Tag: fiction

Last Testament In Bologna by Tom Benjamin

I originally started this book when it first came out in 2023 but other books (I guess The World by Simon Sebag Montefiore) sidetracked me and I noticed a new book in the series came out recently and it reminded me to revisit this one. It is a series I enjoy an English ex-pat (always ex-pats if they are British, yet Immigrants if they are foreign to us lol) working for the family investigative business in Italy.

This installment focuses on an old feud and the world of fast cars and Formula 1, there is quite a lot going on with several threads and it all comes together quite nicely in the end. I am curious where the series goes next, and how it tackles the patriarchs health and the ever changing family structure like new members and the father/daughter dynamics.

Listening to parts on the audiobook I did notice the narrators voice seemed to change dramatically towards the end of the book. I assume it is the same narrator but he didn’t half sound different.

Super-Frog Saves Tokyo by Haruki Murakami

An interesting short story. I haven’t read much of Murakami but what I have read has been okay. This was a short and fun read, a bit odd too. I did squirm at the end reading about the bugs especially being tucked up in bed myself.

The illustrations and design of the book are excellent though makes a little tricky reading on the Colorsoft Kindle. It does showcase the abilities of coloured e-ink though. See Kindle screenshot below.

Suspicion by Seichō Matsumoto

A short novel in which a woman is accused of her husbands murder. The woman has prior convictions and the court of public opinion against her, presuming her guilt based on circumstantial evidence.

A journalist who stirred the fires is worried that a competent lawyer may get her acquitted and that he may reap what he sowed in her revenge due to her reputation and ties with the Yakuza..

I enjoyed it and the conclusion when it came was surprising and sudden and I would have liked more.

I really have had good experiences when I have read the novels of Seichō Matsumoto.

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

When you read a Dan Brown novel you know exactly what you are going to get. Is it high brow? No. Is it a Dostoyevsky level of human condition? No. Is it thrilling and keeps the pages turning? YES!

This book is no different, our favourite Professor Aquaman is with his “girlfriend”, a beautiful, smart scientist in Prague while she delivers a speech prior to publishing a new book that can change the World on how consciousness is misunderstood. But forces at play wish to keep her quiet and her book un-published. What follows is a day of adventure, danger, violence and a lot of science that goes over this readers. When I got to the end I was surprised that the timeline was only 24 hours!

It was fun for what it was, the best character in the book is probably Prague itself. That is what I enjoy most about DB novels, he really opens up the culture or history of a place to people like myself who know very little and it encourages one to do their own research like for example The Devil’s Bible or Prague Castle and the Door With Seven Locks.

The plot was enjoyable for what it was and a few twists and reveals caught me out. Very cleverly done, some bits far fetched but it a suspension of belief that you make for the sake of entertainment. I found this book better than Origin but it’s not quite at Inferno or Angels & Demons for me.

There isn’t really a true villain in the book except for perhaps Finch and his organisation, there’s lots of grey characters and even the Golem is just delivering justice and is justified in its actions.

And given this little quote from the book

Langdon flashed on the opening line to one of his favourite novels. It is said that in death, all things become clear.

it seems one of Robert Langdon’s favourite books is Digital Fortress by …. Dan Brown.