Seven Shades of J

Seven Shades of J is the memoir by Jean Riley, written with the assistance of Lesley Halliwell.

From a "highly strung" child to someone diagnosed with Bipolar Affective Disorder only took the heartbreaking divorce from her first husband, the father of her two children, who, it transpired was much worse than the flirt he appeared to be.

He kept the marriage sexless, whilst having serial affairs with people who Jan should have been able to rely on. Well, ween't they supposed to be her friends? Apparently not, as it turned out.

This caused her to be prescribed Haloperidol, which removed her zest for life. As a result Jean took the decision to stop taking prescription medications until some sexual encounters in Tunisia brought her to the conclusion that some form of prescription medications would be advisable.

A female psychiatrist was able to help her sort out some medications that would help moderate her condition, but also allow her to retain a sense of self.

The book is an honest and forthright account of, to borrow an expression, "a life well lived" or at least, a life lived very interestingly.

Some of her problems resulted from her mental health, but others were inflicted upon her as a direct result of the actions of other people. Her first husband, and her second husband who died in the throws of sexual ecstasy. Unfortunately whilst he was with his rather submissive secretary.

The story of the funeral and the ashes including a holiday in Bali is both moving and also tinged with humour, which brought her to yet another wedding.

Unlike some memoirs from people with bipolar conditions this book is remarkably cheery and filled with the zest for life that Jean mentioned.

I can highly recommend it.

It's published by Matador at £8.99.

The Gilded Ones

It's a hot day in 1984 and Pulse, who is an intuitive designer who has two job interviews to attend.

The first interview is with a company that is very busy and very mainstream. The second is with what appears to be a deserted practice based within an old London house, owned by Patrick Lloyd-Lewis, whose wife, Freia died recently, in circumstances that have yet to be fully explained.

Pulse comes to the startling realisation that he had dreamt about Frie's death only the night before. As a result he feels a compulsion to help solve the mystery of her death. So he accepts theo ffer of a job from Patrick.

When he does a little digging into the personal life of Patrick, Pulse realises that he is under some degree of suspicion from those closest to him.

A shocking link between Patrick, Freia and a gangster who had previously been encountered in the North, Pulse wonders if, perhaps, Patrick might have been involved, or to be responsible in some way?

 Could Pulse discover the identity of the murderer before they commit further murders? Can Pulse keep himself safe?

This is a gritty psychological crime novel from designer turned author Brooke Fieldhouse. This is his debut novel.

It's published by Matador at £9.99.

Buried Secrets

Buried Secrets is a highly useful self-help book from Savi McKenzie-Smith who has been a psychotherapist for in excess of three decades.

It is a comprehensive look at a range of real life accounts from people who were able to use psychotherapy to rid themselves of conditions such as anxiety and depression to enhance and improve their lifestyles.

The author takes her readers through an easy to read step-by-step guide into the theories behind "talking therapy" and its practical applications, all with the intent of helping people change their lives for the better.

Savi makes an interesting point. She questions if the "innumerable" books out there that tell people to feel good and use positive thinking to improve their lives actually work? After all, she wonders, how can a person achieve this goal if they are feeling low, anxious or depressed?

The boom is split into different sections covering different aspects of the theories of psychotherapy, how negative memories  can come back to haunt a person, often many years later and how, with support, these issues can be resolved.

The book is published by Matador at £9.99.

Star Matters

Star Matters is a new science fiction adventure novel from David John West.

There are some people on Earth who think we have been visited by alien visitors. Some promulgators of conspiracy theories claim that our governments are fully aware of the truth of these alien visitations, but are deliberately keeping the rest of humanity in the dark. The conspiracy theorists are entirely correct.

In times long past, the nascent human race on planet Earth came to the attention of a race known as the Dawn of Gaya, due to its spiritual awareness.

A number of specially chosen Guides were sent to the planet Earth, and have remained amongst humanity ever since, offering assistance with all significant philosophical and technological advances and discoveries.

Member of the race known as Dawn of Gaya, Amily has been given the role of secretly and discretely preparing the human race for the time when it will be ready for joining with the more advanced human races that are covering the galaxy.

However, the Spargar are a race that are rivals to the Dawn of Gaya. Their only aim is to trap and ensnare emerging races into their system, locking them into their technological and computing network.

The Spargar plan to invade planet Earth for their own nefarious purposes. But not if Amily, born of human and Gaya parentage and the race of Gaya have anything to do with it.

This book is published by Matador at £9.99.

Hands, the Archilles' Heel

In Hands, the Archilles' Heel, Peter Ffitch takes us through a startling theory of evolution of the role of humanity in the natural hierarchy.

The author points out that from an early age he had been struck by how little we understand the concept of human nature.

He argues that academics and scholars have struggled with this concept for 3,000 years, yet he feels we are nowhere near to resolving the basic dilemma of why were are so different from the animals of the world.

In his book he argues that evolution is not what we have been taught it is, that the view of humanity's role in evolution is "grandiose."

He feels that, erroneously, other books on human evolution and our hands have concentrated on our abilities to manipulate objects and to create artefacts.

In Hands, the Archilles' Heel, he argues that what he describes as "the much darker side to the use of hands" has, so far, not been disclosed.

He argues that the use of our hands has resulted in us becoming the most tense and fearful species that has ever lived, resulting in our "desecration"  of the planet.

The book is published by Matador at £15.00.

To Tame the Sentry Being

To Tame the Sentry Being is a fantasy novel from Michael Georgiou which is set amongst members of the human race, in the distant reaches of the Universe.

It is set on the planet Vena. Humanity is in a state of perpetual war over territories that are considered to be sacred with a race called the Alpelites. All this is under the watchful eye of the god Medzu.

The story begins with Syros and Ednon, brothers who are living with Ira, their grandfather who is a famed visionary and pacifist.

Syros is, naturally, enraged over the events that caused their parents to lose their lives. He seeks vengeance upon the Alpetites, who he blames for what happened.

However, Ednon, who is more idealistic, sets his sights on bringing an end to the war. But he will so whatever it takes to keep his brother safe and secure.

However, whilst in the Grand Library of Asterleigh, the golden city, Ednon has an encounter with a ghostly presence which reveals to him that at the next Passing of Sechen, the world will be brought to an end.

As a result, his life becomes infused with visionary appearances.

But was the vision to be trusted? Will the world come to an end? Which brother will succeed?

This book is published by The Book Guild at £8.99.

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