seasonsoflove's 75 Books Challenge for 2014!

So glad to be back with this group!

Favorite Books of 2013
-Dare Me by Megan Abbot
-The Child's Book of True Crime by Chloe Hooper
-Capote in Kansas by Kim Powers
-Broken Harbor by Tana French
-Speaking From Among the Bones by Alan Bradley
-The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door by Karen Finneyfrock
-Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon
-The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
-Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
-Cast of Shadows by Kevin Guilfoile
-The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
-The Woman Who Wasn't There by Robin Gaby Fisher and Angelo J. Gugliemo Jr.
-The End of Everything by Megan Abbot
-Whodunnit? Murder in Mystery Manor by Anthony Zuiker
-Sister by Rosamund Lupton
-Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
-The Year of the Gadfly by Jennifer Miller
-The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison
-Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris
-Whodunnit? Murder on Mystery Island by Anthony Zuiker
-Night Film by Marisha Pessl
-How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
-Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
-The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
-We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
-Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
-The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
-The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
-Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell Jr.

January 2014
1. Ripped by Shelly Dickson Carr
2. The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare
3. 12th of Never by James Patterson
4. Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn
5. A Conventional Corpse by Joan Hess
6. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

February 2014
1. Pink Balloons and Other Deadly Things by Nancy Tesler
2. Starter House by Sonja Condit
3. The Textbook Case by Jeffrey Deaver
4. Death, Taxes, and Green Tea Ice Cream by Diane Kelly
5. The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson
6. Quirkyalone by Sasha Cagen
7. Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach
8. Poison Pen by Sheila Lowe
9. The Rich and the Dead by Liv Spector
10. Ripper by Isabel Allende

March 2014
1. Armoires and Arsenic by Cassie Page
2. Blooms and Grooms: The Murder of the Bride by Carol Lee
3. The Art Detective by Phillip Mould
4. Glazed Murder by Jessica Beck
5. Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker
6. The Cat Who Lived High by Lillian Jackson Braun
7. The Good Suicides by Antonio Hill
8. Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China by Paul French
9. She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boyle
10. Help for the Haunted by John Searles
11. Asylum by Madeline Roux

April 2014
1. Skyjack: The Hunt for D.B. Cooper by Geoffrey Gray
2. Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green
3. A Midsummer Night's Scream by R. L. Stine
4. The Innocence Game by Michael Harvey
5. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
6. The Devil and Sherlock Holmes by David Grann
7. The Empty Glass by J.I. Baker
8. The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart
9. Gone by James Patterson

May 2014.
1. New Year Island by Paul Draker
2. The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon
3. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
4. The Cat Who Moved a Mountain by Lillian Jackson Braun
5. A Case of Imagination by Jane Tesh
6. Fatal Enquiry by Will Thomas
7. The Voice Inside My Head by S.J. Laidlaw
8. Deadly Magic by Elisabeth Crabtree
9. Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

June 2014
1. Demons are a Ghoul's Best Friend by Victoria Laurie
2. The Mad Sculptor: The Maniac, the Model, and the Murder That Shook the Nation by Harold Schechter
3. My Age of Anxiety: Fear, hope, dread, and the search for peace of mind by Scott Stossel
4. Shooting Stars and Other Deadly Things by Nancy Tesler
5. Empire of Sin by Gary Krist
6. Fundraising the Dead by Sheila Connolly
7. Capote in Kansas by Ande Parks
8. Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of The Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eichar
9. murder@maggody.com by Joan Hess
10. F is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton

July 2014
1. The D.A. Calls It Murder by Erle Stanley Gardner
2. The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd
3. Cults, Conspiracies, and Secret Societies: The Straight Scoop on Freemasons, The Illuminati, Skull and Bones, Black Helicopters, The New World Order, and many, many more by Arthur Goldwag
3. Nothing to Fear But Ferrets by Linda O. Johnston
4. The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson and Martin Dugard
5. The Skeleton Crew: How Amateur Sleuths are Solving America's Coldest Cases by Deborah Halber
6. Tea-Totally Dead by Jacqueline Girdner
7. The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes
8. The Lady and Her Monsters: A Tale of Dissections, Real-Life Dr. Frankensteins, and the Creation of Mary Shelley's Masterpiece by Roseanne Montillo
9. Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley
10. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
11. The Adventures of Ellery Queen by Ellery Queen
12. Death in a Difficult Position by Diane Killian

August 2014
1. Psycho USA: Famous American Killers You Never Heard Of by Harold Schechter
2. Fetch the Devil: The Sierra Diablo Murders and Nazi Espionage in America by Clint Richmond
3. Murder Games by Elisabeth Crabtree
4. The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer
5. Ten by Gretchen McNeil
6. Souless Volume 2 by Gail Carriger
7. Souless Volume 3 by Gail Carriger
8. Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland
9. Double Indemnity by James Cain
10. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
11. The Mammoth Book of Best British Mysteries 10 edited by Maxim Jakubowski
12. Fooling Houdini: Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks, and the Hidden Powers of the Mind by Alex Stone

September 2014
1. Tie Dyed and Dead by Sharon Short
2. The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas
3. The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah
4. Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich
5. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
6. After Her by Joyce Maynard
7. If It Bleeds by Linda Richards
8. The Long Way Home by Louise Penny
9. Death Cloud by Andrew Lane
10. C is For Corpse by Sue Grafton

October 2014
1. Death by Chick Lit by Lynn Harris
2. The Sherlock Holmes Handbook by Ransom Riggs
3. Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion by Janet Reitman
4. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
5. The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead
6. Lolita by Vladimir Nabakov
7. Dominance by Will Lavender
8. Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
9. River of Madness by Rennie Airth
10. Buzz Kill by Beth Fantaskey

November 2014
1. The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin
2. Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson
3. Bias Cut by Morgan Richter
4. Last Train to Babylon by Charlee Fam
5. Not In My Backyard by Susan Rogers Cooper
6. The Good Nurse by Charles Graeber
7. Dead Air by Mary Kennedy
8. Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong: Reopening the Case of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Pierre Bayard
9. The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
10. Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky
11. 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story by Dan Harris

December 2014

1. The Beautiful and the Wicked by Liv Spector
2. The Best American Crime Writing 2005 edited by James Ellroy
3. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
4. You Have to F*****g Eat by Adam Mansbach
5. Best in Show by Laurien Berenson
6. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell
7. Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History by Antonio Mendez and Matt Baglio
8. Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle
9. Paradise by Toni Morrison
10. The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth L. Silver
11. Obedience by Will Lavender

Welcome back!

Hi Becca, I've dropped a star and hope to do better at staying current with your thread this year.

Hi Becca!

Hi everyone thanks so much for the welcome in the new year!

Welcome, Becca! Good to see you!

Hi Becca! Dropping a star!

*waves hi* Thanks so much!

Dropping by to drop my star!

Hi, and thanks so much!

1. Ripped by Shelly Dickson Carr

A time-traveling, young adult, Jack the Ripper, mystery, this book was right up my alley. The protagonist, a young girl named Katie, travels back in time to try to stop Jack the Ripper from murdering one of her ancestors. She soon finds herself struggling not only with the mystery and the madman, but her own feelings and choices.

Hi, Becca! Hope you're enjoying reading The Goldfinch as much as I am.

Have a wonderful weekend, Becca!

Hi Momma! I'm loving it, thanks for checking in! :)

Thanks so much for the wonderful weekend wishes!

2. The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare

I'm going to see this play at Chicago Shakespeare Theater Friday night, and as this is one of the few Shakespeare plays I haven't read, I wanted to make sure I got it done before I went and saw it.

This play was one of the more confusing ones to me. It seemed to borrow from a few other of Shakespeare's plays, including Midsummer Night's Dream and Twelfth Night, which did actually help me follow along more. The storyline, while somewhat convoluted, was still clever and engaging, and there were some really funny parts (that I can only imagine playing even more hilariously on stage). The ending seemed a little pat, but as I love a happy ending, I had no real complaints.

3. 12th of Never by James Patterson

Another quick, gripping read from Patterson, 12th of Never interweaves multiple mysteries, from the murder of a Project Runway-winning fashion phenom, to a convict on Death Row toying with the police as he offers up the possibility of more bodies, to a sleazebag defense attorney now on trial for killing his wife and daughter. Along the way, there are family dramas and heartaches among the members of the Women's Murder Club, but for me at least the draw was, as always, the great twists and surprises Patterson always pulls out.

The Merry Wives of Windsor is kind of a mishmash, Becca, but I think you'll enjoy seeing it on stage. Put-upon Falstaff is hilarious, and his ego is somehow impervious to humiliation, no matter how many times it's served up.

You were right Dad, it was hilarious on stage!

4. Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn

This was truly one of the finest true-crime books I've read, because it didn't just focus on the crime itself, or the perpetrators at the time of the crime, but really delved into Manson's childhood, what made him what he became, and what made "the Family" who followed him cling so tightly to him. Guinn also expertly weaves in the history of the era, both with the music industry and the political upheaval.

5. A Conventional Corpse by Joan Hess

With the weather so gloomy, and everything else I'm reading so heavy, I needed something light and cozy for the commute to and from work, and this fit the bill perfectly. A group of mystery writers gathered in a small town inn for a convention, everything that could go wrong going wrong, and then a murder occurs. The protagonist is fun, with a great acerbic wit, and the ending of the mystery is quite complex, with a well-done twist.

Well, dang. Two more for the wishlist. Thanks for the reviews!

Hee hee, you're welcome! I've been really lucky with my reading so far this year.

6. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

While her first book, The Secret History, remains one of my favorite books I've ever read (recommended to me by my favorite teacher of all time, my creative writing and English teacher), her second book The Little Friend was a massive disappointment to me (and ten years in the making at that). So I had a little reluctance coming into reading The Goldfinch, but luckily, I needn't have. It was magnificent. The scope of it is breathtaking, the narrator incredible, the writing style beautiful, and the book completely engrossing.

I get the feeling you thought The Goldfinch was pretty good! :-) You convinced me. I know you weren't alone in your massive disappointment about The Little Friend. I don't think anyone expected her to come out with this apparent stunner after that one.

The Manson book sounds terrific, too, although I don't think I could get myself to read it at this point. I did read Helter Skelter years ago.

Becca - Mansun gives me the absolute creeps. Scariest eyes ever. Delurking very belatedly to trust that your weekend was great and to welcome you back into the group. xx

He is very creepy-you are definitely right about the eyes! Thanks so much for the warm wishes and welcome!

7. Pink Balloons and Other Deadly Things by Nancy Tesler

I'm so glad I found this series! The protagonist, Carrie Carlin, is a biofeedback specialist who finds herself at the tail end of a messy and painful separation. This leads to her being swept up in multiple murders, all while possibly meeting the man who can help heal her heart (only problem is he is a cop investigating her for the murders!). The twists and turns are great, as are the romance, and the protagonist is engaging and a great new voice.

8. Starter House by Sonja Condit

This is one of those books that starts out a bit slow, but you should definitely stick with it, because it picks up quickly, and from there you won't be able to put it down. Part ghost story, part mystery, and all psychological, Starter House tells the story of a young couple, expecting a child, who move into a house with a dark history. The ending twist is one I never saw coming, and the book is really well-written as well.

9. A Textbook Case by Jeffrey Deaver

I love Deaver, and especially his Rhyme and Sachs stories, and this did not disappoint. It's a very clever idea, that of a killer using Rhyme's own textbook against him, and very well-executed. I was even completely fooled into thinking I had guessed the murderer's identity, only to have everything expertly turned on its head.

10. Death, Taxes, and Green Tea Ice Cream by Diane Kelly

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. It wasn't even that I didn't enjoy the read, just that it was merely okay, resulting in me being unlikely to pick up this series again. The protagonist is fun (though I definitely don't think she's as awesome as Stephanie Plum, as some reviews suggested), and her romance is cute, but the big problem for me was the lack of an actual mystery in what had been billed in so many reviews as a mystery series. There were a lot of disjointed IRS cases, but no real mystery, and a lot of the book felt like filler not really leading anywhere, just killing time until the denouncement.

11. The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

I have enjoyed the Shades of London series since the beginning of the first book, and this second book did not disappoint. The author does a great job of carrying along the repercussions of events from the first novel, while starting new storylines and introducing new dangers and characters and suspense. And the ending has me desperately searching for a release date for the third book in the series!

Lots of good reading, Becca! Glad the Shades of London series is holding up for you. Please skritch the furry little guy for us.

Thanks Dad! Just gave the furry little guy a skritch and he rolled over and fell back asleep :D

12. Quirkyalone by Sasha Cagen

"quirkyalone: a person who enjoys being single (but is not opposed to being in a relationship) and generally prefers to be alone rather than date for the sake of being in a couple; someone with unique traits and an optimistic spirit; a sensibility that transcends relationship status"

This book was lent to me yesterday, and I couldn't put it down. It's rare to find a book that really speaks to you, that says things you needed to hear from a book, a book that leaves you feeling better about yourself, your true self, and your life choices. While I may not have agreed with every single word, that didn't matter, because this is the kind of book you walk away from feeling better about everything, and more secure in who you are.

So glad you enjoyed the book and identified with so much of it! Go, Becca!

Thanks Momma!

That does sound like an interesting book, Becca. Please introduce me to walklover some time. She is quite attractive, isn't she?

She is very pretty indeed ;)

13. Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach

A re-read for me, this is a great book for so many reasons, not the least of which is how awesome a writer and researcher Mary Roach is. I'm fascinated by the paranormal, but not entirely sure where I stand on it, and I'm fascinated by this book, and know exactly where I stand on it-everyone should read it, and all her books.

14. Poison Pen by Sheila Lowe

Another fun cozy genre mystery, this one features as its protagonist a forensic handwriting expert, which is definitely unique and really interesting. The mystery, a seeming suicide someone believes must be murder, is a gripping one, with lots of twists and turns and surprising revelations, and the protagonist (as well as her romantic interest) is really likeable and smart. This is a great start to what I hope continues to be a great series.

Turns out I'm married to walklover. What a nice surprise!

Although I'm not anywhere close to as interested in the paranormal as you are, Becca, I enjoyed Packing for Mars. Maybe Spook will be my next Mary Roach. Sounds like a fun cozy, too. Your momma will probably be interested in that one.

Hee hee!

I highly recommend all Mary Roach books, even ones you're not sure you'll be interested in.

Mom is actually the one who passed Poison Pen on to me ;D

15. The Rich and the Dead by Liv Spector

(Early Reviewer copy)

This book was everything I hoped it would be from the description. A former detective is given the opportunity to go back in time to solve the Star Island Massacre, the unsolved crime she was obsessed with enough to derail her career. The catch is that she cannot actually stop anyone from being killed, only figure out who the killer is. Along the way, she grows closer to some of the soon-to-be victims, and finds herself emotionally tangled into the past, as she learns secrets, lies, and motives first hand. The ending was a complete stunner, but made total sense looking back, and I really hope this book does well and becomes a series as promised.

Oh, The Rich and the Dead sounds really good, Becca - onto the wishlist it goes!

It was definitely good-highly recommended!

16. Ripper by Isabel Allende

One of the best books I have read this year, one of the best books period, Ripper is amazing, everything I hoped it would be from the description. A string of seemingly unrelated killings occur, and a group who play an online role-playing crime solving game (called "Ripper") attempt to solve each killing, slowly piecing together more than even the police have.

The ending is incredible, to say the least. The way everything comes together, and there is even a twist on top of the twist (none of which I saw coming), puts this book on the top of the heap.

Okay, so... Ripper is good, then? Ha! You've convinced me - wishlisted!

Woo, two good ones, Becca. You've got me intrigued, too. I just saw Ripper made the NYTimes bestseller list, so she's nabbed more than a few readers out there with that one.

#42-Hee hee! So glad its wishlisted!

#43-I really have lucked out with my reading lately, Dad-so glad it made the NYTimes bestseller list-well deserved!

17. Armoires and Arsenic by Cassie Page

A fun, cozy read of a book, Armoires and Arsenic tells the story of Olivia Granville, who has moved from the big city to Darling Valley in an attempt to gain a new start, and build a successfuL antique furniture and interior design business. But when one of her purchases, an old armoire, shows up with a body inside it, Olivia's fresh start may not be so successful after all.

The characters are fun, though it can be a bit hard to keep some of the minor characters straight when they make so few appearances, and the mystery is a unique one (even if the motives are not). This was a great before-bed Kindle read.

18. Blooms and Grooms: The Murder of the Bride by Carol Lee

One of those novelettes that is neither particularly good nor particularly bad, Blooms and Grooms' protagonist is a flower shop owner, who provides flowers for a wedding that ends in a funeral. The writing can get a little flowery and corny, especially for the subject matter, and while the main romance is definitely a nice one, most of the flowery corny writing sections are the romantic ones. The characters are interesting, but the revelations and final twists don't really deliver in the way you want a mystery too. It's a quick read (two nights before bed on my Kindle), and one that requires almost no thinking, which can definitely be a positive sometimes.

Hmm. It's a flower shop mystery, and The writing can get a little flowery? Sounds like one that can grow on you.

Ha! I honestly didn't even realize I had done that!!

Your punning father has never been more proud. :-)

Is Joe trying to germinate the seed of an idea with Becca or does it stem and flower from the pot calling the kettle black so that it is better she leaves it? Enough puns for now.

Ha! I am my father's daughter ;D

19. The Art Detective by Phillip Mould

This is a fascinating book. The author worked on Antiques Roadshow, and also owns a gallery where he and his coworkers handle everything from restoration to purchases to authentication. This book follows some of what Mould considers his most interesting cases-I particularly found interesting the Norman Rockwell Hoax, which read like a mystery with all its twists and turns, and the Queen Elizabeth portrait, which contained a lot of fascinating royal history. While I did occasionally get bogged down on some of the details (I love art, and history, but am in no way an expert on either), I loved this book nonetheless.

Sounds like a intriguing read, Becca. Good for you for delving into it. We should mention it to our friend Brian - I'm pretty sure he's an avid Antiques Road Show fan. Your ma and I have enjoyed that show, too, so I'm going to keep it in mind.

Don't let Paul take the bloom off the rose with his spadeful of questions - your punning was like the first Spring rain in the garden, making us all perk up. Wonderful to see you starting to blossom like this.

Oy, oy I say ;D

20. Glazed Murder by Jessica Beck

This was a really good, highly enjoyable, cozy mystery, and I will definitely be returning to the series sometime in the near future. The setting is an independently owned and run doughnut shop, and the protagonist is a great one-she is human, feisty, conflicted, and fun. The mystery is a really interesting one (who dumped a dead body outside her shop, and why), the supporting characters are great, and the romance is a really nice one.

Hi Becca, The Ripper sounds like a very different sort of book from what Allende usually writes, but it has definitely caught my attention and I am adding it to my wishlist. Have a good weekend.

Hi! It really is an amazing book-I actually haven't read any of her other books, though I have always meant to. Have a good weekend too!

21. Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker

One of the best true crime books I've read, Lost Girls looks at the still-unsolved murders of a group of women who were all working as escorts through Craigslist. The author covers all aspects of the case, from the families to the suspects to the conspiracy theories that still abound (sprung from the gated community the bodies were found near, and the seeming disregard some of the police seemed to have for the victims due to their profession), and covers the victims' lives extensively. The author's writing style is excellent as well.

Another book that I am planning on getting to in a month or so. Glad to see you thought it was very good. :)

So glad you plan to read it-its really worth it!

22. The Cat Who Lived High by Lillian Jackson Braun

The Cat Who... books are the comfort food of books for me. One of my best friends and I used to read these all the time, and trade them back and forth with each other. Every once in a while, I revisit one of them I happen to still have on my shelf. This was a particularly good one. Qwilleran, the former big-city reporter with the epic mustache who now loves his life in the country, returns to the big city to investigate the Casablanca, a historical building (now full of apartments full of very unique tenants) that is under threat of being torn down. Qwilleran, and his two cats, Koko and Yum Yum, move into the penthouse apartment, where it just happens that a violent murder and supposed suicide occurred. Koko uncovers the hidden bloodspot, and Qwill is on the case, putting together clue and meeting interesting individuals along the way. This was a great before-bed book, very cozy and fun.

23. The Good Suicides by Antonio Hill

(Early Reviewer copy)

While this book started out slow (which may have been because I haven't read the first book in the series and thus wasn't immediately connected to the characters), it picked up quickly, and I found myself unable to put it down. The plot is very unique and well done: a group of co-workers return from a company retreat, and start committing suicide after receiving a mysterious picture of dogs hung from a tree. Weaved into this is a continued storyline from the first novel, the mysterious disappearance of the main inspector's wife. While I preferred when the book centered on the mysterious photography and suicides (again probably because of not having read the first book), I enjoyed this book as a whole, and would definitely recommend it.

24. Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China by Paul French

In Midnight in Peking, Paul French expertly tells the story of an (according to officials) unsolved crime, committed during the period of China's history when invasion by Japan seemed imminent. Pamela Werner's body is found in a place believed to be haunted by fox spirits, and at every turn, governmental involvement, the class system, and secret keeping seem to prevent her murderer from ever being brought to justice. Meanwhile, old China is living in fear and apprehension as rumors swirl and the Japanese grow ever closer.

French presents a solution to this true-life mystery using the independent research Pamela's father was forced to do himself, when he had nowhere else to turn, and his daughter seemed doomed to remain unavenged. The writing style is excellent, and the research meticulous. I highly recommend this book for both history and true crime readers.

Woo, lots of good reading, Becca!

I wonder whether some thoughtful and bonus-point-deserving husband originally bought Glazed Murder for your mom? It just sounds like one where that might have happened.

I thought the Cat Who books started getting weak as the series went on. I can't remember the title, but we all listened to a particularly lousy one on a car trip a few years ago, and that was it for me. I'm glad The Cat Who Lived High was a good read for you. The ones where she's on her game as an author are fun.

The premise of that Good Suicides one - people killing themselves after getting a mysterious picture of dogs hung from a tree - sounds like one of those Japanese horror movies, except the movie would probably have a video of the dogs.

Thanks Dad, I continue to be very lucky :)

Why yes, I believe that is the case with Glazed Murder ;D

They definitely got weaker as the series went on. The ones where she is writing well are super fun, I lucked out that the one I had was one of those.

Good Suicides was definitely creepy-I think they are actually making it into a miniseries, but I might be mixing it up with something else.

25. She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan

That rare book that manages to be educational and entertaining, while making you think and making you feel, She's Not There, simply put, shows readers not only what it means to be transsexual, but what it means to be human.

*Happy weekend wave*

*Happy weekend wave back*!

26. Help for the Haunted by John Searles

One fateful night, Sylvie Mason's entire life changes when her parents are murdered in a church, a church they felt pressured to stop attending because of their work. As Sylvie understands it, her parents "helped the haunted", traveling around the country giving lectures and praying over those who seemed to be possessed. But there is much Sylvie doesn't understand, about her parents, about her older sister, and about that night.

27. Asylum by Madeline Roux

Take one very creepy setting (a former psychiatric hospital with a dark and twisted past, now used as a dorm for a summer school program), three new friends with secrets and unknown ties to their new summer home, and some actual old photographs found in old asylums (reminiscent of Miss Peregrine's Home...), and you've got a really good, gripping young adult novel in what is luckily a new trilogy. I can't wait to read the second book.

28. Skyjack: The Hunt for D.B. Cooper by Geoffrey Gray

A fascinating and comprehensive look at a crime that can never really be solved (no matter how hard those affected by the "Cooper Curse" try, Skyjack covers the suspects and theories that have been thrown around since the infamous hijacking and parachute drop by D.B. Cooper. The author has a great irreverent writing style, especially when he writes about being captured by the Cooper Curse himself, and as someone who is fascinated by D.B. Cooper, I learned a lot.

29. Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green

A young adult mystery very much in the vein of the first Pretty Little Liars books (and as good as those first in the PLL series were), Truth or Dare cleverly plays on the game referenced in its title, as three teenage girls receive mysterious notes instructing them to complete escalating dares or face dire consequences. The end sets this up to be a suspenseful and gripping series, and I can't wait to read the second book (coming out next month). I only hope that this series stays at its peak, and doesn't go downhill like Pretty Little Liars did so drastically.

30. A Midsummer Night's Scream by R.L. Stine

Junior high me, the one who loved books by Christopher Pike, would have loved this book. Unfortunately it was published about fifteen years too late to get that kind of reception for me. This book started off promising, getting a storyline going about a supposedly cursed movie set, where a horror movie is being resurrected-to much hesitation considering the previous time anyone attempted to film the script, three actors died for real.

Then unfortunately the book veers towards the ridiculous, with a silly romance plot trying to mimic William Shakespeare's classic A Midsummer Night's Dream. It also does seem ridiculous that filming would continue on this second version of the movie with all the bloody "accidents" that start occurring, especially considering the narrator is starring in it and she is the daughter of the film's producers.

How do you sleep at night, Becca? I'd have to keep one eye open for something creeping through the window after that reading you've been doing. Good reviews - I hadn't realized Pretty Little Liars had gone downhill fast.

Hee hee! That's why I try to read lighter stuff before bed ;)

Yeah, Pretty Little Liars the book series started out fantastic, but is so ridiculous now I've stopped reading. The TV show is still really good though.

31. The Innocence Game by Michael Harvey

A twisty mystery that is not what it first appears to be, The Innocence Game centers around a fictionalized version of The Innocence Project. Three students in a summer seminar attempt to prove a string of supposedly-solved murders were actually done by a serial killer, but nothing is what it seems.

32. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

This is a re-read of a favorite for me. I had read this and Sharp Objects before Gone Girl came out, and wanted to re-read them before their respective movies come out. Dark Places is just as amazing as the first time I read it. It tells the story of Libby Day, whose entire family was famously murdered in what was called a satanic massacre, and whose testimony as a young child (and only survivor) put her older brother in jail as the murderer.

Now Libby, never really having grown up, desperate for money, agrees to meet with the Kill Club, an underground group with a passion for examining famous crimes, and (for cash) to meet with some of the main people involved in the events of that night. Along the way, she is forced to confront the idea that she may have put an innocent person in jail, and that the killer may still be out there.

Happy Easter!

Hmmm. I've read Chicago mysteries by Michael Harvey and liked them. I'll have to think about reading this one. I don't know how you re-read Gillian Flynn!

Happy Easter to you too! What a cute pic!

I've never read anything else by Michael Harvey, Dad, but I definitely enjoyed this one. And Gillian Flynn is just so good I can't help but re-read her!

33. The Devil and Sherlock Holmes by David Grann

Another re-read of another favorite, this is an amazing collection of non-fiction essays exploring a variety of fascinating and unique stories, including a Sherlock Holmes fanatic who dies a very mysterious death, a grown man who poses as a missing teenage boy (the subject of the amazing documentary The Imposter), and an author whose postmodern novel may contain clues to a murder he may have committed.

34. The Empty Glass by J.I. Baker

Described as a blending of fact and legend, The Empty Glass imagines what could have really happened the night Marilyn Monroe died. The narrator, the deputy coroner, has his interest piqued when he first enters the scene of Monroe's death, and finds himself pulled into a paranoid spiral and a conspiracy far beyond anything he could have dreamed up-or did he dream it up? One of the most interesting parts of this book is the attempt to figure out just how reliable our narrator actually is, particularly given the mysterious interview room we find ourselves in in the first few pages.

35. The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Let me preface this by saying that while I enjoyed this book, and while I fully recognize it is a product of its time, I did not enjoy the language used to describe the African-American character in the book. Definitely prejudiced there, to say the least.

While that certainly did jolt me out of my enjoyment of the book whenever it occurred, as a mystery itself this was a fun read. It was wonderfully hokey, full of late-night robbery attempts, mysterious tramps, missing money, kidnappings, romance that seemingly could never be, disturbing noises that seemingly could only come from ghosts...I couldn't always keep the more minor characters straight (there were a lot of them), but the fun of this novel was hard to ignore.

>80 seasonsoflove: I recall reading that one in the last 20 years or so and thinking it didn't work as well as I remembered it being from my early reading of it in the 1970s.

>81 thornton37814:-I definitely think the language was the main issue for me.

36. Gone by James Patterson

Another one of Patterson's quick, gripping reads, Gone features a truly horrifying villain, and a strong protagonist, with a lot of suspense and some great chapter cliffhangers.

37. New Year Island by Paul Draker

This is by far one of the best examples of a book that you literally can't put down, because every time you think about doing something else, like eating during your lunch break, going to bed, or getting off at the right train stop, something else happens in the story that makes you have to turn to that next page. Even at almost 800 pages, this book flew by.

A unique, creative take on a fascinating combination of social psychology, And Then There Were None, Survivor, Lord of the Flies, and The Hunger Games, this is a book with a fascinating description that makes you have to buy it, and a story that more than lives up to that initial description. I don't want to give anything away, because this is a book full of amazing twists and turns. All I can say is, go read this.

>83 seasonsoflove: Wow, that's quite a recommendation! I laughed at "getting off at the right train stop" - I sure know that problem, when reading a gripping book. Did you read it on your Kindle?

I did read it on my kindle, luckily cause its so big. It gets a little strange at times, especially towards the end, but I found I didn't care, I was so into the book.

I figgered it was on your Kindle, given the size. I put it on my WL for somewhere down the road.

It's only $3.99 on Amazon for the kindle ;) I really want to get his second book, it's only $3.99 too, but I figure I should wait and not just spend more money.

Probably wise, although that's got to be hard to resist.

Not gonna lie, I keep going to the Amazon kindle page for it, almost clicking on it, and then reminding myself once again that I just bought a bunch of Kindle books. I've actually avoided almost buying it today :D

Hi Becca! Finally stumbling my way over here. Sorry, to miss you at the Meet-Up. We had a blast and it was great to have your Mom attend.

I have had The Devil and Sherlock Holmes on my WL, since loving The Lost City of Z. I'll have to find a copy of that one.

I heard Tana French has a new one coming out, later this summer! Yah!

Hi Mark! I was sorry to miss you guys too, but I'm hoping to make it to the next one!

I have a copy of The Lost City of Z on my shelf, and definitely want to read it soon.

Yay for a new Tana French!!

38. The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon

Jennifer McMahon is one of my all-time favorite authors, and this book just continues to confirm why I love her novels.

A serial killer once stalked Reggie's hometown, and seemingly took Reggie's mother away from her. But over two decades later, Reggie's mother has returned, and the dormant serial killer has as well. Weaving in stories from Reggie's past and her current situation, McMahon expertly creates suspense and an incredible twist ending.

That does sound like a Becca book! You probably were reading it before going to sleep, right? Crazy woman. But I can see why she's a favorite author of yours.

I actually was smart and didn't read it before bed :D I was tempted, but I did actually want to get some sleep ;)

Congrats on a successful production of the Three Little Piggies Musical! Hope you can relax a bit today.

Long story, but I managed to create four new cafes simultaneously. We finally settled on this one: https://www.librarything.com/topic/173921#4689282

Your post was on another one - I moved it over to one at the link above.

I know, your dad, what weirdness is he going to be up to next?

Hee hee! Always coming up with ways to top yourself Dad ;)

39. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
While of course the ending didn't make me happy, it also didn't make me angry, like I know it has others-it made sense within the context of the world Roth had created. Doesn't mean I have to like it, but I get it. It was actually the beginning of the book I had the most trouble with-it may have been that it had been too long since I had read the previous book in the series, but I had a really hard time getting into Allegiant, and had to force myself to keep reading. Once I got about halfway through, it really picked up, and I got really into it, but I wish it had been that interesting from the start.

40. The Cat Who Moved a Mountain by Lillian Jackson Braun

This is a series with its ups and downs, and unfortunately this is one of the weaker entries. It starts out very intriguing, with Qwilleran taking a vacation in a quirky mountain town to try to figure out what to do with the rest of his life, only to discover he has moved into a house where a murder occurs. The characters are all interesting and appropriately quirky, but the problem lies in the mystery seeming to be of secondhand importance to these characters-and the ending leaves a lot of questions unanswered.

This has been a day for finishing books in progress!

41. A Case of Imagination by Jane Tesh

A fun, free Kindle mystery, this book centers around a private investigator and her best friend, a fake psychic who is intrigued by his deceased uncle's supposedly haunted house. The protagonist, a reluctant former beauty queen, gets hired to figure out who is sabotaging the local beauty pageant, and, as things progress, who murdered the lead contender-all while dealing with her feelings for her best friend and the repeated appearances of his snobby girlfriend.

42. Fatal Enquiry by Will Thomas

(Early Reviewer copy)

I was beyond excited to get an ER copy of this book, and it did not disappoint!

When his mentor and employer, Cyrus Barker, suddenly finds his arch-nemesis welcomed back to England with open arms, Thomas Llewelyn finds his entire world turned upside down. Events happen at a fast and furious pace, and Thomas keeps his readers with their hearts in their throats as they stay up late to find out what happens to these two beloved and fascinating characters. I especially loved getting more insight into Barker's past, and getting more glimpses into Barker and Llewelyn's relationship. Thomas is back to fine form with this entry in the series.

Oh good, glad to hear it, Becca. The last one disappointed me. I'm glad he's back in form.

Your ma is peacefully slumbering and doing well in her recovery. It's going to take a while, but so far so good.

You will definitely enjoy it I think!

Glad to hear about Mom-its been good to see you guys today :)

43. The Voice Inside My Head by S.J. Laidlaw

(Early Reviewer copy)

A well-written and gripping young adult novel, The Voice Inside My Head follows the narrator, a teenage boy named Luke, as he searches for his sister, reported drowned after she disappeared on an island where she was working for the shark research center. While this book is an intriguing mystery with a well-done ending, it is also the story of Luke's journey and his relationship with his sister.

These are the books my amazing parents gifted me for my birthday:



And this book-related gift:

Looks like a great haul, Becca. And Happy Birthday as well. :)

Happy Birthday, Becca! Best daughter we ever had, by a long shot.

You're getting reactions to your book haul over on my thread, too.

Hope you have a wonderful day, and the kids enjoy their sugar-free goodie bags.

Thanks so much Dad!! I try, I try ;)

Ooo I will have to go check out the reactions to that fabulous book haul!

So far, the day is excellent :)

Wow, what a book haul! And I love the bracelet!

Thanks! I'm really excited about the books and bracelet :) And I was able to use some birthday money to get more books!

44. Deadly Magic by Elisabeth Crabtree

The Grace Holliday cozy mystery series is a lot of fun, with entertaining characters, humor, and well-done mysteries. In this, the first book in the series, Grace is working under a tyrannical boss at a failing toy company. When a magic stunt at the boss' birthday party goes tragically awry, Grace finds herself drawn into a mystery where nothing is what it seems.

Happy Birthday, Becca! Love that book haul! Hope to see you at Lit-Fest!

Thanks Mark! There are more coming from Amazon that I used some birthday money for :) I will definitely be at Printer's Row that Sunday with Dad!

45. Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

I am a big fan of Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series, and am now a big fan of her Finishing School series. It became even more fun when I realized that quite a few of the characters are the younger versions of side characters that show up in the Parasol Protectorate series!

The heroine, Sophronia, is considered far too unladylike by her mother and sisters, and is sent off to a finishing school. But as she quickly learns, this is no ordinary finishing school, and she is about to have some extraordinary adventures.

Your father guided me here. Hi Becca and congrats on your birthday! I starred you! Any other family I need to be guided to?

Hi! Thank you so much for the star and the birthday wishes! The other family member on here is my mom, walklover.

Now I have to go and find your mom!

Let me know if you can't find her, I'll be happy to help!

46. Demons Are a Ghoul's Best Friend by Victoria Laurie

A book that combines my love for mysteries and the paranormal, plus some cozy chick lit, this was a fun and exciting read. There were a lot of twists and turns in getting to the solution, including mysterious events from the past (another thing I love to read about). This is definitely one of those series I recommend for a fun quick read.

47. The Mad Sculptor: The Maniac, the Model, and the Murder That Shook the Nation by Harold Schechter

This is a true crime book that certainly lives up to its title. Robert Irwin, a talented sculptor with a troubled childhood, an inability to hold down a job due to his raging temper, and an obsessive passion for a mode of living he calls "visualization", is in and out of prisons and institutions throughout his life. But when he becomes obsessed with a woman, he and her family, and their sordid story, take center stage in all the newspapers and living rooms of the nation.

Ha! That title is so Becca! Glad the book lived up to it.

Are you going to list your book fair book haul, or is it too hard to type in the titles of that many books? :-) I can't remember everything you got, but I know you had awfully good luck, particularly with your WL ones.

Hee hee!

I should have taken a picture, but didn't, and they're all put away on different shelves. The majority were true crime, non-fiction (involving cults, secret societies, conspiracies, and Houdini), or mysteries of some variety.

48. My Age of Anxiety: Fear, hope, dread, and the search for peace of mind by Scott Stossel

Every once in a while, a book comes along into your hands right when you need it, and this was one of those books. Exploring not only the historical and scientific backgrounds and changing beliefs regarding anxiety, Stossel also shares his personal stories with his and his family's anxiety disorders.

There's a beautiful line in there from one of his therapists that continues to stick with me:

"You're more resilient than you know," he says. "You're always saying, 'I can't handle this' or 'I can't handle that'. Yet you handle a lot for someone with anxiety-you handle a lot, period."

"Trying is all anyone can ask."

49. Shooting Stars and Other Deadly Things by Nancy Tesler

This is one fun, unique mystery series. The protagonist, Carrie Carlin, is a biofeedback therapist, dating a cop, who always seems to find herself involved in some sort of strange mystery. This time, it involves someone posing as a bike messenger throwing ninja stars as their method of committing murder. Carrie must figure out what it all means, all while staying out of danger herself, and deciding if she's ready to marry for the second time.

50. Empire of Sin by Gary Krist

(Early Reviewer copy)

I was really excited to get this book, as it was one I was planning on buying myself when it came out. This was definitely an interesting read-my one complaint is that I was hoping for more about The Axman of New Orleans, being a true crime buff. But the author has clearly done his research, and writes well, which is always a good combination. Both sides of New Orleans-the so-called sinners and the reformers-are given equal page (though frequently its the sinners who are far more interesting), and Krist also manages to cover the history of jazz as well.

51. Fundraising the Dead by Sheila Connolly

I struggle to call this cozy mystery an actual mystery, and I think that is where the problem lies for me. There is a murder, and some thefts, but these happen/are discovered quite early on, and the book moves very slowly from there, with very little investigative work and more talking about things that have already happened. The solution does have a little twist, which is good, but I just wish the rest of the book had had a better pace and flow, and more actually mystery to it, considering its billed as a "museum mystery".

52. Capote in Kansas by Ande Parks

This is one amazing graphic novel, and one amazing story. It imagines what it was like for Truman Capote to go and gather what he needed to write In Cold Blood, and the toll this took on him emotionally and artistically. I picked this up for what I thought would be a few minutes before I had to leave to babysit, and ended up reading it on the walk to the train, and on the train, until I had finished it (and looked so engrossed in it apparently that I convinced the woman next to me on the train to pick up a copy as well).

Woo, you've been a busy bee, Becca. I'm so glad Capote in Kansas turned out to be that good. I've been reading the same book as someone on the train on occasion, and had some fun discussing it, but I've never convinced someone on the train to read what I'm reading. How great!

I can't tell you how proud I am to have a daughter who can say, "I was hoping for more about The Axman of New Orleans."

Reading always helps me feel better :) So I've been reading even more than usual, which is saying a lot ;)

She actually stopped me on the platform to ask me questions about it once we got off! Luckily I was running early for my babysitting job.

Hee hee!

53. Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of The Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eichar

A fascinating true story that seems to be little known, at least in the States, Donnie Eichar gathers all the evidence, old and new, surrounding what happened when nine highly experienced hikers mysteriously died in the Ural Mountains-evidence that includes radiation, a missing tongue, abandoned clothing, and knife slashes through their tent. The explanation Eichar offers up, after carefully examining and discounting all other theories, makes a lot of sense, and he does seem to have solved the mystery in a convincing manner. This is definitely a fascinating and recommended read.

Becca, I think I picked that one up in a recent ebook sale. Your review makes me very glad I did!

It's a really gripping read, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

54. murder@maggody.com by Joan Hess

While I enjoy Hess' mysteries, I hadn't expected to particularly like this one-I hadn't realized it was part of a different series of hers than I usually read, and I was concerned that she would handle the small-town setting in far too quaint a manner in attempts to be funny. But the book really was funny, and the characters definitely characters, and I didn't mind the mystery taking a while to develop because once it took off, it kept going. I'm not rushing to grab another book in this series, but I wouldn't say no to picking one up at a book sale like I did this one.

Nice reviews, Becca. I'm glad Dead Mountain turned out to be as good as you hoped, and the Hess better than you feared.

Thanks Dad!

>127 seasonsoflove: I read one of the very early Maggody mysteries by Hess, maybe even the first one, but never kept going with it. I don't think I hated it, but in a series I have to enjoy spending time with the characters to make it a habit and I guess those characters just didn't quite have it. Book sale acquisitions sounds very sensible!

>130 rosalita: That's how I feel about a couple series, where if they happen to turn up at a book sale, I will read more of the series, otherwise I don't go searching for them.

55. F is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton

I found myself really grabbed by this book-I've read very little in this series, and picked this up on a whim, and I'm glad I did. The protagonist is really engaging, and the mystery was gripping and interesting. It was a quick, good read, which I always appreciate. I have a few more of this series on my to be read shelf, and I'm glad I do.

I should try Sue Grafton some time, particularly given your positive reaction. Don't know why I haven't been drawn to that series. Did you try any before, or is "F" your first one?

I think quite a long time ago I read one or two, but then a sale had a bunch of them for really cheap, so I have a few on my shelves again.

OK, thanks. I've yet to see anyone on LT strongly "warbling" about the series, but I should take a look for meself one of these days.

I've read all of the Grafton alphabet series. Some of them are very good and others are just good. The characterization is solid; Kinsey is a winning protagonist and her octogenarian landlord Henry is adorable. I think the series suffers by having been drawn out so long in the writing that the time it's set in (the 1980s, pre-cellphone and personal computer) is recent enough to just seem hopelessly dated without being charming, a la Agatha Christie or something like that. That's just my take on it. I fully intend to plow through the last three letters in the series, though.

That's a really good description of the one I've read, I totally agree.

Happy Thingaversary, young lady! Books and pups - it's the lush life.

Thanks Dad! It is the lush life :)

Happy Thingading!!

Happy Thingaversary, Becca!

Thanks so much everyone!

56. The D.A. Calls It Murder by Erle Stanley Gardner

Gardner is a favorite author of mine, and I love his D.A. series as well as his Perry Mason series. This is an excellent entry in the series, with a complicated yet able to follow plot involving a Hollywood movie star, a minister, a misidentified body, five thousand dollars, and a lawsuit over a will. Definitely recommended!

57. The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

I picked this up because I love gothic and young adult, and was really intrigued by the idea of such a twist on the story of The Island of Dr. Moreau. For about the first half of the book, I was disappointed-it moved very slowly, and things seemed to take forever to build. Then all of a sudden the twists started coming, and the book became amazing. I went from forcing myself to keep reading to sitting for an hour straight unable to put the book down until it was done, and I'm now planning to read the second entry in the series.

58. Cults, Conspiracies, and Secret Societies: The Straight Scoop on Freemasons, The Illuminati, Skull and Bones, Black Helicopters, The New World Order, and many, many more by Arthur Goldwag

This was a book right up my alley, as I am fascinated by cults, conspiracies, and secret societies, and this book did not disappoint. Extensively covering many I had heard of, and many I hadn't, this was a really interesting read.

Sounds good!

>143 seasonsoflove: I am also a big fan of Perry Mason, but oddly I've never read any of Erle Stanley Gardner's other series. I wonder if they have any of those at the library here? Worth checking out.

>146 drneutron:-It was really good!

>147 rosalita:-I would definitely try to find the D.A. books, they are really good!

59. Nothing to Fear But Ferrets by Linda O. Johnston

A fun, light, cozy mystery read, this series features a former lawyer, now pet setter, whose reality show star tenants are hiding illegal ferrets-who are then accused of murder. While the description may sound ridiculous, the book is a lot of fun, and has a good twist at the end.

60. The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson and Martin Dugard
I've always been interested in Ancient Egypt, and I tend to really enjoy Patterson's novels. This was a creative and interesting look at the death of King Tut. I could have done without the chapters centered around Patterson himself, but really interested the historical aspects, knowing full well Patterson may have taken some creative license with some.

61. The Skeleton Crew: How Amateur Sleuths are Solving America's Coldest Cases by Deborah Halber

This was a fascinating, well-written, well-researched read. Halber not only looks at cold cases solved and unsolved, but digs deep into the fascinating world of the web, where anonymity and the desire for fame can lead to clashes and scandals. Highly recommended read.

62. Tea-Totally Dead by Jacqueline Girdner

This was another book I was concerned might be too quirky, but the author rode the line well, producing a fun and well-done read. When Kate's boyfriend asks her to accompany him to a family reunion, Kate is quickly thrust into a family that defines dysfunctional-a scene ripe for murder. Kate must navigate the murky waters, keep her boyfriend sane, and solve multiple murders.

63. The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes

This was a very creepy horror classic, full of psychological suspense. A mysterious gentleman lodger appears at the home of a man and woman desperately in need of money. At first, his strange requests don't concern them, until the woman begins to fear her mysterious savior may be the serial killer all of England is searching for. In the hands of a lesser author, this book could have seemed drawn out, but somehow every chapter managed to be interesting and suspenseful.

Lots of good reading, Becca! My favorite title is Nothing to Fear But Ferrets. Makes me think of Bucky in Get Fuzzy.

I'm glad The Lodger turned out to be as good as you hoped. I'm not strong on horror novels, and hadn't heard of this classic before.

Thanks Dad! Ha, I love the idea of Bucky writing it!

The Lodger was really good-I actually hadn't known it was a novel until after I saw the later movie version.

64. The Lady and Her Monsters: A Tale of Dissections, Real-Life Dr. Frankensteins, and the Creation of Mary Shelley's Masterpiece by Roseanne Montillo

Part history, part science, part biography, part literary study, part true crime, The Lady and Her Monsters is a fascinating read. Montillo skillfully navigates the history of everything from corpse stealing to galvanism, all while delving into the lives and emotions of Mary and Percy Shelley, as well as Lord Byron and a myriad of other colorful and interesting historical figures. For anyone interested in literature, science, or just Frankenstein in general, I would definitely recommend this read.

65. Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley

This is one of those psychological mysteries that sucks you in and doesn't let you go. I'm a sucker for mysteries circling around long buried secrets, and this book delivers those in stunning and surprising droves. There's so much going on, but it never feels overwhelming, and every storyline is followed through and makes sense.

The narrator, Gus, has had to return to the small town of Starvation Lake, the place where he is known as the goalie who lost the championship hockey game, after getting fired from a big newspaper in Detroit. Not long after he returns to his hometown, the snowmobile of his former hockey coach, believed dead in a supposed accident many years ago, resurfaces from under the frozen lake, setting off an incredible chain of events.

>148 seasonsoflove: I heard an interview with the author of The Skeleton Crew on NPR the other day, and it sounded really interesting. Your review pushed it onto my wishlist.

Also, love the pics of you and Sherlock at your grandfather's place over on Joe's thread. Sherlock is taller than I thought! But every inch is as cute as ever.

I would love to hear that interview-the book is really interesting! So glad it's on your wishlist :)

Thanks so much! I love those pics too, some of my favorites. It's funny, he is pretty tall, I always joke he has kangaroo legs ;D

Kangaroo legs — I love it!

It took me a while to remember which NPR podcast or program I had heard it on, but I found it. It was a show called "On the Media". Here's a link to that segment of last week's program: http://www.onthemedia.org/story/online-supersleuths/

Thank you so much for tracking it down-I look forward to listening to it!

66. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

This seemed to me to be the book of the summer, the one everyone was talking about, the one with a twist at the end you never saw coming and didn't want spoiled for you.

So I put it on hold at the library, and stopped to grab it today before my bus rides to and from my doctor's appointment. And I just finished it. It was one of those books I literally could not put down.

I don't want to say anything about the story in case I was to give something away. So instead I will quote the book jacket.

Read it.

And if anyone asks you how it ends, just lie.

Ha! Intriguing, Becca. BTW, I just saw the We Were Liars is #10 on the NYTimes YA Bestseller list, so you apparently have a lot of company in liking it.

Yeah, it really seems to be the book of the summer-it's being mentioned all over the place.

Send it over to your ma and pa - or is it a Kindle version?

I took it out from the library as I'm trying not to buy anymore books right now, but I can vouch now that its definitely a book worth buying.

Okey-doke, thanks. I may try the library, too, although there may be a wait given its popularity.

I didn't have to wait too long-there are something like 75 copies in the system, and it only took about two weeks for me to get the copy.

Ah, okay. Sounds good. Thanks, Hon.

67. The Adventures of Ellery Queen by Ellery Queen

A collection of intriguing, puzzling mystery short stories, each story is unique and the solutions are interesting and hard to guess. The portrayal of women isn't always stellar, but the mysteries are.

68. Death in a Difficult Position by Diana Killian

This was another cozy genre mystery I picked up from a box at the book fair, and I'm very glad I did. I love that the genre niche is yoga, which was weaved in really nicely into the storyline. The main character is great, as are the characters that surround her, and the mystery was really intriguing and well-done. I hope to find more books in this series in the future.

69. Psycho USA: Famous American Killers You Never Heard Of by Harold Schechter

As someone who has read a lot of true crime, this book impressed by living up to its name-out of all the crimes it discussed, I had only heard of maybe five. Schechter does a really good job of tying in the crimes with their historical eras and social settings, and has even made a point of collecting and including things like "murder ballads" (songs written and sung about the crime right after it occurred). Schechter is quickly becoming a go-to true crime writer for me.

I understand Sherlock always read Psycho USA - what did he think?

It's impressive that Schechter came up with so many you weren't familiar with, as you're one of the most knowledgeable people I know when it comes to horrible death, mayhem, and really scary stuff

Looking forward to seeing you and the furry guy soon!

He thought it was well-done also ;)

Ha!

The furry guy and I had a great time with you guys!

That was lots of fun, Becca, although we need to find a crepe that appeals to Sherlock (well, if any of ours had fallen on the ground, he probably would've loved that).

>156 seasonsoflove: As you know, your mama and I just devoured We Were Liars. Awfully hard to put down. An LTer (katiekrug)says If I Stay is even better, so I'm tracking that one down.

So glad you liked We Were Liars! I haven't read If I Stay either, but I definitely want to.

I agree that any crepe that fell on the ground Sherlock would have thoroughly enjoyed, though anything with chicken or duck in it would probably be his first choice ;D

70. Fetch the Devil: The Sierra Diablo Murders and Nazi Espionage in America by Clint Richmond

(Early Reviewer book)

What most impressed me about this book is how well the author made the time period come alive. This book explores the still unsolved murders of two American women traveling alone through Southwest America, and how it is highly possible that their murders were not connected to drug cartels or highway robbery, as many originally believed, but instead to Nazi espionage right in America. The author really weaves in little known (at least to me) history of espionage in America leading up to World War II, and proposes a highly believable solution to the murders.

WOW, 70 books already!!!! Fetch the Devil is now on the tbr pile. Happy day to you. And, thanks for the great description of your most recent read.

That does sound good, Becca. Way to go on the 70!

I'm in the middle of Fetch the Devil too. You've really captured my thoughts on it.

Thanks so much everyone!!!

Hi Becca! Just passing and waving.

*waves back* Hi!

71. Murder Games by Elisabeth Crabtree

This is a really fun series, and this entry in the series did not disappoint. The main characters of Kyle and Grace are great, and the premise of a mystery surrounding a series of murder games definitely pulled me in. The different mysteries are handled well, and the ending is a well-done surprise.

Murder Games sounds like a fun one.

Have you read The Cuckoo's Calling and The Silkworm, young Griffindor person? I think you'd really enjoy them.

I have not read either of those, but I would very much like to!

I Kindled them, so I'll see whether we can get them via that paperback book swap.

That would be great, thanks!

72. The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer

A suspenseful book that sucks you right in, The Book of Fate has lots of twists and turns, fascinating characters, and a protagonist you can't help but root for. Meltzer does a great job of weaving his story, and even when I thought I had it figured it, I was fooled again.

Wes Holloway, a presidential aide, thinks he watched the president's oldest and dearest friend die in an assassination attempt, and he blames himself, as well as bearing the physical scars of the attack. But suddenly Wes thinks he spots this friend, alive and well, and his whole world turns upside down.

73. Ten by Gretchen McNeil

A young adult homage to And Then There Were None (which is what drew me to read this book in the first place), Ten is a quick and gripping thriller of a read.

Ten high school seniors go to an isolated island for what they think will be a party thrown by the most popular girl in school, but they are thrown for a loop when a mysterious video seems to suggest they are all guilty of something-a fact that only seems to be confirmed when bodies start turning up.

74. Souless Volume 2 by Gail Carriger
75. Souless Volume 3 by Gail Carriger

I love the original books in this series, and the manga is genius as well-perfectly captures the spirit of the books!

Congrats on hitting 75!

Congratulations on reaching the big 7-5, Becca!

Thanks so much!!

Congrats on the big 75, Becca! I look forward to your passing on the Gail Carriger manga books to your dad.

Thanks Dad! I will definitely pass them on :)

Congratulations on reaching the 75 mark, Becca. I am going to have to keep my eyes peeled for the Souless manga.

Congrats on the 75, Becca!

Thanks so much!!!

Congrats on reaching the 75 mark!

Thank you so much!

76. Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland

While the premise of this book really intrigued me-lots of supernatural/paranormal elements, a mystery coma, characters working on a supernatural conspiracy show-I was a little concerned that the book would be too philosophically quirky, "kooky" and "out there" for my usual tastes in reading material.

I was very happy to have my doubts proven wrong.

Yes, this book did, especially towards the very end get a little preachy, which made it feel a little ridiculous, which took me out of the book's world a little.

But the book as a whole made up for that. Challenging, unique, and a book that makes you think in a really creative way, Girlfriend in a Coma is really applicable for the world we live in today, and definitely a story you haven't read before.

77. Double Indemnity by James M. Cain

This was a quick, short read that packed a big punch. Cain expertly weaves the tale of an insurance salesman who lets his greed and lust for a less-than-reliable woman change his whole life for the worse. The writing style makes you feel like you're right there with the characters on the intense, crazy ride.

I have Double Indemnity on my shelves and I am looking forward to it. I read The Postman Always Rings Twice by Cain a couple of months ago and it was a top read!

Awesome, so glad to hear The Postman Always Rings Twice is good, it's on my to-be-read shelves too!

78. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

This was not what I expected, and I loved it anyways. I thought there would be a lot more mystery involved, but instead, we got lovely vignettes surrounding mysteries, and surrounding Africa, and the way our heroine, Precious, feels about both.

Glad you had a good time with No. 1 Ladies', Becca. Yeah, the mysteries in this series often are secondary to the relationships and life in Botswana, although I always enjoy the way Precious's formidable common sense gets to the bottom of the problems and resolves them.

>199 seasonsoflove: - I read that one recently and I agree with the "not what I expected, and I loved it anyways" comment. ;-)

>200 jnwelch:- Totally agree Dad-very glad to see you guys have the whole series on your shelves-definitely plan to borrow them!

>201 lkernagh:-I definitely plan to read the rest of the series at some point in the future!

79. The Mammoth Book of Best British Mysteries 10 edited by Maxim Jakubowski

As with any collection of short stories, especially one of this magnitude, some stories are going to be better than others. What was impressive about this particular anthology was that even the stories I enjoyed less, I still tended to enjoy. I only skipped one story in total, and that was because the author's attempt to spell out local dialect made the story indecipherable.

80. Fooling Houdini: Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks, and the Hidden Powers of the Mind by Alex Stone

Part memoir, part history of magic, Fooling Houdini takes its readers through the journey of Alex Stone's desire to learn all he can about magic, and through the journey of magic throughout the ages. Stone examines every aspect of magic, from the secretive nature of its clubs, to the psychological implications, to the mathematical applications.

81. Tie Dyed and Dead by Sharon Short

This was another fun, cozy genre mystery, this time centered around the owner of a small town laundromat. When three sisters, once a famous folk singing group, come back to town, they set off a murderous and mysterious chain of events.

Hi there, Joe sent me :-)

ETA: aaaaand I was hit with 4 or 5 book bullets ... whew

My dad is very kind :)

Hee hee! I'm glad I have read some books that look interesting to you :)

82. The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas

A continuation from where the Veronica Mars movie left off, this is an excellent new addition to the Veronica Mars canon. Not only does it keep fans happy with learning more about the lives of the characters they love (and love to hate), but it is an excellent mystery as well, with lots of really clever twists and turns and surprises.

83. The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah

I could not have been more excited when I learned that Agatha Christie's estate had given permission for a new Hercule Poirot to be written, and I was not disappointed. The mystery was really unique and interesting-three bodies found murdered on the same day in the same hotel, with monogrammed cufflinks placed in their mouths-and the addition of Edward Catchpool of Scotland Yard was a great one. The solution to the mystery was very surprising in that great way, where when you look back you can see all the clues you misinterpreted and missed.

84. Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich

This book had me from the minute a giraffe started running down the street. Another very funny and clever addition to the Stephanie Plum series.

Oh good, Becca. I was hoping the new Hercule P. was up to snuff.

Your ma said today is Dame Agatha's birthday!

I thoughts TD 20 was a hoot, too. Why does anyone ever loan Stephanie a car?

Tonight's the night your mama may be performing here. We'll report back.

I've been interested in hearing about the new Hercule Poirot book. I am a fan of Sophie Hannah, but couldn't quite marry her style with that of Christie's in my mind. Thrilled to hear that the book works. :)

#209 Yay for Agatha Christie's birthday!

I do wonder why anyone lends her a car, she's destroyed at least twenty now, right?

#210 I haven't read any of Sophie Hannah's books yet, but I definitely want to now!

85. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

This is a powerful and emotional young adult novel, centering around seventeen year old Mia, a celloist who is in a horrific car crash with her parents and younger brother one winter day. The novel flashes between Mia's memories and her experiences in the hospital, as she must decide whether to stay alive or choose to go.

86. After Her by Joyce Maynard

This is one of those reads that pulls you in and doesn't let you go. The narrator, a woman (fictional, but written so well she feels real) now in her forties, looks back at her teenage years, when she was trying to figure her life out and her father was trying to catch a serial killer operating right in their backyard. Maynard not only knows how to write a good mystery, but how to write a good character study, really getting at the heart of what it means to be a teenager, a woman, a daughter, and a sister.

87. If It Bleeds by Linda Richards

(Early Reviewer)

This was unfortunately a disappointing read. It really just fizzled out. The premise was interesting-a young reporter stuck on the gossip beat stumbles upon a murder outside an art gallery opening she has been scheduled to attend-but the ending just kind of happened, with not enough quality buildup or explanation.

Ah, what a shame. It's particularly too bad since it was an Early Reviewer copy, and I know those are exciting to get. I'm glad you liked the Joyce Maynard so much. Is she the one who was J.D. Salinger's significant other? It's the same name.

As you know, If I Stay really worked for me, too.

Wow I had no idea about her and Salinger's relationship but I looked it up and it is the same person!

Intriguing, eh? I'm glad she's proven to be a good writer in her own right. She knows lots about that reclusive guy, but she's apparently respecting his privacy even after death.

88. The Long Way Home by Louise Penny

Confession time-I always get nervous before starting a new Louise Penny, because I care so much about the characters that I'm afraid of what I will find when I finish the story.

This was a hard one to read, but also as beautiful as always. The mystery was twisted and layered and fascinating, and the relationships had me just as invested as always. I'm not sure how I feel about the very end of the story, but what I do know is that I will always want to return to Three Pines and the people there.

89. Death Cloud by Andrew Lane

This is the first version of a young Sherlock Holmes endorsed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's estate, and it is a good read. Sherlock must stay with his aunt and uncle in their large, unwelcoming home while on holiday from school, and life seems unfortunately boring. But then Sherlock's brother, Mycroft, hires a tutor to keep up Sherlock's education in more ways than one.

The mystery seemed a little ridiculous at times, but I enjoyed the read, and will most likely pick up more of this series at some point.

90. C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton

This is one of those series that is always fun to go back. The protagonist is a strong, complex female with a great narrative voice, and the mysteries are always interesting. In this entry, Kinsey is hired by a man who is convinced someone tried to kill him once-he just can't remember who or why.

91. Death by Chick Lit by Lynn Harris

This is such a fun book-it reminds me some of the Stephanie Plum novels, with some really great humor. It also lovingly skewers the chick lit genre, weaving a great mystery into the mix as well.

>220 seasonsoflove: Love that title! Glad the book lived up to it. I have a feeling you'll be hearing your mom asking for it.

Mom has already asked to borrow it ;)

92. The Sherlock Holmes Handbook for Ransom Riggs

This is a great read for Sherlock Holmes fans. It acts as a handbook for aspiring detectives, taking you through how to be like Sherlock Holmes, as well as through Sherlock Holmes as a character.

Hi there! Nothing more to add right now.

Hi back!

93. Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion by Janet Reitman

This was an absolutely fascinating, gripping read. The writer did extensive research and talked to many inside sources. Reitman does not pretend to be unbiased herself, and her honesty even enhances the book's potency. I highly recommend this read.

I knew you were riveted by this one, and I'm glad that carried all the way through. I take it the Tom Cruise chapter was suitably revealing? Are Scientologists going to take over the world?

Digression: did you ever read any of the Inspector Montalbano mysteries? I'm loving that series.

It appears they will not be taking over the world, but one never knows... ;D

I haven't read any of those, but I would like to someday!

Good news, for now, anyway.

Start with The Shape of Water when you're ready. It mayhap could be that it might be found in a certain home's guest room.

>225 seasonsoflove: oh I've been curious about this one. Onto the never-ending wishlist it goes!

>225 seasonsoflove: Adding that one to my list - sounds really interesting!

It's definitely worth a read!

94. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I had been putting off reading this book, because I had heard how heartbreaking it was, and I had never felt like I was in the right place for it. I decided to finally pick it up yesterday afternoon, and finished it in less than twenty four hours. It is heartbreaking, and uplifting, and so so beautifully written, and I can't recommend it enough.

>232 seasonsoflove: :-) Agree with all of that, I do. Walklover and I are very glad you liked it as much as we did.

>232 seasonsoflove: I did the same thing, though it did make me cry and I'm still on the fence about watching the movie even though I've heard it was an excellent book-to-movie. Have you read any other John Green?

It was such a great book, Dad!

I'm planning to watch the movie someday, but I think I have to wait quite a while, like I did for the book. I haven't read any other John Green yet, but someone gave me a copy of Looking For Alaska which I will definitely be reading.

95. The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

While I don't love this series in the same way I loved Vampire Academy, I do still absolutely love this series. The characters are great and the storylines are compelling. I especially enjoy the way the story builds and flows from one book to the others.

96. Lolita by Vladimir Nabakov

This is one of those complex, complicated reads, where the subject matter is difficult to take and read about, but the writing style is magnificent. I don't think I would ever reread it, but I'm very glad I read it once, so as to get to experience Nabakov's unique and beautiful writing style.

>237 seasonsoflove: Good for you, oh Russian lit expert. I don't think I'm up to trying this one, but I've got his Pnin on my WL so I can at least get a glimpse of that unique and beautiful writing style.

Thanks Dad :) I do feel like I've checked off that one now on my Russian lit expert list :)

I'm not sure I could ever read Lolita, but good for you! I'll try another of Nabokov's works at some point.

It was essentially the last on my list of Russian novels everyone raves about/considers classic, so I definitely felt I needed to check it off that list ;) I think its a great idea to try another of his works, his writing style really is amazing.

97. Dominance by Will Lavender

This is one of those books that reminds me all over again why I love to read. This is my second time reading this book-it is one of my all-time favorites-and it does not disappoint.

The plot jumps back and forth between 1994 and the present day, which is especially effective in the very end as the suspense builds up and the jumps get quicker and quicker. In 1994, nine select students have been invited to a very special college class, taught by a convicted murderer from his prison cell, all about the most elusive author of them all, Paul Fallows. In the present day, the students from the night class have reunited, but quickly realize the class never really ended.

I almost missed my train stop multiple times, and grabbed every second I could to read this book, and that's reading it for the second time. I can't recommend it strongly enough.

98. Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin

This seemed like the perfect book to read so close to Halloween, and it did not disappoint. The suspense was built up really well, and the story was creative and well-written and paced. If you haven't seen the movie and/or read the book, I definitely recommend both.

Becca, I read and saw the movie of Rosemary's Baby so many years ago! It's nice that it has not dated too badly.

I enjoyed the movie a lot more than when I was younger and saw it for the first time-I think now that I'm older I understand it a lot better.

99. River of Darkness by Rennie Airth

This was a really interesting mystery, bringing in a lot of history and psychology to tell the story of a series of brutal murders whose origins lie in the past, and in the Freudian trauma the murderer has suffered.

>243 seasonsoflove: Oooh, I keep meaning to get round to that one! I loved the movie, too.

100(!!!) Buzz Kill by Beth Fantaskey

This was a really fun, well-done young adult mystery/romance. The protagonist and narrator, a senior girl in high school named Millie, finds herself at the center of a mystery when she discovers a body. Calling on Nancy Drew, and the assistance of the mysterious new boy at school, Millie attempts to not only solve the mystery, but figure out herself as well.

Wow, congrats on 100!!

Way to go, oh busy teacher! Congrats on reaching 100! Hmm, calling on Nancy Drew - I wonder whether that appealed to you at all?

Congrats, you amazing reader you! By the way, I'm writing this with a great guy named Sherlock sitting on my lap - he can't wait for his momma to come home,

Aw yay thanks to all!!!

101. The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin

A creepy, unique look at women's rights and roles told through the lens of a slow-burn psychological horror story.

>252 seasonsoflove: Ha! That may be the best one sentence description of a book I've ever read.

Thanks Dad, hee hee !

102. Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

This is a re-read for me of a favorite book, and it loses nothing (except a bit of the total surprise) on second reading (though knowing the ending makes carefully looking for clues in the preceding pages a lot of fun). A woman wakes up every morning and has no idea who she is, a traumatic injury leaving her unable to retain new memories. But she begins to discover there may be memories she doesn't want to uncover.

>255 seasonsoflove: Oh, that was a good, creepy one, wasn't it. Isn't a movie of it coming out?

There is a movie that has come out-unfortunately it doesn't seem to be playing in a lot of theaters, but I have it saved in my Netflix queue so if I have to wait, I can at least see it on DVD.

Hi Becca! I'm just chiming in to say I read Before I Go to Sleep this past month as well. It definitely kept me turning the pages to find out what happened! I know some people gave it a lower rating because they could see the ending coming whereas maybe I'm just naive but totally threw me for a loop. I didn't see it coming at all....ha!

Hi! The ending totally threw me for a loop too! I loved that I was totally surprised. It really stands up to a re-read too, which I think says a lot for it.

103. Bias Cut by Morgan Richter

A fun, free, Kindle read, surrounding a fashion designer/reality star and his unlikely new best friend, who try to solve a mystery surrounding a famous fashion designer. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this considering the mystery took a long time to get going, but this was an enjoyable book, and the ending was really exciting and well done.

Hi Becca, I've read Voor ik ga slapen in 2011 and gave it ****. I really liked that one. Nice and surprising.

Yay, always glad to know of others reading and liking Before I Go to Sleep!!

104. Last Train to Babylon by Charlee Fam (Early Reviewer)

This is one of those dark, gritty reads that says a lot in a beautifully written way. The narrator, Aubrey, finds out her former best friend, Rachel, has killed herself. This action forces Aubrey to go back to her hometown and to face up with secret aspects of her past that she has been avoiding for years. The reveals are slow and suspenseful, the story is both heartbreaking and uplifting, and Aubrey is given a unique and affecting voice. I look forward to seeing what Fam has in store for her next novel.

105. Not in My Backyard by Susan Rogers Cooper

I needed a lighter read after some of the heavier books I've been picking up, and this fit the bill. A genre mystery, it did however have some heavier themes, some I wasn't expecting, and did get a little preachy at times. But the mystery was engaging, the characters interesting, and the solution satisfying.

106. The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder by Charles Graeber

A well-researched and well-written true crime book, The Good Nurse tells the story of an "Angel of Death", Charles Cullen, who may have killed up to three hundred patients through his purposefully improper giving of medications. Graeber tells Charles' tale from childhood to today, even getting an interview with Cullen's former best friend turned confidential informant, who had never revealed herself before this book.

You're up to a lot of good reading, Becca. The Good Nurse sounds right up your alley, all right. Wish Grandma was still around - she'd probably love that one.

You might like Five Days at Memorial some time. Not true crime, but doctors and hospital employees in a New Orleans hospital making questionable life-death decisions in the emergency conditions after Katrina hit.

I've been really lucky with my reading-I'm finishing up a fun cozy mystery now, and going to start the newest from one of my favorite authors (Jennifer MacMahon) after that.

I would love to read Five Days at Memorial!

107. Dead Air by Mary Kennedy

A nice cozy lighthearted mystery for after reading a heavier true crime book, Dead Air features a talk-radio psychologist in a small town in Florida, who finds herself sucked into the mystery of a guru's murder when her roommate is accused of the crime. The romance seems a little forced and out of left field, but the characters are all entertaining and the mystery has some nice twists and turns. This is not the best cozy I've ever read, but it is pretty good.

108. Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong: Reopening the Case of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Pierre Bayard

This was a reread of a favorite of mine. This book is extremely creative and unique, with Bayard asserting that Sherlock Holmes (and thus Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) named the wrong person as the murderer in the famous The Hound of the Baskervilles. Using literary theory and textual analysis, Bayard comes to his own conclusion as to who the murderer is (a feat he also tackles in Who Killed Roger Ackroyd . This former English major would love to take a class with Bayard, and I definitely wish more of his books would be translated from the original French.

109. The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

McMahon is one of my all-time favorite authors-I own all her books, and am planning on doing a re-read of them at some point in the near future. Her books are mysteries full of secrets, suspense, and, frequently, the supernatural, all expertly woven together. In The Winter People, McMahon gracefully tells multiple seemingly disparate stories, some over a century apart, but all strung together by a mysterious diary, disappearances, family, and the desire to believe we never really lose those we loved.

I love the idea of challenging the conclusions an author reaches in a detective novel! Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong and Who Killed Roger Ackroyd do sound like fun. The Winter People sure looks like a good, eerie one.

Definitely unique and interesting reads, all!

110. Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky

A beautifully, tenderly, lovingly written tale I finished in less a day, Gracefully Grayson surrounds Grayson Sender, biologically a boy, but in heart and soul a girl, who bravely spends the many pages of this grab-your-heart novel figuring out her place in the world and what and who really matter.

Becca I don't leave my mark here anywhere near as often as I do over at the cafe but I wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and to say that, as a father, I understand your parents being justifiably proud of their kids and I am sure that they are celebrating with you today. xx

Aw thank you so much! Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!

>271 seasonsoflove: Well put! Fingers crossed on this book catching on.

>272 PaulCranswick: We've been having a great time celebrating with her and her furry sidekick.

:)

111. 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story by Dan Harris

This is one of those books that really speaks to me-it felt totally applicable to my life, as well as being a good well-written interesting read. Harris takes his readers through his journey with meditation, explaining things in terms everyone can understand, and providing a fascinating cultural history as well as a biography of sorts. It's the kind of book I want to own in a hard copy version (I have it on Kindle currently) so I can reference it.

112. The Beautiful and the Wicked by Liv Spector

(Early Reviewer book)

I was really excited to get an Early Reviewer copy of this book, as I had also gotten an Early Reviewer copy of the first book in this series, and really enjoyed it. While The Beautiful and the Wicked wasn't quite as good as the first book, it was still a good read. The premise of the series is that Lila Day, the protagonist, is a former homicide detective who know goes back in time to solve cold cases. It seems like it could be silly, but its surprisingly not, and the mysteries are filled with great twists (especially towards the very ends), while the characters are well-differentiated and interesting.

>275 seasonsoflove:, >276 seasonsoflove: Nice reviews, Becca. You've got me intrigued by 10% Happier, and I'm glad you're getting to enjoy ER books you like.

Thanks Dad!

I've taken flyers on a couple of ER books that weren't as good as I hoped. It's a pleasure when they turn out to be ones I like, like you just experienced. My next one is The Green Man by Michael Bedard, and I've got my hopes up.

I know I'm going to like my next one ;) it's You Have to F***ing Eat !

>280 seasonsoflove: Ha! I remember - it's by the guy who wrote Go the F**k to Sleep, right?

It is!!

:-) Looking forward to hearing what the f**k you think of it.

Hee hee!

>283 jnwelch: *SNORK!*

113. The Best American Crime Writing 2005 edited by James Ellroy

I love these collections, and this one was no exception. 2005 wasn't my favorite-a few of the essays got very technical in ways I had trouble following-but the essays were still really well-done and interesting.

114. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

This is officially one of the funniest books I've ever read. I could not stop laughing out loud while reading it, and not just a light chuckle, but deep belly laughs. Even the sections on mental illness and physical illness were handled with a beautifully wry self-awareness. Read this for the story about the live bobcat her father threw onto her husband!

Oh I've had this on my borrow from the library list for awhile now. Thanks for the reminder and positive review Becca!

Happy to give it a plug, it is a great read!

115. You Have to F*****g Eat by Adam Mansbach

(Early Reviewer copy)

I actually squealed with glee when I saw I had gotten an ER copy of this. Go The F**k to Sleep is one of my favorites, and I've definitely gifted it to various friends of mine who have become new parents. And now I get to read the new one early! I didn't even take off my coat before sitting down and reading it out loud to my (not amused for he was already asleep and snoring) little dog. It was hilarious, and insightful, and delightful, and I will be reading it again soon.

Ha! Love it! Will have to get my hands on this one. Is a Samuel Jackson read-aloud in the works?

I believe Bryan Cranston might have already done a reading?

116. Best in Show by Laurien Berenson

How could I say no to a cozy genre mystery surrounding a dog show for poodles? (Especially considering my beloved Sherlock is a mini poodle). This was a fun, quick, easy read, with some nice twists and a lot of fun dog show descriptions. The protagonist is a lot of fun too.

I'm sure Bryan Cranston would be funny doing it, too.

>291 seasonsoflove: Sounds like you had a good time with it, Becca. Are you going to have Sherlock read it, too?

He sort of read it with me by osmosis-he was sleeping next to me while I read most of it ;D

:-) He always figures out how to get the most done with the least effort. Impressive.

He is highly impressive ;D

117. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

A haunting, heartbreaking tale, The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox puts you inside the minds of two sisters, one who has just been released from a mental institution after almost sixty-two years, one who has Alzheimers and is in a care facility. Iris has just received a phone call that has alerted her to the fact that the grandmother she never knew existed now needs a new home, and Iris and the readers learn the story of what happened to these two sisters at the same time.

118. Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History by Antonio Mendez and Matt Baglio

While I enjoyed the book, this was one of those very rare occasions where the movie actually was better than the book. The story of how the CIA, Hollywood, and Canada all came together to get six Americans out of Iran is amazing, and the book was a good read. But it did seem to drag a book as the author reveled in little details and other stories.

I didn't remember that you had seen the Argo movie (we didn't). Seems like quite a story. I'd read good things about The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, too. Definitely a Becca kind of book. :-)

The movie is really good, I definitely recommend it.

119. Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle

This was one of those cozy genre mysteries that, while fun, tried to squeeze in way too much. There was a stalker, a mysterious guardian angel, robberies, murders, a commune, and far too many one-dimensional characters. The ending, while interesting, seemed a little out of left field, but did work pretty well. This was not a bad read by any means, but doesn't make me want to read the rest of the series.

When you take a flyer on a series, sometimes it works, and that's great when it does. And sometimes it doesn't!

I'm recommending Phryne Fisher to you again. I'd be surprised if you didn't like that one.

I definitely want to read Phryne Fisher sometime very soon-I'm currently trying to read exclusively from my shelves, but will pick up Cocaine Blues soon :)

Oh, I forgot about your reading from your shelves. Good for you. I'll resist pumping for Phryne as best I can.

I need to do a better job of reading of my shelf in 2015. It's getting a bit ridiculous...ha!
I've had The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox on my library list of a long time. Thanks for the reminder that I should bump it up!

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Becca!

Happy Christmas!!

From our family to yours!

Have a wonderful Christmas, Becca!

Becca, I'm so happy to have made your and Sherlock's acquaintance this year. I hope to get to know you better in 2015.

Thanks so much everyone!! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! Our Channukah and Christmas were really nice-lots of family and fun :) I'm so glad to be a part of this wonderful site, full of wonderful readers.

(Dad, I definitely plan on reading Cocaine Blues soon!)

120. Paradise by Toni Morrison
Somehow I haven't read any Morrison since I read Beloved, and I'm glad I fixed that now. Paradise is incredible-Morrison's writing style is one of a kind and so beautiful and deep. The story begins by thrusting its readers into a violent raid on a place distrusted by the people of Ruby, and then goes backwards, introducing the readers to the various characters, histories, and situations that brought everyone to violence.

121. The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth L. Silver

This is one of those books that stays with you when you're done. I read it in about a day, and could not put it down. The narrator is Noa P. Singleton, a young woman on Death Row. One day, the mother of the woman she supposedly killed shows up, promising clemency if Noa tells the story of how and why her daughter died. The book is layer upon layer of secrets, history, and relationships, and is a really gripping read.

122. Obedience by Will Lavender
A re-read of one of my absolute favorites, this is an incredible book. It surrounds a logic puzzle presented to a college class, that bleeds into real life and turns out to be so much more than just an exam.

Becca,



Happy New Year from your friend in Kuala Lumpur

Thanks so much! Happy New Year right back!!

Going to set up my 75 Books 2015 thread! :)