The Domino Men by Jonathan Barnes

The Domiono Men is a supernatural thriller that grab’s the reader’s attention right from the beginning. The book opens with a vicious murder, but then the victim “magically” comes back to life! This is only the beginning of many strange events that become the story told by Henry Lamb in The Domino Men. Henry Lamb is an likeable but rather ordinary file clerk who works at the Storgage and Retrieval section of the Civil Service Archive Unit. His life has always been quiet and unremarkable except for a brief time spent as a child actor. When Henry’s alcoholic grandfather is hopitalized with a stroke, Henry is suddenly “recruited” by a shadowy organization know as the Directorate to finish his grandfather’s work. Little of what is told to Henry makes any sense but the threat of impending doom is great. When Henry is summoned to the gigantic ferris wheel known as the London Eye, he is given his orders by a gilled and wrinkled old gentleman named Dedlock who eternally floats in a pool of amniotic fluid. The city of London is at war, destined to be destroyed by an ancient and malevolent force unless Henry can “find the girl” that is the key to stopping the coming apocalypse. That should be simple…..right? Unfortunately for Henry, there are many formidable enemies lined up to stop him. Prime among them is the heir to the Britsh throne who has been seduced by visions of great power, an extremely potent narcotic called ampersand and an unspeakable evil that resides in the cellar at No. 10 Downing Street: the twin, serial killing schoolboy nightmares called the Domino Men who have a hideous desire and terrifying ability to topple every building in London….just for a giggle. If you have a hard time suspending belief, this book might not be the one for you. If, on the other hand, you enjoy a nice “cabinet of curiosities”, this book will more than fit the bill! Interested readers should also check out Jonathan Barnes debut novel, The Somnambulist, a novel of the truly odd and exceptional!

Mary Beth – York                                        ISBN  9780061671401

The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil

Jo Mackenzie is raising her two young sons after her husband dies in a car accident.    Leaving London, she moves to a small seaside village to take over her grandmother’s yarn shop.  She buys a home there and sets about making a new life for herself and her boys.  She meets new friends, makes some much needed changes in the shop and learns how to take care of herself and her children by herself.    I know this sounds pretty ordinary but it’s hard to convey how much I liked the characters and how funny the book was.  The main character is very funny whether she’s offering to help walk a neighbor’s dog and hoping he won’t accept to getting roped into a knitting project for the whole elementary school.  

I know what you’re thinking –  another knitting book and you’re right, everyone knits wonderfully.  They go from learning to cast on to making sweaters with different patterns and colors.   Still the focus isn’t really on knitting, it’s on the people.  If you are looking for a  light, charming book that will keep you entertained, this is the book for you.

Karen – Fort Mill                                        ISBN  9781401340803