Wolf Hall - Prize Winning Novel

King Henry VIII

The historical novel Wolf Hall, written by Hilary Mantel, not only won the prestigious Man Booker Prize in the UK, it is also a wonderful and insightful story set in the Court of King Henry VIII.

It tells the story of Thomas Cromwell, one of Henry VIII's closest and most trusted advisers while the king was trying to divorce Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn. Cromwell was also instrumental in the Reformation of the church in England and the split from the Roman Catholic Church.

So far, so dry and boring, you might think. Don't believe it. Before you have read much of this long novel, Thomas Cromwell will feel like a close friend.

Silent in the Grave - A Victorian Murder Mystery

I found Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn by accident.

I was fairly desperate for something to read that was going to capture my imagination so went to our local bookstore for emergency supplies. I didn't want another book about serial killers complete with so much forensic detail I could almost qualify for CSI without further training.

When I read the opening lines, helpfully printed on the back cover, I knew this was the book for me. I thought them witty and cynical - they made me smile.

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"To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor."

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