Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Bond, Jimmy Bond

SilverFin: The Graphic Novel by Charlie Higson

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I must have read this in the novel format as this morning, when sitting down to write my review, everything seemed to feel familiar. It also could be that this is a very common mystery/adventure story of a young boy trying to find out why another boy went missing, making friends and figuring out what the plan of the villain is (who of course is the father of the bully the boy must deal with at school). SilverFin: The Graphic Novel is an interpretation of […]

Went on Cathy Lamb Reading Spree

My Very Best Friend by Cathy Lamb

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Trigger warning: Rape Dealing with some repairs at my home since Monday so since Sunday evening I have gone on a Cathy Lamb reading binge. I am also almost done with the two Clare Mackintosh books I have right now as well. I should have just kept up to date with reviews, but honestly hit a wall of not wanting to post any of my reviews. So today I am sucking it up and getting caught up. First up, “My Very Best Friend.” So I […]

Tartan Noir

Laidlaw by William McIlvanney

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Read as part of CBR11 Bingo: First in a series. This is perhaps the best 3-star book I’ve ever read. A quick explanation of my star system: 5 I give out semi-frequently to books I genuinely consider to be great. I’m not snobby with it, plenty of 5 star books are better than others but it’s my ratings system and I can do what I want. 4 is my most frequently distributed number, that’s for books that simply rise to the level of good. 3 […]

If A Book Falls out of a Cliche Tree, Is It Still Good?

Bloody January by Alan Parks

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There’s so much to like about Alan Parks’ Bloody January that I’m almost willing to forgive its many faults. Almost. Not quite. 4-stars is my standard for what I consider a “good read.” 4-stars means the book met the minimum standard for entertainment (and/or education) and quality. I give out 4-stars like its candy. Bloody January should easily slot into a 4-star read. And yet, it pulls hard on every cliche. The drunk detective with a dark past. The hooker with a heart of gold who can’t shake the […]

More time with McLevy

Shadow of the Serpent by David Ashton

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This Mclevy mystery occurs prior to the end of the BBC audio series. It is also more closely linked to Victorian politics than some of the other mysteries. While the focus is on Mclevy, and we get more of his backstory, which is a little different than you think. In many ways, Mclevy was made to saunter Leith. The other supporting characters from the series also make appearances, so of course we have the gossip of Jean Brash and Mclevy over coffee scenes. The bit […]

Jean Brash is my spirit animal

Mistress of the Just Land by David Ashton

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One of the reasons that I loved the Mclevy series on the BBC radio was Siobhan Redmond’s portrayal of Jean Brash, mistress of the best bawdy house in Edinburgh (actually most likely the world). This book, written by the BBC series’ creator/writer David Ashton, takes place before the close of the series and focuses mainly on Jean Brash solving a crime that occurred in her business. She is not happy about this. Hannah Semple, of course, is Watson to Brash’s Sherlock. Mclevy and Mulholland make […]



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