Familyhistorian Tries to Keep Up in 2025 - Part 9

My genealogy groups' Christmas tree that I helped decorate. A picture in keeping with the season!

This thread in the mighty 75ers’ universe is a place for me, Meg, to share life happenings and recent reads. I want to be optimistic about the coming months but whatever happens, we’ll take it as it comes. Welcome fellow readers!

Sending books on their way once read is front and centre once more this year. Fingers crossed that my shelves will end up emptier rather than fuller by the end of the year.



Little Free Library

Books culled in 2025

January - 0

February - 4

March - 3

April - 12

May - 3

June - 3

July - 10

August - 3

September - 25

October - 9

December - 5

BLOG



I write about genealogy and history on my blog. Follow my blog posts as I embark on another year of writing about my genealogical explorations and the information I find out about my ancestors. You can see my latest blog posts at: A Genealogist’s Path to History

Challenges

Reading Through Time

Quarterly

January-March: Renaissance/16th Century

Monthly

January: Look to the Heavens - The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal - DONE
February: Colours - Black River Road: An Unthinkable Crime, an Unlikely Suspect, and the Question of Character by Debra Komar - DONE
March: Sweet, Sweet Revenge - Atonement by Ian McEwan - DONE
April: All is not what it seems - The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor - DONE
May: Fairy Tales - Fairest by Gail Carson Levine - DONE
June: People on the Move - Ticket to Ride by Winona Kent - DONE
July: Composers
August: Don't Let Yourself Get Checkmated!
September: Highlands & Islands - The Highlands and Islands of Scotland by Angus & Patricia MacDonald - DONE
October: Autumn
November: The High Seas
December: Reader's Choice

List of books for challenges

Reading Through Time

January: Look to the Heavens
February: Colours
March: Sweet, Sweet Revenge
April: All is not what it seems - The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor and/or The Dark
May: Fairy Tales
June: People on the Move
July: Composers
August: Don't Let Yourself Get Checkmated!
September: Highlands & Islands
October: Autumn
November: The High Seas
December: Reader's Choice

January-March: Renaissance/16th Century
April-June: The 17th Century

Group Reads

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michael Faber - April - still working away on this

Books read in 2025

8. Books read in October 2025

1. When Falcons Fall by C.S. Harris
2. A Match Made for Murder by Iona Whishaw
3. Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin
4. Lady Worsley’s Whim by Hallie Rubenhold
5. The Paid Companion by Amanda Quick
6. White Out by Ragna Jonasson
7. Boardinghouse Women: How Southern Keepers, Cooks, Nurses, Widows, and Runaways Shaped Modern America by Elizabeth S.D. Engelhardt
8. Slightly Shady by Amanda Quick
9. Dear Miss Lake by A J Pierce
10. Hard Going by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
11. Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnal
12. The Paris Express by Emma Donaghue
13. Role Playing by Cathy Yardley
14. Faking It by Jennifer Crusie

9. Books read in November 2025

1. Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman
2. I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney
3. Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd
4. The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman
5. Eddie Winston is Looking for Love by Marianne Cronin
6. The Story of a Murder: The Wives, Mistress, and Dr. Crippen by Hallie Rubenhold
7. A Novel Murder by E.C. Nevin
8. 10 Marchfield Square by Nicola Whyte
9. Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure by Rhys Bowen
10. My Secret Sister by Helen Edwards & Jenny Lee Smith
11. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
12. Arsenic for Tea by Robin Stevens
13. Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood

Books acquired in 2025

11. Books acquired in October 2025

1. Sweet Success: How Industry, Immigrants, and Working Women Shaped a Town by Barbara Pagni Denton
2. A Season for Spies by Iona Whishaw
3. Globe: Life in Shakespeare's London by Catharine Arnold
4. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
5. The Sleeping and the Dead by Ann Cleeves
6. Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
7. The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley
8. Beneath Dark Waters: The Legacy of the Empress of Ireland Shipwreck by Eve Lazarus

12. Books acquired in November 2025

1. The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins
2. Make (Sneaky) Art by Nisant Jain
3. Valentine in Montreal by Heather O’Neill
4. The Armor of Light by Ken Follett
5. Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths

Happy new one Meg. I like your genealogy tree -- looks like it's in a school hallway perhaps?

Happy New Thread, Meg! Enjoy what sun we have .

>14 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba! The tree is in a community centre and part of a yearly contest that sees different groups decorating trees in public spaces. There is then a vote for the best decorated tree. It's a yearly tradition in Port Coquitlam that was started by PoCo Heritage (the group I volunteer with) but when we could no longer do it the BIA took over.

>15 vancouverdeb: I got rained on yesterday, Deborah. But I notice that the weather person mentioned the sunny weather, obviously they weren't in Coquitlam. It was also raining this morning when I drove over to Surrey and took a walk in the park. It got sunny though when I took Skytrain to Vancouver but it also got colder.

Community tree decorating contest for groups is a great idea. Hope you win :)

We've just had three gloriously beautiful days -- cool and sunny. Hope it's heading your way.

Happy new thread, Meg. I love the tree!

Happy December, Meg. Happy New Thread. I like the Christmas tree topper.

Happy new thread!

178. The Ghosts of Eden Park by Karen Abbott



Sometimes the real life stories that are hidden in the past defy belief when a canny writer tracks down all the details. Such was the case in The Ghosts of Eden Park. It was set during prohibition in the US, a long drawn out affair there which, if the media is to be believed, led to more lawlessness than the evils it was trying to stop. A case in point was that of George Remus and his missus and what became of them when the law got its hooks into George.

>18 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba, I hope we win too but there are some great contenders. Thanks for sending some good weather our way!

>19 BLBera: Hi Beth, one of our genealogy group came up with the family history tree design. There are how to start your family tree sheets in the basket and, so far, they've had to replenish them multiple times.

179. The Death of Shame by Ambrose Parry



The fifth volume in the Raven and Fisher mystery series, The Death of Shame, began with the suicide of Raven’s wife’s father, Dr. Todd. It was another blow to the less than thriving marriage of Will and Eugenie. But she trusted him enough to charge him with finding out why her father died. (She had to believe that someone else killed him, not that he killed himself.) As Will and Sarah investigated they uncovered blackmail and other unsavory deeds in the background. It was an episode that changed the lives of all the main characters.

>20 msf59: Thanks Mark. Not sure how December will pan out but thanks for the wishes and for the appreciation of the Christmas tree.

>21 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita! I hope that the snow around your neck of the woods is manageable.

I keep meaning to read something by Ambrose Parry but have yet to do so, Meg. And Evensong can definitely be read as a stand alone, as I mentioned on my thread. Nice day for walk, which I did. Today was so nice and sunny - but tomorrow ? I think it is supposed to rain.

Meg things move quickly over here. Happy new thread and happy reading!

Happy new thread Meg!

Happy last new thread of the year, Meg! You've posted a couple of books that look interesting, so off I go to see if I can find them at the library.

Love your Little Free Library. I just discovered a Little Free Library down the hill from my house. I released about 10 last month, without even looking to see if there was anything in the box for me! I felt so virtuous! You've inspired me to make it a goal to release at least a few every month in the coming year. Maybe I'll be inspired to paint a few bookmarks to go with the books.

180. The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths



I was pulling potential reads from my stacks the other day when I realized that I had the third Harbinder Kaur mystery but had never read the second one, The Postscript Murders. So I borrowed it from the library.

I enjoyed the second Kaur mystery with its eccentric cast of characters and its use of books and authors in the murder plot.

>28 vancouverdeb: The Ambrose Parry books are historical mysteries set in Edinburgh, so great for the historical feel as well as the mysteries. I hope you enjoy them if you get to them Deborah.

Thanks for the insight into Evensong. I hope you were able to get out for a walk today as, according to my weather app, the rain isn't supposed to make an appearance until later.

>29 mdoris: It's only the reads that are moving quickly, Mary, but they're helping things along.

>30 humouress: Thanks Nina!

>31 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, you made me laugh with your feeling so virtuous for not picking up anything at the LFL. I feel the same way when I refrain. I've fallen down a bit in my monthly deposits but will definitely continue in the coming year. Best of luck with keeping up the habit you've started!

181. Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley



I discovered Agatha Christie mysteries in my teens and have been reading them ever since. I’ve also read about the author’s life as presented by various writers. Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman delved into many parts of the author’s life that I wasn’t aware of and presented her life and times in an understanding and thorough way. Well worth a read.

>37 Familyhistorian: We love to watch Lucy Worsley's TV presentations. She seems capable of making very mundane things interesting.

Happy new thread!

>38 RebaRelishesReading: I love Lucy Worsley's shows too, Rheba. She's a very good writer too.

>39 drneutron: Thanks Jim!

So yesterday I went to pick up my new glasses. My optometrist is in Vancouver so it's a bit of a trek and I thought I'd check out Perfect Match Books as it is on Broadway, the same as the place where I got my glasses. I thought it would be close, as it was at 545 and where I was coming from as in the 1300 block. Well, it wasn't really as I was coming from West 1300 and the book store was at East 545 but, bonus, Book Warehouse was on the way! Even peering out from under my umbrella I saw it on the other side of the street. That's where I picked up Down Cemetery Road the first book in Mick Herron's Zoe Boehm thrillers.

I trudged on from there to the bookshop I was aiming for. I hadn't realized how far the mess they are making of Broadway extended until I walked the street. It's not exactly pedestrian friendly.

Perfect Match Bookshop didn't have a sign to tell me I was there but the numbers for the building were well displayed on the front. Good thing I remembered the address. They did have a sign though but it's a chalk one and the woman inside the shop was redoing it because there was no point putting it out in the rain. I looked over the offerings carefully. There were very few historical romances, lots of contemporary and a large section of fantasy. I picked up Margo's Got Money Troubles and The Governess Game.

When I finished there I thought about taking a bus to the Broadway Skytrain station but waiting for one on the other side of the street didn't appeal and I wasn't that far away and I was already on the right side of the street so I walked to the Skytrain. Maybe that's why I feel tired today.

>42 Familyhistorian: I enjoy stopping in Book Warehouse when I am in that direction. Yes, Broadway is a mess in that area. Glad you got your new glasses, Meg. I purchased A Very British Murder by Lucy Worsely from Blackwell Books UK today, inspired by you. I also ordered the first in the Ambrose Parry series from amazon, as my library only had it in e book format. Thanks for the inspiration and BB's.

>43 vancouverdeb: Broadway is a mess from that area all the way west up to Granville, maybe even beyond Granville but I haven't explored past that street. Nice to see that I had a hand in steering you towards some books, Deborah!

The lights came on as I was in Lafarge Park. The pirate ships are my favourite display.

I think, as I am sure you know, the Broadway portion of skytrain is being built out to Arbutus, so I guess it will be a mess for quite a while. The Lights at Lafarge Lake look lovely, Meg. I hope eventually they build the skytrain out to UBC, because is would be so helpful to so many, but time will tell.

>46 vancouverdeb: I thought they were building the extension to UBC now, Deborah. Then I looked it up after your post and see the terminus will be Arbutus. That's too bad. It's still a long way from Arbutus to UBC.

They put on a great light display at Lafarge and change it up a bit every year.

>45 Familyhistorian: Lovely lights Meg!

>42 Familyhistorian: Yikes! That's quite an adventure you had. It just goes to show how dedicated you are to books and reading!

>45 Familyhistorian: Enchanting!

>48 mdoris: Aren't they pretty. I love that they tell a story.

>49 Storeetllr: Not sure if it was the books and reading or just an excuse to get my steps in for the day, Mary.

Yes well as readers we are all about the story!

>52 mdoris: Being about the story is handy as a family historian too. I'm always looking for the hook to tell the story of the people I discover.

182. The Novel Life of Jane Austen: A Graphic Biography by Janine Barchas & Isabel Greenberg



I knew very little about Jane Austen’s life but have a greater appreciation for it now that I’ve read The Novel Life of Jane Austen: A Graphic Biography. What a remarkable legacy she left for one who died so young.

>54 Familyhistorian: Sounds interesting! I'll have to check the library.

>55 vancouverdeb: It was a good bio, Deborah, but there appears to be more than one graphic bio of Jane Austen. I saw another in the long list of 2025 books I accessed through the link on Beth's thread.

183. An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson



There seems to be a trend recently to pen murder mysteries where the sleuth is one of the authors from the golden age of crime writing. In this case the investigator was Josephine Tey and the action centred on her play that was being staged in the West End, Richard of Bordeaux. Tey was not the pen name for the play nor was Tey the real name of the mystery writer. An Expert in Murder was an interesting mystery and I also found out more about the author of the Josephine Tey mysteries.

>51 Familyhistorian: Or both?

184. The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick



In the early ‘60s, women were held back by so many rules. In the ultimate suburban community, new houses, rules about the trees you could plant, Margaret Ryan wanted more. That more eventually led to a book club and the reading of The Feminine Mystique by a group of women that wanted more and, in their own ways, they eventually ended up with lives that veered from where they were at the start of the group.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women was a reminder of how things used to be and how far we have come. It is also a reminder of the spirit that got us this far.

>58 Storeetllr: True, probably a bit of both.

185. A Lethal Lesson by Iona Whishaw



In A Lethal Lesson, Lane Winslow and Inspector Darling were back from their Arizona honeymoon and nothing could be a greater contrast than the snowy weather in and around Nelson, BC. When the two schoolteachers in her small community were out of commission, one a probable victim of an assault and the other just gone, Lane takes over teaching duties in the one room schoolhouse while trying to solve the mystery of the assault and disappearance.

The crimes in this case had their roots in the past which made for a difficult investigation but their combined efforts got the gang to the solution in time for Christmas Eve.

>59 Familyhistorian: I have that one lined up to read next month on my vacation. Looking forward to it.

>62 RebaRelishesReading: It's a good one, Reba, a perfect book to take on vacation.

>22 Familyhistorian: I already have that one in the BlackHole or I would add it again.

>32 Familyhistorian: I am going to get to that series eventually. I am currently reading Griffiths' Brighton Mysteries series.

>37 Familyhistorian: That one is already in the BlackHole too thanks to a recommendation from Micky. I really need to get my hands on a copy!

>59 Familyhistorian: Dodging that BB as I have already read it.

Happy 'new' thread, Meg. Have a terrific Tuesday!

>59 Familyhistorian: We saw a new play recently in New York called "Liberation" with a woman of today looking back at the "Consciousness Raising" groups and The Women s Movement of the 1970's

History is always about then - -- and its always about now.

>45 Familyhistorian: I love the lights, Meg.

>61 Familyhistorian: This is such a great series.

Our downtown is also a mess of construction, Meg. When people have to visit the Mayo Clinic, I offer to drop them off because parking is a nightmare, and if there are mobility issues, it is a challenge.

The Jane Austen bio sounds like fun.

>64 alcottacre: Sorry I couldn't tempt you with my latest reads, Stasia. Hope you have a pleasant day!

>65 magicians_nephew: That sounds like an interesting play, Jim. History can also be a reminder of a time we have lived through.

>66 BLBera: The light display is a tradition that many people enjoy especially if it isn't raining. Dry nights don't happen that often.

That's good of you to offer to drop people off because of the difficulties parking at the hospital, Beth. Hospitals all seem to have parking problems.

Yes, you quite right that dry nights don't happen often, Meg. Like tonight. Dave is on dog walk duty, thank goodness. I stopped by my usual Steveston Branch of the library this evening. They are demolishing the Steveston community centre, which also holds the library and are in the midst of building a new Community Centre . So for now it is a portable in the parking lot across the street. I had thought that the library would only be there for 3 months or so, but the librarian told me a year!I guess I will be mainly using the Brighouse Branch as it is much bigger and the easiest to get to for me.

The new Steveston community centre looks quite impressive, Deborah. I wonder how much space the library will have. Port Coquitlam did something similar with their new community centre but it doesn't feel like the library got any more space than they had in their stand alone building before. At least I don't think so.

I hope Dave has dog walking duty tonight too. It's a wet one out there!

>71 Familyhistorian: I read that the new library will be triple the size of the old one . That should be quite a bit bigger, but quite a while to wait in the meantime. I did this afternoon’s dog walk , and it was quite wet. Dave is doing this evening’s walk, and I am morning duty tomorrow. It’s supposed to be just cloudy, so fingers crossed for that.

>72 vancouverdeb: Fingers crossed for a dry day tomorrow, Deborah. That's what they promise but can they deliver? Nice that the plans are for a bigger new library. That will give you more scope.

>67 Familyhistorian: Ah, well. I cannot add everything to the BlackHole. I am probably not going to live long enough to read the 16K or so books already in it, lol.

186. The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jonasson



There was a lot going on in The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer. Not only was the crime writer missing but Helgi, the police investigator had been assigned the office of Hulda Hermansdottir, a police officer who had gone missing. It was something he thought about often as was his previous girlfriend, Bergthora, who had made his life a living misery until he had broken off their relationship. There were many strands to follow in this mystery that shifted between timelines.

>74 alcottacre: That is an impressive amount of books in the BlackHole, Stasia. I guess it's okay to miss out on a few BBs. As it is, I often wonder how some of the books I've collected ever made it onto my shelves.

>59 Familyhistorian: shwew! Sounds like you liked this book. I am relieved because I suggested this one for my neighborhood book group as a February read. I think it will go over well.
I like your pics "keeping with the season"!

>75 Familyhistorian: I'm reading one by Jonasson right now, Meg, Snowblind. I am enjoying it. He has a good sense of place, with lots of great description.

>77 Carmenere: It should go over well, Lynda. That's a great pick for book club.

>78 BLBera: I enjoyed Snowblind when I read it, Beth. The Case of the Missing Crime Writer struck me as being more twisted than his usual books.

>74 alcottacre: I think you'll make it Stasia - you do get through books at a decent rate. Mind you, your BlackHole acquires books at a goodly rate too.

>81 humouress: It's hard to say what outpaces the other!

I'm loving The Way of All Flesh , Meg, and since you had a read a more later book in the series, it's thanks to you. I have ordered the next in the series as the library has neither one. I loved The Case of the Missing Crime Writer too. I did enjoy a dry day on Satuday, Muffin and I were out walking in the afternoon. A little less dry today.

>37 Familyhistorian: I see you've already read the book for Gena's book club for January--and you probably didn't even realize it at the time since she just posted yesterday (at least to my knowledge). I didn't try to read your review too closely since I just checked out the ebook.

You are ahead of me on a couple of series so I also didn't read those reviews too closely, but it looks like you probably had some good reads in there!

I also enjoyed The Ghosts of Eden Park. I first learned about George Remus on our trip to Cincinnati back in September. Good stuff.

Happy Monday, Meg. Hey, I got your name right! 😜

>83 vancouverdeb: I'm glad books in that series caught your eye and that it was my reviews that did it, Deborah. I found out about the Ambrose Parry series early as I used to watch Scottish authors on Zoom during the COVID years.

I hope you took advantage of the sunshine today too. Looks like we are in for lots of rain in the coming days.

>84 thornton37814: Thanks for letting me know about the upcoming books for book club, Lori. I really enjoyed the book about Agatha Christie which I just read recently. I read Agent Josephine back in 2023 so I'm going to have to reach back further for my memories of that one!

I have had some good reads lately.

>85 msf59: I'm pretty sure that I got the BB for The Ghosts of Eden Park from you, Mark. Thanks for that. It was a good one and amazing what George Remus was able to get away with!

Kudos for getting my name right!

187. A Schooling in Murder by Andrew Taylor



In a different twist on a mystery novel, A Schooling in Murder was written from the point of view of the murderee, Annabel Warnock, a teacher at a third rate English girls school in the waning years of WWII. There were plenty of suspects, a lot going on in the hidden lives of those who orbited around the school. The sordid secrets and characters with their own hidden agendas made for lots of dodgy players in this captivating drama.

>76 Familyhistorian: Oh, yeah, I know how that goes. Occasionally I delete books from the BlackHole if I cannot remember why it is there, lol. It helps keep the numbers down.

>89 Familyhistorian: Adding that one to the BlackHole, Meg. I have read one of Taylor's other books, Bleeding Heart Square, and enjoyed it well enough so I am willing to give him another try. Thanks for the recommendation!

>90 alcottacre: It's just so hard to eliminate books especially if they are already physically on the shelves.

A Schooling in Murder is a departure from his other books, at least the ones I have read. It's still historic but a much later time period.

>89 Familyhistorian: I really enjoyed A Schooling in Murder earlier this year, Meg. Then I got Bleeding Heart Square and I think I enjoyed it even more. He's a good author. Historical mysteries are one of my favourite genres. Last night I was to meet up with some friends in the Number 5 Road and Cambie area of Richmond for a Christmas Concert, but found myself heading towards either the Knight Street Bridge or the Alex Fraser with no way off the freeway. So I headed over night street. I missed the concert and it was a dark and stormy night indeed! I stopped at McDonald's in Richmond for a coke to settle my nerves. Some want a cigarette, some want booze, for me it is coca cola.

>92 vancouverdeb: Hope your Coca Cola did the trick :). Too bad you missed the concert though. We had a pretty dark and stormy night here too -- lost power at some point although I was so sound asleep I only found out about it this morning when the clock by the bed was flashing 2:00 a.m.

>92 vancouverdeb: Too bad you missed the concert, Deborah, but a stop for coke before heading back in the right direction sounds like a smart move.

>93 RebaRelishesReading: I didn't know about the storm until I saw all the debris on the road and sidewalks from the trees. There were a few branches that I had to climb over on my way to the mail box.

>95 Familyhistorian: I didn't really see any branches, etc. down yesterday and I drove a few miles to a friend's house more or less at an opposite corner of town. The utilities in our neighborhood are all underground so there must have been something with a larger system. By the time I got home from the Christmas package sorting activity (mid-afternoon) everything was working again and there was a message that internet was back up by early afternoon.

>96 RebaRelishesReading: We didn't lose any power from the storm in my area. I think they did in other parts of Vancouver. I noticed all the downed tree branches because the sidewalk I walked down is heavily treed and across the road from a treed park and trail. Sounds like it was good timing for you to be out when the power and internet was off, Reba.

>91 Familyhistorian: It's just so hard to eliminate books especially if they are already physically on the shelves. Yes, I know. I shy away from getting rid of the romance novels that I used to read eons ago and probably will never read again, lol.

>98 alcottacre: I'm getting better at taking the romance novels to the LFL. Not the Heyers though. They are probably due for a reread soon.

>99 Familyhistorian: I am getting better at it too, Meg, but it is still hard. My mother and I collected romance novels together back when my girls were young, so it is not just the books it is the memories involved. I donate all my unwanted books to my daughter Catey's shop, which makes it a bit easier, because her shop supports the local women's shelter in Longview.

188. Always Remember by Mary Balogh



Society’s rules were strict. The mere hint of a connection between the disabled Lady Jennifer and Ben Ellis, the bastard son of an earl was to be discouraged. What right did he have to interfere and suggest ways she could increase her mobility? Her family would take care of her just the way they had always done.

Always Remember was the story of the connection between the unlikely pair and proceeded the way a romantic novel should.

>100 alcottacre: Ah, when there are personal memories attached it would be much more difficult to purge those books.

Hi Meg, just checking in. Hope things are going well! You are reading up a storm to match what is going on outside!!

Hi Meg, I am so behind with everyone. I have been busy getting ready for Chistmas and spending less time on LT. I managed to break the back off of one of my lower molars so I am off to the dentist tomorrow morning to get it fixed. I've been reading a lot, hoping to build a high number of reads for the year. The older I get the more books I discover that I want to read, it's a neverending cycle!

189. Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree



The second book in the Legends & Lattes series turned out to be a prequel. The same main character, Viv, was the centre of the action and here in Bookshops & Bonedust she was at the beginning of finding herself. Left wounded in the small town of Murk, she was a fledgling mercenary left behind to heal and maybe she’d be ready when Rackham’s Ravens showed up again. But in the meantime there was a town full of people to get to know and people to interact with. It was a fun adventure and a great way to see Viv in action again.

>103 mdoris: Hi Mary, the books are going down easy. Unfortunately, the same can be said of the rain although today there were long breaks where nothing was falling from the sky although the forecast was for sleet. I hope you had some clear breaks where you are too.

190. The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell



Tess was an actress who grew up with the Austen oeuvre, so it was a dream come true to be one of the leads in the filming of Northanger Abbey only her costar, Hugh, came from a serious acting background and wanted nothing to do with her. But then the unthinkable happened, they were whisked back to the time of Austen landing in the same location where they had been shooting in Hampshire, together, just the two of them. Complications ensued as they tried to interact with the people around them while trying to blend in. It was a scenario that would either break them or bring them closer together in The Austen Affair.

>109 Familyhistorian: Hi Judy, I hope your dentist visit was relatively painless. It seems more difficult to keep up with everyone on LT lately. From the looks of the threads, I think a lot of us are feeling that. Good luck with building a high number of reads for the year!

191. Spent by Alison Bechdel



Our author was struggling with how she should express herself; another book or maybe she could write her own TV show since the show based on her memoir had strayed so far from her own vision. Spent showed the life which she and Hol lived on their farm and included a cast of quirky characters who were pursuing their own agendas.

Wow, you are sure cracking along with the books, Meg! I've reached 71 books , but I don't think I am going to make it to 75 books with Christmas around the corner.

>110 vancouverdeb: Just 4 more books, Deborah. You can do it. Maybe some novellas?

>111 Familyhistorian: Picture books? Its' crossed my mind! :-)

>107 Familyhistorian: >109 Familyhistorian: I want to read both of these Meg. I was tempted to ask for a copy of Spent for Xmas but am hoping it arrives in the library sometime soon.

>109 Familyhistorian: Big Alison Bechdel fans here.

We just happened on a production of the play Fun Home while visiting Boston based on her autobiographical graphic novel of the same name.

Have to look for Spent. Was it about the play? Can't think that the play wasn't true to her vision of her story.

Have you seen her The Secret of Superhuman Strength. Liked it a lot

192. Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews



It was a time when women lost the rights to their own property when they married. It was a time when certain women sought change and Euphemia Flite was there to fight on their side, to bring about change by fair means or foul. She had been brought up to be their secret weapon. But maybe Gabriel Royce, a man with other goals, would have something to say about that because the man she wanted to discredit to aid her cause was the very man who was lending credibility to his own endeavours in the preservation of St. Giles. Would they find a way that they both could win in Rules for Ruin?

>112 vancouverdeb: Picture books count, Deborah. You can do it!

>113 charl08: I hope you can hold off on Spent until it arrives in your library, Charlotte. They were both good reads.

>114 magicians_nephew: I'm not sure that it was about the play, Jim. The only adaptation mentioned in Spent was a TV show about Fun Home that went way out in left field. I did read The Secret to Superhuman Strength.

>117 Familyhistorian: Me too. I just had a look at a copy, temptingly sitting on the shelf at my local bookshop....

Happy Holidays, Meg. I also enjoyed Spent. I am big fan of Bechdel.

>119 charl08: Resist, Charlotte. Your library should have it soon.

>120 msf59: Hi Mark, Spent was a good one. Have a wonderful Christmas.

Meg, reminding you if you celebrate:

>123 richardderus: Thanks for that, Richard!

Merry Christmas, Meg!

>125 quondame: Same to you, Susan!

Merry Christmas Meg. Hope Santa brings you lots of books!

>127 mdoris: Merry Christmas to you to, Mary.

‘Morning, Meg!

Have a lovely festive season, Meg.

193. Star Fall by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles



The next book for me in the Slider series was Star Fall. The star in this case was Rowland Egerton, an antiques expert on a popular TV show. As Slider and the team investigated the death of the star, some of his techniques turned out to be of a questionable nature. But, through hard graft, they eventually found the guilty party and much more besides. It was fun following the clues until they reached a conclusion.

I was also intrigued by what one of the female characters said when talking about the height of policewomen: “It must be lovely to be tall. Women of my generation never are – poor feeding, you know, during the war and after. It wasn’t until the sixties, really, that there was enough so that people grew to their full potential.” Nice to know that I’m not the only one who points out rationing as the reason for being height challenged.

>129 karenmarie: Thanks Karen, that was indeed morning, prior to 4:00 am in my neck of the woods. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

>130 PaulCranswick: I hope your Holiday Season was cheery too, Paul!

By the way, there's a new place to hang out! Come join me... https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/25017/75-Books-Challenge-for-2026

>134 drneutron: Thanks for the heads up, Jim!

194. Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti



Peter Kent was not a likely duke. Brought up in New Orleans, he wasn’t cognizant of the ins and outs of the ton. This became a problem, particularly as he wanted to gain custody of his half siblings. Just how was he going to impress Lord Eldon, the chancellor of the High Court, a man who didn’t look favourably on him? Maybe his scandalous reputation had something to do with it. He turned to Lady Selina Ravenscroft for help. But she already had her hands full with her own secret endeavours, but why not one more? Besides, she felt sympathetic to the misfit duke. It was a lot to take on but all turned out for the best in Ne’er Duke Well.

Hi, Meg! Hope your Christmas was merry and bright and the rest of the holidays are full of fun.

195. Death in Focus by Anne Perry



I stopped reading the Charlotte & Thomas Pitt series somewhere in the middle, I think. I hadn’t heard anything about her newer series, the Elena Standish one. Maybe that’s because I hadn’t attended any of her more recent sessions at SIWC while she was still around. Then I found out that her latest series was set just before WWII, a particular interest of mine. Death in Focus was the first in the series, set in 1933 when people were still wanting “peace at any price” and the Nazis were gaining power.

Elena was vacationing on the Amalfi Coast with her sister, but couldn’t resist when Ian, a man she was interested in, suggested leaving for Paris (I think). That’s how she got dragged into intrigue, hiding and trying to find a way out of Germany to save her life. The story was a thriller with interesting characters and touchy family dynamics to add to the mix.

>137 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary. All the best to you in 2026!

196. Sweet Success: How Industry, Immigrants, and Working Women Shaped a Town by Barbara Pagni Denton



An online book club had me picking up, Sweet Success: How Industry, Immigrants, and Working Women Shaped a Town. It relayed the history of Crockett, a company town in California, in the San Francisco Bay area. The town grew up around a sugar factory and many of the inhabitants came from the same area of Italy. It was a history that ranged from the days of company benevolence to the changing of the town as the area grew and highways were routed through the area. An interesting history, but it probably would have held my attention more if the history of the area was one that affected my family.

197. Home Sweet Homicide by Craig Rice



Three young siblings ran their family home (their mother was a writer engrossed in her latest manuscript). When a murder happened in their neighbourhood, they were also on the case and, liking the look of the lead police detective, they decided to play matchmaker between him and their mother. There was a lot going on in Home Sweet Homicide, a novel set back in the days of classic crime fiction.

>138 Familyhistorian: The years pre WWII fascinate me too, Meg.

So many smart people got Hitler and the rise of Nazism wrong — thought he was just a tool of the German armies, or just a figurehead, or someone who wasn't going to do much of a much as chancellor.

Even into the 1930's people in America thought we could "get along" with Hitler and be allied with him against Communist Russia.

People don't learn from history. That's what we learn from history.

>142 magicians_nephew: People don't learn form history. That's what we learn from history. Well said, and, sadly, too damn true.

>139 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! Same to you! I'd say it couldn't be worse than 2025, but we both know that's not true. Even so, may your 2026 shine!

>142 magicians_nephew: It's easy for us to see where the powers that be went wrong in viewing the rise of Nazism. I imagine it was a lot different living through those times. From what I've read, Hitler was admired by more than his own people for getting Germany back on track again when he was first in power. It's fascinating and worrying to read how it all played out.

>143 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary, I hoping for better things in 2026!

I hope for a better 2026 for you too, Meg. That Sam will continue to improve and less driving to Surrey Memorial.

HI Meg,
i had major challenges posting my new thread for '26. It posted about 20 times and I'm not sure why or how that happened. I have you starred now on your new thread. Still amazed that you read 20 books in December. I'm impressed.

>146 vancouverdeb: Thanks for that, Deborah. I'm hoping things slow down some in 2026!

>147 mdoris: I saw all those threads marked IGNORE on the '26 75ers. Around the same time that you were posting your thread last night my computer started to stutter and started posting new windows of Firefox. I think it was something in the system that got us, Mary.

I ended up with an IGNORE thread myself because I was led astray trying to fix the touchstones.

I picked up three more books in December, one from a little free library and the two others from a bookshop close to the hospital when my son was in treatment. They are:

Unnatural Causes by P.D. James
Standing in the Shadows by Peter Robinson
Rather Be the Devil by Ian Rankin

Strangely, the Robinson and the Rankin both have the main hero towards the end of their lives/careers.

Well, Meg, thanks to your encouragement, I read a novella/ short story to bring my current total to 74 books . I'd better get cracking on my current read to make it to 75 books for 2025.

>151 vancouverdeb: Almost there, Deborah! I'm sure you can fit one in with the time remaining in the year!

Jeepers, I am feeling left out of the 75 club with my measly 51! . I guess I had better start adding my cookbooks. Well done Meg and Deborah!

198. Bloody Mary: A Graphic Biography of Mary Tudor by Kristina Gehrmann



I was aware of some of Mary Tudor’s life, but Bloody Mary: A Graphic Biography of Mary Tudor filled in many of the blanks. It also engendered a better understand of the motives behind her actions and the difficulty of her position. The illustrations brought Tudor times to life.

>153 mdoris: Thanks Mary. 51 is still better than the majority of people!

199. Who Left God Playing with Mud? by Namir I. Naoum





In a narrative based on early civilizations, Who Left God Playing with Mud? presented the reader with an interpretation of the life and death struggles of the early people of Babylon and the sometimes friendly, sometimes fractious settlements in the surrounding areas. It was time when war was not far away and gods and rulers held the power of life and death over their subjects. Sadly, many of the characters I rooted for didn’t survive.

200. Evensong Stewart O'Nan



Evensong was about a group of women ranging in age from early ‘60s to somewhere in their ‘80s. They called themselves the Humpty Dumpty Club and helped people in need, especially those of a certain age. Their leader had a fall and another of their members had to take over the leadership.

It seemed very true to life, the women depicted realistically as well as the situations they found themselves in. It was depressingly realistic a lot of the time which made it difficult to read.

Hi Meg, wishing you a Very Happy New Year, my dear friend.

201. So Far Gone by Jess Walter



One last book to add for 2025. So Far Gone was the story of Rhys Kinnick who retired from life so far that he was living off the grid. That was until his two grandkids were dropped off for him to look after. But would he be able to help them? Not if the militant evangelists their parents were connected to had anything to do with it.

It was an action packed thriller with unforeseen consequences as Rhys kept getting pulled into life threatening situations. It was hard to know who would survive to the end.

>158 johnsimpson: Hi John, I hope your New Year is a good one!

>159 Familyhistorian: Glad you enjoyed So Far Gone, Meg. I did too.

>161 vancouverdeb: It was a good one, really kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.