Watch the birdie

Out of a Clear Sky by Sally Hinchcliffe

Macmillan 2008, 304 pages

When Manda’s boyfriend leaves her for someone else, she takes refuge in birdwatching – the hobby introduced to her by her ex. The birds seem to ease her feelings of loneliness but it soon becomes apparent that while she is watching them, someone else is watching her. As the harassment escalates details of Manda’s troubled family history begin to emerge, and not knowing who to trust, she takes flight.

The chapters of this book are each named after a different bird species and details of that bird’s behaviour are woven into the story. The blurb says “an unsettling psychological thriller which will grip you to the startling, unforeseen end.” Not wishing to appear a clever clogs, I spotted the decoy but even so I stayed up until the small hours in order to finish it. You don’t need to be Bill Oddie to enjoy this, but it could turn you into a twitcher!

For anyone who’s interested, the sparrow was made by Hands On Ceramics and this is the link to their website: http://www.handsonceramics.com

Rock me gently

My Enemy’s Cradle by Sara Young

HarperCollins 2008, 400 pages

Holland, 1941 and half-Jewish Cyrla is hiding in the house of her aunt and uncle. Her cousin Anneke, pregnant with the baby of a German soldier, has been granted a place at a Lebensborn maternity home. When Cyrla’s safety is threatened by the suspicions of a nosey neighbour, fate offers an escape route. But can Cyrla pull it off? Is she brave enough to take on her cousin’s identity and step into the enemy’s cradle?

This book was a very easy read; the blog editor (my teenage daughter) snaffled it when I wasn’t looking and devoured it in one sitting. However we both agreed that considering the weight of the subject matter, it was a little on the light side. Sara Young has previously written books for children under the name of Sara Pennypacker. My Enemy’s Cradle is her debut novel for adults.

What we did on our holidays (part 3)

It didn’t seem right to visit Alnwick without going to The Garden and on the day we went, filming was in progress for a Bollywood movie (Apni Boli Apna Desh). It all sounds very exciting but actually, there wasn’t a lot happening.

So we had a good look around taking in all the sights and sounds; you can’t imagine my amazement when I spotted one of my favourite people – singer/songwriter Kathryn Williams. I am a BIG fan of Kathryn’s, have all her CD’s and have seen her perform live three times. She stopped to chat to me which was really sweet of her, so if you haven’t heard any of her music, I suggest that you check it out.

Meeting Kathryn was a brilliant end to a lovely holiday – there is so much to see and do in Northumberland that a week is not enough but staying as we were in the appropriately named Loan End Cottage, meant that at the end of seven days, we had to give it back.

For more information as always, follow the links:

http://www.alnwickgarden.com

http://www.kathrynwilliams.net

http://www.cottageguide.co.uk/loanendcottage

Scandinavian suspense

Echoes from the Dead by Johan Theorin

Translated by Marlaine Delargy

Doubleday 2008, 400 pages

One foggy day in September on the Swedish island of Öland, a child escapes the confines of his grandparents’ garden and is never seen again. Twenty years on, his mother Julia Davidsson is still refusing to accept that her son Jens is dead, getting through her days and nights with the help of red wine and pills. When she receives a telephone call from her elderly father Gerlof, telling her that he has been sent one of her sons shoes in the post, Julia decides to return to the island to help in the search for the truth.

There hasn’t been much crime on here up until now, me having been brought up to be a law-abiding citizen, but everyone has lapses now and again and this book was just too tempting. (That doesn’t mean that I nicked it from Waterstones!) If you are looking for a stonking good read with an excellent plot, oodles of atmosphere and characters that you can really take to your heart, then look no further. But be warned, when I got to the end and all the loose threads had been neatly tied up I somehow felt cast adrift, not because I didn’t know what had happened, but because I knew what had.

Echoes from the Dead is Johan Theorin’s first novel, it has already won him a crime fiction prize in his native Sweden and I’m willing to bet that there will be more to follow, if not I’ll eat my library ticket!

What we did on our holidays (part 2)

After Alnmouth we set off for Howick Hall, formally home of the Grey family. Charles, 2nd Earl Grey, was Prime Minister from 1830 to 1834 and (interesting bit) had a blend of tea specially made for him by a Chinese mandarin. Lady Grey served the tea in London when acting the political hostess, it proved so popular that it was taken up by Twinings. Unfortunately (sad bit) the Greys did not register the trademark and as a result have never received any money in royalties. The Estate has now passed to Lord Howick of Glendale, grandson of the 5th Earl Grey.

Although the house is not open to the public at present, there is plenty to see at Howick – if you are a lover of gardens you will be in your element. The bog garden was looking especially good.

So, after a pleasant stroll through the arboretum, woodland garden and bog garden, it was time to head off to the tearoom for a cup of Earl Grey.

For more information about Howick Hall Gardens & arboretum go to: www.howickhallgardens.org