This is my review of The Northern Clemency by Philip Hensher.

I agree with reviewers who have found the book too long and clunky. I did wonder whether the book has been highly regarded by "experts" – even published- because of the author's literary connections. Some of the dialogue was well-observed and amusing in a painful way such as the bullying of Jim by his teenage siblings, or the interrogation of Sandra by the police. All too often, potentially dramatic situations were built up, only to be allowed to drift away – this may of course have been a deliberate comment on real life.

Much of the plot seemed rather pointless and unengaging – again like real life. Did I imagine that Sheffield people were being patronised somewhat? I felt towards the end that I was reading a rather bland soap opera. The constant switching from one point of view to another was interesting where characters were shown to perceive events or each other differently, but meant I did not build up any close empathy with any one character.

Certainly, with some ruthless editing, this could have been transformed into a thought-provoking, possibly memorably quirky novel.

And I never did understand the meaning of the title….

⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars

This is my review of The Believers (Penguin Street Art) by Zoë Heller.

The characters are more important than the plot in this tale of the very different, admittedly rather exaggerated members of a New York based family, after successful left-wing lawyer Joel collapses in a coma.

Funny, imaginative, well-observed, this novel has the power both to entertain you but also enhance your sympathy for a varied group of initially unsympathetic characters, partly by revealing the complexity of their behaviour and what lies behind their flaws. We see, for instance, the reason for the mother Audrey's addiction to "saying the unsayable like it is" and how she is redeemed by the fact that this cruel honesty both gives her great resilience, and also, when least expected, prompts her to supply the necessary support to others e.g. to her daughter Karla, the most likeable character in the tale. Another reviewer has commented that she found it hard to believe that an innocent young English woman could have grown after forty years into the waspish character of Audrey, but I was fascinated by this example of how people can alter over time, as a reaction to what life throws at them.

Zoe Heller's writing is flawless in its striking imagery, witty, fast-paced exchanges and thought-provoking observations on people's motives and situations. New York is vividly evoked and the plot resists any final frantic attempt at the contrived tying up of loose ends. Instead, it meshes to a conclusion that satisfies by bringing us to partial acceptance and an understanding of the main characters, warts and all.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars

This is my review of The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry.

I would have rejected this book for its "grim" theme of an old woman dying in a mental asylum, but was obliged to read it as a "book group" choice. From the first page, I began to revise my opinion, struck by the poetic quality of the writing, with unusual and memorable imagery. The sad situation of the central character Roseanne was eased by her own wit and self awareness. The Catholic priest, Father Gaunt, was a wonderfully malign presence through the book.

The story deteriorated for me at the point when Roseanne recalled her life as a young married "normal" woman. The relationships with her husband and his family were underdeveloped and the events leading up to her incarceration were often unclear, even implausible. Without revealing too much, the manner in which she became pregnant and the details of the birth of her child were unconvincing or unrealistic.

The idea that we may have different perceptions and recollections of past events is interesting, but I was irritated that Grene felt the need to spell this out so specifically, rather than leave it to the reader to work this out.

I also agree with reviewers who have found the final denouement far too contrived – almost ludicrous in the piling on of coincidences.

Also, the wise and self aware "voices" used by both Grene and Roseanne were often too similar – and it was unlikely that an old woman asylum-bound for so long would be so lucid.

This tale is much less bleak than other recent Irish novels e.g. The Gathering or The Sea, but although I admire the quality of the writing I would not recommend it strongly. At first I thought it was an interesting take on the timeworn theme of the effects of Catholic bigotry but was left thinking that it had added little to my understanding of this.

⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars

This is my review of A Vengeful Longing by R. N. Morris.

This is a cut above the average crime thriller,well-written and creating a vivid sense of life in nineteenth century St.Petersburg, apparently based on close research, even down to the post mortem practices of the day. The background of corruption, bureaucracy, pollution, poverty and vice is developed and sustained without the story becoming too depressing, perhaps because of the hooks of an intriguing plot and the varied cast of characters. Clues are slipped into the complex twisting plot to give an ending which is hard to predict, with the loose ends tied up. There seemed stronger character development than in the first novel, with humorous interplay between the eccentric detective hero Porfiry and his sidekick Virginsky.

However, as with "The Gentle Axe" I am left a little disappointed at the end by some almost ludicrous implausibilities in the plot (not quite so marked this time)- which I cannot reveal for obvious reasons, except it's safe to cite the occasion when Porfiry interrogates a murder suspect in front of a large audience. Some scenes are frankly odd e.g. where Porfiry almost bumps into a civil servant who faints when challenged seemed bizarre at the time. I also find too many of the characters seem to be caricatures, and therefore unconvincing. Perhaps I am guilty of taking the plots too seriously!

So, I am left feeling ambivalent, but recognising that Morris is an original and talented writer in this genre. I just wish that such good writing was applied to slightly more "worthwhile" plots!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars

This is my review of The Point of Rescue: Culver Valley Crime Book 3 by Sophie Hannah.

After an intriguing start, the tragi-comedy of working mother's Sally's chaotic life was entertaining and an interesting use of rueful humour to convey the conflicts involved in trying to juggle children and a career. There were some ingenious plot twists – I can't say which genuinely surprised me, without giving too much away. I agree that some of them were implausible.

On the other hand, as with many such books, which will obviously gain a wider readership and massive earnings, I have to ask why the clearly talented author did not spend just a little more time on ironing out the flaws.

The diary entries rapidly became tediously repetitive and almost caricatures of the situation, although you could argue that was intentional. A more serious weakness was the unconvincing love interest between the two police officers, and their odd, inadequately explained and developed psychology. All the other policemen seemed to be caricatures.There was a tendency for key "information giving" conversations to drag on for an implausibly long time given the circumstances e.g one party had to rush off to a meeting, or was driving at high speed on a hunch to save someone's life.

I was also too often aware of the same rather cynical, sarcastic voice coming through too many of the characters. I had no objection to the voice itself, just suspected it was the author's own voice, and felt it needed to be attached to one or two characters, not most of them. I was also unsure about the frequent digressions into amusing but trivial asides at dramatic moments – this with the generally rather shallow and manipulative relationships between key players made me care too little about any of them, and led me to leave the book and move on too lightly.

⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars

This is my review of Paradise Misplaced by Eleanor Clare.

A tale with a difference, if you take the time to enter the world of the Paradise Valley, a century ago. More than just a simple "whodunnit", this tale explores a world on the brink of change.

What tale of obsession and lies can bored Inspector Stone unearth from the death of Oliver Marchant in his Heligan-type garden towards the end of WW1? The old man dies on the day news is delivered of his son's demise at the Front. Is there a connection? What lies behind the icy calm of Oliver's widow, Alice, and the candid air of his unlikely gardener, Jocelyn? Does Simon Stone ever discover what links the cast of characters? Can he learn to understand others, or to interpret and express his own complex emotions?

The story unfolds against a kaleidoscope of events from a lost past – the trial of Oscar Wilde, the rise of the Suffragettes, Art Nouveau, the "Glasgow Rose", the conchie's choice…….blackmail, inheritance, convention, duty, freedom…..

Recent reviewers have said:

"Narrative power is alluring and compelling"

"Intelligent and engaging"

"Bursting with characters, strong sense of period and absorbing plot"

A YouWriteOn reviewer has commented,

"This is an exquisitely drawn work; it's obvious that the author has paid attention to each sentence and tried to sculpt it to accomplish her aim. It may be slightly less obvious what that aim is, as this story appears to unfold slowly and with meticulous care.

The settings are marvellous and the reader can feel himself in England during WWI. Good historical research!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars