Plague

Plague is an hilarious look at medieval history, written by Jonathan Forth.

Apparently there needs to be a war between England and France. Who says so? The Pope. Why? He believes that peace has prevailed for far too long.

People have become lax, which is, the Pope believes, a result of living a life that is far too peaceful. If there were a war between England and France, goes his Papal reasoning, people who become so scared that they'd return to church services and, as a consequence of this, money would be put on the collection plates. After all, when the plate is passed round the church, who wants to be the odd one out by not making a 'voluntary' donation?

He has a very daring and gorgeous assassin who is primed to kill Edward, King of England. Who must die a painful and horrible death just at the time when King Philipe of France is visiting England.

However, much to the Pope's chagrin, the plague has already reached Europe and it's now a bit of a race to see who kills King Edward: The plague or the assassin.

Sir Walter, vassal to the King, is charged with sorting the situation out. But what, exactly, is causing the plague? Strongly scented French cheeses? Is it fornication as the Church pontificates? The fireball that appeared in the sky? Or something else?

But as an interesting aside, what would happen if Death and the Plague were to get together and work in harmony?

And what exactly would be the reward of the Pope?

This book is a very amusing romp through some of the lesser known avenues of Medieval history.

It's published by Matador at ££9.99.

Ayeme's Circus of Redemption

In Ayeme's Circus of Redemption, a new novel from novelist Keith Blackburn, we meet Arthur. Arthur used to be a teacher at a very good grammar school. But that was  long time ago, before alcohol had taken its toll on him.

After an unfortunate meeting with a white delivery van he awakes in a hospital bed. However, it's no ordinary hospital, this one has fireplaces in the rooms and Arthur (registered for some reason as Ayeme) manages to escape from the hospital ward by the simple means of going through the fireplace.

He emerges into a completely different place, wearing completely different clothing, weighed down by a very heavy rucksack.

He is in a moonlit garden, which is imbued with peace. On the other side of the garden he espies a woman who is dressed in black who is conversing with a man who is wearing  top hat and tails.

He realised that they are planning a funeral. In some way that he cannot define, Ayeme feels a connection of some sort with the woman, so he attaches himself to the procession which finally reaches a church which is in the middle of a wood.

And then things begin to get really interesting as he sets off on an odyssey of a journey, he meets and interacts with a variety of rather interesting and intriguing characters, as he attempts with varying degrees of success, to try to work out what is happening and what is going on.

And what, exactly, is the circus of redemption? Who is it attempting to redeem?

It's a stunningly original book, sadly it is the last book written by Keith Blackburn who passed away in October 2018.

The book is published by The Book Guild at £9.99.

Force of Nature

Force of Nature is the next in the 'Mathew Hawk' series of thriller novel, from the pen of David Collenette.

A series of murders have been committed. They would all be dismissed as being totally disconnected from each other. Except for the fact that at the scene of each murder someone has left a mysterious symbol.

Roche and his team are at a loss at how to proceed. They are stuck and the only possible way out that he can think of is to put a call in to Matthew Hawk, who must travel to Israel in the possible hope of being able help him find out what has been going on.

It appears that the murders are not as random as they had first appeared. There is, after all, a link between the apparently senseless slayings. They are all linked to a specific area of scientific research.

And the truth is that the situation far worse than anyone could have possibly imagined.

But suddenly it seems that the tables are now turned and Matthew is the hunted rather than the hunter. A hired killer known as The Machine is seeking to kill Matthew. Roche does his best to help Matthew escape, but can he succeed in helping him?

In a mad, worldwide dash, Matthew manages, just, to keep one step beyond the grasp of the pitiless killer. Whilst still trying to help solve the mystery of why the murders were arranged and who arranged them, bringing the guilty parties to justice.

But can he and Roche find a sollution to what, exactly, has been going on? Will they prevail against all the odds? And who, exactly, are they really facing up against?

It's a fast paced thriller and will be a welcome holiday novel this summer.

It's published by The Book Guild at £8.99.

Ampheus

Ampheus is book one of the Four Realms series from Jonathan Forth. The series is a fantasy realm aimed at readers of 12 years and older.

Gorath is a Dark Lord. His ambition is to bring the Four Realms under his control. He has a frightening Horde army, the callous Janshei horsemen. These are supplemented by beasts taken from the caverns of Dern from the very depth of Gamura.

He is also seeking the totems from the other realms as this would give him power to conquer the Ancient World.
However, all will not be plain sailing for Gorath as the King of Terramis is a prod and noble man. He and his castle Ampheus will stand inj his path.

Gorath lays siege to the castle. His plans to capture the castle have inside help from a spy who dwells within the castle.

Ambassadors have been dispatched from Ampheus to seek assistance from the capital cities of the other realms. But before they can reach their destinations, they must evade the agents of Gorath who are plotting to stop them.

Lord Gorath has not counted on the fact that brave people are prepared to face up to him and strive to defeat him and his minions.

Will they be able to stop him?

It's an exciting and well-crafted story that bodes well for the rest of this series.

It's published by Matador at £9.99

The Seventh Train

The Seventh Train is the second novel from author Jackie Carreira.

It's a novelisation of her successful and award-winning play of the same name.

Elizabeth has decided to organise a railway trip . The fact that a passenger had decided to hurl themselves in front of a train, thus delaying Elizabeth's journey and of all other travellers that February Day, was perhaps a sign of things to come.

She was travelling alone. But unknown to her she was not travelling alone, or rather not as alone as she thought she was.

There was the woman selling coffee in the buffet who just loved to pigeonhole her customers, the found book that Elizabeth was trying to read, the train driver who had driven the train that a rather polite young man had stepped in front of, the young man had died, instantly. His problems were over, but the problems of the train driver were only just beginning.

On her journey she meets a wide variety of people, some who seem to be harmless, some who appear to be utterly barking mad. But as any seasoned rail traveller can tell you, it's not always easy to tell them apart and some of the apparently harmless ones are really troublesome.

And there are some people who seem intent on committing the ultimate rail travelling sin, trying to make other passengers think.

And what, exactly, is a seventh trainer? Is Elizabeth one of these? Does she want to be? Or not?

It's a quirky novel that contains humour, yet also some genuine pathos, too.

But who, exactly, was ms Mabel Heep?

It's published by Matador at £8.99. Maybe you should take it on your next train journey?

Me? I Kill People

Me? I Kill People is a debut crime novel from author Alan Jacobs.

Giles Penshurt is a wealthy man. However, Giles has obtained his wealth in a somewhat unconventional way. He obtained his wealth by killing people for money.

An apparently harmless computer nerd Giles had become a contract killer almost by accident. He found that he had an aptitude for murder but tried to ensure that he only ever killed people who deserved to die.

Although Giles is very careful the police realise that there is a contract killer on the lose and they are making every effort to find out who the killer is and to trap him and arrest him. Something that Giles just does want to happen to him for obvious reasons.

There's one particular police officer, Hazel Frazer, who is hot on his trail.

Matters become complicated when Hazel discovers his identity, but falls in love with him.

Giles manages to elude the police and flees to Brazil to hopefully avoid extradition.

Will Hazel's love for Giles prove her undoing? Will she be able to perform her duty in bringing Giles to justice or will she falter due to the call of her heart?

Or will Giles' life as a computer nerd and contract killer all come crashing down around his unprotected head?

This is a complex yet highly enjoyable thriller.

It's priced at a very reasonable £7.99 and is published by Matador. It'll be packed in many suitcases this summer, I think.

Flames of Obscurity

Flames of Obscurity is a fantasy thriller written by Elliot Spencer. It's set somewhere that is very like modern day Britain, but not quite.

Edward Sherborne has recently been elected as the Prime Minister of Anglony. 

His chief armed forces officer reveals to the new Prime Minister that all is not well in Anglony, that there is a mysterious and secretive sect that goes by the name of The Chancery. And he points out that he, not the Prime Minister, is the person who wields the power.

And, perhaps, worse, there are three traitors within the establishment who are known as the Rose, The Bird and The Dragon.

The Chancery have taken a risky decision, they have arranged the kidnapping of his young daughter as a way to attempt to force him to abide by their agenda. Which calls upon him to murder three people that The Chancery have decreed as traitors.

Prime Minister Sherborne has to come up with a solution. Can he destroy these enemies of the state and thus make sure his daughter is released safe and unharmed?

But then in a shocking turn of events he quickly learns of the true identity of the traitor known as The Rose which makes his question all of his beliefs.

The Prime Minister is desperate to save the life of his daughter. But who can he trust? His wife? His friend, Andrew MacPherson? Jane Banks, his Secretary of State? 

The Prime Minister also wants revenge against those responsible for kidnapping his daughter. But can he pull it off? And if so, how?