The Kalahari Typing School for Men (No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency)

by Alexander McCall Smith
Finished on August 29th 2008
Rated by hobbit:

Unnatural Death (A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery)

by Dorothy L Sayers
Finished on August 26th 2008
Rated by hobbit:

The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint: A Novel

by Brady Udall
Finished on August 23rd 2008
Rated by hobbit:

Gave up on it would be more accurate than finished it. I lost interest. It was going to get a four star rating very early on, when it was original, surprising, full of potential, but it went nowhere, in fact it turned into so ordinary it was dull. The only bit of plot that didn't peter out was the search for the mailman, and 80 pages from the end, even that wasn't going to keep me reading any more. It's apparently a picaresque novel, so maybe in spite of my English degree I just don't know enough about what one of those is supposed to be to appreciate this novel. Though I have seen Tom Jones on the telly and that was at least fun, if rambling. Disappointing.

In the Company of Cheerful Ladies (No 1 Ladies Detective Agency 6)

by Alexander McCall Smith
Finished on August 13th 2008
Rated by hobbit:

After the Mourning

by Barbara Nadel
Finished on August 8th 2008
Rated by hobbit:

It So Happens

by Patricia Ferguson
Finished on July 29th 2008
Rated by hobbit:

My review notes: it seems to be 2 books in one - as the blurb indicates: 'a gothic tale of crime, blackmail, redemption and [wait for it] the importance of soft furnishings'. Part Muriel Spark, part Hitchock. And yet not quite sure what she's trying to do. Does it work? Someone please tell me! Wonderful characterisation - Annie and her ridiculous 'bib-bib' catchphrase, when understood, turns out to be heartbreaking. She's seen ridiculous in the eyes of others, but once you get a glimpse you realise she's intelligent, rich, important, unique. Just like real people. then there's the baddie: 'paperwork had no chance agains Betty Potts'. Themes: blackmail, old age, incest, regrets, dark secrets, mother-daughter relationships, disability, friendship, the curse of being a psychic. Title: 'the real art lay in translating it so happens into plot'.

Brighter Than the Sun (An Avon Romantic Treasure)

by Julia Quinn
Finished on July 23rd 2008
Rated by hobbit:

Morality for Beautiful Girls (No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency)

by Alexander McCall Smith
Finished on July 21st 2008
Rated by hobbit:

The Full Cupboard of Life (No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency)

by Alexander McCall Smith
Finished on July 15th 2008
Rated by hobbit: