Charlie Palmer Says

In Charlie Palmer Says author Beverley Bowry introduces us to Nathan Clark. Nathan is ten and he is given the gift of a metal detector for Christmas.

Obviously, he's ecstatic with this present, so he rushes outside on Christmas Day  to use it. But what he actually discovers is a ghost by the name of Charlie Palmer.

Charlie Palmer tells Nathan a very sad story. He reveals that he was murdered by his neighbours, Mr and Mr Kimble. Not only are they murderers, they are also planning to undertake an armed raid.

When Nathan's parents are away for the weekend, he is left in the charge of his big sister. The family jewels go missing and, somehow, Charlie gets the blame.

When Nathan tells the police about the truth about Charlie Palmer, the police are sceptical about what he is telling them.

In fact, only a French scientist called Monsieur Dupont is listening to Nathan and believing him. But then he is the former owner of Nathan's house and he is very, very old. 128 years old.

But Monsieur Dupont wants something, too. But what? And can he get it?

Can Nathan beat the dreadful and murderous Kimble family? Or could he end up sharing the fate that happened to Charlie Palmer?

It's a quirky and very readable book for children and is published by Matador at £6.99.

It's going to be a great Christmas present.

Stiff Guy Yoga

Stiff Guy Yoga is a new book from Yoga expert Nikki Lynds-Xavier which is a guidebook for older, stiffer chaps who need to regain their good, younger selves.

Need to sit down to put your socks on, problems with hips that aren't supple anymore, back and shoulders that don't feel right, now?

Then you need this book. It's aimed at people who are beginners, who have no previous experience with Yoga. And all you need to get started, other than this book, is a Yoga mat.

And the author promises that you can get your good, younger self back, within 30 days.

You will be able to improve your flexibility, reboot your energy levels, cut down on your stress levels, and get back the two zeds. Your zip and your zeal!

The book is very well illustrated and contains a great deal of useful information and tips on healthy living and leading a healthier life.

It's published by Matador at £12.99 and will be a great Christmas gift for the stiff person in your life.

Poetic Justice: Oxford

In Poetic Justice: Oxford author Fran Raya brings us the latest instalment of the story of Randal Forbes.

It's what he, Randal Forbes, calls "the gift" the mysterious, dark powers that he employs, his telepathic mind powers.

However, the trail of destruction that his powers have left behind him has not gone unnoticed and has come to the attention of the police, who are investigating him on several potential charges of murder.

But he was never near the scene of any of the crimes. He was there, however, within the head of each victim who he had targeted.

By now Forbes is a student in Oxford, at Beaumont College, he glories in his successes and is on the way to becoming an author of considerable repute.

But by now he has discovered more enemies who he feels the need to deal with. People who are suspicious of his paranormal abilities he feels the need to eliminate.

His poetic justice is unpleasant and twisted, yet, conversely, he is loyal to his own family members.

Clearly, nobody would be able to offer any challenge to Forbes and his abilities. But what if Forbes isn't the only person in the world with such powers, such psychic abilities? Would they be able to face Forbes and take him on at his own game?

It's published by the Book Guild at £8.99 and will make a great Christmas gift.

Geraldine

In the novel Geraldine by John Mead, Inspector Matthew Merry and Sergeant Julie Lukula are tasked with investigating the death of Geraldine Driver, whose body has been found on the banks of the River Thames.

As Metropolitan Police detectives they are, of course, used to dealing with the results of crimes, such as violence and murder.

But what type of crime was was this murder? Was it a hate crime linked to a spate of other hate crimes?

However, Inspector Merry is not convinced. He believes that the crime against Geraldine Driver might well have been a hate filled crime, but he isn't convinced that it's linked to the other hate crimes.

But there's a shock at the autopsy, as it soon becomes apparent that things might not be what they at first appeared to be.

Who was Geraldine Driver? Who might have wanted Geraldine Driver dead? And the manner of his death was shocking and extremely brutal indeed and was obviously filled with a searing level of hatred that was diabolical in its intensity.

The case is complicated, with links to other incidents. Merry, Lukula and their colleagues are all dedicated professionals. But can they bring the perpetrators to justice?

This is a very well written police procedural murder mystery and if you give this as a Christmas present this year don't expect to see the recipient for a while as the action will grip them from the first page onward.

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

Despite the Darkness

Despite the Darkness In his debut novel David Maughan Brown takes a look back to the dark days of the South African Apartheid regime. Times which he lived through himself. 

It's 1985, a State of Emergency has been declared in South Africa as the country is becoming more and more ungovernable.

Cameron Beaumont is a history lecturer who, in common with many people like him at the time, was under constant surveillance by the South African security services. He is also subjected to death threats because some people just didn't like his views.

His is undergoing something of an existential crisis. What should he do? Keep his head down and do nothing? Or continue to play his part in the anti-apartheid movement? But if he does continue in the struggle, what could he do to protect his beloved wife Jules and their children?

And those death threats? They are not merely empty gestures and they are, in fact, just the very start of  what might happen.

But what would happen if he was pushed beyond his limits? What would he do to protect or avenge his loved one?

This is a very thought provoking novel and recreates the terrible days of Apartheid.

It's published by Matador at £9.99.   

The Ring's List

The Ring's List is a new mystery novel from new author Jade Nicole-Bracken.

The protagonist, Steven M. Johns spent the entirety of the 1980s in jail. Unfortunately he had been convicted of a murder that he had not committed.

Rather than ignoring what had happened to him, Johns decides to set out on the path, after his successful appeal, to find out who had really committed the murder and to seek some measure of revenge on them for putting him in jail for a decade for a crime he didn't commit.

A fellow inmate gives him a list of people who might have been involved in the murder. And, after his release from jail, he seeks out the helped of his cherished Uncle Reg, Johns sets out to seek out those who framed him.

The search takes in a variety of locations including the Home Counties of England and all the way to the Gulf Coast of Florida.

However he finds himself enmeshed in a world of large scale money laundering and mortgage fraud.

He doesn't allow this to deter him, and he continues on his mission to trace and track down those who he believes were responsible for framing him for murder.

But the deeper he searches the more he realises that his investigations are throwing up some very worrying facts and that he risks causing damage to other people.

And who, exactly, can he really trust? But blood is thicker than water. It is, isn't it?

This book is published by Matador at £9.75 and will make a great Christmas present for the mystery fan in your life.
 

Girl Without a Face

Girl Without a Face is a posthumously published novel from established author Nasser Hashmil.

Laura Danes, a happy, perfectly normal, happy young lady who had dreams and ambitions to become a successful filmmaker. And she was talented and dedicated enough to be able to pull this off.

That was until one night outside a lonely railway station she was subjected to an attack from a gang who, when they chose to throw acid in her face, destroying her looks and, apparently, destroying her future.

Three months later and Laura is facing a number of severe issues such as trying to make sense of what had happened to her and why it had happened. Why had she been targeted by the gang?

Of course, Laura has the full support of her mother, but Laura doesn't see any cause for joy in her life. Not with the pain, her ruined features and her wrecked future.

But then the unthinkable happens. Jake, a member of the gang who attacked her, reaches out to Laura and pleads for her forgiveness.

When Jake contacts her, this sets off a spark within Laura. As a filmmaker, shouldn't she want to learn more about the gang culture where Jake and others like him, come from?

Laura again starts to become interested in her life. She learns that perhaps she should start taking risks again, and prove to people that a dreadful event shouldn't, ideally, have the power to influence or control the rest of your life.

This book is a triumphant novel that has several important messages for young adults. It will make you cry, it will make you smile, but it will also make you think.

It's a wonderful tribute to the writing prowess of Nasser Hashmi and his widow, Shabina, who made sure that it was published.

It was long listed for the Peggy Chapman-Andrews award and the Bath Novel Prize, 2017.

It's published by Matador at £9.99.