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

This Charming Man - C. K. McDonnell

The second installment of The Stranger Times. This Charming Man continues from where the first installment finished (no surprise there I guess).

We join the gang about a month on, with a week to printing and no viable content.

Vampires do not exist, everyone knows that including those in charge. So when they start running amoock in Manchester, heads start turning. And, questions are being asked (and not the easy ones to answer).

Manchester police are very close to opening tbeir own x-files department. With the apparent upturn in inexplainable goings on. And they are getting more bizzare.

As the builders have been in at Stranger Times HQ, a trap laid, but discovered. A man on a barge whom can't touch dry land (or the water surrounding said boat as he found out). Who can tell no lies, a talking dog that isn't owned. A haunted cinema and an apparition hell bent on destroying man (not wo) kind.

A tale, of friendship and virginity. Who would have known that this edition of the Times was going to be so high in content.

Condiment for the book - (stake with) garlic mayo

Status: Completed

Rating: 4.8/5.0