Fr Andrew Doohan

Cold Cruel Winter by Chris Nickson My rating: 3 of 5 stars The Constable of Leeds, Richard Nottingham, after whom this series is named has not had a good winter. He lost a daughter and witnessed the death of many other denizens of the city because of a combination of the rampant poverty and the… Continue reading Review: Cold Cruel Winter

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling My rating: 4 of 5 stars The penultimate volume in the Harry Potter series from J.K. Rowling not only sees our hero and his classmates enter their second last year at Hogwarts School but also the continuing unfolding metanarrative of the return of Lord Voldemort, He… Continue reading Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

The Broken Token by Chris Nickson My rating: 3 of 5 stars The City of Leeds in the early 1700s is the backdrop for this story of murder, or more accurately a series of murders. Drawing the reader into the seedy underside and poverty that pervades Leeds, the story follows the Constable of Leeds, Richard… Continue reading Review: The Broken Token

Death's Dark Valley by Paul Doherty My rating: 4 of 5 stars The latest instalment in the ongoing adventures of Sir Hugh Corbett, Keeper of the Secret Seal, and his henchman Ranulf, Clerk in the Chancery of the Green Wax, sees them on the Welsh border in a Benedictine Abbey that is not your normal… Continue reading Review: Death’s Dark Valley

Broken for You: Jesus Christ the Catholic Priesthood & the Word of God by Francis J. Moloney My rating: 4 of 5 stars The celebration of Eucharist is central to the life of the Church and has been since Jesus said we should “do this” in his memory. For those ordained to the ordained priesthood,… Continue reading Review: Broken for You: Jesus Christ the Catholic Priesthood & the Word of God

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling My rating: 5 of 5 stars In recent days I've spent a significant amount of time in my car. I have, accordingly, finished this fifth volume in the Harry Potter series slightly earlier than I expected to. The last few chapters, however, saw me… Continue reading Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix

Watching Out: reflections on justice and injustice by Julian Burnside My rating: 4 of 5 stars Sometimes being unwell provides a previously hidden opportunity for something enjoyable. Today that was the opportunity to read this book from Julian Burnside offering reflections on the justice system, not just the legal system.As those who know Burnside well,… Continue reading Review: Watching Out: Reflections on Justice and Injustice

Time To Depart by Lindsey Davis My rating: 3 of 5 stars Having returned from their adventures in the East, our hero, Falco, and his girlfriend, Helena Justina, settle themselves back into the hurly-burly of Rome. Falco and Helena reunite with their family and friends, but not always for the better. They are also forced… Continue reading Review: Time To Depart

Last Act in Palmyra by Lindsey Davis My rating: 3 of 5 stars Our hero, Marcus Didius Falco, travels to the east...and then keeps going some more! Accompanied by his girlfriend, Helena, Falco leaves the boundaries of the Roman Empire to explore the territory of Nabataea, supposedly looking for a missing musician, but with a… Continue reading Review: Last Act in Palmyra

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling My rating: 5 of 5 stars Harry Potter's fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is not an easy year. Harry has to face dragons, a dangerous competition, mazes, a reborn Lord Voldemort...and the Yule Ball!The fourth volume in the developing series reunites… Continue reading Review: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The Spider of Sarajevo by Robert Wilton My rating: 4 of 5 stars The political intrigues of Europe in the immediate prelude to what would become known as The Great War has always held a particular fascination for me not least because of their complexity. This extract from the Archives of the Comptroller-General for Scrutiny… Continue reading Review: The Spider of Sarajevo

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling My rating: 4 of 5 stars The third volume in the unfolding story of one Harry Potter is as engaging as the first two in the series, as one might expect in a story such as the overarching narrative that Rowling has created. We are… Continue reading Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling My rating: 4 of 5 stars One of the great things about spending a lot of time in the car recently has been the opportunity to listen to Mr Stephen Fry read the unfolding story of Harry Potter to me. The combination of a rich… Continue reading Review: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling My rating: 4 of 5 stars Returning to this book again was a wonderful adventure. There were memories of the great narrative, the incredible world that Rowling has created, and the introduction of the characters who we will come to know over the succeeding volumes in… Continue reading Review: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Traitor's Field by Robert Wilton My rating: 3 of 5 stars This entry from the Archives is set within the English Civil War, looking at the intelligence aspects of that conflict between Royalists and Parliamentarians. It is an interesting period of history and the development of the narrative in this particular novel is most interesting.I… Continue reading Review: Traitor’s Field

Watching Brief: reflections on human rights, law, and justice by Julian Burnside My rating: 3 of 5 stars Anyone even remotely familiar with the work of Julian Burnside QC will not be shocked by the range of subject matter that feature in this collection of his work. There are, unsurprisingly, a number of essays devoted… Continue reading Review: Watching Brief: Reflections on Human Rights, Law, and Justice