August 18, 2026 · 10:58 am

Book Review: House Witness

Another lovely hardback first edition from World of Books, this one originally from Springfield City Library. As ever, I do hope this book was responsibly sourced and not cashed in by a library borrower.

This thriller is one of the best in the Joe DeMarco series, partly because he isn’t the central character (!). That’s no disrespect to DeMarco, I just love it when an author introduces a new character and runs with the story in a new direction.  Ella Fields stars in this book, a beautiful blonde who reinvents herself after an underwhelming education, and finds herself an expert jury consultant. Or rather, she is a specialist in making sure witnesses don’t turn up at trial or change their story to favour the defense.

DeMarco has been directed with ensuring that Toby Rosenthal is convicted of murder, having shot a man 3 times in a bar. That man turned out to be an unacknowledged son of Mahoney, DeMarco’s boss. Yet, Toby’s dad is rich and can afford to engage Ella’s services, and she sets about twisting the stories of the witnesses.

The author’s note is revealing – he thought of this plot upon hearing that a murder trial was starting 4 years after the deed. What could happen in that time? I also like to think that some of DeMarco’s character is taken from the author (both keen golfers) and the handsome, irresistable Bill Cantwell, Ella’s partner, might be who the author is or would love to be.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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August 18, 2026 · 10:42 am

Book Review: Christine Falls, John Banville

This book introduces Quirke, a pathologist based in Dublin. He is a troubled man, perhaps because he appears to have no first name, being referred to as Quirke throughout.

Quirke is successful (a well regarded pathologist in a senior position), but miserable. We learn that his wife died years ago, he has a fractious relationship with Malachy his ‘brother’ in his adopted family. He yearns after Sarah, and wishes he had married her instead of her sister Delia. He is close to niece Phoebe in a wicked uncle role, while she is increasingly estranged from her parents.

This thriller is centered on a poor woman, Christine Falls, who died in childbirth. Her baby, named after her, is taken to America and adopted there. Quirke slowly investigates this child trafficking, whilst we also follow the baby’s life with new parents, Andy Stafford (no relation to Strafford, Banville’s other detective). This investigation is strongly discouraged by Malachy and his father, and Quirke is badly beaten up by thugs to dissuade him from continuing.

A bleak book, with such a wretched character as Quirke, who despite it all is endearing to read. The quality of writing is excellent.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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July 24, 2026 · 10:10 am

Book Review: State of Fear, Michael Crichton

This book sets off with a great start, as a young physicist is seduced by a beautiful women with a keen interest in his research in waves – and then murders him.

Sadly, a lot of the rest of the book fails to live up to that promising start. Who is the main character? Initially it seems that it will be George Morton, the environmental philanthropist, but he goes missing, presumed dead. Will it be Sarah his beautiful, gifted assistant? Or Peter Evans his lawyer? Not really, they are part of the narrative for sure, but seem to be riding the wave of the story rather than being central to it. Neither becomes a compelling reason to keep reading, rooting for that character – neither is shown with much depth of feeling.

Ostensibly, this book is concerned with Climate Change, and with Crichton’s usual style of making his work of fiction seem like a documentary, this book is in my view highly controversial. He seems to be a climate change denier, and his characters make strong arguments against any evidence of climate change throughout the book. Writing this from England in the midst of another record-breaking heatwave, hotter and longer than last year’s record-breaking heatwaves, I have to disagree with him.

⭐⭐

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May 29, 2026 · 9:58 am

Book Review: The Proving Ground, Michael Connelly

Michael Connelly weaves current affairs into his books, none more so than The Proving Ground, where he references the recent, devastating fires around Los Angeles (Micky Haller’s ex-wife Maggie loses her house and everything in it in the fires).

Just as relevant is the subject matter of this book – an AI company launches a companion chatbot that encourages a teenager to kill his ex-girlfriend. Haller is suing the company in civil court, as it is a sure thing that the perpetrator is guilty, but the company is otherwise likely to escape accountability. The stakes are high, as the firm TidalWaiv (great name!) is set to IPO and could be worth billions.

Micky Haller is assisted by Jack McEvoy, another of Michael Connelly’s main characters. McEvoy is a journalist and in this case dives into the technical detail as well as discovering vital background information.

I’m really enjoying these Lincoln Lawyer books, even more than the Harry Bosch titles. Whilst Bosch has many flaws (especially in his uncompromising approach professionally), I find Micky Haller a warmer character that is easy to like.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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May 12, 2026 · 7:30 am

Book Review: The Verdict, Nick Stone

This book was a random pick from a charity bookshop that turned out rather well. It’s quite lengthy at 570+ pages, but I found it a real page-turner.

Terry Flynt was a bright young student at Cambridge University, having worked hard at his state school in Stevenage (along with best friend  Vernon James) to get the grades. Sadly, his academic life was ruined the night his friend accused him of theft, he got drunk and was beaten up in the street. Having flunked his exams the next day, he was sent down. Subsequently, he scratched a living in temporary jobs until he landed a chance at redemption as a clerk in a firm of solicitors.

Terry has his chance at revenge when, by coincidence, his nemesis Vernon is charged with murder and Terry is the clerk on the case. Terry is conflicted, wanting both to see his old friend pay, but also wanting to impress so that he can progress in his job.

The pace is pretty frantic, as Terry and investigator Alan Swayne dig deeper into the case, which looks more and more like a setup. For me, there are too many murders as the wrong-doers try to cover up the trail. Also, given the date of the original murder, it was in hindsight quite obvious which deal Vernon was working on that led to his being framed to prevent him completing that deal.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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March 30, 2026 · 9:51 am

Book Review: The Secret of Secrets, Dan Brown

This is the latest (currently) adventure of Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks from the DaVinci code and other films). If you liked the DaVinci code and Angels & Demos, then you’ll like this, because it’s the same book again!

Historical European city full of religious symbols and beautiful architecture, across which the hero can chase from landmark to landmark, against impossible odds? ✅

Beautiful woman with whom to share the adventure? Who in this case has fallen into a deep and enduring relationship with Langdon, ahem – about a week ago? ✅

Mysterious figure wearing religious, hooded robes, with a penchant for deadly violence? And a plain, frugal existence to which they retreat, to chastise themselves afterwards? ✅

A secret, global organisation covering up ill deeds and threatening the world, and only Langdon can stop them because he’s good at … running around and breaking codes? ✅

It’s easy to dismiss Dan Brown’s books for following a similar template, but what I can’t do is deny that this book (like the others) is a jolly good read and held my attention all the way through. And it’s great value at 671 pages long!

⭐⭐⭐

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March 2, 2026 · 4:57 pm

Book Review: The Empty Chair, Jeffery Deaver

This is my second reading of this book, it turns out, having bought a cheap paperback edition at the local charity shop. I did not remember the ending, so it must have been some years ago!

The titular empty chair has two meanings – one is that of a technique used in the book, to encourage the suspect Garrett to talk about his feelings by imagining the person he wants to talk to is sitting on the chair (even his sadly departed father). The other chair belongs to Lincoln Rhyme, who is considering an experimental operation that might improve his mobility – or possibly kill him.

The plot follows the hunt to recover Mary Beth, who has been kidnapped by Garrett, and also Lydia (a nurse at the hospital) who is also kidnapped by Garrett. Garrett has an obsession with insects, and is rather uncared for, with itchy skin and blemishes. He is, however, very smart – and it turns out that his traumatic past (his family were killed in a car) triggered his truancy from school and bad behaviour at the foster home.

To add to the complications, Amelia Sachs (Lincoln’s partner) is sympathetic towards Garrett and assists him to escape from jail, in order to locate Mary Beth. In the ensuing chase, she comes under fire from the police, with deadly consequences.

⭐⭐⭐

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February 15, 2026 · 3:10 pm

Book Review: The Law of Innocence, Michael Connelly

Wow. This is the first book in some time that I could not put down. In fact, it gave me a sleepless night on Friday, so I sat down to finish it on Saturday, because I needed to know what happened!

Michael Haller, aka The Lincoln Lawyer, has been arrested and charged with the murder of a former client. As the reader, we can be sure that he is innocent – but the prosecutor is gunning for him and the evidence looks pretty solid.

Not only does Haller have to spend much of his pre-trial preparation in jail, his former girlfriend Kendall comes home to support him, and then (spoiler) leaves him once he is taken back to jail. Combining that with a beating, things look rocky for Haller. Fortunately, he is supported by half-brother Harry Bosch (also from the Michael Connelly stable), regular investigator Cisco, and first ex-wife Maggie.

Once the FBI becomes involved, perhaps that might stack the deck even further against him – unless he can provoke them into revealing their hand.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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February 15, 2026 · 10:45 am

Book Review: House Revenge, Mike Lawson

This is a lovely hardback edition of the 11th Joe DeMarco thriller by Mike Lawson, originally from the Central Arkansas library. Apparently, Little Rock funded upgrades to the library, presumably either buying or later replacing this book. It amuses me to think of this book travelling all the way to England, and honestly it is in great condition so was perfectly good enough to stay in Little Rock library.

As for the story, Joe is sent to Boston to help a feisty, old lady, Elinore Dobbs, who is being unfairly treated by her landlord to force her to move out. The landlord wants to develop a large part of the area, of which Elinore’s building is one part. Legally, there is not much DeMarco can do, given a lack of support from local law enforcement and councils.

DeMarco doesn’t always have to stay within the law though, and this story gets personal when Joe and later Elinore are attacked. Joe enlists the services of Delray, a henchman he met in a previous book, to frame the developer and his go-to thugs.

To be honest, the plot gets a bit out of hand when they involve a South American former drug smuggler in the frame, though the cameo appearance of a beautiful female assassin, La Leona, is fun.

⭐⭐⭐

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February 2, 2026 · 10:12 am

Book Review: The Waiting, Michael Connelly

Yet another excellent thriller from Michael Connelly. This one centers on Renée Ballard, but has a cameo from Harry Bosch and introduces Maddie Bosch (Harry’s daughter) in a new role as a part of Ballard’s Open-Unsolved team.

Connelly manages to weave a thread through 3 distinct cases in the book. We have the theft of Ballard’s badge and gun from her car, which leads her and Harry to a firearms deal and possible domestic terrorism. Then, there is a long-running, infamous murder case, the Black Dahlia, on which Maddie has been handed some new-old photographic evidence that could crack the case. Finally, the Open-Unsolved team investigate the Pillow Case rapist, after a chance DNA lead from an unrelated domestic disturbance. Science indicates that the miscreant’s father is the rapist, but surely not as he is a respected, senior judge.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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