quippe | Recent Entries

The Blurb On The Back:

Focusing on all leadership and growth topics relevant during times of uncertainty and in our fast-paced and ever-changing business environment, Patrick Flesner delivers both in-person and virtual keynotes that inspire your leadership teams and equip them with frameworks and tools they can use systematically to reach their biggest goals.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Patrick Flesner worked for 20 years in private equity, venture capital and mergers and acquisitions and is now an independent board member who advises on leadership. Unfortunately, he’s chosen to use poorly written fiction that includes some unpleasant sexism to convey leadership principles that I didn’t disagree with (and indeed some of it is useful particularly if you’re new to this), but which I think get lost in the alienating structure.

THE LEADERSHIP HOUSE was released in the United Kingdom on 27th April 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

”I want what the straight kids have. Even just for a couple of days …”

Seventeen-year-old Max might be out and proud but he’s usually too busy checking his nail polish to check his privilege.

So when he says he wishes he could have the ‘easy’ life straight kids enjoy, Max gets more than he bargained for. He wakes up to find his wish has come true - not only have his feelings for boys vanished, so has his lifelong best friend, Dean.

With his world turned upside down and relationships in tatters, can Max find his way back to the life he took for granted, and maybe even win the heart of the guy he thought could never be his …?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Callum McSwiggan’s speculative YA LGBTQ+ romance is an okay read filled with out and proud characters but Max’s confrontation of his privilege and belief that the straights have things easier is unconvincing as Max is always fairly self-obsessed character while his friendship with Dean is more tell than show. That said, the romance is sweet, I liked Dean and Alicia as side characters and the plot has a lot of pace and energy to it.

STRAIGHT EXPECTATIONS was released in the United Kingdom on 4th May 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Shocking news reaches The Thursday Murder Club.

An old friend in the antiques business has been killed, and a dangerous package he was protecting has gone missing.

As the gang spring into action, they encounter art forgers, online fraudsters and drug dealers, as well as heartache close to home.

With the body count rising, the package still missing and trouble firmly on their tail, has their luck finally run out?

And who will be the last devil to die?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The fourth in Richard Osman’s bestselling THURSDAY MURDER CLUB SERIES is a clever and emotional story that shows neat continuity with the earlier books and also fleshes out Ibrahim’s backstory. Although there are no surprises here, it’s considered and moving without being mawkish and ends in a satisfying way that allows Osman to go off and set up a new and different series of books while also allowing a return to the pensioner at a later date.

The Blurb On The Back:

One house. Nine guests. Endless motives for murder …

Guests assemble at Hamlet Hall for a New Year’s Eve party to remember.

They are to take part in a murder mystery game with a 1920s twist, and everyone has their own part to play.

But the evening has barely begun when one guest is found dead - killed by an injury to the head.

Someone is playing by their own rules.

And in a close-knit community, old rivalries run deep …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The ambition of Tom Hindle’s second crime novel exceeds its grasp, its characters too thinly drawn (with the younger characters being particularly unconvincing) and the mystery element too telegraphed for it to work effectively. It did hold my attention and I enjoyed the tensions between the local community members, especially as the secrets start to come out, but as a whole I think it’s flawed although I’d still check out Hindle’s next book.

The Blurb On The Back:

When your cover is blown … where do you hide?

Two years ago, the Monochrome inquiry was set up to investigate the British secret service. Monochrome’s mission was to ferret out misconduct, allowing the civil servants seconded to the inquiry, Griselda Fleet and Malcolm Kyle, unfettered access to confidential information in the service archives.

But with progress blocked at every turn, Monochrome is circling the drain … Until the OTIS file appears out of nowhere.

What classified secrets does OTIS hold that see a long-redundant spy being chased through Devon’s green lanes in the dark? What happened in a newly reunified Berlin that someone is desperate to keep under wraps? And who will win the battle for the soul of the secret service - or was that decided a long time ago?

Spies and pen pushers, politicians and PAs, high-flyers, time-servers and burn-outs. They all have jobs to do in the daylight. But what they do in the secret hours reveals who they really are.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Although not officially part of the SLOUGH HOUSE SERIES, Mick Herron’s latest spy thriller stands adjacent to it so if you’re a SLOUGH HOUSE fan, you’ll enjoy seeing some of its characters get more page time and backstory here. Caustic, cynical and at times very funny, I hugely enjoyed this story which bounces between time periods but I’d suggest not reading STANDING BY THE WALL until afterwards as it does spoil some of the surprises.

The Blurb On The Back:

Can one girl succeed against the force of an empire?

Kurara and her shipmates have escaped the clutches of the princess and set a course for the Grand Stream. There they hope to find the most powerful shikigami of all: a legendary paper phoenix. It may hold the key to releasing shikigami from their eternal bonds for good - if they can reach it before the imperial powers do.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The second in Ann Sei Lin’s YA fantasy trilogy delves into the mythology of Lin’s world, especially the backstory for Kurara and Haru and includes some heart breaking scenes as Lin also explores the bond between shikigami and Crafter and what it really means. However Tomoe and Sayo are very much bit players here and while I enjoyed the character development for Himura, Tsukimi remains too broadly painted to be a credible antagonist.

REBEL FIRE was released in the United Kingdom on 6th July 2023. Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

ALONELYPAWN: Tell me something about you and I’ll tell you something about me.

PRETTYBASIC: You first.

ALONELYPAWN: This is the first time I’ve played since last year. Your turn.

PRETTYBASIC: I’m not like other girls.

Juliet believes girls like her - girls with arthritis - don’t get their own love stories. She exists at the edges of her friends’ social lives, preferring to play online chess. There, she isn’t just ‘the girl with crutches’.

Ronan is good-looking, smart, a bad boy plagued by guilt over what happened to his brother. Chess Life is his escape.

At school, Juliet things someone like Roman could never be interested in someone like her - and she wouldn’t want him to be anyway. His attitude stinks.

But little do they know they have more in common than they think, and everybody deserves a love story …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Jenny Ireland’s debut YA romance has a well drawn female main character and does a great job of showing what it’s like to live with arthritis. However Juliet’s relationship with Tara interested me more than the romance with Ronan, mainly because Ronan’s backstory didn’t ring as emotionally true with his relationship with his mother in particular feeling undercooked. That said I enjoyed reading this and will happily check out Ireland’s next book.

THE FIRST MOVE was released in the United Kingdom on 13th April 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

November 1924

The Endeavour sets sail with 2,000 passengers - and a killer - on board …

When a man’s body is found on deck, ship’s officer Timothy Birch is ready to declare the death a tragic accident. But Scotland Yard inspector James Temple is certain there’s more to this misfortune than meets the eye.

Mounting an investigation, the pair uncover the theft of a priceless painting and encounter a string of suspects with secrets to hide.

With just days remaining until the Endeavour reaches New York, their search for the culprit is fraught with danger.

And all the while, the passengers roam the ship with a killer in their midst …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Tom Hindle’s debut historical crime novel is packed with red herrings, an emotional backstory for Birch and has a sucker punch twist at the end that genuinely left me surprised. Although this is very much a First Class passenger affair, I enjoyed the Agatha Christie vibe and the allusions to Birch’s war service but Temple is notably under-developed in comparison, which is a shame as fuller characterisation would have taken this to the next level.

The Blurb On The Back:

This is a book about how to be the guy that everyone needs right now.

Have you ever been in a situation where there’s a loud guy making dodgy comments, cracking jokes that only he thinks are funny or leering at the girls in the room? You can feel the tension, right? THAT GUY is the worst, but no one is saying anything, because the whole situation is intimidating and awkward.

This toolkit will help you CALL OUT BAD BEHAVIOUR and understand the serious issues facing girls today. And it will make you feel CONFIDENT navigating relationships, so that everyone feels happy, heard and respected, WHILE BEING THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF.

From FLIRTING DISASTERS and what STAYING IN THE FRIEND ZONE really means, to the PERILS OF PORN, ‘LOCKER ROOM TALK’ and the important of CONSENT, this is a vital handbook for lads who are fed up of THAT GUY, and who wan to help CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Alan Bissett is a novelist, playwright and performer. This conversational antidote to toxic masculinity for readers aged 13+ combines personal anecdote with empathy and practical advice to tackle topics like internet porn, being ‘friend zoned’ and ‘locker room talk’. It’s well done (including the page design, which gets across the key messages) but the readers who pick this up are probably the ones who don’t need it in the first place.

LADS: A GUIDE TO RESPECT AND CONSENT was released in the United Kingdom on 3rd August 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

An award-winning classic mystery, introducing Japan’s most famous detective.

In the winter of 1937, the village of Okamura is abuzz with excitement over the forthcoming Ichiyangi wedding. But, amid the gossip, there is also a worrying rumour - it seems a sinister masked man has been asking questions around the village.

Then, on the night of the wedding, the Ichiyanagi household are woken by a terrible scream, followed by the sound of eerie music. Death has come to Okamura, leaving no trace but a bloody samurai sword, thrust into the pristine snow outside the house.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Seishi Yokomizo’s locked room crime novel (the first in a series) was published in Japan in 1946 and first translated into English in 2019 by Louise Heal Kawai, who has done a wonderful job. I thoroughly enjoyed Yokomizo’s slow reveal of the Ichiyanagi family’s secrets, while Kindaichi is a fascinating detective (almost in the Columbo mode) and the solution is ingenious such that I will check out the other translations of Yokomizo’s work.

The Blurb On The Back:

Meet
Jase
Tyrone
Kinga
Harri
and Sherlock the dog

They’re the clue-crackers and dynamic detectives of the CASTLE ROCK MYSTERY CREW.

Jase is spending the holidays at a caravan park with his auntie and grandma. He’s sure it’ll be a boring few weeks, but then he teams up with a new crew of friends to uncover who is behind some mysterious thefts. When the finger of blame starts to point at the kids, they must find the true culprit to clear their names and see justice done!

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Vicky McClure’s adventure mystery for readers aged 9+ (written by Kim Curran and illustrated by Alan Brown and the first in a series) is well-meaning and sensitive in incorporating people with dementia within the story. The pacing works, the mystery well drawn and I liked the friendship that develops between the Crew but the marketing is a great example of why I don’t like celebrity children’s novels and as such I am not sure I would read on.

CASTLE ROCK MYSTERY CREW was released in the United Kingdom on 11th May 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Hayden Lichfield’s life is ripped apart when he finds his father murdered in their lab, and the camera logs erased. The killer can only have been after one thing: the Sisyphus Formula the two of them developed together, which might one day reverse death itself. Hoping to lure the killer into the open, Hayden steals the research. In the process, he uncovers a recording his father made in the days before his death, and a dying wish: Avenge me …

With the lab on lockdown, Hayden is trapped with four other people - his uncle Charles, lab technician Gabriel Rasmussen, research intern Felicia Xia and their head of security, Felicia’s father Paul - one of whom must be the killer. His only sure ally is the lab’s resident artificial intelligence, Horatio, who has been his dear friend and compassion since its creation. With his world collapsing, Hayden must navigate the building’s secrets, uncover his father’s lies and push the boundaries of sanity in the pursuit of revenge.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Em X. Liu’s SF novel is a tech take on HAMLET that explores themes of mortality, fear, intimacy and revenge. Although I enjoyed how Liu updates Felicia (the Ophelia character), I wasn’t gripped by the story and the fragmented style, while true to the underlying themes of the play, further distanced me from the story. Ultimately, this is a clever and thoughtful book but not one that vibes with me, although I’d still check out Liu’s other work.

THE DEATH I GAVE HIM was released in United States on 12th September 2023 and in the United Kingdom on 14th September 2023. Thanks to Rebellion Publishing for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Why is the incidence of mental illness in the UK twice that in Germany? Why are Americans three times more likely than the Dutch to develop gambling problems? Why is child well-being so much worse in New Zealand than in Japan? As this groundbreaking study demonstrates, the answer is inequality.

In The Spirit Level Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett put inequality at the centre of public debate by demonstrating that less equal societies fare worse than more equal ones across everything from education to life expectancy. The Inner Level now explains how inequality affects us individually, how it alters we think, feel and behave. It sets out the overwhelming evidence that material inequalities have powerful psychological effects: low social status is shown to be empirically linked to increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.

Wilkinson and Pickett describe how these responses to hierarchies evolved, and why the impacts of inequality on us are so severe. In doing so, they challenge the conception that humans are innately competitive and self-interested. They undermine, too, the idea that inequality is the product of ‘natural’ differences in individual ability. The Inner Level draws together many urgent problems facing societies today, but it is not just an index of our ills. It demonstrates that societies based on fundamental equalities generate much higher levels of well-being, and lays out the path towards them.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Richard Wilkinson is Professor Emeritus at Nottingham University’s Medical School and Kate Pickett is Professor of Epidemiology at York University. This book looks at how material inequalities within societies adversely affects mental and emotional health, but while it raises interesting questions, I wasn’t wholly convinced by the methodology and you need to read their previous book THE SPIRIT LEVEL to get the most from the arguments here.

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

The Blurb On The Back:

Here in Slough House, the intelligence service’s home for inept spies, it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

Roddy Ho is used to being the one the slow horses turn to when they need miracles performed, and he’s always been Jackson Lamb’s Number Two. So when Lamb has a photograph that needs doctoring, it’s Ho he entrusts with the task. Christmas is a time for memories, but Lamb doesn’t do memories - or so he says. But what is it about the photo that makes him want to alter it? How would the slow horses cope if Roddy Ho did not exist? And most importantly of all, are the team having Christmas drinks, and if so, where?

Standing By The Wall offers a glimpse into the kind of seasonal merriment you might expect at Slough House, where the boss generally marks the festive season with an increase in hostilities. But them, this is the secret service, not Secret Santa. And the slow horses aren’t here to enjoy themselves.

Roddy Roddy Roddy? Ho Ho Ho!

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Mick Herron’s short story set in the SLOUGH HOUSE universe is a pithy, fun affair. There are hints here as to a link with forthcoming book THE SECRET HOURS (notably a mention of Operation Monochrome), I always enjoy the self-delusional Roddy Ho and it’s good to see River Cartwright make a return, albeit not in peak health. If, like me, you devour anything SLOUGH HOUSE related, then it’s worth a look but occasional readers could probably skip it.

The Blurb On The Back:

Summer has always loved horses, and she’s longed for the day when she’d be able to ride a pony of her own. So when Summer meets Jessie and gets a chance to visit the Starlight Stables, she leaps at the chance.

Helping out at the stables is a dream come true, until her favourite dapple-grey pony, Luna, gets stolen. With a thief on the loose, and suspects round every corner, it’s up to Summer and the rest of the Starlight Stables Gang to rescue Luna before it’s too late!

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Esme Higgs and Jo Cotterill’s horsey novel for readers aged 9+ (the first in a series and sweetly illustrated by Hannah George) really conveys why people love horses and suggests ways of doing it if you don’t have a lot of money without denying that it’s a privileged activity. There’s a lot of set up in terms of character and so the mystery gets pushed to one side but there’s a lot of potential here and I’d definitely read the sequel.

THE STARLIGHT STABLES GANG was released in the United Kingdom on 30th March 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

There’s never a good time to find a dead body. Especially not when you’re trying to kiss your crush.

All Kerry wants to do is stay at home with her rom-coms and strict retainer schedule. Instead, her BFF Annie has roped her into going to their first sixth-form party to investigate who’s cyber-bullying Heather, the most popular girl in school.

On the cusp of kissing the hottest guy in school, Kerry discovers the body of Heather’s second in command suffocated with a menstrual cup. Within days, another student turn up dead, this time with a sanitary pad across the eyes. Now Annie and Kerry are officially on the case to stop the menstrual murderer … period.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Kate Weston’s YA humorous murder mystery is a genuinely funny affair whose main characters wear their feminism on their sleeves as they navigate the perils of unpopularity, first romance and murder. I loved the relationship between Annie and Kerry and the romance element plays out neatly so it’s a shame that the mystery kinda loses momentum in the final quarter and didn’t quite work for me. That said, I’d definitely check out Weston’s other work.

MURDER ON A SCHOOL NIGHT was released in the United Kingdom on 6th July 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Don’t forget the Rule of Three
It’s coming for you
Like it came for me.

That’s the one.
That’s the girl who’s going to die.

I didn’t believe in the Rule of Three. Not at first. It was just one of those urban myths you hear about all the time. A story my boyfriend told me about a girl cursed by the number three.

I don’t like urban myths and ghost stories. I don’t get stoned, and I seldom drink, so I’m not going to believe some weird story without seeing the evidence to back it up. As far as it was first tole to me, there was some girl whose parents had killed themselves after her sibling had died in an accident. Which means the girl was doomed to die too because that’s the Rule of Three. Bad things always happen in threes, they say, and they are right.

Because it’s happening again. But this time the curse is coming for me.

And the worst of all?

It’s coming for you, too.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Sam Ripley’s thriller blurs the line between urban legend horror and a straight-up serial killer tale but the execution is lacking. The three main characters are difficult to empathise with (each is so messed up that none rung emotionally true) and their stories are heavily contrived (which, is to tie in with the urban legend aspect to make you question them) such that I found it hard to maintain interest. Ultimately, this just wasn’t for me.

THE RULE OF THREE was released in the United Kingdom on 22nd June 2023. Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Do you ever pretend to like something you don’t, just to fit in?

Is it sometimes hard to tell others how you’re feeling?

Do you wish there was less pressure on you to ‘man up’?

Navigating the confusing messages around boyhood is tough, and it’s easy to worry whether you’re living up to expectations.

Dr Ranj is here to reassure readers that being a boy is BRILLIANT - no matter what kind of boy they are. Exploring everything from gender stereotypes, respect and peer pressure to mental health, body image and leadership, this book encourages boys to stop stressing about their insecurities and instead embrace being the type of boy they want to be, with confidence, positivity and kindness.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Dr Ranj (aka Ranjit Singh) is a doctor, TV presenter and author. This book for boys aged 9+ (illustrated by David O’Connell) counters the toxic masculinity that readers can find on-line and offers good advice about being yourself and dealing with pressure and insecurities, all coupled with personal anecdotes from Dr Ranj and others. It’s a good starting point for a necessary conversation but I wonder Dr Ranj he’s the right messenger here.

HOW TO BE A BOY was released in the United Kingdom on 11th May 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

An assassin, a soldier, a prince … And a deadly game of power

When Darling Seabreak’s family were murdered by the ruthless House Dragon, she swore she’d get revenge. And first to die will be their bloodthirsty war general, Talon Goldhoard.

Talon Goldhoard will defend his family at any cost. So when he meets Darling - a ferocious girl who looks exactly like the one his brother, the High Prince Caspian, has painted obsessively for years - Talon is instantly on his guard.

Neither could have anticipated the thrilling chaos they will bring to the other’s life. With their world catching fire around them, they must navigate betrayal, prophecy - and love.

This is a game where nobody knows the rules, and everything is to play for.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland’s YA fantasy romance (the first in a series) is a solidly constructed enemies-to-lovers story with thoughtful (if generic) world building including an interesting mythology based around magical beasts. However the pacing, for me, was uneven with the authors focusing largely on set-up so that the story doesn’t really get going until the final quarter, although it does set up an intriguing premise for the sequel.

CHAOS AND FLAME was released in the United Kingdom on 30th March 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

I Am You Are is a powerful book that will help children and adults have meaningful discussions about disability.

Most importantly, this book encourages children to feel empowered, to embrace individuality, to look out for one another and to celebrate disability as diversity.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Ashley Harris Whaley is a writer, speaker and disability rights activist. This sensitive, clearly written book for readers aged 5+ (beautifully illustrated by Ananya Rao-Middleton) discusses disability, what it is to be disabled and most importantly, why disability is important and how we can benefit from including disabled people in everyday life and there’s a handy note at the back for adults who are reading along with young readers.

I AM YOU ARE was released in the United Kingdom on 18th May 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

Profile

quippe

January 2026

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31

Syndicate

Page Summary

The Leadership House by Patrick Flesner
Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan
The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman
The Murder Game by Tom Hindle
The Secret Hours by Mick Herron
Rebel Fire by Ann Sei Lin
The First Move by Jenny Ireland
A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle
Lads: A Guide To Respect And Consent by Alan Bissett
The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo
Castle Rock Mystery Crew by Vicky McClure and Kim Curran
The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu
The Inner Level by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett
Standing By The Wall by Mick Herron
The Starlight Stables Gang by Esme Higgs and Jo Cotterill
Murder On A School Night by Kate Weston
The Rule Of Three by Sam Ripley
How To Be A Boy And Do It Your Own Way by Dr Ranj
Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland
I Am You Are by Ashley Harris Whaley

Style Credit

Style: Coffee and Ink for Paletteable by branchandroot
Resources: one time to cry...

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags

Page generated Jan. 31st, 2026 11:41 am

I Read, Therefore I Blog

A Book Review Blog Belonging to Caroline Hooton

Recent Entries

The Leadership House by Patrick Flesner

Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan

The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman

The Murder Game by Tom Hindle

The Secret Hours by Mick Herron

Rebel Fire by Ann Sei Lin

The First Move by Jenny Ireland

A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle

Lads: A Guide To Respect And Consent by Alan Bissett

The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

Castle Rock Mystery Crew by Vicky McClure and Kim Curran

The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu

The Inner Level by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett

Standing By The Wall by Mick Herron

The Starlight Stables Gang by Esme Higgs and Jo Cotterill

Murder On A School Night by Kate Weston

The Rule Of Three by Sam Ripley

How To Be A Boy And Do It Your Own Way by Dr Ranj

Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland

I Am You Are by Ashley Harris Whaley