Category Archives: Review

Book Review: Andrew Cartmel ~ The Vinyl Detective: written in dead wax (2016)

Posted on March 18, 2026 by odeboyz

Two things need to be noted up front. (1) I’m a very longstanding jazz fan and (2) I adore quirky novels, which destroy customary formula. There isn’t a maverick Detective Inspector anywhere in this novel. In fact, there are no … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Lee Child ~ The Enemy (2004)

Posted on February 25, 2026 by odeboyz

After reading a few Reacher novels they begin to feel like a warm blanket. Predictable and a lovely interlude in life’s rich pageant. Reacher is a ‘righteous’ psychopath smashing people into pulp. Killing people in ever more ingenious ways. Wandering … Continue reading →

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Victims of Trip Advisor strike back

Posted on February 7, 2026 by odeboyz
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Book Review: Douglas Adams ~ The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (1979)

Posted on February 4, 2026 by odeboyz

For a comedic SciFi novel to become a best-seller is unprecedented. Douglas Adams was very, very lucky that he got decisive support from BBC Radio4. They produced 15-minute programmes, which became a cult. Adams then wrote a series of books … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Martin Cruz Smith ~ Hotel Ukraine (2025)

Posted on October 29, 2025 by odeboyz

Authors who create wonderful characters own a gold mine.1 Killing a ‘Golden Goose’ is very expensive. Lee Child outsourced the Reacher series to his brother. Ian Ranken’s Rebus recently was imprisoned for murder and then solved a murder and lives … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Ian Rankin ~ Midnight and Blue (2024)

Posted on July 30, 2025 by odeboyz

Q) What does a brilliant detective do after being sentenced to life imprisonment? A) Solve ultra difficult murders. Rebus got a life sentence for murdering his criminal nemesis ‘Big Ger’ Cafferty. It was accidental but nonetheless he was found guilty … Continue reading →

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Book Review: James Ellroy ~ The Big Nowhere (1988)

Posted on June 25, 2025 by odeboyz

The USA has a menacing culture, which embraces extreme violence and corruption. The January 6th 2020 Insurrection led to multiple deaths and systematic vandalism. It was celebrated by President Trump as an act of ‘patriotism’. His first act, as president, … Continue reading →

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Book Review: James O’Brien ~ How they broke Britain (2024)

Posted on April 30, 2025 by odeboyz

James is a superb radio talk show host on LBC. He’s perceptive and insightful and listens to people who are uninformed in comparison to him. Although he’s combative he is prepared to discuss issues. A star no less. His book … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Alastair Puddick ~ 46% better than Dave (2019)

Posted on March 12, 2025 by odeboyz

In economics ‘Hedonic Treadmill’ explains that people believe who  believe  in recipes for happiness are doomed to failure. They’re on a ‘treadmill’ with entirely illusionary possibilities for happiness. Continuous pleasure-seeking feeds dissatisfaction. At its most extreme it is corrosive creating … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Lee Child ~ The Visitor (2000)

Posted on January 29, 2025 by odeboyz

Reacher novels mainline on ‘Smash, Bang, Wallop’. The Visitor is subtle, nuanced and very, very clever. It is the fourth novel in this book-a-year series and appeared before Lee Child transitioned into formulaic sado-porn. There are only two examples of … Continue reading →

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