An ex-photographer and a well known restaurant critic, Molly Lane had been a beautiful, lively and funny lady. Her life had, sadly, been cut short through illness – a condition that had began with something as simple as a tingling in her arm. “Amsterdam” opens in early February, at Molly’s memorial service.

Despite being married to George, Mollie had been a rather prolific lover – she’d had a string of affairs and (apparently) never really cared for her husband. However, for some reason, she’d never actually left him. George is the head of a publishing `empire’, one that operates in the crackpot conspiracy theories sector. His company also own a very small percentage of `The Judge’, a `quality’ newspaper based in London. He appears to be a morose, possessive man – a vaguely ridiculous character, though one who may have genuinely loved his wife. George had cared for Molly himself throughout her illness, rather than installing her in a home.

Among the mourners is Clive Linley, a famous and successful composer who had known Molly from their student days. He had been one of Molly’s former lovers and is possibly a little deluded : he is convinced that he was the only one who had ever truly loved her, and that it should have been him who married her. Clive is currently writing the Millennial Symphony and, although it’s close to completion, it’s something that seems to be causing him a little stress. (A trip to the Lake District may just be the tonic he needs – Clive enjoys hiking, and sometimes visits the area when in need of inspiration). Unfortunately, Clive’s stress levels aren’t helped by vague tingle in his hand…and fears he has the same early symptoms that Molly had shown. Clive feels that Molly’s decline robbed her of her dignity, and – given the opportunity – he believes he would have `helped’ her die. When he decides that he’d want the same thing for himself, there’s only one person he would ask to help him.

Vernon Halliday is Clive’s oldest friend and another of Molly’s ex-lovers. He and Molly had lived together for a year in Paris, though he’s currently based in London. He’s currently the editor of `The Judge’ – a position he’d won by being generally inoffensive, getting wildly lucky with a major scoop and then not being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The previous four editors had been fired for failing to improve the newspaper’s declining sales…Vernon is hoping to avoid their fate, by taking the newspaper towards the tabloid end of the market. Unfortunately, the situation seems to be getting to him a little, and he’s feeling a little stretched. Like Clive, Vernon doesn’t have a very high opinion of George – oddly enough, though, George may be in a position to offer both Vernon and the newspaper a helping hand. When going through Molly’s effects, he’d stumbled across s few tasty photos of Julian Garmony – another on Molly’s ex-lovers, and a high-ranking politician that both Vernon and Clive positively detest…

Garmony is a thoroughly unpleasant individual, a nasty xenophobe who (amazingly) holds the position of Foreign Secretary. (It’s probably the sort of appointment a politician would probably find quite logical. Sadly, and unsurprisingly, he’s also the hot favourite to be the next Prime Minister). He’s strongly in favour of hanging, a punishment he once felt should have been applied to Nelson Mandela. (It’s a position that should make his upcoming trip to South Africa a little spicy). Unfortunately, Clive and Vernon disagree on what should be done with the photos…Vernon is very keen to publishing them, and Garmony could well do with having the rug pulled from under his feet. However, Clive feels that publishing them would be a betrayal of Molly’s trust…

In “Amsterdam”, McEwan presents a collection of characters that aren’t too easy to admire. It’s really very difficult to feel any sympathy for Garmony, given his divisive views. George, Molly’s husband, is the one character we probably should feel sorry for, but – by the book’s end – I was left wondering why she had ever married him to begin with. Clive and Vernon’s friendship fragments as time passes, with Clive (in particular) becoming increasingly deluded as the book progresses. Not great, though a short and easily read book.

Walter Macken, a native of Galway, was born in 1915 and died in his home city at the age of 51. A writer, an actor and a playwright, he is perhaps best known for his novel “Flight of the Doves” – which was adapted for the cinema – and his “Irish Trilogy”. “Flight of the Doves” is one of the two children’s books he wrote, and was first published, posthumously, in 1968.

The Doves of the book’s title are two orphaned children, Finn and Derval Dove. They live in England with their “Uncle” Toby, who is actually their step-father. Toby, once the family’s lodger, married the children’s mother after their father died in an accident. Unfortunately, as the book opens, the children’s mother has been dead for two years – and Toby has not been treating the children at all well. When Toby comes home from work, he expects the house to be clean and tidy and his dinner to be on the table. Once eaten, he’ll head out to the pub and won’t return until the children are in bed. He appears to have a particular dislike for Finn – a twelve year old boy with red hair who regularly gets beaten by his step-father. Derval, the younger of the pair, is a seven year old girl with blonde hair. When Finn becomes afraid that Toby is going to start beating his sister, he decides it’s time to run away. Although he does have a destination in mind – his Granny O’Flaherty’s home in the west of Ireland – he isn’t too sure exactly where she lives. The journey across the sea isn’t made an easier by a notable lack of funds – but the children take off as soon as Toby goes out to the Red Dragon.

When Toby discovers the pair missing the following morning – and realises he’ll have to make his own breakfast – he falls into the depths of despair. Nevertheless, he believes the children will soon return of their own accord and doesn’t notify the police. However, things change when he arrives at work and discovers the children are due to inherit a tidy sum from relatives in America. He realises Finn and Derval may have gone to Ireland, and soon the runaways are being hunted onboth sides of the Irish Sea. Although the children aren’t long in making friends, their journey to Granny O’Flaherty’s isn’t going to be easy – not with the newspaper coverage and a bounty of their heads…

A very easily read and enjoyable children’s book.

“Void Moon” is Michael Connelly’s ninth book, and was first published in 2000. It’s only his third book not to feature Harry Bosch, giving a starring role to Cassie Black instead. However, Cassie is a little different to Connelly’s other heroes – instead of a cop, a lawyer, a retired fed or a journalist operating on the ‘right side’ of the law, Cassie is an ex-con currently on parole.

When we meet her, Cassie is working in a car dealership on LA’s Sunset Boulevard. Although she spent time in prison in Nevada, she managed to have her parole transferred to LA and knows she was lucky to get the job. She suspects it’s because the boss – Ray Morales – hopes their relationship will move beyond the professional. Her parole is due to run for two years and, although she’s on minimun supervision and she has a very likeable parole officer in Thelma Kibble, Cassie is starting to get a little twitchy.

Cassie’s past is only given away gradually : exactly what she was convicted for, who Max was and what happened to him and why a five year old girl called Jodie Shaw is so important. Cassie has been keeping a close eye on the Shaw family, and it’s their proposed move to Paris that (apparently) causes Cassie’s twitchiness. She’s maybe a little too honest with Thelma in a parole meeting, even (foolishly) asking about the possibility if seeing out her parole in France. When it’s made clear that isn’t going to happen, her decision is made : one last job, with a big enough dividend to disappear on. She’s barely out of her meeting with Thelma before she’s on the phone to her old contact DH Reilly. DH (as in Dog House) is actually the Leo Renfro’s alias and is someone she had worked closely with in the past. He had also practically raised his step-brother, Max. Roughly two weeks after Cassie makes contact with Leo, he gets back in touch with her : he’s managed a identify a job that matches her requirements. Unfortunately, it sees her return to a place she’d never have wanted to see again : Las Vegas. Her problems with Vegas aren’t limited to personal, however – her new assignment throws up quite a few professional difficulties also.

A very enjoyable book, and – with both Cassie and Thelma Kibble – two very likeable characters. (In fact, both have been given very small cameos in subsequent Harry Bosch books). Cassie presents two mysteries, in a way – her current job and her past life…in particular, why the Shaw family is so important to her. Connelly has been one of the best mystery writers of recent years, and “Void Moon” is no disappointment – very much recommended.

Coben saw his first book published in 1990. “Deal Breaker” is his third and was first published in 1995. However, it is his first to feature Myron Bolitar.

Myron Bolitar has been a sports agent for lny two years and has only a few clients to his name. Among them are Ricky Lane, a running back for the Jets, and Christian Steele – a footballer fresh out of college and the hottest prospect in years. There is, unfortunately, a touch of tragedy in Steele’s background : eighteen months before the book opens Steele’s fiancee – Kathy Culver – disappeared without a trace from the grounds of Reston University. The story was big news and not just because of Christian’s status as an up-and-coming footballer : Kathy’s sister, Jessica, is also a very famous author. The only clue to the mystery came when Kathy’s underwear was found in a dumpster, apparently covered in blood and semen. However, Kathy is still missing and no-one even knows if she is living or dead…in fact no-body has evem been charged with her disappearance. There had been a certain amount of insinuation that Steele had been involved, but that’s just not a situation Bolitar can take even remotely seriously. The tragedy hasn’t ended there for the Culver family, though. Three nights before the book’s opening, Kathy and Jessica’s father had also been killed – in what the police believe to have been a botched robbery. As if Myron wasn’t involved enough, via his client, it turns out that Jessica is an ex-girlfriend. Things had apparently ended on a sour note, though. As a result, Esperanza Diaz – formerly Little Pocahontas of the Fabulous Ladies of Wrestling circuit and currently Bolitar’s PA – positively despises her.

Things are about to take a slightly difficult turn though : somebody mails a saucy magazine to Christian, with a particular advertisement highlighted. The advert, for a rather risque chatline ($3:99 a minute), features Kathy Culver in the picture. Furthermore, the handwriting on the envelope – which was posted on-campus – is an apparent match for Kathy’s.When Jessica stops by asking for help, the multi-talented young sports agent is dragged even further into the mystery. Jessica thinks there is some connection between Kathy’s disappearance and her father’s death. The cop’s disagree – even her father’s closest friend, “Uncle” Paul Duncan. Naturally, Myron decides to help her out anyway.

An enjoyable enough book overall, though there is quite a bit of daftness to it. Bolitar was a hugely promising basketball player, until his career was destroyed by injury. Despite taking 16 months to walk again, he promptly joined the FBI and reported only to the very highest levels. Furthermore, he is now (amazingly) a third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Our hero’s ever-faithful sidekick is called Windsor Horne Lockword III, a gentleman who proves to be the deadliest nerd alive. He is also an ex-Fed, and now helps Bolitar out in his new career as an all-action Sports Agent. An easy read, though no classic.

Colin Dexter was born in 1930 and, over the course of his writing career, has won CWA Gold Dagger and Silver Dagger awards. “Last Seen Wearing” was first published in 1976 and is the second book to feature the famous Inspector Morse.

“Last Seen Wearing” sees Morse and his sidekick, Lewis, assigned to a missing persons case. Just over two years previously, Valerie Taylor – a seventeen year old pupil at a local comprehensive school, had disappeared. The case had been investigated by one of Morse’s colleagues, Chief Inspector Ainley, but was never closed. Morse has now inherited the case following Ainley’s death in a car accident. Although technically a “cold case”, it was one that Ainley had never stopped investigating – albeit unofficially and in his own time, in the latter stages. Ainley was returning from London when he had his car accident – Morse believes he discovered something important there.

The day she disappeared, Valerie had come home for her lunch – although she left to return to school for her afternoon lessons, it seems she never arrived there. However, a letter has now arrived home – apparently from Valerie, saying she’s fine but doesn’t want to be found. According to the postmark, it was posted in London the day after Ainley’s death. Morse, for no clear reason, decides that Valerie is actually dead and the letter is a forgery.

Since Valerie disappeared on the way back to school, Morse and Lewis naturally look into her school-life. Three staff-members, as it turns out, crop up regularly in the investigation. One is the school’s headmaster – who had only been appointed to the position three years previously. (From the book’s prologue, there’s a suspicion he may have had a quick roll in the hay with Valerie on the day of his interview. Naturally, he wouldn’t have known she was one of his prospective pupils at the time). Phillipson is still relatively young – he’s only in his mid-thirties and is married with two young children. The school’s vice-principal, on the other hand, is a single man in his fifties called Baines. He’d been passed over by the school’s Board of Governors for the headmaster’s position, and it’s clear that he and Phillipson don’t get on well together. The final staff member is David Acum, who had only taught in the school for one year – leaving shortly after Valerie had disappeared to take up a teaching position in Wales. Acum had taken Valerie’s last class before she went missing.

While it’s a better book that “Last Bus to Woodstock” – the first in the Morse series – there are still plenty of flaws in “Last Seen Wearing”. Despite working on what was officially a missing persons case, it seemed strange that Morse had no clear photo of Valerie’s face – the clearest shot mentioned appeared alongside a newspaper article. I was a little puzzled how Morse was supposed to recognise Valerie if he found her. I also found it strange that Morse didn’t spend more time talking to Valerie’s school-friends – only one of them, an ex-boyfriend, is even mentioned. Later on, when a murder is actually committed, Morse removes the weapon from the corpse and tosses it aside – taking no interest in fingerprints or forensics. (At this point, I was wondering how he still had a job). Dexter’s style of writing didn’t do much for me either – “I wish we could be naughty together, don’t you ?” and “Watch out you miserable sinner, whoever you are, who did poor Valerie in !” are just a couple of samples. Largely an easy read, though it’s no classic.

Iain Banks was born in Scotland in 1954 and published his first book – “The Wasp Factory” – in 1984. In the years since, he’s won critical acclaim, topped best-seller lists and has even written Science Fiction books under the cunning nom-de-plume ‘Iain M. Banks’. “Consider Phlebas” was first published in 1987, and is the first of his sci-fi novels.

The majority of Banks’ sci-fi novels to date feature the Culture – a symbiotic society, part humanoid and part artificial intelligence. The artificial intelligence element to the Culture can be sub-divided into two parts – Drones and Minds. For the most part, the a Drone’s intelligence will be roughly similar to a humanoids. However, while some drones will be significantly more intelligent, the Culture’s essential work is carried out largely by non-sentient machines. Minds, on the other hand, are significantly more powerful than both humanoids and drones. They tend to act as the controlling intelligence behind, for example, the Culture’s ships and Hubs (artificial habitats). Minds are also largely responsible for making decisions at the very highest levels of society – only a very small number of humanoid Referrers would be intelligent enough to join the process. In “Consider Phlebas”, the Culture is at war with the Idiran Empire. Physically, Idirans are very imposing : they’re about about three metres tall, fully grown, have three legs and are protected by a natural body-armour. They can also survive a great deal of damage, what would be more than enough to kill another species. They are also a deeply religious people and believe in converting as many as possible to the faith – preferably by conquest.

A little strangely, though, the book’s hero isn’t a Culture operative – or even a significant player in the war. Bora Horza Gobuchul is a Changer and works for the Idirans as a spy and a killer. Changers are shapeshifters, and have a couple of very impressive natural defences – including the ability to sweat acid and spit poison. The Changers’ homeworld is an asteroid called Heibohre, which is located within Idiran space . However, he’s not fighting because he’s pro-Idiran – it’s because he’s anti-Culture. In “Consider Phlebas”, Horza is sent to Schar’s World – a Planet of the Dead – to retrieve a Culture Mind. Naturally, the Culture won’t want a Mind to fall into enemy hands – though it won’t be easy for them to retrieve it. Schar’s World is ‘protected’ by the Dra’Azon – an exceptionally powerful race, who won’t allow anyone other than Changers onto the planet. Nevertheless, it won’t be too easy for Horza to complete his mission either. Shortly after receiving his orders from Xoralundra, his Idiran contact,the spaceship on which they are traveling is attacked by a Culture vessel. Xoralundra promptly throws Horza out of an airlock and essentially tells him to hope for a lift. Luckily, the Clear Air Turbulance is passing – a ship that’s staffed neither by Idirans nor Culture, but by spacefaring pirates.

It’s been a long time since I read any sci-fi, and the main reason I picked this up was of how highly I rate Banks’ ‘standard’ fiction. I was slightly taken by surprise that the Culture were (technically) cast as the book’s ‘bad guys. (In a ‘normal’ book, the Idirans would’ve been the ‘bad guys’ – though things don’t always have to be that straightforward when Iain Banks writes a book). Furthermore, while Horza is the book’s hero, there’s nothing villainous about the Culture’s operatives who appear in the book – both Perosteck Balveda and Fal N’geestra are actually very likeable. The book’s only flaw, for me, was the section that featured the Eaters – it really didn’t add to much, and I couldn’t see the point of including it. However, an enjoyable story overall and certainly good enough for me to try a few other Culture books.

Haruki Murakami was born in Kyoto in 1949 but spent most of his youth in Kobe. “Norwegian Wood” was first published in Japan in 1987, and first translated into English in 2000.

Toru Watanabe tells the story, looking back on his days as university student living in Tokyo. His circle of friends was very small, and he appears to have always been a fairly solitary type. Originally from Kobe, Toru only had one real friend at school – Kizuki, who committed suicide at seventeen. He went on to university in Tokyo, where he largely appeared to keep to himself. There, he did – briefly – have a roommate at his dormitary – though the pair had very little in common. (Toru’s roommate is known only as “Storm Trooper” in the book, a nickname gained through his obsession with sanitation). Nagasawa, a diplomacy student at the university, was more an acquaintance than a real friend. He was very intelligent, and came from an influential family – he took Toru under his wing after the pair discovered a common love of “The Great Gatsby”. (No-one else in the dorm had any interest had any interest in the classics). Nevertheless, they did little together other than drink and chase women.

Toru’s two key relationships, however, were both with women. One was Naoko – a Beatles fan and the very delicate one-time girlfriend of Kizuki.The pair meet up again in Tokyo, roughly a year after Kizuki’s death and start spending more and more time together. Eventually, Toru falls for Naoko and, on the evening of Naoko’s twentieth birthday, things get intimate. Unfortunately, the evening proves a little difficult for Naoko to deal with and she takes off – booking herself into a sanitorium in an attempt to deal with her difficulties. The pair keep in touch write to each other, though, and Toru is keen to see her again.

In Naoko’s absence, however, the arrival of Midori Kobayashi complicates things. Like Toru, she studies drama at the university – but she’s very different sort of person to Naoko. Lively and outgoing, she combines her studies with helping her father in his bookshop. Gradually, she and Toru spend more and more times together – and it leaves Toru a little unsure which direction to travel in.

A little frustratingly, the book left me with a couple of questions about some of the characters. Despite only being a minor character, I couldn’t help wondering what happened to Storm Trooper…Similarly, I found myself feeling concerned for Reika, Naoko’s closest friend at the sanitorium – and hoping that things worked out for her. Most of all, there’s no indication of how Toru’s life progressed, between the book’s final page and the flight to Germany that sparked his memories. However, it’s an excellent book overall, and well worth reading.

“Very Good Jeeves” is the third book to be ‘completely’ dedicated to PG Wodehouse’s famous duo – Bertie Wooster and his valet, Jeeves. The book, first published in 1930, is a collection of eleven short stories that had previously been published in Strand Magazine.

The book features Wodehouse’s best known creations : Bertie Wooster and his valet, Jeeves. Bertie is the book’s wealthy, good-natured and rather dim narrator. He’s a member of the “idle rich” and, rather than having to work for a living, lives off an allowance provided by his uncle. He spends much of his time in the bar-room of the Drones Club, is fond of the occasional wager and has an appalling dress sense. Luckily, Bertie has Jeeves, to look after him. Without Jeeves, Bertie’s life would be a mess : he makes an excellent hangover cure, his bets usually win and is intelligent enough to rescue Bertie from nearly any situation. He disapproves of Bertie’s more garish items of clothing, and will – occasionally – take it upon himself to deal with the offending item.

Bertie’s fearsome Aunt Agatha plays a small part in some of the stories, but the consequences tend to be immense. Agatha, who regularly takes it upon herself to decide what’s best for Bertie, holds her dog, Macintosh, in higher esteem than her nephew. It’s not only Bertie’s life she interferes with, though. Te story I enjoyed most centred on Bertie’s Uncle George – who’d been prevented from marrying the love of his life (a barmaid) by Agatha many years earlier. Now, George has set his sights on marrying a waitress – and Agatha, once again, has decided this must be stopped. Needless to say, she decides to drag Bertie into it.

Tuppy Glossop also turns up in a few stories – Tuppy and Bertie were at school together, though following a prank at the Drones Club, Bertie is in the mood for a spot of revenge. However, Bertie’s cousin Angela is very taken with Tuppy and, when the course of true loves doesn’t run running smooth, Aunt Dahlia drafts Bertie and Jeeves to help. Tuppy is also a nephew of Sir Roderick Glossop, who holds the view that Bertie is insane – largely thanks to Bingo Little, it has to be said. Unfortunately, Sir Roderick turns up again in this book, and Bertie doesn’t do much to improve Sir Roderick’s opinion of him. (Bingo, now married, also appears in a couple of stories).

There are also a couple of appearances for Bobbie Wickham. Where Bertie regularly finds himself accidentally engaged, Bobbie is – very unusually – someone Bertie actually wants to marry. However, Jeeves doesn’t approve – while she is a little free-spirited and something of a practical joker, I’m not entirely sure Jeeves was being entirely altruistic in ‘rescuing’ Bertie from her womanly snares. (There’s also a brief appearance of another girlfriend – an artist called Gwladys Pendlebury. In this case, Aunt Dahlia joins Jeeves in disapproving. Luckily, Bertie also has to deal with a rival by the name of Pim).

A very easy and enjoyable read, certainly recommended.

Roddy Doyle was born in Dublin in 1958 and saw his first novel, “The Commitments”, published in 1987. It was later adapted for the big screen, a version that saw Star Trek’s Colm Meaney and a very young Andrea Corr among the cast. “The Van” was first published in 1991 and is the final book in his “Barrytown Trilogy”. It was also nominated for that year’s Booker Prize.

The book opens in late 1989, and there have been a few changes in the Rabbite house since “The Snapper”. Jimmy Jr has now moved out, and is living with his girlfriend Aoife, in Clontarf. (He took his video recorder with him, but still calls round regularly to get his washing done). Leslie, on the other hand, has disappeared – to England, Jimmy Senior suspects – having fairly consistently got himself into trouble. The remainder of the family still live at home – including Sharon and her daughter, Gina. Darren is currently studying for his Leaving Cert and should do well, while the twins are rather sneakily learning how to smoke. Veronica, the mother of the family, is taking a couple of Leaving Cert subjects at night class. Jimmy Senior, on the other hand, has lost his job – and he isn’t coping too well with being unemployed.

Jimmy has, more or less, learnt to put the day in – he spends quite a bit of time in the library (he doesn’t think much of Alexandre Dumas) and the pitch and putt course (his game has improved dramatically). He has, understandably, had to cut back on his time in the pub…however, he misses the company of his friends more than the beer. With his self-esteem tumbling, there’s an occasional flash of anger and he even starts eying up the younger ladies. Jimmy’s best friend, Bimbo, then loses his job at the bakery. It’s not something Jimmy is exactly happy about – or, at least, so he tells himself – but Bimbo’s company brightens up Jimmy’s day. However, when Bimbo uses part of his redundancy payment to buy a fish and chip van, Jimmy is brought in as a partner. It could just bring back Jimmy’s self respect – though they do say its a mistake to mix business and pleasure.

A very enjoyable, easily read book – and one that generated a touch of nostalgia. The chip van made a fortune for the partnership during the 1990 World Cup – ah, the memories ! – and thirtsomething still on television. While the language is (authentically) ‘colourful’, it’s generally a good-natured book and (despite Jimmy’s troubles) there’s plenty of humour. Well worth reading.

“The Ruby in the Smoke” was first published in 1985, and was the first of Philip Pullman’s books to feature Sally Lockhart. It was adapted for television in 2006 by the BBC, with Billie Piper – formerly of Dr Who – playing Sally.

The book opens in October 1872, when Sally Lockhart is only sixteen years old and has recently been orphaned. She never knew her mother, and her father – a former officer in the British Army and co-owner of the shipping firm Lockhart & Selby – has drowned in Singapore on company business. Naturally, she had been very close to her father, who had also taken personal responsibility for her education . (As a result, she knew little of French, English Literature, Art and Music though few other young ladies would have matched her in military tactic, the affairs of the Stock Market , military tactics and book-keeping. His most useful advice, however, was probably “keep your powder dry”). Sally, who also suffers from an unpleasant recurring nightmare, now lives with Caroline Rees, a thoroughly dislikable aunt.

When we first meet her, Sally has recently received a cryptic letter. It warns her of something called the Seven Blessings, and that somebody called Marchbanks will help her. She first visits Lockhart & Selby’s offices – there, she hopes to find out not only who Marchbanks is, but also what the Seven Blessings are. Unfortunately, the the firm’s secretary – Mr Higgs – can’t help her : he suffers a heart attack and dies the moment she asks the question. She doesn’t have to wait too long for help, though : Marchbanks, a former army officer, and an ex-sailor called Bedwell are both looking for her – and they both have useful information. This information puts Sally on a collision course with a dangerous villain called Mrs Holland . Thankfully she will have help – most notably from Frederick Garland, his sister Rosa and Jim Taylor – a very resourceful office-boy at Lockhart & Selby’s.

A short, easy and enjoyable read – though, given the constant references to opium use, it mightn’t be to everyone’s tastes.