Evil Psychopaths - Gordan Kerr 2009* * * *

I have quite a few books based around this subject but am always on the look out for more and so I was pleased to find this in my library. It covers quite few killers that I've heard of already and know of quite well but also shows a few lesser known characters who have the ability to shock and disgust all the readers.
A good book but with some obvious mistakes such as spelling.

Started 22nd February
Finished 26th February

The Most Evil Women in History - Shelley Klein 2003 * * * *

This book had it's good and bad parts. The selection of women was interesting and there were a few that I hadn't heard of which is very rare for me. However a few of the women mentioned at the beginning of the book were simply double acts to their powerful husbands and were drunk on the power of what he could do instead of being ruthless killing machines themselves. There will always be a difference on opinion on books like this as certain people find certain female killers worse than others and so the definative list will never be 'correct.'
Each woman however was covered with a lot of information and each of their stories was interesting/gruesome to the extreme.

Started 19th February
Finished 23rd February

Don't Tell Mummy - Toni Maguire 2007* * * *

I devoured this book in just over a day. I simply could not stop reading it and finding myself moved beyond belief. When Toni is questioned about her father's actions by the police they actually ask her if she enjoyed what he did to her because she had not mentioned what was happening for so many years! How depraved is that in a society where the police are supposed to help and support instead of patronise and insult the victims.
Spell-binding read.

Started 17th Febraury
Finished 18th February

Mummy Knew - Lisa James 2009* * *

Another vile and depraved story about a girl who is sexually abused by her father with her mother's full knowledge. How a mother can literally sit back and let something like this happen is beyond belief. Her claims were that he would 'take it out on her if he didn't get what he wanted from Lisa' when in reality a normal and sane person would have run to the police taking her little girl with her to get away from this monster.

Started 12th February
Finished 15th February

Punished - Vanessa Steel 2009* * * *

An absolutely disgusting and heartbreaking story of a little girl who is abused systematically first by her mother and then by her grandfather while her mother does nothing. These books really do draw me in and I can't stop reading them for their dreadful stories.
Had me on the edge of my seat as I read.

Started 11th February
Finished 12th February

Remember Me? - Sophie Kinsella 2008* * * *

Totally hilarious as always, Sophie Kinsella is one of my favourite chick lit writers and everytime she brings out a new book I have to read it. This was particularly funny based around a woman who wakes up after a night out and finds that time has gone forward by years and years and that she is married! The only problem is she has no idea who her husband is or why all of her best friends from work suddenly hate her guts.
Quick to read and very very funny.

Started 10th February
Finished 11th February

Derailed - James Siegel 2003* * * *

I saw the film of 'Derailed' ages ago and thought it was pretty good. Seeing that this was the debut novel from James Siegel I thought I would check this out too and see how different the two were. I found myself gripped and mesmerised by the story. It is brilliantly written and very easy to get through, and I found myself staying up late and waking up early this weekend to read more and more. Compelling and exciting. Started 5th February Finished 7th February

Silenced - Vicky Jaggers 2009 * * * *

I finished this book today and so far I have read this and Escaping Daddy in two days. I am ashamed (is that the right word?) to say I'm addicted to these books. I really don't know why but as you read them you feel like everything is much better in your life even though that's a dreadful way to look at these stories. They are also terribly frustrating because you know how differently you would do things if you were in that situation which is quite upsetting as you are reading. However another well written account.

Started and finished 5th February

Escaping Daddy - Maria Landon 2008 * * *

This was yet again a pretty gastly story, although it was so easy to read that I finished it in one day. Maria's story was dreadful, being abused by her father and then finding out that she really had no alternative than to go back to him when she had no where else to go. The writing flowed well and I was totally engrossed.

Started and Finished 4th February

Lucky Jim - Kingsley Amis 1954* * * * *

What can I say about Lucky Jim? It really incapsulates the feeling of a 1960's college and Amis's writing is absolutely hilarious. Dixon is the most peculiar yet lovable character that I have read for a long time, you can't decide whether to find him a rude and arrogant chauvanist (he isn't interested in women who don't have a perfect figure or face) or feel incredibly sorry for him as he tries desperately to cling onto his job after mishap after mishap takes place. Having seen the hilarious film starring Ian Carmichael as Jim I could not help but place parts of what I was reading back into the movie, especially Dixon's encounters with Bertrand (who Terry Thomas played with jest and humour). This book will never be a chore to read and I ended up trying to slow myself down towards the end because I didn't want it all to be over.

Started 29th January
Finished 3rd February