CQM > Recent Status Updates

Yes, that Irene Handl.

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This is a corker and no mistake.

Sorry, how many pages?

I'm so close to the end of this book but I'm so weary.
I've read some Paul Willetts before and I think he's a cracking writer but this is seriously testing my limits.
The research is obviously immaculate, too immaculate, I don't think anybody needs to know this much about anybody.
Would it be insane to packnit in this near to the end?

"He had pink butterfly ears. The rest of him was still in the larval stage."

"Bottleton East, down Limehouse way, was one of thos primitive communities where the native sons, largely recruited from the costermongering and leaning-up-against-the-walls-of-public-houses industries, have a primitive sense of humour and think things funny which are not funny at all."

It's no good appealing to the warm humanity of a fellow who believes in chaining up nail-brushes.

Just finished the chapter where Jack is reunited with all his old chums in the local and frankly it made me feel pubsick (homesick for the pub) I've only managed 4 or 5 trips to the pub since lockdown started easing and those visits only made me long for the days of raucous but ultimately good-natured sessions pre covid.

"I have never quite known what 'eldritch' means but there is no reasonable doubt in my mind that eldritch is what that shriek was."

Cracking stuff so far. Exciting but, also thoughtful. Gives an insight into living with the Nazis and how they managed to take such a hold over Germany.

Totally unexpectedly Gerald Kersh has popped up in the tale as a regular of the Fitzroy Tavern.

The preparation is on a par with some of my own, smaller scale, expeditions.

Time for something a little lighter after The Face of Terror...

Really enjoyed the first 70 odd pages, prime Balchin. Slowed a little now, a surprise as we are now heading into the main part of the plot but I expect it to pick up again.
On top form there are very few to beat Balchin.

Really enjoying this so far, Delderfield is immensely readable but there's a lot of depth in here too.

The gang are halfway through the wall of the jewelers shop and the noise has attracted the attention of Constable Piper...
Having read Donald Rumbelow's excellent The Houndsditch Murders And The Siege Of Sidney Street this is an enjoyable fictional version filling in the historical blanks with fictional conjecture.

Guy is sailing perilously close to the wind in his marriage to Harriet. Simon sailing close to the Germans on the desert front line.

Finished The Danger Tree and just about o embark upon The Battle Lost and Won.
Excellent stuff as usual.

Shocking cover on this, going to test my resolve reading it on the train.

I'm giving up on this. Far too long winded and rambling. Occasionally threatens to break out into some kind of interest but it's a short life and there are other books need reading.

Early days but at the moment I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy this.

"And as for the (Indian) natives, well, where else will you find such a docile humble set of slaves? I liked them better than the Scots, anyhow; their language was easier to understand."
Flashy showing his diplomatic skills on arrival in India. These books are just as good second time round.

Part one was excellent, really enjoying this. Yakimov is a fantastic tragicomic character if I'm any judge.

Putting this on hold for now... Nothing wrong with the book, just not in the mood.

In Leslie Titmuss we have the shameless social climber to end all shameless social climbers.