It was my birthday last week (yes, you missed it again, maybe next year?), and as usual I asked for books. Now it’s a funny time of year to have your birthday if you like books because all the established authors bring out their newbies in November, just in time for Christmas. So Xmas is OK but it leaves short commons for the old birthday. This year I am too early for the new Sir Terry Pratchett (Snuff – due out in October), The new Stephen King (11-22-63 – due out in November) and miles too early for the new Marcus Zusak (Bridge of Clay – promised for nearly two years now and I’m still waiting!) but I did get two books I was hoping for. The new John Connolly and the new R J Ellory.
Now I don’t know about you but when I get a thing for an author I have to have everything, and I mean everything! So I’ve got all the Pratchetts, and the Kings etc. This leaves a dilemma for those wanting to buy me a birthday or Christmas present because they are reluctant to buy me a book as they think, usually quite rightly, that I have already got it. So this year by some (mis)chance I got a book by an author I have never previously read. What else can a poor relation do? Elizabeth George. This Body of Death featuring Inspector Lynley. Aren’t you fed up of formulaic cops eh? I eschew that sort of book, the Frosts, Dalziell & Pascoe et al. I stopped reading them when Ed McBain died. But it’s a birthday present! I have to read it. Don’t, please, think I have anything against women writers either. Among my usuals (of whose ouevre I have the lot) are Joanne Harris, Kate Mosse, Cornelia Funke and Margaret Atwood to name just four.
So I set to to read this book, 700+ pages, close type, probable 320,000 words or thereabouts. First sentence interesting, but then again it’s meant to be. First chapter, I’m getting hooked and second chapter I’m gone. It was a brilliant read, superb plot, sort of guessable but you had to put it together cos the clues were all there, great characters and I was sorry to finish it. But there’s even more bad news! She’s written fifteen others!
Isn’t that great? But if that relative had children they would be getting a drum set for Christmas….