Sacred Treason by James Forrester

Set in 1563, four years into the reign of Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603), the last of the Tudor dynasty, Sacred Treason delves deeply into troubled England during times of political and religious unrest.

Written by historian James Forrester [The Pen name of Ian Mortimer], Sacred Treason surprised me. I know it’s an often overused cliché but I couldn’t put the book down. I was instantly transported back to Elizabethan times, deep in the heart of a cold and rain soaked London, I never left until the book’s conclusion – to be honest I’m not sure if I’ve actually left the muddy streets of London such was its mesmerizing hold!

Highly contagious, the book flows from beginning to end, the characters all lending a sense of realism as a battle between right and wrong, good and evil and Catholics v Protestants played out.

At the forefront of the plot is the highly respected William Harley, Clarenceux King of Arms and hero of a fascinating tale of treason, murder and an unrelenting quest for justice. As the rain and snow fell in a bitterly cold December my imagination ran riot making a mockery of my senses. This is what books are all about.

Although set in the mid to late 16^th century I had to keep reminding myself of the deep, black darkness that would have surrounded London under restrictions of curfews. We are so used to bright street lamps illuminating the darkest of streets in the 21^st century but as William Harley and his enemies walked the streets of London they had no such luxury. This obviously had its many benefits and drawbacks but if you were an angry Herald trying to avoid the gaze of the constabulary and watchmen it would certainly aid his quest for anonymity!

William Harley is a member of the College of Arms and the second highest-ranking of three ‘kings of arms’. Forrester based his character on William Harvey, who was Clarenceux King of Arms in 1557 declaring war on France on behalf of the queen.

The plot centres on the discovery and concealment of a manuscript (chronicle). The manuscript, written by Harley’s good friend Henry Machyn, holds a powerful secret with the potential to change the course of history. Fighting against powerful enemies Harley has to decipher the powerful code held within the pages of Machyn’s chronicle.

Harley is aided by Rebecca Machyn (Henry’s wife), the pair doing their best to make sense of the cryptic manuscript. We follow their perilous journey moving from stable loft to inn, experiencing the highs and lows as they attempt to locate the Knights of the Round Table, solve the mystery surrounding Anne Boleyn and secure a Catholic future.

Sacred Treason is at times a brutal reminder of how much of a struggle life was in the 16^th century. A powerful, evocative and gripping tale with an abundance of historical facts, the book is a sure fire winner.

Published by Headline, the book is available to buy at Amazon and Waterstones.

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Miranda Lambert leads the way with nine, yes nine nominations for the CMA’s! An amazing achievement that includes Entertainer of the year, female vocalist of the year, two best music video nominations, album of the year and a joint song of the year with Natalia Hemby for White Liar.

With nine nominations Miranda Lambert has created CMA history for the most nominations by a female artist.

Entertainer Of The Year
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Brad Paisley
Keith Urban
Zac Brown Band

Female Vocalist Of The Year
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist Of The Year
Dierks Bentley
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Keith Urban

New Artist Of The Year
Luke Bryan
Easton Corbin
Jerrod Niemann
Chris Young
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Group Of The Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo Of The Year
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland

Single Of The Year
Easton Corbin – ‘A Little More Country Than That’
Blake Shelton feat. Trace Adkins – ‘Hillbilly Bone’
Lady Antebellum – ‘Need You Now’
Miranda Lambert – ‘The House That Built Me’
Miranda Lambert – ‘White Liar’

Album Of The Year
Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
Carrie Underwood – Play On
Miranda Lambert – Revolution
George Strait – Twang
Dierks Bentley – Up On The Ridge

Song Of The Year
Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress and Wynn Varble – ‘A Little More Country Than That’
Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Josh Kear – ‘Need You Now’
Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin – ‘The House That Built Me’
Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Driskell Hopkins and Shawn Mullins – ‘Toes’
Natalie Hemby and Miranda Lambert – ‘White Liar’

Musical Event Of The Year
Dierks Bentley feat. Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson – ‘Bad Angel’
Zac Brown Band feat. Kid Rock – ‘Can’t You See’
Blake Shelton feat. Trace Adkins – ‘Hillbilly Bone’
Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews – ‘I’m Alive’
Alan Jackson with Lee Ann Womack – ‘Till The End’

Music Video Of The Year
Blake Shelton feat. Trace Adkins – ‘Hillbilly Bone’
Lady Antebellum – ‘Need You Now’
Miranda Lambert – ‘The House That Built Me’
Brad Paisley – ‘Water’
Miranda Lambert – ‘White Liar’

Musician Of The Year
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Brent Mason – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar
Randy Scruggs – Guitar

The 44th Annual CMA Awards air live on November 10 at 8/7c on ABC

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The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor

The Anatomy of Ghosts is the new spooky and historical novel by Andrew Taylor, set late in the 18^th century it’s a tale of ghosts, privilege and abuse in Jerusalem College, Cambridge. An old fashioned crime fiction novel, the plot is cleverly intertwined with a variety of sub plots throughout building to a crescendo at the book’s conclude.

The characters, as you would expect are plentiful and Taylor spends a great deal of time ensuring that the main characters have a wonderful colour and depth.

When I first picked up the book to review for Penguin, it took me a few chapters to find the true pace of the book and all its idiosyncrasies that comes with the old English style it is written in.

With this in mind I found the beginning a little confusing and had to revisit the first two chapters to make sure I understood what had happened!

Let me assure you this is far from a negative, I have never read a period book before and I’m certain the old style confused the left side of my brain!

John Holdsworth has lost everything; his wife Maria who drowned in the Thames, child Georgie and his business – the later ruined by candlelight fire destroying the majority of his valuable books.  Taylor’s magnificent narrative captures the essence of period Cambridge, the sights, sounds and smells of the time truly coming alive. Forced to lodge with the Farmer’s in the house he had previously shared with his wife, Holdsworth struggles to come to terms with his predicament.

The Great Pond - Emmanuel College

Following publication of his very own “Anatomy of Ghosts” Holdsworth receives a curious offer from Lady Anne Oldershaw to rehabilitate her sick son Frank and to take stock of her late husband’s library. The offer sets in motion a thoroughly entertaining journey through, for the most part, Holdsworth’s eyes as he sets about restoring Frank Oldershaw’s sanity, solving a murder and disproving the existence of ghosts.

The bookseller is for all intents and purposes an 18^th century Columbo! On discovery of the Holy Ghost Club, a secret society set at the college, he delves deeper into its history hoping to explain the unusual comings and goings at Jerusalem.

The Holy Ghost Club was founded in the 1750s by Morton Frostwick, full membership was restricted to the president known as Jesus and twelve apostles. To mark a disciple’s move to that of apostle the Holy Ghost Club marked the occasion with a deflowering ceremony by a willing virgin.

Taylor does a wonderful job of showing the distinction between the paying students and those not so well off and the lengths those of a certain standing go to preserve their place in society. Although a fictional college, Jerusalem’s geographical layout closely resembles that of Emmanuel College in Cambridge.

Atmospheric, dark and suspenseful, Andrew Taylor’s “The Anatomy of Ghosts” is a charming book set to the beat of 18^th century Cambridge. A delight.

Published by Michael Joseph the book is available to buy from Amazon and Waterstones.

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Dead Men's Dust by Matt Hilton

A couple of weeks ago, on the anniversary of Elvis’s death as it happens, I reviewed the fourth book in Matt Hilton’s Joe Hunter series “Cut and Run”. Thanks to the publishers at Hodder, not only had they sent me the fourth book they also included books 1, 2 and 3 (Hunter series) with the aim to get to them when time allowed.

With that in mind I made the slightly disjointed decision to read the “Cut and Run: Joe Hunter 4” and then continue the journey with “Dead Men’s Dust:Joe Hunter 1” – I would then be back on track! A rather elongated explanation I grant you but the lure of Hilton’s new book proved too much!

Dead Men’s Dust is a book of two halves – Good v Evil; it’s as simple as that. As with Cut and Run, the book begins at a frenetic pace and despite the odd scene setting chapter the pace doesn’t let up until its conclusion – and what an ending it is!

Written from a first person point of view (Joe Hunter) and third person narrative (The Harvestman) the story flows, the plot is good and characters believable and engaging.

Joe Hunter’s brother (Telfer) appears to be missing and on the run, his ex-wife and mother to his two children is concerned for his safety despite him running off to America for another woman. A simple letter draws Hunter in on the action.

John Telfer hasn’t seen his brother since he gambled away Hunter’s money. Threatened by dangerous loan sharks Telfer has no option but to take flight to America with his girlfriend and begin a new life. It’s not long before he gets into trouble and Hunter is called in to find his brother.

‘Some may call me a vigilante. I think I’ve just got problems to fix.’

Along with a missing brother we have an evil serial killer on the run. “The Harvestman” (Tubal Cain) is psychotic, deranged and pure evil. The murders he commits are powerfully descriptive and leave very little to the imagination. A darkness falls when Cain makes an appearance, it’s as if a cold Easterly wind descends on the book once his genius is exposed.

For me, Cain’s aforementioned genius made the book. He is such a ruthless character, a character that makes Joe Hunter appear to be a softy at times! Of course this isn’t the case and Hunter is as hard as they get – I have to admit I wouldn’t trade blows with either!

Cain is a handsome man and utilises his appearance to lure his victims into a false sense of security and once their guard is down; he strikes – or does he? There’s a lot going on inside his head and you never quite know if Cain will kill or just walk away.

Despite the two very different plotlines the book has to marry up in the end and this is done with a great deal of aplomb by Hilton.

From London to Little Rock, Arkansas, Hilton takes you on a journey full of hope, morality, despair and darkness, with subtle comedic overtones thrown in for good measure. Dead Men’s Dust is a brilliant and thrilling introduction to the Joe Hunter phenomenon.

Published by Hodder, Dead Men’s dust is available at Amazon and Waterstones.

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The Killing Place by Tess Gerritsen

I have a confession to make! I had never heard of Rizzoli and Isles until I began watching the television series (July 12^th on TNT in the United States). Starring Angie Harmon as Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as Dr Maura Isles, I discovered the series was based on novels by Tess Gerritsen.

With that in mind and thanks to the wonderful publicists at Transworld Publishers, Gerritsen’s latest novel “The Killing Place” landed, ready for me to review.

Despite having watched six episodes of the TV show I decided to the best way to attack the book was to start afresh, forgetting everything I knew from what I’d seen on TNT. I always find a book gives you so much more depth and insight into a character’s mind and personality than the small/big screen could ever do. So with that in mind and En Vogue’s mantra “Free your mind and the rest will follow” playing in my head I turned to page one and began a new journey!

Dr Maura Isles is in Wyoming for a medical conference where she meets up with an old acquaintance (Doug). Over dinner, he invites her on a short trip with his daughter and two friends before she is due to head back to Boston, back home to a strained relationship with Father Daniel Brophy. She decides the time is right for a little spontaneity and accepts his invitation meeting up with the group the following morning.

Hours into the journey they realise they are desperately lost following an incorrect instruction from “Lola” the GPS navigator. With the snow fall intensifying they are forced off the road and end up sideways in a ditch. The road is deserted and no recent sign of life exists and so they abandon the vehicle desperate to find shelter before darkness falls.

They discover what appears to be an abandoned settlement, ten houses all empty and not a soul in sight. As they explore their new surroundings they discover open windows, overturned chairs, no electricity and half eaten meals. But what could it all mean?  Their journey has only just begun.

It’s at this point the story cranks up a few gears and becomes truly mesmerising. Gerritsen’s descriptive powers and narrative are second to none and with each turn of the page the intensity multiplies. Struggling to catch my breath on numerous occasions the book flowed effortlessly and I read the novel in two sittings; you’ll struggle to put it down I guarantee.

The plot is believable with more than its fair share of twists and turns along the way to satisfy the most critical of readers out there. This is my first Tess Gerritsen novel and I certainly hope it won’t be my last. I now want to go back and see what I’ve been missing out on these past few years!

Atmospheric, contagious, immersive and spellbindingly realistic “The Killing Place” will have you on the edge of your seat and cowering behind the sofa at the slightest noise outside.

Magnificent.

Published by Bantam Press, the book is available at Amazon and Waterstones.

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The Kid - Kevin Lewis

Where do I begin reviewing “The Kid” by Kevin Lewis? I sat through the first half of the book with my mouth wide open, or that’s how it seemed to me – I’m certain I didn’t or colleagues would have certainly pulled me up on my facial expressions had I done so. It just felt like it at the time!

“The Kid” is a harrowing and sad story of a young lad (Kevin Lewis) growing up in South London in the 1970’s who was abused both mentally and physically, mistreated, and used as a punching bag firstly by his mother Gloria and then by his Elvis loving father Dennis.

I read the first couple of chapters and took a step back allowing myself a momentary pause from the agony of life in Kevin’s world. It made me appreciate the upbringing I had both as a child and young adult. I never wanted for anything, how many people can say that? Certainly not Kevin.

I chose, as I grew a little older not to celebrate birthdays, Kevin on the other hand had no such luxury – he never had the option. I was never abused and although a relatively small family we were lovingly cared for; I thank my parents for that.

As I continued reading, page after page was full of heartache for a young lad lost in a world full of turmoil. Gloria would sit waiting for the postman to deliver her Gyro and then immediately spend it not on the children but herself.

There was never enough food for the kids and they were banned from using the downstairs toilet after dark for fear they would steal what food was available in the fridge. A bucket would be placed on the landing (upstairs) and the children were expected to relieve themselves accordingly. It was inevitable that the children would miss the bucket at some point without the aid of artificial lighting. Gloria never cleaned the house and together with the bed wetting which continued into his teens the house perpetually stank of urine.

Colin Smith, one of Kevin’s teachers, took him under his wing and although never showing any favouritism in class, as soon as the bell rang he always asked him how things were at home. Kevin developed a love for classical music following Colin’s gift of a second hand walkman and a home made tape. One of the tracks on the tape was taken from the four act opera “La Wally” by Alfredo Catalani -   Ebben! Ne andrò lontana, a captivating and soulful aria that is ironic in its translation.

O from my mother’s cheerful house

La Wally is about to go away from you, from you!

Quite far away, and perhaps to you,

And perhaps to you, will never more return,

Nor ever more see you again!

Never again, never again!

I don’t think Kevin was aware of its true meaning. Taking matters in his own hands he selected the aria Ebben! Ne andrò lontana, sat on his bed and attempted suicide.

To accompany the book a feature film will be released on the 17^th September in the UK and stars Rupert Friend (adult Kevin), Natascha Mcelhone (Gloria), Ioan Gruffudd (Colin Smith) and Jodie Whittaker (Jackie). Shot on location in North and South London it took six weeks to shoot with its main location the disused Inglis Brracks in Mill Hill. [I will cover the film in greater details as the release date approaches]

Social services appeared inept, incapable of making the tough decisions and taking the lad out of the abusive home. When a teacher reports bite marks and bruises on a pupil in school, please tell me why it took them two weeks to visit the child and question his parents? It’s just not right and unforgivable.

I was so caught up in this book that every time something good happened to Kevin I continued reading with the expectation that a few pages down the line tragedy would strike.

When he was eventually taken away from the family home after years of abuse his mother’s only thought?

“Does this mean they’ll be stopping his child benefit”?

The second part of the book is far more uplifting and Kevin looks back at how the book was initially published, how he told his wife and family about his abusive past and his fear that he would be guilty of harming his own children. He doesn’t have it all his own way and is thrown a number of curve balls as he strives to care for his young family and move forward.

“The Kid” is without doubt a tail of triumph over adversity, incredibly moving and a harrowing tale of one kid’s struggle against an oppressive mother and father. If you read one book in 2010 I urge you to pick up this one from Kevin Lewis. Buy Now

Published by Penguin on 2nd September 2010

The NSPCC are supporting the UK film release of “The Kid” with a campaign to raise awareness of their helpline for adults who are worried about a child. The NSPCC Helpline number is 0808 500 8000

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Please Don't Let Me Go - Olly Murs

It’s been a long time coming but in just one week, Olly Murs releases his brand new debut single “Please Don’t Let Me Go“. Shot on location in Reading I’ve included the official video below and I’m sure you’ll agree it’s a foot tapping number sure to set the charts alight!

The timing couldn’t have been better what with the X Factor launching last night, no doubt we’ll see Olly strut his funky stuff on one of the live shows given he’s been signed with Simon Cowell’s label Syco and Epic Records. With two great companies behind him and clever musical choices I’m sure the lad will do well.

His first offering is, as I’ve mentioned, “Please Don’t Let Me Go” and has a summer/Carribbean feel to it. Fairly similar to his style on the X Factor last year, his performance both musical and visual have been refined and I like what I see – very keen to see what he does with an album.


Very catchy and instantly memorable, the song will stick in your head – good or bad! The single is released on Amazon on the 27th August 2010 and features another summer/reggae style “This One’s For The Girls“.

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I haven’t long finished reviewing Daniel Silva’s “The Rembrandt Affair” where the main storyline surrounds art theft around the world, the story for obvious reasons held me captive as I searched for more information.

Mahmoud Khalil Museum

Initial reports from Farouk Hosni (Egypt’s culture minister) suggested the canvas along with two Italian suspects had been recovered at Cairo international but these claims now appear to be wrong. The canvas however is still missing.

The painting worth $50m (£32m) – known as both Poppy Flowers and Vase And Flowers – was “cut from its frame” at the Mahmoud Khalil Museum on Saturday, Mr Hosni said

The state news agency Mena reported that visitors to the exhibition had been investigated, and the Italian couple had aroused suspicion after they were seen visiting a toilet and then rapidly leaving the premises.

Italy’s Ansa news agency said the two Italians were young and had been part of a tour group visiting the gallery.

It is not clear whether the pair are still under arrest.

Poppy Flowers by Van Gogh

Interestingly the same painting was previously taken from the same museum in 1978, but recovered a decade later in Kuwait.

The work, measuring 30cm by 30cm(1ft by 1ft), and depicting yellow and red flowers, is believed to have been painted by Vincent Van Gogh in 1887, three years before his death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Poppy Flowers is significant because it represents a turning point in van Gogh’s painting style, said Conor Jordan of Christie’s auction house in New York.

“It shows him assimilating the influences of the French avant-garde after having arrived in 1886 (from Amsterdam), absorbing as much as possible the current trend of French painting.”

Reports now surfacing suggest that the alarm system at the Egyptian museum have been out of order for some time, incredible considering the value of the collection inside.

“The cameras had not been working for a long time, and neither had the alarm system,” the security official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity, adding that no image of the painting was therefore available.

“We don’t exactly know how long they had been out of order, but it was a long time. The museum officials said they were looking for spare parts (for the security system) but hadn’t managed to find them,” by the time the theft took place, he said.

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Cheryl Cole

It was good to see Cheryl Cole back on our screens last night following her serious fight against Malaria last month. I’ve always been indifferent to Cheryl’s multiple appearances on tv and in the papers but I have to admit, over the last year or so, I’ve warmed up to the Geordie girl and would probably miss her style on X Factor if she had been forced to quit.

Louis Walsh on the other hand – I wouldn’t miss at all! I’d love to see him replaced, he’s nothing more than a Leprechaun – or is that disparaging to Leprechaun’s?!!

In today’s paper “The People” it runs an exclusive report on Cheryl’s new found happiness following her split from husband Ashley, the 27-year-old insists that she has never been happier.

Cheryl’s first Official book is launched next month titled “Through My Eyes“.

She told The People: “I’ve got so much to look forward to in the next few months. I’ve never felt happier.”

Cheryl has now fully recovered from the disease that left her hospitalised. Friends said that the singer now feels ready to move on from the pain of her marriage break-up.

A source said: “Cheryl’s saying I feel like I’ve turned my life around.

“She says she’s looking at doors opening for her in her life over the next few months. She is excited about starting this whole new chapter in her life.

“It’s great to see her looking and feeling good again after all that she’s been through.

“She is talking excitedly about starting work on The X Factor again and the release of a pop single.”

They added: “But she seems particularly relieved about the way her divorce is progressing. There is no time frame here. It’s not a case of a date for the divorce to come through. That will happen when the lawyer’s letter arrives.”

I love it when papers print this stuff – not one single quote directly from Cheryl in the piece, “sources close to Cheryl” – I guess it all sells newspapers!

Derek Hough has been romantically linked to the pop star and given that Dancing with the Stars begins filming shortly he will now leave for the States to begin television commitments across the pond. It’ll be interesting to see if he tones down his relationships with his female celebrity dancers this time around.

Last night’s X Factor was rather disjointed, I never felt it got going and I am still unsure of the guest judge role following Geri Halliwell’s performance. That said, the highlight of the show for me was the performance from 18 year old Gamu Nhengu from Zimbabwe – the highlight of the Glasgow auditions.

Singing a rendition of Katrina and The Waves Simon’s reaction before the performance was indifferent “I’m intrigued to see what you’ve done with this song”. For someone of 18, she delivered a powerful and assured performance that blew the house down. It was clear the panel hadn’t expected such a performance and Cowell said afterwards

“I’m going to be honest with you; you sang actually one of my worst songs ever but you did something different with it. I really, really, really like you”

“You’ve kinda got this really cool, old school Jazz voice like the 20’s or the 30’s, but it was really talented.”

At which point the tears of joy began and the possibility that another star has been discovered on ITV dawned.

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No Way Down: Life and Death on K2

I’ve never climbed in my life, never had any intention of climbing and probably never will; quite a bold statement considering the subject matter on review! Don’t get me wrong I don’t have anything against climbing; in fact, I have a great deal of respect and admiration for mountaineers who risk their lives in the name of adventure and dreams. “No Way Down:Life and Death on K2”, written by New York Times journalist Graham Bowley, looks back on that fateful day in early August 2008 when so many lives were lost ascending and descending K2.

K2, along with Everest has always captured my imagination and until I read this book I was always under the distinct impression that the pinnacle of any mountaineering career was to conquer Everest, the highest mountain on earth it stands to reason it’s the hardest to climb. However, as Bowley writes it appears that K2 is a tougher and more dangerous climb despite being 778 feet lower than Everest.

“Yet K2′s deadliness was part of the attraction. For a serious climber with ambition, K2 was the ultimate prize. K2 had retained an aura of mysteryand danger and remained the mountaineer’s mountain. Only 278 people had ever stood on K2′s summit, in contrast to the thousands who made it to the top of Everest.”

Also known as The Savage Mountain, K2 has a peak elevation of 8,611 metres (28,251 ft) and is part of the Karakoram Range located on the border between China and Pakistan. Thomas Montgomerie made the first survey of the Karakoram from Mount Haramukh, some 130 miles (210 km) to the south, and sketched the two most prominent peaks, labelling them K1 and K2. For every four people who have reached the summit, one has died trying.

One thing that struck me when reading “No Way Down”, despite no mountaineering knowledge or experience, Bowley’s narrative captivated me throughout, transporting me from camp 4 to the summit with ease. It held my attention and with every turn of the page I eagerly awaited the fate of the climbers who were struggling from the cold, lack of sleep and oxygen deprivation.  Character back stories and personal history are well presented and crucial to the balance. The stories never felt rushed and added a wonderful colour to the book.

Perhaps Sir Ranulph Fiennes describes the book best when he says, “The closest you can come to being on the summit of K2 on that fateful day.”

Campsite below the West Face of K2, photographed on the Italian expedition of 1909

I have to agree with him. The level of investigation and research required to pull this book off, when so many voices failed to return to camp 4, is nothing short of extraordinary. The author recreates the events in August 2008 by talking to the survivors, Sherpa’s and the families of the deceased. “No Way Down” isn’t a first hand account of what happened, Bowley wasn’t there, but it’s the next best thing.

Descriptive and atmospheric it’s easy to get drawn into the bitterly cold weather, the exhilarating joy of reaching the summit and then almost as quickly, savagely plunged into despair on the terrifying descent in complete darkness. Close your eyes and you could imagine every footstep taken.

Bowley’s nonfictional narrative re-creates arguably the worst mountaineering disaster in modern history, if not of all time. The news that 11 climbers perished and two were severely injured made headlines around the world.

In all, ten international teams of varying levels of experience crowded around eagerly waiting for a break in the weather to ascend K2. Cut short due to adverse weather conditions, the climbing season was nearing its end for 2008. The delay in reaching the summit was a huge contributing factor to the disaster as was the overcrowding and poor judgement made at the time.

The colour images taken on the summit (and included in the book) serve as a poignant reminder that life is a fickle and fragile thing, in a matter of hours the mountaineers were dead. K2 is as brutal and final as that. Captivating, historical and inspiring, the book captures the essence and beauty of K2 along with its debilitating danger and despair. Bowley may not have climbed K2 but he has certainly captured its soul in No Way Down – Wonderful.

Published by Viking (Penguin) 29th July 2010

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