Derek Collett

Excellent, David - thanks for the tip.

Towcester.

OTD in 1945, Nigel Balchin’s Mine Own Executioner first appeared. A riveting thriller, it is also a highly readable account of 1940s psychiatric practice. Back in print for the first time in decades, click the link to discover how to buy this fine novel.

www.nigelmarlinbalchin.co.uk/books/mine-o...

Trevor Bailey's comment on TMS was legendary: "He's getting a bigger ovation than Bradman... And he could bat!"

Howard's End first appeared in 1910...

Bloody Surrey! They have the most fans, the best ground, the biggest squad, the most money and get the most extensive media coverage and now they get the best weather too, no one else playing as much as a single over all day!

On reflection, The Chrysalids might appeal more to a girl than Triffids.

The Day of the Triffids?

It's been a real struggle for Rob Jones this season but I'm delighted he came good today with a vital hundred, anchoring a big run chase for Worcestershire in company with his skipper. Well played, gents!

*Please RT and/or like this post*

It’s warm, it’s holiday time and these four Nigel Balchin novels make perfect holiday reading: entertaining and easy to read yet also intelligent and jam-packed with clear-minded insight into the human condition.

Buy online or order from UK bookshops.

Just come back from watching the film 'Weapons'. Until it descended into overfamiliar horror tropes towards the end, I thought it was a highly enjoyable blend of Stephen King and David Lynch: creepy and unsettling.

Thanks for the warning!

I have been thinking that I ought to read some more Macinnes so I will track that one down and check it out. Thanks very much for the recommendation.

Hi. I guess you must be referring 'In the Absence...'. If so, very glad you enjoyed the story and my new edition. I've only read one Macinnes and it's not the one you mentioned so can't comment on that but there are definitely similarities with Ambler. Thanks, Rob.

Hope to embark on my copy before the month is out; looking forward to it.

Front cover of Nigel Balchin's 1962 novel Seen Dimly Before Dawn, which I erroneously omitted from my previous post.

Although this book was originally published on 18 January 1962, it is the quintessential 'school summer holiday novel'.

For full details of this mesmeric book, and to find out how to buy a brand-new copy packed with additional features, click this link:
www.nigelmarlinbalchin.co.uk/books/seen-d...

So Donald Trump's son is saying his father has done more for golf than anyone. Er, really? More than Ben Hogan? Sam Snead? Jack Nicklaus? Gary Player? Tom Watson? Sevvy? Tiger Woods? I mean, I could go on ("No" - Ed.).

Congratulations to Tadej Pogacar and all the riders who finished the Tour de France today. Not quite a vintage edition but much to enjoy as always. How will I cope next year without ITV4?!

Ventoux rarely fails to deliver, does it?

These two newly published books by gentlemen that I follow on social media have recently arrived from Amazon. I look forward to reading them both before the summer is over.

Julian Barnes' essay on Gericault's Raft of the Medusa from A History of the World in 10.5 Chapters.

This was terrific. I've read Baron's wartime trilogy as well but this is a class apart. An excellent character study, as well as a fine evocation of time and place. Highly recommended. A very nice new edition from Faber although a glossary of Jewish slang would have been a valuable addition!

eBay does tell sellers to do that in fairness but when I'm selling I always feel that two photos per book is plenty.

Make that Vingegaard, for any spelling fans out there. I blame predictive text, as always.

I hope this TT (like Pog's at the Dauphine) was just a blip for Vinegaard and not indicative of his general form. Although I would prefer Pog to win, I want a good contest, not a walkover.

The Boycott quote I remember is slightly different but the meaning is the same:
'If you win the toss, then nine times out of ten you bat. The tenth time, you think about bowling but then decide to bat after all.'

It's depressing that England can just hand a Test match to an opponent through a toxic mix of arrogance and stupidity and by treating the sport with far less respect than my Sunday afternoon village team used to. Win the toss and bat FFS!

It's a good title for a Fall song though!

Three short journeys taken by public transport in last 10 days have all been utterly screwed up by a plethora of different problems. This country is broken, isn't it, and can't cope with any sort of warm weather? That said, I certainly won't be voting Reform!