Summer read

Read a gripping thriller, The Bed I Made by Lucie Whitehouse.  I understand this has been featured on the TV Bookclub, so there you go, must be OK. Should you need another recommendation here is a review from the Independent (contains spoiler). I much enjoyed the novel.  Trouble is, I became so involved that I read until 1a.m., skipping through the later chapters because I was anxious about the heroine. This is a pity as Lucie W is a good writer and so I probably missed some interesting descriptive writing.  

   Much of the book is set on the (even) quieter western end of the Isle of Wight in winter. I have visited the I of W fairly frequently and agree about its old-fashioned charms, though I think the heroine was unfair in describing Cowes as having dusty dress-shops with demure mannequins. Believe me, Cowes shopping is the height of trend compared to most seaside places.

   Reverting to the plot: Course afterwards I thought why didn't the besieged heroine just call the police, but maybe that would've been explained if I'd read the book more slowly. Anyway they might not have believed her, as so often happens in fiction. The Guardian described it inaccurately as modern D du M, but I'd say it was more Nicci French, only scenic.

Walking - went for an excellent walk around the river at Itchen Abbas.  So beautiful.  Charming to see kids paddling and even cycling (new idea?) in the river.

Gardening.  Not great this year.  Friend said it's amazing you manage to make your garden look so good on your blog.  Backhanded, I thought.