Five in August

I read five books in August.

Penintent by Mark Leggatt

When brilliant Edinburgh lawyer Hector Lawless is approached by his boss with a highly sensitive case that reaches from one of Edinburgh’s most exclusive private schools to 10 Downing Street, he relishes the chance to bring true evil to justice. But the commission is not what it seems …

A (sadly) very timely thriller which, at the time of writing, has been longlisted for the prestigious McIlvanney Prize, Bloody Scotland’s annual award for the best Scottish crime book of the year.

Of extra interest if you know Edinburgh and its environs but still thrilling if you don’t.

 

A Home from Home by Veronica Henry

A modern nod to Romeo and Juliet. ‘Dragonfly Farm has been a home and a haven for generations of Melchiors – arch rivals to the Culbones, the wealthy family who live on the other side of the river. Life there is dictated by the seasons and cider-making, and everyone falls under its spell.’ A fun read although the ending seemed rushed.

 

Happy Place by Emily Henry

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I did Book Lovers. I thought it was overly long and the ending took a bit of swallowing; also the group of friends in their ‘happy place’ was so tight knit that this reader felt she was being kept at arms length.

But the promise of a beach cottage in Maine is always going to reel me in and EH’s dialogue is once again terrific.

 

A Keeper by Graham Norton

‘It’s not a crime novel,’ said the person who passed this on to me. So I started it in bed about half past ten, expecting to be lulled to sleep by a charming Maeve Binchy-esque story. And indeed there were echoes of much-missed Maeve and the writing was terrific but, far from being lulled, I was still turning the pages at midnight, my heart pounding at what was unfolding. 

I will say no more – read it for yourself – and I’ll definitely read more of Graham Norton’s books but I’ll start them well, well, before the witching hour.

 

The Borrowers by Mary Norton

I always preferred stories about real children when I was a child myself but one exception was The Borrowers. My sister and I both adored the first book (didn’t know at the time that there were anymore) and spent hours making a kind of Borrower village with our dolls’ house, Noah’s ark and constructions made from toilet roll cardboard and anything else that could be pressed into service.

So I grabbed this omnibus when I saw it in a charity shop. I delighted again in their ingenuity – Pod using a hatpin to scale the curtain, for example – and still find it hard to believe (as I try to find a paper clip or that little pencil I could swear I just put down) that they don’t exist … (do they??)

I enjoyed the further adventures of Pod, Homily and Arrietty (and there are dark and heart-stopping moments amongst all the lovely details) but the first one will always be closest to my heart.