I usually review about one book a month on my blog, but I did much less reading of novels last year than I usually do because I was working on Burke and the War of 1812 and a lot of my reading was about Native Americans and the politics of the time. Anyway, the book is almost finished now and I’m catching up with reading and reviewing. I’ve reviewed three books already this year!
What’s the point of book reviews? I often wonder. I mean, does anyone ever look at the reviews I write and think, ‘Oh, Tom thinks that’s a good book. I’d better read it?’ I suppose it’s possible, though it seems unlikely. There are some people with review blogs whose choices have encouraged me to try books I wouldn’t usually have read. Rosie Amber’s blog is particularly good for that. She has a team of reviewers and I always look out for Terry Tyler’s reviews. She has pointed me to some interesting stuff.
Generally, I review books that I think deserve to be better known: books by indie authors and undiscovered gems. There are also writers I fairly regularly review because I just love their work so much. Deborah Swift stands out here.
I think one reason people review is because they like to show off their erudition and good taste. I love detective stories and trashy thrillers, but I don’t often review them. I thought I’d change that. Here are three books I read last year when I couldn’t face anything more serious.
Relentless: Mike McCrary
David Briggs is in LA pitching his new software to businesses that remain resolutely unimpressed with it. He’s struggling and goes to the hotel bar to unwind. There he meets an astonishingly beautiful girl and one thing leads to another…
Only this isn’t one unfortunate lapse of judgement that he can put behind him. He’s been targeted by a ruthless crook who proceeds to bleed him dry financially, while ruining his life. The question he doesn’t ask until far too late is: why him? Once you’ve turned your mind to this, you’ll be ahead of the plot, but still gripped as Briggs’ world falls apart around him and one stupid mistake threatens to destroy everyone he loves.
Will reading this book teach you something about the world? Unless you didn’t already know that hooking up with ladies of the night can end badly, no, it won’t. Will it make you a better person? No. Will it keep you desperately turning pages as the frantic pace of the story carries you along. Yes, yes it will.
The Body in the Transept: Jeanne M Dams
This is pretty much the epitome of cozy crime. It’s a lovely, relaxing read, the first in a series featuring Dorothy Martin, an American widow who has retired to the quiet cathedral town of Sherebury. This fictional location provides a wonderful English background to the various murders that Dorothy finds herself caught up in. I love seeing England from her American perspective and I enjoy meeting the characters living in and around Sherebury. I’ve already read the first three books in the series and will be back for more. Bliss!
Murder on the Oxford Canal: Faith Martin
A lot less cozy than The Body in the Transept, this is still a straightforward murder mystery. I was attracted to it because I know Oxford well, but there isn’t a strong sense of place. What you do get is a cast of interesting and (to me, at least) believable characters and a good police procedural story, well told.
