*Yellowface* by R.F. Kuang presents a provocative and satirical narrative that explores the complexities of racial diversity, cultural appropriation, and the ruthless nature of the publishing industry. The story follows June Hayward, a struggling white author who seizes the opportunity to steal and publish an unpublished manuscript by her more successful Asian-American friend, Athena Liu,…
Category: 3 Star Reads
Outback (by Patricia Wolf)
DS Lucas Walker is currently on leave from the organised crime unit of the Australian police force to take care of his ailing grandmother in his hometown, Caloodie. However, when two young German backpackers disappear from the area on their way to a nearby ranch, Walker finds himself taking an unofficial interest in the case….
This Isn’t Just a Souvenir (by Ki Hyun Park)
This is a novella from the pen of Ki Hyun inspired by an extended trip to Southeast Asia. The author summarises the book as follows. Sam’s girlfriend disappears in a tsunami. While searching for her in Southeast Asia, he uncovers a plot to assassinate the Dalai Lama. In order to stop the revolutionary group known…
My Father’s House (by Joseph O’Connor)
The novel vividly describes an Irish priest, Hugh O’Flaherty located in Vatican City who selflessly helps people escape the Nazis. SS officer Paul Hauptmann is in charge of the Nazis in Rome.
Over My Dead Body (by Jeffrey Archer)
Jeffrey Archer is a popular author despite his brush with the law and subsequent holiday at Her Majesty’s Pleasure. Perhaps he was able to do in-depth research during this break! Anyhow, Over My Dead Body is the next instalment in the series featuring Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick. I struggle to see how Archer sells…
The Chimera Sanction (by Andre K. Baby)
In all, an easy read for a holiday or journey with this pacy international thriller. The characterisations are a bit thin, and the story flits from location to location without much colour or detail.
The Whistler (by John Grisham)
Who doesn’t like a Grisham? The last Grisham book I reviewed was The Guardians which was at the top of his form. So would The Whistler be a classic Grisham? Is the law an ass? How corrupt are the police? We have to believe in justice as a democracy but doubts surface all the time…
The Six (by Anni Taylor)
A dark and menacing psychological thriller but you need to suspend belief! What would you do to tackle a huge gambling debt? If somebody offered to pay your debt (and some!), how suspicious would you be? Well, the premise of this yarn is just that. The main character Evie is stunned when she’s offered a…
Find Them Dead (by Peter James)
Peter James is a prolific author and the latest story in the DS Roy Grace series based in Brighton is back on familiar territory. I was rather dismissive about an earlier standalone novel Absolute Proof. I enjoyed Find Them Dead but it does not live up to others in the series. It seems to me…
Absolute Proof (by Peter James)
I am a fan of the Inspector Grace novels set in Brighton and eagerly await each new novel. Peter is quite prolific and often writes stand-alone novels – unfortunately, I find these variable in quality. I recently read Dan Brown’s Origin, and thoroughly enjoyed his tale which tackles “Where do we come from” and “Where…