October 2022

Art/Architecture

European Vision and the South Pacific by Bernard Smith

Reviewed by Ian Lipke It is not often that one is asked to review a book of the calibre of Bernard Smith’s European Vision and the South Pacific. First published in 1960, and ready for re-publication in 2022, the book holds new delights for those who missed it on its first appearance and will delight

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Crime/Mystery

The Tilt by Chris Hammer

Reviewed by Rod McLary Chris Hammer’s latest novel The Tilt begins with two incidents each described in some detail and creating suspense from the opening sentence.  But are these incidents occurring at the same time in the same place; are they connected in some way; and are they harbingers of what is yet to come? 

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General Fiction

The Tower by Carol Lefevre

Reviewed by Wendy Lipke This book by Carol Lefevre does not follow the usual conventions of a novel where the reader can become immersed into the lives of a few main characters and follow their journey to whatever end the author may have in mind. It is not one storyline nor two – one in

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Historical Fiction

One Woman’s War by Christine Wells

Reviewed by Ian Lipke Despite the title, One Woman’s War is essentially the story of two women, one a British citizen and the other an Austrian. The Britisher is Victoire “Paddy” Bennett who walks one day into Room 39 at the Admiralty. She is expecting a secretarial position under the leadership of Commander Ian Fleming

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Crime/Mystery

Treasure State by C. J. Box

Reviewed by Ian Lipke The C.J. Box series of books consists of rambling episodes disguised as books in series. The only things they have in common are characters who appear time and time again. The best known of these is Cassie Dewell, a private investigator. The first book is Back of Beyond featuring Cody Hoyt.

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science

Koala: A Life in Trees by Danielle Clode

Reviewed by Wendy Lipke As many readers would agree, there are hundreds of children’s stories about koalas, but Danielle Clode reminds us that there are barely a handful of adult books about them. Despite their iconic status and celebrity, koalas remain a mystery. Clode delves into their world to discover the story behind this animal

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Crime/Mystery

Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths

Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve The mountains of mystery and thriller books continues to grow at a steady pace, with new titles constantly appearing. Authors’ determination to write a book that is different, even outstanding, must present a tough challenge. Often, there is the disillusioned detective, with a partner who can be a means of underlining

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Crime/Mystery

The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith

Reviewed by Ian Lipke If you’ve taken the trouble to order Robert Galbraith’s latest novel The Ink Black Heart, keep up the exercises, as you’ll need to be fully fit to cope with this 1000-page blockbuster. The novel is written by J.K. Rowling under a pseudonym. This is a long tale that has its strengths

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