The eight poor wretches who stood in line at the bar were bedraggled and showed signs of their incarceration. They possessed such a strange variety of ill looks, and from their diabolical appearance anyone could have assumed this alone would give grounds for suspecting them of witchcraft. They stood with their heads bowed as their names were read out then ordered to sit on a bench.

– The Witches of Islandmagee, Charles McConnell

I was bought quite a few books this Christmas. This hasn’t really happened before as I read a lot of books and my friends are always concerned that I will already have read the book they want to buy. Gift buying is always difficult and probably more so at Christmas. I’ve always believed that people find it difficult to buy things that they themselves don’t like and also that the gift tells you something about your friendship. So what was Tony trying to tell me when he bought this particular book? And is Marc to blame?