The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs

"The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs" by Matthew Dicks (The author of Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend) is a book about bullying by social exclusion, and how its effects can potentially haunt you your whole life. The issues are serious, but the style makes for an enjoyable read.

Told from the perspective of a 40+ old woman, the book nevertheless has passages that can help teens identify and deal with emotional bullying.

The Cellar - Minette Walters

The latest long-awaited novel - more of a novella - from the author of The Ice House, The Scold's Bridle and The Dark Room is a different kettle of kippers. Yes, it's still crime fiction. Yes, it's still a mystery. You can even call it a detective novel(la).

Told from the point of view of one of the victims, however, it's not a police procedural. It's not a thriller. I would never in a million years guess it to be a Minette Walters, the way a Lee Child is a Lee Child and a Harlan Coben is a Harlan Coben. In a way, it's more of a Tess Gerritsen than the latest Tess Gerritsen (Playing with Fire).

It's a good book. Well paced. Interesting characters.

Just not what I expected.

The Abominable Bride - Sherlock

I love Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock. New Year's special episode, "The Abominable Bride", was no exception. I know some people had an issue with it

SPOILERS AHEAD















going back and forth between the historical and the contemporary setting, some even found it confusing. Apart from the obvious plagiarism of the Inception concept, I couldn't fault it. Even the ghost was scary.