THIS MONTH'S BOOK REVIEWS...THIS MONTH'S BOOK REVIEWS
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James Gault reviews The Girl in the Baker’s Van by Richard Savin
After ‘The Right to Bear Arms’, Richard Savin stays with the events of the Second World War for this fast-moving espionage novel. The work of the British secret service organisation SOE and SIS and their relationship with the French resistance has featured prominently in literature, and this is another fine example. The story weaves its way through occupied and Vichy France as the heroine flees for safety. The tension and intrigue mount as she struggles to avoid the clutches of the SS and to identify friend from foe in a dark world of lies and deceit. Although the plucky French resistance girl and her suave British spy love interest are stock fare of such stories, the author draws them convincingly and he has a nice line in ‘baddies’ as well. A well-written and engrossing page turner which recalls the best of the Alastair Maclean thrillers. A must for lovers of WW2 spy stories. 
Ted Bun reviews Gallows View (Inspector Banks Series Book 1) by Peter Robinson
Mentioning darker plots … I was tempted by a low-cost edition of book one of the Inspector Banks series (the first of twenty-four, it could be expensive). On the other hand, it was not a strong book. Written in the 1980’s which I managed to pick up from the smoking in public buildings and one mention of synthesiser and drum music, some of the plot devices had not stood the test of time. The opera-loving hero and the Radical Woman character. Some of the writing was very repetitive ‘Banks lights another cigarette!” Headlines in the Eastvale Herald. Many of the characters are very one dimensional, all the women are stunningly attractive, the bad guys are irredeemably evil, petty but evil. If I was going for a post-Rebus detective … Derek Fee’s character Ian Wilson is far better. Definitely in the I gather there is a TV series based on these books. Reviews indicate they might get better so I may try another. 2 Stars 
Ted Bun reviews What Have You Done by Matthew Farrell
Another dark and nasty American murder psycho-drama with a twist in its tail, story. I am struggling with this book. So much so I re-read the Lady Hardcastle mysteries to avoid it. ********* |
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