Due to unforeseen circumstances, last week’s book club meeting didn’t go ahead. I really enjoyed The Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Suntano though and will go on to read more of her books. I’m also pleased to see there is a second book coming with Vera, to entertain us.
The next meeting is 8 p.m. GMT. Monday 13th February.
Below are the books to vote on. Please read the blurbs and make your vote in the comments, by the end of Wednesday 17th January.
On Java Road by Lawrence Osborne
After two decades as a journalist in Hong Kong, ex-pat Englishman Adrian Gyle has very little to show for it. Evenings are whiled away with soup dumplings and tea at Fung Shing, the restaurant downstairs from his home on Java Road, watching the city—once overflowing with wine dinners and private members’ clubs—erupt in violence as pro-democracy demonstrations hit ever closer to home.
Watching from the skyrises is Adrian’s old friend Jimmy Tang, the scion of one of Hong Kong’s wealthiest families. Just as Gyle prepares to turn his back on Hong Kong, he finds one last the mysterious Rebecca, a student involved in the protests, and the latest of Jimmy’s reckless dalliances. But when Rebecca goes missing and Jimmy hides, Gyle feels that old familiar urge to investigate.
Piecing together Rebecca’s final days and hours, Gyle must tread carefully through a volatile world of friendship and betrayal where personal loyalties vanish like the city he once knew so well. On Java Road tells the story of a man between the fault lines of old worlds and new orders in pursuit of the truth.
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver
A young woman has gone missing in Silicon Valley and her father has hired Colter Shaw to find her. The son of a survivalist family, Shaw is an expert tracker. Now he makes a living as a “reward seeker,” traveling the country to help police solve crimes and private citizens locate missing persons. But what seems a simple investigation quickly thrusts him into the dark heart of America’s tech hub and the cutthroat billion-dollar video-gaming industry.
“Escape if you can.”
When another victim is kidnapped, the clues point to one video game with a troubled past–The Whispering Man. In that game, the player has to survive after being abandoned in an inhospitable setting with five random objects. Is a madman bringing the game to life?
“Or die with dignity.”
Shaw finds himself caught in a cat-and-mouse game, risking his own life to save the victims even as he pursues the kidnapper across both Silicon Valley and the dark ‘net. Encountering eccentric game designers, trigger-happy gamers and ruthless tech titans, he soon learns that he isn’t the only one on the hunt: someone is on his trail and closing fast.
Black Reed Bay by Rod Reynolds
When a young woman makes a distressing middle-of-the-night call to 911, apparently running for her life in a quiet, exclusive beachside neighbourhood, miles from her home, everything suggests a domestic incident.
Except no one has seen her since, and something doesn’t sit right with the officers at Hampstead County PD. With multiple suspects and witnesses throwing up startling inconsistencies, and interference from the top threatening the integrity of the investigation, lead detective Casey Wray is thrust into an increasingly puzzling case that looks like it’s going to have only one ending…
And then the first body appears…
Cut to the Bone by Alex Caan
Ruby is a vlogger, a rising star of YouTube and a heroine to millions of teenage girls.
And she’s missing . . .
But she’s an adult – nothing to worry about, surely?
Until the video’s uploaded . . .
Ruby, in the dirt, pleading for her life.
Enter Detective Inspector Kate Riley; the Met’s rising star and the head of a new team of investigators with the best resources money can buy. Among them, Detective Sergeant Zain Harris, the poster boy for multiracial policing. But can Kate wholly trust him – and more importantly, can she trust herself around him?
As hysteria builds amongst the press and Ruby’s millions of fans, Kate and her team are under pressure to get results, and fast, but as they soon discover, the world of YouTube vloggers and social media is much darker than anyone could have imagined.
And the videos keep coming . .
Andrea Reid says
My choice is cut to the bone
Margot Kinberg says
Thanks as always, Rebecca, for doing this. My vote is for ‘On Java Road.’ I have to say, though, the rest look good!
Marina Sofia says
Isn’t Monday going to be the 12th of February?
Other than that, you know how I like different locations, so I’ll go for the one set in Hong Kong. On Java Road.
J - LoveBooksReadBooks says
Hi Rebecca
Hope all is ok and look forward to Feb’s book club.
Happy New Year to everyone!
My vote is for Black Reed Bay by Rod Reynolds.
Janet
JAW says
My vote is for Black Reed Bay but like the look of a few of the others.
Chris says
I will vote for’Then She Was Gone’ please.
Ellen says
On Java Road gets my vote.
Karen says
Cut to the bone is my vote but they all look good
Jane van Asch says
Then She Was Gone. Is my vote
Clark says
On Java Road
Dr J V Jolleys says
Then she was gone is my choice
Muriel says
Dear all,
Like Rebecca, I was disappointed not to talk about Vera and her teas, as indeed I really enjoyed the book. I will buy the next instalment of Vera Wong!
For next time I would like to read On Java Road by Lawrence Osborne. Happy new year by the way everyone!
Vera Luz says
Happy New Year to everyone!
My vote goes to Then She Was Gone. (I believe Monday will be 12 February).
I hope we still find a date to discuss Vera Wong’s book. 😀
Craig says
Cut to the bone is my choice.
Many thanks.