The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins: Clever, Tightly Plotted Mystery

Rating: 3 stars Category: Crime Fiction, Classics, Mystery/Adventure Synopsis: A diamond is stolen from one of the most sacred shrines in India. A young lady receives an extravagant birthday present in the will of her deceased Uncle. A London philanthropist is attacked in what seems to be a case of mistaken identity. Connecting all of these events is the superstition surrounding the diamond: that it will leave a trail of blood in the lives of all those in possession of it. As inexplicable events plague the family holding the mysterious heirloom, Franklin Blake seeks to record witness testimonies and find a rational cause for the occurrences. The family and their connections each contribute their version of events, but suspicions are rife and nobody knows who to trust. Not even the reader...

The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes #5) by Arthur Conan Doyle: Suspenseful Crime Fiction Classic

Rating: 4 stars Category: Crime Fiction, Classics, Mystery/Adventure Synopsis: Sir Charles Baskerville confesses to a close friend that he feels haunted by his family history. According to legend, his cruel ancestor Hugo Baskerville received recompense in the form of a hell-hound set loose on the moors to hunt him down. A few days later, Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead in his garden at the edge of the moor. There is only one detective who can separate fact from folklore in this case: his name is Sherlock Holmes.

Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan: Fun, Quirky Bookworm’s Delight!

Rating: 4 stars Category: Mystery/ Adventure Synopsis: Clay Jannon has just lost his marketing position after the company went bust. Unemployed and increasingly desperate, he takes a job as the night clerk at Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore. His eccentric employer has only 2 requirements: 1. A detailed record of every single customer must be made in the ancient logbook at the front desk. 2. Clay must never open any of the books. One night, when there are no customers, Clay can no longer suppress his curiosity and opens one of the forbidden books. Its contents will draw him into a centuries-old unsolved mystery...

Stories Beyond Books Part 1: Childhood

We all have books with a special place in our hearts, for reasons more than the words written in them. Perhaps they changed the way we think about the world, are attached to happy memories or got us through a difficult time in our lives. In this new feature, I will be sharing my own ‘Stories Beyond Books’ and it would be wonderful if you could share yours too!

My Favourite…Children’s Book

In need of some reading inspiration? The ‘My Favourite…’ series is a new feature in which I will be putting the spotlight on some of my favourite books of all time! Today it's my favourite children's book...