2 Books Like The Scold's Bridle

It’s rare these days for me to be so completely absorbed by a book that I only stop reading when I can’t keep my eyes open any longer.

This is 1970s Britain, an era I grew up in, the descriptions and atmosphere absolutely authentic. But the real grip was the subject matter. The storyline, expertly handled, was original and mesmerising, with twins Abi and Tim – spookily worldly-wise teens with a paranormal obsession – conjuring a fake ghost photograph to play a trick on gullible schoolmate, Janice Tupps.

The prank, however, rebounds shockingly, horrifically... This is both insightful and unnerving work. The author knows his stuff. Another rarity – Maclean writes for the reader, draws you right in. Loved it.

I was in between two consecutive house moves and with all my cases packed around me, really needed something absorbing to distract from the stress. A tough call. Grisham did the job, though.

He’s a master storyteller, and this had a blinder of a hook right at the start. Ray Atlee is a law teacher in Virginia when he gets a call from his father, a judge, to return home. But he doesn’t get there in time – the judge has died already, and in suspicious circumstances. Ray subsequently picks up a trail of dangerous secrets, his father was not the man he thought he was.

I loved this because it’s fast paced, intriguing, and Grisham’s style is both intelligent and immersing. Also learned about Cesna planes and the deep American South!