VivienneR Reads in 2024 - volume 3

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

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

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

1. The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
   
2. Plain Murder by C.S. Forester
   
3. A Murder at Balmoral by Chris McGeorge
   
4. Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson
   
5. Huge by Brent Butt
   
6. Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
   
7. An Image in the Lake by Gail Bowen
   
8. The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
   
9. The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan
   
10. Close to the Bone by Stuart MacBride
    
11. The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett
    
12. Bangkok 8 by John Burdett
    
13. Lost Light by Michael Connelly
    
14. Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger

Fiction
Another favourite category, and another aim of 24

1. Tatouine by Jean-Christophe Réhel
   
2. Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson
   
3. Open Secrets by Alice Munro
   
4. We, Jane by Aimee Wall
   
5. The Redemption of Galen Pike by Carys Davies
   
6. A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
   
7. The Conjoined by Jen Sookfong Lee
   
8. Silverview by John le Carré
   
9. The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
   
10. The Cook by Maylis de Kerangal

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

1. The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
   
2. The First Wave by James R. Benn
   
3. Next in Line by Jeffrey Archer
   
4. Accused by Lisa Scottoline

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

1. The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman
   
2. A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
   
3. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

I find I have too many categories, so unfortunately the sailing cat and Faraway Places has to go. The one book that was here has been moved to the Mystery category.

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

1. Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx
   
2. Riding the Bullet by Stephen King
   
3. The 45% Hangover by Stuart MacBride

AlphaKIT

January A: Hidden in Plain Sight by Jeffrey Archer

January Y: I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

February E: Tricky Twenty Two by Janet Evanovich

February E: Turn a Blind Eye by Jeffrey Archer

February F: The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

March R: The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths

March H: Never Coming Home by Hannah Mary McKinnon

April U: All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien

April O: Over My Dead Body by Jeffrey Archer

May N & P: The Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman

June J & B: The Bittlemores by Jann Arden

July I S: Standing in the Shadows by Peter Robinson

August M G: The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

August M G: Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton
September V C
October D T
November L W
December K Q
All year X & Z

RandomKIT

January - Early Birds: The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews

February - Escape or Rescue: Prisoners of the castle: an epic story of survival and escape from Colditz, the Nazis' fortress prison by Ben Macintyre

March: World Wildlife Day: The Grizzly Mother by Brett D. Huson (Hetxw'ms Gyetxw)

April: Enchanting garden visitors: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

May: Art & Architecture: The English Assassin by Daniel Silva

June: Initials: 1989 by Val McDermid (V)

June: Initials: A Mortal Terror by James R. Benn (J & R)

July: A Favourite: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

August: Attention-grabbing Titles: The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein
September:
October:
November:
December:

MysteryKIT

January: Short stories: Cleaning the gold by Karin Slaughter & Lee Child

January: Short stories: Rumpole on Trial by John Mortimer

March: Historical: The Bloody Meadow by William Ryan aka The Darkening Field

April: Series: Birthdays for the Dead by Stuart MacBride

April: Series: Death of a Liar by M.C. Beaton

May - golden age: The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude

June - author new to you: Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon

July - cross-genre: Sick of Shadows by Marion Chesney

August - amateurs: Days Without Number by Robert Goddard

August - amateurs: Cast, in Order of Appearance by Simon Brett
September - upstairs/downstairs:
October - not too scary:
November - noir:
December - culinary:

CalendarCAT

January: Bloody January by Alan Parks

February: Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez

March: She-Wolves: The women who ruled England before Elizabeth by Helen Castor

April: April Fool Dead by Carolyn G. Hart

April: Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy

May: The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope

June: Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev

July: A City Called July by Howard Engel

August: A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane
September:
October:
November:
December:

PrizeCAT

January: long running prize - The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

February: from your own country - The Orenda by Joseph Boyden

March: new to you: Travels with Herodotus by Ryszard Kapuscinski

April: women’s writing: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

May: doubling up: The Bat by Jo Nesbo

June: book lists: A Legacy of Spies by John le Carré

July: a country not your own: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

August: for a genre: The Guest List by Lucy Foley
September: fits another CAT
October: short & long lists
November: children's book awards
December: your choice

ScaredyKIT

January: Psychological Thriller: Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister

April: Witches, Black magic: Lolly Willowes, or the loving huntsman by Sylvia Townsend Warner

May: Graphic, short fiction: Gnaw by Jennifer Morrow (mstrust at LT) in Vexed to Nightmare anthology

June: Serial Killers: A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly

August: MG horror: Buns Gone Bad by Anna Humphrey, illustrated by Irma Kniivila

August: MG horror: Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost by Cornelia Funke
September: Stephen King
October: Contemporary Horror
November: Vampires, werewolves
December: Catch Up! Fits Any Month

Historic Fiction Challenge

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

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

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

Welcome to volume 3 of my thread!

Happy new thread, Vivienne - you've read loads this year already!

>16 VivienneR: My first visitor - and sorry, I haven't got the coffee and cake out yet!

Happy New Thread! I look forward to finding more books to add to the pile from you.

>19 RidgewayGirl: I hope you find as many as I find in your thread!

ETA: I just started Mr Midshipman Hornblower by Forester and found out Hornblower's birthday is the same as ours! Not the year though, 1776.

Happy new thread. It was nice to revisit the reading ladies.

Happy new thread! I agree with April, the reading ladies are worth the revisit.

Happy New Thread, Vivienne! I enjoyed looking at your categories again.

Regarding your last read, I have only read The Pillars of the Earth so far, which I enjoyed, and I have always meant to read more by Ken Follett, especially the The Century Trilogy, so I enjoyed reading your review. One day I will get to it!

Happy new thread, Vivienne and a belated happy Thingaversary. Let the book bullets commence!

Happy New Thread, Vivienne! Some good reading so far.

>21 lowelibrary: Thank you, April.

>22 NinieB: Thank you, Ninie. Glad you and April like the reading ladies.

>23 MissBrangwen: Thank you, Mirjam. My rating for Fall of Giants was just three stars but I am considering going back to increase that because I've been thinking about the book a lot since finishing it.

>24 DeltaQueen50: Thank you, Judy. Those book bullets fly around a lot especially in this group!

>25 dudes22: Thanks Betty. Yes, I've had some good books recently.

Happy new thread, Vivienne!

Happy new thread!

>27 MissWatson: Thank you, Birgit!

>28 mstrust: Thank you, Jennifer!

MysteryKIT - May: Golden Age

A Deed Without a Name by Dorothy Bowers

This was a DNF. I’m going to count it as read because I have spent so much time on it that I could have read a book three times as long.

Instead, I'll be reading The Sussex Downs Murder by John Bude for this category.

ETA: Just realized The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude was the one I pulled off the shelf.

Well, congratulations on a new thread *and* on your 17th Thingaversary! I'm looking forward to catching up with all of your readings.

>30 VivienneR: I totally agree with your reasoning - some books just should not be finished because there are many others to take their place.

>30 VivienneR: That's the Dorothy Bowers I liked least. Wishing you better luck with the John Bude. I've read his The Cornish Coast Murder, which was OK.

>31 threadnsong: Thank you! I still can't believe I've been on LT for 17 years!

Bowers just wasn't drawing my attention.

>32 pamelad: I'm glad you had a similar experience. I don't know about the John Bude book but the cover is gorgeous!

A new thread and a Thingaversary! I didn't realize you had been on LT that long.

>34 hailelib: I find it's hard to believe that it's been 17 years, Tricia. I just joined to get some suggestions for new (to me) mystery authors! It worked!

Historic Fiction Challenge - a classic, written more than 60 years ago

Mr Midshipman Hornblower by C.S. Forester

When I was young I read every Hornblower book I could lay my hands on and loved them all. It was a pleasure to have a return visit after so many years. I’m looking forward to more in the series.

>36 VivienneR: So did I, and I have always been wary of re-visiting, in case the magic is gone. I'm glad to hear you still enjoyed it.

>37 MissWatson: I may have enjoyed them more when I was young, but yes, the magic is still there. Maybe the image of Gregory Peck helps. :)

Category: Mystery

An Image in the Lake by Gail Bowen

For years I’ve been reading an occasional book from this series so I know the basis of the saga, however, it should be remembered that the Joanne Kilbourn series is exactly that - a saga, and it can get soapy. Still, an occasional episode in Joanne’s life might be enjoyed but I’m pretty sure Saskatchewan politics do not offer this kind of pizzazz. Bowen has extended the saga for too long, maybe now would be a good time to wrap it up.

This wasn’t to my liking and I sped through it to the conclusion hoping for vindication.

MysteryKIT - May: Golden Age

The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude

The Inspector has a bad habit of forming a theory then finding facts to fit it while ignoring other important details. Repetitive, I don’t know how many times the footprints on the path were revisited. And the solution was not very satisfying. An OK read, but not up to the standard of many Golden Age authors.

Bingo - Read a CAT: ScaredyKIT May: Short fiction

The Face at the Window by Louise Welsh is a collection of three chilling stories that highlight strong women and how they react to fear. In The Face at the Window, Fiona is convinced someone is breaking into her house when she repeatedly sees a face in the window of her flat as she is on her way home. In Realm of the Census Maryanne collects census information house-to-house, asking for personal information of strangers. The third story The Queen of Craigielee, has Ailsa photographing the interior of an abandoned high-rise about to be demolished that will illustrate the individuality of the former inhabitants.

>40 VivienneR: I read The Lake District Murder by this author and like this book, it was very repetitive. I did not enjoy it all that much.

>40 VivienneR: Here were my thoughts from when I read it: I enjoyed the setting of this novel and some of the elements, but I did not find it particularly stimulating.

>41 VivienneR: A Louise Welsh I haven't read! I've grabbed a copy as it's currently on sale for kindle for 2.99.

>42 MissBrangwen: I read that one too. Like you, I didn't enjoy it much.

>43 thornton37814: As you say, the setting was good. I find the covers and titles of the British Library Crime Classics attract me most. I'll keep on buying them because there may be gold out there.

>44 RidgewayGirl: I'll read anything Louise Welsh writes. And a bargain can't be ignored.

May Summary
My 17th Thingaversary was celebrated this month.

Books read in May: 22
Books read this year: 93

It might look like I finished a couple of big books this month, but The Last Chronicle of Barset was mostly read in April and just finished in May. The short reads make it look like a busy month.


Some Maintenance Required by Marie-Renée Lavoie translated by Arielle Aaronson
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Open Secrets by Alice Munro


The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope
Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason


Smut: Two unseemly stories by Alan Bennett
Shadows in Bronze by Lindsay Davis
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley
The 45% Hangover by Stuart MacBride
Her Secret Son by Hannah Mary McKinnon
Mr Midshipman Hornblower by C.S. Forester
The Face at the Window by Louise Welsh


Gnaw by Jennifer Morrow in Vexed to Nightmare anthology
Fall of Giants by Ken Follett


Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman
The Survivors by Jane Harper
The Bat by Jo Nesbo
The English Assassin by Daniel Silva
The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude


Fade Away by Harlan Coben
An Image in the Lake by Gail Bowen (DNF)


A Deed Without a Name by Dorothy Bowers

Category: Mystery

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

Molly is a delightful person. This book goes into more of her childhood with Gran. Not as good at the first novel, but it is still a treat to spend time with neurodivergent Molly. A cozy mystery that has a dark element. Too bad no one has tried killing Mrs Grimthorpe. I’ll keep an eye out for books by Prose.

>46 VivienneR: I love it when you 'talk' books read lists. They offer a goldmine of candidates for me to consider!

>46 VivienneR: I'm so glad, Joe! We have the same taste in books so I get many candidates from your lists too.

AlphaKIT - June J & B

The Bittlemores by Jann Arden

An imaginative, inventive novel and although rife with Arden’s outrageous humour this is no hilarity-filled romp. The OTT story is set on the Bittlemore’s ghastly farm, home to ill-treated children and animals. The mistreated animals plan a 1984-style protest, while Willa Bittlemore who is just turning 14 is attempting to discover her origins. Could she really be the daughter of this loathsome couple? If you can get past the animal and child abuse, the storytelling, which has more than a trace of verisimilitude, will horrify.

I’m a fan of Jann Arden but this didn’t hit the mark for me. Two stars.

RandomKIT - June: Initials: V R J

1989 by Val McDermid

A trip down memory lane to 1989, a year that saw tragedy, like Lockerbie, Hillsborough, and the height of the HIV/AIDs epidemic. Allie Burns is a young reporter working for a press baron whose attitudes could make him a Rupert Murdoch doppelganger. A reminder of how little things have changed.

RandomKIT - June: Initials: V R J

A Mortal Terror by James R. Benn

A WWII mystery featuring Billy Boyle, a one time Boson cop who found himself posted to England with the rank of lieutenant when his link with “uncle” Ike was mentioned. This time he’s in Italy, investigating a series of murdered American soldiers. The job is complicated by concern for his lover, Diana, under cover at the Vatican and the arrival of his young brother. Benn creates a credible and vivid depiction of the times. A highly recommended series.

Hello Vivienne! I'm catching up on your thread with the library catalogue open :-) The elibrary has five by Louise Welsh, and they sound like just my sort of thing. They also have one by Gail Bowen, but it's #13 in the series. It's so annoying when they do that!

>53 susanj67: That's how I read threads too! It always ends up adding to my already extensive wishlist. Glad you noted Louise Welsh, I'm sure you will like her books. The problem with Gail Bowen's series is common here too. It's difficult to track down anything but an odd episode in the series. That last one I read was a tad disappointing. It's difficult to keep interest in Saskatchewan politics alive. :)

>53 susanj67: Is the phrase elibrary used for your regular library, or is it a website location for eBooks?

>55 JoeB1934: I don't know susanj67's interpretation, but if it helps, I would refer to e-books offered by the library through Overdrive as an elibrary.

Historic Fiction Challenge - with a speculative element

The Crow Folk by Mark Stay

In the summer of 1940 while Spitfires fly overhead in the Battle of Britain, magic and witchcraft happened in a Kentish village. Seventeen-year-old Faye discovered a book where her mother, who died when Faye was a baby, recorded runes, magical symbols, and an unusual ringing method for church bell-ringers. By opening the book, Faye inadvertently sparked some witchery. Local scarecrows with their bossy leader, Pumpkinhead, mysteriously come to life to terrorize the village.

I loved this book, the story, the characters, the setting, and the era and I look forward to following the series. As Terrence, Faye’s pub-owner Dad, says “It’s triffic, really triffic”.

This completes my Historical Fiction Challenge.

Bingo - a person's name in title

Agatha’s First Case by M.C. Beaton

A short story that provides a good introduction to Agatha Raisin and how she got into the PR business and eventually detection. I liked this vulnerable, unwavering Agatha.

>57 VivienneR: I am so glad you liked this! It is such a unique and wonderful story.

>58 VivienneR: I've been watching the tv series as they have been picked up by the Sundance channel. It's fun, and has Ashley Jensen as Agatha. I like the show better than the books, which is rare.

CalendarCAT - June: Father's Day and my son's June birthday

Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev

When Arkady Kirsanov returned home from school he brought a friend, a rather disagreeable friend, Bazarov, who rejects all the usual social conventions and claims to be nihilist. Arkady’s devoted father and uncle are shocked but behave politely as they normally would. Through the new relationship Turgenev demonstrates the beginning of change in attitudes and opinions in Russia ahead of the revolution although the generational dissension between fathers and sons is timeless. It’s been many years since a time when Russian authors featured widely in my reading, I enjoyed the return.

I read this for Father’s Day and to remember my son’s June birthday - a date that coincidentally Turgenov happens to mentions in his story.

>59 MissBrangwen: It was wonderful! A book about living scarecrows is not something that would normally appeal but I loved everything about The Crow Folk.

>60 mstrust: I've only watched one episode of Agatha Raisin played by Ashley Jensen and thought she was very different from the picture in my mind of Agatha. And, to be fair, Agatha Raisin is not a favourite character in anyone's opinion so any improvement is good. I was reading that her husband is Kenny Doughty who plays Vera's sidekick. Well matched.

>57 VivienneR: Ooooh, this one sounds right up my alley! I will put it on my Wishlist now.

>63 threadnsong: Great book! Everyone should add it to their wishlist. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

MysteryKIT - June: Author New to Me

Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon
Chaon tells a story - well, actually three stories - involving identify. It’s twisty and dark but he cleverly brings it altogether and everything clicks nicely into place. Terrific characters. This was my first by Chaon but I'll be looking for more.

>65 VivienneR: That was one that I just purchased from Audible Glad you liked it!

>65 VivienneR: One of my favorites, so far in 2024. It takes real listening for me to get the story.

>66 Tess_W: Good buy! I hope you enjoy it.

>67 JoeB1934: That's a good recommendation, Joe!

>65 VivienneR: That's the book that made me a fan of Chaon's writing.

>69 RidgewayGirl: I can say the same now!

>65 VivienneR: Well I just took a BB for this and it should be available very soon. What would be funny is if I have it on my Kindle and didn’t enter it. I just checked and I read Ill Will by this author, didn’t love it and don’t remember why. I thought that the author was new to me also, but apparently not.

>71 lsh63: I know about that problem. I spent some time checking my kindle purchases against what I have entered and found plenty that I hadn't entered in my catalogue. And there were a number that I purchased more than once in different formats. I keep promising that I won't buy any more until I've got my tbr down to somewhere close to manageable. I just have to decide what is "manageable" :)

>72 VivienneR: Given that kindle books take up no room on the shelves, I say that the manageable number has not yet been reached.

>72 VivienneR: - >73 RidgewayGirl: - I decided to check and so far this year, I've added more to my kindle than I've taken off. The fact that they don't take up physical space does make it easier to "justify" a purchase.

>72 VivienneR: I used to be really bad about forgetting to download books I wasn't in a hurry for on Kindle so I started checking the Amazon order list against it every now and then. Now I'm horrified at the number of books I have on Kindle!

I usually go through in the summer and update my digital orders. I need to do that. It might get done this week or it may wait until after the week of July 4. I really need to do it more often. I have come up with a better solution for getting to the next book in the series, so I'm hoping it will help me get some off the Kindle as well as off the other lists.

I am dedicated to using libraries for acquiring books to read. When I hear about a book that sounds interesting, I look it up on LT and GR to see how well it matches my genre interests. If it does, I add it to librarything by placing it in a TBR collection.

My question to you kindle readers is this: do you add them to your LT library?

>55 JoeB1934:, Joe, I mean the ebook offering of my library. I have Libby (Overdrive) and BorrowBox available through my library, so "elibrary" means one of those.

>72 VivienneR: Vivienne, I've just been looking at my Kindle library and kept on scrolling down and there are things there I had no idea I owned! I've just removed one of them from my library wishlist...

>73 RidgewayGirl: Thank you! Excellent point. I'm going to run with that.

>74 dudes22: No check needed in my case - I've definitely added more that I've taken off.

>75 clue: Kindles are like bunnies!

>76 thornton37814: Sounds like you have a good plan! Getting the next in a series is one of my big problems. I made a list of authors and series but naturally there are some authors who are "must reads" and it seemed silly putting them on the list. That was where it fell apart.

>77 JoeB1934: When I hear about an interesting book, I immediately check the library holdings. If it's a new book held by a branch library I won't be able to place a hold on it for a year, so I add it to a list on my card. It used to be I didn't add my library list or kindle wishlist to my LT catalogue, which led to many being forgotten. I *usually* add them now but that's another area that needs to be checked.

>78 susanj67: Like I said to >75 clue: - they multiply like bunnies!

>78 susanj67: Thanks for that reply. I too use Libby. My main interest is audio, so I sometimes have to buy one from Audible.

>76 thornton37814: I add kindle books to my LT library when I buy them, just like I do for physical books. Otherwise, duplicates would be obtained.

>81 RidgewayGirl: Amazon always tells me if I've purchased a book before I buy it.

>77 JoeB1934: I consider my LT Library a record of what I read and what I have available to read, so yes everything I read, regardless of where it comes from is in the Library. I use tags differently than what they were planned for, I put the source of the book there: library, shelf, Kindle. I read a lot of books from Library to Go on my Kindle but they are identified as library since I don't own them. I'm probably the only person that would want to do this but it works for me!

>83 clue: That sounds like a good solution for you! As a side-note your username gave me the 'clue' to see what books you read. I was amazed from your profile that we share VERY many favorite authors, like Kate Atkinson, who is my most favorite one.

But,here is a 'mystery' for you, LT says we don't share a single book!! I have sent a message to LT admin to explain how this happens.

You can see their answer to my question at

https://www.librarything.com/topic/361528#n8560570

>84 JoeB1934: Interesting! Thank you for investigating, Joe.

I am currently reading a book A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson, who is a Canadian author. Since you and a number of your LT friends are Canadian, I am wondering if you have any observations about this author. Or, the specific book, obviously.

And, how-about Edmonton hockey!

>86 JoeB1934: And game six will be in Edmonton, so I'm sure the excitement there is immense. It's quite a comeback.

>86 JoeB1934: I have read two books by Mary Lawson and thought both were excellent. I have a hold on another at the library but it will be a while before my name reaches the top of the list. I noticed you were reading A Town Called Solace and made a mental note to check your opinion. It reminded me of the ordinary people that Alice Munro wrote about. It takes a special ability to make the lives of ordinary people memorable.

I am delighted with the Edmonton Oilers, they deserve success. After leaving Northern Ireland I lived in Edmonton for twenty years and still have a very special affection for the city and its teams.

>87 RidgewayGirl: I wish I was able to go to game six in Edmonton! A friend of my son's is visiting from Edmonton for a few days and although we won't be watching (or listening, in my case) to the game, it will be a big part of our conversation.

>Your comment about ordinary people is very interesting, as I have had the notion since my twenties that pretty much everyone contains a story.

My daughter Carey was once a driver for Uber and she often came home with the comment "everyone has a story". Now she teaches piano and cello lessons in her home, and she still says that about all the parents, or mature adults in her classes. "Everyone has a story". And these are interesting stories!

PrizeCAT - June: Book Lists

A Legacy of Spies by John le Carré

I’ve been a fan of le Carré for a very long time having read his books when they were still shiny and hot off the press, so I was happy for this last chance to visit with his characters. This novel, the final in the George Smiley series and published decades after the last one, makes me want to go back and read the entire series again from the beginning. To accomplish this poignant retrospective account with familiar, now elderly, characters is amazingly satisfying. As always, le Carré’s writing is intelligent and polished.

This book has been on many lists:
Amazon's Best Books of the Month
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year
Audie Award
Boston Globe Best Book
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best
Deutscher Krimi Preis

>90 JoeB1934: Sadly many authors fail in making their characters memorable.

I'm glad your daughter is able to discover the stories of the people she meets. That takes a special talent too.

>91 VivienneR: I read A a Legacy of Spies in 2020 and thought I'd reread the series too. So far I haven't done that but I still want to.

>93 clue: I've read some fairly recently, I think it will be better if I wait and leave a bit of space. We'll see. It depends more on what surfaces in the meantime, and how often I'm hit with BBs!

Bingo - Big or Little in the Title

Ten Little Herrings by L.C. Tyler

I enjoyed the first in this series The Herring Seller’s Apprentice, and immediately added the second. Ethelred (Red) Tressider is an author with three pseudonyms, each writing different genres. One writes mysteries that inspired his agent, Elsie Thirkettle, giving him the nickname “the red herring seller”. In this tale, he is with his Elsie in a run-down hotel in France where two guests have been murdered, and everyone is searching for a diamond necklace. Fun, witty, and just right for a rainy afternoon.

>91 VivienneR: I did not know there was a series by le Carré! Are they standalones or do you recommend reading them in order?

>96 threadnsong: I believe Call for the Dead, the first George Smiley book was written in 1961 when le Carré was an intelligence officer for MI6. If you like reading espionage from that era then start at the beginning. I believe many readers treat them as standalones with The Spy Who Came In From the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy probably the most common.

When I started reading them in the 1970s, I read them out of order (as I often did) because at the time it was not as easy to find the next book in the series as it is now.

ScaredyKIT - June: Serial killers

A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly

Connelly can certainly write a twisty mystery and courtroom drama while keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. This one was an interesting case involving Bosch and ex-profiler Terry McCaleb who builds a profile of the murderer that could be Bosch.

Category: Mystery

The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan

Tom and Nicole have won a lottery allowing them to live the life of luxury. While they are mostly concerned about fitting in with a new social circle, they neglect to safeguard themselves against predators. This is a compelling story that held my interest throughout. The jumps in timelines were a little disorienting but the chilling atmosphere and surprising twists made up for it.

>95 VivienneR: That sounds like a fun series.

>88 VivienneR: I just finished A Town Called Solace and it is terrific. When you get the time, which I know is hard to come by, you can see my comments at
https://www.librarything.com/topic/359868#8566954

>101 JoeB1934: Lovely - and interesting - review of A Town Called Solace. It is a curiously appropriate title after the loss of your wife. You have my sincere condolences, Joe.

>100 thornton37814: I've only read two in the series but certainly will consider others when I'm in need of something light and fun.

I finished three yesterday.



Category: Fiction

We, Jane by Aimee Wall

I chose this book from the CBC list of Best Canadian Books of 2021. It’s a quietly written introspective story about the movement founded by a group of women who call themselves Jane, who share the goal to provide reproductive healthcare and abortion. It is also about the friendships women form with each other. Thought-provoking and certain to evoke strong reactions.



MysteryKIT - July: cross genres

Sick of Shadows by Marion Chesney

A mystery set in the Edwardian era. Not groundbreaking but the elitism and snooty attitudes are both hilarious and annoying in equal measure.



Bingo - 21: with warriors or mercenaries

Arctic Drift by Clive Cussler

My first book by Cussler. What attracted me to it was the location - the Northwest Passage, British Columbia and the waters around the province. And how could I resist an Arctic adventure especially one that was related to Franklin’s doomed expedition in 1848. The story involves interesting and topical science but was not as gripping as I expected it to be.

June Summary

Books read in June: 15
Books read this year: 98


The Crow Folk by Mark Stay


A Mortal Terror by James R. Benn
Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev
Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon
A Legacy of Spies by John le Carré
A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly
The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan


1989 by Val McDermid


The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
Agatha’s First Case by M.C. Beaton
Ten Little Herrings by L.C. Tyler
Arctic Drift by Clive Cussler
We, Jane by Aimee Wall


Sick of Shadows by Marion Chesney


The Bittlemores by Jann Arden

>104 VivienneR: Marion Chesney was never a favorite of mine. Her writing was always a bit uneven to me--whether as Marion Chesney or M. C. Beaton.

>106 thornton37814: I agree, Lori. It will probably be my last one from Chesney. This month's MysteryKIT was a good excuse to get it off the shelf. I'm looking forward to trying Beaton's latest books written after her death by R.W. Green.

>106 thornton37814:, >107 VivienneR: A lot of Marion Chesney's books read as though she tossed them off in an afternoon.

>108 pamelad: You are probably correct. :)

Bingo - Epistolary format

That Part Was True by Deborah McKinlay

Eve Petworth wrote a letter of appreciation to Jack Cooper, author of books she enjoyed. It started a correspondence that ended up being mostly about food, and later, life in general. As the reader follows their lives, Eve in England and Jack in America, the reader is treated to a wonderful example of the value of correspondence. McKinlay’s writing flows smoothly culminating in a surprise ending. Unexpectedly beautiful.

Just one more bingo square to read!

>110 VivienneR: That one has been on my radar for years -- looks like I need to bump it up the list!

>110 VivienneR: Thats another one of your finds that goes on to my TBR. I wouldn't have ever found it without you doing so.

>110 VivienneR: I read this in 2015, have reread it a couple of times but still have it on the shelf! Obviously I liked it. It could be a good movie but I would need to do the casting. Sometimes those professionals just don't get it right.

>111 christina_reads: Yes, bump it up! I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

>112 JoeB1934: Glad to hear that, Joe. It's not a mystery, but very enjoyable.

>113 clue: I've put my copy back on the shelf too. I'm sure to read it again. Hmm, I wonder who would be on your casting list.

AlphaKIT - July - I & S

Standing in the Shadows by Peter Robinson

A retroactive murder case from the 1980s when Nick arrives home from university to find his ex-girlfriend neighbour has been murdered. He becomes obsessed with the murder although it is relegated to cold cases. In 2019 a skeleton is uncovered and Banks is called in to investigate. The novel is filled with details of politics and culture of the 1980s, something Robinson can handle skillfully. Nick goes on to become a journalist newspaper scandals of the era are prominent.

Robinson obviously took note when readers (myself included) praised his references to music, for there are many mentions of Banks’ preferred music. Food and drinks were detailed too, to the point that it appeared a bit like Banks bragging about his gourmet knowledge. This final book from Robinson has an excellent plot and provides a satisfying finish for the character and the author.

>110 VivienneR: - I recently read a book that was similar to this one. In Letters from Skye, a fan writes a letter to an author and a correspondence begins. So I might put this on a "TBR at some point in time" list.

>115 VivienneR: An excellent review of one of my favorite authors. I will greatly miss his books. Your reference to his music and food details was special for me. I didn't realize others were so aware of them.

I always looked at his music references to help me understand the storyline itself. Tried, but never was successful.

>116 dudes22: I remember reading Letters from Skye and enjoying it. I liked McKinlay's book better but it could be because it is fresh in my memory.

>117 JoeB1934: Thank you, Joe! He is one of my favourites too. He'll be missed. When an author mentions music in a book I'm always intrigued too.

PrizeCAT - July: A country not your own - Australia

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

I saw the movie when it was released and because of that, I chose not to read the book at that time. Now that the memory of the movie has faded a little it seemed like a good time to start reading. It’s an ambitious work, has a good storyline, but it doesn’t work as well as it should. It reminded me that I thought the same of the movie.

>119 VivienneR: I feel the same about you concerning the book. I have not seen the movie.

>120 Tess_W: Yes, the author somehow lost the story somewhere along the line.

Category: Fiction

The Redemption of Galen Pike by Carys Davies

Recently I read in The Guardian that Welsh author Carys Davies was “a writer to watch”. I immediately borrowed this book, the only one available in my library system at the time. A striking collection of short stories so beautifully written that I will definitely be searching for more. Davies’ spare style has been honed to perfection.

Category: My Series

Next in Line by Jeffrey Archer

Under Superintendent Hawksby Warwick’s team are undercover investigating the elite Royalty Protection Command to find out if any members have loyalties elsewhere. DI Ross Hogan is assigned the job of providing protection to HRH Princess Diana and realizes she is having an affair. This plot line is combined with the criminal activities of Miles Faulkner from Belmarsh Prison, his dodgy lawyer, Booth-Watson (who should be in prison), and his wife, Christine, who are all intent on making monstrous profits legal or otherwise. So many targets, which one is next in line. An excellent plot that moves along nicely.

>122 VivienneR: I just read Clear by Carys Davies and loved it. Highly recommend!

>124 japaul22: Glad to hear that! I have Clear on hold at the library but will probably be waiting a while.

>122 VivienneR: That's the second rave review of this book that I've seen. I'll look for a copy.

>124 japaul22: I have rarely seen on LT how this book matches up with other books on LT. If you look at the LT page for Clear you will see 60 other books recommended to be similar to Clear. I have read or placed on my TBR 35 of those 60 books. And I loved those other books, so it is an excellent choice for me also.

>126 RidgewayGirl: Isn't it great when that happens?

>127 JoeB1934: A good way to get book recommendations!

RandomKIT - July: a favourite

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

This was my “book of the year” in 2020 when I read it in print. This time I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it in a different way. I must admit, I prefer reading print.

Category: Fiction

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

Greek mythology and the Trojan war has fascinated me since I was a child. This book has the added attraction of portraying events from the women’s perspective, often downplayed. I started listening to the audiobook, ably read by the author, but part-way through I switched to the print version that I found preferable, especially for keeping track of the many characters. Haynes’ writing is captivating, deserving of all the accolades received.

>130 VivienneR: I've read a couple of Trojan War retelling in the past year and enjoyed them. I'll put this on on my WL.

>131 Tess_W: Good! I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Category: Mystery

The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett

Even though I love the idea, I just couldn’t connect with this book and it took me ages to read it. The best part is Her Majesty, who is portrayed so closely that the reader can perfectly imagine the Queen we all knew. Her murder investigation skills are superb, just as anyone might imagine. Rozie was also an inspired character that fitted her part well. The plot is a tad complex with Russians and spies, but entertaining nevertheless.

However, I have to say that I enjoyed Death at Windsor Castle by C.C. Benison so much more.

Category: Fiction

The Conjoined by Jen Sookfong Lee

After her mother’s death, daughter Jessica found the bodies of two girls in the family’s freezer. A dramatic start not to a thriller story but a family saga ranging back to 1988 and the 1940s. It’s a dark, disturbing story and although the characters are complex and well drawn, I can’t say any of them appealed to me.

>130 VivienneR: I thought that book was great as well. I listened to it and thought she did a good job. Some authors can read and some really can't.

>133 VivienneR: I enjoyed the 3 I've listened to and I think you're right, her Maj is the star turn.

>135 Helenliz: Yes, it was excellent and Haynes read the book well, but I was glad I turned to print and even considered starting over again from the beginning. I think it's the names, they stick in the mind more when seen in print.

I loved the way Bennett portrayed Her Majesty! It was exactly the Queen we all knew.

For me, the Her Majesty Investigates series from C.C. Benison is more fun - but hard to find.

Category: Mystery

Bangkok 8 by John Burdett

Sonchai Jitpleecheep is a devout Buddhist and detective in Bangkok, he is also the son of a prostitute and knows more about the business than most. His partner and an American marine are killed in a horrifying, gruesome death by snake - be warned if snakes are a trigger for you! It’s an action-filled story and the mood often changes from violent to caring, often with dark humour thrown in. I’ve never been to Thailand, but I certainly felt the presence of Bangkok, although Burdett’s portrayal of widespread prostitution, a corrupt city and police force was not flattering.

Category: Fiction

Silverview by John le Carré

My thanks to le Carré’s son, Nick, for publishing this novel posthumously, allowing a final view of his work. It’s a short book, but has le Carré’s distinct voice, a fine finale from one of my favourite authors.

>138 VivienneR: OK, now I really am going to have to look into Carré's works. I really enjoyed A Perfect Spy and the notes in that book point to a career in the industry.

>130 VivienneR: Also sounds like an interesting book, maybe audio though with a cast of characters in print to keep track of them!

>139 threadnsong: If you enjoyed A Perfect Spy then you should definitely read more from le Carré. I strongly recommend The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life - as well as his novels, of course.

I have used a printed list of characters for other books, especially when names are similar. I works well.

CalendarCAT - July

A City Called July by Howard Engel

’Twas in the month of Liverpool
In a city called July,
The snow was raining heavily,
The streets were very dry.
The flowers were sweetly singing,
The birds were in full bloom,
As I went down the cellar
To sweep an upstairs room.
— English skipping rhyme

Rabbi Melter and Mr Tepperman, president of the B’nai Shalom congregation come calling on private investigator Benny Cooperman to find out if he can trace Larry Geller, a lawyer who has filched 2.6 million dollars from members of the community. They don’t want to report it to the police, just find Geller or the money. But Geller is missing.

I always enjoy Engel’s Benny Cooperman mysteries that are set in Grantham (actually Engel’s home town of St. Catherine’s, Ontario in the Niagara region). Benny is a likeable, amiable sort, who treats everyone with the same respect whether they are local worthies or homeless veterans. And I love his typically Canadian humour.

I’ve been reading the series out of order so my next book will be from later in the series. Memory Book has Benny suffer a head injury leaving him with alexia sine agraphia a condition that prevented him from understanding written words without affecting his ability to write - a condition that Engel actually suffered from after a stroke in 2001.

>141 VivienneR: I will put book 1 in this series on my WL

>142 Tess_W: I hope you like Benny Cooperman as much as I do when you get to him, Tess. No swearing, no hangups, just a nice guy.

Category: Mystery

Lost Light by Michael Connelly

Another winner from Connelly. Harry Bosch is becoming one of my favourite detectives.

>144 VivienneR: I have not tried that series. I think a lot of them deal with drugs and such, and I don't really enjoy things those nearly as much as other mysteries.

>145 thornton37814: That's understandable. And yes, he does deal with drugs and crimes we'd prefer to think wouldn't happen in real life. I've often thought about that when reading noir or grit-lit authors but somehow I'm able to separate myself from the nasty parts and think of it as true fiction.

Howard Engel's Benny Cooperman stories might be more acceptable to you. See >141 VivienneR:.

Category: Fiction

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

This was a miss for me. I can understand why it would be popular among some readers and I should have known it would not be my cup of tea. Neither the jumps in time nor fantasy elements were appealing.

ScaredyKIT - August - Middle Grades Horror

Buns Gone Bad by Anna Humphrey, illustrated by Irma Kniivila

The usual process is that the young grow up and leave the nest. In this Fluffle Bunny story, mother leaves the bunnies to fend for themselves. Naturally, trouble ensues. Raccoons don’t fare well against Bad Bunnies. This is a cute graphic novel for youngsters aged 6-9, but would have been so much more effective in colour. The humour was a little gross, but in my experience kids enjoy obnoxious jokes.

July Summary

Books read in July: 16
Books read this year: 114

Reading has been slow this month - too many other things happening.


That Part Was True by Deborah McKinlay
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell (previously I read the print version and rated it 5 stars)


Standing in the Shadows by Peter Robinson
The Redemption of Galen Pike by Carys Davies
Next in Line by Jeffrey Archer
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
Silverview by John le Carré
A City Called July by Howard Engel
Lost Light by Michael Connelly


Buns Gone Bad by Anna Humphrey, illustrated by Irma Kniivila


The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin


The Conjoined by Jen Sookfong Lee
Bangkok 8 by John Burdett

>144 VivienneR: I've not read any Bosch novels, as that's not really one of the genres I generally enjoy. However, my hubby is an avid fan of all the Bosch tv series/movies.

>150 Tess_W: They can be quite gritty! So often thrillers can get bogged down in complex details but Connelly is able to keep the story on track with his clear writing.

ETA: Not being a TV viewer, I had no idea Bosch appeared on TV or movies. I will have to find out who plays the main character to find out if he fits my mental picture.

RandomKIT - August: Attention grabbing Titles

The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein

Set in Scotland in the 1930s, this features Julia Beaufort-Stuart as she becomes involved in a mystery regarding her grandfather’s estate, specifically missing river pearls. The characters are delightful and the story is exceptionally well-researched and well-written. It’s a prequel to Code Name Verity that will be my next book by Wein.

Bingo - from a similar library on LT

Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKinty

The elements taken from real historical incidents give this mystery novel set in 1985 a verisimilitude and as a result, greater interest. It’s a compelling story set in 1985 in Northern Ireland where Sean Duffy is investigating a double murder and suicide. An MI5 agent makes a tempting recruitment offer that would take Duffy out of his road-to-nowhere job in the backwater town of Carrickfergus.

This was my final Bingo square, a title taken from the similar library of katiekrug.

Congratulations on finishing your Bingo card!

>122 VivienneR: I'm adding The Redemption of Galen Pike to my ever-growing wish list.

>130 VivienneR: I have A Thousand Ships on my kindle and look forward to reading it.

>137 VivienneR: We visited Bangkok a few weeks ago and my husband read this book while we were there! He said that the atmosphere was portrayed very well, although we avoided the red light districts.

>153 VivienneR: This sounds like something worth reading!

>153 VivienneR: - Congratulations, Vivienne. I still have 5 squares and they'll be filled when I do a couple of other challenges later in the year.

>154 MissBrangwen: Thank you, Mirjam. Glad to be able to add to your wishlist!

To visit Bangkok while reading Bangkok 8 would have been a remarkable experience.

I can recommend Adrian McKinty's Sean Duffy series. Because I'm familiar with Northern Ireland, I find his books are accurate and credible. In this one he even mentioned the road where my grandparents lived, although his description of the neighbourhood was not quite true.

>155 dudes22: Thank you, Betty. In other years I tried to spread it out over the twelve months and found myself scrambling in December to finish. This time I concentrated on finishing, which will allow me to think about CATs and KITs more.

AlphaKIT - August: M & G

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

What a storyteller! McBride’s book is about the history of African American and Jewish residents in Chicken Hill a neighbourhood of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. It’s one of those books where finding a flaw is virtually impossible, it’s not only a extraordinary story but the writing is superb. Wisely, I chose the audio version with a fabulous reading by Dominic Hoffman.

Congrats on filling your Bingo card!

>158 VivienneR: - I need to get to this. (along with about a hundred other books.)

>158 VivienneR: I'll get to it soon--as in this week--maybe as early as starting tomorrow. I just need to finish the current print book, and it is up after it.

>158 VivienneR: McBride is such a talented storyteller. Did your heart break for Monkeypants?

>152 VivienneR: Oh, I LOVED Code Name Verity! I should check out The Pearl Thief as well...

>159 MissWatson: Thank you, Birgit!

>160 dudes22: I know how you feel, Betty. When I joined LT I hoped to pick up a few recommendations. I didn't expect thousands! However, this book is a must-read.

>161 thornton37814: Good idea, Lori. I always have a few books on the go simultaneously, but it's not something I advise. :)

>162 RidgewayGirl: Yes, Monkeypants is heart wrenching to say the least. Loved Dodo too, and Chona. I had a childhood friend with the same condition as Chona, caused by polio.

>163 christina_reads: That's me in reverse! I haven't yet read Code Name Verity. I'll take your recommendation as a BB.

>161 thornton37814: I'm over 100 pages in now and am enjoying the story. I've got several things to do today, but I'm hoping to squeeze in at least another 50 tonight.

>165 thornton37814: I see you are making good progress. It really is a captivating story.

Category: Fiction

The Cook by Maylis de Kerangal

Mauro has always been interested in preparing food. An unnamed female friend describes his journey as a chef in Paris and the ensuing exhaustion. And even though he was successful, Mauro might have learned something if he had read Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London before beginning his odyssey. I don't know how I learned about this but glad I did, it's a short and enjoyable book.

MysteryKIT - August: Amateurs

Days Without Number by Robert Goddard

Taking place in Cornwall, the first half was riveting, and held my attention completely. The second half took a different direction and was more complex with additional characters, travel in Italy, as well as historical elements, all of which cooled the suspense. And while the Byzantium link was scarcely credible, it certainly added interest.

CalendarCAT - August - author was born in August

A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane

An excellent book of the hardboiled, noir, genre. I was enjoying the novel, particularly the repartee between Kenzie and Gennaro, and leaning toward a positive opinion until I reached a particularly offensive scene that abruptly adjusted my thinking. I’ve enjoyed Lehane previously and despite the depraved scene I will probably try more and hope it was a sole occurrence.

>169 VivienneR: Your comment on the offensive scene made me think of this interview with Lehane: https://www.shondaland.com/inspire/books/a43687193/author-dennis-lehane-on-small.... Based on that (and never having read his work myself), it does seem that he doesn't shy away from potentially offensive content.

>170 christina_reads: Thank you for the link, Christina! It was enlightening and interesting. Having just arrived in Canada around that time, I was quite ignorant of many US issues. I like the way Lehane writes so I won't give up on his books. The scene I referred to was short and by the time I finished the book it was buried in the rest of the story. I have Mystic River on the shelf that I've put off reading because I saw the movie a short time after acquiring the book. I suspect there may be a grim theme in that book too.

PrizeCAT - August: Genre

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Most of the characters were so unpleasant that it didn’t really matter to me who got murdered. I preferred Foley’s previous book The Hunting Party.

Category: From Lists

Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

Listed as number 3 on BBC’s 25 Greatest British Novels list. I have always enjoyed Woolf’s magnificent writing, especially her short stories and essays, however, this isn’t number 3 in my reading experience, but only slightly lower. As Clarissa Dalloway makes preparations for a party that evening, she is overtaken by memories of her youth. It’s a deceptively simple story with excellent characterization, obviously she knows the characters intimately. It is puzzling that many readers are discouraged as soon as the words “stream of consciousness” appears, yet in this book, Woolf’s perfect example of the style, there is much to admire. A short book to savour.

>172 VivienneR: I do prefer a nasty murder victim! It's awful when someone you've become attached to dies.

>174 pamelad: Agreed! I appreciated Agatha Christie for always making the victim someone we hadn't met, or someone nasty.

For Foley's book, a nice little cataclysm would have been a good idea. Take them all out in one go. :)

>173 VivienneR: I love Woolf, but I'm one of the few who wasn't enamoured with Mrs Dalloway. I'd take To The Lighthouse any day!

>176 AlisonY: Hi Alison, nice to see you dropping by!

I can understand those who were not enamoured of Mrs Dalloway. I believe it was the right book and the right time for me to read it. I loved how it flowed.

I have started To the Lighthouse a few times but just can't get into it. I may give it another go, now that I know you enjoyed it.

And for someone who claims a dislike for short stories, I love Woolf's.

Category: Mystery

Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger

I struggled to follow this book, which was possibly compounded by audio format, which makes it difficult to flip back a few pages to verify details. It has multiple characters, known by multiple names and is told from multiple points of view. The characters act so irrationally that is incredibly annoying. After an intriguing opening it lost impetus with a shift in the story around the halfway point. That’s when my interest began to fade. I finished but just barely. This was my first book by Unger.

MysteryKIT - August: Amateurs

Cast, in Order of Appearance by Simon Brett

This was the first in the Charles Paris series and according to my notes I read it pre-LT, although it had faded in memory. I love the character, a jobbing actor who changes somewhat over the course of the series and I was interested in how he started out. I really enjoyed it, but suspect I like the later Charles Paris better. I love how he adds a blurb from a review - usually tongue-in-cheek - when plays he has appeared in are mentioned, adding some humour. Same goes for the disguises he adopts from characters he has played. Sergeant McWhirter was my favourite, deceiving no one I’m sure.

The setting is 1973 with headlines featuring PM Edward Heath’s unpopular policies, the oil crisis, the miners’ strike, the resulting power cutbacks leaving everything, including television, in darkness from 10:30pm.

I’m looking forward to filling in all the Charles Paris books I’ve missed over the years. He is a lot of fun.

>178 VivienneR: Oh no! I just purchased this one!

>180 Tess_W: I wouldn't worry too much, Tess. I'm having a bad reading month - not that the books are bad, but my attention is suffering from RL events. I found Mrs Dalloway a much easier book to read because I didn't have to remember plot details (and changing names).

Category: My Series

Accused by Lisa Scottoline

Scottoline is able to merge a good legal mystery with lighthearted humour. I was delighted with the inclusion of “the Tonys” and their antics, which can be like herding cats.

>179 VivienneR: Charles Paris is wonderful. I agree that the tongue-in-cheek blurbs are very funny!

>183 NinieB: I love him. I'm on a quest to find all the missing Charles Paris books in my catalogue.

>184 VivienneR: I read the first two or three long years ago before I joined LT. I meant to continue on and I don't know why I didn't, maybe that's all the library had, or that's all that were in the series. After seeing him mentioned in your post I called the local used book store I use and found they had the first four! The owner was so happy she had them, those early titles in the series probably don't show up very often. I look forward to starting the series again, thanks for the nudge!

>185 clue: Oh, nice find! Strangely, my library system has very few Charles Paris books. I've made a note of their holdings and added missing titles to my Kindle wishlist. I'll finish the series one of these days. Simon Brett and Charles Paris should be more popular than they are.

>179 VivienneR: I think I've read all the Charles Paris books but can't be sure because most of them were pre-LT. The local library had the Gollancz hard-backs with the yellow dust jackets. Very useful to be able to pick a yellow book off the shelves with the expectation that it would be a good read. Collins Crime Club publications also used to be a good bet.

I also liked the first two in Simon Brett's Mrs Pargeter series but am not so taken with the Fetherings series.

>187 pamelad: Yes, a familiar eye-catching cover is a wise choice - for readers and publishers.

I've read some of the Mrs Pargeter series but it's so long ago, I can't remember which ones. I've been meaning to have a look for them. I tried one of the Fethering series and, like you, I was not taken with them. But I loved The Clutter Corpse from the fairly new Cluttering series. I hope he continues with that one.

>173 VivienneR: I saw the movie based on this short story a while back and I was very impressed by it. I know there are so many ways to tell a short story; some of them grab you and some of them you just have to leave by the wayside. I'm glad to see that Virginia Woolf is one of your faves in this genre.

>189 threadnsong: I saw the movie too and loved it! With Vanessa Redgrave playing Mrs Dalloway. Unfortunately I don't remember many details but I have the picture of Clarissa in my mind, which helped visualize the story. I believe the problem with short stories is that they appear in collections, which I suppose is necessary for publication. But we are tempted to read them one after the other and the unique quality of each is no longer distinct.

ScaredyKIT - August MG & YA horror

Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost by Cornelia Funke

Terrific fun! Tom, an eight-year-old boy discovers a ghost in the cellar of his house. His Grandma’s friend, Hetty Hyssop, a professional ghost hunter, is able to advise him on getting rid of the IRG (Incredibly Revolting Ghost), the worst one of all. There were lots of funny lines.

AlphaKIT - August: M & G

Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton

Elise King was a successful detective until breast cancer appeared. Now she is on medical leave and observing the conflicts of those around her in the small seaside town of Ebbing. What she misses, her cleaner Dee is sure to find out. A newcomer wants to make his mark with a giant music festival but two teens overdose on drugs and Charlie, a man with a disabled daughter, disappears from the event all of which tempt Elise back into unofficial detecting.

I listened to the audiobook and realized the print version would have made a better choice. The changing timelines and different perspectives made it confusing although different narrators helped identify the time. It was difficult to remain focussed but I limped along to a surprise ending.

>192 VivienneR: - I'm listening to one now where there is a diary from the main character's aunt and a couple of times, I've gotten confused about which story is being told for a few sentences. It's sometimes hard to know ahead of time that you should have chosen the print version.

>193 dudes22: Yes, it's so easy to flip back a few pages to check when reading print. Especially when "he said" appears frequently without naming the speaker. I'm glad it happens to more than me. I've been blaming old age.

Come and join me at https://www.librarything.com/topic/362995 with volume 4.