May Book Reviews

I read a lot in May - a couple of transatlantic flights definitely helped with that! I'm still hugely busy right now, but I've just figured out how to post reviews here from Goodreads, so I thought I'd try something a little bit different today and link up all the reviews I wrote for books I read last month. I don't know whether this will be a regular feature - what do you think?

Where the Shadows Lie by Michael Ridpath

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A police-drama-slash-thriller set in one of my favourite countries, against a backdrop of myth and legend, which makes for an interesting combination. I found it a quick and engaging read, perfect for a long flight.



Spying in High Heels by Gemma Halliday

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I find that the ideal book to read on a flight is fluffy enough that I don't have to think too hard, but with enough action to pass the hours. This book succeeds on both counts, and I read it in a single transatlantic hop. Our hapless heroine is a fashion designer with precisely no idea how to be a detective - but she's determined, and sometimes gets lucky with her hunches. Meanwhile, the police investigator keeps trying to persuade her to back off and stay safe. This was a fun, light read (and would make a perfect chick-flick movie) but I'm not sure Maddie is good enough at the actual crime-fighting to make me want to read the rest of the series.



The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A very easy read - aimed at younger readers I think - but good fun. The various faery courts (all three of them) each has its own distinctive feel, and the weaving together of fey and real worlds had some nice touches. I found some of the description a bit repetitive. I'll probably read the sequel when I'm in the right mood for it, but I'm not dashing out to start it straight away.



The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I read this partly to see what all the hype was about, partly because it came recommended, and partly it just sounded intriguing. Overall I found it an interesting read, and there was plenty going on, but I felt it could have been a lot better.

The book kicks off with the mystery of the pressed flowers - and yet, despite being an intriguing problem, this is barely touched on again until the very end.

Some parts were also rather graphic - I felt the small Bjurman sub-plot didn't really add anything to this novel. I can only assume it will become important later in the series. Otherwise it was simply gratuitous.

I did enjoy the cast of imperfect characters, and the gradual unpicking of the historical mystery. Past about the half-way point the pace really picked up and it became quite compelling.

I'll definitely finish the series.



The Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'm not quite sure how to rate this book. There are some really nice ideas, and it's a fun read, but there were points where I got bored and wandered off to read something else. I'm still enjoying the Laundry books but it just could have been so much better.



Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a fun, quick read. I used to bake in a cafe so the day-to-day of baking cookies and serving coffee brought back a lot of happy memories! The story is interspersed with recipes, which is slightly distracting so I skipped over them, but I'll probably go back and test some of them soon (there's a handy index). I found the characters engaging, though the main character's insistence on digging into things by herself would definitely be dangerous in the real world!

The Kindle edition also has a short story at the end which was a very sweet little story.



Frozen Out by Quentin Bates

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I enjoyed the setting and the characters, particularly the interplay of 'office politics' relationships between the police officers. The main character is pretty believable and comes across as a normal, very sensible woman who's just doing her job (though not afraid to flex the rules a little to get the job done). The plot was a little less convincing, though it's hard to say why without running into massive spoilers. I assume this is the beginning of a series (it's certainly set up that way) and I'll look forwards to seeing what happens to Gunna in the next book.


View all my reviews on Goodreads