Dead heat by Patricia Briggs

Dead heat is the fourth book in the Alpha and Omega series so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** for what has happened not only in this series, but also in the Mercy Thompson series.  Both series get better the more you read them so I highly recommend that you read both series in the order of publishing - you have been warned!


It was supposed to be a simple trip to Arizona to choose a horse for Anna's birthday, no pack business, no funny business, no drama.  At first it seems as though the only thing Charles has to deal with is seeing his old friend after twenty years, twenty years that have pushed Joseph closer to the grave.  For Anna it is a chance to learn more about the life Charles led before he met her, including dealing with Josephs wife Maggie who does not warm to her at all.  Luckily it takes a lot to raise Anna's hackles, because a lesser person would have been inclined to bare her teeth and let her wolf out to play.

It soon becomes pretty clear though that this is not going to be a mere pleasure trip, because something fae and dark has been released back into the world - something that seems to have Joseph's family in its sights.  Charles and Anna have faced darkness before, but this time it is personal for Charles on a number of levels, and Anna is going to have to flex her Omega muscles to the maximum if she wants to keep Charles and the rest of the werewolves safe.  In a race against time Charles and Anna have to face an unknown and dangerous foe with allies that are largely unknown and are woefully ill equipped to deal with a monster that has dreamed of release for the longest time.

Patricia Briggs is a master stroyteller who seamlessly blends together elements of fantasy, urban fantasy, mythology, action, and romance to create a well rounded world with characters that leap off the page and into your heart and imagination.  It is a gamble to have two intertwined series on the go at the same time, but Briggs has pulled it off with style and panache.  The Alpha and Omega novels offer a glimpse into the world of werewolves and the fae that is missing from the Mercy Thompson series - partly because Mercy is a not a werewolf, and partly because she is so fiercely independent and carries the weight of her novels on her shoulders.  With Charles and Anna there is a seamlessness that provides so much "more" - Charles and Brother Wolf also add an interesting dimension.  

This is a series that deserves to be discovered by urban fantasy fans, partly because Briggs obviously does her research and creates worlds that are well thought out and well developed.  Despite the fact that werewolves have not "come out" in our world, it is so easy to imagine them under the surface living their lives and keeping their secrets.  I have to confess that as someone who loves horses I also really enjoyed the foray into the world of Arabian horses and horse shows in the United States.  Hopefully there are many more books to come for Mercy Thompson and Charles and Anna because these are series that you can really sink your teeth into (pun intended!).

If you like this book then try:

• Moon called by Patricia Briggs
• Cry wolf by Patricia Briggs
• Tinker by Wen Spencer
• Night shifted by Cassie Alexander
• Cry wolf by Patricia Briggs
• Kitty and the midnight hour by Carrie Vaughn
• Dark descendant by Jenna Black
• Burning water by Mercedes Lackey
• Kitty goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn
• Blood price by Tanya Huff
• Urban shaman by C.E. Murphy
• Spiders bite by Jennifer Estep
• Dead witch walking by Kim Harrison
• Precinct 13 by Tate Hallaway

Reviewed by Brilla

The doll's house by M.J. Arlidge

The doll's house is the sequel to Eeny meeny and Pop goes the weasel so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first books in the series.  While you can read this book independently you will get the most enjoyment out of reading the series in order.

A young family at the beach makes a horrifying discovery when they dig in the sand - the body of a young woman.  She is pale and perfect, with no outward signs of trauma, although it appears she was starved in her last few weeks or months.  For DI Helen Grace the discovery is a jolt, a wake up call that there may be another killer out there - but will people believe her or just think she is after the glory of stopping another serial killer?  With her old team disbanded due to death, pregnancy, and retirement there are not that many allies for her to call on, and she is going to need all the help she can get.  Not one to necessarily play by the rules, DI Grace is about to face one of her greatest professional challenges yet.

When Ruby Sprackling goes missing it could easily have been another case of a young woman who runs away from her difficult past, but her mother is adamant that Ruby was about to come home, that the past had been forgiven (if not forgotten).  The more DI Grace and her team learn about Ruby's case the more red flags the case raises, and it soon becomes clear that they are indeed chasing a serial kidnapper who seems to kidnap his victim and them slowly lose interest.  Any serial case is challenging, but it seems as though Detective Superintendent Ceri Harwood is determined to stop Helen turning the case into another feather in her cap - even if it means ignoring the evidence and the gut instincts of a very experienced detective.

I have really been enjoying the DI Grace novels and I was (probably completely irrationally) thrilled to see that there is another book due for release at the end of the year!  One of the appeals for me is definitely the fast paced action and punchy chapters, and in the case of The doll's house the rapidly switching views between Ruby and Helen - it really ratchets up the tension and keeps you glued to your seat to see what happens next.  More so than the other books it "felt" like we were watching a high octane tv movie - except the action and drama plays out in your imagination rather than on the screen.  The main characters are gaining depth and becoming increasingly familiar, like old friends, while the new characters are adding depth and a reality to the story.

This series will not appeal to all crime and thriller writers because the material is rather dark and preys on your primal fears - how would any of us cope if we were kidnapped and kept completely at the whim of our captor?  Ruby is a particularly engaging character and through her we experience some of the most primal of emotions and survival pressures - do anything to stay alive, fight when you can, give up if you must.  A guilty pleasure that kept me on the edge of my seat - wanting (and getting) more.

If you like this book then try:

• Pop goes the weasel by M.J. Arlidge 
• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• The surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
• One step too far by Tina Seskis
• The basement by Stephen Leather
• The silence of the lambs by Thomas Harris
• 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
• 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

Breaking Creed by Alex Kava

Ryder Creed is very good at his job and so are the dogs that he trains for everything from search and rescue through to drug detection and tracking.  His reputation as one of the best has lead to some interesting cases over the years, but the latest case is more sickening than interesting.  While searching a boat for drugs he and his partner Grace uncover something more sinister, a cargo of children hidden inside the ship who they find only because Grace is so good at her job and manages to sniff them out.  Leaving the job behind is not going to be easy this time, especially when he becomes the target of some unwanted attention from a drug smuggling cartel with a reputation for being very nasty when they deal with people who get in their way.

In Washington a body is found in the Potomac River and FBI agent Maggie O'Dell is called in to deal with the case.  The body shows signs of torture, strange welts cover the back of the body and it seems pretty clear that the body has been moved and dumped where it will be found.  Clues about the murder lead Maggie to a rural property where she runs into Ryder and Grace, a somewhat uncomfortable reunion given what happened the first time they met.  While exploring the property they make a startling discovery that points to one thing and one thing only - their cases are connected.  The Iceman is cleaning house for the cartel, and Creed is on his hit list.

This is the first book I have read by Alex Kava and I was very pleasantly surprised to find it was a thoroughly engaging and addictive read.  I initially picked up the book because of the description of the main character, a dog trainer who gets on the wrong side of a drug cartel because of how good his dog is.  I expected the book to feature the idea of working dogs quite strongly, what I didn't expect was to have multiple dogs feature who are as well developed as the human characters.  Little Grace is an absolute heart breaker and a real little charmer, and his other dogs show the scars of their rough starts in life.  Creed himself is an interesting character, he is somewhat scared from his military career and what happened to his sister when he was growing up - and in many ways his partner Hannah is the healing hand for him in the same way he is the healing hand for his dogs.

The bad guys are interesting too, they are not outright bad and dangerous but are instead full characters with motivations and secrets.  The assassin Iceman is particularly interesting, partly because we only really meet him through his apprentice which gives you a slanted view on what he is all about.  In many ways Kava reminds me of James Patterson, the writing is a little sparse in terms of description and detail, but is instead rich in character development and fast paced plots.  The short chapters help to push the action forward and gave you plenty of opportunities to put the book down for a few minutes to make a drink or make a comfort stop without having to put the book down mid-chapter.  I have a definite preference for short punchy chapters, so this was right up my alley.  

The one distraction was that it did feel a little bit like there was some tension between the characters of Creed and O'Dell at times.  Creed was the focus for a section, and then suddenly it was all about O'Dell, and then it was all about the joint story, and then all about O'Dell - it wasn't too bad but it did feel a little like there was a bit too much of both sides rather than bringing O'Dell into Creed's story.  I am now looking forward to trying some more of the Maggie O'Dell series - I just have to wait for the first book to become available at the library (they are all out).  A great new find and the start of a series that holds lots of promise for fans of crime and canine fiction.

If you like this book then try:

• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• 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 silence of the lambs by Thomas Harris
• 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

When by Victoria Laurie

For as long as she can remember Maddie has seen the numbers.  Everyone has them and she can see them clearly on every forehead - in person, and in pictures.  When she was little she didn't know what they meant, but that was only until the day that her daddy died, on the date that she saw on his forehead.  Now Maddie and her mother rely on her talent for seeing those dates because there is a special market for those numbers, people facing difficult choices who want to know if the choices they make will make a difference.  People facing cancer treatments, family members facing medical crisis, sometimes people just ask because they are curious.  The numbers never change, and the numbers are never wrong.

It seems like such a harmless gift, useful but harmless.  Being able to see the numbers means Maddie and her mother are outsiders, some of the people in their town going so far as to label them witches.  There is some bullying at school, but her friendship with Stubby helps her cope - but that friendship is not enough to shield her from what is coming.  When Maddie does a reading for Mrs. Tibbolt it seems like the usual kind of reading, until she realises that one of the Tibbolt children is not going to live more than a week.  When the child is found murdered Maddie becomes a suspect, and when a second body is found so does Stubby.  As the circumstantial evidence builds Maddie faces an uphill battle to prove that she can do what she says she can, and it will be a massive uphill battle because the FBI have her in their sights and they are ready to bring her down - even if they have to fight a little dirty to do it.

I didn't have high expectations when I picked up When, so I was pleasantly surprised to find a book that has a surprising amount of depth and world creating.  Maddie and her gift is not totally unique, there has been at least one other book where the main character can see the death date of other people, but When is tied very firmly in the here and now and seems somewhat more believable.  Having a unique gift that makes her somewhat of a social pariah is bad enough for Maddie, but she also has to live with a mother who is more dependent than parent.  As the story unfolds we come to understand more about her mother and why she is the way she is, but in the beginning all we have is Maddie's view on the matter and it is a somewhat bleak outlook.

No story about murder and mayhem would be complete without the appearance of law enforcement, and in this case it is two rather jaded and cynical FBI agents who think that Maddie and Stubby are to blame for the murders.  Maddie and her gift are nothing more than a gimmick to them, and they are determined to bust the myth of her ability to see death dates and close their murder case.  The antagonistic relationships that develop around Maddie are very realistic, as is the bullying and drama at school and at home.  As the mystery draws to a close you think you have it all figured out - but do you really?  An intriguing concept told with a bold new voice.  Maddie is a fantastic character to connect with, and I hope that there are more books of this caliber from Victoria Laurie - even if they don't feature Maddie and her unique gift.

If you like this book then try:

• Numbers by Rachel Ward
• Gifted touch by Melinda Metz
• Nearly gone by Elle Cosimano
• Shadowland by Meg Cabot (Jenny Carroll)
• The naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• When lightning strikes by Meg Cabot (Jenny Carroll)
• I hunt killers by Barry Lyga
• The Christopher killer by Alane Ferguson
• Dead to you by Lisa McMann

Reviewed by Brilla

Percy Jackson and the titan's curse by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the titan's curse is the third book in the  Percy Jackson and the Olympians series so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first two books in the series.  This is one of those series where it really pays to read them in order so if you have not already read Percy Jackson and the lightning thief and Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters then I suggest you do so before reading anymore of this review!

Just before winter break Percy, Thalia, and Annabeth are on a mission to help Grover get two half-bloods back to camp - when things go very wrong.  The bad guys have already made it to the school where the half-bloods are living in ignorant bliss of their fate, and in the ensuing chase and battle to rescue them Annabeth falls with the enemy and vanishes.  At odds with Thalia and smarting from the loss Percy finds himself both instantly charmed and instantly worried by the arrival of some godly help - especially as the help comes with some rather frosty company.  

It soon becomes clear that there is something dangerous lurking outside of Camp Half-Blood, something dangerous that is not afraid to take on the gods and beat them at their own game.  With two competing factions of half-bloods trying to prove they are strong enough to beat the enemy, and strong enough that they don't need each others help, it is not surprising that things go wrong very quickly.  Forced into sneaking around like a thief, Percy has some tough decisions to make and he has to make them fast - because the fate of his friend Annabeth (not to mention the world) is in his hands.  Can Percy trust himself to make the difficult decisions?

It was a somewhat refreshing change to join Percy mid-year rather than at the end of another dismal school year - although the change of month and season does little to prevent things from spinning wildly out of control.  Percy may have finally gotten used to the idea of Camp Half-Blood and the fact that he is a demigod, but there are still secrets to discover about his new world - new friends, new enemies, and new entities that don't quite fit into either mould.  I have really been enjoying this series, particularly the way that Riordan builds layers of new information over the old - making each book a foundation for the next, and the next, and the next.  

There is a wealth of material for Riordan to draw on for inspiration, the world of the ancient Greeks is full of stories of friendship, love, and betrayal - the original family dramas!  Riordan is building a world here that deserves to be discovered and enjoyed - by readers of all ages and abilities.  Join the worlds least perfect hero as he battles to save us all.

If you like this book then try:

• Percy Jackson and the lightning thief by Rick Riordan
• Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters by Rick Riordan
• The chaos of stars by Kiersten White
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
• Born at midnight by C.C Hunter
• Mortal danger by Ann Aguirre
• Firelight by Sophie Jordan
• The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
• Drift by M.K. Hutchins
• Legacies by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
• Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor
• Sweet venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Reviewed by Brilla

Wolf Who Rules by Wen Spencer

Wolf Who Rules is the sequel to Tinker so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first book in the series.  This is a series that it really pays to read in order so I highly recommend that you read Tinker before you read anymore of this review.

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but in Tinker's case it is more like the road to Elfhome is paved with good intentions.  Her actions may have saved Pittsburgh from an alien invasion, but it also caused the city of Pittsburgh to move permanently to Elfhome.  Suddenly everything Tinker thought she knew has been turned upside down because not only did Pittsburgh not stay on Earth, there is also a strange no mans land that seems to blur all the realities together in a blue haze that feels freezing cold.  Solving the mystery seems the obvious thing for Tinker to do, but Wolf Who Rules and Tinker are no longer the only magic wielders in town.

Reinforcements have been called in from the other clans and it is a supremely uncomfortable time for Wolf Who Rules and Tinker - he because of the pressure he faces from the other clans, and she because she is so ignorant about what it means to be an elf - let alone a high ranking elf.  Facing pressure from all sides, Tinker throws herself into the task of solving the mystery of what happened with the gate, while studiously trying to avoid the unwanted attentions of the human population and visiting elves.  Dark plans are still at play, and there is more than one enemy for Tinker to face.  Even in her dreams she is not left in peace, nightmares seek her out and torment her with their baffling clues and hidden meanings.  Tinker and Wolf Who Rules are about to face some of their greatest challenges yet - and they better be ready.

In a weird way that will sound like a backhanded compliment, Wolf Who Rules is a  more challenging read than I usually enjoy - one that required me to pay attention and think about what I was reading.  This is a huge change from some of the "lighter" and "fluffier" science fiction and fantasy I have been reading lately and it made a nice change of pace to have an author who challenges you to puzzle out the clues and guess what was coming next rather than spoon feeding you the plot and the answers.  For some readers this may prove to be too much effort, but if you give up too soon you miss out on some of the real gem moments when people get what is coming to them, or when you realise that you may have misjudged someone more than a little.

Describing too much of the story will ruin the surprising twists and turns so I won't give you too much detail!  Wolf Who Rules is a great follow up to Tinker, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see where this series leads us next.  At more than 400 pages this is another committed read - but I found it well worth the effort.

 If you like this book then try:

• Tinker by Wen Spencer
• Eight million gods by Wen Spencer
• Alien taste by Wen Spencer
• Moon called by Patricia Briggs
• Night shifted by Cassie Alexander
• Cry wolf by Patricia Briggs
• Kitty and the midnight hour by Carrie Vaughn
• Dark descendant by Jenna Black
• Blood price by Tanya Huff
• Urban shaman by C.E. Murphy
• Spiders bite by Jennifer Estep
• Dead witch walking by Kim Harrison
• Precinct 13 by Tate Hallaway
• Prowlers by Christopher Golden
• Children of the night by Mercedes Lackey
• Cast in shadow by Michelle Sagara
• Summon the keeper by Tanya Huff

Reviewed by Brilla

Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters is the second book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first book in the series.  This is one of those series where it really pays to read them in order so if you have not already read Percy Jackson and the lightning thief then I suggest you do so before reading anymore of this review!


Percy Jackson has nearly made it through a whole school year without being attacked by monsters or getting expelled - something of a new record.  He is really looking forward to getting back to Camp Half-Blood so he can spend time with the other demigods and pretty much not feel like too much of a freak - but his mother is being a little cagey about the summer which is not helpful.  Being the son of the one of the "big three" makes Percy something of an anomaly even among the half bloods, and his little adventure the previous summer has left him a little at odds with the children of Ares.  It could be a very uncomfortable summer at Camp Half-Blood - but he has to make it there first!

When he is attacked at the school it seems as though Percy has been blessed with more of his unique brand of luck, but it is only the start of another adventure.  Camp Half-Blood is in danger, the mystical borders that have protected the camp for years are starting to fail and the children of the gods are in danger.  Percy seems to be the only one who can help, but the forces of evil (or at least the forces in control of the camp) seem determined to keep Percy off the case.  In a race against time Percy, Annabeth, and his new friend Tyson must find the only thing that might be able to save the camp - breaking the rules by leaving camp is just the start of another twisted adventure for Percy and his friends.

I have really been enjoying the adventures of Percy Jackson and his friends for so many reasons that I have been quietly kicking myself for not picking them up earlier.  Percy is the perfect anti-hero - he has a temper, he has dyslexia, and he is too quick to jump to some conclusions.  He is also fiercely loyal to his friends, will do almost anything to protect his mother, and there is something about him that just calls out to the reader.  As with Percy Jackson and the lightning thief, I saw the movie version before reading the book and I have to say that once again the book just blows the movie out of the water in terms of enjoyment and entertainment.  Riordan has a gift for making the characters and action come alive that just seems to loose something in translation between the page and the big screen - or maybe it is just that the movies are a little too "Hollywood" for my taste.

This series just goes from strength to strength and is one of those rare series that screams "read me" rather than "I'm for boys" or "I'm for girls".  This is a fabulous series that needs to be discovered by readers of all ages and is one of those magical series that will have the whole family entertained - not to mention providing lots of material for book related discussions.  Fans of Greek mythology will find a lot to like here, and it was something of a relief to find a use for all my classical studies and ancient history studies at school and university!  Hugely entertaining and nearly impossible to put down - you must read this series!

If you like this book then try:

• Percy Jackson and the lightning thief by Rick Riordan
• The chaos of stars by Kiersten White
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
• Born at midnight by C.C Hunter
• Mortal danger by Ann Aguirre
• Firelight by Sophie Jordan
• The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
• Drift by M.K. Hutchins
• Legacies by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
• Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor
• Sweet venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Reviewed by Brilla

Tinker by Wen Spencer

Twenty years ago the Chinese opened a gateway in space, it was supposed to transport ships to another galaxy - but something went very wrong.  A section of Pittsburgh now spends most of its time in another dimension.  Every twenty eight days Pittsburgh returns to Earth during the Shutdown, a much needed time for the humans to bring in supplies from Earth and reconnect with their families.  For some people Pittsburgh on Elfhome is the only home they have ever known, the only Pittsburgh they have ever known - Tinker is one of those people.  

Fiercely independent and armed with a piercing intelligence, Tinker runs her scrapyard as a private playground and laboratory where she can create and tinker as much as she likes.  Brought up by her grandfather Tinker has had a somewhat unorthodox upbringing, and while she can speak Elvish she has an alarming lack of understanding about the human and elven worlds.  When one of the elves is attacked in the junkyard and left mortally injured, Tinker has no hesitation to jump into the fight - even though they are both badly outmatched.  Wolf Who Rules Wind is an elven lord and it is not the first time he has crossed paths with Tinker, and it is also not the first time they have ended up battling creatures together - although at least this time Tinker is an adult and not a child.  

Saving Windwolf's life has unexpected consequences because Tinker suddenly goes from being a relatively invisible human to being a freshly minted elf!  Everything is confusing and it seems as though there are traitors and secrets around every corner - human, elf, and other.  Tinker is about to face some impossible choices, choices dictated by love, loss, and conspiracies.  Being an elf means she is no longer contained by the comparatively short lifespan of a human, but as long as she still thinks like a human she is an unknown quantity to her enemies - which may just work in her favour. 

I have been rereading old favourites a lot recently and when I realised that there is now a fourth book in the Tinker series I decided to start from the beginning and see if the series was still as good as I remembered.  One of the things I picked up on very quickly was that the catchphrase on the cover (Buffy fans should find a lot to like!) was somewhat misleading - mainly because there is a wealth of science fiction elements in Tinker that are absent from the Buffyverse.  Tinker is a quick thinking, quick tempered, somewhat reckless young adult who has more intellect that is healthy in a person with her complete lack of the "common sense" things that everyone in her world knows.  In some ways she faces a comedy of errors by making decisions that lead her to grief because of her lack of understanding about the elven and human worlds she lives in.  She may understand quantum physics, but she can't understand the politics of her world.

I found a lot to like here, and anyone who enjoys a multifaceted story with plenty of depth will also find a lot to like here.  Spencer has drawn heavily on Asian mythology to create a stunning and realistic future world, with all of the characters having depth, substance, and a role to play in the story.  There are characters to adore, characters to loath, and characters that you can't help but feel a little sorry for because of their fated role in the story.  The elves and their world is just as carefully rendered, as is the human society.  I have book two in the series waiting for me to read next, and I hope I enjoy rereading Wolf Who Rules as much as I enjoyed rereading Tinker.  Be warned though, this is not a little read (over 400 pages) but the story unfolds in such a way that it really doesn't feel that long.  
A fantastical blend of science fiction, fantasy, action, and drama.

 If you like this book then try:

• Eight million gods by Wen Spencer
• Alien taste by Wen Spencer
• Moon called by Patricia Briggs
• Night shifted by Cassie Alexander
• Cry wolf by Patricia Briggs
• Kitty and the midnight hour by Carrie Vaughn
• Dark descendant by Jenna Black
• Blood price by Tanya Huff
• Urban shaman by C.E. Murphy
• Spiders bite by Jennifer Estep
• Dead witch walking by Kim Harrison
• Precinct 13 by Tate Hallaway
• Prowlers by Christopher Golden
• Children of the night by Mercedes Lackey
• Cast in shadow by Michelle Sagara
• Summon the keeper by Tanya Huff

Reviewed by Brilla

Finding Jennifer Jones by Anne Cassidy

Finding Jennifer Jones is the sequel to Looking for JJ and while the  books can be read separately I would highly recommend reading them in order.  If you read any more of this review there are ***SPOILERS*** for what happens in Looking for JJ.

It has been a few years since Jennifer Jones was released back into the community after serving her sentence, but she is not truly free.  There are a series of conditions on her release, and if she breaks them she could end up going back to serve more time - this time in a real prison instead of the children's facility where she was before.  As time passes it feels like Jennifer (now Kate Rickman, formerly Alice Tully) is being dragged down by her feelings of frustration and self destruction.  Kate should be having the time of her life as she approaches her final year of university but instead she is drinking more than she should which sometimes leads to her waking up in strange bedrooms with guys she doesn't really know.  It is a spiral of destructive behaviours that could bring her down.

When a child is murdered in her town Kate learns what is really means to be a convicted killer, because she is right at the top of their list.  For some of the local Police Kate deserves no sympathy, and even worse seem to think she is a target for unwanted attentions.  It all leaves a sour taste in Kate's mouth and when she finds an oportuntiy to escape her old life and the controls on it she leaps at the chance and travels to London.  Life in London seems like the chance for a new start but Kate can't let go of the past, and she feels compelled to search for answers about what happened in the aftermath of the death - even though it means breaking the conditions of her release.  Kate is about to come face-to-face with her past, and what she does next will decide her fate and her future.

Looking for JJ was a powerful book that provided a glimpse into the life of a child who killed another child and what her life was like once she was released back into the community.  Full of hope and dreams of the future Alice Tully seemed to have a future, but that was ripped away and Kate Rickman was left in her place.  Kate has adapted and survived, but she is also broken and fragile, not really part of the community in which she leaves.  Through her eyes we see the future of a released killer, no mater how well she has lived her life she is automatically a suspect when a child is found murdered.  Through Kate we can't help but feel her bitterness that her past is held against her, that the Police don't care about the whole story - only that she killed a child.  It is not surprising that she takes the step of ditching her new life and trying to strike out on her own.

I felt a huge amount of sympathy for Kate/Alice/Jennifer in both novels and I felt it more keenly in some ways for Kate.  Anne Cassidy has once again found a way to make Kate a sympathetic character without excusing her actions or making her a victim - everything that happens to Kate is straight forward but doesn't allow her to avoid her past or her actions.  There is a real sense of closure here, and not just because of the decisions that Kate makes to move forward.  Looking for JJ left a few loose ends, mainly because the story was so tightly focused on Alice/Jennifer.  In Finding Jennifer Jones we learn more about the ripples of that day and what happened to the other people in the novel.

A highly anticipated and well received novel - a confronting and touching novel about learning to live with our actions and moving forward.

If you like this book then try:

• Missing Judy by Anne Cassidy
• Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy
• A girl named Digit by Annabel Monahgan
• Furious Jones and the assassin's secret by Tim Kehoe
• Girl, missing by Sophie McKenzie
• Blackbird by Anna Carey
• Nickel plated by Aric Davis
• Forbidden island by Malcolm Rose
• Burning blue by Paul Griffin
• I hunt killers by Barry Lyga
• Dead to you by Lisa McMann

Reviewed by Brilla

Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy

It was national news when three children went into the woods at Berwick Waters but only two came back out, and even years late the name Jennifer Jones still makes its way into the news.  Alice Tully reads every article with a greedy and intense interest, trying to absorb everything the media has to say about the child killer.  It is not a morbid fascination with a killer though, it is her way of keeping up-to-date about what the media knows about Jennifer Jones - because Alice Tully is Jennifer Jones.  Released from the secure unit that was her home while she served her sentence Alice is learning about the world again, experiencing life before moving on to university and getting on with her life under a new identity to protect her identity.

Alice has not forgotten the events that lead up to the murder, she never could, but she has been trying to find her feet in a strange new world.  She has a bright future if she can stay on track - a placement at university studying a course she really wants to, a boyfriend who loves her and who she loves, and a supportive caregiver who has given her a safe haven to start  her life.  All that security and relative comfort is rocked when a private detective arrives in town who is keen to track her down, at a time when she is already back in the press because her release date is coming up.  Everything she has worked for is starting to slip between her fingers, and as she starts to loose control the memories of her past resurface and threaten to drag her under.

Looking for JJ is one of those books that grabs you and wont let go.  I first read it when it came out ten years ago and I remember it making a huge impact.  I picked it up to read it again because I found a copy of Finding Jennifer Jones and I wanted to refresh my memory of what had happened.  What I found on the second reading was a book that is shocking and confronting, mostly because Jennifer/Alice is portrayed in a very sympathetic light - something that some readers will struggle with.  Alice is not a villain, she didn't kill for pleasure or revenge, she killed by accident.  Reading the book for a second time I was captivated by the development of her character, which we experience through a series of flashbacks which show a neglected child.  There are thousands if not millions of children like Alice out there, children who fall through the cracks because of failings in the social work and justice systems.

One of the more interesting things for me on the second reading was the knowledge that this really does happen, young offenders are relocated with new identities after serving their sentences.  As an adult reading Looking for JJ I couldn't help but draw parallels to the case of the murder of James Bulger and the events in Looking for JJ - mostly because of the way Jennifer is released and relocated as Alice.  These parallels may not be as apparent to a teenager or young adult, but I can remember watching the news and being horrified over the murder, and then surprised about the two killers being released and protected after their release.  There is a lot of depth to the story of Jennifer/Alice and Anne Cassidy shares it with surprising depth and sensitivity - she doesn't excuse or defend the actions of Jennifer, and she doesn't sensationalise it either.

This is a powerful novel that deserves to be discovered and read - although I would recommend it for older teens because of the contents of the novel.  There are some very mature themes here and it will no doubt generate quite a few questions and feelings about Alice and what happens.  Although Looking for JJ and Finding Jennifer Jones can be read independently I jumped straight from one to the other and highly recommend this approach.

If you like this book then try:

• Missing Judy by Anne Cassidy
• Finding Jennifer Jones by Anne Cassidy
• A girl named Digit by Annabel Monahgan
• Furious Jones and the assassin's secret by Tim Kehoe
• Girl, missing by Sophie McKenzie
• Blackbird by Anna Carey
• Nickel plated by Aric Davis
• Forbidden island by Malcolm Rose
• Burning blue by Paul Griffin
• I hunt killers by Barry Lyga
• Dead to you by Lisa McMann

Reviewed by Brilla

Arsenic and old books by Miranda James

Arsenic and old books is the sixth book in the Cat in the stack mysteries so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first five books in the series.  While you can read this series as standalone books it is best enjoyed read in series order so if you have not read the first books - Murder past due, Classified as murder, File M for murder, Out of circulation, The silence of the library - then you may want to read them first before reading anymore of this review.

Life is starting to settle down for Charlie and Diesel, although the house is starting to feel a little empty now that Laura has moved out and started her new life with her husband.  The only real excitement in town is the upcoming state senate elections with the son of the mayor campaigning to enter office - following in the family tradition.  Seemingly out of the blue the mayor drops in to see Charlie, bearing the gift of four journals from her husbands ancestor.  The journals are pure gold for any researcher from the period, a personal account of a woman from a well established family with a long and distinguished history who survived the Civil War even though it swept through Athena.  It is an amazing gift for the archive - but it comes with a rather surprising cost.

The rare journals attract attention almost immediately, and Charlie is a little surprised by all the attention and the determination of people to have access to the journals.  Sticking to his guns about making sure the journals are treated properly, Charlie is horrified when the rare items are stolen from his office.  To add insult to injury one of the parties interested in the journals turns up dead, and Charlie finds himself caught up in yet another murder mystery!  With Charlie on the case they may finally be able to get to the bottom of the mystery, because there is more than one cunning plot afoot.

I have made no secret of the fact that I adore the Cat in the stack mysteries - or as they are known in my house "the Charlie and Diesel books".  James has a comfortable and easy writing style that takes no effort to read, and the characters are so engaging that it is difficult not to fall in love with them.  Arsenic and old books continues the strong legacy of the rest of the series, blending together a murder mystery and (somewhat) sweeping family drama as we experience life with adult children returning to the empty nest and a gripping murder mystery.  Without giving away too much of the plot, there are some suitably shady characters, some dodgy dealings, and some rather charming family and friend interactions to quench your thirst for murder, mayhem, and comfort.  

I was wondering if James might have been running short of ideas for the series, because of the introduction of the Southern ladies mysteries series, but that is clearly not the case.  It did feel like Arsenic and old books may have been a touch shorter than some of the other books in the series, but that could be because this was the first hardcover I had read in the series and sometimes paperbacks have less on the page to keep the words a decent size.  This is a well received part of the series, and hopefully we get to see many more adventures with Charlie and Diesel.

One of the best things about Arsenic and old books is that there is a bonus short story in the back that tells the story of how Charlie and Diesel first met!  Very satisfying and a wonderful addition to the story that is Charlie and Diesel.  Now all I have to do is wait for the next book in the series.

If you like this book then try:

• Murder past due by Miranda James
• Bless her dead little heart 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

Son by Lois Lowry

Son is the last book in The Giver quartet, and it closes the story by weaving together the strands of the stories in the previous book so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first three books in this series.  It is highly recommended that you read Messenger and Son after you have read The Giver and Gathering blue, although you can read The Giver and Gathering blue in what ever order you prefer.

Claire is something of a disappointment for the parents who raised her because instead of learning a useful skill to support the community, or go on to learn more about a profession like engineering or law, Claire has become a Birthmother.  Her task for the next few years will be to produce three children for the Community in which she was raised, and then she will go on to complete essential but menial tasks for the Community until she becomes too old to  work.  That was her future, but when her child has to be cut from her body she is instead reassigned to the fish hatchery where she is something of a curiosity through her sudden appearance.  Through a twist of fate Claire knows that her son was child thirty-six in his year, so she has the opportunity to know her son and interact with him - until the fates intervene again and he is spirited away from the Community.

Without any real planning or purpose Claire leaves the Community and finds herself lost in a world where she has no memory of where she was or what she has lost - but she knows she has lost something.  Shipwrecked and lost, Claire is welcomed into the isolated coastal community where she washes ashore.  In this isolated and insular community Claire is a mysterious and desirable stranger, a beautiful prize that is coveted by more than one person - but she keeps them all at a distance.  Having no memory of her past beyond her name, Claire discovers the world through wondering eyes and leaves everyone puzzled about her lack of understanding about the world around her.  As the years pass and her memory returns, Claire must prepare herself to leave the community that has accepted her - she must prepare physically and mentally for the task ahead and the dangers that wait for her above.

Son is the concluding novel in The Giver series, and closes the story arc that started with The Giver and has blended together the other books in the series.  Starting in the Community with the birth of her son, her story meets that of Jonas.  There is a time when we hear nothing but the story of Claire, but then the story leaps into the Village where we pick up the story of Jonas for a second time, along with the story of Kira and Gabriel.  In many ways Son is the most important novel in the series to date, because although The Giver introduces us to Jonas and his Community, it is through Claire's experiences that you truly come to understand what it means to be part of a Community where babies are Products and every moment of your life is planned and controlled.  It is through Claire that we also understand how Gathering blue and Messenger fit into the world.

It took me a while to read Son, but I did find it easy to pick up and put down because there are three very clear sections in the book (just as well considering all the distractions I had while trying to read it).  It is rare for the final book in a series to finish all the storylines of previous novels so completely, but Son does it is a very clever way, using the gaps in time between novels for life to happen naturally and just allowing us to see certain moments.  For some readers it may be a struggle to keep the characters in the series straight, especially if they are reading the story spaced out over a few years - this is one of those series where it really pays to read it from start to finish, moving book to book rather than reading things in between.  On a more personal note I was very relieved to see that Son has a lot more strength and power than Messenger, Lois Lowry definitely redeemed herself here.

Son concludes a series that has some amazing themes and confronting issues, and it says a lot for Lowry's writing ability that these books can be read as fantasy, as drama, or as an example of social control and discovering who you really are.  

If you like this story then try:

• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• Gathering blue by Lois Lowry
• Messenger by Lois Lowry
• 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
• Winter of fire by Sherryl Jordan
• The limit by Kristin Landon
• Proxy by Alex London

Reviewed by Brilla

Messenger by Lois Lowry

Messenger is a companion novel for The Giver and Gathering blue - and it is highly recommended that you read The Giver and Gathering blue before you read Messenger.


Six years ago Matty left behind the village of his birth and traveled through the Forest to the Village with Seer.  It was a huge change, not only was Matty accepted with open arms in the Village, but he also had the opportunity to learn and to grow.  Something is changing though, people who were once warm and inviting are now distant and selfish.  The people of Village are not the only thing changing though, Forest is also changing.  For years Matty has navigated the paths of Forest without fear and with the knowledge that he knows the paths, but now Forest seems darker, and thicker, and more sinister.  

When the people of Village vote to close their borders to outsiders Matty must make one final journey into Forest to spread the message, and to try and bring Seers daughter Kira back to the Village before it is too late.  But it may already be too late, and a blooming gift inside of Matty may ask for more than he is willing to give - or does it?

Messenger is the third book in The Giver series, the events happening several years after The Giver and Gathering blue and I have to confess that I found it quite a weak story compared to the others in the series, it was like Lowry felt she had to write it.  One of the most obvious differences between Messenger and the other books in the series is that it is a much shorter book, feeling more like a novella rather than a true novel.  The length makes it feel as though the story is rushed, especially compared to the world building and character crafting that happened in The Giver and Gathering blue.  It felt like Matty wasn't really given a chance to tell his story, that he was rushed along and that he was just a tool to explain what happened to Village rather than having a voice in his own right.

I have jumped straight into reading the final book in the series - Son - and it will be interesting to see if Matty is mentioned in Son or if Messenger is an important part of the series.  If I had known how short the story was and how rushed the story would feel, I would not have picked up and read Messenger at all.  This was a bitterly disappointing read, especially after reading the gems that were The Giver and Gathering blue.  It is possible that my disappointment comes from being an adult reading the novel, and I hope that parents or young people reading this review do keep that in mind - sometimes adults just don't "get" or "enjoy" novels for children the same way the target audience does so please don't let me put you off too badly.

If you like this story then try:

• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• Gathering blue by Lois Lowry
• 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
• Winter of fire by Sherryl Jordan
• The limit by Kristin Landon
• Proxy by Alex London

Reviewed by Brilla