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Howick College

6,092 pages read and 6,325 team points

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    JaneR

    6,325 pts
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JaneR

6,325 pts
(6,092 pages read)

  • The Cruellest Month

    By Louise Penny
    3 stars

    Set in the beautiful but deadly village of Three Pines, Quebec (think Midsummer or St Mary Mead) and featuring the gentile but insightful Inspector Gamache. This time the inspector is dealing with personal crisis stemming from a previous case, a spy on his team and yet another death, apparently from fear but more likely a murder. A satisfactory read that explores friendship and jealousy.

  • The reappearance of Rachel Price

    By Holly Jackson
    4 stars

    A story about family secrets and lies, about manipulation and revenge. I found the central teen character is plausible. Her feelings of abandonment, confusion and rage when her mother, missing for 16 years, are well described. She is highly suspicious of everyone's motives and struggles to work out who to trust. This one has a real twist at the end.

  • The other Jasmine (second novella in the "The girl from Sarajevo")

    By Stef Harris
    5 stars

    Wong Ji Li arrives in New Zealand as a mail order bride only to find herself a virtual sex slave imprisoned on a derelict farm. Bit by bit she carves out a life for herself and overcomes each obstacle with care and perseverance. A true heroine, I was rooting for her from the first paragraph.

  • A Fatal Grace

    By Louise Penny
    5 stars

    I am enthralled by Inspector Gamache and Louise Penny's writing which reveal a great deal about people. The criminal act is merely the vehicle for exploring the characters in the story. This is a story of wounded psyches, an impossible crime, community, friendship and the lengths people will go to to do the right thing. Gamache is a thoughtful and sensitive inspector, not the typical damaged homicide policeman, a refreshing change.

  • The girl from Sarajevo (first novella in the "The girl from Sarajevo")

    By Stef Harris
    4 stars

    The first novella in the "The girl from Sarajevo". A young ambitious woman, an older man, lies and deception. Each of the main character manipulates the other to achieve their own ends. I didn't warm to the characters but but I did enjoy the story, it revealed just how far a person might go to achieve their goal.

  • The witching hour - Listener short story

    By Melanie Kwang
    4 stars

    In this poignant tale an older woman reflects on family life.

  • Base patrol - Listener short story

    By John Summers
    4 stars

    A story about schoolyard bullying.

  • Swamp hen - Listener short story

    By Miro Bilbrough
    3 stars

    A dog owners bad experience out walking is guiltily revealed.

  • Crossed with the cat - Listener short story

    By Anthony Lapwood
    4 stars

    The imminent death of a pet causes its owners great pain. A touching story that reveals the owners humanity.

  • Maia and the Sparrow - Listener short story

    By Nat Baker
    3 stars

    Fate brings two young people together.

  • Driving Alice - Listener short story

    By Emma Martin
    4 stars

    A story of friendship and loss. Trigger warning - suicide.

  • Driven to distraction - Listener short story

    By Vanda Symon
    4 stars

  • Wives of Tamaunuitera Listener short story

    By Tayi Tibble
    3 stars

  • Up on the roof - Listener short story

    By John Pins
    3 stars

  • Killer Intent

    By Tony Kent
    3 stars

    The murder of a British politician and the wounding of a US politician requires the intelligence services to dig deep. A journalist is also investigating she notices after anomalies and a deadly threat to a lawyer on the case. This is a wild chase, a conspiracy at the highest levels. A page turner.

  • Cold Granite

    By Stuart McBride
    5 stars

    A riveting read with a cast of odd ball characters including extras like the city of Aberdeen and the winter weather. Horrific crimes, damaged souls and deft language. A fantastic example of Scottish Noir writing.

  • The Botanist

    By M W Craven
    5 stars

    In this thrilling read there is a poisoner on the loose seemingly taking retribution on the morally bankrupt. Lots of medical science but an unputdownable read.

  • The impossible knife of memory

    By Laurie Halse Anderson
    4 stars

    Haley's father is an war veteran with PTSD and, while physically present, isn't much of a parent. They return to live in his home town after years on the road and Haley formally attends school and must learn how other teenagers operate. A couple of adults and her two closest friends (with their own minor family issues) are her great supporters and eventually Halley that not everything has to be a fight and new memories make better companions than old tainted memories. Sensitively written.

  • Dead Ground

    By M W Craven
    5 stars

    A compelling read that requires the protagonist to untangle a web of deceit that links 2 helicopter pilots, an army medic, a bank robbery, a ceramic rat and a pawn broker to two murders whilst being hampered by the secret service.

  • The Doubt Factory

    By PaoloBacigalupi
    3 stars

    A techno-thriller for teens where words, used by PR, become the weapon of choice. Teens need to decide what ethical choices to make and how to counteract the influence of big business.

  • The untold history of the potato

    By John Reader
    3 stars

    If you are interested in social history then this is a good read otherwise probably less interesting. When we think about the potato in history we mostly think about famine but this humble vegetable changed lives in positive ways influencing imperialism, politics, technology and diet.

  • The Curator

    By M W Craven
    5 stars

    You need a strong stomach to read this - gruesome crimes, compelling storytelling. The lead characters are a quirky couple, part of a specialist investigation team. And I, for one, didn't see the ending coming.

  • Still Life

    By Louise Penny
    5 stars

    I love a good crime novel that is part of a series and have been trying to find the time to read the Inspector Gamache series for years following recommendations for a Canadian travel companion. Inspector G is a brilliant gentle man solving terrible crimes in Quebec. Beautifully drawn characters, a beautifully written twisty tale.

  • Perfect Death

    By Helen Fields
    5 stars

    A gripping police procedural

  • Dead Tracks

    By Tim Weaver
    3 stars

    Gruesome and compelling

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