Book Reviews

I've been rather obsessed by forensics lately. Hooked by Sue Black's book All That Remains, I have borrowed 30 Second Forensic Science from the library which is co-edited by Sue Black and Niamh Nic Daeid. I may well have to buy this! Crime writing is not my thing, unless you count the one I wrote during NaNoWriMo one year which still sits on my laptop. Sometimes I write around crime, but with none of the technical stuff. But I do love reading these books and have taken the odd online course in the different branches of forensic science. One of them featured Sue Black and Val McDermid in a question and answers session.  All That Remains is partly memoir as Sue Black talks about growing up, the death of her uncle and parents, her first job (working at a butchers) and she goes into great detail about the autopsy process. Later she goes on to discuss various cases and her own attitude to death. The book is deeply moving, surprising and at times humorous. Sue has worked with many police forces as well as in places of conflict identifying bodies, or parts of bodies that have been buried to cover up mass killings. I could not put this book down.

30 Second Forensics identifies the different things that come under the umbrella of forensic science. The book is split into seven chapters, each with a glossary and a profile of someone who made strides or discoveries in the world of forensics. It is aimed at the layreader, so easy to understand. Small chunks like this are useful as you can dip in and out when you have the time.

 If you do write crime then I'd throughly recommend these books, along with the one by Val McDermid. But even if you don't write crime these books are engrossing, or maybe that's just me!

Small Things by Hannah Sutherland (AdHoc Fiction), is a novella-in-flash. The short passages follow Jude as he grows up dealing with loss, his sexuality, and love. Heartbreaking and powerful, this work draws you into Jude's world and has you shouting out for things to go right for him. 

The Assistant by S K Tremayne pumps up the tension in this crime/thriller. It makes you think about what Alexa and other 'home helps' we use daily actually know about you. Jo, who is broke and divorced, is living with friend Tabitha in her expensive apartment near Primrose Hill. As a freelance journalist, Jo works at home and with Tabitha away a lot, she is alone, except for the 'home helps'. Suddenly they begin to talk to her, spouting events from her life. Who was doing this and why? The book has a tension packed ending and a twist.

I've enjoyed two books By Stacey Halls - The Familiars and The Foundling and Wise Children by Angela Carter was receommended by a friend. Twin girls, whose father refused to acknowledgment them as his, but their uncle took them under his wing. Centred around music hall days, the book romps through the years and the family history, as one of the twins looks back on their lives. The humour is wonderful, reminding me a little of Cold Comfort Farm. This was pleasantly delightful.