Reviewed on 13/01/2003. A humorous perspective on married life for a young couple trying to get to grips with their off-spring while maintaining their sanity. Set in London, this is a tale about a man who "runs away" from his wife and newborn child. Under the pretence of working long shifts (sometimes disappearing for days), he returns only to alleviate his guilt. While at "home" he is the hard-working and caring husband, at "work" he slums it with three disparate single males in a house share. As he's duplicity becomes known, all sorts of hilarious situations ensue. For anyone who has lived in a house share in London, the sub-plots are all too familiar and painfully funny. And for once, the male perspective of having children is brought to the fore. A difficult book to put down!

Reviewed on 29/04/2003. From the writer of Blackadder and a Thin Blue Line, comes this amusing murder-mystery based on a reality TV show. The show is called House Arrest, which is totally based on the real-life TV show Big Brother. Fans of the real-life show will easily identify with the setting and the stereotypical characters.What is not typical is that a murder has taken place in the House. The victim is not revealed until late in the book, which effectively leaves the reader guessing who the murderer AND who the victim is. The timeline is cleverly moved from the present-day murder investigation to excerpts from the video footage which is scrutinized for clues. You may just wonder how a murder could take place with cameras all around the house! All is revealed in a satisfying and easy read. The only reason I have not given 5 stars is because the setting is so familiar which initially does not get the imagination going. However it is perhaps also because of this that solving the crime becomes an obsession for the reader.

Reviewed on 08/04/2003.An entertaining comic thriller with a satisfying twist in the tale. The story centres on Bic, an Irish descendant who sells crepes on Greenwich Market on the banks of the Thames. He recognises the need to change his mundane existence, but is not prepared for the mayhem which is about to occur. Bic gets involved in an IRA plan to disrupt the Tall Ships regatta. It ends up with him being the "Most wanted man in Britain". The undertone of the struggle in Non Iron (Northern Ireland to you and me), is key to the story, but does not overwhelm it. Although this is a light read, the book is littered with black humour (perhaps inappropriate at times). However, it is a rewarding read as the twist in the plot answers all the questions posed at the beginning of the book.

Reviewed on 08/09/2004. One of my favourite authors of travel tales, Bill Bryson, in this book attempts to explain the Universe, how we came to be the origin of life... basically everything! He does this in the most enjoyable way. Sometimes he gets bogged down by quoting figures , but it would be pretty hard to avoid this when attempting to explain the subject matter. This book will entertain and educate and will no doubt provide endless quotes with which to bore or fascinate your friends.

Reviewed on 08/10/2004.A mind-blowing read which challenges Christian foundations. A religious scholar, Robert Langdon, is drawn into the murder of a curator at the Louvre. Accused by the police of the murder, Robert has to solve the mystery to prove his innocence, but in doing so has to solve the puzzle of the "Holy Grail". The author basis the story around actual locations and references famous works which seemingly conceal hidden meanings. After reading this book, you will never look at the paintings of the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper in the same way. A brilliant rollercoaster ride with unexpected twists and turns. This book has taken the literary world by storm.

Reviewed on 13/11/2004. A cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, works at the ultra-secretive National Security Agency (NSA). She is called into work when the agency is held hostage by the threat of a piece of code that will be released which could undermine the security of the United States. While she tries to uncover the mystery, he lover is sent to Europe to track down a possible lead. Unknowingly, he becomes the target of a ruthless assassin. This is quite an enjoyable read, especially if you are into the world of cryptography.

Reviewed on 13/12/2004. Robert Langdon is once again drawn into an adventure which has him searching the Vatican and Rome for clues to save the Vatican city from destruction. His enemy is the powerful Illuminati. If he can solve the puzzle , which involves actual landmarks in Rome, he may just save the Catholic Church from destruction. The book challenges the politics of the Catholic Church and it's view on science. A fast-paced action packed read which also raises religious questions.