What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

This is a cinematic presentation of a life set in a film noir type 1947. Evie, with Mum Bev and step Dad Joe set off to Palm Beach, but out of season. All is not well, but it takes the arrival of an apparently wealthy young man, Peter Coleridge, from Joe's war time past to put the cat among the pigeons and start the inexorable tragedy unrolling. This is a thriller in the best sense, full of romance and longing, treachery and double cross; but all based on some fabulously well drawn characters and situations. Do read this book!

Killing God by Kevin Brooks

Brooks always writes compelling and hard hitting teen novels and this is no exception. Dawn Bundy is a fifteen and an oddball who doesn't fit in. Her Dad walked out some time ago - seemingly in search of God and answers. How can Dawn (and her Mum) deal with this and get on with their lives...

Their is humour midst the chilling message, and this short novel is very hard to put down. The abuse at the centre of the book is handled with care and this makes for a good read with a very strong message

Shadow of the Windby Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Interesting - I nearly gave up on this but persevered and waas glad to have done so. This is an intriguing book, following Daniel's fascination with the life and books of one author, Carax, and the way such a literary curiosity may lead you into a deep and compelling mystery.

Gripping read, full of atmosphere and I wish I knew the way to the Cemetary of Forgotten Books...