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Post by beverley61 on Mar 18, 2022 12:54:16 GMT
I have to say I was given a copy of Richard Osman's book, The Thursday Murder Club and wasn't that keen, thinking here we go a celeb writes a book. It is very good and I take my words back. The characters are so finely written and play out against each other. If you don't read carefully you miss their little quips, which are delightful. The two police officers are joyful. Chiming in very late to say I’ve read both of them and loved them. I understand that at least the first one has is being developed as a film by Amblin Entertainment (Spielberg’s production company). RO writes in such a visual way, I’m a bit worried that it will not live up to my mental image. I've read the second one and did enjoy it, but had it worked out quite quickly. I do hope they look for actors outside of the normal bunch that get to do these things. One of the reasons Victoria Woods Dinner Ladies worked was because she surprised us with actors who we knew but were playing outside their normal range. I do hope it's not Judi Dench and Helen Mirren, not that I dislike them but there must be tons of older actors looking for work. |
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Post by beverley61 on Mar 18, 2022 12:56:36 GMT
This is an old one, but I've just read Josephine Ley's book Daughter of Time about her detective stuck in hospital investigating the mystery of the princes in the tower to pass the time. A little book but utterly convincing and such a lovely use of language.
This is available second hand on most websites.
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Post by sleepyp on Mar 18, 2022 18:42:32 GMT
One of my favourite books  |
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Post by dippergirl on Mar 18, 2022 18:49:39 GMT
Mine too!
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Post by goodhelenstar on Mar 19, 2022 20:29:40 GMT
And mine!
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Post by beverley61 on Jun 11, 2022 19:10:50 GMT
I noticed this book 'A Beautiful Spy' on almost every supermarket shelf and in the window of Waterstones and Smiths. Brilliant said all the blurb and it sounded it.
A British Spy working on behalf of MI5/6/some number - it's not clear, as a secretary for the British Communist Party in the 1930s.
The basic plot is interesting, I've not read many novels with thus theme and it must have been researched. It had atmospheric moments but overall it is pants so don't waste your hard earned.
This woman would last about 2 months as a spy considering how suspicious the Communist Party must have been at that time. Her recruitment is flaky, and so is she. Her minder is creepy and by chapter 5 I wanted the communists to catch her!!!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2022 19:50:30 GMT
It is based on a true story.
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Post by beverley61 on Jun 12, 2022 20:28:32 GMT
Is it, I don't remember reading that bit. She spent more time having sleepless nights than anything else, surprised she could type and file for 10 hours everyday.
It was just hard to believe the communists didn't follow her occasionally or check her out a bit more.
Tosh anyway.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2022 21:10:01 GMT
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Post by beverley61 on Jun 13, 2022 11:45:56 GMT
I looked her up after you said it was based on a real story. Somehow the real story is more interesting than the book, which isn't. It left me feeling sorry for the Communists and one thing the book doesn't tell you is that the communist she was working with was found guilty of theft of public documents and not of spying or treason. In his later life he said he felt sorry for Olga who had been used by MI5, he clearly still felt she had communist leanings - perhaps she did. Before she died she was said to still be unhappy at the way she was treated.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2022 14:48:50 GMT
Talking of spies, I have finally got hold of the whole George Smiley collection, all nine books, which I will spend some time reading over the next few months.
I did some research on Percy Glading, and there can be no doubt that he was a spy for the Russians. He was a very active, and trained agent for communism in the United Kingdom, having spent a year at the International Lenin School in Moscow. It is often said that he was inept as a spy, but it could equally be said that the people who investigated him were equally inept. If they had done their job properly, they might have caught John Cairncross, the so called "Fifth Man" in the Cambridge Spy ring), and they might have caught Melita Stedman Norwood (Red Joan), who was only found out to be a spy much later, evidence which would have led them to both had been missed in the investigation of his home after his arrest. In the end, he was charged under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act (1911), and sentenced to 6 years hard labour. The whole thing would make a much better story than that written by Rachel Hore.
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Post by pandaeyes on Jun 30, 2022 9:05:22 GMT
Gallows Thief by Bernard Cornwell
It's the 1820s and Captain Rider Sandman late of the 52nd Regiment, hero of Waterloo, and sometimes cricketer, accepts a request from Lord Sidmouth the Home Secretary to investigate the murder of the Countess of Avebury....
As you know, Bernard Cornwell is the author of the Sharpe novels (also set in Waterloo). I read this in 3 days. The descriptions of the characters, the setting and language were vividly brought to life. I felt as if I'd been transported back to those times.
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Post by beverley61 on Jun 30, 2022 12:14:12 GMT
Talking of spies, I have finally got hold of the whole George Smiley collection, all nine books, which I will spend some time reading over the next few months. I did some research on Percy Glading, and there can be no doubt that he was a spy for the Russians. He was a very active, and trained agent for communism in the United Kingdom, having spent a year at the International Lenin School in Moscow. It is often said that he was inept as a spy, but it could equally be said that the people who investigated him were equally inept. If they had done their job properly, they might have caught John Cairncross, the so called "Fifth Man" in the Cambridge Spy ring), and they might have caught Melita Stedman Norwood (Red Joan), who was only found out to be a spy much later, evidence which would have led them to both had been missed in the investigation of his home after his arrest. In the end, he was charged under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act (1911), and sentenced to 6 years hard labour. The whole thing would make a much better story than that written by Rachel Hore. Yes the truth is more interesting that the fiction. |
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Post by beverley61 on Jan 19, 2023 18:55:21 GMT
Has anyone else read the Damian Seeker series of books (ongoing). My son got me three for Christmas.
It's not a period of history I know much about but they are readable.
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Post by Miranda on Jan 19, 2023 20:49:34 GMT
I'm struggling to find something new at the moment. I've finished the Dalrymple series and everything that's been recommended by the internet as similar is not as good. Any suggestions?
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Anymore to come?
