Hi charlotte1,

Like you, I enjoy Joanne Harris and, like you, I enjoyed Coastliners the least! I felt it lacked the sparkle of her other novels. My favourite is Blackberry Wine, a magical book where the wine talks to us! ‘Fleurie, 1962, last survivor of a crate of twelve’.

I thought Gentleman and Players was her cleverest novel – the location for this one is St. Oswald’s, an old and long established boys’ grammar school.

Holy Fools is set in seventeenth century France against a backdrop of witch trials and religious frenzy. A young woman is seeking refuge from danger - very exciting!

If you like reading short stories, I recommend ‘Jigs and Reels’ ; in the foreword Joanne Harris says a good short story can startle, ignite and illuminate. Her short stories certainly do this!

I enjoyed Kate Morton's first novel The House of Riverton and I have just bought The Forgotten Garden (to add to my ever increasing pile of books!). I love stories which span the years. Thanks for your recommendation - I shall read it next!