A Boy Made of Blocks - Keith Stuart

A novel inspired by the author’s experiences with his autistic son, Zac

A wonderful life affirming debut that will make you, laugh, cry and smile

The rights sensation at the Frankfurt Book Fair, twenty territories (and counting) sold 

A BOY MADE OF BLOCKS

Keith Stuart

Published on 1^st September 2016 | Hardback and eBook price £12.99

MEET THIRTY SOMETHING DAD, ALEX… He loves his wife Jody, but has forgotten how to show it. He loves his son but doesn’t understand him. Something has to change. And it needs to start with him.

MEET EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SAM… Beautiful, surprising, autistic. To him the world is a puzzle he can’t solve on his own.

But when Sam starts to play Minecraft, it opens up a place where Alex and Sam begin to re-discover both themselves, and each other… can one fragmented family put themselves back together, one piece at a time?

A Boy Made of Blocks an astonishingly authentic story of love, family and autism. Fans of About a Boy, Us and The Rosie Project will love this heart-warming, heart-breaking & wonderfully funny debut from an exceptionally talented new writer.  

Review

So, there are a few novels now that have autism as their theme and I have probably read all of them. However, to say you've read one you've read them all is a very narrow view - autism affects different people in different ways and therefore each story is unique.

I've just finished reading this book and had to read the last couple of chapters with tears streaming down my face. Not because it was sad - it was just incredibly moving and I felt like I was there in the book taking part in the wonderful journey that Sam and Alex were on.

To step back a little, when I began the book I immediately liked the writing style. It is so effortless to read, the story just unfolds before you.  I admit I didn't care for Alex at first, he seemed so shallow and running away from everything, but as time went on I began to really get to know him and his son Sam and learn a lot about Minecraft. Although Minecraft is a main theme in the book, you don't have to know anything about it to understand it, I had only heard of the name.

There is also a reason Alex is running from everything - he's been running a long time and that part of the backstory was heartbreaking to read. There are a few different stories that support the main one, but they didn't detract from it just added to the interest. Most of the book is about relationships - with family, friends - people you just met, it's very diverse.

You get to know all of the characters as they are so well developed. Not just the main characters, but all of them even down to the teachers at the schools, you immediately know what they are like, you can relate and identify them. I would love to meet Alex's Mum - I really enjoyed her character.

This is a book that will stay with me for a long time - so insightful and down to earth. I would urge you to read it - you won't be disappointed.

I'm giving this book 5+ stars. I don't think I've ever done that before - I've just invented a new score on my star rating system!

My thanks go to Little, Brown Book Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

The Clasp - Sloane Crosley

Description

Reunited for the extravagant wedding of a college friend: Kezia, the second-in-command to an eccentric jewellery designer; Nathaniel, the former literary cool kid now selling his wares in Hollywood; and Victor, who has just been fired from a middling search engine. They soon slip back into their old roles – Victor loves Kezia. Kezia loves Nathaniel. Nathaniel loves Nathaniel.

In the midst of all this semi-merriment, Victor has a bizarre encounter with the mother of the groom that triggers an obsession over a legendary necklace. Lacking employment or any other kind of tie, Victor leaves New York in search of the jewellery, supposedly stashed away in an obscure small-town chateau. And, in a bid to save him from ruining whatever is left of his young ambitions, Kezia and Nathaniel set out to find him.

Heartfelt, suspenseful and told with Sloane Crosley’s inimitable spark and wit, THE CLASP is a story of friends struggling to fit together when their lives haven’t gone as planned and of learning how to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s fake.

Review

I have to say that this book does have a kind of slow start - it's like you just dropped into their lives and you are watching what happens when old friends come together for a wedding. There are the flashbacks to relate to what happened when they were at college years ago, but they aren't long winded or take up too much of the book. 

I was wondering why I had requested this book? Then Victor falls asleep in the bedroom of the Mother of the Groom - and the story for me began. Victor is the kind of guy you would find in the TV show "The Big Bang Theory". He's the kind of guy who doesn't do well in the real world, which becomes evident when he travels abroad for the first time. I just loved the parts of the book which were about him.

I think it's Crosley's observations of human nature that do make the book. At times it is a little too American - too many cultural references that for someone in the UK and not in this age range I just didn't get.

The other character that grabbed my attention was Kezia, who works in the jewellery trade, this being one of my interests I really enjoyed the parts of the book about "The clasp". I can see for others this would be just boring though. Kezia has a boss a little like the lady in The Devil Wears Prada and she has to be on point to keep her happy. 

I did become confused why it was called "The Clasp" and not "The Necklace". The book refers to the Guy De Maupassant book (which I've also read a long time ago) and has references and links to it, maybe they felt it was too much of a lift to use the same title. But the Clasp is really just how the stories of Victor and Kezia become linked - I suppose like a clasp! The thing is in the UK  we also think of a clasp as a fastening on a handbag or a purse.

What started as a slow book had by now really grasped me as we began a little chase across France on a treasure hunt. I can't say what happens because it would just spoil it for you, but after this little sojourn the book just ends - really abruptly. Not in a "I wonder what happens next kind of way" but more like - did someone rip out the last page of the book? way.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 five stars. I think if I was younger and in the USA it would have been higher, so that is down to me rather than the writing. 

My thanks go to Netgalley for a free ecopy of the book to review.

Don't You Cry - Mary Kubica

Description

In downtown Chicago, a young woman named Esther Vaughan disappears from her apartment without a trace. A haunting letter addressed to My Dearest is found among her possessions, leaving her friend and roommate Quinn Collins to wonder where Esther is and whether or not she's the person Quinn thought she knew.

Meanwhile, in a small Michigan harbour town an hour outside Chicago, a mysterious woman appears in the quiet coffee shop where 18 year old Alex Gallo works as a dishwasher. He is immediately drawn to her charm and beauty, but what starts as an innocent crush quickly spirals into something far more dark and sinister.

As Quinn searches for answers about Esther, and Alex is drawn further under the stranger's spell, Mary Kubica takes readers on a taut and twisted rollercoaster ride that builds to a stunning conclusion.

Review

When I finished this book my first thought was - "WOW" the author has some mind to be able to produce a work like this. I haven't read any of Mary Kubica's previous works but I think I need to.

Taking a step back to when I began the book, I was unsure for quite a while what was going on. There are two stories narrated by Quinn and Alex. Unfortunately for some time I thought Alex was a girl - until a "he" reference crept in. These two stories are seemingly unconnected, so that as I flipped between them desperately looking for a link I didn't find one. 

Quinn begins to uncover facts about her disappeared room mate that paint a picture of someone she didn't know - think Single White Female. However the story Alex narrates is about him being attracted to a girl in a cafe where he works, how does this tie in?

I read on hoping it would all play out in the end. Then I got a clue! I thought I know where this is going at last - except I didn't - I really didn't and that is why I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars, I would give more if I could. As they say - I never saw it coming........

My thanks to Netgalley for a free copy of this book to review.

The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder - Rachel McMillan

Description

In 1910 Toronto, while other bachelor girls perfect their domestic skills and find husbands, two friends perfect their sleuthing skills and find a murderer.

Inspired by their fascination with all things Sherlock Holmes, best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem launch a consulting detective business. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city's underbelly, where the high hopes of those dreaming to make a new life in Canada are met with prejudice and squalor.

While searching for answers, donning disguises, and sneaking around where no proper ladies would ever go, they pair with Jasper Forth, a police constable, and Ray DeLuca, a reporter in whom Jem takes a more than professional interest. Merinda could well be Toronto's premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever--if they can stay alive long enough to do so.

Review

When I began reading this book I hadn't looked at the synopsis - so imagine my surprise when on page two I read "a lady of your no inconsiderable age (honestly, Jemima, four-and-twenty is hardly the age to be gallivanting about Toronto unwed)". A wake up to the fact that the book is set in 1910 not he 21st century - and how times have changed!

It is the social history side of the book I really enjoyed. Reading about how "ladies" were meant to conduct themselves and if they didn't there was the "morality squad" ready to round them up. 

Merinda and Jem are the literary equivalent of Sherlock and Watson but with the restrictions of being two females in the early 20th century. Something the book Merinda is fond of referencing ( "Guide to the Criminal and Commonplace") has no guidance on.  For them their sleuthing at times has to be done whilst wearing men's clothing with some amusing consequences. 

The characters felt like they were playing at being sleuths to me at first, however, as the book progresses and the sleuths begin to uncover the plot there are some dire consequences for the ladies. Woven in is also a little romance which was well written and again an insight to the social etiquette of the time. 

The very ending of the book paints a very sweet picture which I loved. It was the perfect ending to the book and for sequels.......

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars.

My thanks go to Netgalley and Harvest House Publishers for a copy of this book to review.

Black-Eyed Susans - Julie Heaberlin

Description

Seventeen-year-old Tessa, dubbed a 'Black-Eyed Susan' by the media, became famous for being the only victim to survive the vicious attack of a serial killer. Her testimony helped to put a dangerous criminal behind bars - or so she thought. 

Now, decades later the black-eyed susans planted outside Tessa's bedroom window seem to be a message from a killer who should be safely in prison. 

Haunted by fragmented memories of the night she was attacked and terrified for her own teenage daughter's safety, can Tessa uncover the truth about the killer before it's too late?

Review

It seems as if every other book I read now uses the flashback technique to tell the story.  In the case of this book the device was used to pretty good effect, however, I did find I forgot some of what was happening as it constantly flipped back and forth. 

The other thing that happened is that I could not imagine Tessa as a grownup for the first part of the book as even in the present day she was reliving what had happened to her.  When her own child was referred to, I got confused, until I fixed in my mind grown up Tessa now and child Tessie in the past.

It was interesting how the book used the new advances in DNA to investigate the original murders. At the moment this is in the news and so I found this aspect of the book to be interesting and topical.

There was a lot of tension in the book especially when Tessa begins to dig. I certainly felt the tension grow from around half way through the book, so much so that I just had to know what had happened back in 1995. Did the real killer get put on death row? What part did Lydia the childhood friend play in all of this. This led me to devour the rest of the book in one sitting. 

For me it wasn't quite as good as Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train in it's delivery. Some of this I think is the "shorthand" used by the characters, as the book is set in the USA and some references/products didn't translate too well.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars.

My thanks go to Netgalley for a copy of this book to review.

The Chic Boutique on Baker Street - Rachel Dove

Description

Winner of the Prima Flirty Fiction Competition

The perfect escape to the country…

Recently single and tired of the London rat race Amanda is determined to make her dreams of setting up an idyllic countryside boutique come true, and the picturesque village of West¬field is the perfect place to
make a fresh start.

Local vet Ben is the golden boy of West¬field, especially to resident gossip Agatha Mayweather, who is determined to help Ben get his life back together after his wife left.

When a chance encounter outside the ‘chic boutique’ sets sparks flying between Amanda and Ben, Agatha is itching to set them up. But are Amanda and Ben really ready for romance?

Review

The author of this book won the Prima Flirty Fiction Competition and I can see why. This is such a fun and light-hearted book with a lovely cosy feeling to it.

Rachel has certainly woven a good yarn (no pun intended!) with this story of a once city high flyer setting up a handmade arts boutique. There are many ups and downs and if I had one slight criticism it would be about the misunderstandings throughout the book - they just made me impatient - however I can see that in the end they did add to the story line.

The ladies of the village who initially seem wary of Rachel rally round her to the last and form a formidable ally for her. I could identify with many of them and Rachel's descriptions of them really brought them to life for me.

My favourite part of the book was when Amanda realised who was on her side and who wasn't and the spectacular showdown which ensued.

Overall this is a good chill out read, not taxing, just go with the flow.

I'm giving this book four out of five stars. My thanks go to Netgalley and HarperCollins for an advance copy of this book to review.

A Pitying of Doves - Steve Burrows

Description

With murder, everyone pays a price ...

Why would a killer ignore expensive jewellery and take a pair of turtledoves as the only bounty?

This is only one of the questions that piques Chief Inspector Domenic Jejeune’s interest after a senior attaché with the Mexican Consulate is found murdered alongside the director of a local bird sanctuary. The fact that the director’s death has opened up a full-time research position studying birds hasn’t eluded Jejeune either. Could this be the escape from policing that the celebrated detective has been seeking? Even if it is, Jejeune knows he owes it to the victims to solve the case first. But a trail that weaves from embittered aviary owners to suspicious bird sculptors only seems to be leading him farther from the truth. Meanwhile, Jejeune is discovering that diplomatic co-operation and diplomatic pressure go hand in hand.

With two careers hanging in the balance, the stakes have never been higher for Inspector Jejeune. And this time, even bringing a killer to justice may not provide the closure he’s looking for

Review

This book is a sequel to the book I reviewed here A Siege of Bitterns and is the middle book of a three part series.

It didn't seem that long since I last read the first book and to be frank I wasn't really ready for another bird book. However, I do like a challenge, so I began to read.

This time it wasn't so much all the bird references that annoyed me as Jejeune himself. He still can't fully commit to his police role in his mind, and it seems like he also can't do the same with his girlfriend Lindy, who I felt very sorry for in this book.

I was intrigued by the "whodunnit" aspect so I kept reading, but I found long portions of it boring. Around 3/4 of the way in suddenly (well not that sudden after 250 odd pages) the book began to get a bit exciting. I appreciate a story has to be woven and all of that comes together at some point, but it takes so long to get there with such a pedestrian plot line (but it is set in Norfolk not Miami). Yet again I felt the stronger character was Maik, and enjoyed his story line more, including a bit of a stand off he has near the end.

There was also some unexplained goings on in St Lucia where Jejeune and Lindy go apparently for a holiday - but guess what? Birding was the main pastime - another part where I felt sorry for Lindy.! I assume the outcome will be covered in the third book.

So to summarise - there are murders, birds are involved - The Chief thinks it's a closed case but Jejuene knows differently because of his birding and superior intellect.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars which is one up from last time, perhaps because I am getting into the characters more. It is certainly no reflection of the writing - just the subject matter!

My thanks go to Real Readers for an advance copy of this book which is out on 2 June 2016.