And Away... by Bob Mortimer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was full of surprises. Bob Mortimer comes across as a quiet, shy and quite compassionate man; not at all the brash and loud person he seemed to be in the TV show, Shooting Stars. We discover a lot about the heart operations he had when he came near to death. In a rather impassive and practical way he describes some of what he endured during the medical attention he required.

But there is a lot about his young life and some of the names he talks about had a ring of familiarity to them, probably due to the stories we hear him giggle through on Would I Lie To You? – another TV program. Who would have thought that Bob had some legal training in his past life? That section was amusing and intriguing, and I found it quite entertaining.

It was extremely endearing when he wrote about his mother and how important she was in his life. Although it appeared to be described in a dispassionate, even funny, way I felt that there was an underlying love there that could not be denied. It was just what I suspected all the way through his book. And Away is touching, real and very appealing to his fans, and may even encourage more people to engage with Bob Mortimer in his writing and TV appearances. Greatly enjoyable and funny!


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Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing: Life, Death and the Thrill of the Catch by Bob Mortimer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the TV series we often see Bob fall over and Paul moaning at him about winding in his fishing line. And of course this is not evident in the book unless it is mentioned. However, the fact that the two are very good friends comes across to readers just as well as the visual antics shown on the TV screen. The book has a lot of information about fishing and fish and the wonderful rivers they visit. This was interesting enough not to make it spoil the book for me. I suppose it may inspire some people to take up the hobby but I thought that what comes up best of all is how the pair of funny men love nature and enjoy just the experience of being there together. Having been seriously ill with heart problems in recent times they also tend to joke about ‘sensible’ diets if they want to stay well – even stay alive!
Occasionally the two become a bit philosophical but like the TV programs you are never certain whether it is serious. This is particularly when Bob asks the odd zany question, for example about ‘pocket meat.’ It always appears to be something he just thought of at that moment. The comedy element is never very far away from their conversations. But what is patently obvious is how much they both enjoy the simple experience of sitting beside a beautiful river, surrounded by an environment filled with trees and meadows and bird song. A gentle, relaxing and lovely read, reminiscent of the TV show.


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An Event in Autumn by Henning Mankell


In An Event in Autumn Kurt Wallander is nearing his time to retire from policing. It is a novella, but the shortness of this much smaller book has just as much intrigue and interest for the reader as any of Henning Mankell’s previous crime thrillers. The writing is excellent as usual with a plot that captured the thriller-fan side of my interest; but also there is the occasional metaphorical analogy between seasonal autumn and Wallander’s attitude towards his own mortality. He is considering buying a house and leaving the apartment he shares with his daughter, Linda.

Problems arise and continue rising, of course, to stir the reader’s engagement even further.
Kurt is surprised to find some potential for the house but things begin to unravel when he discovers a skeleton in the garden. And so the mystery (a reader hopes for) begins! The investigation will involve his usual colleagues as well as his daughter. It has few police resources as it is an old case but Kurt Wallander becomes as obsessed as usual in solving it. Despite his need to retire in peace his many years in the force as a detective push him on to find more clues, especially when there is another body found. There are twists to the tale and it is just as compelling a read, albeit a much shorter novel than Mankell’s previous books.
Recommended to anyone who enjoys crime thrillers.


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