OURS GO TO ELEVEN - REVIEWS

Over the three years or so that I have been reviewing for Discovering Diamonds, I have read good books, great books and, sometimes, exceptional books. On these pages I am cherry picking those books that I, personally, found to be just 'one higher'. My comments are my own and interspersed, in italics, are parts of my original review, which passages are reproduced with kind permission of DDRevs.

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR PREVIOUS POSTS:
THE SEVEN YEAR DRESS - PAULETTE MAHURIN IN THE SHADOW OF THE TOKOLOSH - CONRAD K - DISTANT ECHOES - JOANNE LARNER, DESIGNS OF A GENTLEMAN - JUDITH THOMSON, THE CLOCKMAKER - CERI WILLIAMS & DREW NEARY, OUT OF MECKLENBURG - JAMES REMMER, SUMERFORD'S AUTUMN -BARBARA GAKELL DENVIL, THE SCRIBE'S DAUGHTER - STEPHANIE CHURCHILL, THE SLOW DEATH OF MAXWELL CARRICK - JAN HARVEY, FRIENDS OF MY FATHER - SHAUN IVORY , RENAISSANCE - MARLA SKIDMORE, KATHERINA: DELIVERANCE (MARGARET SKEA), HOME BEFORE THE LEAVES FALL  (N L COLLIER - THE CHOSEN MAN (J G HARLOND) - APRICOTS AND WOLFSBANE (K M POHLKAMP) - THE BLUE BENCH (PAUL MARRINER) - CORONACH  (KIMBERLEY  JORDAN REEMAN)

(Please post any comments in the Box at the very bottom of the page: I apologise for the inconvenience  - am working on the fix - R)

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GALLOWS WEDDING

Rhona Martin

(No Author Profile Picture available)

Time period: 1540s

Settings: England

When I received this book for review, it was then a new imprint of the original which was the first winner of the Georgette Heyer Historical Novel Award when first released in 1977. I can fully understand why.

Hazel is a young girl who bears a mark associated with being a witch and is forced to flee her village. She falls in with a tinker and his family, but he robs and rapes her and she runs away again, only to become part of a group of professional beggars. But when she overhears a plan by her new 'family' to sell her to a house of ill repute, she once more escapes. On her travels, she learns how to look after herself enough to keep her alive. And then she comes across Black John, a notorious outlaw, who is about to be hung. Hazel volunteers to marry him – she is already heavily pregnant by the tinker – as she learns that local custom will save John from the noose.

But who exactly is Black John and what secrets does he keep from her?

The two major characters are ably supported by a cast of 'road folk' whose actions and dialogue are all perfectly believable. Although set in Henry VIII's Tudor world at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries, there is little history involved. And that is how I like it: this is the story of ordinary people at the bottom of the social scale. Two star-crossed, passionate lovers, fighting for survival, begging for food and using whatever means they have to try and achieve something in their lives.

The ending is as shocking as it is unexpected.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and comes with a high recommendation.

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THE SEVEN YEAR DRESS

Paulette Mahurin

There are many eras in history where one stops and thinks: Could I have survived in those days? Had I been born Jewish, lived in Berlin during the rise of Hitler and ended up in Auschwitz is something I have always wondered about. Paulette Mahurin has pretty much convinced me that I would not have survived. Fortunately, Helen Stein, the book's main character, did.

Based on the story of a real person, Helen tells her story to a young student nurse to whom she rents a room and who has noticed the damning tattoo on her forearm.

Prior to the war, Helen leads a comfortable enough life, until her father, who works for the German Government, is dismissed, simply for being Jewish. Life becomes more and more difficult. Helen has a friend, though, in the Nazi Youth, Max, who only joins because he is homosexual and feels that this course of action is the best way to hide his 'frailties'.

When the hatred towards the Jews escalates, Max aids Helen and her brother Ben to escape at great danger to himself and hides them in a derelict farm belonging to his family. For four years, Max supplies them with as much as he can but they live in fear that one day they will be discovered. That day arrives and they are transported to Auschwitz.

This a most powerful and compelling novel; the violence is never graphic, but the horror and threat of it as well as the implied violence will remain with the reader long after the last page has been reached. The author has not held back in any way and deals sensitively yet matter-of-factly with the atrocities and the sheer spirit of those who had the will and the almost inhuman strength to survive.

Now seems to be a good time to reprint this review. Books such as this remind us of how unbelievably cruel we humans can be and how no race can ever again be persecuted for simply being 'different'. But also this is a book of doing what you must to stay alive, of indomitable spirit and, above all hope.

I thoroughly recommend this book, despite its harrowing nature, to anyone interested in this shameful period of human history and are curious to know what it was really like.

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IN THE SHADOW OF THE TOKOLOSH

Conrad K

(no author profile available)

This was one of the earliest reviews of my 'career' and possibly my first Five Star assessment. This is because I found it quite remarkable for its atmosphere, the lightness of adolescence to the reality of war and, above all, the superb 'feel' of Africa in all aspects. Ot is also quite enigmatic in the fact that the author is unknown and has not written any other books as far as I can tell. Hence no author portrait.

Set in the years between the mid nineteen fifties and early nineteen seventies in what was Northern Rhodesia, we follow the lives of four young lads as they grow up in a small town where there are no secrets. The father of one of the boys is their mentor, taking them on trips and teaching them the skills of the 'old ways'. He also teaches them about life and how things will soon not be the same, something they cannot accept due to their youth but begin to recognise as they grow older.

Early on, the book 'fast forwards' to the early seventies when two of the boys, Wrex and Johan are both in a special army unit, hunting out terrorists. It soon becomes clear that Wrex – the main protagonist – is wounded and in hospital and that the almost continuous narrative thereafter is a series of flashbacks.

We see the boys growing up through adolescence, nto young men and manhood. We follow their adventures and the scrapes they get themselves in as they grow up. We see them discovering Elvis Presley, chrome covered cars – and girls. More importantly, the author tracks the progress of the Universal Declaration of Independence invoked by Ian Smith in the mid sixties. Throughout the whole book, you get the sense that 'The Times They Are A-changin' and that nothing will ever be the same again.

The characters are all strong and believable, the dialogue is sharp and well crafted and behind all this there is breathtaking descriptions of Africa, its topography, wildlife and traditions.

The love of the author's main subject – Africa itself – shines through on almost every page and he is to commended for representing it on such a compelling way.

Tokolosh(e) by the way, is a mischievous spirit often invoked to scare children but can be used to inflict illness and even death. Makes a little more sense of that wonderful 70's hit by John Kongos!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmgqP0BDhxs

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DISTANT ECHOES: RICHARD III SPEAKS

JOANNE LARNER

Time Period: Present day and 15th Century

Location: England

There have been numerous novels written on the subject of Richard III and all have their own opinions of his character, the events of his life and, most importantly, what drove him to take certain actions (or not, of course). Occasionally, a novel is written which tackles the subject from a completely different angle; earlier in this series I looked at Marla Skidmore's 'Renaissance'. This book, Distant Echoes, is another such book.

Imagine that a machine has been invented that can analyse DNA samples to the point of being able give an output in audio form. This is the premise of Joanne Larner's thoughtful and intelligent novel.

Eve is at a crossroads in her life. She intends to hand in her notice where she works for a technical company, but is forestalled when she returns home to find her long time partner has left her. Just as well, for her boss has invited her onto a new team to explore the (commercial) possibilities of a new invention

Searching for a test 'subject' Eve suggest Richard III as she had been talking to a friend of hers – a confirmed Ricardian and the (then) recent discovery of the king's body in a Leicester car park. Eve had not been particularly interest, but became so when her suggestion was accepted. She also manages to 'steal' a tiny piece of DNA which proves to e highly significant ….

It may sound a little far-fetched, but in fact it is not, given the advances in both technology and the belief in psychic qualities. Indeed, Ms Larner explains it most plausibly and it becomes easy to get sucked into the story. The premise is quite different and unique.

Beginning with Richard's 'baby cries' and assorted incidences from his childhood, Eve discovers that, due to that additional sample in her pocket, she is able to hear not only the voice of Richard, but also the voices of others, feelings and emotions – none of which the other members of the time are privy to.

As a sub plot, Eve is going through a lot of turmoil in her life which is not helped by the attentions of more than one member of the team. There is also a spy in their midst …..

This is a highly entertaining novel, but make no mistake; it is meticulously researched and includes extracts from letters that he is known to have written. Though a fiction, the scenes are well written and believable.

So: is the mystery of the princes of the Tower solved? Will Eve find true love and happiness amid her tangled love life? Well, I strongly suggest you read the book for I am certain you will enjoy it.

Oh, and in addition, you may well have some fun with singing the song title scene headings, for which a key is helpfully provided by the author.

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DESIGNS OF A GENTLEMAN

(The Early Years)

JUDITH THOMSON

Time period: 17^th C – Charles II

Settings: England and France

I had already read one book of this series by Judith Thomson and so I was delighted to receive this prequel to review. Philip Devalle is the protagonist and quite an outstanding character! In this volume we learn about his tough childhood and his rise in the court of king Charles II.

Philip had a miserable childhood, beaten heavily and often by his older – and slightly insane – brother, Henry. His father, Earl Southwick, was not much help either, always deferring to his heir's excuses. Seeing no great future for himself, Philip, saw no other recourse than to try and find himself a patron at court.

His good looks and amiable character find favour with the Duke of Buckingham as well as many of the ladies, most notably Barbara Palmer, Countess of Castlemayne. He falls willingly into the numerous vices available – gambling, fashion and, of course, women. He survives both fire and plague, meeting on the way a young Nell Gwynne whom he rashly promises to introduce to the King.

With Buckingham, he finds himself in France, adored by the Duc d'Orleans – Monsieur – and also a confidante of King Louis. He is also made a major in the French army due to the origins of his French mother.

Philip Devalle is an unusual – and very enjoyable – creation. At first he seems to have few redeeming features, being extremely vain. He is handsome: he knows it and uses his looks unashamedly to advance in both courts. Yet he does a kind streak for those less fortunate than himself and he does not lack courage or skill. He makes friends and enemies just as easily.

Keep an eye out for Monsieur as well – a wonderful portrayal in a cameo role!

Prequels are always good; even if one has read chronologically later volumes, it is always nice to know the characters' histories without interfering with what is to come for them. They can also be read easily on a stand alone basis.

This one is definitely recommended.

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THE CLOCKMAKER

Drew Neary and Ceri Williams

Drew Neary

Ceri Williams

Time: 1940s

Location: Scotland

In truth, there is very little in this book to satisfy the hard-line historical novel lover. But it doesn't matter; the sub genre is 'Horror' and this develops nicely throughout. My original review runs thus:

Newly widowed after her husband, Gordon, has been killed during World War II, Annette and her eight-year-old son Duncan leave blitz ravaged London to revive Gordon's inheritance, a rundown hotel in the wilds of Scotland. On the train they meet an old man who befriends them and then turns up at their new home looking for a place to stay, just for a short while....

The man is a clockmaker recently escaped from Hitler's Germany and we learn a little of his story through his silent reminiscences. He comes over as a kindly man, taking an interest in Duncan especially, but he doesn't settle in the small Scottish village whose residents are suspicious of foreigners, while Annette makes friends easily. To cover her grief, Annette concentrates her energies in renovating the hotel, looking to the end of the war when it may once again welcome paying guests.

There then follows a spate of killings....

Atmosphere is everything in tales of horror – and The Clockmaker has bags of it. There is surprisingly little dialogue and, in truth, it doesn't really need it. The thoughts of the main characters are delivered in a short, staccato style and descriptions of locations or weather are minimal yet so precise.

Here is the key to why I enjoyed this book: less is more and whilst you pretty much swork out that the old man is a wrong'un, the reader is kept guessing as to the nature of his evil and what part Duncan has to play in the drama.

I concluded my review:

A chilling read with an ending that will leave you guessing and may – or may not – lead to a sequel.

(First reviewed on Discovering Diamonds, 06/09/2018

https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.com/2018/09/a-discovering-diamonds-review-of_6.html

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OUT OF MECKLENBURG

James Remmer

Time: 1941-5

Location: Germany and Argentina

“Carl von Menen works for the German Foreign Office but his sympathies are not with the extreme elements of the Nazi party, a stance which could always prove hazardous for him.”

This was my opening sentence of my review of this excellent spy thriller set during the Second World War.

When Carl is summoned to his superior's office, he fears the worst for rumours have been rife concerning his future. But instead of dismissal (or arrest), Carl is ordered to Argentina. The Gestapo want to know about the political situation there and especially the position of the up and coming politician, Colonel Juan Peron.

In Buenos Aires, Carl meets Maria and she introduces him to Filipe Vidal, a man close to Peron. Carl finds himself being watched by both sides and needs all his wits to stay alive.

Later, Carl is forced to return to Germany, now in disarray as the Russians approach Berlin. A harrowing journey to find his parents is followed by an equally harrowing attempt to escape and return to Buenos Aires.

I wrote:

This is a very tense and tautly written thriller which smacks of authenticity, moves along at a decent pace and compares the exotic locations of Buenos Aires to the dark and dangerous areas of war-stricken Berlin.

And so it is. Carl is a likeable character, clever and adept at his job. I could not fault the descriptions, the characters or the story.

I also wrote:

The ending may well catch you unawares, but fortunately there appears to be a sequel on the way.

And fortunately, there is!

(First reviewed on Discovering Diamonds on 25/10/17)

https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.com/2017/10/out-of-mecklenburg-by-james-remme.html

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SUMERFORD'S AUTUMN

Barbara Gaskell Denvil

Time period: 1487

Settings: Somerset and London,England

I've read a few books from the prolific pen of Barbara Gaskell Denvil and I have enjoyed every one of them. Her characters are never dull or straightforward, but they are often flawed or, at least, quirky! I wrote in my original review: 'Each of the major characters are deliciously irreverent ...'

And in the case of Sumerford's Autumn there are no disappointments on that score! The Sumerfords are a dysfunctional family, but it is the youngest of for brothers, Ludovic, who is the main protagonist. His father, the Earl, is rather a shadowy figure in this tale. Not surprising, for he fought at Bosworth but on the side of Richard. Pardoned by Henry Tudor, he obviously intends to keep his head down. Nor is his cause helped by Ludovic, who plans to liberate a royal pretender to Henry's throne.

We follow Ludovic through his adventures which at one time or another involve murder, spies, pirates, secrets, lies and particularly nasty executions. And Allysse provides the love interest.

Each of the major characters are deliciously irreverent, the settings evocative, from the beauty of Somerset to the torture chambers in The Tower and the entire book convinces you that you are indeed in the late 15^th Century

The plot for Sumerford's Autumn – which title, by the way, has nothing to do with the season – is tight and well presented. All loose ends are tied up, even if you didn't see the ending coming! Description throughout is top class and the dialogue – often irreverent – suits each character perfectly.

A thoroughly good read that I enjoyed immensely.

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THE SCRIBE'S DAUGHTER

STEPHANIE CHURCHILL

One of the sub-genres of Historical Fiction is Fantasy. Worlds which are parallel to our own, yet with differences subtle enough to remind you that you are, indeed, in a fantasy world of the author's creation.

The Scribes Daughter is one such book – and a great one too. I wrote in my initial review:

This is a beautifully written book, with rich and powerful descriptions of people and places that make you feel that you are there; yet they do not intrude on the pace of the story but add to the tension as it build throughout the tale

It is a tale of two sisters, Kassia and Irisa and orphaned, for their father went on a business trip and did not return. This is Kassia's story. She has skill in making or mending trinkets and, because the money she makes barely covers their rent and food, supplements there meagre income by petty theft from the markets.

In today's terms, Kassia is the streetwise one; she knows all the tricks, all the alleyways to escape through, how to duck and dive when faced by their surly landlord. Whilst Irisa is the quiet one, the worrier, who disapproves of her sister's activities but is grateful for the benefits of them. Neither of them expect their lives to change. Until a rich man of high standing enters their shop and commissions them to to repair some bracelets. Despite knowing that it will be difficult, they accept the commission and Kassia travels to a nearby deserted mining town in search of a forge where she can do the necessary work. Here she meets Rem and his son whom she calls Handsome Jack.....

I loved the way that Kassia gives nicknames to the people she meets when she does not know their names: Lackey Man, Smug Man and so on.

There are many more facets to this story; political intrigue, many dangers for Kassia and her companions and an ending that you will not see coming

Such a beautifully written book makes you believe that you are somewhere in Europe at some undetermined point in the Middle Ages or before, with rich and powerful descriptions of people and places; yet they do not intrude on the pace of the story but add to the tension as it builds throughout the tale. Kassia is an admirable heroine – feisty, brave and very down-to-earth.

And since this original review was written, the three book series has been completed with The King's Daughter and The King's Furies as well as a re-branding of covers.

First reviewed for Discovering Diamonds on 11/03/2017

https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-scribes-daughter-by-stephanie.html

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THE SLOW DEATH OF MAXWELL CARRICK

JAN HARVEY

(no author pic available)

Time period: Present Day/1944-5

Settings: Oxfordshire and Paris

The phrase 'An old friend after 15 minutes still a newcomer after 15 years' springs to mind when retired journalist Martha Nelson and her husband move to a small Oxfordshire village. Surely the locals would welcome her journalistic skills, she thinks after seeing an advert in the newspaper for someone to help with a coffee-table style book about the village. At first yes, but her ideas are too 'clever' for the likes of them.

Frustrated and restless. Martha becomes intrigued with the nearby ruined Lapstone Manor. She longs to know its secrets and how it fell into such disrepair.

This is a dual timeline mystery with Martha's progress in the present day running in tandem with the actual events that took place some 70 years earlier.

Maxwell Carrick doesn't belong to the house as such; taken in by the owner, he and the siblings Henry, George and Alice become the very firmest of friends. But the First World War breaks out and, in time, Henry is missing presumed dead and Carrick is invalided out with PTSD (though they did not know the term then),

I wrote:

This a very accomplished book which I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. Carrick is clearly disturbed, almost to the point of dislike.

After the war, the enigmatic, mysterious and seductive Cecille Roussell appears at the house, claiming to know the truth about Henry's disappearance

In the meantime, Martha is making progress in her investigations, aided by horticulturist Rory who tends the gardens despite the uninhabitable state of the building.

Martha is dogged and determined, though her husband Steve is less than impressed with her preoccupation with the story she is trying to chase down

If the two timelines sometimes seem a little confusing this is really of little consequence. Within both time frames, the story flows effortlessly with good descriptions and dialogue that are not overcooked.

Although there are the inevitable 'fortunate coincidences' that are present in all mystery stories (“Well, you're in luck – he happens to live in the next village” sort of thing), there are a number of very unexpected twists which for this reviewer were not implausible.

As the story unravels, martha is forced to look at her own life and try to determine if she is tru;y happy .....

Highly recommended

(First reviewed on behalf of Discovering Diamonds Blogspot on 04/01/2019)

https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-slow-death-of-maxwell-carrick-by.html

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FRIENDS OF MY FATHER

SHAUN IVORY

Time period: 1943

Settings: Small town Ireland, near Dublin

What do you do when you discover that the man you idolise – in this case your father – may not be quite the man you thought he was?

I wrote this as the opening lines of my review:

To 13 year old Brendan Lavelle, his father is a hero. Highly decorated in the first World War, John Lavelle is now the town's respected doctor. But then Brendan discovers pages of a diary his father had written during the Gallipoli campaign.

The action takes place over 5 days in a little seaside town in Ireland. The world is at war, but Ireland is essentially neutral. Nevertheless there are rumours of spies in their midst.

Brendan shares his new found knowledge with his friend Maura, a strange girl a year or so older than he but far more adventurous and streetwise than Brendan. Between them they uncover a mystery that involves activities during the previous world war, murder and buried gold. The more they uncover, the bigger danger they place themselves in and the more damning is the evidence against John Lavelle. For there are others in the town who do not want Brendan to uncover their secret .

What I really liked about this book was the sheer consistency of the author's writing in presenting the world through the eyes of a young child, perfectly mixed with Maura's more worldly outlook and experience.

He and Maura slowly piece together the clues which lead them to a dangerous and chilling conclusion and denouement. But will it all change his attitude towards his father?

I also loved the cover; the wide eyed innocence of Brendan is captured perfectly  and the shadowy figures in the distance hint at the danger lurking behind the lies and deceit.

A book that I thoroughly enjoyed, well written , full of description and evocative of the times.

Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds blogspot on 20/02/2018

https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.com/2018/02/friends-of-my-father-by-shaun-ivory_20.html

https://shaun-ivory.com/

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RENAISSANCE: THE FALL AND RISE OF A KING

Marla Skidmore

Time period: 1483-5 and Present Day

Settings: England during the Wars of the Roses

For a first novel, I was mightily impressed. There are a myriad of novels about Richard III, but this is totally unique.

Marla Skidmore explores the possibility of Purgatory, a state between Heaven and Hell where the dead who may have something to atone for dwell. And Richard certainly has many accusations to face.

King Richard III lies dead on the battlefield at Redemore Plain, his body stripped and thrown on the back of a horse ready for an unceremonious burial. And then he wakes up on the battlefield. Found and mentored by the mysterious monk, Gilbert, he learns that he is in Purgatory and must account for the past deeds of his life. This is done in a series of episodes covering all the controversial incidents of his short reign.

And on the main charge, the author does not offer some new, personal or fantastic theory, but states the facts as known, leaving Richard to explain his actions. Whilst I expect many readers will have already formed their own opinions, I believe that the author may well cause some to think again about the character of this king.

Yet this is much more than just another retelling of Richard's story: it proposes the possibility of reincarnation, of a spell in Purgatory where tests and trials are made to determine whether the 'candidate' is ready to enter the Kingdom, and also one man's struggle for redemption when faced with the consequences of the decisions he made whilst in his earthly life.

If I had to criticise it would be on the matter of length; 170 pagers in paperback makes it a nice and quick read, yet it deserves much more than that. The 'tests and trials' I referred to were barely talked about and I did wonder what form they might have taken – physical, mental or spiritual.

Despite these points, the writing is lovely, Richard is very well presented and represented without being stereotypical. The cover is most eye-catching and attractive. Also, whether the reader is pro-Richard, anti or merely neutral, no one could help but feel very moved by the ending which is both emotional and thought provoking.

(Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds blogspot on 24/08/2018)

https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.com/2018/05/a-discovering-diamonds-review-of_24.html

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KATHERINA: DELIVERANCE

Margaret Skea

Time period: early 16^th Century

Settings: Saxony

In my original review, my opening lines were:

First, a confession. All I really knew of Martin Luther was an impression of a man in monks garb (incorrect) nailing parchments to church doors in the dead of night (also incorrect) and schoolboy giggles when reading about a Diet of Worms.

Any misgivings I might have had regarding subject and content were soon dispelled by the quality and style of the prose. Some may be put off by the use of First person and the Present Tense, but it works well here.

Katherina von Bura was sent away to Cistercian nunnery at the tender age of five – a new stepmother and a weak father were the cause of that. Here she grows to womanhood, learns sign language as talking is allowed but only on rare occasions. He turning point in her life comes when a number of illicit tracts written by someone called martin Luther are smuggled in and she and her friends begin to doubt the beliefs they have been brought up to follow. A flight is organised and several of them abscond and are taken to Wittenberg. Katherina is lodged with a wealthy family who have hopes of a good marriage for her.

Interspersed with the story are italicised segments where Katherina is older and obviously ill, for her ramblings in these often lead to the next part of main story. The author skillfully blends these pieces in and they are never intrusive.

Eventually she meets the rather dour Martin Luther and an unexpected romance blossoms.

I didn't expect to enjoy this book, but in fact I did immensely. Katherine is a wonderful subject brought to life by Ms Skea's sparkling portrayal of the main characters and her wonderful prose which hauls you right back into the past.

The sequel is now available and I am looking forward to reading it.

(originally reviewed for Discovering Diamonds blog spot on 23/02/2018)

https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.com/2018/02/katharina-deliverance-by-margaret-skea_23.html

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HOME BEFORE THE LEAVES FALL

N L COLLIER

Time period: 1914-1916

Settings: The Western Front

Quite simply, probably the best novel I have read on the subject and one of the best I have read in any field of Historical Fiction.

That is what I wrote when summing up my original review on Discovering Diamonds and, revisiting the book, I stand by that.

Franz Becker and his university friends are caught up in the fervour of newly declared war, believing that it will be all over in a matter of months, and patriotically sign up. Their naivety is portrayed as a parallel to the stories we hear of our own boys. They are sent to Ypres after minimal training and Franz's best friend, Karl von Leussow, is selected to become a sniper due to his exceptional shooting abilities.

One theme runs through the book: Karl decides to accept the role of sniper because he is a superb shot, but Franz disapproves and the conflict sometimes threatens their deep friendship. The violence throughout is detailed but never overly graphic and the language is, well, shall we say, vivid. But it is the language of soldiers and adds to the overall authenticity.

I have chosen to feature this book for two reasons; firstly because it is the first of a published trilogy and there will, I am sure, be at least one and possibly two more and secondly because none of the volumes are really stand alone. Home Before the Leaves Fall ends unsatisfactorily for a stand alone and Book Two, Below Us the Front, follows on almost a day after Book One ends!

That is not a criticism. But it is necessary to know because, believe me, if you enjoy this book, you will need the subsequent volumes! To whet your appetites, without revealing spoilers, both of our main characters end up in the German Air Force, patrolling over the Western Front, principally to shoot down British reconnaissance aircraft and their accompanying protection – the superior Sopwith Camel fighters. They call this 'The Express Ticket' - a quicker route to death.

Two things stand out for me in this book: one is the wonderful characterisation of even minor players, all without stereotyping, and the way the author keeps up the pace and holds the readers' interest from start to finish.

Even more than that; the author conveys the sheer terror of both trench and aerial warfare in all books yet describes, especially in the subsequent books, the moments of sheer boredom of waiting, all without losing any pace in the story. The angle of the Great War from the German point of view is inspired and brings it home that the 'Jerries' were no different from our 'Tommies'.

(Originally Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds blogspot on 1/06/2018)

https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.com/2018/06/home-before-leaves-fall-by-n-l-collier.html

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THE CHOSEN MAN

by J G HARLOND

Time period: mid 17^th Century

Settings: Spain, Holland and South West England

In the mid 17^th Century, Holland suffered from a financial 'bubble' whereby tulip bulbs were sold for prices that would have bought a small house before the bubble burst and they became worthless.

When this book arrived for me to review, my first thought was that it was going to be a boring yawn. I mean, how could anyone make Tulips from Amsterdam remotely interesting?

Oh how wrong and arrogant I was!! By the time I had finished it, I had learned some really interesting history, encountered spies, an evil Pope, espionage, two strong supporting characters and perhaps the most charismatic 'lovable rogue' in Historical Fiction!

Ludovico da Portovenere – Ludo - is an Italian merchant: resourceful, not averse to some dodgy dealings, charming, cunning ...and expendable.

Spain is at at war with the Dutch and Ludo is coerced into aiding Spain's plans to cripple the Dutch economy. By importing tulips, Rare and exotic tulips that 'they' know he has access to. 'They' are agents working on behalf of The Pope. The lure is a magnificent ship, but Ludo knows they will never let him take command of it. As he departs on this adventure, he takes with him the English priest who reluctantly recruited him and just wants to go home, Alina, a fallen titled lady with no future and Marcos, a farm boy who wants to better himself.

Here the book splits in two: Alina's trials in a strange country are inter-woven with Ludo's successes in Holland . Add in a perverted steward and a cook who may or may not be a witch and we have some grand characters who all contribute to a tumultuous finale.

Whilst depositing the priest to his home, Ludo arranges for Alina to marry the weak chinned son of an English nobleman. Needless to say, money changes hands but Ludo intends, one day, to return for her. Or, at least, so he says ….

This is, in fact, the opening book of a trilogy but is totally stand alone, so their adventures continue. All are well worth reading and it is interesting that, in one of the later volumes, the author manages to involve Ludo in a game of snakes and Ladders!!

My original review was published in Discovering Diamonds Blog Spot, 11^th January 2018:

https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-chosen-man-by-jg-harlond.html

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APRICOTS AND WOLFSBANE

by K M Pohlkamp

Time period: early 16^th Century

Settings: Tudor England

You know, instinctively, when you open a book that it's going to be special. It doesn't happen too often, but it happened to me with Apricots and Wolfsbane.

Lavinia Maud is an extraordinary woman. Had she been born male she would have succeeded her father as the local magistrate. Instead, the most likely future was either as a wife to an unwanted husband or to take the veil. Obviously neither of these scenarios would suit Lavinia and so she pursued the only thing that interested her; cultivating poisons in her secret herb garden. She takes a few small contracts to assassinate men or women who have offended her clients, but she wants two things; a rich 'patron' and admission into the secret Poisoners Guild.

Together with brother and sister Edmund and Aselin Gavrell she will stop at nothing to achieve her goals. Edmund keeps house for the three of them and Aselin is Lavinia's apprentice and protégée; Edmund resents Aselin's involvement but she thrives on it! A summons from a local Baron and it looks like Lavinia's career is going to take off.

The beautiful prose takes us right inside Lavinia's head; the heart pounding moments leading up to the kill, the relief when the plan has succeeded and, where she is able, the sheer thrill she feels watching her victim die. She is very cold and very calculating. Yet, naively she believes that confession to her priest will give her absolution. Her evil gives him many a quandary; he knows everything yet can tell no one.

Just as fascinating as Lavinia's thoughts and character is the way these poisons are concocted. I wrote:

The descriptions of poison making are fascinating (I shall be employing a food taster from now on) and Lavinia's way of choosing test subjects for every new toxin borders on the callous.

So much research has gone into this and the author displays her findings on nearly every page. Eager to learn from Lavinia is Aselin, whom the poisoner has taken on as her apprentice. She teaches her all she knows, for Aselin is more than willing and is itching to take a life. Her time will come.

Not that all goes well in this department! The seeds must be cultivated in precise conditions, each variety may be different. And there are the strengths of each mix to consider; too much or too little are not good enough – they have to be correct. Which means there must be guinea pigs ...

If I had to find fault with the book, it would be in the choice of setting the action in two fictional counties of England. To my mind, the gentile Home Counties of say, Bedfordshire or Berkshire might have had more effect. But that is a personal view and there are those who may like to categorise this as 'Historical Fantasy' and not feel affected at all.

But all in all, this did not detract from the basis of the story (there is a historical precedent, believe it or not), the sublime and stylish prose and the building of characters, major and minor. Oh – and do not read the final chapter before you get there!

I am also delighted to see that a sequel, Shadows of Hemlock, is due out very soon. If you enjoyed Apricots and Wolfsbane, do not miss this!

Kara Pohlkamp

(My original review was published on Discovering Diamonds Blog Spot, 4^th September 2018:

https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.com/2018/09/apricots-and-wolfsbane-by-k-m-pohlkamp.html

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Apricots-Wolfsbane-K-M-Pohlkamp-ebook/dp/B07FYTBKZ9/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=km+pohlkamp&qid=1567943327&s=books&sr=1-1

https://kmpohlkamp.com/

THE BLUE BENCH

PAUL MARRINER

Time period: 1920s

Settings: Margate, Kent and London

Although this is essentially the story of four people – Evelyn, Catherine, William and Edward – the lives of many other characters are skilfully interwoven into the narrative to present an overview of the way The Great War affected so many lives.

The story begins with a reunion in London in 1940 between three of the characters and the significance of this is revealed slowly throughout the story, which takes place some 20 years earlier.

Edward had been a Lieutenant in the army and William his Sergeant. Prior to the war, Edward had been a promising concert pianist and William now acts as his agent. But he is more than that; Edward had been terribly injured by a shell and now wears a tin mask to hide his injuries. William looks after him when the headaches and dark moods come whilst attempting to limit Edward's increasing need for Laudanum or Morphine.

In the summer of 1920, William secures a place as pianist in the summer season show at the Winter Gardens, Margate. There they meet Evelyn and Catherine who work behind the scenes at the theatre.

There are a lot of characters who come in to the story, introduced gradually by the author so that we do not get confused or the action becomes overcrowded. My favourite of these is Catherine's Aunt Beatrice; an indomitable woman who owns a guest house, is looking to open a second one , speaks in very long, unbroken sentences, is loaded and knows more of the world than she lets on.

There are a lot of sub plots; Edward's obsession with finding the parents of a soldier who died in the same explosion that maimed him and has tracked them down as living in nearby Herne Bay, a fictional account (based on the facts) of one man's vision to have a special memorial placed in Westminster Abbey to honour the dead, hop picking in the fields of Kent and even a day trip on the Royal Sovereign from Margate Jetty to Dover. And there is much needed tribute to the pioneers of surgery who had so many horrors to deal with when faced with the various and horrifying injuries that Edward and so many others suffered.

This is what makes this book so special – none of these sub plots get in the way of the story but carry it along without interfering. These are all beautifully written and you can feel the atmosphere of the seaside on good days and bad.

Mr Marriner handles the characters with expert ease. We feel for poor Edward, so conscious of his appearance that he believes nobody could love him, yet Evelyn, a vicars daughter, has those feelings but cannot reveal them because of her upbringing. William, loyal William – even he gets fed up with Edward on occasions, finding love and solace with widowed Georgette and her 6 year old son, Patrick. Catherine is more outgoing, enjoys a fun time but there is more to her than a pretty face; she has plans with her aunt to expand their guest house business.

On a personal note, I lived in Margate for some years in the 1970s. I was there when the wooden jetty that Edward and William stood on so many times in the book was destroyed by the great storm of 1978. I can vouch for the accuracy of the description of the town and surrounding areas. Yet this coincidence was just the icing on a very rich cake.

(Picture from the National Piers Society)

So: what is this 'Blue Bench'? Apart from the title of the book, there are only one or two passing references to it. I was ignorant of its significance and, for others similarly unaware, I will not reveal the answer here: you will have to read the book for it is explained.

Is 'The Blue Bench' worthy of an 'Ours Go To 11' award? I summed it all up in my original review:

This is a highly accomplished book by an author who  allows you inside his characters and I really

cannot recommend it highly enough

My original review was published in Discovering Diamonds on 13th March 2019:

https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-blue-bench-by-paul-marriner.html

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=the+blue+bench&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

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CORONACH

KIMBERLEY JORDAN REEMAN

Time period: 1746 - 1790

Settings: Scotland and Jamaica

Scotland is destroyed savagely by Cumbernauld's troops and The Clearances begin. Mordaunt is a Lt Colonel and Ewen Stirling a minor laird who escapes the atrocities that Mordaunt witnesses and, indeed, partakes. Both of these men take in children who have survived – Margaret to Mordaunt and Malcolm for Stirling. In time, the paths of those children will cross.

Malcolm is a bit of a tearaway, but eventually settles to administrate his adopted father's lands, alongside James, Ewen's true son. There is little love between them. Margaret is taken to the north of England, but, upon hearing of the circumstances of her adoption, she returns to Glen Sian to seek her true  father. She and Malcolm meet and eventually marry. To say more would spoil the plot.

I had to collect this book from my local sorting office – I had obviously been out when it was delivered but it would not fit in my letter box; it is indeed a very large book numbering some 800 pages.

Have you ever taken part in a Potato Race at school? Where five potatoes are placed at ten yard intervals in each lane, a basket at the start line? Where you have to run back and forth to collect the potatoes and place them in the basket before the last one is collected and you run the length of the course, basket in hand, to complete the race? You have two choices; you can either run to the first potato – the easy one and collect in order, or you can start with the furthest away making the last potato the nearest and easiest. This was the dilemma facing me for I had two or three books waiting to be reviewed. I decided to go straight to this new book – once read I could polish off the other, much shorter, books quickly.

I have categorised this as 'Epic' and indeed it is. The stories of these characters is told over a period of some 45 years, the landscapes sweeping and the writing consummate with that description.

The writing captivated me immediately. From the very start I knew that Mordaunt was tired and troubled, that his relationship with his commanding officer, Lt Col Aeneas Bancroft was tentative, needed but perhaps unwanted. He, Mordaunt, was a man with a conscience, a sense of duty and a disapproval of his orders which that very sense of duty forced him to carry out.

It is almost a cliché to say that I lived in those cold climes of the Highlands when the action was set there, that I cared immensely for the welfare of the main characters, but the honest truth is that I truly did. Sitting, reading, in the warm sunshine of my garden, I would shiver when winter reached Glen Sian, the fictional setting for most of the book.

The painting of the Highlands is rich and accurate. The rain is incessant and it slants into your eyes even as you read. The mists cover the hills and snow is on the peaks all year round. The harvests depend on the weather and the weather is not kind to those who rely on the harvest. Which is just about everybody.

Margaret tells her own story – adopted by Mordaunt and sent to northern England for safety and education. Time passes, she grows to a woman. Her desire is to learn more of her mother and so she returns to Glen Sian. There she meets Malcolm, himself fully grown. They do not get on well at first, but the iciness thaws and they marry.

The thoughts of each character are written with depth and thought, confirming the characters of each of them. For the most part, it is Margaret's story and her passages are written in the first person whilst all else is in third person.

The dialogue is direct, completely in keeping with the pictures of the speakers that we, the readers, have in our minds. Margaret is strong, very strong and this comes over as does Malcolm's inner rage and discontentment of his lot in life.

All this is all well and good, but it is not the thrust of the book. There are passages which are extremely violent and the delicate ones have been known to put the book down because of it. They miss the point. At any time war is violent– sickeningly so, at times – and we shy away from the reality. In Hollywood westerns, a man would be shot, he'd fall to the ground, make his dying speech and peacefully expire, closing his eyes as he does so. And not a drop of blood in sight. Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch broke the mold on that score. Ms Reeman does not hold back either. And nor should she. Her handling of the atrocities handed out to men, women and children during this grim period of history will shock many readers. But they are accurate and will leave a lasting impression.

Also the sexual scenes throughout may cause distress to some readers. Not that these things are gratuitous (in my view) as sometimes we need to accept the realities of war even in fiction and that sex is not always a beautiful thing.

It is these two aspects of Coronach which unleash the overall power of Ms Reeman's writing. I wrote in my review:

I found it difficult to put this book down such was the hold it had on me. Everyone and everything were real. The quality of the prose won't allow you to skip a word.

I cannot emphasise enough the power in this book that I spoke of; the truth is that it was a full week before I could read anything else at all such was the effect on me ….. But it is not for the squeamish or easily offended.

My original review was published on Discovering Diamonds on 9th July 2019:
https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.com/2019/07/coronach-by-kimberley-jordan-reeman.html

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coronach-Kimberley-Jordan-Reeman-ebook/dp/B07JVLN1Y2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3VDHF9X3GDLNA&keywords