Linda Hepworth

I’ve walked in Northumberland for several decades and so know from experience that it’s a county which offers a wonderful variety of walking opportunities, I was therefore delighted when the publisher offered me a copy of this pocket-size guide to twenty walks in the region. I’m familiar with most of the walks David Wilson chose to include and was delighted to discover that his descriptions certainly capture the individual attractions of each of the routes I know well – happy memories flooded back as I enjoyed reminiscing from the comfort of my armchair! However, the guide, with its wonderful photographs, has also made me impatient to put my walking boots on, to not only re-visit some old favourites, but to explore some new routes during the coming months. The walks are divided into three sections: along the Northumberland Coast, with routes which incorporate the stunningly beautiful coastline, castles, fishing villages and seaside towns; through the Northumberland National Park, exploring the wild beauty of the hills of the Cheviots, ancient settlements and the dramatic splendour of Hadrian’s Wall. The final section, History & Heritage, includes trails which allow walkers to ‘follow in the footsteps of industrial pioneers’ whose vision helped to develop this wonderful county, to explore the ‘hunting estates of Northumbrian royalty’ and to walk through one of the largest man-made forests in Europe. However, each of the detailed descriptions which accompany every walk contain information about the history and heritage which has shaped the landscape, something which adds layers of interest to each day’s outing, ensuring that walkers can truly appreciate the landscape they’re walking through. I never fail to be amazed by just how much information is contained within these pocket-size walking guides from Vertebrate Press. The directions for each walk are clear and easy to follow, including the distance in miles, total feet of ascent, type of terrain, approximate timing for the walk, where to park, local amenities and where to find refreshments. This detailed information makes it easy to assess how easy or challenging each walk is. Details of the relevant OS Explorer 1:25,000 map are included and, as sections of a number of long-distance trails feature on some of the walks, I appreciated the inclusion of links to their websites. It is without reservation that I recommend this truly delightful collection of day walks to anyone who wants to discover, or rediscover, the magnificent beauty of sparsely-populated Northumberland.

What a joy it has been to read this book and to imagine a post-Covid life in which it will once again be possible to follow some of these trails - in the meantime I've enjoyed being an armchair traveller! It's clear that the descriptions of the various long-distance trails provide enough information about the type of terrain covered, total elevations etc to easily assess the suitability of each of the routes for particular levels of fitness and interest - there really are long-distance routes to suit everyone in this book! I appreciate the way the 'time to complete' section is broken down into 'walking, trekking, fastpacking and trail-running'. From important information about where to get more detailed guidance for planning your trip, how busy (or otherwise!) each route is, what the transport links are, the type of accommodation available along the route, the various pros and cons of each trail etc. etc., this guide really does appear to provide an excellent overview of everything you need to know in order to start planning an enjoyable trip. In addition the text provides insights into the history of the area being travelled and the various points of interest along the way ... and all the wonderful photographs provide extra inspiration to choose a trail and start planning a real rather than an armchair adventure! With my thanks to Vertebrate Publishing for providing my copy of this superb book in exchange for an honest review.

I was attracted by this synopsis, as well as by the gripping, inventive and utterly unpredictable description on the dust jacket, imagining that the story would be a dark, psychological thriller which, in many ways, is what it is. However, what the synopsis fails to reveal is the extent to which Erma’s first person narrative is regularly interspersed with a fantasy story about Sero The Barbarian, a character from a ‘choose your own adventure story’. Had it done so I almost certainly wouldn’t have chosen to read and review it because the fantasy/interactive- adventure genre isn’t one which attracts me. Although I must admit to having been tempted not to finish the story, having agreed to review it, I did persevere and, having done so, can recognise that it is a well-executed story which certainly lives up to its promise of being ‘inventive and unpredictable’. I don’t want to risk any spoilers by going into any detail about the various sub-plots in the story but can reveal that they do, by the end, come together in a relatively convincing way. However, I would have preferred a less convoluted way of gaining insights into Erma’s complex and traumatic backstory. Although there were elements of the story which I did find engaging and compelling, especially the ratcheting up of tension as Erma attempted to uncover the truth, I found the periodic intrusions of the fantastical element far too distracting and irritating. I also found some of the very explicit descriptions of violence towards the end of the story not only disturbing but rather gratuitous. The idea of a spiral drawing characters deeper and deeper into darkness is an appealing one but the pedant in me struggled with the idea of Sero being faced with choices on his journey down it. A spiral winds in a continuous line, offering no opportunities to make choices – this meant that I frequently found myself wishing the title had been ‘The Maze’ because choices are intrinsic to journeying through one! Although I recognise the author’s clever, imaginative writing style, as a personal read I feel unable to rate this story any higher than 2*. However, I do recognise that it’s likely to hold huge appeal to many readers and it’s this very divisiveness which would make it a good choice for book groups – I’m sure some lively debate would ensue! With thanks to Readers First and Zaffre for providing my copy in exchange for an honest review.

There is a thread running through the story about how the psychological effects of trauma and unresolved grief can manifest themselves in a range of dysfunctional behaviour within relationships. I was very impressed by the psychologically credible ways in which the author explored this in relation to not only the two main characters, but also as a theme in the lives of some of the more minor ones. I thought the plot-development and the pacing of the story were well-handled, with enough unexpected twists to make it an enjoyable and satisfying read. I had wondered whether I might feel rather cynical about the paranormal aspect of the story but the way in which this was handled always felt plausible – probably because I felt able to analyse it in psycho-dynamic terms! Camden is an area of London I know well and, with its rather edgy, alternative-lifestyle vibe, it felt like an ideal choice of location for as ‘off-beat’ a character as Cassie. I thought that the author’s evocative descriptions brought the area alive, adding an enjoyable extra dimension to the storytelling. I also enjoyed the detailed descriptions of Cassie’s job and increasing my knowledge of the range of procedures in a mortuary, not only in relation to how the physical examination is carried out, but also the little techniques used to make the body ‘fit’ for the relatives to view. I also discovered that there are differences between a post mortem ordered by a coroner in the event of an unexplained death, and the more detailed forensic one which is required to determine the cause of death following a crime. In the former the evisceration of the body and the taking of samples of bodily fluids for analysis is done by an anatomical pathology technician, like Cassie, with the pathologist examining the organs once they’ve been removed, whilst in the latter the pathologist is responsible for the whole process, with the pathology technician’s role being to assist. From the level of detail included in the scenes set in the mortuary it was clear that the author must have done considerable research. A similar attention to detail was also apparent in her descriptions of what life on the streets is like for the homeless and the drug addicts. This is the first story in a new series and, with some firm foundations already laid, I’m very much looking forward to getting to know this cast of memorable characters better – including Weronika and Macavity, Cassie’s cat! With thanks to Readers First and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun read – the perfect antidote to any Covid-blues! With lots of gentle, tongue-in-cheek humour, a cast of well-developed fictional characters, convincing, well-observed portrayals of the real-life ones and a satisfyingly intriguing murder mystery (complete with numerous red-herrings) needing to be solved, I found myself easily able to suspend disbelief at the absurd notion of H.M. Queen as a regal Miss Marple! In fact, by the end of the story I could almost believe that it was totally in-character for her to be rather good at this private investigating lark! I think this is a measure of how well the author captured the essence of all the qualities which make the Queen so recognisable – her sense of duty, her quiet determination, her powers of observation, her prodigious memory, her diplomacy … demonstrated admirably when she allows the rather patronising main investigating officer to believe that he solved the crime! It was also easy to believe that all the Dick Francis stories she’s read (the only novels she enjoys) had perhaps given her a taste for amateur sleuthing! The author’s portrayal of Prince Philip was equally convincing, perfectly capturing his quick, rather caustic – and sometimes less than diplomatic – wit. I think most people would easily be able to imagine him asking the Queen, as he departs for a visit to Scotland, whether she’d like him to “bring back Nicola Sturgeon’s head on a platter”! Although the intimate glimpses into their daily interactions were (probably!) imagined, they did convey something believable about the everyday exchanges between a couple who’ve been married for more than seventy years, as well as how supportive he must have been of his wife during the many decades of her reign. Rosie, the new assistant private secretary who, of course, did all the leg-work for the queen, was a delightful and convincing character so it will be interesting to see how her relationship with the monarch develops in future stories in the series. Interspersed with all the sleuthing which was going on, were insights into the range of the Queen’s official duties, the formality of some parts of her life, how she relaxes (with her horses and corgis) and glimpses into the daily routines at Windsor Castle and, to a lesser extent, Buckingham Palace. The author’s respect, admiration and affection for the Queen and the Royal family permeate her writing but it’s apparent throughout that she must have done considerable research to enable her to convey such a convincing portrayal of daily routines in the Royal Household. Not being an ardent monarchist (although I have huge respect for the Queen’s devotion to duty) I hadn’t expected to enjoy this story as much as I did, and I certainly wouldn’t have predicted that I’d now be looking forward to future stories in the series! With thanks to the publisher and Readers First for a copy of this entertaining novel in exchange for an honest review.