Jenoff - Kommandant's Girl - 13/03/07 - 16/03/07

Despite what might at first seem a plot bound for either sentimentality or bleakness, this book manages to capture something of the harsh realities of being a Polish Jew during the Second World War and yet still retain hope, humour and most importantly a cracking storyline. Like the main character, the reader finds their views of the Kommandant challenged - we know he is a Nazi and yet at the same time we find ourselves starting to like him - Emma struggles with this and so do we. The balance between grimness and cloying sweetness is maintained at all times and never better than during the final denouement which sees a believable and classy finish to the book.

A second book picking up on one aspect of this storyline follows and I for one can't wait.

Nadel - Arabesk - 01/03/07 - 12/03/07

This is the second book by Barbara Nadel that I have read. They are very enjoyable, if not terrifically imaginative, detective fiction books set in Istanbul. It is the setting as much as the writing which makes these books fun to read. Nadel is able to communicate the sounds, smells and atmosphere of the city effectively without being too heavy-handed. Whilst the unfamiliarity of the names (both people and places) makes the book harder to read than books set in either the UK or US, it also distracts from the familiar nature of the storylines.

This book focuses on the death of a famous singer's wife and the relationships between the singer, his mistress and her family. Whilst this is familiar enough territory, it is the Turkish cultural references (which appear to be accurate enough, although I have no way of confirming this) and the exotic setting which makes this a good read.

Robinson - Gallows View - 24/02/07 - 01/03/07

Gallows View is the first book in the Inspector Banks series by Peter Robinson. The book's plot is not original - a murder, some thefts and a peeping tom - but the story is very well written, the characters believable and well-rounded. A recommendation by Michael Connelly on the back cover tells you all you need to know - Connelly's own books are some of the best around and Robinson's Banks series is set to be not far behind. I am only sorry I have come to it late. The good news is that there are plenty more for me to read.