VivienneR Reads in 2024 - volume 4

The Reading Woman 2024 Wall Calendar : Gifts from the Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Welcome to my 2024 reading plans! I live in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada, surrounded by beautiful snowy mountains. This will be my 11th year of participating in the Category Challenge and every year has been a lot of fun - not only finding books that fit challenges and reading them - but following along with others in the group.

Mystery
My favourite genre. I’m aiming for 24.

1. The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
   
2. Plain Murder by C.S. Forester
   
3. A Murder at Balmoral by Chris McGeorge
   
4. Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson
   
5. Huge by Brent Butt
   
6. Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
   
7. An Image in the Lake by Gail Bowen
   
8. The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
   
9. The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan
   
10. Close to the Bone by Stuart MacBride
    
11. The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett
    
12. Bangkok 8 by John Burdett
    
13. Lost Light by Michael Connelly
    
14. Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger
    
15. Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena
    
16. Mrs Malory and Death in Practice by Hazel Holt
    
17. 61 Hours by Lee Child
    
18. Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson
    
19. The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones
    
20. The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth
    
21. Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack
    
22. The Usual Santas: a collection of Soho Crime Christmas capers edited by Peter Lovesey
    
23. What Bloody Man is That? by Simon Brett

Fiction
Another favourite category, and another aim of 24

1. Tatouine by Jean-Christophe Réhel
   
2. Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson
   
3. Open Secrets by Alice Munro
   
4. We, Jane by Aimee Wall
   
5. The Redemption of Galen Pike by Carys Davies
   
6. A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
   
7. The Conjoined by Jen Sookfong Lee
   
8. Silverview by John le Carré
   
9. The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
   
10. The Cook by Maylis de Kerangal
    
11. The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons
    
12. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
    
13. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    
14. What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
    
15. Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris
    
16. Fault Lines by Emily Itami
    
17. Love by Roddy Doyle
    
18. One night on the island by Josie Silver
    
19. Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy
    
20. The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

My Series
An attempt to catch up on many of the series that I’ve started.

1. The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
   
2. The First Wave by James R. Benn
   
3. Next in Line by Jeffrey Archer
   
4. Accused by Lisa Scottoline
   
5. The Defector by Chris Hadfield
   
6. One Of Our Ministers Is Missing by Alan Johnson

From Lists
These will be chosen from various lists - Guardian 1000, Keating’s 100 Best Crime novels, 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, LibraryThing lists such as Pleasant Surprises, my own “Must Read” list, or any other interesting list I come across.

1. The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman
   
2. A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
   
3. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
   
4. A Blind Goddess by James R. Benn
   
5. The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding

Short stories, Essays, Novellas
Short stories and essays, alone or in collections, and short novels will be here.

1. Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx
   
2. Riding the Bullet by Stephen King
   
3. The 45% Hangover by Stuart MacBride
   
4. Murder at the Royal Ruby by Nita Prose
   
5. Castle in the Air by H.E. Bates
   
6. Ruth’s First Christmas Tree by Elly Griffiths

AlphaKIT

1. January A: Hidden in Plain Sight by Jeffrey Archer
   
2. January Y: I Will Find You by Harlan Coben
   
3. February E: Tricky Twenty Two by Janet Evanovich
   
4. February E: Turn a Blind Eye by Jeffrey Archer
   
5. February F: The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
   
6. March R: The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths
   
7. March H: Never Coming Home by Hannah Mary McKinnon
   
8. April U: All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien
   
9. April O: Over My Dead Body by Jeffrey Archer
   
10. May N & P: The Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman
    
11. June J & B: The Bittlemores by Jann Arden
    
12. July I & S: Standing in the Shadows by Peter Robinson
    
13. August M & G: The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
    
14. August M & G: Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton
    
15. September V & C: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
    
16. September C: Clear by Carys Davies
    
17. September V & C: The Cat of the Baskervilles by Vicki Delany
    
18. October D & T: Death of a Traitor by M.C. Beaton and R.W. Green
    
19. November L: Lemming’s First Christmas by Jamesie Fournier, illustrated by Tim Mack
    
20. November L & W: Look Both Ways by Linwood Barclay
    
21. December K & Q: The Private Life of the Cat Who…: Tales of Koko and Yum Yum from the Journals of James Mackintosh Quilleran by Lilian Jackson Braun
    
22. All year Z: Blackwater Falls by Ausma Zehanat Khan
    
23. All year Z: Towards Zero by Agatha Christie
    
24. All year X: The Complete Flying Officer X Stories by H.E. Bates

RandomKIT

1. January - Early Birds: The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews
   
2. February - Escape or Rescue: Prisoners of the castle: an epic story of survival and escape from Colditz, the Nazis' fortress prison by Ben Macintyre
   
3. March: World Wildlife Day: The Grizzly Mother by Brett D. Huson (Hetxw'ms Gyetxw)
   
4. March: World Wildlife Day: A Bird in the Hand by Anne Cleeves
   
5. April: Enchanting garden visitors: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
   
6. May: Art & Architecture: The English Assassin by Daniel Silva
   
7. June: Initials: 1989 by Val McDermid (V)
   
8. June: Initials: A Mortal Terror by James R. Benn (J & R)
   
9. July: A Favourite: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
   
10. August: Attention-grabbing Titles: The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein
    
11. September: Weather: Rain Dogs by Adrian McKinty
    
12. October: Spooky Season: Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
    
13. October: Spooky Season: The Ghosts of Galway by Ken Bruen
    
14. November: I Told It My Way: Poirot and Me by David Suchet
    
15. November: I Told It My Way: What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley
    
16. December: Roll a Die! and wrap up your year: The Paddington Mystery by John Rhode

MysteryKIT

1. January: Short stories: Cleaning the gold by Karin Slaughter & Lee Child
   
2. January: Short stories: Rumpole on Trial by John Mortimer
   
3. March: Historical: The Bloody Meadow by William Ryan aka The Darkening Field
   
4. April: Series: Birthdays for the Dead by Stuart MacBride
   
5. April: Series: Death of a Liar by M.C. Beaton
   
6. May - golden age: The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude
   
7. June - author new to you: Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon
   
8. July - cross-genre: Sick of Shadows by Marion Chesney
   
9. August - amateurs: Days Without Number by Robert Goddard
   
10. August - amateurs: Cast, in Order of Appearance by Simon Brett
    
11. September - upstairs/downstairs: The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
    
12. September - upstairs/downstairs: Ten Lords a-Leaping by C.C. Benison
    
13. October - not too scary: A Hole in One by Catherine Aird
    
14. October - not too scary: The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller
    
15. November - noir: Darkness Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane
    
16. November - noir: The Overlook by Michael Connelly
    
17. November - noir: Let it Bleed by Ian Rankin
    
18. December - culinary: Killer Christmas by Harper Lin
    
19. December - culinary: The Mousse Wonderful Time of the Year by H.Y. Hanna

CalendarCAT

1. January: Bloody January by Alan Parks
   
2. February: Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez
   
3. March: She-Wolves: The women who ruled England before Elizabeth by Helen Castor
   
4. April: April Fool Dead by Carolyn G. Hart
   
5. April: Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
   
6. May: The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope
   
7. June: Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev
   
8. July: A City Called July by Howard Engel
   
9. August: A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane
   
10. September: Exiles by Jane Harper
    
11. September: The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
    
12. October: Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald
    
13. October: Death at the Durbar by Arjun Raj Gaind
    
14. November: The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves
    
15. November: The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan
    
16. December: The Winter Wives by Linden MacIntyre
    
17. December: Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

PrizeCAT

1. January: long running prize - The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths
   
2. February: from your own country - The Orenda by Joseph Boyden
   
3. March: new to you: Travels with Herodotus by Ryszard Kapuscinski
   
4. April: women’s writing: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
   
5. May: doubling up: The Bat by Jo Nesbo
   
6. June: book lists: A Legacy of Spies by John le Carré
   
7. July: a country not your own: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
   
8. August: for a genre: The Guest List by Lucy Foley
   
9. September: fits another CAT (random, weather): Thunder Bay by William Kent Krueger
   
10. October: short & long lists: The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands
    
11. November: children's book awards: Blood Fever by Charlie Higson
    
12. December: your choice: The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

ScaredyKIT

1. January: Psychological Thriller: Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister
   
2. April: Witches, Black magic: Lolly Willowes, or the loving huntsman by Sylvia Townsend Warner
   
3. May: Graphic, short fiction: Gnaw by Jennifer Morrow (mstrust at LT) in Vexed to Nightmare anthology
   
4. June: Serial Killers: A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly
   
5. August: MG horror: Buns Gone Bad by Anna Humphrey, illustrated by Irma Kniivila
   
6. August: MG horror: Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost by Cornelia Funke
   

Historic Fiction Challenge

1. Set in the country you’re from (Canada): August Into Winter by Guy Vanderhaeghe
   
2. Set in a different country to yours: Shadows in Bronze by Lindsay Davis
   
3. Set in your favourite historical time period (mid 20th century): Yours Cheerfully by A.J. Pearce
   
4. Set in a time period you’ll less familiar with (Regency period): Death Comes to the Village by Catherine Lloyd
   
5. With a speculative element: The Crow Folk by Mark Stay
   
6. About a real figure or a specific event: The Oscar Wilde Murders at Reading Gaol by Gyles Brandreth
   
7. Over 500 pages: Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
   
8. A Classic work written/published over 60 years ago: Mr Midshipman Hornblower by C.S. Forester
   

Bonus: A classic work - written at least 60 years ago about a time period at least sixty years before the work was written/published: Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie - published in 1944, set in Ancient Egypt

1. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
2. Fade Away by Harlan Coben
3. The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley
4. Vengeance by Benjamin Black
5. Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason
6. Cold by Drew Hayden Taylor
7. That Part Was True by Deborah McKinlay
8. Ten Little Herrings by L.C. Tyler
9. Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKinty
10. Super Friends! by Cale Atkinson
11. Some Maintenance Required by Marie-Renée Lavoie
12. Death of a Scriptwriter by M.C. Beaton
13. The Face at the Window: Three Stories by Louise Welsh
14. Antarctica by Claire Keegan
15. Agatha’s First Case by M.C. Beaton
16. The Late Train to Gipsy Hill by Alan Johnson
17. Her Secret Son by Hannah Mary McKinnon
18. Blood Betrayal by Ausma Zehanat Khan
19. Death of a charming man by M.C. Beaton
20. The Survivors by Jane Harper
21. Arctic Drift by Clive Cussler
22. Smut: Two unseemly stories by Alan Bennett
23. Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice
24. A Man Called Intrepid by William Stevenson
25. The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon

Welcome to volume 4 of my thread! This should take me through to the end of the year.

Happy New Thread! I somehow missed that you'd finished your BingoDog, so congratulations for that!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread! You've done a great job of keeping up with the CATs and KITs!

Happy new thread.

Happy New Thread!

Happy new thread! I love that we both decorated our threads with paintings of women reading -- yet we didn't have any duplicates!

Happy new thread, Vivienne - you've had another stellar reading year, by the looks of things!

Happy new thread, Vivienne. Congrats on completing your Bingo card, my fingers are crossed for you to continue to have a stellar reading year!

I am pleased with your new thread like many others. I am blown away with the list of books you have read already, and plan to read!

It seems that I waste a lot of time searching for good books to read and could simply be happy choosing from your list.

Happy New Thread! Your reading is looking great.

Thank you, everyone! As always I've enjoyed the reading and sharing opinions on our threads.

>24 JoeB1934: That's gratifying but as we both know, searching for the right book is part of the fun.

Category: Fiction

The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons

A sweet story about a Jewish girl brought to England to avoid the growing persecution in Germany 1938. She was reluctantly taken in by bookshop owner Gertie Bingham and after a frosty start, the two developed a deep connection. Aside from the two main characters, there was very little in the way of character development. It’s a heartwarming, predictable story. Other readers liked this more than I did.

I won't be finishing anything else today so I'll post my monthly summary.

August Summary

Books read in August: 14
Books read this year: 128


The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride


Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKinty
Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf


The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein
Cast in Order of Appearance by Simon Brett
Accused by Lisa Scottoline
Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost by Cornelia Funke


The Cook by Maylis de Kerangal
Days Without Number by Robert Goddard
Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton


A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane
The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons


The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger

>27 VivienneR: When I reviewed it, I did say I liked the book a lot (mainly for the story) but that I didn't love it as much as some. I think you probably hit it on the nail with the comment on character development and predictability. I think that book caters to readers who love WW2 women's fiction (which was my comment)--and getting at the formulaic predictability aspect.

>29 thornton37814: I agree, the book caters to specific readers. I found it a bit too sweet. As well, I had a problem with some details, mostly minor, but they stayed in my mind. It appeared that the books were stored in the air raid shelter, yet I can't think of a worse storage place. There seemed to be no difficulty in stocking books yet I know this was a problem in the UK during the war. Did Gertie sell the book club books to each of the members? Again, it would have been difficult to get a supply. I remember books my parents owned that had a notice inside exhorting the owner to pass the book on to someone else because of the war time paper shortage.

When my husband's aunt died, she left behind several books printed during WWII and they were on markedly thin paper and felt insubstantial. She was in Germany during the war, but I'm sure the same shortages also led to similar adjustments in Britain.

>31 RidgewayGirl: I seem to remember reading about paper shortages that affected books. I know newspapers were hit and had to cut or condense news stories. Now and then a newspaper will reminisce about how thin their wartime version was.

Category: My Series

The Defector by Chris Hadfield

After years of conflict in the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula (both occupied by Israel) in 1973 the Arab coalition chose the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur to launch a counter-offensive taking Golda Meir and her ministers by surprise. NASA flight controller, Kaz Zemeckis, happens to be there and watches a Soviet MiG plane plummet to the ground unaware that it is the beginning of a series of lies in which he is destined to take part. The Soviet pilot has planned to defect and Kaz is given the job of accompanying him to the US.

Hadfield’s ability to provide details that can actually be followed is outstanding - whether they are about political intrigue or procedures for flying a supersonic plane - all while keeping up the excitement of a first class thriller inspired by historic events. And, as Hadfield says in the prologue: “Many of these people are real, much of this actually happened”. A terrific read.

Happy new thread, Vivienne! I've just reserved The Defector, which sounds excellent!

>34 susanj67: Thank you, Susan. Glad you are going to read Hadfield. I'll watch for your opinion.

AlphaKIT - September V & C

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Maybe because of all the rave reviews I expected too much, but this book didn’t have the same appeal for me as it did for those reviewers. Although I enjoy spy novels, I found this one implausible. Strangely, I found the substantial technical data about planes uninteresting, yet that was what I enjoyed most in the last book I read (The Defector by Chris Hadfield).

Clear by Carys Davies

John Ferguson, a Presbyterian minister who, with hundreds of other clergy, rebelled against the system of patronage whereby Scottish landowners had the power to install ministers of their choice. They formed the Free Church and each one started over from scratch. As a result, he and his wife, Mary were almost penniless. He was offered a job that, while difficult and controversial, would benefit financially. As part of the infamous Highland Clearances, he had to go to a remote island to present removal papers to the last resident so that the land could be used for sheep. The most difficult part of the job would prove to be in communication, as John and Ivar had no common language.

It’s a beautiful story, superbly told, about the vagaries of human connection. Davies packed a lot into this slim volume. It will always remain in my mind.

>37 VivienneR: This one is already on my wishlist, and your comments absolutely confirm that.

>38 MissBrangwen: Good choice, Mirjam!

Happy new thread. Nice to see the reading ladies sitting on ever larger piles of titles.

>40 Helenliz: Thank you, Helen!

Reading ladies sitting on ever larger piles of titles What a nice way to look at it.

>37 VivienneR: Clear was an interesting read.

>36 VivienneR: I've seen mixed reviews on that one from readers, so I haven't gone down the rabbit hole yet. I probably will eventually read it, just because it was an honor book.

>42 thornton37814: Yes, I'm still thinking about Clear. I'll definitely keep my eye out for more by Carys Davies.

I have already read so many books like Wein's that I didn't find it appealing. Torturing young women isn't appealing anyway.

PrizeCAT - September: Fits another CAT/KIT - RandomKIT, weather

Thunder Bay by William Kent Krueger
This was my first book by Krueger. I enjoyed the American Native story that took Cork O’Connor to Thunder Bay in Canada to connect an elderly father with the son he’d never met.

My thanks to DeltaQueen50 for the BB.

>44 VivienneR: I enjoy Krueger's books. I think I'm on the wait list for Mercy Falls which is next in series for me. I think a lot more people are listening to audiobooks and reading e-books now because I have a harder time getting these older installments than previously.

And joining in the chorus wishing you a Happy New Thread, Vivienne! I'm still so inspired seeing all of the women reading all of those books.

I realized I have Heaven and Earth Grocery Store on my TBR list, and will move it forward to this month. I'll be interested to see our respective takes on it.

>45 thornton37814: I enjoyed Krueger. It's very convenient to be able to pick up an ebook to fill in a space in a series or to enjoy some of the old books that public libraries have weeded but I've noticed some of the hold lists are very long. I changed my mind about one ebook because it had 277 holds!

>46 threadnsong: Thank you. I hope you enjoy The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store as much as I did.

>44 VivienneR: I've read two Kruger's (Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land) and liked them. I'm going to add this one to my WL.

>48 Tess_W: I know your wishlist is burgeoning, Tess but this is a good addition. And thank you for the BBs.

CalendarCAT - September - Australian Flag day

Exiles by Jane Harper

I feel like I’ve been reading this for an eternity. It’s mostly conversation and character development, nothing much actually happens, however, in a mystery novel I expect some activity. Sadly, this is a DNF, but at more than halfway I’m counting it as read.

Sometimes Harper’s odd wording pulls me up. I collected several but this one makes me cough: “she took a bite and swallowed”.

And probably choked on that sentence. That doesn't sound good.

>51 Helenliz: Yes! Harper is one of those authors who relate every action by characters, which is simply filler. If it's not done well, sentences like that are just big interruptions for the reader and are of no consequence to the story. I find the style exasperating.

>50 VivienneR: Yeah, after reading Exiles I vowed to never read Jane Harper again. I like her first couple books ok, but this was really bad.

>50 VivienneR: - My sister just gave me the second book Force of Nature and now I'm wondering if I should bother reading it.

>47 VivienneR: If an e-book has 277 holds, they need more copies. Those e-books are usually only good for about 26 checkouts before they expire.

>50 VivienneR: I am planning on reading Force of Nature this month and as I recall, I liked but didn't love her first book so this one could very well be the last Jane Harper for me.

ETA - I just checked my review of The Dry and I was wrong - I rated it quite highly and obviously enjoyed it. Now I am curious how Force of Nature will seem to me.

>50 VivienneR: I wrote this about Exiles: Exiles was slow and dull. It's longer than it needs to be because of the sloppy writing.

>54 dudes22: Force of Nature is more interesting than Exiles and I quite liked it, but it seemed to me to be a rip-off of a better book, The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood.

I abandoned The Survivors. Even slower and duller than Exiles.

>53 japaul22: I have also made the vow never to read Jane Harper again. It's hard to believe the author of The Dry could be so bad.

>54 dudes22: I was excited to pick up Force of Nature and although it wasn't bad, I was disappointed by the story. Strangely I can remember very little about the plot, just my general impression and the lack of any sense of Australia, which was such an attraction of The Dry.

>55 thornton37814: Yes, that was my opinion too, but when I looked for the book, there were none with that many holds. Either it was a mistake or there were extra copies added. I suspect a mistake.

>56 DeltaQueen50: See reply to dudes22 above. I'll watch for your opinion.

>57 pamelad: Accurate assessments, Pamela! I read The Survivors before Exiles so just reverse the titles of your last sentence for my opinion.

RandomKIT - September: Weather

Rain Dogs by Adrian McKinty

Not the locked room mystery we are familiar with, but a locked castle mystery. Set in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland this was a great novel with Sean Duffy investigating a suspected suicide at Carrickfergus Castle. I love the way the author blends the mystery with the sometimes grim current events, and brightened by typical Northern Ireland wit. McKinty's opening won me over immediately with Duffy on crowd control during Mohammed Ali’s arrival in Belfast and he held my interest through to the surprising conclusion.

I’ve visited the castle many times and have a beautiful watercolour painting of it, done by my son.

CalendarCAT - September - Australian Flag Day

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

I enjoyed this book, about a girl who collects slips of paper containing words that have been submitted for inclusion in the Oxford English Dictionary. As it follows her life it provided an interesting look at events and changes during that time and how language was affected.

MysteryKIT - September: Upstairs Downstairs

The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz

I must admit up front, I’ve never been a fan of Sherlock Holmes, but being familiar with Horowitz’ writing I thought he would entertain, and yes, he did. I listened to the audiobook while doing mindless chores and the narration by David Jacobi was outstanding, that’s who really what kept me listening, although Horowitz achieved an excellent reprisal of Sherlock and Dr Watson.

Vivienne, I read The Defector and I loved it! Thank you for a great recommendation :-)

>62 susanj67: I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Susan! I noticed Chris Hadfield was in the news recently when he was interviewed about the two astronauts "stranded" in space. I know he quite enjoyed his 6 months on the ISS.

AlphaKIT - September V & C

The Cat of the Baskervilles by Vicki Delany

A Cape Cod bookshop specializing in Sherlock Holmes partnered with a tea shop provides the scene for an entertaining cozy mystery series. An aging actor, well past his prime and usually drunk, is scheduled to play in a theatre festival. When he is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, the copious amounts of wine he consumed is the prime suspect. Delany, one of my favourite cozy mystery authors always entertains.

>50 VivienneR: I read her The Dry and rated it 4*. That being said, not really in a hurry to read another.

>65 Tess_W: Understandable, Tess! A lot of readers are in no hurry to read another.

MysteryKIT - September: Upstairs Downstairs

Ten Lords a-Leaping by C.C. Benison

Sorry to say the plot sounds more enticing than the book turned out to be. A group parachute jump to raise money for the church roof provided a startling opening scene that offered promise, before the story slowed. There were some good characters but Lady Jane was not the delightful Jane Bee I remember from the Her Majesty Investigates series. I have enjoyed other books by Benison so I won’t give up but this one was not his best.

>67 VivienneR: For me as well Jane was not the Jane I remember. To be fair to the book universe, time has marched on, so Jane was probably bound to change in some way, but this book demonstrated just how special the Her Majesty Investigates series was.

>61 VivienneR: What a treat to listen to Derek Jacobi through this book! >64 VivienneR: And glad that there are yet more cats investigating murder mysteries out there in the world.

>68 rabbitprincess: Yes, time has an effect on everyone, but somehow I expect something of the Jane Bee I know to remain recognizable. The Her Majesty Investigates series was wonderful, I hope I get the chance to re-read them sometime.

>69 threadnsong: Derek Jacobi is fabulous! I'd listen to him reading his grocery list. Regarding investigating cats, I've never come across two alike. Like the real thing, each one is unique.

Category: From Lists: Dublin Literary Award longlist

A Blind Goddess by James R. Benn

Another good story from Benn that was ruined by a poor reading by Peter Berkrot whose attempt at English pronunciation is laughable. Listening to the racism so prevalent in the American army was difficult too.

Category: Mystery

Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena

I started this yesterday morning and finished it by evening. What a page-turner! I appreciated that it was straightforward, there were no jumps back and forward in time, no complex trips down memory lane. Some readers may not like the ending but I was happy with its ambiguity.

MysteryKIT - October - Not too scary

A Hole in One by Catherine Aird

A cozy mystery that is surprisingly chauvinist for a publication of 2005. But then, it was set on an old-fashioned golf course, with a lot of pompous old guys. I enjoyed how the golf-ignorant Inspector Sloan compared all the rules and traditions with his preferred hobby of growing roses.

>72 VivienneR: I loved both books that I have read by Shari Lapena so far, but I hadn't heard of this one so far. I just downloaded it to my kindle!

>74 MissBrangwen: I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Mirjam!

Category: Fiction

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, translated by Eric Ozawa

When Takako’s boyfriend broke her heart, she moved into her uncle’s second-hand bookshop in Tokyo’s famous book district. In the dusty, tranquil shop she gradually recovered. The second part of the book reveals her uncle’s heartache and when his wife returns after many years, the chance of healing. Yagisawa’s spare writing style conveys emotions quietly, without commotion. A captivating read.

>76 VivienneR: I'm reading this book at the moment too, and enjoying it very much.

>76 VivienneR: - I would swear I had taken a BB for this or had already bought it, but I can't find it on any of my lists. Guess I'll put it on now. (After I look again tomorrow when I'm more awake.)

I just finished The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store and I re-read your review of it on your earlier thread. I totally have to agree with your assessment of the story (much more concise than my lengthy review!), and it must have been a treat to hear it read aloud.

>77 Jackie_K: Glad to see you are including some fiction now and then, Jackie! I'm a fan of Japanese fiction and have had three on the go recently.

>78 dudes22: I hope it shows up, Betty! Good idea to look again before buying a second copy (like I have done).

>79 threadnsong: I must go and read your review right away! Yes, it was a treat to listen to it. Some books are just made for audio - especially with the right narrator.

Category: Fiction

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

“If you could go back, who would you want to meet?”

This book has a tantalizing premise. A small Tokyo cafe has a seat that is a portal to the past - but only until your cup of coffee gets cold. Naturally, there are many rules, some quite complicated, and repeated just a bit too often. Time travel books do not entice me but I enjoy Japanese fiction and this one is quite appealing even though there is something missing in the execution. However, Kawaguchi has inspired me and I know the person I want to meet, what I want to say, ask. I just need to find out how long my coffee remains hot, and, most important, find that cafe.

>76 VivienneR: I haven't read any Japanese fiction to so far, but I own this book and am looking forward to reading it! Your review makes me more eager to get to it, although I think I must be in the right mood.

>80 VivienneR: - Found it! I took a BB from rabbitprincess earlier this year. So not bought yet.

>81 VivienneR: - This one I already have and hope to get to next year.

>82 MissBrangwen: I'll look out for your opinion. I hope you enjoy it.

>83 dudes22: Glad you located it, Betty.

I didn't enjoy Before the Coffee Gets Cold as much, unfortunately. I loved the idea but it didn't work for me. Too many rules, too often mentioned, zapped the freshness. I hope that doesn't spoil your experience. I'll watch for your opinion on this one too.

>76 VivienneR: I love books about books and/or bookshops. On my WL this goes!

Sneaky October has arrived without me noticing. Time for the September Summary:

Books read in September: 15
Books read this year: 143


The Defector by Chris Hadfield


Clear by Carys Davies
Rain Dogs by Adrian McKinty
Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena


Thunder Bay by William Kent Krueger
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa


The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
The Cat of the Baskervilles by Vicki Delany


A Blind Goddess by James R. Benn
A Hole in One by Catherine Aird
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi


Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Ten Lords a-Leaping by C.C. Benison


Exiles by Jane Harper

>85 Tess_W: I hope you enjoy it, Tess.

RandomKIT - October - Spooky Season memory

Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum’s ribald humour is always good for a few hoots of laughter and this was no exception. Strange yes, spooky no. However, the title fits the category theme.

Category: Fiction

What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

Five quiet, related stories that come together in the end. Each one describes a visit to a community library where the strange librarian provides an eerily accurate list of recommendations, combined with a handmade gift. It’s an odd book that, while not earth-shattering, conveys a very Japanese flavour to this non-Japanese reader.

I loved both of these books >88 VivienneR: and >89 VivienneR:. I think Diesel is my favorite Evanovich character.

>90 lowelibrary: Diesel is my favourite too! When I have a choice, I pick the one with Diesel in it.

MysteryKIT - October - Not too scary

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller

Freya, an antique hunter, investigates the death of her mentor. She is aided by her glamorous, eccentric aunt. The story got a bit bogged down in details and characters and became a challenge to follow. I was looking forward to reading this, because it sounded like fun. The premise is good but Miller couldn’t quite pull it off.

>86 VivienneR: I felt the same way as you about Code Verity.

>93 Tess_W: Too bad. I thought I was on to a winner.

CalendarCAT - October: Women's History Month (Canada)

Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald

Misery piled on misery; tragedy on tragedy. I should have guessed as much when I saw Oprah’s recommendation. I disliked every character in this multigenerational saga. It’s difficult to understand all the rave reviews.

>95 VivienneR: Amazon says by turns menacingly dark and hilariously funny, but from your comments it doesn't sound too hilarious. And it's long!

Thank you for the succinct and informative review!

>96 pamelad: Another writer might have been able to present tragic events in a way that would bring a smile to the reader. And every action is determined by church brainwashing (I should have guessed that from the title). I hated the book and rate it the worst of the year.

<95 I can't say I hated this book because I was never able to get very far into it as I remember. It sat on my shelf for years with me thinking lightening would strike and I would like it, but that never happened. This was before I thought I needed to agree with critics, etc.

>98 clue: I wish lightning had struck my book while it sat on the shelf - then I wouldn't have tried reading it! I found it to be the most depressing book I've ever read. Not to be recommended to anyone feeling in the slightest bit blue. It is really puzzling how or why some books are lauded by critics, or are chosen for prizes.

PrizeCAT - October - Long and Short lists

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands

I enjoyed this YA thriller set in 17th century about Christopher Rowe, an apprentice apothecary whose master is murdered. Christopher has learned enough that he is able to decipher a message from his master and identify the cult involved. Exciting and interesting. I would have loved this book when I was young.

>99 VivienneR: I really liked it. The writing was excellent and you can't say the author didn't do a great job with the atmosphere. It does require that the reader enjoy unrelenting misery though.

>101 RidgewayGirl: The unrelenting misery meant I wasn't able to appreciate the writing. It just sort of got washed down with the pill. Yes, the atmosphere was there, and some scenes will stay in my mind forever, like the children "baptizing" the newborn twins in the river. Some misery I can take - I'm reading Ghosts of Galway by Ken Bruen, filled with misery - but somehow it doesn't affect me in the same way. I've thought of many reasons why that might be, but none hold up.

RandomKIT - October - Spooky Season memory

The Ghosts of Galway by Ken Bruen

Just finished the 13th episode of the Jack Taylor series, although my memories of Ireland are nothing like this, it is spooky enough to fit the challenge.

In his unique writing style, Bruen gives us another dark, tragic episode in Jack Taylor’s life. This is a series that needs to be read in order. Although I don’t think this one was Bruen’s best, I’ll read whatever he writes. Not for the faint-hearted.

>95 VivienneR: LOL when I see an Oprah recommendation, I run away as fast as I can, usually screaming! There has been one exception: Night by Elie Wiesel.

>104 Tess_W: I run the same way! She has an uncanny ability to choose dismal, depressing, bitter books.

>95 VivienneR: I hear you - there are some authors who can describe terrible things happening to their characters that just pull you in. It sounds like this was not that kind of experience for you.

Best of luck with your continued journey into Japanese fiction as well.

>106 threadnsong: Yes, that's exactly right. Now Ken Bruen's book, Ghosts of Galway had awful things happen to his characters, but I enjoyed reading it. I think the difference is believable fiction as opposed to unbelievable fiction.

Thanks for your good wishes for my interest in Japanese fiction. I like the style of what I have read so far, which is usually concise and crisp.

AlphaKIT - October - D & T

Death of a Traitor by M.C. Beaton and R.W. Green

Green has done a great job of taking over Beaton’s characters since she passed. This, the second Hamish Macbeth story, was up to the standards we expect from Beaton.

Category: Mystery

Mrs Malory and Death in Practice by Hazel Holt

I used to enjoy Holt’s early novels featuring Mrs Malory who did her research on early 20th century authors at the Bodlean. There were always nuggets of interesting information in them. Not this one, published in 2003 that has characters stuck in 1960s mode. It appears Mrs Malory is just a nosy, gossip. The book was entirely without any interesting bits and was a waste of time.

Category: Mystery

61 Hours by Lee Child

Reacher talked the driver of a tour bus into selling him a ticket. Later, while Reacher slept the bus crashed in a South Dakota snowstorm. Local police are suspicious at first because he is not one of the tour, but then orchestrate his help in protecting an elderly witness. This is a 61-hour countdown to the explosive conclusion. Started off well but it slowed a little around the midway point before picking up again. Still, it’s a good tale. Jack Reacher, ex-US Military Police, must be the most unbelievable character in fiction. He travels without baggage and replaces clothing at second hand stores, yet his popularity as a super hero never wanes.

Category: Fiction

Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris

It’s hard to imagine the terror women and children faced as they fled Singapore in 1942 only to be shipwrecked, captured by Japanese, and to spend the rest of the war as POWs. It reads more like a YA story written by a young adult. And while I believe it to be worthwhile, especially for today’s young people who didn’t hear about wartime deprivations firsthand, it was difficult to connect with the characters. Anyone coming across this topic for the first time might get the wrong impression completely from the cheerfulness and sugary sweetness in many scenes. The shipwreck episode was particularly unbelievable, with those in the water calling out to each other as if they were bathing in a pool, not trying to stay alive clinging to bits of wreckage of a bombed ship. Disappointing, to say the least. I’ve been told Morris’ other books are excellent but I doubt I’ll ever pick one up.

AlphaKIT - All Year - Z

Blackwater Falls by Ausma Zehanat Khan

Denver’s detective Inaya Rahman, and her team investigate a horrifying murder of a young Syrian refugee. This is a story filled with racial tensions, and although it’s hard to comprehend how heinous crimes like this can happen, Khan presents the investigation without becoming graphic. I’ve previously read the second of the series and was so impressed with her writing that I had to go back for the first.

CalendarCAT - October - Diwali Oct 31

Death at the Durbar by Arjun Raj Gaind

In 1911, while elaborate preparations are being completed for the Durbar, to celebrate the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, a dancing girl is found murdered. Maharaja Sikander Singh, a self-styled detective, is commandeered to investigate and find the culprit quickly before the arrival of the King and Queen.

This is an excellent book, filled with details of India’s elite and the British colonial rulers. I knew when I recognized names that there was a good deal of truth in the tale - connected to the Durbar and characters, not the murder - which was confirmed by the author’s note at the end. It was a terrific portrayal of the colourful Indian history during the Raj. I particularly enjoyed descriptions of the cars used, as well as the denouement. A wonderful story and writing style. I will be on the look out for more by Gaind.

Category: Fiction

Fault Lines by Emily Itami

Mizuki is a wife and stay at home mother, living in Japan. Her life has become boring, mostly because of a lack of communication with her husband. Then she met Kiyoshi who is attentive and caring. Their friendly relationship was innocent in the beginning but eventually resulted in sex which was when the fault lines were revealed. Funny and entertaining, but bored housewives can be a tad boring.

>113 VivienneR: Death at the Durbar and its predecessor look good. Adding them to the wish list.

>115 pamelad: I agree, A Very Pukka Murder looks good to me too.

>113 VivienneR: I added this one to my ever-growing WL, too!

>117 MissBrangwen: Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Category: Fiction

Love by Roddy Doyle

A pair of old friends who haven’t met for a long time meet in a Dublin pub, which eventually becomes a pub crawl. The conversation, growing progressively inebriated, reveals their lives and loves through reminiscences. Doyle’s book is an example of how to make a couple of pub bores into a literary triumph. Funny, sad, with many touching moments of deep reflection. The experimental style is not for everyone, but rewarding if the reader can stay with it.

Life has been busy recently and I'm not getting much reading done.

October Summary

Books read in October: 14
Books read this year: 157


The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands
The Ghosts of Galway by Ken Bruen
Death of a Traitor by M.C. Beaton and R.W. Green
61 Hours by Lee Child
Blackwater Falls by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Death at the Durbar by Arjun Raj Gaind
Love by Roddy Doyle


What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama


Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller
Fault Lines by Emily Itami


Mrs Malory and Death in Practice by Hazel Holt
Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris


Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald

>119 VivienneR: I read A Star Called Henry by Roddy Doyle two years ago and mean to read more by him.

>121 MissBrangwen: And now that I've read Love I plan to read more - although maybe not in his experimental style. I'll watch out for A Star Called Henry.

Glad to be able to enter some reading for November because it seems I've been reading these two for weeks. It's been a busy time and my reading suffered.



AlphaKIT - All Year - Z

Towards Zero by Agatha Christie

An interesting opening, describing past events and people who are part of the circumstances leading up to a crime, all going forward towards zero. It’s a clever plot but it was surprising that the unimaginative Superintendent Battle was able to close the case. And the denouement wasn’t quite perfect. Still, four stars, because this is Agatha Christie.



AlphaKIT - Fiction

One Night on the Island by Josie Silver

A predictable rom-com plot: Cleo planned a solitary stay on a remote Irish island but when she arrived, Mack, an American photographer showed up with the same plan. There is no alternate accommodation and no ferry until the following week forcing them to share the cottage. Jane Eyre is as romantic as my reading gets so this one was steamier than I care for. Still, an entertaining, sweet story.

CalendarCAT - November

The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves

Learning more about Vera and her estranged family makes this a terrific story for fans of Cleeves and her loveable sleuth, DI Vera Stanhope. I loved the people of Northumberland as well as the wintry atmospheric locale.

MysteryKIT - November - Noir

Darkness Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane

A good fit for the category, dark, violent and over the top gruesomeness. However, I enjoy the characters Kenzie and Gennaro, their repartee, and their loyalty to each other.

CalendarCAT - November - Remembrance Day, November 11

The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan

I’ve read other books about the difficult history of Malaya (now Malaysia). Chan’s fictional story describes the tragic reality when the Japanese ousted the British during WWII. By trying to get on the good side of the new Japanese leader and the dream of Asia for Asians, Chan’s characters inadvertently helped make a bad situation worse. Warning: there is a lot of physical and sexual violence. A difficult story to read but one that should be told.

>126 VivienneR: I've made note of this book. After reading State of Emergency by Jeremy Tiang, I'm eager to read more about a place I know very little about.

>127 RidgewayGirl: Unfortunately I can't remember any of the titles I read previously - it's been quite along time. What I do remember is that they were all difficult reads. Malaya is one of those countries that has an unhappy history.

RandomKIT - November - I told it my way

Poirot and Me by David Suchet

David Suchet as Poirot is a perfect fit. He played the part in all of Christie’s works in the television series that was filmed over 25 years. A fantastic accomplishment. He - and Christie’s daughter - were determined that he should play the part faithfully, without making a comic character of Poirot. Early in his preparation he realized he and Poirot had more in common than previously realized. In this memoir Suchet describes each of the plots and his experiences, which were probably too much and too repetitive for anyone other than a Christie devotee. The repetition became annoying.

I have always admired Suchet as Poirot and watched most of the episodes, if not all, but I ended up speeding through some of the chapters, especially the ones describing the parts he played in between. Typical of biography written by actors, the description of the parts he played were accompanied by what amounted to a credits list with a summary of the accomplishments of each person: directed by blah blah who was the brilliant director of the famous television series blah blah….

Category: Mystery

Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson

In this Jackson Brodie outing, Atkinson went back to a Golden Age style of mystery novel, and one that I enjoyed very much. A painting has gone missing from the home of a recently deceased woman. Her adult children meet with Brody to have him investigate the theft that he rightly suspects has more to the story than what he’s given. He is joined in the investigation by detective Reggie Chase who is investigating another art theft. The plot involves a Murder Mystery Weekend troupe being hosted at a stately home where the lady of the manor has been reduced to using alternate methods of raising money, as well as all the elements and zany characters of an old-fashioned farce. Naturally, there is a snowstorm. This was the most fun I’ve had from Atkinson. I enjoyed the intriguing mystery as well as the many sections that provoked laughing out loud.

Highly recommended.

Category: Mystery

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones

Hmm, who is lying, who is telling the truth? Rachel and Jack with Noah and Paige are attending the wedding of Ali and Will, Jack’s brother, in Portugal. Ali is the ditziest bride ever, or is she just drunk? However, everyone appears to be in the same condition. Lies and accusations abound but not even the dramatic ending could save this one.

RandomKIT - November - I told it my way

What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley

I’ve relished this series starring Flavia de Luce but not sure why this one didn’t appeal as much. The reason might have something to do with Flavia approaching adulthood, which would be the end of the delightful character. Sorry to say, her protege, Undine, will never meet the height of appeal that Flavia achieved.

>130 VivienneR: Glad you liked this one. It's on my TBR and I think I saw in some 2025 challenge to read a book with a bird on the cover--I'm saving it for that!

>133 Tess_W: Atkinson is a clever writer, Tess. I hope you enjoy the book.

Catching up on your thread and what a great variety of books!

>126 VivienneR: I did not know that history of Malaysia and thank you for your honest review. And >129 VivienneR: so glad Suchet wrote about his experience becoming Poirot, especially how he found what was similar between him and the famous detective (ret.).

>135 threadnsong: Somehow the history of Malaysia gets overlooked.

Suchet's book started off well, despite the repetitive quality, but his accounts of the periods between filming Poirot were so boring it was hard to finish. So I have mixed opinions on that one.

Category: My Series

One Of Our Ministers Is Missing by Alan Johnson

Johnson was a British politician who served as Secretary of State and later, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. His memoirs are engrossing and very well-written, so good that I was delighted when I heard he had written his first mystery novel The Late Train to Gipsy Hill, which was excellent.

This is a second mystery in what has become a series featuring Louise Mangan, who is now Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in London. A government minister has gone missing on a walking holiday in Crete and Louise has been asked to liaise with the Greek police in the search for him. At the same time she must stay abreast of potential problems connected to an upcoming visit to London of a controversial Turkish author. While I enjoyed it enormously, it did not have the sheer excitement of the first novel. However, as a combination of political drama and police procedural it is well-written, has great characters, fabulous location, and keeps the reader engaged, if not on the edge of their seat. I can’t wait to get the next book in the series.

>137 VivienneR: I've taken the first one as a BB. Sounds good!

>138 clue: I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Luanne!

AlphaKIT - November - L

Lemming’s First Christmas by Jamesie Fournier, illustrated by Tim Mack

My latest Early Reviewers snag.

This is a sweet introduction to the Arctic culture of Canada for early readers. On hearing a Christmas song about Santa Claus a lemming asked about it from animal friends and learned about the Christmas tree. The illustrations are beautiful. Animal names in Inuktitut are listed at the back of the book with pronunciation.

AlphaKIT - November - L & W

Look Both Ways by Linwood Barclay

It seems Barclay has attempted to repeat the terror of Elevator with driverless cars. It’s funny, imaginative and entertaining and will make you think twice about trying one.

PrizeCAT - November - YA Awards

Blood Fever by Charlie Higson

The young James Bond delivers as much excitement as the grown-up version. A worthy winner of the Blue Peter Book Award: Book I Couldn’t Put Down - 2006.

MysteryKIT - November - Noir

The Overlook by Michael Connelly

Half the length of the usual Harry Bosch novel, this one was originally serialized in the New York Times. Bosch again meets his first love, Rachel Walling when he locks horns with the FBI.

MysteryKIT - November - Noir

Let it Bleed by Ian Rankin

Terrific atmosphere! The investigation required a lot of research into government and civil service departments that were all identified by acronyms and which became very confusing. A fast-paced beginning was followed by a slow middle and a satisfying finish. Rebus’ dental problems were painful to read, never mind experience.

November Summary

Books read in November: 15
Books read this year: 172


Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson


The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves


Towards Zero by Agatha Christie
One of Our Ministers is Missing by Alan Johnson
Lemming’s First Christmas by Jamesie Fournier, illustrated by Tim Mack


One Night on the Island by Josie Silver
Darkness Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane
The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan
What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley
Look Both Ways by Linwood Barclay
Blood Fever by Charlie Higson
The Overlook by Michael Connelly
Let it Bleed by Ian Rankin


Poirot and Me by David Suchet


The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones

>144 VivienneR: My reaction this book was very similar to yours. I just read my review from 2021 and I wrote almost the same things.

>146 MissBrangwen: I just had a look at your review and you nailed it. It took me a much longer time to read than usual for a novel that size. I felt like I was plodding through it. In the end, I can say I enjoyed it.

Category: Mystery

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth

Not the evil Mother-in-Law story, but a quiet story of a wealthy family who are able to help a lot of people through a charity they founded. Diana, MIL to Lucy, hesitates when her own daughter asks for help to pay for a surrogate to provide her with a child. Pretty mild on the whole, but Hepworth made it a page-turner with an excellent plot and well-developed characters. However, it’s definitely not the thriller some readers expected.

I’ll be reading more by Hepworth.

PrizeCAT - December - Your choice

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

Peters’ debut is a heartbreaking story that is very well-written and richly deserving of the many awards it has received. A Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia go on an annual berry-picking trip in Maine to earn a bit of extra money. One year, their four year-old daughter, Ruthie, goes missing. They search everywhere without success. As a result their lives are forever changed. The story is told alternately by her big brother, Joe, who was the last to see Ruthie, and Norma, the over-protected daughter of a husband and wife who have experienced many miscarriages. It becomes apparent that Norma is Ruthie. It’s a sad family saga beautifully told.

>149 VivienneR: - I've heard or seen this somewhere and thought I might have already taken a BB, but I can't find it, so I guess I'll take one now.

ETA: And it's published by a small press, so it would fit into my reading plans next year.

>150 dudes22: Good choice, Betty! I hope you enjoy it.

RandomKIT - December - Roll a Die! and wrap up your year
I rolled a 2 for a KIT category from earlier this year. I chose RandomKIT June: Initials J & R

The Paddington Mystery by John Rhode

A puzzling plot followed by a protracted solution. This introduces Dr Lancelot Priestley, a mathematician who solves mysteries through examining the facts and using logic. For a 1925 novel, it was just ok, in comparison with Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles, written in 1916 and published in 1920.

RandomKIT - December - Roll a Die! and wrap up your year
I rolled a 2 for a KIT category from earlier this year and chose RandomKIT June: Initials R & J

The Jazz Club Spy by Roberta Rich

A hard-boiled mystery set in New York in the 1930s describing the lives of Russian Jewish immigrants and in particular, Giddy Brodsky’s experience as a a speakeasy cigarette girl and spy for the US government. It’s fast moving and entertaining.

I'm finally catching up with your thread after some time away from LT and I'm loving all the mystery reviews. I'd been reading a lot of other genres the past months but mysteries are my comfort read and I decided to devote most of December to those, and I'm getting inspiration from your reviews!

>64 VivienneR: I too really enjoy Vicki Delany's books. I've read a number of her books in various series (Constable Molly Smith is my favourite) but I've not tried her Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series yet. Should do that soon.

>154 mathgirl40: Glad you are back again, Paulina! Mysteries are my comfort read too and have been for most of my life. You have provided many BBs for me and I'm glad I can do the same. Molly Smith will always be my favourite Delany character.

MysteryKIT - December - Culinary

Killer Christmas by Lin Harper

A short Christmas story with a simple plot and a romantic twist written in an overly simple, undemanding style. I’m glad this kindle was free.

Category: Short Stories, Novellas

Murder at the Royal Ruby by Nita Prose

A chandelier falls on the generally disliked star of the show as she delivers her opening line. Grace, an usher rushes to her aid only to see her look into the upper levels and claim the theatre ghost to be the culprit. I enjoyed this short story from the author of the Molly the Maid series. The theatre was very well described.

MysteryKIT - December - Culinary

The Mousse Wonderful Time of the Year by H.Y. Hanna

This is a fun Christmas mystery novel with a country house murder that had to be committed by one of the residents. I loved the scene with American visitors puzzled by some of the British Christmas customs. There were a few weak spots in the denouement but it did not affect my enjoyment. The beautiful cover is a bonus as are the glossary of British terms and Christmas recipes.

The BB came to me from LadyoftheLodge - thank you, Cheryl.

Category: Short Stories, Novellas

Castle in the Air by H.E. Bates

Bates is one of the most accomplished writers to describe nature and natural surroundings. In this short story from 1957, an old man sits outside a pub telling a boy about the long-ago history of the green sward in front of them. Spread out before them was a castle, with a moat, and raging battles, until the castle was taken by “Oliver”. The story is a typically delightful image unfurled by Bates about his native Northumberland.

Category: Short Stories, Novellas

Ruth’s First Christmas Tree by Elly Griffiths

A short Christmas story with all of the elements that made the Ruth Galloway series so good.

CalendarCAT - December

The Winter Wives by Linden MacIntyre

I was attracted by the title, so appropriate for this CAT but unfortunately Macintyre’s writing doesn’t hold the same appeal. MacIntyre is an investigative journalist whose considerable talent has not transferred to fiction. The characters proved to be a dismal group in a dull story that is without any spark of relief. Disappointing, I expected more.

CalendarCAT - December

Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum and her companions provide fast and furious action and frequent laugh-out-loud moments. Although I enjoyed this one, some rude content means I can’t recommend this to everyone.

AlphaKIT - December K & Q

The Private Life of the Cat Who…: Tales of Koko and Yum Yum from the Journals of James Mackintosh Quilleran by Lilian Jackson Braun.

I haven’t read many of The Cat Who… books, so learning about these two Siamese felines was all new to me and I found it delightful.

>163 VivienneR: These books were a staple of mine when our girls were teenagers, or less. I had forgotten all about them, but they filled a real need in our reading journey.

>164 JoeB1934: I can understand them being a staple, Joe. Especially for a young family. I just heard of the author since joining LT but haven't read many. I loved this book and have passed it on to my husband who is enjoying it now too. It is one of the books that I'll keep on the shelf to re-read or give to someone who would enjoy it.

>163 VivienneR: Thanks for this reminder! I had tried the Cat books years ago and thought they were silly so I didn't read more than a couple. Then Covid came along. After the Covid deaths of two friends of long years within a couple of weeks of each other I was so bereft I couldn't concentrate on reading anything. Then I pulled the first Cat book off the shelf and before the year was out had read and enjoyed the entire series. That experience proved to me any book is the right book for someone at sometime and regardless of how wrong a book may be for me, it may very well fill a need for someone else.

>166 clue: This is exactly the belief I have come to after quite a long time on LT where I have been searching for the characteristics of books I really like. To no one's surprise, while some others like similar books there isn't even a guarantee I would like a specific book on a different day.

>166 clue: Exactly! You worded that so well, Luanne. I felt bad when I dissed a prize-winning book recently because I really disliked it. However, I admit that if I try it some other time my opinion could be different.

>167 JoeB1934: Isn't it strange how that applies to readers. I like mysteries, even very gruesome ones, but there is no guarantee that I will enjoy any similar book, even one enjoyed by many here on LT.

Category: Mystery

Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack

A fun witty cozy mystery set in Italy featuring authors who are also amateur detectives. The food was mouth-watering.

I believe I would have enjoyed it more in print instead of the audiobook that I have. Some books fail to capture mental images when read aloud, no matter how talented the narrator is. As well, the narrative was interrupted by distracting footnotes, actually notes by Eleanor, the character who is an author. Again, a problem that would have been more acceptable in print, which I intend to try sometime. This is the first in a series that I hope to read more of.

Category: From Lists

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding

This mystery should have appealed to me as it was filled with unexpected twists and had a good plot. As I read I couldn’t put my finger on the problem but once noticed, I couldn’t ignore the constant short sentences that annoyed me more with each page. It felt like it started off as a bulleted list.

AlphaKIT - All Year - X

The Complete Flying Officer X Stories by H.E. Bates

Bates was having a hard time trying to get worthwhile war work in 1939 until he was offered a commission in the RAF to write short stories about the air crews who, by that time, were engaged in an all out bombing campaign. The results were published in newspapers anonymously under the pen-name
“Flying Officer X” to help the public understand the reality of what was happening. Amid the losses he offered a sympathetic ear as men opened up to him. These are the stories in one volume. They are a poignant reminder of the events and era.

Graham Greene described H.E. Bates as “one of the best short story writers of my time”. This is one of his best collections and a fitting example of why he - and the air crews - deserve to be remembered.

>130 VivienneR: I need to give the Jackson Brodie series a try.

>132 VivienneR: I hope I like it better than you.

>156 VivienneR: I'm in the mood for a few Christmas-y short stories so if this is still free, I may download it in spite of your ho-hum review.

>158 VivienneR: I actually have this either on my Kindle or in a wish list. I've seen it listed on one of the lists. (It isn't the audiobook one which I perused today in preparation for a trip.)

>160 VivienneR: I read this one back when!

>163 VivienneR: I loved KoKo and YumYum back when I read the entire series.

>169 VivienneR: Making a note about that one! Hope the library has it!

>172 thornton37814: Oh, definitely read Jackson Brodie! Try to read them in order if possible, the characters develop as the series proceeds. Atkinson is the best author I know who can weave different plots into a story and bring them all together successfully at the end.

I'm sure you will like the latest Flavia de Luce. I just felt that I'd finished the series and another one felt like the guest who stayed too long.

Harper's book was too simple, like a teenager's work. Maybe you will like it more.

I loved Hanna's book. I'm going to read more by her.

I've had Ruth's First Christmas Tree for ages but kept forgetting about it around Christmas.

Koko and Yum Yum are wonderful. I loved this book about them.

I plan on reading the print version of Catherine Mack's book. In this case, audio didn't work well.

Lori, I hope you like any BBs you get from me. I'd hate to be responsible for disappointments.

>163 VivienneR: I saved this book until I had finished the whole series. It allowed me to reminisce and remember the stories. I miss Koko, YumYum and Qwill so much.

>174 lowelibrary: There are still many Koko and YumYum books for me to read. I enjoy them a lot. I kept this book for a reread sometime.

Category: Fiction

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy

I saw this on a thread and it looked interesting but I’ve not been able to locate the thread it was on that I might thank the reader. The story was such a surprise. An elderly woman inadvertently took a mouse into her house and because of her own benevolence the mouse changed her life - or gave her life back. My son’s favourite animal has always been a mouse, so I understand what Helen Cartwright experienced. I loved the story, the writing and will seek out more by the author.

Category: Fiction

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

An acceptable Christmas tale set in a dusty bookstore in Edinburgh that would, however, have been improved with better characterization.

Category: Mystery

The Usual Santas: a collection of Soho Crime Christmas capers edited by Peter Lovesey

An anthology of eighteen Christmas short stories by favourite crime writers. By far the best was Mick Herron’s title story that easily earns five stars.

Warm wishes to everyone for a happy Christmas.

I hope you had a Merry Christmas, Vivienne!

>180 mstrust: Thank you Jennifer, I did have a lovely Christmas. I hope you had the same.

Category: Mystery

What Bloody Man is That? by Simon Brett

Even as a fan of Charles Paris, I have to say Brett has outdone himself in this fun mystery. Even Charles, usually a lush, renounced alcohol until he had determined who had killed the most annoying actor in the company performing Macbeth. It was important for him to do some detecting as he believed he was prime suspect. As well as theatre history, the details about how the play was being staged was enlightening and made me appreciate the work that goes into a performance. There were unintentional funny moments in the play as well as the witticisms in the book. Brett is always entertaining.