Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Friday, March 27, 2026

Book Beginnings: Antique Hunters and Long time, no see



The Antique Hunter's Murder
at the Castle

by C.L. Miller
Atria Books, March 2026


First sentences

The snow was descending in sheets as Bella turned her rental car down the long drive to Fawside Castle. It blanketed the world around her.



About the Book

Description from the Publisher:
 
"Hot on the heels of an art forger, a member of the Lockwood Antique Hunter’s Agency disappears while investigating an isolated castle deep in Scottish countryside. Freya and Aunt Carole race to her last known location and arrive in the wintry, snow-covered Scottish Borders.
At the castle, they discover ... a murdered laird in the vegetable garden and his priceless collection of silverware has been stolen. Local police believe Freya’s missing team member was involved with the robbery and murder...but where is she now?
As a snowstorm descends on the castle, Freya and Carole call in back-up to help uncover what happened that fateful night. As each question is met with more mystery, the clock is ticking to find their friend and the murderer before they are cut off from the outside world."
 

Initial Thoughts

This is the third book in C.L. Miller's Antique Hunter series of cozy mysteries, and I haven't read either of the other two books. As usual, I'm jumping into a series with no background and no experience with the characters or story lines. Most of the time, I don't have a lot of problems catching up. But I think it might have been a mistake with this series. I'm not connecting as quickly as I'd like and I seem to be spending way too much time trying to figure out relationships and back stories. So I'm not enjoying the book as much as I likely would if I'd read the others. 

Of course, that's my fault and not a fault of the book or the author. And I'm only about a third of the way through, so things might change. Freya and her Aunt Carole are interesting characters, and the story is moving along at a nice rapid pace. So, we'll see how things develop as I get further into the book – if I get further into the book. 

One other thought: This is the first time I've posted anything here on the blog in over a year – aside from my annual lists of books I've read. I keep promising myself that I'll start blogging and reviewing again, and I go right on breaking that promise. So, we'll see how things develop here, too. 

Please note: The sentence quoted above comes from an advance reader's copy of the book (yes, I'm a little late getting it read). I've checked it against the US edition which came out earlier this month, but haven't compared it with the UK edition. I notice that the titles seem to be different, so I suppose there could be other things that don't match up. 


Have a good weekend, everyone.
And happy reading!


Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday. As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading (or one that's caught your eye), along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a nice chance to connect with other readers and bloggers. 


Thursday, January 01, 2026

Reading in 2026

Cumulative Reading List

Here's where I'll be tracking my reading in 2026. Once again, I'll be aiming for 50 books. I always hope for 50 books, though I never really expect to make that goal. But in 2025 I read 49 (including children's books), so I have high hopes for 2026.   

JANUARY

1. The Final Problem: A Novel. Arturo PΓ©rez-Reverte; trans. by Frances Riddle (2023/2026; fiction / mystery; 303 pages)
2. More Than Enough: A Novel. Anna Quindlen (2026; fiction; 256 pages) 


FEBRUARY 

3. Cast, In Order of Disappearance (Charles Paris Mystery #1). Simon Brett (1975; fiction / mystery; 203 pages) 
4. The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances: A Novel. Glenn Dixon (2026; fiction; 224 pages)

MARCH

5. The Man Who Died Laughing (Stewart Hoag #1). David Handler (1988; fiction / mystery; 298 pages) 
6. Stonecliff. Robert Nathan (1967; fiction; 100 pages) 
7. Hopjoy Was Here (Flaxborough Chronicles #3). Colin Watson (1962; fiction / mystery; 154 pages) 

APRIL

8. The Aspern Papers. Henry James (1888; fiction; 119 pages) - This was a re-read.
9. Lives of the Saints. Nancy Lemann (1985; fiction; 199 pages) 
10. The Knight at Dawn (Magic Tree House #2). Mary Pope Osborne; illus. by Sal Murdocca (1993; children's fiction / fantasy / middle grade; 66 pages) 
11. The Circular Staircase. Mary Roberts Rinehart (1908; fiction / mystery; 205 pages) 

........
MAY

12. Dumb Witness (Hercule Poirot #16). Agatha Christie (1937; fiction / mystery; 336 pages; reading now) 
13. Los Alamos. Joseph Kanon (1997; fiction / historical fiction / mystery; 469 pages; reading now)
14. Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist (Agatha Raisin #6). M.C. Beaton (1997; fiction / cozy mystery; 212 pages; reading now) 
15. The Antique Hunter's Murder at the Castle (Antique Hunters #3). C.L. Miller (2026; fiction / mystery; 304 pages; reading now) 
16. 
........
JUNE

.......
JULY

........ 
AUGUST

........ 
SEPTEMBER

........  
OCTOBER

........   
NOVEMBER

........  
DECEMBER
 
........  

Children's Picture Books Read in 2026

1. Bea and Mr. Jones. Amy Schwartz; illus. by author (1982; 32 pages) 
2. Knight Owl. Christopher Denise; illus. by author (2022; Caldecott Honor book 2023)
3. No Roses for Harry! (Harry the Dog series). Gene Zion; illus. by Margaret Bloy Graham (1958; 32 pages) 
4. The Rock from the Sky. Jon Klassen; illus. by author (2021)
5. This Is Not My Hat (The Hat Trilogy #2). Jon Klassen; illus. by author (2012; Caldecott Medal Winner 2013) 
6. A Tree Is Nice. Janice May Udry; illus. by Marc Simont (1956; Caldecott Medal Winner 1957)
7. The Velveteen Rabbit. Margery Williams Bianco; illus. by William Nicholson (1922)
8. Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin. Lloyd Moss; illus. by Marjorie Priceman (1995; Caldecott Honor book 1996)

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Monday, December 29, 2025

Monday Reading Report and 2025 Wrap-Up


I haven’t published much on the blog this year. Almost nothing, actually. I’ve had some personal challenges this year that took up time and energy I might otherwise have devoted to reviewing and book discussions. But even though I haven’t posted much, I’ve still been reading and taking note of what others are reading. So instead of talking about what I'm reading here at year's end, I thought I’d do a little wrap-up report on what I read during the year, and look at a few stats. 

I've listed the books alphabetically, with their ratings. The star ratings are those I use for rating books at LibraryThing. Here’s the system I use over there:

✭✭✭✭✭ = All-time favorites and new discoveries that I loved - not many get this rating
✭✭✭✭ = Really liked it - an author I might consider reading again
✭✭✭ = An enjoyable read, but nothing extraordinary; most books will fall into this category
✭✭ = It was OK, but I probably wouldn't recommend it to others
✭ = Mediocre; disappointing; had trouble finishing
DNF (Did Not Finish) = Books I started reading and then put aside. This doesn't necessarily mean I didn't like a book, just that I wasn't able to finish it or didn't feel like continuing with it. Might or might not finish it later.

Excluding Dr Seuss and a couple of other children's books that were re-reads of childhood favorites, I didn't discover any 5-star reads this year. However, there were a few that came very close. For top three I'd choose Huxley's Crome Yellow, Zorrie by Laird Hunt, and Ready for My Close-Up by David M. Lubin. Surprisingly, none of those were mysteries or thrillers. 

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First, some stats. Lists of books read will follow. 

  • Total number of books read = 49 (almost made it to the 50-book goal)
  • Number of DNF books (not included in the list) = 7 (I think)
  • Number of fiction books = 44 
  • Number of nonfiction books = 5 
  • Total number of pages read = I have no idea, but I intentionally avoided chunksters this year
  • Number of books published in 2025 = 7
  • Number of books published before the year 2000 = 27
  • Number of non-crime related fiction books  = 12 (ignoring the kiddie lit, which – thankfully – did not have anything to do with crime)
  • Print books vs Electronic books = 18 print / 31 ebooks
  • Number of audio books = 0 (I don't like them much)
  • Number of library books = 0 (shame on me) 
  • Best book to read aloud = Fox in Socks, by Dr Seuss 
  • Best book to read if you want a good laugh = Anguished English, by Richard Lederer

Adult Titles Read in 2025:
 

  1. Anguished English: An Anthology of Accidental Assaults Upon the English Language, by Richard Lederer; illus. by Bill Thompson (1987) ✭✭✭✭
  2. The Book of Illusions, by Paul Auster (2002) ✭✭✭✭
  3. The Case of the Sulky Girl (Perry Mason #2), by Erle Stanley Gardner (1933) ✭✭✭✭
  4. Crome Yellow, by Aldous Huxley (1921) ✭✭✭✭½
  5. Easeful Death (DCI Bill Slider #25), by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (2025)  ✭✭✭✭
  6. The Ellsworth Case (Markham Sisters #5), by Diana Xarissa (2016) ✭✭✭✭
  7. The Fenton Case (Markham Sisters #6), by Diana Xarissa (2016) ✭✭✭✭
  8. The Godwulf Manuscript (Spenser #1), by Robert B. Parker (1973) ✭✭✭✭
  9. Hammett Unwritten, by Owen Fitzstephen (Gordon McAlpine) (2013)  ✭✭✭✭
  10. I Am Half-Sick of Shadows (Flavia de Luce #4), by Alan Bradley (2011) ✭✭✭✭
  11. The Killing Stones (Jimmy Perez & Willow Reeves #1), by Ann Cleeves (2025)  ✭✭✭
  12. Murder by Cheesecake (Golden Girls #1), by Rachel Ekstrom Courage (2025) ✭✭✭½
  13. A Murder of Quality (George Smiley #2), by John le CarrΓ© (1962) ✭✭✭✭
  14. Murder on the Marlow Belle (Marlow Murder Club #4), by Robert Thorogood (2025) ✭✭✭½
  15. The Mystery of Lewis Carroll: Discovering the Whimsical, Thoughtful, and Sometimes Lonely Man Who Created "Alice in Wonderland", by Jenny Woolf (2010) ✭✭✭½
  16. Origin (Robert Langdon #5), by Dan Brown (2017) ✭✭✭
  17. The Penguin Pool Murder (Hildegarde Withers Mysteries #1), by Stuart Palmer (1931) ✭✭✭½
  18. The Princess Diarist, by Carrie Fisher (2016) ✭✭✭½
  19. Prisoner's Base (Nero Wolfe #21), by Rex Stout (1952) ✭✭✭✭
  20. Ready for My Closeup: The Making of Sunset Boulevard and the Dark Side of the Hollywood Dream, by David M. Lubin (2025)  ✭✭✭✭½
  21. Shot Through the Book (Lighthouse Library Mystery #12), by Eva Gates (2025)  ✭✭✭
  22. Speedy Death (Mrs. Bradley Mysteries #1), by Gladys Mitchell (1929) ✭✭✭
  23. Strange Houses: A Novel, by Uketsu; trans. from Japanese by Jim Rion (2021) ✭✭½
  24. Strange Pictures: A Novel, by Uketsu; trans. by Jim Rion (2022;2025) ✭✭✭
  25. The Stranger in the Library (Lighthouse Library Mystery #11), by Eva Gates (2024) ✭✭✭½
  26. Writers and Their Notebooks, by Diana M. Raab (2010) ✭✭✭
  27. Wycliffe and the Three-Toed Pussy (Wycliffe #01), by W.J. Burley (1968) ✭✭✭
  28. Zorrie, by Laird Hunt (2021) ✭✭✭✭½

Children's Middle Grade and Young Adult Titles:

  1. The Experiment, by Rebecca Stead (2025)  ✭✭✭✭
  2. Little Jeanne of France, by Madeline Brandeis (1929) (this was a re-read) ✭✭✭✭✭
  3. Nighty-Nightmare (Bunnicula #4), by James Howe; illus. by Leslie Morrrill (1987) ✭✭✭✭
  4. The Velvet Room, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (1965) ✭✭✭✭


Children’s Books - Picture Books and Easy Reading:
 
  1. The Christmas ABC, by Florence Johnson; illus. by Eloise Wilkin (1962) ✭✭✭✭
  2. Doctor Dan the Bandage Man, by Helen Gaspard; illus. by Corinne Malvern (1950) (This was a re-read) ✭✭✭✭½
  3. Fox in Socks, by Dr. Seuss; illus. by author (1965) ✭✭✭✭✭
  4. The Fuzzy Duckling, by Jane Werner; illus. by Alice and Martin Provensen (1949) ✭✭✭✭
  5. If You Give a Pig a Pancake, by Laura Numeroff; illus. by Felicia Bond (1998) ✭✭✭✭
  6. I Wish That I Had Duck Feet, by Dr. Seuss; illus. by Barney Tobey (1965) ✭✭✭✭
  7. King Bidgood's in the Bathtub, by Audrey Wood; illus. by Don Wood (1985; Caldecott Honor Book 1986) ✭½
  8. The Library, by Sarah Stewart; illus. by David Small (1995) (This was a re-read) ✭✭✭✭
  9. The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss; illus. by author (1971) (This was a re-read) ✭✭✭✭
  10. The Night Before Christmas, by Clement C. Moore; illus. by Corinne Malvern (1949) (This was a re-read) ✭✭✭✭✭
  11. Nurse Nancy, by Kathryn Jackson; illus. by Corinne Malvern (1952) (This was a re-read) ✭✭✭✭½
  12. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, by Dr. Seuss; illus. by author (1960) ✭✭✭✭
  13. The Relatives Came, by Cynthia Rylant; illus. by Stephen Gammell (1985; Caldecott Honor Book 1986) ✭✭✭✭
  14. Tawny Scrawny Lion, by Kathryn Jackson; illus. by Gustaf Tenggren (1952) ✭✭✭✭
  15. The Ugly Duckling, by Hans Christian Andersen; adapted and illus. by Jerry Pinkney (1999; Caldecott Honor Book 2000) ✭✭✭✭
  16. XO, OX: A Love Story, by Adam Rex; illus. by Scott Campbell (2017) ✭✭✭✭

Hard to Categorize:
  1. The Further Adventures of Miss Petitfour (Miss Petitfour #2), by Anne Michaels; illus. by Emma Block (2022)  ✭✭✭½

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. If you want to let the world know what you're going to be reading this week, head on over to her blog and leave your link. It's also a great way to discover new books and new blogs. 

Monday, January 06, 2025

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?


It's been quite a while since I posted a Monday reading update. I haven't really been doing much blogging here at A Little Reading (only two posts last year!), but I'm still reading and thought I might try to get the blog going again. Of course, I've said that before and yet, here I am a year later, saying it all over again. So we'll see how it goes. 

During the Christmas holidays, I read three books. Three very different books, all of them chosen to fulfill various reading challenges over at LibraryThing....

The Donaldson Case
by Diana Xarissa (2016)

by Kevin J. Anderson (1995)

by Percival Everett (2024)


I haven't finished any books in this new year, but I've got a couple started.... 

by Jenny Woolf (2010)

by Dan Brown (2017)

Jenny Woolf's study of Lewis Carroll has a lengthy subtitle: Discovering the Whimsical, Thoughtful, and Sometimes Lonely Man Who Created "Alice in Wonderland." She brings up many interesting questions about Carroll and has some intriguing - and occasionally unpredictable - answers. I'm enjoying the book, though I'm not sure I accept or agree with all her theories and explanations. 

I've just started Dan Brown's Origin (the 5th book in his Robert Langdon series), but so far it's just as fast-moving as all his other thrillers. So even though it's something of a chunkster (between 500 and 700 pages, depending on the edition), I think it might be a quick read. 

Happy New Year, everyone!
Have a great week, and Happy Reading!



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. If you want to let the world know what you're going to be reading this week, head on over to her blog and leave your link. It's also a great way to discover new books and new blogs. 


Wednesday, January 01, 2025

Reading in 2025

Cumulative Reading List

Here's where I'll be tracking my reading in 2025. Once again, I'll be aiming for 50 books. And, once again, I don't expect to hit that mark.  

JANUARY

1. Origin (Robert Langdon #5). Dan Brown (2017; fiction / thriller; 482 pages)
2. I Am Half-Sick of Shadows (Flavia de Luce #4). Alan Bradley (2011; fiction / mystery; 305 pages) 
3. The Mystery of Lewis Carroll: Discovering the Whimsical, Thoughtful, and Sometimes Lonely Man Who Created "Alice in Wonderland". Jenny Woolf (2010; nonfiction / biography / literary history; 336 pages; reading now)
4. Murder by Cheesecake (Golden Girls #1). Rachel Ekstrom Courage (2025; fiction / cozy mystery; 336 pages)


FEBRUARY

5. Shot Through the Book (Lighthouse Library Mystery #12). Eva Gates (2025; fiction / cozy mystery; 272 pages) 
6. The Stranger in the Library (Lighthouse Library Mystery #11). Eva Gates (2024; fiction / cozy mystery; 297 pages) 


MARCH

7. The Ugly Duckling. Hans Christian Andersen; adapted & illus. by Jerry Pinkney (1999; Caldecott Honor Book 2000; children's picture book / fable; 40 pages)
8. The Relatives Came. Cynthia Rylant; illus. by Stephen Gammell (1985; Caldecott Honor Book 1986; children's picture book; 32 pages) 
9. Hammett Unwritten. Gordon McAlpine (2013; fiction / mystery; 178 pages) 


APRIL

10. Fox in Socks. Dr. Seuss; illus. by author (1965; children's picture book / humor; 62 pages) 
11. I Wish That I Had Duck Feet. Dr. Seuss; illus. by Barney Tobey (1965; children's picture book / humor; 64 pages) 
12. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. Dr. Seuss; illus. by author (1960; childlren's picture book / humor; 63 pages) 
13. King Bidgood's in the Bathtub. Audrey Wood; illus. by Don Wood (1985; children's picture book; Caldecott Honor Book 1986; 32 pages) 
14. XO, OX: A Love Story. Adam Rex; illus. by Scott Campbell (2017; children's picture book / humor; 32 pages) 
15. Easeful Death (DCI Bill Slider #25). Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (2025; fiction / mystery; 253 pages)
16. Anguished English: An Anthology of Accidental Assaults Upon the English Language. Richard Lederer (1987; nonfiction / cultural history / language; 157 pages)
17. The Penguin Pool Murder (Hildegarde Withers Mysteries #1). Stuart Palmer (1931; fiction / mystery; 280 pages) 


MAY

18. Speedy Death (Mrs. Bradley Mysteries #1). Gladys Mitchell (1929; fiction / mystery; 266 pages) 
19. Prisoner's Base (Nero Wolfe #21). Rex Stout (1952; fiction / mystery; 226 pages) 
20. The Book of Illusions. Paul Auster (2002; fiction; 333 pages)


JUNE

21. A Murder of Quality (George Smiley #2). John le CarrΓ© (1962; fiction / mystery; 158 pages) 
22. Writers and Their Notebooks. Diana Raab (2010; nonfiction / essays; 206 pages) 


JULY

23. The Lorax. Dr. Seuss; illus. by author (1971; children's picture book; 72 pages; this was a re-read)
24. If You Give a Pig a Pancake. Laura Numeroff; illus. by Felicia Bond (1998; children's picture book; 32 pages) 
25. The Library. Sarah Stewart; illus. by David Small (1995; children's picture book; 40 pages; this was a re-read) 
26. Wycliffe and the Three-Toed Pussy (Wycliffe #1). W.J. Burley (1968; fiction / mystery; 224 pages) 


AUGUST

27. Ready for My Closeup: The Making of Sunset Boulevard and the Dark Side of the Hollywood Dream. David M. Lubin (2025; nonfiction / cultural history / film; 301 pages) 
28. The Case of the Sulky Girl (Perry Mason #2). Erle Stanley Gardner (1933; fiction / mystery; 264 pages) 
29. Nighty-Nightmare (Bunnicula #4). James Howe; illus. by Leslie Morrill (1987; children's fiction / mystery; 144 pages) 


SEPTEMBER

30. Murder on the Marlow Belle (Marlow Murder Club #4). Robert Thorogood (2025; fiction / mystery; 251 pages)
31. The Godwulf Manuscript (Spenser #1). Robert B. Parker (1973; fiction / mystery; 210 pages) 
32. The Killing Stones (Jimmy Perez & Willow Reeves #1). Ann Cleeves (2025; fiction / mystery; 384 pages) 


OCTOBER

33. The Further Adventures of Miss Petitfour (Miss Petitfour #2). Anne Michaels; illus. by Emma Block (2022; children's literature / fantasy; 159 pages)
34. Strange Houses: A Novel. Uketsu; trans. from Japanese by Jim Rion (2021; fiction / mystery / horror / weird fiction; 203 pages)
35. The Princess Diarist. Carrie Fisher (2016; nonfiction / memoir; 272 pages)  


NOVEMBER

36. Strange Pictures. Uketsu; trans. from Japanese by Jim Rion (2022; fiction / mystery / horror; 240 pages) 
37. Crome Yellow. Aldous Huxley (1921; fiction / satire; 223 pages)
38. The Ellsworth Case (Markham Sisters #5). Diana Xarissa (2016; fiction / mystery / cozy mystery; 112 pages) 
39. Doctor Dan the Bandage Man. Helen Gaspard; illus. by Corinne Malvern (1950; children's picture book; Little Golden Book; 24 pages) (This was a re-read)
40. Nurse Nancy. Kathryn Jackson; illus. by Corinne Malvern (1952; children's picture book; Little Golden Book; 24 pages) (This was a re-read) 
41. Tawny Scrawny Lion. Kathryn Jackson; illus. by Gustaf Tenggren (1952; children's picture book; Little Golden Book; 24 pages) 
42. The Fuzzy Duckling. Jane Werner; illus. by Alice and Martin Provensen (1949; children's picture book; Little Golden Book; 24 pages) 


DECEMBER
 
43. The Night Before Christmas. Clement C. Moore; illus. by Corinne Malvern (1949; children's picture book; Little Golden Book; 24 pages) (This was a re-read)
44. The Christmas ABC. Florence Johnson; illus. by Eloise Wilkin (1962; children's picture book; Little Golden Book; 24 pages) 
45. The Experiment. Rebecca Stead (2025; children's literature / science fiction; 268 pages) 
46. The Velvet Room. Zilpha Keatley Snyder (1965; fiction / children's literature; 228 pages)
47. Zorrie. Laird Hunt (2021; fiction; 176 pages) 
48. The Fenton Case (Markham Sisters #6). Diana Xarissa (2016; fiction / mystery / cozy mystery; 108 pages) 

.......


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Friday, May 17, 2024

Book Beginnings: The Queen of Poisons


The Queen of Poisons
by Robert Thorogood
Poisoned Pen Press, June 2024


First sentence

Suzie Harris was on a mission.



About the Book

Description from GoodReads:
 

The Marlow Murder Club is on the hunt for a killer... 
Geoffrey Lushington, Mayor of Marlow, dies suddenly during a town council meeting. When traces of aconite—also known as the queen of poisons—are found in his coffee cup, the police realize he was murdered. But who did it? And why? 
The police bring Judith, Suzie, and Becks in to investigate the murder as civilian advisors right from the start, so they have free rein to interview suspects and follow the evidence to their heart's content… which is perfect because Judith has no time for rules and standard procedure. But this case has the Marlow Murder Club stumped. Who would want to kill the affable mayor of Marlow? How did they even get the poison into his coffee? And is anyone else in danger? 
The Marlow Murder Club is about to face their most difficult case yet...

 

Initial Thoughts

Well, my first thought isn't exactly about the book — it's about my reading/blogging life. It's been quite a while since I put up a post for Book Beginnings. Actually, it's been quite a while since I posted anything at all on the blog, aside from my list of books read. More than a year, in fact. During that time I've been through a lot of major life changes, and for a long time I wasn't able to do any reading — so there wasn't really much of anything to blog about. But time moves on, and the books are starting to whisper my name again. And now that I'm back to reading, I want to try to get back to blogging, too. They tell me it's therapeutic. 

So, here goes....

Not the most magnetic opening, is it? I'm not sure that first sentence would draw me in if I wasn't already familiar with the Marlow Murder Club books. 

The Queen of Poisons is the third book in Robert Thorogood's Marlow Murder Club series of mystery novels. The two earlier books are The Marlow Murder Club (2021), and Death Comes to Marlow (2023). 

The "Murder Club" of the series consists of three amateur sleuths — a couple of middle-aged women (Becks and Suzie) and a third member who by now should be nearing 80 (Judith was 77 in the first book). I love finding books that feature older women doing interesting things and not just waiting around for dementia to set in, while letting their offspring and nieces and nephews have all the adventures. Judith lives on her own (well, in the first two books, anyway), enjoys swimming nude in the Thames, and solves mysteries. So, naturally, I fell in love with her immediately. 

I've read and enjoyed the first two books, although I thought the second was not as satisfying as the first. That frequently happens in a book series. So I'm hoping this third offering turns out to be as intriguing as the first. 

Please note: The sentence quoted above comes from an advance reader's copy of the book. I've checked it against the UK edition which came out in January. The book is scheduled to be released in the USA in June. 


Have a good weekend, everyone.
And happy reading!


Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday. As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading (or one that's caught your eye), along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a nice chance to connect with other readers and bloggers. 

Tuesday, January 02, 2024

Books Read in 2024

Cumulative Reading List

Here's where I'll be tracking my reading in 2024. I used to aim for 50 books a year, but for 2024 I'm just hoping to do better than the dozen books I read last year. 

JANUARY

1. City of Glass (New York Trilogy, Book 1). Paul Auster (1985; fiction / mystery; 203 pages) 
2. Ghosts (New York Trilogy, Book 2). Paul Auster (1986; fiction / mystery; 100 pages) 
3. The Locked Room (New York Trilogy, Book 3). Paul Auster (1986; fiction / mystery; 179 pages) 
4. Heads You Lose (Inspector Cockrill #1). Christianna Brand (1941; fiction / mystery; 196 pages) 


FEBRUARY

5. Peril at End House (Hercule Poirot #8). Agatha Christie (1932; fiction / mystery; 288 pages) 
6. World's Fair. E.L. Doctorow (1985; fiction / historical fiction; 304 pages) 
7. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. Chris Grabenstein (2013; fiction / children's literature; 293 pages)


MARCH

8.  The Road to Lichfield. Penelope Lively (1977; fiction; 224 pages) 
9.  Experimental Film. Gemma Files (2015; fiction; 314 pages) 
10. Last House. Jessica Shattuck (2024; fiction / historical fiction; 304 pages) 


APRIL

11. After Annie. Anna Quindlen (2024; fiction; 273 pages) 
12. Hamnet. Maggie O'Farrell (2020; fiction / historical fiction; 321 pages) 
13. Unexpected Night (Henry Gamadge Mysteries #1). Elizabeth Daly (1940; fiction / mystery; 221 pages)


MAY

14. The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church. Sarah McCammon (2024; nonfiction / memoir / culture; 288 pages) 
15. Oracle Night. Paul Auster (2003; fiction; 260 pages) 
16. Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey. Karen Wilkin (2009; nonfiction / art / art history; 123 pages) 
17. Power and Glory: Elizabeth II and the Rebirth of Royalty. Alexander Larman (2024; nonfiction / history; 525 pages)
18. Toyland: Classic Illustrations of Children and Their Toys. Pamela Prince; designed by Barry Zaid (1990; art / art history / children's books; 44 pages)


JUNE

19. Jane Eyre. Charlotte BrontΓ« (1847; fiction; 465 pages) 


JULY

20. If Death Ever Slept (Nero Wolfe #29). Rex Stout (1957; fiction / mystery; 208 pages) 
21. Death and the Dancing Footman (Roderick Alleyn #11). Ngaio Marsh (1941; fiction / mystery; 356 pages) 


AUGUST

22. A Grave Mistake (Roderick Alleyn #30). Ngaio Marsh (1978; fiction / mystery; 260 pages)
23. Death in a White Tie (Roderick Alleyn #7). Ngaio Marsh (1938; fiction / mystery; 329 pages) 


SEPTEMBER

24. Final Curtain (Roderick Alleyn #14). Ngaio Marsh (1947; fiction / mystery; 301 pages) 
25. The House Takes a Vacation. Jacqueline Davies; illus. by Lee White (2007; children's picture book; 32 pages)


OCTOBER

26. Du Iz Tak? Carson Ellis; illus. by author (2016; children's picture book; 2017 Caldecott Honor Book; 48 pages) 
27. White Snow, Bright Snow. Alvin Tresselt; illus. by Roger Duvoisin (1947; children's picture book; 1948 Caldecott Medal Winner; 32 pages) 
28. Have You Seen My Duckling? Nancy Tafuri; illus. by author (1984; children's picture book; 1985 Caldecott Honor Book; 32 pages) 
29. The Dweller on the Threshold. Robert Smythe Hichens (1911; fiction; 292 pages)
30. The Celery Stalks at Midnight (Bunnicula #3). James Howe; illus. by Leslie H. Morrill (1983; children's literature / horror / humor; 81 pages) 
31. Welcome to Dead House (Goosebumps #1). R.L. Stine (1992; children's literature / horror; 108 pages) 
32. Three Days in June. Anne Tyler (2025; fiction; 176 pages) 


NOVEMBER

33. We'll Prescribe You a Cat. Syou Ishida; trans. by E. Madison Shimoda (2023/ 2024; fiction; 301 pages) 
34. Let Me Tell You What I Mean. Joan Didion (2021; nonfiction / essays; 194 pages) 
35. Every Time We Say Goodbye (Jane Austen Society #3). Natalie Jenner (2024; historical fiction; 336 pages) 
36. The Little Island. Margaret Wise Brown; illus. by Leonard Weisgard (1946; children's picture book; 1947 Caldecott Medal Winner; 48 pages) 
37. They Were Strong and Good. Robert Lawson; illus. by author (1940; children's picture book; 1941 Caldecott Medal Winner; 72 pages) 
38. The Queen of Poisons (Marlow Murder Club #3). Robert Thorogood (2024; fiction / mystery; 272 pages) 


DECEMBER

39. The X-Files: Ground Zero (X-Files #3). Kevin J. Anderson (1995; fiction / science fiction / sci-fi fantasy; 340 pages) 
40. The Donaldson Case (Markham Sisters #4). Diana Xarissa (2016; fiction / mystery; 105 pages) 
41. James. Percival Everett (2024; historical fiction; 307 pages) 

.......


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Wednesday, September 06, 2023

Books Read in 2023

Cumulative Reading List


Here's where I'll be tracking my reading in 2023. I'm getting a late start with the list, and didn't manage to do any reading in January or February. But my goal for 2023 is a lot lower than most years. If I read a book or two a month during the rest of this year, I'll be satisfied. 


MARCH

1. High Rising (Barsetshire #1). Angela Thirkell (1933; fiction)

APRIL

2. Wild Strawberries (Barsetshire #2). Angela Thirkell (1934; fiction) 
3. Bramton Wick. Elizabeth Fair (1952; fiction) 

MAY

4. The Windsors at War: The King, His Brother, and a Family Divided. Alexander Larman (2023; nonfiction / history)

JUNE

5. Landscape in Sunlight. Elizabeth Fair (1953; fiction) 

JULY

6. Death Comes to Marlow (Marlow Murder Club #2). Robert Thorogood (2023; fiction / mystery)

AUGUST

7. Looking Glass Sound. Catriona Ward (2023; fiction / horror) 

SEPTEMBER

8. The Heiress. Rachel Hawkins (2024; fiction / thriller) 

OCTOBER

9. The Messy Lives of Book People. Phaedra Patrick (2022; fiction / women's fiction / adult fantasy) 
10. The Love Story of Missy Carmichael. Beth Morrey (2020; fiction / women's fiction)

NOVEMBER

11. I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died (Emily Dickinson Mystery #2). Amanda Flower (2023; fiction / mystery / historical fiction) 

DECEMBER

12. When You Are Engulfed in Flames. David Sedaris (2008; nonfiction / humor / essays) 



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Monday, December 12, 2022

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

I have no idea what happened to the last month or so. Time flies, right? But I know what's happened to the last couple of weeks — for me, anyway. I came down with COVID right after Thanksgiving and I've been pretty wiped out ever since. I think I might be on the mend now, but I don't wanna speak too soon. I thought I was on the mend last week, too — and then, the dreaded rebound set in. So at the moment I'm in wait-and-see mode, with fingers crossed. 

But even with the brain fog, I've managed to finish a few books, so far this month....

Gambit
(Nero Wolfe #37)
by Rex Stout (pub. 1962)

(21st book in the Pendergast series)
by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
(expected pub. - Jan. 2023)


(Jeremy Logan #2)
by Lincoln Child (pub. 2008)

Those are by three of my favorite authors — I expected them to be entertaining, and they didn't disappoint. 

Not sure what's on the list for the rest of December, but at the moment I'm reading a classic bit of humor by another of my favorite writers. Because, right now, I could definitely use a few laughs....


by Will Cuppy
(first pub. 1931)


Happy reading, everyone — and have a great week!



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. If you want to let the world know what you're going to be reading this week, head on over to her blog and leave your link. It's also a great way to discover new books and new blogs. 

Friday, November 04, 2022

Book Beginnings: The Cloisters


The Cloisters
by Katy Hays
Atria Books, November 2022


First sentence
Death always visited me in August. 
 
About the Book

Description from GoodReads:
 

When Ann Stilwell arrives in New York City, she expects to spend her summer working as a curatorial associate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Instead, she finds herself assigned to The Cloisters, a gothic museum and garden renowned for its medieval art collection and its group of enigmatic researchers studying the history of divination.

Desperate to escape her painful past, Ann is happy to indulge the researchers’ more outlandish theories about the history of fortune telling. But what begins as academic curiosity quickly turns into obsession when Ann discovers a hidden 15th-century deck of tarot cards that might hold the key to predicting the future. When the dangerous game of power, seduction, and ambition at The Cloisters turns deadly, Ann becomes locked in a race for answers as the line between the arcane and the modern blurs. 

 

Initial Thoughts

I've only visited the Cloisters Museum once, but it was an amazing experience, and I'd love to go back someday. And I've always been interested in tarot cards and their history. So The Cloisters sounds like it could be just the book for me! Haven't actually started it yet, but that first sentence is something of a grabber, so I have high hopes. 


Have a good weekend, everyone.
And happy reading!


Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday. As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.


Monday, October 03, 2022

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?


September seems to have disappeared while I wasn't really paying attention. But that's OK — it's never been one of my favorite months, even though it's my birthday month. Or maybe BECAUSE it's my birthday month. Anyhoo, I find it's suddenly October, a much nicer month (imho). 

I don't think I posted a reading update during September, so here's what I read last month:

by Melissa Dassori

by Lauren Owen

by Megan Goldin

by Laurie R. King

And here's what I'm reading right now:


Late Harvest Havoc
by Jean-Pierre Alaux & Noel Balen


by Andrew Mayne

I haven't been posting any reviews here on the blog this year, and I regret that. I like to say at least a few words about everything I read, so in the future I can go back and see what I thought about the books. Because, you know, the memory isn't getting any better as the years melt away. So, I'm hoping to get a few reviews up this week. At least, that's the plan right now. 

Happy reading, everyone — and have a great week!



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. If you want to let the world know what you're going to be reading this week, head on over to her blog and leave your link. It's also a great way to discover new books and new blogs. 

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Book Beginnings: Stay Awake


Stay Awake
by Megan Goldin
St. Martin's Press, August 2022


Opening Lines
Wednesday 2:42 A.M. 
Starbursts blink from streetlights like they're sharing a secret as I wake to find myself slumped in the back of a cab, without any recollection of how I got here, or where I'm going. 
 
About the Book

Description from GoodReads:
 

Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a taxi with no idea where she is or how she got there. When she’s dropped off at the door of her brownstone, a stranger answers—a stranger who now lives in her apartment and forces her out in the cold. She reaches for her phone to call for help, only to discover it’s missing, and in its place is a bloodstained knife. That’s when she sees that her hands are covered in black pen, scribbled messages like graffiti on her skin: STAY AWAKE.

Two years ago, Liv was living with her best friend, dating a new man, and thriving as a successful writer for a trendy magazine. Now, she’s lost and disoriented in a New York City that looks nothing like what she remembers. Catching a glimpse of the local news, she’s horrified to see reports of a crime scene where the victim’s blood has been used to scrawl a message across a window, the same message that’s inked on her hands. What did she do last night? And why does she remember nothing from the past two years? Liv finds herself on the run for a crime she doesn’t remember committing as she tries to piece together the fragments of her life. But there’s someone who does know exactly what she did, and they’ll do anything to make her forget—permanently. 

 

Initial Thoughts

I was attracted to Stay Awake because that storyline reminded me a bit of the movie "Memento" (2000, Directed by Christopher Nolan), which was about a man with short-term memory loss trying to investigate his wife's death. I enjoyed the movie, but I'm happy to report that beyond that basic similar plot device, the stories in the book and film are (thankfully) completely different. 

Following the thoughts and actions of a central character who keeps forgetting what happened to her just a few paragraphs back is challenging. It's an interesting exercise that works sometimes, but sometimes just becomes irritating. 

I'm hoping to stay interested enough in this one to finish it, since I've started and abandoned several other books recently. And I really do hate to keep adding books to that "Did Not Finish" pile. 

Have a good weekend, everyone.
And happy reading!


Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday. As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.


Thursday, September 01, 2022

Book Beginnings: Small Angels


Small Angels
by Lauren Owen
Random House, August 2022


Opening Sentence
Tell it to the trees.

 

About the Book
Description from NetGalley: 
Lucia and her sisters grew up on the edge of Mockbeggar Woods. They knew it well—its danger, but also its beauty. As a lonely teenager, Kate was drawn to these sisters, who were unlike anyone she’d ever met. But when they brought her into the woods, something dark was awakened, and Kate has never been able to escape the terrible truth of what happened there. 
Chloe has been planning her dream wedding for months. She has the dress, the flowers, and the perfect venue: Small Angels, a charming old church set alongside dense, green woods in the village that her fiancΓ©, Sam, and his sister, Kate, grew up in. But days before the ceremony, Chloe starts to learn of unsettling stories about Small Angels and Mockbeggar Woods. And worse, she begins to see, smell, and hear things that couldn’t possibly be real. 
Now, Kate is returning home for the first time in years—for Sam and Chloe’s wedding. But the woods are stirring again, and Kate must reconnect with Lucia, her first love, to protect Chloe, the village, and herself. An unforgettable novel about the memories that hold us back and those that show us the way forward, this is storytelling at its most magical. 

 

Initial Thoughts

When I read that opening, I couldn't help thinking of the old phrase, "Tell it to the Marines!" Maybe it's all those World War II movies I watched as a kid. 

And no, I wasn't around during World War II. (Well, almost but not quite.)

Not that there would be anything wrong with that. 

I just watch a lot of old movies.

But back to Small Angels. I'm about three-quarters of the way through the book, and it seems like I've been reading it forever. It's not that I haven't been enjoying it, but I do think it's much too long. Hoping to finish it up tonight, although it's one of those books you might not want to read at bedtime. 


Have a good weekend, everyone.
And happy reading!


Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday. As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.