Becca Reads in 2017!

So glad to be back with this wonderful group again!

January 2017
1) With Malice by Eileen Cook
2) Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin
3) Whiteout by Greg Rucka
4) Different Class by Joanne Harris
5) Looming Murder by Carol Ann Martin
6) Everything You Want Me to Be by Mindy Mejia
7) How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
8) Trust No One by Paul Cleave
9) Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter
10) The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
11) The Escape of Revenge by Tammy Mack
12) Curiosity House: The Shrunken Head by Lauren Oliver
13) Her Every Fear by Peter Swanson
14) The Big Book of Jack the Ripper edited by Otto Penzler
15) Second Life by SJ Watson
16) Tales For a Winter's Night by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
17) Don't Turn Out the Lights by Bernard Minier
18) Murder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens
19) Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster
20) Animal Farm by George Orwell
21) The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

February 2017
1) The Fifth Petal by Brunonia Barry
2) Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn
3) The Possessions by Sara Flannery Murphy
4) A Penny For the Hangman by Tom Savage
5) 1984 by George Orwell
6) The Devil Crept In by Ania Ahiborn
7) The Nightwalker by Sebastian Fitzek
8) Girl with a Peal Earring by Tracy Chevalier
9) Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
10) The Martian by Andy Weir
11) Take the Fall by Emily Hainsworth
12) Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
13) The Girl Who Lied by Sue Fortin
14) Orphan #8 by Kim van Alkemade
15) Unrivaled by Alyson Noel
16) Swiss Vendetta by Tracee de Hahn
17) Tricky Twenty Two by Janet Evanovich

March 2017
1) A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
2) Security by Gina Wohlsdorf
3. The Amateurs by Sara Shephard
4. Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander
5. Bel of the Brawl by Maggie McConnon
6. Never Missing, Never Found by Amanda Panitch
7. Bradstreet Gate by Robin Kirman
8. The Whole Art of Detection by Lyndsay Faye
9. The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas
10. Crepe Factor by Laura Childs
11. The Case of the Blond Bonanza by Erle Stanley Gardner
12. Year of the Dunk by Asher Price
13. Mrs. Sherlock Holmes by Brad Ricca
14. This is Our Story by Ashley Elston
15. Murder in Plain English by Michael Arntfield and Marcel Danesi
16. Ill Will by Dan Chaon
17. The Mystery of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos
18. What Remains of Me by Alison Gaylin
19. The Readaholics and the Poirot Puzzle by Laura DiSilverio
20. Finders Keepers by Stephen King
21. So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
22. This House is Haunted by John Boyne

April 2017
1) City of Light, City of Poison by Holly Tucker
2) Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
3) Chocolat by Joanne Harris
4) Gone Without a Trace by Mary Torjussen
5) You by Caroline Kepnes
6) The Dinner by Herman Koch
7. The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead
8. Joyland by Stephen King
9. The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple by Jeff Guinn
10. And The Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich
11. So Close the Hand of Death by J.T. Ellison
12. The Poisoned House by Michael Ford
13. Blacklist by Alyson Noel
14. Burntown by Jennifer McMahon
15. Vanish by Tess Gerritsen
16. The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel
17. The Summons by John Grisham
18. Long Black Veil by Jennifer Finney Boylan
19. Double Dog Dare by Linda O. Johnston
20. Journey to the Twilight Zone edited by Carol Sterling
21. The Hand That Feeds You by A.J. Rich
22. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
23. The Surrogates: Flesh and Bone by Robert Venditti

May 2017
1. Love & Death in Burgundy by Susan C. Shea
2. More Information Than You Require by John Hodgman
3. The Lost City of Z by David Grann
4. Peril in Paperback by Kate Carlisle
5. Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark
6. Wedding Bel Blues by Maggie McConnon
7. Always Watching by Chevy Stevens
8. They All Fall Down by Roxanne St. Claire
9. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
10. The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain
11. Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner
12. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
13. Bloodstream by Tess Gerritsen
14. Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison
15. Nine: An Anthology of Russia's Foremost Women Writers edited by Svetlana Alexiyevich
16. The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji
17. The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
18. Defending Jacob by William Landay

June 2017
1. The Boys of Winter by Wayne Coffey
2. The World's Greatest Detective by Caroline Carlson
3. Half-Price Homicide by Elaine Viets
4. The Missing One by Lucy Atkins
5. Hospitality and Homicide by Lynn Cahoon
6. Dis Mem Ber by Joyce Carol Oates
7. Dead Famous by Ben Elton
8. The Sleep Room by F.R. Tallis
9. The Hole by Guy Burt
10. True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa by Michael Finkel
11. Why We Love Serial Killers by Scott Bonn
12. Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica
13. Scales of Justice by Ngaio Marsh
14. The Child by Fiona Barton
15. You'll Never Know, Dear by Hallie Ephron
16. Ten Dead Comedians by Fred Van Lente

July 2017
1. The False Friend by Myla Goldberg
2. The Day I Died by Lori Rader-Day
3. The Mesmerist by Ronald L. Smith
4. Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown
5. Mindhunter by John Douglas
6. A Girl Called Vincent by Krystyna Poray Goddu
7. Bring Her Home by David Bell
8. Waistcoats and Weaponry by Gail Carriger
9. If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
10. Turbo Twenty Three by Janet Evanovich
11. Seance for a Vampire by Fred Saberhagen
12. Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness in the Dawn of Hollywood by William J. Mann
13. The Lying Game by Ruth Ware
14. The Wicked Girls by Alex Marwood
15. When I Am Through With You by Stephanie Kuehn
16. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
17. The Goddesses by Swan Huntley
18. Beneath the Bleeding by Val McDermid
19. The Baker Street Translation by Michael Robertson

August 2017
1. Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber
2. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
3. Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka
4. Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams
5. Shadow of the Lions by Christopher Swann
6. Click Here to Start by Denis Markell
7. Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker
8. The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight
9. Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moira Fowley-Doyle
10. See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt
11. The Thirty Nine Steps by John Buchan
12. Dead Girls Can't Lie by Carys Jones
13. The Other Girl by Erica Spindler
14. Camp So-And-So by Mary McCoy
15. Raining Cats and Dogs by Laurien Berenson

September 2017
1. Thornhill by Pam Smy
2. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
3. The Drowning Tree by Carol Goodman
4. The Fever by Megan Abbott
5. Crazy House by James Patterson
6. Cross the Line by James Patterson
7. Pekoe Most Poison by Laura Childs
8. The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz
9. The Van Gogh Deception by Deron Hicks
10. Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
11. I Could Chew on This and Other Poems by Dogs by Francesco Marciuliano
12. The Girl with Kaleidoscope Eyes by David Handler
13. The Store by James Patterson

October 2017
1. There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
2. Alex and Eliza by Melissa De La Cruz
3. Death on Tap by Ellie Alexander
4. A Witch in Time by Madelyn Alt
5. The Quality of Silence by Rosamund Lupton
6. Hell House by Richard Matheson
7. Within These Walls by Ania Ahlborn
8. Final Girls by Riley Sager
9. House of Furies by Madeleine Roux
10. Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer by Catherine Holt
11. George by Alex Gino
12. A Lesson in Murder by Augustus Cileone
13. A Properly Unhaunted Place by William Alexander
14. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
15. The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey
16. Ghost Story by Peter Straub

November 2017
1. Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
2. Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey
3. The Vineyard Victims by Ellen Crosby
4. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
5. Death on the Patagonian Express by Hy Conrad
6. Death of a Pumpkin Carver by Lee Hollis
7. Crime Through Time edited by Miriam Grace Monfredo and Sharon Newman
8. The Takedown by Carrie Wang
9. When In Rome by Ngaio Marsh
10. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
11. The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg
12. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
13. Gin and Panic by Maia Chance
14. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
15. Dracula by Bram Stoker

December 2017
1. The Lake House by Kate Morton
2. The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
3. Halfway House by Ellery Queen
4. The Special Ones by Em Bailey
5. Blood Pact by Tanya Huff
6. The Mammoth Book of True Crime by Colin Wilson
7. Antisocial by Jillian Blake
8. Welcome to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz
9. Good Morning, Irene by Carole Nelson Douglas
10. Return to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz
11. Close to Me by Amanda Reynolds
12. Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger
13. The Inkblots by Damion Searls
14. Unplug by Suze Yalof Scwartz
15. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
16. Bloodstains with Bronte by Katherine Bolger Hyde
17. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
18. The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr
19. The Run of His Life by Jeffrey Toobin
20. A Devious Death by Alyssa Maxwell
21. H.H. Holmes by Adam Selzer

Hi Becca, happy reading in 2017!

Happy New Year, Becca! Looking forward to hearing about what you're reading in '17.

Hi, Becca! Happy new year!

Happy Reading. Looking forward to seeing what you choose to read.

I am part of the group.
I love being part of the group.
I love the friendships bestowed upon my by dint of my membership of this wonderful fellowship.
I love that race and creed and gender and age and sexuality and nationality make absolutely no difference to our being a valued member of the group.

Thank you for also being part of the group.

Happy new year, Becca! Looking forward to keeping up with your reading this year!

Welcome back!

Happy new year!
Maybe I can remember to visit your thread more often this year!
*I know I can I know I can I know I can*
;)

Happy New Year, Becca!

*waves hi to everyone* Thanks so much everyone for the wonderful warm welcome! I love this group!

1. With Malice by Eileen Cook

Jill wakes up in the hospital missing six weeks of her life-including the truth about the car crash that her best friend Simone died in.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-with-malice.html

Glad to see you enjoyed your first read of the year. :)

Hi, Becca. Stopping by to drop a star for this year.

Happy New Year, Becca! Sorry for the late greeting, but I've finally finished with my Christmas and New Year's Day work stretch and now have time to make the rounds.

Hi Robin and Mickey, and thanks so much!

Happy New Year Darryl!

2) Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin

Tessa Cartwright is the Black-Eyed Susan who survived. Kidnapped by a serial killer, found barely breathing in a mass grave, it was Tessa's testimony that cemented the state's case against the purported murderer.

But as patches of black-eyed susans pop up around her, Tessa is forced to reckon with the thought that she may have doomed an innocent man to the executioner's chair. Forced to do what she has avoided for so many years--examine her memories and drawings that emerged during her therapy sessions--Tessa struggles to discover the truth.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-black-eyed-susans.ht...

3) Whiteout by Greg Rucka

This is a good, not great, graphic novel. It tells the story of a U.S. Marshall who has been sent on assignment to Antartica due to events from her past. Marshall Stetko is called in on the case of a murdered body found on the ice, but the case is part of a far-reaching conspiracy that may not leave her alive.

The style of the drawings makes it sometimes difficult to see what is going on or which characters are involved. The story is definitely interesting, but it feels a bit rushed and like it could have been fleshed out more.

4) Different Class by Joanne Harris

Roy Straitley, the Latin Master at St. Oswald's, loves his school. It has his loyalty in a way no one and nothing else ever has. But bad things have happened at St. Oswald's. And bad things seem to be happening again--and they may just be tied to events from the past that no one wants to talk about.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/01/reviews-different-class-and...

5) Looming Murder by Carol Ann Martin

Della has left a big city to follow her dream and open a weaving shop. But when one of her customers is suspected of murder, Della has to become a detective as well.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-looming-murder.html

6) Everything You Want Me to Be by Mindy Mejia

Hattie is a high school senior who thinks she has discovered the key to success in life--be a great actress, and play the roles each person wants from her. But then she is murdered, and secrets of her inner life, and the small town she lived in, are revealed.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/01/reviews-everything-you-want...

7) How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

Caitlin Moran tells the true story of her life, and how she learned how to be a woman.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/01/reviews-everything-you-want...

>19 seasonsoflove: I've read several of Moran's essays and I always love them. I really should pick up this one sooner rather than later.

>20 MickyFine: It's definitely worth a read, I will keep an eye out for her essays too!

8. Trust No One by Paul Cleave

Jerry Grey writes bestselling crime thrillers under the pseudonym Henry Cutter. But now Jerry has Alzheimer's, and is confessing that the crimes in his books are real.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-trust-no-one.html

Ooo, that one sounds interesting!

>22 drneutron: It's such an interesting premise, and it ends up being a really gripping read.

9. Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda

This is definitely a must-read for all fans of Hamilton the Musical. Not only does the book include all the lyrics, with Lin-Manuel Miranda's own notes, but beautiful photos of the show as well, and essays on the process of making this musical a reality.

10. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

This book was recommended to me by a friend, who had it recommended to her by multiple people as one of their favorite books, and I can see why. This is a beautifully written story of a boy and girl wrestling with deeply tragic pasts, that manages to avoid all cliches.

11. The Escape of Revenge by Tammy Mack

This is another entry in my friend's mystery series, this time centered around a tragic accident from the past with deep repercussions in the present.

12 Curiosity House: Shrunken Head by Lauren Oliver

The first entry in a series, this is a clever, fun middle grade mystery read centered around a group of four children who live in a Dime Museum as part of the show.

Yay for the Hamiltome!

>24 MickyFine: I love all things Hamilton!

13. Her Every Fear by Peter Swanson

Kate Priddy is still recovering from her kidnapping at the hands of an ex-boyfriend, and an apartment swap with her distant cousin seems like the ideal way to get away from it all. Traveling from London to Boston, Kate hopes this is the key to getting over her fears. But when her new next-door neighbor is murdered, Kate realizes her fears may be hitting all too close to home.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-her-every-fear.html

Do you listen to The Room Where It's Happening podcast? Because if you don't, you should.

>26 MickyFine: I haven't listened to it, but now I want to!

14. The Big Book of Jack the Ripper edited by Otto Penzler

Penzler has collected a large group of wide-ranging short pieces on Jack the Ripper, including non-fiction essays, famous stories like The Lodger, and less well-known speculative fiction.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-big-book-of-jack-rip...

15) Second Life by S.J. Watson

When Julia's sister is murdered, Julia knows she must find out why, and by who, or it will consume her. Joining the online site her sister had used to meet strangers, Julia finds herself drawn in, and unable to find her way out.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/01/reviews-second-life-and-tal...

16) Tales For a Winter's Night by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

This was such a treat! I love Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes' stories, and it was a lot of fun to get to read some of his other mysteries. These short stories have a similar flare to the Holmes' stories, with tricky cases that seem to have no solution, until Doyle spins one. I definitely recommend this one for mystery and Holmes lovers alike.

>28 seasonsoflove: I occasionally read short story collections, but not often. Some mystery short stories feel rushed and need more time for development. It sounds like Doyle's collection may be a cut above some of the others so I will try to find it at some point.

Lots of good reviews, Becca. Too bad that S.J. Watson wasn't better. I'm another one who enjoyed Before I Go to Sleep.

I'm going to put that ACD Tales for a Winter's Night on my WL.

Thanks Dad! You would definitely like Tales For a Winter's Night.

17) Don't Turn Out the Lights by Bernard Minier

There's someone out there, stalking women, harassing them and destroying their lives until they feel they have no choice but to commit suicide. When a detective on sick leave receives a hotel room key to a room one of those women stayed in, he is drawn into a twisted game with deadly consequences.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-dont-turn-out-lights...

18) Murder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens

This is a very fun, light, well-done middle grade mystery, The main characters, Daisy and Hazel, are great female leads, strong in their own right, and remind me of Friday Barnes, another middle-grade mystery series I really enjoy. In this first entry in the series, Daisy and Hazel must solve the mystery of the murder of one of their teachers, even though no one else believes she is actually dead.

19) Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster

My dad recommended this one to me-it's one of his favorites, and fit a category in the Popsugar Reading Challenge. I think it can be really hard to pull off a book that is solely in letter form-especially when the letters are only from one character-but Webster does a great job of making Judy's world come alive. Judy is a vibrant, entertaining, highly likable character (an orphan sent to college by a mysterious anonymous benefactor, to whom she writes), and this is a quick, delightful read.

20) Animal Farm by George Orwell

I still can't believe I made it through high school and college (as an English major, no less!) without having ever read this book. Not only did it fill a Popsugar Reading Challenge category for me, but it is a read that seems extremely timely with everything going on, and is extremely well-written.

21) The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

This is also a read for the Popsugar Reading Challenge, and an incredibly inspiring one. Pausch makes me want to follow my dreams, believe in myself, and give back to the world.

>11 seasonsoflove: Eileen Cook was part of a panel at the Vancouver Writer's Festival back in October and she talked about With Malice. It sounded intriguing but a bit dark. Your review reminds me of how intriguing her description of the book was.

>32 seasonsoflove: Don't feel bad, Becca. I also missed reading Animal Farm in school and I had the same major. Read it on my own a few years ago and also enjoyed it.

>32 seasonsoflove: >34 MickyFine: Me, too. English major and all. I just read it a couple of years ago for the first time.

I'm glad Daddy Long-Legs worked for you, Becca. I'm going off to take a look at The Last Lecture now.

BTW, at some point, take a gander at Talking to the Dead. I think you'd enjoy this mystery series set in Wales and featuring a very unusual female detective, Fiona Griffiths.

>36 jnwelch: Oh yeah, Becca, you have to read Talking to the Dead. It is shaping up really nicely for me.

Thanks everyone!

22) The Fifth Petalby Brunonia Barry

A suspicious death on Halloween may have ties to the infamous "Goddess Murders", also committed on a Halloween night decades ago, and still unsolved. Callie is the daughter of one of the Goddess victims, found at the crime scene traumatized but still alive. Now the new death has brought her back to Salem, where family secrets and old grudges are brought back to the surface.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/02/reviews-fifth-petal-and-dea...

23) Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn

The Honorable Daisy Dalrymple is a journalist, trying to make a life for herself outside her family When she is given the assignment to write about the family at Wentwater Court, it looks like it will simply be a routine assignment. But then a death occurs, and brings all the family secrets to light.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/02/reviews-fifth-petal-and-dea...

24) The Possessions by Sara Flannery Murphy

Eurydice is a body, a person who willingly becomes a vessel for another's deceased loved one during regulated sessions. She works at the Elysian Society, and has thrown her whole self into her work, trying to forget herself and her past.

But when Patrick comes in for his first session, looking to contact the wife he lost in a tragic swimming accident, Eurydice finds herself unable to disconnect any longer. Swept up in Patrick's world and all he seemingly has to offer, the lines between her own self and that of his wife begin to blur.

There is also the matter of a mysterious dead body found in an abandoned house, a murder someone wants to use the Elysian Society to help solve.

No longer able to hide from the world within the memories of others, Eurydice must decide what she truly wants from life, and who she truly wants to be

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/02/reviews-possessions-penny-f...

25) A Penny For the Hangman by Tom Savage

Karen Tyler is offered the journalistic opportunity of a lifetime. Fifty years ago, two teenage boys brutally murdered their parents and housekeeper. Now, someone is willing to talk about what really happened that night, leading Karen to travel to an isolated island in search of the truth.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/02/reviews-possessions-penny-f...

26) 1984 by George Orwell

This is a book that is very much in the news right now, re-rising to the top of bestseller lists and library requests.

1984 tells the story of a society where Big Brother is the beginning and the end, where everyone is always watched, and people can be erased from the record books like they were never there to begin with. Wars are constant, allies and enemies switch at the drop of a hat, and no one is allowed to remember what their world used to be like.

1984 remains relevant and resonant. It is a good read, and an important one.

Ooof, I *love* that the character's name is Eurydice...

>40 scaifea: and she works for the Elysian Society...

>41 drneutron: I know, right? I think I may have to read this one...

It was really good, I would definitely recommend it!

27) The Devil Crept In by Ania Ahlborn

Stevie is a kid no one takes seriously. Even his own family thinks he is imagining things. But when his cousin Jude goes missing, Stevie knows Jude is in serious trouble, and that his disappearance has ties to the body of another young boy found years ago

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/02/review-devil-crept-in.html

Happy Sunday, Becca! I hope you and the furry wonder are enjoying the weekend.

Thanks so much! It's been a very nice weekend, Sherlock and I curled up and read all weekend, which was fantastic and just what I needed.

28) The Nightwalker by Sebastian Fitzek

Leon thought he was cured from the rampant and violent sleepwalking of his youth, but now his wife has disappeared. Desperate to find answers, Leon orders a motion activated camera to film what happens when he sleeps--and is stunned to see footage of him descending through a hidden door in his apartment that he has never seen before.

Read the rest of the review here:

http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/02/reviews-nightwalker-girl-wi...

29) Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

Chevalier has spun a beautiful piece of historical fiction around a famous painting. She tells the story of Griet, a maid in Vermeer's household, who becomes immersed in his world and his art.

Chevalier packs an emotional punch in a short novel, and makes art come alive through the written word. This is one of those books that truly deserves the hype it received upon its publication, and I'm only sorry I waited so long to finally read it.

30) Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

I needed a light, fun read, and that is what I got here. I also got a book that manages to be emotional while still being funny.

Semple tells the story of Bernadette and her family. Bernadette has a past she doesn't talk about, and a beautiful but falling-apart home she hides away in. But when Bernadette disappears, it is left to her daughter, Bee, to piece what happened together. Bee uses faxes, e-mails, websites, and articles, plus her own experiences, to tell her mother's story, and find her.

31) The Martian by Andy Weir

I have a confession to make. I very rarely read science fiction. And I do mean very rarely. My favorite genres are absolutely mysteries, thrillers, suspense, and true crime, and almost all my reading comes out of these categories.

But the Popsugar Challenge had a challenge to read from a genre you don't normally read from. So I went to my dad, who reads a lot of science fiction, and asked him for his recommendation. He always has great suggestions, so when he immediately said I should read The Martian, I borrowed his copy right away.

And, as always, my dad absolutely steered me right.

Weir has created the story of Mark Watney, an astronaut on a mission to Mars. But when a freak storm hits, Watney is left alone on Mars, believed dead.

Through ingenuity, intelligence, and a sense of humor, Watney somehow keeps going, figuring out a way to survive. But will it be enough to get him rescued?

I read The Martian in about a day, because I could not put it down. It was the kind of book I was thinking about whenever I wasn't reading it. I read it while I walked, and while I waited for the bus. It drove me crazy that it was sitting in my bag at work and I couldn't open it back up. As soon as I got home from work, I curled up in a chair and finished it.

What also impressed me was how thoroughly Weir must have done his research--and that he originally self-published this in serialized chapters, offering it for free before putting it on Amazon for the minimum ebook price allowed. It was there Weir's brilliant novel was discovered, and grew into the sensation it became.

I will admit quite a bit of the science went right over my head, and I did zone out a bit during some of the extremely technical scientific paragraphs. But this is truly the only negative I can find with this book, and that is solely based on my personal preference.

The Martian may be classified as science fiction, but it is also suspenseful, psychological, and thrilling. I can already tell it's going to be one of my top reads of the year.

http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/02/review-martian.html

Nice review! It's one of my favorite books - and one of the few I think have been successfully converted into a movie (in spite of some plot changes and Matt Damon's slightly different Watney). One of the things I love about it is that spirit he shows is really how it is in the space community. When you get hit with problems, you pick yourself up, solve a problem, then move to the next. You get it done. I've seen it so many times.

>47 seasonsoflove: Glad a foray out of your reading comfort zone worked so well for you, Becca!

Thanks so much to you both! I definitely want to see the movie now.

32) Take the Fall by Emily Hainsworth

I'm always on the lookout for good young adult mysteries and thrillers, and Take the Fall is an excellent addition to that genre.

It's the story of Sonia, who escaped an attack in the woods that left her best friend, Gretchen, dead. As Sonia attempts to come to grips with the events of that fateful night, she tries to understand what truly happened. But as Gretchen's secrets come to light, and Gretchen's ex-boyfriend Marcus emerges as the prime suspect, Sonia is forced to wrestle with her feelings in her fight towards the truth.

What really sets Take the Fall above many other books in this genre is the ending. It's an ending that had me gasping out loud, and frantically flipping back through the previous pages to see if it all made sense in retrospect--and it did. Hainsworth pulls off a end reveal that is shocking and brilliant.

33) Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Samantha is popular, with a gorgeous boyfriend and a group of best friends others in the school would die to be a part of. But it's Samantha who dies-and then wakes up, to relieve that last day of her life over and over again.

What does Samantha need to do to get it right this time? To figure it out, she will have to decide what really matters to her, and what is truly important in life.

Read the rest of the review here:
http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/02/review-before-i-fall.html

>51 seasonsoflove: I read that one a few years ago and enjoyed it. But I'm a sucker for time travel in any form.

>51 seasonsoflove: I've had that at home to read for awhile and really should move it up on the list now that the movie's coming out.

>52 MickyFine: I thought the time travel aspect was really interesting and well-done!

>53 bell7: That's exactly why it got bumped up my list as well :)

34) Swiss Vendetta by Tracee De Hahn

Agnes Luthi, an Inspector in Switzerland, finds herself trapped in a mansion with a blizzard and a murderer. She must put aside the feelings she is still struggling with following the death of her husband, and figure out who among the many family members and guests committed the crime.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/02/reviews-swiss-vendetta-turn...

35) The Turning by Francine Prose

In a modern take on The Turn of the Screw, Jack has been hired to spend the summer on an island, in charge of two children. But as Jack spends more time isolated from the outside world, with Flora and Miles and their strange ways, he begins to see things that don't make sense--things that seem to fit all too well into the ghost stories he's been told.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/02/reviews-swiss-vendetta-turn...

36) Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich

I absolutely love this series! It's guaranteed to make me laugh, and I love the characters. In this entry, Stephanie is tasked to track down a fraternity brother on the run, who is accused of assaulting the Dean. But the case is much more complex than it appears, and Stephanie finds herself drawn into a web of conspiracy and intrigue.

One of my favorite parts of this series is the relationship between Morelli and Stephanie (I'm absolutely a "Cupcake" girl), and I wasn't sure I liked where Evanovich was going with them in the beginning of this book. But by the end, I was happy with where they stood, and enjoyed the solution to the mystery as well. Grandma and Lula are also hysterically funny as always.

If you haven't discovered this series yet, hurry out and get the first book (I would highly recommend you start at the beginning with One For the Money)!

>19 seasonsoflove: How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran: oh oh oh, I want to read it.

>47 seasonsoflove: The Martian: oh oh ho. That one too. Have WLd both

>54 seasonsoflove: I read the first Stephanie Plum and then never made it back. Maybe when I get through a few of the other series that I'm working my way through at the rate of 1-2 a year. :P

>55 LovingLit: They're both great reads!

>56 MickyFine: I definitely recommend the whole series, they're a lot of fun.

37. The Girl Who Lied by Sue Fortin

Erin has been brought back to her hometown, a place she swore she'd never return to, by a family emergency. But her return has also brought her back in close contact with Roisin, her former friend, and Roisin says she knows the secret from her past Erin is desperate to hide.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/02/review-girl-who-lied.html

38. Orphan #8 by Kim van Alkemade

This is a heartbreaking, beautifully written book centered around a woman named Rachel, a nurse at Manhattan's Old Hebrews Home. When a new patient is brought in, Rachel recognizes her as the doctor who performed medical experiments on her in an orphanage when she was a child.

Faced with this knowledge, Rachel looks back over her life, reckoning with the decisions she made and the decisions that were made for her.

39. Unrivaled by Alyson Noel

This is the first in a trilogy, centered around three young adults trying to make it in Hollywood. When the man who owns the biggest clubs in the city puts on a contest to find his new club promoter, Layla, Aster, and Tommy can't resist the chance to realize their dreams. But when Madison Brooks, the most popular starlet around, disappears, the three find themselves sucked into a mystery that may just be of their own making.

40. A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas

Charlotte Holmes refuses to mold herself to society's expectations of who a lady should be. Forced to fend for herself, she becomes entangled in the mysteries society tries to hide from the light of day.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-study-in-scarlet-wom...

41. Security by Gina Wohlsdorf

Security is a book that gets in its own way, by trying to be too many things and too clever.

Is it a murder mystery in the vein of And Then There Were None (the concept that drew me to the book), with a group of people trapped in a hotel with a killer? Is it a philosophical pondering on the meaning of security? Is it a love story? Is it a treatise on violence?

In the end, Security has some really scary and suspenseful moments, but these get lost in the shuffle. For me, I went in wanting a scary murder mystery, which is not what I got.

42. The Amateurs by Sara Shepard

I've become a little wary of Sara Shepard's books. I started and got hooked on both her previous series, Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game, only to give up on them a few books in when they got too outlandish for my tastes or simply lost my interest.

But from the minute I heard about her new book, The Amateurs, I knew I had to give it a try. It's centered around a website where online amateur sleuths attempt to solve cold cases, something I am fascinated by the idea of. A group from the website gets together in real life to try to solve one of the most famous and perplexing cold cases, that of a missing and then murdered teenage girl, but find things reach far further than they had ever anticipated.

This is a good read, and a quick one. I definitely found myself drawn in and wanting to know what happened next. The characters are compelling, as are the friendships and relationships forming between them. A few of the more minor characters verge on stereotypes that can feel overused, such as a crazed possible stalker female, but on the whole the characters are well-developed

And that ending! It is an amazing ending that left me gasping, and absolutely having to read the next book in the series. Shepard did an amazing job of hiding the truth right under her readers' noses, and it plays out brilliantly.

Hello, Becca!

I will have to see if my local library has The Amateurs. Thank you for the recommendations.

Hi! I'm so glad, it was definitely an enjoyable read!

43. Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander

In this fun start to a cozy mystery series, Juliet "Jules" Capshaw has returned to her hometown, nursing a broken heart. She settles back into working at her family's bakery, Torte, but her healing time is interrupted by the discovery of a dead body in the kitchen.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-meet-your-baker.html

44. Bel of the Brawl by Maggie McConnon

Bel is a chef for weddings at her family's estate, but murders keep happening around the happy events. This time, its the groom who has died, and a waitress and ten thousand dollar tip that have gone missing. And remains have been found on the island where Bel's best friend disappeared many years ago.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-bel-of-brawl.html

Lots of fun reading, looks like, Becca. I'm glad Sara Shepard came though for you with The Amateurs. I hope she keeps it up as the series goes forward.

Thanks Dad!

45. Never Missing, Never Found by Amanda Panitch

Scarlett escaped from her captor once. Determined to put the past behind her, she is now working at a local amusement park. But when another girl goes missing, Scarlett starts to question the choices she made all those years ago.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-never-missing-never-...

46. Bradstreet Gate by Robin Kirman

Three people enter Harvard as undergraduates, thinking this is the key to making their lives perfect. But an overly charming professor and a murder on campus shake their worlds to the core. As they graduate and grow into adults, the events from those four years continue to reverberate through every facet of their lives.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-bradstreet-gate.html

>65 seasonsoflove: I read that one for a challenge a couple years ago (I used it for "a book based entirely on its cover" as I thought it was pretty). I think I liked it a bit more than you but I went into it with zero expectations so that helps. :)

>66 MickyFine: I do think that it's one of those books where I would have liked it more if I didn't go in with any expectations.

47. The Whole Art of Detection by Lyndsay Faye

Faye has crafted a collection of short stories centered around Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. These stories cover the early years of Holmes' career, through his supposed death and return, all the way through to years after he has resumed his life in London.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-whole-art-of-detecti...

48. The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas

This is a young adult psychological mystery centered around a serial killer from the past who may actually be innocent, and the teenage girls who were children when their testimony put him on death row. The ending, while definitely a shocker, comes a bit out of left field, but it's still an interesting, suspenseful, surprising read.

49. Crepe Factor by Laura Childs

It's the holiday season, but scrapbook shop owner Carmela has just seen a man die at her feet. The victim has ties to both the restaurant scene and the local environmentalists, and Carmela's ex is a prime suspect.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-crepe-factor.html

50. The Case of the Blond Bonanza by Erle Stanley Gardner

This was a really fun Perry Mason, centered around a woman with a modeling contract too good to be true.

Ooo, Lyndsay Faye does Holmes. Sounds good!

>67 seasonsoflove: The Lyndsay Faye one just arrived here at the library. I cataloged it yesterday. I was hoping it would be worthwhile. I'm glad to hear I need to be sure to add it to my TBR list.

The Whole Art of Detection sounds really good, Becca. Adding it to the WL.

It's so good, highly recommended!

51. Year of the Dunk by Asher Price

I've had this book on my shelf for a while-it's an early reviewer book that didn't actually come in the mail until many months after it was supposed to-and my school's reading competition has bonus points for reading a book about basketball, so I was inspired to pick this up finally and get some extra points for my classroom!

Price tells the story of his year spent attempting to train his body and mind to be able to dunk a basketball. Along the way, he reveals personal stories about his and his family's life, as well as delving into the history of basketball, and jumping in general.

As a huge basketball fan, I found this book most interesting when it focused on the basketball aspect of things, but in general, this was a good, quick read, with some real impactful emotional moments.

52. Mrs. Sherlock Holmes by Brad Ricca

I knew I had to have this book the moment I heard about it, and reading it definitely lived up to my expectations.

Ricca tells the true tale of a woman detective who took on the case of a missing girl, and ended up taking on her city as well. Ricca also explores the all-important question of how such an important, influential woman could be so little-known nowadays.

This book is fascinating from a true crime viewpoint, but also in the ways it explores the societal and cultural norms of the time. I highly recommend this read.

>71 seasonsoflove: Glad Mrs. Sherlock Holmes has found another fan. I really enjoyed it as well.

I'm really glad to hear you enjoyed it too, it was such a great read!

53. This Is Our Story by Ashley Elston

In This Is Our Story, Elston spins a tangled, eerie web of a story about secrets, lies, and the ties that bind us.

Everyone has heard about the River Point Boys. The five friends went into the woods to hunt, and when the hunt was finished, one of their own lay dead.

Kate is a high school student who works in the district attorney's office. She's already emotionally involved in this case for reasons she doesn't want to discuss with anyone, let alone her mother and her boss. Determined to get to the bottom of what truly happened, Kate starts digging deep, with possibly dangerous results.

I had been wanting to read this book since I first heard about it, and Elston did not disappoint. The book is nicely layered, with twists and turns I did not see coming. The characters are complex, and Kate is a character I definitely found myself cheering for. Elston's use of interview transcripts, and missives from a mysterious second narrator, make the story even more interesting.

This is a young adult mystery done right. I definitely recommend this read.

Adding The Whole Art of Detection and This is Our Story to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendations, Becca!

I'm so glad, they were both great reads!

54. Murder in Plain English by Michael Arntfield and Marcel Danesi

Arntfield and Danesi look at true crime and the culture surrounding it through the lens of literary analysis.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-murder-in-plain-engl...

55 Ill Will by Dan Chaon

Told from multiple perspectives, this is the story of a crime from the past that occurred during the Satanic Panic, as well as crimes occurring in the present that may be committed by a serial killer known by the moniker "Jack Daniels".

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-ill-will.html

I saw Ill Will on my library's new book list - from your review, it sounds like something I'd like. I'm interested in the more experimental aspects you mentioned in your review.

>77 drneutron: It is a really interesting and unique read, and very different from anything else I've read.

56. The Mystery of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos

Imogene's parents met when her father, a forensic pathologist, brought her mother in to identify a body. Her father became a famous mystery writer, and her mother left them behind. Now Imogene's father is the one who has left, and she decides she must use all she has learned from his books to find him and solve the mystery of her mother.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-mystery-of-hollow-pl...

Thanks for doing your best to keep your difficult father in check yesterday, Becca. Thank goodness we kept it all out of the news reports.

I'm glad you had such a good time with Murder in Plain English. I keep seeing Dan Chaon's writing being discussed. Sounds intriguing.

Hi, Becca!

I had to come over and let you know that I'm almost finished (sort of - ~300 pages left) with The Complete Sherlock Holmes and it's glorious. I've loved every page so far. Tomm and I have started watching the Cumberbatch/Freeman show, which we both adore, too. Anyway, I just wanted to share my Sherlock love with someone whom I know will appreciate it...

Happy Tuesday!

Hee hee Dad, glad I could help ;)

Hi Amber! I'm so glad to hear that!! I'm doing a re read of The Complete Sherlock Holmes and it's so great to visit those wonderful stories again-and the show is so good!

57. What Remains of Me by Alison Gaylin

This is one of my favorite reads of the year so far.

In What Remains of Me, Gaylin spins an amazingly tangled tale about a murder from the past and a murder from the present colliding, sending secrets spiraling out from the wreckage.

Hollywood is a place of secrets and lies, and Kelly Lund is caught up in the middle of it all. When she was a teenager, she was convicted of murdering a famous movie director. Now out of prison, her father-in-law is found dead under similar circumstances, and Kelly finds herself a suspect once again.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/03/reviewswhat-remains-of-me-a...

58. The Readaholics and the Poirot Puzzle by Laura DiSilverio

I will read absolutely anything having to do with Agatha Christie, especially when it's an entry in a cozy mystery series that I already know I enjoy.

When her brother's business partner is murdered during the opening night festivities at their new bar, Amy-Faye takes it upon herself to solve the mystery and clear her brother as a suspect. But along the way, she discovers that almost everyone in her small town has a secret to hide, and some have a possible motive for murder.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/03/reviewswhat-remains-of-me-a...

59. Finders Keepers by Stephen King

Second in the Bill Hodges trilogy, Finders Keepers is the story of a man obsessed with one writer, who goes to murderous lengths to find what his favorite author has written since he became a recluse. It is also the story of a young boy, who, decades later, becomes involved in the crime through an attempt to help his family.

While I did not enjoy this as much as Mr. Mercedes, the first in the trilogy, this was still an interesting, gripping, suspenseful read. I did feel it dragged in parts, but the ending especially is highly intriguing, and sets up the third book in the trilogy well.

>81 seasonsoflove: I'm already looking forward to a re-read - I'd love to get Stephen Fry's audio version. Cumberbatch apparently has read some stories, too...

>82 scaifea: I could listen to either of those men read the phone book. :D

>83 MickyFine: Amen, sister.

Great reviews, Becca! I am adding tons to the BlackHole!

>82 scaifea: >83 MickyFine: me too!

>85 alcottacre: Yay, thanks so much!

60. So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson

I've loved everything I've read of Ronson's so far, and this is no exception. He is writing about a fascinating and highly topical subject-public shaming, particularly in the age of social media-and doing it with a wry, yet sympathetic tone that is unique and highly readable.

61 This House is Haunted by John Boyne

Eliza Caine has just lost her father, and mired in grief, answers an advertisement for a governess. But even before her arrival, strange and dangerous things begin to happen to her, occurrences that only get worse once she makes it to Gaudlin Hall.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/04/review-this-house-is-haunte...

Your thread should come with a warning, Becca. Just catching up and you got me with BBs for The Amateurs and So You've Been Publicly Shamed. I put my library's website up at the same time and at least they won't result in new book purchases. (That is a whole other problem.)

I wanted you to know that I enjoyed Agatha: The Real Life of Agatha Christie a lot. Thanks for that BB that I got from your thread.

>87 seasonsoflove: Ooof, I love Boyne. I need to get to that one soon.

>88 Familyhistorian: Thanks! hee hee ;) I'm so glad you enjoyed The Real Life of Agatha Christie!

>89 scaifea: It was definitely a good read!

62. City of Light, City of Poison by Holly Tucker

Tucker tells the true tale of a rash of poisoning during the reign of Louis XIV, when murder, witch hunts, and the nobility collided under a web of fear and conspiracy. This led to the appointment of the first police chief in Paris.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/04/review-city-of-light-city-o...

63. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

This is a re read of a favorite for me, inspired by the TV show finally being released on Netflix. This is an important read and and an important watch, and I highly recommend both.

64. Chocolat by Joanne Harris

When a chocolate maker moves into a small town run by the local priest, she shakes up the town and the people in it. This is a beautifully written book full of magic, chocolate descriptions that will have you rushing to the store, and unique complex characters.

Chocolat is one of the rare cases where I prefer the film to the book.

>90 seasonsoflove: >91 MickyFine: I've only seen the film, but oh gosh, do I love it. Mr. Depp at his non-piratey finest. Yum.

>90 seasonsoflove: Chocolat is one of those I'd love to read sometime.

I actually preferred the film to the book as well, which isn't typically the case.

65. Gone Without a Trace by Mary Torjussen

http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/04/blog-tour-gone-without-trac...

66. You by Caroline Kepnes

67. The Dinner by Herman Koch

http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/04/unreliable-narrator-reviews...

68. The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

I love this young adult series, and am so glad I got back into it. This entry ended on a real cliffhanger, and I can't wait to read the next book!

69. Joyland by Stephen King

This was an eerie well-written read centered around a young man who takes a summer job at an amusement park that ends up changing the course of his life. There's friendship, romance, a murder mystery, ghosts, and psychics, and as usual, King juggles it all with aplomb.

I LOVED meeting you yesterday, Becca!! So much fun. And it would be fabulous to have more time to chat - all joking aside, I really do feel like we just have tons in common.

Great to finally meet you in person at the meetup, Becca. You remind me so much of our daughter. And Amber.

Have a wonderful break in New Buffalo. We'll spoil the heck out of take good care of Sherlock.

>99 jnwelch: *SNORK!*

It was great to finally meet you Saturday! I was really looking forward to finally meeting Sherlock's mom. :-) I hope you're enjoying your spring break wherever you happen to be.

>97 DianaNL: thanks, same to you!

>98 scaifea: Amber, I LOVED meeting you too! I would love to get more chances to hang out and chat!

>99 jnwelch: oh Dad ;D

>101 rosalita: It was great to finally meet you too!!

70. The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple by Jeff Guinn

Guinn tells the true tale of the man and the people behind the infamous events surrounding Peoples Temple.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/04/review-road-to-jonestown.ht...

71 And The Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich

This was a good, creepy read surrounding a girl and her sister living in a mysterious, falling apart house. The woods seem to be moving closer and closer, while a mysterious entity stalks them.

I didn't love this like I did Kurtagich's previous book-it seemed like she was just trying to do too much in this book-but this was still a gripping horror story with a good twist.

72. So Close the Hand of Death by J.T. Ellison

There is a copycat killer out there, mimicking the crimes of infamous serial killers like the Zodiac. Taylor Jackson must juggle the continued assault from a dangerous criminal on her personal life, as well as solve this new set of murders.

73. The Poisoned House by Michael Ford

This is a gothic ghost story told from the journal pages of a young maid, who worked in the same house her mother died in. When ghosts seemingly begin to reach out to her, she must push past her fear to discover what is truly going on under the haunted roof.

I saw The Road to Jonestown on the library's new book list and have enjoyed Guinn's previous work. So I'm glad your review was a positive one - moved it higher on my priority list!

>104 drneutron: It's a great read!

74. Blacklist by Alyson Noel

Picking up where the first book in the series left off, there is a presumed murder to solve, a celebrity's past to unlock, and a friend who needs their innocence proven.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/04/review-blacklist.html

You are almost to 75! Wow!

>90 seasonsoflove: City of Light, City of Poison sounds right up my alley. Thanks for the recommendation of that one.

I love Chocolat. Glad you enjoyed it too.

>106 thornton37814: thanks, I reached it today!!

>107 alcottacre: I'm so glad, it's a great true crime read! And Chocolat was a delightful read.

75. (!!!) Burntown by Jennifer McMahon

Necco was once known as Eva, when her family were all still alive, before her father and brother died in a terrible flood. Unable to remember what happened that day, Necco has always had to trust her mother's stories, told to her under the influence of "the devil's snuff" while they lived on the streets with a community of women known as fire eaters.

But now her mother is dead too, and when her boyfriend is murdered as well, Necco realizes she has no choice but to solve the mystery of her past.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/04/review-burntown.html

76. Vanish by Tess Gerritsen

A woman declared dead suddenly comes alive again in the morgue, bringing on a hostage crisis that drags Rizzoli and Isles into a mystery spanning countries and full of conspiracies. This book grabbed me from the start, and I flew through it. It definitely makes me want to read more Gerritsen.

Congrats! I saw BUrntown on my library's new book list and promptly put it on my wishlist.

>108 seasonsoflove: Congratulations on reaching the magic number!

Becca, congratulations on making it to 75 in April no less! You are a reading machine. :-)

Is that Tess Gerritsen a stand-alone? I've read all of her Rizzoli & Isles series but only read one or two of the stand-alones. I keep meaning to look for more of them.

Congrats on 75!! WooHoo!!!

Also, I'm going through some pretty serious Sherlock withdrawal. Must at least get back to the FreemanBatch show soonish...

Congratulations on reaching 75, Becca!

Way to go, Becca!

Thanks so much everyone!!

The Tess Gerritsen is a Rizzoli and Isles, but I do have a stand alone of hers I'm planning to read soon.

77. The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

Lane was a Roanoke girl, beautiful and rich, once she was sent to live with her grandparents and cousin after her mother killed herself.

But something caused Lane to flee that life, and promise herself she would never go back. But when her cousin disappears, Lane must face what happened to her all those years ago.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/04/review-roanoke-girls.html

78. The Summons by John Grisham

I hadn't read a lot of Grisham before this, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, besides a focus on a legal mystery. I found this book a quick, good read that definitely had me flipping pages, though at first I was a bit disappointed in the mystery aspect--but then the last few chapters changed everything I thought I knew, and that was fantastic.

>115 seasonsoflove: My favourite Grisham is probably The Pelican Brief. Both the book and the film are so great.

Belated congrats for making it to 75, Becca!

Congratulations, Becca!

Thanks so much everyone!

I will definitely put The Pelican Brief on my TBR and to be watched list!

79. Long Black Veil by Jennifer Finney Boylan

A group goes into the ruins of Eastern State Penitentiary one night, but not all of them come back out alive. What happened that night stays with them, changing who they are and the path their lives will take. When a detective begins investigating the cold case again, it forces the former friends to confront their pasts and what truly happened that night.

Read the rest of the review: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/04/review-long-black-veil.html

80. The Hand That Feeds You by A.J. Rich

A woman comes home to find her boyfriend is dead, seemingly mauled to death by her dogs. But as she tries to figure out exactly what happened, she learns the love of her life wasn't exactly truthful with her.

This was such a suspenseful, gripping read, that I ended up reading it in less than half a day. I was able to predict one of the biggest reveals a couple chapters before it happened, which felt like a bit of a let down, and the ending felt a bit rushed with all the great build up before it. But this was still a really good read, and one I would definitely recommend.

81. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

This is a beautiful book for children and adults, that stresses the importance of kindness, through the tale of a young girl whose classmates don't believe she really has a hundred dresses in her closet.

82. Journeys to the Twilight Zone edited by Carol Sterling

This is a collection of short stories in the vein of "The Twilight Zone", including one story by Rod Sterling himself.

83. The Surrogates: Flesh and Bone by Robert Venditti

This is a graphic novel prequel that explores how the surrogates become so popular, and how the Prophet rose to power, as well as how the main detective grew to be involved so deeply.

84. Double Dog Dare by Linda O. Johnston

This is a really fun mystery series, with a pet sitter and animal advocacy lawyer as the protagonist. In this case, she deals with a cloning center, while also struggling to figure out what has happened to her boyfriend, who has disappeared after his car is found sunk in the water.

Happy Sunday, Becca! Hooray for hitting 75 and hooray for the book being Burntown. I really like McMahon and I got a chance to meet her at a Booktopia event. What do you do with your ARCS, when you are through with them?

I am also getting ready to start The Road to Jonestown. I appreciate you putting this on my radar. It looks great.

>119 seasonsoflove: Yay for The Hundred Dresses! Love that one.

>119 seasonsoflove:, >121 scaifea: What your BFF Amber said, Becca. I read The Hundred Dresses a couple of years ago on someone's recommendation, and it's a good 'un.

Becca, I'm just loving your reviews - you are very good at something that is very difficult for me!

>80 scaifea: Sherlock is hands down my favorite show of all time. For me, I think it surpasses even Doctor Who, which is saying something, as I have been watching Doctor Who since the early 80's. And may I say that Sherlock does not suffer in the rewatch - I rewatch them probably about once every 3 months or so since the beginning and up until probably the 5-6th time was seeing something that I hadn't seen before!!

Have you ever read the Laurie R King Mary Russell series? I must admit that I'd held off reading it for a long, long time because I couldn't see how Sherlock Holmes could ever have a wife - but it works, and works well! The series has become one of my favorites.

Congrats on reaching 75!

Mark, I'm so glad you're planning to read The Road to Jonestown, its really a well-done book, as is his other work, Manson. When I'm done with my hard copy ARCs, I tend to donate them. Open Books uses them for a program of theirs where they are not resold for profit.

Dad and Amber, The Hundred Dresses was such a well done read!

Robin, that is so nice of you, thank you so much! And happy May the 4th to you as well! I love the Mary Russell series-I was unsure about it for the same reason you mentioned, but ending up just falling in love with the books. I have stopped reading them because I just wasn't enjoying the latter additions to the series that much, but I love the earlier books. My blog's title is actually a take on The Beekeeper's Apprentice :)

85. Love & Death in Burgundy by Susan C. Shea

Katherine and her husband Michael are Americans who now live in a small village in France. Katherine desperately wants to fit in with her neighbors, but as an American, they just don't accept her. But when the elderly owner of the historic chateau is found dead at the bottom of the stairs, Katherine is determined to solve the mystery and prove her worth.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/05/review-love-death-in-burgun...

86. More Information Than You Require by John Hodgman

This was a fun, clever book full of fake facts written with a lot of wry humor. Some sections were definitely stronger than others, but as a whole, it was a really enjoyable read

87. The Lost City of Z by David Grann

Grann is a fantastic writer, and this is an absolutely fascinating book. Investigating the disappearance of a famous explorer long ago, Grann not only discovers through research things that others have never pieced together, but attempts to replicate the explorer's journey himself in hopes of finding the truth.

>123 rretzler: Robin: Sherlock is so well done, isn't it? I just love it so far. But no, I can't say that I'm ready to consider Holmes having a wife. Maybe someday, but right now, it's just too soon...

Morning, Becca!

Wishing you a lovely weekend, Becca.

Hi Amber!

Thanks Paul!

88. Peril in Paperback by Kate Carlisle

This is a really fun cozy mystery, centered around a book restorer staying in the house of a famous game designer. The house is described as a "fun house", full of moving walls and trapdoors, but the fun stops when someone is murdered.

89. Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark

This is a book that starts out strong, with a really intriguing premise. A man has vanished without a trace, and only communicates with his family with a phone call on Mother's Day. But when his sister tells him she is going to track him down, she sets in motion a series of events bigger than she could have imagined. The build up and solution are strong, but the ending seems way too pat. This is still an enjoyable read though.

90. Wedding Bel Blues by Maggie McConnon

Belfast McGrath's culinary career crashed and burned in New York, leading her to (temporarily, she hopes) move back in with her large family--and get roped into becoming the cook for their wedding business. But when someone dies at her cousin's wedding, Bel finds herself drawn into solving both the mystery and the secrets of her family's past.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/05/review-wedding-bel-blues.ht...

91. Always Watching by Chevy Stevens

This was one of those books that started stronger than it finished. A psychologist encounters a patient who keeps speaking about a commune-the very same commune the psychologist was a part of as a child. Could it be something at the commune that caused the psychologist's intense claustrophobia and the patient's suicide attempts?

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/05/reviews-always-watching-and...

92. They All Fall Down by Roxanne St. Claire

Similar to the book I reviewed above, this is another book that suffers from trying to do too much, and overstretching an interesting premise. When the narrator, a self-described Latin nerd, finds herself number five on the legendary "Hottie List" at her school, her whole world changes--including finding herself narrowly escaping a series of almost-lethal accidents.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/05/reviews-always-watching-and...

93. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Grann has carefully researched "The Reign of Terror", when the Osage both gained riches and lost their lives. Examining the search for the perpetrator or perpetrators of the heinous homicides, Grann also tells the tale of how the FBI became involved.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/05/review-killers-of-flower-mo...

94. The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain

Chamberlain tells the tale of Riley, who has always believed her older sister committed suicide. But in cleaning out her late father's house, Riley stumbles upon the possibility that everything she has been told about her family is a lie.

This is another one of those books where the premise is better than the delivery. The book starts out promising, but veers off into melodramatic territory that just lost me.

Glad to see there's been one really good read in the mix recently.

>130 seasonsoflove: That fits the raves I've been seeing everywhere for Killers of the Flower Moon. I'm glad it lived up to its billing.

>131 MickyFine: It was definitely a really good read, highly recommended.

>131 MickyFine: The book definitely deserves all the raves!

95. Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner

This was a fun read that also is emotionally complex. Kate is struggling with her current life of mother and housewife in an elite suburb, feeling like she will never fit in, wondering what it would have been like if her crush hadn't broken her heart. Then one of the seemingly-perfect mothers is murdered, and Kate is determined to figure out exactly what happened. The mystery is a good one, with a surprising ending, and Kate is a character you can't help but root for.

>128 seasonsoflove: Becca, I don't normally read mysteries set in the US, but Peril in Paperback sounds like a fun read! Onto the wish list it goes!

>134 rretzler: It was a really fun read-I want to read more of the series!

96. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

This was a really interesting read about the power of making decisions without overthinking, and all the factors that can impact decision making.

97. Bloodstream by Tess Gerritsen

I continue to enjoy Gerritsen's thrillers-they are always gripping, the pages fly by, and even when they verge on the ridiculous, Gerritsen makes it work. This book centers around a mysterious rash of violence among teenagers in a small town, and what could make this occur twice a century.

98. Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison

Kat hosted a famous antiquing television show, but now she owns a small antique store off the estate of Honeychurch Hall. A string of crimes begin to occur, including robbery, a missing manuscript, and murder, and Kat must solve the mysteries while settling into her new life and the possibility of romance.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/05/review-murderous-mayhem-at-...

>135 seasonsoflove: The last one sounds like a cute cozy mystery.

>136 MickyFine: It was really cute and fun-I definitely want to read the rest of this series.

99. Nine: An Anthology of Russia's Foremost Women Writers edited by Svetlana Alexiyevich

This was a really interesting collection of short stories by modern Russian writers, that examined femininity in Russia from many different angles. The stories about motherhood and the way it is viewed and valued (or not) in Russia were particularly poignant.

100. (!!!) The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji

When a group of students from a Japanese university, all part of a mystery fiction club, move into the Decagon House for a week, they think it is simply to visit and understand the site where a notorious multiple murder occurred the year previously. But as they start dying one by one, they begin to realize somewhere on the island there is once again a murderer.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/05/review-decagon-house-murder...

Congrats on reaching the triple digits before the halfway point of the year! That's super impressive!

100! WOOT!!

Thanks so much!!

101. The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway

This was a beautifully, written heartbreaking book. Galloway made you feel everything that the characters were going through so deeply, as they attempt to not only survive, but keep true to themselves in war-torn Sarajevo.

102. Defending Jacob by William Landay

This is a psychological mystery surrounding a teenager stabbed to death, with the narrator's son being the prime suspect. This was a good book, but not great, until the last few chapters, when the book absolutely blew my mind.

>141 seasonsoflove: I read The Cellist of Sarajevo a few years ago and liked it quite a bit. It gave very good insight into the lives of people living through the war.

>141 seasonsoflove: I completely agree with both of those reviews, Becca!

Congrats on reaching 100 and beyond, cutie-pie!

I'm intrigued by your review of Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall. Hmm.

So glad The Cellist of Sarajevo worked well for you.

I found you! I found YOU!

Still working on Chicago stuff. I will let you know what I know as soon as I know it. Well, not right that instant, but soon after I find out.

>142 PawsforThought: I completely agree!

>143 rosalita: Yay, thanks!

>144 jnwelch: Thanks Dad! It's a cozy mystery, but if you were going to dive into one, I do think its one you might enjoy. And I'm really glad it worked for me too.

>145 benitastrnad: Yay!! Perfect, thanks!

103. The Boys of Winter by Wayne Coffey

This is a book about the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" when the USA team beat the Russian team in the Olympic semifinals. What particularly impressed me about this book was how, even though I knew the outcome of the all-important game going in, Coffey still made the story feel suspenseful. I also really liked how Coffey would weave in the backstories of the players and coach with the play of the actual game.

When you get time take a look at the ALA web pages on the conference. I got a boat load of e-mails today telling me about a boat load of authors who are going to make appearances at the conference. Lots of children's and YA authors. There aisles in the exhibit hall are going to be crowded with lines on Saturday and Sunday.

Just got word from Abby that they can give out the free ALA exhibit passes. Please pass this along to your school teacher friends. If you can't come on Saturday, Sunday will be just as good with lots of children's and YA authors in the exhibit hall. There will be more information on the ALA Chicago thread.

Okay, ProQuest is very kindly allowing us to give out free exhibit-hall only passes. The info you need:

Customers will enter this code when they register for the event in order to receive a complimentary Exhibit Hall Only registration badge.

https://www.compusystems.com/servlet/ar?evt_uid=136&oi=9mzor8YRH9nHoIiGjo9vo...

ProQuest Exhibitor VIP Code: V312

See you in Chicago!

I started reading Summerland by Michael Chabon the other day. This is his children's fantasy novel about summer and baseball. It hooked me right away. It would make a great read-aloud for kids about 4th grade and up. The reading level is quite low so it would also be a good chapter book for 5 & 6th graders.

Have you heard of The Skim? Check out this story.

http://www.businessinsider.com/skimmreads-is-oprahs-book-club-for-millennials-20...

Thanks for all the awesome links and tips Benita!! See you here soon!!

104. The World's Greatest Detective by Caroline Carlson

Toby Montrose has been passed around from relative to relative, ever since his parents disappeared in a boating accident. Now he finds himself with his Last Relative, Uncle Gabriel, who lives on Detective's Row and has fallen on hard times.

Toby dreams of being a detective himself, and when the most famous detective, Hugh Abernathy, opens up a contest to determine the World's Greatest Detective, Toby knows he has to be a part of it. But when the game is no longer a game, Toby must solve a real-life murder.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-worlds-greatest-dete...

105. Half-Price Homicide by Elaine Viets

Helen Hawthorne has had to take a string of jobs to stay under the radar of her ex-husband, who was handed half of her income in an unfair divorce decree. Her current job is working at a consignment store that caters to the elite who don't have quite as much money as they would like.

But when a customer is murdered in the store, Helen finds herself once again thrust into the police's spotlight as a prime suspect. She must solve the crime to free herself from suspicion.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-half-price-homicide....

>135 seasonsoflove: Nice review of Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall. I read the 3rd book in the series last year as an ARC, and then read this one as an ARC this year. I have to say I enjoyed the previous book a little more than this current one. There seemed to be some plot holes in this one, and the writing didn't hang together as well for me. I've got the first one in the series on my TBR list.

I wanted to let you know that I will be around the exhibit hall later in the afternoon on Sunday. After 1:30 -2ish. The ALA committee on which I serve has a program at 8 on Sunday morning and then I have an EBSCO meeting to go to at noon. Your Dad has my phone number so when I get to the hall I will call and try to find you guys. Maybe we can sit down and have a coffee together? But I know that you will want to be picking up books and stuff.

Go back around the booths between 4 & 5 on Sunday, and you are more likely to get some free things that they reserve for the last day. I know it will be late, and the load will be heavy by that time, but sometimes it is worth waiting.

>152 rretzler: I'm definitely interested in checking out the rest of the series, I'm curious to know what you think of the first book in the series!

>153 benitastrnad: Thanks so much for all the great advice and tips! I hope we get to see you there!

106. The Missing One by Lucy Atkins

Kal has never felt like she truly knows her mother. When her mother passes from cancer, Kal is determined to discover the secrets of her mother's past. Taking only her son, leaving her possibly-cheating husband behind, Kal sets off to British Columbia. She heads to a remote island where a woman who once knew her mother lives, a woman who sent postcard after postcard simply stating "Thinking of You".

Read the rest of the review here:

http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/06/reviews-hospitality-and-hom...

107. Hospitality and Homicide by Lynn Cahoon

Jill Gardner not only owns a bookstore/coffee shop, but she also can't seem to help herself when it comes to getting involved in local mysteries. An author comes for a signing, but finds himself a prime suspect when a murder is committed that exactly mimics one in the first draft of his new book. Jill must try to figure out the truth behind the murder, keep her business going, and decide where her relationship with her police boyfriend is heading.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/06/reviews-hospitality-and-hom...

108. Dis Mem Ber by Joyce Carol Oates

In this collection of seven short stories, Oates explores the darker side of human nature, through the psychological lens of various women protagonists and narrators.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-dis-mem-ber.html

Only one more week to ALA. Hope to see you there. I am flying in to Chicago on Thursday and will do a Chicago Architecture tour Thursday. Then the conference starts on Fiday.

>156 benitastrnad: We will be there on Sunday, hope we get to see you!

109. Dead Famous by Ben Elton

Contestants are locked in a house for a Big-Brother style British reality show called House Arrest. But then one of them is murdered, and even though the murder itself was caught on camera, the police find themselves in the middle of a complicated, twisted case they may not be able to solve.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-dead-famous.html

110. The Sleep Room by F.R. Tallis

A young psychiatrist gets the chance to work with his idol at an isolated asylum out in the countryside. He is especially interested in The Sleep Room, where young women are kept in an almost-perpetual state of sleep in an attempt to cure their seeming neuroses. But when mysterious things keep happening all around him, he is forced to consider that there may be more than meets the eye in this world.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-sleep-room.html

111. The Hole by Guy Burt

Five students descend into a secret room on campus, locked in by a fellow student as part of what they believe will be the greatest prank yet. But when no one comes to let them out, they begin to realize they might be part of a far more terrifying psychological experiment instead.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-hole.html

112. True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa by Michael Finkel

Michael Finkel was a New York Times Journalist who was fired after it was revealed he falsified details in a story.

Christian Longo was a man accused of having murdered his entire family.

What brought these two men together was the name Michael Finkel. While on the run from the law in Mexico, Longo impersonated Finkel, a journalist whose stories he had read and admired.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/06/true-crime-thursday-true-st...

There is lots of teacher stuff in the exhibits. I think you will have a great haul. I will be at McCormick about noon today. See you then.

Thanks Benita, looking forward to seeing you and the exhibits!

113. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

Cormoron Strike is a down on his luck private investigator, attempting to hide all this from his new and enthusiastic temp. When the brother of a famous model walks in, insisting that his sister was murdered, Strike throws himself into the case.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-cuckoos-calling.html

114. Why We Love Serial Killers by Scott Bonn

Bonn examines the public's fascination with serial killers through a psychological and sociological lens.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-why-we-love-serial-k...

115. Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica

Clara's seemingly perfect life is turned upside down when her husband dies in a car crash. Their young daughter, miraculously physically unharmed, seems to remember something from the crash that suggests it wasn't an accident, but a murder.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-every-last-lie.html

116. Scales of Justice by Ngaio Marsh

While this was not my favorite Marsh I've ever read (it got a little complicated and confusing in parts for my liking), I still enjoyed it very much, as I do everything Marsh has written. This one takes place in a small village, and centers around a mysterious memoir, feuds, love affairs, and a giant almost-mythical fish that lives under the bridge.

117. The Child by Fiona Barton

What I loved about this book was how many twists and turns there were. Barton, as she did in The Widow, keeps her readers on their toes.

She does this really effectively through having each chapter alternate points of view. This enables Barton to add layer upon layer to the story without giving everything away. A character may drop a hint about something, and then readers find themselves in another character's head, looking at everything a different way.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/06/blog-tour-and-review-child....

118. You'll Never Know, Dear by Hallie Ephron

Lis' sister, Janey, went missing one day from their own backyard. Forty years later, a woman turns up with Janey's doll, setting in motion a series of events that will change the lives of multiple generations.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-youll-never-know-dea...

119. Ten Dead Comedians by Fred Van Lente

A group of stand up comedians is brought to a mysterious isolated island, seemingly to be part of a new project by the most famous comedian in existance. But they quickly discover not all is what it seems, as they begin to be killed off one by one.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/07/review-ten-dead-comedians.h...

I'm so glad you had a good time with Comorran and Robin.

Talk about a title that shows the author knows his readers: Why We Love Serial Killers.

>168 jnwelch: I'm really looking forward to reading The Silkworm! I luckily already have a copy from Printer's Row this year.

And talk about a parent who knows their child, since you and Mom got it for me for my birthday! ;D

120. The False Friend by Myla Goldberg

Celia's childhood best friend went missing two decades ago, something Celia has tried her hardest to accept and move on from. But suddenly, she starts remembering what truly happened that day so many years ago. The only problem is, no one believes her-and she's beginning to wonder if she can trust her own mind.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/07/review-false-friend.html

>169 seasonsoflove: LOL re Why We Love Serial Killers!

Poor Myla Goldberg. Has she had a really good one since Bee Season?

>170 jnwelch: I know, I loved Bee Season, which made The False Friend even more of a disappointment.

121. The Day I Died by Lori Rader-Day

Anna Winger lives an isolated existence, keeping herself and her son as separate from the world--and her past-- as she can. She makes a living from analyzing other people's handwriting, searching for clues about who they truly are. When the police call on her to help with the case of a missing boy, her past begins to bleed into her present in all the ways she had fought so hard to prevent.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/07/two-ala-reviews-day-i-died-...

122. The Mesmerist by Ronald L. Smith

Jessamine Grace and her mother make money off playacting at spiritualism, but never off truly communicating with the dead--until one day, when a mysterious message appears on a slate Jessamine is holding. This leads Jessamine to a group of children like her, who may be the only hope to save their city from supernatural foes.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/07/two-ala-reviews-day-i-died-...

Count me as another who liked Bee Season. And you are right, the others never have lived up to that one.

>172 benitastrnad: I completely agree--it's always disappointing when you really like an author's book and the rest of their work doesn't live up to that first one you read.

123. Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown

When Billie, wife and mother, disappears while hiking alone, it leaves her husband and daughter in heartbreaking turmoil. One year later, they are struggling to move on, Jonathan writing a memoir about his life with Billie, Olive attempting to find her place in school and the world.

But when Olive starts having visions of her mother, she believes Billie is telling her to come find her, that she is still alive somewhere. As she brings Johnathan into her plan to locate her mother, father and daughter learn things about Billie they might not ever have wanted to know.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/07/review-watch-me-disappear.h...

124. Mindhunter by John Douglas

This was a fascinating look at how criminal profiling got started in the FBI, written by the man who was so integral to its application. Douglas discusses in detail how profiling was used in many infamous, as well as lesser-known, cases (so detailed that it sometimes got hard to read because of what he was describing). I did feel the book, particularly the early chapters, sometimes felt too much like a biography of Douglas, as opposed to a focus on profiling, and that Douglas sometimes came across as bragging a little too much. But everything he accomplished with his team is amazing, and so interesting.

125. A Girl Called Vincent by Krystyna Poray Goddu

Goddu tells the true story of the fascinating life of renowned female poet Edna St. Vincent Millay.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/07/review-girl-called-vincent....

126. Bring Her Home by David Bell

Bill lost his wife less than two years ago, and now he fears he has lost his daughter, Summer, too. But when the police tell him Summer has been found after being missing for days, it seems too good to be true. As Bill sits by Summer's hospital bed, he has to wonder if he could be this fortunate to truly get his daughter back--and how well he really knows his own flesh and blood. What happened to Summer and her friend? And who exactly made them disappear?

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/07/review-bring-her-home.html

127. Waistcoats and Weaponry by Gail Carriger

I love Carriger's books, but I had a little bit of trouble getting going with this one, and I'm not sure why. I absolutely love the characters, the plot just seemed a little slow.

>176 seasonsoflove: Bring Her Home sounds pretty interesting...

And I've never read any of Carriger's stuff. I can't seem to decide if I'd like it, for some reason.

>176 seasonsoflove: I enjoyed The Finishing School series but it's not my favourite of Carriger's stuff.

#177
Remember that Gail Carriger is primarily a YA author so her plots are going to be somewhat easier to understand. If you don't like steampunk you probably won't like Carriger. I consider them to "light" reading - something more fun.

Carriger's books do tend to be fun, lighter reading for me. I absolutely loved her Soulless series-I flew through them and read the graphic novel versions too.

128. If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

(Note: Nothing in this review is a spoiler. Anything I discuss in this review is either general, or is stated in the book summary on the inside cover, Amazon, etc.)

Amanda moved in hopes of finding that typical teenage life. But when she makes friends, and begins to fall in love, she fears the secret she's carrying might tear all that apart-that she used to be Andrew.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/07/ala-review-if-i-was-your-gi...

129. Turbo Twenty Three by Janet Evanovich

I absolutely love this series. It's hilarious, with fun mysteries, and fantastic characters. I especially loved the subplots with Lula, and Grandma.

130. Seance for a Vampire by Fred Saberhagen

This is a strange, strange book. I love Sherlock Holmes, I love Dracula, but putting them together here just doesn't really work. The writing style was fine, but I just couldn't really get into this.

>164 seasonsoflove: Love Ngaio Marsh! One of my favorite authors!

>162 seasonsoflove: Going to have to read The Cuckoo's Calling one of these days - don't really know what's holding me back because I love the Potter's and Casual Vacancy was good too.

>180 seasonsoflove: Don't think I'll be reading Seance for a Vampire any time soon!

>181 rretzler: she's one of my favorites too!

Definitely recommend The Cuckoo's Calling! And definitely don't recommend Seance for a Vampire!

131. Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood by William J. Mann

This is a fantastic, gripping, brilliant true crime book.

What I noticed about Tinseltown right from the start is that it reads like a novel. It felt like I had picked up a whodunit, and was completely sucked in. Mann has this great writing style that is so easy and fun to read.

This is also an absolutely fascinating story, one that has remained unsolved for decades. Mann tells the true tale of William Desmond Taylor, a director and actor in the Roaring Twenties, whose murder remains a mystery to this day. Books have been written, webzines have been crafted, and conspiracy theories have been spun, but Mann has what he believes to finally be the true solution.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/07/true-crime-thursday-tinselt...

If you teach anybody 5th grade and up you need to read this book. Summerland by Michael Chabon. It is a book you could use so many ways in the classroom. It might possibly be the best baseball book ever! But, it is also full of mythology and american folk lore. It is long - 500 pages - and that is a major drawback for classroom use, but a creative teacher will still find ways to use it.

>183 benitastrnad: Thanks for the rec! Right now I only teach the little ones (Pre-K) but I sometimes tutor for older kids, so I will definitely keep that in mind!

132. The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

When Isa gets a text from Kate, simply saying I need you, it takes her right back to her painful past. Isa and Kate, along with Fatima and Thea, were a clique of four at a boarding school, playing a game that seemed to be all for fun. But the Lying Game had consequences, consequences that are still reverberating in the present, threatening to blow apart their lives.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/07/review-lying-game_21.html

Love that review of Tinseltown, Becca. Sounds like quite a book.

>186 jnwelch: Thanks Dad, it was so good!

133. The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond

Alice and Jake are newlyweds who get sent a seemingly well-meaning, if odd, gift-an invitation to join The Pact. The Pact is a group of married couples dedicated to ensuring that all their marriages survive and thrive.

Alice and Jake are in love, and want their marriage to succeed, so they accept the invitation. But they soon realize that what they signed up for is far darker and farther reaching then they had ever imagined.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/07/review-marriage-pact.html

>187 seasonsoflove: Saw this one on my library's new book list. Looks like i need to give it a go!

>188 drneutron: It surprised me with just how gripping and good it was.

134. The Wicked Girls by Alex Marwood

When they were children, Bel and Jade spent one day together, and by the time that day was through, the world would see them as murderers.

Now adults, living new lives under new names, the two women are brought together by the mysterious strangling deaths occurring in and around an amusement park--and they are forced to wonder just how much of their own pasts will be brought out into the present.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/07/review-wicked-girls.html

135. When I Am Through With You by Stephanie Kuehn

Ben just wanted to find some meaning for his life, some hope for a future he's not looking forward to. But leading what should have been a simple camping trip soon turns into tragedy. It's a story Ben will tell--but he's going to take his time.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/07/review-when-i-am-through-wi...

136. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

This is a brilliant, beautiful, heartbreaking read that just makes me want to read even more Morrison right away.

137. The Goddesses by Swan Huntley

Nancy, her husband, and their two boys move to Hawaii in an attempt to save their family from falling apart. But when Nancy meets Ana, her other relationships take a backseat to Ana's magnetic personality--and Nancy not only knows, but accepts, that whatever Ana wants, she will get.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/07/review-goddesses.html

138. Beneath the Bleeding by Val McDermid

I always enjoy McDermid's books, and while this one took a while to get going, once it did, it really got going. McDermid always does an amazing job with multiple crimes with far-reaching consequences, and complex characters.

139. The Baker Street Translation by Michael Robertson

This was a fun, not great, but fun read. It's centered around a law office that is housed at 221B Baker Street, with a clause in their lease that states they have to respond to the letters people write to Sherlock Holmes. The book started out slow, but picked up, and it was a really quick, easy read.

140. Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber

When she was a child, Josie's father was murdered, and her twin sister, Lanie, witnessed it. Their lives were completely torn apart, causing Josie to pull away and even change her name. But now a new podcast is revisiting the case, and suggesting that Lanie lied, putting the wrong person in jail.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/08/review-are-you-sleeping.htm...

141. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

There are times when you need to write a review immediately upon finishing a book, a gushing review that pretty much just states that said book is amazing and everyone needs to read it. This is one of those times, and Magpie Murders is one of those books.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/08/review-magpie-murders.html

>194 seasonsoflove: Whelp, adding that one to the list, then.

>194 seasonsoflove: Ok, the warbling got to me too.

>195 scaifea: & >196 MickyFine: It's just so good!

142. Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka

When high school student Lucinda is murdered, it brings out repressed feelings in her own town-especially for Cameron, Jade, and Russ, three characters caught up in painful memories and lost loves of their own.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/08/arc-august-review-1-girl-in...

143. Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams

This is such a fun cozy mystery series! I especially love the setting (an inn that is literary-themed; I want to stay there so badly!), and the strong female protagonist. The mystery was a good one, with some well-done twists and turns, and I love all the characters that have been introduced. This is definitely a series I will be returning to.

144. Shadow of the Lions by Christopher Swann

Matthias' best friend and roommate, Fritz, disappeared during their senior year at boarding school, and Matthias has always blamed himself.

Now, after one highly successful novel and complete writer's block since, Matthias finds himself back teaching at his former school. The memories that surround him make him determined to solve the mystery of what truly happened to Fritz.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/08/arc-august-review-2-shadow-...

145. Click Here to Start by Denis Markell

This is a really fun middle grade mystery/adventure book, highly recommended to me by a grade schooler I babysit for. The premise is a real-life escape room game, set up by the main character, Ted's, great-uncle, to lead him and his friends to a treasure.

Wow the books are coming thick and fast in August, Becca.

My own reading mojo is slowly returning after a very fallow couple of months.

148. Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moira Fowley-Doyle

A spellbook appears. A town begins to lose things big and small. Diary pages begin to appear in bunches of flowers and on the side of the road. And through it all, various girls lose themselves and try to find themselves again, through friendships, romance, and ties to the past and future, all with the help of some magic.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/08/arc-august-4-spellbook-of-l...

I knew you would be into The Magpie Murders as soon as I saw the allusions to Agatha Christie in the cover blurb. Great review but you didn't get me with a BB for that one because someone else already did. That Tinseltown one looks good, though. I think you got me there.

>203 seasonsoflove: You are right, I absolutely loved it! Tinseltown is really good, I would definitely recommend it.

149. See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt

Everyone thinks they know what really happened that fateful day in Fall River. Everyone has an opinion on Lizzie Borden's guilt or innocence.

Schmidt explores what could have happened from four points of view: Lizzie herself, Emma, her sister, Bridget, the family's maid, and Benjamin, a stranger brought into the outskirts of their world.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/08/review-see-what-i-have-done...

150!!! The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan

This was a really fun, thrilling read, surrounding an ordinary man who gets caught up in an espionage crisis of epic proportions.

Woot!! Congrats on 150!!

Has your school started yet?

Congratulations on reaching 2 x 75, Becca!

>205 FAMeulstee: Congratulations on reaching a double 75 so early in the year, Becca!

Wow, 150! That's awesome!

Thanks so much everyone!

Today is our first day with students, it's a mini-day, same tomorrow, Thursday is our first full day.

151. Dead Girls Can't Lie by Carys Jones

(I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

North refuses to believe her best friend committed suicide. It just doesn't seem possible. But North is the only one who thinks it was murder. So she sets out to discover the truth, navigating her way through emotional and physical dangers.

This book did start out slow for me, but it picked up, and I was definitely invested in North and her search for the truth. I also really appreciated how Jones created a realistic portrayal of anxiety, something I feel is very important, and how she highlighted the power and bond of female friendships.

Oh, exciting! Happy First Day! Here's wishing that everything goes super-smoothly for you and the little ones!

Happy Mini Day with the kids, Becca, and congrats on the 150!

Perhaps you remember a very fun production of The 39 Steps that we went to across the pond?

My first day is tomorrow.

Thanks everyone! I do remember that, Dad! Benita, I hope you had a great first day!

152. One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus

The testimony to how much I enjoyed this book was that, even as a teacher with my school year starting up again, and my three year old students now back, I could not put this book down. I was exhausted, and my head was full of lesson plans, but this book had me hooked.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/08/review-one-of-us-is-lying.h...

153. The Other Girl by Erica Spindler

Miranda Rader, a police officer in a small town, is called to a horrific crime scene. But when she gets there, she discovers a newspaper clipping from fifteen years ago, all about the crime in her past she's tried her hardest to forget. As Miranda attempts to discover how her past and the murder victim's present are connected, she will be forced to confront the truth about that terrible night so many years ago.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/08/arc-august-6-other-girl.htm...

154. Camp So-And-So by Mary McCoy

This is a weird and wonderful book.

It ostentatiously tells the story of a group of girls who are mailed invitations to attend a summer camp, and who accept these invitations, ready to head off to what they assume will be a week full of smores, songs and sleeping under the stars.

But this story goes places they, and you,will never see coming.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/08/review-camp-so-and-so.html

>216 seasonsoflove: Oh, that one sounds good! Adding it to the list...

>217 seasonsoflove: it was a really fun, clever read, definitely recommend it!

155. Raining Cats and Dogs by Laurien Berenson

I really enjoy this cozy mystery series, with a protagonist who raises and shows poodles. In this entry, Melanie joins an obedience class, which goes on visits to a senior citizens home. On one of their visits, a woman is murdered, and Melanie is recruited by the woman's nephew to help solve the case. The characters are fun and unique, and the mystery is a good one, with suspense and twists.

156. Thornhill by Pam Smy

The words tell the story of Mary, an orphan who lived in Thornhill as a ward of the state before it was shut down. The pictures tell the story of Ella, who finds herself alone in the house across from Thornhill after her mother passes away and her father loses himself in work.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/09/review-thornhill.html

157. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

A re read of a favorite, this book grabs me, pulls me in, and doesn't let me go, no matter how many times I've read it (and I've read it a lot). I'm rewatching the movie now.

You chose The Thirty-Nine Steps for your 150th book. How cool is that! I read that particular Buchan book a couple of years ago. Buchan used to be the Governor General of Canada.

>221 Familyhistorian: It was for a challenge, and I really liked having my 150th book be one I was reading for a reading challenge-plus I saw the play with my parents and my best friend years ago in London and loved it!

158. The Drowning Tree by Carol Goodman

When Juno reluctantly attends her college reunion, only there to support her best friend Christine as she gives an art history lecture, she doesn't expect to have Christine's speech spiral out in dangerous repercussions that will reverberate throughout her past and present, and challenge everything she thinks she knows.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/09/review-drowning-tree.html

>222 seasonsoflove: Sounds like a good memory. Was the play faithful to the book?

>223 seasonsoflove: It was-especially the humor!

159. The Fever by Megan Abbott

I am a big fan of Megan Abbot's books. She creates these amazing mysteries, but what's perhaps even more impressive is the story she tells around the mystery.

In The Fever, a group of girls begin to exhibit mysterious symptoms, that seem to have no rhyme or reason to them. While various theories are frantically bandied around, and public health services are called in, a small town becomes terrified, searching for anyone and anything to blame for what is happening to their children.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/09/review-fever.html

160. Crazy House by James Patterson

This book definitely has an interesting premise--Becca, a teenage girl living in a dystopian-style world, disappears one day, and wakes up in the "Crazy House", where she and other young adults are put on Death Row for reasons they can't understand. While Becca fights to stay alive, her only hope is her twin sister Cassie, still out there searching for her.

Crazy House was good but not great. It flew by, and kept me interested, but it was just missing something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

161. Cross the Line by James Patterson

I always enjoy any entry Patterson's Alex Cross series, and this was no exception. It's great to revisit familiar characters, and the storylines (two different kinds of vigilante killings) were intriguing and surprising. I prefer the books where it's Cross against a mysterious serial killer, but this was still a gripping, quick read.

162. Pekoe Most Poison by Laura Childs

This is a favorite cozy mysteries of mine, and this newest entry did not disappoint. At a "Rat Tea", the hostess's husband dies right before her guest's eyes. Could his tea have been poisoned? The protagonist, Theodosia, owner and proprietor of a tea shop I desperately wish was real, is clever, funny, and strong, and makes for a great amateur detective. The characters that surround her are unique and entertaining. and the mystery is compelling. I would definitely recommend this series.

163. The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz

I'm so glad I finally got to this book-I've loved all the previous "The Girl..." books, and even though this is a new author taking on familiar characters, Lagercrantz does a great job. The story is suspenseful and twisty, and it is wonderful to revisit Salander and Blomkvist.

>226 seasonsoflove: The tea series is also a favorite of mine. I really do wish the tea shop in Charleston existed. I'd be certain to savor the things Haley makes and Drayton brews on each visit to the city. I considered going to Charleston during our upcoming fall break, but "Irma" made me reconsider. I don't want to visit while they are trying to pick up from the wind and water damage.

>227 jnwelch: I agree on all counts!

164. The Van Gogh Deception by Deron R. Hicks

When a young boy with amnesia is found sitting in The National Gallery, it sets off an adventure full of art and mystery.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/09/review-van-gogh-deception.h...

Hmm. Do you think I might like The Van Gogh Deception? I'm a sucker for that art and art history stuff.

>229 jnwelch: I think you might! It was an ARC on my Kindle, but I'm sure you could get it from the library-it's a quick read.

165. Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

I really wanted to love this book. It's about Jack the Ripper, with a female protagonist billed as smart and defying society's conventions, and published under James' Patterson's new imprint. Plus the next book in the series features Dracula.

Sadly, I did not love this book.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/09/review-stalking-jack-ripper...

166. I Could Chew on This and Other Poems by Dogs by Francesco Marciuliano

This book was exactly what I needed-funny and charming! It's poetry purportedly written by dogs, and it really works-it had me laughing out loud.

Sorry Stalking Jack the Ripper wasn't better, but congrats on a great review of it.

I'm glad the dog poem book arrived from Ruthie! Your mom did a dramatic reading of some in the store at Edith Wharton's home. Very funny.

>Thanks Dad!

167. The Girl with Kaleidoscope Eyes by David Handler

Stewart Hoag ("Hoagy") was once a famous writer, but now is a celebrity ghostwriter. When another once-famous writer seemingly resurfaces, Hoagy is tapped to write the story, but finds himself drawn into a murder mystery.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/10/review-girl-with-kaleidosco...

168. The Store by James Patterson

This was an interesting departure for Patterson, and one I enjoyed. In the future, The Store (set up as a very extreme version of Amazon) is where everyone gets everything-to the point where people have stopped leaving their homes. A family gets jobs with The Store in the hopes of exposing its seedy underbelly, but soon find they may be in far over their heads.

169. There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

Makani, a teenager now living in Nebraska, is haunted by her past and her present. Her classmates are dying one by one, picked off by a mysterious serial killer, and Makani might be next.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/10/review-theres-someone-insid...

>233 drneutron: This is like a 90s teen slasher film in book form, and I loved it! You cracked me up with that one. Great review.

Nice line! 😀

>233 drneutron: I love Perkins but I have no horror tolerance so I'm not sure I'll be reading this one.

Thanks Dad and Jim!

>236 seasonsoflove: I actually haven't read any of Perkins other books, but I did really enjoy this one.

170. Alex and Eliza by Melissa De La Cruz

I love the musical Hamilton , and have started reading everything I can get my hands on about Alexander Hamilton since seeing the show. When I heard an author I had enjoyed in the past had written a young adult version of the story of Alex and Eliza, I knew I had to check it out.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/10/review-alex-and-eliza.html

171. Death on Tap by Ellie Alexander

Sloan feels shattered after catching her husband with another woman. Working hard to pick up the pieces, she finds work at the new brewery in town, only to find a dead body in the fermenting tub. When her husband is accused, and her new work place threatened, Sloan is determined to solve the mystery.

Read the rest of the review: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/10/review-death-on-tap.html

172. A Witch in Time by Madelyn Alt

Maggie O'Neill is a fun, engaging protagonist living in a small town and trying to figure out her intuitive powers. She has a family who irritates her, but she is still always there for, and a new boyfriend who is pushing all the right buttons.

When she goes to visit her sister, Mel, in the hospital, who is due to give birth, Maggie overhears a seemingly sinister conversation, and finds out about a tragic death. Trying to balance her love life, powers, and familial obligations, Maggie must also solve the mystery before someone else gets hurt.

Read the rest of the review: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/10/review-witch-in-time.html

173. The Quality of Silence by Rosamund Lupton

Yasmin and her daughter Ruby (deaf since birth) set off through the Alaskan wilderness to find Matt, Yasmin's husband and Ruby's father. Everyone is telling them Matt is dead, victim of a tragedy in a small village, but Yasmin and Ruby refuse to believe it. As they travel through one of the most isolated places on Earth, they begin to fear that someone is following them, stalking them through the snow.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/10/review-quality-of-silence.h...

174. Hell House by Richard Matheson

This is a creepy haunted house story, perfect for the month of October. Four people enter Hell House, hired to discover the truth behind it's supposed haunted nature. The house has had horrible occurrences in the past, including two other investigative groups' missions ending in murder and suicide. As the mysterious and terrifying energy begins to reveal itself, events occur which shake the four investigators to their core.

175. Within These Walls by Ania Ahlborn

Lucas Graham, true crime writer, hasn't had a successful book in years. So when Jeffrey Holcomb, infamous cult leader and murderer, who has never told his story to a soul, reaches out, Graham can't believe his luck. All he has to do is move into the house where Holcomb spilled so much blood. But Holcomb has a plan that Graham and his teenage daughter can't begin to comprehend, one that reaches into realms Graham can't yet fathom.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/10/review-within-these-walls.h...

A book that promises cults, a true crime writer, and supernatural/paranormal horror is one that I'm going to have to read. Ha! Who the heck raised you, anyway? Your grandma would be right there with you, I suspect.

Good review, as usual. If it just came in graphic novel form, with Dr. Strange involved, I might give it a go.

Hee hee, thanks Dad!

176. Final Girls by Riley Sager

Quincy Carpenter is a Final Girl, a title she never wanted and still can't accept. She was the only survivor of a massacre at Pine Cottage, where all her friends were murdered. Now, a fellow Final Girl has died, and another has shown up at Quincy's door, forcing her to remember what she hasn't been able to face for ten years.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/10/review-final-girls.html

I'm not much for psychological thrillers, Becca, but that sure sounds like a good one.

Hi, Becca. I had a couple of true crime recs, I wanted to share with you: American Fire and Ranger Games. Both are newer titles and both are excellent. I also want to recommend Darktown, which your Dad has read too and it's follow-up Lightning Men. Terrific historical crime fiction. I think my job is done here...at least for now. Smiles...

>244 seasonsoflove: It was really good Dad, I would definitely recommend it!

>245 MickyFine: Thanks for the recommendations, that sounds great!

Getting this updated post Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon-four of these I read during the Readathon:

177. House of Furies by Madeleine Roux

I really enjoyed Roux's Asylum series, so had high hopes for her new series. House of Furies did take a while for me to get into, I actually thought about putting it aside at one point. But I am glad I stuck with it, because it did pick up and get really creepy. I'm just not sure if it was enough for me to read the next book in the series.

178. George by Alex Gino

This was a brilliant book, a quick read that is important in today's times, told from the point of view of a young person who society identifies as a boy, but who knows she is a girl.

179. A Properly Unhaunted Place by William Alexander

This was another fun middle grade paranormal ARC I received a copy of at ALA. There's a great strong female character, an endearing friendship, and some spooky fun.

180. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

I loved this book! It was beautifully written, creative and unique, with such compelling characters, and parts I never saw coming.

181. A Lesson in Murder by Augustus Cileone

This book unfortunately wasn't that good. It was a mystery that kind of meandered around, and didn't really hold my attention. It had its moments where I was intrigued and wanted to find out the solution, but I ended up finishing it because I had already committed to it and it was short.

182. Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer by Catherine Holt

I received an ARC of this middle grade book at ALA, and it was a great read for the month of Halloween. It's got two strong female protagonists, a spooky storyline, and a surprising twist at the end.

Becca, have you read the Aurora Teagarden series? I'm torn on continuing with it (more thoughts in my review of the second book over on my thread) and thought I'd consult the mystery maven on whether I'd find it worthwhile.

P.S. I really enjoy the (cheesy) Hallmark movies based on the series though. :)

I read one of the Aurora Teagarden books, and thought it was okay, but just couldn't really get into it. I think Charlaine Harris' writing style is just not to my liking, as I couldn't get into her other series as well. I do really want to try the Aurora Teagarden movies though!

183. The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey

Rosalind Ryan is dead, murdered and left in the lake surrounded by red roses. Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock, who has personal connections to Rosalind from their school days, attempts to solve the case while figuring out her own complicated personal life, past and present.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/10/reviews-dark-lake.html

184. Ghost Story by Peter Straub

This is a fabulously strange and winding horror story, unlike any I've read before, and I really liked that uniqueness! It surrounds four men, with a secret from the past, and a world that begins to crumble when they start telling ghost stories based off the question "What's the worst thing you've ever done?".

>248 MickyFine: Yup, Ghost Story is really good. The movie's pretty good too. Some amazing actors in it - Alice Krige, Fred Astaire, John Houseman, Doglas Fairbanks, Jr, Patricia Neal...

>248 MickyFine: Ok, I'll give it one more and then make a final call.

Sounds like some spooky seasonal reads. :)

I keep meaning to read Ghost Story... I'm glad to see that you liked it!

>250 seasonsoflove: I will have to check out the movie!
I was doing a Halloween readathon which definitely lent itself to some super spooky reads!

>251 scaifea: It's super creepy Amber, in a really unique and fabulously slow-building way!

185. Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

This is a really creepy and really unique book, centered around a small town that is haunted by a woman with her eyes and mouth sewn shut. Legends abound about her, and the residents of Black Spring seem to have accepted their fate, even developing a whole system around tracking where the purported witch is, and keeping outsiders from discovering their secret. But when a group of teenagers plan to use technology to make their secret witch go viral, the town begins to implode.

This is a dark, fascinating read that seems to take inspiration from the Salem Witch Trials, and does so in such an eerie manner.

186. Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey

This takes the unreliable narrator trope (which I absolutely love) and really runs with it, having an older woman with dementia narrate the tale of her search for her friend, who only she believes is missing. Along her journey, she also finds herself drawn back into the mystery of her missing sister from decades ago.

This book wasn't as good as I had hoped, at least for me. The narrator was depicted as so unreliable that I felt like I couldn't trust anything in the book, and that kind of muddled the story for me. It was still a gripping read, but didn't live up to the hype it had received for me.

187. The Vineyard Victims by Ellen Crosby

When Lucie witnesses the death by car crash of a former presidential candidate-in the same spot where her ex-boyfriend once brutally crashed their car-she is sure it wasn't an accident. But everyone else wants her to leave well enough alone.

Lucie, however, refuses to drop her inquiries. As she discovers a connection to a past crime, she finds herself in danger from someone who thought their crimes were buried long ago.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/11/review-vineyard-victims.htm...

188. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

This was one of those books that I hadn't ever read in school, and definitely felt like I should-and I'm really glad I finally did. It was a really good book, and said a lot about the human condition that was uncomfortable to read but important to acknowledge.

189. Death on the Patagonian Express by Hy Conrad

Amy and her mother, Fanny, run and write a highly successful trendy travel blog, TrippyGirl. Because of this, they are invited to ride on the New Patagonian Express, and blog about their experiences on a trip through South America. But when Fanny spies a corpse, that then disappears, and then possibly reappears, Amy and Fanny must prove there is a murder to solve, and find the answers.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/11/review-death-on-patagonian-...

I'm glad to see that you liked Lord of the Flies, too! I just read it recently for the first time as well, and was surprised by how much I liked it.

Also, I need to tell you: Charlie and I just finished reading aloud The Westing Game, and he LOVED it! WOOT! And, he requested that our next read-aloud book be Murder on the Orient Express! I thought you'd approve.

Also, he started writing a book yesterday, which he has given the working title of, "The Easting Game." *snork!*

>253 seasonsoflove: I love that so much!!!

190. Death of a Pumpkin Carver by Lee Hollis

Hayley's ex-husband is back in town-and the prime suspect in a murder. Now, during the Halloween season, she must juggle writing her column and raising her children with clearing the former love of her life's name.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/11/review-death-of-pumpkin-car...

191. Crime Through Time edited by Miriam Grace Monfredo and Sharon Newman

Different authors of historical fiction mystery tackle the short story format. The stories progress through time as they progress through the book, and most of the selections make for fun, quick mysteries.

192. The Takedown by Carrie Wong

Kyla is one of the most popular girls in her school, picked to join a clique that has ensured her the high school existence she was sure she wanted-until someone comes along to tear it all down. A sex tape of Kyla and one of her teachers is released, but Kyla knows she hasn't slept with anyone. As she fights to discover who is trying to destroy her life, she's forced to examine just how great a life it is that she's been leading.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/11/review-takedown.html

193. When In Rome by Ngaio Marsh

This is another fun, well-done mystery by Marsh. The setting of Rome really comes alive, and the characters are all unique and fascinating.

194. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

This book gives very little away in the summary, and I will follow its lead. The Wife Between Us is billed in its description as a story that appears to be about a classic love triangle (ex-wife, her former husband, his current fiance), but may not be all it appears.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/11/blog-tour-and-review-wife-b...

195. The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg

When a beautiful successful woman is found in a frozen bathtub, seemingly having killed herself, her childhood best friend finds herself drawn back in to the life of a woman she hasn't seen in years. As Erica attempts to figure out what truly happened to her former friend, deep secrets from the past are uncovered that will change lives forever.

This was a suspenseful read that I finished in about two days. While the beginning of the book was a bit slow, I genuinely did not see the ending coming, which is always fun.

#256
I have several of the Lackberg novels in my collection. They have all had great reviews, but I just haven't started them yet.

I am going to host a mystery read-along in the 75 Challenge group starting in January 2018 so my mystery book is full for the coming year. However, Lackberg won't be forgotten. I do want to read her work.

This is a time of year when I as a non-American ponder over what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for this group and its ability to keep me sane during topsy-turvy times.

I am thankful that you are part of this group.

I am thankful for this opportunity to say thank you.

Lots of good reading, Becca. A Ngaio Marsh book set in Rome. Hmm. I may need to try that one. I've liked others of hers, as you know.

What was that Harlequin collection by Dame Agatha that we saw? I just looked - The Harlequin Tea Set. Might I borrow that at some point?

I just finished the last of the Joe Leaphorn novels by Tony Hillerman - Shape Shifter and I highly recommend them - if you haven’t already read them. These are some of the most culturally sensitive novels that I have read in any genre and think that many authors and readers (as well as out current Great Leader) could well benefit by reading them. They are short and packed with cultural information. I hope that as a mystery reader that you will give them a try.

Thanks Paul!

You can definitely borrow that Agatha Christie, I have it on my table ready for you :)

I haven't read those yet with Benita, I will add the series to my TBR! And I hope you enjoy the Lackbergs.

196. Wicked by Gregory Maguire

This isn't a book in my usual genres, so I was a little unsure, but I ended up really enjoying it. Maguire does a great job of bringing originality to a well-known story, and making an "evil" character become sympathetic and complex.

197. Gin and Panic by Maia Chance

Lola Woodby was a member of high society, but is now a private detective. She and her detective partner, Berta, are called to a mansion to retrieve an errant trophy, but find themselves drawn into a murder mystery with plenty of suspects.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/12/review-gin-and-panic.html

198. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

I love Morrison's works, and this is no exception. This is an gorgeous, so beautifully written, heartbreaking and uplifting and wonderful.

>261 seasonsoflove: I think I'm going to have to give the series from Gin and Panic. It looks like my kind of fun. :)

>262 bell7: It was really fun!

199. Dracula by Bram Stoker

This was a re read of a classic favorite, still creepy, eerie, and gripping the second time around.

200(!!!). The Lake House by Kate Morton

I love Morton's books, and while this wasn't my favorite of hers, I still really enjoyed it. Morton interweaves two stories, one in the past, one in the present, a tale of a missing boy, a famous mystery writer, and a police officer in trouble who becomes drawn into the cold case. Morton's writing style is gorgeous as always, and she creates suspense so well.

Congrats on reaching 200!!

Woot for 200!!

Huzzah for 200!!!

Way to go, Becca!

Thanks so much everyone!

201. Bel, Book, and Scandal by Maggie McConnon

The long-running series' mystery of what truly happened to Belfast's best friend, Amy, so many years ago, takes a shocking turn in this latest cozy mystery. Belfast, a chef at her family's Shamrock Manor, spots a newspaper photograph that turns everything she thought she knew about that fateful night upside down. Drawn into a story she has never truly been able to leave behind, Belfast is determined to solve the mystery that has haunted her all these years.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/12/review-bel-book-and-scandal...

I thought I would alert you to a YA non-fiction book that I knocked out last night. (Actually it was my At-Work/Lunch book.) Superman Versus the Ku Klux Klan: The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate by Richard Bowers is a young adult non-fiction (intended for kids age 12 -18) work that chronicles the rise of Superman and promotes the idea that he was created as a protector figure for oppressed people around the world. The book is aimed at middle school to junior high school age students and has a corresponding reading level. In my mind it has lots of classroom uses, but I will leave that to the teachers to figure out. I am recommending it to my sister - the Middle School Librarian. It will be perfect for her school kids.

>269 seasonsoflove: Thank you for letting me know about that book, it sounds really interesting!

202. The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

In a world where the presence of ghosts has become the norm, the young are the ones with the Talents to see and vanquish the paranormal. Lucy, Lockwood, and George form one of many agencies who make a living fighting against the ghosts. As they learn to work together, they must tackle two of the biggest cases London has seen.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/12/review-screaming-staircase....

203. Halfway House by Ellery Queen

While definitely unfortunately dated in some of its presumptions about humanity, this is still a suspenseful mystery with a lot of surprises, surrounding a man with two identities who is murdered in an isolated shack.

204. The Special Ones by Em Bailey

Esther has been one of the Special Ones for almost two years. This means she is viewed as a spiritual guide, an immortal being who lives a simple life in an isolated farmhouse and online chats with her eager followers. She is always watched by a mysterious he, the leader they have never met, who decides if they are living up to their true Special potential. If they aren't, they are renewed, and never return to the farmhouse again.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/12/review-special-ones.html

205. Blood Pact by Tanya Huff

This is the third in a series surrounding a former cop turned private investigator, a current cop, and a vampire who was the bastard son of Henry VIII. In this entry, Vicki's mother's body goes missing, leading the trio down a twisty trail of mad scientists and missing corpses. The book could benefit from some editing to tighten it up, and I wasn't thrilled with the ending plot twist, but it's still a fun read and a fun series.

206. The Mammoth Book of True Crime by Colin Wilson

So this book is an interesting one. In some parts, it's a fascinating and comprehensive look at true crime over the centuries. But in other parts, it's an offensive spewing of stereotypes and prejudice such as blaming the victim for being murdered because of lifestyle choices. The bad more than outweighs the good by the time you get to the "Victim" section, so I'd say pass on this one.

207. Antisocial by Jillian Blake

When someone hacks into the phones of students at a prep school, suddenly everyone's text messages, internet searches, and deepest secrets could be exposed. As relationships break apart, and no one knows who to trust anymore, everyone fears that their secrets will be the next to be revealed.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/12/review-antisocial.html

208. Welcome to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz

A re read of a fun, creepy YA horror novel, as I was lucky enough to get a copy of the sequel from my amazing Librarything Christmas swap Santa.

209. Good Morning, Irene by Carole Nelson Douglas

This was a fun, unique read, following the adventures of Irene Adler after the incidents in A Scandal in Bohemia. Irene is now a crimesolver as well, and a very good one at that, caught up in a mystery of tattoos, suicides, and money.

210. Return to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Thanks to my Christmas Swap Secret Santa, I was able to read the sequel to Welcome to the Dark House (no Chicago library has a copy of the sequel)! It was such a fun, spooky read--I don't want to say too much so I don't give away anything about the first in the series--but it did end on another cliffhanger of sorts, which is unfortunate as it doesn't look like Stolarz has plans to continue the series.

211. Close to Me by Amanda Reynolds

Jo Harding fell down the stairs a year ago, but to her, it was just minutes ago. She's lost memories of the whole last year of her life, and it actually seems her family might be happy about that fact. As Jo works to recover her memory, she comes to realize some hard truths about herself and the life she thought she had.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/12/review-close-to-me.html

Boy, does Antisocial sound like a Becca book! Sorry the mystery element wasn't stronger.

BTW, I finished The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories, and enjoyed it. I was surprised (and pleased) that it had some that weren't really mysteries. It was good to be reunited briefly with Harley Quinn and Mr. Satterwaite.

I love that Agatha Christie has some books that are really different!

212. Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger

This was such a good book-I'm not the world's biggest football fan, but I was sucked in right from the start. I had to know what was going to happen to these kids, their season, and their town. I even went online immediately afterwards to find articles so I could see where the players were now.

213. The Inkblots by Damion Searls

This is an absolutely fascinating read. Searls has more than done his research, actually gaining access to materials no one else had been able to use before. This allowed him to create an incredibly comprehensive and well-rounded account of Rorschach himself, how his inkblots came to be, and what they have meant for society throughout the years.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/12/review-inkblots-hermann-ror...

It is that time of year again, between Solstice and Christmas, just after Hanukkah, when our thoughts turn to wishing each other well in whatever language or image is meaningful to the recipient. So, whether I wish you Happy Solstice or Merry Christmas, know that what I really wish you, and for you, is this:

Wishing you all good things this holiday season and beyond.

Happy Holidays from Philadelphia, Becca!

>261 seasonsoflove: I just finished Wicked and, like you, was interested to see how a story could be made about the Wicked Witch of the West. Intriguing. I hope that you are having a great Christmas, Becca, and the rest of the Holiday Season is great!

Hi Becca! Thanks for the great selection of books that you got me for Christmas Swap 2017! I'm very excited to read all of them, especially since they come recommended by you.

Happy Holidays, oh beloved one!

Thanks so much everyone!

Wrapping up my final reviews of the year, with plans to make an end of the year blog post tomorrow!

214. Unplug by Suze Yalof Schwartz

This is a great book on meditation and fitting it into your everyday life, as well as an excellent discussion of all the benefits regular meditation can have.

215. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig

In the vein of tales like The Scarlet Pimpernel (a personal favorite of mine), this book tells the tale of the unmasking of one English spy and the creation of another, while following the development of two parallel romances as well. While not as good as The Scarlet Pimpernel, this is a fun, entertaining read.

216. Bloodstains with Bronte by Katherine Bolger Hyde

When the large home Emily has inherited is being renovated, she turns to Wuthering Heights to distract her from the noise and mess. Drawn into the story, Emily can't help but see a doomed love triangle playing out before her eyes involving her beloved housekeeper, Katie. When a murder mystery party brings matters to a head, Emily will do whatever it takes to protect Katie, including solving the mystery herself.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/12/review-roundup-bloodstains-...

217. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

My annual re read of my all-time favorite book.

218. The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr

Another re read of a favorite book.

219. The Run of His Life by Jeffrey Toobin

This was an absolutely fascinating and comprehensive look at O.J. Simpson, the people surrounding him, the murders, and the trial.

220. A Devious Death by Alyssa Maxwell

In this cozy mystery, Lady Phoebe and her lady's maid, Eva, work to solve a murder that directly impacts Phoebe and her family. Inheritance disputes have brought Phoebe's warring relations to descend on the home Phoebe and her sister are visiting, and the arguments soon lead to murder.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/12/review-roundup-bloodstains-...

221. H.H. Holmes by Adam Selzer

This book was absolutely fascinating, and impeccably researched. I have read a lot of books on H.H. Holmes, and thought I knew all there was to know, but I was wrong--and I was glad to be proved wrong by Selzer's excellent tome.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/12/review-roundup-bloodstains-...