Publisher: Headline (8th October 2015)

ISBN: 9781472206275

Source: Bookbridgr

Rating: 4*

Synopsis:

A plague is destroying the world's population. The 'Gets makes people forget. First it's the small things, like where you left your keys ... then the not-so-small things, like how to drive. And finally your body forgets how to live.

But now an unknown substance with extraordinary power to heal has been discovered in the depths of the Pacific Ocean. Nicknamed ambrosia, it might just be the miracle cure the world has been praying for.

A research lab has been established eight miles below the sea's surface, but all contact with the team has been lost. Dr Luke Nelson's brother is down there and as desperation for a cure outweighs common sense, he agrees to descend through the lightless fathoms ... perhaps to face an evil blacker than anything he could have imagined.

Review:

When the likes of Stephen King and Clive Barker describe a novel as 'not for the faint-hearted' and 'terrifying', I'm inclined to take notice. At first glance, The Deep looks like just another apocalyptic horror, where a typically terrible disease threatens to wipe out the human race. The Deep is precisely that - and a whole lot more besides!

At the beginning of the book, Luke is somewhat of an enigma, but as events aboard the underwater research lab unfold, we learn more about him, including his childhood and the circumstances that surround his relationship with his brother, the scientist.

As Luke, accompanied by Al, works his way through the lab and encounters more characters, the level of terror builds exponentially. I found it really difficult to read at night because it was so scary; it made me question every little noise I heard.

The author's clever use of language and intelligent writing style made The Deep seem so real. I felt as though I was 8 miles under the sea, traversing the many corridors of the research lab, alongside Luke and Al. Just when I thought it couldn't get any more horrifying, yet another atrocity was revealed - I can't stress how scary it is!

Thanks to Headline and Bookbridgr for providing me with a review copy, in return for my unbiased review.

Published by: Headline (January 1st 2015)

ISBN: 978-1472210142

Source: review copy provided by publisher

Rating: 4*

Synopsis:

Bryony Gordon survived her adolescence by dreaming about the life she'd have in her twenties: the perfect job; the lovely flat; the amazing boyfriend. The reality was something of a shock. Her Telegraph column was a diary of her daily screw-ups; she lived in a series of squalid shoe boxes; and her most meaningful relationship of the entire decade was with a Marlboro Light. Here in the Sunday Times bestselling THE WRONG KNICKERS Bryony busts open the glamorized myth of what it means to be a young (perpetually) single girl about London town, and shares the horrible and hilarious truth. The truth about picking up a colleague at the STI clinic; sinking into debt to fund a varied diet of wine, crisps and vodka; and how it feels when your dream man turns out to be a one night stand who hands you someone else's knickers in the morning. Bryony's wonderfully ridiculous and ultimately redemptive story is essential reading for everyone whose 'best years' weren't quite what they were expecting...

Review:

The Wrong Knickers is fabulously funny, cunningly cringeworthy and surprisingly sad. A Bridget Jones for the new generation, Bryony Gordon recounts her life as a single twenty-something in all its embarrassing glory. I laughed out loud and spat out my tea in places, shook my head in disbelief in others, but I found it hard to put down.

Publication Date: 9th April 2015

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

ISBN: 978-1444755619

Source: Bookbridgr

Rating: 3*

Synopsis:

Detective Stephen Moran hasn't seen Holly Mackey since she was a nine-year-old witness to the events of Faithful Place. Now she's sixteen and she's shown up outside his squad room, with a photograph and a story.

Even in her exclusive boarding school, in the graceful golden world that Stephen has always longed for, bad things happen and people have secrets. The previous year, Christopher Harper, from the neighbouring boys' school, was found murdered on the grounds. And today, in the Secret Place - the school noticeboard where girls can pin up their secrets anonymously - Holly found the card.

Solving this case could take Stephen onto the Murder squad. But to get it solved, he will have to work with Detective Antoinette Conway - tough, prickly, an outsider, everything Stephen doesn't want in a partner. And he will have to find a way into the strange, charged, mysterious world that Holly and her three closest friends inhabit and disentangle the truth from their knot of secrets, even as he starts to suspect that the truth might be something he doesn't want to hear.

My Review:

This book took me a while to get into, despite it being a crime thriller, my favourite genre. After persevering, it became a bit more interesting, but disappointingly, I didn't find it 'Completely riveting' as the Mail on Sunday did.

I really felt that I could take it or leave it, but did read it all the way through. I found some parts a little confusing, but the characterisation was good, especially of Moran.

**Kind thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a review copy via Bookbridgr**

Publication Date: 3rd February 2015

Publisher: Headline

ISBN: 978-1472225887

Source:  Publisher provided copy via Bookbridgr & NetGalley

Rating: 4*

Book Description:

Holy Cow by David Duchovny is a comic delight that will thrill fans of Jasper Fforde and Ben Aaronovitch. And anyone who enjoys a witty wisecrack in a novel.

Elsie Bovary is a cow and a pretty happy one at that. Until one night, Elsie sneaks out of the pasture and finds herself drawn to the farmhouse. Through the window, she sees the farmer's family gathered around a bright Box God - and what the Box God reveals about something called an 'industrial meat farm' shakes Elsie's understanding of her world to its core.

The only solution? To escape to a better, safer world. And so a motley crew is formed: Elsie; Shalom, a grumpy pig who's recently converted to Judaism; and Tom, a suave turkey who can't fly, but can work an iPhone with his beak. Toting stolen passports and slapdash human disguises, they head for the airport ...

Elsie is a wise-cracking, slyly witty narrator; Tom dispenses psychiatric advice in a fake German accent; and Shalom ends up unexpectedly uniting Israelis and Palestinians. David Duchovny's charismatic creatures point the way toward a mutual understanding and acceptance the world desperately needs.

Review:

David Duchovny, better known for his acting roles in The X Files  and Californication, has written a vivacious, laugh-out-loud romp of a tale that encompasses serious topics such as religion and politics, all wrapped up in the heartwarming autobiography of a cow called Elsie.

This sucked me in from the outset and had me giggling away within the first few chapters. Elsie is ambitious and utterly charming. Tom the turkey and newly-Jewish pig Shalom persuade Elsie to let them accompany her on her journey to India - where cows are revered rather than eaten! Elsie, Tom and Shalom are fantastic characters that are vividly written - they spring to life from the pages and are all adorable in their own way.

As the threesome's journey ensues, the sights and sounds of the places they visit come alive. The Indian souk in particular - I could almost feel the hustle and bustle and smell the fragrant spices.

This is a beautifully written book that will appeal to children and adults alike.

Publication Date: 12th March 2015 (hardcover)

Publisher: HarperCollins

ISBN: 978-0007585687

Source: Lovereading, Netgalley

Rating: 4*

Synopsis:

The fourth novel in the DI Sean Corrigan series – authentic and terrifying crime fiction with a psychological edge, by an ex-Met detective. Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Peter James and Stuart MacBride.