Tag Archives: Crime Novels

The power of the word

I know that I should be heavily into ‘crochet on a train’ by now especially as THE Season is not far off in terms of home makes as pressies but JG was right ‘Alex’ was a gripping read. Remember it? 7193K7hq1wL._SL1000_

While not for those of a delicate disposition – some of the descriptive passages had me wincing (and getting odd looks to boot) – you are constantly consumed by the need to read on. This book is not so much a ‘Who Dunnit?’ but more a ‘Why did they do it?’ (not as catchy I know). Excellent.

Now sometimes I am tempted away from the borrower’s path and read books that are not from the library. In the case of the title I am reading at the moment its a good job my daughter’s boyfriend leant it to me. Emblazoned on the front cover of Anne Holt‘s “1222” is a Daily Mirror quote “Like a mash-up of Stieg Larsson, Jeffery Deaver and Agatha Christie” . If I’d seen that on a library (or book shop) shelf I would be dropping the book and running for the hills! I’m showing my age but a “mash-up” in relation to a novel?! Surely never a good thing….but in this case…… apparently it is.

Holt’s novel features an irascible ex-detective trapped in a Norwegian hotel with a killer on the loose. Sounds familiar territory? Yes but that makes it a perfect autumn evening read and there are enough twists in both characterisation and plot to make it a worth dipping into the first few pages and becoming absorbed. Unfortunately for me it opens with a train crash. Not brilliant when sitting on the early morning Pendolino to Glasgow Central! In any event I’d recommend it. After all as The Times tells us this is “An homage to Miss Marple – or Miss Marple as a badass paralysed Norwegian lesbian detective”, what can be wrong with that? (psssst….are these newspaper critics on something? bad-ass? Good grief!). Here’s the cover to look out for: 519DdwzBbLL

Lest you think that crochet has exited my life forever never fear. Yesterday afternoon the urge to get hooking overcame me and I began working on a new real string bag. The pattern was designed by Ruth Shepherd and I found it on Talking Crochet at Crochet-World.com. Here ’tis (well as far as I’ve got):

I have now two projects on the go, the string bag and my owl tea cosy, but I’ve run out of yarn and string for both! Can you believe it. Like everyone I know I have a huge stash of wools, acrylics  and strings but nothing suitable to finish these little enterprises. Ain’t it always the way? Lucky that I’ve got a few days off soon and will be able to take a trip to The Wool Clip at Caldbeck to replenish my stock of Herdwick using the voucher my wonderful friends at the library got me (especially thanks to FT who went up there to buy it!). DSCN0586

Now there is something to look forward to. As to the string, a toddle to the local ironmongers should see me right.

Finally….Words are important and names say a lot about us. Guess what? weeks after ceasing to officially be a ‘Library Lady’ I’ve discovered how to change the blog title! I’m slow but determined…But what to call my hotch potch of scribblings? Any ideas? I had thought ‘Making Ends Meet’ but now may go with ‘Eclectic Moke’, as the ad goes ‘it does what it says on the label’ or Queen of the Spiders (don’t ask). Your thoughts would be much appreciated. HEEEEEEELLLLLPPPPPPPPPPP…..

Another day another library

Pool CarLife is never dull working for Cumbria Library  Service. This morning I am off to cover at Grange Over Sands Library. Our trusty pool car driven by colleague L appeared right on time to whisk us off to the pleasant seaside town of Grange.

It’s a big day today as it is the first day of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge!

SRC display

Here it is…Creepy House. All the art work has been done by marvelous children’s illustrator Chris Riddell. Its free to sign up and all you have to be is a member of the library (also free) and aged roughly between 4 and 12 years old.

But what is the challenge? I hear you ask. To complete the challenge all the young people have to do is read 6 borrowed library books over the summer hols.

SRC goodies

Of course there are rewards along the way and where would we be without this year’s crop of evil smelling stickers (particularly malodorous this year, the word sulphur comes to mind).

SRC Dump Bin at GSL

There are also many new titles in stock and Talking Books count towards the six. Great for long car journeys, cleaning, washing, ironing, sewing, crocheting, needle felting……

Dodos 13.7.13 hatch

Talking of the latter, my three Dodos are complete and almost ready to fly…ermmm waddle from the nest over to Kendal Museum. I think you could say I have a rustic possibly naive style. Some might (rudely) say crude but I like to think of it as unique! and the Dodos look happy enough.

The sun is out – its our first summer in four years I can’t help getting excited – and I’m looking forward to making a couple of visits this evening to see relatives and friends but I might just grab a bit of time for a cuppa and a good read.

Just finished...13.7.13

I’ve just finished Susan Hill’s “The Shadow In The Street” a Simon Serailler crime novel. Susan Hill’s crime writing is a bit like my Dodos, unique. Usually I find it refreshing but sometimes I get really impatient especially when everyone seems to be either making or drinking coffee! A library patron pointed this out to me and now I can’t shake it off so I notice every cup. But the caffeine intake is not enough to stop me. Hill is definitely an author worth reading. After all “The Woman in Black” is one of the most tense and chilling books I have ever read.

Well read book

And as you can see “The Shadow In the Street” has been very popular with other readers too.

Current read - 13.7.13Now I’m turning my attention to Susanna Gregory’s “Blood On The Strand”. Its London in 1663 and Gregory’s hero Thomas Chaloner is on a bloody quest to find a murderer and prevent treason. Oooooo-er. I am enjoying this well paced book immensely and as I don’t know much about Restoration England getting an informal history lesson along the way. Gregory’s style reminds me of C.J. Sansom’s Shardlake series which is set in Tudor England and that is no bad thing as they are real page turners. Oh look a rabbit peaking out of my book…..

Blood on the Strand - Fireside Bookmark

It’s Morris! and Morris used to feature on the stationery of my favourite bookshop in the whole wide world Fireside Bookshop in Windermere. Morris was the well-loved rabbit of the family that own Fireside Bookshop. I think even to this day there is a small toy rabbit hiding out amongst the well ordered, delicious titles in his memory. Now as you can guess I lu-rve libraries all that access to books, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, PCs, fun, information and much used public space but sometimes you want something special. A beautifully bound edition of a book that’s close to your heart, a rare copy or an out of print title and new reads at very good prices (often cheaper than charity shops!). These things and so much more are to be found in small independent bookshops like Fireside. I treasure them.

But time is short before my early evening amble. So I’m off to make that cuppa…or should it be a cafetiere?