The Boy in the Suit Case

I very much enjoyed The Boy in the Suit Case by Lene Kaaberbøl and Agnete Friis which is set in Denmark and Lithuania.  I did find it a bit confusing at first with the different characters as each chapter focused on one or two of the characters, but stick with it as it all becomes clear.  A three year-old boy is kidnapped and found by a woman asked to collect a suitcase from a train station - no spoiler there, it's in the title anyway.  Then the reader is set for a ride to find out what happens to the boy and the reason he was kidnapped.  The chapter usually ends with a "cliff hanger" until that same character appears in future chapter.  As the tension builds the reader learns more about each character wonders how it will all end. 41/2/5

July Book Club

We ventured out on a cold night to our Book Club meeting.  Fortunately, I didn't have far to go and then we were in a lovely warm room for our meeting.  A couple were missing, one holidaying overseas and one hosting overseas guests.  Our thanks to our host who provided a nice warm venue for us to enjoy our evening.  She also bought some great books this month

for us to read into the future.  Our host had been very busy providing a delicious supper for our eating pleasure.  We all enjoyed great conversation, and listened with interest to the "reviews" of the books everyone had read in the last month.  It's always a pleasure to get together with these lovely ladies.

The Girl Who Fell From the Sky

I enjoyed this story The Girl Who Fell From The Sky by Heidi Durrow which begins with a family tragedy.  A mother takes her children to the roof of the apartment block where they live and jumps off.  A boy in one of the apartments sees the older girl "fly" past his window.  The girl, Rachel, survives the fall and the story then moves to what happens to her later.  She goes to live with her grandmother and aunt where she discovers she is "coloured".  Her mother was Danish with blonde hair and blue eyes, her father was "black".  Rachel finds new attitudes towards her skin colour and her beautiful blue eyes.  The boy who saw her fall goes in search of her.  Each chapter looks at a different character, including Rachel's mother, a recovering alcoholic.  Rachel is determined to become her own person.  Well written, poignant. 41/2/5

The Bookseller

I very much enjoyed The Bookseller by Mark Pryor which is set in Paris.  Hugo Marston is head of security at the American embassy and he's very keen on old books.  He regularly visits a book stall owner - a bouquiniste, named Max till he witnesses an incident near the book stall which sets Hugo on a dangerous path involving crime gangs in Paris.  Hugo then notices that these prized book stalls are being taken over by new people.  Max had sold Hugo a couple of rare books and they become very significant to the story.  Hugo meets a beautiful young journalist and she helps him investigate what is going on.  Then a former friend from the CIA comes to visit and he also becomes involved.  There are twists and turns and violent confrontations before the investigation is completed. 41/2/5

Last Chance Cafe

I very much enjoyed Last Chance Cafe by Liz Byrski which is set in Melbourne, Australia.  The story begins with an elderly woman, Dot, chaining herself inside a busy shopping centre, protesting against the exploitation of women.  An old friend, Margot, whom Dot hasn't seen for many years takes her away after the chain is broken.  Then the reader is introduced to a number of characters who are all connected. Margot's two daughters Emma, a high flyer who gave custody of her daughter to her husband because she couldn't handle motherhood and Lexie who has been made redundant from her job.  The reader also meets Margot's sister, Phyllida, and her husband Donald who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.  The events following this has ramifications for all.  It is a good, easy read and the reader gets caught up in the lives of the characters. 4/5

Bay of Fires

I enjoyed Bay of Fires by Poppy Gee which is set in northern Tasmania.  Sarah is staying with her parents and sister in a beach shack where they've come every year.  She has returned after a disastrous breakup with her boyfriend in Queensland.  There has been a recent disappearance of a female backpacker and when her body is washed up on a beach there is much speculation about her death and the disappearance a year ago of another young woman.  Hall, a journalist with a local paper, stays in a B&B there to write stories about the women and meets Sarah.  They both try to work out what happened with some prime suspects coming to their notice.  The story is mainly about the relationships between the different characters.  Eventually, the truth is revealed. 4/5

The Full Ridiculous

I very much enjoyed The Full Ridiculous by Mark Lamprell, which is set in Australia.  The story is written in the second person - an interesting effect.  Michael O'Dell is hit by a car when crossing the road and his life seems to unravel after this traumatic event.  Then at school, his daughter Rosie is involved in an incident which will have wider ramifications for her and her family.  Michael's son, Declan, is discovered to have almost done something unlawful.  Wife, Wendy, is stressed about how the family will survive financially.  There seems to be one crisis after another, some almost comical involving a maniacal police constable.  Michael despairs that his life will ever be "normal" again.  The reader will be asking what next can go wrong with this family.  Very clever writing. 4/5