A well-written collection of film, book, and travel reviews dating from the mid-seventies to the late nineties. The films embrace extremes of style from Taxi Driver to Honey I Shrunk the Kids, the books from Picnic at Hanging Rock to Bridget Jones's Diary, and the travel articles wander from New York to New Orleans, Portugal, St Lucia, Turkey and Prague. Almost as interesting as the reviews themselves are notes or trivia added after their publication or release?on awards, the death of an actor, writer, director, or unforeseen events. A section on intriguing credits such as ?best boy? or ?Foley artist? and the work of notable cinematographers and designers add to the book's appeal. Well-written, precise...with confident organisation, excellent control of language...and a light touch where apposite...? F B McGillion, author of On the Edge of a Lifetime.

The ten short stories here are a very eclectic mix : from the mysterious yet ultimately uplifting tale of The Apothecary of Joy to the heady bitter-sweet nostalgia of The Perfume of Memory and the terrifying paranoia of Odd BEEhaviour at ApisMel. Cinema is also given macabre and unusual treatment in Critical Murder and Permanently Starstruck whilst delusions and obsessions underlie the deceptively quiet introductions to The Holiday and Dolphin Dreams. Death and dying seem to be the initial focus of Mr Thanatos, Probably? but will the climax bear this out? Dame Thelma's Hat, very loosely based on a real event, offers a comedic interlude