SUSAN HOWATCH

I have placed "sizzler ratings" next to books read, even if the review hasn't been added at this time.

	The Dark Shores		The Wheel of Fortune
	The Waiting Sands		Glittering Images
	Call in the Night		Glamorous Powers
	The Shrouded Walls		Ultimate Powers
	April's Grave		Scandalous Risks
	The Devil on Lammas Night		Mystical Paths
	Penmarric		A Question of Integrity
	Cashelmarra		The High Flyer
	The Rich are Different
	Sins of the Fathers
	The wheel of fortune

Sub-category: Thriller
The plot: Carter Graham's life is right on track. She has risen high above the fluffettes and is on course to becoming a Parter at Curtis, Towers well before she is forty. Furthermore, she has just met Kim Betz, a successful lawyer himself. Although their encounter began as a one night stand, it culminated in a wonderful marriage. The only flaw preventing Carter's Life Plan continue unmarked is the persistence of her husband's ex-wife continuously calling her. The marriage has barely been consummated when all of a sudden, Carter's timeline is thrown right off track by Kim's horror at her desire to have a couple of kids before she turns 40.
Comment: Let's clear one thing up right now - with any other author, this is a 4-flame book of the highest rating! But, Howatch's previous book, A Question of Integrity, is resting in the stratosphere, untouchable on top of the Pedestal Of The Best Book EVER Written. With such a phenomenal benchmark, it would be rather hard to beat that! So, I have to give this a 3-flame rating - but only in comparison to her other books!

I found this book just a little bit slow to start, but as soon as Carter's life began to disintegrate, it was vintage Howatch and just as delightful to read as any of her other books. It was bit of a change for the entire story to be told from just one person's point of view, but just as interesting. I still love the scenes with Nicholas Darrow and his motley crew from St-Benet's by the wall. A solid successor to A Question of Integrity, which means Howatch hasn't lost her touch and I look forward anxiously to her next book.
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Sub-category: Thriller
The plot: Alice is an overweight cook with cordon bleu cooking qualifications and an Aunt who is dying and yet, a promise prevents Alice from putting Aunt in a home after her last stroke. Alice has no money and has never had a life thanks to the strangely patriotic Aunt. Then one day as she looks for shelter from a heavy downpour, she stumbles across a small wren church in London with the name of St-Benet's-by-the-wall. Once inside, she is immediately protected by Francie and mesmerised by the man in the pulpit, Nicholas Darrow. From this point on, Alice's life begins to change.
Comment: This book will leave you literally gasping as you turn the pages towards the climax. Do not be put off by the religious theme, this book is as intense a psychological thriller as you can get. I guess if you are intensely religious, then the liberal attitude of the Church in Howatch's books will probably offend you. A shame as this type of church would command a lot more respect in today's world AND you would miss out one of the best books to come out ever!
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MYSTICAL PATHS (1992)

Sub-category: Thriller
The plot: The year is 1968 and young ordinand, Nicholas Darrow, becomes involved in trying to resolve the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of his friend, Christian Aysgarth. However, as he explores the truth further, his psychic gift ends up turning the tables on him....
Comment: This book is the prequel to the magnificent "A question of integrity" (above). Although it gets off to a slow start, once the psychological interrogation begins, this book picks up pace and becomes a thrilling read.
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SCANDALOUS RISKS (1990)

Sub-category: Romance/thriller
The plot: The year is 1963 and poor, little rich Venetia Flaxton has hit a mid-life crisis at the tender age of 26. To the rescue comes her darling "Mr. Dean", an old family friend and Dean of the Starbridge Cathedral in England. He is 43 years her senior, and yet they embark on a passionate, affair that could scandalize the Church of England if found out.
Comment: A part of the fabulous Church of England series that Howatch has written, I found this book a little disappointing relative to the others. Although it is a nice little (??) read, this book doesn't delve into the realms of sordid psychology like her other books do - with that old charm only appearing for a chapter or two. I was a bit disappointed as Venetia comes across a lot more interesting as a side-character in her other books!
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GLAMOROUS POWERS (1988)

Sub-category: Suspense
The plot: The time is WWII and Jonathon Darrow, a monk in recluse is suddenly visited by a vision from God which he believes means he has to leave the Fordite Monks. What follows is the reintegration of the proud and arrogant Darrow into the real world - at the same time as he almost loosed everything as he his swept away by his own glamorous powers...
Comment: A steady but somewhat slow read, with not quite the usual masterful psychological suspense Howatch has exhibited in other book of the same theme. Nonetheless, it is an enjoyable - and sometimes quite comical read.
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