I really enjoyed Julia Sutton’s young adult novel, The Star Conspiracy.
It tells the story of Issy and Dan, their families the members of the Star Institute and the villaneous Doctor Fraser.
The storyline initially focuses on teenage problems such as Dan’s parents splitting up, Issy’s father passing away, and their parents having new partners, the problems of coping with bullying, and the challenges of teen romantic relationships.and growing up.
With the holiday in Crete the mystery of the Star Institute and Dead Man’s Island begins. This is followed by the circus scenes and psychic, gifted children aspects.
Heartfelt, a lovely tale to become immersed in. Well plotted, imaginative and with engaging characters.
I loved the sentiment of the epilogue which concluded the story in a very satisfying, positive way.
Gritty, sharp-witted, and packing a serious emotional punch! Lauren North
‘Thirty years ago the dominant voice in PI fiction was Robert B. Parker. His ‘Spenser’ novels are probably the best thing since sliced Chandler. Ever since I first read a Spenser novel I’ve wondered about an English Spenser to no particular conclusion, but in Graeme Cumming’s ‘Rand’ Scott (yes, that really is his name) I think we have a contender. Rand is the Spenser mix of borderline criminal and white knight, the hard-case with a heart of gold. That said, Cumming doesn’t pretend to copy Parker’s style, his voice is his own, his dialogue crisp, his sense of place superb … and he doesn’t give a flying F about food (sorry, Robert B.) John Lawton
What an incredible novel. Cumming’s strong and authentic writing explores the murkiest worlds of covert policing in the most gripping and compelling way. Exquisitely plotted and expertly told. Graham Bartlett
As good a crime thriller as I’ve read in years. Rudders Writing
I love how he writes about vulnerable people with such care and compassion, and this adds an extra layer of complexity to the characters in this novel as well as giving the reader some interesting things to think about Portable Magic
A cracker of a thriller that has the perfect ingredients for a great read!! Gritty, dark and twists that are perfectly placed. Sharon Beyond the Books
Funny, smart, and with plenty of twists and turns. Rambling Mads
Borderline is a cracking crime thriller, it’s dark, there is violence, there is intrigue and I was hooked!! A Knight’s Reads
When the system isn’t working, work outside the system.
A search for a missing man thrusts Rand Scott into the dark realms of homelessness, drug dealing and sex clubs.
Kirsty Moore wants to find her brother Johnny, a one-time rock star.
The police also want him – for murder.
And there are others looking who don’t play nicely.
A simple job turns deadly as Rand uncovers a world where money talks louder than the screams of innocent bystanders.
My Review:
I don’t often read thrillers but when I do I often enjoy them so thought I’d give Graeme Cumming’s book, Borderline, a go.
And I’m glad I did, I enjoyed.
My thoughts: A well crafted, and plotted book which is gritty and exciting, (especially the last third of the book, which really sizzles). Expect musical references and realistic social commentary and dialogue including some laugh out loud moments.
Liked: Characterisation, particularly the main character Rand, (Cowboy,) not a policeman, not a pushover either. Rand follows his own moral code. He investigates and tries to find a missing man, Johnny Moore, a former fairly well known rock star who’s fallen upon hard times, (expect references to crime, drug culture, social issues, and homelessness,) and his sister Kirsty’s wish to help her brother, Johnny, at all costs.
Setting: Seedy sex club culture, homeless refuge, unscrupulous criminal elements, vulnerable women. Storyline and setting/s worked well.
A recommended read for thriller and other readers.
My Review – It Is Not Too Late To Restore Planet Earth
Dan Costinas’s Haiku It Is Not Too Late To Restore Planet Earth is as its title suggests – a poetry collection about climate change and our human responses to it, our lack of care and action taken.
It’s a short book of haiku poetry about climate change with a big heart.
It has three sections D, beginning with the devastating effects. This part is hard hitting, it doesn’t hide behind a flimsy wall.
One such example from the collection:
seas mourn their new pain plastic chokes the waves to death countless megatons
H, offers glimmers of hope, An example:
whispers wash red skies smooth pearls twirl upon dry leaves Earth drinks, reborn new
The author Dan Costinas illustrates the D & H series with Kanji (Japanese characters.)
And in the final section E, he challenges the typical 5, 7, 5 syllabic structure by using a single word on each line to convey a deeper overall meaning.
As in:
undeniable totalitarianism intolerable
I’d recommend to poetry enthusiasts who appreciate how a few words really can drive the message home.
Poetry truly is powerful!
A worthy collection with dire warnings but optimistic overtones to make life on this much loved Earth better through change.
Synopsis – Almost Posthumous: One hundred Pages of Solitude
Fame. Fraud. Second Chances. Welcome to the ultimate literary deception.
Jordan J. Justice spent his entire career playing by the rules. He poured his soul into brilliant, fiercely honest prose, only for his books to gather dust in forgotten discount bins. In a world of short memories and toxic literary gatekeeping, the public met his talent with deafening silence until he decided to rewrite the rules entirely. He realised the world only devours the work of an author whose voice has been forever stilled. So, he gave them exactly what they desired: a ghost.
By staging his own disappearance, Jordan orchestrates a grand illusion. Overnight, his name roars onto global bestseller lists, and his ignored manuscripts are suddenly fought over like holy relics. He is forced to watch his lifelong ambition succeed from the shadows of a monumental irony, living a double life where his talent is finally honoured, but only at the cost of his identity.
Yet, when a cynical literary world threatens to pull down the curtain on his masterpiece, Jordan refuses to remain buried. If the traditional publishing establishment demands a corpse to find value, the entertainment industry demands a survivor. Escaping to the glitz and grit of the silver screen, Jordan takes his genius for deception into Hollywood, transforming the ultimate literary fraud into a highly lucrative commodity.
Almost Posthumous is a genre-bending, multi-layered narrative that offers a unique, multi-part perspective:
The Wilderness Files: The brilliant, surreal short stories written by Jordan during his dark years of obscurity: tales of quiet desperation, existential dread, and sharp irony.
The Hollywood Aftermath: The voyeuristic thrill of the scripts, treatments, and character bibles that document Jordan’s chaotic evolution from a failed novelist into a ruthless television showrunner.
Part psychological thriller, part dark satire, and part metafictional anthology, Almost Posthumous is an artefact of our collective obsession with celebrity culture. It is a sharp, biting commentary on how society values its prophets only when they are gone—and how a clever man can use that cynicism to mould himself a brand-new life. Read it now, before he changes his name, and his story, once again.
I’ve featured Dan on my blog before (he is a generous chap and a great supporter of fellow writers, a fantastic poet and an author who is well worth discovering):
Trevor Barcroft enlists the help of crime and mystery writer Brody Thompson to help solve his father’s murder — a murder the police and the FBI have been ignoring for five years. Trevor is convinced he knows who killed his father. Brody doesn’t agree, but he becomes convinced that there is much more to the story than anyone is sharing. He takes a strong interest in the murder and a series of related crimes.Rascal Todd wants to help, but her editor keeps her away from the story. Why? What was Wilson Barcroft doing at Gateway Park the night he was killed? Who is the mysterious Poet? What do the odd bits of poetry he has spread around tell us? Is the Poet still alive? Will he survive? Will Brody and Trevor find the answers—will they survive?Join Rascal and her friends and coworkers as they try to help from the sidelines without becoming targets in an ever-growing list of deadly crimes. Real life turns out to be far more dangerous than any fiction Brody could create as the history of a war long over comes back to haunt the city of Pittsburgh.Consistent with previous books by this author, this is a character-driven story with an ensemble cast. Some characters will be familiar to readers of Antion’s other novels. Some are new faces that you might just come to love. The addition of poetry by Willow Willers provides an interesting mechanism driving this story forward, and driving Brody Thomson into dangerous territory.
Book Review
This was a different read from Dan Antion and Willow Willers which caught my attention due to the connections and references to Vietnam, and its veterans and drugs and homelessness.
My favourite characters are Brody, an author turned sleuth and The Poet who has been hiding in fear for years, ( the poetry penned by Willow Willers in this book is an added bonus, and works well.)
The plot idea is intriging: Brody sets out to find out out why was Trevor’s father (who served in Vietnam) killed? Was he silenced? And why did a murderer try to kill his son Trevor too?
And what is Trevor’s mum doing in a care home?
What’s going on? Is it a hush up? What’s really happening?
There are revelations, and threats too.
Brody’s quest to find the truth brings gritty real life drama with him in potential danger!
Things to note: The violence and threats tend to be non-graphic in nature with the story being told as if through the eyes of a storyteller. So if you like blood and gore this is not for you. It’s what I’d call a thoughtful rather than a tense read.
A lot of the storytelling scenes occur in meetings in cafes with tempting food, newspaper offices, or in the care home, all of which give clues to the investigation, as the plot progresses to its conclusion where all is revealed!
Recommended for readers who enjoy tales with a human interest/Vietnam mystery/sleuthing aspect.
I absolutely loved Andrew McDowell’s Mystical Greenwood.
There is environmental heart in abundance in this book.
Expect a tale of brothers, family relationships, forest creatures, fantasy elements, magic, battles to overcome, a villian, sorcerers, unicorns, dragons, dogs & gryphons.
Wow, what’s not to love!
Everyone who feels at one with nature, and the creatures of the natural and the magical world will thoroughly enjoy this book.
Highly recommended.
Beautifully written descriptive passages, engaging dialogue/characters and exciting scenes. Book one ends with extraordinary discoveries, and an enticing cliffhanger with the promise of more adventures and battles to come between the forces of good and evil.
Stephen Powell’s latest book, Letters From Mozambique, is a gem, showcasing the ‘beauty, pain and new connections,’ he’s made in his travels. And what diverse connections they are.
What a fascinating insight into Mozambique and its people.
As he says, ‘Travel can spark new thinking and bring back old memories.’
Expect a knowledgeable, amusing and thought provoking account, as you would expect – this is his ‘8th time on the African continent.’
He shares his thoughts on climate change, conservation, endangered species, drought and mining pollution, the ‘blood-stained history,’ and troubles in the region.
He fondly mentions the extraordinary kindness of Mozambicans. Most people in the country are poor, but that is no impediment to generosity. He is struck by the beautiful Mozambique shoreline: ‘it captures peoples’ souls.’
He journeys and explores in all sorts of ways including, a chapa, travelling on moto taxis, back of lorries, hiking and biking, a Dhow craft, ‘the glorious craft that sails these seas all the way up to the Gulf.’ Even taking an refresher course in scuba diving to see the underwater world.
How adventurous!
There are a few ‘hairy,’ moments, which you must discover by reading the book yourself!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about authors such as Doris Lessing, African writers, Paulina Chiziane, Mia Couto and others who are inspired to write about the region.
And undoubtedly the positive investment in the spiritual Gorongosa park, the chapters about Malawi’s Mulanje Massif, and Ilha de Moçambique, both, UNESCO world heritage sites. A fantastic book.
Sunflower Tanka, edited by Robbie Cheadle and Colleen M. Chesebro, is an annual anthology showcasing contemporary tanka, tanka prose, and experimental tanka. Each volume brings together a vibrant tapestry of voices—both emerging and established—from across the globe.
For 2025, our theme “Dreams” invites poets to explore the symbolic language of dreaming, where metaphors blur the line between reality and imagination. Dreams often serve as gateways to layered meaning, offering fertile ground for syllabic poetry.
This year’s contributors journeyed deep into their dreamscapes, opening portals to boundless creativity. Through the timeless form of syllabic verse, they captured visions that transcend waking life, weaving poetry that resonates with mystery, wonder, and the infinite possibilities of the human imagination.
REVIEW
Sunflower Tanka 2025 anthology of Tanka, Tanka Prose and Experimental Tanka begins with an introduction and a short explanation of the different forms of poetry included in this collection: Tanka, Tanka Prose, Bussokuseki, (a new form for me to try,) Rensaku, Experimental Tanka, Garland Tanka, Tanka Puente, and Taiga! The topic is dreams. And what dreams they are for poets to indulge their creative juices in! Resulting in such a range of marvellous interpretations. You’ll find poems from a wide variety of international poets to connect with. There are 54 poets in the 2025 anthology! It is lovingly compiled by the contributing editors, Robbie Cheadle and Colleen Chesebro with a short analysis of their favourite poems at the end.It’s a delightful collection and a great introduction to new poets to enjoy as well as old favourites to return to again. I bought a paperback copy. What a treat.
There’s mystery, intrigue, and murder, all set against a backdrop of well written sci-fi.
Carlos Dayne from Balash is down on his luck.
He discovers a body in a dumpster and, seeing an opportunity to reinvent himself, he takes over the identity of the wealthy deceased Playboy Dominik Lind.
He has to get to grips with a lot!
Including pretending to be the boyfriend of Dominik’s fiery girlfriend, Ms Tyleah Nash.
On the planet Jallico – known for its chauvinistic, outdated attitudes, – he becomes the ‘new,’ Dominik.
Soon it becomes apparent that there is much more to Dominik & the other players in this well-crafted and plotted sci-fi tale with its extraordinary flights into imaginative orbit.
Who has murderous intentions?
Can Carlos become Dominik and survive to walk away? And what dangers will he be vulnerable to by doing so?
Lots of twists and revelations along the way, up until the final unexpected scene.
Richard Dee is from Brixham in Devon. Leaving school at 16 he briefly worked in a supermarket, then he went to sea and travelled the world in the Merchant Navy, qualifying as a Master Mariner in 1986. He has also worked as an Insurance Surveyor, Lockmaster, Harbourmaster and Ship’s Pilot, taking over 3,500 vessels up and down the Thames, passing through the estuary, the Thames Barrier and Tower Bridge. Since the publication of his first Science Fiction novel, Freefall, in 2013, Richard has written another twenty-seven novels, a textbook and a selection of short stories. He has been featured in several anthologies, including 1066 Turned Upside Down, Connections, Light and Tales from Deepest Darkest Devon. In addition to his psychological thrillers, he writes Science Fiction and Steampunk adventures. He also chronicles the exploits of reluctant amateur detective Andorra Pett. Richard is married with three adult children and five grandchildren.
Please note – The following books are FREE 7th to 9th December as my KDP period didn’t end until 5th Dec!
The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet , FREE 7th to 9th.)
Mr Sagittarius Poetry & Prose, FREE (7th to 9th.)
Do What You Love, FREE 7th to 9th.)
These are FREE Too!
Lockdown Innit Poems About Absurdity, FREE
This Is Lockdown. FREE.
Here are some review quotes from each of my books on offer, or FREE to download in the sale.
My YA Fantasy: YA Fantasy Bloodstone Book 1 in The Curse of Time series ‘Bloodstone is anything but a simple narration, but a captivating and imaginative young adult fantasy that seamlessly blends elements of magic, secrets, and coming-of-age in a dysfunctional family.’ Author & Poet Dan Costinas
My poetry & anthologies:
Shh Purely Poetry ‘I really enjoy this author – her books always make me smile and this one is no exception. There is something for everyone here in this quirky and evocative collection of poems!’ Author Chantelle Atkins
The Hedge Witch & The Magical Poet ‘This beautiful collection of poetry & flash fiction draws the reader back to nature & leaves you feeling satisfied, breathless & strangely calm.’ Author Amanda Griffith Jones.
Mr Sagittarius Poetry & Prose ‘ This is an exquisite collection of poetry, prose and photos reflecting upon the joy, comfort and peace that is to be found in the natural world and in a beautiful garden. Author S C Skillman
Do What You Love ‘ A small and perfectly formed collection about finding your way in life. Do What You Love is simply lovely.’ Linda’s Book Bag.
This Is Lockdown ‘ This Is Lockdown is a compilation unlike any other, documenting the thoughts and feelings of the main author, M J Mallon, and many other contributors, with regards to the Pandemic Lockdown of 2020, that affected the whole world’ Author Ritu Bhathal
Lockdown Innit Poems of Absurdity ‘I loved the poems, they captured the spirit of the times, the vagaries of human behaviour, the poignant signsof a society in change.’ Author Richard Dee
My YA fantasy Bloodstone, Book 1 The Curse of Time: (mental health rep, female protagonist, coming of age, dark elements, curse, crystal wielding magic, mystery, ya, fantasy.)
M J Mallon YA Author and Poet 