sarahrwray

The Last Days of Jack Sparks – Jason Arnopp – 21.06.25

This is a fun comedy horror story for the modern age. The titular character, Jack, sees himself as the next Louis Theroux, taking investigative journalism to new levels with books and social media platforms detailing the extreme lengths he goes to – taking various drugs and infiltrating gang culture for example. His latest project isContinue reading “The Last Days of Jack Sparks – Jason Arnopp – 21.06.25”

Possession: A Romance Audiobook – A. S. Byatt (Author), Samuel West (Narrator) – 20.06.25

I have read a few of these ‘literary detective’ type novels, where contemporary characters discover journals, or letters or other documents from the past and piece together stories of the people involved and for some reason they always leave me pretty cold. I just don’t get why anyone would be that bothered by the lovesContinue reading “Possession: A Romance Audiobook – A. S. Byatt (Author), Samuel West (Narrator) – 20.06.25”

April in Spain: A Strafford and Quirke Murder Mystery – John Banville – 16.06.25 The Lock-Up: A Strafford and Quirke Murder Mystery – John Banville – 07.07.25

The Drowned: A Strafford and Quirke Murder Mystery – John Banville – 12.07.25 I read Snow a while ago, and wasn’t sure how much I liked it, but for some reason I bought the other three books in the series and read them. These books remind me of the Morse books, except that they areContinue reading “April in Spain: A Strafford and Quirke Murder Mystery – John Banville – 16.06.25 The Lock-Up: A Strafford and Quirke Murder Mystery – John Banville – 07.07.25”

A Promise of Ankles (44 Scotland Street Book 14) – Alexander McCall Smith – 09.06.25

It’s a while since I’ve read any Alexander McCall Smith books, to the point that I wasn’t sure if I’d read this one already or not – it’s hard to keep track as I have some on kindle, some on Audible and some as physical copies (some of which I’ve given away),and he has writtenContinue reading “A Promise of Ankles (44 Scotland Street Book 14) – Alexander McCall Smith – 09.06.25”

Julia (AUDIOBOOK) – Sandra Newman, Narrated by: Louise Brealey – 07.06.25

I remember reading 1984 in the late 1980s when I was eighteen and being completely blown away by it – the scene where Winston realises that there had been a viewscreen behind the painting the whole time made my heart drop. I re-read it recently in preparation for reading this and was somehow less impactedContinue reading “Julia (AUDIOBOOK) – Sandra Newman, Narrated by: Louise Brealey – 07.06.25”

Never Flinch: Holly Gibney Book 4 – Stephen King (AUDIOBOOK)Narrated by: Jessie Mueller – 29.05.25

I love Stephen King’s Holly Gibney books. She is such a good character – high functioning autistic and very truthful and insightful and brave. In this book at least two threads weave together – one of a serial killer who promises to kill thirteen innocent and one guilty person, and the other, Holly taking onContinue reading “Never Flinch: Holly Gibney Book 4 – Stephen King (AUDIOBOOK)Narrated by: Jessie Mueller – 29.05.25”

Strange New World: Dr. Greta Helsing, Book 4 – Vivian Shaw (AUDIOBOOK) – 27.05.25

I have loved the Greta Helsing series, one of my favourite urban fantasy series with a strong female lead character and lots of fun mythology, humour and gripping plots. That said, I can’t help feeling that this book was not quite up to the standard of the previous books. I liked the whole angels andContinue reading “Strange New World: Dr. Greta Helsing, Book 4 – Vivian Shaw (AUDIOBOOK) – 27.05.25”

James – Percival Everett (BOOKGROUP)(AUDIOBOOK) Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman – 20.05.25

This was my book group read for the summer and I read (or listened) to it during my book group holiday from our home in Belfast to the Isle of Wight. I listened on the flight over as well as on my two early morning runs that I did on the trip so that wasContinue reading “James – Percival Everett (BOOKGROUP)(AUDIOBOOK) Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman – 20.05.25”

Whisper in the Wind: Fetch Phillips, Book 4 Audiobook – Luke Arnold (Author, Narrator) – 12.05.25

I really like this series of fantasy noir. Fetch Phillips was a private eye in Sunder city – once home to all manner of magical creatures but now since the event that Fetch is at least partly responsible for that removed all magical power from the world, these creatures at best must find new waysContinue reading “Whisper in the Wind: Fetch Phillips, Book 4 Audiobook – Luke Arnold (Author, Narrator) – 12.05.25”

Sunrise on the Reaping: A Hunger Games Novel – Suzanne Collins (Audiobook) Narrated by – Jefferson White – 07.05.25

I approached this hunger games prequel with a mixture of irritation and excitement – irritation because it’s basically the same story again – noble but powerless teen sacrificially causes themselves to be picked for the reaping and tries their best to be defiant and stand up to the terrible capital society and government while alsoContinue reading “Sunrise on the Reaping: A Hunger Games Novel – Suzanne Collins (Audiobook) Narrated by – Jefferson White – 07.05.25”