LUCY BURDETTE: Just in time for stocking stuffers, it’s what we’re reading day! I have a few things to suggest. Of course, I picked up Rhys’s new Georgie Royal Spyness mystery right away. This one featured a very pregnant Georgie with a new French chef, and a nearby neighbor with a poison garden. It’s delightful, as always, and there is a cameo from none other than Agatha Christie.
Sometimes I read so many mysteries that I feel like I need to cleanse my palate with a non-mystery novel. This time I chose Love Marriage by Monica Ali. I absolutely loved this story of a pair of engaged English doctors of Indian descent, whose lives go off the rails once their quirky families meet. I’ve had this book on my stack for a year and I’m so glad I read it!
If you’re in the mood for a thriller with a suburban Connecticut setting, I can recommend Elise Hart Kipness's debut, Lights Out. I enjoyed the sports reporter character, Kate Green, and look forward to reading about her in action in the next book. The town of Greenwich, Connecticut was a strong character as well.
Now I have to ask: has anyone read The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese? John and I chose this to listen to on our week long voyage south. He’s an amazing writer, but the book is so long! He introduced so many different stories that I assume will come together in the end. We only made it through 15 hours of listening, with 15 more to go! So now John is tasked with finishing it and summarizing the high points for me. Some friends insisted it was their favorite book of the year with a magnificent ending, so I may pick up a paper copy to finish.
JENN McKINLAY: Per Julia’s recommendation, I am reading N.K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season. Brilliant!!! I recently finished The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and I can see why it’s so popular - high stakes and action packed and steamy! I recently read the horror/thriller Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey. Very creepy! And for romance, I highly recommend The Christmas Wager by Holly Cassidy (aka Hannah McKinnon). So much fun!
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I’m deep into my Christmas-themed reading already: I’m reading Kate Carlisle’s THE TWELVE BOOKS OF CHRISTMAS, Janice Hallett’s epistolary novella THE CHRISTMAS APPEAL, and in the rom-com category, I’m about to start THREE HOLIDAYS AND A WEDDING, by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley, which takes place in a snow-bound small town in 2000, when Christmas, Hanukkah and Ramadan all intersected.
And in non-seasonal books, remember this when summer rolls around again: AGONY HILL by Sarah Stewart Taylor. I got to read it for blurbing purposes and it was SO good, even if I’m still blinking at a book set in 1965 as being “the first novel in a new historical series.” Yes, I was very small at the time and don’t remember it, but I’m pretty sure my lifetime isn’t historical. Right, guys? Right?
HALLIE EPHRON: I just finished Christian Cooper’s memoir, BETTER LIVING THROUGH BIRDING: NOTES FROM A BLACK MAN IN THE NATURAL WORLD. Cooper is the Black birder who took the viral video of a woman who called the police on him in New York’s Central Park ramble… But the book is much more than that. It’s about growing up nerdy and waking up to the wide world of birds. And writing for Marvel. And traveling. And finding his voice as a Black author and a gay guy.
RHYS BOWEN: Not too much time for reading recently but I just read a book I had to blurb called THE WARTIME BOOK CLUB by Kate Thompson. It was set on the island of Jersey and was harrowing, touching and very real. Since I’d been doing my own research on Jersey in the summer everything was very personal for me.
Now in the middle of THE ECHO OF OLD BOOKS by Barbara Davis. Fascinating so far.
DEBORAH CROMBIE: I haven't been reading as much as usual, because of my listening to my books on Audible project, but I've read–and loved–Rhys's PROOF OF THE PUDDING, and Paula Munier's HOME AT NIGHT, so good! I've also been reading my way through Alexia Gordon's Gethsemane Brown series, as I did a panel with Alexia at Crime Bake. I also loved S.J. Bennett's MURDER MOST ROYAL (I adore this series.)
Top of my to-read pile is Jenn's SUGAR PLUM POISONED, and the new Richard Osman.
LUCY: I started Paula's book last night--it's excellent! The other two are on my pile as well.
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh, oh, listen you all--do you know of Cara Hunter? I had not heard of her, and had to (got to!) interview her, and as a result, read her essentially interactive thriller MURDER IN THE FAMILY, which is brilliant and incredible! Go look it up–it is a tour de force in structure, and I adored it, and I instantly ordered a whole pile of her other books, beginning with CLOSE TO HOME, which is also fabulous. Oh, I am so happy to have discovered her!
I loved Janice Hallett’s A CHRISTMAS APPEAL, all written in emails, but don't be put off, it’s so brilliant. I am a massive fan of her other books, too. Tess Gerritsen’s new THE SPY COAST is fantastic–so well written, about a retired spy who uses her current “invisibility”--we’ve all felt that, right?--to her advantage. Highly highly recommended. Oh, one more–Sulari Gentill’s THE MYSTERY WRITER, which is super-meta, and genius, and (underneath) a terrifying and thought-provoking take on the publishing industry.
We're almost afraid to ask, but Reds, what are you reading??
I keep reading, but my pile of books doesn't get any smaller . . . . in addition to Rhys's and Jenn's books, my recently-read books include Leah Konen's "Keep Your Friends Close" . . . Jon Lindstrom's "Hollywood Hustle" . . . A. J. Tata's "The Phalanx Code" . . . A. J. Landau's "Leave No Trace" . . . "The Prophecy of Wind" by Joss Walker and R.L. Perez . . . now I am reading Hank's "One Wrong Word" . . . .
ReplyDeleteOoooh! I am swooning! Thank you—and crossing fingers you love it!
DeleteHow was the Lindstrom book, Joan?
DeleteJoan, I can't wait to be able to read that A.J. Landau book.
DeleteHank, I definitely love it! It’s a chilling tale that definitely keeps me guessing . . . .
DeleteKaren, the Lindstrom book is great . . . twisty and surprising.
Jay, "Leave No Trace" is amazing, one of those can't-put-it-down books.
Julia, sorry to break it to you, but I was born in 1975, and by some definitions (50 years ago), my birth year is almost historical. 1956 definitely fits the category these days.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently between books, but I'll be fixing that soon. I just finished SIX FEET DEEP DISH by Mindy Quigley, which I really enjoyed. Put the second on my Christmas wish list.
Up next, I'll be diving into my Christmas books for the year, starting with MURDER UNDER THE MISTLETOE by Erica Ruth Neubauer. Looking forward to this novella in her historical series. Other books I'll be reading in the next few weeks are SPOON TO BE DEAD by Dana Mentink, MURDER ON MISTLETOE LANE by Clara McKenna, and LET IT CROW! LET IT CROW! LET IT CROW! by Donna Andrews.
I do have to get a shout out to KEEP YOUR FAMILY CLOSE by Annette Dashofy, which I finished this last week. It's a great second in her new series. It comes out this week, and is worth getting.
Squeeee! Thank you, Mark!
DeleteMark, I know how you feel. I felt the same when someone said 1973 was "historical." Sigh.
DeleteMark I had the same sinking feeling the first time I tuned into an oldies station and they were playing music from my high school years. Like - hey, those aren't OLDIES! I still maintain the Ramones and the Clash can never be old.
DeleteMark, I liked SIX FEET DEEP DISH as well. I have a copy of Book 2 but haven't been able to squeeze it in yet.
DeleteJulia, yes there's something fundamentally youthful about the wackiness of both The Ramones and The Clash.
Imagine how I felt, back when I worked at a science and history museum, and spotted my Barbie doll in a display of antique toys! There was screaming, although I think I kept it internal.
DeleteLove NK Jemisin!
ReplyDeleteJust read THE ANOMALY by Herve Le Tellier - fascinating. Now re-reading Martin Walker’s BRUNO CHIEF OF POLICE series to coincide with our travels through the Dordogne region.
LISA: Oooh, I enjoy (re)reading books set in the region that I am travelling in. Enjoy your time in the Dordogne!!!
DeleteThat's my favorite way to read too!
DeleteMartin Walker's newest book is Chateau Under Seige set in the Dordogne as you mentioned and it is excellent. One of his best.
DeleteI know I'm a couple of years behind in getting around to this one, but I'm reading Lori Rader Day's DEATH AT GREENWAY and am wondering what took me so long!
ReplyDeleteIt's great, isn't it?
DeleteCurrently reading The River We Remember- William Kent Krueger. Great characters, good story. In the middle so can't say much, but definitely has my attention
ReplyDeleteIs that on Netgalley Marcie?
DeleteI just finished reading THE MYSTERY GUEST by Nita Prose (Molly the Maid #2). Although I solved the murder easily enough, I liked learning more about Molly & her Gran's backstory. The story is told in alternate chapters: Before and Now. Nita's first book, THE MAID, was an international bestseller & won several top mystery fiction awards (Anthony, Macavity) as best debut this year.
ReplyDeleteAs a lifelong Trekkie, it's no surprise that I am listening to MAKING IT SO: A MEMOIR by Patrick Stewart. It's a long one, over 19 hours of listening. I am at the 60% point and he's still early in his career performing at the famous Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).
And I started reading HOP SCOT by Catriona MacPherson. The whole Last Ditch motel gang are going with Lexy to Scotland for Christmas to visit her parents.
Upcoming (ARC) books I plan to read this month include: FALL by Tracy Clark, KEEP YOUR FAMILY CLOSE by Annette Dashofy, DEEP FRIED DEATH by Maddie Day (aka commenter Edith Maxwell) and HANK's ONE WRONG WORD.
I hope you love my book, Grace!
DeleteI'm swamped with things to read to the point that I don't know if I'm going to get to it all in the time frame I'd like to.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading LOST HOURS by Paige Shelton (for a reviewZ) and then it is time to read A CHRISTMAS PERIL by J.A. Hennrikus (for the mystery book club). Plus there's the ARC of DEEP FRIED DEATH by Maddie Day. And I've got to read HAVE YOURSELF A DEADLY LITTLE CHRISTMAS by Vicki Delany for a review.
Oh and lest I forget, I've got LEST SHE FORGET by Lisa Malice, THE WOODKINO by Alexander James, KING ME by J.A. Crawford and GIRL AMONG CROWS by Brendon Vayo as potential Strand reviews too.
And one book that I am hoping to read is the ARC I received of the 10-years-in-the-works Terry Hayes book THE YEAR OF THE LOCUST.
There's never enough time.
that's a big list Jay!
DeleteI hope you love DEEP FRIED, Jay!
DeleteLucy, yes and it only seems to be getting bigger. Plus I have a bunch of CDs to review as well.
DeleteEdith, I'm sure it will be as superbly excellent as the first 11 books in the series. :D
I need more reading time! I have the new Sarah Stewart Taylor and Paula Munier books on my kindle, and can't wait to get my hands on the new Richard Osman. And now I have to also read BETTER LIVING THROUGH BIRDING: NOTES FROM A BLACK MAN IN THE NATURAL WORLD - thanks for adding to the stack, Hallie. I'm currently loving Nancy Herriman's latest Old San Francisco mystery, NO JUSTICE FOR THE DECEIVED. And I know HOP SCOT will be a blast.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course also Annette's KEEP YOUR FAMILY CLOSE - can't wait!
DeleteJulia, I don't want to heap coals on your shock at your youth being "historical" but I was at a party quite a few years ago now (pre pandemic) and talking to a younger man my husband worked with. He was only a couple years out of college and mentioned he was a history major. I asked him what his area of study was (b/c I love history) and he got this furtive look on his face and said "the 1980s."
ReplyDeleteYeah, he knew exactly what reaction that was going to get! I think a lot of it was about the collapse of the Soviet Union which is probably very study worthy, but still.
On the reading front, life is pretty stressful and I've been reading lots of light and fluffy Christmas rom coms. THE WAKE UP CALL by Beth O'Leary and FAKING CHRISTMAS by Kerry Winfrey. FAKING CHRISTMAS has a similar setup to the old movie Christmas in Connecticut and I know a few Reds mentioned liking that movie. Both were delightful. My last mystery was HOMICIDE AND HALO-HALO by Mia P. Manansala. Delightful in a different way and very summery if that is what you're in the mood for.
Jill, I'm fainting at the concept of the eighties as historical - although when I describe life in the last years of the Cold War, having to take out cash from the bank on Friday to get through the week, and using pay phones, which could be found everywhere, my kids look the same way i did when my grandmother told be about riding into town in a literal one-horse open sleigh.
DeleteIf you don't think the 2016-2021 era is attracting historians like roadkill draws vultures, you're fooling yourself. Historians love the juicy stories. They don't have to be old to be historic.
DeleteLove hearing all your recommendations--so many of them to add to the piles on my desk and nightstand!
ReplyDeleteI picked up some new books at Cincinnati's Books on the Banks Festival: Erin Flanagan's COME WITH ME, Val Burns's MURDER IS A PIECE OF CAKE, and Jessica Strawser's THE LAST CARETAKER.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I listened to MURDER IS A PIECE OF CAKE and love the narrator! She is the perfect voice for that series! For audiobook fans, sample that narration on Amazon. It is one of my favorite cozy series.
DeleteThe LAst Caretaker is so terrific...
DeleteLove this topic.
ReplyDeleteI've taken the opportunity to do a little palate-cleansing and re-read THE ADVENTURES OF THE JERLE SHANNARA by Terry Brooks. It's three books in one, starting with THE ILSE WITCH. I just finished THE FIRST KING OF SHANNARA. I swear I used to have the original Shannara books, but I can't find them.
But sitting and waiting for me is IN THE DARK I SEE YOU, by Mallika Narayanan and an ARC of THE BIG LIE, the latest Shane Cleary from Gabriel Valjan.
Liz, I read the Shannara books for the longest time and still have the ones I did read. But at some point I fell out of reading fantasy novels. I've thought about re-reading the books by David Eddings in recent days but where to find the time?
DeleteOOooh, one of my favourite subjects! It is pouring rain today (at least it is not snow), and I was going to scrub the kitchen cupboards, but now I am off to the virtual library!
ReplyDeleteDeb – I don’t know how you are doing your Audible tour, but if they are from Audible, try Peter Grainger. He is from England and has two wonderful series. Unfortunately, his books are not carried by the libraries that I have cards for in Canada, so I have not read many of his new ones – I no longer have an Audible subscription.
Claire Keegan’s books are thought-worthy. Richard Osman tidied up his series nicely, so am awaiting the next idea. I love that there are currently so many books with older protagonists, though when one I read was marketed as such, and the woman was the hearty old age of 65, I went pfft! If you like these try Janice Hallett, Robert Thorogood, and Helen Tursten.
Nina Simon’s Mother Daughter Night Out was good.
Canadian’s may enjoy Jann Arden’s The Bittlemores.
I have Ken Follett’s new book The Amour of Light lined up. 22 hours is what it says. If we go away for Christmas, I might choose it as the car book, otherwise I am saving it for after the holidays when I can ignore everyone and just enjoy it.
Margo, I've read Peter Grainger from the beginning, but haven't tried the audio. His books are really good. Another excellent British procedural series is the Nick Dixon books by Damien Boyd, set in Somerset.
DeleteHe doesn't come up in the library system. I hate when that happens, as so many of the books and authors here often don't. Why can't books be universal?
DeleteOh, that's a shame. It's one of my favorite British series, good police characters and really good procedure. Boyd is a lawyer, I believe, but I think he's been a prosecutor and really knows the system. They are available as e-books.
DeleteI am reading RAGGED LAKE by Ron Corbett which has been in my Kindle for a long time. Just a few chapters in and I love the characters. What a setting! I am also reading THE WEDDING RINGER by Kerry Rea. I just finished reading her latest, LUCY ON THE WILD SIDE, and it is a super rom-com. I also read A KILLING AT COTTON HILL, Terry Shamas' first Samuel Craddock, Edith Maxwell/ Maddie Day's brand new MURDER UNCORKED (I love these characters), and Donna Andrews' WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE PARROTS (is she the queen of hilarious or what?)
ReplyDeleteLucy, I have also been trying to read books by authors with different ethnic backgrounds and love Farah Heron's romances. She retells EMMA in KAMILA KNOWS BEST. If you like romances, hers are good!
In audiobooks I listened to Mick Heron's SPOOK STREET and also LONDON RULES. His stories are like watching a train wreck, it's hard to look away. I also decided to relisten to Debs' books and I started at the beginning with A SHARE IN DEATH. Interestingly, Mick Heron's narrator, Gerard Doyle reads most of Debs' books and I love him. I am listening to Jenn's SUMMER READING, which I read last spring and love. Also listening to a Tessa Bailey book which may be a bit raw for me.
I joined a Facebook group that follows a certain British narrator who has THE sexiest voice in the whole world. Shane East. That group reads and recommends audiobooks, mostly romances with explicit sex. They promote narrators, and authors whom I would not have heard of otherwise. I have listened to a half dozen romances from various authors they've suggested. Pippa Grant is one author I do like a lot. When it comes to rom-coms, not all authors manage to make their stories funny and romantic, too.
I have promised myself that I will read some of the backlog in my Kindle, so that's my holiday goal! Now, I am going to make a list of recommendations from today's blog.
JUDY: I agree about Donna Andrews' books are wonderfully funny. I have BIRDER SHE WROTE and LET IT CROW, LET IT CROW, LET IT CROW on my library stack pile (I have 21 books signed out, crazy right?).
DeleteAnd I finished listening to all the Slough House books this summer. I started watching SLOW HORSES season 3 on Apple TV+ last week. It is adapted from book 3, REAL TIGERS.
Love Donna's dry/wry wit. She's exactly like that in person, too.
DeleteGrace, I love humor in stories and think it is one of the hardest things for writers to really get right. That's one of the reasons that I love Jenn's books. Her sense of humor meshes with mine so well! Rhys's Royal Spyness series is another one with laugh out loud moments. I adored the series that Janet Evanovich co-wrote with Lee Goldberg which had some of the quirkiest side-kicks ever. The news is grim. I want to laugh.
DeleteJudy, I downloaded a Shane East audio book but now don't remember which one. Obviously haven't got to it yet!
DeleteJudy, I love Kerry Rea and Shane East! I think he also narrates as Shane West. I must confess sometimes I pick out male audio narrators with the thought, 'will I like this man whispering in my ear for hours on end?' :-)
DeleteJill, don't we all!
DeleteJill, Shane East is the name he uses to record romances. He does have another name for recording other books. I was advised by the administrators of "Shaniaks" not to reveal the connection between the two pseudonyms because romance narrators can be harassed and blacklisted. Some of the female narrators have some scary stories about things that have happened when their identities were revealed. I had NO IDEA! So, I don't connect romance writer names to their other id's publicly.
DeleteOh, no Judy! That makes me so sad that's the world be live in, but I understand and I won't do it again going forward. Thanks for the tip.
DeleteRecently read: Mother Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon, The Fog Ladies Date with Death by Susan Mc Cormick, Plantation by Dorothea Benton Frank, The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen, The Hygge Holiday by Rosie Blake
ReplyDeleteCurrently enjoying: Deadly Vintage by Elizabeth Varadan
Danielle
I always get so many ideas reading these posts! I'm reading Desolation Mountain (Cork O'Connor #17) by William Kent Krueger. I just finished (for book group) Prospero's Daughter by Elizabeth Nunez. It's a re-telling of The Tempest set in historical (1960s) Trinidad. So good! We all really liked it! Before that was Thank You Mr. Nixon by Gish Jen--it's a series of stories with overlapping characters that explores relations between China and the United States.
ReplyDeleteI read and enjoyed Richard Coles' Murder Before Evensong. As a church geek, it warmed my heart. Part of the plot is the big controversy that occurs when he (the rector of the church) suggests removing a few pews. I laughed out loud because our rector also got a lot of pushback when she suggested permanently removing the pews. Being uncomfortable in church is part of the tradition!
I've been making my way through and enjoying the Shetland series by Ann Cleeves and the Slough House series by Mick Herron.
I just started Hank's One Wrong Word--thank you, Hank! I also have Rhys' The Proof of the Pudding on deck. I love the Lady Georgie series. Next up will be the new Richard Osman--I've been holding off until this month, as it will be our book club selection. I just finished the new Paula Munier, which was excellent.
ReplyDeleteOther November star reads for me included In the Orbit of You (YA) by Ashley Schumacher, A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian (the latest in her locked room series), The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan, and August Snow by Stephen Mack Jones (I'll be reading the others in this series).
As for Christmas books, I've read quite a few this year. The ones that stand out for me include Christmas with the Lords by Hannah Langdon, Christmas at the Lake by Anita Hughes, Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley, Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews, A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss, 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas by David Rosenfelt, The Christmas Wager by Holly Cassidy, The Twelve Books of Christmas by Kate Carlisle, and The WIshing Bridge by Viola Shipman.
I'm taking notes from your list, Margie. I love Stephen Mack Jones series. August Snow is a memorable character.
DeleteOh, Margie, thank you! Crossing fingers! xxx
DeleteRecent books I've enjoyed: Jessica Strawser's The Last Caretaker; Sarah Yarwood-Lovett's engaging Dr. Nell Ward's series, beginning with A Murder of Crows; The Taste of Ginger by Mansi Shah; Kaye George's Vintage Sweets series, beginning with Revenge is Sweet; Murder at the Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell; Found in a Bookshop by Stephanie Butland; Recipe of Second Chances by Ali Rosen; The Cypress Maze by Fiona Valpi; Alicia Beckman's Blind Faith; and Barbara Davis's The Echo of Old Books.
ReplyDeleteBecause of my cataract it's taking me a lot longer to read these days. Hoping to get surgery scheduled when I finally see my eye doc next week!
Recently listened to: Young Rich Widows by a slough of writers including Kimberly Belle; The Starfish Sisters by Barbara O'Neal; The Lost Apothecary (book club pick) by Sarah Penner; and Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. Now listening to The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell.
I've been reading--and enjoying--Richard Llwellyn's 1939 How Green Was my Valley, but I'm going to put it aside for a couple days while I read our book club pick Murder on the Red River by Margie R. Rendon. Our holiday book club is Thursday night. We'll have a potluck feast, with our hosts Dawn and Chris providing turkey with the trimmings, a fun social evening with discussion of the book over a delicious meal (everyone in the group is a fabulous cook), then a rollicking pirate book exchange.
For those of you who also identify as "antique" (ugh), consider this: Erica Jong's 50TH edition paperback of Fear of Flying is released this week.
DeleteI did see that! I wonder what it’ll feel like to reread it. It was, ahem, seminal.
DeleteHallie, that made me snort laugh!
DeleteYour book club celebration sounds like so much fun!
DeleteIt really is, Lucy. The significant others always join us for the December meeting, and while we discuss the book they usually kibbutz together before we all gather for the book exchange.
DeleteWhat I like most about our group is the mix of people. About a third of us are male, and everyone is whip smart and interesting. I feel very lucky to be a part of it!
Karen, I remember that I love How Green Was My Valley, but it's been years (make that decades) since I read it. Wonder if I still have my copy...
DeleteDebs, I'd never read it, nor seen the movie, but it's fabulous. My brother-in-law is Welsh, and I'm so sorry I didn't read it before his dementia took him so far away from us.
DeleteOne of my favorite blog topics! Always interesting to see what other people are reading, find new-to-me authors! I'm actually able to read some fiction all the way through now--but slowly. I first heard of Allison Montclair right here on JRW and read the first in her Sparks and Bainridge series THE RIGHT SORT OF MAN. Currently reading the second book in the series--A ROYAL AFFAIR. If you enjoy witty, sometimes snarky dialogue, you will love this series. I read some of Sy Montgomery's book OF TIME AND TURTLES--fascinating nonfiction! But hard to read because of what humans have done to the turtles and their world. Interesting fact: one vet doesn't declare a turtle dead until it actually starts to decompose, because they have such incredible healing abilities. I will come back to this book. More fiction: Terry Shames' GUILT STRIKES AT GRANGER'S STORE. Rhys' THE PROOF IN THE PUDDING--I confess to reading the ending about 5 times in a row, it was so satisfying. My favorite Lady Georgie to date. Next up is Geraldine Brooks HORSE.
ReplyDeleteIn my previous life as an archaeologist, we dealt with federal historical regs which stated that anything 50 years and older was considered historic. But I don't *feel* historic!
Flora, I love the Sparks and Bainbridge series. Each book is a great mystery, the historical setting in post WWII London is eye opening, the dialog is snappy and the characters are wonderful!
DeleteFlora, did you read Agatha Christie mysteries? Some of her novels are set at archaeologist digs. Or the Amelia Peabody mysteries by Elizabeth Peters?
DeleteDiana
LOVE Sparks and Bainbridge, as I've said here before!
DeleteDiana, I've been an Agatha Christie fan since I was a teenager, have read all of the Amelia Peabody mysteries--the first one had me laughing out loud.
DeleteLOL - Julia - I feel ya. I was barely born in the 60's and I just can't consider that historic. Nope.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Diana
DeleteAll hail those of us real baby-boomers born in the '40's. I must adjust my Neanderthal vest...
DeleteSo many books, so little time! I plan to try to work my way through my TBR pile this winter. I’ve had both of my cataract surgeries, and I just got my new glasses. So many books piled up or were recommended to me when I had to struggle to make sense of the smudges on the written page. One of the new books I’ve read from start to finish since I got my new glasses is Lucy’s A Clue the Crumbs! And it’s good!
ReplyDeleteHallie, I want to read the Central Park birder’s memoir. I’m a fellow birder. (And this morning when I was eating breakfast a junco appeared
on my deck, right near my dining area. A year ago they showed up on the first of December. I love them because they’re one of my Mom’s favorite birds. She liked them because they came for the winter and stayed around, instead of just passing through.)
I’m glad I’m going to the library tomorrow. I’ll refer to this post when I get there!
DebRo
Our juncoes have come back too - such cheery little guys… like summer’s song sparrows
DeleteI haven't seen a junco here yet, but the other day we had an enormous flock of Cedar Waxwings flitting from tree to tree.
Deletethanks so much DebRo, and I'm glad your eyes are back in order!
DeleteDEB RO: Happy reading! I know what that's like. I was able to read again for prolonged periods after my cataract surgeries in 2021.
DeleteYes, Hallie, I want to read the birder memoir, too. I think I saw cedar waxwings next door this morning, but they haven't hit our holly trees and bushes yet. I love them, but, oh, the mess....
DeleteWe saw our first junco yesterday--several cardinals, robins, and one junco made an appearance in the backyard. The cats were thrilled--their favorite form of kitty theatre.
DeleteKaren: Check your waxwings - they were probably Bohemian. Cedar Waxwings are usually summer birds. Both love to strip your berries - in summer cherries, haskaps, blueberries, etc. Known as Ninjas to us. There was a mass of Bohemians here last week - and the Robins are back.
DeleteThanks, Margo, but we don't get Bohemians here, not in their range, although I'd love to see one. And my husband the bird photographer actually told me what they were; I have trouble right now with the binoculars because of the cataract.
DeleteYou're a lot further north than we are, too. Cedar Waxwings are fall and early winter birds for us.
DeleteYou mentioned haskaps. I planted two this past summer, and am anxious to see how they do here. I've never had one, so this is a fun experiment!
Yes they are fall/winter for us, too.
DeleteSo many wonderful books, Reds! I am looking to see if my library has these books so I can borrow these books.
ReplyDeleteJust finished THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING by Rhys Bowen. Loved it! Five Stars!
And THE TWELVE BOOKS OF CHRISTMAS by Kate Carlisle was my first book ushering in the first day of December. Loved it! Five Stars!
If you are a fan of Rom Com, then I recommend ONE DAY IN DECEMBER by Josie Silver. It was a Reese's Book Club pick years ago and I had the book forever. I finally started reading it on my second try and got into it. Loved it.
Christmas Recommendations:
CAJUN CHRISTMAS by Ellen Byron
TWELVE CLUES OF CHRISTMAS by Rhys Bowen
WINTER SOLSTICE by Rosamunde Pilcher
SNOWBALL'S CHRISTMAS by Kristin McKanagh (rom com)
CHRISTMAS AT THE BEACH HUT by Veronica Henry (you can order from Hatchard's)
GOD REST YE, ROYAL GENTLEMEN by Rhys Bowen
A CUP OF HOLIDAY FEAR by Ellie Alexander
JANE AND THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS by Stephanie Barron
A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS WISH by Makenna Lee (Harlequin Romance)
HERCULE POIROT'S CHRISTMAS by Agatha Christie
THE GIRL WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS by Matt Haig
and the CHRISTMASTOWN mystery series by Eva Gates (also Vicki Delany)
Diana
I set clearing my Kindle backlog as my 2023 goal and guess what - I'm nearly there! Those pesky new books kept me from declaring 100% success, but they were worth it. Two massive favorite reads, both set in Maine - Tess Gerritsen's THE SPY COAST, and Sandra Neily's DEADLY TURN. Hank mentioned The Spy Coast, so I'll just say it's fabulous. DEADLY TURN is a quintessential rural Maine story. Set in the North Woods, in addition to being a wonderful thriller, it sheds light on the true cost of alternative energy. Highly recommend both books.
ReplyDeleteOh, wonderful--Tess really has a terrific idea for a series, and I loved reading this first installment, too!
DeleteJulia, I agree that novels set in the 1960s are barely historical. I was born in the 1960s; To me, historical novels would be BEFORE I was born.
ReplyDeleteDiana
Thank you, Diana!
DeleteJulia, I was a college freshman/woman? in 1965. No, no, I’m NOT OLD ENOUGH to be historical! Elisabeth.
DeletePerfect timing on this, Lucy - I'm adding to my Christmas wish list right now!
ReplyDeleteI read The Last Caretaker by Jessica Strawser and loved it. Other recent reads are Stealing the Dragon by Tim Maleeny (1st in his Cape Weathers series; it’s an older book, but I “have to” start series from the beginning); A Killing at Cotton Hill by Terry Shames; Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino (not a mystery, set in 1960, funny and touching); and started the Liz Ireland Mrs. Claus series with books 1 (Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings) and 2 (Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide). Currently reading Tracy Clark’s Hide and starting Excuse Me While I Disappear: Tales of Midlife Mayhem by Laurie Notaro. My “reads” are older books because you all keep introducing me to new-to-me authors and, as I said, I have to start at the very beginning! — Pat S
ReplyDeleteI’m in a bit of a reading slump, but the last five books I've read were TO CONJURE A KILLER by Clea Simon, DYING FOR A DECORATION by Cindy Sample, GROUNDS FOR MURDER by Lena Gregory, LOLA BABY by Melissa Bourbon, and BULLETPROOF BARISTA by Cleo Coyle.
ReplyDeleteUp next are a few E-ARCs: DEADLY TO THE CORE by Joyce Tremel, WHO TO BELIEVE by Edwin Hill, and ONE WRONG WORD by Hank Phillippi Ryan.
And on December 8th, I get to read KEEP YOUR FAMILY CLOSE by Annette Dashofy.
YAAAY!!!!
DeleteDru Ann, I'm looking forward to that new Joyce Tremel series. I am still hoping for more Homefront News books from her too.
DeleteI am finishing Nita Prose's The Mystery Guest then moving on to Mitch Alborn's The Little Liar. aprilbluetx at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteSo many great suggestions here today! If anyone is interested in picking up Mother Daughter Murder Night, it's on sale on Kindle today for $2.99. Just bought it.
ReplyDeleteOh, fabulous--do not miss this! And it's featured on First Chapter Fun on December 12!
DeleteThanks, Hank! I'll mark my calendar!
DeleteThanks, Debs! Just bought it!
DeleteI loved it too. Danielle
DeleteOh, so many books! What to do, what to do! Right now I'm making choices based on my book club (Barbara Kingsolver's Demon Copperfield and The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai) which doesn't meet again before January, but so many of the above are tempting me . . ..
ReplyDeleteI have Demon Copperhead sitting on my kitchen island pile. So many books!
DeleteI recently read one of John Charles's recommendations (Poisoned Pen bookstore) and loved it! My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine. So funny and sweet!
ReplyDeleteIf you are a fan of the old Victoria Holt/Mary Stewart Gothic suspense romances you'll enjoy The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong. Set in Cornwall in the 1920s our heroine is no modest shrinking violet. She is jaded, world weary, snarky, and throws great parties she remembers only parts of. I'm hoping this is the start of a new series.
I'm about to finish an ARC of The Secret of he Lady's Maid by Darcie Wilde. It's a head scratcher; I think I know who the culprit is but darned if I can figure out a motive.
If you like a scary historical (for real, historical) try The Hacienda by Isabel Canas.
Historical mystery based on a real murder in early 1900s Kuala Lumpur---Terror in Topaz by A.M. Stuart. Love this series!
Light hearted mystery adventure? Mrs Plansky's Revenge by Spencer Quinn.
I could go on and on but. . .so little time, so many books.
The Spy Coast is near the top of my TBR pile, and I'm about halfway through Richard Osman's The Last Devil to Die. Paula Munier's Home at Night was delightful, as was the first of a new ghost/horror trilogy by Nora Roberts, Inheritance. How could she end it there????? Great hook.
ReplyDeleteThe book that still stands out for me this past year was All The Sinners Bleed, by S. A. Crosby. Wise, funny, suspenseful . . . it just hit all the marks for me.
My current read, sort of in parallel with the Osman, is Killers of the Flower Moon, not because of the movie but because the penny finally dropped and I realized my grandparents lived in Osage County at the time these events happened. My father was born there. Now I am dipping into the book and trying to picture life for my grandparents at the time. I never remember them saying anything bad or good about the Osage tribe, although my grandfather was a wonderful storyteller. Maybe the lives of the ultra-wealthy Osage just didn't overlap much with the life of the guy who drove mule teams in the oilfields, and his young family.
Something I forgot to include in my first response earlier today is that I went to my local library's last used book sale of the year this past Friday. I came home with four books for a total of 13 bucks. 2 hardcovers (Deborah Crombie and Kate Carlisle) and two trade paperbacks (Peter Colt and a book I can't remember at the moment). So I have those books to read. And I hope to get my hands on a copy of Tom Mead's The Murder Wheel which sounds really interesting to me.
ReplyDeleteA few books I have read lately:
ReplyDeleteBound for Murder & several more in Blue Ridge Library series by Victoria Gilbert,
The Branson Beauty by Claire Booth,
Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher,
The Puppets of Spelhorst by K. DiCamillo,
Starter Villain by John Scalzi,
The twelve books of Christmas by Kate Carlisle,
Flat White Fatality by Emmeline Duncan,
Guilt Stikes at Granger's Store by T. Shames
A Cold Highland Wind by T. Alexander,
I am a Dragon by Sabina Hahn,
and just starting A True Account ... by by Katherine Howe
Marjorie
I envy you all so much, but I'm glad that you are enjoying all these wonderful books. Since Kevin's death six months ago, I can't do my fiction reading. It's not uncommon for this to happen to people who have this kind of loss, but I think it might apply to any reading for most people. I can/needed to read some of the grief books out there. I was fortunate that one of the first books I was able to read was It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand It by Megan Devine. I was lost in a world I had no idea how to navigate or what to expect, and this book was truly the very book I needed in those early days. I just finished reading Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe by Laura Lynne Jackson, and I've started Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose by Colin Campbell. There are others I've read parts of, but I feel that I'm winding down on those books. It is just so strange to me that I can't read fiction, but part of that may be that reading my favorite genre of mystery/crime is too close to the fact that my son was murdered.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many fascinating non-fiction books though. I did read all the way through On Animals by Susan Orleans, with each chapter being about a different animals and a specific story about the animal--backyard chickens, the hardest working donkeys (are in Morocco), a killer whale named Willie (yes, that Willi) and his freeing and resistance to it in Iceland, and more. I've started 8 Bears by Gloria Dickie. Did you know that there are only 8 species of bear left in the world, and the polar bear will be gone by the end of this century. I've got Ten Birds That Changed the World by Stephen Moss waiting for me. And, now I'm adding the Central Park birder's book to my list.
Now, before the year is through, I'm going to attempt to read a fiction book. The first one will be from the following choices: Hop Scot by Catriona McPherson (Catriona dedicated this book to my dear son and we, his family), The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys, A Clue in the Crumbs by Lucy, Sugar Plum Poisoned by Jenn, Keep Your Family Close by Annette Dashofy, Murder Most Royal by S.J. Bennett, Guilt Strikes at Granger's Store by Terry Shames, The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen, and coming up is Hank's One Wrong Word.