SueK

I've just finished reading Rosemary's Baby - such a great chiller! I'm now reading My Cousin Rachel by du Maurier and have downloaded today Crime and Punishment for 86p.

If you like your books a little gothic or Victorian you could try Susan Hill's The Woman in Black, The Mist in the Mirror or the Man in the Picture and more recently, The Small Hand - they are a tad creepy. Also The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is pretty jumpy.

I picked up another Du Maurier favourite in Oxfam the other day - My Cousin Rachel - I haven't read this since I was at school (only last year you understand ) and I'm looking forward to reading it again shortly.

Thanks for your replies and for taking the trouble to look some up for me I don't recognise those books and I'm still looking. I've asked my daughter if she can remember but she can't for now. I'll not give up by jingo!!

Oh that's a shame Dawnbird I've read all the Petrovich books by R N Morris and really enjoyed them. It does take a while to get into the characterisations. Once I'd read the first ones, the rest sort of fitted like a glove - but then I love that period of history. I've just finished The Black Madonna and have now started on The Holy Thief by William Ryan

Can anyone help? I'm trying to remember a series of adventure/puzzle books that my daughter had when she was little. I don't think they were the Usborne ones. These came in a little pack which included a dice, maybe some cards and other bits and pieces to help unravel a puzzle in the book. Does anyone know which ones I mean? Thanks

I love L M (Lee) Jackson's books too - I've read the Sarah Tanner ones so far and another Detective called Decimus Webb who featured in A Metropolitan Murder. He is very knowledgeable on Victorian London and has a great website which you might like: L M Jackson

If you like Porfiry Petrovich's character, you may like to know that there are a series of books by R N Morris that features him: A Gentle Axe A Vengeful Longing A Razor Wrapped in Silk very good mysteries that take place in St Petersburg. Btw: Did you know that Colombo was based on Petrovich?

thanks for that dawnbird. I've got a few of her books on my Amazon wish list and will probably make a start on them quite soon, after reading your review.

I echo that Pickle - HJ books are not the easiest of reads. However, The Turn of the Screw was a pretty jumpy ghost story.

I'm reading a great book called The Black Madonna by Peter Millar. It is an intelligent conspiracy theory novel.

I don't think so emylou, there was a lot of hype surrounding Labyrinth and I didn't go for it. It was OK but not great writing.

OMG, my porn star name would be Posy Hayes Edit to add: Edith Pargeter used to write a crime series featuring a 70s detective. When she started on the Brother Cadfael crime series she used Ellis Peters - which I think sounds more fitting for medieval books.

Like Chesil, I tend to read one Kindle book for every paperback - especially as I have a mound of real books to get through and I'm worried that I won't every read them. But I love taking the Kindle around with me. When we occasionaly go out for a drink and OH is standing at the bar waiting, I'll have a quick delve into the Kindle. My only criticism of the Kindle is not being able to "flick" back through easily like you can with a paperback. I might suddenly want to check on something and with a book you just flick through the pages, but with the Kindle it's not so easy - I suppose now someone will tell me how I can do that!

Good haul Dawnbirduk. I can personally vouch for A Vengeful Longing and The Mesmerists Apprentice. Both good thrillers.

Must be telepathy Roland After reading some pretty depressing stuff lately, I needed to be entertained and Mrs Harris certainly didn't disappoint. It's very whimsical and she is just a lovely lady (or lydy as Mr Gallico says - but then these were written in the 50s and he was probably watching too many Ealing Comedies). Hope you enjoy!

I think your mum has similar tastes to mine. Has she tried any Elisabeth Chadwick books. If she likes Philippa Gregory she might like to try some of Elisabeth's books - they take place earlier in history (usually around 12th Century) but they are great stories. If she is wanting a doorstep challenge, they maybe try some Edward Rutherfurd. His sagas start in various countries from the beginning of time to present day. I'd recommend London, Russka and Sarum.

I've had a good weekend book-wise. I read Mrs Harris goes to Paris by Paul Gallico on Friday evening (lovely story and leaves you feeling really good). I got another Maisie Dobbs book from the library which I've started today (An Incomplete Revenge). I bought a couple of Margery Allingham books in the local charity shop plus Three Sketches from a Hunter's Album by Ivan Turgenev and today I downloaded a Lord Peter Wimsey book - Murder Must Advertise. That lot should keep me out of mischief for a while.

Maybe start with some short stories first. I've got "The Thirteen Problems" on my Kindle which I picked up for next to nothing - they are all Miss Marple stories and they are quite good.

It has hasn't been released yet and I'm supposed to be reviewing it for Amazon. Sadly, I've put it to one side now - something I very rarely do but I just can't lose myself in this book because of the writing style. It takes place in the years between WW1 - WW11 in Germany but it's very political and I think that is what's holding me back. I'm sure it's just me though.

OOh I haven't read the 4th one yet. I loved the first 3 and I like Simon Serailler.

I'm currently reading All that I Am by Anna Funder. It's an Amazon Vine review book but I'm seriously struggling. The storyline is good but the writing isn't easy to read. I'll persevere though.

Sadly, I only go into Waterstones to check out the books I want and then order them from Amazon. I know it's wrong and I don't want to see the demise of the bookshop but what can you do when you know the books are cheaper online! I can't buy expensive books just to keep the bookshop alive.

I wondered if it was that book! I read it recently on my kindle and thoroughly enjoyed it.