Michael Richards. A Maker of Books.
MAKER means creator, printer, paper selector, the person responsible for the overall presentation, style, quality and suitability to the subject. Richards lifelong interest in quality print production is revealed to us in this history of Alec Bolton and his Brindabella press which will be appreciated by those who like this book.
The book has many technical details as this is where Bolton excelled. He wanted to print books of quality and would pursue excellence. Paper would be selected to complement the writing. Ink was in his heart and on his hands.
Nicci French. The Lying Room.
I admit to prejudice when I noted the author name. I presumed this book’s author was female. We know that many women writers provide thrilling mysteries, as I somehow had expected this book to be. So I did a rethink and I discovered NICCI is the female writer’s first name which when combined with her husband’s surname FRENCH, gives us a very bright team. Nicci French
With only tv tennis to offer distraction, I plugged in my earphones and listened to my audiobook version, much of the day. Perhaps until eight when tv tennis provided a champion to watch I had been lying around all day reading about everyone telling lies.
THE PLOT as the title suggests, is about that familiar web of lies. One lie leads to another. Diverse friends and family and lovers are entangled. Add a probable murder into that web, interwoven with many suspects it becomes a puzzle to ponder. The main character is swallowed up in who said what, when and why? Great detective work required. An enjoyable Whodunnit.
Without giving it all away there is a gory murder, an attempt by the first witness to the scene, who gets caught up in a tantalising cover up. She is a popular and perfect woman caught in the mayhem of her lies. The theme has fidelity at it’s core. Who do you trust? We feel, the trust, betrayal, anger, which is quite the usual stuff. A good read.