Seasonsoflove's Challenge 2013

Happy New Year everyone!

I have so many books TBR on my shelves, and plan to read a lot of them this year! I'm going for 60 again this year, I got really close last year. I will also be counting Early Reviewer and Member Giveaway books, which I will indicate next to their title.




January 2013
1. Murder on a Hot Tin Roof by Amanda Matetsky
2. Died in the Wool by Ngaio Marsh
3. Detective Piggot's Casebook by Kevin Morgan
4. The Lady and the Panda by Vicki Constantine Croke

February 2013
1. Into the Arms of Madness by Regina Pacelli (Member Giveaway)
2. The Ghost and the Dead Deb by Alice Kimberly
3. First to Find by Morgan C. Talbot (Early Reviewer)
4. Dark Truth by Mariah Stewart
5. Revenge of the Homecoming Queen by Stephanie Hale

March 2013
1. Bones to Pick by Carolyn Haines
2. Gold Coast Madam by Rose Laws (Early Reviewer)
3. On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle
4. The Trouble with Magic by Madelyn Alt
5. The Collected Adventures of Bartleby and James by Michael Coorlim (Member Giveaway)
6. Trail of Blood by Lisa Black
7. The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill

April 2013
1. Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon
2. Dream Team by Jack McCallum (Early Reviewer)
3. Night of the Loving Dead by Casey Daniels
4. The King's Jar by Susan C. Shea (Early Reviewer)
5. Death by Latte by Linda Gerber
6. Death by Denim by Linda Gerber
7. Hello, Gorgeous by MaryJanice Davidson

May 2013
1. The Cat Who Sang for the Birds by Lillian Jackson Braun
2. Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
3. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
4. Cast of Shadows by Kevin Guilfoiles
5. The Case of the Curious Bride by Erle Stanley Gardner
6. In the Dark of the Night by John Saul

June 2013
1. Killer Show: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock Concert by John Barylick (Early Reviewer)
2. The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter

July 2013
1. Sister by Rosamund Lupton
2. Dark Academy Blood Ties by Gabriella Poole
3. Spying in High Heels by Gemma Halliday
4. The Year of the Gadfly by Jennifer Miller
5. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
6. Marie Antoinette Serial Killer by Katie Alender (ARC)

August 2013

1. An Appointment With Murder by Jennifer L. Jennings
2. Blood Price by Tanya Huff
3. Ghost Burglar by Jack Burch and James D. King (Early Reviewer)
4. Loose Screw by Rae Davies
5. Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris

September 2013
1. The Widows of Braxton County by Jess McConkey (Early Reviewer)
2. Never Buried by Edie Claire
3. True Crime by Lee Gutkind (Early Reviewer)

October 2013
1. The Cornerstone by Anne C. Petty (Early Reviewer)
2. Murder Past Due by Miranda Jones
3. The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen
4. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
5. When Day Breaks by Mary Jane Clark
6. Twelve Red Herrings by Jeffrey Archer
7. A Trial by Jury by D. Graham Burnett

November 2013
1. Chasing Cezanne by Peter Mayle
2. Deeper Than the Dead by Tami Hoag
3. Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett
4. We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
5. The Silver Needle Murder by Laura Childs

December 2013
1. The Architect by Keith Ablow
2. Music to Murder By by Vernon Hinkle
3. The Dead of Winter by Chris Priestley
4. Devil May Care by Elizabeth Peters
5. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
6. Malice Domestic 5 edited by Phyllis A. Whitney
7. Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman
8. Blacklands by Belinda Bauer
9. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

Good luck with your goal. I'm joining you in the hope that I can get at least 60 or more off the shelves this year.

It is a difficult challenge because for every one I get off the shelf, I'm adding two. I hope I can break this tread in 2013.

Happy reading in 2013 and good luck getting to 60!

Thanks so much!

I definitely just went to the library and ordered some new books as well hee hee, but I'm starting the year off with a book off my shelf, so I figure that's a good sign :)

1. Murder on a Hot Tin Roof by Amanda Matetsky

This is an entry in a fun mystery series set in the 50s, with a spunky girl sleuth named Paige Turner who works for a crime magazine. In this book, Paige finds herself involved in a show business slaying, when a handsome understudy who just had his star-making debut in the lead role in the hot new play (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) is found slashed to death in his apartment the very next morning.

Paige is a great character, determined, smart, and always finding ways to work within the social structure of the times she finds herself a part of, while still remaining true to her self and her views on the world. The mystery is a clever one as well, with great memorable characters and a suspenseful ending. The romance between Paige and her "Detective Dan" is a great one as well.

Sounds like a fun read. I have to admit I disliked almost every single character in Cat... (the movie) when I watched it years ago -- I wouldn't mind if someone wrote a mystery in which they all get offed.:)

It was a really fun read for sure-I've never actually seen the movie but have read large chunks of the play-you might really like this mystery then ;)

Not to worry, it's gone on my list.:)

Great! :) I look forward to hearing what you think :)

2. Died in the Wool by Ngaio Marsh

While an unusual novel for Marsh in that it is both a murder mystery and a spy story, Died in the Wool has all the wonderful typical components of Marsh's work-a secluded estate, a cast of complex characters, twists and turns, and the fantastic Inspector Alleyn.

Alleyn has been called to the scene of the crime a year after the murder occurred. It is wartime, and while Alleyn is obstentiously there to seek out the spy in their midst, he is also there to figure out who stuffed and pressed a woman's corpse in a bale of wool.

The dramatic denouement cleverly wraps up the mysteries, leaving the reader surprised and satisfied.

That was a good one! As a knitter I liked the parts about the wool just as much as the mystery ;)

It was a good one! And that's really cool about the knitting!

3. Detective Piggot's Casebook by Kevin Morgan

A true crime book I brought back from my family's trip to Australia, this book traces the life and career of Detective Piggot, an influential policeman essentially responsible for the introduction of forensic science in Australia. While Piggot was not perfect, he tackled some incredibly difficult cases, and used methods almost no one else was using at the time, making for a very interesting read.

4. The Lady and the Panda by Vicki Constantine Croke

This is a fascinating and incredible tale of a society woman who successfully treks through the uncharted parts of China and brings back two pandas to the United States, becoming the first person to introduce Americans to live pandas. Exploring the cultural, societal, historical, and personal implications of all that Ruth Harkness did and accomplished, this is an amazing insight into an extraordinary woman, an extraordinary country, and an extraordinary animal.

5. Into the Arms of Madness by Regina Pacelli (Member Giveaway)

A very blissful newlywed has her world turned upside down when her husband reveals a life-changing secret his family has been helping him hide for years. A really interesting premise, the book definitely ventures into unbelievable territory, which is where it lost me some. The secret itself wasn't so unbelievable (I do read a lot of mysteries and thrillers after all, hee hee!), but how the wife reacted throughout the story seemed way too calm and accepting-while her struggle is discussed (she is the first person narrator of the story), it just didn't seem realistic. The last paragraph of the epilogue though gives really interesting insight into her character, and kind of makes everything make a little more sense.

6. The Ghost and the Dead Deb by Alice Kimberly

This is such a fun series, and I'm really glad I rediscovered it by pulling the book from my shelves. It centers around the owner of an independent bookstore (Penelope), and a deceased PI (Jack) whose spirit is trapped in her bookstore. While this sounds like a bizarre concept, it actually works really well, and makes for a fun and different cozy mystery read.

In this book, a rich party girl pens a tell-all true crime novel about her former friend, who was brutally murdered at one of their fancy parties. When the rich party girl then turns up dead, Penelope and Jack must figure out the connections between the old crime and the new one.

I love mysteries surrounding secrets from the past, and wish it was possible to read the fake true crime book within the cozy mystery book because it sounded really interesting-that's how well-written and good this series is. I love the characters, and the relationship between Penelope and Jack, and the mysteries are always intriguing. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series, sooner rather than later.

7. First to Find by Morgan C. Talbot (Early Reviewer)

This was a really interesting and original mystery, using the hobby of geocaching to spin a murder mystery with a lot of twists and turns. While some of the geocachers were a little hard to keep straight, even knowing next to nothing about geocaching I was still able to follow along almost completely, and in fact had my interest piqued enough to want to find out more about the hobby/sport. The mystery is a good one as well, with a satisfying and suspenseful solution. I look forward to more books in this series.

8. Dark Truth by Mariah Stewart

A quick read (well needed after Broken Harbor), Dark Truth also looks at how the secrets we keep from each other can have dramatic consequences, but with not quite the same finesse. It's more the kind of paperback you grab for cheap at a book fair, enjoy while you read, and then don't keep on your shelf when you're done, particularly since the ending is good but not as much of a surprise as I had hoped.

The protagonist has always believed her father to be guilty of the crimes he was convicted of, but when some new evidence comes to light over a decade later, she is forced to confront the idea that the father she subsequently ignored may have been innocent, and she will stop at nothing to discover the truth. There are some good twists and a nice romance along the way, and while the ending isn't a total shock, it's still suspenseful and well-done.

19. Revenge of the Homecoming Queen by Stephanie Hale

Exactly the kind of light mystery read I needed after the darker fare I've been reading lately, Revenge of the Homecoming Queen is the tale of Aspen Brooks, a popular high school girl who suddenly finds herself seemingly losing her bid for Homecoming Queen, and crushing on the boy considered the biggest nerd at school. When the girl who (supposedly) won the crown disappears, Aspen finds herself thrust into a mystery and romance she never saw coming.

This is exactly what it sounds like-a read that is fun and not challenging, that makes you laugh and smile, with a nice twist at the end of the mystery and a sweet romance you root for.

I very much would like to read the other books in this trilogy-however unfortunately and surprisingly the public library system here does not have any of Ms. Hale's books in electronic or print form. I have added them to my Kindle wishlist for the rare time when I have extra money for an extra treat ;) Whenever I have extra money, somehow extra books always end up jumping onto my Kindle and/or shelves! ;)

10. Bones to Pick by Carolyn Haines

A Southern Belles mystery, Bones to Pick stars Sarah Booth, a private investigator sharing her family home with a ghost and her own complicated love life. When the shunned daughter of a prestigious family is murdered , the suspect's brother hires Sarah Booth and her partner named Tinkie to clear his sister's name and find the real killer.

This book was merely okay, and I think a lot of that stems from the fact that I just read a mystery that handled similar ideas much better. The Ghost and the Dead Deb also has a resident ghost that only the female protagonist can see, and also investigates the murder of a society girl who writes a tell-all about her wealthy acquaintances, and it is a much more interesting and well-written read. Bones to Pick isn't bad, not at all, it just gets bogged down in Sarah Booth's emotional turmoil about her love for a married man, and the ending goes on way too long after the mystery is solved.

11. Gold Coast Madam by Rose Laws (Early Reviewer)

Rose Laws was known as the Gold Coast Madam from her days in Chicago running a high-class prostitution "agency", and this is her memoir, after she has been forced into retirement from the business through various arrests and jail time.

This is definitely an interesting read, especially because so much of it takes place in Chicago. Rose Laws' life was full of crazy twists and turns, and events I doubt very many other people have experienced. I did feel that some of the events were so out there and unbelievable that they took me out of the book wondering if they could be real, but I don't doubt that Ms. Laws is telling the truth in her memoir. It's just such a crazy tale, and that's what definitely makes the reader keep reading. The writing style is merely okay, but the story is fascinating.

12. On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle

A cozy coffee house mystery, On What Grounds's protagonist, Claire Cosi, must figure out what caused her employee to fall down the stairs and end up in a coma. As evidence mounts that the fall was an accident and The Village Blend is liable, Claire enlists the help of handsome Detective Quinn to solve the mystery, all while juggling a tempting ex-husband and the mission to brew the perfect cup of coffee.

While not the best mystery I've ever read (I occasionally got bogged down in all the trivia about coffee, though I did find it interesting, and I did feel the mystery took a while to get going), this was a fun light read with great characters and a wonderful setting. I plan on reading the rest of this series at some point in the future.

13. The Trouble with Magic by Madelyn Alt

A fun but merely okay read, The Trouble with Magic centers around a shop run by a self-proclaimed witch named Felicity, who takes the narrator, Maggie, on as her assistant. As Maggie learns about the word of magic and her own possible powers, she juggles her attraction to two very different men and tries to clear her new boss from a murder charge.

I think, for me, what made this book merely okay was there was way more setup than actual mystery. The author's focus was on lengthy introductions of the characters and in-depth descriptions of magic, as opposed to the murder mystery.

The last two chapters, which really focused on solving the mystery, were great-really suspenseful. This gives me hope for the rest of the series, which hopefully won't need as much introduction.

14. The Collected Bartleby and James Adventures by Michael Coorlim (Member Giveaway)

This was a really fun and interesting collection of short stories, which read like a great combination of steampunk and Sherlock Holmes. In a world where reanimated corpses and flying hotels make perfect sense, Bartleby and James are private detectives, Bartleby with knowledge of the human psyche, James with knowledge of engineering and science. Together they solve mysteries ranging from a murderous "Scissorsman" to sabotage in the skies. I really hope Coorlim writes more adventures for these two.

15. Trail of Blood by Lisa Black
A fictional take on a set of famous murders, Trail of Blood traces how past and present mysteries collide when a series of murders begin to occur replicating the famous Torso Murders. A strong female protagonist and her cousin make for great main characters, and the mystery and its solution contain a lot of suspense and twists, with a powerful ending.

16. The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill
As I was reading this, it reminded me of P.D. James in a really great way. The Various Haunts of Men is a powerful psychological mystery, taking as much time with its characters as the mystery. A varied collection of people start disappearing from the Hill, while a mysterious psychic surgeon moves into town. Knowing who the murderer was about three-quarters of the way through only made this book even better, because the suspense was amped up even more.

17. Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon

A stunning book that constantly keeps you guessing, Don't Breathe a Word is another incredible book from an extremely talented author.

Moving back and forth between the present and fifteen years previously, this book centers around two female characters-young Lisa, who believed completely in fairies and disappeared after heading into the forest to meet one; and Phoebe, who is dating Sam (Lisa's brother) and is pulled into a confusing and terrifying puzzle that strongly suggests fairies and shadow people might really exist.

A psychological mystery with twists and turns up to the very end, this novel is definitely in par with her other amazing books.

18. Dream Team by Jack McCallum (Early Reviewer)

I was raised a massive basketball fan, and remain one to this day, having graduated from watching games on the tiny TV on the porch (the TV being attached to the house by a giant bright orange extension cord) to cheering in the stands at the United Center. But while I loved and adored players like Michael Jordan and my beloved Scottie Pippen, I knew very little about them off the court, and almost nothing that went on behind the scenes of the Dream Team.

This was a great read by an author who quite literally had the inside scoop, and shares his stories with a fun, sometimes biting wit, telling about everything from the greatest game ever played (that no one got to see) to what exactly went down when Michael and Scottie froze out Toni Kukoc. I highly recommend this book to basketball fans.

19. Night of the Loving Dead by Casey Daniels

One trope that can guaranteed take away from a decent book (at least for me) is the self-absorbed narrator who starts out the book by stating multiple times how gorgeous she is and how well she dresses and how everyone wants her.

Pepper is, unfortunately, very much that type of narrator. I almost put the book down within the first few pages, but decided I wanted to see where the mystery went, and I'm glad I did. This book was in no way a classic, but it was a fun, light read, with some interesting paranormal aspects. The ending wasn't the best ever, but it was satisfactory within the context of the book.

If the author can tone down the narrator ( and the stereotypes about how one can be beautiful or brilliant but not both) and tampen down the ridiculousness of some of the dialogue towards the end, this could be a fun series people stick with.

One third of the way to my goal!

20. The King's Jar by Susan C. Shea (Early Reviewer)

I'm a big fan of genre mysteries, and this is a really fun and unique addition to the many genre mysteries out there. The protagonist is a woman in charge of fundraising at a museum, and she gets drawn into the world of socialites, secrets, and international controversy when the centerpiece of the museum's new exhibit goes missing, and an archaeologist is killed.

I definitely want to read more of this very enjoyable series.

21. Death by Latte by Linda Gerber

I needed a light, upbeat, non-thinking read, and this fit the bill perfectly. The sequel to the equally wonderfully ridiculous Death by Bikini, Death by Latte features Seattle, spies, a plane crash, lots of double agents and sneaky maneuvers, and some romance to boot. This is one of those great books to just lose yourself in and go along for the silly fun ride.

22. Death by Denim by Linda Gerber

Another ridiculous, over-the-top, young adult spy thriller, and once again it was a lot of fun to read. This one is set in Europe, and wraps up the reoccurring storyline of The Mole and the Agency, with a lot of chase scenes and double and triple agents. The ending is not entirely satisfactory, as if the author was planning on writing more of the series but just never did.

23. Hello, Gorgeous by MaryJanice Davidson

Continuing my streak of fun, slightly ridiculous, light chick lit mysteries, Hello, Gorgeous centers around a party-loving girl who gets in a terrible car accident and wakes up to find herself part-cyborg and working for a secret government organization, all while trying to stop a series of murders and romance the only other part-cyborg on the planet. It's as fabulously ridiculous as it sounds, and is a fun quick read. If you can get past the occasionally corny, roll-your-eyes writing that springs up every once in a while, it's a lot of fun.

24. The Cat Who Sang for the Birds by Lillian Jackson Braun

I found this on my TBR shelf, and brought it with me for the plane ride to Vegas, in honor of my friend who was getting married and used to be so into The Cat Who books. She saw it in my suitcase and got a real kick out of it, which was really fun.

The book itself was okay. This series is definitely a cozy series, but I had forgotten how little actually seems to happen in these books. The mystery surrounds arson and murder, as well as some sort of shady land deal and suspicious goings on at the Art Center. The ending is lackluster, but the read is a comfortable one.

25. Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson

This is an especially gripping non-fiction book, taking readers on a journey from the endings of the Civil War right up to the Presidental Box at Ford's Theater where John Wilkes Booth took his fatal shot, and all the way along the twelve days Booth hid and America hunted.

What I especially liked about this book was how it followed through with so many of the historical figures involved who don't usually get much mention.

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

When this series first came out, I couldn't get enough of it. Now, with the fourth book in the series, it doesn't seem to have the same magic for me anymore. I don't know if its that I waited too long in between reading the third and fourth books, or that the series became a bit repetitive (boy and girl are deeply in love but can't be together but can be together but can't), or that the ending of the third book was such a perfect ending of the series that as much as I love the characters (and I do), I wanted it to end there.

That said, my heart was pounding and I couldn't stop reading as I got closer to the end of the book, because of regardless of how I feel about the storylines, I care deeply about the characters still. This series reminds me a bit of the Twilight series in the sense that, no matter how ridiculous/irritating the storylines might get, I had to find out what happened because I really cared about the characters.

And even though I rolled my eyes at the ending to City of Fallen Angels, I will still be reading the fifth book in the series to find out what happens to the characters.

Cast of Shadows by Kevin Guilfoile

I almost put this book down after the first few pages, because I was worried it might be too "science fiction-y" for me, but I'm so so glad I kept reading. This is an amazing book.

Cast of Shadows is set in a future Chicago where cloning is legal, ethical lines are blurred, sides are chosen, and a doctor's daughter is murdered. The killing sets off a mystery and a chain of events that made it impossible for me to put the book down. This book is so complex and gripping I'm struggling to find the words to describe it in its entirety-multiple storylines interweave expertly together, including a world within an extremely popular computer game called Shadow World, and the ending of this book was incredible. I will definitely be reading Kevin Guilfoile's other book.

The Case of the Curious Bride by Erle Stanley Gardner

Another fun Perry Mason read as always. This one has a woman who might be the bride of two men, one of whom was presumed dead in an airplane crash but might actually be alive...until he's murdered. Perry Mason is hired by the woman, while her father-in-law attempts to hire him to throw the case and let her be convicted. Doorbells, alarm clocks, telephones, and sets of keys all come into play in this fun and exciting mystery.

In the Dark of the Night by John Saul

A supernatural thriller, In the Dark of the Night tells the story of a seemingly idealic town that's hiding some very dark secrets inside Pinecrest House. It starts out pretty slow, with the build up to the characters actually moving into Pinecrest for the summer, but once some mysterious objects (and their connection to famous serial killers) comes into play, it gets more interesting. Not the best book I've ever read, not the worst. I did feel the author sometimes threw in gruesome details just because he could, but otherwise, a pretty decent read.

Halfway there!

Killer Show: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Nightclub Fire by John Barylick (Early Reviewer)

This was one of those reads that was difficult but fascinating.

Barylick was actually one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs of The Station fire, so he has an insider's knowledge of everything that happened. The Station fire was the deadliest fire in an American nightclub, with 100 people dying due to fire, smoke, and stampedes.

I had to take breaks while reading the parts describing people getting trapped in the nightclub, the descriptions were really detailed and horrifying.

What was fascinating to me was the mystery of it all, the way photos and video and audio and physical evidence all came together to help everyone figure out what had really happened, and who was responsible.

The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter

A fascinating read, The Monuments Men traces the wartime jobs of The Monuments Men during WWII, a group of soldiers (many of whom with extensive backgrounds in art and art history) who are put in charge of protecting, tracking down, and rescuing cultural monuments, paintings, and other works of art. The Monuments Man manages to be a collection of character studies, a history study, and an art lesson, all in one fantastic book.

Manor of Death by Leslie Caine

This is part of a really fun cozy mystery series, surrounding an interior designer and her tendency to end up in mysterious circumstances no matter what home she's working on. In this book, working on a tower room that has been blocked off since a girl's suicide decades ago, Erin Gilbert is forced to consider that the space may be haunted, but the murders are all too real.

Sister by Rosamund Lupton

An amazing and powerful thriller about the familial bond, Sister is told from the point of view of Beatrice, in an open letter to her sister Tess, who has gone missing. Beatrice is telling Tess all about what has happened to her, what she has learned, and what she has yet to learn, all the while coming to deep and personal realizations about herself, her life choices, and her relationship to Tess. Beatrice is solving not only the mystery of what happened to Tess, but also figuring out who she is and what her life means.

Darke Academy Blood Ties by Gabriella Poole

The second book in a great supernatural young adult series, Blood Ties follows Cassie Bell as she returns for a second year at the Darke Academy. While struggling to figure out how to deal with her new-found and unwanted powers, Cassie must also navigate romance, the social strata of the Academy, and the mysterious people and circumstances surrounding her.

Spying in High Heels by Gemma Halliday

A fun, funny, romantic mystery in the vein of Janet Evanovich, Spying in High Heels follows the adventures of Maddie, whose seemingly picture-perfect boyfriend mysteriously vanishes, possibly with millions in embezzled money. Maddie is also juggling the fact that she may be pregnant (but keeps breaking the pregnancy tests), is attracted to the cop assigned to track down her boyfriend, and has a mother forcing her to wear the "Purple People Eater" of bridesmaid dresses. Maddie makes a really fun and engaging narrator, and the mystery and romance are great.

The Year of the Gadfly by Jennifer Miller

An amazing novel in the vein of The Secret History, The Year of the Gadfly follows the stories of a few students of Mariana Academy (some current, some past), whose lives become intertwined with Prisom's Party, an underground society at the school whose stated mission is to expose students and teachers who commit crimes and/or immoral acts. The main protagonist, Iris, is a new student who is all too familiar with loss, and she is determined to become a reporter like her hero Edward R. Murrow. To that end, she becomes involved with Mariana and its faculty and students in ways she never imagined.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

I wanted to read this as it was one of the few major Russian classics I hadn't read in my college classes, and while it wasn't my absolute favorite, I still enjoyed it. The story is fascinating-what could cause everyday people to commit horrific crimes, and how would those crimes effect their lives, regardless of if they get caught or not? While which character was which sometimes got confusing, and occasionally the story dragged a little, this was still an impressive and interesting read.

An Appointment With Murder by Jennifer L. Jennings

In An Appointment With Murder, a massage therapist whose marriage is languishing has her world turned upside down when she finds her newly-hired receptionist murdered at her desk. This was a quick, fun read, though the main character occasionally felt too stagnant-I would have liked more character development than the suddenly rushed decision she made at the end.

Blood Price by Tanya Huff

I started reading this series a while ago, and really liked it, but when I went to spend my semester abroad, I couldn't take many books with me, and lost track of the series. I rediscovered it on my shelves, and decided to start it again from the beginning, and I'm really glad I did.

Blood Price introduces its readers to the main characters-Vicki, a former cop who is slowly going blind and now works as a private investigator; Mike, her former partner and current sparring partner and lover; and Henry, the bastard son of Henry VIII who is still alive because he is a vampire. Together they have to stop a very misguided college student from raising a demon that will bring about the end of the world.

The characters are really engaging, and the storyline is gripping and moves along at a good pace. This book flew by.

41. Ghost Burglar by Jack Burch and James D. King

This was one of those books that was just fine. Nothing wrong with it, but still not as good and as gripping as you would hope. Ghost Burglar competently tells the true story of Bernard Welch, who went on an unprecedented crime spree, and was brought down by his own hubris. A fascinating story, it took me a while to finish because the writing style and method of storytelling wasn't as interesting as other books calling to me from my shelves.

42. Loose Screw by Rae Davies

A light mystery read, Loose Screw's protagonist is the owner of Dusty Deals, an antique shop, who finds a dead body in the alley outside her store. The murdered man had recently purchased at auction a medicine man set connected to one of the most prominent families in town.

This is an easy read without a lot of substance, which was actually very nice since the other books I'm reading are much heavier in subject. The book got a little frenetic at times, but was a pretty fun read.

43. Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris

One of the best books I've read this year, Gentlemen and Players has everything going for it-mystery, suspense, character studies, and secrets that are slowly and perfectly revealed in shocking twists and turns that all make sense when you look back. It is the story of a prestigious all-boys boarding school slowly being brought down from the inside, by someone from its past. It is a chess game with a pawn who longs to be something more. It is a book I can't recommend enough-an absolutely amazing book.

Joanne Harris doesn't normally appeal to me, but that sounds like a lot of fun - I will keep an eye out for it!

#49-It's definitely worth trying!

44. The Widows of Braxton County by Jess McConkey

(This was an Early Reviewer book)

The Widows of Braxton County does an excellent job of portraying two parallel stories, of two women caught in marriages that aren't what they expected, and two murders that are eerily similar, despite being separated by over a century. Kate, in 2012, uproots her whole life to live with Joe, her new husband, on his farm, but quickly discovers that there may be unforeseen consequences to her new life. And Hannah, at the end of the 19th century, is trapped in an abusive marriage, but soon finds things can get even worse. It's a gripping, well-written story that has some very interesting things to say about women's roles and how past deeds can drastically effect the future.

>48 seasonsoflove:: I have this as an audio book but hadn't listened to it yet. Just put it on my phone on the strength of your recommendation!

#57-That's great! I hope you enjoy it-I bet it makes a great audio book!

Never Buried by Edie Claire

A light fun read, Never Buried centers around two cousins who suddenly discover a dead body in their backyard-but this is no ordinary murder victim. Rather, this is a body that went missing years ago, and has suddenly turned up as a scare tactic to try to get the cousins to leave the house. Instead, it inspires them to try to figure out what someone could want so badly, and leads them to discover secrets from the past someone has killed to keep hidden.

True Crime: Real-Life Stories of Abduction, Addiction, Obsession, Murder, Grave-Robbing, and More by Lee Gutkind (Early Reviewer)

A collection of true-crime essays by various authors, this book contains a variety of subjects, many of which have never been written about before. While, as typical in a collection of essays, some are better than others, on the whole these pieces are well-written and well-researched. I may not have always agreed with an author's point of view, but the book as a whole was a gripping read.

The Cornerstone by Anne C. Petty (Early Reviewer)

The Cornerstone is an interesting take on the famous Faustus story. A local theater is putting on a production of the play, and the director has a mysterious supernatural connection to the original author. Strange things begin happening, and the protagonist, Claire, tries to figure out what is going on.

The book is pretty well-written, and definitely original, but lost me quite a bit when time travel started occurring. The book started to get really hokey from there, and I had to push through to the end.

Huh, that reminds me of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead...though I don't think that story overreaches itself.

#56-I haven't read that yet, but its on my TBR list.

Murder Past Due by Miranda Jones

A good cozy mystery, Murder Past Due 's protagonist is a widowed librarian with a great-sounding cat, whose peaceful routine is disrupted when a famous local author is murdered.

While I was able to call quite a few of the twists, I still really enjoyed the book, and can definitely see myself returning to the series some day.

The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen

An entry in the Jane Rizzoli series, The Apprentice is a follow-up to one of Gerritsen's previous books, and deals with the fall out from The Surgeon's murderous reign of terror. While the book is definitely suspenseful, and the mystery gripping, the writing sometimes verges on cliched, and the ending felt rushed. I don't think I'll be rushing to read another Rizzoli book, though I could see myself picking one up off my shelf someday. Still, I did find myself caught up in the book, and while it wasn't the best book ever read, it was okay.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

An amazing true story finally brought to light, this is the story of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were taken from her body before she died of cancer, and whose cells were then used and sold all over the world for scientific research. Her family was never told of this until they found out on their own, and while their mother's cells were making billions of dollars, they could not afford to go to the doctor for a check up. This is an incredibly powerful, fascinating, and at times heart-breaking look at how much of our body truly belongs to us, and how one culture of cells can change the world.

When Day Breaks by Mary Jane Clark

This book is pretty much the definition of a good, light, mystery read. The story centers around a top news reporter who is mysteriously murdered, and her former co-workers search for the truth. The pov switches work very well, and the characters were all unique and well-used. The mystery was interesting, and satisfying as well. I definitely plan to read more of Mary Jane Clark's books sooner rather than later.

Twelve Red Herrings by Jeffrey Archer

While I was expecting more traditional mysteries with twists due to the time, this was still an entertaining and clever group of short stories, covering everything from a desired necklace to a deceitful client to a nighttime ride of terror, plus a story that has four alternate endings.

>plus a story that has four alternate endings

That sounds like fun! Think I'll have to get this, sigh...

It was fun-really creative!

A Trial by Jury by D. Graham Burnett

I originally heard of this book in a condensed version in one of the True Crime anthologies, and was pleased to discover I had already picked the book up previously at a book sale. This was definitely an interesting read, a true account of what it is like to serve on the jury of a murder case. The story itself is really gripping, with the only downside being the author's tendency (particularly towards the end) to verge towards pretension with his storytelling choices.

Chasing Cezanne by Peter Mayle

This is a book about art forgery, France, food, and a hitman, all while somehow managing to be whimsical and fun. We follow a cast of characters including art dealers, photographers, and magazine editors, whose lives all begin to swirl around a Cezanne that has been stolen (but with its owner's permission). This is a cozy, easy, delightfully slow-moving read.

>63 seasonsoflove:: Funny you should mention this one -- I "read" it in 2001 as an audiobook and just came across it the other day and thought I could do with a relisten. I have no recollection of the case whatsoever, just remember that I enjoyed the audiobook at the time.

I bet it would make a great audiobook!

Deeper Than the Dead by Tami Hoag

A creepy, suspenseful thriller, Deeper Than the Dead centers around a mysterious string of disappearances and murders in a typically sleepy small town. Set in the 1980s, DNA testing is non-existent, fingerprint comparison is rudimentary, and profiling is in its early years and scoffed at by many law enforcement officials. A school teacher gets dragged into the fray when a few of her fifth-grade students stumble upon a dead body, and an FBI profiler joins the local sherrif's department in an attempt to catch the serial killer before another victim falls prey to his machinations.

Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett

Despite the murders that seem to happen there, I would definitely want to live in the setting of this book. It is a town comprised almost entirely of specialized bookstores, including Haven't Got a Clue, the bookstore the protagonist owns and runs.

The mystery is intriguing, but a few characters are without redeeming qualities, which takes away a bit from the enjoyment of the story, but it's still a good story nonetheless.

We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

"Kevin was a shell game in which all three cups were empty."

This is one of those rare, incredible books, where the subject material is so heartbreaking and difficult, but the book is so incredible that you just keep reading, even as you sometimes want to shy away from it all. Characters make you furious, make you sad, make you scared. You know what's coming, it's laid out for you right in the beginning, but there are things you don't know too, can't possibly know, that are like a sucker punch when you reach the end. The narrator's honesty and uncertainty, blame and shame, deep soul-searching desire and fear of the truth, drive this book to its shattering, powerful conclusion.

The Silver Needle Murder by Laura Childs

I love tea, and I love mysteries, so this was the definition of a cozy read for me. A local tea shop is catering a film festival, when one of the premiere directors is murdered on stage. The tea shop owner, Theodosia, gets involved in trying to solve the case, not least because she actually witnessed the hand of the murderer as they disappeared down the dumbwaiter.

The ending comes a bit out of left field, which took away from the enjoyment a bit, but it was still a fun read, and I loved all the tea details.

>69 seasonsoflove:: Agreed. It's been a few years since I read it but it left a deep impression. One of the very few books I could get my husband to read -- he read the first few pages to humour me but then couldn't put it down.

It really does leave a deep impression. I find myself still thinking about it sometimes at random moments.

The Architect by Keith Ablow

What's particularly interesting about this book is you are informed who the killer is, right from the start, on the back of the book actually. And yet that works in the story's favor, as it creates a lot of suspense.

Someone is killing people, leaving them laid out like anatomy subjects, and is doing this because he thinks he is making the lives of other people better. Frank Clevenger, a forensic psychiatrist, is attempting to track the killer down, while dealing with quite a load of personal and family problems.

The end is particularly suspenseful, with a chilling twist towards the very end that came as a big surprise. The book seems to end rather quickly, but it all fits. I plan to pick up more books by this author at some point in the future.

60!!

60. Murder to Music By by Vernon Hinkle

A fun, unique mystery from the late 70s, Music to Murder By's narrator and protagonist is a librarian highly knowledgable about all things musical, who finds himself drawn into a dramatic murder mystery when two of his closest friends are found dead in his apartment. All the characters are very colorful and different, which just adds to the fun, and the narrator has a great voice that draws you in.

60 sounds like a fun read. I think I will look for this one.

It was a fun read for sure! Definitely recommended.

61. The Dead of Winter by Chris Priestley

A take on the Gothic novel, The Dead of Winter is narrated by a man (Michael) who, as an orphaned boy, spent a terrifying few days at Hawton Mere, invited to stay by the mysterious Sir Stephen. While there, Michael begins to see strange shadows and reflections, and hear strange sounds outside his bedroom door at night.

This book does a great job of creating and keeping suspense, and there are some well-done twists at the end as well. For fans of Gothic novels, this is a nice addition to the genre.

Devil May Care by Elizabeth Peters

While reading the first chapter, I honestly wasn't sure I was going to continue reading the book. The main character's fiance is just so obnoxious (and is meant to be, as you discover when you keep reading). But if you push through past his character, this is a fun and enjoyable book. Every once in a while a main character manages to be a little irritating, but not enough to stop you from finishing the book. The characters redeem themselves and move along a creative and enjoyable story.

The story is that the main character, Ellie, is house sitting, and the house she is watching is giant...and possibly haunted. The local doctor's son becomes involved in helping Ellie, as does a cast of townspeople, until the denouncement.

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

This book examines how things in our world "tip"-what it takes for something to catch on, to become an epidemic, to really effect the world somehow. Looking at everything from skateboard shoes to suicide epidemics, Gladwell offers a unique and interesting take on how much something seemingly so small can can cause big changes.

Malice Domestic 5 edited by Phyllis A. Whitney

A fun collection of cozy mystery short stories, the entries in this anthology cover everything from a young man lured to a mysterious mansion, to a supposed case of evil twins, to someone plotting revenge against her malicious caretaker. Some stories are better than others, but all are intriguing and well-written, and work well in the short story format.

Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman

Another good recommendation from my dad, this was a fun, sweet read, a clever modern take on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The narrator (Julie) finds herself falling for a handsome debonair boy after she and her best friend sneak into a ball at an all-boy's school. But Julie fears that her best friend has also fallen for the same boy, and it takes a comedy of errors to straighten everything out and make a happy ending for all.

I finished/read a few books over vacation
-Blacklands by Belinda Bauer-a very dark, gripping psychological thriller surrounding a boy's search for the truth about his uncle's death, a truth that leads him to communicate with a serial killer
-The Turn of the Screw by Henry James-one of the best gothic books out there, a true classic I have read at least four times (both for fun and for classes, and I find something new every time I read it