The Thirteenth Apostle, Michel Benoit, Alma Books

I had started another book which I had been given as a Christmas present. But within the first few pages the cliches had caused me to lose interest. I picked this book up in a book shop and within 4 days I'd finished it.

It is a thriller/detective story and as a detective story, it does work. It is well written. Whether that is down to the original writer or the translater I'm unsure as I have yet to get my hands on a French copy of the book.

Was it influenced by "The Da Vinci Code"? Despite the fact that it was first written in French and translated, I would guess so. There are so many books that seemed to be written with more than a nod in that direction these days.

It has to be said that it does share a certain jaded view of the politics of the Roman Catholic Church with "The DaVinci Code". There are church sanctioned murders galore with Abbotts and Prelates engaging in some very dubious practises. I suppose that since all of the Child abuse cases from around the world people are willing to believe the worst of Priests.

The action within the story revolves around the existence of a 13th apostle to Jesus and the early Christian Church's suppression of the fact that this man was the original writer of the 4th Gospel, supposedly the gospel written by St. John the Evangelist.

The book takes advantage of some of the latest Biblical scholarship and to weave the story. Much use is made of flash backs to Biblical times and the centuries in between then and modern times. It manages to blend all these threads together successfully. You never learn too much from any of the threads to spoil the story.

The hero is a monk, who works with other low-level members of the Roman Catholic Church to uncover the truth behind the death of a close colleague. Not all priests are evil, although not to be evil they seem to need to be other-worldly. Not such a reflection of the Priests that I have ever met. The action in modern times starts at his Abbey and continues to Rome. I feel the Author has always written with one eye towards the TV or Film translation to the screen. In that respect, it shares an episodic structure with Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City.

The story finishes with much of the story open. A number of the threads have been brought to a conclusion, but there would be enough for a future book to be written, although I suspect that wasn't the intention of the writer, but perhaps his publisher!

It has caused me to purchase two commentaries on St. John's Gospel, which I'm hoping will be as interesting as this novel!

And that's that.

Matter, Iain M. Banks, Orbit

The biggest problem every new Iain M. Banks book faces upon publication are the inevitable questions "how does it stack up against 'Consider Phlebas'?" & "how does it stack up against 'Against a dark background'?"

Matter stacks up well.

This books has the depth of character and richness of detail that are hallmarks of Bank's craft. In addition to the brutal pragmatism that frequently crops up too. There are a couple of small space battles that may satiate slightly those of that bent.

The book is structured around a number of stories followed as threads through the book which come together at the end. It is a common style and there were a couple of occasions where I wished the editor had been a bit more demanding with cuts to speed up the story.

The books starts with a trumped up war, in which a king dies, witnessed in secret by his heir. This leads the heir to flee and start a quest for his sister, who has just started a quest back to visit her home world. The sister intends to pay her respects to her father and her youngest brother, who will be the new King. If he lives long enough!

But the sister is an agent of the Culture's Special Circumstances section. In the world to which Anaplian returns, nothing is quite as it seems; and determining the appropriate level of interference in someone else's war is never a simple matter.


The end came abruptly. I wonder if the epilogues in Banks' books aren't demanded by his editors. And in typical Banks style it was brutal. Perhaps I really mean realistic, if it possible to use that term about Sci-Fi. Banks does not write for Hollywood. Although elements of the "cast" have happy endings, as a whole the heroes do not ride off into the Sunset together. Although this book might be his most filmic. And in some lights the ending does speak to an American audience with its ending.

I read a number of series. Whilst reading this book, I came to consider why. To a certain extent there is the guaranteed level of writing quality; the familiarity with the milieu or background; and not forgetting laziness on my part - it can be a hit or miss affair finding new writers to read. But I've started to consider when reading books that follow the same characters or the same cultures (pun intended, sorry) whether they can be read as standalone books. Matter could be. It will help to have read some of Banks' other Culture novels, but it isn't compulsory or necessary. I didn't spot any characters who followed on from other books. But I also didn't try to check up on that either. I'm soon going to be reading my next book(s)!

"The Truth about Muhammad", Robert Spencer, Regnery

I think the author of this book was trying to be accurate and clear in the the message that he was delivering. It is also clear he was not seeking to be popular. Or at least not popular in Islamic countries.

It would be fair to say that Robert Spencer does not hold Islam in high esteem.

The book is aimed at Europeans. At Europeans who had previously little knowledge of the Prophet of Islam. Or little knowledge other than they had heard from the mouths of Western Politicians. This book does not always make comfortable reading. But then that was the point of its writing.

The author uses solely Islamic sources for his book and seeks to provide the reader with knowledge about:

• who Muhammad was
• what Muhammad believed in, and
• what instruction he left for his followers

The author has sought to provide reference for all the quotes and points that he makes. It is always possible to follow these references to find the original source material.

There are a large number of translations of the Quran and the Hadiths available online to be downloaded and read. There are few reasons to be ignorant of the tenets of Islam. The information to inform yourself is out there if you are interested. The authors' contention is that you should be. But if you do not want to be, do not complain if you find you do not like the result. Which in the author's mind is a West comprised of Islamic states "enjoying" Shariah Law.

I was expecting a much more sensational book. The front cover of this paperback edition has a quote

"May Allah rip out his spine from his back and split his brains in two, and then put them both back, and then do it over and over again."
- "Praise" for the author on revivingislam.com

I can only surmise that this "praise" was not written after reading this book.

If you agree with all the arguments made by this author, you could say he has justified the internal position or world view of those Islamist groups which have taken to terrorizing "the West". Their prophet did tell them to do just what they are now doing.

The question that the author does not really answer is: what can be done about it?

Although he proposes a number of policy initiatives that western governments should undertake they do not seem to be of the sort that will have any success.

"The steep approach to Garbadale", Iain Banks, Abacus

Another of Iain Bank's social novels. For this reader it was a welcome return to form after some disappointing works.

Perhaps not quite up to the standard of "The Crow Road" and Complicity, but his best for quite some time.

Banks's novels are frequently complex. This novel is less so than some. But the joy of his novels isn't the complexity so much as the richness of the descriptions. The understanding of his characters. The ability to provide depth to those characters. The ability to make the reader in some way empathize with them. Although not every character achieves that end. Banks has successfully implemented what might be described as an ensemble novel. It is a knack that many other authors might benefit from studying and attempt to apply.

I'm not sure whether I think the "escape from the rat race" experience of the main character is completely realistic. It seems too extreme, but maybe if you are really successful, when you want to get away from it all, you'll really get away from it all.

The final twist surprised me. Not the identity, but the reaction of the man when identified.

In many ways, this book is of its time. The morals described and how they have changed, and sometimes haven't, over time will date it. But that is a problem for the future, not for now.

As with the escape from the rat race, some of the decisions seem extreme. However, how many times have you seen or read about the actions of various people or groups of people that defy rational behaviour.

I enjoyed this book and thoroughly recommend it to others.

"Jack And Jill", James Patterson, Harper Collins

Another Alex Cross Novel.

Fills in more of the back story, whilst touching on issues which will resonate with us all.

Writing from a polity where we seem to be observed all the time, there appears to be a refreshing lack of surveillance/CCTV cameras in Washington. The novel is copywrited 1996, so perhaps my comments in 2008 are unfair. However, I suspect the author would write a different novel today.

The story concerns the overlaps between two different serial killer investigations ongoing in the same city at the same time and the relationship of both to Alex Cross.

I found the story of one of the serial killers, specifically the lone serial killer, sadly more believable than the other. Outside of television or a film I have rarely heard of a serial killer working in tandem with another. Of course, Dexter turned down his brother's offer!

Although the escalation of violence in both cases was well written and well thought out. Outside of television programs I have rarely seen an example of two Serial Killers working in the same city at the same time. I'm not sure if it has ever really happened, and if it did whether they were aware of each other. In this story, one is aware of the other(s) and it is a motivational force for him. But the others are either oblivious of him or just do not care. Given the situation I would suggest the latter.

Although most of the action takes place around Washington this reader didn't really get much sense of the American capital. The action could have taken place in any American city. Maybe that is another sad fact. This reader could imagine most of it (there are some aspects which are peculiar to Washington) happening in any US city.

I would not say that there was a happy ending, although it did suffer from a slightly moralistic (and perhaps typically American - how many really good American programs have been ruined from the second or third series on by the worthy, politically correct last minute preaching at the audience) take on events. Crime cannot pay. Having said that, after the events earlier in the book, there would be a certain amount of mania.

"Saturnalia", Lindsey Davis, Arrow Books

The eighteen Falco Novel.

If you have arrived at this novel you probably enjoyed the previous seventeen. Or at least enjoyed most of them.

This reader felt that Ms Davis spent the first few books preventing her hero from being too successful even when she presented him with the opportunities. After a while, she relaxed and everything has improved.

This novel related back to the activities of Falco and his younger respectable Brother-in-Law related in "The Iron Hand of Mars".

Again, life in Ancient Rome seems remarkably relaxed compared with the hub-bub of modern times. Falco struggles mightily, but ultimately succeeds. It is an enthralling read.

The novels of Lindsey Davis and Steven Saylor both succeed most successfully when they are relating the everyday business of ordinary Romans. Both authors seem to have achieved success in this field. Only 2000 year old romans will know for sure!

"The Shakespeare Secret", J. L. Carrell, Sphere

This book read as though it had been inspired by Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code". The author tries to deny that by describing a time line of authorship which predates Dan Brown's work. He didn't convince this reader.

If you're the type of person who likes to check their brain at the door when they go to the cinema (to view a motion picture), then you may well enjoy this book.

The "Macguffin" of a lost Shakespeare play is quite interesting and very well developed. The characterization of the principal character is also well developed. The milieu of Shakespearean academe is well described. However, every other character though is a cypher, barely filled in.

Despite this the book flows well. The pages do go by quickly. I would not say you couldn't put it down, but you are at least prepared to pick it up again.

The author also utilized fashbacks to the Elizabethan creation of the lost play. Whilst providing some back fill of the plot, this reader was left unsatisfied by the detailing.

The plot itself is forced. Some of this is probably due to the fact that the characterization is restricted to the main character. The motivation of even important baddies is only really explained in hindsight. You never really foresee the action. I guess some of that is good. You are constantly surprised. But its surprise from lack of knowledge, not arising from a surfeit of knowledge.

If you come across it in a public library, borrow it by all means. You'll probably enjoy the story.

If you come across this book in a book store, make a note of it and then borrow it from a public library.