Book of your own choice by Andrew Taylor

We'll be talking about a book of your own choice by Andrew Taylor at this week's meeting on Thursday 1st August at 6 p.m. Andrew Taylor is the author of crime and historical novels that have won a raft of awards. His novel 'American Boy' was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick, and one of The Times' best crime novels of the decade. 'The Scent of Death' has recently won the 2013 CWA Dagger Award. 

Image from www.killerreads.comwww.killerreads.com

Manx Litfest have secured Andrew Taylor as part of another brilliant literary line-up for this year's festival in September. There's a nice piece about Andrew Taylor on the Manx Litfest Blog. 

 Barbara Erskine, Matt Haig, Adele Parks, and Alan Bradley are just a few of the authors joining Andrew Taylor this September.

Find out all the latest news from Manx Litfest

Manx Litfest - Thurs 26th - Sun 29th September 2013

Keep the dates free for this year's Manx Litfest, and don't miss the chance to get together with top writers and book lovers - right here on the Isle of Man. Litfest got off to a cracking start in 2012, and with Andrew Taylor already announced for this year's line-up, there will be an exciting programme of events to look forward to. Keep up to date with all the news at Manx Litfest and find out more about becoming a friend of Manx Litfest here: manxlitfest@gmail.com

Manx Litfest Reading Club

Join the Manx Litfest Reading Club and explore some of the books and writers that will be featured in September. The first writer is the award winning Andrew Taylor, renowned for his intriguing mix of crime and  history. Find out more and share your views with other readers here Manx Litfest Blog

R J Ellory's Ghost Heart by Susan Moore

I opened this book with some reservations. I had read that R J Ellory was British, and wondered how he could write a novel set mostly in Manhattan, and make it work. However, my doubts soon disappeared.

The opening paragraph was so descriptive; I could smell the atmosphere of Manhattan 'awakening' for another day. The sounds, smells, were tangible - 'The smoke and steam crawling like tired ghosts from the subway below' I think this first paragraph was one of the best I have ever read, on a par with 'Rebecca' by Daphne Du Maurier. I always feel that if a book 'grabs' you in that first parargraph, then it's going to be a good read.

The characters seemed totally believeable - Annie in her little dusty book shop, longing for a real romance, and thinking she had found it in David. I found myself envious of the wonderful relationship she had with Jack Sullivan, the hard-drinking journalist in the next appartment. he was always there for her - best friend, brother, father, rolled into one. (He would have been her lover I think - if he'd been younger!) A wonderful colourful character. Annie had other friends, but to me, she seemed a lost soul, and but for Sullivan, would have had a vary sad and lonely life. Her father's death when she was a child had left an empty space within.

From what initially appears to be a 'loneliness to love' story soon turns into something completely surprising and unexpected.. The stranger named Forrester who enters her shop one day claims to have known her father well. He leaves 'stories' for Annie to read in instalments, and this makes for compulsive reading. What were these stories really about, and who was Forrester? Did he - and the stories- have any real relevance to Annie?

R J Ellory beautifully describes Annies life with Sullivan, who was always there watching over her, the shop, and her romance with David. This starkly contrasts with the stories given to Annie by Forrester, which were extremely violent, ruthless and shocking in places. But like Annie, I found myself impatient for Forrester's next visit - and the next instalment of these 'stories'. Would my particular hunches about the ending be right?

From start to finish, there were twists, turns and shocks. This is a great read - brilliantly written, and full of mystery, love, crime, with a fascinating mix of characters, and an amazing finale! What more could you ask for in a book?

The vivid descriptions of Manhattan, New York, and especially the people who live and work there, were excellent, and at times, very poetic. (I noticed that R J acknowledged Anita Shreve amongst others, and I could feel her influence on his writing.) Ellory has certainly done his research very thoroughly.

I look forward to reading the rest of Roger Ellory's books - he is an author I am so glad to have found. Thanks to Manx Litfest Reading Club and the Book Club of Onchan Library!

R J Ellory's Anniversary Man by Cath

This novel opens in 1984 with the murder and attempted murder of a young teenage couple by a killer known as 'The Hammer of God'. The killer is caught, and commits suicide in prison. The action then moves to New York in 2006 where a series of gruesome killings is under investigation by Detective Ray Irving.


His investigations lead him to discover that all murders are recreations of previous serial killings carried out on the anniversaries of the events. As the bodies mount up, he comes under increasing pressure to find the killer, and enlists the help of a crime researcher attached to a newspaper. This happens to be John Costello, who survived the Hammer of God attack.


I thought this was a very well written novel, with strong characters whose lives and relationships intertwined and developed. There was a good sense of place, and the author obviously has a detailed knowledge of New York - despite being English. I found the details of the murders very gruesome though, and I wouldn't normally read such a violent novel. It was even more shocking to learn at the end that the book was based on real life serial killings .... However, it was so well written, and such a page turner, that I'd read more by this author.

Manx Litfest Reading Club - R J Ellory

Onchan Book Group have been gripped by another Manx Litfest writer this month - R J Ellory. This multi-award winning author was born in the UK, but he's completely at home writing about the USA. R J had a strange childhood, following the death of his mother when he was only 7 years old. He never knew his father, and his grandmother sent him to schools and residential homes for orphans, where he escaped into the world of American Culture through watching Hitchcock and James Cagney films, and Starsky and Hutch & Hawaii Five-0 on TV.  

His books will take you from the Deep South to California, Washington, New York and places in between. He writes tough and gritty crime, but doesn’t follow a formula, and each new book takes on a variety of different subjects. ‘A Quiet belief in Angels’ was a Richard and Judy Book Club Read in 2008.