Books of the Week: April

I keep dipping in and out of things, re-reading old favourites, looking for passages which help suit and soothe my mood at moment. 

These, of the the ones I’ve read from start to finish and for the first time this month, are my April Books of the Week.

Bobby March Will Live Forever – Alan Parks.

Third instalment in Parks’ Harry McCoy series, 1970’s hard drinking, Scottish cop with dubious friends, what’s not to like? Whilst sounding cliché, this and the previous two are superior crime books, Glasgow is written dark and foreboding with the occasional glimpses of sunlight quickly snatched. 

The Coldest Warrior – Paul Vidich.

More 1970’s paranoia, this time, an investigation into mid 50’s suicide by an American Scientist, jump or pushed? And why? 

Based on the true story of Frank Olson, an American Army Scientist working at facility which tested biological warfare agents. 

Paul Vidich writes about internal conflicts with such clarity. This is a thriller, but an intelligent one.

The Useful Idiot – John Sweeney.

Speaking of paranoia & intelligent thrillers, the new book from former BBC journalist John Sweeney deals with mid 30’s Russia, told through the eyes of Gareth Jones, a young reporter from Wales, who played against the idea of “useful idiot” journalists peddling state sanctioned fake news. 

Whilst fiction, Gareth Jones was real and a useful reminder of the importance to question things. 

Lady in Waiting – Anne Glenconner.

I’d like to be friends with Lady Glenconner, & after reading her book Lady in Waiting I suspect we all would

A brilliant and joyfully frank - perhaps sometimes too frank - advice filled story of her life and a particular slice of Britishness.