Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
Reviewed by Rita
This is a wonderful work of fiction set in ancient China. The story follows a girl in her chilhood called Orchid who will become the future Empress of China. She will become the infamous last Empress , who throughout history will become renowned for her power on...

The Ghost by Robert Harris
Reviewed by Richard
When a former Prime Minister decides to write his memoirs an assassination plot is discovered due to the information disclosed about going to war. An interesting account into the post war political life of a PM with lots of intrigue and suspense, delivered in a way that...

Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld
Reviewed by Richard
When 3 women are discovered murdered, a visitor to America, Sigmund Freud , is asked to analyse the wat the murderer committed the crime. A thrilling read with an excellent twist that will keep you entertained from start to finish. One of the bestsellers from the...

The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas
Reviewed by Nick S
It is a compelling story with a wonderful array of characters. There are many different dimensions to the novel which has massive scope and a superb ending. A book you must read....

The Odyssey by Homer
Reviewed by Rita
This is one of my favourite reads of all time. An excellent ancient Greek epic . It chronicles the wanderings of Odysseus. Odysseus has many adventure's on his way home from the Trojan War. These adventure's include meeting a Cyclops, a manipulative and seductive woman and...

The five people you meet in heaven by Mitch Albom
Reviewed by Karen
American author Mitch Albom has a gentle and comforting way of telling a story of death and what possibly happens after you die. In this book he tells the story of Eddie, an 84 year old amusement park worker who has spent his lifetime at the park at the...

Solitaire Mysteries by Jostein Gararder
Reviewed by Shaun
Solitaire Mysteries is an amazing journey of a father and a son in search of their Mother/Wife who has lost herself in the fashion world. In true Gaarder style, the philosophical journey that they embark upon is both education and fantastic. Look out for the little man and the book...

Gig by Simon Armitage
Reviewed by John
Although I'm now probably typecasting myself here, I had to follow up Simon Armitage's take on 'Sir Gawain..." with this, his long awaited (to me and anyone else dedicated enough to follow the career trajectory of Simon Armitage) second volume of memoirs. The floppy-fringed poet has always had a hint...

Tescopoly by Andrew Simms
Reviewed by Nick H
Not quite the anticapitalist people assume I am when I talk - quite passionately - about this book, this is one book I'm happy to say I was unable to put down. Simms gives a fairly one-sided, albeit well researched view on Tesco and its anticompetitive, cost-cutting, standardised take on...

No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
Reviewed by Nick H
A superbly well-written book by - until recently - a much underappreciated, in my opinion. Now available as a film tie-in to celebrate the release of film adaptation, I highly recommend this title in a bid to get more of you reading his novels....

The Stuff of Thought by Steven Pinker
Reviewed by John
Steven Pinker's The Language Instinct is almost certainly one my favourite books. I first came across it in my late teens when I was studying for my A Level in English Language, as it's initially much more accessable and energetic for lay audiences than the majority of books on linguistics...

Searching for Heroes by Ian Wooldridge
Reviewed by John
I've just reached the end of this idespesible athology, and although I can't quite recall why I started, I've ever been more relieved to take a gamble on something different. As someone whose passion for sport usually wavers between minimal and absolute zero, and not being a Daily Meal reader,...

The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright
Reviewed by Karen Hamer
Deceptive by it's title this book does not focus on the events of the day itself but provides a well researched history into the birth of what we know today to be Al Quaeda. Told in balance and without histeria this book is a fascinating introduction into the issues faced...

Wittgenstein's Poker by John Eidnow and Dave Edmunds
Reviewed by John
Wittgenstein's Poker is an unlikely gem of a book. Essentially an exhaustive account of the events leading up to, during, and after the one and only encounter between Ludwig Wittgenstein and the young upstart in the room, Karl Popper, which resulted in the former branding a red hot poker in...