Gareth

Don't be put off by the tag line "It's where fear lives.."

This is not a horror novel, rather a very good crime thriller and Mark Billingham proves that he is up there with the best crime novelists with "In The Dark". It is a fast paced and incredibly taught read, and Billingham's style is witty and electric. 'In The Dark' shows that he is more than a one trick pony (the pony being his Tom Thorne novels.. but lo! Thorne does make a cameo appearance here). Though not as gritty as his previous novels, this still ranks as a cracking read and well worth looking out for!

Set not too far in Glasgow's distant future, this is a brutal and fascinating look at a novel way of dealing with the more anti-social aspects of the community (removing the lower jaw and lobotomising the criminals... not a bad idea, I must admit...!) and the society that's close to breaking point. A serial killer is on the loose threatening to blow the whole society apart, especially when it turns out that the killer is one of the halfheads!

I think wow sums up the book perfectly - this is a very dynamic read with some really practical and upbeat examples of how to change your life. It's no wonder that Michael Neill is one of the finest success coaches in the world today - "You Can Have What You Want" is clearly written that draws on his experiences of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and creates a system of defined goals that can be easily applied to many areas of life, such as Work; Finances; Relationships and even Health!

If you read one "Self Help" book, make it this one!

Confirming that Dan Brown is the master of big story ideas with far reaching ramifications, The Lost Symbol is the piece de resistance and the cherry on the top of The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons.

Focusing on Robert Langdon again as he tries desperately to solve the riddle of the Masonic pyramid in order to save a colleague and friend, The Lost Symbol covers the breadth and depth of Masonic lore. Extremely well researched, Brown is able to bring together a lot of disparate threads into a well rounded whole.

I can relate to Nick Griffiths - at least in his whovian alter-ego (that is, a fellow lover of all things Dr Who). I was the (proud) organiser of the (very) local chapter of the Dr Who appreciation society at my secondary school - which consisted a group of us sitting together watching old video's of Jon Pertwee & Tom Baker episodes whilst having the mickey taken out of us. (this was in the days when Dr Who wasn't that cool (it was tolerated... barely)).

A very beautiful and thought provoking book - some truly amazing photo's coupled with some insightful prose which can not help but inspire and beguile the reader. The trees look alien, as if they belong on a distant planet somewhere, but it's possible to lose yourself in the photo's - they're that stunning. It's also proof that the English language is surely lacking, for when we think of the word tree nothing prepares us for the striking and warped beauties that feature in this magnificent book!

A must-read book if you love music - there is something in there to suit every taste. Covering albums from the late ‘50's to the present day this name-checks some of the most important and groundbreaking albums & artists (think Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon; Queen's Night At The Opera; The Beatles Sgt Peppers) and also some albums that might have passed you by -John Cale's Paris 1919, Television's Marque Moon.

I am not over-exaggerating when I say that this is one of the best horror novels I've read in a long time. I can't remember feeling this edgy reading a novel since I first read James Herbert's the Fog or the Rats. Sarah Langan has a knack for revolting, but sparse descriptions - it's not necessarily what she writes, but what she leaves out in her "images" that makes them stick in your mind. ..read more

A rollercoaster of a book - even more remarkable as it's based on cold, rock hard fact. Andy Kirkpatrick, daredevil and ace climber extraordinaire, lived, breathed; wept and cursed the worlds toughest mountain faces and has survived, in conditions that would make Ray Mears stay at home wrapped up in bed!

This is an entertaining and breathtaking read, as it marries Andy's childhood growing up in Hull with his tackling one of the most challenging mountains in California, El Capitan.

A taught, fast paced, razor-edged thriller - smart dialogue with believable characters and tightly plotted. As soon as I finished reading this I recommended it to all and sundry and still do. This was the first Coben novel that I read and I made sure that I kept an eye out of any more of his novels - and none of them disappointed. Once you pick this up you won't want to put it down - just don't forget to breathe!