Vivienne reads 25s - part 2

Welcome to my 2025 reading challenge. I’ve been an LT member since 2008 and this is my 12th year participating in the Category Challenge. I live in south-east British Columbia surrounded by the beautiful snowy mountains of the Western Canadian Rockies. This year my simplified plan is to read 25 books in each category - but we’ll see how that goes. This year my categories are decorated with the work of some favourite artists. I hope you will join me for chat about books - or anything else.

Tony Onley - Storm over Georgian Bay

NOT a KIT / CAT

1. Queen Macbeth by Val McDermid
   
2. Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena
   
3. Agent Running in the Field by John le Carré
   
4. Blood Moon by Garry Disher
   
5. Bruno, Chief of Police by Edward Walker
   
6. The Fall of Troy by Peter Ackroyd
   
7. The Great Dinosaur Sleepover by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Joe Bluhm
   
8. Bloody Scotland edited by James Crawford
   
9. The Sweet-Shop Owner by Graham Swift
   
10. I Love You: Recipes from the Heart by Pamela Anderson

Joanne Gervais

RandomKIT

1. January: Eat, drink and be merry: Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
   
2. January: Eat, drink and be merry: The Dinner Lady Detectives by Hannah Hendy
   
3. February: Playing with time: The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes
   
4. February: Playing with time: The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell
   
5. March: Wishes: The Wish List by Eoin Colfer
   
6. March: Wishes: A Desirable Residence by Madeleine Wickham
   
7. April: Prime: The Trouble with Harriet by Dorothy Cannell
   
8. April: Prime: Booked for Murder by Val McDermid
   
9. May: Punctuation: The Good Thief’s Guide to Paris by Chris Ewan
   
10. June: Invasion: An Excellent Mystery by Ellis Peters
    
11. July: The Hills are Alive: In the Galway Silence by Ken Bruen
    
12. July: The Hills are Alive: Be Cool by Elmore Leonard
    
13. August: A Writer: Jennie’s Boy: A Newfoundland Childhood by Wayne Johnston
    September:
    October:
    November:
    December:

Edward Petherbridge (aka Lord Peter Wimsey) - bookstore

MysteryKIT

1. Jan: winter mysteries: Christmas Mourning by Andrea Frazer
   
2. Jan: winter mysteries: One by One by Ruth Ware
   
3. Jan: winter mysteries: Whiteout by Ken Follett
   
4. Feb: vintage mysteries: The Black-Eyed Blonde by Benjamin Black
   
5. Feb: vintage mysteries: Fell Murder by E.C.R. Lorac
   
6. Mar: espionage: The Secret Hours by Mick Herron
   
7. Apr: paranormal: The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
   
8. May: not my country: The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
   
9. May: not my country: Cop Killer by Maj Sjöwall, Per Wahl
   
10. Jun: LGBTQ+ detectives: 1222 by Anne Holt
    
11. Jun: LGBTQ+ authors/detectives: Hostage to Murder by Val McDermid
    
12. Jul: next in a series: Void Moon by Michael Connelly
    
13. Jul: next in a series: The Highway by C.J. Box
    Aug: legal thrillers
    Sep: silver age mysteries
    Oct: police procedurals
    Nov: psychological
    Dec: cozies

Ted Harrison - Sam McGee (inspired by poem by Robert Service)

AlphaKIT

1. Jan: S & O One Summer by David Baldacci
   
2. Jan: S & O Black Orchids by Rex Stout
   
3. Feb: G: The Girl Before by JP Delaney
   
4. Feb: L & G: Dream Girl by Laura Lippman
   
5. Mar: U & A: An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson
   
6. Apr: E: The French Girl by Lexie Elliott
   
7. Apr: K: Heart of a Killer by David Rosenfelt
   
8. May: D: The Darkness by Ragnar Jonasson
   
9. May: I: The Island by Ragnar Jónasson
   
10. Jun: C: The Calling by Inger Ash Wolfe
    
11. Jun: Q: IQ (Isaiah “IQ” Quintabe series) by Joe Ide
    
12. Jun: C: Odd Child Out by Gilly Macmillan
    
13. Jul: W & T: The Taken by Inger Ash Wolfe
    
14. Jul: W: Still Water by Amy Stuart
    Aug: N & J
    Sep: B & M
    Oct:F & P
    Nov: Y & H
    Dec: V & R
    
15. All year Z: Zoo Station by David Downing

John Lowrie Morrison

ColourCAT

1. Jan: Green: Hot to Trot by M.C. Beaton & R.W. Green
   
2. Jan: Green: Murder on the Oxford Canal by Faith Martin Hillary Green series
   
3. Feb: Gold: Hurricane Gold by Charlie Higson
   
4. Feb: Gold: A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie (Golden Age)
   
5. Mar: Pink: Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
   
6. Mar: Pink: Death on the Thames by Alan Johnson
   
7. Apr: Brown: London Calling by Edward Bloor
   
8. May: Red: To Tell You the Truth by Gilly Macmillan
   
9. May: Red: The Trinity Six by Charles Cumming
   
10. Jun: Yellow: The Closers by Michael Connelly
    
11. Jun: Yellow: Payment Deferred by C.S. Forester
    
12. Jul: White: The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
    
13. Jul: White: The Other Woman by Sandie Jones
    Aug: Grey
    Sep: Silver
    Oct: Black
    Nov: Blue
    Dec: Purple

Peter Shostak - We have already cleared the snow off

CoverCAT

1. Jan: Let's have a tea party: With a Bare Bodkin by Cyril Hare
   
2. Jan: Let's have a tea party: Man at the Helm by Nina Stibbe
   
3. Feb: A Tree: Held by Anne Michaels
   
4. Feb: A Tree: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
   
5. Mar: Farm Animals: Prairie Ostrich by Tamai Kobayashi
   
6. Mar: Farm Animals: Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson
   
7. Apr: A Road: The Lie Maker by Linwood Barclay
   
8. Apr: A Road: The Joy and Light Bus Company by Alexander McCall Smith
   
9. May: More than one element: The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse
   
10. Jun: Something with Wheels: Devil’s Delight by M.C. Beaton, R.W. Green
    
11. Jul: A Fruit: The Shadow of the Pomegranate by Jean Plaidy
    
12. Jul: A Fruit: The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
    Aug: A Photograph
    Sep: Dogs, cats, or both
    Oct: Will fit in a pocket
    Nov: Celestial objects
    Dec: A gift you would like

Bob Harrold - Saskatchewan Fall

NatureKIT

1. Jan: Sheep & shepherding: The Quest of the Warrior Sheep by Christine Russell and Christopher Russell
   
2. Jan: Sheep & shepherding: Pastoral by Andre Alexis
   
3. Feb: Forest, farms, grasslands: Back of Beyond by C.J. Box
   
4. Mar: Landscape: Winterkill by Jonasson Ragnar
   
5. Apr: Flying creatures: The Puffin Keeper by Michael Morpurgo illustrated by Benji Davies
   
6. Apr: Flying creatures: A Murder of Crows by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett
   
7. Jun: Oceans and rivers: Thus Was Adonis Murdered by Sarah Caudwell
   Jul: Inner lives of animals
   Aug: Weather & climate
   Sep: Urban nature
   Oct: Endangered species
   Nov: Effects on humans
   Dec: Wild card

Maurice Sendak - Where the wild things are



1. Place you've never been:
2. ”Library” or "Thing" in title: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
3. Writing about writers
4. Oldest book in your TBR
5. Holiday in title: Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift
6. A long title: Emily Carr and Her Dogs: Flirt, Punk and Loo by Emily Carr
7. Features non-traditional family: Hostage by Clare Mackintosh
8. Medical topic
9. The sun on cover/in title
10. Child is a main character: Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
11. Newly in public domain
12. Author has your or relative’s first or last name: The Russia House by John le Carré
13. Read a CAT
14. Totally random
15. Features a birth: The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
16. Nonhuman narrator: I Am Wind: An Autobiography by Rachel Poliquin, illustrated by Rachel Wada
17. Features winged creatures: The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
18. A profession in title: The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan
19. Travel: The Good Thief’s Guide to Amsterdam by Chris Ewan
20. Recommended by a friend: Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
21. Set in your favorite season
22. Originally published in a language not your own: The Return of the Dancing Master by Henning Mankell
23. Hollywood!
24. A piece of furniture on the cover
25. Features fire

Welcome!

Happy new thread!

Love the pictures--happy new thread!

I hope April reading is better than last month. Here it should be warm enough to do some reading in the rocking chair on the porch.

Happy new thread, Vivienne - I hope you're feeling better now.

Happy new thread

>11 MissWatson: >12 NinieB: >13 clue: >14 Jackie_K: >15 lowelibrary: Thank you all. I am feeling better. I went for groceries today and was surprised at how shaky and weak I felt.

Happy New Thread, Vivienne! I'm way behind on threads right now.

Happy New Thread Vivienne, I hope the after effects of the flu are going away.

Happy new thread!

>17 dudes22: Thank you, Betty! I'm way behind on threads too.

>18 lsh63: Thank you, Lisa. It is slowly getting better.

>19 mstrust: Thanks, Jennifer, good to see you dropping by.

Not a KIT/CAT

Agent Running in the Field by John le Carré

More intelligible than the intricate Cold War novels from le Carré, this is a novel the reader can race through and enjoy the well-developed characters and plot. Set in 2018 it includes mentions of Brexit and the US president elected in 2016, who will remain unnamed here. I enjoyed the description of The Haven at the beginning, that sounded so much like Slough House.

>21 VivienneR: I have this on my pile for Color Cat. I picked it up from a sale table for a few dollars awhile back and I'm looking forward to it.

>22 clue: Oh good! You'll enjoy it, Luanne.

ColourCAT March: Pink

Death on the Thames by Alan Johnson

Set on Tagg’s Island, a small island in the Thames where residents live on houseboats. The crime occurred in 1999 when Louise Mangan was a mere constable, now in 2019, as Detective Chief Superintendent, she is investigating it as a cold case. Johnson keeps the story engrossing with well-developed characters, local knowledge and a clever plot. He has successfully proved his skill for writing crime fiction as well as his award-winning autobiography series.

>21 VivienneR: I might give le Carre a third try with this one. The first two I read were too much espionage. I don't like to have to labor over the details!

>25 Tess_W: I can understand that, Tess. I often have to slow down my reading to take in all the details.

CoverCAT April : A Road

AlphaKIT All Year Z

Zoo Station by David Downing
I’ve read a few of Downing’s books but not this one, the first in the John Russell series. John Russell is a journalist who chose to stay in Germany in 1938 although war was imminent. He is offered an assignment by a Russian to write articles for newspapers in Russia, making his life even more perilous. Downing draws the setting so skillfully that it is easy to imagine it. As he describes events, the reader is somehow still able to remain hopeful for a good outcome, even though the ending is well known. An excellent story, well told.



RandomKIT : Prime

The Trouble with Harriet by Dorothy Cannell
This was funny, laugh-out-loud funny in places.

Published in 1999, a prime year.



NatureKIT April : Flying Creatures

The Puffin Keeper by Michael Morpurgo illustrated by Benji Davies
Suitable for children in upper elementary grades but a reader of any age will enjoy this wonderful story that involved history, ornithology, and art as well as the value of lighthouses. Allen and his mother were fortunate to be rescued from a shipwreck but Allen had no idea how it would affect his life. The fabulous illustrations also tell the story beautifully.

It is a tribute to Allen Lane, founder of Penguin, who published the first Puffin Books.

>28 VivienneR: Glad you liked the Downing book. It is on my TBR.

>29 Tess_W: I hope you like it, Tess. And it fits the subject you teach. I've enjoyed all the Downing books I've read.

>28 VivienneR: The Trouble with Harriet sounds good. Dorothy Cannell's Death at Dovecote Hatch and Murder at Mullings are available in KoboPlus, so I'll start with one of them.

>31 pamelad: I listened to the audio but I definitely would have preferred print. I will probably try another Cannell soon.

Happy New Thread and glad you are back to reading lots.

>21 VivienneR: I did not know Le Carré had written books so recently! I'll have to add this to my Wishlist.

>33 threadnsong: Thank you! I'm glad to be back too.

Le Carré's son, Nick Harkaway, has taken up his father's writing. I'm looking forward to trying his work.

MysteryKIT March: Paranormal

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

Ghosts, haunting, horror - I should know better, and reject any book or movie with these tags. I just find them silly and usually dull, not creepy as promised. No exception here. What made this even worse was that the main character is searching for her aunt Vivian who disappeared years ago. The only occasions I’ve come across my name in fiction or movies, the character is always strange. Again, no exception here.

ETA: I wonder if anyone else feels like I do - I detest my name and have done ever since I can remember. My mother chose it because she was a fan of Vivian Leigh (the birth registrar "corrected" the spelling). Strangely, there were three of that name in my grade school class. It does not come up often in fiction or on the screen but when it does the character is usually quite weird.

Have you ever considered changing your name, if you hate it? It isn't super difficult to get a legal name change, but you could also just... ask your loved ones to call you something else. You could go by a middle name, if you have one, or you can choose something entirely different. I know many people who have done both. I was raised to go by a certain nickname, but at some point it didn't really feel like me anymore, so I started going by something else. If you detest your name, I don't see why you should force yourself to be stuck with it.

>36 GraceCollection: I've thought about it often but knew it would offend my mother. She is no longer with us but now I think I'm too old and I know family would never get used to it. My friend changed the name she was known by, just one letter, but it took years for people to use it, some never used it. When it's not something official I just use my initial/s or their sound. I should have been more creative when I joined LT. :)

Ah. Sad to hear it, but I do understand. If you wanted something else online, I do believe there is a way change your username in LT!

I like your name! I think of a Vivienne as always being dressed to the nines and shaking martinis.

If it helps, I also think Vivienne is a pretty name! But I do know several people who dislike their names, and while I don't dislike mine per se, it definitely wouldn't make the list of my favorite girl names. I think part of the issue is that names go in and out of fashion. The names that sounded fresh and stylish to your parents aren't going to sound fresh and stylish to you.

I've noticed that young people often informally change their name in their early twenties and it seems a very sensible thing to do.

>38 GraceCollection: Next month I will have been on LT for 18 years. During that time I've overworked my brain trying to come up with a username that satisfies me. Maybe I'm just not creative and hard to please. :)

>39 mstrust: Thank you, I will try to remember how you think of me. That's the woman I would like to be! Until now, only one friend and her husband has said they like the name. They were biased because their DIL has the same name.

>40 christina_reads: Thank you, that makes four! I've actually had people laugh when I gave my name in a "what were your parents thinking of" kind of way. Vivien Leigh was lucky to be able to call herself Lady Olivier. I like the current trend of old names coming back into fashion. Christina will never go out of fashion or become the scary old lady with purple eyeshadow!

>41 RidgewayGirl: I agree. It seems logical to choose a name for your adult life. I know several people who abandoned a childish name for a grown up version that I think is a wise move. Imagine a Queen Kate.

After listening to and enjoying 1 - 5 of the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith I decided to try number 6: The Ink Black Heart. After a couple of hours I had no idea where the story was going and came to the conclusion that my elderly iPod had been changed to "shuffle". I borrowed an ebook to check and found that it had pages and pages of text messages that was probably the reason for my confusion. I didn't care much for the story anyway so I'm crossing it off my tbr list. And number 7 is going with it. What a disappointment.

>43 VivienneR: The Ink Black Heart was a hard read. I have number 7 on my TBR and will be reading it this year. I am another person who does not like their name (April).

>35 VivienneR: I’ve never been especially fond of my name (Karen), and it’s become especially unlikeable in recent years. But now I’m determined to reclaim it and counter the stereotypes!

>44 lowelibrary: I still have both audiobooks so might try it again sometime. When you say it was a hard read, do you mean the topic? I'll watch for your comments on #7.

April is a lovely name, and a lovely time of year. It reminds me that when I was 4 years old my aunt married and her bridesmaid called June was very beautiful. I coaxed my mother to change my name. When I told my 8-year-old son the story he thought it was sad and bought me a toothbrush with the name June printed on it.

>45 Charon07: Karen is another very nice name. I don't get what's behind the recent meme and have wondered how all the Karens are handling it. But from what I understand, the meme isn't malicious, but (almost) gratifying. Relish the fame!

>46 VivienneR: It was a hard read due to the style. Several pages followed in-game chats and dual private messages simultaneously, making the reading confusing. I also found the suspects in the story uninteresting and unlikeable. Although I did enjoy the continuation of the Strike and Robin story.

>47 lowelibrary: Yes, that's what found in the first part of the ebook that I borrowed. It was explained at the beginning that it wasn't possible to replicate the print format. I tried a bit and found it unreadable so I just read text. I got the impression that it wasn't going anywhere - slowly. I would like to have read more about Strike and Robin. And I was sad that I wouldn't hear narrator Robert Glenister's voice. He is perfect for the job.

ColourCAT April : Brown

London Calling by Edward Bloor

A young American boy is able to travel back to the Blitz in 1940 London through an old radio in this YA novel.

>43 VivienneR: I enjoyed the first three Cormoran Strike books, ploughed through the fourth then gave up on the series because the books are far too long and I've lost interest in Strike and Robin.

>35 VivienneR: Vivian is an androgynous, marcelle-waved woman waving a cigarette in a holder. Vivienne is elegant and French. I like both of them. My own name was an annoyance during the Baywatch era.

>50 pamelad: I agree, they became far too long. Galbraith seriously needs an editor to keep her under control.

I love your depiction of Vivian vs Vivienne! Glad I'm the latter, which is probably closer to the one my mother imagined. I'm anything but elegant but I will do my best to live up to your idea.

Yes, a comparison with Pamela Anderson on Baywatch is one that would be difficult for anyone to handle. She is a lovely woman still. A close friend from my teens and twenties was called Pamela and she was very classy, with a hoity-toity English accent, not common in Northern Ireland. That's how I envision Pamela.

>28 VivienneR: I'm taking a BB for The Puffin Keeper!

>35 VivienneR: My mom hates her name as well. She mostly goes by a nick name (Elly/Ellie instead of Elvira), but people who don't know her that well use her real name, so it still comes up. I personally do like your name very much and I found this conversation really interesting.

>52 MissBrangwen: You will really enjoy The Puffin Keeper, Mirjam! The illustrations are particularly good.

If I could shorten mine to something nice like Elly/Ellie, I'd be happy. Sometimes people call me Viv that I don't think is any better than the full name. Glad you found the conversation interesting. I've been surprised at the response.

>53 VivienneR: Everyone has deep feelings about the name they were saddled with at birth apparently!

>54 RidgewayGirl: That's so true. I didn't realize it before this conversation. My son seems to be the exception. He asked what names we had in mind when he was born and thanked his lucky stars that we had a last minute change of mind.

CoverCAT April : A Road

The Joy and Light Bus Company by Alexander McCall Smith

Such a lovely change from my usual mysteries. No matter which series he is writing, McCall Smith makes some wonderful observations on life.

>35 VivienneR: I tend to agree with your friends here on LT who describe Vivienne as an elegant, sophisticated woman, possibly in the noir universe, who is self-assured and full of continental wisdom.

I've also had 2 friends during my high school years change their names in early adulthood. One changed to being called by her middle name, and the other uses his initials instead of his full first name. Sort of a reclamation of who they *really* are, not who their parents wanted them to be. I can appreciate your needing to stay as "Vivienne" and thank you for sharing how your name affects you.

>57 threadnsong: What a lovely description! Thank you, I'll try to live up to it but I can't promise anything!

Since this conversation started I've remembered many people I've known who changed their names when they reached adulthood. In some cases the person who inspired the name had fallen out of favour. Or a new married name spurred a change.

RandomKIT April: Prime

Booked for Murder by Val McDermid

Lindsay Gordon’s friend’s death is said to be a freak accident but it's an exact replica of the murder method in her forthcoming book. A decent plot but not my favourite from McDermid.

#5 in the series, published 1997, both prime numbers.

NatureKIT April : Flying Creatures

A Murder of Crows by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett

It took me weeks to read this - not because it was badly written or boring, just that I had so many things going on at the time. However, the length of time reading made me feel that it was too long and that the writing, although clear, could have been tightened up. Yarwood-Lovett is an ecologist who uses her expertise in this cosy mystery where the main character is an ecologist and bat specialist. Even though I’ve never been a fan of bats, Zorro, and bat-related information, gave the story a lovely boost from the natural world. I might try the next one in the series even though this one could have been better.



Not a KIT/CAT

Blood Moon by Garry Disher

Schoolies Week, when the last week of high school is celebrated by students heading to the beach, has the Mornington police worried when it coincides with the Blood Moon. I enjoyed this police procedural set in the Melbourne area although there is just too much about the personal lives of the police. I liked other Disher novels more than this one.

>59 VivienneR: I tried a McDermid book a few years back and couldn't ever get into it.

>61 thornton37814: That has happened to me too, Lori. Some of her series I have enjoyed, others, including this one, are duds. In this case it was an audiobook and the narrator was the worst I've heard.

Life has been very busy recently, mostly regarding technology, which of course has affected my reading and visits to LT. I haven't even started May reading.

Here is the Summary for April:

Books read in April 14
Books read this year 57


The Puffin Keeper by Michael Morpurgo illustrated by Benji Davies


Agent Running in the Field by John le Carré
Death on the Thames by Alan Johnson
The Lie Maker by Linwood Barclay
Zoo Station by David Downing


The Trouble with Harriet by Dorothy Cannell
The Joy and Light Bus Company by Alexander McCall Smith
Booked for Murder by Val McDermid


The French Girl by Lexie Elliott
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
London Calling by Edward Bloor
Heart of a Killer by David Rosenfelt
A Murder of Crows by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett
Blood Moon by Garry Disher

>35 VivienneR: I think your name is beautiful, exotic!

>64 Tess_W: Thank you, Tess! That's so nice to hear.

RandomKIT May: Punctuation

The Good Thief’s Guide to Paris by Chris Ewan

Because I really enjoy this series, this is a reread. This was my review first time around, still applies:
The main character, Charlie Howard, is an author of mystery novels who is a professional burglar in his spare time. He's a likeable chap, and his escapades, although they can be quite bloodthirsty, are fun in a weird way. His literary agent, Victoria, goes along with it all. This time Charlie's job is to chase down stolen Picassos in Paris. He and Victoria meet in person for the first time.

>66 VivienneR: The whole series is available on KindleUnlimited so I've just downloaded it.

I've persuaded myself that it's OK to take out a bargain KU membership and to get free books from Amazon, but am not sure I agree with myself. I'm buying full-price ebooks from Kobo instead, which is something I suppose.

>67 pamelad: "but am not sure I agree with myself." Oh, that is so relatable!

I have several of Chris Ewan's books both print and audio versions. He can always bring a smile to my face, even the rereads.

I tried KU once and think I got around to reading one book. I'm fortunate that living in a small remote town I have access to many libraries in BC and have the books sent to my home library. It certainly keeps my Amazon spending down, most recently to zero.

I started to listen to the first Chris Ewan book in the series that I took as a BB from you some time ago and gave up on it partway through. I think it was the narrator although I've seen reviews that praise the narrator. I'll probably wait a bit and then try again in print.

>69 dudes22: Too bad! Simon Vance, narrator of Ewan's books, is one of my favourites. It's curious how the narrator can affect our enjoyment of a book. I have picked up audiobooks based on reviews praising the narrator only to abandon the book with the opposite opinion.

>70 VivienneR: - Yes that's certainly true. I really thought it sounded good enough to take a BB for it. It was probably partly that I just have so much going on at the time. I'll give it another try.

ETA: I'm actually finding that there are more books this year that just aren't catching my interest right away that I'm abandoning partway through. I just started listening to another one that was a BB, and I think I'm going to abandon it too.

>71 dudes22: Isn't it funny how these books show up all together? I've had the same experience this year and wasted so much time reading the first half (or less) of books that I couldn't develop an interest in.

AlphaKIT May: D

The Darkness by Ragnar Jonasson

Although I had a few quibbles with the plot of this nordic noir mystery I’m looking forward to the next one in the series. And now that I’ve started number 2, I can appreciate the final scene of this, the first in the series. I love the atmospheric Icelandic setting that Jonasson gets just right.

>73 VivienneR: I was so shocked by the final scene that I decided not to continue with the series! Maybe I was wrong, though?

>74 MissBrangwen: Yes, it was very shocking. I had already chosen the next one for AlphaKIT and decided to stay with the choice. The series goes backwards in time to reveal Hulda's life. I'm not convinced of the value of such a device because I won't be able to forget that final scene, also it means the reader must read the entire series to "get it". It certainly fits the "Nordic noir" designation!

Not a KIT/CAT

Bruno, Chief of Police by Edward Walker

The first in a series set in rural France. The solo policeman in town is Benoît Courrèges, known affectionately as Bruno. A former soldier in the Bosnian war, he appears to be proficient in many areas besides law enforcement: building, cooking, animal husbandry, coaching, as well as all the undertakings of rural life. Walker plays down the mystery topic and concentrates on everything else, and while it’s an appealing story, that lack of focus lessened the gravity of the heinous crime, even with the history lesson included. It’s unlikely that I’ll continue with the series.

AlphaKIT May: I

The Island by Ragnar Jónasson

This is the second in the Hulda series, describing events prior to what happened in the first novel. I’m not sure what the reasoning is, except to give the series a unique slant. As Nordic Noir, it was appropriately foreboding and atmospheric, with Hulda trying to find out more about her origins. Jónasson doesn’t waste time on irrelevant details, but stays close to the plot, delivering a nice tight mystery.

Bingo - long title

Emily Carr and Her Dogs: Flirt, Punk and Loo by Emily Carr

Running a kennel for Old English Bobtail Sheep dogs was intended to be a way of earning money that would allow the artist Emily Carr to concentrate on painting. The dogs required a lot of attention and the selling price must have been low - one buyer paid in coins - making the enterprise appear to be more of a hobby than a money-maker. This is a small book about the experience, written and beautifully illustrated by Carr. Each short chapter focuses on an aspect of the dogs in her kennel. She rented rooms in her house in Victoria, British Columbia that may have brought in more money but was a thankless, sometimes risky business as one of the stories describes. A captivating book, written in Carr’s straightforward style.

>78 VivienneR: I have a couple of Emily Carr's books about her childhood but have never gotten to them. I really need to move them up the pile!

>79 NinieB: I have the childhood books on my wishlist, I'm sure we'll both enjoy them. One of my favourite books by Carr was The House of All Sorts that was about her experience renting rooms in her home. I used to live near that house, and my friend lived in the house next door (half a century later). I enjoy Carr's forthright style.

MysteryKIT May: Not My Country

Set in Australia: The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

Each member of this dysfunctional family appear fairly normal at first glance but soon make their true colours known. Many of the details are unconvincing making the entire story hard to swallow. I chose this book because I enjoyed Hepworth’s The Good Sister, however, this one is very different as it is dark, humourless, with nothing to lighten the tone. I have heard negative comments about the ending, and have to say I didn’t hate it. But I’m still calling this one a miss.

ColourCAT May: Red

To Tell You the Truth by Gilly Macmillan

This is one of those books that is almost impossible to put down. Don’t wait until evening to start it or you will be up all night. Successful author aided by an imaginary friend, and being gaslighted by her husband. Brilliant.

>82 VivienneR: Taking a BB for this one.

>83 lowelibrary: Glad to hear it! It's the first time I've read a book featuring an imaginary friend and I really enjoyed it. I hope you do too, when you get around to it.

>71 dudes22: I, also, have abandoned more books thus far this year (4) than I did in 2024 altogether! And I agree, they seem to come in batches, mine back to back.

>73 VivienneR: I've got that on my TBR and was sort of waiting for some sort of challenge for a Nordic noir!

>84 VivienneR: Should you ever want to read an imaginary friend book again I loved Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks.

>85 Tess_W: It's curious how they show up together. I thought I was becoming overly particular so I'm glad to see others have the same problem. I didn't count the books I abandoned that could be added to the books I finished but should have counted as DNF.

>86 Tess_W: The first two of the series fitted AlphaKIT but the second didn't appeal as much so I won't be reading the third in the series. I liked Jónasson's Dark Iceland series better.

>87 clue: Oh, yes! A lovely book.

>87 clue: Thanks for the BB tip, Luanne. Gilly Macmillan's character is a mystery author and used her imaginary friend in her books, with so much success that her publisher turned down a book without "Eliza".

CoverCAT May: More than one element

The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse

There is not much to be said about Bertie Wooster that has not been already said. This is one of his best.

>91 VivienneR: For years, I would read a few of the Bertie and Jeeves books in the coldest, darkest part of winter and they never failed to cheer me up.

>92 RidgewayGirl: Good plan! After a few Nordic noir reads, Wodehouse is just the ticket.

Not a KIT/CAT

The Fall of Troy by Peter Ackroyd

A fictionalized story of Heinrich Schliemann’s excavations at Troy. He is portrayed in Ackroyd’s story as Heinrich Obermann, an amateur archaeologist obsessed with the project. Obermann’s young wife, Sophia - for whom I have the utmost sympathy - helps in the work. This is an enthralling tale from Ackroyd, a master storyteller, evoking the obsession of early archaeologists.

I just realized that today is my 18-year Thingaversary. I won't be buying myself any books right now because there's a booksale at the library next week when I'll probably fill a couple of bags or more.

>95 VivienneR: Happy Thingiversary!! Maybe pick up a few extra books, to reward yourself for waiting so long? ;)

>96 GraceCollection: Thank you. I like that idea!

>95 VivienneR: Happy Thingaversary! It's a good time to buy a book that you really want to read but left languishing in the wish list because it's a bit too dear.

>95 VivienneR: Happy Thingaversary, and I hope the book sale is rewarding!

Happy Thingaversary! Enjoy the book sale anticipation!

>95 VivienneR: Happy Thingaversary, Vivienne--18 years is so impressive! The book sale is the perfect place to celebrate!

Happy Thingaversary Vivienne! We joined the same year.

>91 VivienneR: I have yet to read my first Wodehouse. I now have a physical one, so I must get to it this year!

>98 pamelad: Thank you, Pam. I have a few in that category!

>99 MissWatson: Thank you, Birgit.

>100 Jackie_K: Thank you, Jackie. Yes, book sales usually are.

>101 NinieB: Thank you, Ninie. It certainly doesn't seem like 18 years.

>102 lsh63: Thanks, Lisa. We're twins! And in book tastes too!

>103 Tess_W: You are in for a treat, Tess. I have enjoyed every Wodehouse that I've read but like candy, they have to be spread out and not eaten all at once.

Happy Thingaversary. Hope you find some amazing books at the sale.

>106 lowelibrary: Thank you, April. Those amazing books usually jump right into my book bag!

MysteryKIT May: Not My Country

Cop Killer by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahl

Published in 1974, this is a good look at Swedish police procedures as well as social issues of the era. Dark and brutal, Sjöwall and Wahl paint a bleak picture of society in the seventies. The banter between characters give this serious story a belying slapstick flavour, in an unnerving contradiction to the crimes.

Bingo - with a holiday in the title

Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift

Mothering Sunday, when staff in service were allowed to return for a visit to their families was set at the end of the first quarter of the year. It evolved into what is now known as Mother’s Day.

Jane, a maid, has had a long-standing love affair with Paul, heir of the neighbouring estate. On Mothering Sunday 1924, when the few remaining staff are away, they have their final encounter before he leaves to be married. This short novel pinpoints the time just after WWI when change turned the social order upside down. Jane narrates most of the novel, and through her observances the reader is able to capture a moment in time, on the pinnacle of change. She also reflects on her life as an old woman and successful writer. Swift’s writing is superb, with a minimum of words he is able to fully illustrate a complex, poignant atmosphere.

The cover is from a detail of Modigliani's painting Nu Couché.

Congratulations on 18 Years!

>110 mysterymax: Thanks, Max! It's still hard to believe.

Happy Thingaversary! Go wild at the book sale!

>112 RidgewayGirl: Thank you! And thanks for the book sale advice. I'll take you up on it.

Adding my congrats on your Thingaversary! We joined at nearly the same time.

>114 mstrust: Thank you, Jennifer! There appear to be a number of old-timers like us in this group. Maybe I should refer to us as "founding members" - more dignified.

ColourCAT May: Red

The Trinity Six by Charles Cumming

Drawn by mention of the Cambridge Five, I had to read this book that suggests a sixth man was involved. Set in modern times with historical research forming the plot offered a good tale, but for a long-time reader of spy stories I found it relied too much on stereotypes.

I won't be able to finish anything else today so this is May's summary. Not a great month in terms of quantity, but one five-star read helps.

May Summary
Books read: 12
Books read to date: 69


Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift


The Good Thief’s Guide to Paris by Chris Ewan
The Darkness by Ragnar Jónasson
Emily Carr and Her Dogs: Flirt, Punk and Loo by Emily Carr
To Tell You the Truth by Gilly Macmillan
The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse


Bruno, Chief of Police by Edward Walker
The Island by Ragnar Jónasson
The Fall of Troy by Peter Ackroyd
The Trinity Six by Charles Cumming


Cop Killer by Maj Sjöwall, Per Wahl


The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

RandomKIT June: Invasion

An Excellent Mystery by Ellis Peters

This story takes place during the English Civil War when the indomitable Empress Matilda (aka Maud) and her cousin Stephen battle for the throne. In 1141 after Matilda’s siege of Winchester, two Benedictine monks arrive at Shrewsbury seeking sanctuary. The older monk has been badly injured in the Crusades and the younger attendant is mute. Not a mystery in the usual sense but Peters’ story provides an image of life in a monastery and conditions at the time.

MysteryKIT June: LGBTQ authors/detectives

1222 by Anne Holt

I enjoyed this Norwegian mystery of the locked-room type. A train comes off the tracks 1222 meters above sea level in a raging blizzard. The passengers are helped to a hotel in the area to wait out the storm, where one is found dead. Although reluctant to help, Hanne Wilhelmsen, a former police officer is asked to investigate. In the course of her last case Hanne was paralyzed by a bullet, and is now retired and in a wheelchair. Prickly and outspoken, she gradually uses her natural curiosity to observe those around her. Holt’s story is not complex or twisty but it kept my interest throughout. Now I’m looking forward to reading more Hanne Wilhelmsen books.

MysteryKIT June: LGBTQ authors/detectives

Hostage to Murder by Val McDermid

Not my favourite from McDermid. Too much of Lindsay’s personal life and relationships (plural) with just a bit of crime thrown in to make it fit the genre. Disappointing.

CoverCAT June: Something with Wheels

Devil’s Delight by M.C. Beaton, R.W. Green

A fun combination of mystery and romance, if you can call Agatha’s eye roving over every eligible male in the vicinity, romance. And there was a lot of that with the naturist club so close to home. Who would have thought “Devil’s Delight” would be an ice cream flavour? Somehow, Agatha isn’t as abrasive as she used to be, which could be down to R.W. Green softening her character since he took up Beaton’s mantle.

Not a KIT/CAT

The Great Dinosaur Sleepover by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Joe Bluhm

Although aimed at three to seven year-olds, this will appeal to all young dinosaur fans no matter the age. Jake, an avid dinosaur fan, was looking forward to his dinosaur birthday sleepover but his three friends fell ill and the sleepover was cancelled. That night he wakened to discover three dinosaurs were in his house, watching a movie and eating snacks after hearing he was having a dinosaur party. Then they went to see Jake’s sick friends. Luckily, Ellie took a group selfie. What a birthday!

A beautiful book, full of fun. Readers will enjoy trying to pronounce the names of the dinosaurs.

This would have been a five-star book but was reduced by a half-star because the word “gobsmacked” was used and I cannot imagine a child from the target audience knowing or using that word.



AlphaKIT June: C

The Calling by Inger Ash Wolfe

I first read this more than ten years ago when I wrote:
Gruesome, bloody, creepy, disturbing, and yet I was transfixed. If real life hadn't got in the way, I would have finished this in one sitting.

Only one spot made me laugh out loud. That was when I came the bit about a weird group who were described two, maybe three times, as being vegan! Yes, we are a weird bunch.

The comment still applies, with the addendum that while still hideously compelling, the crime, plot and investigation are completely inconceivable.

NatureKIT June: Oceans and Rivers



Thus Was Adonis Murdered by Sarah Caudwell

This is the first in a wonderful series set in a London barristers office. Sadly, Caudwell died young and only wrote four in the series, of which I’ve read three. Funny, literary, with fabulous writing, this is a series to savour.

When the maladroit Julia, one of the barristers, went to Venice in search of romance, she wrote frequent letters to her colleagues detailing progress that they gathered over coffee to read together. Her adventure turned alarming when she was arrested for murdering the Adonis whose bed she shared.

The elegant and very proper language, detailed to a level only lawyers and academics can achieve, was so much fun to read. The surprise denouement fitted perfectly.

>122 VivienneR: Ooh, I have Thus Was Adonis Murdered on my TBR shelves...I'll have to bump it up the list!

>123 christina_reads: I hope you enjoy it, Christina! The precise lawyerly writing meant it took me longer than usual to read although I enjoyed it thoroughly.

AlphaKIT June: Q

IQ (Isaiah “IQ” Quintabe series) by Joe Ide

Somehow, while IQ was on the shelf, it didn’t appeal much and has been languishing there for ages. At last, AlphaKIT drew my attention to it. I loved the characters, but the dog breeding part of the story was less appealing. Still, I enjoyed it enough that I’ll probably pick up the next in the series sometime.

>121 VivienneR: I've always heard good things about Beaton's work. I simply must get to one!

>126 Tess_W: Yes, her books are popular. I hope you try and enjoy one, they're pretty short.

ColourCAT June: Yellow

The Closers by Michael Connelly

Another excellent episode in the Harry Bosch Universe.

Bingo : Library or Thing in title

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

Not the thriller that I expected. The plot didn’t capture my attention and the writing was poor, having a number of grammatical errors. The only character that seemed real was Bailey, the teenage daughter. This was my first book by Dave, and probably will be the only one.

ColourCAT June: Yellow

Payment Deferred by C.S. Forester

A gripping psychological crime novel featuring a family living well beyond their means. By committing murder, William Marble is able to pay his debts but becomes obsessed with watching his bare patch of garden. More confident, he becomes very wealthy through a spot of insider trading even though the garden still has to be watched. A fantastic book, with a wonderfully twisty end.

AlphaKIT June: C

Odd Child Out by Gilly Macmillan

Not a typical mystery. The “crime” was mostly caused by characters outside the event: an unscrupulous journalist, substandard police investigation, historical happenings, even the victim himself. DI Clemo has to pick apart details to find out if the death of a boy is a crime or not. The surprising revelation at the end almost made the book fit the “mystery” tag, but it was hard to like this one from an author I usually enjoy.

June Summary
Books read: 12
Books read to date: 81

My reading was all over the place in June. Not a bad month, but could have been better.


The Great Dinosaur Sleepover by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Joe Bluhm


An Excellent Mystery by Ellis Peters
1222 by Anne Holt
Devil’s Delight by M.C. Beaton, R.W. Green
Thus Was Adonis Murdered by Sarah Caudwell
The Closers by Michael Connelly
Payment Deferred by C.S. Forester


The Calling by Inger Ash Wolfe
IQ (Isaiah “IQ” Quintabe series) by Joe Ide


Odd Child Out by Gilly Macmillan


Hostage to Murder by Val McDermid


The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

Here's hoping July is a stellar reading month.

AlphaKIT July: W & T

The Taken by Inger Ash Wolfe

I read this years ago and after reading another of Wolfe’s recently, decided on a reread. This was my review back then and nothing has changed. Micalief is a terrific character, star of this excellent series.

Another great mystery starring Detective Inspector Hazel Micalief that has an action-packed suspenseful ending. Wolfe has written a winning combination with a tough, tenacious female protagonist, a cast of well-developed characters, and an excellent plot. Even with Micalief's qualities there are some who consider the sixty-two year-old a dinosaur, and therefore dispensable. With her recent back surgery, she is fighting on a lot of fronts. This is a page-turner that the Canadian setting made even better. I feel like dropping by Tim's for a double-double.

>133 RidgewayGirl: Thank you, Kay! Instead of joining the festivities I took the opportunity to catch up on some reading and to help my husband work out how to choose, borrow and read an audiobook. He's having vision difficulties. The first book he chose was Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson. He was really impressed.

Coincidentally, I borrowed her cookbook I Love You: Recipes from the Heart and I think it is my favourite cookbook of all time. I will probably buy it as I enjoyed reading her words, not just the fabulous vegan recipes.

>135 VivienneR: - I'm going to check this out from the library. Already put in my hold. I love vegetables and I have a good friend who eats plant-based, so I'm always looking for great vegetable recipes. Plus - it's summer - so lots of fresh veggies to pick from.

>136 dudes22: Delighted to hear that! I'm sure you will like it. Anderson's home town of Ladysmith is a short distance from where I lived on Vancouver Island, a beautiful area.

MysteryKIT July: Next in a Series

Void Moon by Michael Connelly

A standalone novel featuring Cassie Black, an ex con, who has chosen to go back to her old business of making lots of money, fast, in Vegas. She also hopes for the possibility of recovering her daughter Jodie, who was born in prison, from her adoptive parents. Connelly’s detailed description of Cassie’s methods is outstanding, not dry-as-dust procedures manual. A fast-moving satisfying thriller.

Hullo Vivienne! Also wishing you a Happy Canada Day and sorry I have been so long away. I added To Tell You the Truth to my wishlist because it sounds fascinating. And congrats on your Thingaversary. Did you pick up a lot of books at your library?

And kudos to you for teaching your husband how to use audiobooks while he adjusts to his vision problems. It is not always easy for one to give tech advice to one's partner/beloved/family member. I am sure he has entered a new world from which he will gain much enjoyment.

>139 threadnsong: Thank you for the Canada Day good wishes. Glad you found a book for the wishlist. I hope you enjoy MacMillan when you get to it.

No kudos required actually. He kept "losing" the audiobook, and although he got through it eventually he hasn't shown any interest in seeking out another one.

>140 VivienneR: You hubby and mine sound alike. I call him a Luddite. Since mine in chairbound I put some games on a tablet and gave it to him (Solitaire, cribbage, etc.) He keeps "losing" them also!

>141 Tess_W: Mine isn't chair bound but needs help with almost everything especially technology. He managed to return the book at one point. And I'm not a good teacher, too impatient.

Not a KIT/CAT

Bloody Scotland edited by James Crawford

A brilliant anthology of twelve mystery tales, each one set at a Scottish historic landmark. I can’t say which I enjoyed best because each one was a surprise, in strong competition with all others. Most of the authors were already favourites, and while others were new to me they will certainly be appearing on my reading list. Although stories are not my preferred genre, I enjoyed this much more than I anticipated.

AlphaKIT July: CoverCAT A Fruit

The Shadow of the Pomegranate by Jean Plaidy

Back in the 1970s I read a lot of Plaidy’s novels even though I’m not a fan of fiction about real people and events. This was OK as a light read but just doesn’t compete with a well-written nonfiction account.

ColourCAT July: White

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

Barnes’ story gives a good example of memory, and how unreliable it can be, given time. However, this novel is not for everyone mainly because the characters are so self-absorbed and because Tony's life is so insipid.

>134 VivienneR: This sounds like an interesting series. I found the first one at Knox County in ebook as well as in print. I will add it to my ebook list since it's easier than making two trips into Knoxville!

>146 thornton37814: A warning, Lori, the crimes are grim. But I have found if crimes in a mystery novel are unbelievable, the focus moves to the writing, characters, etc., which effectively lessens the nightmare-inducing qualities. :)

>147 VivienneR: I'm willing to give it a try. If I don't like it, it can go in my abandoned category.

Not a KIT/CAT

The Sweet-Shop Owner by Graham Swift

Swift’s writing is beautifully restrained while perfectly descriptive. He doesn’t spell out every action or word spoken yet the reader understands the circumstances exactly. The sweet shop owner, Willy Chapman, relives his past in the course of one day. The voices of his wife, Irene, and his shop assistants occasionally cut in, providing details of which Chapman is unaware. It’s a quiet, moving story that was a pleasure to read.



ColourCAT July: White

The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

I couldn’t put this book down! Jones has created characters whose flaws are obvious yet the reader tries to understand and accept. In truth, I couldn’t see the attraction of Adam, but that can be said of many partners of others. I kept reading to see what would happen, hoping it would not be a let-down of uninspired mediocrity. It wasn’t! The ending was surprising to say the least. I did not anticipate anything even close. I recommend this one!

>149 VivienneR: Taking a BB for The Other Woman

>150 lowelibrary: Good! I'm sure you will like it. Even though I felt like shaking some characters, I couldn't put it down!

AlphaKIT July: W

Still Water by Amy Stuart

Not a book that I enjoyed, not only because of the topic but I didn’t care for the audiobook narrator.

Taking a hit for Bloody Scotland. Sounds really interesting and I've never heard of the author. Thanks for the review!

>153 mstrust: James Crawford is the editor of the Bloody Scotland stories, but you will recognize the well-known authors, Jennifer. I can't choose my favourite as they were all bloody brilliant! You will love the book!

CoverCAT July: A Fruit

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

I know that I’m fussy about food but there were so many ingredients here that I would never even consider never mind consider essential, to say nothing of the saccharine sweet text. Not for me. A nomination for “worst of the year”.

MysteryKIT July: Next in a Series

The Highway by C.J. Box

What on earth was Box thinking when he wrote this? The opening, with two young sisters travelling on the highway got me hooked before he added revolting characters and the worst misogynistic crimes. Even Cassie Dewell, the only saving grace in a book riddled with nastiness, could not save it. I have deleted the other C.J. Box books I owned. I can take dark, gruesome, bloody books but not this gratuitous kind of crime novel.

I chose this for this month’s “next in series” category because I liked the setting and character Cody Hoyt in Back of Beyond the first in the series set in Yellowstone. Hoyt barely had an appearance in this one as he was murdered early.

Another nomination for "worst of the year".

RandomKIT July: The Hills Are Alive

In the Galway Silence by Ken Bruen

Jack Taylor is in his familiar surroundings, being taunted by the bad guys while attempting to live peaceably in Galway. His friend Maeve, a nun, introduced him to Marion although her nine-year-old son, Joffrey, does not make them a happy threesome. Then his wife and daughter show up. Bruen’s sparse, staccato writing style gives the story more life and style than any elaborate descriptions. He also manages mentions of church, politics, family matters, and the state of the world while keeping everything deliciously entertaining.

RandomKIT July: The Hills Are Alive

Be Cool by Elmore Leonard

Chili Palmer, a former loan shark now Hollywood movie producer, claims he finds inspiration in anything that he experiences as the beginnings of a great movie. After meeting with a record producer an even bigger and better idea is spawned. It’s a humorous book, made more so by having the Hollywood-style slick language, but ultimately, not for me.

Not a KIT/CAT

I Love You: Recipes from the Heart by Pamela Anderson

I have never seen an episode of Baywatch, or any other production featuring Anderson but finding out that she is vegan sparked my interest in her book. I am familiar with the area where she lives on Vancouver Island, which has a glorious Garden of Eden vibe, no doubt the inspiration for her tantalizing recipes. The book is filled with Anderson’s version of many of my favourite foods but the best part is that each page is simply a delight to look at, to read. Highly recommended, especially for vegans and vegetarians, but any foodie will enjoy this. Five stars!

>159 VivienneR: I find Anderson is aging so gracefully and really embracing who she is: this book is a good example. I got a signed copy for my bestie so that we could enjoy her recipes. I didn't particularly care about her career but I find she's now an inspiration (and her latest movies, The Last Showgirl, is a great film).

>160 Cecilturtle: Agree! I knew very little about her except that she was a glamorous pin-up. When I read recently that she was dispensing with eye makeup, I was impressed. Her book shows that she really is a beautiful person, and as you say, aging gracefully. I will make a point of looking out for her movie. Thanks for that tip.

Bingo 22: Originally published in a language not your own

The Return of the Dancing Master by Henning Mankell

A dark story that begins with the murder of an old man who curiously left bloody footprints in the snow in the pattern of a tango dancer. Nazis and Neo-Nazism plays a part in the story. Good, but I missed Wallander.

Come on over to visit Part 3 of my thread! https://www.librarything.com/topic/372756