Janet

l haven't seen the film - I have the book on my wish list, but maybe I won't bother now. I'm still reading The Essex Serpent. I really want a good run at it, but I've been so busy. It's frustrating because it's so good!

No, I haven't, but that's good to know. I shall definitely look out for it. Thanks.

Sorry, Noll - I managed to miss your post. Do you buy for your Mum for Mothering Sunday? That's next weekend, so maybe a good excuse (if you needed one!!).

The Ashes of London by Andrew Taylor The ‘blurb’ A CITY IN FLAMES London, 1666. As the Great Fire consumes everything in its path, the body of a man is found in the ruins of St Paul’s Cathedral – stabbed in the neck, thumbs tied behind his back. A WOMAN ON THE RUN The son of a traitor, James Marwood is forced to hunt the killer through the city’s devastated streets. There he encounters a determined young woman who will stop at nothing to secure her freedom. A KILLER SEEKING REVENGE When a second murder victim is discovered in the Fleet Ditch, Marwood is drawn into the political and religious intrigue of Westminster – and across the path of a killer with nothing to lose… 1666, and London is still recovering after the Restoration of the Monarchy just six years earlier. The city is also in the grip of a terrible fire, and watching St Paul's burn is John Marwood, a lowly civil servant and the son of a Fifth Monarchist, wanted as a traitor. He stops a boy from rushing into the burning Cathedral, which is on the brink of collapse, and as he wraps his cloak around the shivering lad he discovers that it is actually a woman, but she runs off into the crowd, still wearing his cloak, and he loses sight of her. The fire spreads, destroying everything in its path as the desperate Londoners try to stop it, and in the ruins of St Paul's, a body is recovered. At first it is believed that the man was simply a victim of the fire, but on examination it is found that the man has been murdered, and left with his thumbs tied behind his back. Marwood is tasked with identifying the corpse. Meanwhile, in another part of London, the young woman has troubles of her own and is forced to flee the place she has called home since the death of her parents, or face the consequences of her actions there. Taken in by a kindly woman, Cat has to work for the first time in her life, but she is not unhappy. As another murder victim is discovered it quickly becomes apparent that the Fifth Monarchists are not, as previously thought, now inactive, and Marwood and Cat's lives entwine, putting them both in grave danger as a consequence of their fathers' past deeds. The time of the Great Fire of London is a fascinating period of history and so when this book was a Kindle 99p deal I thought I'd give it a go. I had heard of the author, but not read any of his works, so I didn't really know what to expect. What I got was a right rollicking adventure, told in two voices – those of John Marwood and Cat. At first it doesn't appear the two – a lowly civil servant with a reputation due to the actions of his father – and a woman from the gentry – have much in common, but as their lives converge the tensions rise. The book is so descriptive, but without being over the top or waffly, that it really brings London to life and I found that I couldn't put it down! In previous years, this would have been a firm 5* book, but I am trying to be more subjective this year (I do find it hard to 'mark' books, especially at the start of the year). It may be promoted later on, but for now it's a definite 4 – I really enjoyed it. The paperback edition is 496 pages long and is published by Harper. It was first published in 2016. The ISBN is 9780008119096. 4/5 (I really, really liked it!) (Finished 18 February 2017)

I'm sorry, guys - I thought I'd replied to this already. Well I guess on the plus side, I'II know quite quickly whether I'II like it or not! I'm not sure when I'll get round to them but I'm intrigued by both. They are pretty, aren't they. And one is A Christmas Carol - happy days!! You did!

I'm suffering from a lack of reading time, which is really frustrating. My husband is out at a rehearsal of Rigaletto this evening, so I'm going to hopefully get stuck in then! I'm sure I read somewhere (not here) that it was a difficult read, but I'm not finding it to be so, which is good. Sorry to hear you're feeling fed up. I have Vilette to read and loved The Night Circus and also the Narnia books (apart from the last one, which I wasn't so keen on). I hope you enjoy them.

Oh, that's a shame. I bought mine several years ago now and am slowly reading my way through them. Maybe they'll get them back in again some time?

Ooh yes, happy birthday. Great author.

Yes, I've only bought from them a few times (my set of Dickens are wonderful and 'proper' quality too) but they have some very tempting sets.

Thanks, Chrissy. Sadly that isn't it either. I saw the book last year, but this one wasn't published until 2017. I'm beginning to think I imagined it!

Thanks to dragonmyst for suggesting this site. LibriVox

They came from The Book People. https://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&productId=585307&cm_mmc=Google%20Adwords-_-PLA-_-Vintage+Christmas+Fiction+Collection+-+8+Books-_--VNCF&gclid=Cj0KEQiAgJTGBRDLr5_az_Ouk44BEiQAIxaA4tSEJQoiH9eScG4I-V3r2U9FM_XRbuTsk9TyQxfYh44aAkvO8P8HAQ As I said, they're not quite the quality of a Vintage book from a book shop, but for the money they're fine. I had all bar the Cavino and Maugham on my wish list - what luck!

I'm about a quarter of the way through The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry. So far, soooooo good!

Thanks, Gaia.

I have been a bad girl. At the beginning of the week I bought these... ...for just under £10 delivered. They're not the quality of a Vintage book you'd buy in a shop, but they're decent enough for reading. Then today I slipped and got these for £1.50! Oops!

It doesn't matter what I search, I just can't find it. I swear I saw it every time I logged on to Amazon (about a trillion times a day!!) before Christmas!

I'm currently listening to the fifth book. I might download this at some stage to listen to with Peter in the car, but I will wait for now.

Me too. I love your Avatar, Lau_Lou. I'm considering a reread of Charlotte's Web - I don't think I've read it since I was a child (when I read it multiple times).

I read a book set in 1797 England where the (American) author spelt the name of the (British) ship Endeavor - I thought that was sloppy writing/editing, as there is no way a British vessel would have US spelling. Generally I don't mind (and certainly not if the book is set in America), although words written with a 'z' instead of an 's' do leap off the page at me!

I nearly downloaded this (and still might) but some of the comments say that the collection (71 hours!!) is difficult to navigate, and as I've listened to four of the books I'd like to be able to skip to the unread ones. I haven't been in this thread before, being new to audio books, but I'm another who likes Juliet Stevenson as a narrator. I also really like Amelia Fox. Carol Boyd who narrated South Riding was just superb. We also really liked Peter Forbes narrating Peter May's Coffin Road. Other favourites have been Robert Hardy and Timothy West.

I've just realised I haven't posted in your blog! Happy reading in 2017 - you loo like you've got off to a good start.

Ah, no - it's not, but thanks so much. It's similar, but the one I read about is where the missing girl's parents are pleased that she's back, but the sister thinks there is something not quite right and isn't convinced the returned sister is who she says she is. Edit - nice to see you - I hope you're doing okay?

Ooh, nice cover! I haven't acquired any of them, but I'm still tempted.

A few months ago (maybe as many as five) I read they synopsis of a book about sisters. One had been missing for years and then suddenly turns up. Everyone is pleased to see her... except the sister, who isn't convinced that the returnee is who she says she is. It's not Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie or Sister by Rosamund Lupton. I'm not sure if it's the type of book I would normally read, but it's driving me mad trying to find it! Thanks in advance.

I feel like I'd doing poor Laura Powell an injustice with my review. I did enjoy reading it - I swear my memory is getting worse - the more I read, the less I remember!