This Week in Books: June 17 2015

Published on by Margaret

This Week in Books is a weekly round-up hosted by Lypsyy Lost & Found, about what I’ve been reading Now, Then & Next. A similar meme is run by Taking on a World of Words.

Now: I’m still making slow progress with the two non fiction books I started a few weeks ago. I like to take time with these as there is so much information to take in.

They are The Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards ‘“ the story of detective fiction written by the authors in the Detection Club between the two World Wars.

And Stephen Hawking: His Life and Work – it’s the science that’s slowly me down considerably in this, but it is really fascinating. I’m looking forward to watching Stephen Hawking’s interview with Dara O Briain, which  was broadcast last night on BBC1. It was on a bit late, so we’ve recorded it.

I’ve recently started The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton, which I am loving so far.

Blurb:

The Secret Keeper, is a spellbinding story of mysteries and secrets, murder and enduring love, moving between the 1930s, the 1960s and the present.
1961: On a sweltering summer’s day, while her family picnics by the stream on their Suffolk farm, sixteen-year-old Laurel hides out in her childhood tree house dreaming of a boy called Billy, a move to London, and the bright future she can’t wait to seize. But before the idyllic afternoon is over, Laurel will have witnessed a shocking crime that changes everything.
2011: Now a much-loved actress, Laurel finds herself overwhelmed by shades of the past. Haunted by memories, and the mystery of what she saw that day, she returns to her family home and begins to piece together a secret history. A tale of three strangers from vastly different worlds – Dorothy, Vivien and Jimmy – who are brought together by chance in wartime London and whose lives become fiercely and fatefully entwined.

 

Then: A Game for all the Family

I have recently finished A Game For All The Family by Sophie Hannah which I’m not sure about at all. It’s weird and has been occupying my mind for the last few days. My review will follow shortly when I’ve sorted out what I make of it.

Blurb

Justine thought she knew who she was, until an anonymous caller seemed to know better’¦ After escaping London and a career that nearly destroyed her, Justine plans to spend her days doing as little as possible in her beautiful home in Devon.

But soon after the move, her daughter Ellen starts to withdraw when her new best friend, George, is unfairly expelled from school. Justine begs the head teacher to reconsider, only to be told that nobody’s been expelled ‘“ there is, and was, no George.

Then the anonymous calls start: a stranger, making threats that suggest she and Justine share a traumatic past and a guilty secret ‘“ yet Justine doesn’t recognise her voice. When the caller starts to talk about three graves ‘“ two big and one small, to fit a child ‘“ Justine fears for her family’s safety. If the police can’t help, she’ll have to eliminate the danger herself, but first she must work out who she’s supposed to be’¦

Next:

I’m never sure what I’ll read next. I’d like to read so many, but I’m thinking of reading a few of Agatha Christie’s Parker Pyne stories that I wrote about in my last post. It will fit in nicely with reading The Golden Age of Murder!

12 thoughts on “This Week in Books: June 17 2015”

  1. A great selection of books… the two non-fcitions sound very good and luckily I own the Martin Edwards so have the pleasure of that to come.

    I’ve not heard of AC’s Parker Pyne books at all… but what a fabulous cover!

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  2. Sounds like you are having a great reading week. I’ve not read the Kate Morton book yet, but I have read another her of books, The Distant Hours. Liked that one very much. And I’m very interested in that Sophie Hannah book. I’ll have to do some research there. I have several of her books, but have not read them yet. This one is a standalone, I believe.

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  3. What a splendid selection which could come straight from my shelves! I love Kate Morton’s books, particularly The Secret Keeper (she has a new book out later this year which I’m really looking forward to)

    I have been tempted into buying a copy of The Golden Age of Murder following a wonderful review by Fiction Fan.

    As you know I’ve just read the Sophie Hannah which I loved, I like an experimental book and this one worked for me – but yes it is weird!

    I need to read some Parker Pyne books, I can’t believe I’ve not done so before now!

    Happy reading and thanks for visiting my Wednesday post.

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    1. Cleo, I’m really loving The Secret Keeper – I don’t want to put it down! The Golden Age of Murder is very good – must read FictionFan’s review.

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  4. I did watch that documentary about Stephen Hawking and it was quite touching and encouraging, nice to see him as a human being rather than a caricature or demi-god. I have read quite a bit about him, ever since I attended one of his lectures in Cambridge (his house was just down the road from where I lived, so we’d sometimes see him whizzing around in his wheelchair – this is going back to 1992 though).

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    1. Marina, I’ve now watched the Stephen Hawking’s documentary and thought it was very good – as you say it was nice to see him as a person and I had no idea he’d written books with his daughter.

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  5. Margaret – So glad you’re enjoying the Edwards book. As to the Hannah, I’ve just finished reading another review of it that suggests that it all does sort itself out. I’ll be keen to know what you think of it when you’ve finished.

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    1. Margot, I don’t actually think it does all sort itself out – there is an ending but thinking about what led up to the ‘denouement’ I was left still wondering just what was the truth. I do hope you’ll read it – I’d love to know what you think of it.

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