The Death Messenger by Mari Hannah

Niche Reading for Crime Fiction Fans 

When our local independent bookshop (Forum Books in Corbridge) recommended this book, it seemed like the perfect match for our book group.  We were easily wooed by signed copies, an acclaimed local author and the promise of a gripping thriller set in our own region.  

The story follows DS Matthew Ryan and DS Eloise O’Neil as they investigate a series of murders revealed by video footage. 

Perhaps our expectations were set too high, but the actual read was an anti-climax.  It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t as good as we’d hoped.  The thriller element was more limp than tense and dominated by police procedural.   The writing had very faint echoes of Ian Rankin’s style and the specialist crime unit lacked authenticity.  

Fans of this genre will be familiar with Rankin’s characters -  John Rebus,  Siobhan Clarke, and “Big Ger” Cafferty.  Somehow, Hannah’s characters are more faint, less compelling, and harder to picture or care about.  

Interestingly, our enthusiasm for, and our familiarity with, the regional setting turned out to be an unhelpful complication.  When the action featured local landmarks like North Shields quayside, we found it harder to stay on the page because our attention jumped to previous associations with the place. 

Some readers might find these observations unfair and hypercritical.  There is plenty of support for Hannah’s books on Amazon and she clearly has a strong following.  The truth is that members of this book group are just not interested in police procedurals. 

We reviewed this over a pub meal at The Robin Hood Inn   - large portions of pub grub in the shadow of Hadrians Wall.  

Our next book involves yet another crime - hopefully not too much procedure though!! 

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

You can’t beat a Classic ...

Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land

A real thriller or just a stocking filler ......

Daphne Du Maurier's sinister thriller "My Cousin Rachel' was always going to be a hard act to follow, but the Hussies were keen to see if this contemporary tale could offer the reader the same level of emotional intensity. Set in modern day England the novel follows the trials and tribulations of  Annie, a teenage girl with a terrible past. We first meet Annie when she goes to the police to report her mother as a serial killer. An unusual scenario filled with the promise of a high octane, emotionally charged roller coaster read. As the story unfolds we discover that Annie was forced to watch her mother's depraved acts of wanton violence against young children. The reader gets to know Annie as she tries to settle into her new life as Milly. Now living with a psychologist and his family a new dimension is introduced as Milly has to contend with hostility from her 'foster sister' Phoebe. Far from feeling sympathy for the protagonist the reader is constantly wrong footed, unable to decide wether Annie is a victim or a  villain, hence the title 'Good Me Bad Me'. she has a very strange relationship with her foster mother to whom she shows contempt despite attempts at friendship from the older woman. It felt at times as though the author was trying to cover too many themes in one novel, murder, nature versus nurture, is Annie destined to be evil because her mother was evil. Bullying and peer pressure, Annie finds she is the target of the school bully, her foster sister, and her gang. Her new family are clearly dysfunctional, an alcoholic unfaithful mother and 'mean girl' daughter and a father obsessed with work and professional recognition. Through out the book the reader is presented with flash backs showing what life was like for Annie before she decided to report her mother. Unfortunately the characters aren't really strong enough to excite the readers compassion. Towards the end it takes on the feel of a teen novel with Annie finally reaping her revenge on Phoebe. An ambiguous cliff hanger would have lent the novel an air of mystery but the author spelled out exactly what had happened, it seemed unnecessarily patronising to the reader. The Hussies agreed that this book had all the raw ingredients to make a unique thriller but its delivery let it down.

The newly refurbished Beaumont Hotel provided the venue for our pre Christmas meeting. A large open plan eating area with decor reminiscent of Normandy. It would be lovely on a warm summer evening but the large window gave out onto the black December night, spreading a winter chill across the diners. The food was exceptional and quite good value. An all round thumbs up from the Hussies who will definitely be making a return trip.

Continuing the rather dark theme of murder mystery we will be reading 'The Death Messenger' by local crime novelist Mari Hannah ....

Winter of the World by Ken Follet

Can you have too much of a good thing?  Apparently so!

This month we are reading the second part of a Ken Follet Trilogy. Amidst all the moans and groans the choice was pushed forward after everyone enjoyed the first instalment so much. 

Was it the one month time restraint?  Was it the fact that we have covered WW2 in numerous other books?  Was it the colossal content?  Who knows, but this book was not received at all well. It was agreed that it was a good read. The history and the politics were covered in depth but the characters within the families carrying the whole thing along was lacking in some people’s view.  The characters did not appear to develop in the same way as in part one and some characters were killed off before they had a chance to get going. A trait of Mr Follet, much to the dissatisfaction of the book group. The writing style remained the same and, although, it was still an easy read, it felt less engaging.  

Apparently, the third part of the trilogy is getting better reviews because of the more up to date history. Something that may be more engaging for the book group!  

Our dining experience was at The Duke of Wellington, Newton, Northumberland. We have dined here before and remembered it to be small portions for large prices. Not so, this time. There was a good choice on the menu at reasonable prices, and we dined in a pleasant ambience. However, the service did not match.  This was commented on trip advisor and we would have to agree. Such a pity. Hopefully they will take note. 

Next month we will be turning back to the classics. 

        

                                                

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier

Simplistic and probably a welcome relief. 

October 2017

                         

One hundred days of happiness by Fausto Brizzi

Or 369 pages of misery?

What would you do if you discovered you only had 100 days left to live?  Would you give up work, go on holiday, spend more time with your friends or family?   Would you hang on hoping for a happy ending or confront the inevitable and book into Dignitas?  Would you choose to end your days alone or surrounded by those whom you love most? 

These cheery questions lie at the heart of Fausto Brizzi’s book and he even provides some blank pages for you to record your answers.  If you are unsure, then you can pursue this line of questioning by following the fictional lead character, Lucio Battistini, on his one hundred day countdown.   Chapters are numbered 100 to 0 to ensure readers can readily appreciate the ease with which days can pass, often without (as it often seems in this book) much happening, and even when those days are numbered. 

As you may have gathered, this book is not for those seeking a light hearted, escapist read.  It is neither a comedy nor a whodunit.  It has some elements of a thriller although the villain is revealed early on (liver cancer, nicknamed Fritz).  There is a love interest but the plot is very simple, a linear structure propelling us towards an inevitable end.  

Some of the cover reviews are wholly inaccurate, disingenuously marketing this book as “Hilarious”, “Funny”,   and even “Joyous”.  Other descriptions such as “Moving”, “Heart wrenching” and “Thought provoking” are more truthful and suggest that those reviewers must have actually read the book.

 The cover artwork is similarly misleading.  Images of sandy beaches, clear blue sea, swimmers, and sunbathers suggest a light hearted holiday read.  Perhaps this was a deliberate, though undeniably dishonest, ploy to attract readers who might otherwise be put off by something more profound and thought provoking.

In contrast to the miserable subject matter, Brizzi’s writing style is dazzling,   His voice is like a powerful magnet, drawing fellow travellers on this hopeless quest.   We experience joy, pain, frustration, love and loss, readily empathising with a dying man who is essentially unremarkable, being neither especially rich, famous, good, evil, brave, heroic, plain or quirky.   However, he is definitely a man and some of his actions, thoughts and fantasies may be more relatable to male rather than female readers.

Fausto Brizzi introduces us to life in Italy, and we learn that the Italian way is not too dissimilar to that in England.   He effectively paints scenes which, perhaps unsurprisingly given his background as a screenwriter and film producer, could translate well onto the large screen.

It is impossible to read this book without some consideration of what living means  - in all its mundanity and unpredictability.  Or, what determines happiness - relationships, achievements, contributions, experiences, pleasure?  Pondering such questions might fuel more mindful living but at the risk of forgoing the pleasure and relief afforded by more cheerful reads. Indeed, some of our group deliberately chose not to read this book in favour of more accessible literary choices. 

We reviewed this book at  The Angel of Corbridge – a happy event, enhanced by good service and reasonably priced, great tasting food.  

Everyone chose the lamb which was superb.

We unreservedly recommend the restaurant but please note:  the book comes with a mental health warning.   

Our next selected read is the second in the Ken Follett Century Trilogy.  Another long one which will hopefully reveal what happened next to the characters we followed in June year (see our views on the first in the series, Fall of Giants)

The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon

A trip down memory lane or a dead end?

This debut novel came with glowing endorsements from authors already admired by the Hussies such as Rachel Joyce, ' The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' Nathan Filer author of 'The Shock of the Fall' and the wonderful Paula Hawkins creator of the tense thriller 'Girl on the Train'. Could we take them at their word? was this a gripping tale, a delight, a page turner?

Set in 1976, a summer that those over 45 will remember fondly as the hottest summer ever, an idyllic time of innocence, long lazy days filled with orange squash and chocolate digestives, ahh I'm back there already. The opening chapter of the novel got off to a flying start with the introduction of Remington, the overweight family Labrador, what all good childhoods are made of! Many references to  70's favourites like Penguin and Club biscuits, Angel Delight and dandelion and burdock tried valiantly to evoke a bygone age, however this began to seem like a clumsy creative writing tool that failed in its attempt to transport the reader back in time. It also sparked lots of debate about iconic products of the time and questions over the authenticity of the main characters names. 'Grace, Tilly, really? in 1976?
At the heart of the novel are the attempts of two young girls to find God and thus solve the mystery of the disappearance on Mrs Creasy. A helpful map of 'The Avenue' where the plot unfolds shows the reader where all the main characters live, essential as there are so many characters, that its easy to become confused. Unfortunately the  characters were not well developed and are a homogenous group of bland people. Clearly a dark secret unites all the residents of The Avenue and so the plot switches between present day 1976 and an incident that occurred ten years earlier. The girl's quest to find the truth is interwoven with issues of child health, peer pressure, autism, dementia and adult relationships.

 The strange appearance of the face of Jesus Christ on a drain pipe gave the novel an odd and quite unexplained twist. At times the author seemed to be preaching at the reader, bemoaning the attitudes of white middle class people of the 1970's. The author seems to have thrown everything into this novel barring the kitchen sink! Promising plot lines were lost or left unresolved, perhaps having fallen victim to the creative writing mantra 'show don't tell'. Too many metaphors and similes, loose plotting and so much going on that the pace of the novel suffered. A whodunnit that left the reader wondering who did it and what did they do?

So not an all round thumbs up from 'The Hussies' but we will keep our eyes open for Joanna Cannon's next novel as she definitely has potential. Certainly not a page turner but perhaps  Paula Hawkin's description was most accurate, it certainly was 'quirky' and at times 'moving'. Could be worth a second reading to get to grips with the meaning behind what seemed to be 'the second coming'.

Our discussion of 'The Trouble with Goats and Sheep' took place in The Plough near Stamfordham.
Unlike the book, this venue was an all round hit, great food, good service, lovely atmosphere and
all at a reasonable price. Certainly on the list for a return visit.


             Our summer holiday read is 'One Hundred Days of Happiness' by Fausto Brizzi