Accio Books

Book Review Title: K2: Life and Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain by Ed Viesturs Genre: Non-Fiction, Sport, Adventuring Rating: 5 Stars There are few places on Earth that inspire the same combination of fascination, fear, and respect as K2. Rising 28,251 feet above the Karakoram Range of northern Pakistan, it is the world’s second-highest mountain, but its reputation for danger arguably surpasses that of Everest. K2 is not simply high; it is steep, technically

Book Review Title: Dark Summit: The True Story of Everest’s Most Controversial Season by Nick Heil Genre: Non-Fiction, Everest, Adventuring Rating: 4 Stars Few places on Earth expose the limits of human endurance as brutally as Mount Everest. At more than 8,800 metres above sea level, the mountain exists in an environment where something as ordinary as breathing, walking, or helping another person can become an almost impossible undertaking. In Dark Summit: The True Sto

Book Review Title: Unbecoming a Lady: The Forgotten Sluts and Shrews Who Shaped America by Therese Oneill Genre: Non-Fiction, Society, History Rating: 3.5 Stars Therese Oneill’s Unbecoming a Lady: The Forgotten Sluts and Shrews Who Shaped America is an irreverent, entertaining, and often fascinating collection of stories about women who refused to behave in the ways society expected of them. Rather than focusing on the traditionally celebrated women of American history, O

Book Review Title: Sweet and Deadly: How Coca-Cola Spreads Disinformation and Makes Us Sick by Murray Carpenter Genre: Non-Fiction, Health, Science Rating: 4 Stars Murray Carpenter’s Sweet and Deadly: How Coca-Cola Spreads Disinformation and Makes Us Sick is a thoroughly researched, compelling, and often infuriating investigation into one of the world’s most recognisable brands and the ways in which corporate power can influence public understanding of health. Published

Book Review Title: Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser Genre: Non-Fiction, Crime, Environmental Rating: 3.5 Stars Caroline Fraser’s Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers is a fascinating, ambitious, and often deeply unsettling examination of the serial-killer phenomenon that swept across the Pacific Northwest of the United States during the 1970s and 1980s. Published in 2025, the book combines true cri

Book Review Title: She Kills Me: The True Stories of History’s Deadliest Women by Jennifer Wright Genre: Non-Fiction, Historical, True Crime Rating: 3 Stars Jennifer Wright’s She Kills Me: The True Stories of History’s Deadliest Women is an entertaining and accessible exploration of women throughout history who have been associated with murder, violence, political intrigue, and other forms of deadly behaviour. Combining historical biography with true crime, Wright examin

Book Review Title: Killer Story: The Truth Behind True Crime Television by Claire St. Amant Genre: Non-Fiction, True Crime, Entertainment, Memoir Rating: 5 Stars The true crime genre has experienced an extraordinary rise in popularity over the past two decades. From bestselling books and investigative podcasts to streaming documentaries and television dramatisations, audiences have become increasingly fascinated by real criminal cases and the pursuit of justice. Yet rela

Book Review Title: Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano Genre: Crime, Mystery, Humour, Romance Rating: 4 Stars With the third instalment in her wildly entertaining Finlay Donovan series, Elle Cosimano once again proves that crime fiction does not have to sacrifice humour to deliver an engaging mystery. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun continues the adventures of struggling mystery novelist Finlay Donovan and her irrepressible nanny-turned-best-friend, Vero, as they

Book Review Title: Ascension by Nicholas Binge Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Mixed Media Rating: 5 Stars Science fiction often explores humanity’s relationship with the unknown, but few novels manage to combine scientific speculation, psychological suspense, philosophical reflection, and genuine emotional depth as effectively as Nicholas Binge’s Ascension. At first glance, the novel appears to be another expedition story centred around an impossi

Book Review Title: The Ripper of Whtiechapel by Yvette Fielding Genre: Horror, Paranormal, Middle Grade Rating: 4 Stars Yvette Fielding is perhaps best known for her work as a television presenter and paranormal investigator, but with The Ripper of Whitechapel, she demonstrates that she is equally capable of crafting an engaging supernatural thriller. Blending historical true crime with ghostly horror, mystery, and suspense, Fielding takes one of history’s most infamous

Book Review Title: This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer Genre: Horror, Paranormal, Thriller Rating: 5 Stars Every so often, a debut novel arrives that feels astonishingly assured, blending familiar genre conventions with fresh ideas and a distinctive voice. Jenny Kiefer’s This Wretched Valley is one such novel. Combining elements of survival horror, supernatural terror, psychological suspense, and folk horror, Kiefer crafts a story that is both relentlessly unsettling an

Book Review Title: The Suicidal Person: A New Look at a Human Phenomenon by Konrad Michel Genre: Non-Fiction, Mental Health Rating: 3.5 Stars Konrad Michel’s The Suicidal Person: A New Look at a Human Phenomenon is an ambitious and compassionate exploration of one of the most complex and misunderstood aspects of human psychology. Rather than treating suicide solely as a symptom of mental illness or a statistic to be analysed, Michel; a psychiatrist and psychotherapist wit

Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code (2003) became one of the most successful novels of the twenty-first century, selling millions of copies worldwide and sparking widespread debate about religion, history, art, and conspiracy theories. Combining historical speculation with a fast-paced murder mystery, Brown created a thriller that encouraged readers to question accepted historical narratives while following an intricate trail of cryptic clues hidden within some of the world’s most

Book Review Title: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Genre: Crime, Thriller, Drama Rating: 5 Stars Few novels have generated as much global discussion, controversy, and commercial success as Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. Since its publication in 2003, the novel has become one of the defining thrillers of the twenty-first century, captivating millions of readers with its relentless pace, intricate puzzles, historical intrigue, and provocative religious themes. More than simply a

Stephen King’s The Shining (1977) is widely regarded as one of the defining novels of modern horror, combining supernatural terror with an emotionally charged exploration of addiction, domestic abuse, and the fragility of family relationships. Three years later, Stanley Kubrick adapted the novel into what has become one of the most celebrated horror films in cinema history. Although Kubrick’s adaptation follows the broad outline of King’s story of a family isolated in the hau

Book Review Title: The Shining by Stephen King Genre: Psychological, Horror Rating: 4.5 Stars Few novels have left as enduring a mark on the horror genre as Stephen King’s The Shining. Since its publication in 1977, it has become a cornerstone of modern horror literature, inspiring countless authors, filmmakers, and readers with its masterful blend of psychological tension and supernatural terror. While Stanley Kubrick’s iconic film adaptation has become a cultural phenom

Book Review Title: The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It’s Broken by The Secret Barrister Genre: Non-Fiction, Crime, Law Rating: 5 Stars There are few books capable of completely reshaping the way readers view an institution they have taken for granted. The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It’s Broken is one of those rare books. At once a memoir, an educational guide, a political critique and a passionate defence of the rule of law, The Secret Barris

Book Review Title: American Autopsy by Michael M. Baden, M.D. Genre: Non-Fiction, Biography, Crime, Science Rating: 5 Stars Few books manage to be simultaneously educational, emotionally powerful, and socially significant. American Autopsy: One Medical Examiner’s Decades-Long Fight for Racial Justice in a Broken Legal System by Dr. Michael M. Baden achieves all three with remarkable precision. More than a memoir, more than a true crime account, and more than a medical text, t

Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting and Danny Boyle’s 1996 film adaptation are both seminal works that explore the lives of heroin users in Edinburgh during the late twentieth century. While the film remains largely faithful to the spirit of Welsh’s novel, the adaptation process required significant changes in structure, character focus, language, and tone. These changes reveal the strengths and limitations of each medium. The novel offers a richer social and psychological explorati

Book Review Title: Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Crime, Classics Rating: 4.5 Stars Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting is a raw, uncompromising, and unforgettable novel that captures the harsh realities of addiction, poverty, and urban life in 1980s Edinburgh. Since its publication, it has become a landmark work of contemporary British fiction, celebrated for its originality, emotional honesty, and fearless exploration of subjects that many novels