Caroline

I have been a huge fan of John Connolly since I read his debut novel Every Dead Thing, over 20 years ago. The Charlie Parker series is one of the best series around.
The Land of Lost Things is not a Charlie Parker book however, but it is definitely one of the best books I have read this year.
If the title sounds a little familiar, it's because in 2006 the author sent a book called The Book of Lost Things out into the world. The Book of Lost Things was a poignant fairytale of sorts, set in the land of Elsewhere. The central character of the story was David, a boy who had lost his mother and traveled to the land of Elsewhere in the hope of finding her again. There, he met many fairytale characters and strange creatures.
The Land of Lost Things is the sequel to The Book of Lost Things, the sequel we didn't know we needed, but wanted just the same. It is a return to Elsewhere, in the company of Ceres, a mother who fears she is losing her child and hopes to find her in this strange land.
It is a beautiful book. It would be unfair to compare it to its predecessor. They share a land and some characters, but each tale is different. They are both poignant, beautiful stories and the one thing that stands out in both of them is the author's love of books and stories.

I love short stories and especially love Stephen King's anthologies. I have read “Nightshift” many times and the stories are just as chilling now as when I first read it 30 odd years ago.

My first outing with Logan MacRae, and it definitely won't be my last. A cracking great read.

Another great read from Jefferson Bass featuring Dr. Bill Brockton and The Body Farm. in “The Bone Thief”, Dr Bill finds himself helping the FBI as they try to gather evidence of illegal body selling. An absorbing read with great characters and an interesting plot.

I can honestly say that of all the books I've read so far this year, “Mr Mercedes” comes joint second in my Best Books list.
It may not be the dark horror King fans know and love, but there is a sense of menace throughout. King proved with “Joyland” that he can write crime fiction, and he does it yet again with “Mr Mercedes”.
I loved this book, and feel strangley bereft now that I've finished it.