TRYING TO CATCH UP!

I've only just realised, I've read at least 5 books (possibly more) since I last posted here.

September has just galloped by.

I had a wonderful time singing with the Big Big Sing Community Choir at Glasgow Green for Proms in the Park (the last night of the Proms) and we even appeared live on BBC2 Scotland.

Two days after that I left for a week's holiday in Spain.  I did plenty of reading but no time for blogging!

I have recently been reading crime/thrillers/mysteries.  I enjoyed them all although they were all very different.  I was given advance copies via Netgalley but two of them have still to be published, one on 6 October and the other on 20 October so I'll put these in a separate post.


The first was The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan.

There are at least two stories going on here. On his last day at work Inspector Chopra encounters a distraught mother whose son has been found drowned and the body brought to the police station. No one seems to be investigating the matter. In fact Chopra's superior wants the case closed, saying the boy drowned. Chopra thinks the death could have been the result of foul play and wants to investigate.

On that same day Chopra had received word that he had inherited a baby elephant. When he arrives home from his last day at work the small baby elephant has been delivered. The problem is Inspector Chopra and his wife Poppy live on the 15^th floor of a tower block in Mumbai. However Chopra is one of these people who seems to be able to deal with anything that comes along. His wife Poppy seems the strong quiet type. Although they have been married for a long time they have no children but they obviously love each other.

Naturally Inspector Chopra continues to investigate the boy's death unofficially and uncovers some terrible goings on. You don't know who can be trusted and who is 'on the take' and/or involved in criminal activities.

I love the way the various threads of the story are interwoven. While investigating the boy's death he is also trying to find out how to help the baby elephant, now named Ganesha. The little elephant has a part to play in the unfolding investigation.

Also, unknown to his wife Poppy, he has been preparing for his retirement. All she knows is he take regular phone calls from someone but doesn't speak to her about them. Then when his investigation starts and he leaves the house, sometimes for several hours, she starts to think he has another woman.

I like the Chopras. They seem a charming couple.  Although it is a stand alone book the story ends leaving a door open for further books.  I'll be looking out for the next book!

It reminded me a little of the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency (only very slightly, not a copy) although that was set in Botswana and the protagonist was a strong, sensible young woman and not a hardworking retired police inspector. If you liked that series of books by Alexander McCall Smith then you would probably like this book.

Her Final Breath by Robert Dugoni is the second book in a series of three.

I haven't read the first book but that didn't prevent me getting drawn into this story. There are references in Her Final Breath to events and characters in the first book but Her Final Breath can stand alone.   I thought this was a great book right from the start and having read it, I now want to read My Sister's Grave.

Tracy Crosswhite has returned to work as a detective following the retrial of her sister's killer and becomes involved in the investigation of what turns out to be a number of murders of young women in the North Seattle area.

It would also appear someone is out to get Tracy.

The suspense begins almost immediately - no long drawn out introduction to the characters before anything happens - and the tension is maintained throughout.

Clues are pretty scarce but there may be a link to an older homicide in the area.  However Tracy's attempts to investigate this further are thwarted by her boss at every turn.  Does he have something to hide?

There are lots of suspects along the way (and red herrings) but I didn't manage to guess the identity of the serial killer.

This is definitely one of these books that keeps you reading through the night just to find out who the serial killer is and if Tracy will be targeted next.

"GLUM" ISN'T SO GLUM

I'm a bit late with my latest "reviews".  I've been busy working my way through three very enjoyable books.

The first of these is Glum by Eilian J Richmond.

Although the book is called "Glum" it's not glum at all.  I thought it was a very enjoyable book. Sometimes sad, sometimes frustrating but overall funny and very entertaining.

Are you a fan of tv talent shows?  I watch them (sometimes) but with a degree of cynicism.  I intensely dislike the cringeworthy moments when they narrate the back story of the contestant, usually involving bereavement, unemployment, desertion or depression - sometimes all of them.

Well the main character, Andrew, is 30 and has gone back to  live with his mum.  He writes songs and plays the guitar.  He's recently been diagnosed with clinical depression.  When he tells his Mum she merely says "you're glum".  When he tells his best friend Sam (who I found irritating but in a good and necessary way for the story), Same thinks "that is so rock and roll" and suggests that he should apply for the tv talent show.

Andrew applies (without telling anyone) and the rest of the story is about Andrew's 'journey' on the show, during which he meets a girl he really likes but she is already with someone.

We encounter quite a few hilarious characters and also get glimpses into the past where we meet a younger Andrew.

Andrew's Mum is a lovely character too - she seems very soft and gentle, often gets her metaphors and her words mixed up, but is stronger than you realise and the love between her and Andrew is pretty obvious.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book but I thought it was very good.

There is a little bonus with the book.  There is a link to Andrew's songs which you can stream or download for free on Soundcloud.  (www.soundcloud.com/glumsongs).