Colin Murtagh

Colin Murtagh's review of The Hexologists (The Hexologists, #1) 4/5: This was a lot of fun, and not quite what I was expecting. This is an almost steampunk Britain, where magic still exists. One branch of magic is Hexology, the magic of Hexes, as exemplified by I...

Books read in 2025

The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft

A Magical Holmes style story

Full review on Goodreads

#booksky 📚

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Hardback copy of the Tom Gauld Collection called "Physics for Cats - Science Cartoons by Tom Gauld"

Another of my preorders just arrived. Wasn't expecting it for a few more days, but it instantly jumps to the top of my TBR pile. @tomgauld.bsky.social is a genius.

If I was in NY I would come just to watch. There's something magical in watching an artist make pictures appear, I wish I had that talent

Ooh. I'd forgotten about them.

Still not as bad as the Apache, or the Rabies ones

A hardback signed copy of The Bora Chung collection titled "The Midnight Timetable "

Another of my preorder books just showed up. Past me was very clever if a little spendy

My theory is that I have all the others, so I would be wrong to leave a gap 🙃

Got this on pre-order. May have spent too much on books this month

Paperback copy of Gareth L Powell collection of short stories "Who Will You Save"

More book post. I am having a good day. Looking forward to some @garethlpowell.bsky.social short stories.

The Packaging from OK comics, with Spooky artwork, mirroring some of the artwork on the book

Paperback copy of Who Killed Nessie by Paul Cornell and Rachael Smith

Spooky book post from the wonderful @okcomics.bsky.social
Who killed Nessie by @paulcornell.bsky.social and @rachaelsmith.bsky.social
As a Scotsman, I am so looking forward to diving into this. Do hope it's not the English at fault.

Colin Murtagh's review of Black Summer (Washington Poe, #2) 4/5: After devouring the first book in the series, book 2 arrives. Washington is dealing with the fall out of book 1, although the book starts with a bit of a curve ball set a few days in the future ...

Books read in 2025

Black Summer by M.W. Craven

Celebrity Chef is a psychopath? Never!

Full review on Goodreads

#booksky 📚

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Colin Murtagh's review of Rise of the Elves (The Festive and the Furious Book 3) 5/5: And so the trilogy concludes. Following on from book 2, Charlotte is trying to get back with Jack, and as expected disaster follows. Snomann is still at Hedgelords, and his role in things is goi...

Books read in 2025

Rise of the Elves by Heide Goody & Iain Grant

The Christmas trilogy concludes with more hilarity and bullets. This was just so much fun.

Full review on Goodreads

#booksky 📚

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I'll get a couple through the link on your profile. May be thinking Christmas present as well as one for me 😊

Is there an easy way to get signed books from you?

Putting the England squad on would ensure no-one in Scotland has it

The Big Scottish Book Club - Series 7: Episode 3 Fresh from the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Fringe, Paula Hawkins, Chris McQueer and Rachel Parris join Damian Barr to discuss their latest books and favourite reads.

That's a wrap on series 7 of Big Scottish Book Club. Now the only books show on British tv. Produced by IWC, commissioned by BBC Scotland, available to all on BBC iPlayer. Please share with the readers in your life.

Feat Elif Shafak, Jackie Kay, Tash Aw & more.

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Just bought this. Good review

Copies of 2 books by John Emsley published by Royal Society of Chemistry. Titled Molecules of Murder and More Molecules of Murder

Amazing the stuff you find in a charity shop. Yes, they did come home with me

Colin Murtagh's review of The Puppet Show (Washington Poe, #1) 5/5: Not an author I've heard of, but he popped up on the Book Off Podcast, and it sounded interesting so I had to pick it up. I am so glad I took the chance. While this feels like a few of the usual...

Books read in 2025

The Puppet Show by M.W. Craven

I think I have a new favourite dark psychological thriller writer. Not for the weak at heart,

#booksky 📚

Full review on Goodreads
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Colin Murtagh's review of A Litter of Bones (DCI Logan Crime Thrillers, #1) 4/5: I was listening to the excellent Podcast, Book Off, with the author, and discovered I'd never read any of his novels, so this seemed like a good place to start. This was a fun short novel, that d...

Books read in 2025

A Litter of Bones by J.D. Kirk

An interesting new to me addition to the Tartan Noir school of writing.

#booksky 📚

Full review on Goodreads

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Trio of mini bonsai trees and a Japan postcard all lego sets

Bit of a Japanese theme to the latest #lego build

There's a running story with the supporting cast, so that makes jumping in anywhere tricky. Probably better starting at the beginning

Colin Murtagh's review of Framed in Death (In Death, #61) 5/5: There is something to be said about having a series which feels comfortable. It's book 61 and to be honest, could really be anywhere in the series. This is the sort of book that just feels perfec...

Books read in 2025

Framed In Death by J.D. Robb

Book 61 in the near future police procedural series, but it's like slipping on a pair of comfy slippers. Probably as close as I'll get to Cozy Crime.

#booksky 📚

Full review on Goodreads

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

This is beautifully evil

Colin Murtagh's review of Runaway Santa (The Festive and the Furious Book 2) 5/5: If they ever decide to start making Carry On Movies again, I know who I would tap up for writing duties. This has all the slapstick, and humour carried across from the first book, just turned up ...

Books read in 2025

Runaway Santa by Heide Goody & Iain Grant

I really had to do book 2, and it's just as fun and silly as the first one. Every so often you just need a book that makes you laugh

#booksky 📚

Full review on Goodreads

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

A letter in the latest issue of Private Eye Magazine. It reads, Sir I was about to remind you that not all book programming is disappearing from the BBC, the Big Scottish Book Club is still going strong, and last time I looked BBC Scotland was still part of the BBC. I am however worried that reminding the BBC that Scotland still exists, might mean that it gets cancelled as well, so I changed my mind.

My life is complete. I have had a letter published in @privateeyenews.bsky.social Surely fame and fortune will now follow.
Hmm Does this mean @adammacqueen.bsky.social is now a colleague?

And that's why I'm glad Radio4 still exists

Lol yeah. Just my style as well

Colin Murtagh's review of The Festive and the Furious 5/5: This so appeals to my sense of humour, even if I am reading Christmas books in September. I do have a bit of a soft spot for Iain and Heide. I loved Clovenhoof when it started, and the Sealfinge...

Books read in 2025

The Festive and the Furious by Heide Goody & Iain Grant

Been a month since my last book but did not expect to be reading a Christmas book though. This could quite easily be a British comedy movie from the 70's. Fun silly and very funny.

#booksky 📚

Full review on Goodreads

Just hit 4k, but closed it down, hope it helps