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Books: Black Sun

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Black Sun by Owen Matthews is a gripping thriller that held my attention from the first page. Set in 1961 in the ultra-secret Soviet city of Arzamas-16, the story is set against a high-stakes project to build the world’s most powerful nuclear bomb. A young physicist dies under suspicious circumstances and KGB Major Alexander Vasin is sent to investigate, only to discover an elite city of scientists working in secret.

Black Sun by Owen Matthews

Black Sun is very well paced. The author crafts an easy-to-follow plot that pulled me along at just the right speed, building anticipation with each chapter. The plot alone made the book hard to put down and despite the inevitable Physics of nuclear bomb construction was never overwhelming or confusing. The characters are also impressively constructed. The author gives them just enough backstory to make them feel real and relatable without slowing the story. I found myself invested in each character’s motivations, which added an emotional depth to the story that’s rare in thrillers.

The book is based on a real event and the story, setting and characters feel authentic, capturing the atmosphere of paranoia and ambition that defined that era and culture.

Matthews has created a compelling, thoughtful novel, easily as good as and possibly better than Tom Rob Smith’s USSR-era books such as Agent 6. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Owen Matthews’ Black Sun and am excited to know that it is the first in a three-book series.

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Books: The ends of things

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The ends of things by Sandra Chwialkowska is a first-class read and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fast, easy read with easy-to-like characters, a charmingly unobtrusive setting and a twisty plot and excellent writing.

The ends of things by  Sandra Chwialkowska

I really enjoyed Laura as the main character (perhaps there’s a little of Laura in most of us) and found myself cheering her on from the beginning. Her desire to explore the world, but not having the courage to go alone felt relatable, so when she jumps at the chance to go on a romantic trip with her new-ish boyfriend (colleague – which must mean trouble, doesn’t Laura know the oldest rule?) Dave, I was rooting for Laura. And sure enough, Dave turns out to be a creep. I wasn’t at all keen on him, especially as the story progressed, and honestly, I was pretty disappointed he got away with all his shady behavior without any real consequences. There was definitely a moment where I thought he might’ve even been responsible for Diana’s disappearance. Diana was a single guest at the couples resort that Dave and Laura had come to for a few days of vacation.

Diana and Laura go hiking while Dave does work with the hotel owner/manager. Diana goes missing, there are creepy characters who make excellent suspects, the police are involved, Laura loses her job for contacting the police and initiating bad PR for the hotel which is a client of her and Dave’s law firm… Things aren’t looking good when Dave flies home without Laura, Luara is ‘requested’ by the police to stay on the island and seems to have made herself a suspect in Diana’s disappearance. Let’s leave the plot there in case I reveal too much.

Speaking of Diana, she remains a total enigma to me, but strangely, I’m okay with that. The mystery surrounding her really added to the story’s tension. Even though I was left with questions, her presence (and eventual absence) kept me hooked. Laura’s obsession with uncovering what happened to Diana felt so real and intense, and I loved how the seemingly perfect vacation turned into a nightmare where nothing was as it seemed.

Books: The Boy Behind the Glass Screen

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The Boy Behind the Glass Screen by Ian Siragher is a captivating and timely exploration of artificial intelligence, consciousness, and the boundaries of human rights. It is also a murder-mystery told from the unique perspective of an AI entity, the story offers a fresh and thought-provoking narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. At the novel’s heart is the complex relationship between two ‘brothers’, who have spent their lives confined to a basement laboratory, separated by a glass wall. The experiments conducted by their father shape their life experiences, leading to a life of isolation and scientific manipulation. When their father is murdered in his home, the story raising questions about identity and freedom.

One of the novel’s most compelling aspects is its exploration of whether AI has legal rights. This central argument is woven throughout the story, challenging readers to consider the ethical implications of advanced technology. The writing is sharp and the pacing is excellent, with each chapter pulling the reader deeper into the brothers’ world and the court case related to the murder. The use of the first-person AI narrative adds a layer of intrigue, as it forces readers to question what it means to be conscious and aware and whether these are unique to humans.

As the world watches the unfolding drama, the novel raises fundamental questions that could reshape our understanding of consciousness and individual rights. ‘The Boy Behind the Glass Screen’ is more than just a suspenseful page-turner; it is a profound exploration of humanity and the nature of life itself. The author’s ability to weave complex philosophical questions into a gripping narrative makes this book a must-read for anyone interested in the future of AI and its impact on society.

The Boy Behind the Glass Screen is a thought-provoking, well-crafted and entertaining novel that challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about AI and what it means to be human.

Books: The orphanage by the lake

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The Orphanage by the Lake by Daniel G. Miller is a thoroughly enjoyable and gripping mystery that weaves together classic private detective story elements. The story follows Hazel Cho, a private detective struggling to make ends meet, who is drawn into a dark and dangerous investigation when Madeline Hemsley, an apparently wealthy socialite, hires her to find a missing orphan girl. What begins as a seemingly straightforward runaway case soon turns into something with sinister undertones.

Hazel Cho is a compelling hero, embodying the archetypal hard-boiled detective with a modern twist. Her wit and relentless determination born of her Korean family roots make her an easy character to cheer for, and her vulnerability adds depth to her tough exterior. Madeline Hemsley adds an air of intrigue to the story, keeping both Hazel and the reader guessing about her true identity and motives.

The orphanage by the lake by Daniel G. Miller

The setting of The Orphanage By The Lake is intriguingly atmospheric, and the author does an excellent job of building tension as Hazel digs deeper into the case. The orphanage itself, with its mysterious/aloof director, contributes to the novel’s uncertainties.

Miller’s writing is sharp and paints a vivid picture. The dialogue is crisp and believable,. The inclusion of Hazel’s flatmate, a rookie police officer with a crush on her, provides a touch of humor and humanity amidst the tension, and their partnership adds an extra layer of complexity to the narrative.

As Hazel gets closer to the truth, the secrets of The Orphanage By The Lake become more terrifying, leading to an uncomfortable climax which was not fully foreshadowed. The Orphanage by the Lake is a well-crafted mystery that will appeal to fans of detective fiction thrillers. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fast and suspenseful read.

Beans: Riva 25, Komiza

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It’s Books and Beans .com, but I’ve neglected to write about beans for a while. Fitting it is then, that I’m at Riva 25 in Komiza. That’s on the island of Vis, about 2 and a half hours by big fat ferry from Split, Croatia’s second-largest city. 

Riva, Komiza, Vis Otok, Croatia

Riva has been my summer time café for a wee bit more than the last few years. The coffee is authentic and hot and served efficiently and with a smile by Mia or Lina who are pleasantly efficient getting the coffee to their caffeine addicted customers. There’s a sneaky little cookie with the coffee, in case you’re pretending not to want sugar. The staff probably weren’t born yet when I had my first Riva coffee, but they speak excellent English if your Croatian is still at beginner level. 

If you’re both early and lucky, Riva also serves up freshly made krofnas. That’s a jam filled, sugar-dusted German-style doughnut, aka a Berliner. If you can start your day with a hearty black coffee and a fresh krofna you’ll have a good day – guaranteed.

Riva also serves those other caffeine dilettantes like the cappuccino and the affogato and the macchiato. And now that heatwaves are de rigeur, Riva also serves up some fine crispy cold beers, local and immigrant of course. But if you’re serious about beating the heatwaves, you’ll ask nicely (don’t forget to say ‘molim’ because good manners go a long way, whoever you are, wherever you are) for an iced coffee with ice cream, speaking of which, has anyone told you how good Croatian ice cream is? Riva has about a thousand different flavours to choose from so you’d be mad not to try at least a hundred of them while you’re hanging out in Komiza. A hundred might seem a lot, but they can squeeze 3 scoops onto one cone easy, so a hundred divided by three is… um…

Anyway, many of the books reviewed in this blog were read at Café Riva. Indeed, Riva and I read the entire Master & Commander series and then the Tintin series together. And it was Riva and I who decided to kill off Esref who was my first novel’s hero. One of my sneaky measures of how good a book is is whether it holds my attention while reading it at Riva – I can be easily distracted by the glorious scenery, the postcard boats and the quite interesting gaggle of people who stop by, for example James Bond, who used to take his morning coffee at Riva – no really, Florian told me, so it must be true.