1. The Children Act – Ian McEwen ****
Fiona Mayes is a High Court judge, asked to rule on whether a 17 year old, a Jehovah’s Witness, should get life-saving treatment with blood products against his will. The consequences of her judgement are traced against her personal history and the difficulties in her marriage. Ian McEwen’s books seem slight & straightforward, but behind the simple, weightless writing is a serious reflection on relationships, religion & moral responsibility.
2. Like Agatha Christie if she had a sense of fun, well plotted, well drawn characters, well realised historical settings and a well-heeled lady detective with a lovely turn of phrase. I read three in three days and was delighted to find there are 10 in the series already.
Dandy Gilver and the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains- Catriona McPherson ****
Murders upstairs and down in Edinburgh’s New Town
Dandy Gilver and an Inconvenient Day for a Murder Catriona McPherson ***
Close family relations lead to tragedy in the Aitken’s Haberdashery
Dandy Gilver and a Deadly Measure of Brimstone Catriona McPherson ***
Spirits are disturbed in a sulphurous Borders spa.
3. Moriarty - Anthony Horowitz ***
Nothing compares to the real Sherlock who is absent, presumed drowned, throughout the action of this story. However as Holmes tributes , parodies and knock-offs go, this is well done – Horowitz captures something of the atmosphere of the real Holmes and the plot has a satisfying twist.
