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Parallel Lies, Stella Duffy

Virago
Reviewed by James O'Sullivan (Courtesy of the Taranaki Daily News)

Some people lead complicated lives. Take these Hollywood types for example. They must manufacture a public persona that sells to the celebrity-obsessed masses. And if their actual lives don't quite match the persona, they hire a publicist to make stuff up.

Full review here

Past Mortem, Ben Elton

Bantam
Reviewed by John Whelan (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

Bestselling novels, classic TV shows, West End musicals – I hate Ben Elton, no one should be this talented and have so much success. It's not fair.

With his latest novel he keeps on doing what he does best, writing contemporary comic novels with an edge.

Full review here

Pete the Sheep, Jackie French & Bruce Whatley

Angus & Robertson
Reviewed by Mark Dwyer (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

Pete the Sheep is a classic from the Aussie pairing of Jackie French and Bruce Whatley. A huge hit with all my family, it's a hilarious read about what can happen when you do things a little differently.

Full review here

Pompeii, Robert Harris

Arrow
Reviewed by Sheila Forbes (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

As you would expect, this book is about the eruption of Vesuvius that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum in August, AD79. It is also the story of a young engineer, Attilius, who has been sent to maintain the great aqueduct, the Aqua Augusta, that supplies water to several cities around the Bay of Neapolis following the mysterious disappearance of the previous caretaker.

Full review here

Postcards From Elsewhere, Graham Reid

Random House
Reviewed by Hal Williams (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

Auckland journalist Graham Reid had that holy grail of commissions: Go forth, young man, travel widely and come back with a jaunty colour piece about each place you visit.

Full review here

Private Peaceful, Michael Morpurgo

Collins
Reviewed by John Whelan (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

Children's author Michael Morpurgo's latest novel follows the life of the young Thomas Peaceful. From his childhood in the English countryside to the battlefields of the First World War, from an idyllic time of innocence and sunshine to one of fear, mud and death.

Full review here