Lisa's 2025 Category Challenge Reads- the last chapter

Hi, my name is Lisa, and I've been an LT member since 2007 and I've been participating in the Category Challenge since 2008. I reside in Phila, PA, am married with one son and three granchildren (almost 16, 14 and 9). In addition to reading I like to start my day with the various NYT puzzles, watch classic movies, and try new recipes. I've decided that my categories will be the months of the year. Since I'm such a moody reader, I frequently start and then stop books that I thought I was going to read, so I think "looser" categories will work well for me.

2025 is a year of big change for me, as I've retired at the end of May. It's slightly frightening yet exciting at the same time. A lot of the good wishes in my various cards referred to "the next chapter'. How fitting for a reader!

January

1 Cold As Hell Kindle AlphaKIT”S”, Mysteries and Crime, 3*
2 Red Hook Road Library, Literary Fiction 4*
3 Hidden In Shadows Kindle, AlphaKIT “S”, MysteryKIT 4*
4 This Secret Thing Kindle, Bingo#2 3*
5 The Coincidence of Coconut Cake RandomKIT, CoverCAT, Kindle, 3.5*
6 The First Ladies Kindle. Historical Fiction, 3.5*
7 The Dead Will Tell Library, Mysteries and Crime, 3.5*
8 Fall on Your Knees Library, Literary Fiction, 4*
9 The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister ColorCAT Kindle, 3.5*
10 This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things Library, Short Stories, 3*
11 Beneath the Surface Kindle, Mysteries and Crime, 3*
12 Sleeping Beauties Kindle, Mysteries and Crime, 4*
13 Mercury Library, Fiction 4*
14 Days of Wonder Library,Fiction, 4*
15 Beautiful Ugly Library, Fiction,3*
16 Listen for the Lie Library,Fiction 3*
17 The Loss of Lost Things Kindle, Short Stories,5*
18 Happy is on Hiatus Kindle, Fiction, 3*
19 Death at the Sanatorium Library,Mysteries and Crime, 4*
20 A Reason to See You Again Library, Fiction, 3*

February

1 Girls Who Lie Kindle, Mysteries and Crime, 3.5*
2 Perish Kindle, Fiction 4*, CoverCAT
3 Blank Pages Library, Short Stories 4.5*
4 Good Dirt Library, Fiction, 5*, AlphaKIT
5 The Golden Couple Kindle, Thriller, 2.5* ColorCAT
6 Penitence Library, Fiction 3.5*
7 Run Man Run Kindle, Crime Fiction, 4*
8 The Other Americans Library, Literary Fiction, 3*
9 Margo’s Got Money Troubles Library, Fiction, 4*
10 Bonded in Death Library, Crime Fiction, Series, 4*
11 Whatever Happened to Interracial Love Kindle, Short Stories, 3.5*
12 The Family Game Kindle, Thriller, 4*
13 Three Days in June Library, Fiction, 4.5*
14 The Queens of Crime Library, Historical Fiction, 4*
15 A Thousand Years of Prayers Library, Short Stories, 4*
16 The Blood of Emmett Till Kindle, Non Fiction, 3.5*
17 People of Means Library, Fiction, 4*

March

1 The Unheard Kindle, Thriller, AlphaKIT 3*
2 The Night Shift Kindle, Thriller AlphaKIT, 4*
3 The Detective Up Late Kindle, Crime Fiction, Series, 4*
4 Show Don’t Tell Library, Short Stories, 3.5*
5 The Most Literary Fiction, Library, 3.5*
6 One Good Thing Historical Fiction, Library, 4.5*
7 Ella Kindle, Historical Fiction, 3*
8 A Keeper Literary Fiction, 4*, Kindle
9 The Frozen River Historical Fiction, Library 4.5*
10 High Tea and Misdemeanors Cozy Mystery, Library, 3*
11 Dream Count Literary Fiction, Library 4.5*
12 Kills Well With Others Library, Crime Fiction, Series 3*
13 Hang on St. Christopher Crime Fiction, Series, 4*
14 Nesting Library, Literary Fiction, 4*
15 The Manor House Library, Thriller, 3*
16 Still See You Everywhere Thriller, Library, 3*

April

1 Caucasia Library, Literary Fiction, 4*
2 Highway Thirteen Library, Short Stories, CoverCAT. RandomKIT, 4*
3 Tilt Library, Fiction, AlphaKIT, 3.5*
4 The Sequel Library, Thriller, Series, AlphaKIT, 4.5*
5 Rabbit Moon Library, General Fiction, 3.5*
6 Local Gone Missing Library, Crime Fiction, Series, 4*
7 The Float Test Library, General Fiction, 2.5*
8 Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping Library, General Fiction, Series, 3*
9 The Story of Arthur Truluv Libary, General Fiction, Series 4*
10 Night of Miracles Library, Series, General Fiction, 4*
11 The Confession Club Library, AlphaKIT, Series, 3*
12 These Days Library, Historical Fiction, 4.5*
13 The Maid’s Secret Library, Series, General Fiction, 3*
14 I See You’ve Called In Dead Library 4.5*
15 Bake Sale Murder Own, Crime Fiction, Cozy, Series, 3*
16 Mary Jane Kindle, General Fiction, ColorCAT, 4*
17 Talking to Strangers Crime Fiction, Kindle, 4*
18 The Trees Kindle, Literary Fiction, Kindle, 5*
19 Fever of the Bone Kindle, Crime Fiction, 4*
20 Self-Help Kindle, Short Stories, 3.5*

May

1 The Murderer’s Daughters Kindle, General Fiction, RandomKIT, 3*
2 Red as Blood Kindle, Crime Fiction, ColorCAT, MysteryKIT, 3*
3 The Last One at the Wedding Kindle, Thriller, 3.5*
4 Fault Lines Kindle, Literary Fiction, AlphaKIT, 3*
5 Atavists Library, Short Stories, 4*
6 On a Quiet Street Kindle, Thriller, 3.5*
7 The Cleanup Kindle, Crime Fiction, AlphaKIT 4*
8 Parents Weekend
9 Journey Under the Midnight Sun Kindle, Crime Fiction, 4.5*
10 The Ruin Library, Crime Fiction, Series, 4*
11 Firstborn Girls, Library, NonFiction, 4.5*
12 The Scholar Library, Crime Fiction, Series, 3.5*
13 The Disappeared Library, Short Stories, 4.5*
14 Heart Be at Peace Library, Literary Fiction, 3*

June

1 The Yellow Room Kindle, Crime Fiction, 3*
2 The Vacancy in Room 10 Kindle, Thriller, 3*
3 Butter Kindle, General Fiction, 4*
4 What Happened to Nina? Kindle, Thriller, 4*
5 The Wedding People Library, General Fiction 4.5*
6 Saint of the Narrows Street Library, General Fiction, 3.5*
7 What Happened to the McCrays? Library, General Fiction, 4*
8 The Diamond Eye Kindle, Historical Fiction, 4*
9 Dancing After Hours Library, Short Stories, 3.5*
10 Last Rites Kindle, Crime Fiction, 4*
11 The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes Kindle, General Fiction, 3*
12 Cold in Hand Kindle, Crime Fiction, Series, 4*
13 King of Ashes Library, Crime Fiction, 5*
14 Kill Your Darlings Library, Thriller, 3*
15 The River Knows Your Name Kindle, Historical Fiction, 4*
16 With a Vengeance Library, Crime Fiction, 3*
17 Murder Takes a Vacation Library, Crime Fiction, 3.5*
18 Holding Library, General Fiction, 3*
19 Buzz Kill Library, Thriller, 3.5*
20 Someone We Know Kindle, Thriller, 3.5*
21 The Light Years Kindle, Historical Fiction, 4.5*

July

1 Marking Time Kindle, Historical Fiction, Series 4*
2 El Dorado Drive Library, Thriller, 3.5*
3 Don’t Let Him In Library, Thriller, 4*
4 White as Snow Kindle, Crime Fiction, Series, 3*
5 Dread Journey Kindle, Crime Fiction, 3*
6 So Far Gone Kindle, General Fiction, 4*
7 Death in Summer Kindle, Literary Fiction, 3*
8 The Mountains Sing Kindle, Historical Fiction, 5*
9 The Satisfaction Cafe Library, General Fiction, 3.5*
10 The Perfect Father Kindle, Non-Fiction, 3.5*
11 The Body in the Bookcase Own, Crime Fiction, Series, 3*
12 The Body in the Birches Kindle, Crime Fiction, Series 3.5*
13 The Body in the Wardrobe Kindle, Crime Fiction, Series, 3*
14 Away Library, Historical Fiction, CoverCAT, 4*
15 Finding Grace Library, General Fiction, 3*
16 Confusion Kindle, Historical Fiction, 4.5*
17 Casting Off Kindle, Historical Fiction 4*
18 All Change Kindle, Historical Fiction 5*
19 The Night Always Comes Kindle, General Fiction, 4*
20 Loving Donovan Kindle, General Fiction, 3.5*
21 The Outcast Kindle, Literary Fiction, 4.5*
22 The Good Turn Library, Crime Fiction, 4*
23 Red Clay Library, Historical Fiction, 3.5*
24 William Trevor: Selected Stories Kindle, Short Stories, 4.5*

August

1 The Good Liar Library, Crime Fiction, 3*
2 Night Shadows: Kindle, Crime Fiction, Series, 3.5*
3 Love Forms Library, Literary Fiction, 3.5*
4 Fox Kindle, Thriller, 4*
5 A Cure for Dreams Kindle, General Fiction,
6 What You Did Kindle, Thriller, 3*
7 Shout Her Lovely Name Library, Short Stories, 4*
8 Nightcrawling Kindle, Literary Fiction, 3.5*
9 The Lying Room Kindle, Thriller, 3*
10 If I Loved You, I Would Tell You This Library, Short Stories, 4*
11 Dominicana Library, Literary Fiction, 4*
12 The Retribution Own, Crime Fiction, Series, 3.5*
13 Cross and Burn Kindle, Crime Fiction, Series, 4*
14 Nora Jane Kindle, Short Stories, 4*
15 Memorial Days Library, Non-Fiction, 5*
16 Too Old for This Library, Thriller, 4*
17 Broken Country Library, General Fiction, 4*
18 Dominion Library, General Fiction, 2.5*
19 We Are All Guilty Here Library, Crime Fiction, 4*
20 The Names Library, General Fiction 3*
21 Forget Me Not Library, Thriller, 3*

September

1 The Silver Star Library, General Fiction, 3.5*
2 Dark City Dames Kindle, Non Fiction, 4*
3 Framed in Death Library, Crime Fiction, Series, 3.5*
4 What Was Lost Kindle, Literary Fiction, 4.5*
5 Splinter the Silence Kindle, Crime Fiction, Series, 4*
6 Insidious Intent Kindle, Crime Fiction, Series, 4*
7 Apostle's Cove Library, Crime Fiction, Series, 4*
8 Buckeye Library, General Fiction, 5*
9 The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer Library, Crime Fiction, 4*
10 Clever Girl Kindle, General Fiction, 3*
11 Gray Dawn Library, Crime Fiction, Series, 4*
12 The Wilderness Library, Literary Fiction, 4*
13 Crooks Library, Crime Fiction, 3.5 *
14 It Was The Way She Said It Library, Short Stories, 3.5*
15 The Elements Library, General Fiction, 4.5*
16 The Women on Platform Two Kindle, General Fiction, 4*
17 What Alice Forgot Kindle, General Fiction, 4*
18 The Kind Worth Saving Kindle, Thriller, 3*
19 A Talent for Murder Kindle, Thriller, 3.5*
20 Andre Dubus: Selected Stories Kindle, Short Stories, 4*
21 The Laughterhouse Kindle, Thriller, 4*

October

1 A Killer Wedding Library, General Fiction, 3*
2 Dead If You Don’t Kindle, Crime Fiction, Series 3*
3 Truly Library, Non Fiction. 3.5*
4 The Killing Stones Library, Crime Fiction 3.5*
5 The Impossible Fortune Library, Crime Fiction, Series, 4*
6 The Irish Goodbye Library, General Fiction, 4*
7 Heart the Lover Library, Literary Fiction, 4.5*
8 The Correspondent Kindle, Literary Fiction, 5*
9 The Mad Wife Kindle, General Fiction, 3.5*
10 Fight No More Kindle, Short Stories, 4.5*
11 Felicia's Journey Kindle, Literary Fiction, 3*
12 A Guardian and a Thief Library, Literary Fiction, 4.5*
13 100 Years of the Best American Short Stories Kindle, Short Stories, 4*
14 Ripeness Library, Literary Fiction, 4.5*
15 Never Flinch Library, Crime Fiction, 3*
16 The Land of Sweet Forever Library, Short Stories, 3.5*
17 How The Dead Speak Kindle, Crime Fiction, Series, 4*

November

1 The Widow Library, Legal Thriller, 4*
2 Homework Kindle, Thriller, 3.5*Alpha and Mystery KIT
3 There Is No Place For Us Kindle, Non Fiction, 5*
4 Wreck Library, General Fiction, 3*
5 The Black Wolf Library, Crime Fiction, Series, 3.5*
6 Cursed Daughters Library, General Fiction, 4*
7 The Surprise Party Kindle, Thriller 3*
8 Hieroglyphics Library, General Fiction, 3*
9 Safely to the Grave Kindle, Thriller, 4*
10 Other Birds Kindle, General Fiction, 4*
11 Elbow Room Kindle, Short Stories, 3.5*
12 Imperfect Women Kindle, Thriller, 3*
13 At Midnight Comes the Cry Library, Crime Fiction, 4*
14 Haven’t Killed In Years Library, Thriller, 3.5*
15 Acts of God Kindle, Short Stories, 3*
16 Mercy Street Kindle, Literary Fiction, 4*

December

1 Crook Manifesto Kindle, Crime Fiction, 3.5*
2 Silent Bones Library, Crime Fiction, 3.5
3 Best Offer Wins Library, Thriller, 3.5*
4 Roman Stories Kindle, Short Stories, 4*
5 The Christmas Murder Game Kindle, Thriller, 3*
6 The Purple Diaries Kindle, Non Fiction, 4*
7 Run Kindle, Literary Fiction, 3*
8 Winter Stories Library, Short Stories, 4*
9 The Final Curtain Kindle, Crime Fiction, 4*
10 The Death of Sweet Mister Kindle, General Fiction, 4*
11 The River is Waiting Kindle, General Fiction, 5*
12 A Glimpse of Scarlet Kindle, Short Stories, 3.5*
13 The Birth House Kindle, Literary Fiction, 4*
14 She Didn't See It ComingLibrary, Thriller, 3.5*
15 This Year Will be Different Library, Short Stories, 3*

Bingo



1 Nesting Ireland
2 This Secret Thing
3 The Queens of Crime
4 Bake Sale Murder
5 The Christmas Murder Game
6 This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things
7 Finding Grace
8 The Birth House
9 Journey Under the Midnight Sun
10 Mary Jane
12 Still See You Everywhere
13 The Coincidence of Coconut Cake (CoverCAT)
14 The Trees
15 The Frozen River
17 Other Birds
18 The Detective Up Late
19 Dread Journey
20 Perish
21 The Irish Goodbye
22 Butter
23 Dark City Dames
24 Margo’s Got Money Troubles
25 Night Shadows

Happy November everyone, I decided to start a new thread for the rest of the year. I can't believe how time is flying by! I continue to enjoy retired life, especially on Sunday evenings.

Here is my October reading review:

I read 17 books this month and rated The Correspondent with 5*, and Ripeness, A Guardian and a Thief, Fight No More, and Heart the Lover all with 4.5*. Looking at my reading for the year so far, I really could do better with reading more non-fiction and reading more books already on my Kindle, but as fast as I read them, I purchase more! The daily deals can sometimes be very tempting.

Books read 17 (191)
Library 10 (100)
Kindle 7 (88)
Mine 0 (3)
Male authors 5 (49)
Female authors 12 (142)
New to me 5(67)
General Fiction 3(47)
Literary Fiction 5(25)
Historical Fiction 0 (16)
Crime Fiction 5 (52)
Short Stories 3(20)
Series 5 (60)
Non-Fiction 1(6)
Thriller 0 (25)

Happy new thread, Lisa!

>15 lsh63: Yeah, I have trouble keeping up with my book acquisition, too!

Happy new thread, Lisa!

Happy New Thread

>16 NinieB:, >17 RidgewayGirl:, >18 lowelibrary: Thank you Ninie, Kay and April!

Happy new thread, and I'm glad retired life is treating you well!

192 The Widow It's been a long time since I've read a John Grisham book, and I found this to be a pretty good read. Simon Latch is barely making ends meet in his small law practice while his marriage is also falling apart. When an elderly seemingly wealthy widow comes to consult him about a new will, his greed gets the best of him, and he decides to create the new will himself in secret. When she is later hospitalized after a bad car accident and later dies, he finds himself arrested for a crime he didn't commit. With all of the evidence stacked against him, he sets out to find the real killer.

193 Homework A really creepy read about what happens when Celia, thinking that she has finally found the right man named Stephen and slowly realizes that bad things are happening thanks to his bad seed daughter Jenny. Some of the unsetting events include money disappearing, a ruined sweater, a dead mouse is placed in her clothes, and her bedroom is set on fire. I was expecting more of an explosive ending.

Happy new thread, Lisa. Retirement is such a joy, isn’t it?

Happy New Thread, Lisa!

>23 MissWatson: Thank you Birgit, it sure is!
>24 dudes22: Hi Betty, thank you!

194 There Is No Place For Us This was such an eye opening but also sad read about the plight of those who work endlessly but are also homeless. The book tells the stories of five Atlanta families all with children, who are part of the working homeless population. It was heartbreaking and also infuriating to read about the lack of affordable housing, the conditions in extended day hotels, and the manner in which the homeless are treated. Yes, mental health and addiction issues are a contributing factor, but what isn't publicized as often as it should be, is the many employed families, who through unfortunate circumstances sometimes find themselves behind on their bills, which leads to eviction, low credit scores and a never-ending cycle of not being able to get ahead.

195 Wreck I think I enjoyed Sandwich just a bit more than this sequel, as I thought there was less family interaction and a little bit too much of being inside Rocky's head. This book involves two major events, a local train accident involving a friend of Rocky's son and navigating a health crisis after she notices a mysterious rash that grows progressively worse.

196 The Black Wolf This book is a continuation of The Grey Wolf. It was an entertaining read, although both this book and the previous one were a bit more thriller than the cozier mysteries of the past. Some of the content was a little chilling to read given our current political climate.

197 Cursed Daughters This novel is very different from the author's previous book, My Sister, the Serial Killer, and I enjoyed it just as much. It took a little while to get used to the non-linear format, but I found it was effective for the storyline. It begins with the suicide of a young woman named Monife, whose cousin Edun gives birth to a daughter Eniiyi on the day of Monife's funeral. Other characters in the story include Kemi, who is Edun's mother and Bunmi, Monife's mother. The family is tainted with a curse, where bad things will happen to the women who fall hard for handsome men. As the story unfolds, we learn that Eniiyi is the spitting image of Monife, and members of the family believe that she is the reincarnation of her. I loved the family dynamics between the mothers and daughters who were all likeable and unlikeable at the same time.

>26 lsh63: Evicted by Matthew Desmond broke my heart when I read it, so I'm adding this to my wishlist in the knowledge it will teach me a lot I'd rather not know.

>26 lsh63: On to my list it goes for same reason as >30 RidgewayGirl:

>29 lsh63: Also very curious about Cursed Daughters. I loved My Sister the Serial Killer Thank you!

>30 RidgewayGirl: It was a hearbreaking read for sure Kay.
>31 beebeereads: Hi April, it was tough to read, but it really opened my eyes. I hope you enjoy Cursed Daughters when you get to it.

198 The Surprise Party A mediocre thriller about what happens when someone pushes real estate agent Blair down a set of basement steps at here 40th birthday party. There are many suspects including her boss, Marcus, his scary wife Lydia, her husband Rob, neighbor Alice, and so-called friend Valerie. We gradually learn that Blair is not exactly a nice person and that the many suspects all have some sort of agenda.

199 Hieroglyphics This was a well written slightly messy book with back-and-forth musings from the 1950's through 2017. There are four POV's; husband Frank and his wife Lil, and Shelly who is mother to Harvey. Shelly and Harvey now live in Frank's childhood house, and he is obsessed with gaining entry. Frank and Lil have relocated from Boston to North Carolina to be closer to their daughter, now that they are in their 80's. Both are suffering from health and memory issues, and both have tragically lost a parent at a young age. The various chapters go back and forth in time and location, with some events mentioned more than once.

200 Safely to the Grave This book kept me engrossed throughout the whole story. The main protagonist is Mick Harvey, a very dangerous psychopath who terrorizes his wife and intimidates total strangers just for the fun of it. He has a chance encounter with two women, Laura and Marion, who report him to the police for his dangerous driving. This action sets off a chain of horrible events that end in tragedy.

>35 lsh63: I really enjoyed Safely to the Grave when I read it earlier this year. I find Margaret York a reliable mystery/crime writer and her "Y" name is useful for the Alphakit.

>35 lsh63: Taking a BB for this one.

>36 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy, I think I have a few more books of hers on my Kindle that I hope to read soon.
>37 lowelibrary: Hi April, I hope you enjoy it!

201 Other Birds This was a wonderful story about a young girl named Zoey who moves into her late mother's apartment hoping to make a connection with her, as she was only seven when she died. Her father, stepmother, and step siblings are not very nice to her and don't treat her like a member of the family. She eventually finds a new family with the other residents of the complex, who are dealing with some form of loss. The book stresses the importance that there really can be more to family than blood ties and brought a smile to my face.

202 Elbow Room This book is a collection of twelve short stories that won the 1978 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. The content is primarily about the Black experience in the 1970's which is still relevant today. My favorite story was "A Loaf of Bread", about a grocer with several neighborhood stores who is caught charging much higher prices in black neighborhoods than in white ones. Fearful of the increasing backlash, his wife tries to convince him to take one day and give away all of his merchandise as an act of goodwill. He is left with an empty store and wondering if his act accomplished anything at all.

203 Imperfect Women An interesting story about three friends Nancy, Eleanor and Mary who have been best friends since college. Nancy is married with a young daughter; Eleanor is single and runs a small non-profit organization that she founded. Mary fell under the spell of her college professor, who was married, and now is a mother of three. The book is divided into the POV of each woman, beginning with Eleanor who has just learned that Nancy was murdered. I was expecting more of a psychological thriller, but it was a decent read.

204 At Midnight Comes the Cry It's been a few years since I read the previous book in this series, and after reading this one, I got the sense that it will be the last. Claire and Russ find themselves involved when a white supremist group threatens the holiday celebrations in Millers Kill. Russ is supposed to be recently retired but just can't help himself when he learns that one of his former officers has seemingly disappeared. Claire also tries to help a domestic abuse victim who is married to the one of the supremist members and also has a daughter the same age as Claire and Russ's son Ethan. I enjoyed the book very much and it made me want to reread the first book one day soon.

205 Haven’t Killed In Years Gwen Tanner is keeping a big secret that has come to light. She is the daughter of a convicted serial killer who may or may not be responsible for a copycat killer sending her random body parts. This was a fun read filled with dark humor and a fast pace with a satisfying end.

206 Acts of God A collection of short stories in which all of the characters are met with some sort of disaster, natural or otherwise. My favorite story was the title story where an elderly couple, tired of listening to their caretaker and children, set off on an ill-advised car ride to the grocery store. I've become a big fan of the author and have several more of her stories to read.

207 Mercy Street An engaging read about the connected lives of various people who are connected to a Boston women's clinic. The main protagonist Claudia is a counselor, who deals with anti-abortion protestors and finding ways to help her patients. When she isn't working, she hangs out with her weed dealer Timmy, who is also connected to Victor, an anti-abortion truck driver and Anthony, who spends a great deal of time outside the clinic making his displeasure known. The political and social messages are evident, but not heavy handed at all.

I can't believe we're almost at the end of the year already! I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving, if you celebrate. I'm taking it easy today and looking forward to one last day of leftovers. It's a good thing I don't eat stuffing that much, because I truly have no self-control, it's my favorite part of the meal! I won't be finishing any more books today, so here is my November recap:

I read 16 books this month and rated There Is No Place for Us 5*, and also enjoyed The Widow, Other Birds, Safely to the Grave, and Cursed Daughters.

Books read 16 (207)
Library 7 (107)
Kindle 9 (97)
Mine 0 (3)
Male authors 3 (52)
Female authors 13 (155)
New to me 4 (71)
General Fiction 4(51)
Literary Fiction 1(26)
Historical Fiction 0 (16)
Crime Fiction 1 (53)
Short Stories 2(22)
Series 2 (62)
Non-Fiction 1(7)
Thriller 7 (32)

208 Crook Manifesto I had this book for a while, so I decided to reread Harlem Shuffle before diving in. Especially since I noted that the last book in the trilogy will be released next summer. Crook Manifesto, is very different from Harlem Shuffle in that is comprised of three different sections of stories, with less focus on Ray, the main protagonist in the previous book. The first section takes place in 1971; Ray has managed to stay on the straight and narrow until he exhausts all avenues of obtaining Jackson Five tickets for his daughter. His quest leads him into dealing with a crooked cop named Munson, with a disastrous outcome. The second section takes place in 1973, which I enjoyed the most because I was hoping that we would see more of Pepper, and he is the main character in this section. Pepper is providing security for a local movie producer. The last section takes place in 1976 with Bicentennial celebrations, and buildings being torched in the name of urban renewal. I enjoyed the book but found some aspects of the stories a little hard to follow at times.

209 Silent Bones Karen Pirie is back with two cases to solve, that of a journalist who was suspected of killing his pregnant girlfriend and a hotel a manager who appeared to have fallen down a set of steps, but whose brother believes he was murdered. I found the pacing a little slow, but it was an overall decent read.

210 Best Offer Wins This was a fun read about a very unhinged woman named Margo who descends into sheer madness in order to obtain her dream house in the very competitive DC real estate market. After she and her husband lose out on 11 houses even after offering a great deal over the asking price, she decides to stalk neighborhoods to find houses that may go on the market soon. She trespasses, stalks, lies and commits murder to get what she wants. I was glued to the pages wondering if Margo would go to jail or if she would get the house that she wants.

211 Roman Stories Jhumpa Lahiri is a brilliant writer, and I enjoyed most of the stories in this collection. I enjoyed "The Boundary", about a caretaker's daughter observing a family vacationing in the Roman countryside. I also enjoyed "The Steps", the longest story in the collection with various vignettes about different residents who live near a towering public staircase.

212 The Christmas Murder Game A so-so read about a woman named Lily who is summoned to the family home, Endgame House after her aunt and adoptive mother Liliana died. Liliana left specific instructions for Lily and her cousins to spend the 12 days of Christmas at the manor. A puzzle game has been set up with twelve clues and 12 keys, one of which will open a secret room at the house and the lucky winner will also inherit the property. Although I enjoy puzzles, I thought that the author concentrated more on the anagrams throughout the book in that the plot suffered just a bit.

213 The Purple Diaries This was an interesting read about the custody battle between actress Mary Astor and her husband Frankling Thorpe over their daughter Marylyn. The custody case was quite scandalous in 1936 as Thorpe stole his wife's diaries in which she detailed her innermost thoughts and her affair with married playwright George Kaufman. The potential introduction of the diaries made the studios and various individuals very nervous. At the time, Astor knew that her career could be over and that more importantly she might lose her daughter. The reason that the diaries are referred to as "purple", has to do with the ink that she used which according to the book was brown, but could appear purple at first glance. The judge did his best to calm the media circus that ensued in the best interest of young Marylyn.

214 Run The story unfolds over the course of 24 hours. Race, religion, and the important concept that a family doesn't necessarily have to be bound by blood. Two brothers, Tip and Teddy, who are black, are adopted by a former mayor of Boston. The father has political aspirations for them, but Tip is interested in science, and his brother Teddy finds himself drawn to the priesthood. One night the father and his sons are at a political event where Jesse Jackson is speaking. Tip, upset by some of the things his father says, walks away from him and is about to be hit by a car when a woman intervenes and pushes him out of the way. The reader learns who the woman is and why she was there, and soon her daughter becomes part of their family while her mother recuperates. While not as captivating as some of other books, I have enjoyed every Ann Patchett book that I've read.

215 Winter Stories A collection of just three stories, as the title suggests, set in winter. The first story is about a single mother struggling to take care of her daughter when her money runs out. The second is about an ex-convict who desperately wants to build a relationship with his son. The last story was about a young girl on the run from Social Services with her younger sister and brother.

216 The Final Curtain Occasionally I like a mystery that makes me think and this book certainly did. The author skillfully weaved a mystery with police procedural as police detective Kaga assists his cousin with a case which has ties to Kaga's mother's disappearance many years ago.

217 The Death of Sweet Mister Thirteen-year-old Shuggie who is nicknamed Sweet Mister by his mother, endures his abusive stepfather, and alcoholic mother. He is treated as an adult rather than a child, forced to steal drugs from the terminally ill by his stepmother while his relationship with his mother becomes more incestuous as the story progresses. The reader can't help but hope that somehow Shuggie's life will improve, even though it appears to be impossible.

218 The River is Waiting I probably shouldn't have read this book after The Death of Sweet Mister, as both were heart wrenching reads. This book however is heartbreaking, gut wrenching, yet very well written. This is not an easy read, but it reminds us that people who are not necessarily bad use bad judgment which may result in an unintended tragedy. Corbin Ledbetter (Corby) is married to Emily and is the father to two-year-old twins, Maisie and Niko. He has been lost since losing his job and becoming the primary caregiver to his children while his wife works. He has also been secretly medicating with antidepressants and day drinking, which is not a good combination. One day while under various influences, he accidentally kills his son and is sent to prison for three years. Not only is the beginning of the book tragic with the death of a child, but the remainder of the book is about the horrors of life in prison with sadistic guards and other acts of violence. The ending was yet another gut punch. This is not a book for everyone as there are so many triggers I wouldn't even know where to start. Yet it is a reminder that people make mistakes, sometimes horrific, that they will have to live with for the rest of their lives.

>56 lsh63: That book gutted me.

>58 RidgewayGirl: Hi Kay, yes me too. I read two gut punchers back to back. I need something light now.

219 A Glimpse of Scarlet A short story collection comprised of upper middle-class people and their problems dealing with marriage, divorce, family, and parenthood. In "Graduation", a woman attends her son's graduation, on edge because her ex-husband and new wife will be there. She finds herself a bit put out that her son's friend has forged a relationship with her ex-husband's new family. Getting On is the story of a woman who is facing life without her husband and what it will mean for her future.

220 The Birth House I enjoyed this story of young Dora, who is an apprentice to the town midwife during World War I. They clash with a young doctor who shuns holistic methods and wants to use chloroform during the labor and delivery process supposedly to make things easier for the mother, but also to turn a profit. The book also delves into various events such as the Halifax explosion, Boston molasses flood and the Spanish Flu epidemic. It was a good read.

221 She Didn’t See It Coming This was a mediocre thriller about a woman named Bryden who disappears on day after working from home. She failed to pick up her young daughter, and her car, phone, laptop, and keys are all still at her apartment. She is found in the building's storage area in a suitcase. The obvious suspect is her husband Sam, but other suspects are her best friend Paige, a sociopath named Alice, and a neighbor. I thought that the reveal was a little meh and that the ending was a bit rushed.

222 This Year Will Be Different A Christmas themed short story collection that wasn't cozy by any means, rather it explored family relationships during the holidays. I loved the title story "This Year Will be Different' where a woman grows tired of doing everything to prepare for the holidays and stops preparations to see what her family will do. They wind up buying her a television for entertainment in the kitchen, but she plots her revenge. In 'The First Step of Christmas", a stepmother is fed up with her belligerent stepdaughter until she realizes that she is missing her mother. In " A Typical Irish Christmas", a recent widower travels to Ireland to escape the many well-meaning people in his life who worry about him during the holiday season.

I'm in the midst of a book that I am unlikely to finish before tomorrow so here's my December and year in review:

Books read 15 (222)
Library 5 (112)
Kindle 10 (107)
Mine 0 (3)
Male authors 5 (57)
Female authors 10 (165)
New to me 6 (77)
General Fiction 1(52)
Literary Fiction 2(28)
Historical Fiction 0 (16)
Crime Fiction 3 (56)
Short Stories 4(26)
Series 3 (65)
Non-Fiction 1(8)
Thriller 3 (35)

I read 15 books this month and 222 for the year. My total is partially due to my retirement in June, which I continue to enjoy, and it was a decision that definitely helped lower my stress level and blood pressure. I continue to enjoy short story collections and also can't help keeping an eye out for the latest thriller.

In 2026 I want to try to make a dent in some of the series that I've accumulated and decide if I want to continue to read them or not. I also want to try to add more non-fiction to my reading, I may even learn something new!

My favorite reads for the year were:

The Loss of All Things
Good Dirt
The Trees
Buckeye
Firstborn Girls
The River is Waiting
The Correspondent
Memorial Days
The Mountains Sing
There Is No Place For Us
The Cazalet Chronicles
King of Ashes

Happy New Year Everyone!

>51 lsh63: I had the exact same reaction to The Christmas Murder Game -- the author spent too much time on the anagrams and puzzle clues, and not enough time on the actual murder mystery.