End of month review and giveaway result

Yes, ok, I know I'm a couple of days late but it has been one of those weeks. Still, it's almost over now! Here in the UK we are enjoying record breaking weather, with the mercury going higher here than in a lot of sunshine holiday destinations. It's a nice change after a rotten summer.

September has been busy here at Booked Up, what with author interviews, guest posts and 4 giveaways courtesy of Scott Nicholson. His month of promotion, Be Nicholson's Agent, is now over and I'm sure he'll be glad for a rest. The winner of the final giveaway is...

Nicki G. Your book will be on it's way to you soon! Congratulations.

I read some great books in September, and for me the highlights were:

- contemporary fiction The Water Men by Adelaide MacKenzie Fuss (which I left as part of the Guardian's Book Swap - hope it found a good new home)

- An Epitaph for Coyote by Bryan R Dennis

- Horror short The Tunnelers by Geoff Gander

- Man Booker shortlisted book Snowdrops by A D Miller

September was also an interesting month with the launch of Amazon's new range of Kindles, include the Kindle Fire tablet. None of the offerings have got me so excited I've dived in and pre-ordered one, I think instead I'll wait to hear what others have got to say about them.

I'd best wrap this up, I received a replacement kindle on Friday and I've very very slowly been putting all my books onto the new one and sorting out my collections but there's still more work to do. Wish me luck!

Book Review: The Tunnelers by Geoff Gander

Looking for a short story in the horror vein? Look no further. Psychiatrist Dr. Vincent Armstrong is on shift when a traumatised mine foreman is admitted to his care, apparently after witnessing a terrible accident. Once the victim starts to remember what remember what happened and reveal the details, Armstrong becomes almost obsessed with the case, and his research uncovers legends and information that threaten his until then wholly scientific view of the world. Gradually he comes to understand that it's true that it's not paranoia when they really are after you.

I loved this story. I thought it was cleverly presented as a chronological series of notes written by Dr. Armstrong as he uncovers the truth behind an old myth and begins to feel threatened himself. This is a tense, terse and pacey thriller, that is well-polished and dragged me in from the word go. There isn't a great deal to say about the characters as it is predominantly plot driven, but I could certainly feel the Dr start to question his previously well-constructed world view and imagine the horror he was uncovering. It took me no time at all to read, partly because there was no way I was going to spend part of my commute looking out the window when I was so compelled to find out what the heck was going on.

Format: Kindle, review copy
My Rating: 5*