Category Archives: book reviews

Dear Edgar 52 ~ The Purloined letter

Posted on January 22, 2026 by Mark Hayes

Perhaps it needed a good murder… Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, Dear Edgar, Poe, retro book reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Curse of Amateur Dramatics

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Mark Hayes

Holly Trinity is awake, which never bodes well for the old city. Armageddon may be round the corner. But at least she gets to go to the theater. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, indie novels, reads, urban fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Minoan Dreams

Posted on December 1, 2025 by Mark Hayes

a window on humanity soul, our pagan past, and the mythology that is the seed from which we grew. Yes these are modern interpretations and yes the are based on mere fragments, but even so these stories remind us of who we once were, of a common past. Something we all need once in a while. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, pagan, quantum pagan, reads | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Friday book news

Posted on October 24, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Because one is as ever behind on reviews, as well as general book news here is a catch up in general on my book news and a few new releases form authors I have reviewed before and recommend. Firstly this … Continue reading →

Posted in book reviews, books, reads, sci-fi, steampunk | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Monsters in the to-read pile

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Mark Hayes

I have little doubt one day the police will break in my house after i have been ‘missing’ for several weeks to discover my body, under this pile of books.
There are worse ways to go. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, books, Harvey Duckman, horror, indie novels, indie writers, reads, supernatural, urban fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Cogkneys, Minoan’s and Devilish Preludes

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Anyone following this blog over the years will be aware my taste in reading can be a tad ecliptic. Well buckle up buttercup, ecliptic was three turns back. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, druidry, fantasy, humour, pagan, steampunk, urban fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dear Edgar ~31 : The Colloquy of Monos and Una

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Mark Hayes

There are (in this tale) broad themes in regards to life, death, the impermanence of existence, decay both moral and physical.

It really is a bundle of laughs…. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, opinion, Poe, reads, retro book reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Retail Theory, the downs, and why she hates everything…

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Retail is a strange place. I am aware I speak as a man who is less than fond of shopping, and who has never worked in a shop, but I have long been aware for those who do, retail is a strange place. Just how strange… Well that’s where Maggie Weber’s book comes in. Continue reading →

Posted in book reviews, books, humour, indie writers, indiewriter, reads | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar 28~ The Murders in the Rue Morgue

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Mark Hayes

At some point in your life you will have learned of this story, you will most likely not recollect when and how you learn of it, but you know of the story. ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’ is one of those stories that is part of the zeitgeist of humanity. It is a story so intrinsic to our collective culture, so ingrain within us, so referenced and repeated, that it exists beyond itself. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, Poe, reads, retro book reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dear Edgar 27: The Man of the Crowd

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Mark Hayes

 It was well said of a certain German book that “er lasst sich nicht lesen” –it does not permit itself to be read. There are some secrets which do not permit themselves to be told. Men die nightly in their … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, Dear Edgar, Lovecraft, Poe, reads, retro book reviews, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment