Lee Allen's Blog

Peter Benchley's Jaws - Review

Jaws by Peter Benchley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The classic natural horror thriller that launched the modern creature feature mania.

Taking a late night swim, a young woman is fatally attacked by a great white shark off the coast of the small town of Amity.

Some authorities want the attack hushed up, but as the deaths begin to rise, police chief Brody is forced to take action, despite resistance.

As tensions in Amity escalate and the elusive predator continues to stalk them from the deep, Brody joins a mission to hunt the fish down. But the shark is waiting - and this is his ocean.

'Jaws' is the debut novel by Peter Benchley, first published in 1974, famously adapted for the screen as the 1975 film of the same name directed by Steven Spielberg. A gripping, fast-paced summer thriller, it centres on a series of shark attacks and the ensuing public hysteria, culminating in a hunt for the killer fish in a showdown of human versus beast.

At the epicentre of the narrative is Chief of Police Martin Brody, who faces the greatest challenge of his career in the aftermath of the attacks. Amity is a tourism-driven coastal community, reliant on a successful summer to survive the year. But the threat of a shark in their waters ignites a powder keg of denial and paranoia, Brody encountering resistance to closing the beaches; then more people die.

The novel also explores the impact of this pressure upon a community, and the irony of the nature of humans as social animals through class, division and prejudices, something that particularly plays into the psyche of Brody’s own wife, Ellen, seduced by the allure of a life she left behind when she got married, in the form of outsider and shark expert Matt Hooper. This is a tale of moral and political corruption, of the hubris of humanity, of the disintegration of relationships when under pressure, revealing the true nature of human beings beneath the surface of civilised humanity.

Stalking the pages like a marine angel of death, submerged beneath the waves and rarely seen, the shark lurks like an omen hanging over the community, a Leviathan inflicting its chaos, symbolic of the darkness that hides beneath the surface of a community and within the human heart. Amidst rising tensions, local fisherman Quint believes he is the man who can bring the shark down. Battling the fallout, Brody believes the only way to absolve his own guilt is to join Quint and Hooper to hunt down the shark. The attacks and the mission to hunt it down are particularly vividly realised and the glowing scenes of the novel – riveting and intense, ratcheting up the suspense and building to a final confrontation with the beast and with nature itself.

Natural horror, particularly the “creature feature”, had previously often featured cryptids, prehistoric creatures, alien life forms, genetically-enhanced mutants, preternatural and possessed monsters, but in 'Jaws' the creature was a naturally occurring species in its own natural habitat - injecting an infusion of realism into the sub-genre.

Though he denied taking any direct inspiration, Benchley may have been influenced to write the novel by a series of five shark attacks in New Jersey in 1916, which resulted in four deaths. Spielberg, however, would cite this as inspiration when it came to the making of the movie, bloodying the waters as to how much influence these attacks had on the fiction. It should be noted that it was never definitively proven that a lone shark was responsible, nor the species of the attacker - a great white or a bull shark considered the most likely culprits.

Benchley is credited as co-writer of the screenplay for ‘Jaws’ along with Carl Gottlieb, writing several of the original drafts (Gottlieb is credited with lightening the tone of the screenplay by adding humour through his rewrites, while Spielberg wished to remove the adultery subplot and devised the more explosive finale, all perfect decisions for the story's translation to the screen). The resulting film became incredibly successful; garnering a cult following and credited with being the first summer blockbuster, it set the blueprint for natural horror films and remains an iconic and influential film fifty years later. Three sequels followed: 'Jaws 2' in 1978; 'Jaws 3-D' in 1983; and 'Jaws: The Revenge' in 1987.

Largely as a result of both the novel and films, the poor great white has earned an unfair reputation as a maneater. Though undoubtedly a dangerous predator and statistically responsible for the most attacks on humans of any shark species, these attacks are likely the result of mistaken identity or in response to perceived threat, with fatalities proving a rarity. Nevertheless, the enduring image of the terrifying underwater predator has endured in human imagination for half a century.

Dark and thrilling, ‘Jaws’ is an entertaining, character-driven aquatic action adventure, the template for a timeless story that we will revisit forevermore in our quest to not fall prey to nature’s most formidable predators.



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Mary Gabriel's Madonna: A Rebel Life - Review

Madonna by Mary Gabriel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


An engrossing and powerful biography of the Queen of Pop.

Madonna exploded onto the music stage in the early 80s and has dominated the charts worldwide for four decades, blending infectious melodies, multi-layered lyrics, provocative performances, and controversial themes into immortal pop music, propelling her to superstardom and crafting a legacy as a legendary, timeless icon.

In 'A Rebel Life', Mary Gabriel studies Madonna's life and career – from her birth in August 1958, her early childhood and the devastating loss of her mother, through her teenage years and her move to New York with dreams of becoming a dancer, and how she began to create music and signed the record deal that would change her life, beginning her meteoric rise to megastardom – and builds a portrait of the woman behind the superstar everyone thinks they know.

Exploring in detail the writing and recording of each of her albums, the creation of her concert tours and performances, the production of her movies, plus books and photographic projects, this is a rich study of her art and her impact on music, film, fashion, and popular culture. Her unique style and infusion of themes and imagery – religious and spiritual, sexual and romantic, political and social – and blending of genres – dance, rock, disco, R&B, punk, gospel – has produced a varied and diverse artistic range; infectious music always emblazoned with Madonna’s signature.

Alongside her music itself, Madonna was one of the leading artists to embrace and drive the medium of the music video, creating mini movies to accompany a single that could deliver an impactful message, tell a story, and enhance the power of a song; just one of the ways Madonna proved herself a trailblazing inspiration in the music industry and beyond, coupled with her flair for reinvention securing her longevity and an enduring impact that remains unrivalled. Madonna always has a message to deliver, and you're going to listen whether you like it or not.

As well as Madonna the artist, we examine Madonna the radical cultural icon, Madonna the philanthropist and political activist, and get to know Madonna the human being, exploring her relationships with her family, her friendships, her romances and two marriages, and as a mother to her six beloved children. Featuring insights and anecdotes from many who have known her over the years, including key collaborators, Gabriel has produced a riveting and stunning biography, with multiple facets and layers.

Often misunderstood and maligned for her artistic choices, criticised for her rebellious nature, dismissed and underestimated, at so many points during her career and personal life, Madonna could have allowed herself to break, to become the tragic and contrite figure many may have been more accepting of. But she refused. She has remained, despite all the adversity, an artist committed to her craft and her vision, and a warrior who never gave up on her dreams, always emerging as a survivor no matter the battle she has faced.

Amongst the rewards and controversies of her art, she has been confronted with staggering misogyny throughout her career, combined with increasing ageism since her thirties, through which she has beaten a path for women in the music industry in a way that no one before her had done – Madonna’s career proving to be a powerful feminist tale, inspiring countless artists who followed her. Sexism has also not been the only prejudice she has combatted – from the very beginning, her unwavering support for the gay community at a time when society wished to ignore and vilify them has proved her a true LGBTQ ally.

Suffering many tragedies throughout her life, including the loss of friends to AIDS, inspired her commitment to supporting the children of Malawi, only then to be faced with further battles and vitriol over her adoptions of David and Mercy. Often moving and deeply emotional, the stories of the injustices Madonna has overcome and the people she has helped give a voice are amongst her greatest achievements and a cornerstone of her legacy.

Madonna’s story is also a piece of history, so entwined is her art and career with the development of popular music, plus socially and culturally, both in terms of her influences and inspirations and the environment that nurtured them, and the monumental impact and influence she herself has had through the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Concluding with one of the final shows in London of the 'Madame X Tour' in early 2020, Gabriel’s biography covers over six decades of Madonna’s life and the astonishing career she built for herself. I've read several Madonna biographies and this is amongst the best and by far the most detailed and insightful.

A fascinating depiction of an icon and an entrancing revisitation of her art, ‘Madonna: A Rebel Life’ is an enthralling and captivating chronicle of one of the most important and enduring figures in popular culture – a visionary performance artist whose work and influence has already continued beyond the biography’s final pages with ‘The Celebration Tour’ in 2023-24, which concluded with a performance at Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach and set a new record for the largest audience for a standalone concert. Still holding the record as the bestselling female recording artist of all time (and fourth bestselling of all recording artists) and with a new studio album poised for release, Madonna remains the unsurpassable empress of pop.



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Horror Tales from Wales - Review

Horror Tales From Wales by Kevin J. Kennedy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A chilling collection from the heart of ancient Cymru.

‘Horror Tales from Wales’ is an anthology of horror short stories, presented by author and publisher Kevin J. Kennedy as a volume in his ‘Places’ series. Featuring five stories by five Welsh authors, we delve into a blend of hauntings and folklore, encountering supernatural and mythical entities in narratives that will make your blood run cold.

“They Come at Night” by Richard Clive – A deliciously creepy tale of a man haunted by the ghosts of children and his well-meaning friend trying to help him, leading them on a hike into the wilderness of Snowdonia in search of an old wishing well, where the man's recently deceased partner had made a wish...be careful what you wish for!

“Dogs of Hell” by C.L. Raven – A gorgeous Samhain tale, a suicide pact leading to a chase through the realm of Annwn, the Welsh Otherworld, pursued by a pack of dogs, horses and gods, trapped in a soul hunt on Hallowe’en night. A thrilling piece of mythological horror for our favourite night of the year.

“The Vengeance of Black Bart” by C.S. Jones – An emotive, historical horror, blending an historic haunting and legends of pirates with the wartime plight of refugees, sent to rural Wales to escape the dangers of the cities; exploring themes of love and loss, and the desperation they can ignite, in a sprawling nautical tale of vengeance.

“Bravo” by David Watkins – Journey from Wales to the Himalayas in a cryptid natural horror with a group of Welsh soldiers, participating in an international competition. But the soldiers are no match for the wild, coming up against a relentless predator in the snow. Pitted against the Yeti, the men find themselves in a tense fight for survival, lost in the Asian wilderness.

My own story, “Lunar Eclipse; or, Melltith y Ddraig”, concludes the collection, a tale of gothic romance, folk horror, and erotic fantasy.

Thrilling and entertaining, ‘Horror Tales from Wales’ is a fabulous showcase of indie horror and the diverse elements of the genre, all told from the heart of a land of ancient castles, mighty dragons and the rugged beauty of wild nature, where passion runs in the blood. This a superb collection to be a part of and I’m honoured to feature a story alongside my fellow Welsh authors, as part of Kennedy’s growing catalogue of indie horror voices.



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Stephen King's Lisey's Story - Review

Lisey's Story by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A dark and affecting suspense thriller.

Author Scott Landon has been dead for two years. Only now does his widow, Lisey, feel strong enough to begin sorting through his study.

She'd much prefer to keep herself locked away in her memories, but the outside world insists on invading the painful comfort of her grief.

Endangered and troubled, Lisey seeks her way towards the light by having to journey through Scott's darkness and face what he ran from his entire life.

'Lisey's Story' is a psychological gothic horror romance by Stephen King, the tale of an author’s widow, whom we meet at a crucial juncture in her grief as she finally brings herself to face clearing out his study in their home, where he would lock himself away to write. Through Lisey, we are taken on an emotional journey through love and loss, unlocking doorways to memories, King's immersive prose weaving a tapestry of heartbreak and healing.

Lisey is a captivating character; we follow her thoughts and emotions, exploring her relationships with her deceased husband and her own sisters, one of whom is suffering a breakdown. Grief-stricken and wishing to hide away from the world, Lisey can no longer keep real life at bay. At times she struggles almost to define her own identity, so often the case in being one half of a long-term relationship – and more so as the spouse of a famous figure, in public view fading into the background and becoming no more than an archetype or caricature in their shadow. But through her story, we get to know Lisey, her old hopes and dreams, her struggles, her quirks, and most of all her passion and love for Scott and how much she cherishes their life together.

Gorgeously written, rich in emotion and depth of character, the non-linear narrative gives us an insight into Lisey and Scott’s relationship, how they met and the trials and tribulations they faced through their life together, the shared language that developed between them and how their connection forged an unbreakable bond, one that remains even in death. We explore the impact of Scott’s childhood of abuse and trauma; how this scars the psyche and makes love feel complex and unattainable, yet all the richer when you find it.

Not only character-driven but specifically emotion driven, we delve deep into a mind suffering lonely, desperate grief - still hearing their loved one’s voice, still in the habit of their lives together, almost forgetting they are gone and feeling the crush every time they remember; the dense weight of emptiness and yearning in the void they have left behind. Tumbling down the rabbit holes of thinking, overthinking, unlocking memories, one becoming entangled in dreams and notions that unlock more memories, unpicking faulty memory and taking a glimpse behind the curtain where all the difficult ones reside, the plot is a powerful illustration of grief and mental health issues.

Navigating threats of obsessive fans, industry vultures, and opportunistic lunatics, Lisey comes up against something supernatural and otherworldly, ultimately confronting the fragility of one's own mind. With fantasy elements stitched into the plot, playing out as metaphor for the dissociation associated with both trauma and escapism; we delve into a magical realm, a place that can be reached through imagination and creative expression, discovering how love, like art, is enchantment. At the novel’s dark heart is the regretful hope of emerging from grief and learning how to embrace life again, in the process discovering that, through memory, through love, no one we love has ever truly departed from us.

King has cited the novel as one of his favourites amongst his work, taking initial inspiration for the story following being hospitalised after suffering an accident and coming home to find his wife having sorted his office, gaining an insight into what she may have to face following his own death. King himself wrote the screenplay when the novel was adapted for the screen as a limited series in 2021, which starred Julianne Moore as Lisey.

A poignant, gothic fusion of the romantic and the melancholy, ‘Lisey’s Story’ is the journey of a life lived in love and the promise of healing after loss.



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F.R. Tallis' The Passenger - Review

The Passenger by F.R. Tallis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A claustrophobic Second World War gothic thriller.

1941. Kapitänleutnant Siegfried Lorenz commands a German U-boat patrolling the north Atlantic. Receiving orders to rendezvous with another vessel, they take aboard two prisoners, a British submarine commander and a Norwegian professor.

The details of the SS mission involving the two prisoners are kept from Lorenz, but an act of rebellion soon results in both prisoners dead and Lorenz none the wiser as to the purpose of their transportation.

The crew’s duty-bound isolation amid the terrors of war is soon secondary to fears that something – or someone – is haunting the boat and the minds of all aboard.

‘The Passenger’ is an historical horror novel by F.R. Tallis, his fourth psychological gothic horror under this name (having written psychological crime fiction as Frank Tallis). A dark, sombre tale set during the Second World War, we embark on a journey with German Naval officers upon the ill-fated U-330, one that evokes the nature of life spent patrolling beneath the surface of the waves, and the terror and futility of war; the waiting and the watching, unemotionally carrying out orders even when not entirely sure what you’re fighting for or having any faith in whose names you are fighting. Amidst this fraught tension and isolation, an enemy soldier is shot dead, but his spirit remains very much with them – perhaps they are being haunted from beyond the grave, or are simply losing their minds.

Tallis documents the cursed voyage of boat and crew, a slow-burning, richly-detailed, noirish thriller in the gothic tradition. Drowning in an atmosphere of claustrophia and desolation, bleak to the point of nihilistic, weaving paranoia and depression, betrayal, tragedy and mystery, we accompany Lorenz and the soldiers under his command through two patrols spent at sea and the intervening furlough, the crew in peril every time they submerge and every time they surface.

Lorenz does not believe in the war they are fighting, disenchanted with the Führer and his goals. Somewhat a maverick and unwilling to display the blind loyalty expected of him, this causes much contention between his own morals and ethics and the duty and honour of his position. Lorenz’s disillusionment is perfectly juxtaposed with the radical indoctrination and dogmatic propaganda of Nazi ideology, as represented by a photographer who joins their mission for their second patrol, in order to document the heroism and patriotism of the naval officers of the Third Reich as they boldly go forth to defeat the enemy. The reality is, of course, in stark contrast.

Deprived and terrified, in mortal peril out at sea, following orders unaccompanied by explanation or justification, now they are seeing spectres move in the shadows. Little can be explained, as each day unfurls into the next. Lorenz makes some inquiries, hoping to uncover some explanation for the mission that descended into disaster. Answers remain illusive, with subtle hints of esoteric mysticism and the occult obsession of the SS offering scant clues.

Finding themselves frozen within the ice as they are sent further north, gazing out across the vast and desolate sea, it cannot help but remind one that they are – pitifully and powerlessly – merely human. In their confrontations with the enemy, it becomes evermore apparent how similar they are. British or German, fighting on behalf of Allied or Axis powers, soldiers are simply doing their jobs and sacrificing themselves for a country which claims to be on the side of the angels, and yet your orders are to slaughter fellow soldiers blindly.

Threatening a descent into madness as much as beneath the sea, the narrative submerges us in suspense, escalating towards a tense climax, the focus not so much on the supernatural haunting as the psychological impact and slow disintegration of the minds of the sailors. Is what haunts them a supernatural entity seeking vengeance, or their own misguided actions and guilty consciences preying on their souls?

Tallis was inspired to create U-330 by tales of real haunted German submarine UB-65. Deployed for a relatively short period during the First World War, seemingly cursed before it even set sail, multiple deaths and tales of ghosts on board were attached to the vessel, with many of the stories of the hauntings alleged to be false. After almost a century of speculation as to the boat’s loss, the wreck was discovered off the cost of Cornwall, its sinking concluded to be accidental. It remains where it sank, beneath the surface under protected status.

Haunting and immersive, ‘The Passenger’ is a chilling mariner’s tale coiled in nautical dread and psychological tension.



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Lynda La Plante's Accused - Review

Accused: A Trial & Retribution thriller by Lynda La Plante

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A dark and compelling chapter in a classic thriller series.

Cassie Booth vanishes while on her paper round early one morning. An anonymous tip leads police to discover her bloodstained jacket in a boathouse, the owner becoming their prime suspect.

Meanwhile, DI North undertakes a visit to appease a routine complainant. But the man’s obsession is escalating, his behaviour becoming increasingly suspicious and volatile.

Believing they are now searching for Cassie’s body, Det. Supt. Walker leads the investigation, leading to two significant suspects, both of whom may be guilty of murder.

‘Accused’ is the third in Lynda La Plante’s ‘Trial and Retribution’ series. Originally published as ‘Trial and Retribution III’, novelised from the third season of the crime drama, broadcast and published in 1999, the story follows the disappearance of teenager Cassie Booth and the subsequent major investigation led by Detective Superintendent Mike Walker, as evidence is discovered suggesting she has likely been murdered and the focus turns to hunting her killer.

Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Pat North becomes embroiled in the complaints of one Stephen Warrington, whose calls to police quickly evolve into harassment of North herself. He is insistent that a brothel is being operated from one of his neighbours’ homes, before he himself begins to suffer accusations that he hopes North can assist him in clearing up. As Warrington’s behaviour becomes more alarming, North begins to suspect that he may be linked to Walker’s inquiry.

Lynda La Plante presents a twisted, riveting thriller, narrating a complex investigation through taut, relentlessly-paced storytelling, detailing police procedure, forensic science, psychological insights, and legal procedure, as multiple inquiries become entangled in the core murder case. In the series signature approach, the police investigation is succeeded by the criminal trial.

Featuring the return of captivating and much-loved characters, we also delve deeper into their personal lives in this novel. Walker and North are moving into a new flat, embarking on a new life together after beginning their relationship shortly after the conclusion of their previous case. But their challenges start immediately: Walker facing issues with his ex-wife, as his children struggle to accept his new relationship; while Warrington’s escalating behaviour towards North affects her deeply. Walker, as always, is intensely focused on his investigation, the team closing in on their two suspects, evidence mounting that the two men were both complicit in the young girl’s abduction and murder. Both charged with the crime, each claiming the other is responsible, they are tried as a joint enterprise, but the question remains how the jury will interpret the evidence and whether convictions of both men will be secured.

As always, the vivid reading of the novelisation is influenced by the original serial on screen, significantly Richard E. Grant’s superlative guest performance as Stephen Warrington, alongside returning lead actors David Hayman and Kate Buffery as Walker and North. I adore the blend of elements featured in this series – becoming an exhilarating mix of police procedural, psychological thriller, and legal drama.

A richly captivating thriller, ‘Accused’ is another gripping entry in a fantastic series; an immersive, nostalgic treat. I’ve been immensely enjoying revisiting the series with the first three investigations and look forward to continuing with the next three books!



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Kate Mosse's The Black Mountain - Review

The Black Mountain by Kate Mosse

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A thrilling historical mystery.

May 1706. Ana lives in a small coastal town on the island of Tenerife, in the shadow of a mighty volcano.

No one believes the volcano will ever erupt. But when Ana notices strange changes in the environment, she senses they are in grave danger.

Yet no one will listen to her, and her determination to raise the alarm only puts her in greater danger at the hands of those who wish for her warnings to be silenced.

‘The Black Mountain’ is an historical novella by Kate Mosse, a blend of murder mystery, disaster action adventure, and coming of age story, set in Tenerife in 1706 and exploring the events surrounding a volcanic eruption, centring on the experience of a young Spanish woman, Ana, and her close family and friends. An enjoyable, fast-paced read with some vividly described scenes; Mosse narrates a tale fraught with danger, grief, corruption, and tragedy, in which one’s faith in humanity is shaken and renewed in equal measure.

Ana is an endearing character, reminiscent of the lead characters of childhood adventure stories. Courageous and strong-willed, she is both the moral heart and hero of the story, currently dealing with her immense grief at the loss of her father, whom it was believed took his own life. Ana comes to believe her father was murdered, her quest to solve this mystery sidetracked by the threat of the volcano. Ana senses the heavy aura in the air and the animals taking cover before the earth begins to tremor, but the powerful men of the town have no desire to listen to her, and so it falls to her, along with her brothers and friends, to do what little they can.

The novella is set against the backdrop of a true historical event, the eruption of the Trevejo volcano, the eponymous black mountain, in May 1706, which changed the course of history for the island of Tenerife. While there were no recorded human fatalities, the port we visit in the story was buried by lava flows and later relegated to a fishing village, leading to an economic shift following the disaster. Also abounding are tales of churches and a convent that the lava dared not touch, while other buildings were lost.

I particularly loved the touch of folklore of the legend of the Devil living inside the volcano; it perfectly illustrates the ominous threat that is both constant but distant and not quite believed, a throwback to an ancient explanation for the roars that escape into the night and the magma that rises as if from the pits of Hell. Though incredibly subtle, it plays into the concept of justice explored in the subtext of the novella, whether legal, moral, natural or divine.

A short, entertaining novella, ‘The Black Mountain’ is perfect for a one-sitting summer read, appealing to adults and young adults alike, and serves as a great appetiser for Kate Mosse’s work.



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Anne Rice's Lasher - Review

Lasher by Anne Rice

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A dark and alluring gothic supernatural thriller, continuing the family saga of the Mayfair witches.

Rowan Mayfair has vanished without a trace. Her husband Michael Curry has been hospitalised since the night of her disappearance. The rest of the Mayfair clan gather around – speculating, in denial, hovering like vultures.

An ancient evil, the demonic entity Lasher, now walks the realm of the living, born of flesh and blood, after centuries of fulfilling the role of dutiful familiar to the Mayfair witches.

Lasher is pursuing his own insidious endgame, a chilling scheme to populate the earth with his progeny.

‘Lasher’ is the second novel in the ‘Lives of the Mayfair Witches’ trilogy by Anne Rice. A dark and twisted Gothic family saga, laced with horror, romance, erotica, philosophy and faith, Rice’s luscious, immersive prose takes us on a delicious and horrific journey into the forbidden, delving back in time and further exploring the past of the Mayfair family, building on the events of the first novel, moving the narrative forwards with a twist of speculative and science fiction, as we meet the wider family in the present day and dig deeper into secrets entwined within their history.

Rice weaves a sublime mix of horror and eroticism, history and villainy, the novel immediately and relentlessly capturing us under its spell. A complex, multi-layered narrative, swirling in mystery and suspense, at times disturbing, often thought-provoking, it explores themes of good and evil, pleasure and pain, genetics and evolution, religion and mythology, survival and sacrifice, forgiveness and vengeance, combining in a mesmerising concoction to tell a tale of power, corruption and tragedy.

Picking up where ‘The Witching Hour’ left off, Rowan has disappeared, escaping with the newborn Lasher after he left Michael for dead. Suffering a dizzying mix of confused emotions, Rowan is imprisoned and raped by her demonic offspring, as he follows his warped desires to impregnate and pleasure her, while experiencing life in the flesh after centuries as a spirit. Meanwhile, Michael returns home from hospital, a lost and broken man, fearing what has become of Rowan and the abomination that was his newborn child.

We are also introduced to the fourteenth designee of the legacy, Mona, only thirteen years old. Intellectually, emotionally and sexually advanced beyond her years, Mona’s relationships are amongst the most controversial elements of the novel. No matter her power and ambition, she is undoubtedly another victim of the curse of the Mayfair legacy and its twisted, seductive darkness. This curse is manifesting in a series of brutal deaths befalling the Mayfair women, the result of rapes and miscarriages, further culmination of a legacy of abuse, incest and trauma. As Rowan manages to affect her escape, she is left comatose after giving birth to yet another unnatural creature.

An encounter with the spirit of Julien Mayfair deepens our understanding of Mayfair history. In the first novel, there was always the feeling there was more to learn from Julien, never regarded as an official designee of the legacy despite his immense power (as interesting reversal of our patriarchal society in that the lineage of witchcraft is a matriarchy) and his relationship with Lasher. We return to perhaps the most decadent period of the Mayfair family’s past, experiencing it from Julien’s perspective, learning of other critical events that occurred surrounding and enriching what we already know.

The mysterious organisation, the Talamasca, investigators of paranormal phenomena through the centuries, continues to be a lurking presence, and may not be as benign and neutrally observant as they claim, leading their own agents Aaron and Yuri to question their motives and turn their backs on them. Through Julien’s story and the involvement of the Talamasca, we unearth Lasher’s history and the mystery of his identity, escalating to a climatic confrontation when we finally hear his confession, which takes us back in British history to a time period that ties beautifully with its religious history and the witchcraft hysteria that will come to grip the country in the succeeding century, when the legacy of the Mayfair witches began and tied them inextricably with the prophecy of the Taltos.

Bewitching and enthralling, ‘Lasher’ is an intense second chapter in an epic gothic saga of witchcraft. I am eagerly anticipating discovering how the trilogy concludes in the final novel, ‘Taltos’.



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Luke Jennings' Codename Villanelle - Review

Codename Villanelle by Luke Jennings

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The thrilling first volume in the ‘Killing Eve’ series.

Rescued from a life of incarceration, Villanelle commits assassinations at the behest of a mysterious group known only as the Twelve.

Her proficiency and flair for the dramatic soon attracts the attention of British intelligence agent Eve Polastri.

Villanelle’s anonymity is now under threat, thus beginning a dance for survival where there can only be one victor.

‘Codename Villanelle’ is the first book in the ‘Killing Eve’ series by Luke Jennings, a gripping, fast-paced espionage crime thriller, following the assassinations orchestrated by Villanelle and the hunt that commences to track her down. Originally published in four parts as separate novelettes: “Codename Villanelle”, “Hollowpoint”, “Shanghai” and “Odessa”; the structure of the novel retains this serialisation in four short, sharp, globetrotting capers, navigating twists and turns; Villanelle displaying her ingenuity in hunting and dispatching her victims, while a cat and mouse game ensues.

Villanelle is a superb character – dangerous and captivating, at times unpredictable and impulsive while her work is intricately planned and skillfully orchestrated. Intelligent and theatrical, charming and seductive, she displays as a classic psychopath – ruthless, detached, devoid of empathy, learning how to mimic other human beings in order to survive and manipulate, but never truly feeling a connection or depth of emotion. She displays neither guilt nor remorse, no moral questioning – she relishes her kills, while often becoming bored between assignments, seeking the superficial pleasures of sexual encounters, which never come close to the ecstasy of murder.

We delve into Villanelle’s backstory and the creation of a killer, how she became imprisoned in Russia after an act of vengeance, which brought her to the attention of the Twelve, a shadowy organisation comprising of powerful men, from whom she receives her orders to kill. Jennings took inspiration for the character from Idoia López Riaño, known as La Tigresa, a contract killer for a former Basque nationalist group, active in 1984-86, imprisoned for her crimes in 1994 and later convicted of twenty-three murders.

In the second story enters Villanelle’s nemesis-to-be: MI5 agent Eve Polastri, happy in her home life with her husband, Niko, and somewhat content with her work, if a little uninspired. She is quiet, committed, methodical and analytical, displaying strong instincts and proving herself to be a dogged investigator. She becomes convinced a female assassin is operating with impunity across Europe and Asia and begins tracking her. But the closer she gets, the more Villanelle’s machinations impact her own life, and Eve soon becomes determined to hunt her down as her investigations develop into a personal crusade, thus her obsession, joining ours, begins.

The Villanelle series was adapted as BBC TV series ‘Killing Eve’, starring Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh, in 2018, which ran for four seasons before ending in 2022. So impactful were the actors’ performances, particularly Comer’s as Villanelle, that it has become impossible to separate them. The books continued to be published under the series’ name from the second entry onwards.

Four entertaining missions provide a marvellous introduction to the characters, capturing the entertaining allure of a spy thriller, the suspense of a psychological game, the visceral and sometimes inventive bursts of violence of a slasher, all with shades of quirkiness and dark humour. Laying the foundation for the duel to come as predator and prey become blurred and the mutual obsession begins, ‘Codename Villanelle’ ends with a cliffhanger that leaves us eagerly poised for the next chapter as Villanelle and Eve head for an inevitable collision, as the series continues with the novel ‘No Tomorrow’.



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Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street - Review

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


An extraordinary and powerful psychological horror thriller.

The last house on Needless Street hides much darkness, its residents entwined in a web of secrets, lies and trauma.

Ted has lived there for many years, taking care of his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia. But horror lurks in the shadows, waiting to emerge.

When someone moves into the house next door, someone who is convinced Ted is a murderer, the past begins to unravel, excavating ghosts that have lain buried but never quite forgotten.

‘The Last House on Needless Street’ is the third novel by Catriona Ward, a psychological horror thriller that tells the tale a missing child and the mystery surrounding what became of her, as we seek the mind of a murderer, excavating trauma woven in jagged scars through the minds of everyone in the periphery of such heinous crimes. A sublime concoction of psychological thriller, gothic horror and crime mystery, the novel takes the gothic setting of a haunted house and turns it on its head in a psychological, criminological study, told from the perspectives of multiple characters, ultimately piecing together the truth like narrative puzzle pieces.

Ted Bannerman has lived in Needless Street since he was a child, having been raised in the house by his sadistic mother. He now shares his home with his troubled young daughter, Lauren, and his intelligent and observant cat, Olivia. Through Ted’s memories, therapy sessions and domestic life, we gain an insight into his psyche and history, and particularly relating to one significant time, eleven years earlier – when Little Girl With Popsicle, Lulu, vanished, her disappearance lying at the shattered heart of the novel. Years later, Lulu’s sister, Dee, remains determined to uncover the truth after the police failed to find her, tracking down Ted through a newspaper report printed at the time, moving into the house next door in pursuit of the man she believes must be responsible.

Ward has crafted a masterpiece, cleverly written and expertly layered, its engrossing, atmospheric prose weaving a compelling character-driven narrative, often strange and disturbing, and consistently captivating, with spiralling twists and turns, misdirections and sleight of hand clues, subverting judgements and expectations. Rich in suspense, a sense of escalation and unraveling as the plot develops, the story is at times contemplative, philosophising on faith and perception; at other times vengeful and retributive, bursting with a thirst for justice; the truth leaking through the cracks, clues emerging and horrors unveiled in a journey through denial, delusion and faulty memory – an exploration of a fractured mind and tortured soul.

Engrossing and thrilling, ‘The Last House on Needless Street’ is a superb novel, both empathetic and provocative; an extremely well realised horror thriller, representing both genres at their finest and most riveting.



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