February 2024

Thank you all for the lovely welcome you gave us on our reappearance last month – and that’s not at all similar to Julian Clary’s ‘warm hand on my entrance’ line which made one of the editors titter loud and long at a live gig at Birmingham Town Hall back when dinosaurs sauntered down Corporation Street …

Moving swiftly on, we have something for everyone this issue, with old friends, police procedurals, historicals, courtroom dramas, the Aussie outback and some very creepy settings. Your editors know about these things, so take our advice – keep the lights on and look over your shoulder whenever you’re in the Forest of Dean!

You can read the reviews by clicking on the links below …

A Chateau Under Siege by Martin Walker, reviewed by Linda Wilson
After a serious stabbing during a historical re-enactment in the medieval market town of Sarlat, Bruno, Chief of Police for the Vézère valley, is co-opted to deal with security concerns over the victim and some of his visiting friends and former colleagues.

Alchemy by SJ Parris, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Giordano Bruno journeys to Prague in 1588 to assist Dr John Dee in his efforts to counter threats against the Holy Roman Emperor.

Indefensible by James Woolf, reviewed by Chris Roberts
1993. A barrister newly elevated to QC is thrilled to receive a brief for a well-publicised case, but the bond he forms with his client turns out to be a serious mistake.

Outback by Patricia Wolf, reviewed by Chris Roberts
When a couple of backpackers go missing in the remote Australian bush, DS Lucas Walker receives help from the sister of one of them, who has come from Berlin to help with the search.

The Blood Tide by Neil Lancaster, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Dangerous crime boss Tam Hardie and his equally unpleasant sons threaten everything DS Max Craigie holds dear as Max struggles to link the disappearance of a fisherman in the Highlands and a suicide off the Erskine Bridge.

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman, reviewed by Viv Beeby
The Thursday Murder Club rides out again with a decade-old cold case featuring a murder with no body, a million-pound VAT scam and a local news legend.

The Clearing by Simon Toyne, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor.
Forensic specialist Laughton Rees becomes tangled in the dark roots of the Forest of Dean when a young girl disappears and no one seems to care.

The Grief House by Rebecca Thorne, reviewed by Kerry Hood
Blue needs a place to get herself together after the death of her mother. She believes Hope Marsh House, commonly known as the Grief House, might be the perfect, calming place. But on arrival, all her senses tell her this place is danger…

The Hacker by Daniel Scanlan, reviewed by John Verpeleti
Ericka Blackwood, an FBI cybercrime expert, races to stop a sophisticated online predator, while dealing with her own demons.

The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner, reviewed by Linda Wilson
The new King of Attolia, scorned by his courtiers, dismissed by the nobles and ignored by his Queen, must employ all his considerable skills to survive dangerous palace intrigues. And a young soldier’s impulsive revenge thrusts him into the heart of some very dangerous games.

Andrew Taylor, our Countdown guest this issue, lives in the Forest of Dean, so we shall politely gate-crash his drinks outing (we want to meet those guests!) and then grill him on the weird and wonderful stories that emanate from the forest. And now we both fancy a baked potato to mop up the drinks, and are squabbling happily as to whether ours come with cheese and coleslaw or cheese and sweetcorn or, heaven forfend, something meaty in Linda’s.

If you have a minute, take a look at what our friends at Reviewing the Evidence have been up to and catch up with their latest reviews of US and Canadian releases.

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Linda and Sharon

Countdown with
Andrew Taylor

Andrew Taylor was born in Stevenage when it was just a sleepy country town. He grew up in the Fens in the shadow of a vast cathedral. After university, he rambled about four continents, earned very little and conspicuously failed to become a writer. In desperation, he returned to university and then worked as a librarian in London.

Then, in a moment of panic, he began his first book. Against all odds, the novel found a publisher, whereupon he decamped to the Forest of Dean, largely because it was the complete opposite of the Fens.

Andrew has been there ever since, crumbling away in a crumbling stone cottage. He walks among trees and plays in a punk-rock ukulele and guitar band which has been known to make strong men weep.

In his next life, he would like to be an author.

Ten words to sum up your working life to date ...

A journey without maps. So far so good. What next?

Nine things you can see from where you're sitting ...

iMac, Evelyn’s Diary, Moleskin notebook, penknife, noticeboard, bookshelves, Panama hat, filing cabinet, camel saddlecloth.

Eight minutes to prepare a meal. What's it going to be ?

Open wine, microwave jacket potato, add olive oil, salt and pepper, grate cheese, rinse salad, pour wine.