Is It Her? is a book of two stories by two authors base on one painting. Since they are based on the same painting, they are similar in that they are based in war-time, but that's where the similarities end.
Jonathan Hill's story is tense and insular. Set the night before he has to go to war, Cliff's relationships are not quite what they seem.
Kath Middleton's story is of young love being destroyed by war when Frank's plane gets shot down over Germany.
Of the two, I preferred Kath's as I liked the young boy and his mother.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01DGVOGOA/?tag=jookuf-21
Scott Draper is a gold miner. He hasn't mined for 2 years after an incident, but wants back in. The only site he can get is at Black Pine Creek. Why did the last prospectors disappear leaving millions of dollars of equipment? Was it just because they got bored, or did something else happen?
This is a departure from David Haynes' previous books. It's more of a thriller and less of a full on horror story. Yes, there's something in the woods, but for me this book was more about the story than the frights. In fact the "something in the woods" could have been a bear and the story would still be as good.
This is a story more about the characters. I felt drawn in from the start, even though it might have been a storyline topic I'd less likely pick up if it wasn't from an author I know and love reading.
I found the character of the woods to be as much a character as the human ones. The descriptions were very clear (unlike the view in the woods) and I could easily picture it in my mind's eye.
Another fantastic book from an author who should be more popular.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MEDC2G4/?tag=jookuf-21
A Creative Crime is the twelfth in the Pitkirtly series. You'd think the quality would lapse after so long and that there's nothing left to shock the inhabitants of this small Scottish town, but anytime outsiders come to visit, something goes wrong for them and the story unfolds wonderfully.
The council wants a "Pitkirtly Creates" festival but everyone is ambivalent about it, no-one more so than Christopher, who has to organise some of it. Amarylis is feeling her age a bit, but still manages to poke her nose into someone else's business.
As usual, I get enveloped into the small town (or is Pitkirtly a village?) and like hanging out with them. The quality of the story does not flag, it's like being at home again.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LZ0K5X9/?tag=jookuf-21
