From the Storm by Adrian J. Walker

Title: From the Storm
Author: Adrian J. Walker
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing
Release Date: 10th January 2017
Genre: Fiction, Thriller


Summary:The lives of several total strangers link together in a tale of mystery and espionage all because of one man

Review:

So, I read this book quite a while ago and have only gotten round to writing a review of it... partly because I have been super busy and partly because it was such a painful experience to read I did not want to think about it again! To be honest, it is mostly the second reason...

The book on the whole is extremely well written and in a easy to read writing style. The characters are well formed and the idea, on the whole, is quite interesting. However, the links between the characters (the most important bit) is confusing to understand... like really confusing unless you pay extremely close attention. To b e honest, I only really understood what was going on when I read the blurb.

The One by John Marrs

Title: The One
Author: John Marrs
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: 4th May 2015
Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Sci-Fi

Summary:
What if a quick DNA test could find your soul mate? 

Would you trust it? Would you trust them?

Review:
I was initially intrigued to this book because the idea was so interesting and different. I mean, it would definitely be something I would do - would save a lot of hassle and heartbreak for sure! However, I was not sure what to expect or what direction the book would take. I was, nonetheless, pleasantly surprised and finished it in two days!

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Title: Everything, Everything
Author: Nicola Yoon
Publisher: Corgi
Release Date: 1st September 2015
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult

Summary:
Maddy is allergic to the world, and has lived in a bubble-world inside her house for seventeen years.

Review:
I loved this book for so many reasons.

Firstly, the characters. The main character, Maddy, is loveable, innocent and so intriguing. 

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

Title: The Bourne Identity
Author: Robert Ludlum
Publisher: Orion
Release Date: 24th March 2005
Genre: Fiction, Thriller

Summary:
A man is found floating in the sea. He is barely alive. With no name, no past all he has is a number of a bank account in Zurich.


Review:
I really, really, really, really hated this book and could not wait to finish it, so much so that I skim read most of it. I'll keep this short.

The characters were boring, predictable and there were waaaay too many french names to remember! 

If you like the film, do not read the book!


Rating: 1/10.

You can buy The Bourne Identity from Amazon here.

To Kill the President by Sam Bourne

Title: To Kill the President
Author: Sam Bourne
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 4th July 2017
Genre: Fiction, Thriller

Summary:
The people of the United States of America have elected an incompetent and sexist man as President. Under his rule, a number of conspirators plot his assassination amid unjustified declarations of war. 

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Author: George R. R. Martin
Publisher: Bantam
Release Date: 6th October 2015
Genre: Fiction, History, Fantasy

Summary: 
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms contains the first three prequel novels of the A Song of Ice and Fire book series. The short stories take place almost a century before the series, when the Targaryen family were still in rule of the Iron Throne.


Review:
So, I finally finished my postgraduate dissertation which means I can do things like read, eat and sleep again! Seeing as the world is in a Game of Thrones hype at the moment, when I saw this collection of short stories - it went straight in my shopping basket!

The Missing Wife by Sheila O'Flanagan

Title: The Missing Wife
Author: Sheila O'Flanagan
Publisher: Headline Review
Release Date: 16th June 2016
Genre: Fiction, Romance

Summary:

Imogen seems to have it all: a loving husband, a house, friends and an exciting job. However, everything is not as a it seems on the surface and Imogen is deeply unhappy. So she decides to disappear.

Review:

I read another book (hooray!). After getting bogged down in dissertation reading and writing, I needed something easy to read that did not require me to think too much and The Missing Wife fit the bill perfectly.

Carrie by Stephen King

Title: Carrie
Author: Stephen King
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release Date: 31st October 1991
Genre: Thriller, Fiction, Horror

Summary: 
The events surrounding the mystery of Carrie White have baffled specialists and experts for many years. The novel revels the events surrounding the fatal night in Chamberlain through personal accounts and news experts to uncover why she did what she did and how.

Review:
I honestly have not been motivated at all to read over the past few months. I have been busy applying for jobs, writing assignments and planning my dissertation in preparation for a full summer of writing all the while trying to make sure every aspect of my does not fall apart. It is so much fun doing a Masters...

Anyway, I bought Carrie in January and have finally found some time to read it - it is pretty important to give yourself breaks when writing a dissertation!

At first I wasn't too keen on the book, as I could briefly remember the film which I was not too fussed on! However, as with all Stephen King books - if you give it time and patience, it will soon pay off. Carrie, whilst slow at first, turned out to be a page-turner that I literally could not put down.

It was not as gory as I was expecting to be though. The details of the deaths within the book were, in my opinion, often overlooked and could have been given more attention - I did not know one character in particular was dead until it was explained ten pages later! This would have made the dramatic last fifty pages a bit more interesting and happen less quickly! 

I did, however, really enjoy the style that the book was written in using extracts from accounts and publications written from the different perspectives of the characters within the book. The mix of personal and somewhat onlooker accounts really added to the mystery of Carrie White and made you all the more intrigued. 

Now to wait another four months until I finish another book...

Rating: 8/10.

You can buy Carrie from Amazon here.

The Green Mile by Stephen King

Title: The Green Mile
Author: Stephen King
Publisher: Penguin Street
Release Date: 1st September 1996
Genre: Thriller, Fiction

Summary:
It is a long walk down The Green Mile for the inmates of Cold Main Penitentiary. 

Life passes on as normal on death row until a quiet giant named John Coffey arrives and strange things and miracles start to happen. 

Review:
So, I FINALLY finished a book. Yay!

I don't really have much to say about this book apart from it is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Go read it now. Stephen King is a genius and I was gripped throughout the story - that is, when I actually had time to sit down and read.

I absolutely loved the characters - both the good and the evil. It also kept you guessing if Coffey was innocent or guilty throughout so you are never really sure who this miracle man is and whether he can be trusted. When you do find out though - it is worth the wait.

Originally, the novel was split into six parts and I cannot understand how people could have waited to see what was going to happen. 

I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

Title: I Am Pilgrim
Author: Terry Hayes
Publisher: Corgi Books
Release Date: 2nd August 2013
Genre: Thriller, Fiction, Crime

Summary:
Evil forces - long in the making - are about to descend on the United States of America. Pilgrim - a retired government security operative - must unravel years of international mystery, and find the thread that connects a series of random events, to stop one man killing millions.

Review:
I have been wanting to read I Am Pilgrim for a long time and finally took the plunge and I am so glad I did! Whilst it was a very long read - not the short crime, thriller I thought it was - it was so worth it as I could not put it down! I LOVED it.

The End of the World Running Club by Adrian J Walker

Title: The End of the World Running Club
Author: Adrian J Walker
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: 2016
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fiction

Summary:
Edgar Hill could be considered the world's worst father. However, he soon realises what he has and what he will do to protect his wife and children. It only took the end of the world to happen...

Review:
My thing at the moment is running, so when I saw this on the shelf of my local supermarket I was immediately drawn to it. This could have been a fatal mistake and I could have been stuck with a dull read, but I was extremely lucky. I loved this book. 

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams

Title: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Author: Douglas Adams
Publisher: Pan
Release Date: 23rd June 1997
Genre: Sci-Fi, Young Adult, Classics

Summary:
The journey into deep space continues for Arthur Dent, and the crew of the Heart of Gold. But first it is time for food! And where else would they go but Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?

Review:
I absolutely loved the first book in the series (which can be found here) so decided to continue reading to see what happens next. However, whilst the series seemed promising at first - I found the second instalment kind of boring.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Leuithan

Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Author: John Green and David Leuithan
Publisher: Penguin
Release Date: 6th April 2010
Genre: Young Adult

Summary:
Will Grayson is a socially awkward teen who struggles to fit in. On an unremarkable night, he meets a stranger who turns his world upside down. The stranger he meets is called Will Grayson. Whilst the two Will's are very different, they soon realise that they can learn from, and help, each other to help realise their dreams.

Review:
What I really love about John Green books is that you can completely turn off and not think because they are so easy to read and understand. Will Grayson, Will Grayson did not disappoint and I found this to be such an easy read.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Title: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Author: Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Publisher: Quirk
Release Date: 1st May 2009
Genre: Horror, Classics, Fiction, Romance

Summary:
England has fallen victim to a mysterious plague which turns people in to mindless, brain-hungry zombies. However, the Bennett sisters are highly-trained fighters who are determined to protect their small village in rural Hertfordshire. Elizabeth Bennett, the eldest sister, is their best and most fearful leader in the fight against Satan's spawn. That is until she is distracted by the arrogant and intriguing Mr Darcy.

Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs

Title: Library of Souls
Author: Ransom Riggs
Publisher: Quirk
Release Date: 22nd September 2015
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction

Summary:
Jacob, and his peculiar friends, are in London in search of their beloved Miss Peregrine and friends. They soon find themselves in Devils Acre searching the labyrinth of alleys. However, Jacob soon becomes a hot commodity as more and more people learn about his ability putting Emma and their quest in jeopardy.

Review: 
Library of Souls  is the final instalment (I believe and hope!) in the Miss Peregrime's Peculiar Children series (reviews of the other two books Miss Peregrime's Home for Peculiar Children and Hollow City can be found here and here). I have a few issues with the series in general, like that it seems to be tailor made for adaptations for films (which is not necessarily a good thing) and the story seems to have been dragged out over three books just for the sake of it.

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Title: Hollow City
Author: Ransom Riggs
Publisher: Quirk
Release Date: 24th February 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Fantasy

Summary:
After fleeing their beloved island, Jacob and his peculiar friends journey to London in search of help for Miss Peregrine. However, can they stay ahead of the army of hollows and wights on their heels?

Review:
I read a book (finally)! I got Hollow City, the sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (review can be found here), back in October for my birthday and thanks to the Christmas break - I have finally gotten around to reading it.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Title: An Abundance of Katherines
Author: John Green
Release Date: 21st September 2006
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Young Adult, Romance

Summary:
Colin Singlton has dated nineteen girls, who were all named Katherine. All nineteen of these relationships have ended in heartbreak.

In an effort to get over the heartbreak of the latest Katherine, he goes on a road trip to nowhere with his bestfriend, Hassan. Ever the genius, Colin tries to prove an underlying theorem to help predict the future of any relationship and help Dumpees everywhere.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Title: Looking for Alaska
Author: John Green
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 3rd March 2005
Genre: Young Adult

Summary:
After transferring to a boarding school after being a social recluse, Miles Halter's world is turned upside down when he meets the crazy and beautiful Alaska Young.

The former social recluse, Miles's heart is stolen as he is drawn into Alaska's world of rule-breaking and pranks.

Review: 
Looking for Alaska was John Green's (author of The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns - reviews here and here) debut novel, all the way back in 2005.

Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch

Title: Foxglove Summer

Author: Ben Aaronovitch
Publisher: Gollancz
Release Date: 13th November 2014
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-fi

Summary: 
Peter Grant is back for the fifth installment in the Rivers of London series, in which we find him venturing out of the smog of London to rural Herefordshire to investigate the disappearance of two young girls.

At first it seems that Peter's magical abilities are not required, but upon further investigation a history of mysterious events have led up to present day and Peter steps in to bring order to the countryside.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Title: The Lost World: Jurassic Park

Author: Michael Crichton

Publisher: Arrow Books

Release Date: 1995

Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Sci-fi

Summary:

Five years have passed since the disaster at Jurassic Park, and despite the authorities best efforts to keep the islands dangerous inhabitants existence a secret; a gingerbread trail of dinosaur remains are washing up on nearby beaches. Soon enough it attracts unwanted attention from both the good and the bad.

Ian Malcolm is soon back on the island to rescue his friend who has become an unwitting victim of the islands' allure despite still holding both emotional and physical scares from his previous visit. Can he survive a second time or is his time up?