is intriguing: Quote 'I was fool enough to think that a human being could be cleverer than a war-but the war didn't care either way.'

I am really enjoying the pace of this book. The characterisation is very good and there are enough twists and turns in the story to keep me turning the pages.

The insight into the different male/female attitudes and expectations is developing well

It has become a bit complicated, with many new characters introduced during the Second World war sections. I like the recurring references to 'cogs in the machine'

Quote: 'We're just cogs in a machine really, aren't we?' Miss Fawcett said to her and Ursula said, 'But remember, without the cog there is no machine.'

The story is developing well. There are a lot of characters with which to get to grips. I am finding that I have to go back to re-read earlier sections to keep up with the plot. However, as with other Kate Atkinson books the crafting of the story and the characterisation is very good