Nina Peanut Mega Mystery Solver by Sarah Bowie

The Blurb On The Back:

It’s me … Nina Peanut.

I’m Nina Peanut: a famous megastar, mystery-solver extraordinaire and extremely kind and patient big sister to the world’s most annoying brother.

Guess who is a ghost and is living right here in my school? It’s Lady Deborah from our history lesson, and she is stuck in her own shoe.

Watch as Brian and I film our investigations to find out what she’s doing there and how we can set her free. I’m also battling Megan Dunne to become class captain - vote for me, because who is more of a ghost expert than I am? Answer: hardly anyone!

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The second in Sarah Bowie’s self-illustrated humorous graphic novel for readers aged 9+ is a well-constructed, fun affair filled with verbal and visual jokes. There’s a useful summary at the front if you haven’t read book 1 and Nina is such a well drawn character that you root for her, especially against the awful Megan. Certainly there’s more than enough here for me to want to read book 1 and I look forward to seeing what Bowie does next.

NINA PEANUT MEGA MYSTERY SOLVER was released in the United Kingdom on 26th September 2024. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Fine Art Of Invisible Detection by Robert Goddard

The Blurb On The Back:

Quiet, unassuming Umiko Wada has had more than enough drama in her life. Since her husband’s death, she’s learned to keep her head down, accustoming herself to an existence based on privacy, solitude and routine.

Even as secretary to a Tokyo private detective, her life is uncomplicated, filled with coffee runs and pleasingly dull paperwork. That is, until her boss takes on a new case, which turns out to be dangerous enough to get him killed, shortly after sending Wada to London to meet a man on behalf of his client. It should have been a simple task for Wada. But now it becomes a battle for her own survival.

Following her only lead, she quickly realises that being a detective isn’t as easy as the television makes it appear. And that there’s a reason why secrets stay buried for a long time. Because people want them to stay secret. And they’re prepared to do very bad things to keep them that way …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Robert Goddard’s standalone crime thriller is intricately constructed and Wada is a fascinating main character with the action taking place in Japan, the UK, the US and Iceland. The pacing works well and a dual storyline of Nick Miller also being contacted by Caldwell fleshes out the backstory. A sequel was published in 2024, which I will definitely check out and am otherwise I am keen to read Goddard’s other work.

The Hunter by Andrew Reid

The Blurb On The Back:

A troubled genius who vanishes in a mysterious car crash.

A disillusioned cop sensing conspiracy in the corridors of power.

A ruthless team of mercenaries operating in the shadows.

A billion-dollar business that wants the world in its grip.

One link connects them all.

A champion fighter. Betrayed and searching for the truth.

Cameron King is The Hunter.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Andrew Reid’s debut action thriller is an assured affair with solid pacing and interesting main characters in the form of Cameron King and Ray Perada (who I was pleased did not succumb to a predictable romance). However the storyline between Cameron and Nate falls apart in the final quarter with revelations that suspend credulity, which is a shame because there’s some solid writing here and the premise is perfect beach reading.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

Don’t Be Evil: The Case Against Big Tech by Rana Foroohar

The Blurb On The Back:

Today Google and Facebook receive 90% of the world’s news and ad-spending. Amazon takes half of all commerce in the US. Google and Apple operating systems run on all but 1% of cell phones globally and 80% of corporate wealth is now held by 10% of companies - not the Gas and Toyotas of this world, but the digital titans.

How did we get here? How did once-idealistic and innovative companies come to manipulate elections, violate our privacy and pose a threat to the fabric of our democracy? In Don’t Be Evil, Financial Times global business columnist Rana Foroohar documents how Big Tech lost is soul - and became the new Wall Street.

Through her skilled reporting and unparalleled access, she shows the true extent to which the ‘Faang’s (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google) crush or absorb any potential competitors, hijack our personal data and mental space and offshore their exorbitant profits. Yet Foroohar also lays out a plan for how we can resist, creating a framework that fosters innovation while also protecting us from the dark side of digital technology.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Rana Foroohar is global business columnist and associate editor at the Financial Times and CNN’s global economic analyst. Published in 2019 it’s an absorbing and frightening look at how Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google hoard data and intellectual property to maintain market dominance, influence politics and maintain their value and a prescient warning given how the companies are now jostling to influence the incoming Trump presidency.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

Gorse by Sam K. Horton

The Blurb On The Back:

Cornwall, 1786.

For years, the villagers of Mirecoombe have turned to their Keeper, the old and battle-scarred Lord Pelagius Hunt, mediator between the worlds of men and fey, for help. But this is a time of change. Belief in the old ways, in the piskies and spriggans, has dimmed, kindled instead in the Reverend Cleaver’s fiery pulpit. His church stands proud above the mire; God’s name is whispered, hushed, loved. And now, death stalks Mirecoombe on the moor. There are corpses in the heather. There is blood in the gorse.

Nancy Bligh is determined to do what Pel will not: maintain the balance between the fey and the human world, be the Keeper that he refuses to be. Blessed with natural sight, friend to spriggans, pinkies and human locals of Mirecoombe, Nancy has power that Pel never had and never lets her use. But as Mirecoombe falls into darkness, perhaps her time has come.

A poignant and lyrical examination of faith, love and grief, Gorse asks what do we choose to believe, and how does that shape who we are?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Sam K Horton’s debut dark historical fantasy novel (the first in a series) is richly written with well drawn main characters and detailed world building. Horton handles the book’s main themes about faith, tradition and finding your own identity in an intelligent way and although I have some nitpicks (there are a couple of historical anachronisms and at times the writing too much), the ending has a neat set up for a sequel that I’d definitely read.

GORSE was released in the United Kingdom on 12 September 2024. Thanks to Rebellion Publishing for the review copy of this book.

Master List Of Books 2024

1. Three Eight One by Aliya Whiteley.

2. Places And Names: Dispatches Of War by Elliot Ackerman.

3. Indi Raye Is Totally Faking It by Lauren Layfield.

4. Trixie Pickle Art Avenger – Toxic Takedown by Olaf Falafel.

5. Hey Duggee – First Day At Squirrel Club adapted by Rebecca Gerlings.

6. Iron Robin by Rose Tremain.

7. Meet The Maliks: The Cookie Culprit by Zanib Mian.

8. Hello Summer by Jo Lindley.

9. Big by Vashti Harrison.

10. Thomas & Friends – Thomas and Bruno by Christy Webster.

11. Lightspeed: The Ghostly Aether And The Race To Measure The Speed Of Light by John C. H. Spence.

12. Redsight by Meredith Mooring.

13. Amazing Sister by Alison Brown.

14. How To Fight Anti-Semitism by Bari Weiss.

15. Healthy Mind Happy You – How To Take Care Of Your Mental Health by Dr Emily Macdonagh.

16. Little Experts – How To Build A Home by George Clarke.

17. The Siege Of Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed.

18. Little Experts – Superhero Animals by Chris Packham.

19. Queerbook by Malcolm Mackenzie.

20. Pokémon – Hometown Hero.

21. A Death Of A Dead Man by Caroline Dunford.

22. Strong Like Me by Kelechi Okafor and Michaela Dias-Hayes.

23. Beano – The Day The Teachers Disappeared by Craig Graham and Mike Stirling.

24. Girls Just Wanna Have Impact Funds.

25. The Ghost In The Bone by Mike Carey.

26. Dread Wood – Fright Bite by Jennifer Killick.

27. You Are An Artist by Aurélia Durand.

28. The Virtual Sales Handbook by Mante Kvedare and Christian Milner Nymand.

29. Storm-Cat by Magenta Fox.

30. Louder Than Hunger by John Schu.

31. Then There Was One by Wendy Cross.

32. Stitch By Stitch by Jane Bull.

33. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Dinner.

34. Paw Patrol – Dive Into Puplantis by Matt Huntley.

35. At My Mother’s Knee And Other Low Joints by Paul O’Grady.

36. The Girl King by Mimi Yu.

37. Outside In Nature Poems by Daniel Thompson.

38. Paw Patrol – Mighty Pups.

39. Don’t Look Back In Anger by Daniel Rachel.

40. Follow Your Dreams by Katherine Mengardon.

41. Penguin’s Egg by Anna Kemp and Alice Courtley.

42. Interdimensional Explorers – Alien Apocalypse by Lorraine Gregory.

43. The Devil Rides Out by Paul O’Grady.

44. No Judgement: On Being Critical by Lauren Oyler.

45. 100 Words For Rain by Alex Johnson.

46. The Little Wooden Robot And The Log Princess by Tom Gauld.

47. The Family Fortuna by Lindsay Eagar.

48. Flower Block by Lanisha Butterfield and Hoang Giang.

49. Wild East by Ashley Hickson-Lovence.

50. Still Standing: The Savage Years by Paul O’Grady.

51. The Nine Night Mystery by Sharna Jackson.

52. Romancing Mr Bridgerton by Julia Quinn.

53. Digital Human: The Fourth Revolution Of Humanity Includes Everyone by Chris Skinner.

54. Murder On Lake Garda by Tom Hindle.

55. Last Seen Online by Lauren James.

56. The House Of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul.

57. Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran And The Rivalry That Unravelled The Middle East by Kim Ghattas.

58. Altar Of Bones by Philip Carter.

59. Pie Fidelity: In Defence Of British Food by Pete Brown.

60. Alex vs Axel: The Impossible Quests by Sam Copeland.

61. Hey Duggee! The Opposites Badge by Rebecca Gerlings.

62. Down Cemetery Road by Mick Herron.

63. Now, Conjurers by Freddie Kölsch.

64. We Solve Murders by Richard Osman.

65. The Exes by Anam Iqbal.

66. Of Jade And Dragons by Amber Chen.

67. In Your Defence by Sarah Langford.

68. Nina Peanut Mega Mystery Solver by Sarah Bowie.

69. The Fine Art Of Invisible Detection by Robert Goddard.

70. The Hunter by Andrew Reid.

71. Don’t Be Evil: The Case Against Big Tech by Rana Foroohar.

72. Gorse by Sam K. Horton.