Looby's Lullabies

The Russian Doll by Merina Palmer and Chapter 1 of this part political intrigue thriller, part romance.  Makes for an entertaining and fast-paced book set in present day London.Support the show

Wrong Place, Wrong Time is an ingeniously plotted psychological thriller told in reverse!  One of those books which is a real page turner with twists and turns along the way.  Addictive, riveting, brilliant!Support the show

The Invisible Bridge by Jule Orringer is an engrossing, emotional story set in 1937 from a remote Hungarian village to the grand opera houses of Budapest and Paris.  It spans many years and is ultimately a vividly written book which will have an profound impact on you.  Superb!Support the show

This is part of Chapter 1 of Damascus Station.....it's setting the theme for the intrigue and espionage to follow.Support the show

Damascus Station  is a gripping, realistic portrayal of espionage, love, loyalty and betrayal.  You won't be able to put it down!Support the show

A further excerpt from the initial story of The Lovers in Before the Coffee Gets Cold.   Now we learn that there are certain  intriguing rules before anyone can travel back in time.  More to follow.....Support the show

This is a section of the first visitor we encounter in Before the Coffee Gets Cold.  We are introduced to the couple and how they end up in the cafe called Funiculi Funicula.Support the show

What a delight!  Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a quirky novel which balances the sad and the sweet and ask the ultimate question: what would you change if you could travel back in time?Support the show

The Safe House by Louise Mumford & the second chapter in the book.  A taste of things to come.....Support the show

The Jigsaw Man is a dark, chilling and at the same time, grim thriller about a serial killer on the loose.  Naturally there are a few unexpected twists and turns along the way!The Safe House is a compelling, psychological thriller which is hard to put down.  A book which is ultimately about the depths of a mother's love and how delusional one can become.Support the show

Two completely different books to introduce to you:The Accomplice by Steve Cavanagh is a gripping, twisty and clever page turner thriller.  Hard to put down!The Ticket Collector from Belarus by Mike Anderson & Neil Hanson is a true story of two childhood friends that became the bitterest of enemies following the Nazi invasion in 1941.  Hard to believe this was the UK's only war crimes trial in 1999.Support the show

What a great read!  Hard to put it down and a real page turner.  Jeffrey Archer is most definitely a great storyteller.  Loved this book.

The Devil's Advocate by Steve Cavanagh is a tense, gripping and intelligent novel - you will find it impossible to put down!

This is a small excerpt from the novel by David Michie when the Dalai Lama has a visit from a nun who has been helping to rehabilitate prisoners.  An amusing comparison is made between life in a nunnery or monastery and of life in a prison.  

An endearing book following a malnourished slum kitten the Dalai Lama rescued and carried back to his beautiful sanctuary.  Here she rubs up against Hollywood stars and observes all the comings and goings of life with one of the world's greatest spiritual leaders.

Time for Tea by food writer and critic, Tom Parker Bowles along with the famous London store, Fortnum & Mason providing recipes to pair with that perfect brew!

This episode provides you with some history behind the popularity of tea drinking in Britain.  My next episode will discuss a book related to tea around the world.

"No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the  history of the world.  And normally he doesn't know it."- Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Dreams are made to be followed.Life is meant to be lived.Some Books are meant to be read, loved and passed on.The Alchemist  is one of those books.

Award winning veteran of the stage and screen, this is Miriam Margolyes incredible life story.  

This is a powerful and engrossing book demonstrating that the devastating consequences of war far outlive the actual fighting.  

Here is some information regarding the remarkable background of Hans Fallada, born in 1893 and died in 1947.  It's a story of sadness, mental struggles, addiction and eventual success and recognition for his work.

Berlin 1940, the city is paralysed by fear.  But one man refuses tp be scared.  This is a story of resistance, humour and hope.

This episode is the Preface written by Andre Aciman to The Passenger (Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz), now a Number 1 Bestseller in the U.K.   It outlines how the true events unfolded for Otto Silbermann.

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feaney.  A great read.....chilling, full of suspense and almost impossible to put down! 

The Serial Killer's Wife with info about Alice Hunter and the first chapter!  Great start to the book too.....

Aged for Murder by Fiona Grace is an entertaining and easy read set in a Tuscan Vineyard.  This is a good, light hearted weekend reading novel.

The Passenger which was written in 1938 and rediscovered in 2018.  The book has to date been translated into 20 languages.  Quite a story....within a story.....

Chatter.  The Voice in Our Head and How to Harness It.  This is an introduction to the fascinating book about conversations an endless chatter we have with ourselves. 

Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce is a charming book set in 1950....it's a funny, poignant story about an adventure between two unlikely, eccentric characters from post-war England to the other side of the world in New Caledonia, changing their lives forever.  

Tall Oaks is the debut novel by Chris Whitaker which won him the CWA John Creasy New Blood Dagger Award.  It's a great read....dark, amusing, and all the twists you could hope for!

The Huntress, a historical novel by Kate Quinn is gripping book with various time-lines spanning from 1937 through to 1950 where the characters' backgrounds and individual stories are developed.  A great read!

We Begin at the End is a superb read.  A beautifully written crime story of conflict, tension, humour and tragedy.  Compelling and heart-breaking. 

The  Arctic Fury is  a historical novel, equal parts courtroom drama and the arduous journey a year earlier to the Arctic in search of Lord Franklin's lost expedition.  What happened on the ice?  What a book!!!

This is a story for people who follow their dreams and make their own rules: a story that has inspired people for decaes

The opening chapter of this entertaining book by Richard Osman.  This chapter is entitled "Joyce" where Joyce is invited to come to the next meeting ofThursday Murder Club at the retirement home.

Great book - fun and entertaining.  Captures the English humour and setting in a charming way.  

This is the second chapter of the Scandi Noir book, The Chestnut Man.  It is quite very graphic and horrific.....apologies in advance!  The book has an unusual theme and captures the imagination the of reader.

The Amazing Arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day.  This is the captivating and compelling story of murder and magic in the American Midwest in the early 20th century.

A short background to both the author, Soren Sveistrup and the Nordic Crime novel, The Chestnut Man

This episode highlights eight Zen lessons for an Ichigo Life.  If you can embrace these and incorporate them into your own lives, it would be invaluable!

This episode looks at the fundamental philosophy of Ichigo Ichie and how we can all use it in order to lead a happier and more fulfilled life. 

The  Book of Ichigo Ichie, the Art of Making the Most of Every Moment, the Japanese Way, by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles

Just a quick podcast to wish you a Happy and Healthy Christmas wherever you are and to invite you to email me with anything about Looby's Lullabies podcast.

An overview/summary of Perfume by Patrick Suskind, first published in 1985

This episode is about My Sister, the Serial Killer and a little background of the author,  Oyinkan Braithwaite.

A little background to Dolores Redondo author of the Baztan Troligy and subsequent books.

Another foreign psychological crime thriller set in Basque country.  Gripping and tense!

A tense, disconcerting and gripping psychological thriller.  You will want to keep reading until the end!

In this episode I have taken just a few of literature's  greatest opening paragraphs to highlight how the reader may find it impossible not to read further. 

This episode is about the importance to me of the first few pages of any book.  I'm reading part of the Prologue of Thirteen, by Steve Cavanagh.  This novel is a tense, gripping thriller that dares you to keep turning the pages!