Tag: Shelf Control

Shelf Control #107 – 18/09/2026

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Happy Friday friends! Today’s Shelf Control is an exciting feature for non-fiction fans, especially if you enjoy anthropology and human history. If there is one thing I am pleased about when it comes to reading, it’s how varied the books I read are. I added today’s Shelf Control feature in January 2022. It’s been a while, so let’s hope I can finally read this soon! 

Here’s a reminder of what my Shelf Control regular feature is all about, then I’ll share more on today’s Shelf Control feature. 

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies; a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind – Yuval Noah Harari 

Genre: Non-fiction  

Pages: 466

Audience: Adult

Publisher:  Vintage

Publication Date: 04 Sept 2014

Goodreads – Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

What makes us brilliant? What makes us deadly? What makes us Sapiens?

One of the world’s preeminent historians and thinkers, Yuval Noah Harari challenges everything we know about being human.

Earth is 4.5 billion years old. In just a fraction of that time, one species among countless others has conquered it: us.

In this bold and provocative book, Yuval Noah Harari explores who we are, how we got here and where we’re going.

My Thoughts

I can’t say I’ve read much on the history of humankind, or spent any great deal of time on anthropology. However, it is a topic I’m looking forward to trying in picking up today’s Shelf Control feature. 

At 460 odd pages, it’s an approachable way to dabble in the subject. Based on the book title, it seems like a light-touch overview of our entire history. That’s great for a newcomer to the subject as I am. Then, if there’s a particular topic of interest I can dig into it later! Winner. 

This book has been broadly well received, but it does have its critics. Given my newness to the subject, I’m not sure I’ve got anything to say about that at the moment. I’ll just see how it reads and go from there. 

Have you read Sapiens, or any other books like it that you’d like to recommend? Is this your type of read? 

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Shelf Control #106 – 21/08/2026

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My latest Shelf Control is an interesting feature. It’s a Booker Prize Winner from 2021. I’m intrigued to try more prize winning books, in case you hadn’t gathered based on earlier posts this year. I also like reading books that tackle societal issues. Today’s feature handles race and discrimination. As much as I don’t like to read that it happens, I do like books that bring the issue to the fore and challenge it! 

Before I get into the details of today’s particular feature, here’s a recap of what this Shelf Control feature is all about. 

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies; a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.

The Promise – Damon Galgut

Genre: literary ficton  

Pages: 304

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Chatto and Windus 

Publication Date: 17 Jun 2021

Goodreads – The Promise

Discover the powerful prizewinning story of a family in crisis.

The Promise charts the crash and burn of a white South African family, living on a farm outside Pretoria. The Swarts are gathering for Ma’s funeral. The younger generation, Anton and Amor, detest everything the family stand for – not least the failed promise to the Black woman who has worked for them her whole life. After years of service, Salome was promised her own house, her own land… yet somehow, as each decade passes, that promise remains unfulfilled.

In this story of a diminished family, sharp and tender emotional truths hit home. Confident, deft and quietly powerful, The Promise is literary fiction at its finest.

My Thoughts

I enjoy stories that highlight the injustices of our past, and sadly, still out present. Whilst it’s much less commonplace now, we can’t say racial discrimination isn’t part of our culture. 

I can’t say I’ve read any fiction set in South Africa, but I have no doubt the story is one we have seen time and again throughout history. I’m a form believer in reading these stories and perspectives to learn from them. To avoid history repeating itself. Whilst that only really works if many others in society take the same approach, I can only be responsible for myself. And, hopefully persuade you to pick up The Promise as well.

I was gifted a copy of this book not long after it came out. With it already on my bookshelves ready to read, my intention is to try and get to this one before the end of 2026.

Have you read The Promise yet? If so, what did you make of it? I personally can’t wait to give it a try! 

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Shelf Control #105 – 26/06/2026

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***Today’s Shelf Control contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the featured book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you. 

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this post, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

My latest Shelf Control features a crime novel by well-known J.K. Rowling written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Aside from the Harry Potter series, I’ve yet to read any other books by the author. I’m interested to see how differently this book, and if I like it, series reads. It’s a completely different genre to that I’ve read before. I received a copy of this particular book as a gift. I believe my sister’s husband has read this particular book already and enjoyed it! It’ll be interesting to see if we feel the same way about it. 

Before I get into the details of it, here’s a recap of what this Shelf Control feature is all about. 

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies; a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.

The Cuckoo’s Calling – Robert Galbraith

Genre: Crime  

Pages: 550

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Sphere 

Publication Date: 18 Apr 2013

Amazon Purchase Link

Goodreads – The Cuckoo’s Calling

When a troubled model falls to her death from a Mayfair balcony, it is assumed that she has committed suicide. However, her brother has his doubts and calls in private detective Cormoran Strike to investigate. Strike is a war veteran—wounded both physically and psychologically—and his private life is in disarray. The case gives him a financial lifeline but it comes at a personal cost: the more he delves into the young model’s world, the darker things become and the closer he gets to terrible danger…

A gripping, elegant mystery steeped in the atmosphere of London—from the hushed streets of Mayfair, to the backstreet pubs of the East End, to the bustle of Soho—The Cuckoo’s Calling is a remarkable debut. Introducing Cormoran Strike, it is a classic crime novel unlike any other book you will read this year.

My Thoughts… 

Beyond the Harry Potter series, I haven’t tried any other books by J.K. Rowling. Given that I enjoy those books, and received a copy of the book by family who has read it, I can only have confidence I’ll enjoy it. 

I’m keen to try this brand-new genre from this author. It’s one I like anyway, if maybe I don’t read as much of it as late as I used to. That’s something to change. And, if I love the books, there are plenty more in the series to dive into. I have a hunch I own at least one more of these, so let’s hope I get on with today’s Shelf Control feature! 

I know J.K. Rowling and her views aren’t for everyone. However, I separate creators and their art. If I only read material by authors whose views I agreed on 100%, then I’d never broaden my horizons. Plus, that’s how confirmation bias and polarisation happens. Reading her books doesn’t mean I align with her views. Rather, I just want to enjoy the fiction she writes. 

Have you read The Cuckoo’s Calling? If you want to grab a copy for yourself, don’t forget you can support me as a creator by following these links to get a hold of yours copy in your preferred format, be that print, e-book or audio! 

Thanks for reading today’s Shelf Control! 

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Shelf Control #104 – 29/05/2026

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***Today’s Shelf Control contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the featured book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you. 

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this post, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

 

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. It’s a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.

Today’s Shelf Control is a bit of a change-up on other recent Shelf Control features. My last two were non-fiction reads. However, if that’s not your bag and you prefer historical fiction, stick with me. Today’s feature is a daring WW2 historical fiction novel with a female lead. 

Intrigued? Let’s take a look! 

 

Charlotte Gray – Sebastian Faulks 

Genre: Historical fiction  

Pages: 495

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Penguin 

Publication Date: 13 Apr 2013

 

Amazon Purchase Link

Goodreads – Charlotte Gray

In 1942, Charlotte Gray, a young Scottish woman, goes to Occupied France on a dual mission:to run an apparently simple errand for a British special operations group and to search for her lover, an English airman called Peter Gregory, who has gone missing in action. In the small town of Lavaurette, Sebastian Faulks presents a microcosm of France and its agony in ‘the black years’, here is the full range of collaboration, from the tacit to the enthusiastic, as well as examples of extraordinary courage and altruism. Through the local resistance chief Julien, Charlotte meets his father a Jewish painter whose inspiration has failed him. In Charlotte’s friendship with both men, Faulks opens up the theme of false memory and of paradises?both national and personal?that appear irredeemably lost. In a series of shocking narrative climaxes in which the full extent of French collusion in the Nazi holocaust is delineated, Faulks brings the story to a resolution of redemptive love. In the delicacy of its writing, the intimacy of its characterisation and its powerful narrative scenes of harrowing public events, Charlotte Gray is a worthy successor to Birdsong.

 

My Thoughts

I love the sound of Charlotte Gray. I’m particularly intrigued by the female lead. A lot of action in WW2 fiction often takes place by male counterparts. However, in Charlotte Gray, a woman is stepping into danger. 

Often there is a hidden side to the war in that the lives of families left behind are forgotten. Their names and stories aren’t told on memorials, and yet the war impacted them just as much as their partners, husbands and fathers who are sent away. 

I’ve enjoyed similar fiction before, the most recent and reminiscent of this setting is All The Light We Cannot See. I enjoyed that setting and the personal stories that take place on this wider narrative. Now, I can only hope for the same in Charlotte Gray.  

I can’t wait to check out Charlotte Gray and I hope you’re as excited to read it as I am. I’m not sure whether I’m going to pick this up as a standalone or whether I’ll pick up the earlier books first. I’ll decide nearer the time! 

Thanks for reading today’s Shelf Control. Are you interested in reading with me? If you like the sound of it, grab a copy and read with me! 

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Shelf Control #103 – 08/05/2026

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***Today’s Shelf Control post contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the featured book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you. 

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this post, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

 

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. It’s a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.

In my latest Shelf Control, I’ve got another non-fiction book. Last time I featured a book that came out of my TBR Jar this month, Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon. This time, I have a very different non-fiction to feature. The main subject of this book – life working as part of the London Ambulance Service. 

I love programmes of this nature on TV. I’ve also enjoyed other medical books of this nature – This Is Going To Hurt, I’m looking at you… 

 

Blood, Sweat and Tea – Tom Reynolds

Genre: Non-fiction  

Pages: 280

Audience: Adult

Publisher: The Friday Project 

Publication Date: 28 May 2009

 

Amazon Purchase Link

Goodreads – Blood, Sweat and Tea

 

 A beautifully written insight into the stresses, strains and successes of working for the London Ambulance service.

Is there anyone who hasn’t wondered about the state of the occupant of an ambulance, screaming along with its sirens on and blue lights flashing? Have you? And have you wondered about the other people inside the ambulance, maybe fighting to save the patient’s life? Or have you considered that the ambulance may be another ‘maternataxi’ ordered by a woman who can’t be bothered to book a real cab and who then complains she can’t smoke on the way to hospital? And that the medical technician inside might just be desperate to get back home from a busy shift, to have a cup of tea and catch up with his blog?

Meet Tom Reynolds. Tom is an Emergency Medical Technician who works for the London Ambulance Service in East London. He has kept a blog of his daily working life since 2003 and his award-winning writing is, by turn, moving, cynical, funny, heart-rending and compassionate. It is never less than compelling.

From the tragic to the hilarious, from the heartwarming to the terrifying, the stories Tom tells give a fascinating – and at times alarming – picture of life in inner-city Britain, and the people who are paid to mop up after it.

 

My Thoughts

I’ve enjoyed books similar to this genre and style before. I’m a big fan of Adam Kay’s humour that overlaps in the medical field. Blood, Sweat and Tea overlaps with the medical profession as well, albeit the ambulance service who deals with people before they make it to a hospital. With This is Going to Hurt, I was laughing hard one minute and crying the next. If Brian Kellett (writing under the pseudonym Tom Reynolds) can match this emotional rollercoaster with Blood, Sweat and Tea, then I’ll be a happy lady. Brian is an emergency medical technician, so it sounds like this book will be personal stories of his tine working for the service. If that’s true, then this has the perfect set up. 

This type of book isn’t one I pick up a lot of. However, I enjoy them when I do and it has every potential t become a standout read for this exact reason. I enjoy TV documentaries of this nature. From A&E based programs to documentaries on standout surgeons in their field, I’ve watched plenty. 

I’m looking forward to exploring the stories of the frontline workers of the NHS. It’s a tough job, and not one I could do. I have a lot of respect for those who do this job and deal with people at their most vulnerable (or sometimes their worst). My only reservation about this book is that several reviewers find the author’s perspective to come across as judgemental and therefore unprofessional. I can only make a call on this when I read it for myself. 

I can’t wait to explore this book and let you know my thoughts soon! Have you read Blood, Sweat and Tea? Is this type of book up your alley? 

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Shelf Control #102 – 20/03/2026

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***Today’s Shelf Control post contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the featured book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you. 

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this post, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

 

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. It’s a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.

In today’s Shelf Control, I’ve got a non-fiction book about my favourite ever TV series. Based on the books by George R.R. Martin, the filming of Game of Thrones is the feature of Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon. This is a non-fiction about the filming of the series. I’m excited to get behind the scenes! 

 

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon – James Hibberd

Genre: Non-fiction  

Pages: 452

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Transworld Books

Publication Date: 06 Oct 2020

 

Amazon Purchase Link

Goodreads – Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

 

THE UNTOLD STORY OF A GLOBAL OBSESSION DIRECT FROM THE SHOW’S CAST AND CREATORS…

This official, complete history of HBO’s Game of Thrones will draw on the author’s many long days and nights spent on GOT sets all over the world and his countless interviews with cast and crew, many of which have never been published before. Packed with stunning photographs from the show and from behind the scenes, this is the only book that will be absolutely essential reading for every Game of Thrones fan.

Game of Thrones is the biggest television drama ever to have graced our screens. The epic saga of warring families, huge battles, arduous journeys and dying heroes has captured the hearts and attention of millions of fans across the world. But its conclusion isn’t necessarily the end of the story…

James Hibberd has extensively covered the show since breaking the news of its pilot in 2008 and has had more access to the show’s top-secret set than any other member of the media. He was in Croatia when Joffrey Baratheon perished; he was in Northern Ireland when Jon Snow desperately fought in the Battle of the Bastards. He has documented every part of the making of the show and has had exclusive access to cast members, writers and directors. 

 

My Thoughts

It’s fair to say A Game of Thrones is one of my favourite series of all time. I have paperback copies of the books. Audiobooks. Kindle editions. Also, all the DVD’s for every season of the TV show. 

Fan, much?! ? yes… yes I am! 

This book is about the filming of my favourite tv series. I’m excited for the insight, gossip and background behind how it all came together. It’s a very different type of non-fiction book to read as well. I’m excited to read a book that concerns production of a show. 

I’m not so sure why this book has mixed reviews. I hope I don’t fall amongst those that ended up critiquing the book. However, I doubt it. I don’t have a strong opinion about the content of the book already. I’m reading it to expose myself to the behind-the-scenes content in the first place. 

 

Summary 

There isn’t much A Game of Thrones content I haven’t read, but I’m always excited to find some more. Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon is one exception, but one I’m excited to remedy soon! 

Have you read Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon? Are you as much of a Game of Thrones fan as I am? 

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Shelf Control #101 – 06/03/2026

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***Today’s Shelf Control post contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the featured book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you. 

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this post, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

 

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. It’s a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.

This latest Shelf Control features a spy thriller. Not a genre I read a whole lot of! However, it’s written by an author I discovered several years ago. The other book I read of theirs, The Dead Tell Lies, was an easy 5* book. I said then I’d have no hesitation reading more for this author. 

Let’s hope that day isn’t too far away! I read my first book from them in July 2020. It’s already been over 5 years… so it’s about time I gave them another try. That’s what I like about these Shelf Control posts; they’re a chance to look ahead at my upcoming reading list and get excited for these books. 

 

66 Metres – J. F. Kirwan

Genre: Spy Thriller 

Pages: 305

Audience: Adult

Publisher: HQ Digital

Publication Date: 25 Aug 2016

 

Amazon Purchase Link

Goodreads – 66 Metres

 

The only thing worth killing for is family.

Everyone said she had her father’s eyes. A killer’s eyes. Nadia knew that on the bitterly cold streets of Moscow, she could never escape her past – but in just a few days, she would finally be free.

Bound to work for Kadinsky for five years, she has just one last mission to complete. Yet when she is instructed to capture The Rose, a military weapon shrouded in secrecy, Nadia finds herself trapped in a deadly game of global espionage.

And the only man she can trust is the one sent to spy on her…

 

My Thoughts

I added 66 Metres to my TBR after reading The Dead Tell Lies. Whereas this book is a psychological thriller and 66 Metres is a spy thriller, I’m confident that I’ll get on with the book just as well. The Dead Tell Lies is the type of thriller that had me thinking about the plot in overtime. Not only was I fully engrossed reading it, but also trying to work out what was going on even when the book wasn’t open. If I remember rightly, The Dead Tell Lies had an interesting twist to it too. Let’s hope for more of the same in 66 Metres. 

Admittedly, it’s entirely on the merits of this first book I’ve read that I’ve added this second one. However, that means I’m not going into the book with too much of an idea of the plot and can’t be spoiled for it. I have gone into it with an idea of what to expect, though. With such high expectations set in this first book, I can only hope 66 Metres likes up to my expectations. 

 

Summary 

Do you love a spy thriller novel? Want to read along with me? Why not get a copy of the book here and readalong with me! 

Thank you for checking out today’s pretty short but sweet Shelf Control post! Have you read 66 Metres or The Dead Tell Lies already?

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Shelf Control #100 – 20/02/2026

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***This Shelf Control post contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you. 

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this review, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

 

My latest Shelf Control features a historical classic novel I started years ago whilst in my high school years, but didn’t really get into. I suspect I wasn’t quite mature enough for the book and its themes yet. However, now I’m older, I need to get cracking and read this classic book.

It would also be perfect for anyone looking for a Black History Month read! Before I get into the details of the book, as I usually do, here’s a recap of what Shelf Control is all about.

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. It’s a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.

 

The Colour Purple – Alice Walker

Genre: Historical fiction/ Classic

Pages: 287

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Penguin Books

Publication Date: 10 Dec 2019

 


Amazon Purchase Link

Goodreads – The Colour Purple

A powerful cultural touchstone of modern American literature, The Color Purple depicts the lives of African American women in early twentieth-century rural Georgia.

Separated as girls, sisters Celie and Nettie sustain their loyalty to and hope in each other across time, distance and silence through a series of letters spanning twenty years, first from Celie to God, then the sisters to each other despite the unknown.

Abused repeatedly by the man she calls ‘father’, Celie has two children taken away from her and is trapped into an ugly marriage. But then she meets the glamorous Shug Avery, singer and magic-maker – a woman who has taken charge of her own destiny.

And gradually Celie discovers the power and joy of her own spirit, freeing her from her past and reuniting her with those she loves.

Beloved by generations of readers, The Color Purple broke the silence around domestic and sexual abuse, narrating the lives of women through their pain and struggle, companionship and growth, resilience and bravery. Deeply compassionate and beautifully imagined, Alice Walker’s epic carries readers on a spirit-affirming journey towards redemption and love.

 

My Thoughts

I regret not picking up The Colour Purple yet. It’s a highly rated book, and no doubt a must-read for many people – myself included!

The Colour Purple is a well-known title that I’m looking forward to ticking off my TBR. It’s a classic, and one I feel is already overdue to be read. So much so, I included this book on my fixed TBR of books I want to get to in 2026. You can see that, as well as the other books on this list, in my 2026 Resolutions post.

The book is not without its difficult topics. If you’re not for reading about domestic and sexual abuse, then maybe pass on this one. However, I’m not one to shy away from difficult topics and in fact, I deliberately try to read them. Only by recognising difficult truths can we be transparent about them and try to prevent reoccurrence.

 

Summary

Want to read along with me? Get a copy of the book here and join me in picking up this historical fiction classic. Race is a topic I’m already enjoying reading about in Barack Obama’s Dreams from my Father. Why not continue the discussion by reading The Colour Purple soon?

Thank you for reading my Shelf Control post! Have you read The Colour Purple?

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Shelf Control #99 – 23/01/2026

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***Today’s Shelf Control post contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you. 

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this review, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

 

Today’s Shelf Control post features another thriller novel with a kind of murder mystery aspect. This section of my TBR suggests I was really into thrillers. My prior feature was about a serial kidnapper and torturer. This book is about a murder investigation involving the accessing digitised memories of the deceased to discover the identity of the killer. I hinted at this in my Sunday Summary last week, so you’ve had five days to make your guesses as to what the title of today’s feature is.

Psychological thriller fans, this post is for YOU! And me! 

Before I share the details of the book, here’s a recap of what Shelf Control is all about. Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. It’s a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.

 

Access Point – Tom Gabbay

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Pages: 217

Audience: Adult

Publisher: JMS Books

Publication Date: 05 Apr 2020

 

Amazon Purchase Link

Goodreads – Access Point 

“A psychological thriller with compelling explorations of memory, obsession, and identity. Readers will find it an intriguing and entertaining read.” – BlueInk Review

When American art student Mia Fraser is brutally murdered steps away from her London house she shares with computer genius Ula Mishkin, it leaves the socially inept scientist heartbroken. When it becomes clear that Detective Sarah Boyd is making no progress in solving the crime using traditional methods, Ula creates a software program that allows her to reach into her dead housemates memory in order to reveal the identity of the killer. Entering the dead girls life through the echo of her memory, Ula learns that sometimes the past is best left undisturbed.

 

My Thoughts

Psychological thrillers are my favourite type of thrillers. Plus, this narrative has some novelty in the plot line I’m excited to read more on. The concept of accessing digitised memories to discover the identity of a killer has me intrigued. Are we talking about accessing digital diary entries. A digital persona/caricature of the real person uploaded into some futuristic (although not a leap away) technology? The synopsis is pretty vague on this point, but I’m curious to see where this angle takes us. 

Of course, Ula may find out far more than she wants to. The premise hints at that, but honestly it could go in any direction… from those she knows to maybe even herself. That would be an interesting twist, wouldn’t it?! 

Access Point hasn’t got a load of reviews on Goodreads yet, but the rating indicates the book has been well-received by the that have picked it up. Honestly, I’m looking forward to getting around to this one and being able to share my two-pence worth. Hopefully, also inspire some other readers to give it a go! 

I hope today’s post has inspired you to give Access Point a try along with me. It’s a short and purportedly fast-paced read. At a fraction over 200 pages, this is an approachable read. Whether you are looking for an approachable book or just want a change of genre and pace between longer books, Access Point is the perfect choice. Also, for Kindle Unlimited subscribers, you can access it with your membership. Otherwise, you can get a copy here. 

If you’re still with me, thanks for checking out today’s Shelf Control feature. Have you read Access Point? Do you fancy giving it a go along with me?

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Shelf Control #98 – 12/12/2025

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Today’s Shelf Control post features a thriller I love the sound of. It’s scary if you imagine yourself in the shoes of the victims. I hinted at this feature in last week’s Sunday Summary and I’ve looked forward to writing about it all week. To say I forewent going to the work Christmas party to write it is a lie. However, everyone going is probably running out of steam right now, whereas I’m at home, in my PJs’ living my best life. No regrets!

As always, before I share the details of the book, here’s a recap of what Shelf Control is all about. 

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. It’s a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.

 

Senseless – Ed James

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 400

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Headline

Publication Date: 19 Mar 2020

 

 

Goodreads – Senseless

THREE MISSING PEOPLE… ONE TWISTED PREDATOR.

DAY ONE

Six weeks after vanishing, Sarah Langton is suddenly found – delirious and starved close to death.

The police struggle to find any answers.

DAY TWO

When another missing person reappears, half-crazed and hysterical, a terrifying pattern emerges: a twisted predator is pushing his victims to insanity.

DS Corcoran, haunted by a previous case, and Dr Marie Palmer, a leading criminal psychiatrist, must try to establish a link between the survivors.

DAY THREE

As it becomes clear others are in grave danger, every second will be critical. But can Corcoran and Palmer unravel the deadliest of puzzles in time?

 

My Thoughts

The thought of being deprived of all senses is terrifying. That’s what the victims of Senseless endure, and the effects are frightening. When they’re released, what can thy reveal about the predator that trapped them if they’ve seen or heard nothing?

I love a good time-pressured thriller. And what detective doesn’t have a backstory in these types of books? In some ways, Senseless seems a little cliched but I’m intrigued enough by the plot to give it a go. If nothing else, I like trying to put the pieces of a puzzle together. If it’s written well, I can’t see the ending coming. Can I predict the ending of this one? That remains to be seen!

Senseless is a well-rated book on Goodreads, so I’m hopeful I enjoy this thriller. If you’re a fan of them too, then maybe this Shelf Control feature has made it onto your TBR.

Have you read Senseless? Is this type of thriller on your radar? 

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