Jean Pulls Those Roots

Hello and Happy New Year to everyone. Back again to read those books sitting and mouldering on my virtual shelves!

Books Read

January
01. The Suspect - L R Wright
02. Ilium - Dan Simmons
03. Once Upon a River - Diane Setterfield
04. The Spy Coast - Tess Gerritsen
05. The Wizard's Butler - Nathan Lowell
06. Zodiac - Neal Stephenson
07. Architects of Memory - Karen Osborne
08. The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie
09. Rogue Protocol - Martha Wells
10. Shadow and Bone - Leigh Bardugo DNF
11. Seven Surrenders - Adal Palmer
12. Strange Dogs - James S A Corey
13. The Godwulf Manuscript - Robert B Parker
14. Engines of Oblivion - Karen Osborne
15. I Am the Only Running Footman - Martha Grimes
16. Assassin's Apprentice - Robin Hobb

February
17. Troubles - J G Farrell
18. Godwulf Manuscript - Robert B. Parker
19. The Thief Who Couldn't Sleep - Lawrence Block
20. The Punishment She Deserves - Elizabeth George
21. The Drop - Mick Herron
22. The Marlow Murder Club - Robert Thorogood
23. Persepolis Rising - James S A Corey

March
24. Tiamat's Wrath - James S A Corey
25. Leviathan Falls - James S A Corey
26. Joe country - Mick Herron
27. The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton
28. The Unfinished Clue - Georgette Heyer
29. Murder on the Links - Agatha Christie
30. Above Suspicion - Helen MacInnes

April
31. The Eye of the Needle - Ken Follett
32. Skirmishes - K K Rusch
33. Clockwork Boys - T Kingfisher
34. A Pale Light in the Black - K B Wagers
35. The Man in the Brown Suit - Agatha Christie
36. Death Comes to Marlow - Robert Thorogood
37. Exit Strategy - Martha Wells
38. Network Effect - Martha Wells

May
39. Starplex - Robert J Sawyer
40. Lost in a Good book - Jasper Fforde
41. The Dragon's Path - Daniel Abraham
42. Darwinia - R C Wilson
43. The King's Blood - Daniel Abraham
44. The Tyrant's Law - Daniel abraham
45. The Widow's House - Daniel Abraham
46. In a Dark, Dark Wood - Ruth Ware
47. The Ipcress File - Len Deighton DNF
48. Poirot Investigates - Agatha Christie
49. The Catch - Mick Herron
50. The Spider's War - Daniel Abraham
51. Legend (The Event Group) - David L Golemon

June
52. Five Bells and Bladebone - Martha Grimes
53. The Secret of Chimneys - Agatha Christie
54. Meditation on Murder - Robert Thorogood
55. Legend - D L Golemon
56. Sleep While I Sing - L R Wright
57. Prince of Fire - Daniel Silva
58. Some Danger Involved - Will Thomas

July
59. Booked to Die - John DUnning
60. Boundless - Jack Campbell
61. Slough House - Mick Herron
62. The Night Agent - Matthew Quirk
63. The Lazarus War: Artefact - Jamie Sawyer
64. The Murder of Rogery Ackroyd - Agatha Christie

August
65. The Fifth Gospel - Ian Caldwell
66. Sufficiently Advanced Magic - Andrew Rowe DNF
67. Capital Murder - Dan Willis
68. Paradise (Expeditionary Force) - Craig Alanson
69. The Big Four - Agatha Christie
70. Resolute (Lost Fleet) - Jack Campbell
71. The Old Silent - Martha Grimes

September
72. Carthage - Joyce Carol Oates
73. Red Warning - Matthew Quirk
74. The Blind Assassin - Margaret ATwood
75. The Labyrinth Makers - Anthony Price
76. The Killings at Badger's Drift - Caroline Graham

1.

The Suspect - L R Wright
Series: Karl Alberg #1
pages: 252



Interesting and surprising beginning of a Canadian mystery series. I liked how uncomfortable Karl can be in situations. He's not the typical cop. He's vulnerable, crotchety at times, and stubborn. He's also sometimes needy.

The victim was well portrayed and complex with depths and surprises. The mystery, while we knew who dunnit from the beginning, was still intriguing enough to hold my interest easily.

Hi Jean, good to see you back here again. And the first book finished already.

Happy New Year to you and yours.

Happy ROOTing in 2025, Jean

Glad you have returned! Happy 2025 reading.

Happy 2025 reading -- you're on a good start already!

2.

Ilium - Dan Simmons
Series: Ilium #1 - 752 pages
Audiobook read by Kevin Pariseau



I found the start very confusing and disjointed. Three totally unrelated stories, one of the battle of Troy, a second robots on Io, and a third humans living on a reconstructed world with essentially no knowledge of their history or geography, and obnoxious mostly.

I finally stopped trying to make sense of the story and just read it. At the end, of course, the three pieces come together. However, I found that even so, much of it made little sense to me, as to the whys and wherefores.

I'm undecided if I will read book 2.

I gave that book 4,5 star that was in 2005. I don't remember a thing about the story and did not write reviews back then.

3.

SpecOps - Craig Alanson
Series: Expeditionary Force #2

Audiobook Read by: R C Bray



This series is fast paced, funny and plays with pseudoscience (a lot) so well you can almost believe it. Skippy, the alien AI, makes the series. He's such a smart ass.

Happy ROOTing, Jean.

4.

The Spy Coast - Tess Gerritsen
Series: The Martini Club #1
Audiobook read by: Huber/Pressley

Fiun story of retired spies who get drawn back into the game when a dead body is dumped on one's driveway.

Enjoyable characters, twisty plot, nicely written.

Challenges:
MysteryKIT, AlphaKIT, Wimsey

Wishing you a great ROOTing year, Jean! Looks like you're off to a great start, with 4 books down already.

>13 atozgrl: Thank you! Same to you.

5.

The Wizard's Butler - Nathan Lowell
Audiobook read by Tom Taylorson who did a superb job.



What a fun book! A cozy fantasy I actually really enjoyed. A former military man, and trained EMT is in search of a job. An elderly wizard needs a butler. A match made in, well, somewhere.

I will have to organize a search for this fun book, Jean.

fantastic start, Happy Rooting for 2025

6.

Zodiac - Neal Stephenon



Challenges: AlphaKIT, TBR Challenge

Wow. This wasn't what I expected in many ways. I love Stephenson's works so there is that. Very Very sciency so a slow read for me but oh so interesting.

It's the story of an eco activist who, as usual, gets labeled terrorist as he takes on corporate entities who are knowingly polluting the waters in and around Boston.

The title, btw, if you are wondering, refers to the zodiac boats he (and Greenpeace notably) uses to harrass polluting ships and he uses to look for sources of pollution so he can pinpoint the company involved.

The real heart-stopping action isn't until the last third or so of the book, but well worth the wait.

7.

Architects of Memory - Karen Osborne
Series: Memory War 1
I listened to the audiobook read by Sophie Arnoss



Challenges: AlphaKIT, Focus SciFi,

At times confusing, but very well written and imagined. I loved how alien the aliens were and how wrong the humans were about what was going on, simply because they didn't understand anything.

Characters, the main ones at any rate, were well drawn. Plot was twisty and surprising.

Looking forward to book 2

8.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie
Ouevre #1

Audiobook read by Richard Armitage wonderfully.



Challenges: Christie Reads, Colo(u)CAT

Not my favorite Christie but fun to revisit as she invents Poirot and improves her writing.

9.

Rogue Protocol - Martha Wells
Series: Murderbot #3
Audio version read by Kevin R. Free



Just as delightful as the first reading. I love how s/he is evolving and learning to be independent, innovative and even imaginative at times. And how humans are becoming something s/he wants to help.

Jean, how fast do you read? Do you sleep at all and eat? Really impressive.

>22 connie53: We've been watching lots of American football (playoffs). We watch with the sound turned off so I can listen to an audiobook with my earbud while I watch! I cheat!

Very smart.

10.

Shadow and Bone - Leigh Bardugo
Series: Greisha 1

audiobook read by Lauren Fortgang


Challenges: AlphaKIT, SFF Focus

DNF. Nothing happens other than romancy stuff that does not interest me. Won't be reading more of the series.

11.

Seven Surrenders - Ada Palmer
Terra Ignota #2



Challenges: Sci Fi Focus, AlphaKIT

A future world which has done away with wars and hatred finds itself disintegrating when the truth comes out.

Complex plot, which is hard to follow at times, and world-building that is believable sort of. The dirty politics is human though.

12.

Strange Dogs - James S A Corey
The Expanse series

Challenge: Focus SciFi, AlphaKIT



Powerful short story of how the protomolecule begins to interact with humanity.

13.

The Godwulf Manuscript - Robert B. Parker
Series: Spenser 1

Challenges: AlphaKIT, Focus Mystery

This is a re-read. I read this a long time ago and now want to read more of the series. Interesting main character, with sarcastic wit (sometimes). Hoping he improves over time. The mystery was fine.

14.
The Engines of Oblivion - Karen Osborne
Series: Memory War 2


Challenges: SFFKIT, Doublespin

Last of the two part Memory War series. Trying to end the 'forever war' run for and by corporations whose only desire is to control everything. Aliens seem like an additional way to win the war, but they aren't what they appear and offer a new vector toward fighting the corporations.

Imaginative, innovative in some respects and has lots of action.

15.
I Am The Only Running Footman - Martha Grimes
Series: Richard Jury #8



Challenges: Focus Mystery, Bookspin

I love Richard and Melrose. I also love how Richard tends to pay attention to the kids involved and cares so much for everyone.

>30 majkia: I read my first last year and really enjoyed it too! Grimes has a fabulous way of creating very atmospheric novels.

>20 majkia: I love listening to Richard Armitage read audiobooks. Such a lovely voice.

16.
Assassin's Apprentice - Robin Hobb
Series: Realm of the Elderlings #1



Challenges: Group Read on Litsy, SFF Focus

First time re-reading this series. I loved it all when I first read it and reread is the same. This time though I'm listening to the audiobook read impressively by Paul Boehmer

Yes, I cried again.

>15 majkia: The Wizard's Butler sounds intriguing. At this point my library doesn't acknowledge its existence, so it will have to go in the wish list.

>34 ritacate: Same for me!

I did find the Butler book. Thanks for the book bullet.

I've undergone a major surgery (open heart) and am recovering. I did some reading while in hospital and in rehab but wasn't organized enough to keep a list of what I read. I couldn't read, actually, all I could manage were audiobooks.

I finished my re-read and first read of the last book of The Expanse series by James S A Corey and it was wonderful.
I listened to a few more, none of which were particularly memorable but I enjoyed them anyway. Too bad I can't remember them all, lol.

At any rate, my numbers are off, and I don't care right now, so am going to just pretend the last half of February didn't really happen in this dimension.

>37 majkia: Wishing you a prompt recovery, Jean! Definitely health first

>37 majkia: Oh, Jean. I hope you feel great again soon, reading will follow when you are ready for it.

>37 majkia: I do hope you will recuperate, peacefully and without further trauma.

I hope you can soon fully enjoy your books again.

Thanks all for the kind words. Recovery is slow and that is frustrating but I am improving. I can now read! Read without getting nauseous or dizzy so that is a major improvement to me. I'm still dealing with shortness of breath which is maddening, but other than that I can walk without the walker so long as I remember not to try to walk at a normal pace instead slowly.

Hope all of you are well and happy.

Good to hear, Jean.

26.

Joe Country - Mick Herron
Slough House #6


Things never go as planned for the Slow Horses. This particular unplanned op starts off badly and ends worse. But our spies do the best they can with limited resources and limited options.

Sending wishes for a steady and full recovery!

27.

The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton
Challenges: TBR CHallenge

I'd have never survived this world. Claustrophic, limited, controlled.
Frustrated love, frustrated lives. Beautifully written, but telling a decidedly unhappy tale.

28.
The Unfinished Clue - Georgette Heyer
Challenges: AlphaKIT, Wimsey



I do enjoy Heyer's mysteries. Always bright and sparkling dialog and lots of humor in characterization.

>49 majkia: I love Wharton: she does such a great job characterizing the limitations that women had to deal with.

29.

Murder on the Links - Agatha Christie

Challenges: AlphaKIT, Focus Mystery

I like Hastings so much more in the books. I wish they wouldn't make him such a charictature in the TV/movie adaptations.

30.

Above Suspicion - Helen MacInnes

Challenges: AlphaKIT

Good effort for an early thriller from MacInnes. I thought it got a bit too detailed at times, but still a good read.

31.

The Eye of the Needle - Ken Follett

Challenges: TBR Challenge, AlphaKIT(2)

A German spy is hunted through England. If he succeeds in contacting his handlers, he can ruin the plans for D-Day.

I've seen an adaptation of this, but it wasn't nearly as memorable as the book has been. Well written, suspenseful, surprising, with lots of twists and turns and spy-y things going on.

32.

Skirmishes - K K Rusch
Series: Diving Universe 4

Challenges: Focus SciFi, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT, ColorCAT

Solid entry to the series about diving into ancient spaceships to learn about futuristic tech.

Oh, I've been reading her Retrieval Artist series, on and off. I didn't know she had other series as well.

>56 Robertgreaves: i enjoyed her retrieval artist series a lot.

33.

The Clockwork Boys - T Kingfisher
Series: Clocktaur Wars 1

Challenges: AlphaKIT, ReadYourKindle, SFF Focus

Had its moments but not sure I'll continue this series. Not as comedic as much of her work.

34.

Death Comes to Marlow - Robert Thorogood
Seris: Marlow Murder Club 2

Challenges: Wimsey

I love the use of crossword clues in this series. The characters are fun and surprising, the mystery was multilayered and hard to guess.

35.

A Pale Light in the Black - K B Wagers
Series: Neo-G 1

Challenges: Focus SciFi, AlphaKIT

This is a re-read so I can read the entire series. Lots of action, interesting world creation, and smart, capable characters.

36.

The Man In the Brown Suit - Agatha Christie
Series: Christie 4

Fun spy romp through South Africa. Irritating commentary on women and domestic abuse by heroine though.

37.

Exit Strategy - Martha Wells
Murderbot Diaries #4

Challenges: Focus SciFi

Murderbot is so fun. They are still trying to figure out what they are, and just as confused about humans as ever. But when they reconnect with Mensa et all, feelings pop up, whether they want them to or not.

38.

Network Effect - Martha Wells
Series: Murderbot #5

Challenges: Focus SciFi

Best story yet in the series with Murderbot and ART teaming up to save their humans.

39.

Starplex - Robert J Sawyer
Challenges: TBR

I listened to the audiobook version read by Mark Boyett.

Definitely not my favorite Sawyer but interesting anyway. I found it a bit dry, but with lots of science and lots of imagination about where the future might lead us. I especially liked the aliens and how different from us they were.

40.

Lost in a Good Book- Jasper Fforde
Series: Thursday Next 2

This has taken me forever to read because I'm still having issues with my eyes. But well worth the effort. Dodos! Ridiculous puns. Books and libraries and plots and all of it.

41.

The Dragon's Path - Daniel Abraham
Series: Dagger and the Coin 1

Challenges: SFF focus, BFB, Roll100, Doublespin

This is a re-read, well re-listen (read by Pete Bradbury). I loved the series and want to revisit the entire thing.

Just as fascinating as I remembered it.

42.

Darwinia - Robert Charles Wilson

Challenges: TBR Challenge

This is one of the strangest SFF books I've read in many a moon. I'm not sure what I think of it. It morphs about halfway through from a fairly straight up alt history to a sort of SFF/Sci Fi mix.

I'm glad I read it and I'll be thinking about it for awhile.

43.
44.
45.

There really is no way to talk about these books except in total. when I finish book 5 and final, I'll write a review

46.

In a Dark, Dark Wood - Ruth Ware
Challenges: RandomKIT, ColorCAT, Roll100

I thought the whole book was weakened by the main character doing something she freely admits she normally wouldn't do - go to the hen party in the first place.
Other than that, the mystery was sufficiently twisty to confuse and surprise throughout.
The setting was the strongest part of the book, and well written.

47.

The Ipcress File - Len Deighton

DidNotFinish

Not a fault of the book. I've been unable to read my ebooks for so long I just lost interest.

I'm finally able to read them again but wanted something lighter.

48.
Poirot Investigates - Agatha Christie

Challenges: Roll100, ReadYourKindle,

Read by Richard Armitage which is always fun. He does a great job always.
I do get tired of the fact that Poirot only ever has any dealings with the very rich. sigh.

June Plans:

I'm dealing with serious health issues which won't be resolved anytime soon. As such I'm trying to plan less and just read as I can and what moves me.

Hope everyone else is well.

>72 majkia: Sorry to hear about you heath problems.

>72 majkia: So sorry to hear this. it seems to be this year's theme. Hope you find your healing answers. Sometimes it is a pleasant interlude to find new ways to restructure your life. (not the health part of course)

>72 majkia: Hope you feel better soon or at least find coping methods. Illness can be so debilitating quite apart from the physical symptoms

>72 majkia: I'm sorry to read that. I hope you see improvements quickly.

>72 majkia: Sending well-wishes to you

Five Bells and Bladebone - Martha Grimes
Series: Richard Jury #9

Very confusing mystery for Jury. Who is who, and who dunnit are definitely in question. Can he solve it? Maybe...

The Secret of Chimneys - Agatha Chrisie
Oevre #4

Wow. Whose who? Whose not who? Talk about masquerades! I found it a bit hard to follow at times, but we all got there in the end. Enjoyed it.

With regard to my health, thanks again for kind words. I was in hospital again but home now and maybe finally feeling better. Not stronger, but at least not feeling pain.

It is frustrating feeling weak and not being able to live as I had only a few months ago, but am doing my best to adjust.

Hugs to all dealing with limitations, whatever they are.

A Meditation on Murder - Robert Thorogood
Death in Paradise #1

Based on the TV show I've enjoyed greatly. Lots of colorful folks, great surroundings, and a complex mystery. I enjoyed it.

>80 majkia: >Hugs to all dealing with limitations, whatever they are.
This is lovely.

Booked To Die - John Dunning
Lots of red herrings and surprises. Interesting take on mystery and i loved the bookman stuff.

Boundless - Jack Campbell

Ah space opera. Lots of space battles and politics.

Hi Jean. I feel really awful for neglecting your thread and reading now how difficult a time you have had. I'm so sorry. Luckily you wrote that the last time you were in hospital did work better and you are now pain free but still weak. It's quite understandable with all you have gone trough.

I hope you feel better with each passing day and there will be no other medical stuff happening.

Cuddles for you!

>85 connie53: Hi Connie. Yeah, I've been having a rough year. Things seem a bit better now. Hope that lasts.

Slough House - Mick Herron
Series: Slough House #7

Such a great great series, and the Apple TV adaptation is wonderful too.

The Night Agent - Matthew Quirk

Very different from the series streaming on Netflix. I'm not sure which version I liked best.

The Lazarus War: Artefact - Jamie Sawyer

Interesting space opera where humans use artificial constructs to upload into to fight a war against aliens. Interesting concepts, mystifying aliens and weird artefacts. What's not to like.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie

This one was definitely a surprise. I did not see that coming.

>90 majkia: Such a good classic!
I also remember really enjoying a followup: a French student did his Master's thesis on how Poirot was WRONG and pointed out the discrepancies in his reasoning - he pointed to a different murderer. I don't know if it was ever translated into English but it was as fun a read!

>91 Cecilturtle: That sounds like an awesome thesis!

The Fifth Gospel - Ian Caldwell

Okay, I'm unsure why I keep reading Caldwell, as I'm not religious, especially not Christian. But here we are. I enjoyed the mystery and didn't find the religion too oppressive.

>88 majkia: I enjoyed the first season of the show - really must pivk up the second season.

Sufficiently Advanced Magic - Andrew Rowe
Series: Arcane Ascenion 1

I have no earthly idea why I thought it would be a good idea to reread this book. Obviously I was under heavy medication at the time (which was probably actually true). DNF

It was okay but definitely not what I enjoy.

Capital Murder - Dan Willis
Series: Arcane Casebook 7

I enjoy these alternate universe books, where sorcerers provide power to the grid, and create wonderful magical mixes with technology. Set just before WWII things are getting interesting with Hitler rising to power and all his emphasis on the supernatural.

Paradise (Expeditionary Force) - Craig Alanson
Series: Expeditionary Force #3

Fun series, with Skippy, the alien beer can, constantly stealing the show.

The Big Four - Agatha Christie
Oevre #8

Meh. Disappointment after the goodness of last month's mystery. I found it a bit disjointed and not very compelling.

Resolute (Lost Fleet) - Jack Campbell
Series: Lost Fleet Outlands #2

Always interesting with great space battles. And new aliens!

The Old Silent - Martha Grimes

As usual, complex mystery with lots of history behind what happens.


Something Wicked - E X Ferrars

Very slow mystery. Interesting, but slooooooow.

Carthage - Joyce Carol Oates

This was a very strange book. It is ostensibly about the possible murder of a teen by her elder sister's fiance, who has just returned from war badly wounded, body and soul. He admits to killing the girl but he is so broken it is unclear if what he believes is the truth or not.

Delves deep into psyches all over the place, but I found the ending too open ended for me. I'd have rather had more of a resolution than we got.

Still, a good and interesting read.

>101 majkia: Interesting - where does the title come from? I usually enjoy Oates and am curious about this one.

>102 Cecilturtle: it's the name of the town where it takes place.

Red Warning - Matthew Quirk

Spy novel about a threat to Washington DC. It was okay, but it never really captured my full attention.

The Blind Assassin - Margaret Atwood

Beautifully written, as usual for Atwood. Deep in thoughts and feelings. I did find it confusing though.

>86 majkia: I hope it lasts too, Jean. Your reading is doing great. Must read the Atwood book too. I like her writing, but 'confusing' sounds no so great.