Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders by John Mortimer

The Blurb On The Back:

John Mortimer’s Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders sees our eponymous hero tackle his first-ever case. It is just after the way and two RAF heroes are found shot dead. Simon Jerold, the son of one of the victims, is the only suspect and young Rumpole is given the hopeless task of defending him. But Rumpole is determined to save his client from the gallows and make a name for himself. His bid to do so opens the first chapter in the story of the law’s finest comic creation.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

John Mortimer’s last Rumpole novel tells the tale of the barrister’s most famous case and also how he came to become involved with the notorious Timson family. Although I’ve watched the TV series, this is the first Rumpole novel that I’ve ever read and I found it delightful. It’s almost impossible to read it without hearing the wonderful Leo McKern’s voice and I thoroughly enjoyed the little asides and the barbed comments that go unsaid as well as the young Rumpole’s hapless love life. The mystery element works well too as Rumpole struggles to conjure a strategy to clear Jerold while clashing with Mr Wystan who sees a proper defence as unbecoming of the bar. It’s a short novel but that’s only because Mortimer recognised that brevity is the soul of wit and I will definitely be reading the other Rumpole books.

A Lovely Way To Burn by Louise Welsh

The Blurb On The Back:

On the surface, the shootings were nothing to do with what happened later, but they stuck in Stevie Flint’s mind. Their details returned to her during the months ahead and she would begin to think of them as a portent of what was to come, a sign that the city was beginning to turn on itself.

A pandemic is rapidly sweeping the globe. London is a city in crisis, but Stevie Flint is convinced that the sudden death of her boyfriend, Simon, was not from natural causes.

Stevie’s search for Simon’s killer takes her into the depths of the dying city and into a race with death.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Louise Welsh’s novel (the first in a trilogy) marries crime thriller with apocalyptic horror to so-so effect. Welsh does well at conveying the breakdown of a city to a pandemic and the confusion and fear that takes hold of its population as the body count rises, but the mystery element itself is very much by-the-numbers, particularly as it’s pretty obvious who the villains are. Stevie’s an okay character but I never really bought what made her tick and as she questions the nature of her relationship with Simon, I wondered why she was so keen on discovering what had happened to him. Although there’s a hint as to the possible overarching trilogy arc, I’m not particularly bothered about finding out what it is and won’t rush to read the rest.

A LOVELY WAY TO BURN was released in the United Kingdom on 27th March 2014. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the ARC of this book.

Buffalo Soldier by Tanya Landman

The Blurb On The Back:

What kind of girl steals the clothes from a dead man’s back and runs off to join the army? A desperate one, that’s who.

World been turned on its head by that big old war, and the army seemed like the safest place to be, until we was sent off to fight them Indians. And then? Heck! When Death’s so close you can smell his breath, ain’t nothing makes you feel more alive.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Tanya Landman’s YA historical novel is inspired by the real-life tale of Cathy Williams, a black woman who worked in the US army for 2 years after the US Civil War before anyone discovered her secret. Set against the backdrop of the drive into the West and the persecution of the Indians, it’s makes clever points about racism and the way it can operate between different racial groups with hate constantly birthing hate. Charley has a pitch perfect first person voice and Landman expertly takes her from a gauche 11 year old to a world-weary woman in her late teens/early twenties who’s seen too much death and betrayal. However, I found the jump cut ending (which leaps forward 27 years) a little too jarring and the sudden appearance of a character from Charley’s past felt a little too contrived and left me wondering why they didn’t recognise her (whether by face or by voice) given their relationship. That said, I thought this was a good read that kept me hooked from beginning to end and the thought-provoking way in which it examines types of racism means that it’s worth a few hours of your time.

BUFFALO SOLDIER was released in the United Kingdom on 3rd April 2014. Thanks to Walker Books for the free copy of this book.