lollybee's reviews
140 reviews

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

If you could travel back in time would you change the past; could you change the past and - more importantly - should you change the past?
A fantasy time- travel novel about good and evil and the steps you might take to protect what you believe in.
And excellent read, I couldn't put it down.

The Vanishing of Class 3B by Jackie Kabler

emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

Not my favourite read. The 'big' secrets took too long to reveal. The story was too slow and I didn't like any of the parents of the missing children who were key to the story.

The Midnight Hour by Elly Griffiths

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The sixth book in the Brighton Mysteries series, The Midnight Hour has plenty of twists & turns and red herrings to keep the reader guessing 'whodunnit'.

The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

An easy- read cozy crime novel that, for me, has been spoiled by the TV dramatisation. 
I forever see the actors from the series when I read this novel, rather than the characters I saw in my mind before and this spoils it for me. 

Echo of the Dead by Alex Gray

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

When two bodies are discovered in quick succession near the mountain village of Glencoe, Lorimer's Major Incidents Team is despatched to investigate.
With plenty of twists and turns, Echo of the Dead:book 19 in the Lorimer series, is one of the best so far.

The Village Hall Vendetta by Jonathan Whitelaw

adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Local entrepreneur, Hal Murray realises his dream of buying the painting Buttermere at Dawn and brings it back to the Lake District to put it on show.
Unfortunately on the night of the unveiling, Hal is found murdered.
An enjoyable cozy crime read.

A Prey to Murder: A George and Molly Palmer-Jones Mystery, Book Four by Ann Cleeves

adventurous dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This is an earlier work from Ann Cleeves and it is noticeably lacking in her deft touch and rounded characters from the 'Shetland' and 'Vera' series.  The female characters are dismissed by the male characters: their thoughts, opinions and ideas are an irritant to them rather than being worthy of consideration.
On the whole I found this book more of a chore than a pleasure to read.

Hands Down by Felix Francis

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

3.0

When former jockey turned Private Investigator Sid Halley receives a telephone call from  ex-jockey trainer Gary Bremner, asking for help to stop someone threatening his livelihood, he becomes involved in a web of corruption, blackmail and intimidation centred around horse racing and betting.
An enjoyable read 

The Secret of Villa Alba by Louise Douglas

adventurous mysterious sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

With a dual timeline narrative this had the potential to be a gripping story.
Unfortunately I found the main characters very difficult to warm to.
The ending tied everything neatly together but was rushed considering how much time had been taken in the build up to the 'big reveal'.

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It's New Year's Eve and six potential buyers are being shown around an apartment when a hapless bank robber rushes in and takes them hostage.
As the police gather outside, the hostages - and unsuccessful bank robber - begin to share their life experiences with each other, gradually realising that they have far more in common with each other than they originally thought.
Fredrik Backman always provides food for thought with his stories; this was no exception.