On Saturday September 12th, Tara and me were fortunate enough to again be present at the launch of a new book by Celine Kiernan in Crannog Bookshop in Cavan Town, Ireland.
The book being launched was THE CROWDED SHADOWS, the second part in the Moorhawke trilogy, and a big favourite with both my daughter and mine.
Crannog is a charming, independent bookshop, but not the biggest of stores and the place was packed for this launch. All those present were made to feel very welcome and offered a drink before the launch started.
After the owner of the bookshop welcomed all of us, he introduced Michael O'Brien of O'Brien publishers. He started of by listing a host of countries and asking the audience what those countries might have in common, the answer being that in all those countries Celine Kiernan's books have been published and successful. For an author, in the middle of publishing her first trilogy, this is a huge achievement, but well deserved in my opinion.
He also explained the new cover art that was introduced with this second book in the series, and that is now also being used for new editions of the first book; this art was created by the German publisher of the book and fits the stories so well that is now also being used her in Ireland.
He ended his speech with an appeal to the audience to please support their local independent bookshops. As he said, that's the only way to ensure that us the public will continue to have a real choice when it comes to our reading, as well as a way of safeguarding the publishing of local interest publications. An appeal that was loudly applauded by the audience and is fully supported by me.
The next person to speak was Celine's agent who explained that prior to Celine she had never represented an author in this genre and was only reading part of the manuscript to recommend an agent who might be able to represent Celine when she fell in love with the story and decided to expand her horizons.
Finally, it was the turn of Celine herself. She basically limited herself to repeating O'Brien's call to support the independent bookshops before she launched into a reading from the new book.
This reading was very well picked. It was an exciting part in the story and also highlighted how good a writer she is. I had read the book before coming to the launch, but had I not, I know that reading would have made me start the book as soon as I returned home.
The evening in the bookshop ended with book signings, which took quite a while because Celine is a genuinely nice person who took her time with every single reader coming up to her table with a book. She had a smile and kind words for everyone, including Tara and myself.
But. this was not the end of the evening because Tara and me were also invited to the launch party in a local restaurant. Here all those partying along were presented with a celebratory glass of champagne and a very impressive spread of food.
My only regret about the evening is that I wasn't feeling great and that Tara and me had to leave relatively early. The real party and dancing had only kicked of when I told Tara it was time to go. However, despite the rushed ending both Tara and me had a wonderful night and are truly grateful to have been invited to this event. Just as both of us are waiting with baited breath for the final book in this amazing trilogy.
(The two pictures here are the covers of the first two books in the trilogy. For book one I have used the German cover, which only seems fair because it was the German publisher who came up with this design.)
TITLE: RED BONES
AUTHOR: ANN CLEEVES
Pages: 392
Date: 12/09/2009
Grade: 4+
Details: no. 3 The Shetland Quartet
Library
Whalsey is a small island you of Shetland Mainland. When a young archaeologist digs up human remains she hopes they will confirm a 16th dwelling on the spot. The locals though are speculating the remains could be more recent, and Mima, the old woman on whose land the dig is taking place, is very upset by the find.
When Mima is subsequently shot and killed it appears to be a tragic accident, but Inspector Jimmy Perez is not convinced. Just as he can't believe that the young archaeologist committed suicide a few days later, even though she had a troubled past.
But with the investigation being unofficial and partially being left to Sandy who is inexperienced and personally involved, it proves hard to get to the bottom of family rivalries, jealousy, loyalty and local myth.
Ann Cleeves once again paints an atmospheric picture of life in a remote and isolated community. They mystery is good and the solution makes perfect sense and fits the story. Yet, I found this book a bit slower and less engrossing then the previous two, with maybe a bit more introspection by the main characters then I would have liked.
Still, with this being a quartet there is a fourth book on the way, and I will most definitely read it.
TITLE: THE CROWDED SHADOWS
AUTHOR: CELINE KIERNAN
Pages: 411
Date: 09/09/2009
Grade: 5
Details: Book 2: The Moorhawke Trilogy
ARC
Own
Wow, this was some reading experience. And action filled roller coaster ride where neither the main characters nor the reader are allowed to let their guard down for even a moment.
Wynter Moorhawke, after having left her beloved father behind, is travelling alone through forests filled with danger in an effort to find the rebel Prince Alberon. But others are on their way to his camp as well, and most of them are deadly dangerous.
A reunion with Razi and Christopher should make the journey safer, but with old enemies closing in on them, they can't ever relax.
Joining up with a group of Christopher's people, also on their way to the Rebel Prince's camp, appears to bring them at least the safety of numbers, except that Christopher is desperate to leave them again, and unable or unwilling to explain why.
Religious and cultural differences arise and could easily tear the group apart again. They could also cost our heroes their lives.
And all the time the question remains; Why does Alberon appear to be seeking alliances with those who should be his enemies?
This book was darker and more action packed then the first one. It also revealed more about the main character's backgrounds and motivations, which I found very satisfying. Especially since the author succeeded in making them well rounded and multi dimensional.
Celine Kiernan is a master at drawing the reader into her web of mystery, intrigue and violence. Her way with words makes the world described in the book real, a place you might well go and visit one day, if you were brave enough.
Although this book does come with a "not for the feint-hearted" warning, it would be a shame to miss out on this story if you enjoy a well written, and captivating adventure.
TITLE: DEATH IN ECSTACY
AUTHOR: NGIAO MARSH
Date: 07/09/2009
Grade: 4
Details: Insp. Alleyn Mystery
Audio: 8 Cd's / 7 hours 52 minutes
Narrator: James Saxon
Library
When Nigel Bathgate, journalist and friend of Alleyn's, sneaks his way into a curious religious ceremony one rainy night, he is hoping for some distraction and maybe a story. What he ends up witnessing is murder.
Cara Quayne had been practising for her role in the ceremony for a month. But only moments after drinking the sacred wine of ecstacy she is dead. Poisoned with cyanide.
The group of suspects is limited to her fellow initiates and the high priest, but there are plenty of motives; jealousy, lust, money, and those are only the immediately obvious ones. Alleyn and his team will dig up more dirt before the murderer is revealed.
I had read this book before, but so long ago that the story was virtually new to me. I still enjoy these mysteries featuring Alleyn, a lot, although they do suffer from the same problem as a lot of mysteries written around the same time; Not all information is shared with the reader, giving the fictional detective an unfair advantage over the reader when it comes to solving the mystery.
TITLE: WHISPERS OF THE DEAD
AUTHOR: SIMON BECKETT
Pages: 317
Date: 06/09/2009
Grade: 5-
Details: no. 3 David Hunter Mystery
Library
Still recuperating from the violent attempt on his life in the last book, forensics expert David Hunter has left England for Tennessee. Here, at the place called The Body Farm, where he learned his profession, David hopes to discover if this is still what he wants to do. So when his old mentor Tom Lieberman, invites him to take part in an investigation, it only seems natural to say yes.
The crime scene they're asked to investigate though doesn't make any sense as far as either the time or the cause of death is concerned. And as more bodies are being found it becomes clear that they are dealing with a murderer with extensive forensic knowledge. A murderer who is playing games with them, and who is choosing his victims ever closer to those involved in the investigation. This murderer with his unknown motivation may well end up getting away with his crimes, leaving a trail of devastation in his wake.
A good murderer with the murderer well hidden in the cast of characters, leading to a nice twist in the end. And I really appreciated the fact that one particular thing didn't actually happen.
TITLE: BROTHER ODD
AUTHOR: DEAN KOONTZ
Pages: 364
Date: 05/09/2009
Grade: 4
Details: no. 3 Odd Thomas
Library
After surviving the horrendous and tragic events that took place in Pico Mundo (in books one and two), Odd Thomas has left his home town for a remote monastery in the High Sierra.
But Odd, being who and what he is, can't escape the mysterious, the ghosts and the horror for long. After several months of peace and quiet he spots three bodachs in the building and knows that he has very little time before death and destruction will be unleashed on this peaceful sanctuary.
Not knowing exactly who he can trust and up against a force unlike anything he has encountered before, Odd has a major struggle on his hands if he wants to safe the lives of all of the innocents around him.
For some reason I didn't enjoy this book as much as the previous two. It wasn't nearly as compulsive a read for me, although I can't quite put my finger on the reason for that. However, I enjoy the series as a whole enough to want to continue on with it.
TITLE: THE ADULTERESS
AUTHOR: NOELLE HARRISON
Pages: 373
Date: 03/09/2009
Grade: 5
Own
Noelle Harrison has outdone herself with this book. Without a doubt it is her best novel yet. The language she uses is descriptive, beautiful and seductive. The images she creates are alive and real, as are her characters.
Those characters never feel too good or too bad to be true, but nuanced. And I know her descriptions of the landscapes are accurate because a large part of the story is set in Cavan, where I live.
This story never felt like it was trying to be too clever or as if the author was trying to prove something. The feeling it left me with was that of a story written from the heart by someone who felt strongly about her characters.
This is the story of Nicholas, who flees Dublin for Cavan after his wife confesses to having slept with someone else. In Cavan he buys a cottage in need of renovation, but he soon discovers he's not alone there.
He shares the cottage with the ghost of June, who moved into the house during World War II with her husband Robert. June, who proclaims herself an adulteress.
Nicholas and June's stories take turns on the pages of this book in a story of love and loss, of secrets and regrets, and ultimately of forgiveness and hope. A story that holds more secrets and revelations than the reader would necessary suspect. Indeed, a mythical and fascinating story that needs to be read slowly, so that the reader can savour every single word.
