I am now down to the final book in my TBR pile and still haven’t been able to get to the library to borrow more! We may be able to go on Friday, but, if not, I will turn to ebooks. I hope I can find some good ones.

The Shut Eye by Belinda Bauer

The first book of the week was The Shut Eye by Belinda Bauer. Here is the blurb:

Five footprints are the only sign that Daniel Buck was ever here.

And now they are all his mother has left.

Every day, Anna Buck guards the little prints in the cement. Polishing them to a shine. Keeping them safe. Spiralling towards insanity.

When a psychic offers hope, Anna grasps it. Who wouldn’t? Maybe he can tell her what happened to her son …

But is this man what he claims to be? Is he a visionary? A shut eye? Or a cruel fake, preying on the vulnerable?

Or is he something far, far worse?

This is is what I wrote about the book on Goodreads (I awarded it three stars):

I am not sure what to write about this book. I have read other works by Bauer and really enjoyed them, but for some reason I found this book distinctly odd and disappointing. Other readers really rate it highly, so perhaps I am the odd one out? So please read other reviews here on Goodreads before making up your mind about whether to read the book or not.

Perhaps I was in the wrong state of mind to read the book, but the supernatural element and general weirdness just didn’t suit me. In fact, looking back over the last few weeks, I seem to have rejected quite a few books rated very highly by other people, including friends, so I might be in a “wrong” state of mind overall!

Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent

My second read was Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent. I was so hooked by this book that I read it all in one go – yesterday, in fact! This is the blurb:

I expected more of a reaction the first time I hit her.

Oliver Ryan, handsome, charismatic, and successful, has long been married to his devoted wife, Alice. Together they write and illustrate award-winning children’s books; their life together one of enviable privilege and ease—until, one evening after a delightful dinner, Oliver delivers a blow to Alice that renders her unconscious, and subsequently beats her into a coma.

In the aftermath of such an unthinkable event, as Alice hovers between life and death, the couple’s friends, neighbours, and acquaintances try to understand what could have driven Oliver to commit such a horrific act. As his story unfolds, layers are peeled away to reveal a life of shame, envy, deception, and masterful manipulation.

I actually gave the book the full five stars and wrote this review:

I think this is the best Liz Nugent that I have read so far, and it is her first book. She is brilliant at creating fascinating, but very unpleasant, characters and developing a plot told from a variety of viewpoints. This book is so cleverly written: each episode in Oliver’s life unfolds and reveals more about his behaviour. I found myself totally unable to put the book down and I read it in one sitting – just as well that it is not long! Highly recommended and added to my “favourites” list.

Proxima by Stephen Baxter

So, I am now about to pick up the last book that has been sitting in the pile on my bedside table for quite some time Proxima by Stephen Baxter. I will give you my verdict next week.

Happy Reading to you all!

Best wishes,

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