The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

Quite a change from the historical fiction of my last novel! This story centres on Ted and Kat's missing cousin, Salim, who went up in the London Eye but didn't come down. The narrator, Ted, has a "syndrome" (on the autistic spectrum, perhaps?) which means his brain is "wired differently" from other people. He really likes the weather. This helps him to try and solve the problem. I read this book quickly. Very good.

Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende

Another lovely story set in South (and North) America (and China this time, too). Eliza, a baby left at Miss Rose's house in Chile, grows up, falls in love, travels to California during the goldrush, and meets many interesting people on the way. Beautifully told and described. I do love Isabel Allende's books - and I've taken another one out over the holidays.

The Amnesia Clinic by James Scudamore

Very interesting story about two friends with a love for a story. Set in Ecuador, the two boys go exploring for a fictional amnesia clinic, with a variety of consequences. Sad, good book.
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Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

Actually finished this some time ago, but don't think I wrote about it ... Glad to have finished the story and found out what happened. Overall, a good story with interesting characters, very dark, epic, but a bit overlong too. For me, anyway.

The Queen and I by Sue Townsend

This was an enjoyable and creative read for the weekend. What if the UK became a republic and the former royal family had to live on a council housing estate? What I found most interesting is that the book was written some time ago, so it was funny to think how some things have changed.

Semi-Detached by Paul Heathorn

Definitely one of the strangest books I've read in a while! The blurb on the back made me laugh, and I liked the conceit of the two characters being named Will and Liam ... WilLiam ... But why did Liam want to build a portal in the first place? Quite suspenseful. Made me a bit nervous reading it! Would Liam be caught? Still thinking about it a bit.
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The Stuff of Nightmares by Malorie Blackman

I always enjoy a bit of Malorie Blackman! This one was quite spooky - I was glad I was reading it in bed in the morning, and not the night before! Interesting to see that some of the dreams were originally short stories - makes sense.

City of Stars by Mary Hoffman

Lovely, fantastical story, all the better for being partly set in a Medieval Italian (or, to be strictly accurate, Talian) town which holds a mad horse race each year - modelled on Siena, a city I have not visited - yet! This is the second book in the Stravaganza series. I was worried about not having read the first book, but this story of friendship stands on its own.

The Water Bearer by Dianne Hofmeyr

It probably makes sense to read this book about water and fire in a steaming hot bath. A nice story set off the coast of Zanzibar all the way to the interior of Zimbabwe. It was a shame that four pages were missing at the very end!



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August Heat by Andrea Camilleri

Another Inspector Montalbano Mystery! He discovers another mystery! And it's fun, hot, hot, hot and there is some good Italian food and swimming thrown in for good measure! I love these Camilleri mysteries!

Escape Velocity by Mark Walden

Dr Nero has been captured! And how can Otto do the computations that he is capable of? Another gripping read! I love this series! Very exciting and full of adventure, as well as being quick and easy to read!

The Overlord Protocol by Mark Walden

My librarian has finally got some more HIVE books! Otto and Wing have managed to leave the Higher Institute of Villainous Education, but will the staff at HIVE be able to protect them from afar? Another great read from this series!