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Liz Robinson - Editorial Expert
Liz has been an Editorial Expert writing reviews for LoveReading since 2014. Reading has always played a huge part in her life and she happily describes herself as a fully fledged bookworm. By day she works for a charity, and at every other free moment devours books of all genres. She video interviews authors for LoveReading and has previously judged the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Gold Dagger and Crime Fiction in Translation Awards, the Romantic Novelists’ Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award, the Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival Short Story Competition, and the LoveReading Very Short Story Award. It’s simply all about sharing the book love!
In Loose Threads we meet a whole host of criminals from the bottom to the very top of the criminal underworld as the police call in Robbie Gould, to assist in a missing person case while they investigate a case of another kind, one containing a very dead body. If you get a kick out of the quick and deadly dark humour of M.W Craven, Mark Billingham, and Chris Brookmyre then come try out Martin Stewart. I experienced the same reading joy of being on the edge, of not knowing what the main character or plot was going to ... View Full Review
If you usually turn your back on science fiction and fantasy, please pause and consider this beautifully creative and thought-provoking novel. Set in the near future and character-driven, it feels authentic and almost touchable. A number of sentient appliances look after Harold and his home, when the Grid determines Harold should be moved after his wife dies, a plan is set in motion. The human capacity for creativity, kindness and empathy are themes that resonate throughout the novel as music and literature play across the pages. The majority of the novel is set within the home and recognisable even with ... View Full Review
An intriguing glimpse into reported sightings of unidentified flying objects seen in UK skies by police officers. Covering six decades since 1960, over 70 encounters are included in this book by current serving police inspector Roy Teague. There are several reasons why this particular group of sightings is so interesting, officers reputations are potentially at risk if they report and they are used to submitting evidence, which immediately lends a feeling of authenticity. Some of the reports are also anonymous, so just how many unreported sightings are there? The author submits the evidence in a straightforward format, in each case he has ... View Full Review
Imagine a pumped up bio-punk Watership Down with an almost down but not quite out freelance investigating racoon as the central character and you nearly have Green City Wars. The animals range from pigeons to weasels to mice and squirrels, all living as a social underclass hidden from humanity. As a freelancer on the edge Skotch the racoon has no option than to investigate a missing mouse, and soon realises the case has much wider consequences. Award-winning Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of my favourite authors for his sheer inventiveness and ability to point out the ridiculous nature of humanity. The ... View Full Review
The Chronicles of the Black Company spins away from military fantasy into a more character driven novel, it’s amusing almost playful at times, and ends on one hell of a cliffhanger so you can expect more to come! Existing fans will no doubt be celebrating, the first novel was published over 40 years ago and there has been a considerable gap since author Glen Cook has visited this particular series. If you are new then I really do recommend starting with The Black Company and working your way forward, much of this novel will potentially pass you by otherwise. ... View Full Review
At its beating heart, this is a modern LA based urban fantasy which also crosses into romance and crime. Debut author Julia Bianco is a screenwriter, and has a vivid eye-catching style. This is already set up as the start of the Broken Coven series, and the world building of the social and political class system of the witches is interesting. Witches are either born with power or unsettled, unsettled witches are unpredictable as their power hunts them down. It is worth noting that most witches cut into their skin to release their magic, while showing pain is the price ... View Full Review
This charming observational novel is the most lovely and whimsical of reads. A family move from city living in California across the US to country living in Vermont and find an entirely different world awaits. Prize-winning and bestselling don’t always go hand in hand, but they do with author Daniel Mason. He writes so beautifully, from the lightest of touches to the most devastating, each sentence flows and owns the page. I absolutely adored the unforgettable North Woods which is on my list of all time favourite novels, it roams centuries but remains in place, concentrating on a ... View Full Review
Full of fire and ice, this novel set in the latter years of the Roman Empire, lives alongside Sparrow as he is taken to be the plaything of his powerful master. I recommend with all my heart beginning this immersive experience with Sparrow, as this young boy deserves your attention from the start of his story. Both novels are LoveReading Star Books, both have the ability to capture and hold your attention to deliver the most powerful of reads. Please note that there are disturbing themes throughout, the author James Hynes, while empathetic, does not shy away from the reality ... View Full Review
Oh-so readable and intensely thought-provoking, this medical thriller set in 1987 covers themes of power, trust, consent, manipulation, and courage. Bestselling author Paul Carson, had a career in medicine for over 40 years, consequently the authenticity shines through his writing. Alongside that feeling of scorching reality, sits punchy descriptive writing that hits hard. Short sentences and chapters contain power that flows through the pages. The prologue is intriguing, and as chapter one then travelled back to five weeks earlier, I found the prologue stayed with me as I read. I could see the setting in both time and location in my minds ... View Full Review
I will admit to clapping my hands with glee when the third in the Detective Miller series landed in my lap. If you are a regular then know you are in for a treat as this receives a huge thumbs up from me, if it’s your first time then start at the beginning with The Last Dance so you can fully appreciate each in order (all three are LoveReading Star Books). In The Shadow Step, an innocent man confesses to murder and sets into motion a series of unfortunate events. Award-winning and bestselling author Mark Billingham is a ... View Full Review
Immortal knights from Arthurian legend arise to battle against the Nazis and also discover age old enemies out for revenge. This sits as a companion and prequel novel to Perilous Times, which I haven’t read and will now hunt down. I will admit to entering expecting a rather different read, I understand the cover choice given the previous novel, however it steers in one direction and I travelled in another. There is a decided wedge of darkness within which ensures bite and reveals a substantial and meaningful story. The cover also suggests a dragon as a main character, ... View Full Review
This gentle and absolutely charming novel from the 44 Scotland Street series could actually be read as a standalone as its moment-in-time humour and observations of humanity do not need to be read in sequence. If you’ve not yet partaken though, then in order to enjoy these books as fully as possible I would recommend starting with 44 Scotland Street itself. This particular corner of Edinburgh while absolutely of its place and people, could also slot, with its human day-to-day activities, issues, and quirks, anywhere in the world. So its appeal lies with its appreciation of the processes of decision ... View Full Review
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