When Ian Rankin retired John Rebus in “Exit Music” fifteen years ago and implied we’d read the last of the detective, I was gutted, obviously, but also impressed by the audacity of the decision to relinquish such an iconic character. Oh, sure; Rebus has aged in real time since his debut, and he’d reached that … Continue reading Review: A Heart Full of Headstones by Ian Rankin
Author: Simon McDonald
Simon is a Sydney-based award-winning bookseller.
Review: Desert Star by Michael Connelly
In Michael Connelly’s “Desert Star,” Renee Ballard has revived the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit thanks to her benefactor on the city council, Jake Pearlman, and calls Harry Bosch out of retirement to work cold cases alongside a team of volunteers. Bosch left the department acrimoniously, but the chance to use the LAPD’s resources to work his … Continue reading Review: Desert Star by Michael Connelly
Review: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
Sulari Gentill adds an intriguing wrinkle to the mystery genre with "The Woman in the Library," which sees Winifred “Freddie” Kincaid arriving in Boston from Australia as the recipient of a prestigious writers’ fellowship. While contemplating her manuscript in the Boston Public Library, a woman's scream pierces the stillness, which becomes the central conceit of her … Continue reading Review: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
Review: Bad Actors by Mick Herron
Mick Herron's caustically satirical spy series continues with "Bad Actors," its eighth instalment, which deals with the disappearance of Sophie de Greer, a 'superforecaster' employed by the British government — who might be a Russian agent, which would be very bad news indeed for the man who hired her; Anthony Sparrow, the Prime Minister's key adviser; and for MI5 chief Diane … Continue reading Review: Bad Actors by Mick Herron
Review: Your Show by Ashley Hickson-Lovence
Uriah Rennie was the English Premier League’s first Black match official. He was a trailblazer. Or, at least, he should've been — Rennie retired more than a decade ago, in 2008. Yet he remains the only Black referee to officiate a match in the world's biggest football competition. Ashley Hickson-Lovence's "Your Show" isn't about Rennie's legacy, but I can't … Continue reading Review: Your Show by Ashley Hickson-Lovence
Review: Lying Beside You by Michael Robotham
If you're after a gripping thriller, you can't do better than Michael Robotham; as close to a sure thing as you get in the genre, which is a line I used last year when reflecting on "When You Are Mine," but one that deserves repeating. He makes it look so easy, you wonder why all suspense novels … Continue reading Review: Lying Beside You by Michael Robotham
Review: The Heron’s Cry by Ann Cleeves
"The Heron's Cry" is my first Ann Cleeves, and it most assuredly will not be my last. There's no reason why it's taken me so long to get around to reading the prolific creator of the Vera Stanhope mysteries and the Shetland series (among others...) — my only excuse is that I only have so much time … Continue reading Review: The Heron’s Cry by Ann Cleeves
Review: Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Continuing my sojourn through the books I studied in High School with William Golding's "The Lord of the Flies," which wears its themes on its sleeves, and whose lack of subtlety makes it easy to digest and commentate. Of all the books I remember reading for class, this is the one whose essay formed most easily. You … Continue reading Review: Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Review: The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
In Jessamine Chan’s “The School for Good Mothers,” Frida Liu — a recently divorced Chinese American mother of 18-month old Harriett — makes the imprudent, sleep-deprived decision to leave her daughter at home alone for a few hours to head into the office and catch up on work. When the authorities discover Harriett unattended, Frida’s … Continue reading Review: The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
Review: The Match by Harlan Coben
I believe Harlan Coben is at his best when he writes about everyday people — like you and me — thrust into crazy situations. Take “No Second Chance,” for example, which is about Marc Seidman’s desperate measures to recover his kidnapped daughter. Or “Run Away,” when Simon Greene spots his runaway daughter in Central Park, … Continue reading Review: The Match by Harlan Coben
Simon McDonald 