Maigret's first case

 by George Simenon

We go back in time to Maigret's beginnings in the police force and a case which ends unhappily for Maigret but where his methods shine through all the same. A murder in the house of a wealthy coffee merchant gets covered up by the elite-including Maigret's boss. Interesting back story for the other novels 8/10

In Chancery

 by John Galsworthy

The second Forsyte novel takes us into the 20th century and the pain of Soames and Irene's divorce set against the background of the Boer war and the end of the Victorian age. Soames continues to be a bastard but is such a great character. 8/10

Ulysses Unbound

 by Terence Killeen

The guide referred to in the previous post. This book was invaluable in guiding a layman like me through the maze that is ulysses, giving a guide to the style, to the references to Homer's epic and to the many real characters and places referenced in the text. Great reference book 9/10

Ulysses

 by James Joyce

Well, well. I have finally finished this book in the year celebrating the centenary of its publication. What can I say. This was a hard read but at times incredibly engaging, as we follow Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dedalus through one day in Dublin. Each section is told in a different style and sometimes different styles within a section. I have to say without a guide to help I would have struggled but I am glad I have read it. As a novel I would give it 3/10 but as a work of such significance you have to give it more and it will stay with me for some time. 7/10

The Man of Property

By John Galsworthy

The first novel of the Forsyte saga and the BBC adaptation comes flooding back even though it was 50 years ago and me barely in my teens.  The novel paints Soames exactly as I remember him but with the added touches only a novel can bring. It paints a fantastic picture of life in late nineteenth century Britain for a narrow bunch of the aspiring middle class. Narrow in scope but great in execution  9/10