About Books - a list

I finished a book last night that captured me from the moment I saw it in the bookstore and it made me think that I haven't been sharing enough what good books I've been finishing. I rarely finish books I don't like so I only talk about books I do like - talking about books you don't finish wouldn't be fair I feel and I don't have the time to finish books I am not enjoying.

These are books I've been reading lately, most of which I have read more or less in one sitting, or at least not been able to do much else before I finished them. And these are stories perfectly suited to read while wrapped up in a blanket during the autumn storms.

The first book I feel you should read is THE ANOMALY by Michael Rutger. This is a thriller that I just could not put down. My kid had to eat sausage for the duration because I can read and magically bring sausage to the table at the same time (she didn't mind). I read it in one go. Didn't even sleep till I had finished it. It's a claustrophobic thriller set in a fascinating place with interesting characters and a plot that reminds someone like me of the x-files (which I still love). Forget all you know about the world and go on this journey, it's going to flip you over.

Another book is CROSS HER HEART by Sarah Pinborough. This is a tale of women and of people who are marginalised. An interesting, electrifying story that surprised me endlessly, like Pinborough has the tendency to do. It's a psychological thriller were the character will get you hooked on the story and then you find you just have to know what's going on. It's a well told story and nobody can twist your reader-self around their little finger like Pinborough can.

The book I finished last night, another one I could not put down, is MY BEST FRIEND'S EXORCISM by Grady Hendrix. I was in a bookstore when I first saw this book, buying something else, and I just had to buy it because of the cover! I even spoke about it to the lady working in the bookstore.

When I started reading it I found that it was just as inspired by the 80's as I had hoped. Each chapter is a line from a song from the 80s and when they mentioned MAX HEADROOM I was sold! The story is good, the plot is interesting and doesn't let go off you and you start to really care for these poor girls. I haven't read anything else by Grady Hendrix, but am definitely going to do so after this.

Then, of course, there's THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF HALLOWEEN STORIES edited by Stephen Jones. It is a short story collection (and I know I've said this before but when you find your story in a collection for the first time you can push it more than otherwise, no? ;)) you just have to have this autumn. What could be better than to settle down with a scary short story by Ramsey Campbell, Robert Shearman, Neil Gaiman or Liza Morton after it gets cold and dark at night? It's out in the US already but will be released in UK on the 4th of October.

The last book I'm going to talk about is THE OUTSIDER by Stephen King. He needs no introduction but I feel I should mention this book because while I haven't read the first 3 books in the series (I didn't know this was a part of it until I had finished) I found this book thrilling and kind of typical Stephen King which I missed in my attempt to read the first Mr. Mercedes book which I never finished. This book had all the elements I long for in a good King book. Good storytelling, fiery characters and the element that rocks the world of reality to its core. I love that about King and this one does it quite well.