Take a photo of a barcode or cover
patchworkbunny's Reviews (2.12k)
Fran might be a hopeless case but she has the perfect boyfriend. On her thirtieth birthday, she's pretty sure he's about to propose to her, there's even a ring box shaped bulge in his pocket... But instead, Michael tells her he needs a break. Three months with no contract. Fran is heart broken and refuses to leave her flat for days, drinking gin and smoking joints. Her loyal friends, Leonie, Stefania and Dave, decide something must be done and set her the eight date plan. Before she even thinks about seeing Michael again, she must go on dates with eight different men.
The title is obviously tongue-in-cheek and Fran can be rather melodramatic at times. There's a lot of swearing and a lot of drunken behaviour, though my colleagues will definitely identify with Gin Thursdays (replace with Wine Wine Wednesdays). I warmed to her friends more than Fran, lovely big bear-like Dave, Stefania who lives in the shed yet offers sage advice and even the poor misunderstood Alex. Yet I really didn't want Fran to get back with Michael so I must have cared about her in the end.
I have probably read enough chick-lit to see most things coming now, especially when a character gets the wrong end of the stick. It's not overly predictable though and there will still be a few avenues for your mind to wander down. There was even one connection I didn't get before the big reveal.
Of course, to fulfil her eight dates, Fran takes to the internet. Lucy Robinson had previously run a dating blog for Marie Claire and it's clear that she has drawn from her experiences. Some may say they are completely unbelievable but I say, they have never ventured into the waters of internet dating. There is a lot of strange behaviour out there and all her email exchanges and dates ring true. Not to mention how easy the internet makes it to stalk your ex's new fling...
The title is obviously tongue-in-cheek and Fran can be rather melodramatic at times. There's a lot of swearing and a lot of drunken behaviour, though my colleagues will definitely identify with Gin Thursdays (replace with Wine Wine Wednesdays). I warmed to her friends more than Fran, lovely big bear-like Dave, Stefania who lives in the shed yet offers sage advice and even the poor misunderstood Alex. Yet I really didn't want Fran to get back with Michael so I must have cared about her in the end.
I have probably read enough chick-lit to see most things coming now, especially when a character gets the wrong end of the stick. It's not overly predictable though and there will still be a few avenues for your mind to wander down. There was even one connection I didn't get before the big reveal.
Of course, to fulfil her eight dates, Fran takes to the internet. Lucy Robinson had previously run a dating blog for Marie Claire and it's clear that she has drawn from her experiences. Some may say they are completely unbelievable but I say, they have never ventured into the waters of internet dating. There is a lot of strange behaviour out there and all her email exchanges and dates ring true. Not to mention how easy the internet makes it to stalk your ex's new fling...
One late October evening, Oscar is drawn towards the chapel of King's College by the mesmerising sound of the organ playing within. There he meets the beautiful Iris Bellwether and the man responsible for the music, her brother Eden. They are from a different world, students at Cambridge whilst Oscar is a humble care assistant at a nursing home nearby. He soon falls in love with Iris, spending more time with her friends and family, learning that all might not be idyllic in the Bellwether household. Iris has soon embroiled Oscar in a plot to prove her brother isn't quite sane...
Eden believes in the power of music. He is obsessed with Johann Mattheson and his theories that music can be used to manipulate people's thoughts, hypnotise and even heal. Is he a harmless fantasist, dangerously insane or could he really have hidden talents beyond their understanding? I loved the way the music was described throughout, it really gave a sense of it without having to have prior knowledge.
The novel has been repeatedly compared to Brideshead Revisited and I can see the similarities. Certainly the style feels from a different age and the Bellwethers' lifestyle doesn't quite fit in the modern day. Iris may be more believable as a 1920s heroine but comes across as aloof, shallow and a bit too silly to be considered a medical student at Cambridge. The language of the Bellwethers felt a little old-fashioned, although their friends and those outside the circle are much more modern. Perhaps it highlights the differences in upbringing but I often had to remind myself it was set in the here and now. The dynamics between Oscar, the outsider, and the siblings is also reminiscent of Brideshead but that is where comparison ends.
Oscar is grounded in reality and his old world by a touching relationship with Dr Paulsen, an old, and often grumpy, man who he cares for at Cedarbrook. He is never ashamed of his job although he has distanced himself from his family. For all the wealth and intelligence the Bellwethers posess, Oscar comes out the end as the more worthwhile human being.
I also learned a new word, for something I really love which is always a perk of a good book (it also happens to be Iris's favourite thing):
“Petrichor. It's the word for how the earth smells after rainfall.”
I did find the relationship between Oscar and Iris a little flat. Fortunately, it's more of a psychological tale revolving around Eden's unravelling and the music that all three of the characters love.
Eden believes in the power of music. He is obsessed with Johann Mattheson and his theories that music can be used to manipulate people's thoughts, hypnotise and even heal. Is he a harmless fantasist, dangerously insane or could he really have hidden talents beyond their understanding? I loved the way the music was described throughout, it really gave a sense of it without having to have prior knowledge.
The novel has been repeatedly compared to Brideshead Revisited and I can see the similarities. Certainly the style feels from a different age and the Bellwethers' lifestyle doesn't quite fit in the modern day. Iris may be more believable as a 1920s heroine but comes across as aloof, shallow and a bit too silly to be considered a medical student at Cambridge. The language of the Bellwethers felt a little old-fashioned, although their friends and those outside the circle are much more modern. Perhaps it highlights the differences in upbringing but I often had to remind myself it was set in the here and now. The dynamics between Oscar, the outsider, and the siblings is also reminiscent of Brideshead but that is where comparison ends.
Oscar is grounded in reality and his old world by a touching relationship with Dr Paulsen, an old, and often grumpy, man who he cares for at Cedarbrook. He is never ashamed of his job although he has distanced himself from his family. For all the wealth and intelligence the Bellwethers posess, Oscar comes out the end as the more worthwhile human being.
I also learned a new word, for something I really love which is always a perk of a good book (it also happens to be Iris's favourite thing):
“Petrichor. It's the word for how the earth smells after rainfall.”
I did find the relationship between Oscar and Iris a little flat. Fortunately, it's more of a psychological tale revolving around Eden's unravelling and the music that all three of the characters love.
Pandemonium is the second book in Lauren Oliver's Delirium trilogy and therefore this review will contain spoilers for the first book.
Last time we saw Lena, she was running off into The Wilds, leaving Alex on the other side of the fence. Pandemonium alternates between “then” and “now” on a chapter by chapter basis. It starts with Lena in a classroom in a new life which leaves you a little confused as to what's going on, especially if it's been a while since the first book. Has she been captured? What happened to Alex? Why is she back in school when she should be living off roast squirrel and berries? But soon it switches back to the “then” which is all about how Lena survives in The Wilds.
I found the “now” storyline much more compelling. In The Wilds, there seem a few too many characters with very little development. For people who have lost everything in the name of love, they come across as rather devoid of emotion. I'm not sure how much it contributed to the plot and I suspect the few key moments were things being set up for the final instalment. Whilst the two plots do eventually meet up, I was repeatedly frustrated about being taken away from the “now”, in which Lena is an undercover agent for the invalids, dipping her toes into the politics of the world. She meets the poster boy for the cure and ends up in the clutches of who knows who.
If you read my review of Delirium, you will know that I wasn't quite convinced by Lauren Oliver's world. What Pandemonium does is explain that the whole thing is much more about controlling the people through fear and peer pressure than around a disease. If it weren't for all the time wasted in The Wilds, I would have found this the better story. The “now” plot is fast paced and there is enough doubt in the love interest to be compelling. However I did role my eyes after reading the final page, it was going so well up until then but I'm sure the ending will leave fans clamouring for more.
Last time we saw Lena, she was running off into The Wilds, leaving Alex on the other side of the fence. Pandemonium alternates between “then” and “now” on a chapter by chapter basis. It starts with Lena in a classroom in a new life which leaves you a little confused as to what's going on, especially if it's been a while since the first book. Has she been captured? What happened to Alex? Why is she back in school when she should be living off roast squirrel and berries? But soon it switches back to the “then” which is all about how Lena survives in The Wilds.
I found the “now” storyline much more compelling. In The Wilds, there seem a few too many characters with very little development. For people who have lost everything in the name of love, they come across as rather devoid of emotion. I'm not sure how much it contributed to the plot and I suspect the few key moments were things being set up for the final instalment. Whilst the two plots do eventually meet up, I was repeatedly frustrated about being taken away from the “now”, in which Lena is an undercover agent for the invalids, dipping her toes into the politics of the world. She meets the poster boy for the cure and ends up in the clutches of who knows who.
If you read my review of Delirium, you will know that I wasn't quite convinced by Lauren Oliver's world. What Pandemonium does is explain that the whole thing is much more about controlling the people through fear and peer pressure than around a disease. If it weren't for all the time wasted in The Wilds, I would have found this the better story. The “now” plot is fast paced and there is enough doubt in the love interest to be compelling. However I did role my eyes after reading the final page, it was going so well up until then but I'm sure the ending will leave fans clamouring for more.
When I started the book, I though uh-oh this is sounding like a Queen Betsy rip off – right from the first page Lilith mentions the day she died...and she was hit by a car. But Lilith doesn't rise from the dead, instead she must fulfil her family's destiny and become a succubus, in the employ of the devil... or Miss Spry as the case may be. Don't worry, it's not all about sex either, true to her name, Lilith is a temptress but must use her seductive skills to sway the decisions of humans and gain extra souls for the cause.
It's an easy read although I wouldn't put it in the paranormal romance sub-genre. It's not at all romantic or sexy if that's what you're after. Yes, there may be a hot demon in Lilith's life but it doesn't seem to go anywhere. Lilith is much more concerned about looking after her daughter and niece, paying the bills and not doing anything too evil.
And maybe that's my problem with Lilith as a character. All her guilt. She doesn't really fight against her job but she goes on a bit too much about how awful everything she has to do is. At times it's really quite funny but it is a little overdone for me and the plot loses its way.
I read a final copy of this book and there were a few sentences that didn't read quite right. These should be picked up by a good professional proofreader. However the ebook is certainly a bargain if you like light, paranormal reads.
It's an easy read although I wouldn't put it in the paranormal romance sub-genre. It's not at all romantic or sexy if that's what you're after. Yes, there may be a hot demon in Lilith's life but it doesn't seem to go anywhere. Lilith is much more concerned about looking after her daughter and niece, paying the bills and not doing anything too evil.
And maybe that's my problem with Lilith as a character. All her guilt. She doesn't really fight against her job but she goes on a bit too much about how awful everything she has to do is. At times it's really quite funny but it is a little overdone for me and the plot loses its way.
I read a final copy of this book and there were a few sentences that didn't read quite right. These should be picked up by a good professional proofreader. However the ebook is certainly a bargain if you like light, paranormal reads.
Following on from Straight to Hell, Lilith is starting to get to grips with her job as seductress. When she's assigned to Craig to convince him to mail a mysterious package, she is thwarted by a stranger with bright blue eyes. She hopes Miss Spry doesn't punish her for her failure, she's a tough boss to work for after all, but there is something special about this case and Lilith is sent back into the field. Soon she learns that she's got a battle on her hands, the angels are involved and they don't want to lose this soul.
I found Straight to Heaven the better of the two Lilith Straight books so far. There was more of a structured plot and I got drawn into the fight between good and evil without knowing which side I wanted to win. Lilith is also starting to learn about her demonic powers a bit more and isn't quite so useless, though she is still far from perfect!
I found Straight to Heaven the better of the two Lilith Straight books so far. There was more of a structured plot and I got drawn into the fight between good and evil without knowing which side I wanted to win. Lilith is also starting to learn about her demonic powers a bit more and isn't quite so useless, though she is still far from perfect!
People have wanted to narrate since we first banged rocks together & wondered about fire. There'll be tellings as long as there are any of us here, until the stars disappear one by one like turned out lights. Some such stories are themselves about the telling of others. An odd pastime. Seemingly redundant, or easy to get lost in, like a picture that contains a smaller picture of itself, which in turn contains - & so on.
In the world of the railsea, danger lurks under the earth where giant moles, earwigs and flesh-eating worms make their home and their hunting ground. The humans make their way safely in trains, running across the rails that cover most the land. The world ends where the railsea ends, that is what everyone knows.
Sham is a doctor's assistant on a mole train. His captain is intent on catching Mocker Jack, an ivory (or more accurately, yellow) moldywarpe (read, giant, vicious mole), her lifelong nemesis who took her arm. Sham's not so interested in the moles but he is an orphan and he has little choices. When he finds some photos in a wrecked train, he is determined to return them to the victim's family. Yet there is something odd in the photos, a lone, alien looking rail...could there be something beyond the railsea?
But he felt possessed by the souls of generations of youngsters chased through neighbourhoods by adults for reasons unclear or unfair. He channelled their techniques of righteous evasion.
Railsea does have the feeling of being a children's book for adults. It's full of adventure, pirates and, um, trains yet the characters lack a little depth. The vocabulary will be challenging for a lot of younger readers although I can imagine it would be a joy to have it read out loud. I especially liked the parts where it felt the narrator was addressing the reader without it being done through second person. It really felt like being told a story and having the narrator pause to comment on something.
“He says he's a pirate,” whispered Sham to Daybe. Images came to Sham – how could they not? - of pirate trains. Devilish, smoke-spewing, weapon-studded, thronging with dashing, deadly men & women swinging cutlasses, snarling under cross-spanner pendants, bearing down on other trains.
However, I very nearly gave up on it. Miéville's world building is excellent and I loved the idea of an ocean on land, but it goes on so long before anything really happens. It took until nearly halfway for me to get into the book although I really enjoyed the second half where the characters start to come alive. Oddly, my favourite character didn't even have a speaking part; Daybe the day bat who Sham befriends at the start of his adventure. I loved that little bat!
You may have noticed the use of ampersands in my quotes. This is not an accident or formatting fault. Being used to uncorrected proofs, they didn't really register in my mind until the narrator pointed out that once & was spelled with 3 letters. From then on it grated on me a bit. I liked the idea that an ampersand is reminiscent of the curves of the railsea but it isn't the most natural thing to read.
If you're a big fan of fantastical worlds and like the idea of the nautical world of Moby Dick reworked on land, with moles instead of whales, and trains instead of ships, really do give Railsea a try. If you're looking for character driven storytelling you may well be disappointed.
Alex is hiking alone in Michigan when the electromagnetic pulse hits. Of course, she doesn't know what it is. She's too busy being annoyed with young Ellie and her grandfather when the pain strikes. She's no stranger to pain, she's not got long to live with the monster that is inside her head. The tumour has taken away her sense of smell and taste and this trip is the one last thing she wants to do. But when Ellie's grandfather doesn't get back up off the ground, she realises she has someone else to look out for. And she can smell. Everything. Whilst the EMP may have given Alex a super-sense, others have now gained a taste for human flesh.
Ashes is close enough to believable to be scary. Our brains are firing little charges all the time so it makes sense that an EMP could disrupt them and permanently change the way they work. Alex's new power isn't over the top, animals are often sense to be able to smell emotions on people. The fact that a lot of the book is told through the description of scents makes it all the more enjoyable. Even if some of what she smells is repulsive because those that now eat flesh seem to have regressed to a more primitive state.
Without technology to help them, Alex and Ellie must learn how to survive the best they can. They are fortunate to meet Tom, a soldier with his own reasons to be out in the wilderness. He teaches them survival techniques and protects his new little unit. Alex has never had the chance to have boyfriends but she starts to grow close to him. It's not at all a mushy story though and some things happen which send it in a new direction half way through. It really makes you think want would happen if we had to start everything over again and who would come out on top.
I'm not sure why it was written in third person though. The narrative never leaves Alex and it's all about her thoughts without the perspective of other characters. It feels as if it should be first person so much that I sometimes forgot that Alex was the protagonist when her name was mentioned.
Did I say it was scary? It made me close the bedroom window on a hot summer night. There's something about being alone in the wilderness where you know there are things out there that want to harm you and dangers that are a lot less passive. The final pages are truly terrifying so bear that in mind if you're reading late at night...
Ashes is close enough to believable to be scary. Our brains are firing little charges all the time so it makes sense that an EMP could disrupt them and permanently change the way they work. Alex's new power isn't over the top, animals are often sense to be able to smell emotions on people. The fact that a lot of the book is told through the description of scents makes it all the more enjoyable. Even if some of what she smells is repulsive because those that now eat flesh seem to have regressed to a more primitive state.
Without technology to help them, Alex and Ellie must learn how to survive the best they can. They are fortunate to meet Tom, a soldier with his own reasons to be out in the wilderness. He teaches them survival techniques and protects his new little unit. Alex has never had the chance to have boyfriends but she starts to grow close to him. It's not at all a mushy story though and some things happen which send it in a new direction half way through. It really makes you think want would happen if we had to start everything over again and who would come out on top.
I'm not sure why it was written in third person though. The narrative never leaves Alex and it's all about her thoughts without the perspective of other characters. It feels as if it should be first person so much that I sometimes forgot that Alex was the protagonist when her name was mentioned.
Did I say it was scary? It made me close the bedroom window on a hot summer night. There's something about being alone in the wilderness where you know there are things out there that want to harm you and dangers that are a lot less passive. The final pages are truly terrifying so bear that in mind if you're reading late at night...
Bess wakes up one morning to find her partner, Halland gone. There's a knock at the door and the police are arresting her for his murder. A witness declared his last words were “my wife has shot me” but Bess and Halland never married.
The sentences are short and the language sparse, creating the illusion of a woman in shock. She gradually goes through the stages of grief as she learns little things about Halland's life. It's a very believable little crime story in that Bess doesn't get involved in the investigation other than on her own personal level. It's much more about her feelings and trying to work out what was going on in Halland's mind.
The introduction, unmissable in large font, urges you not to skip the quotes. Each one is carefully selected for each chapter and I thought they added a little extra something. I am even tempted to look up some of the books they are taken from (and there is a handy bibliography at the end).
Originally written in Danish by Pia Juul, The Murder of Halland has been translated by Martin Aitken for Peirene Press. Peirene's mission is to publish the literary equivalent of films, top quality translations that can be read in an evening. Each year they publish three books under one theme, this year's being Small Epic.
The sentences are short and the language sparse, creating the illusion of a woman in shock. She gradually goes through the stages of grief as she learns little things about Halland's life. It's a very believable little crime story in that Bess doesn't get involved in the investigation other than on her own personal level. It's much more about her feelings and trying to work out what was going on in Halland's mind.
The introduction, unmissable in large font, urges you not to skip the quotes. Each one is carefully selected for each chapter and I thought they added a little extra something. I am even tempted to look up some of the books they are taken from (and there is a handy bibliography at the end).
Originally written in Danish by Pia Juul, The Murder of Halland has been translated by Martin Aitken for Peirene Press. Peirene's mission is to publish the literary equivalent of films, top quality translations that can be read in an evening. Each year they publish three books under one theme, this year's being Small Epic.
In the not too distant future, the genetic mutations for all mental illnesses have been identified. In order to protect the human race, Pure communities have been set up, where only those who pass the Pure test can live and continue their genetic heritage by starting families. The Carriers and Sleepers must live in the City and are medicated by the state. Those who become Active are rounded up by the Psyche Watch and sent to mental institutions. Ana is a Pure, awaiting the day she will become bound to Jasper.
After a shaky start, The Glimpse turned out pretty fantastic. But first impressions count and the setting of the scene was a little awkward and rushed in an attempt to get a few key facts across. It's reliant on a quick tell instead of a show, Ana is a Pure, her mother died, she remembers seeing her mother in hospital and not recognising her, that she requested a death certificate and now she is found out, her mother committed suicide, she is not Pure, her father faked the results and he happens to be the geneticist who invented the Pure test. And breathe. It's a lot of information to be thrown at you in the first chapter and it is done a little clumsily. Perhaps the narrative mirrors Ana's slow realisation that she's been brought up to believe what she's told because as the story continues, the writing becomes about more about showing what's going on instead of telling the reader. Something that might have come across better in a first person narrative.
However, I don't want to dwell too long on the poor start. I decided I'd give it a bit more of my time even though I wasn't expecting much and I was very much proved wrong. What at first seems like just another dystopian teen novel, starts to unravel and explore the horrors of eugenics. Because the Pure system is a eugenics program, where only those consider genetically superior can breed and get the best jobs and homes. Just like the eugenics carried out in America in the 20th century, many thought they were doing no harm and what they were doing would help everyone in the long run. In the City, the underclass are controlled by drugs and patrols but they somehow seem more normal and have more freedom than Ana at least. But there's another layer, the seedy underbelly of the future government of England.
In the early stages of the book, where Ana still believes in the world she has been brought up in, there are a few things that I thought didn't make sense. The beauty of this book is that they're not meant to as Ana discovers more about the world, this discrepancies become clear. For instance there is a four year old boy who is depressed and suicidal and we are told this is not uncommon amongst the crazies. Not enough time has passed for this to be something that have evolved so I questioned it...but everything will make sense, I promise.
I also enjoyed the fact that it was set in London in around 30 years time. There was a lot that was recognisable to me and helped make the world of The Glimpse, utterly believable. The rest of the world hasn't been forgotten about either, but they're not in a very good state.
There's a lot to think about, including segregation and the atrocities than humans manage to repeat throughout history. It's hard to talk about eugenics without thinking about the Holocaust and there is some of the book that may be uncomfortable reading, especially if you realise these things are not a figment of someone's imagination.
The Glimpse is published by Faber and Faber and will be available in paperback and ebook formats from 1st June 2012. Thanks go to the publisher for providing me with a copy for review via NetGalley.
After a shaky start, The Glimpse turned out pretty fantastic. But first impressions count and the setting of the scene was a little awkward and rushed in an attempt to get a few key facts across. It's reliant on a quick tell instead of a show, Ana is a Pure, her mother died, she remembers seeing her mother in hospital and not recognising her, that she requested a death certificate and now she is found out, her mother committed suicide, she is not Pure, her father faked the results and he happens to be the geneticist who invented the Pure test. And breathe. It's a lot of information to be thrown at you in the first chapter and it is done a little clumsily. Perhaps the narrative mirrors Ana's slow realisation that she's been brought up to believe what she's told because as the story continues, the writing becomes about more about showing what's going on instead of telling the reader. Something that might have come across better in a first person narrative.
However, I don't want to dwell too long on the poor start. I decided I'd give it a bit more of my time even though I wasn't expecting much and I was very much proved wrong. What at first seems like just another dystopian teen novel, starts to unravel and explore the horrors of eugenics. Because the Pure system is a eugenics program, where only those consider genetically superior can breed and get the best jobs and homes. Just like the eugenics carried out in America in the 20th century, many thought they were doing no harm and what they were doing would help everyone in the long run. In the City, the underclass are controlled by drugs and patrols but they somehow seem more normal and have more freedom than Ana at least. But there's another layer, the seedy underbelly of the future government of England.
In the early stages of the book, where Ana still believes in the world she has been brought up in, there are a few things that I thought didn't make sense. The beauty of this book is that they're not meant to as Ana discovers more about the world, this discrepancies become clear. For instance there is a four year old boy who is depressed and suicidal and we are told this is not uncommon amongst the crazies. Not enough time has passed for this to be something that have evolved so I questioned it...but everything will make sense, I promise.
I also enjoyed the fact that it was set in London in around 30 years time. There was a lot that was recognisable to me and helped make the world of The Glimpse, utterly believable. The rest of the world hasn't been forgotten about either, but they're not in a very good state.
There's a lot to think about, including segregation and the atrocities than humans manage to repeat throughout history. It's hard to talk about eugenics without thinking about the Holocaust and there is some of the book that may be uncomfortable reading, especially if you realise these things are not a figment of someone's imagination.
The Glimpse is published by Faber and Faber and will be available in paperback and ebook formats from 1st June 2012. Thanks go to the publisher for providing me with a copy for review via NetGalley.
Will has managed to annoy his boss, Amanda, yet again and has been assigned men's toilet duty at the airport. His main job is to intercept men meeting up for a bit of hanky panky but when he overhears a man telling off a young girl in the stall next to him, his gut tells him there's something wrong. Is he about to chase a stressed father across the airport for no reason or is the little girl in danger?
Snatched is either a long short story or a short novella in the Will Trent/Grant County universe. Whilst nothing crucial happens to ongoing plot threads during the book, there is a relationship spoiler for the rest of the series on page one, so you may want to avoid it if you think you want to read the rest in order. It does however work perfectly fine by itself, being an entertaining little filler. It seems to be a growing trend in the marketing of series, to release a shorter ebook in the months before the next instalment is due and Snatched also contains a sample of Criminal.
Snatched is either a long short story or a short novella in the Will Trent/Grant County universe. Whilst nothing crucial happens to ongoing plot threads during the book, there is a relationship spoiler for the rest of the series on page one, so you may want to avoid it if you think you want to read the rest in order. It does however work perfectly fine by itself, being an entertaining little filler. It seems to be a growing trend in the marketing of series, to release a shorter ebook in the months before the next instalment is due and Snatched also contains a sample of Criminal.