Fatal fixer-upper by Jennie Bentley

Avery Baker is happy with her life in New York, working as a textile designer alongside her French boyfriend Philippe's in the incredibly competitive world of interior design - producing custom furniture of quality and taste.  She should be happy, but there is always the little niggle in the back of her mind that her life is a little too perfect, and more specifically what Philippe sees in her.  When a letter arrives from her estranged Aunt Inga inviting her to visit her in Waterfield to discuss something important, Avery somewhat reluctantly heads up to Maine - only to find her aunt died less than a week ago.  It is a huge shock, but nowhere near as shocking to learn that her aunt has made Avery her heir, and Avery is now the proud (and somewhat confused) owner of Aunt Inga's home and all her possessions.

When she returns to New York to decide what to do about the house and property she discovers that maybe she was right to worry about Philippe after all and high tails it back to Waterfield to lick her wounds in private and see out the summer while renovating the house.  It is not going to be a straight forward renovation however, as Derek Ellis the local renovations handyman has some very clear ideas about what she should be doing (and not doing) with her house.  As if having to deal with a stubborn yet attractive handyman is not enough, Avery also has to deal with some very mysterious "going on's" in her house - including missing items and near death experiences.  There is a lot of interest in Aunt Inga's house, and if Avery is not careful she could end up in the same place as Aunt Inga - or will she just vanish like the missing history professor?

I really only discovered murder mysteries last year when one of our regular library customers suggested that I try one - and I discovered that I like/love them (depending on how well they are written).  I just adore the Miranda James "Charlie and Diesel" books, and loved the three books in the Elise Hyatt series about a furniture restorer who can't help but stumble across murder mysteries.  Fatal fixer-upper falls somewhere in between the two series in terms of pace and structure, and while it took a few chapters for me to be truly hooked, I read the book in an afternoon because I didn't want to put it down.  

The underlying murder mystery here has meat and substance, a read whodunnit that will keep you guessing as you try and untangle the suspects and clues.  The human relationships took a little getting used to, as did Avery's voice, which seemed a little condescending to begin with.  This was a great little puzzle and fun to read, I can't wait for the next book to arrive so I can see if Bentley is able to keep the pace and chemistry active through more than one story (and to see what is next for Avery and Derek).

If you like this book then try:

• Murder past due by Miranda James
• Classified as murder by Miranda James
• Dipped, stripped, and dead by Elise Hyatt
• French polished murder by Elise Hyatt
• Lending a paw by Laurie Cass
• Books can be deceiving by Jenn McKinlay
• Pies and prejudice by Ellery Adams
• One for the money by Janet Evanovich
• Death of a kitchen diva by Lee Hollis
• Death of a country fried redneck by Lee Hollis

Reviewed by Brilla

Crown of midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Crown of midnight is the second book in the Throne of glass series so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first book in the series.  This series is best enjoyed in order so I suggest you read Throne of glass before you read any more of this review.

After winning the competition and becoming the King's Champion, life has become a daily challenge for Celaena.  As Champion she is the tool of her King, sent to deal with those brave or foolish enough to stand in his way.  It feels as though she is in a nightmare, with the ones she loves starting to keep their distance from her and what she represents.  The worst part is that the King seems to revel in the bloodshed, each severed head or token of identity accepted with a gloating calm.  It seems as though Celaena has settled back into her old ways, an assassin who is the perfect tool for a ruthless and blood thirsty King.

But Celaena is not the perfect tool she appears, she is quietly defying the King and everything he stands for by offering his targets a choice - give up their names and flee for their lives to a land far away, or die by her hand.  Life would be so much easier if she could tell her friends the truth, it would stop them withdrawing from her, judging her with false beliefs.  It is a delicate balancing act to maintain, treading a careful path of trust and honestly, and secrets kept to keep those she loves safe from harm.  When the unthinkable happens and one of the people she loves most is taken from her, the controlled veneer of civility and control snaps and she turns into something that none of them recognise.  With a new danger on the horizon Celaena is about to face one of the biggest challenges of all - controlling the darkness inside herself.

I first read Throne of glass over two years ago, so one of the first things I did before reading Crown of midnight was to pick up a copy of Throne of glass and read it again - and I am glad I did because part of the richness and experience of reading Crown of midnight comes from reading Throne of glass.  I was instantly captured once again buy Celaena and her world, a world that doesn't shield it's predominantly teen audience from the brutality and horrors of the world - this is a gritty and thoroughly engaging world that leaves you in no doubt that something dark and dangerous stalks the land (other than Celaena that is).  

Too many fantasy books for teens stick to a light and fluffy path, almost as if the author doesn't believe their teen audience can handle the truth, or worried that the parents will object if it is too realistic.  Maas has walked a fine line with her stories, weaving together a completely believable world of intrigue, danger, and violence that could easily have happened in the past - or could be happening right now on another world.  Her characters are richly imagined, fully formed and ready to engage fully with their world.  You soon find that each character is perfect with their imperfections, their flaws and faults are what make them perfect.  There are archetypes of characters here, but they are not what you would expect - not surprising for a series loosely based on the Cinderella story (where just happens to be an assassin rather than waiting for a fairy godmother to save her).   

I am very much looking forward to reading the next two books in the series, and I am thrilled to know she will be visiting Auckland soon and that I will get to meet her - hopefully not as a gushing fangirl!  Hopefully Maas will continue to write long after she has finished this series as she is a very talented author and is filling a much needed niche in the teens market - writing stories that talk up to teens and treat them as equals rather than talking down to teens or smothering them in written cotton wool.

If you like this book then try:

• Throne of glass by Sarah J. Maas
• A court of thorns and roses by Sarah J. Maas
• Ink and bone by Rachel Caine
• Arrows of the queen by Mercedes Lackey
• The kiss of deception by Mary E. Pearson
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Grave mercy by Robin LaFevers
• The hunt by Andrew Fukuda
• Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
• The pledge by Kimberly Derting
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor
• The demon trapper's daughter by Jana Oliver

Reviewed by Brilla

Beast by Ally Kennen

Life is anything but easy for 17 year old Stephen.  As a foster kid he is living with a family that is not his own, one screw up away from a life on the street or behind bars - or at least that's what his foster family seems to think.  For the past few years his life has revolved around getting through the day and escaping the attentions of his conniving foster sister Carol, who seems to delight in making his life a confusing hell.  Stephen is honest with himself at least, he knows he isn't perfect - how can he be when he is keeping a vicious beast hidden in a cage at the local reservoir.  His life is a careful balancing act, and that balancing act is about to come crashing down through no fault of his own.

Beast is one of those rare books that was an excellent read when it was written, and has barely dated in the ten years since.  Stephen is an incredibly sympathetic character to relate to, and I find him unusual in that although he is essentially painted as a "bad apple" by his social worker, his foster family, and pretty much everyone else - he is in fact a very responsible young adult who is trying to make his way with some incredibly heavy emotional baggage and secrets.  Most teenagers struggle day-to-day because being a teenager is horrible - you are caught between being treated like a child and being expected to make grown up decisions, you are expected to make decisions about your future when you are struggling to decide who you are as a person, and you are also dealing with all the physiological changes that come on the back of hormonal and brain chemistry changes.  Stephen is not perfect, but he is the perfect character to experience this story through.

Rather unusually, Kennen has chosen not to pull a lot of punches with her story - even though it is a relatively short novel to contain all emotional baggage and social commentary it does.  In many ways this is the novel I would have craved as a teenager, hard hitting and honest about what life can be like if you don't live in a white picket fence world with both your parents.  While this story is based in the United Kingdom, it could just as easily be a story set in other parts of the world - foster children are kicked to the curb when they "age out" all over the world, expected to fend for themselves when most children are still protected and supported by their parents.  Kennen is a hard hitting author who gave me several enjoyable hours as I sank back into the story of Stephen and his monster.

A great read if you like books for teenagers about what life is really like for teenagers - rather than something light and fluffy.

If you like this book then try:

• Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy
• Finding Jennifer Jones by Anne Cassidy
• Furious Jones and the assassin's secret by Tim Kehoe
• Girl, missing by Sophie McKenzie
• Nickel plated by Aric Davis
• Forbidden island by Malcolm Rose
• Burning blue by Paul Griffin
• Sold by Patricia McCormick
• I hunt killers by Barry Lyga
• Thirteen reasons why by Jay Asher
• Dead to you by Lisa McMann
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
• Hate list by Jennifer Brown
• Living dead girl by Elizabeth Scott
• I swear by Lane Davis
• Such a pretty girl by Laura Wiess
• The mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Reviewed by Brilla

The last place by Michael Adams

The last place is the final book in the Last trilogy.  This review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first books in this trilogy.  This is one of those series where it really pays to read the books in order so stop reading this review now and read The last girl and The last shot before reading the review!

The past few months feel like years to Danby and the other survivors of the Snap.  Their once safe and comfortable world is slowly crumbling into ruin as the mighty machine starts to fall apart without the human cogs in it's machine.  A life of certainty is now a life on the run hiding from an army of Jack's that are determined to bring Danby back, determined to stop at nothing to get what he wants, and no one is safe from his far reaching mind.  Danby is determined to bring Jack down, so determined that she is finding herself increasingly isolated, her determination mistaken for a blood lust.  Her determination is what keeps her going, her determination to free her brother Evan from Jack's grasp - either by rescuing him or by releasing his soul from his body.

This is a difficult book to review, because talking about what makes the book so great would ruin the twists and turns that make it so interesting.  This has been a truly original and intriguing series, one that stands out in a field full of dystopian novels and series that seem to crop up in batches.  The concept is new and seemingly completely random, one that doesn't fit into any of the dystopian threads that seem to be so popular at the moment.  The writing style is interesting too, not light and fluffy or written at break neck speed - and at times I have to confess that I found it a little off-putting, but I persevered because the story and characters were so interesting and absorbing.  

This third book in the series brings the story of Danby and Jack to a very satisfying close - not a neat cookie cutter ending, but one that does leave you with a sense of closure (at least for now).  One of the most annoying things Adams does is jump around in time though - it took a few chapters for me to realise that he was doing a chapter in the past, then a chapter in the present, and then a chapter in the past.  It had been so long since I read the first and second books that it took a little time to dredge up all the names of the characters and how they fit into the story.  Too often books for teenagers take a "once over lightly" approach, taking an idea and watering it down for the teen audience - Adams doesn't do that, there are some very hard hitting themes in this series and The last place is no exception.  This is not a series for younger teen readers who are reading books on their own, however younger teens with a supportive adult they can talk issues through with, or older teens who like a gritty, hard hitting read should find a lot to like here.

In many ways I would describe the Last trilogy as Tomorrow, when the war began for a new generation.  Adams has brought the Australian landscape to brutal life, creating a battle field where a small guerrilla force takes on a seemingly unstoppable army.  It will be interesting to see what Adams comes up with next - and we can all hope that a world like Danby's doesn't truly lie in our future.

If you like this book then try:

• The last girl by Michael Adams
• The last shot by Michael Adams
• Tomorrow, when the war began by John Marsden
• The testing by Joelle Charbonneau
• What's left of me by Kat Zhang
• The arrival by Chris Morphew
• Breathe by Sarah Crossan
• XVI by Julia Karr
• The hunger games by Suzanne Collins
• In the after by Demitria Lunetta
• The limit by Kristin Landon
• Altered by Jennifer Rush
• Slated by Teri Terry

Reviewed by Brilla

Restoree by Anne McCaffrey

The threat came from the sky, an unknown terror that appeared from nowhere and caused Sara to faint after glimpsing a shape in the sky - a faint that transformed into a waking dream of disjointed memories of bodies and intense smells.  When she truly reawakens she discovers that she is in a strange place where she is the caregiver of a man who has been struck down by mental illness, a strange irony considering she herself has faced mental trauma.  As her nerves settle and her awareness fully returns Sara discovers that the man she cares for is not suffering from any mental illness and is instead the victim of a conspiracy that has trapped him in his own mind through the use of a powerful drug.  Because his captors think Sara is a simpleton, capable of only following the simplest of instructions, she learns more than she should and sets herself on the dangerous path of trying to free the man from his drugged stupor.

Freeing Harlan from his drug induced state is only the first step though, because once he is free of the drugs and asylum it becomes apparent that the world he left behind is greatly changed - and not for the better.  Harlan needs to return to the Palace, but he is too easily recognised, and his enemies are hunting for him.  Sara is not so easily recognised and has a greater chance, but she is ignorant about the planet she now calls home and her ignorance threatens not only her safety, but also Harlan's.  It is a race against time for Harlan to regain his place, and it seems as though the fates are playing a cruel game with their lives - one moment saving them from disaster through some weird stroke of luck, only to turn the next moment into a comedy of errors that threatens everything.  

The Restoree is one of the books that I seem to drift back to every couple of years, a book I read to reboot my reading palate before I dive into another book or series - a firm favourite I know I will enjoy reading again and again.  I am not sure what draws me back so frequently, it may be because it is a deceptively simple story wiht little twists and turns that niggle at the back of your mind, or maybe it is because so much rests on the shoulders of our heroine and we get to discover this new world through her eyes, or maybe it is just because it is a standalone book that lets you dive into the world without having to bother about when you will find time to read the rest of the series once you are hooked (yes I am looking at Dragonflight and the rest of Pern when I say this!).  

While Restoree lacks the finesse and charm of McCaffrey's later books, Sara is an engaging character in her own way - drawing you into the experience through her own eyes.  She is not a perfect character, she lacks confidence and is incredibly naive in some ways, but she is also feisty and not willing to lie down and take the hand the fates have dealt for her.  The language is a little stilted in places, but that reflects the era the book was written in and reflects a young author coming into her talent - at times the pace is a little uneven but the wealth of characters makes up for this.  Even though I have read this book countless times over the years I was still surprised by parts of the story, having forgotten in the intervening years the minutia of the story.  There are villains, there are heroes, and there are everyday people in this story - something for everyone to enjoy.  In many ways this is classic science fiction, rather than the blend of fantasy and science fiction that became McCaffrey's trademark.

If you like this book then try:

• The crystal singer by Anne McCaffrey
• Decision at Doona by Anne McCaffrey
• The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey
• Tinker by Wen Spencer
• Eight million gods by Wen Spencer
• Alien taste by Wen Spencer
• The ship who sang by Anne McCaffrey
• Werehunter by Mercedes Lackey
• Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
• Sassinak by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon
• Cast in shadow by Michelle Sagara

Reviewed by Brilla

Power play by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough

Power play is the third book in the Petaybee trilogy so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first books in the series.  This series is best enjoyed in order so I suggest you read Powers that be and Power lines before you read any more of this review.

Petaybee has faced the challenge of proving it is sentient, but for some that proof will never be enough.  One of the most resistant is anthropologist Matthew Luzon, who not only faced the embarrassment of being injured in a natural disaster that was attributed to the sentient planet, he has also set his sights on swamping the planet to prove the appointed guardians of the planet are not up to the job.  It is a cunning plan and one that should bear fruit for Intergal in the future, but his is not the only plan in place.  Another disgruntled "victim" of the planet Petaybee has plans for the kidnap and ransom of some very special people - and one way or another the price will be paid as far as he is concerned.

Far away from the safety and protection of the place she has called home for months, Yana is in the unenviable position of speaking for the whole planet in front of a hearing that has the potential to go very badly.  Marmion is trying to protect her and support her from the worst of the situation, but being far from home is always unsettling - and when you are pregnant with your first child and far from family and husband and it is even harder.  When Yana and her company are kidnapped by pirates it seems as though everything is lost - but you should never underestimate just how small the universe really is.  In a race against time the residents of Petaybee need to figure out what is happening and fast - otherwise their planet may be destroyed before their very eyes.

Power play is the final book in the Petaybee trilogy and brings together the different threads of the previous books - creating a seamless end to a series that was engaging, pushing boundaries of believability (a sentient planet, need I say more), and bringing together a cast of characters that were perfect in their imperfections.  Power play closes off some of the plots left open at the end of Powers that be and concludes the involvement of the characters introduced in Power lines, as well as bringing to an end the journey that begins in Power play.  

There are some people who seem to really dislike this series, and I can see why that might be the case - writers who step outside what their readers are used to often face confusion or dislike because it is not familiar.  There could also be a lot of dislike because of the strong messages of protecting the environment and living within your means - these messages strongly resonate today because we are already seeing the damage done to the environment over many years of taking what we want without necessarily having care for the rest of the planet.  Enjoy this series for it's messages, enjoy the series for the strong female characters who hold their own in a man's world, enjoy this series for the connection to the animals and the world - or just enjoy this series for it's own sake.

If you like this book then try:

• The crystal singer by Anne McCaffrey
• The ship who sang by Anne McCaffrey
• Decision at Doona by Anne McCaffrey
• The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey
• Werehunter by Mercedes Lackey
• The elvenbane by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey
• Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
• Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
• Alien taste by Wen Spencer
• The diamond throne by David Eddings
• Sassinak by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon

Reviewed by Brilla

Power lines by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough

Power lines is the second book in the Petaybee trilogy so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first book in the series.  This series is best enjoyed in order so I suggest you read Powers that be before you read any more of this review.

Yana Maddock may now be a true citizen of Petaybee, accepted by the planet itself, but that does not mean that she is free of the influence of the company that terraformed the planet and placed all of the human inhabitants on it's surface.  There is resounding doubt that the planet is sentient, and of course the company must send experts to examine the truth of the bald statement themselves.  As in any situation, there are those who would turn the events to their own advantages, taking what they can claim for themselves.  It also brings so called experts to Petaybee - some of whom will twist and turn the truth to their own needs.

In a rapidly changing world, Yana must walk the line between the company and the citizens of Petaybee who are remarkably innocent in the ways of the universe.  On the surface the arrival of Marmion de Revers Algemeine and Dr. Matthew Luzon seems like good news, but both of them have a reputation - not necessarily a good one.  While Marmion seems to take to Petaybee and fall under its charms, Luzon is determined to prove the inhabitants are suffering from some kind of mass delusion that makes them dangerous rather than endearing.  With a whole planet at stake, the inhabitants of Petaybee will have to find a way to convince Intergal that their planet is not only sentient - it has it's own ideas about what should happen to it's surface and it's inhabitants.

Power lines is in the unenviable position of the being the middle book in a series that carries some rather strong themes and messages - which makes it a little stodgy in some places and a little fast paced in others.  I jumped straight into reading Power lines after finishing Powers that be, with the plan to jump straight into Power play when I was finished, so the effect was less pronounced for me than it would be for someone who was reading the books with a gap in between.  Once again there are strong messages about the environment and the damage we can do taking what we want, and some of the other reviews I have seen of this book state that for them as readers the message was rather heavy handed.  As someone who makes an effort to reduce, reuse, recycle - and who has respect for all of our environment and the species in it, - I actually found the messages to be just right.

As events unfold in Power lines it becomes clear who the major players will be in the final book in the series, and it sets us up quite nicely to move into the last book in the series.  This is one of the outlying series from Anne McCaffrey who is best known for her blended fantasy/science fiction series of the Dragonriders of Pern.  I did love this series and there is a lot to like about it - you just have to make sure you read it in it's own right rather than hoping for another series like Pern.

If you like this book then try:

• The crystal singer by Anne McCaffrey
• The ship who sang by Anne McCaffrey
• Decision at Doona by Anne McCaffrey
• The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey
• Werehunter by Mercedes Lackey
• The elvenbane by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey
• Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
• Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
• Alien taste by Wen Spencer
• The diamond throne by David Eddings
• Sassinak by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon

Reviewed by Brilla

Powers that be by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough

Major Yanaba "Yana" Maddock has received a medical discharge from the company after her lungs were almost completely destroyed in a gas attack during an uprising on one of the company's many planets.  She was lucky to survive, but the experience has left her weak and crippled by lungs that refuse to work properly and reduce her to fits of coughing without warning.  The planet the company decides to send her to so she can enjoy her retirement is a terraformed planet known as Petaybee, a planet settled by people of mostly Irish and Eskimo decent.  It seems like a peaceful planet, one lacking in most of the trappings of a civilized universe - mostly because most of the trappings of the rest of the universe are quickly ruined by the Arctic environment of the ice and snow bound planet.

Yana thought she was sent there to recuperate and enjoy her retirement, but the truth is not that simple.  With her experience working for the company, Yana is seen as a valuable asset for infiltrating the local population who are suspicious of the company and all outsiders.  As she settles into her new life, Yana is constantly surprised by how supportive and welcoming the native population are - she is given the tools she needs to survive the harsh environment without the need for credits or repayment.  The most miraculous thing of all is the way her abused lungs and body begin to health in the clean environments of the planet.  When yet another team of researchers disappears Yana feels the pressure to find answers, her "superior" officer threatening to make life even more difficult for her than it already is.

When part of the missing team is found, Yana comes to understand more about her new planet - discovering one of the most amazing things of all.  Petaybee is not just a ball of ice and snow, it is a sentient being that connects with it's inhabitants, changing them to meet the needs of the environment.  When Yana falls "captive" to the mass hallucination that the planet is "alive", she finds herself in the path of a company that will do anything to get what it wants.  For the first time in a long time Yana feels like she has a family and a place to call "home" - but at what cost?

Powers that be is the first book in the series focused on the planet of Petaybee - a series that is more than a little mind boggling when you consider the whole premise is based on the fact that a planet can be a sentient being.  There are quite a few themes and story arcs that make this series both interesting and very relevant for readers today - just like it was nearly 20 years ago when this series was released.  It is human nature to want to own and control, to use things up while looking for resources - there is a strong message of conservation and connection to the land in this series, the idea that you do not take more than your share, that a planet has enough for everyone if you take without greed.  Many peoples of the world have a close affinity with the land and continue to speak of it as if it was alive with a spirit like that found in people - and idea that is taken to the next level in the form of a sentient planet that can communicate with it's inhabitants.

There is also the theme of people displaced and relocated without thought of how this might impact them in the long term - this was still happening in recent decades, people moved and relocated for their own "good".  For some people the story may come across as heavy handed, but it echoes truly for anyone who has explored Earths own history - people of power make decisions for the people without power everyday, often claiming it is for their own good.  There are some obvious cliches in terms of the characters, but they are cliches because they are part of every good novel.  The arrogant company man who thinks he knows best and who will threaten and bully people into submission.  The perfect balance in the form of the local woman who oozes calm and knowledge, unflappable in the face of arrogance and ignorance.  And of course we have Yana, the person who helps us discover the truth about Petaybee through her own eyes.

Anne McCaffrey was one of the great fantasy and science fiction writers of the 20th century, and her loss is still felt so many years later.  Anne McCaffrey was one of the writers who had a great influence on my life and my reading, helping my teenage self explore a world where it was okay/normal to be homosexual, where people discovered amazing things about themselves through difficult circumstances, and where it was okay to dream about exploring the world by dragonback, having a conversation with a mighty beast that chose you for a lifelong friend.  This may be one of the more science fiction novels from McCaffrey, but it was an infinite please to be reacquainted with this amazing series.

If you like this book then try:

• The crystal singer by Anne McCaffrey
• The ship who sang by Anne McCaffrey
• Decision at Doona by Anne McCaffrey
• The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey
• Werehunter by Mercedes Lackey
• The elvenbane by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey
• Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
• Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
• Alien taste by Wen Spencer
• The diamond throne by David Eddings
• Sassinak by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon

Reviewed by Brilla

Eyes on you by Kate White

Robin Trainer seems to have it all - she is co-anchor on one of the hottest cable shows and her book is gaining widespread attention ahead of its official release.  It seems as though all the hard work and drama of the past few years is behind her, her star is shining brightly and growing brighter by the day.   But with the good comes the bad, and it seems as though someone is not as happy about her success as they should be - or it least that's how it seems when Robin finds a sinister note at her books launch party.  Shaken by the note but shaking it off, she soon discovers that it is not a one off event.  As each little, and not so little, act of sabotage and vandalism occurs Robin can't help but feel unsettled and unbalanced.  

Each event brings back memories from the past, the feelings of items stained and ruined by a vindictive stepmother who made Robin appear to be unstable and a liar.  She thought she had left the events of her childhood behind, but as the number of incidents mounts Robin begins to experience feelings of doubt and confusion.  Is she seeing shadows where there aren't any?  Is what she feeling real, or is a tortured childhood reaching out to ruin her future at a time when she should finally be happy?  Forced to think on her feet and face her demons, Robin needs to figure out what is really happening - before it is too late.

One of the fun parts about reading thrillers is trying to figure out whodunnit before the author reveals all - the "funnest" reads are the ones that convincingly string you along for the whole book offering you tempting tidbits about who it could be, right until the big reveal at the end of the book.  Eyes on you was one of the better thrillers I have read in recent years because you are presented with quite a few plausible candidates for the "bad guy" and it was very satisfying to know that the little tingles of "I wonder" were right on the money - and by the end of the book I didn't care that I had changed my mind a few times because my original idea was right on the money!  

I have read one other Kate White, and that was a shorter story that was satisfying but was not as absorbing and twisted as Eyes on you.  One of the appealing aspects was the fact that because Robin is essentially "damaged" you can't help but wonder if what she is experiencing is really what she is experiencing - or if she is seeing it all through her tainted past and trust issues.  One of the most endearing aspects of Robin is that she is so human, she is flawed, she makes mistakes, and she seems to have clung onto some of the naivety we lose when we become fully functioning "adults".  This is not a perfect read, there are some fumbles and odd phrases with the writing - but in some ways that makes the book a better read.  

It is not easy for an author to switch from one sub genre of crime to another, but White has managed to create a fun and light crime/romance on one hand, and on the other she has created this atmospheric psychological thriller that makes you doubt what you know.  

If you like this book then try:

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

Reviewed by Brilla

Private Sydney by James Patterson and Kathryn Fox

Private Sydney is the second book in the Private series set in the land "down under".  You can read this book independently but you will get more out of it if you have read Private and Private Oz first so you can get to know some of the characters before jumping into the action.

Craig Gisto and the team at Private in Sydney arrive one morning to find the front doors smashed in.  It seems as though they were the target of vandals, but something niggles at the back of Gisto's mind when he realises that the security system has also been affected and that there is no evidence of who broke down the doors or why.  It doesn't seem like a big deal, until Private helps a couple do a background search on a woman who soon turns up dead - and Private can't provide evidence that the couple exists, let alone visited their offices.  The case brings Gisto into the firing range of his cousin yet again, and Detective Mark Talbot seems determined to bring Private down a peg of two.

As if a murder connected to Private isn't enough of a complication, Jack Morgan has personally contacted Gisto and asked him for a personal favour - helping Eliza Moss find her missing father.  In a move completely out of character, Eric Moss has resigned by email and vanished without a trace.  Eliza is convinced that something has happened, and when the company her father worked for starts stonewalling them and blocking access to even the most basic of information, it becomes clear that something is going on and no one wants Private or Eliza to know about it.  As the Private team scramble to find information about Moss, they uncover secrets that were meant to be kept hidden.  Eliza wants to know what happened to her father and Gisto is determined to help - but that determination could cost them more than they are willing to pay.

The Private series is interesting, not just because of all the different co-authors, but also because there are Private offices all over the world which means story lines can happen a lot closer to home for international readers.  While some people think New Zealand and Australia are the same place, or that we can swim from one country to the other, we are separate countries with a shared history and to a certain extent a shared culture.  It was kind of fun reading a book that was set so close to home, and at times I did wonder if American readers get terms like "tallboy" or if they know what a Holden Commodore is!  Private Sydney flowed well and had none of the "weight" and "jumping about" or Private Oz - it was more linear in telling the story and more focused.  Kathryn Fox appears to have been a good choice as co-author as there was a seamless flow to the writing.

The basic bones of the book are two separate stories woven together by the presence of Private, and it was interesting how both stories had a strong presence without overwhelming each other.  Too often crime/thrillers focus on just one story and the reality is that no police force or detective agency would ever just have one case they were working on.  Patterson has a knack for writing stories that push the boundaries of what is believable without stepping so far that you can no longer suspend belief - and Private Sydney walks that fine line very well.  A great read across an afternoon and one that I hope has a companion novel soon as it is great to have something set so close to home.  Maybe in the next one the cast can hop the "ditch" to a major New Zealand city for some of the action .... (just saying, it could work).

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 Oz by James Patterson and Michael White
• Private India by James Patterson and Ashwin Sanghi

Reviewed by Brilla

Zombie McCrombie from an overturned Kombi by Michael Ward; illustrated by Gypsy Taylor

Dead yet alive

and hungry for brains

lurched Zombie McCrombie 

from an overturned Kmobi

With some carefully thought out rhyme, and an artist with time - comes this rhyming and rollicking parody of the Hairy Maclary books featuring a motley (and falling apart) pack of zombie dogs that shamble from page to page looking for brains - and instead come face-to-face with their impending doom.

Hairy Maclary is one of New Zealand's most beloved picture book characters, and the author and illustrator of this book took a big risk in creating their parody - and it has proven to be pretty divisive.  I loved the book and the way it takes something so loved and turns it into something new, although it took the second reading for me to reach that conclusion - the first reading was a mix of laughter and revulsion.  Some of my fellow librarians also adored the book - while others were disgusted and disgruntled that they have "ripped" off Hairy and how can they get away with it (because it is a parody of course, one of the sincerest forms of flattery).  One of the most telling responses was the class of ten year olds who laughed at all the right moments and squealed with disgust at all the right moments.

This book is not going to appeal to everyone - partly because it is such a clever parody.  My advice, forget about Hairy Maclary and just enjoy the book in all its twisted glory.  The illustrations are not the cutesy drawings we expect from Lynley Dodd, they are sketchy and more amateurish, seeming to have been drawn by a survivor of the zombie apocalypse.  The rhyme also fails to meet the high standard of the source material, causing you to stumble a little in places when you read it out loud - but it works.  Love to see what the author and illustrator can come up with next - although maybe next time they can stick a little closer to home and tackle a Mem Fox .... a little possum we all know could do with the zombie treatment (just saying).

If you like this book then try:

• The very hungry zombie: A parody by Michael Teitelbaum and Jon Apple
• Go the f**k to sleep by Adam Mansbach
• All my friends are dead by Avery Monson and Jory John
• If you give a kid a cookie, will he shut the f**k up?: A parody for adults by Marcy Roznik and Miranda Lemming
• OMG! That's not my husband ... by Kasey Edwards
• OMG! That's not my baby ... by Kasey Edwards

Reviewed by Brilla

Jaws by Peter Benchley

The small town of Amity is a town that gorges itself on summer, the towns resident population swelling by thousands across the summer as the wealthy descend on the town to enjoy the sun and the beaches.  The resident population depends on the parasitic relationship with their summer visitors, the money they earn in the short three month window has to last through the other nine months of the year.  A lean year is a challenge, but a truly bad summer can echo for years to come.  Luckily they have not had to face a lean summer for years - but that luck is about to run out.

It starts with an innocent swim in the small hours, a swim that will end in fear and death for Chrissie Watkins.  For Police Chief Martin Brody her death marks the beginning of the worst time of his life - professionally and personally.  Wanting to protect the people of Amity, he wants to report the attack but the Mayor and other members of the community block him at every turn - worried about the summer folks finding out about the attack and not coming,  Despite the contempt with which the summer folks are seen by some, they are the lifeblood of the community.  When a second death occurs and then a third the news leaks out and things just get that much harder - for Brody and Amity.  As the death count mounts Brody learns more about his town than he ever wanted to know.

Until now my only experience of Jaws was watching the movie, and I am not ashamed to admit that every time I watch it I get the shivers when I am anywhere near the ocean.  The movie is atmospheric and creepy, partly because it takes so long for you to see the shark in the first place!  I was expecting the book to be a lot like the movie and I was extremely surprised to realise how different it actually was.  I'm not particularly prudish, but I was surprised by the language in the book - I didn't realise that swearing like a sailor was the thing back in the 1970s or that a publisher would have allowed a book to be published with so many swear words (and those swear words in particular)!  I was also surprised by how much Brody drank - it seemed like there was a beer or some other form of alcohol in every scene.

For a retro read (one more than ten years old) there is a lot of currency in Jaws - partly driven by the character development and the timeless story of a small community that survives by the skin of its teeth.  There are other themes that appear too, particularly in the comparison between the summer folk who come and enjoy their summers, and the local people who hang in for life and live in a parasitic relationship with the summer folk and their money.  I don't remember there being so much tension between Brody and his wife Ellen in the movie, and it was interesting to explore the relationship and the themes of resentment and lose - particularly as it seems to reflect the era as well.  There are some interesting surprises here too in the expanded story which includes personal pressure, secrets, and conspiracies - and did I mention the mob?  Jaws was well worth a read, and now I have read it I plan to watch the movie again to see how close the movie is to the book.

If you like this then try:

• Meg by Steven Alten
• Jurassic park by Michael Crichton
• Congo by Michael Crichton

Reviewed by Brilla

The wrong man by Kate White

Kit Finn is used to taking the safe option - not always by choice, and not always with the best consequences.  Lessons from her past keep her on the straight and narrow, and have helped her lead a safe and stable adult life.  While visiting the lovely Islamorada for work and for pleasure, she makes the rather rash decision to do something a little dangerous and out of character - something that involved a tall and mysterious man she literally bumps into on her last day in the Florida Keys.  It seems like a harmless dalliance, but when he invites her to dinner back in New York where they both happen to live, it seems as though the fates may be toying with them.  When Kit turns up for their dinner she discovers that the man she met in Florida was not who she thought he was, and the man who he was impersonating seems very eager for Kit to actively help him and the company he works for solve the mystery of who the man is.

Suddenly Kit finds out that sometimes you really do need to be careful what you wish or dream for, because her carefully structured life is about to fall apart at the seams.  In a matter of days she becomes the target of some very unwanted attention - and known to the police in both Miami and New York.  At a time when she should be concentrating on building her client base for her business she is instead having to circle the wagons and desperately hold on to the clients she has.  Kit is at the centre of a game where she doesn't know the rules and all the players - and where someone is playing for keeps.  Just when she thinks she may have figured out what is going on the impostor reappears with a far fetched story that on the surface could be genuine, but they have some serious trust issues.  

I picked up The wrong man because I saw it in a new books list and the blurb seemed intriguing - although I didn't expect very much when I saw the physical book and the rather cliche cover.  What I got was a thoroughly enjoyable read that tested my ability to sift through the clues dropped like little bread crumbs - trying to solve the mystery and guess what would happen next before the author revealed the next clue.  I read a fair amount of crime fiction - some by the big names, and some by the new names - and The wrong man easy holds it's own in terms of delivering an intriguing read that has a 360 degree approach, creating a whole world for the characters to live in rather than a 2 dimensional landscape.  Kit is a fantastic character to see the world through, partly because I have to sheepishly admit that if I was in her shoes I wouldn't have left the mystery alone either!

This is something of a genre bending book because while at the core it is essentially a whodunnit, it also borrows quite a bit from the romance genre.  Kit's potential love life is somewhat left to the whims of fate here, and it is easy to see why she makes the choices she does.  Without ruining plot lines and surprises, there are some classic moments from the romance genre here.  I would recommend The wrong man to anyone who likes a good whodunnit that is not too heavy and not too gory - especially if you like to match wits with the author and try and figure out who the bad guys are before the author reveals all.

If you like this book then try:

• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• City of fear by Alafair Burke
• 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
• Death of a country fried redneck by Lee Hollis
• One step too far by Tina Seskis
• Vodka doesn't freeze by Leah Giarratano
• The edge of normal by Carla Norton

Reviewed by Brilla

Alert by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Alert is the eighth book in the Michael Bennett series, and while they can be read independently you get the most enjoyment out of the series when you read them in order.  This review contains series ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the entire series.  I highly recommend that you read the series in order, starting with Step on a crack.

After spending time with Mary Catherine in Ireland, returning to New York feels like coming to Earth with a thud.  With Mary Catherine stuck on the other side of a very large ocean Detective Bennett quickly realises that she is the glue that really keeps the family together, and the grease that keeps the wheels turning smoothly.  Adjusting to the appearance of chaos is bad enough, but then an act of senseless destruction brings chaos to the city.  New York is no stranger to acts of terror - 9/11 is still burned into the hearts and psyche of the city - but terror comes in many shapes and forms and Detective Bennett and the rest of the NYPD have their work cut out for them as they try and find the culprit.

When the terrorists strike for a second time Detective Bennett feels the heat like never before, and he soon finds himself keeping some interesting company.  With a threat to the City and population of New York all the alphabet agencies are sending the troops in to support the NYPD and try and catch the "bad guys" - including FBI Agent Emily Parker.  Having history with Agent Parker makes it both a comfortable experience, and also uncomfortable - because Mary Catherine is so far away and because Agent Parker is seeing someone who sounds like they could be a substitute for Michael.  As the acts of mindless terror begin to mount up the tension and pressure also builds, and Detective Bennett soon finds himself under pressure and on the outside of a very public case.  With a deadline looming, Detective Bennett is going to find himself caught in the cross hairs more than once, and this may be the case that finally catches him.

I have devoured every book in the Detective Michael Bennett series - the books are slickly written with great chemistry between Patterson and Ledwidge.  Each book in the series builds on the events in the previous books, often jumping in straight after the action finishes, which can sometimes leave you scrambling to remember what happened in the book before  (or even the book before the book before).  Unlike a lot of detective series, the Michael Bennett books are a careful balance of action and detecting - this makes the series more appealing to readers who prefer a character driven story rather than one that gets bogged down too much in being clever.  I have to say that I like books that test your attention to detail and your ability to guess what happens next - rather than books that are too clever for their own good and test your ability to sort through masses of fake outs or obscure references.  Patterson and Ledwidge keep their books on point and keep the pace hot which is a very welcome treat.

This series will not appeal to everyone and this seems to be the book in the series, so far at least, that tips the balance to being an action novel with a touch of detecting rather than being balanced or a detecting book with some action.  It appealed to me, but some fans of the series may find it a little too far fetched because of some of the events that happened.  One thing is clear though - where on Earth can Patterson and Ledwidge take this series next?

If you like this book then try:

• Step on a crack by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
• Run for your life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
• Worst case by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
• Tick tock by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
• I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
• Gone by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
• Burn by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
• The edge of normal by Carla Norton
• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• Pop goes the weasel by M. J. Arlidge
• The surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
• The apprentice by Tess Gerritsen
• Kill switch by Neal Baer and Jonathan Greene
• NYPD Red by James Patterson and Marshall Karp
• Kill me if you can by James Patterson and Marshall Karp

Reviewed by Brilla

The cat's out of the bag by Max Cryer

The cat's out of the bag is a compendium of facts and whimsy about the domestic cat - a small, furry, and demanding creature that has invaded our hearts and our lives without seeming to really offer anything in return.  Having read Every dog has it's day, it seemed only right to read what is essentially a companion book.  While Max Cryer is a New Zealand author, this is a very international book with anecdotes and facts from around the world.

If you like quirky books that follow the whimsy of the author in a semi-structured way then The cat's out of the bag may just be the perfect book for you.  There are short, focused chapters that are not interrelated, and that have a collection of short writings and musings that are very easy to dip into and out of.  There are some truly interesting facts, especially the fact that cats have two distinct purrs - one of which manipulates humans by producing sound waves with peaks similar to the frequency of a crying baby!

If you like this book then try:

• Jessi-Cat the cat that unlocked a boy's heart by Jayne Dillon with Alison Maloney
• A friend like Henry by Nuala Gardner
• A street cat named Bob by James Bowen
• Dewey: The small-town library cat who touched the world by Vicki Myron & Bret Witter
• Homer's odyssey: A fearless feline tale, or how I learned about love and life with a blind wonder cat by Gwen Cooper
• Making the rounds with Oscar by David Dosa
• Norton, the loveable cat who travelled the world by Peter Gethers
• Cowboy & Wills by Monica Holloway
• Cleo: The cat who mended a family by Helen Brown
• The dog who rescues cats by Philip Gonzalez

Reviewed by Brilla