The Clockwise Man by Justin Richards

The Clockwise Man
Justin Richards
2005, BBC Books, London
0563486287
253p.

The ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler travel to 1920s London and encounter a mystery involving faceless killers and mechanical creatures.

This was an adventurous story, full of action. I really liked the character of the painted lady with all her masks.

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The Bloody Wood by Michael Innes

The Bloody Wood
Michael Innes
1966, 2001, House of Stratus, Thirsk
1842327259
171p.

Sir John Appelby, a senior detective inspector, is visiting his friends, Grace and Charles Martineau, as Grace is near the end of a long illness. When Grace turns up dead prematurely, and Charles soon follows, Appelby investigates their deaths.

The dialogue in this book is a little stilted and loquacious, but when you get used to the writing style, it is rather witty and charming. I love old English manor murder mysteries, and this was a good example of the genre. Innes writes with intelligence and subtle humour - it's very British!

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The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen

The Apprentice
Tess Gerritsen
2002, Bantam Press, London
0593049993
344p.

Sequel to The Surgeon in which Detective Jane Rizzoli captures the serial killer William Hoyt. In this book, another serial killer has been using Hoyt's signature, then when Hoyt escapes from custody, the two killers team up to form a horrific partnership.

This was another good thriller from Gerritsen ... she can't seem to do much wrong. One annoying thing was the over-explanation of crime scene scientific method - yes, well all know what LumaLight is, we do watch CSI. Tad predictable, but books in this genre are supposed to be predictable, that's the fun.

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The Ancient Guild of Tycoons by Matthew Condon

The Ancient Guild of Tycoons
Matthew Condon
1994, UQP, St Lucia
0702226890
365p.

Brucey Bird is an all-round celebrity and administrator of an island in the Pacific Ocean. His father was the original administrator of the island, which was claimed by the Empire Garbage Company as a refuse.

This book is impossible to describe, as evidenced by my poor explanation of the plot without trying to give too much away! I was reading this for a long time, but I did enjoy it. It's quirky and clever - there are parallels with Australian history if you can spot them, and its exploration of modern culture is stinging. It's far too complex to describe in full - I really recommend that people read it for themselves.

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Enslaved by Ducks by Bob Tarte

Enslaved by Ducks
Bob Tarte
2003, 2004, Algonquin, Chapel Hill
1565124502
308p.

Bob Tarte is a writer who one day decides to get a rabbit. That one rabbit eventually becomes parrots, geese, turkeys, ducks, more rabbits, and an assortment of other birds. This books tells of their adventures and misadventures.

I really enjoyed the read. A lot of books about pet owners are glossy, cutesy books with overly-crafted scenarios, emotional highs and lows. But this book is excruciatingly honest. The animals are all psycho, and the clueless humans are neurotic and not ashamed to admit it

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Life Without Limits by Helen O'Neill

Life Without Limits
Helen O'Neill
2003, Random, Milsons Point
1863253734
259p.

This is the story of David Pescud, whose severe dyslexia means that he can neither read nor write. He was the skipper of the first Sydney to Hobart yacht manned entirely by people with disabilities. The first half is a typical biography, telling of his struggles with school and life, and the second half turns into a real adventure story of the treacherous 1998 Sydney to Hobart race.

Pescud's is an amazing story. He overcame such great obstacles to become an enabling inspiration to disabled people. The book does not make me want to sail!

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Alien by Alan Dean Foster

Alien
Alan Dean Foster
1979, 1993, Warner Books, London
0751506672
218p.

This is the novel based on the movie of the same name, printed in an omnibus edition along with Aliens and Alien 3. The crew of the cargo ship Nostromo are awoken from cryosleep by a distress call emanating from a planetary system they pass though. When they arrive, they discover a deserted ship on the surface of the planet, which is hiding a horrific surprise.

I've never seen the movie, which is shameful, as this is one of the seminal science fiction movies, and one of the only few to have a female hero. I will have to go see the movie now because the story is brilliant. Sure it's predictable, but it's a wild ride.

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