Book 21 - The Crucifix Killer

Book number 21 is The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter. It's published by Simon and Schuster and the version I've read was an uncorrected proof and as yet is unreleased, however the book will be on sale in August and it is currently available though as a pre-order from amazon by following this link or you can pre-order it from play.com via this link


If you'd like to read a little more about Chris Carter, follow this link, to simon and schuster's uk site where there is plenty of infomation about this new and exciting author.

Personally I'm a big fan of thrillers/ crime thrillers. I don't mind if they're in TV series form like criminal minds or in book form like James Patterson's Alex Cross series, or in film form like mind hunters. So when I started reading this book I was comparing it with James Patterson and Karin Slaughter's books, and if i'm honest it stand's up well on its own.

If I were to compare this book to film or tv show, I'd say its like a combination of Criminal Minds and films like Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. The reason I've compared this to tv shows and films is that to me this reads very much like a film, and I have to say I think it would make a cracking movie.

Through out this book you follow LA homicide detective Robert Hunter, who is assigned a new rookie partner -Garcia, who is newly assigned to the Robbery Homicide Department after the death of Robert's old partner and only cousin while they were on holiday following the conclusion of the crucifix serial killer case.

Garcia and Robert find themselves dragged back into the world of the crucifix killer. When the badly mutilated body of a young woman is found after an anonymous tip off.

When Robert gets to a small wooden shack, he finds Captain Bolter is already there waiting for him, not something that normally happens. Captain Bolter had kept the forensic's out while he waited to show Robert the way the killer had marked the victim on the back of the neck with the double crucifix. The mark the crucifix killer (the now executed multiple murderer) -had left on his victims, a mark that had never made it in to the papers or even been mentioned at the trial. They both knew they had either a copycat or the man executed for the original killings was innocent, even though he confessed and was found with forensic proof of the victims.

As you read along you'll notice it flows quite well at a fair pace. If anything the only thing I didn't follow was the passage of time, until it said the detectives had been working on the case for a few weeks it hadn't felt like it, to me it felt like they had only been on the case for a few days maybe a week at the most. Although as I said at the beginning it is subject to change as the copy I read was an uncorrected proof, so the time line maybe something that could be changed before it goes on sale.

If you decide to wait till it goes on sale or if you pre-order I would urge you to grab a copy personally I thought it was great, although if your like me and you sit out in the sun to read beware, I got a little engrossed in the book and accidentally lost track of time and got sunburned quite badly followed by a couple of days of peeling on my forehead, which isn't a good luck

Book 20 - Murder Most Fab

Book number 20 is Murder Most Fab by Julian Clary, it is published by Ebury Press and is available on both amazon and play.com

OK, so as you know I asked which of the two books you would rather I post the reviews of. Going by the replies I got on both Twitter and via email (I didn't know there was that many of you reading my ramblings lol) Murder Most Fab by Julian Clary won by a mile.

So... If you know what Julian Clary is like on TV you should have a pretty fair idea what he'd be like in book form, to be honest I bought this book on a whim and I'm glad I did.

Its a while since I read about the life of Johnny Debonair, but that wouldn't and hasn't stopped me from recommending it to friends. In parts it can be a little near the knuckle so I wouldn't tell you to give it to a child but your average teenager wouldn't bat an eyelid.

throughout this book even though it was the story of Johnny Debonair, I couldn't help but think it was another murderous incarnation of Julian Clary. Murder Most Fab is a dark comedy, a romance as well as the story of someone dealing with the stresses and strains of a family member with a fragile mental health.

One of the reviews on amazon for this book by Hambletta-Maud "hamble" I think sums it up very succinctly, although I have to disagree on the cover. Personally I think the cover makes sense with the content of the book. Light bright and not worrying too much about what people think which, Personally I would have said it matched not only the content but also its Author.

"plot: no real holes grammar: no noticeable mistakes prose: well written dialogue: believable the cover: looks dreadful - needs to be done again"

As I said further up in this isn't a book for kids, it has VERY adult theme's and while as I said your average teenager wouldn't bat an eye lid its not just the murders that could be inappropriate, the sometimes graphic description of his 'member' and its 'abilities'. I would say that there are others but to be honest you know what your getting when you pick up a book by Julian Clary, its hardly going to be The Golden Girls crossed with The Last of the Summer Wine

If you don't try to take it too seriously you'll love it, especially with a serial killing rent boy and his prostitute friend bumping people off on their root to stardom and becoming Mr Friday night

Both Julian Clary and his publisher are on Twitter and you can follow the both of them if you wish by going to twitter.com/julianclary and twitter.com/eburypublishing

If you enjoyed this book his new book is out now, called The Devil in Disguise and is also available from both amazon and play.com as well as rbooks -which I'm guessing is ebury publishing's own site

update on the choice

Just thought I'd let you know why there was no post on Friday as promised, well I got more than a couple of emails on Friday asking if it was too late to vote so I gave it a bit longer, (and got into the BBC's coverage of Glastonbury) and tonight (its almost 1 am) I had a quick check and the one with the most votes is...


to be posted in the morning :)

just another quick update

Well, the weather has been nice and its a shame to sit infont of a computer on a day like today, so I went to read outside... only then the pages were too bright to read properly so I gave up in the end and enjoyed a rare day of sunshine.

I will be posting a proper review on friday this week, at the moment I've not decided which book its going to be

Murder Most Fab by Julian Clary


or

Down River by John Hart

follow me on twitter by going to www.twitter.com/50bookchallenge and clicking on follow, or just message me directly using @50bookchallenge

or if your not social network enabled you can email me you choice at the50bookchallenge@gmail.com

which ever you prefer, both books will have the reviews posted about it may just be a little while between them.

also I'd like to thank the people who have already followed me and messaged me on Twitter or via email, I appreciate that theres someone out there reading what i've been posting, on here. To those of you who asked what I'd recommend as a summer read I'll be posting a short list of 5 next week, and as usual I'll be posting the links to amazon so you can buy them yourself if you like the sound of them

cya in a bit

what am I reading right now?

Just a bit of a quick post. After the emails and twitter messages from a few different people asking what I'm reading at the moment I thought I'd let you all in. In truth I like to read a few books at once then if I'm not in the mood for chasing a serial killer I can read a different genre or if there's something sat on the bookshelf looking at me making me wat to read it I do, I dont hold myself to one book at a time but I do try to limit it to 3 or 4 at a push

Currently I'm reading 3 different books,

-Quirkology by Richard Wiseman

I wasnt sure when I ordered this if it was going to be something I'd enjoy reading but I decided it couldnt hurt to give my brain a few vitamins and minerals that you find in the non fiction section. Now Ive got to be honest Ive not got very far with it, although I've had it for a couple of weeks, I've decided it's going to be my 'bathroom' book, and I dont mean that as a bad thing for the book. although it has so far led to me sitting there that long I got pins and needles in my legs lol, so I guess you can draw your own conclusions from that.

If you want to know why you do the things that you do, or why other people do what they do, you can pick up a copy of quirkology from amazon by following this link or from play.com by following this link


-Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter

I picked up Fractured by Karin Slaughter when I was in Asda (love them 2 for £7 deals they do) and I really enjoyed it, after having a scout around online I found some other's by the same author and decided to start at the beginning of the 5 soon to be 6 book series, And It's pretty good it reminds me of a cross between James Patterson and Jack Kerley, both authors I've enjoyed in the past so I'm holding out good hope for this one

if you want to read blindsighted its available from amazon by following this link and play.com by following this link


-The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter

This was delivered to me this morning and is an uncorrected proof and will be released in August it is available though at the moment as a pre order from amazon by following this link or you can pre-order it from play.com via this link

Now this book I only started at lunch time for (what I thought was 10 mins) and the first 30-40 pages flew by. So far it reminds me of Double Cross by James Patterson, where the DC Audience Killer is on the loose, and If it keeps up its current pace I see no reason why it wouldn't, It's going to be my summer recommendation, you know while I'm typing this I could be off reading that so if you dont mind I'm... er... off for a read

I hope this answers your questions, yeah I like reading thrillers more than I tend to read factual books but a little escape from every day life is a good thing if you ask me, it lets your imagination run free, something I'm sure more people would enjoy if they gave it the chance

Interview with Best Selling author Kitty Neale

A little while ago I was very lucky to be able to ask best selling author Kitty Neale a few questions, As I' sure you can appreciate she is very busy and I'd like to thank her for taking time out of her busy schedule to fit me in.

I'd also like to take this oppertunity to tell you all about lost and found which is due for release on the 23rd of july and is available to pre-order from amazon


How do you get started with writing your stories? as in, the development of the story, and inspiration for it for it?

I usually have an inkling of an idea, for instance a character and a problem they have. If possible I like to make my characters grow, to learn, to develope, or to find a way out of a diffucult situation.

When naming your characters, do you give any thought to the actual meaning of the names? or do you make the name fit the character or the character fit the name?

As my books are based in the 1950's or 1960's, I use names that are relevant to that period. When I see a character in my mind, I try to use a name that suits them.

Do you use your OWN experiences? or Do you start from a grain of truth or a fact and then go your own way from there from there

I have occasionaly loosly used some of my own experiences, or ones that over the years I have heard about. A chance conversation, someone talking about a problem can plant a seed.

Do you as writer yourself have a preferd author that you like to read and if so who?

I love so many authors that it's difficult to name one. I usually read thillers, and like most of the top authors in this catagory, for instance James Patterson as his books are page turners.

As a best selling author, what do you think to the alternative means or releasing a book like scott sigler (www.scottsigler.com) who releases his books a chapter at a time as a podcast/audiobook for online.

I have no problem with alternative ways of being published, but I should think that most full time authors who do not have alternative ways of making a living, wouldn't be unable to offer their works free of charge.

Do you have a set routine for writing where you sit down everyday and write, say 1000 words or do you prefer to wait and write when the mood strikes and the juices are flowing regardless of when that is?

With a contract to write two books a year, I work around 6 to 7 hours every day.

What advice would you give to people who feel that they've "run out of creativity" when writing?

Stop, don't force it. Try to put it out your mind for a while. Rest, relax and sleep on it. Most of all, don't panic.
What genre of books do you like to read? and do you limit yourself to only the genre that you write yourself?

I don't read my own genre as I don't want to unconciously take another author's ideas, so I read thrillers.

which out of all of your books did you enjoy writing the most?

I think my first, 'A Cuckoo in Candle Lane.' I had no idea that I could write and had so much to learn, but I found I was able to forget for a while the grief of losing my son by burying son myself in the life of the characters I had created.

Do you have any other word's of advice for anyone out there who would like to try and do what you make look so easy.

I think that everyone has a talent, somethign they are good at, but I didn't discover mine until I was in my mid fifties. If you feel you can write, then give it a try. I love writing, enjoy writing, and I think this is important. I don't think I could do it if I found it a chore.

Id like to thank Mrs Neale for this interview and I wish her the best of luck with her new book due out on the 23rd of july and is available to pre order here

Book 19 - The Seventh Daughter

Book number 19 is The Seventh Daughter by Ronnie Seagren, It is Published by Flying Pen Press and is available from both Flying pen press directly as well as amazon

Now without the aid of current social networking darling Twitter I simply wouldn't have known this book existed, And I cant help but feel that without it I would have been missing out.

Sometimes, when your sat reading, you do it with the TV on in the background or when other people are talking, you can carry on reading and following the story while holding a conversation or watching something on TV. Unlike some of the other books I've read (Railway children I'm looking at you) I couldn't hold a conversation or watch TV at the same time as I read this. Now admittedly you may not be like me and you may sit in a quite library, peacefully readin page by page, I dont I have the dog jumping on my knee when she gets jelous of the book I'm reading and she demands my attention.

I've said before in some other reviews how some books suck you in and take over, how you feel like your there in the room with them, and others seem to keep you at arms length. Well this is for me anyway one of the previous. I started reading its rather brilliant white pages, (they were that bright I had to compare them with another book to check if it was me or the book and it was the book they are VERY white -not really any reason im telling you this but it did make me notice how yellow some of the pages in another book were)

Now from what I understand this is the 1st book by Ronnie Seagren, and if you've read some of my other reviews you'll know I read more than my fair share of new authors first books, I like to follow not only the story they've held inside their head and refined before they type first word on the computer or even hit a letter on the typewriter (people other than me have them still... right?) but also their progression as they become comfortable with being the writer as they take you through the book.

I think its fair to say in the middle of the book I feel the author kind of lost her way just a little during the trek up the mountains and the story did struggle a little but it's worth persevering with as it picks back up and carries on even if it doesnt reach quite the same level it did in the first half / two 3rd's

OK lets face it to anyone who grew up in the 80's with adventure movies like Indiana Jones and Goonies knows they were great and why not adventure stories have been part of many of our life's since we read Enid Blyton stories as a kid, not to mention last years new Indiana Jones movie and the one that's rumoured to become Indiana Jones 5

Seventh Daughter is an Indiana Jones-style adventure story, Set mainly in Peru in 1937. It has all the classic conflicts that a good adventure yarn needs like the struggle between good and evil and the main character's struggle against her destiny, to make this a cracker of an adventure. including the possibly evil twin...

You follow the story is Gil, Who was born in the shadow if a solar eclipse. As the 7th Daughter of a 7th Daughter this bestows upon Gil a rare mystical status, which carries with it her destiny.

According to a destiny that she doesn't know if she has confidence in. She is to gain the power to stop a vision her grandmother had. In which the world is consumed in flames. Unsure if she believes in the mystical vision's of her grandmother. She does know she must try to reach her destiny to stop her grandmother’s vision of the world in flames from reaching fruition.

As she travels to Peru to the ruins of a hidden shrine called Killichaka -Bridge to the Moon
She hopes to gain the power and stop the vision. But there are others out there who want to stop her.

If you like Indiana Jones or not you'll more than likely enjoy this book, It's well written and engaging, which is just what i want from a good book

Book number 18 - Free Agent

Book number 18 is Free Agent by Jeremy Duns, its available in hardback from both amazon and play.com as well as directly from Simon & Schuster

Now straight off I've got to say until I read Child44 and The Secret Speech, I hadn't read any cold war thrillers. I didn't think they'd be my kind of thing. I couldn't have been more wrong.

I thought this book was brilliant, Well written and carried a great pace throughout, and importantly for me. I know this isn't a factor for everyone. It's a good size, some book's are a little small and holding them gives me cramp in my hand's but not this one, I've not got the hugest hands in the world but they're not the smallest either so a decent size book is a pleasure to hold

In Free Agent you follow the story of MI6 agent Paul Dark who during the late 40's took part in a top secret mission to hunt down and execute Nazi war criminals with his father.

During the attempted capture of a Nazi Paul is stabbed and taken to the red cross hospital where he is nursed by a dark haired beauty called Anna, After the weeks of recuperation and Anna doing her best to get him under her spell.



Anna tells Paul that she is a KGB agent who had been sent to turn him against his country. Immediately he leaves the hospital and informs his father that the nurse is KGB. After realizing his father is in danger he goes to the house they were using as a base and finds his father dead. thinking he can save Anna he races back to the hospital only to find Anna dead.

Everything he understood about that mission, about its consequences, has been built on lies.

In '69 and a KGB colonel called Slavin, has walked into the High Commission in Lagos and announced that he wants to defect. he has information which indicates that there is yet another double agent within MI6, which after the betrayal by Kim Philby and the rest of the Cambridge Five would be devastating to the Service.

Paul Dark has been above suspicion during MI6's years of doubt mainly as he's 'Larry Dark's boy.' But this time he can see his number coming up.
When Paul discovers that everything he's taken for granted and trusted for more than 20 years turns out to be another lie and his arrest may only be moments away, then he only has one option he has to both fight and take flight literally, he jumps on a plane to Nigeria in an effort to stop Slavin from revealing him to the world.

Free Agent is a twisting turning, thriller set between London and Nigeria during the peak of the Cold War. The surprises keep coming all the way throughout right up until the very last page.

I wouldn't say this is a gritty, spy on spy kind of book its more like a 40's era gumshoe film noir, It's polished and highly enjoyable, When I twittered about this book, I got loads of people asking about it, a fair few have since either emailed or direct messaged me through Twitter to say they bought it and loved it as well.

If you want to follow Jeremy Duns on twitter go to twitter.com/jeremyduns or @jeremyduns and if you want to follow me check @50bookchallenge or twitter.com/50bookchallenge