Notes of Life

The sky this evening looked like it was on fire…

… before producing an aray of colour…

Don’t you just love looking up at the sky?!

… and I’m just about to start reading The Calling of the Grave by Simon Beckett. It’s the 4th and latest book in the David Hunter series. Having thoroughly enjoyed the first three books in the series, I’m really looking forward to it.

This past week I’ve read and reviewed (click on the title to read the review):

Written in Bone by Simon Beckett – This is the 2nd book in Beckett’s David Hunter series. Set on a remote Hebridean island, Hunter investigates the discovery of a body which has been found almost compltely incinerated apart from both feet and a hand.

Whispers of the Dead by Simon Beckett – This is the 3rd book in Beckett’s David Hunter series. Hunter has to get away from London after recent events, but maybe the Body Farm in Tennessee wasn’t the best place to go!

The Ultimate Book of Baby Knits by Debbie Bliss – This really is the ultimate book of not only baby patterns, but also useful tips and information about knitting, whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro at knitting.

So what will I read when I’ve finished The Calling of the Grave? I’m not sure, yet. However, I’ve been sent a few books for review, so no doubt it’ll be one of those.

Author: Simon Beckett
Publisher: Transworld Publishers
ISBN: 978-0-553-81751-5

David Hunter needs to get away from London after recent events and he needs to find out if he’s still up to the job, the job that has very nearly killed him on more than one occasion.

Hunter ends up in Knoxville, Tennessee, quietly working at the Body Farm when a body is found in a remote cabin out in the woods. It’s not the only body they find and Hunter finds himself wondering if he should have stayed in London. A manhunt begins, but the murderer seems to be outpacing them at every turn. Then the investigating team is targeted and nobody is safe.

Whispers of the Dead is the third book in the David Hunter series and gives us a bit more background and history to Dr David Hunter as he returns to the Body Farm in Tennessee where he’d trained early on in his career. The Body Farm actually exists. I’d heard of it previously when Stephen Fry had visited there in one of his programmes. The author, Simon Beckett, has also been there. It’s what gave him the idea for the series.

This story is pretty gruesome and I was quite glad that smell-o-vision hasn’t made its way to books, the description alone was enough to make me feel slightly queasy! This book isn’t for anyone with a weak stomach as you can almost imagine being there as you read on.

I’d worked out… no, guessed… who the murderer was early on, but I couldn’t be sure (I could find no particular reason as to why I’d guessed at that person, but I think I was going for one of the most unsuspecting people). Then I was pretty sure that it wasn’t who I thought it was… but then I know how Simon Beckett is. Just when you think something is all wrapped up he throws in a curve ball and everything changes.

As with all crime thrillers, there’s the expected (and the unexpected) twists and turns. One particular twist made me audibly gasp in shock. Simon Beckett really is that good.

This book truly is gripping. Take a look at the back cover of my copy and you’ll see the crease marks from where I’ve been gripping it tightly while reading it! I read most of the book in a day. Every time I thought I’d put it down at the end of a chapter, I fell the need to read on, to find out what happens.

Whispers of the Dead is another great addition to the David Hunter series. If you’ve read and enjoyed the first two books, then you’ll definitely enjoy this one. If you haven’t read any of them then why not?! I have read the books in order (which I think is the best way), but I do think each book would also work as standalone novel. However, Simon Beckett’s David Hunter series really is a top notch crime and forensic thriller, and I’d highly recommend not just this book but the whole series!

Other books in the David Hunter Series:

1. The Chemistry of Death (Read my review)
2. Written in Bone (Read my review)

Simon Beckett is a British author.

This is the 10th book I’ve read for the British Books Challenge 2011.

Author: Debbie Bliss
Publisher: Quadrille Publishing
ISBN: 978-1844009459

The Ultimate Book of Baby Knits is a wonderful book full of patterns and information for not just seasoned knitters but for beginners too. A section called “Knitting Basics” at the beginning of the book gives information about yarns and how to choose the appropriate one for the items you are knitting, as well as how to take care of the garments, and (for us beginners) even how to cast on, knit, purl, increase, cast off, decrease and read patterns and charts. There are even nice little illustrations with each technique shown. The first part of the book would be very useful for anyone who is looking to learn how to knit, whether it be baby clothes or something else.

The patterns include cardigans, blankets, toys, coats, vests, shorts, trousers, hats, bootees, socks, shawls and much more. There are so many to choose from! There’s pretty much anything you can think of to knit for a little one. Each pattern gives you the measurements, the materials needed, tension and what the abbreviations mean within the pattern.

The photos of the garments (and toys!) in this book are simply beautiful and you feel like you want to knit them all (and with a 16 month old niece and a nephew who’s due any day, maybe I should get started!).

The Ultimate Book of Baby Knits is the most comprehensive knitting book my mum has ever seen and she’s been knitting for over 50 years! This is a wonderful knitting book and one I’d recommend to anyone!

Due for release on 4th April 2011 – Pre-order The Ultimate Book of Baby Knits by Debbie Bliss.

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Please note: I received this book free through the Amazon Vine program. However, this has in no way influenced my opinion of the book.

Author: Simon Beckett
Publisher: Transworld Publishers
ISBN: 978-0-553-81750-8

Once again we meet Dr. David Hunter. On his way home from an investigation in Scotland, Hunter is called in to investigate a body found on the remote Hebridean island of Runa. The body has been totally incinerated apart from its feet and a hand. The local police want to record it as an accidental death, but Hunter isn’t so sure. The small, quiet community of Runa seems to be hiding secrets as well as a murderer.

Unfortunately for Hunter and the local police, a severe Atlantic storm descends on the island, cutting any contact they had with the mainland and leaving them alone to solve the case. Only it’s not just the storm that is raging…

Written in Bone is the second book in Simon Beckett’s David Hunter series.

Having read just two of his books so far, Simon Beckett has now become my favourite crime writer. He’s a genius! Just when you think you know what’s coming or when you think something has been wrapped up, he just throws it all in the air again and shocks the reader. Even in the last few pages of the book I had my jaw hanging and saying “What?!”.

The scene for the story is set atmospherically. The reader could almost be there on the island of Runa with the characters in the book, Beckett describes it so well. I got a chilling feeling when reading the book… not just because of the murders, but because of the dark & stormy island.

Again, the forensic detail in the story is amazing and well researched, but not overwhelming. I found the technical terms weren’t too hard to understand.

Written in Bone is shocking and has more than its fair share of plot twists. It had me gripped until the very end, until the very last word, and I’m now itching to read the next book in the series, Whispers of the Dead (Good thing it’s already in my TBR pile!).

A highly recommended book and series!

Buy Written in Bone by Simon Beckett.

While Written in Bone can be written as a stand-alone book, I do recommend reading the first book of the David Hunter series. Read my review of The Chemistry of Death.

Simon Beckett is a British author who writes crime fiction.

This is the 9th book I’ve read for the British Books Challenge 2011.