Sergei's Reading Log 2019

Here we go again, once more round the sun...

How many books await me in 2019?

No. of books read per month:

January - 19
February - 17
March - 22
April - 14
May - 15
June - 13
July - 12
August - 13
September - 13
October - 15
November - 16
December - 14

Off the mark, at last! :)

1) 4 January 2019 - Death of a Witch - M. C. Beaton 4★s

2) 4 January 2019 - The Wicked Godmother - M. C. Beaton (Marion Chesney) 4★s

3) 5 January 2019 - The Crime at Black Dudley - Margery Allingham 4.5★s

4) 5 January 2019 - The Trumpet of the Swan - E. B. White 4.5★s

>6 Sergeirocks: A slow start, but no stopping you now!

>7 Andrew-theQM: Unlike your six-in-5-days up to 5th Jan. That's better than 1 a day! :D

5) 7 January 2019 - Lady Fortescue Steps Out - M. C. Beaton (Marion Chesney) 3★s

>8 Sergeirocks: Back at work so slows down now. 😔

6) 9 January 2019 - I Am Death (2015) - Chris Carter 2.75★s (group read)

>11 Sergeirocks: Ouch, a low rating but can totally see why.

>12 Andrew-theQM: He shouldn't've eviscerated that woman... It was a step too far! :)

7) 13 January 2019 - The Tiger-Slayer - Gustave Aimard 3.5★s

>14 Sergeirocks: 7 books in 13 days 👏, if you keep this rate up 200 Books is a real possibility this year. 🎯

>15 Andrew-theQM: Fingers crossed!

>13 Sergeirocks: Ewww! I hate it when authors can't quite practice restraint. Or their editors think that something would be a good idea for the readership (or the book sales).

>17 threadnsong: An author to avoid if you don't like gore, (which I don't (!) but put up with because he's one of our group read authors in the Mystery and Suspense Group).

>18 Sergeirocks: But think of all the things you learned. Face sanding 101

intestine measuring...

and you got a brand new hair-do for your new profile picture:)


>18 Sergeirocks: He puts up with us because he loves us....and he knows we would hound him if he didn't.

>19 Carol420: You are determined to broadcast my humiliation, Carol, :D; what was I thinking?

8) 14 January 2019 - Six Against the Yard - The Detection Club 3.5★s

>20 Sergeirocks: It looks like Sergei is wearing a fur hat! Or a 70s Liverpudlian perm!

>22 Andrew-theQM: It's my 'Kevin Keegan' perm, I'll have you know!

>23 Sergeirocks: Kevin was my boyhood hero! So works for me, if it was good enough for King Kevin it’s good enough for our Sergei. 😁

For our American Friends :
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/june-1980-uefa-european-champion...

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/kevin-keegan?mediatype=photography&phra...

>23 Sergeirocks: You are lovely with your Kevin Keegan perm! Absolutely breathtaking!

>24 Andrew-theQM: Thanks for the information. He doesn't look too bad:) Sergei should be proud to copy his look.

9) 15 January 2019 - The Secret of the Snows - Gilbert Chester 4★s (round tuit reread)

10) 16 January 2019 - The Nursing Home Murder - Ngaio Marsh 4★s

11) 21 January 2019 - Father Christmas and Me - Matt Haig 5★s

12) 22 January 2019 - The Alchemist's Secret - Scott Mariani 4★s

13) 22 January 2019 - A Tap on the Window - Linwood Barclay 4.5★s (group read)

14) 23 January 2019 - Rake's Progress - M. C. Beaton (Marion Chesney) 4★s

15) 25 January 2019 - Shadows in Bronze - Lindsey Davis 4.5★s (round tuit)

16) 26 January 2019 - A Matter of Trust - Robin Pilcher 4.5★s (round tuit)

>24 Andrew-theQM: Kevin Keegan - what a handsome chap. Kudos to >23 Sergeirocks: for your applying his look to your life!

>34 threadnsong: Carol chose this picture for me 'cause she thinks it makes me look like Chris Carter: http://www.librarything.com/pic/264315 ;D

>35 Sergeirocks: You handsome little meerkat. It makes you look so dignified:)

17) 29 January 2019 - The Silent Woman - Edward Marston 4.5★s

18) 30 January 2019 - The Restless Dead - Simon Beckett 5★s (group read)

>34 threadnsong: >35 Sergeirocks: >36 Carol420: Well your new image certainly got their attention! 😂

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9p-ZWsdwwIw

>39 Andrew-theQM: I hope there is such a thing as a meerkat salon since now they are all going to want the "Sergei" look:)

>39 Andrew-theQM: >40 Carol420: Trendsetter! 😉

19) 31 January 2019 - The Adventuress - M. C. Beaton (Marion Chesney) 4★s

TOTAL FOR JANUARY - 19 BOOKS

(3 up on last year! 😇)

20) 2 February 2019 - Cupcakes at Carrington's - Alexandra Brown 3★s

>43 Sergeirocks: Good job Sir Meerkat!

>43 Sergeirocks: Well done, a wonderful start to the year! 🙌

>35 Sergeirocks: >36 Carol420: Indeed it does. Love the long tresses.

>47 threadnsong: Those tresses are classic:)

Thanks, Everyone! I'm pleased with the running start - now to keep it up...

21) 2 February 2019 - The Potter's Field - Andrea Camilleri 4.5★s

22) 3 February 2019 - Death of a Valentine - M. C. Beaton 4.5★s

23) 5 February 2019 - Washi Tape Crafts - Amy Anderson 2★s

(I've never heard of Washi Tape so I borrowed this ebook from the library to see what it was all about - basically, it's patterned sticky tape! What a waste of my time. Anybody who is craft-orientated could come up with these ideas on their own.)

24) 6 February 2019 - Mr. Campion's Farewell - Mike Ripley 4★s

25) 8 February 2019 - The Ice Monster - David Walliams 3★s

26) 12 February 2019 - Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death - James Runcie 4★s

27) 12 February 2019 - The Merchant's House - Kate Ellis 4.5★s

28) 14 February 2019 - Spark Joy - Marie Kondo 3.5★s

29) 14 February 2019 - Me and Mr. Carrington - Alexandra Brown 3★s

30) 15 February 2019 - Christmas at Carrington's - Alexandra Brown 3.25★s

31) 17 February 2019 - Ice Creams at Carrington's - Alexandra Brown 3.25★s

32) 17 February 2019 - The Isis Covenant - James Douglas 4★s (round tuit)

33) 20 February 2019 - A Shock to the System - Simon Brett 4.5★s

34) 25 February 2019 - Pharaoh - Wilbur Smith 4★s

35) 25 February 2019 - Set in Darkness - Ian Rankin 5★s (round tuit)

36) 28 February 2019 - The Singing Sands - Josephine Tey 3.5★s

TOTAL FOR FEBRUARY - 17 BOOKS

(Big improvement on last February's 12, ☺️)

37) 1 March 2019 - The Damage Done - James Oswald 4.5★s (group read)

>66 Sergeirocks: Fantastic! 👏

>68 Andrew-theQM: Thanks! I see you had a brilliant February, yourself... :D

38) 2 March 2019 - The Skeleton in the Closet - M. C. Beaton 4★s

39) 3 March 2019 - Too Good to be True - Ann Cleeves 5★s

(A Jimmy Perez story - one of the 'Quick Reads' books.)

>71 Sergeirocks: You’ve reminded me i’ve got a copy of this and need to read it. 👍

40) 5 March 2019 - Midnight - Josephine Cox 3.5★s

41) 6 March 2019 - South by Java Head - Alistair MacLean 4.5★s

42) 6 March 2019 - A Miniature Murder Mystery - Peter Chambers 4.5★s

43) 8 March 2019 - Death of a Sweep - M. C. Beaton 3.5★s

44) 9 March 2019 - Mystery Mile - Margery Allingham 4★s

45) 10 March 2019 - Frederica in Fashion - M. C. Beaton (Marion Chesney) 3.5★s

46) 11 March 2019 - Resolution - Robert B. Parker 4.5★s

47) 14 March 2019 - Absolution by Murder - Peter Tremayne 4.5★s

48) 16 March 2019 - The Last Oracle - James Rollins 5★s + ❤️ (group read)

49) 17 March 2019 - A Game For Heroes - Jack Higgins ❤️ 5★s ❤️

(Only the second time I've ever awarded a double heart!)

>82 Sergeirocks: Go Jack 👏🙌

50) 20 March 2019 - Back to God's Country and Other Stories - James Oliver Curwood 4★s

51) 20 March 2019 - The Secret Adversary - Agatha Christie 4★s

52) 21 March 2019 - Careless Love - Peter Robinson 4.5★s

53) 22 March 2019 - Dead Man's Folly - Agatha Christie 3.5★s

54) 25 March 2019 - A Touch of Frost - R. D. Wingfield 4★s

55) 26 March 2019 - Blood Reckoning - Danielle Ramsay 4★s (round tuit)

56) 27 March 2019 - Look to the Lady - Margery Allingham 4.5★s

57) 29 March 2019 - Appaloosa - Robert B. Parker 5★s

58) 31 March 2019 - Phantom Prey - John Sandford 3.75★s

TOTAL FOR MARCH - 22 BOOKS

(7 more than March 2018! And a new Personal Best, 😇)

>93 Sergeirocks: Phenomenal 🍾 🥂Now to beatvit in April. 😂 8 more than me in March, not been a great reading month.

>94 Andrew-theQM: Thank You, Andrew, I can't see me improving on that, however - especially with only 30 days in April. As it is, I only finished the 22nd book with 8 minutes of the month to spare! Ha!

I'm sure you'll soon catch up on your reading - plenty of holidays on the horizon - something for you to look forward to, 🙂

>95 Sergeirocks: A Whole 480 seconds 😂 Not even close! 🙄 Two weeks to a holiday thankfully, as on my knees.

59) 1 April 2019 - Where Serpents Sleep - C. S. Harris 5★s (group read)

60) 2 April 2019 - From Doon With Death - Ruth Rendell 3★s

>98 Sergeirocks: This one felt so much like historical fiction, despite being contemporary when it was written, I also gave it three stars when I read it a few years ago.

>99 Andrew-theQM: I have to admit, I'm not too impressed by this author - I'm surprised by the hype surrounding her. Perhaps, once again, it is the popularity of the TV series which elevated her to 'greatness'?

61) 4 April 2019 - Footsteps in the Dark - Georgette Heyer 4.5★s

>100 Sergeirocks: Based on this one book I think i’d definitely have to agree.

62) 5 April 2019 - The Vintage Ice Cream Van Road Trip - Jenny Oliver 3.25★s

63) 14 April 2019 - Deborah Goes to Dover - M. C. Beaton (Marion Chesney) 3.5★s

64) 17 April 2019 - The Franchise Affair - Josephine Tey 4.5★s

65) 22 April 2019 - They Found Him Dead - Georgette Heyer 4.5★s

66) 22 April 2019 - Wild Fire - Ann Cleeves 5★s (group read)

67) 23 April 2019 - The Age of Doubt - Andrea Camilleri 5★s

68) 24 April 2019 - Black Money - Ross Macdonald 4.5★s

69) 25 April 2019 - Rainbird's Revenge - M. C. Beaton (Marion Chesney) 4★s

70) 27 April 2019 - The One You Love - Paul Pilkington 3.25★s

71) 28 April 2019 - The Dance of the Seagull - Andrea Camilleri 4.5★s

72) 30 April 2019 - Double Deception - Jan Allen 3.5★s

TOTAL FOR APRIL - 14 BOOKS

(4 down on April last year, 🙁; but still ahead by 11 on books read by this point in the year, 2018, 😀)

73) 3 May 2019 - A Fine Night for Dying - Jack Higgins 4★s

74) 5 May 2019 - The Sparrow - Mary Doria Russell 3★s

75) 5 May 2019 - Shroud for the Archbishop - Peter Tremayne 4.5★s

76) 5 May 2019 - Clouds of Witness - Dorothy L. Sayers 4★s

77) 9 May 2019 - Sail Away - Celia Imrie 3.75★s

78) 14 May 2019 - All Aboard by Cressida McLaughlin 3.5★s (round tuit)

79) 16 May 2019 - The 14th Colony - Steve Berry 3.5★s (group read)

80) 17 May 2019 - The Sentence is Death - Anthony Horowitz 4★s

81) 20 May 2019 - The Poet - Michael Connelly 5★s (round tuit)

82) 21 May 2019 - Brimstone - Robert B. Parker 5★s

83) 24 May 2019 - Agatha Raisin and the Haunted house - M. C. Beaton 4★s (round tuit)

84) 27 May 2019 - The Treasure Hunt - Andrea Camilleri 4.5★s

85) 30 May 2019 - The Wolf at the Door - Jack Higgins 4★s

86) 31 May 2019 - Dead Scared - Sharon Bolton 3.5★s (group read)

87) 31 May 2019 - The Armada Boy - Kate Ellis 4.5★s

TOTAL FOR MAY - 15 BOOKS

(1 up on May last year, and the best May I've had for a few years, 😀)

88) 3 June 2019 - Angelica's Smile - Andrea Camilleri 4★s

89) 5 June 2019 - Traitor's Purse - Margery Allingham 4.25★s

90) 6 June 2019 - Death of Riley - Rhys Bowen 3★s

91) 7 June 2019 - A Piece of Cake - Trisha Ashley 3★s

(Short story)

92) 9 June 2019 - The Roaring Boy - Edward Marston 4★s

93) 11 June 2019 - Game of Mirrors - Andrea Camilleri 4.5★s

94) 12 June 2019 - The Dark Angel - Elly Griffiths 5★s (group read)

95) 17 June 2019 - A Long Shadow - Charles Todd 4★s

96) 20 June 2019 - Cemetery Road - Greg Iles 3.5★s

97) 24 June 2019 - Life Sentence - Judith Cutler 3★s

98) 26 June 2019 - Broken Silence - Danielle Ramsay 4.5★s

99) 28 June 2019 - The Last Witness - Denzil Meyrick 3.5★s

100) 29 June 2019 - Death in August - Marco Vichi 3.5★s

TOTAL FOR JUNE - 13 BOOKS

(4 down on June last year - where did I go wrong? 🙁)

101) 2 July 2019 - An Unhallowed Grave - Kate Ellis 4.5★s (group read)

102) 3 July 2019 - The Laughing Hangman - Edward Marston 4★s

103) 4 July 2019 - Old Black Magic - Ace Atkins 4★s

104) 6 July 2019 - Lord Peter Views the Body - Dorothy L. Sayers 4.5★s

105) 9 July 2019 - Blade of Light - Andrea Camilleri 4.5★s

106) 11 July 2019 - A Voice in the Night - Andrea Camilleri 4★s

107) 16 July 2019 - Five Red Herrings - Dorothy L. Sayers 3★s

108) 22 July 2019 - SS-GB - Len Deighton 4★s

109) 24 July 2019 - The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie 4★s

110) 25 July 2019 - The Dark Side of the Island - Jack Higgins 4.5★s

111) 26 July 2019 - Gently Where She Lay - Alan Hunter 3.5★s

112) 31 July 2019 - Death at Sea - Andrea Camilleri 4★s

TOTAL FOR JULY - 12 BOOKS

(1 up on last July)

113) 1 August 2019 - Silent Scream - Angela Marsons 4.5★s

>112 Sergeirocks: You’ve reminded me I have a copy of Death at Sea, think I’ll have a read of it.

>15 Andrew-theQM: The stories left me wanting more - I suppose I've just become used to the fuller-length/in-depth tales of Montalbano et al. The comedy of Catarella was definitely foreshortened.

114) 3 August 2019 - The Film Mystery - Arthur B. Reeve 3.5★s

115) 4 August 2019 - The Murder on the Links - Agatha Christie 4★s

116) 6 August 2019 - Exocet - Jack Higgins 5★s

117) 9 August 2019 - The Coffin Trail - Martin Edwards 4.25★s (round tuit)

118) 14 August 2019 - Shadow Tyrants - Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison 4★s (group read)

119) 15 August 2019 - Driving Force - Dick Francis 4★s

120) 16 August 2019 - Dark Justice - Jack Higgins 4★s

121) 20 August 2019 - The Camel Club - David Baldacci 5★s + ❤️ (group read - belated)

>168 Sergeirocks: I put your rating on the group read and changed the overall rating to 4.13. I don't think we have ever read a book that everyone gave it such different rating.

>169 Carol420: I loved it. I thought I was perhaps reading a different book to the rest of you, lol! 😉

122) 23 August 2019 - The Ipcress File - Len Deighton 4.5★s

123) 28 August 2019 - The Black Echo - Michael Connelly 3.5★s (group read)

124) 30 August 2019 - The Repentant Rake - Edward Marston 4★s

125) 31 August 2019 - The Unfinished Clue - Georgette Heyer 4★s

TOTAL FOR AUGUST - 13 BOOKS

(5 down on last August. Tut! 😢)

>175 Sergeirocks: Oh no! Oh well it’s a new month, perhaps September will be better for you. 👍

>176 Andrew-theQM: Just have to wait and see, my friend...

126) 3 September 2019 - The Eagle Has Flown - Jack Higgins 4★s

127) 9 September 2019 - Death and the Maiden - Gladys Mitchell 3.5★s

128) 10 September 2019 - The Caller - Chris Carter 4.5★s (group read)

129) 12 September 2019 - Spy Story - Len Deighton 4.5★s

130) 15 September 2019 - The Pyramid of Mud - Andrea Camilleri 4★s

131) 16 September 2019 - Among the Mad - Jacqueline Winspear 4★s

132) 18 September 2019 - Gently with the Painters - Alan Hunter 4★s

133) 20 September 2019 - Gently to the Summit - Alan Hunter 4.5★s

134) 21 September 2019 - Asterix and the Golden Sickle - Goscinny and Uderzo 4.5★s

135) 24 September 2019 - The Funeral Boat - Kate Ellis 4.5★s (group read)

136) 24 September 2019 - Tom Brown's Body - Gladys Mitchell 4★s

137) 29 September 2019 - Past Caring - Robert Goddard 4.5★s

138) 30 September 2019 - Luciano's Luck - Jack Higgins 5★s

TOTAL FOR SEPTEMBER - 13 BOOKS

(2 down on September last year. However, still just slightly ahead on aggregate: 138 this year; 136 at same point last year.)

139) 2 October 2019 - The Twisted Playground - Bryan Forbes 3.25★s

140) 4 October 2019 - The Secret of Chimneys - Agatha Christie 4.5★s

141) 6 October 2019 - Service of All the Dead - Colin Dexter 4★s

142) 8 October 2019 - Pied Piper - Nevil Shute 5★s

143) 9 October 2019 - Broken Music - Sting 3.5★s

144) 12 October 2019 - No Wind of Blame - Georgette Heyer 4★s

145) 14 October 2019 - The Vanishing Holes Murders - Peter Chambers 4★s

146) 17 October 2019 - The Doomsday Key - James Rollins 5★s

147) 20 October 2019 - An Advancement of Learning - Reginald Hill 4★s

>200 Sergeirocks: I’ve just read book 1 of this series so this is next up for me.

>200 Sergeirocks: Inspector Daiziel...I tried one of the books but it was after I had watched every one of them on DVD. As usual one or the other was usually better and I loved the characters on the screen. Just couldn't make them match the characters in the books.

>201 Andrew-theQM: I've not read the first book in the series, I only picked this one because I needed the year for my 'Century' challenge, 🙂. I also have Ruling Passion set up for that, (don't know where it comes in the series).

>202 Carol420: I managed to picture Dalziel and Pascoe from the TV series, I simply glossed over any discrepancies I thought existed, especially with Dalziel. Warren Clarke certainly hit the mark with Dalziel's irascibility, 👍.

148) 22 October 2019 - The Man in the Brown Suit - Agatha Christie 4★s

149) 26 October 2019 - Farewell, My Lovely - Raymond Chandler 3.5★s

150) 28 October 2019 - Written in Bones - James Oswald 4★s (group read)

151) 29 October 2019 - Witch Wood - John Buchan 4.5★s

152) 30 October 2019 - Gently with the Ladies - Alan Hunter 4.25★s

153) 31 October 2019 - The Beckoning Lady - Margery Allingham 4★s

TOTAL FOR OCTOBER - 15 BOOKS

(2 down on last October. And believe it or not, by the end Oct last year I'd also read exactly 153 books in total.)

154) 2 November 2019 - Where Eagles Dare - Alistair MacLean 5★s + ❤️

155) 4 November 2019 - A Morbid Taste for Bones - Ellis Peters 4★s

156) 6 November 2019 - Storm Warning - Jack Higgins 4.5★s

157) 8 November 2019 - Why Shoot a Butler? - Georgette Heyer 4.5★s

158) 13 November 2019 - The Bone Garden - Kate Ellis 4.5★s (group read)

159) 13 November 2019 - The Fashion in Shrouds - Margery Allingham 3★s

160) 15 November 2019 - Pastoral - Nevil Shute 5★s

161) 17 November 2019 - Well Done, Secret Seven - Enid Blyton 3.25★s

162) 17 November 2019 - To Love and Be Wise - Josephine Tey 3.5★s

163) 19 November 2019 - The Godwulf Manuscript - Robert B. Parker 4★s

164) 21 November 2019 - The Guns of Navarone - Alistair MacLean 4★s

165) 22 November 2019 - The Confession of Brother Haluin - Ellis Peters 4.5★s

166) 24 November 2019 - Miss Pym Disposes - Josephine Tey 4.25★s

167) 26 November 2019 - Destination Unknown - Agatha Christie 4★s

168) 27 November 2019 - London Calling - Sara Sheridan 4★s

169) 28 November 2019 - Inspector Cadaver - Georges Simenon 4★s

TOTAL FOR NOVEMBER - 16 BOOKS

(5 down on Nov last year - not good, 😕)

170) 1 December 2019 - Coroner's Pidgin - Margery Allingham 4★s

171) 4 December 2019 - What Remains of Heaven - C. S. Harris 5★s

172) 5 December 2019 - Night Without End - Alistair MacLean 4.5★s

173) 8 December 2019 - The Ministry of Fear - Graham Greene 4.5★s

174) 11 December 2019 - Detection Unlimited - Georgette Heyer 4★s

175) 13 December 2019 - The Secret Life of Cows - Rosamund Young 3.5★s

>233 Sergeirocks: Why is a meerkat reading about cows? Don't you know they will step in the holes in your burrow and break their legs? Then they will fall down and squash you flat and mess everything up. Meerkats and cows DO NOT go together.

>233 Sergeirocks: >234 Carol420: 🙄🤔😳🤯

>234 Carol420: 😊

176) 15 December 2019 - The Russia House - John le Carré 4.5★s

177) 19 December 2019 - Like This, For Ever - Sharon Bolton 5★s (group read)

178) 22 December 2019 - Home - Harlan Coben 5★s

179) 22 December 2019 - Monk's Hood - Ellis Peters 4.5★s

180) 23 December 2019 - A Nest of Vipers - Andrea Camilleri 4★s

>241 Sergeirocks: Can’t beat Camilleri, such a shame he is no longer with us.

>242 Andrew-theQM: He'll be a great loss, but 93 years old - that's not a bad innings.

>243 Sergeirocks: That is very true!

181) 27 December 2019 - Crime at Christmas - C. H. B. Kitchin 3.5★s

182) 31 December 2019 - Rock with Wings - Anne Hillerman 3.75★s

183) 31 December 2019 - The Lost Order - Steve Berry 4★s (group read)

TOTAL FOR DECEMBER - 14 BOOKS

(6 down on Dec last year 😕)

Total for the year 183 (10 down on 2018, but 21 up on the year before that - swings and roundabouts... 🙂)

>248 Sergeirocks: That’s still a great total. Well done! 👏👏👏

>249 Andrew-theQM: Thanks, Andrew, 👍.