Month: September 2025

The Two Loves of Sophie Strom by Sam Taylor

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Isn’t it funny how sometimes you read two books with similar themes in quick succession, without even planning to? This has happened to me this month, as I have read ‘The Names’ and ‘The Two Loves of Sophie Strom’, both of which have a little of a ‘sliding doors’ theme to them – the whole idea of ‘what if?’

‘The Two Loves of Sophie Strom’ is a book I have absolutely loved. I appreciate that some readers may find the start of the book a little confusing, but it is a slow burn that is absolutely worth sticking with as it is a great story. We meet Max, a Jew living in Austria, at the start of the build-up of nationalism and the success of Hitler’s Nazi Party; one night, his life is changed for ever as his family’s business is attacked.

However, this attack creates a sliding-door moment, as we also meet Hans, who leads the life that Max could have lived if the outcome of the attack on his family’s music shop was different. Both of these boys, and later men, appear to be leading parallel lives, with very different experiences through the war years. But they are both in love with Sophie Strom, and will do all they can to protect her.

This is a fantastic piece of historical fiction, which investigates human nature in the time of war-torn Europe (specifically, occupied Paris). It really makes you think about the decisions that people have to make to survive – you really consider the light and dark of human nature in difficult times. Is Hans someone who really exists within Max, or is Max someone who really exists within Hans?

I thought this book was very skilfully written, with the dual narrative; it really takes some skill to write this story and keep it entwined. The novel also tells a beautiful story about love, survival, human nature and what it means to exist in even the darkest times. The characters are beautifully created, and they become very vivid for the reader (Karl is one of the most hateful characters I have ever read about, everything wrong with humans, especially in difficult times).

I am already ready to pass this book onto another reader, because I am pretty sure they will enjoy it. I think it is a book that will be with me for quite some time, and it has really made me think about the human experience, not only in World War Two, but in all situations of war. It is a unique idea for a book, and I hope that it finds many readers who will enjoy it as much as I did.

Glasgow Boys by Margaret McDonald

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Reader, Banjo and Finlay have stolen my heart – in a way I do not think any characters have stolen my heart before (apart from possibly Charlie and Nick from Heartstopper). These two ‘Glasgow Boys’ deserve all the love in the world, as well as the life that neither of them has managed to experience yet – and that you hope they will experience by the end of the book.

Banjo and Finlay have grown up in the care system, they have had different paths that get them there but sadly they both do not understand that it is the adults and the system that have let them down. And, they are not to blame for the sort of life they have sadly ended up living – in fact, Finlay has managed to get himself to university, which is an achievement he does not seem to think he deserves. As we read their story, first separately and then as a pair, as we realise they were once friends, but what tore them apart? And we see what they really both need is people to love them and for them to love, and an understanding that they deserve this – and any success that they have in life.

This book made me ugly cry, and I am not afraid to admit it. The story is beautifully told, with sensitivity and emotion. The characters are well-rounded and you believe in every moment, incident and conversation on the page. The chapters alternate between Banjo and Finlay’s viewpoint, and I think that brings you closer to the characters, as you see how they are feeling, what they are thinking and what makes them who they are.

Margaret McDonald is a very talented writer and it is hard to believe that this is a debut novel, but it is definitely one that deserved to win the ‘Carnegie Medal for Writing’. It is clear that she loves her characters as much as the readers do. I will be recommending this book to anyone who will listen to me. It may be a YA novel, but it can be enjoyed and loved by adult readers also – and rightfully so.

If you have seen this book around and ever been tempted to read it, take this as your sign that you should, because you will not be disappointed.

Sixteen Horses by Greg Buchanan

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

No surprise, ‘Sixteen Horses’ has been sitting on the tbr pile for quite some time. I spotted it ages ago, and as we know I do not read blurbs, but the cover appeared to absolutely be something I would read and I had seen some great reviews of it too on Bookstagram. So, when I spotted a copy in my favourite second-hand bookshop, I picked it up – it just now happens to have been ages ago.

‘Sixteen Horses’ is a great thriller – the heads of sixteen horses are found buried on some farmland. There appears to be absolutely no reason for it, and what happened to the corpses. This gives Detective Alec Nichols, supported by Dr Copper Allen (forensic veterinarian), quite a case to investigate, and it will be no surprise that there is so much about this quiet seaside town that is quite as it seems. Of course, if you want to know what specifically, you are going to have to read the book, as this is a spoiler-free zone.

This story was absolutely gripping, I devoured the book in two days as I just had to know what was going to happen and why there were sixteen horses. The writing was brilliant, which created excellent storytelling, and the characters were complex. I really liked the character of Dr Cooper Allen; not only was she a strong female character, but a forensic veterenarian was a fascinating job role to be involved in an investigation. I have to be honest, that I absolutely would not have solved this mystery and that always makes it a great thriller/crime story in my opinion. I would be interested to know if anyone else had read it and had worked it out?

So, as usual, it has to be short and sweet because it is a thriller post, but it does mean that I am definitely going to be searching out ‘Consumed’ by Greg Buchanan, as I need to know what Dr Cooper Alled does next and how/if she has moved on from the events of ‘Sixteen Horses’.

Dead Lions by Mick Herron

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

‘Slow Horses’ was a top read of mine in January 2024 (as it turns out – I was sure it was so much more recent than that; where does all the time go?), so I knew that I would carry on with the series. So, as I completed a bank holiday readathon with the lovely bookish community, I thought it was about time that I picked this one up.

Spy fiction has never, traditionally, been a genre that I would turn to. However, Mick Herron’s Slough House books have started to change my opinion. And, let’s be honest, I am not sure there is a character quite like Jackson Lamb out there. You know you should be disgusted by some of his personality traits, but there is no denying that he is an intelligent man and loyal to those who show loyalty to him.

When Jackson Lamb hears of the death of a former colleague, which, to all intents and purposes, appears to be completely innocent, he decides that he is going to investigate. A hunch that others are not sure about, but it certainly leads to something – otherwise, well, we would not have a book.

And, of course, there is something very strange when the powers that be decide that they would like to use some of Jackson Lamb’s ‘slow horses’ to help out with the visit of some Russian visitors – giving us even more action.

I think what really works with Mick Herron’s writing and storytelling is that he creates characters that you can see really existing in that world, without it becoming too much. And the stories make sense in the world that we live in, and keep moving without any ridiculous or fantastical ideas – and with a little touch of humour as we go.

In good news, I have also found out that, as a family, we have all the books, so I can keep reading them and following Jackson Lamb and his team, maybe not waiting as long this time.

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Steve Cavanagh never disappoints, and I was recently lucky enough to hear him speak (again) about his latest book (on the tbr pile), which encouraged me to pick up another that I had on the pile first. I am not sure why, as I do not really read them in order.

‘Witness 8’ is a brilliant pacy thriller, with Eddie Flynn being his best self as always. Eddie Flynn is brought in to defend a man who appears to be being framed for the murder of a neighbour. Eddie is convinced of his innocence, so him and his team need to find out who really commited the murder and why this man is being framed. Alongside this, there is a bounty on Eddie Flynn’s head. So, as you can imagine, there are all sorts of thrills along the way as we hope our man Eddie manages to not only save his client but also himself.

Steve Cavanagh just creates the most brilliant characters, heroes and villains alike. They are all so fascinating – especially the villains. You know they are bad, bad people, but somehow Cavanagh’s writing and character creation has you feeling sympathy for some of them, what has really brought them to this point? And, although Mr Christmas may not be a character I had much sympathy for, I did find him very entertaining.

So, it is safe to say that Steve Cavanagh is still cemented in place as one of my favourite authors and, as we enter the ‘-ber’ months, it means it is surely time to spend more time with Eddie Flynn and his team.