Recent Reads: James Patterson: The Stories of My Life by James Patterson

Posted on by Pam

My review:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recent Reads: James Patterson: The Stories of My Life by James Patterson is exactly what it says it is. Stories from James Patterson’s life, but not an autobiography.  It also gives an insight into James Patterson’s writing process.

It’s a very readable book, written in a very conversational way.  You get stories sprinkled throughout his life, from when he was young, when he was in marketing (I feel this explains some of his huge success), and with lots of stories about his famous friends and collaborators, like Bill Clinton!

It’s very interesting and you go along at a fair clip when reading it!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Random House.

Recent Reads: The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake (book 2 in the Atlas series)

Posted on by Pam

My review: 

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake (book 2 in the Atlas series) continues the story from the last book (Atlas Six), this is a fantasy with magic that covers some different ideas such as telepathy, empaths, people who can move matter and move through time.  This is a book series that you do need to read the first book in order to understand the second book!

I enjoyed this series – I went and re-read the Atlas Six so I could remember everything! This felt a bit slow as it explored actions, hiding consequences and the aftermath of book 1, but I felt that this slowness was deliberate.

It feels like there will be a third book in the series at least, so I’ll be looking forwarding to seeing where this goes!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Pan McMillan.

Recent Reads: Thrown by Sara Cox

Posted on by Pam

My review:⭐⭐⭐

Thrown by Sara Cox is a contemporary story about finding yourself.  This book does need a trigger warning as there is a domestic abuse storyline.

This book did feel unfinished on that I was expecting a little more closure, but the storylines are on the verge of the next step, and we’re just not being shown that.

It’s a story of female friendships, wanting some more out of life and reaching for change.

It’s a light read but felt lacking, such as the end as I’ve mentioned.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Hodder & Stoughton.

Recent Reads: Confidence by Denise Mina

Posted on by Pam

My review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Confidence by Denise Mina is the second book in the series with Anna and Fin. I could tell there was some information I was missing, but I didn’t find it made a huge difference, and didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book.

You know true crime podcasting has become very popular when it starts appearing in other media. We’ve had Only Murders in the building, and now we have lead characters in this book having a podcast of their own.

There was hints of Dan Brown in this book, both for the travel and the secrets in the book.

I found this to be an enjoyable adventure story.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Random House UK.

Recent Reads: Dear Little Corpses by Nicola Upson

Posted on by Pam

My review:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dear Little Corpses by Nicola Upson is set in World War II, and is book 10 in the Josephine Tey series.  I didn’t find that I was missing a lot even though I haven’t read the previous books in the series.

This is a cosy crime book, and I found this to be very evocative of the time.  It also has main characters who are LGBTQ+ and living together in a village and hiding their relationship.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Faber and Faber.

Recent Reads: Babel by R. F Kuang

Posted on by Pam

My review:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Babel by R F Kuang is a fantasy where language can be used to enchant silver bars.

R F Kuang is a great grimdark author, and this is a dark academic fantasy story, set in a different Oxford. 

I found the cast of characters to be interesting, with lots going on.  

This is a big book, and has a lot of detail, characters that you might not empathise with, and other grimdark element, but I did enjoy the story and the adventure it took me on!

I really enjoyed listening to this storm. The voice acting added to the story.

I was given access to this audiobook in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins.

Recent Reads: The Festival Murders by Mark McCrum

Posted on by Pam

My review:⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Festival Murders by Mark McCrum is set at a literary festival, and gives a behind the scenes look!

This isn’t the first book in the series, but I didn’t find that I felt that I was missing too much!

It’s a cosy crime book, and I found it to be quite entertaining.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and Black Thorn.

Recent Reads: The Locked Attic by B. P. Walter

Posted on by Pam

My review:⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Locked Attic by B. P. Walter is a thriller, focusing on one character and her struggle to put events into context and deal with her grief.

I found this to be a gripping page turner as I tried to put all of the information into context to understand what happened!

I found the characters to be rounded, and was interested in what would happen next!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to One More Chapter.

Recent Reads: The Heart of the Circle by Keren Landsman

Posted on by Pam

My review:

The Heart of the Circle by Keren Landsman is an urban fantasy set in Israel.

This book looks at one group being persecuted by another.  I found the idea of the book to be good, but I did find the story to be slow, and not always compelling.

It was interesting to read a book that was has been translated from Israeli, and to get an idea of what fantasy fiction is like in Israel.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Angry Robot. 

Recent Reads: Full Throttle by Joe Hill

Posted on by Pam

My review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Full Throttle by Joe Hill is a book of short stories by the son of Stephen King! And Stephen King collaborates on one of the stories!

These are gripping stories, with a mix of thriller and horror. I really enjoyed reading them, and learning more about Joe Hill as he writes about his career and how he became a writer.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Gollancz.