More books I've reviewed for Amazon

The Angel's Game 

by 
Carlos Ruiz Zafon

I've never before read a book by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and I have to say I enjoyed this one very much. I understand it's a prequel to his best seller "The Shadow of the Wind". What this novel proves, perhaps above all is that interest in the Gothic novel is still alive and well. Also Lucia Graves has done a great job in the translation from the original Spanish. All the nuances of the text have not been lost.

The story is set amongst a backdrop of the dark alleyways and dark, creaking mansions of Barcelona in the 1920 and 1930, a city of which the author provides a wealth of descriptive narrative. Read it and you will feel yourself wrapped in the darkness of the narrow alleyways. You will hear every creak of the old mansions in this atmospheric thriller.

It's primarily a supernatural tale depicting the story of David Martin, a struggling young writer who is approached by a mysterious stranger to write a very unusual and somewhat dubious book. 

David begins researching and writing this book, at the same time struggling with his own demons and attempting to unravel the strange mystery in which he finds himself deeper and deeper enmeshed. 

Also a love story; two different loves for two different women, his tempestuous and witty relationship with the "difficult" Isabella is a joy to read. 

Although a deep, dark mystery, the book is imbued with humour, especially the first half where I got the feeling that the author was parodying his own feelings in general about publishers! However, in contrast, the second half becomes more complex and is almost completely devoid of humour as the tension mounts. The ending does not fully tie in the many sub plots and thus nothing is fully resolved, but  the novel is one of a set of four and so I am sure more will be revealed in later books.

Overall I found it a compelling read and I look forward to reading more of Zafon's novels.

* * * * * * * 

The Stonehenge Legacy

by

Sam Christer

I understand this is Sam Christer's first novel and it's a cracker. Well written, well paced and well structured and if you like conspiracy thrillers, then you should be at home with this book. 

The main protagonist, Gideon Chase inherits from his father, a huge country estate, a cryptic letter and a sinister mystery. Meanwhile an ancient sect called 'The Sacreds' have a new master who believes in human sacrifices……

The focus is of course Stonehenge and the book is no doubt set to rival those at the very top of the genre - Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, Terry Pratchett's Pyramids. It will enthrall anyone who is interested in reading a thrilling tale set against a backdrop of one of the world's most famous and enigmatic prehistoric monuments.

There are one or two things that I feel could have been better developed, but I think (I hope) that we are going to see the main characters crop up again in further novels.

The book has already been sold to 31 countries across the globe and it would make a really good movie.

Oh and it renewed my desire to visit Stonehenge....