Short Book Review - The Corpse Role by Keith Nixon

Having enjoyed The Fix and Konstantin's various escapades, I was looking forward to reading Keith's latest. A bit of a change as it's a police procedural, but it's still got the same, tight writing that distinguishes Nixon from other writers.

The story begins when DI Charlotte Granger is called out to the decomposing body of an ex-security van driver and finds a business card in his wallet for an ex DS, now private investigator. The subsequent investigations give a big cast list, an equally big body count, and the interesting use of first-person past tense at various points keeps the speed up to almost breathless levels and keeps you interested throughout.

Due to the way the action builds up, it would be hard to give a full review without throwing in some spoilers. So I'll just say that two particular events: an unusual source of compost, and the surprise at the end, made Corpse Role very memorable.

Highly recommended read.

Shoots, High winds and Bees

Allotment time again...

Another bout of recent high winds have tested the greenhouse thing but, as yet, the thing still hasn't fallen down. I've also got some tomatoes and a cucumber growing inside it.

 The cucumber is a 'ridge' outdoor type that I haven't yet dared to let outside due to it still being a bit chilly at night.

Strawberries are looking good. There's a hundred plants altogether (picture shows half of them) with at least ten flowers on each. This year was always going to be the bumper crop as strawberries tend to be at their best two years after planting, but the problem is they'll all come in the space of a fortnight. And that's a lot of strawberries.

Finally, had a run in with the compost bin yesterday. While trying to get some compost out, about thirty bees swarmed out and went for me. Obviously I ran and hid and eventually managed to cover the thing back up, but it looks like they've made a nest or hive or whatever and, to be honest, they can have it. Picture doesn't show much I'm afraid, but you get the general idea.