Charm's Choices for 2009

[Charm]

Cold Granite ~by~ Stuart MacBride

 

Synopsis Courtesy of Waterstone's:

The debut thriller from a bright new Scottish talent set to rival Ian Rankin. It's DS Logan McRae's first day back on the job after a year off on the sick, and it couldn't get much worse. Four-year-old David Reid's body is discovered in a ditch, strangled, mutilated and a long time dead. There's a killer stalking the Granite City and the local media are baying for blood. If that wasn't enough, Logan also has to contend with a new boss, DI Insch, who doesn't suffer fools gladly and thinks everyone's a fool, and his own ex-girlfriend, the beautiful but chilly Isobel MacAlister, who also happens to be the chief pathologist. The only good news is WPC 'Ball Breaker' Watson, Logan's new guardian angel. The dead are piling up in the morgue almost as fast as the snow on the streets, and Logan knows time is running out. More children are going missing. More are going to die. If Logan isn't careful, he's going to end up joining them.

 

My thoughts:

Logan McRae's return to work after a year off isn't quite as smooth sailing as he'd hoped. After the 3 month old body of 4 year old David Reid is discovered things just go from bad to worse. A sick serial killer, a troublesome journalist and an overbearing boss make his return as a Detective Sergeant less than pleasant.

 

This is a hard edged, gruesome, Scottish thriller set in Aberdeen which doesn't hold back when it comes to the gritty details. Each chapter brought twists and turns to a great story of the city's darker underbelly and criminal world. The characters were interesting and memorable making the plot with its parallel storylines easier to follow. I loved the Scottish element to the book and the author manages to convey a real feel for the location. If you like your thrillers with a real chill then you may like this.

 

8/10

[Michelle]

Stuart was a Featured Author some time back, if you haven't spotted it.

[Charm]

Thanks for that Michelle! What a great thread Stuart MacBride sounds like a really nice, down to earth kinda guy, very interesting reading. I'm sorry I wasn't a member sooner now!

[Charm]

Dying Light ~by~ Stuart Macbride

 

Synopsis Courtesy of Waterstone's

It's summertime in the Granite city: the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and people are dying! It starts with Rosie Williams, a prostitute, stripped naked and beaten to death down by the docks - the heart of Aberdeen's red light district. For DS Logan McRae it's a bad start to another bad day. Only a few short months ago, he was the golden boy of Grampian police. But one botched raid later, he's palmed off on a DI everyone knows is a jinx, waiting for the axe to fall with all the other rejects in the 'Screw-up Squad'. Logan's not going to take it lying down. He's determined to escape DI Steel and her unconventional methods, and the best way to do that is to crack the case in double-quick time. But, Rosie Williams won't be the only one making an unscheduled trip to the morgue. Across the city, six people are burning to death in a petrol-soaked squat, the doors and windows screwed shut from the outside. And despite Logan's best efforts, it's not long before another prostitute turns up on the slab!

 

My thoughts:

This is the sequel to Cold Granite and even better. DS Logan McRea has been assigned to DI Steel's 'screw-up squad', after a botched raid he orchestrated left an officer in a coma. With a DI working him hard and a Chief Inspector out to get him, he sets out to prove himself and work his way out of his predicament. This proves to be easier said than done, as a serial killer is enjoying his pastime a little too much and adding bodies to the morgue on a regular basis. There also happens to be a criminal boss from another city trying to set up business on Logan's patch and he's not to be messed with ...

 

I love the fact that this series is set in Scotland, it makes it very easy to picture in my mind and the author does an excellent job of setting a scene, although it's mid-summer, with sun! Somewhat harder to picture in Aberdeen

 

This book is another gritty read from MacBride, even more gruesome than the first but with just as much dark humour. I loved the intertwining stories and the author's depiction of the main character makes him both interesting and likeable. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to getting the next in the series.

 

If I were to compare him to another author, it would be Richard Montanari, if you liked his 'Rosary Girls' series then I think you will like this.

 

9/10

[Ben]

Hey Charm, long time no speak, how're things with you?

 

Fantastic reviews. These books really sound like something that would interest me. I've been really on a bit of a crime kick recently, so it seems like another wishlist addition.

[Charm]

thank you Ben! I'm good thanks fer askin!

 

If its a crime kick you're after then this would be perfect choice. It is pretty gruesome in places, but if like me you like that type of thing, then I definately recommend this series!

 

Hope you're good after your lovely hols!

[Ben]

Glad you're okay.

 

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll be definitely sure to keep them in mind. And yes, I'm great thanks after my holiday. Was a much needed break and feel fully recharged and ready to start my first year of 6th form when I get back.

[pipread]

I`ve just reserved Cold Granite and Dying Light from the library, they sound pretty good from your review.

[Charm]

Oh I hope you like them pipread, I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts

[catwoman]

Dying Light ~by~ Stuart Macbride

 

Synopsis Courtesy of Waterstone's

It's summertime in the Granite city: the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and people are dying! It starts with Rosie Williams, a prostitute, stripped naked and beaten to death down by the docks - the heart of Aberdeen's red light district. For DS Logan McRae it's a bad start to another bad day. Only a few short months ago, he was the golden boy of Grampian police. But one botched raid later, he's palmed off on a DI everyone knows is a jinx, waiting for the axe to fall with all the other rejects in the 'Screw-up Squad'. Logan's not going to take it lying down. He's determined to escape DI Steel and her unconventional methods, and the best way to do that is to crack the case in double-quick time. But, Rosie Williams won't be the only one making an unscheduled trip to the morgue. Across the city, six people are burning to death in a petrol-soaked squat, the doors and windows screwed shut from the outside. And despite Logan's best efforts, it's not long before another prostitute turns up on the slab!

 

My thoughts:

This is the sequel to Cold Granite and even better. DS Logan McRea has been assigned to DI Steel's 'screw-up squad', after a botched raid he orchestrated left an officer in a coma. With a DI working him hard and a Chief Inspector out to get him, he sets out to prove himself and work his way out of his predicament. This proves to be easier said than done, as a serial killer is enjoying his pastime a little too much and adding bodies to the morgue on a regular basis. There also happens to be a criminal boss from another city trying to set up business on Logan's patch and he's not to be messed with ...

 

I love the fact that this series is set in Scotland, it makes it very easy to picture in my mind and the author does an excellent job of setting a scene, although it's mid-summer, with sun! Somewhat harder to picture in Aberdeen

 

This book is another gritty read from MacBride, even more gruesome than the first but with just as much dark humour. I loved the intertwining stories and the author's depiction of the main character makes him both interesting and likeable. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to getting the next in the series.

 

If I were to compare him to another author, it would be Richard Montanari, if you liked his 'Rosary Girls' series then I think you will like this.

 

9/10

 

 

Yet another recommendation by you that I like the sound of and I have reserved a copy at my my library.

 

THANKS CHARM!!

 

Hopefully one day I wil do the same for you .

[Weave]

Fab review Charm, I keep a wee note of the books you have reviewed, I will get to them one day

[Charm]

Yet another recommendation by you that I like the sound of and I have reserved a copy at my my library.

 

THANKS CHARM!!

 

Hopefully one day I wil do the same for you .

 

Thanks catwoman! But have you read any of my recommendations yet? You might not agree! I really hope you do!!! I'm sure you'll recommend some great reads

 

Be sure to read 'Cold Granite' first, its the beginning of the series

 

Fab review Charm, I keep a wee note of the books you have reviewed, I will get to them one day

 

I do the same with yours! You're costing me a fortune woman!

[Weave]

Thanks catwoman! But have you read any of my recommendations yet? You might not agree! I really hope you do!!! I'm sure you'll recommend some great reads

 

Be sure to read 'Cold Granite' first, its the beginning of the series

 

 

 

I do the same with yours! You're costing me a fortune woman!

 

Sorry hen!

[Charm]

Sorry hen!

 

Oh don't worry! You're saving me some too with your generous bookrings

[Weave]

Oh don't worry! You're saving me some too with your generous bookrings

 

Happy to help hen

[Charm]

The Stone Monkey ~by~ Jeffrey Deaver

Synopsis Courtesy of Waterstone's:

Lincoln and Amelia are recruited to track down a cargo ship carrying two dozen illegal Chinese immigrants, as well as the notorious human smuggler and killer known as the Ghost. But when the capture goes disastrously wrong, Lincoln and Amelia find themselves in a race to stop the Ghost before he can track down and murder the two surviving families who have vanished deep into the labyrinthine world of New York City's Chinese community. Over the next forty-eight hours the Ghost ruthlessly hunts for the families while Rhyme, aided by a policeman from mainland China, struggles to find them before they die and Sachs pursues a very different kind of policework - forming a connection with one of the immigrants that may have consequences going to the core of her relationship with her partner and lover, Lincoln Rhyme.

My thoughts:

Again I wasn't overly attracted to this book because of the subject matter although I knew that Mr Deaver would make it exciting, and as always, deliver a great read. The plot was as fast paced as usual and relatively easy to keep up with with as many twists and turns as you'd expect in a Deaver novel. There was also an ample amount of gory detail to keep me happy

There were some great characters too and some interesting insights into the Chinese culture. I found myself coming off with the old 'did you know..?' question to my family! I did manage to guess who the bad guy was this time, maybe I'm reading too much Deaver

Overall another great read from the master of thrilling twists.

8/10

[Nightwish]

I have this book somewhere! Can't wait to start reading it now

 

I really hope that I don't guess who it was though!

[Charm]

Personal Demon ~by~ Kelley Armstrong

Synopsis Courtesy of Waterstone's:

Hope Adams, tabloid journalist and half-demon, inherited her Bollywood-princess looks from her mother. From her demon father, she inherited a hunger for chaos, and a talent for finding it. Like full demons, she gets an almost sexual rush from danger - in fact, she thrives on it. But she is determined to use her gifts for good. When the head of the powerful Cortez Cabal asks her to infiltrate a gang of bored, rich, troublemaking supernaturals in Miami, Hope can't resist the excitement. But trouble for Hope is intoxicating, and soon she's in way too deep. With a killer stalking the supernatural hot spots of Miami, Hope finds herself dangerously entangled, and has no choice but to turn to her crooked werewolf ex-boyfriend for help. What started as a simple investigation has spiralled into chaos. And Hope finds chaos irresistible ...

My thoughts:

This would be one of my favourites of the series, which totally surprised me considering Hope is a new character. Her demon power was pretty strange though and I still don't really see the benefit, even though apparently its pretty desirable. I really liked Hope and I loved how her relationship with Karl developed, he seems to thoroughly understand her and was rock solid and strong when she needed him most. I hope we see more of these two in future books. We also see some regular characters of the series playing key roles in the storyline, which was both unpredictable and suprising.

If you've enjoyed any of the Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries by Charlaine Harris then I imagine you would like this series. I thoroughly recommend it

9/10

[Charm]

I have this book somewhere! Can't wait to start reading it now

 

I really hope that I don't guess who it was though!

 

I hope you like it Nightwish, I ended up really enjoying it. Have you read any of his before?

[Stephanie2008]

I've never read anything by Jeffrey Deaver or Kelley Armstrong but I think I'll have to look into investing in some books. Your reviews are always really positive!

[Weave]

Great review, I enjoyed 'Personal Demon' Charm, it was a great story and I do like Hope

[Charm]

I've never read anything by Jeffrey Deaver or Kelley Armstrong but I think I'll have to look into investing in some books. Your reviews are always really positive!

 

Thanks Steph! I've been really lucky this year with getting some great recommendations! I think you'd really like Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, especially if you have the Psb's

[Stephanie2008]

Well I'm reading the House of Night series at the moment which is filling a gap (although Sookie is my favourite series, even more than Twilight ). Then once I have finished these I will be on the look out for a new series so I might try and get Kelley Armstrong's

[Nightwish]

I hope you like it Nightwish, I ended up really enjoying it. Have you read any of his before?

 

I have The Bone Collector on my tbr pile and I have read The Sleeping Doll

[Charm]

Great review, I enjoyed 'Personal Demon' Charm, it was a great story and I do like Hope

 

Thanks Gyre

I do hope 'Hope' pops up again

 

Well I'm reading the House of Night series at the moment which is filling a gap (although Sookie is my favourite series, even more than Twilight ). Then once I have finished these I will be on the look out for a new series so I might try and get Kelley Armstrong's

 

I have the first House of Night series to read too, might start it after Kelley Armstrong.

 

I have The Bone Collector on my tbr pile and I have read The Sleeping Doll

 

I would read The Bone Collector first, The Stone Monkey is part of this series I've got The Sleeping Doll to read too but I want to finish the Lincoln Rhyme books first