QuestingA's 75 book challenge 2026

I managed 69 books last year - 63 fiction and six non-fiction. Here I go for 2026.

1. The Seeker by S.G. Maclean

Welcome back!

New Year greetings from Kuala Lumpur. My project is at least physically completed and an addition to the city scape.

Look forward to keeping up with you in 2026

>1 QuestingA: I read The Seeker last year and really enjoyed it.

>2 drneutron: thanks drneutron. Happy reading!

>4 PaulCranswick: hi Paul. I also enjoyed The Seeker. I'm looking forward to reading others in the series.

2. Murder Under the Mistletoe by the Reverend Richard Coles

3. Eight Ghosts: The English Heritage Book of New Ghost Stories edited by Rowan Routh

4. Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, translated by William Rees

>6 QuestingA: I will read the second installment fairly soon so I would be up for a shared read.

5. Still Waters: A Lake District Mystery by E.C.R. Lorac

>9 PaulCranswick: hi Paul, a shared read would be interesting. I haven't done that before.

I know a bit about the English Civil Wars, but not a lot about the Commonwealth or the Protectorate. I had planned to read a background book, after I finish my current book and my next book group book. Would late February/early March suit you, or is that too long a wait?

6. Hallowed Ground: The Folklore of Churches and Churchyards by Mark Norman

>11 QuestingA: Both dates would be fine for me, just let me know a few days in advance when you plan to start it.

Last year I read The Blazing World by Jonathan Healey which I thought was a very good and readable introduction to the entire period.

7. Death in High Heels by Christianna Brand

8. The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold

A book group book.

>13 PaulCranswick: thanks for the recommendation. I may actually have The Blazing World somewhere on my pile. The book I want to read is London and the 17th Century by Margarette Lincoln. I plan to start it next weekend.

9. Death in Ambush by Susan Gilruth

10. Five Decembers by James Kestrel

11. When the Devil Holds the Candle by Karin Fossum

12. Land of Hope by Cate Baum

>11 QuestingA: Let me know when SG MacLean is likely to make an appearance on your reading horizon. March?

13. In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan

>21 PaulCranswick: hi Paul, any time this month will suit me, as long as it's after the 6th. I haven't done a shared reading before. How does it work? Do we agree a certain chapter or page count each week?

14. As if by Magic: Locked Room Mysteries and Other Miraculous Crimes edited by Martin Edwards

15. Mere by Danielle Giles

16. The Naked Light by Bridget Collins

17. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

18. The Tattoo Murder by Akimitsu Takagi, translated by Deborah Boehm

19. Soot by Andrew Martin

20. The Noh Mask Murder by Akimitsu Takagi and translated by Jesse Kirkwood

21. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

22. Ghost by Finbar Hawkins

23. The Safe Keep by Yael van der Wouden

24. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

25. Mother of Serpents by John R Gordon

26. The Double Turn by Carol Carnac

27. The Consultant by Im Seong-Sun, translated by An Seon Jae

28. Holy Island by LJ Ross

>23 QuestingA: Exceptionally remiss of me not getting back to you, but in my defence I had my kids and granddaughter visit (one of my daughters and her boyfriend as a complete surprise) and I got entirely caught up in the moment.

I still haven't read the S.G. MacLean sophomore effort. If you are still up for the shared read then I can go with it at anytime.

Since there will most likely be just the two of us, a separate thread is not really necessary, so it would be a case of giving updates to each others threads on where we are with it and what we think of it.

Do let me know and please accept my humble apologies for my almost three month absence.

29. The Death and Life of Lucy Westenra by Rosie Fiore

>38 PaulCranswick: hi Paul, I've been composing in my head an equally apologetic message to you! I'm sort of in two book groups and also trying to read some roots, while constantly acquiring more books.

This is good timing for me. I can start this on Sunday (14th). What is your main thread called?

30. Mythical Mull: Stories from Scotland's Enchanted Island

>40 QuestingA: This is a link to my latest thread.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/384691#n9213844

We are on!

31. To Exist As I Am by Grace Spence Green

I am starting The Black Friar this afternoon.

I managed to finish the book on Sunday. I didn't think it quite matched the first book but was still a very good story. I will definitely look for number three in the series.

>45 PaulCranswick: hi Paul, I'm afraid I haven't read much of the book during the week. Still early in the story. I'm enjoying it though. Perhaps not liking Seeker himself so much as in the first book but I'm enjoying the descriptions of London geography and the domestic and international politics.

32. This is not Propaganda: Adventures in the War Against Reality by Peter Pomerantsev

33. Old Soul by Susan Baker

34. The Black Friar by S.G. MacLean

>49 QuestingA: Thanks for joining me in reading that one!

35. The False Rose by Jakob Wegelius

>50 PaulCranswick: thanks Paul! It got some interesting discussion in your thread.