The Baker Street Phantom by Fabrice Bourland

Gallic Books brings us yet another hugely entertaining novel of mystery by a French author this time set in London. Well translated by Morag Young, Fabrice Bourland tells the story of two young Canadians who arrive in London and set up a detective agency. The first client to engage the services of the cerebral Singleton and the more physical Trelawney is non other than Lady Conan Doyle, widow of the creator of Sherlock Holmes, with an intriguing tale of premonitions, poltergeists and very real murders. Bourland conjures a fascinating tale of spirits brought into existance by the thoughts of the public who have read about them

Holy Warrior by Angus Donald

Richard the Lionheart sets out for the Holy Land to fulfill his vow to liberate Jerusalem from the Saracens. In his train rides Robert, Earl of Loxley aka Robin Hood. This Robin Hood has no resemblance to Errol Flynn or the dashing social engineer of legend, he is a battle hardened warrior with both eyes fixed firmly on the main chance and would not be going on crusade at all were it not for an oath sworn to the Templar knight Sir Richard at Lea in return for support against the Sherrif of Nottingham. However, he is on the road with a strong party of men-at-arms and his comrades from Sherwood Little John, Will Scarlett and the narrator of the story Alan Dale and an excellent story it is too. Original, convincing and never slacking it's pace it kept this reader turning the pages and, what is more, waiting keenly for the sequel.

The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear

This is the seventh Maisie Dobbs novel and I am pleased to say that the high standard Miss Winspear set in the previous six is well maintained here. A young American cartographer of British descent volunteers for the British Army in 1914 but in 1916 is listed as missing in action. However, in 1932 his body, along with the rest of his team,is found beneath a field in France and his familly are anxious to trace the writer of letters found with his body. Close examination of the Post Mortem report reveals to Maisie that he was not killed by enemy action but struck down from behind. Using her many contacts in high places, the shoe leather of her assisstant Billy and her gift for organising the facts of the case Maisie brings those responsible to justice. Miss Winspear has given us another well plotted and well written detective story which is sure to please her growing legion of fans but the thing is that the Maisie Dobbs novels are more than just detective stories. Maisie has a life outside of her investigations and it is peopled by interesting and well rounded characters who are brought into the story for their interaction with Maisie and not just devices for pushing along the plot. I am sure that this accounts in large part for the popularity of these novels.

The Kingdom of the Wicked by Anthony Burgess

This ambitious novel covers the period from the death of Tiberius to the suicide of Nero, one of the most flamboyant, colourful, outrageous and deadly episodes in the history of the world. It is hardly surprising that novellists have returned time and again to explore these characters and their actions and that they have attracted the attention of some of our finest writers. Burgess goes one step further and blends in the story of the founding of the Christian religion especially how Saul of Tarsus, better known these days as St.Paul, managed to inject a nasty streak of bigotry into what was a message of love. Well researched, well planned and well written as one has come to expect from Burgess.

Assassins of Athens by Jeffrey Sigar

The body of a teenager is found in a skip outside a gay club in an Athens backstreet. Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis and his sidekick Yianni Kouras discover that he is the son of a wealthy businessman but when they break the news to him he seems strangely reluctant to cooperate. Their investigation takes them from seedy nightclubs to the haunts of high society discovering jealousy, revenge, murder and corruption all along the way. No change there then! Sigar keeps up a good steady pace all through this story making it a good read on a wet afternoon.

Carry on Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

This collection of short stories, first published in 1925, introduced Bertie Wooster and his incomparable valet Jeeves to a grateful world. There are those, I know, who are immune to the wit and elegant prose of the great "Plum" Wodehouse but these bounders are not fit for the company of first class chaps like us. What! This volume details the tribulations of a modest chap beset by Aunts, fiancees, old school friends, elderly relatives and more Aunts. I say, when a chap is trapped by a deb who says the stars are God's daisy chain well, I mean, it has to be Jeeves to the rescue.