Cambridge Blue by Alison Bruce

I re-read this April 2017 as it's a Lawshall Bookclub book for June, chosen by me as Alison is coming to talk to us in September.
The first of teh DC Gary Goodhew novels, based in Cambridge.  The youngest Dc at Parkside, Goodhew investigates in his own wayward style the murder of a woman, Lorna Spence.  The novel actually starts with another murder! There is family intrigue, secrets, lies , jealousy, love and hate.  A Good read even though |I'd read it before and knew who did it, I'm glad I reread it as I got a lot more out of it second time around.
Alice, Richard and Jackie are siblings, Lorna Victoria knew each other and slept with the same man.
Gary is quite like Seriallier in the Susan Hill novels.
Remarkable how much Cambridge has changed in the last decade or so...

The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory

I listened to this on audio CD in March 2017
Good listen, I don't think I'd read it though, It was good storyline, good plot and I learnt some history...

Echo Burning by Lee Child

I read this in March 2017
I picked it up in a charity shop where I was buying 2 books for the price of one.
Typical Lee Child ; trouble, murder, mystery a woman or two.. you know the drill
Fun , light read when you want to relax

The Sellout by Paul Beatty

I read this March 2017 it was the April choice for the Regency Book club.
OMG, what can I say? Plot: I can't see that there was one....tricks, I think the author missed a few, especially about the gentrification of urban areas that's going on, this is about LA but frankly it could be almost anywhere....Short story... I think it would have been better or as a series of radio slots..
I was a bit mystified by this book.
I didn't enjoy it! a bit of a slog

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

I read this March 2017 it was a Lawshall Book Club choice.
Quite funny to read such two similar books (His Bloody Project) picked out of the Blue for book club.
This one is set in Northern Iceland, I found the landscape, lifestyle and overly so very bleak to read about.  The story: Agens Magnusdottir is condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of her lover/employer (a bully) . Agnes has to wait out her final months on a farm of district officer Jon Jonsson, his wife and their 2 daughters.  Agnes had been treated like an animal in captivity and the move to the farm at least means she has a bed to sleep in , can wash and help with the farm duties.  She has a spiritual counselor Toti, and assistant priest, who she tells some of her story to. The mother , Margret is initially against have a convicted murder in the home, but eventually warms to Agnes. Agnes cannot even attempt to escape, a there is nowhere to go. Set in 1840, this is based on actual events.
A good read, bleak but enjoyable

After You With The Pistol by Kyril Bonfiglioli

I read the March  2017, I had read the previous Charlie Mortdecai novel (Don't Point That Thing At Me) for Waterstones book club some years ago.  I found this recently in a charity shop. This one sees Charlie married to Johanna a millionaire widow. A series of bundling, spy like adventures follow... it is quite like a PG Woodhouse to read, very enjoyable, lots of scrapes and fun. A good bedside book....I will read the next one as well no doubt.  Pity about the Johnny Depp film Mortdecai though....but hey who am I to say, if someone wanted to make a film of anything I'd written, I would happily let them. Might give it another try to see if it improves on second viewing, I recommend the book though

1984 by George Orwell

I read this February 2017 it was the Regency book club's choice for March.

I have read this twice before and of course, seen the film.

Orwell's famous distopian novel of what britain would be like in the future.  We decided to read this book as it has become very popular again after Brexit and the election of Donald Trump.

Some parts resonated with me about life in today's world, the part where Winston is writing about the films of the refugees in a boat being bombed, the drinking of gin to keep the masses in check, the constant surveillance.
A splendid book, always worth a re read.