Book reviews Archives - Page 23 of 28

17Sep 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book Review: The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

Book reviews, Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Mystery

The sequel to the record-breaking The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman is now out. The Man Who Died Twice brings back all of our favourite characters with their wit, intelligence and dry sense of humour and introduces us to some new characters, expanding on this utterly enjoyable fictional world that Osman is building. [caption id="attachment_1136" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Set after The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice has quite the hype to live up to after Osman's first book broke records for the speed at which it sold. With intelligent, funny characters, an utterly loveable fictional British town and Osman's dry and very English writing style, this is another huge success. Plot – 4.5/5 The Man Who Died Twice sees our favourite Thursday Murder…

13Sep 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book Review: The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell

Book reviews, Historical Fiction

Bernard Cornwell has built up quite the repertoire of best-selling historical fiction novels. However, his 'Last Kingdom' series is likely his biggest having been made into a critically acclaimed and very successful Netflix series too. The Pale Horseman is the second in the series and carries on the story of Uhtrid and everyone he comes up against. [caption id="attachment_1129" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] The Last Kingdom was a book that I had a lot of respect for. I love history and so love historical fiction - I enjoyed Cornwell's writing style and the massively flawed Uhtrid. The Pale Horseman continues to follow Uhtrid as he encounters different personalities along the way, staying close to King Alfred whom he is watching develop into a very intelligent King. Plot –…

11Sep 2021 by Luke Harkness 5 Comments

Book Review: All The Light We Cannot See

Book reviews, Historical Fiction

All The Light we cannot see was recommended to me as my next read on my Instagram and Twitter. It was between this and The Song of Achilles. It's a story about two young people during the war and the struggles they face trying to survive under their own unique circumstances. And it just didn't resonate with me. [caption id="attachment_1110" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase All The Light We Cannot See via any of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to support the blog. These affiliate links do not affect my final opinion of the product. All The Light We Cannot See focuses on Marie-Laure and Werner Pfennig,…

07Sep 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book Review: The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor

Book reviews, Mystery, Thriller

There are a lot of action thrillers out on the market - therefore it takes a lot for one to stick out from the others. The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor came out In 2002 before the huge influx and the resulting series has gone on to be one of the most successful in the genre. [caption id="attachment_1088" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] The Lions of Lucerne begins a series featuring one my favourite action heroes in Scot Harvath. In a plot that sees the President of America kidnapped whilst on holiday with his family, we're introduced to not only one of the most skilled heroes but also one of the more believable and funny heroes in any book in this genre. Plot – 4/5 When on a…

05Sep 2021 by Luke Harkness

Book Review: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Book reviews, Classics, Historical Fiction

To Kill A Mockingbird is up there with some of the all-time classic books recommended to anybody who wants to consider themself "well-read". It's a book that takes you through all the range of emotions, teaching you morality and pure kindness along the way. [caption id="attachment_1075" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Originally published in 1960, To Kill A Mockingbird was Harper Lee's first of two books she ever wrote. It is set in Southern America, in Alabama and follows the lives of Jean Louise, the daughter of Atticus Finch and her family and friends. It discusses and covers prejudice in a very gritty and down-to-earth manner and takes you through a story that will see you experience all the emotions. Plot – 5/5 To Kill A Mockingbird follows the…

01Sep 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

The Five Amazing Books I Finished in August

Book reviews, Features, Monthly Round Ups

Throughout the month of August, I finished off five books, the same as the number of books I read in July. I picked up a couple of YA (young adult) fantasy books that I've been meaning to read in Divergent and I Am Number Four - Divergent impressed me more. As well as these, I finally finished Oathbringer which took me about a month to read and finished the Booker Prize-winning Shuggie Bain and hit of 2018 The Tattooist of Auschwitz. [caption id="attachment_1046" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase any products via the links below to support the blog, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate links…

31Aug 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book Review: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Book reviews, Historical Fiction, Romance

One of the books of 2018, The Tattooist of Auschwitz tells the true tale of Lale and his time in a concentration camp and the finding of his one true love during the second war and the Nazi regime. [caption id="attachment_1039" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a dark tale that I think anybody who reads it will most certainly feel sympathy towards. It’s a story known around the world as one of the darkest times in human history and hearing the account of one victim really hones you into the personal element of something we all know a lot about. Plot – 4/5 Lale finds himself thrown into a concentration camp when the Nazis demand an adult family member join from each family. Quite…

30Aug 2021 by Luke Harkness 1 Comment

Book Review: Killing Floor by Lee Child

Book reviews, Mystery, Thriller

Killing Floor is the first book in the incredibly well-sold Jack Reacher series by Lee Child. It begins the journey of Reacher as an ex-military policeman who coasts around the world helping people who ask for his aid along the way. [caption id="attachment_1035" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Killing Floor was one of the first action books I read when I got back into reading four years ago. According to my Goodreads, I finished it in February of 2018 and rated it four stars. Having had time to think about it, I’d say this is a fair score based on it being a great start to one of the best-selling action series out there. Plot – 4/5 Killing Floor introduces us to Jack Reacher who is a drifter. He’s…

26Aug 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book Review: Altered Carbon by Richard K Morgan

Book reviews, Crime, Sci-Fi

I’m a huge fan of the Cyberpunk science fiction genre. I love a futuristic gritty world where humanity seems to have gone back culturally but technology has advanced significantly. Altered Carbon is one of the best books at this and is accompanied by an in-depth crime story too. [caption id="attachment_1020" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase Altered Carbon via any of the links below, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to support the blog. These links to not affect my opinion of the products. Altered Carbon is set four hundred years in the future when humanity has reached other worlds including Mars and people can have their existence uploaded…

24Aug 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book Review: The Retreat by Mark Edwards

Book reviews, Mystery, Thriller

Mark Edwards is an author I found through Kindle Unlimited; I subscribed for three free months and decided on this book as I was in the mood for a sort of “cabin in the woods” sort of theme. When I read the blurb that this book was about a man who goes away for a writer’s retreat and the people whom he lives with start to act oddly, I was hooked. [caption id="attachment_1015" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase any of the products via the links embedded, I'll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you that supports the running of the blog. These links do not affect my opinions of the products.…

Category: Book reviews