Note 1: The majority of the reviews I write are on Amazon (under Bewbob) or on the Bay Tales website.
Note 2: I’m lucky enough through my role in Virtual Noir at the Bar, Bay Tales and as a sometime top 500 reviewer on Amazon (it fluctuates…) to get a LOT of books from publishers – for launches we’re supporting, advances and, once in a while, to provide a quote (as if I know anything). Once, a long time when I started writing Amazon reviews, I put negative reviews up with a slightly twisted relish. When I started co-hosting Virtual Noir at the Bar with Vic Watson back in April 2020 I discovered something amazing – authors are people and all of the 300+ writers we featured on the show, whether global names like Linwood Barclay, Lawrence Block, Ian Rankin or Ann Cleeves, first time authors or those still struggling to get their first book published, work bloody hard on their efforts. So I took down my negative reviews. If I don’t like a book I read (and there are a lot I don’t love), I don’t write about it. Simple as that. I might be critical of certain aspects, but I really do try to avoid meanness. There you go…for what it’s worth.
Fairy Tale: Stephen King.
A Review.
Books of 2019: A Personal Selection.
5 Books for Young Readers at Halloween
Back when I wrote some YA stories, I put this list of age appropriate spooky tales together.
The Institute – A Review
Stephen King’s 2019 novel.
My Top 5 Stephen King Novels
After reading The Institute I thought about my all time favourites of Mr King’s.
The ‘Overrated’ Nature of Crime Fiction
A response to one ‘real’ writer’s criticism of the genre…
Ray Bradbury: An Appreciation
Cari Mora: A Review
One of the rare less-than-positive reviews I’ve written and decided to keep.
Long Praise for the Short Story
An article on one of my favourite writing forms.
Elevation: A Review of Sorts
A short review of a short book.
Lethal White: A Review
Robert Galbraith’s fourth in the series
Authors: a profile of Bateman
The author formerly known as Colin Bateman…
Authors: a profile of Joe R Lansdale
10 Novellas to read #1 – What’s a novella?
10 Novellas to read #2 – The Books
10 Novellas to read #3 – The Books
10 Great Short Stories (Part 1 of 2)
10 Great Short Stories (Part 2 of 2)
