A HAT FULL OF SKY By Terry Pratchett

Published : 2004
Pages : 350
Overall Mark : 8/10

Tiffany Aching has left home is now preparing to become a fully fledged witch with her new teacher, Miss Level, who is fortunate enough to possess two bodies, but upon arriving at Miss Level’s cottage Tiffany starts to sense a strange presence which lurks in her room, tidying up after her. When she is then possessed by a creature called a Hiver, the Nac Mac Feegle return, with the help of Mistress Weatherwax, to try and rid Tiffany of the invasive presence which allows Tiffany to act without conscience and do things she wouldn’t ordinarily do, such as kill!

This follow up to Pratchett’s 2003 novel The Wee Free Men is every bit as good, with the characters having actually progressed and grown over the two year gap in narration. Pratchett is in no way slowing down as he gets older, and in many cases his books are going from strength to strength, with this one – though primarily aimed at children – showing he is not growing short of ideas.

MARY MARY By James Patterson

Published : 2005
Pages : 435
Overall Mark : 7/10

Alex Cross is called in to help investigate the mysterious serial killer known as Mary Smith, who is apparently murdering random A-List celebrities whose only seeming connection is that they are all young women and good parents. As he becomes more and more involved in the case, his personal life takes a beating as his one time partner and mother of his youngest child fights him for custody, whilst all the while the FBI find themselves having to contend with a very secretive LAPD.

Almost from the very first page Patterson manages to confuse the reader by filling this novel with red herrings and misdirection. A number of the characters are there simply to lead the reader away from discovering who the real killer is, and it’s interesting in hind sight that the killer is introduced reasonably early on without it being entirely obvious who they are.