The Long Weekend - Gilly Macmillan

Where to start...

OK, so the idea of a long weekend away, to what could only be best described as a remote and desolate location, with a group of friends may sound nice (if your that way inclined), or could just as easily be your worst nightmare come true.

This follows in the main part three women, who make their way to a remote barn, their three relevant others find themselves otherwise engaged and promise to be there the following day.

A present, and warning left for when they arrive sparks the events off quite nicely.

An impending storm, shapes the plot. Mostly covering the evening alone, and the time spent covering the murders. You find yourself, being transported from one location to another without it washing around in your head. At times, you can get lost between characters as the pace is non-stop.

All in all, I found this to be a great read, and one that only took a couple of sittings to finish.

Status: Complete

Rating 4.7/5.0

Seven Mercies - Elizabeth May / Laura Lam

I found it very hard to get into this book. Infact it became my first DNF in about six months.

 

The introductory chapters introduced the femme fatale crew. The outlining  was cumbersome, and I found it flat.

 

Being the second installment of the series, I hope that the original was a lot better. It does work as a standalone as the crew is all introduced at the start.

 

Really not for me, and I've read a lot of sci-fi over the years.

 

Status: DNF.

Rating: 2.5/5.0

 

How High we go in the Dark - Sequoia Nagamatsu

 

This book goes full circle on itself.

The finding of an acient virus, in siberia. One that should never have been uncovered. But due to global warming and the thaw of the permafrost.

 

Post pandemic, a global plague that has killed off most of the population.

A space race to find the next goldilocks planet, capable of supporting human life. Some 60,000 years in the future. With seeds for new planets. Without going more indepth, it would give to much away.

Really didn't know what to expect, when I picked this up. The cast, and the plotline interweave seamlessly. What I thought was going to be difficult to read, infact passed easily. With me losing slightly more time than I had allowed for.

 

I seem to have developed quite a liking for Japanese authors. The more I come across, my TBR list grows.

Status: Complete

Rating: 4.4/5.0

The Book of Sand - Theo Clare

 A journey, into the not so unknown. Lives that have crossed paths on many different plains. Family bonds that bind.

The cirque, an unforgiving desolate land. Cities of the Earth, unexplainably 'close' to each other. The past and present a blur. Lives crossed, memories continued.

The time between the 'grey' precious.

A tale on so many different levels, entwined beautifully. The cast of characters differ on so many levels, yet come together as a single family unit.

The quest, to find a somewhat very well hidden item, to carry finish their journey.

This reminds me of a very compacted take on one of my all time favourite series. The Dark Tower saga by Stephen King.

Does the quest ever end, or do we just return to the beginning and start with a clean slate?

Status: Completed

Rating: 4.7/5.0

Nightmare Alley - William L. Gresham

 Welcome to the ten in one travelling freak-show.

Stan a young magician, honing his carny skills. Falls in with the clairvoyant, after accidentally killing off the other half of the show. Learning how to work the crowd, and pass on elicit information through a series of predesigned  tells. 

 

Stan has learnt all he could from the carny circuit, and deeides to go it 'alone'. Leaving with Molly, who was front and centre for a short while. They start by conning an old lady out of her house.

Stan decides to 'rig' the house. Becomes a Spiritual Priest and starts over on his own. Looking for that one big 'mark' that will set him up for life.

The book, is well written, and the characters are strong and well defined. The plot is believable, and the whole thing flows effortlessly. You are drawn into Stan's fight for money, and his charisma, as he can talk himself out if most situations.

Well worth a read as it documents post the stock market crash of the late 1920's

Status: Completed

Rating 4.6/5.0