12:23 Paris, 31st August 1997

Author: McNamee, Eoin Publication Date: 2007 Category: Literary suspense Who'll want to read it? Conspiracy theorists. Point of no return: Having read Eoin McNamee's last 4 books, reading this was a foregone conclusion.
Classic line: "The thing he liked about tailing someone was that it added an extra dimension to the subject. He liked to think of himself as bringing ambiguity and drama to people's lives" page 5. What's it all about? Eoin McNamee possesses a certain mastery in writing novels based around actual people and events. 12.23 is set in Paris on the weekend Diana Spencer died. It is a fictional account of the lead up to the fatal accident in the Alma tunnel. We see most events from the point of view of a washed up ex-special forces operative employed to "watch and report" on people connected with Diana Spencer. McNamee portrays a chilling world of espionage and corruption - a world in which to "sanitize" is to remove all protective surveillance from the vicinity of a subject, leaving assassins clean access to their target. The story explores some intriguing possibilities about the weekend of "Spencer's" death (as she is continuously referred to in the novel). McNamee's ability to portray the inner nuances of so many different characters creates a rich and plausible cast. Even if you don't like the topic, you will be entranced by the atmosphere created.
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Interview with Eoin McNamee from the Belfast Telegraph, 23.09.2007:

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To Kill a Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee

Publication Date: 1960 Category: Classic American Fiction Who'll want to read it? Everyone Point of no return: Page1 "We were far too old to settle an argument with a fist-fight, so we consulted Atticus. Our father said we were both right." Classic line: For context I'll give you a few lines: "Dill was becoming something of a trial anyway, following Jem about. He had asked me earlier in the summer to marry him, then promptly forgot about it. He staked me out, marked me as his property, said I was the only girl he would ever love, then he neglected me. I beat him up twice but it did no good, he only grew closer to Jem." Chapter 5 What's it all about? The most beautifully written coming of age story I've ever read. Scout's innocent, honest and wise voice tells the story of a small town's prejudice, bigotry and snobbery. Yet it also tells of the strength of human spirit, the value of life, loyalty, patience, perseverance and love in it's many forms. Publisher: Warner Books

The Flowers of Ballygrace

Author: Geraldine O'Neill Publication Date: 2006 Category: Family Saga Who'll want to read it? Those who have read others by O'Neill & those who enjoy Maeve Binchy, or the "aga saga" Point of no return: Chapter Three Classic line: He paused for a moment, thinking, then he shook his head. 'You women are all the feckin' same - ye say one thing and mean another. And it's not fair - for us lads are left like eedjits trying to make sense of it all.' What's it all about? A family living along the Grand Canal in County Offaly, Ireland in the late 1950's. As the two adult children form relationships of their own the widowed "mammy" must find her own focus for life again. Deftly describes a period of social change in rural Ireland in this time, and describes the area around Tullamore, Daingean etc., incredibly well. Publisher: Orion

Daddy's Girl

Author: Lisa Scottoline Publication Date: 2007 Category: General Fiction Who'll want to read it? anyone who likes suspense, drama and chilled by thrillers Point of no return: page 39 Classic line: "Lockdown!" "Go, go, go!" "Its the lockdown siren. We gotta go!" Inmates bolted for the door, bottlenecking at the threshold. What's it all about? Corruption in the prison system, discovered by two law professors, but with a dramatic twist at the end. Publisher: Macmillan