Night Shivers (Mystery & Supernatural) - R H Riddell

Advantages: Colourful and exciting writing
Disadvantages: Falls for too many of the TV cliches

...of Bob, the talking skull, which I found to be a little distracting at first, featuring alongside the hero pet dog and the willing, if untried, apprentice. It's a shame that Butcher feels the need to conform to the clichés, as what he has here is a very original construct. It is this that kept me reading, as while his basic storyline isn't all that different, being a power struggle between warring factions and his characters can be found in one form or another in many television shows or books, he has this one unique factor that makes it all worthwhile. For whatever else Butcher has done, he drops the world of the magical and the fantastic very neatly into the world of modern day Chicago. If you can forget that he's used every cliché going and get properly involved in the story, "White Night" turns out to be a remarkably realistic... Read review

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Advantages: very enjoyable read
Disadvantages: none

...I have been enjoying Joanna Trolloppe novels for a long time now and each time she writes a new one I have to add it to my collection. Her latest novel is Friday Nights which is an excellent read and is probably one of her best to date. It’s not a book where a lot happens. There isn’t really that much action. It is, however, a book about people and human nature and if you find that fascinating you will probably love this book. Friday nights are very important to six very different women. They vary greatly in age and circumstances but all rely on the companionship and support from each other particularly during their Friday night get-togethers. The six form a wonderfully eclectic mix from Eleanor a sprightly spinster in her seventies to young Jules who is struggling to find her way in life. Lindsay and Paula are both single mothers... Read review

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Advantages: A nice children's picture book
Disadvantages: Some of the humour goes over may be lost on under 5s!

...This is another book in Allan Ahlberg's 'Fast Fox, Slow Dog' series of books: * Chicken, chips and peas * Slow Dog falling * The hen house * Grandma fox * Slow Dog's nose * Fast Fox goes crazy I am a big fan of a number of Ahlberg's books but this doesn't rank highly for me. It's a good enough read but I don't enjoy reading it aloud more than once a month or so!! ~ The story ~ It begins with Mother Hen telling her friend how it's a mystery to her as to why her chickens aren't eating any of the food she prepares for them yet they are getting fatter and fatter! Intent on finding out why, she follows her chickens and watches as they find a picnic basket in the yard, then one in the orchard and in the evening they find another basket by the river. She instantly clucks that some kind person is making free picnics for her... Read review

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