I’m a long-time glutton for Rock ‘n’ Roll memoirs – and as far as these go, Will Carruthers’ compulsive memoir ‘Playing the bass with three left hands’ slouches in gentlemanly repose near the very top of the pile. If you’ve never heard of Will Carruthers before, he was the bass player for UK indie psychedelicists SPACEMEN 3 and SPIRITUALIZED from the period of the late 80’s to the early 90’s – and these are his fuzzy remembrances of his time in both bands and beyond.

An engrossing and superbly researched book. 'Into the silence' accounts the three failed attempts by British climbers to conquer Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth, in the early 1920s. This culminates in the deaths of George Mallory and Andrew "Sandy" Irvine high on the mountain, last seen only a few hundred feet below the summit and pushing for the top. Debate has raged every since as to whether or not the pair summitted the mountain but one thing is sure, they did not return. 
This book is so much more than a book on mountaineering, it is a group biography of the men involved, a study

As a fan of fantasy fiction I was trepidatious approaching this novel, I was, however, pleasantly surprised. The story takes place around the turn of the century and follows the paths of two young sorcery students, Marco and Celia. Each have been trained since childhood to compete in a mysterious contest devised to test the skills and powers of the two students. The circus is created as the ultimate mysterious and bewitching venue, and what takes place within the eponymous Night Circus will change Celia, Marco and the circus menagerie they call family forever. A thoroughly good page turner

For over 200 hundred years the residents of Ember have lived in the city created by “The Builders” to save the last of humanity. They live surrounded by blackness with only the light from the, now failing, generator and know nothing but the city and jobs they are assigned. “The Builders” have given the residents just enough information to live their lives in Ember and nothing more. 
Would you know a boat, a match or a candle, if you had never seen one before?
Friends Lina and Doon set out to try and save their city or find a way out of Ember, if there is even anything outside other than more

Keiko works part time in a convenience store, much to the consternation of friends and family who believe her university education and child-bearing years to have gone to waste. According to a former manager, her salary is designed to provide her the basic requirements needed to function as an effective employee. For Keiko, the clear structure of the job provides great comfort; interpersonal relationships are clearly defined, clothing is uniform, her role is clear-cut. Convenience Store Woman is the story of a person who is atypical, finding their place in a society than prizes convention

If you're a fan of griplit you'll have already come across Ruth Ware, this one is on a par with In a Dark, Dark Wood. An easy, page turner read that follows the main character Harriet Westaway as she uncovers family secrets after she receives an unexpected letter telling her she's inheritated from her grandmother. There's just one glitch, her grandmother died over twenty years ago…what will she do?

This is a splendid mash-up with a feminist slant, set in late Victorian London, Vienna (via an eventful journey on the Orient Express) and Budapest. The book centres on the members of the Athena Club: Mary Jekyll, Diana Hyde, Justine Frankenstein, Caroline Moreau and Beatrice Rappaccini who are all victims of scientific experiments by their respective fathers/creators. As you might just be able to tell, Goss has been inspired by a few classic novels, borrowing and adapting a few characters to create a very readable romp. This is actually the second in a series, though I didn’t realise that

Written by the winner of the "Bram Stoker Award for Novel" , this book tells the story of Eric, Andrew and their adopted daughter Wen who are holidaying in an isolated cabin by a New Hampshire lake.
Their idyllic holiday is interrupted by the arrival of some well-humoured but frightening visitors. With a set up that feels like that of a "home invasion" horror this goes to far different and surprising places.
I cant say anymore for fear of ruining anything but this is an addicting read.

Well I’ve done it again – come late to a series and read the most recent instalment first and then had to go back to the beginning and read all the others in between to fill in the blanks. The fact that I did so is a huge compliment to Herron, particularly as the Jackson Lamb series is in the spy genre, which has never floated my boat. Those who do like their spooks, though, reliably inform me that this is subverted John Le Carre (the Master) territory. I wouldn’t know, all I can tell you is that London Rules is well-plotted, deeply satirical, topical (Brexit features) and occasionally

This book is a must for any aficionado of crime novels, particularly of course, those of the Queen of Crime. Kathryn Harkup is a chemist so the accounts of the origins and uses of the poisons are very detailed, but don’t let that put you off. The history and nature of each individual poison is truly fascinating. You will never look at your garden or potting shed in the same way again! Harkup discusses some of Christie’s plots as well as several real-life murder cases. Christie took inspiration from contemporary and historical crime reports and there is even the possibility that a crime may