Taxi Tales From Paris

In Taxi Tales From Paris ex-pat and Parisian resident Nicky Gentil brings us an interesting take on life in Paris.

It's an interesting take on the ex-pat look at their 'new' country. Because it really does look at Paris through the windows of a number of taxi rides that Nicky (a translator and author) took through Paris.

There's a quest to locate a piano tuner, the European Football Championship and the obsession of Parisian taxi drivers when it actually took place in France.

The ban on mobile phone conversations in taxis, the legendary rudeness of Parisian taxi drivers. Rare, though it does sometimes occur, a silent taxi driver, an excitable one, a philosophical one,

her love of jazz and her love of playing jazz piano, all of these stories and many, many more are joyously related by the author.

If you have ever lived in Paris, took a holiday there, or ever merely passed through the Charles de Gaulle Airport, or ever even just heard of France or Paris, you really should buy this book. And it will make an ideal gift, too.

It's published by Matador at £8.99.

Bahama Boyz

In the novel Bahama Boyz author Nick Hughes introduces us to an amazing story that starts in the East End of London in 1970 and, eventually, moves all the way over to the Bahamas.

And it's actually, Nick assures his readers, a true story.

Nick's family was a charismatic one and he somehow became a trainee croupier at the young age of 19 at the Playboy Club in London.

He quickly discovers that it's a time of glamour and a new time where being from a working class London background does not mean he is held back and he quickly finds himself in a lifestyle of glamour, excitement and sexual freedom.

The world is, really, his oyster and he finds himself working in the all-male Paradise Island Casino in the Bahamas. Which is where his lifestyle becomes even more frenetic and frantic.

Weird stories of what happened in the back of a taxi, an abortive threat by a midget gangster, who even wore a tailored Crombie coat, but who ended up with more than he had bargained for or feared, the Shetland Pony and... actually, I'm going to draw an end to this review, save to say that you really do need this book, especially if you are in need of a good, boisterous and slightly raunchy laugh.

It's published by Matador at £12.99. 

Living With the Dead

In reviewing Living With the Dead your reviewer must acknowledge that this novel ticks two very important boxes. It's a mystery (of sorts) and it involves archaeology. Having said that...

There's an archaeological dig in India in the 1930s. Rebecca is pursuing true love, but a combination of meeting a man on a mountain and some violence throws a spanner in the works, so to speak.

The team's excavations come up with some very exciting finds but they quickly realise that that there is a great deal more risk and danger than they had first surmised.

Rebecca must battle her way along the dangerous Indian coast to learn the truth.

The story then moves forward in time some 80 years. Magsie is moving, slowly, northward toward Scotland on an important journey of her own.

Forced onward by the damaged lives of her youth she feels that she needs to save her grand-daughter from the still less than perfect 21st century.

It's a powerful, compelling novel that surfs the waves of the decades with alacrity.

Published by The Book Guild at £8.99, it's written by Philip G. Reed.

Unwritten Rules

In Unwritten Rules readers of Graham Donnelly are taken back to 1962 where they will meet up with civil servant Anthony Fernard.

His position within the Home Office is relatively minor, yet does have some degree of responsibility. The job is a steady one and his family life is a happy one.

He becomes tangentially involved with a young woman and his career is somewhat invigorated by the fact that he does like to do things in his own way, no matter what officialdom might dictate.

In his position at work he realises that the Cuban Missile Crisis is far more serious than officially admitted.

Faced with the very real possibility that the end of the world might actually only be a couple of days away he decides to embark on a love affair that brings him into the shadowy world of espionage and the very real danger of blackmail.

At first he finds this exciting and fun, but soon he realises that he might, actually, have endangered not only his own life but the lives of those whom he cares most deeply about.

How can he extricate himself from this situation? Does he?

This is a well crafted spy novel from published author Graham Donnelly and former civil servant and it certainly captures the feelings of the time and evokes the fevered nature of those years.

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

Harry in a Hurry

Harry in a Hurry tells the story of Harry Snail. Harry has dreams. Dreams of a different life, other than that of a snail.

He wants a faster, quicker and more exciting lifestyle! And he seeks out the help of his friends to bring this about.

There's Mick 'the Quick' Mouse, plus Benny Bee. Can they help Harry get the type of new, exciting life that he wants, that he craves for?

It's a great book for sharing with young children, with words and wonderful vibrant and colourful illustrations throughout. It's created by Garry Mitchell and Jerry T. Jones.

It's published by Matador at £8.99. Though it's on sale at Matador for £5.99.

A Lost Child of Cyprus

A Lost Child of Cyprus tells the story of Yasmin. Her loving family life in Famagusta is damaged by the violence that destroys her community as civil war rages on the island.

Baby Yasmin become separated from her family and she never sees them again. She is adopted and her adoptive mother is a harsh disciplinarian who believes in discipline before love and in duty. Fun? She doesn't seem to have much time for that.

In the 1970s Yasmin is able to flee from Cyprus and manages to reach England, where she aims to find herself a new and happier life.

But can she do this? How will her history as someone from Cyprus influence her new life in the England of the 1970s?

She still longs for love in her life. Can she find this?

Written by published author Steven Baker it is a masterful retelling of the life of Yasmin which is based on real life events that tgook place in Cyprus and in England.

It is published by The Book Guild at £9.99.

Devil's Mist

Devil's Mist is a new novel for young people from author Liam Moiser.

The novel begins with a family and friends camping trip. Everyone starts to tell frightening stories. They are all, of course, make believe.  All with the exception of the story told by Rosie's father. Because, he assures his audience, his story is different. Because it is true.

The house on the other side of the lake is cursed, the daughter of the family of the house went missing and, so the legend relates, anyonme who gets to near to that house will also vanish.

Rosie and Jenny don't believe it. However as events unfold it become obvious that the curse is a real, true thing and that someone else will soon be the target.

They receive evidence that the curse is genuine. As the story progresses they are scared by the possibility that they too will become victims of the terrible mist.

Can they escape? Or are they also doomed to be lost within the mist forever?

Who is really behind the curse? And is  there something magical that is stronger than the curse that can defeat it?

It's a compelling read and costs £7.99 from Matador.