This Body of Death

Inspector Lynley reluctantly returns in Elizabeth George's latest novel.  As usual George uses her writing technique to confuse yet draw in the reader of her mystery.  This murder mystery, set in London and Hampshire's New Forest has you guessing and re-guessing who the murderer is right up until the end.  George is a master of the murder mystery.  I highly recommend this book!

The Lost Symbol

Dan Brown's latest novel grips you and won't let you go until you have finished it.  Robert Langdon, made famous by The Da Vinci Code is involved in more secrets, this time secrets involving the Masons.   Once again the author attributes secret codes to a secret society, this time revolving around a pyramid.  I am sure that many of the points that Brown makes will be challenged by the Masons.

A good read, one you won't want to put down.

An Irish Country Girl

Patrick Taylor adds to his "An Irish Country..." series by telling the story of Kinky who is the cook and housekeeper for his Irish doctors in the above series.  The novel contains some very good Irish folk lore and Taylor sews them into his novel in a lovely way.  As I indicated in my previous blog, the Irish are great story tellers and Taylor provides the reader with both humour and tragedy.  This story is a great addition to his series and only makes me look forward to the next book in his series.

Tipperary

Frank Delaney's book "Tipperary" is an unusual read.  It contains stories told by three different people of Ireland in the late 19th Century and early 20th century; a time of conflict in that nation's history.  The stories told from the perspective of the three people is written by a narrator who analyses their stories as they are presented.  The three stories all revolve around an unrequited love, and the rebuilding of Tipperary Castle.  I will leave it to you, dear reader, to discover how it all turns out.

In closing, I must admit, the Irish are great story tellers.

The Madman and The Butcher

Tim Cook's combined biography of Sir Sam Hughes and Sir Arthur Currie were a great read for this student of history.  It is a book that should be in all school libraries across the country.

Although Sam Hughes was the Minister of Militia when World War I broke out and he quickly put together a contingent of volunteers to aid the Mother Country, Great Britain, in the "Great War" he did it by bullying and patronage.  He was bombastic in his approach to all.

Arthur Currie was a militia leader, chosen by Hughes to be one of the Canadian Expeditionary Force's leaders.  Currie would go on to keep the CEF together as a fighting force, to rise through the ranks to become the Corps Commander and to win many battles for our young nation, plus deservedly earn the respect of those commanders he served alongside.  Unfortunately it took its toll on him, and he suffered from what we now recognise as post traumatic stress disorder.  He would have to fight to maintain his positive reputation after the war, too.

This read reinforced my views of Hughes as not being a good leader and of Currie as being the hero that he should be remembered for.