All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I recently discovered the books of Chris Whitaker earlier this year when I read ‘We Begin at the End’. And, from finishing that book, I knew I had to pick up ‘All the Colours of the Dark’.

I am not sure I can do ‘All the Colours of the Dark’ the justice that it deserves, especially as I am not willing to give spoilers, as each of you need to read the book yourself and really enjoy the reading experience. This (just like ‘We Begin at the End’) is a book full of emotion and atmosphere. You feel all the emotions that each and every character is feeling and you are immersed in each event and each place – you are really there with the characters as the story unfolds.

Patch and Saint are possibly two of my most favourite characters of all time. This is a coming of age story; we follow the characters from their childhood to adulthood – dealing with the traumatic events that had happened to Patch as a child. Patch deals with his trauma through art – and possibly some less sensible life choices, it appears, although it does begin to make sense as our tale unfolds. Saint deals with it by becoming a Police Officer, in the hope she can find her best friend Patch the resolution he needs and bring him back to her – emotionally, even if he has been present physically.

This is a fantastic study of character too. It really makes us consider why people do what they do, what their motivation is – both good and bad – to be the people they are, and to make the decisions that they do. And it is about the important relationships we have, and the love and support that can be offered by some of the most unusual friendships that are formed in our lives.

It is also about secrets – and when a secret is something that is kept to protect someone you love.

This is a beautiful slow burn of a book – a book that you can not put down because you have to know what is going to happen to each and every one of the characters on the page. It is also a book with a twist or two that will hit you like a bolt of lightning – and possibly break your heart.

I realise that this review probably says a lot but, at the same time, says nothing at all. What I hope this review does do is make you want to pick this book up, because – just like ‘We Begin at the End’ – I want everyone to read and fall in love with this story, the writing and the characters.

A Bird in Winter by Louise Doughty

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Thank you Tandem Collective for having me along on the readalong of ‘A Bird in Winter’ by Louise Doughty. What a treat to be gifted a copy of this book to snuggle up with in these winter months and read along with a lovely group of bookworms.

This is a slow burn of a book, following Bird as she is on the run from someone she believes to be dangerous. Someone who had manipulated her in her place of work. Only, as the story unfolds, you realise that maybe Bird is not in the usual line of work and her being on the run may be far more serious than we would first imagine.

I can’t give too much away about this book as there are some secrets along the way that you uncover as the reader. But it is quite an adventure going on the run with Bird – and we find out about her past as she goes.

This is also one of those books with a very clever title. The kind of title that can have a number of meanings as the story is told, and you can interpret it as you wish by the end of the book. And, it is great to think that many different readers will see it in many different ways.

I enjoyed reading this book and I was keen to find out what was going to happen, and there is certainly the opportunity to discuss ideas with other readers. However, there was a little something missing. It felt as though there was something else we could be told as a reader – and not just because the end was left to allow the reader to reach their own conclusion about the tale, but because it suggested at points that there would be a little more given to us, and it did not quite materalise.

Yet, this book has a fantastically strong female lead in Bird and, my word, she is a brilliant character. She demonstrates so much strength and independence and certainly knows how to look after herself. And, as a general rule, she is no nobody’s fool and for that I loved her.

If you like your thrillers to have a slow burn, then you will enjoy this book. I will certainly pick up other books by this author, because I loved the style of the storytelling and did enjoy the read – I just thought there was a small part of the puzzle missing, although I think that is a me problem, rather than a problem with the book or plot itself.

Kala by Colin Walsh

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

The final in my accidental Irish trilogy of reading is the pick for the ‘Book and Pudding Club’, ‘Kala’ by Colin Walsh.

This is a book that proves you should not judge a book by its cover. I had seen this cover around a lot (attached to the book, of course) and it said to me: slowburn, coming-of-age story, hot summers and probably America. And, how wrong I was – other than having a link to the school days of the main characters, it has nothing to do with the ideas conjured up by the cover, and I have to admit that I am very glad that I was proved wrong about that.

‘Kala’ is set in small-town Ireland; Kala disappeared one evening in the teenage years of our main characters and they have never quite come to terms with it, and they have never had closure. But they are all carrying around their own baggage from those events; it may be physical scars, they may have tried to run away, or they may have turned to other ways to try and escape. Events seem to repeat themselves, just as people are moving on, when two girls disappear – but, a little like in the past, nobody seems to immediately react, as they see it as just attention seeking from ‘difficult’ teenage girls. As the severity of the situation dawns on the town, secrets and lies start to unravel – but will the truth finally be revealed to the whole town?

Now, at the heart of this book there is a mystery, and that is all I can say about the plot. However, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed this story (which always sounds a little strange when the book has a dark theme), and I loved that many of the chapters were first-person, but one of the chapters was told in the third-person – even though each chapter was based around one of our main characters. I could talk about why I think the author has done this, but I feel that this could give away some of the plot. What I will say, is that I think it worked, and I think it was actually a very clever plot device. (Although, this is more of a comment on me, rather than the book – I did not immediately notice this and then it suddenly hit me – a bit like a twist in a story does.)

If I have not yet convinced you to read this book – and absolutely not judge it by its cover – then hopefully the statement that this book kept me up well past my bedtime, as I just had to finish it, may do. This is a great study of human nature and character, and the darker side of small-town communities – how easy is it to hide your real self? I would really like to read more by this author, as I think Colin Walsh has many more stories to tell.

Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

It appears I am having a phase of enjoying Irish literature – it has not been intentional but a sheer conincidence which has brought me to some wonderful books. ‘Where the Heart Should Be’ had been a treat to me, from me, when I spotted in one of my favourite independent bookshops, ‘Warwick Books’. I am a fan of Sarah Crossan’s free verse novels and this one had an additonal appeal of being a piece of historical fiction – based on the tragic events of the potato famine in Ireland.

This is a love story, a comment on social equality and justice, and historical fiction. And, it is safe to say, I absolutely adored this book. It had everything that you would expect from the pen of Sarah Crossan; it was beautifully constructed, the characters were engaging and it was emotive and atmospheric. I could not put this book down once I started it, I was swept away in the story.

I think what is important about this book is that it shows that love can cross divides but what makes this so tragic is that there, sadly, are always those who will not allow the love across the divide, or support the healing that it may bring. This book shows the harm that is inflicted when those who seem powerful try to control others – and the cruelty this can lead to. But, what really made me stop and think, and may have caused me to shed a tear, was the sheer injustice of the situation in Ireland at the time (and sadly for centuries) – the divides caused by the intolerance of those who chose to make Ireland their home, despite it already being the home of others.

I do not want to spoil this book for anyone, so I think the best way to appreciate this book is make sure you read it. But, be prepared that it will stay with you forever – and you will carry the characters around forever, thinking about them and their future.

Trespasses by Louise Kennedy

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

This has been sitting on my shelf for quite some time. It had been recommended so many times that I knew I needed to read it but it was a little neglected on the shelf until ‘My Twelve Days of Bookmas’ challenge, and it finding its place as my October read.

‘Trespasses’ is set in Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles in the 1970s. This is a period of history that has always fascinated me, especially as I read the Kevin and Sadie novels by Joan Lingard when I was growing up. ‘Trespasses’ is a fascinating title for this book, too, as it can have mutliple meanings as you work through the story. This is a study of the relationships, social and religious conflict of the time – all of which can be seen as moments of trespass.

In a city that is divided – Cushla, a local teacher and Catholic, meets Michael and starts an affair with this lawyer from the other side. And some readers may say this is where the trespassing begins as Cushla falls in love with another women’s husband, a man who could be seen as an enemy by Cushla’s family and friends. Especially as, every day, they wake up to more news of tragedy in Belfast.

As well as this, a local family are frowned upon as they are an ‘interfaith’ marriage, despite both being fundamentally Christian, and they become targets of attacks from some who may not be as willing to accept them – they can be seen as trespassers, from each side of the conflict. Cushla wants to help this family, despite the risks she faces in doing so. But, overall, is the trespass from those who are attempting to control the narrative of Northern Ireland?

This is a book full of tragedy, for so many of the characters, in a number of different ways. And this is a book full of emotion – and there were moments that made me angry for those who have to experience such a way of life, especially children who are not able to grow up feeling that they and their family are safe. Or feeling that their only option is violence against others to feel that they are heard or understood.

The final chapter of the book is also quite a moment; I think it is one of my favourite closing chapters to a book. It may not be the traditional happy ending, but you can see that there are chances for things to slowly improve and there are those who will always treasure the kindness that they are shown by others.

I am not sure that I am doing this book justice, but I did feel that this was a book that took me a step on from the Kevin and Sadie books of my younger years. And, maybe, this is a book that readers need to read to remind them of the shadows of Ireland’s past, that are still hanging over it now. I think this book will stay with me for quite some time, and these are characters that will be following me around, and I will continue to think about them, as I hope that their future was far brighter than their present, even if it took a little time.

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I have seen a few posts around about the books of Chris Whitaker (and, of course, recently spotted him on ‘Between the Covers’ on BBC Two – with the same surprise that he is British and not American – but I think that is an indication of what a great author he is). So, when I spotted ‘We Begin at the End’ at a bit of bargain price, I thought it was time for me to give the book a go.

This novel was brilliant. Excellent atmospheric storytelling from start to finish, gripping you from the very first moment. A slow-burn crime novel, starting with a historical crime that has left its mark on small-town America, we are brought up to date – but the ghosts of the past are still haunting our characters, young and old.

And there is that moment all crime and thriller fans love; the twist that I did not see coming, but that was a wrench and almost a heartbreaking moment. I had to take a minute when it hit me as I was not expecting it at all – and it leaves you with so many points to think about that you know this book will be with you for quite some time to come.

I think the other thing that makes this book the read it is are the characters. They are so well-crafted, you can imagine each and every one of them – they are a true cast that bring the story to life. And some of them are not quite what you expect – it is amazing what people can hide about themselves or how the judgement of others can create a character, correctly or incorrectly. You will admire some of the characters, you will dislike others, but what you will realise as you read is that people are rarely what you expect. Each of these characters will be with me for quite some time, but especially Walk and Duchess: two very different figures, both of whom have a strong sense of justice, but maybe different views of to whom it should be handed out…

This is a book that I am going to be recommending to anyone who will listen to me. You do not need to be a crime fan to read this tale; you just need to be a fan of an excellent story and a well-written book. It will have you reading past your bedtime, or – in my case – ignoring all responsibilities as I just had to know what was going to happen next and what the conclusion to this fantastic story would turn out to be.

So, if you have not yet picked up a novel by Chris Whitaker, maybe now is the time. And it has definitely bumped ‘All the Colours of the Dark’ up my tbr pile.

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Barr

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

With a fellow bookworm, we seem to have managed to go on some buddy reads that are helping to clear our tbr piles. ‘The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers’ has been sitting on my shelf after I saw all the love it was getting on Bookstagram, and I spotted it in one of my favourite independent bookshops, Warwick Books, – so, it was definitely time that I read it. This is also a book that I chose because the cover just made me happy on the beautiful hardback edition.

I adored this book – it was just a wonderful hug in a book. This has so many of the things that I seem to be loving in a book at the moment, especially one that I consider to be a cosy read.

‘The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers’ was set up by Pippa Allsbrook as somewhere that those who love creating puzzles of all kinds can live and work together; a haven for those who may need a little companionship as they get older. However, one day Pippa finds an unusual package on the doorstep which leads her to compile her final puzzle, and unravel a mystery that has been hanging over the fellowship for quite some time.

I loved that in this book we are privy to that final puzzle; we see the same clues as the characters and we have the chance to try and solve them before the solution is revealed in the chapter. The puzzle almost becomes a character in the book.

There is also a dual timeline in the story that alternates between chapters; we see what took Pippa to decide to establish the fellowship, and the friendships and experiences of her earlier life. Alongside this, we follow Clayton as he tries to solve the puzzle left to him by Pippa – as well as him going on a journey of self-discovery of where he has come from and where he may be going.

But, for me, something that was very special about this novel is that we did not just have wonderful characters – we had wonderful older characters. I am not sure if we are just being treated to so many more books with brilliant older characters, or if I am just drawn to books that feature older characters when I am looking for my cosy comfort reads, but, either way, this is a book full of brilliant, bold characters that you would love to hang out with.

So, if you are looking for a charming, cosy read as we enter the long winter months, then this is a book that will bring you some sunshine and joy. And I hope we hear more from Samuel Barr, as I think he may be someone that becomes an auto-buy author for me in the future.

Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

If you love everything nineties and early noughties, especially if you are the ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ generation, then you will be a great fan of ‘Let’s Split Up’.

This book is a joy of the YA horror/thriller genre and is a whole lot of fun to read. Set in a small American town, with a high school, a group of friends who may not quite fit into a clique, and a house with a dark secret – I mean that is the ideal recipe for a bit of a spooky read with a thrilling edge. And then when you throw into the mix the killing of the ‘it’ couple from the high school (not a spoiler, as it says that in the blurb), you have all that you need for a great autumn read.

I really enjoyed this novel, as it was like a love letter to so many of the things that I love from my teenage years – yet things that may have always slightly spooked me. But it also contained great characters, especially the four friends that we follow through the story. I loved their desire to solve the mystery and the dark secret of the manor, because I think, really, we all wanted to do that if these are the stories we enjoyed. The tension was also brilliantly created with some fantastic descriptive writing that brought it all to life.

If you still read YA (which I hope you do), or even if you don’t and maybe you start, this would be a great book to pick up, as there are so many different ways that it can be enjoyed – but I do think nostalgia was the one that really hooked me in.

Thank you Bill Wood for bringing this much joy to a horror book (is that a contradiction in terms?).

In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

This is a book that (no surprise) I have been meaning to read for ages. And when it was recommended by a number of people I admire, I knew I had to pick it up and give it a read.

Now, there are so many reasons that I loved this book. Firstly, I found it fascinating that it was about bringing AI into police work. How would removing human emotion impact police work? Would it bring more efficiency to the process? There is so much to unpack here, as there were moments of admin that the AI was certainly pretty efficient at – being able to watch hours of CCTV for example. But it is true that sometimes the human touch and a little emotion is not a hindrance but a help. As well as this, there was the intrigue of how DCS Frank works with the AIDE (Locke); how he becomes almost human when she needs someone to speak to or share ideas with. Although that does come with its own dangers – as she soon finds out…

Alongside this, there was the brilliant crime thriller element of the book. Someone goes missing every 90 seconds, one could say ‘in the blink of an eye’, and it becomes DCI Franks job to decide which cases about missing people the team should return to and hopefully solve for their families. When she spots the connection, it brings it all a little close to home – but there are no spoilers here, so you will have to read the book if you want to know how.

And, finally, I know the area that this book is set in very well. There is something rather fun about reading about an area you know in a good book. Especially when there are even some quite niche references like that hardware store on the high street… I would quite like DCS Kat Franks’ cottage, too, but I think that is an actual work of fiction (or has been moved from one end of the town the other).

Overall, Jo Callaghan has crafted fantastic characters in a fantastic crime thriller. And I am now rather excited to read ‘Leave No Trace’, because this is a world I would like to enter again. This book deserves all the accolades it has received, and I am already recommending it to all the crime/thriller fans I know.

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

‘Strange Sally Diamond’ has been sitting on my shelf for far too long, so when a lovely bookworm offered to buddy read with me, I knew it was time to take the book off my shelf and read it. And, I am so glad that I did – and it is definitely a great book to buddy read.

Sally Diamond does not think that life is strange; in fact, she has been happy with her existence until the death of her father. From this moment, her life changes forever, and everything she thought she knew starts to crumble. This is a story where I absolutely can not share any spoilers, too, because this is an incredible read. Although not a light read, this is quite a dark tale, but there are still some moments of humour in it.

The book is a fascinating study of human nature. As well as that age-old question: nature versus nurture? All of which makes it such an amazing buddy read, as there is so much to debate in its pages. It will really make you question what Liz Nugent makes you and her characters believe about those you encounter as you read the book. And it probably does teach us all to be a little more kind, as we never really know everything about anyone, and maybe our prejudgements are not always accurate.

I do not feel I can do a long post about this book because it has to be read to be fully appreciated and I do not want to spoil anyone’s reading experience. I will, however, say that this is a book that has introduced me to a new author who I would like to read more from, because if they are even half as good as this one, then they will be fantastic reads, with well-crafted characters and thought-provoking stories.