Reviews 

I didn’t really enjoy this. Set in 17th century Essex, when the men were all away at war (which war?), and society was largely...

Quite enjoyed this, but it was a pale imitation of Boyd’s brilliant 'Any Human Heart'. Set one hundred years earlier, and involving an...

This is very good and well-written. Need to re-read ‘The Miniaturist’ which is the sequel. The central figures are Theo, the daughter...

I quite enjoyed this. A comedy about a wealthy and overprivileged family in contemporary London, George a TV presenter having an affair...

I found this very difficult. Difficult to work out who the characters were and their interrelationships. Unlike most 19th century novels,...

Interesting to read this following no.1035. This is about a contemporary black American woman, married to a white man, who is dragged...

I have read this before; it is very good. A journey through the 20th century, centred on Logan Mountstuart, a half English/half Uruguayan...

The first of, I think, the only two novels she published before her very early death. A simple story about a 19th century ‘middle class’...

Bought this as listed for the Booker prize (2016) and in the crime section at Waterstones. It is very good and I can understand the...

Tried to read this in parallel as a crib, but that didn’t work either, Burgess is almost as cryptic as Joyce, so not a good week for...

I didn’t read this very well – too much good sport on the TV, so only a short read in bed at night. Quite good, but a bit overcomplicated...

A curious mixture of chick lit and crime, with the chick lit predominant, and all taking place in or around St Albans cathedral. The...

I am not sure that I have ever liked Julian Barnes much, possibly he was just a la mode when I started reading contemporary fiction....

Never heard of this author, either. A well plotted and complex thriller. A group of very disparate people arrive at a mansion in Welwyn...

Very good and very well written – good prose. An old fashioned detective novel with a contemporary setting. The two sleuths are a couple...

I enjoyed this, but maybe three separate stories. Set mainly in Brighton in 1968, where a film is being made. The three are a fading...

I had seen this in the bookshops years ago, but avoided it as the marketing made it look luridly unpleasant. But it is repeatedly praised...

Local library now open again, post lockdown, so opportunity to try some books. This was very good – an almost 19th century novel written...

Needed a book with a with nice linear narrative after some of the longeurs of the previous few. This was wonderful. A fictionalised diary...

I have read this guy before, with slightly mixed feelings, but heard him on the radio so gave him another try. Can’t really make my mind...