29) The House of Silk 30) Telling Liddy

29) The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz

Having recently read a lot of the original Sherlock Holmes collection (before starting this blog), I really enjoyed this book, as it perfectly captures Conan Doyle's narrative style, whilst dealing with a far more controversial subject than any of the other cases. The plot unfolds beautifully, keeping you guessing right until the very end what The House of Silk is, when the disturbing truth comes to light. I recommend this book for fans of Mr Holmes, whether that be of the original stories, any of the plethora of films, or the outstanding BBC series. The game's afoot, if you wish to play...





30) Telling Liddy by Anne Fine

Anne Fine has a disturbing way of getting under your skin; I had to get ride of my copy of The Tulip Touch when I was younger as I found it so unsettling. This book is less obviously sinister, but leads us to a moral dilemma that makes us question ourselves and our family loyalty: what do you do when you hear a shocking rumour about your sister's new boyfriend? Do you tell her and risk ruining your relationship if it isn't true, or do you keep quiet, but feel guilty for not warning her. The dynamic between the four sisters in this book is captivating and uncomfortable; and as the truth slowly comes together, and the sisters' lives fall apart, we feel a sense of voyeurism in observing this family tragedy, and yet we cannot look away.