Good Question

Good Question is a debut crime novel from V. R. Lyons.

Sue and Jeff are lovely people. They are kindhearted, lovely, decent and nice. Everyone likes them. But Terry had inadvertently brought risk and genuine physical danger to Sue and Jeff.

They are employed in an old Victorian grocery store which, over the time of their employment there, they have grown to view with a great deal of affection and loyalty.

But they are horrified to discover that the apparently innocent grocery store is merely just a front for criminal activity.

Their discovery puts them in a quandary and a dilemma. What could they do about the situation they have discovered? What should they do about it? After all, the livelihoods of people they know are now at risk.

They need to decide where they really stand. Exactly how decent are they, as a couple?

They are confronted by people who know how to use violence to get what they want and they are prepared to use it. But what, exactly, will be the outcome?

Does nice confront nasty? And if it does, who wins? Who is really nice, who is really nasty?

There are more than enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and this is a fine debut crime novel. Hopefully it will be the first of many.

It's published by Matador at £8.99 and should be in the Christmas stocking of mystery and thriller lovers everywhere.

Shamus Dust

In Shamus Dust Janet Rogers takes her readers back to the war damaged City of London of 1947.

It's Christmas time and a murder has been committed in the Square Mile.

It looks to be a so-called vice killing an a member of the City council wants to get to the bottom of the matter, or to hide his own involvement in the case, so he decides to hire a private detective.

The private detective who he hires is an American, called Newman.

Newman has lived in Britain for a couple of decades and perhaps isn't keen on taking the case which is on the recommendation of a former client.

But take the case he does.

As he works on the case, using his undoubted knowledge and skills as a detective, Newman begins to realise that the case is far more complex than it might have first appeared. That often happens when more deaths begin to occur in a "simple" case.

But what can Newman do? What should he do?

And what on earth did this have to do with archaeology?

Janet Roger's debut novel is what can only be described as a genuine tour de force. It's as if Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe had got bored with his life in Los Angeles and travelled to England and lived under the pseudonym of Newman and was asked to investigate a murder. Or series of murders.

Janet Roger takes her readers back to 1947, when the war was over, yet the damage still in many places yet to be repaired, exposing a great deal.

If you have a mystery fan to buy a Christmas present for, then this will be it.

It's published by Matador at £11.99.

101 Positive Pictures

101 Positive Pictures In his book, Robert Valentine brings his readers a small, but perfectly formed, book of happiness which is illustrated with some highly inspirational cartoons by Robert Valentine.

The book will be able to inspire readers wit its beautifully coloured illustrations and ts visual affirmations.

All of us, no matter who we are, can never fully escape our own minds. How we deal with our own thoughts, how we process these thoughts can have a major impact on our lives, either for ill or for good.

However, 101 Positive Pictures is for people of all age groups and it's aim is a simple, yet noble on. To help you create for yourself a happier, more fulfilling life.

The images are colourful, engaging and by employing the simple affirmations therein, you will be able to apply the steps in your everyday life and to make some vital changes in your life and how you live it.

It's published by Matador at £12.99.

Lotus in the Sand

Lotus in the Sand is a novel from Peter Maroza.

It poses an interesting question. Which should a person chose? Honour or revenge?

Hamish McFarlane is an Afghan war veteran, who is disillusioned and jaded. He has tried to escape his troubled past by entering battle scarred Iraq.

There is a brutal terrorist assault on an oil company in Iraq and Hamish is sent in to carry out an assessment on the security there.

However, his investigations start to throw up some worrying anomalies. Although at first it seems to have been a terrorist attack, some things just do not seem to add up. The deeper his investigation digs, the more complex and downright sinister the whole matter becomes. He begins to fear for his won life and the lives of his nearest and dearest.

More people become involved and more people die and Hamish realises that he no longer knows who he can, or should, trust.

His search for the truth takes him into the mountainous Kurdistan, back inot the streets of Baghdad and even into the very heart of the British establishment.

But what will Hamish do? Will he succeed?

It's a stunning book and draws heavily on the experiences of the author's time working for s private security company in Iraq for some years.

It's published by The Book Guild at £9.99 and will be a great Christmas gift for the thriller lover in your life.

NA GÀIDHEIL

NA GÀIDHEIL is a book by Catrìona Zappert which is an illustrated introduction to Scottish Gaelic for children.

It's aimed at children, parents, grandparents, teachers and adults who want to learn Gaelic or who want to help other people to learn Gaelic.

Learning a new or different language can be a bit difficult at first, but it's the intention of Catrìona that this book will serve as a simple introduction to gently introduce the reader to some basic Gaelic words that they can build on in later books.

Catrìona says that Gaelic is in her blood. She points out: "As my great grandparents on the Finlayson side were Gaels and on my mother's side, too, some of the Drummonds were also Gaelic speakers, so I feel very strongly about learning and teaching the language."

The illustrations within this book takes the reader on a magical journey through the Gaelic fairy realm of the mystical country of Scotland and introduces them to the Gaels, a family of Scottish fairies, an some of the Gaelic place names in Scotland.

You'll meet magic, unicorns, enchantment and by employing some simple phonetics, you'll be able to learn some Gaelic words that you can use around the home.

Catrìona is learning Gaelic herself and she practices it with her daughter who is six years old. She says: "I love to hear her speak the language."

The book is published by Matador and costs £9.99. It will make an absolutely stunning Christmas gift to any person who wishes to learn the Gaelic of Scotland.

It will be a very helpful book. Or "Bidh e na leabhar gu math cuideachail."

Three Little Mermaids

Three Little Mermaids is a new book for children from Louisa MacVeigh. Lilly, Claire and Nina are all given an invitation to the birthday party of Princess Kikki.

They have to think really, really hard about what kind of birthday present they would get for her. But it was not easy for them, after all what would you buy fora Mermaid Princess who already has everything under the sea?

The three Mermaids all set off on a special quest to find the perfect present for their Mermaid Princess.

Whilst they are searching they meet some fascinating new sea creatures and discover a shipwreck which is chock full of treasures.

But they need to find a present to show Princess Kikki how much they value her friendship. Can they do this?

If they do, what will they find for her?

This is a book that's aimed at children of ages three and over, it's a well-written and nicely illustrated and carries some important messages about the importance of friendship.

It's published by Matador and costs £7.99 and will be an ideal Christmas present.

Aya and Papaya Keep Trying

Aya and Papaya Keep Trying is another well written and well illustrated book for children from MQ.

Aya wakes up smiling. Why? Because she knows that today is the day when she and her family will be going to spend a day on the beach!

Aya busily collects all the important things that she will need for her day at the beach. She then fetches Papaya because it is time for everyone to leave for their day at the beach.

When she is at the beach, Aya builds a nice big castle. But something is wromg! A huge wave comes up the beach and perhaps the sea is hungry, because it eats poor Aya's sand castle, bit by bit!

Of course, this makes Aya very sad. But then Aya is no longer that sad, because she has had a brilliant idea. The idea to build the biggest and strongest sandcastle that the whole world has ever known!

But does she succeed in her ambition? To find out, you'll need to buy this right and sunny book that helps teach children about persisting in their ambitions.

It's another great stocking filler.

It's published by Matador at £9.99.