Sherri

Firstly, when is Sean Barrett going to win the Nobel Prize for Narrators? He is a genius and he superbly creates this book's main character Guido Guerrieri. Guido is interesting - sort of an Italian Rebus in that he loves his music, finds intimacy difficult and prefers taking a stroll on the wild side. However he's a lawyer, not an policeman and in this story, the only lawyer in Italy prepared to take on the rather heartbreaking case. A young woman is being stalked by her well connected and abusive ex lover. She's under the protection of a young nun who also happens to be a martial arts expert. Guido finds the nun compelling even though he has more than enough to contend with at home. Did I mention this is an Italian novel? Anyway, it's well constructed, well written, the main character is terrific and the story only too believable. The narration is masterful. Highly recommended.

A beautiful study of the effects of ageing on a powerful mind - quite brilliant from that point of view. However the story is very dull. Drumming fingers on the table dull.

A phenomenal best seller in its day, this book is engaging as a great example of the behaviour of the era. Very well written and retains enough mystery to attach to it but the inability of the women at the centre of the story to cope emotionally with the ongoing dramas was thoroughly annoying. Falling about with the vapours was obviously an accepted reaction in those days, doesn't wash now.

The attention to detail is a feature of this great book. Joseph Kanon is a wonderful writer who's put together a thoughtful thriller set in a fascinating city during a turbulent time. I notice other reviews have quibbled about the narration -they're crackers, it's masterful.

I almost wrote 'life changing' as my title but as not a lot of life has gone by since I've read it perhaps I should wait a while. The audio book grabbed me so much I bought the hard copy to have as a reference to keep dipping into. In a whip smart, easy reading sort of way new theories regarding willpower are explored and explained. And new ideas for finding some are brought forward. It seems there's an 'ahh haa' light bulb moment on every page - certainly in every chapter- and this book feels as if it's been written by a friend, not a stern and 'disappointed in you' parent or teacher. I wonder why it was narrated by a man when it was written by a woman but he does a good job. If you feel a bit stuck in old habits that aren't serving you or you want to find the motivation to do something you've always wanted to....this is a great book to get you going.

Does this book need another rave review? Probably not but I can't help recording my love for this beautifully constructed, touching, funny, clever story. Don't miss it under any circumstances - if only to hear a master narrator in Edoardo Ballerini at work. His Richard Burton is worth the price of the book alone. Very credit worthy. Very highly recommended.

I was delighted with Generation Loss and my introduction to Cass Neery and couldn't wait to wrap my ears around this one. I don't know exactly the source of my disappointment in Available Dark, the next novel in the series (the ending prepares the ground for a third). It could be that this character is too difficult to sustain. Her quirks and 'issues' delighted me in the first book but now bore and annoy the hell out of me. Maybe the location (Iceland) was too testing, the other characters too mad and improbable, the subject matter too disturbing. Perhaps all of the above.If you're into death metal you might enjoy it. If not, settle for Generation Loss and then leave Cass alone to carry on (wearing the same leather jacket and cowboy boots) doing her thing. I know that's what I intend to do.

I didn't think I could find anything as satisfying as a Kurt Wallender (Henning Menkell) novel but praise the Lord and pass the ammunition, here is Jo Nesbo with his main man, Harry Hole. What is it about Scandinavian crime - it reigns supreme. The best thing about The Redeemer is the plot twists and turns without becoming convoluted. The characters are interesting, believable and multil layered, even the minor ones. Even when you know who's done what and why, you still don't know how it will end. Nesbo is such a skilfull writer, I'm thrilled to have finally discovered him.

Not the book for you if you enjoy a 'will he, will she' romance. This is an adventure amongst blokes( including a highwayman with a heart of gold) salted with enough local idiom to make you scream for mercy. The narrator makes a good fist of it and the hero is a good'un but I don't think Ms Heyer would have rated this as one of her finest.

As much as I admired this book I do wish Inspector Lynley would get over his wife's death and throw himself into the centre of the action again. However despite the lack of Lynley, Believing the Lie is a very well constructed book. One of of Lynley's old flames, Deborah St James, is a main character in this story and frankly she gave me the pip - in fact many of George's female characters can be annoying but the brilliantly drawn Barbara Havers (also pushed to the margins in this book) makes up for all of them. I'm not a fan of Davina Porter as a narrator but I think I'm one of the few. You won't find a lot of gory murders in this book, it's an engrossing story of lies creating serious consequences for those who tell them and those who believe them.