The World According to Bob

In this sequel to "A Street Cat Named Bob", author James Bowen brings us up to date with his and Bob's life a couple years on.  Their life on the streets of London continues on as it had been.  There are amusing and some very serious incidents recounted.  Bowen has come to realise that although Bob has a need for him, Bowen needs Bob even more.

Bowen comes to the depths of despair when his own health troubles result in him being hospitalised.  He thinks that it might be best if he let Bob go his own way.  However, when he comes out of the hospital he is greeted by a very happy Bob.  Their reunion is very heart warming.

Bob's story is written up in one of London's newspapers and before long, Bowen is offered a chance to tell their story in a book.  Unfortunately for the pair jealousy rears its ugly head when fellow sellers of The Big Issue become aware of the book.  It leads to Bowen giving up that source of income and returning to busking.  He isn't expecting any great return from his book, so he feels the need to busk to support himself and the cat that saved him.

James Bowen tells a very heartwarming story of his and Bob's life of the streets of London.  Cat lovers and non-cat lovers will see the importance of having a special love in one's life as both Bowen and Bob have discovered.  A great read.

Death in the Cotswolds

A cottage in the Cotswolds has been broken into, unbeknownst by the woman (who is the narrator of this novel) looking after it.  When the current owner, a policeman and his girlfriend show up, it is discovered by the three of them.  It seems as though a man has been secretly using the attic for Masonic purposes.

This has happened in October, and Ariadne, the pagan narrator is preparing for Samhain.  She goes to the Barrow at Notgrove to prepare in her mind the Samhain ceremony.  There she discovers the body of one of her female friends.  The body has been laid out as if in a sacrifice.

Although Detective Superintendent Phil Hollis, and his girlfriend Thea are on holiday, he is drafted into the investigation.  He is also forced to inform the local police about the use of his aunt's attic for Masonic purposes.

A few days later the body of another young woman is found at the Barrow in exactly the same position.  Ariadne is brought in for questioning because she knew both women.  Ariadne and Thea try to piece together who the murderer is with no more success than do the police.

Author Rebecca Tope presents a surprising reason for the murders in this murder mystery.  A good quick, light read.

Chill Factor

DI Charlie Priest and his team have been called out to a murder.  The suspect is still in the house.  It was he who had called it in.  During the interview in which the suspect confirms committing the murder, he also states that the victim had raped and killed his wife.  This was a revenge killing.

Priest is not satisfied that things are just as they seem.  Priest proposes a number of scenarios that could have resulted in the wife's death.  Meantime, a juvenile car thief is playing havoc with the force, thereby upsetting the normal routine of a murder investigation.

A photo in the murder victim's house leads Priest on a new quest.  Priest also discovers a closer connection between the killer and the victim.  Therefore, he is not pleased when the killer is granted bail.  But, what can he do?

Another case comes to light from a local prison.  A prisoner has asked that someone be bumped off.  It turns out that the certain someone is Charlie Priest.  Although he now has to put up with bodyguards, Charlie doesn't give up on his quest.  Another murder of a young woman in another jurisdiction comes to light.  Is it a copycat, or not?  Priest is determined to find out.

Author Stuart Pawson ties cases together from across the country in this murder mystery to form the case against the real killer.  A very good read, which is hard to put down.

Death of an Innocent

It is a snowy Sunday morning and DS Monika Paniatowski has driven out to the cottage where her boss, Chief Inspector Charlie Woodend lives to inform him that a couple have been shot to death at a farmhouse.  When they arrive they find that the male has been shot in the chest and head with a shotgun.  The female appears to be only about 15 years old.  The owner of the house is missing.

A BBC reporter is the one who has called in the crime; he has also released the information to the BBC.  Woodland immediately arrests him.  For this, Woodend is suspended from the force by his DCC.  It isn't long before he is scheming with Paniatowski to stay informed and do some sleuthing on the sly, which could get the both of them into a lot more trouble.

The following day a DCI from a neighbouring constabulary is in to question Paniatowski about Woodend.  A formal investigation into her DCI has begun.  However, that isn't going to stop Woodend from proceeding with his own investigation into the murders.

It isn't long after this that Woodend is pulled in a end charged with accepting bribes.  He knows that he has been set up by his vengeful DCC.  After getting out on bail, Woodend is threatened by a local criminal, who indicates he has ties to the DCC.  Woodend and Paniatowski carry on with their secret investigation.  They discover who the murder victims were, and their ties to some local criminals.  Although they now have proof, they have no way of presenting it.  What to do?

Author Sally Spencer has written an excellent crime novel in "Death of an Innocent".  A read you won't want to put down.

Blood on the Sand

DI Andy Horton, while on leave, is walking on the beach of the Isle of Wight when he comes across a young woman kneeling in front of a bunker.  She is in shock and there is a decomposing body inside the bunker.  She tells Horton that it is her brother.  After the local police come to get the body and take her away, she tells him that she is a psychic and that is how she knew where to find the body.

When Horton returns to his boat, he finds that it has been broken into and trashed.  Who and why come to mind; could it have been the victim's murderer?  Superintendent Uckfield decides to bring in the major crime unit.  Horton is sure that the young woman in question is in danger.  He rushes to her home, only to find her, lying face down on her bed.   Before he knows it, he is attacked and knocked out.  The house they are in is then set afire.

Further information discovered by the investigating team determines that the attacks could be related to deaths in the past.  They have a very determined killer on their hands.  When a third murder occurs, the police are unsure how it ties in, but at the same time are sure that it must.

Many knots are woven into the plot, including one in Superintendent Uckfield's back resulting in him being place on medical leave.  The local DCI is place in charge, much to Horton's chagrin.  Horton is also removed from the case, and he fears for the outcome.

Author Pauline Rowson has written another exciting novel that keeps the reader guessing right up until the final pages.  A very good read that you won't want to put down.

Railway to the Grave

It is 1855 and a man has walked directly into an oncoming train.  On his body is a note asking the finder to contact Superintendent Tallis of Scotland Yard.  Superintendent Tallis, Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming set off to inquire into the death of what turns out is an old army friend of Tallis.  Tallis had received a letter indicating that his friend's wife had disappeared.

Tallis is not impressed when the newspaper suggests that the disappearance of his friend's wife is associated with his death.  The towns people are sure that the victim had killed his wife.  Colbeck now wants to focus on the disappearance of the wife.  The local railway policeman is of the opinion that the wife is not dead, that she has simply left the area.

Shortly after the inquest into the suicide, the body of the wife is found.  Colbeck also finds out that the suicide had had words with at least two people in the community.  Spent cartridges with the body point Colbeck in the direction of the murderer.  He is certain that the suicide did not kill his wife and that the cartridges were a plant to mis-direct the police.

Author Edward Marston offers up several different suspects through the course of this Victorian murder mystery.  It isn't until the last few pages where the culprit is finally revealed.  A good, quick read.

The End of the Wasp Season

DS Alex Morrow has just finished burying her aunt when she is called by her boss to attend a murder in Thorntonhall.  The body is that of a young woman.  She has been found at the bottom of a set of stairs, her face a bloody mess.  There are two sets of bloody shoe prints left at the scene.  Both are similar.

Another thing discovered in the house were thousands of euros.  They were not carefully hidden, nor were they taken by the murderers.  It turns out that the victim was a working girl.

As the investigation progresses, Morrow discovers that the victim is connected to a man who committed suicide at almost the same time.  Her team are also investigating the carer of the mother of the victim.  Morrow's superior is hell bent on charging the sons of the carer.  Morrow is not so sure that he is on the right track.  Her investigations lead her elsewhere.

Author Denise Mina has written a good murder mystery in "The End of the Wasp Season".  The reader follows both the police and the criminal throughout the story.  A very good read.

Death Trap

Photographer Kate O'Donnell is concerned about the treatment of some her friends in the building they have flats in.  The owner is trying to push them out, even though their rent is controlled.  She turns to DS Harry Barnard for help.  This pair are at odds, but at the same time sparks are there that they won't admit to.

Barnard does a little investigating to find out who owns the house.  Kate and her roommate, Tess, happen to meet up with the father of one of her students.  The following morning Kate finds out that the man has been arrested.  Is it because he is a black man?  The girls are warned to find another flat, for their own safety.

The father of one of Tess' students is arrested after the police barge into his house.  The family is sure that the police have planted ganja in the house.  Eh is also accused of murdering a white prostitute.  Kate wants to gather evidence that will prove his innocence.  She discovers that the lad is now missing.   It leads her to wonder how corrupt the police in Notting Hill are.

The girls are shocked when they are given an eviction notice, although they had been expecting it.  Meantime, Barnard is quietly investigating the buyer and seller of the building that the girls are living in.  For his efforts he gets beaten up, not once, but twice; he also finds out that Kate is threatened.

Author Patricia Hall has written a very good thriller about the racial tensions and corrupt policing of London in the early 1960s.  A very good read.

The Gods of War

Caesar has crossed the Rubicon!  Pompey has ordered the senate to flee Rome with him.  Once Caesar has Rome in his hands he plans on following Pompey to Greece.  He plans to put Mark Antony in charge of Rome, while he takes Brutus with him to fight Pompey.  It is something that Brutus has a hard time with, so he decides to join Pompey in Greece.

Caesar has only one option, and that is to go after Pompey and Brutus. Min the cold of winter he invades Greece.  Before the armies can join in battle, he offers Pompey's army peace, and is rejected.  Caesar then leads Pompey on a chase across Greece, finally turning to face him on the flat plain at Pharsalus.  Outnumbered two to one Caesar wins the battle and Pompey is forced to flee.  Caesar follows the fugitive south and then across the Mediterranean to Egypt.  There he finds that Pompey has been assassinated.

Now in Alexandria, Caesar meets with Ptolemy, the 13 year old king.  It doesn't take Caesar long to realise that Ptolemy is ruled by someone else.  He is then surprised when Cleopatra is delivered to him in a rolled up carpet.  It doesn't take long for the beautiful queen to convince Caesar to join her in her quest for control of the Egyptian throne.

Although Caesar's men capture Ptolemy, and negations between the two nations are successful, treachery abounds.   When all is said and done Caesar begins to plan an empire based in Rome and including Alexandria and Cleopatra.  Later, he is given a grand welcome back in Rome.  He informs the citizens of his dreams of a Roman Empire.

Unfortunately for Caesar, there are members of the senate who don't like what he is planning.  He is offered a crown, but he rejects it, which pleases the masses.  Although he rejects the crown, it doesn't prevent certain members of the senate from assassinating him.

Author Conn Iggulden had written an excellent historical novel that finishes off the Empire series.  Space constraints prevented the author from offering the complete story, however, it is still a very good read.

The House at Sea's End

DS David Clough and DS Judy Johnson have been called out to The House at Sea's End because a group of archeologists have found bones.  Unfortunately they can not get to them now because of the incoming tide.  The next morning forensic archeologist Ruth Galloway begins her investigation of the bodies.

DCI Harry Nelson has returned from a holiday on the Canary Islands just in time to supervise the excavation, for it seems that the bodies are victims of murder.  The bodies are all male, and all have been shot; execution style.  Could they have been soldiers from one of the wars?  Ruth plans to run an isotope analysis on the bones.

The analysis shows that the men came from Germany.  Nelson is sure that the local home guard from the last war needs to answer some questions.  Not long after this a German academic visits Ruth.  He had received a letter from one of the home guard speaking of a great evil.  Could it have to do with a German invasion in World War II?

When Nelson checks up on the home guard men, two have recently died.  Although the causes seem to be natural, Nelson is suspicious.  Later, the German academic is found floating in the sea; he had been stabbed in the heart.  Nelson is convinced the case is related to a German invasion plan.  But how are the current murders and the invasion plan tied together?

Author Elly Griffiths ramps up the tension as the story nears its conclusion.  A very good, quick read.

Black Ice

Sergeant Jill Jackson is working undercover, and has helped in two successful drug busts.  The hope is that her work will bring in someone big.  After a recent bust, Jill's sister is hospitalised as a result of drug use.

Jill gets an invitation to one of the drug lord's home.  She is sure by the way that he is watching her that he might be suspicious of her.  She is shocked when her sister walks in.  Fortunately Cassie doesn't say anything.

As Jill gets further into her investigation, she turns to her friend with the Feds, Gabriel.  As the team gets closer to the big meth distributor, things get tangled for Jill and Gabriel.  Can they get to him before things get terribly out of hand?

Author Leah Giarratano has a couple of sub-plots entwined within this thriller that help tie the story together.  She builds the suspense to such a peak that the reader is unable to put the book down.  A thoroughly enjoyable read.

I Remember You

Harry Devlin is acting on behalf of Finbar Gilfillan in his divorce proceedings.  The night before the court date, Finbar's tattooing establishment had been torched.  And just before the court began, Sinead, Finbar's wife dropped a bombshell, stating that she knew what happened to that girl, Eileen.  This leaves Harry wondering who Eileen is and what happened to her.

It isn't long after this that Finbar's car is bombed.  Fortunately for him, he is in bed at the time; with a woman who isn't his girlfriend.  Meantime, Harry's partner is involved in an automobile accident.  As a result, Harry has to handle a land transaction.  Not that he minds because the person he is dealing with is a beautiful woman.  However, Harry begins to wonder about the transaction.  Why are the woman and her husband in such a rush to sell.  When the prospective buyers are forced to back out on the deal, he wonders how his clients will take it.

Harry is shocked later to find out that Finbar has been killed, as a matter of fact run over several times.  At this point in time the only suspect is Finbar's ex-girlfriend. Harry sets out to investigate.  He discovers things he is not prepared for.

Author Martin Edwards has written an intriguing murder mystery with several twists to the plot.  A good, quick read.

Death Called to the Bar

The annual feast is being celebrated at Queen's Inn.  Unfortunately for the lawyers gathered there, one of them dies during the meal.  DCI Jack Beecham has been put in charge of what appears to have been a poisoning death.  At 32, the DCI seems too young and inexperienced for the Treasurer at Queen's in to manage such in investigation.  Lord Francis Powerscourt is called upon to conduct a private investigation for the barristers of Queen's Inn.

One of the things that Powerscourt finds out from his friend, Johnny Fitzgerald, is that the victim had failed to get a criminal off, and that the criminal after serving his time is now newly out of prison.

Some time after the death another lawyer at the Inn disappears.  The murder victim and the missing lawyer had been working on a fraud case together.  With both lawyers out of the picture it is possible that the fraud case could be delayed or not go ahead at all.  The missing lawyer is found shot to death.  Fitzgerald also finds out from his underworld connections that Powerscourt's life could be in jeopardy.

As Powerscourt continues his investigation, the number of suspects grows, rather than shrinking.  At this point in time another lawyer disappears.  Did he disappear because he is the murderer?  Author David Dickinson continues to build up tension and provides a shocking conclusion to this Edwardian murder mystery.  A good read.

The Glass Devil

Inspector Irene Huss and Superintendent Andersson go in search of a young teacher who has been reported missing.  They find him dead, murdered in his house.  When Huss goes to inform the parents of the death of their son, she finds them also murdered in their home.  In both cases a star inside a circle has been smeared in blood on the victims' computer monitor.  Who would want to wipe out an entire family?

It also appears that the computer hard drives at both locations have been wiped.  The star in a circle is a pentagram, a symbol of satanists.  The pathologist is sure that it wasn't a ritualistic killing.  Huss needs to travel to London to question the daughter of the victim to see if she can provide any background to the killings.  Later it is discovered that the daughter had been investigating a computer-based paedophile ring.  Could that have any connection to the satanists?

Author Helen Tursten subtly suggests to the reader a few possible suspects as this murder mystery unfolds.  It comes to a surprising conclusion.  A very good read.