Private Vegas by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Private Vegas is part of the Private series and while it is not a series that you need to read in a strict order to enjoy the story, reading them "out of order" can ruin a few surprises for you.  For the best enjoyment you may want to read Private, Private No. 1 suspect, and Private L.A. before you read Private Vegas.

Spend any time with Jack Morgan and his team and you learn two things - firstly that their lives are never boring, and secondly that they know some rather interesting people.  Jack may have managed to avoid prison time when a plot to frame him for murder failed, but now another member of his team is facing serious prison time after he was accused of beating a woman so badly she almost died.  At a time when he should be focused on supporting his friend and colleague Rick Del Rio Jack is also trying to avoid another attempt by his brother Tommy to take over the business, and Jack can't shake the feeling that his brother knows something about Rick's current predicament.  

Tangled around the mess that is his personal and business life is a series of converging and diverging cases.  One of the tangles begins in Las Vegas, where a smooth operator is grooming willing young women to wed rich older men in a long term game plan to make them all some serious money.  Another tangle begins in Los Angeles where two men with very specific tastes are targeting women that catch their eye, women that are unwilling to testify against them.  Even if the women were willing to testify the case is unlikely to go anywhere because the men are diplomats and hiding behind their diplomatic immunity.  Jack is never one to give up though, and if he is patient they may slip up in a way that will allow him to bring them to justice.

Private Vegas is the latest offer in the Private series, a series that offers an amazing world of dynamic possibilities for story arcs, international storylines, and a large cast of characters.  One of the greatest strengths of the Private series is that there are offices around the world, which takes some of the action out of America and into cultures and worlds closer to home for some readers.  That diversity is also a risk as sometimes the co-author lacks some of the writing chemistry, or because the cast of characters gets too large.  In some respects Private Vegas is a return to the "heartland" of the Private world, a story set in the home town of Jack Morgan and his core team, a place we have been many times before and it feels like "home".  

It is always a challenge to review books in the Private series because if you reveal too much in the review it ruins the delicious little twists and turns that make the series so interesting - but if you don't reveal enough then the book can sound boring and cliched.  The multiple levels to the story, the side cases and investigations are what make these novels so interesting and create the realism and depth.  The straight forward police dramas lack some of this depth because they are by necessity playing by the "rules", and usually the detectives are working with only one case at a time.  In the world of Private there are always multiple cases and multiple clients, nothing seems to stand still and there are incursions from their personal lives into their professional lives.

Hopefully there are many more books in this series, both around Private L.A. and about the other Private offices around the world because there are a lot of stories left to tell.  There are hints here that a showdown of sorts is coming between Jack and his twin brother Tommy - and I can't wait to see what happens next because whether Tommy beats him or gets his comeuppance there is so much potential for things to go very wrong or very right for Jack Morgan and his team.

If you like this book then try:

• Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
• Private London by James Patterson and Mark Pearson
• Private games by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan
• Private # 1 suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
• Private Berlin by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan
• Private L.A. by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan
• Private India by James Patterson and Ashwin Sanghi
• Level 26: Dark origins by Anthony E. Zuiker and Duane Swierczynski
• Private Oz by James Patterson and Michael White
• The survivors club by Lisa Gardner
• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• The surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
• Vodka doesn't freeze by Leah Giarrantano

Reviewed by Brilla

Die again by Tess Gerritsen

Die again is the eleventh book in the "Rizzoli and Isles" series so there may be some ***SPOILERS*** in the following review - if you like to read things in order then do not read this review until you are up to this book in the series.  If you don't mind reading things out of order then read on.

Homicide detective Jane Rizzoli has seen some unusual and gruesome crime scenes over the years, and she has worked many of those crimes alongside Medical Examiner Maura Isles.  There latest case is one that is both mind boggling and disturbing, a taxidermist has been found in his home several days after his murder, hung from the rafters and gutted like an animal.  It is a disturbing scene, made even more gruesome by the fact his pets have fed on the remains.  When Maura discovers there are more viscera than there should be the investigation takes a more sinister and confusing turn - an animal was also killed and the pelt has been taken.  

The course of the investigation will lead Rizzoli and Isles to a murder that happened in the African bush six years previously. Seven people wandered into the African bush for an authentic African safari experience, but the wonder and amazement soon turns to terror as the group is picked off one by one in a calculated hunt in a land that offers no mercy and no second chances.  There was only one survivor, and she has refused to leave the small piece of South Africa she calls home, haunted by memories of that fateful trip.  As the number of bodies and remains begins to mount up, Jane travels to South Africa to try and convince the survivor to face her fears.  She is the only witness to have seen the killers face and live - but that makes her an even more tempting target to the killer.

I was really looking forward to another book in the Rizzoli and Isles series, and when it arrived at the same time as the latest James Patterson it was a difficult choice about which one to start first.  I am glad that I picked up Die again first because I spent a few hours thoroughly wrapped up in the story in undisturbed enjoyment.  Die again was a pleasure to read, a blending together of two stories on opposite sides of the world that lead towards a stunning conclusion, the two stories blending together seamlessly into a believable conclusion that was very very satisfying.  

I loved the way the two stories were written, one from the first person perspective of Millie and what happens in Africa, and the other in the more common "voice of god" perspective - this approach made Millie's voice that much more powerful and made the story more gripping.  Gerritsen also showed an amazing sense of timing about how much to reveal about Africa while keeping the tension taunt in present day Boston.  By switching the perspective you think you know who the killer is, then you doubt yourself because of something new you learn about Africa, and then you think you have it sussed again, and then you learn something new that has you doubting yourself all over again! 

Unlike some of the other books in the series Die again is one that you can pick up and read on its own without too much difficulty, I read the series as it comes out so it is usually a year between books and it can take a while to remember the personal details of Rizzoli and Isles because there are so many other books read.  The characters were still important in Die again, but there were no insider stories here, the essential elements were carefully worked into the story in a genuine way - so even if this was your first ride on the Rizzoli and Isles rodeo you could ride out the story with no problems.  

I think it is quite clear that I am a fan of Rizzoli and Isles, not only because of the skill with which Gerritsen has breathed life into the police/procedural side of the series, but also because she has her cast in the real world.  Nothing is perfect in the world of Rizzoli and Isles, there are family troubles, marriages, children, and the challenge of balancing professional and personal lives.  Hopefully we will see many more books from this series, and hopefully they are just as gripping and slippery as this one.

If you like this book then try:

• The surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
• The apprentice by Tess Gerritsen
• The silent girl by Tess Gerritsen
• Last to die by Tess Gerritsen
• The postcard killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund
• Look behind you by Sibel Hodge
• Kill switch by Neal Baer & Jonathan Greene
• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• Now you see her by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
• Vodka doesn't freeze by Leah Giarratano
• One step too far by Tina Seskis
• The survivors club by Lisa Gardner
• The edge of normal by Carla Norton

Reviewed by Brilla

Gathering blue by Lois Lowry

Gathering blue is a companion novel for The Giver - however it can be read as a completely separate novel without having read The Giver first.  

Kira lives with the stigma of a twisted leg in a society where people who are injured, severely ill, or born with deformities are left in the field to die.  It is a brutal way of dealing with illness and injury, but it is the way it has always been and it was only because Kira's mother fought with her fathers support that Kira was not left in the field.  Instead Kira has been raised by a mother who cared for her, loved her, and nurtured her love of stitchery and weaving.  Kira spends her days helping in the weaving shed, collecting scraps and learning about weaving by watching and listening - waiting for the day when she too can learn to weave.

When her mother becomes ill and then dies Kira is left on her own in a society that doesn't want her, a society that has no qualms about throwing her out of her only home and sending her to the field to die.  When Kira stands up for herself against the town bully she finds herself not only wanted, but also treasured - her skill with stitches matches and in some cases excels her mothers and an important task is about to land on her shoulders.  Her task is at first a great and cherished responsibility, but over time Kira starts to understand more about her task, her role in the future of the village, and some disturbing insights into how she ended up in her role in the first place.  As she gains in skill and confidence, Kira will be forced to face a horrible truth and decide what she will do with that truth.

I really enjoyed reading The Giver, partly because it was such an easy to read story with multiple levels, but also because it takes a look at a future world that is a very subtle dystopian - which contrasts sharply with some of the more dramatic approach of other authors.  Gathering blue had a lot to live up to, following on from the amazing read that was The Giver, and Lowry has delivered a story that is unique but also complimentary - a different kind of rotten apple, but the same kind of insidious and creeping feeling of "wrongness".  

Kira is a strong character to follow, she is very human and aware of her flaws, but there is also something so hopeful and human that makes her an interesting and engaging focal point for the story.  It is always a risk to hang a novel on the viewpoint and experiences of a single character, because if your audience fails to connect with your character then your story may fail before it has even truly begun.  Through Kira's eyes we discover a fractured world where everyone is in it for themselves, and where her close relationship with her mother is something of a rarity, and where the loss of a parent can be a blessing or a curse - depending on your circumstances.  

Without wanting to ruin the story and the unfolding discovereis, I can say that there is a very "genuine" feel to Gathering blue, a sense that this is a very real story in a future that hasn't happened yet and I am looking forward to getting my hands on Messenger so I can see what happens next as the stories begin to converge.  This is a timeless classic that deserves to be discovered by readers of all ages and levels, and I hope that young readers will read the whole series rather than just The Giver.  This is one of those rare series that can be enjoyed across the reading lifespan - 'tweens will find the story engaging and not too challenging, teens will enjoy the complex interactions between characters and sniffing out the conspiracies, and adults (like me) are likely to enjoy the richly imagined world that is absorbing and beautiful and full of characters that are crying out for you to connect with them.

If you like this story then try:

• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• Winter of fire by Sherryl Jordan
• The declaration by Gemma Malley
• Ella Minnow Pea: A novel in letters by Mark Dunn
• I am the cheese by Robert Cormier
• The testing by Joelle Charbonneau
• Nest of lies by Heather McQuillan
• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
• When we wake by Karen Healey
• Breathe by Sarah Crossan
• The barcode tattoo by Suzanne Weyn
• XVI by Julia Karr
• The limit by Kristin Landon
• Proxy by Alex London

Reviewed by Brilla

Killer instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Killer instinct is the second book in The naturals series so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first book in the series.  This is one series where you really need to read the books in order so make sure you read The naturals before you read Killer instinct.

Cassie is a gifted natural profiler, but all her skill and instinct counted for nothing when it really counted - or at least that is how she feels.  For weeks she worked alongside a killer and was completely oblivious, but then again so were the other naturals including fellow profiler Dean.  As if professional challenges were not enough for Cassie to deal with, she also has to deal with her attraction to both Dean and Michael, a confusing set of emotions and tangled feelings that is keeping all three of them on edge.  It doesn't help that a new case is about to rock their world - a case that involves Dean's dad.

They find the first body not long after Agent Sterling arrives at the house, a distant and calculating presence in a house that is already on edge.  Agent Sterling makes it clear from the start that she is there to assess the programme and make sure that all the i's are dotted and all the t's are crossed -and she seems to take some perverse pleasure out of pushing their buttons.  Agent Sterling has a lot to prove to herself, her father, and her ex-husband - and she is not going to let the naturals rummage around in active cases getting underfoot and into danger.  That becomes more of a challenge than she expected when a body appears that has all the hallmarks of Dean's dear old dad.  In a deadly game of cat and mouse Cassie and the other naturals have to figure out who the killer is before they take their next victim - and they have to do it all under the watchful eye of Agent Sterling.

Killer instinct had to live up to some seriously high expectations, and I am thrilled to say that not only did the book meet my expectations - it exceeded them.  Writing a follow up to a compelling and enthralling first novel in a series is always a challenge, and when that first novel is a stand out in a field of similar themes and plots that gets even harder.  I have read my fair share of teen and adult thrillers and there is something compelling about the naturals series, something that makes them just that much better than other books of this type - and that includes some of the adult books I have read as well.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a brilliant writer and has only gotten better at her craft over the past few years, and while the naturals is an unusual genre choice for her she has blown the competition out of the water.  There is a fine balance here between character development and plot development, and keeping the high octane pace of the story.  Some other authors may do a better job of developing strong characters and lengthy, involved plot twists - but here you see the master of fast paced action at work.  This series is a stepping stone into the world of adult thrillers for older teen readers, yet it is not so gory or gross that younger teens can't read it as well.

I am really looking forward to seeing what happens next for Cassie, Dean, Michael, Lia and Sloane because there is some real potential here for a long lasting series.

If you like this book then try:

• I hunt killers by Barry Lyga
• Acceleration by Graham McNamee
• Hate list by Jennifer Brown
• Guy Langman, crime scene procrastinator by Josh Berk
• A girl named Digit by Annabel Monahgan
• The Christopher killer by Alane Ferguson
• Nickel plated by Aric Davis
• Dead to you by Lisa McMann
• Crime seen by Jenny Pausacker
• Burning blue by Paul Griffin
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
• Such a pretty girl by Laura Wiess
• Living dead girl by Elizabeth Scott

Reviewed by Brilla

The kiss of deception by Mary E. Pearson

At just seventeen years of age Princess Arabella Celestine Iris Jezelia (Lia), First Daughter of the House of Morrighan has been promised in marriage to the prince of Dalbreck - a man she has never seen, but who will help seal the alliance between their two kingdoms.  It is an alliance that completely rubs Lia up the wrong way, in no small part because she resents having to marry a man she has never even met, yet her brothers are allowed to marry for love.  On the day of her wedding, Lia flees in her wedding finery and rides as far away as she can on a swift horse, eager to get as far away from her marriage and her father as possible - because his vengeance will be swift and most likely end in death.

Free from the stuffy confines of the palace and her life as a princess, Lia soon blossoms into a strange blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary.  She discovers the pleasures of working for a living, earning her keep by working in a tavern alongside her former maid Pauline.  But even in a small fishing town by the sea she is not truly safe from her past life, because riding into town one day comes the prince she ran away from and the assassin sent by her father to kill her.  To Lia they are simply the men who arrived together - Rafe and Kaden.  Both men seem to be hiding secrets, but everyone has secrets and over time Lia finds herself strangely drawn to both men - but some secrets can be deadly, and one of them is following orders to kill her.

The kiss of deception was a surprisingly good read, a grand and sweeping saga that has all the hallmarks of one of the great trilogies or sagas.  Lia has the makings of a perfect hero, she is brave but human, she has an inner strength that workd for her and against her, and she has a hidden potential that even she doesn't know about.  The people around her have their own stories and secrets, and those secrets help provide amazing depth and layers to the story - making it much more believable and enjoyable.  One of the intriguing parts of the story is the lack of clarity about which of the two men - Rafe and Kaden - is actually the prince and which is the assassin.  There are clues as to which is which, but it does keep you guessing.

I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series because the scale and build up on The kiss of deception reminds me very much of the Elenium by David Eddings, The girl of fire and thorns, or the song of the lioness by Tamora Pierce - fantasy series that start with hints of destiny and promise and grow into the epic stories of a generation.  This is an intelligent read, one that makes you work a little and gives you clues rather than spelling things out for you which made it even more enjoyable.  Despite the fact Lia is a teenagers this is also one of those series that easily suits adult readers as well as teen readers.  Come on Mary E. Pearson, please don't make us wait too long for the next book in the series so we can see what happens next for Lia, Rafe, and Kaden.

If you like this book then try:

• The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
• Alanna the first adventure by Tamora Pierce
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• Sabriel by Garth Nix
• Sing the four quarters by Tanya Huff
• Cast in shadow by Michelle Sagara
• Arrows of the queen by Mercedes Lackey
• Throne of glass by Sarah J. Maas
• The blue sword by Robin McKinley
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• The diamond throne by David Eddings
• Crown duel by Sherwood Smith
• Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
• Melting stones by Tamora Pierce
• Winter of fire by Sherryl Jordan
• The will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce
• Throne of glass by Sarah J. Maas
• Unbreakable by Kami Garcia
• Grave mercy by Robin LaFevers

Reviewed by Brilla

Look behind you by Sibel Hodge

Chloe Benson wakes up to find herself bound and trapped in a dark space underground with no memory of how she got there - the only clue a bump on her head.  Determined to survive, she manages to escape only to find herself in a deeper nightmare.  Somehow weeks have gone by since her last memory, weeks that have seen her committed for her own safety after a severe reaction to a drug.  Because of what happened to her when she took the drugs, and because there are sleeping pills in her system, everyone doubts her story - the doctors, the police, and especially her husband Liam.

Home from the hospital Chloe can't help but feel that something isn't right, that there is something just below the surface she is missing.  Her only logical option is to try and figure out what happened in the seven weeks she can't remember, because somewhere in those seven weeks are the clues she needs to figure out if her kidnapping was a drug induced hallucination or if someone really is trying to harm her.  The more she looks into her past the more Chloe realises that she may still be in danger, and the more she realises that she may be on her own because no one thinks she is really in danger - they all think she has lost the plot again.

I wasn't expecting a lot from Look behind you - mainly because it is a relatively short book and because the description on the back of the book was so brief and generic.  Imagine my surprise then when I picked the book up and didn't put it down again until I had finished all 280 pages in one sitting.  One of the things that sucks you into the story is the fact that you see the world through Chloe's eyes, learning facts only as she learns them which makes the whole world a scary place and one that seems to have Chloe (and you) constantly on edge.  There is not a single moment, from when she opens her eyes underground to the end of the novel, where you are truly on solid footing with the story - the facts seem to shift and turn as soon as Chloe tries to pin them down which leaves you feeling just as confused and unsettled as she is.

This is a quick read, but it is also a very satisfying one - one that can be finished in bite sized chunks of short chapters.  I was not the only person in my family to read Look behind you, my 60+ year old mother also thoroughly enjoyed it.  While Hodge has set the story in the United Kingdom, it could have been written nearly anywhere in the world and there is very little jargon or colloquialisms to knock you out of the story.  A very enjoyable read, and hopefully there will be more in this genre from Hodge in the future.

If you like this book then try:

• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• The silence of the lambs by Thomas Harris
• Vodka doesn't freeze by Leah Giarratano
• The surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
• One step too far by Tina Seskis
• The postcard killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund
• The basement by Stephen Leather
• The surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
• Level 26: Dark origins by Anthony E. Zuiker and Duane Swierczynski
• Now you see her by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
• The postcard killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund
• Private Oz by James Patterson and Michael White
• The survivors club by Lisa Gardner
• Darkly dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
• Kill switch by Neal Baer & Jonathan Greene
• The edge of normal by Carla Norton

Reviewed by Brilla

Blood of my blood by Barry Lyga

Blood of my blood is the final book in the I hunt killers trilogy so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first two books in the series.  I highly recommend reading this series in order so check out I hunt killers and Game before you read any more of this review.

Jazz has faced some challenging and confronting moments in the past, but that is has not really prepared him for the reality of his father being loose in the world again because of him - coincidentally it also doesn't prepare him for dealing with a bullet in the leg.  Jazz has been groomed his whole life to be a cunning predator among the unsuspecting masses and those skills finally come into play in a major way when he finds himself on the wrong side of the NYPD and has to flee from the city.  All those lessons about spotting prospects allows him to escape from the hospital and the local area, but is it enough to keep him one step ahead of the NYPD until he can get to safety?

Howie and Connie are facing their own challenges courtesy of the Dent family.  Connie has fallen into the hands of Billy Dent in New York and he has special plans for the girl that he doesn't feel is good enough for his son.  In Lobo's Nod Howie has landed in the hospital (again) because of the danger stalking Jazz.  Jazz will do almost anything to protect his friends, and that loyalty is a source of strenght and a weakness that can be exploited by Billy.  In a deadly game of catch up and cat and mouse Jazz is on the trail of Billy, but that same trail will lead him into the hands of the Crow King - and the Crow King has plans for dear little Jasper Dent.

The I hunt killers trilogy has been a real treat, especially for a reader who enjoys well defined characters, believable interplay between characters, and twisted plots that don't pull their punches just because the book is written for teens.  Jazz is a fascinating character, not just because of the life he has lived and the experiences he has had, but also because of all the self doubt he has and the worry that he will turn into his father - a fear a lot of teens and young adults face as they move into adulthood.  The tension and pace of this series is also carefully controlled, moving from scene to scene rapidly and then slowing the pace to give you time to breathe and then launching into the next blur of action.  Lyga has once again managed to serve up his trademark mix of thrills, chills, and kills in this series closing book.

The wait for Blood of my blood has been particularly torturous because the ending of Game was such a cliffhanger - I have been waiting months to see what happened to Connie and Jazz!  This is a complex series which has emotional and visual scenes that would make it disturbing for most young to middle teens, but older teens transitioning from teen to adult books who enjoy crime and thrillers will find a lot to like in this series.  There is gore and violence, but it is not gratuitous and Lyga somehow manages to make things truly  gruesome and thrilling yet also somehow managing to keep the explicitly stated gruesome horrors to a minimum.  This series would make a mind blowing mini series or tv series, and it wouldn't really need to have too many changes made to make it accessible to adults out there rather than being slotted as a "teen tv series".

There is a lot to like here (thrills, adventure, loyalty, friendship, self discovery) and very little not to like (having to wait for the next book in the series!).  Hopefully this is not the last we have seen of Jazz - although the ending is rather nice and finalised.


If you like this book then try:

• I hunt killers by Barry Lyga
• Game by Barry Lyga
• The book of blood and shadow by Robin Wasserman
• The naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• Acceleration by Graham McNamee
• Death cloud by Andrew Lane
• Crime seen by Jenny Pausacker
• The murder complex by Lindsay Cummings
• The Christopher killer by Alane Ferguson
• Feral by Holly Schindler
• Guy Langman, crime scene procrastinator by Josh Berk
• Dead to you by Lisa McMann

Reviewed by Brilla

Get happy by Mary Amato

Minerva was more than a little hopeful that she might get a ukulele for her sixteenth birthday, and she wasn't going to just rely on hopes and prayers either - she also stuck an ad up for the one she wanted on the family fridge.  When she opened her present from her mom there is no ukelele however, just another sense of disappointment about how little her mother actually gets about her.  A knock at the door signals the arrival of a parcel that will change Minerva's life forever - a parcel from the father that walked out on her when she was a toddler.

Opening the parcel is a life altering moment for Minerva as she suddenly realises that the father she always thought had abandoned her has reached out to her - reached out to her to form a connection.  This single discovery shakes her world and tips it upside down at a time when she is striving for independence and a sense of self that is seperate from her mother and what her mother wants her to become.  Taking a part time job will help Minerva earn some money so she can buy the ukulele of her dreams, but it will also add some interesting complications to her life.

Get happy is an intriguing mix of light and fluffy teen novel blended with a deep and emotional look at the implosion of a family that has been based on half-truths, subtle manipulations, and confronting moments.  I didn't know what to expect when I picked the novel up, but I definitely didn't get what I expected - and I am both happy and a little disappointed with the results.  Minerva is an interesting and engaging character, one that many teen girls will no doubt relate to as she comes to term with becoming sixteen and stepping closer to adulthood.  She is also a construct that represents thousands of teenagers worldwide who come from a "broken home" where one of the parents has left, leaving emotional wreckage in their path.  Minerva is also a somewhat shining star in a shallow sea of events that happen quickly and neatly in an orderly world that spins predictably out of control.  

This is a great example of a book that delivers more than the cover and the blurb promises, a pleasant surprise devoured in an afternoon on Boxing Day.  Get happy is a little treasure that deserves to be discovered and enjoyed - it blends light and fluffy with serious and heartbreaking to make the perfect blend of reading pleasure.

If you like this book then try:

• Melody burning by Whitley Strieber
• A door near here by Heather Quarles
• Hate list: a novel by Jennifer Brown
• The killers cousin by Nancy Werlin
• The half life of Ryan Davis by Melinda Szymanik
• The face on the milk carton by Caroline B. Cooney
• You are my only by Beth Kephart
• Stolen children by Peg Kehret
• Whisper by Chrissie Keighery
• Girl, missing by Sophie McKenzie
• See ya, Simon by David Hill
• Blindsided by Priscilla Cummings

Reviewed by Brilla

Touched by an alien by Gini Koch

Most people, when confronted with a scary monster straight out of a bad science fiction movie would either run for their lives or look around to see where the cavalry was - instead Katherine "Kitty" Katt kicks off her shoes and runs at the monster armed with nothing but a pen.  When she manages to stop the monster no one is more surprised than Kitty, especially when the gorgeous aliens in Armani turn up to mop up the damage and let her in a little secret - there are some nasty alien parasites on Earth who can take people over and turn them into superbeings with a variety of nasty "talents" that all spell death and disaster for the human population.  She also discovers Jeff Martini - who in only a few minutes declares his undying love and his determination to make Kitty his wife.

In a matter of days everything Kitty thought she knew about her world, her family, and the existence of aliens is thrown on its head.  For some reason the ultimate superbeing has set his sights on Kitty and he is determined to turn her to his cause - despite what she may have to say about the matter.  Surrounded by gorgeous aliens and their trusted human agents, Kitty slowly begins to understand how things work and why she might be a target - and she also begins to understand why Jeff finds her more than a little irresistible.  They say the true test of a relationship is how you handle stressful situations - and Kitty and Jeff are about to face a trial by fire that may destroy one or both of them, or the whole world.

Touched by an alien was an accidental discovery for me and one that I am very glad I found!  I found a later book in the series that one of our customers had requested and reading the back had me intrigued so I ordered the first book in the series - and I have not stopped smiling, laughing, smirking, and turning the pages quickly to find out what happens next since I picked the book up.  Kitty is the "perfect" heroine because she is so human, the perfect balance for the seemingly perfect aliens.  There is some truly laugh out loud moments because of the wonderful world Koch has created - particularly the interplay between the characters and the situations they find themselves in / put themselves in.  

This is a fast paced high octane read where the action takes place over just a few short days - but in those few short days a lot of action happens - and not all of it happens out in the field.  This is a book I really connected with because I have a tendency to enjoy books and tv series with a sense of humour - especially when that humour acts as a buffer for some serious action.  This series may not appeal to "true" science fiction fans because it blends in some action, some drama, some romance, and some comedy - but it was definitely my cup of tea.

If you like this book then try:

• Children of the night by Mercedes Lackey
• Jinx high by Mercedes Lackey
• Blood price by Tanya Huff
• Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff
• Burning water by Mercedes Lackey
• Spiders bite by Jennifer Estep
• Dead witch walking by Kim Harrison
• Angel's blood by Nalini Singh
• Cast in shadow by Michelle Sagara
• Kitty and the midnight hour by Carrie Vaughn
• Undead and unwed by MaryJanice Davidson
• Nightshifted by Cassie Alexander
• Moon called by Patricia Briggs
• Cry wolf by Patricia Briggs
• Eight million gods by Wen Spencer
• Alien taste by Wen Spencer
• Tinker by Wen Spencer
• Precinct 13 by Tate Hallaway
• Prowlers by Christopher Golden

Reviewed by Brilla

Curse of the Scarab by H.Y. Hanna

Honey the Great Dane is used to her comfortable life as an only dog with her human Olivia - but the peace and quiet is shattered when a house sitter arrives with a puppy in tow.  Bean is not just any puppy though, she is a big, bouncy and inquisitive Great Dane puppy.  The house sitter and Olivia think that Bean and Honey will be great friends, after all Bean looks just like Honey did at the same age - but Honey is not so sure.  When they go to the park for a walk it seems as though Bean is finally settling down and learning from Honey's example, but then she seems to vanish into thin air.

It seems as though Honey and her friends are the best hope of finding young Bean, especially with the help of one of the best noses around, but it soon becomes clear that there is a deeper mystery at work here.  Bean is not the first puppy to go missing in the neighbourhood, and all the dogs are unsettled like their humans.  Bean going missing brings it all home for Honey and she soon finds herself caught up in the excitement of the case as she and her friends begin the frantic search for the missing puppies.  

There were some unsavoury characters around when bean went missing - including a pit bull with a history of fighting and everyone is immediately suspicious of Max and his human.  But things are not so simple, and Honey and her friends will have to solve a puzzle or two if they want to get to the bottom of the mystery and save Bean.

Curse of the Scarab is the first book in the Big Honey Dog Mysteries, and I have to confess that I picked up the book because I know the author Hsin-Yi and because I was lucky enough to meet the real Honey and wanted to see what adventures she might have gotten up to in the books.  I have to confess that it was probably a disadvantage to have met the real Honey because I kept seeing her and remembering her throughout the first few chapters, and it took a few chapters for me to get absorbed in the fictional Honey rather than the real one.  I am very glad I persisted though as this has to be one of the better mysteries I have read for older children in recent years (and no I was not paid to say that or offered a comp copy of the book!).

Too often authors tone down their writing or avoid challenging words - most likely because they are worried the will out off potential readers.  There are no punches pulled here, the story stays true to itself - even when it gets a little scary and gory.  I loved the touch of Egyptian mythology that is infused with the story, and the way that you have to work a little for the answers rather than having them fall in your lap.  

This is an addictive and intriguing start to this series, and I sincerely hope that more people discover this series as Hsin-Yi Hanna has a deep understanding of dog psychology and a firm grasp of writing that makes this a believable and exciting read best devoured in one sitting.

If you like this book then try:

• A dog called homeless by Sarah Lean
• The incredible journey by Sheila Burnford
• The dogs of winter by Bobbie Pyron
• Into the wild by Erin Hunter
• Jenny by Paul Gallico

Reviewed by Brilla

Backhoe Joe by Lori Alexander; illustrated by Craig Cameron

Nolan is collecting a few rocks one day when he hears a noise and turns around to find a stray backhoe in the middle of the street!  Nolan has always wanted a pet backhoe, and here is his chance - but first he has to convince the reluctant backhoe to come out of the bushes and trust him long enough to follow him home.  After winning over his new friend Nolan takes him home - only to find out that his parents are not so keen on the idea of an untrained backhoe around the house.  What will Nolan do, will he find a way to keep his new pet?

The cliche of the child saying a stray dog "followed me home and can I keep him" is given a delightful new twist with Backhoe Joe, where the stray "pet" takes a rather unexpected form.  I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I saw how carefully Nolan coaxes Joe out of the bushes and takes him home - it reminds me very much of a small ginger kitten I found when I was walking my dogs that ended up in my hoodie and taken home to "safety".  Like Nolan I wasn't able to keep the kitten, but this hilarious reminder had me smiling the whole way through.

If you have a pet mad child, if you love laugh out loud reads, or if you have a strange yearning to have your own backhoe pet then Backhoe Joe may be the perfect book for you.  I shared this with some of my colleagues and they loved it as much as I did - especially the dad with three boys!  This is one of those great books that works really well as a read aloud to an audience, or one on one to your own little person - and the best part is it wont date too badly because a backhoe is a backhoe and the clothing is pretty generic in terms of eras.  I loved this book and hope you will too.

If you like this book then try:

• If I had a raptor by George O'Connor
• Barnaby Bennett by Hannah Rainforth; illustrated by Ali Teo
• Elephants cannot dance! by Mo Willems
• Blue chicken by Deborah Freedman
• New socks by Bob Shea
• Wait! No paint! by Bruce Whately
• I need my monster by Amanda Noll; illustrated by Howard McWilliam
• Giggle, giggle, quack by Doreen Cronin; illustrated by Betsy Lewin
• Press here by Hervé Tullet
• Cushie Butterfield (she's a little cow) by Colin McNaughton
• If you give a mouse a cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff; illustrated by Felicia Bond
• Don't push the button! by Bill Cotter
• The monster at the end of this book by Jon Stone
• Shout! Shout it out! by Denise Fleming

Reviewed by Brilla

The book with no pictures by B.J. Novak

You would think that a picture book for children would need to include pictures - but the rather surprising fact (for some people anyway) is that a book doesn't need pictures to really engage with its audience!  

The reader is the source of the magic with books for children, as a skilled reader can make the most boring or confusing book engaging and easy through the use of their voice, tone, and enthusiasm.  Novak has taken the idea of the read aloud book and thrown it on its head - creating a book that pushes boundaries, pokes fun at the idea of sharing the pictures as well as the story, and makes the reader really work to keep their audience engaged.  

I found out about The book with no pictures because of a post on Facebook which showed Novak reading parts of his book to an audience of children - and I couldn't help but smile and laugh at their reactions.  Watching Novak in action made it very clear he is not only a clever and creative writer, but he is also a talented performer who can easy enthrall his audience.  

When you are reading aloud to an audience it can be terrifying and having a book that hooks your audience from the start is essential - and I may have finally found a book hear that suits the older children who still deserve to be read aloud to, but who are starting to be "too cool" for picture books.  There is a lot to like here for audiences of all ages, and if you are talented at voices and/or looking surprised (not to mention arguing with yourself) then this may just well be the perfect book!

Be warned this is not a book for the fainthearted reader - you really have to commit to reading this book, you can't do it half way or you will be cheating yourself and your audience.  I loved this book and look forward to the chance when I can read it with an audience of the right age group!

If you like this book then try:

• If I had a raptor by George O'Connor
• Barnaby Bennett by Hannah Rainforth; illustrated by Ali Teo
• Don't push the button! by Bill Cotter
• Elephants cannot dance! by Mo Willems
• Blue chicken by Deborah Freedman
• New socks by Bob Shea
• Wait! No paint! by Bruce Whately
• This book just ate my dog! by Richard Byrne
• Giggle, giggle, quack by Doreen Cronin; illustrated by Betsy Lewin
• Press here by Hervé Tullet
• Cushie Butterfield (she's a little cow) by Colin McNaughton
• If you give a mouse a cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff; illustrated by Felicia Bond
• The monster at the end of this book by Jon Stone

Reviewed by Brilla

I need my monster by Amanda Noll; illustrated by Howard McWilliam

A little boy goes to bed one night and finds a note from his monster Gabe saying he has gone fishing - how will he go to sleep without Gabe under the bed scratching his nails and gnashing his teeth?  He sneaks under the bed and quietly scratches on the floor in the hopes of attracting a new monster to cover for Gabe who will be gone for a whole week!  He soon gets a visit from a monster named Herbert, but will Herbert be as scary as Gabe?

It is a very rare thing to find a book about bedtime that has monsters under the bed as a good thing - especially one that handles the situation with class and humour.  I discovered this book when I was visiting a school and the class was watching the story being read on the big screen courtesy of YouTube and I couldn't get over how much pleasure they were all getting out of the story.  This was a mixed class of boys and girls aged nine to eleven and they were all watching in rapt attention and laughing out loud at the funny parts (of which there are many!).

This is one of those great picture books to share with older children who have not lost their sense of wonder (or sense of humour).  The children watching the book were aged 8 - 10 and they were completely absorbed in the story - as was I when i sat down and started watching.  I have read this book to some of my colleagues as well and had their rapt attention for the entire book.  If you are after a shared read where you can practice you deep and scary voices then this is for you.  

I loved this book, and if I had any children of the right age to buy for this would definitely be on my Christmas shopping list!  Hopefully this dynamic writing/illustrating duo have only just started their collaborating careers because the pictures and words are a perfect match.

If you like this book then try:

• My friend is sad by Mo Willems
• The splendid spotted snake by Betty Ann Schwartz & Alexander Wilensky
• Elephants cannot dance! by Mo Willems
• A is for musk ox by Erin Cabatingan & Matthew Myers
• New socks by Bob Shea
• Stomp! a dinosaur follow-the-leader story by Ruth Paul
• The children who loved books by Peter Carnavas
• No T.Rex in the library by Toni Buzzeo; ilustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa
• Don't let the pigeon drive the bus by Mo Willems
• Click, clack, moo: Cows that type by Doreen Cronin
• Tadpole's promise by Jeanne Willis; illustrated by Tony Ross
• No, David! by David Shannon
• Croc and bird by Alexis Deacon

Reviewed by Brilla

The heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

For the past few years FBI special agent Kate O'Hare has been focused on one thing and one thing only - capturing conman Nicholas Fox.  Nicholas Fox has made an art form of running some of the biggest cons and scams in the United States, and Kate has spent blood, sweat, and tears trying to capture him.  He always seems one step ahead of her, and he is not afraid to escape by the skin of his teeth - and he seems to delight in taunting her about her near misses as he skips away to freedom yet again.

When she finally manages to catch up with him it seems as though her years of living life on the run are finally over - which has its own share of challenges.  Coming back down to earth after years of action and high thrill chases is more than a little bumpy, especially when Kate goes from chasing international fugitives to DVD pirates (yes the FBI really does do that).  When Nick escapes from custody Kate ignores a direct order and goes after him, a task that she might just succeed in because her dad still has some contacts left over from his military days that could prove very helpful indeed.

Instead of finding Nick living like a hermit in some remote corner of the world, Kate soon discovers that she has been conned in the worst way possible by some of the people she has trusted the most.  To make matters even worse she has just found herself saddled with a new partner - Nick Fox!  After years of chasing him down, Kate now has to work alongside him as they work on bringing escaped felon Derek Griffin back to the United States to face the music after he stole $500 million dollars.  The only way to catch Griffin is to con him into trusting them, but for that to happen Kate has to find a way to trust Fox first.

I loved the early Stephanie Plum books so I was not surprised that I loved the quirky world that is Kate O'Hare and Nick Fox.  I was also not surprised that it was a book that seemed to read itself, and that I resented every time I had to put the book down!   The heist is a fabulous start to a new series that shows the smooth writing chemistry between Evanovich and Goldberg - and it really makes me want to go back to the beginning with Stephanie Plum to see if I enjoy the series as much as I remember I do.  I can't wait to clear some room on my reading shelves so I can pick up the second book in the series.

If you like this book then try:

• One for the money by Janet Evanovich
• Two for the dough by Janet Evanovich
• Murder past due by Miranda James
• Dipped, stripped, and dead by Elise Hyatt
• Lending a paw by Laurie Cass
• Pies and prejudice by Ellery Adams
• Death of a kitchen diva by Lee Hollis

Reviewed by Brilla

Freddy and the pig by Charlie Higson and Mark Chambers

Freddy didn't like school - he found it boring and would rather be anywhere else than in the classroom.  One day Freddy had the brilliant idea of dressing up a pig in his uniform and sending it to school in his place.  While the pig went to school Freddy stayed home and played his games and ate whatever he wanted.  As time passed the pig did such a good job of being a boy, and the Freddy did such a good job of being a pig that his mother began to have some interesting thoughts.

Freddy and the pig was one of those laugh out loud picture books that kept me guessing what was coming next when I read it the first time, and anticipating what was coming next ever other time I read it.  I have shared this with some of my colleagues (much in the same way I was introduced by a colleague) and they were just as amused/shocked as I was the first time I read it.

Stories that have a learning message are known as didactic stories and some of them are very blunt and lack subtlety - hitting you in the face with their message.  Freddy and the pig has a message about the dangers of being a lazy "pig", but it is delivered with charm and surprise rather than too bluntly.  This is a read for slightly older preschoolers and for children in their first few years of school as it will go over the heads of much younger readers - although the enjoyment parents express may make it easy for them to get into the story.

If you like this book then try:

• If I had a raptor by George O'Connor
• Barnaby Bennett by Hannah Rainforth; illustrated by Ali Teo
• Elephants cannot dance! by Mo Willems
• Blue chicken by Deborah Freedman
• New socks by Bob Shea
• Wait! No paint! by Bruce Whately
• Giggle, giggle, quack by Doreen Cronin; illustrated by Betsy Lewin
• Press here by Hervé Tullet
• Cushie Butterfield (she's a little cow) by Colin McNaughton
• If you give a mouse a cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff; illustrated by Felicia Bond
• The monster at the end of this book by Jon Stone
• Shout! Shout it out! by Denise Fleming
• The children who loved books by Peter Carnavas
• No T.Rex in the library by Toni Buzzeo; ilustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa
• Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
• Don't let the pigeon drive the bus by Mo Willems
• Click, clack, moo: Cows that type by Doreen Cronin
• Tadpole's promise by Jeanne Willis; illustrated by Tony Ross
• No, David! by David Shannon
• Croc and bird by Alexis Deacon
• Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
• Stephanie's ponytail by Robert Munsch; illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Reviewed by Brilla

This book just ate my dog! by Richard Byrne

Bella was taking her dog for a walk across the page, such a simple thing to do, but the book has other ideas.  Bella makes it across the page with no problems, but halfway across the page her dog starts to disappear!  When Bella looks again her dog has completely disappeared - as does anyone who tries to help.  Soon there is nothing else for it and Bella has to go to the rescue herself - with hilarious results.

Picture books that truly encourage audience participation are not that common, and a book that truly engages the reader and makes them suspend belief is a rare gem indeed!  This book just ate my dog! is one of the best books I have found for engaging readers in the story, I had colleagues and two classes of children engaged from start to finish (and I don't think it is just because I have had a lot of practice reading to audiences either).

There are pauses in all the right places, there are unexpected surprises, and there is even a quirky twist at the end that made all the children laugh out loud - and most of the adults too.  This book works really well one-on-one but worked equally as well with a group of more than 30 children - and the children were aged from four-year-olds up to ten-year-olds so it suited a wide range of ages.

If you like this book then try:

• If I had a raptor by George O'Connor
• Barnaby Bennett by Hannah Rainforth; illustrated by Ali Teo
• Don't push the button! by Bill Cotter
• Elephants cannot dance! by Mo Willems
• Blue chicken by Deborah Freedman
• New socks by Bob Shea
• Wait! No paint! by Bruce Whately
• Giggle, giggle, quack by Doreen Cronin; illustrated by Betsy Lewin
• Press here by Hervé Tullet
• Cushie Butterfield (she's a little cow) by Colin McNaughton
• If you give a mouse a cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff; illustrated by Felicia Bond
• The monster at the end of this book by Jon Stone
• Shout! Shout it out! by Denise Fleming

Reviewed by Brilla