BOOK REVIEWS: December 2009

THE ASSOCIATE
By John Grisham. £7.99
Published by Century.
Kyle McAvoy is one of the outstanding legal students of his generation: he’s good looking, has a brilliant mind and a glittering future ahead of him. But he has a secret from his past, a secret that threatens to destroy his fledgling career and possibly, his entire life.
What price do they demand for Kyle’s secret? Strangely, it is for Kyle to do exactly what any ambitious young lawyer would want to do, take a job in New York as an associate at the largest law firm in the world, a job that is incredibly well paid and, with mammoth hours and outrageous billing, could lead to partnership and a fortune.
But Kyle won’t be working for the company, but against it, passing on the secrets of the company’s biggest trial to date, a dispute between two defence contractors worth billions of dollars to the victor. Now Kyle is caught between the criminal forces manipulating him and the FBI, who would love to unmask the conspiracy. Will his intellect, cunning and bravery be enough to extricate him from an impossible dilemma?

FIRST FAMILY
By David Baldacci. £6.99
Published by McMillan
A birthday party at the presidential retreat Camp David takes a nasty turn when a child is abducted after the party has finished. The First Lady needs the very best to help in this dangerous situation, and who better than top operatives Sean King and Michelle Maxwell to track down the child? (Baldacci enthusiasts will know his reliable protagonists from earlier novels). However, the First Lady and Sean King have had dealings before: he was instrumental in saving her husband (then a senator) from a very unhappy situation… and perhaps their involvement was more than political. Michelle Maxwell, as we know from earlier books by this author,  is a woman with her own major problems, and everyone involved in the events of First Family will emerge chastened and changed from an incendiary situation.

THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE WORKSHOP MANUAL
By Chris Oxlade. £9.99
Published by Haynes
Aimed at the three to seven age group, this innovative book applies the Haynes treatment to one of the most popular children’s characters. Inspired by the world-famous Haynes manuals, this book explains how Thomas works, how his driver operates him, and how the engineers of the Sodor railway keep him in tip-top condition. Some of Thomas’s friends also feature, with Henry’s overhaul, for example, offering the chance for young readers to see how a steam engine is taken apart and refitted. This brightly designed book will delight children and parents alike.