Reviewers

Most of our reviewers have backgrounds in the worlds of publishing, education and professional writing. All of us read fiction regularly – perhaps obsessively – and have done so for many years. We read with a strong critical faculty to the fore, and are skilled at writing useful, constructive reviews.

Diane
background: commercial and creative writing

passion: "Contemporary popular and semi-literary fiction, sometimes with a magic realism element; some fantasy and the occasional crime or thriller to spice things up. Drama; I enjoy dramatic scenarios and don't get enough of them in real life."

favourite authors: Joanne Harris, Alice Hoffman, James Robertson, Mark Haddon, Barbara Trapido, Sarah Waters, Audrey Niffenegger, Peter Ackroyd, Julian Barnes, Kitty Fitzgerald, Jackie Gay, Terry Pratchett, Trudi Canavan, JK Rowling, Philip Pullman, Reginald Hill, PD James, Ann Cleeves, Robert Goddard, Arthur Miller, Alan Garner.

Angela
background: literary studies and literary criticism

passion: "I enjoy a whole variety of genres – anything with an engrossing story line, well drawn characters and realistic dialogue. I like nothing better than to be drawn into a riveting plot by sharp and stylish writing. If this can be combined with a setting that is beyond my own experience then I'm in raptures!"

favourite authors: Harlan Coben, Douglas Kennedy, Kathy Reichs, Jodi Picoult, Patricia Cornwell, Sue Grafton, James Patterson, Douglas Coupland, Michael Connelly.

 

George
background: journalism

passion:"Crime! – from your regular police procedurals to psychological thrillers. Mostly set in Britain, although I enjoy stories with American and European settings. Different periods of history are a favourite too. I like the logic of crime, but it's always the motivation that fascinates."

favourite authors: Reginald Hill, Janet Evanovich, Lindsey Davies, Patricia Cornwell, John Grisham, WJ Burley, Ann Granger, Martin Edwards, Val McDermid, Dorothy L Sayers, Ruth Rendell, Michael Dibdin, Ngaio Marsh, Ellis Peters, Michael Jecks, Peter Lovesey, Martha Grimes, Malcolm Pryce.

Julian
background: novelist and dramatist

passion:"Above all I like to be entertained by a piece of writing – beyond that, I have few restrictions on what I read. This doesn't mean it can't have a deeper and serious subtext, but I hate it when a good story is spoilt by bad writing. I like to be intrigued, I like to be surprised and I like to be taken into a world that I may not already know and find it totally convincing. I love humour, though I am also fascinated by thrillers with ingenious plots, crime, military action or whatever, with a wealth of accurate technical detail."

favourite authors: BB, Isaac Asimov, Iain Banks, Richard Brautigan, Arthur C Clarke, Michael Crichton, Janet Evanovich, Carrie Fisher, George MacDonald Fraser, Nicci French, Peter Guttridge, Thomas Harris, Wendy Holden, Nick Hornby, John Le Carr, Alistair MacLean, Andy McNab, Spike Milligan, JD Salinger, Chris Simms, Karline Smith, Sue Townsend, Minette Walters, Evelyn Waugh.

 

Diana
background: journalism

passion: "I am totally addicted to fantasy! Dragons, elves, dwarves, trolls, the more the merrier. The ability to create a new world and make the reader live it and understand it is a great gift. I also thoroughly enjoy science fiction, forensic pathology, historical epics, some crime and thrillers. And finally, humorous books, as we all need to smile!"

favourite authors: Anne McCaffrey, Raymond E Feist, Trudi Canavan, Philip Pullman, David Eddings, Andre Norton, CS Lewis, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke, Kathy Reichs, JK Rowling, Garth Nix, Robert Jordan, Doreen Tovey, Deric Longden.

 

Libby
background: education, especially drama, and creative writing

passion:"Family values and all the dark secrets kept within four walls.This includes history, family sagas, biography, romantic fiction, thrillers and anything else which takes my fancy. I love reading plays and envisaging them acted out in my head."

favourite authors: Alan Bennett, Harold Pinter, Catherine Cookson, Anita Shreve, Mazo de la Roche, Baroness Orczy, Philippa Gregory, Joanne Harris, Nicholas Evans, Jack Higgins, Elizabeth George, Janet Evanovich, Phillip Pullman and Kaye Umansky.

 

Anne
background: biomedical research

passion:"I like to be surprised, whether by real science being manipulated or extrapolated in unexpected ways or by people's behaviour and relationships having unexpected results. I love having no idea what might happen next – but as you might expect from a scientist I can be unforgiving of the hopelessly implausible or wildly inaccurate. Being something of a science fiction fan, I appreciate short stories as these are often the best medium for wild ideas. I also have great admiration for any author who can make me laugh".

favourite authors: Ursula LeGuin, Piers Anthony, George Orwell, Margaret Atwood, Cormack McCarthy, Terry Pratchett, Elliott Perleman, Doris Lessing, Joanne Harris, Ray Bradbury, Jonathan Franzen, Neil Gaiman, Jane Gardham, John Updike, TC Boyle, Mark Haddon.

 

Lesley
background: education, especially the development of literacy.
Lesley works within the education system. Having taught children aged 3-11 for a number of years, she has a keen interest in language and literacy, especially the way this develops from birth onwards.

passion: "I can describe myself as nothing other than a faction tart –anything goes! Thrillers, historicals, children's fantasy, chick lit and contemporary literary fiction. I ask for novels to be exciting; well written with rich language; sometimes funny, sometimes heart-wrenching; but above all totally absorbing."

favourite authors: Anita Shreve, Joanne Harris, Jane Austen, Mary Higgins Clark, JK Rowling, Dan Brown, Anthony Capella, Philippa Gregory, Patricia Cornwell, Minette Walters, Neil Griffiths, Gervase Phinn, Kate Mosse, PJ Tracy, Douglas Kennedy, Alison Penton Harper, Marian Keyes, Kim Edwards.

 

Tom
background: finance

passion:"Horror and the macabre – from the physical to the psychological. Horror can be mistaken for a shallow genre, just for thrills, but many horror stories reveal the hidden layers of human nature and the forces at play in society. I also enjoy contemporary literature in general and especially political thrillers. The analytical skills I need for my work come in very useful for reviewing."

favourite authors: Stephen King, James Herbert, Dean Koontz, Thomas Harris, Alistair McLean, John le Carre, Tom Clancy, Frederick Forsyth, Ian Fleming, Jeffrey Archer, Robert Harris and John Irving.

 

Nikki
background: literature

passion:"Children's literature – the texts work on so many levels. Often wrongly dismissed as lacking substance, literature for children offers many challenges to the investigative reader. Drama is my other great love."

favourite authors: JM Barrie, JRR Tolkein, CS Lewis, Frances Hodgson Burnett, GP Taylor, Daphne Du Maurier, Sebastian Faulks, Roddy Doyle, John Steinbeck.

 

Rebecca
background: author and book doctor

passion: "Horror, romance, crime, fantasy...I read passionately across all genres. What I love best is a thrilling story well told. I am also passionate about encouraging struggling and reluctant young readers, so I find well-written YA novels very exciting."

favourite authors: Terry Pratchett, Philip Pullman, George Mann, J K Rowling, Stephen King, Kathy Reichs, Alexander McCall Smith...to name but a few.