The Winter Ghosts – Kate Mosse (BOOKGROUP) – 15.11.25

This was my book group read for December and I have copied and pasted the review I wrote from the ‘My Book Group Reads’ page of my website:

The girls all liked the book and found it easy to read in style but also thought provoking and raised deep issues. Set after the first world war, a young man (Freddie) who suffered from depression after losing his brother in the war (in an era when people, especially men, were just supposed to bury their feelings and show a stiff upper lip) is travelling through France when his car spins off the road during a snowstorm.

He seeks refuge in a small town that is celebrating a winter festival of remembrance and Freddie meets a captivating young woman with whom he shares a deep connection. The following morning, however she cannot be found and nobody seems to know who she is. Can Freddie find her again and what is her connection to the underground caverns that have been sealed since the conflicts with the Cathars?

I always like a bit of magical realism, but it was interesting that the other girls from the book group all liked it when they don’t usually go for that type of thing.

Out of Time: The Time Police, Book 6 – Jodi Taylor (Audiobook) Narrated by:  Zara Ramm. – 12.11.25

Another fun romp from the pen of Jodi Taylor (or the computer I guess these days?!). With dinosaurs roaming around Wales, a dark secret from the Time Polices past and another foray into the mystery of the disappearing princes from the Tower of London – as usual this was a gripping, moving, laugh-inducing and satisfying read.

Once Was Willem – M. R. Carey – 10.11.25

I’m a big fan of M.R. Carey, who I discovered first by reading The Girl With All the Gifts (fabulous zombie book) and I went on to read almost all of his books so far – I love the mix of genre’s from horror, sci-fi, supernatural thriller and this one which I would say is a mix of folktale, historical fiction and horror. Like a medieval morality tale on steroids.

I find Carey’s books to be intelligent and gripping with multifaceted characters facing real trials and dilemmas.

I did find this one a little hard to initially really get into, but once I did I valued it all the more for it not being too easy or shallow – a meaty read(!)

Big thumbs up from me!

The Rose Field – The Book of Dust Volume Three – Philip Pullman – 05.11.25

Oh my goodness, where to start…

**SPOILERS**

I don’t remember there being a book that I anticipated with such eagerness – constantly searching for years to see if there is a release date, and then practically counting the days to publication when there finally was. I have followed Lyra Belacqua (or silvertongue) through all the iterations of her beautiful and heart-breaking life story and couldn’t wait for the (I assumed) beautiful and heart-breaking culmination.

Well, what the heck kind of hot mess did I read instead?!

I actually was quite enjoying the book, there were various intriguing threads and fun side stories until I realised that it was almost finished and how could he possibly wrap up all these threads satisfyingly in the last few pages. Answer – he didn’t.

Not to mention that the whole premise of the Northern Lights trilogy – that the gaps between worlds must be closed to prevent dust from leaking away with bad results – the whole devastating eternal separation between Lyra and Will because they had to sacrifice their love for the good of the multiverse, was for naught!? In fact now closing the gaps is bad and keeping them open is good? What?

And why didn’t Lyra instantly go to Will now that gaps between worlds has become a good thing? And what about the simmering relationship between Malcolm and Lyra (controversial or not) that just petered out.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so disappointed in a book.

Waa!

The Hotel Avocado – Bob Mortimer (Audiobook) Narrated by: Bob Mortimer, Sally Phillips, Paul Whitehouse, Julie Maisey – 03.11.25

I love this series by Bob Mortimer – the author’s narration is so funny and dead pan and the series continues to by well written – the baddies are menacing, the imaginary conversations with local wildlife are funny and the relationships between the main characters are heartfelt and emotionally engaging. Big thumbs up from me.

Secrets of the First School: finale to the Edinburgh Nights series – T. L. Huchu (Audiobook) Narrated by: Kimberly Mandindo – 31.10.25

I have really enjoyed the whole Edinburgh Nights series and this finale was one of the best.

Ropa’s family’s secrets, both good and bad, are finally brought to light as well as an explanations as to why the spirits call Ropa ‘dead girl’. Ropa must draw on the power of ‘wise women’ going back through generations and overlooked by the conventional male dominated magical establishment to fight to save herself and her sister and friends.

I am happy that the series wrapped up in a good way, and didn’t just draw out book after book, but on the other hand, I will really miss the world of Ropa and Scottish magic. I don’t know if T.L. Huchu is writing a new series, or what, but I will certainly look out for more books by this author.

How to Survive Camping: The Man with No Shadow – Bonnie Quinn – 24.10.25

I think this must have been a kindle daily deal that I took a punt on and when I got around to reading it, I was very pleasantly surprised by how good it is.

Like a love child of Stephen King and Grady Hendrix, this folklore/Supernatural/horror story is intelligent and very fun to read.

Kate has inherited the family campground which is also home to creatures of unspeakable horror from the other realm. When reading the book I couldn’t help thinking, why the heck does the campsite remain open to visitors when a small percentage of them end up dead, maimed or missing? Yes, Kate produces a list of rules the campers must follow to not end up this way, but still. I think it’s probably part of the ancient agreement between the family and the supernaturals (as ever I’m so behind on writing up my book reviews that I struggle to remember small details) and if you can get past that humongously reckless risk-taking of other’s lives, it’s a really good story.

It’s the first in a series, and I’m super excited to read the next instalments!

Leonard and Hungry Paul – Rónán Hession – 20.10.25

Aw, I loved this. (I also loved the tv adaptation). Leonard and Hungry Paul are two friends united by their quiet introvert personalities and enjoyment of board games. They help each other navigate through life’s changes with family, loves and loses.

As a card carrying introvert myself, I loved this approach to the world, and I also loved that the story didn’t try to take them on a journey out of being introverts as so many stories do, as if being quiet is something that must be ‘cured’.

Beautiful, lovely, can’t recommend it enough!

Ring the Bells: The Stranger Times, Book 5 – C. K. McDonnell (Audiobook) Narrated by: Brendan McDonald – 20.10.25

I always enjoy the Stranger Times novels, and this is no exception. With a Christmassy theme this book reminds me of the great Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather story. I know many books claim to be as good as Terry Pratchett, and few deliver, but in my mind C.K. McDonnell does – the Stranger Times books are genuinely funny, wise and inventive – love them. Also the narrator is as ever fabulous!

Twist – Colum McCann – 17.10.25

Colum McCann’s novel Apeirogon was one of my all time best reads (or listen – I found the audiobook to be utterly compelling) and this novel, thought also quite compelling, didn’t thrill me as much.

It follows a journalist, Fennell, who is given the job of shadowing the captain of a ship that fixes damage to the network of undersea fibreoptic cables. These cables carry all the information (or most – some it done by satellites) for the world wide web, a fact that I have often found fascinating – actual physical cables going all across the vast oceans!

The book has several themes – family, belonging, technology (for good or for bad), life’s work, meaning, doing your job vs doing what’s right, working out what is right. It was certainly thought provoking.