Disclaimer: eARC review for NetGalley.

This was a hard-to-categorize read - and that's not a bad thing. It's challenging; much of the central mystery and the mechanics of the magic that does crop up isn't explained until very late in the story, so there's high tension, but also a good amount of confusion to start with. I found the initial pages fascinating and almost dizzying; I couldn't really follow what was going on, but there was enough there for me to keep trying.

It's classified as Urban Fantasy, but I'm more familiar with the YA romance variant, and this is not at all like that. It's more like a gritty crime thriller, with underworld crime bosses, a dingy, dreary and dangerous end of London, and horrifically unnatural monsters/demons committing graphic murders. This is adult fiction in multiple senses of the word; explicit, violent, with deliberately transgressive sex and language that intensifies the violence (it's not erotica; sexual scenes are brief and hopefully not titillating). If anything, it feels closer to noir film tradition, with a side of paranormal horror. It also bears some resemblance to the Jonathan Norris & Mr. Strange style of adult fantasy. Magic or paranormal aren't particularly beautiful, alluring or empowering, but they're there, they're real, and they're taking lives.

It's not a genre or style that I would generally choose to read, given just how dark it is, but it's a very well executed book, a fascinating departure from anything I've come across in the past, and a wonderful genre-defying piece of entertainment for fans of grittier media. I'd give it about a 3.5/5 for personal entertainment, 4.5/5 for quality and execution.

This is a very difficult book to read as I like many thought warmly of Jimmy Savile for so many years, and can you blame us? Here was a man who from such humble and hard working beginnings led an extraordinary life. From his early years as a miner (and I use that word with trepidation ) his short spell as a wrestler, his love of marathon running, his virtual creation of the British TV institute “Top of the Pops” and his equally electrifying Jim’ll fix it, a programme that for so many years was at the heart of BBC Saturday night entertainment. Then there was his memorable road safety ads, the famous clunk-click phrase followed by his equally renowned promotion of British Rail “This is the age of the train” He was friends to the powerful and famous, Prince Charles, Margaret Thatcher (who fought for years to obtain his OBE) and even the late Princess Diana sought him out so eager were they to ask his advice and be seen in his company....but against this all and against the charity money he raised was a monster of a man who used his position of celebrity to sexually abuse and destroy the lives of so many.

In Plain Sight by Dan Davies is a monumental book and a compulsive colourful and chilling read. This is a book that was researched for many years and over the course of that time Davies interviewed and spoke with Savile on numerous occasions, yet he always felt that there was a dark untold side to this seemingly affable gent.....and how right he was. It is with great sadness that Savile was not exposed during his lifetime and that those who were abused had not the courage to come forward (or indeed if they did were not believed) at an earlier time. Society and our obsession with celebrity must bear so much of the responsibility and blame for we kept this vile individual on a pedestal for so long even thought the crimes that he committed were done....in plain sight.....

I started collecting Penguin's Little Black Classics, and my random reading pilot drew this booklet.

I was never really crazy about The Picture of Dorian Grey. I read it and it wasn't bad but not as good as I expected it would be (based on raving reviews by friends). However, I was quite curious to this little story I hadn't heard about and since it's very short it can be easily read in a single sitting.

And actually I really like it. It had a nice twist at the end, but I won't tell you too much about the story for fear of spoiling the story. However, I would recommend it as a nice quick read!

Lord Arthur Savile's Crime is the 59th Penguin Little Black Classic.

In bad need of a good line editor.

-Lyr