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.Doors Open
City Travel Guides > Books > Authors- A-Z
by: Ian Rankin

September 16, 2008
"Bit quiet since you-know-who retired" says one copper half way through, so let's get 'him' out of the way! This book started strangely - by page 50 or so, I was convinced that Rankin, a supremely accomplished writer, was having me on. It's a spoof! Lavender Hill Mob meets Ocean's 11. Surely these guys can't be serious?!! In fact I came close to abandoning it BUT then something happened. Not just one event or a certain page but something a bit more gradual. Rankin was being serious after all. Yes, he's still commenting on social divides in Edinburgh, but on other things as well. His take on the aftermath of greed reminds me of the 'Pardoner's Tale' and his treatment of guilt Poe's story 'The Tell-Tale Heart' which interestingly is mentioned. ... Read More:
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.World Without End
City Travel Guides > Books > Authors- A-Z
by: Ken Follett

October 02, 2008
I have been waiting for this book for years.... and now when I have read it, I hope it was never written. IT does not at all live up the the Pillars of earth. Neither does it compare to some of the other good books Ken Follet has written. 150 pages less and it might have been ok. I try to end all the books I start, but this was heavy. The story line was light, some of the "histories" within the story are totally out of scope (like nuns in french war). I read 6 books in my vacation. This was the worst.
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.A Snowball in Hell
City Travel Guides > Books > Authors- A-Z
by: Christopher Brookmyre

August 14, 2008
This is the second book I have read of CB's and was not dissapointed. I do however have to concede I enjoyed his last book Unsinkable Rubber Ducks more. It's difficult to say why, because both are really well crafted books that keep the reader engaged. I just felt that this didnt quite hit the bullseye regarding any real humour and its slightly convoluted plotline.Having said all that I would really recommend anyone to read a Brookmyre novel.
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.Deadly Intent
City Travel Guides > Books > Authors- A-Z
by: Lynda La Plante

September 01, 2008
Brilliant book, couldn't put it down, it has to be the best yet, each page was as exciting as the last, great book.

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.The Pillars of the Earth
City Travel Guides > Books > Authors- A-Z
by: Ken Follett

April 06, 2007
The strength of the book is the detailed description of the development of a cathedral and its impact on the prosperity of a town through a page-turning narrative and fictional characters. It is a fairly easy read on a difficult subject. It covers the civil war during the 12th century (Stephen and Maud) The downside is it is not a very memorable read. When my book club recommended it, I did not even remember I had aready done so! I certainly would not say don't read it - especially if you are doing GCSE architecture or medieval history. It does bring the period to life more than a textbook would and that can spur you on to learn more. However, it is not a great piece of historical fiction.
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.Writers' and Artists' Yearbook 2009 (Writers' & Artists' Yearbook)
City Travel Guides > Books > Authors- A-Z
by: Kate Mosse (foreword)

June 30, 2008
The strength of the book is the detailed description of the development of a cathedral and its impact on the prosperity of a town through a page-turning narrative and fictional characters. It is a fairly easy read on a difficult subject. It covers the civil war during the 12th century (Stephen and Maud) The downside is it is not a very memorable read. When my book club recommended it, I did not even remember I had aready done so! I certainly would not say don't read it - especially if you are doing GCSE architecture or medieval history. It does bring the period to life more than a textbook would and that can spur you on to learn more. However, it is not a great piece of historical fiction.
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.Exit Music
City Travel Guides > Books > Authors- A-Z
by: Ian Rankin

August 07, 2008
A very good plot, and well up to the usual standard of Rankin's powers of perceptive and descriptive writing, but let down, I think, by a somewhat lame ending. Admittedly, it's difficult to know how he could think of a finale which would appeal to all readers, but having just finished reading it about an hour ago, I can't help feeling a bit "flat".
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.Found Wanting
City Travel Guides > Books > Authors- A-Z
by: Robert Goddard

September 11, 2008
It's certainly true that the books of Robert Goddard have taken a downward spiral in the last few years. Maybe it's his fairly prolific output - 20 books in virtually as many years - or it could be that his format of historical and past events invariably having a deadly impact on the present is becoming a bit tired. Either way, as an avid fan, to my mind only 1 in 3 of his recent books has come anywhere close to the excellence of his earlier work.

This latest novel follows the fortunes and misfortunes of one Richard Eusdon, disillusioned civil servant (aren't they all?) who is asked to courier some valuable items in a locked briefcase and deliver it to his terminally ill friend Marty Hewitson in Europe. A simple task? No such luck. Eusdon is very ... Read More:
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.Tripwire (A Jack Reacher Novel)
City Travel Guides > Books > Authors- A-Z
by: Lee Child

February 03, 2000
This is classic Lee Child, when the Reacher formula was still working at its very best. The serial protagonist is at his peak in this novel, probably the best in the ever expanding list of Reacher stories. The story begins with Ex-military policemen Jack Reacher is lying low in Key West, digging up swimming pools by hand, and we get one of the best descriptions of what Reacher looks like and really thinks in this novel, unlike some of the others were we are left to imagine the big man. He is not best pleased when a private detective starts asking questions about him, but when the detective, Costello, turns up dead with his fingertips sliced off, Reacher realises it is time to move on. He ends up in lethal trouble involving a vicious Wall Street manipulator, ... Read More:
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.The Brass Verdict
City Travel Guides > Books > Authors- A-Z
by: Michael Connelly

October 16, 2008
This is classic Lee Child, when the Reacher formula was still working at its very best. The serial protagonist is at his peak in this novel, probably the best in the ever expanding list of Reacher stories. The story begins with Ex-military policemen Jack Reacher is lying low in Key West, digging up swimming pools by hand, and we get one of the best descriptions of what Reacher looks like and really thinks in this novel, unlike some of the others were we are left to imagine the big man. He is not best pleased when a private detective starts asking questions about him, but when the detective, Costello, turns up dead with his fingertips sliced off, Reacher realises it is time to move on. He ends up in lethal trouble involving a vicious Wall Street manipulator, ... Read More:
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