On the Road Again!

Still 5 days to go in 2025 and so far I am well up on books read. For quite a few years I was unable to link Amazon to Goodreads. But now I can. Only 5 other people read the Spider McGee book!  Sometimes being in a minority isn't too bad!! What Goodreads doesn't know is how much of my disposable income has vanished into Bezos' bank account with all these Kindle books, not to mention the new Kindle I bought with my premium bond win!!! Update 31/12/25 - 85 books read.

I didn't set the target. It must be the default...

Guilty as Sin by Adam Croft My rating: 4 of 5 stars Where to start? It was like going back to the 70's and the Sweeney. Old time coppers that have no need for the niceties of modern life but get results. If you need to slap the accused about a bit, then don't leave any marks. Jack Reagan would be proud of Culverhouse Women coppers are fluff and Knight seems to smile her way through it all and get the job done as well. That said. Both books 1 & 2 have been a good read and I may download the next one in the series to my Kindle .... depending on how much? I'm a cheapskate. View all my reviews

Say You're Sorry: Book One by Ian C.P. Irvine My rating: 4 of 5 stars Good read I couldn't help seeing Rebus' face when following McKenzie around Edinburgh. Another Hibees fan? The Hibs bit grated a bit. C'mon The Cabbage. Swiss Insurance. The standard it seems that all call centres that migrate to India seem to be aspiring to. I was expecting Jonathon to get to see his car but there you go. McN will be sorry one day. I had almost expected the twist near the end. No spoiler here. McN had to be one step ahead somehow. View all my reviews

Lone Rider: The First British Woman to Motorcycle Around the World by Elspeth Beard My rating: 5 of 5 stars Brilliant Not just a travelogue but an emotive story of travel and the hardships and feelings. Another review said that with all the hassles it doesn't seem enjoyable. I guess not every experience that shapes a life is going to be enjoyable. Very sad at the end with Robert and how that ended. I guess as she couldn't commit to him that he simply took that decision to let her go. The lack of interest in her trip is quite appalling from the motorcycling press. But I guess we all do it. As soon as the holiday photo album comes out, then the dread starts..... it seems that was par for the course for her parents though. Friends? After a while the tedium of your own life means that you don't want to listen to the excited tales of the travellers after they come back. Having had to sit through a photo show of a friend that went to India and Nepal ...

I have read 30 of 20 books for the 2018 Reading Challenge! What should I read next? http://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/10620080 30 of 20? I put down a target of 20 books for this year and have so far read and finished 30. I have 11 books in my "to read" list.

Old Man on a Bike. Simon Gandolfi by Simon Gandolfi My rating: 4 of 5 stars Read a long time ago and I might have to re-read as I have the sequel to this one and for the life of me I haven't a clue what was in this one. I know I have read it as it is on my bookshelf and has one of my old business cards as a bookmark! View all my reviews

One book to go. I set a target of 25 books to be read this year.  At the time of writing I am at 24/25 and about 35% through the last book to achieve the goal. Most of my reading is done on the train and on holiday/vacation when having some quiet time. I very rarely read at home!  I know I should instead of watching TV.  But. Recently I have started checking the free or low price books on Amazon Kindle.  I have picked up quite a few "series" that way and the free book does entice you to carry o n if you like it. The latest is Lindsay Buroker's "Dragon Blood" series. The Dragon Blood Collection, Books 1-3 by Lindsay Buroker My rating: 4 of 5 stars Three books in one. Magic and Errol Flynn swash and buckle in one set... Patterns in the Dark by Lindsay Buroker My rating: 4 of 5 stars Another dangerous mission into enemy territory to find out why the enemy is getting stronger. I don't want to say too much without spoiling it for r...

Justified by C.M. Sutter My rating: 4 of 5 stars I enjoyed the book. Some reviews mention stilted language and sometimes the dialogue sounds more Dolly Parton than northern cop/woman/person. Very gruesome murders. View all my reviews

With Harry Bosch heading towards retirement, even from his part-time volunteer detective role in San Fernando, we need a new cop to take over the baton.  And Michael Connolly brings us Renée Ballard. The Late Show by Michael Connelly My rating: 4 of 5 stars I had read the first few chapters as they are appended to the end of the last few Bosch and Haller books and so when I was finished with them I downloaded this one to my Kindle. I guess with Bosch getting close to his pension that we needed a new character to fill the void. Ballard looks to be an inspired choice. At first I have to admit that she isn't all that likeable. In fact she comes over as the PITA very common in many US TV crime'/cop programmes. Gradually you warm to her but even by the end of the book, and she has solved the murders she is still pretty unlikable. I guess as her character develops in future books then we might see a change. As usual the book is up to Connolly's fine writing and I...

Oz: Around Australia on a Triumph by Geoff Hill Not a review but a place maker. I have read all the previous Geoff Hill books either in paperback or on the Kindle. TBH I hadn't any idea this book existed until I was checking some reviews and saw it. Immediately I was onto Amazon to see about getting it. A 1p copy plus postage seemed too good a deal to ignore and so I bought it. Once I have finished my current read I'll be on it, or not. In the hands of the post office at the moment. View all my reviews P.S. If the image is all blurred. Blame Goodreads,. It's theirs!

The Road to Gobblers Knob: From Chile to Alaska on a Motorbike by Geoff Hill My rating: 4 of 5 stars I bought this on the back of a previous bike trip that Geoff Hill written about a ride from India bringing tea home. A good pace and hardly comparable to any truck driving epic. The focus is on riding a motorcycle and the trials of the mode of transport. Humorous and simply a good tale.