Reviews and Comments

Like Chris Atkins in the non-fiction A Bit of a Stretch the protagonist is a white collar educated inmate, but Malcolm Bannister finds a different way to get out of jail. In both cases there is a mixture of prisoners who fell afoul of the law once, and those who have been, and are likely to continue to be repeat offenders. Rehabilitation is not mentioned (It would not fit the plot in this case,but in a wider context I am wondering if there are other possible upbeat ways to exit the prison system)

Reading this in the context of Democracy for Sale, Corruptible and others on the ways the democratic political process can be undermined, I would hope some whistle-blower or other oversight system of the CIA would prevent this from happening in reality, but ...

Another book on the challenges to Democracy, having some resonances (I suspect) with Corruptible:Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us.

The chapter on The Visible Cell features the observation of 'cells' in cork by Robert Hooke, published in Micrographia, in 1665. This was shortly before the Great Fire of London, and shortly after that Ashes of London has a scene set in the laboratory of Charles II as well as giving some historical context to the science.

Interesting view from the other side of the Justice System, agreeing with Nothing but the Truth on percentage of prisoners with mental health issues, and how Justice is a complex problem.

Another perspective on the history of humankind

Democracy, like science and important software, needs to happen in the open for it to work. This book exposes some of the means by which some people attempt to obscure the process. I have a more complete review on my blog

Gripping finale set in Oxford.

I enjoyed this fascinating tale set in Edinburgh at the time of the visit of King George IV.

In its mixture of real Edinburgh places and characters it reminds me of the 44 Scotland Street series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith. Like many good novels it inspired me to learn more about some of the real life characters, places and events depicted in the story.

The descriptions of lives and particularly deaths of the people in the area, now Belarus, at the time of WW2 make grim reading. In some respects the events of the time have kept the people in a mediaeval existence today, while, for example the people of Poland, just across the river have moved on. The character of Andrusha Sawoniuk reminded me of the chapter "Petty Tyrants and Psychopaths" in Corruptible I did find the details of the cross examinations and legal wrangles a bit too detailed, and it could have been edited down without losing much.

An excellent read to explain how in some situations power is abused if it gets into the wrong hands.

Features the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh at the time of its creation.

Espionage fiction, with more realism than most. I have enjoyed others in the series.

The original events took place in a part of the world which was troubled then, and still is today, while the modern narrative concerns justice and the legal process, so it should be an interesting, if disturbing, read.