Before I Go To Sleep

Before I Go To Sleep

S J Watson

This was recommended to me by a colleague at Waterstone's. I borrowed her proof copy, then purchased a (signed, first edition) copy as soon as it was released. 'Before I Go To Sleep' has been one of the biggest novels of 2011, and is another debut novel from an extremely talented writer. S J Watson is a graduate from the Faber Academy Writing Course, and it obviously worked well for him! (If someone would like to pay for a place for me, I would be happy to accept their generosity)

'Before I Go To Sleep' tells the tale of Christine, an amnesiac, who wakes up every morning to discover she is 20 years older than she thinks she is. That she has forgotten everything of the previous 20 years of her life, and that she will almost certainly never regain these memories. Christine will be spending the rest of her life waking up to discover that she is not who she thinks she is. Luckily, her husband is loving and patient, prepared to help her and support her. Things could be worse. Then she discovers the diary in which she has been secretly documenting her life, and hiding it from her husband. Is her husband the loving man he seems to be, or is he a more sinister character?

'Before I Go To Sleep' is categorised as a crime/thriller novel, so crime fans will love it, but for those who are wary of the genre this is a brilliant book to start with. The novel is well structured, and the characters are convincing.

Read it, it's awesome.

Buy it here from www.waterstones.com or from your local bookshop.

Thirteen Hours

Thirteen Hours
Deon Meyer

A South African crime novel which greatly impressed me! 'Thirteen Hours' is set in Cape Town, on the western coast of South Africa and the area is described impeccably. Police Detective Benny Griessel is trying to save an American tourist's life- her friend has already been murdered. Except he doesn't know where the girl is, or who her attackers are. Benny needs to find the girl before they do, otherwise the police force will be searching for a corpse. And this is a corpse which could greatly damage the South African tourism industry.

'Thirteen Hours' is a brilliant, gripping novel. It touches upon larger issues of bureaucracy and corruption while still containing the minutiae of everyday police life. The time frame of the novel means the plot races along and keeps you eagerly turning the pages right up until the dramatic climax. Griessel is a wonderful character, and again, a typical detective with a drinking problem and emotional baggage. The novel is a fantastic and accurate portrayal of the rainbow nation. If you're looking for a new crime writer, give Deon Meyer a go- you won't be disappointed.

Buy it from your local bookstore or here from www.waterstones.com

Case Histories

Case Histories
Kate Atkinson

'Case Histories' is Kate Atkinson's first crime novel. It is excellent; well written and absorbing. 'Case Histories' is the story of three seemingly unconnected crimes but as the plot unweaves it becomes more apparent that everything in this world is truly interlinked. The cunning private eye is a typical detective; ex-policeman with baggage (an ex-wife and murdered sister), a slight drinking problem, and a strong moral compass.

This is an involving novel and a fine example of "literary crime" (that's fine as in good, not as in okay). It's a detective story with an excellent, likeable, detective, and the other characters are correspondingly strong and well drawn. 'Case Histories' doesn't lose any of the thrill factor due it's distinctly high-brow origins, rather, it's enhanced by them.

I really enjoyed this book and have gone on to read others in the series and been similarly amused. I'd definitely recommend it for crime fiends who fancy something a little bit different!

Buy it from your local bookstore or here on www.waterstones.com

(Case Histories has just been adapted into a drama on the BBC. Check it out on iplayer!)