Like many people I buy more books than I ever get around to reading in the same calendar year, or sometimes, ever. Partly this is the fault of 3 for 2 offers, because I can always find two I want and so pick up a third as a wildcard that occasionally completely eclipses the other two.

I admit I do get over-excited when buying books (no, not in ‘that’ way, Jesus, some people…) and the little lady is less than impressed with the available shelf space in our flat, so indulging in 3 for 2 offers isn’t really necessary but as a hoarder of books it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling when I’ve bought lots (as I try not to think about the special discounts and high discount rates in their contracts).

And what’s the point of this wittering? Well, the point is that I’m pleased when the memory of a book I’ve read has lingered long enough that it drives away all thoughts of special offers makes me buy that author’s next one immediately. In this case, the memory was of reading The Devil You Know by Mike Carey which means I’ve spent lunch curled up with Vicious Circle, his next title. If you want the pop description, it’s vaguely like Jim Butcher Dresden Files series, but set in London, is better written, more grown-up, darker, and much more Raymond Chandler (which is probably why I was driven to buy it, having just finished The Big Sleep on the way to work). To top it all off, when I met him at his launch party for TDYK, he was a thoroughly nice bloke. Enough to make ya sick really…