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The Private Patient (Adam Dalgliesh Mystery)

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by: P.D. James

August 28, 2008
I do love Dalgliesh mysteries. This one is no exception. I don't want to give away the mystery itself, but it's magnificently set in Dorset, an ancient manor, but with a very modern vehicle for the mystery: plastic surgery.....

My one and only dissapointment with this novel was figuring out who the murderer was way to early..... I guess I've read to many PDJames' lol!

On the plus side, without giving the plot away, was the character development.
Kate is heavily featured. She's my fav side character!!! I do wish there would be a "passing the torch to Kate novel......." She's got some complications to her love life....
Benton-Smith seems to be maturing into a more wellrounded character.
Dalgliesh is ... Read More:

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Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)

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by: Stephenie Meyer

August 04, 2008
Breaking dawn is a amazing ending, seductive and as entertainning it is. You can enjoy this book knowing that it lives up to the past books, it twists and turns. Making a thrilling read although it could have been spread over 2 books.

Everything you knew comes and more, it makes for an interesting end to this amazing saga. I am annonyed that it has to come to an end but it certainly ends with a new way to look at Bella.

When it first switched to Jacob i was confused but when i worked it out, it actually made the book better. The ending was a bit "and they lived happily ever after..." but if you left it with a cliffhanger there would be that demand for another book. Only so many bad things can happen to a vampire and human otherwise ... Read More:

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The Forgotten Garden

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by: Kate Morton

May 29, 2008
I don't even know where to start in reviewing this book. I can't quite remember when a book drew me in and kept my attention for the duration of the novel like this one did. It was a long book but it was so engrossing I read it within a couple of days, I literally couldn't put it down. It was absolutely magical. Well done Kate Morton!

The story begins in 1913 with a very little girl who lands in Australia apparently without any history, even to the extent of not remembering her own name, only that a lady called 'the Authoress' is supposed to be looking after her and she has disappeared. She is taken in by the harbour master and his family and when no one comes forward to claim her they decide to keep her and call her Nell. Nell settles into the family ... Read More:

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The Road Home

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by: Rose Tremain

June 12, 2008
Fascinating to read so many rave reviews. I read this on a very long train journey and if I hadn't been stuck there would probably have abandoned it. Rose Tremain has a wonderful prose style and she organizes her plots really well with lots of development, but the novel didn't grip me at all. Characters were boring, situations obvious (mobile phone going off during concert, stereotypical rich/poor London, even more stereotypical run-down anonymous ex-eastern bloc country etc), the ending warm & cosy. Did nobody else find Lev deeply tedious? She is very good at doing her homework, so the top-class restaurant, police treatment of migrants, retirement home, and lots of other stuff were thoroughly credible. But I felt disappointed; maybe I'm just expecting too much.
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No Time For Goodbye

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by: Linwood Barclay

June 12, 2008
I couldn't put this book down. I really had no time for anything else whilst reading this.

A bit of a poor end to the story but a great read up till then. A real thought provoking plot with the story told from the husband's point of view, which made a nice change to the usual third person narration.

Highly recommended read chosen by Richard & Judy.

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Bones of the Hills (Conqueror 3)

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by: Conn Iggulden

September 01, 2008
This is just as good as the other two books, wolf of the plains & lord of the bow, Book one is the best in it's own wright as a great start to a fantastic series, just buy them all you would not regret it as you cannot put the book down.
Logan1

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Devil Bones

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by: Kathy Reichs

August 21, 2008
As ever, I was looking forward to the latest Tempe Brennan story. Ahead of Cornwell in the forensic anthropologist stakes, in my view but now I'm beginning to wonder. At first, I thought I'd somehow missed out a book. I don't remember Ryan leaving her in the lurch, I don't remember the dog leaving home but maybe I'm wrong.

Anyway, this book doesn't flow like the others. There's plenty of forensic detail, several bodies to be explained and a few more currently taken care of by the killer.

What I don't quite get is how an anthropologist becomes the number one detective. As though the police hardly make a difference for without Brennan, the case would not be solved. Which, of course, means her life is threatened once again. But this time, the coincidences are wearing ... Read More:

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The Outcast

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by: Sadie Jones

June 16, 2008
You can't not get totally absorbed in this story about 1950's middle class prejudice and hypocrisy. The story kept me completely hooked and I read it in just 2 evenings (and nights!!!). Lewis's (main character) journey takes you through all emotions possible, from sadness and despair to anger and even complacency. An excellant read that portrays the real bare bones of human nature and relationships. You ceratinly won't regret this read! Enjoy.

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The Book Thief

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by: Markus Zusak

January 01, 2008
i thought that the book thief was better then amazing, it was written so orignally and narrated quite light-heartedly even though the narratee is always percieved as a somewhat depressive character. I am usually a hard critic when it comes to books, but this book blew me away, not only did it make me smile at some points but also provoked tears at the end (this rarely ever happens to me). The Book Thief also enlightened me on the point of view from the German side in the Second World War, and made me realise that it wasnt just the Allies side that suffered.

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The Other Queen

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by: Philippa Gregory

August 21, 2008
I was so looking forward to this book, but I found it sadly lacking in... well, passion, I suppose. Mary Queen of Scots is a fascinating historical character, but she comes across as a bit of a wet blanket in this.

While the three voices thing worked well in "The Boleyn Inheritance", it is a bit repetitive here. We get the message early on that Bess is only interested in hanging onto her wealth. We really don't need to be told time after time how worried she is about losing the church silver again.

George and his honour become fairly wearing after the first hundred pages. The only interesting bits for me were the invented dialogues between the characters. But yeah, nice dust jacket and I always like a ribbon thing to keep my place!