NanaCC’s (Colleen’s) 2019 Reading

Hi, I’m Colleen. Welcome to my 2019 thread. I will post my current reading here. I don’t usually set goals for my reading, as I get distracted by shiny new things, and my goals fall apart. I think I’d consider my posts as comments about the books I’ve read, rather than reviews. If I try to write reviews, I wind up spending less time reading than I’d like.

I enjoy listening to audio books in addition to reading paper books. In 2018 the mix was almost 50/50. 43 paper or kindle books, and 42 audio books. 52 of the books were by women. My final thread for 2018 can be found at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/293036

Happy reading everyone. I look forward to your suggestions to add to my towering wishlist.

CURRENTLY READING:

A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer
In the Heat of the Moment by Viveca Sten, translated by Marlaine Delargy

Currently Listening:

Milkman by Anna Burns, narrated by Brid Brennan
To Darkness and to Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Books Read 2019

Print/Kindle

1- In the Presence of the Enemy by Elizabeth George
2- A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters
3- Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
4- The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
5- Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
6- The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
7- The Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett
8- My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
9- Closed Circles by Viveca Sten
10- Guiltless by Viveca Sten
11- Tonight You’re Dead by Viveca Sten

Audio

1- The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Clare Corbett
2- Becoming by Michelle Obama, Read by Michelle Obama
3- Shooting at Loons by Margaret Maron, narrated by C. J. Critt
4- In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin, narrated by James Macpherson
5- Tombland by C. J. Sansom, Narrated by Steven Crossley
6- In a Dark House by Deborah Crombie, narrated by Michael Deehy
7- In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren
8- A Fountain Filled With Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren
9- Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, narrated by Rosamund Pike
10- Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins Mystery)by Walter Mosley, narrated by Michael Boatman
11- Raven Black by Ann Cleeves, narrated by Gordon Griffen
12- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, narrated by Cassandra Campbell
13- Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren
14- The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley, narrated by Jayne Entwistle
15- Water Like a Stone by Deborah Crombie, narrated by Michael Deehy

Stats

Books Read Total = 26
Print/Kindle = 11; Audio = 15; Women authors = 19; New to me authors = 8

Happy New Year, Colleen! Thanks for posting the link on your 2018 thread. You're now starred and I look forward to seeing what you get up to in 2019.

I've noted your new thread and turned a page in my notebook, ready for you to intrigue me with books!

How are you liking the Elizabeth George? I really liked it when I read it last year.

>3 lauralkeet:, >4 RidgewayGirl: thank you for visiting Laura and Kay. I’ve starred your threads as well.

>5 arubabookwoman: I was up until 2:30 the last two nights, Deborah. I couldn’t put it down. I was in bed last night, and I kept looking at the clock, knowing I had to be up at 6:30. I finished at 2:30 and it was such a satisfying ending. I really like the series.

May you have more sleepless nights of that sort. Happy 2019, Colleen.

>7 dchaikin: Thank you, Dan! Happy New Year.

Happy New Year, Colleen. I look forward to following your reading again this year.

1. In the Presence of the Enemy by Elizabeth George

My first book of the year was a page turner, and possibly my favorite installment of the Lynley/Havers mysteries so far. Barbara Havers has a big role in this one. She is a great character. In this book, the ten year old daughter of a Junior Minister is abducted. The child’s mother has never released the name of the father, and has been elected on her family values platform. The father, editor of a sleazy newspaper, receives a letter saying that if he doesn’t publicly admit that he is the father of the child on the front page of the paper the child will be killed. This begins a tug of war between the mother and the editor, as she doesn’t believe that there is an abductor. She thinks the editor is writing the letters himself in order to embarrass her, and to cause her fall from favor.

I love this series. If you like mysteries, I don’t think you can go wrong. The first book in the series is A Great Deliverance.

>9 BLBera: Hi, Beth. I will be following your reading too. And, of course, your Scout stories.

>10 NanaCC:

I read quite a few of the Lynley/Havers series and enjoyed them, although I remember wishing Havers had more to do. That seems to be one I haven't read, so I'll have to take a look. Oh no, another TBR!!!

>12 auntmarge64: :-) Happy to oblige. ;-)

In the last couple of books, Havers’ challenges with her mother have become more of an issue for her, and I think that may have been a buildup to her becoming more involved. At least I hope so.

She seems to vary how much Havers features in the books. The latest one (and I think the 2 before it) featured Havers, so I concluded she finally got the message that Havers is everyone’s favorite. The one character I can’t stand is “whiney” Deborah. The only Lynley I entirely skipped was one in which she “starred.”

Happy New Year! I’m looking forward to reading about your reading for another year.

Happy New Year, Colleen! Hope you get through a good number of great books again this year.

>14 arubabookwoman: I think I read the one you are talking about, where Deborah has the lead. It was a prequel of sorts, where you got much of the backstory about her relationship with Lynley and St. James. It was definitely my least favorite.

>15 rachbxl:, >16 AlisonY: Happy New Year to you as well. I’ll be spending the next few days “undecorating” my house. I had my big family party yesterday, and can now really start on the new year. Here is to good reading for all of us.

As always, I'm looking forward to following your reading adventures this year, Colleen.

>18 laytonwoman3rd: Thank you, Linda. I’m following you, as well. I have downloaded the third book in the Deborah Knott series, Shooting at Loons, by Margaret Maron. Thanks to you, I am enjoying this series.

2. The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Clare Corbett

In book 6, forensic archaeologist, Ruth Galloway, has uncovered bones which are thought to be those of a Victorian murderess nicknamed Mother Hook. She had been hanged for murdering five children. In an eerie coincidence, DCI Nelson is investigating the suspicious death of a child.

This was another good installment in the series. The writing is good, and the mysteries are well done.

>20 NanaCC: I have the first few books in that series, bought when the Kindle editions were all heavily discounted late last year. Now I just need to start reading.

>21 lauralkeet: I think you’ll enjoy them, Laura. I’ve been listening and enjoying. I always have to stop myself from downloading the next book as soon as I’ve finished one. The reader changed after the fourth book, and looking at reviews on Audible, I’m not the only one who didn’t like the change. The next two books are unavailable on Audible, so I’ll have to read them, but then they go back to the original reader.

Colleen, I've been listing forthcoming mysteries/crime/thriller titles from Publishers Weekly with short excerpts from the reviews over on the Mystery/Crime thread, if you are interested. Good way to fill a wish list, find a new author, or get your name early on a library copy:-) I may not continue my subscription with PW, but thought it might be a fun thing to do while I do have it.

>23 avaland: I will check it out, Lois. I’ve been busy the past two weeks, but hope to really get down to business by tomorrow or the next day. ;-)

3. Becoming by Michelle Obama, Read by Michelle Obama

In this memoir, Michelle Obama tells her life story. She starts with growing up on the South Side of Chicago, through her graduation from Princeton and Harvard Law School, meeting the love of her life, and following him on his remarkable journey into politics and on to the White House. She talks about raising her daughters in such a public setting, while trying to keep them normal, and of her frustration with the security details that were always there, but were so necessary. She ends with thoughts about the last presidential election and the current occupant of the White House. The book, like the author, is inspiring. It made me tear up several times, and made me admire her even more than I did before reading it. I would definitely recommend it.

>25 NanaCC: I literally just finished that one a few minutes ago. Your review sums up my feelings exactly. It was sooo good.

>25 NanaCC: I'm reading this right now and it's just a pleasure.

>26 lauralkeet:, >27 lisapeet: It was really so inspiring. When I think of all of the hateful stuff I saw on Facebook, and that she came through it all with such grace, it really is amazing.

>25 NanaCC: Great comments, Colleen. I feel like I need a copy to refer to often to keep up morale.

>25 NanaCC: I haven't heard a bad recommendation of this book yet. How restrained were her thoughts on Trump?

>29 BLBera: I got the book through my Audible membership, Beth, so I can listen again when I need a lift.

>30 AlisonY: When she got to that part of her story, Alison, she started with her feeling of disbelief when it became known that Trump was the Republican candidate. She talks about the “Billy Bush” tape, where Trump was bragging about assaulting women. She talks about her disbelief that so many women voted for a misogynist enabling him to be elected. She relates all of this in a very matter of fact way, but doesn’t dwell on it. It seems to me, that like everything else she has done, she has done this with class.

I think I will try to listen to it next time, Colleen. I would love to hear her read it.

>32 BLBera: I think that listening to her reading it added to my enjoyment. Certain parts were just so touching, and her voice added to that feeling.

>25 NanaCC: yes to all that (and your response to Alisony in >31 NanaCC: too), especially how much more we admire her after reading this. Maybe the impact of the book will carry those of us who read this through this year.

>34 dchaikin: I do hope so, Dan. I have had issues with policies of some presidents in the past, but I have never felt so angry and depressed as I’ve felt for the past two years. I will try to keep the hopefulness I felt after reading this book.

Mrs. Obama's book was a treat for me too. I like the idea of referring to it from time to time to keep your spirits up. I may try to get the audio version from the library in the future---I miss hearing her voice.

>36 laytonwoman3rd: The audio version was really good, Linda.

On another note, I am currently listening to Shooting at Loons. It’s the third book in the Deborah Knott series to which you kindly introduced me.

>31 NanaCC:, >34 dchaikin: I feel like I have to read this book now not just to enjoy reading more about Michelle Obama, but also to get a masterclass on how to be an all round decent person, or at the very least a masterclass on how to be an excellent self-marketeer. I can't think of any other autobiography of late where there has been such a resounding appreciation for the author.

Is she simply a very clever lady who understands how to do good PR, or if you cut her open would she have genuine decency engraved inside her?

>38 AlisonY: I think that you would find that she is a genuinely decent person, Alison. After graduating from Princeton and Harvard Law school, she landed a high paying job at a law firm in Chicago. That was where she met her husband when she was acting as his mentor. She found that she wasn’t thrilled being a lawyer, so she left and took a huge pay cut to find more fulfilling jobs working to better life in her community. She makes it very clear that she hates politics, and has no intention of running for anything. I think she will continue to find ways to help children and women’s issues. There was not one hint of scandal while they were in the White House. I think if you read the book, you might come to the same conclusion.

>39 NanaCC: I do tend to agree with you, Colleen; I was just interested to put the cat amongst the pigeons a little. The Obamas were certainly very well regarded during their period in the Whitehouse in terms of no skeletons in the cupboard as you rightly point out, which is to their credit.

I still wonder if there will be a change of heart in terms of her becoming involved in politics. Perhaps if US politics aren't for her she could come over here and sort out this embarrassing Brexit mess. It seems like our House of Parliament know what they won't agree to but aren't so hot on what they will agree to.

>38 AlisonY: I think both—she's decent and she's very smart. One reason I'm sure she wrote the book, to answer your question elsethread, was that there's such a fascination with her, and this way she gets to answer a lot of questions in great detail and satisfy a bunch of people. And I think yes, the tenor in this country is such that many people really want a hopeful, moral (but not sanctimonious) narrative right now. Although I also don't doubt that she may have started the process even before she left the White House.

>41 lisapeet: She certainly must have kept voluminous notes in one form or another while she was still First Lady.

I have just finished another book, The Gatekeepers, which suggests that President Obama did not enjoy "politics" himself---he wanted to get things done much more directly than was possible, and disliked the necessary "wheeling and dealing".

>42 laytonwoman3rd: She spoke of having kept a journal since she started dating Barack.

>40 AlisonY:, >41 lisapeet:, >42 laytonwoman3rd: We also have very little agreement in our houses of Congress right now, Alison, so I understand the frustration with a stymied process. As for Michele Obama, I agree with Lisa and Linda. She is smart, and wants to use her “celebrity “ to work on issues close to her heart. The timing of the book is perfect, because it catches us at a time when we need that positivity. And if she can use that celebrity to do good, I would not fault her for that. I really don’t think she’ll enter politics. I think it was something she was reluctantly pulled into.

>20 NanaCC: I have a lot of catching up to do in this series. Glad Griffiths is keeping up the good writing.

>25 NanaCC: Great review! I just finished the book and was really surprised at how good it was and how much she covered. I've got a hold on the audiobook at the library but I'm at the bottom of a long list. I'll be ready for the re-read by the time my name surfaces.

>45 VivienneR: Nice to see you here, Vivienne. Griffiths has written such a wonderful character in Ruth Galloway. I really enjoy the series.

The audio version of Becoming was really worth the listen. I keep thinking about parts of the book, and I can hear her voice in my head.

Hi Colleen, I'm just sticking my head in to say hi because LT noted that your library is the most similar to mine of all the Club Read 2019 participants. I added you to my Interesting libraries list so I can poke around later and look at the 200+ books I should borrow from you. I'm glad to see you're enjoying Margaret Maron's series; I've read several of them and met her a couple of times and found her thoughtful and pleasant. Have a great year! best, Papa Jim

Hi, Jim. Welcome to Club Read. I am really enjoying Margaret Maron. Linda/laytonwoman3rd introduced me to the series, and I’m glad that she did. As you can probably tell from my thread, I am a mystery fan. I do read other genres, but lately, mysteries seem to be my main go-to. I’ll be curious to see where your reading takes you.

4. A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters

This is the first book in the Chronicles of Brother Cadfael series. The year is 1137, and the Prior of Shrewsbury Abbey has ambitions. In the Welsh village of Gwytherin, the bones of Saint Winifred are calling to him...well, they have actually been brought to his attention by another ambitious monk, and a delegation heads to bring the saint’s bones back to Shrewsbury. Brother Cadfael, a Welshman, is part of the delegation to act as interpreter. The villagers are not happy with the plan to relocate their saint, and the most vocal opponent is murdered. Brother Cadfael uses his wits to seek out the murderer. This was an entertaining story, and I will continue reading the series.

Thank you to Meridith for putting the series on my radar.

5. Shooting at Loons by Margaret Maron, narrated by C. J. Critt

In this book, third in the series, Judge Deborah Knott is asked to fill in for another judge who has been hospitalized. She heads to the coast, planning to spend the time at her cousin’s cottage on Harker’s ilsland. While clamming on her first night there, she finds the body of a local fisherman. She finds herself in the middle of a feud between the local fishermen and the new land developers who see the coastline as their playground.

This series is full of the “flavor” of North Carolina. The characters are great.

I'm really surprised you hadn't already read the Cadfael books.

I love Maron, Colleen. You have some good ones ahead. The setting is one of the strengths of the series. I wish she would write some more.

>51 RidgewayGirl: I had never heard of the Cadfael books, Kay. Not sure why.

>52 BLBera: I’m very happy that I have so many more to go, Beth.

>52 BLBera: Beth, have you read Maron's Last Lessons of Summer? It isn't part of the series, but it is set in the same place, and you might recognize a character or two. I'm sorry Maron has ended the Deborah Knott series too, but I'm betting she'll write something more than will be great to read. I still have a few of the Sigrid Harald novels to look forward to.

>54 laytonwoman3rd: Thank you, again, for introducing me to this series, Linda. :-)

>53 NanaCC: Glad you found Cadfael at last! For a long time I was hooked on tv series with Cadfael played by Derek Jacobi.

>55 NanaCC: I love to spread the love, Colleen.

>56 VivienneR: Who knew?!?! I definitely didn’t know about the series either, Vivienne. Where was I?!?!

>57 laytonwoman3rd: I’m trying to pass the love on to my daughters. :-)

I haven't read the Cadfael books but have seen some episodes in the series, which was produced from 1994-1998. I love Derek Jacobi in pretty much everything he's done.

>59 lauralkeet: I will need to look to see if I can find the series, Laura. Maybe on BritBox.. I enjoyed the first book, and look forward to continuing.

6. In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin, narrated by James Macpherson

The 22nd book in the Rebus series doesn’t disappoint. A couple of teens find a body in an old car hidden in a gully. Siobhan Clark is part of the team investigating the murder, and retired Rebus shows up to give her a tip as to the victim’s identity. Rebus no longer smokes or drinks. He has emphysema and is finding the stairs harder to climb. But he hasn’t lost his edge. Malcom Fox is part of the team, and has been tasked with looking into the initial investigation of the victim who had been the focus of a botched missing persons investigation. With Rebus aging, I’m not sure where Rankin will take this series, but I’ll definitely be along for the ride.

I read the first Cadfael book and thought it should have been called A Morbid Taste for Commas. The writing was so choppy that I didn't pick up the next one.

>62 Jim53: :-) I guess I didn’t notice, Jim. It will be a while before I get to the second book, but I’ll try to pay more attention to that and comment about it at the time. I was reading on my kindle and sometimes I overlook things like that, figuring it could be an error in copying over from the print.

>61 NanaCC: PD James did 14 Dalgleish books and Dalglesh survives the last book. Reginald Hill did 24 Dalziel & Pascoe books, and although there was a close call a few books back, Dalziel is in that last book (Hill died of a brain tumor three years later). Endeavor Morse dies in the 13th book (I think I still have some of those later Morse books on the shelf in hardcover), Mankell did 12 Wallander books and Wallander survives with dementia in that last, and Peter Robinson is coming out this year with his 26th Inspector Banks.... (ah, fond memories of some great reads...some of my favorite series)*

So, it could go either way. I'll keep going with Rebus, but I'll also read a Blackburn & Fox series if Rebus should walk off into the sunset. Of course, I've been aging along with Rebus, Banks and others...so there is always another possibility....

*and I'm reading current the last Hanne Wilhelmsen installment (by Anne Holt)... :-(

>64 avaland: I remember being sad when the Wallander series ended, Lois. The Bryant and May series by Christopher Fowler also has two aging detectives, but he seems to have come up with a way to prolong the end. There is a new book coming out in a couple of months. I would also follow a Malcom Fox series. There are so many good series aren’t there. I don’t think I’ll run out. :-)

>25 NanaCC: I keep wondering if I really want to read Michelle Obama's book, but every review I see is so positive! Maybe it would be uplifting, after all, instead of watching current news.

>49 NanaCC: Colleen, have you seen the Brother Cadfael series with Derek Jacobi (or should I say SIR Derek?)

>67 auntmarge64: Now that's a blast from the past....

>65 NanaCC: The Krister Hendriksson adaptation of Wallander portrays the onset of dementia (he is my favorite of the three Wallanders).

>67 auntmarge64: I have not seen the series, Margaret, but I may have to look for it. :-)

As for Michelle Obama’s book, I’m really glad that I listened to it.

>68 avaland: I haven’t seen that adaptation, Lois. Another series to find.

>69 NanaCC: Just checked, and the full four seasons of Cadfael are available for free on both Amazon Prime (if you have Prime) and on Britbox.

>70 auntmarge64: oh, that's good to know. It's been ages since we watched them, and it might be fun trip down memory lane.

You've reminded me to catch up on my Rankin. I still have Rather Be the Devil to read.

>70 auntmarge64: I have both Prime and BritBox, Margaret, so it looks like I have some fun ahead.

>71 lauralkeet: I’ll be watching for the first time, Laura, so looking forward to it.

>72 RidgewayGirl: I really liked that one, Kay. Although, I must say that I’ve enjoyed almost all of them. I think the first was the weakest, but that is often the case with the first book in a series. And the addition of Siobhan and Fox added to this series.

>73 NanaCC: Btw, we have watched a lot on Mhz, which is mostly mystery/crime shows from Europe. Unless you have an aversion to subtitles, I highly recommend it. It's where I watched the older Wallander played by Rolf Larsgaard.

>74 avaland: Lois, I hadn't heard of this streaming service at all. My husband and I have discovered a shared love of grim, European crime dramas with sub-titles and we're starting to run out of options on Netflix.

>74 avaland: Thank you for mentioning this. Like >75 RidgewayGirl: I'm running out of options on Netflix. I think the Canadian version of Netflix has fewer offerings to start with.

>74 avaland: I haven’t heard of MHz. I will have to look for it.

I'm quite late, but it's not too late to drop my star here. Enjoying your thread, as always!

Hi, Oscar, it is so nice to see you here. Never too late to join CR. :-)

I’ll be dropping a star on your thread as well.

7. Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney

Torontoc put this book on my wishlist last year, and I’m so glad that he did.

The character, Lillian Boxfish, is based upon the real life poet and ad woman Margaret Fishback. Lillian is an 85 year old woman who sets out on New Year’s Eve 1984 for a long walk. Along the way she reminisces about various stages of her life, which mimics that of the real life Fishback. As the highest paid woman ad writer in America, writing jingles for R. H. Macy’s department store, she has a successful career. Marriage puts an end to that, as Macy’s had a policy that once married, you were out the door. As she walks, a total of ten miles, she meets and chats with many people, dispensing nuggets of wisdom. I’m not doing justice to this charming little book, but I really enjoyed it.

>80 NanaCC: That sounds like an interesting read, Colleen. Not heard of that title before.

I hadn’t heard of it either, Alison, but I’m glad it wound up on my wishlist. It popped up as a kindle deal a couple of weeks ago, and I couldn’t resist.

>80 NanaCC: Another addition to the wishlist!

>83 rhian_of_oz: I look forward to your comments if you do get to it.

>49 NanaCC: I've had the first Cadfael book on my Kindle for about three years and still haven't got to it. Maybe that will be my next mystery read.

>80 NanaCC: This sounds interesting, not one I remember coming across before. I've enjoyed catching up on your reading.

>85 valkyrdeath: Gary, I hadn’t heard of the Cadfael books until recently. I’m happy to have read it. Lillian Boxfish was entertaining, and it was another CR add to my wishlist. When I saw the kindle deal, I snapped it up.

The joys of belonging to Club Read. The wishlist just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

>80 NanaCC: Great comments, Colleen. I also enjoyed that one.

>87 BLBera: It was a treat, Beth.

8. Tombland by C. J. Sansom, Narrated by Steven Crossley

It has been a three year wait for this next installment, the seventh, in the Matthew Shardlake series. The audiobook is long at 37 hours, although the last two hours are not part of the story, but historical background. The year is 1549, and Shardlake has been asked by the Lady Elizabeth, Ann Boleyn’s daughter, to look into the arrest of John Boleyn for the murder of his wife. She wants to be sure that everything is above board, and that scandal can be avoided. Shardlake and his assistant Nicholas meet Shardlake’s old assistant Jack Barak in Norwich, and together they dig into the mystery of who really killed Edith Boleyn. The three characters get caught up in Kett’s Rebellion, which provides the historical backdrop for this story. I always enjoy the real life characters and events that appear in these stories, however, I think the telling of the historical event took over. The mystery seemed to take a backseat to the history. I’m not saying the historical aspects were boring. Far from it. I enjoyed the book, but I think it could have been edited down by about 200 pages. It is 800+ in the print version. If you like the Shardlake series, I’m pretty sure you will like this one.

>89 NanaCC: Great review, Colleen! I see nothing but praise for C.J. Sansom. I've had the first in the Shardlake series on my tbr list for a while, maybe it's time to get going on it.

>89 NanaCC: I'm glad to see you liked this one, Colleen. I'm wary of the length as well, but I'm still going to read it.

>90 VivienneR: I think you’d like the series, Vivienne.

>91 lauralkeet: The length is definitely an issue, Laura. After you read it, I’ll tell you what my biggest annoyance was. But, as I said, I did enjoy it.

Enjoyed your review of Tombland - Interesting to read that the historical side is competing with the murder mystery story. I have always been impressed with Sansom's knowledge of the period.

>93 baswood: It seems that his research is extensive. For this audiobook, the last two hours were after the book ended. It was an historical essay on the period surrounding Kett’s Rebellion. It was very interesting, and he incorporated the people and the events into the story.

9. In a Dark House by Deborah Crombie, narrated by Michael Deehy

This is the 10th book in the Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James mystery series. An arsonist sets fire to an old Victorian warehouse which is being renovated. A woman’s body is discovered, and Kincaid is called in from Scotland Yard to investigate. Gemma James is asked by a friend to look into the disappearance of a woman, and there is a possibility that the two cases may be linked. There is also the kidnapping of a ten year old girl. This was a pretty solid entry in the series.

>95 NanaCC: I think I'll have to look into that Kincaid/James series, Colleen.

>96 auntmarge64: I’ve enjoyed them, Margaret. As with any series, I think some entries are better than others. But the weaker ones weren’t enough to put me off.

And I see Crombie has a new one coming at the end of this year! Yay! I have really enjoyed this series as well, Colleen.

In looking at the Kincaid/James books on Audible, I noticed that there are several narrators. Michael Deehy is the only one I have any familiarity with for the series; how are the others? I've been borrowing these books in a rather hodgepodge fashion from my public library, as they do not have the entire series in a single format (and some volumes they are missing entirely). I should really pick back up with things, though I think I am at the point where I have to go with ILL for the next volume.

>98 BLBera: I have quite a way to go before the new one, Beth. But it will be a fun ride to get there.

>99 shadrach_anki: To be honest, I don’t remember how I felt about the other narrator, but they must have been ok because I kept going. There were a couple that were not on audible when I got to it, so I read the kindle version. But now it looks like Audible has all of them.

10. In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren

This is the first book in the Rev. Clare Fergusson & Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries. I had added this book to my wishlist quite a while ago, at the recommendation of Linda (laytonwoman). Last week, Bonnie (brenzi) was gushing because the author has a new book in the series coming out next winter. Her enthusiasm, as well as the enthusiasm of others, pushed me to download the book. I am very glad that I did. A baby is left on the doorstep of the church. Reverend Fergusson becomes involved with the police chief Van Alstyne in their search for the baby’s mother. There is a murder or two. I will definitely look for the next in the series.

>101 NanaCC: This is one of my very favorite series. It just keeps getting better. Julia had a tough couple of years with her husband's illness and death, and I'm delighted to see that she's back at it.

>102 Jim53: I’m so glad that I started the series. It was well written. I love the characters. I can’t wait for the next one.

>101 NanaCC: hurray, you're hooked! Enjoy the series, Colleen.

800 pages for Tombland!! Wow. I will definitely read it, but I'm glad to have your insight to expect more history than mystery.

>104 lauralkeet: How could I not be hooked, Laura, after everyone’s warbling about it?! ;-)

>105 japaul22: I don’t want to turn anyone off, Jennifer, because it was good. Shardlake and his assistants get so involved in the rebellion, that at times it seemed like they forgot what they were in Norwich to do. In the end, i thought the mystery was resolved very nicely.

I found you Colleen! I totally forgot that your home was over here on Club Read but now that I've found you I've got you starred. You've got some good reading ahead of you with the Julia Spencer-Fleming series. Enjoy!

>107 brenzi: Hi Bonnie. Thank you for the push. I was planning to listen to Raven Black next, but the second Julia Spencer-Fleming book was calling me. I downloaded it a little while ago. :-)

11. The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey

The story takes place in 1921, with flashbacks to 1916. Perveen Mistry has a law degree from Oxford University, and has taken a position with her father’s law firm in Bombay. As one of the only women lawyers in India, she is unable to appear in court, but handles much of the business that can be done in the office. While going over documents pertaining to a deceased clients will, she finds some inconsistencies that lead her to believe the three widows are being cheated in some way. As a woman, she is able to speak to the women directly. The widows’ guardian is murdered, and Perveen becomes involved in trying to solve the mystery.

Perveen’s character is based upon a real woman who became India’s first female lawyer. The historical aspect and the insight into the customs of the time was interesting. The writing is similar in style to the Maisie Dobbs mysteries.

>109 NanaCC: Another one for the wishlist! Historical, India, women - right up my street. My library has it in ebook format.

>110 VivienneR: The historical aspects were really interesting. Women’s lives were really restricted.

>109 NanaCC: So glad you liked it! There is a 2005 movie by Deepa Mehta called "Water" that tells the story of impoverished widows living in an ashram. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elements_trilogy
It's part of a trilogy of movies by Mehta, and I recommend all three (if you watch movies with subtitles...etc)

>112 avaland: Thank you Lois. I will have to check them out. I’ll watch without my hubby. I don’t think he’ll go for the subtitles. And, thank you for the book.

Glad you enjoyed the Cadfael! They're fun reads, and I love that there's pretty much always a strong woman character in each book.

>114 mabith: It was quite enjoyable Meredith. And I’m glad to hear that strong women play a part in all of them.

12. A Fountain Filled With Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren

The second book in the Rev. Clare Fergusson & Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries is darker than the first. Two gay men are brutally attacked in an obvious hate crime. When a third man is murdered, it seems to be linked to the first two attacks, but is it? Clare and Russ come close to dying while tracking down the murderer. I’m enjoying this series.

>116 NanaCC: sounds like you're hooked, Colleen. I'm sure you'll have no trouble catching up before the next book is released.

>117 lauralkeet: Ha! You’re right, Laura. I’m debating downloading the next for my car ride to Massachusetts tomorrow. I do have a couple of different books queued up already, so I may wait and stretch out the enjoyment.

13. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

The first book in the Jackson Brodie series was a reread for me. Brodie is investigating three cold cases. The cases start to look like they have some connections. As a reread, I found some of the book too familiar, which for a mystery book isn’t necessarily a good thing. That doesn’t take away from the fact that it is a good book. I’m looking forward to the new book in the series when it comes out.

>109 NanaCC: This sounds like one I would like, Colleen. Onto the WL it goes.

I am also looking forward to the new Atkinson. I am tempted to reread the others.

I also toyed with the idea of rereading the Jackson Brodie series Colleen. Hmmmm.....

>120 BLBera:, >121 brenzi: I am thinking about rereading them too. I did find this one a little familiar, and I’m still trying to decide if it took away some of my enjoyment. Atkinson’s writing is so good that I’m not sorry I read it. I’ll have to think about rereading the other three.

There are so many books I want to read. I’ll never get to everything.

>119 NanaCC: Case Histories is worth a re-read. I've got it on the re-read shelf along with Started early, took my dog. Atkinson is hard to beat. Not only do we read the same books, we re-read the same ones!

>122 NanaCC: Ha! Great minds think alike, or something like that. :-) I love Atkinson. Have you read her new one, Transcription? I can’t remember whether you did. I really enjoyed it. Case Histories is great. I was surprised at how familiar it was after having read it so many years ago. I think that tells me how good it really is.

14. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, narrated by Rosamund Pike

Rosamund Pike’s narration of this book is wonderful. She brings the story of the Dashwood sisters to life as they find their lives changed after their father dies. Marianne wears her heart on her sleeve. Elinor is reserved and sensible. Secrets, misguided love. It was a fun read.

>124 NanaCC: I haven't read Transcription yet. I am very low on the hold list for the ebook at the library. If I have a sudden desire for an Atkinson fix, I'll get the kindle version.

15. Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins Mystery) by Walter Mosley, narrated by Michael Boatman

This is the first book in Mosley’s Easy Rawlins series. Easy is a black man in 1948 Los Angeles. He had joined the army to fight the Nazis during WWII, and after the war, he moved from Houston to L.A., bought a house, and has a job in an aircraft factory. As the story starts, he has just lost his job and is wondering where his next mortgage payment is going to come from. A white man offers him $100 to look for a girl named Daphne. Despite feeling suspicious, he needs the money, and takes the job. Bodies start piling up as one murder after another happen, and Easy has to do everything in his power to ensure that he isn’t the main suspect. Classic noir. I quite enjoyed it. Michael Boatman’s narration is good.

16. Raven Black by Ann Cleeves, narrated by Gordon Griffen

This is the first book in the Shetland Island mystery series. A teenage girl’s body is found near the house of an old man, Magnus Tait. Magnus had been accused after the disappearance of a young girl years earlier, but the police didn’t have enough evidence to charge him. The locals automatically jump to the conclusion that he is guilty of this crime. Magnus is childlike, and the local policeman investigating the teen girl’s murder is not convinced that Magnus had anything to do with it. I didn’t care for the narrator of this audiobook, and was tempted to quit it. I decided to keep going, and the book was good. I’d give it 3 stars. There were several possible suspects, and the ending was definitely a surprise.

>127 NanaCC: Have you seen the movie starring Denzel Washington, Colleen? It was very good, and I had hoped he would make more of the Easy Rawlins books into movies, but I imagine he wasn't interested in getting stuck in one character. Our loss.

>129 laytonwoman3rd: I haven’t seen it, Linda, but now I will have to look for it. I didn’t know of it before. Thank you for pushing me to read the book. I enjoyed it.

>128 NanaCC: continuing the topic of screen adaptations, have you seen the Shetland TV series? It is really superb, and filmed in Shetland so the scenery is gorgeous, too. We caught the first three of seasons on Netflix, I think, and then subscribed to Britbox to get season 4. Season 5 is out in the UK and arrives here in April.

>131 lauralkeet: I only heard about the Shetland tv series recently, Laura. I will definitely look for it. I have a Britbox subscription, so if I can’t get it on Netflix, I’m sure I will get it there. It sounds great. Have you read the book(s)?

No, I haven't, Colleen. We stumbled across the series and at first didn't even realize they were based on books.

>133 lauralkeet: Personally, I wouldn’t recommend the audio edition that I listened too. He almost caused me to skip the book.

>134 NanaCC: oh no, that's not good! I haven't caught the audiobook bug so I'm probably safe. I generally prefer to read the book before seeing the movie/TV adaptation, whenever possible. But to be honest, if for whatever reason I haven't read the book first, once I've seen the adaptation I usually don't read the book. Not sure why, but that's definitely my pattern.

>135 lauralkeet: And, to top it off, he’s the reader for all of them, so I won’t continue on audio.

I arrived in Florida yesterday. I was trying to figure what to read. I downloaded The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz. I really enjoyed his Magpie Murders so figured it would be a good bet. I also downloaded Ken Follett’s Edge of Eternity. It’s the third book in his Century trilogy, and at over 1,000 pages, I figure it will keep me busy. Very much a beach read. The first book in the trilogy went through WWI, the second through WWII. This one goes through the Vietnam War. I have several other books on my Kindle (over 400) if they prove to be disappointing.

>136 NanaCC: ew. That's too bad. The lead actor in the series is terrific.

>137 NanaCC: A 1,000 page beach read? I didn't see that coming. Good thing you have it on Kindle or it would be a serious chunkster to tote around. Enjoy your sunny getaway!

>128 NanaCC: I've been putting off reading Ann Cleeves' Shetland series because I've seen the series on tv a few years ago (and again on Netflix) and your review reminded me of all the plot details of that episode. But I'll follow >131 lauralkeet: and get a Britbox subscription to view more than Netflix has. Douglas Henshall is terrific as the detective, and I have a soft spot for his sidekick Tosh, played by Alison O'Donnell.

Thanks for the tip, I'll avoid narrator Gordon Griffin.

>101 NanaCC::
It has taken me sometime to start reading your entries but it is worth the wait. I will try to keep up.
You have mentioned a number of series I have enjoyed and recommend; Margret Maron, both Deborah Knott and her New York police detective, oh dear her name escapes me. It started years ago, she left it to write Knott which she ended and started writing Sigrid ? again. It is not as light as Knott but I like it. Deborah Crombie is great and her series is still going with a new title coming this year; Julia Spencer Fleming has finished her series. I started it because I like ecclesiastical mysteries but it grew into much more.
I have Becoming on my list and after reading about it her will consider buying it. The list at the library is long. We don’t have a very good library system. I also put Lillian Boxwell Takes a Walk on my Club Read 2019 list.
Looking ahead on your musings Massey’s Widows has been nominated for a number of awards and the second in the series is due in May. Have you read her first series featuring an American Japanese antique seller/collector? I learned a lot about different aspects of Japanese culture. The first book is not as good as what follows so don’t let it stop you. I didn’t realize The Magpie Murders was going to turn into a series. I think it will be a hard format to maintain. I have read The Word is Murder but won’t say any more.
Thanks for your ideas.

>140 pmarshall: Hi, Penny. I am really enjoying the Deborah Knott series, and will eventually get to the Sigrid Harold series as well. Deborah Crombie’s series is a lot of fun. I understand that Julia Spencer-Fleming has a new book in the series coming out next winter. She took a break from writing to care for her husband who was dying. She’s ready to write again and everyone I follow in the 75 group was so happy about a new book, that I had to start the series. I’m really enjoying the series so far. I think you will enjoy Becoming and Lillian Boxfish was delightful. The Widows of Malabar Hill was the first book I’ve read by Massey. The Magpie Murders was a stand-alone book. The Word is Murder is the book that is first in a series. Thanks for stopping by. I don’t read as much as you do. I’m always impressed with your reading.

>137 NanaCC: I have several other books on my Kindle (over 400) if they prove to be disappointing.

Heh, heh, heh .... addict!

>138 lauralkeet: Kindle is definitely the way to go for the big chunksters, Laura. When I said beach read, I meant it isn’t too deep. It’s a big saga, that has been following five families. Pure fluff, but sometimes I need that. :-)

>139 VivienneR: I would never recommend the audio version after forcing myself to finish this one, Vivienne. I don’t know if he’d be the same with a different book, but there was something about his reading that made my skin crawl at times. The story was good.

>142 auntmarge64: Lol, Margaret. I would agree. :-)

It's always good to have back-up books, right Colleen. Enjoy your vacation.

I've always wanted to read Devil in a Blue Dress. Maybe this year.

I love the Shetland TV series; I read the first novel and, while I liked it, decided I would watch the series instead. Too many books...

Colleen, I see the new Sujata Massey is out in May, as also is a Grantchester prequel (I forget the author). I haven't been posting the Publisher Weekly's forthcoming titles as I didn't know when my subscription expires and no one seemed to be reading them. But I saw those two in the latest issue.

>144 BLBera: Too many books is right, Beth. Every time I turn around, I hear about another book that I want to add to my wishlist. I’ll never get through all of them.

>145 avaland: Thank you, Lois. I will definitely look for them. I’ve never read the Grantchester mysteries, although I’ve watched the series on PBS. Another series to add to my towering wishlist.

I got home from Florida yesterday afternoon, and realized how little I actually read while on vacation. My daughter and her family were there, and we were on the go constantly. I did finish one book, and kindle says that I’m 37% done with the book by Ken Follett. It’s over 1,000 pages, so I guess I should have known I wouldn’t finish.

17. The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

I loved Magpie Murders, so had high expectations for this one. I didn’t love it the way I had with Magpie, but I really did enjoy it. After reading the reviews, it seems like there are very mixed reviews. People either enjoy it, or they really dislike it.

As with most murder mysteries, it is hard to review without giving anything away. The book’s description basically says...The mother of a famous actor walks into a funeral parlor to make arrangements for her own funeral. Six hours later, she is found dead in her home. She has been strangled by a curtain cord. Ex-policeman, Daniel Hawthorne, has been asked to assist in the investigation. He asks Anthony Horowitz to write his story. The fictional Horowitz becomes Watson to Hawthorne’s Holmes. There were several red herrings along the way, and I didn’t see the twist. I found it a little slow to start, but quite entertaining. This is the first book in a relatively new series.

>147 NanaCC: I usually read less when I'm away on holiday.

>148 rhian_of_oz: I do too, Rhian. In particular when some of my grandchildren are with me, because there is always something happening. I generally have high expectations for reading goals, but that’s how it goes. ;-) They are too much fun.

>25 NanaCC::
I am just starting this, I look forward to learning more about her and her family. The wife of the president can play a strong, but unofficial, role in your country, quite different from Canada.

>150 pmarshall: I think you’ll really enjoy it, Penny. I think she is quite down to earth and amazing.

Looking forward to your review of My Family and Other Animals.

>152 edwinbcn: It might be a little while, Edwin. I got pulled into a big saga, which will never win any prizes, but has been addictive.

I have heard a lot of mixed reviews on The Word Is Murder, Colleen. I think I'll wait on it. Nice comments, by the way.

>154 BLBera: Thank you, Beth. I’ll be curious to see your comments if you get to it. As I said, I did enjoy it, but it wasn’t as good as Magpie Murders which I thought was really well done.

18. Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett

Well this book was a big disappointment. I liked the first two books in Follett’s Century Trilogy. They are typical big family sagas following five families. The first went through WWI, the second through WWII. This book started with Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis and included every big world event in the second half of the twentieth century, while shoving in the younger members of the original five families. And, of course, they were all in some way involved in those huge world events. I can’t believe I stuck out the over 1,000 pages. ( I find it hard to abandon a book I’m reading.) Don’t make the same mistake I did.

>156 NanaCC: Thank you, Colleen. That's valuable advice, especially for such a huge doorstop.

>156 NanaCC: Great comments, Colleen. I read Pillars of the Earth after my son raved about it and was underwhelmed, so I definitely would not commit to another doorstop by Follett.

>157 VivienneR:, >158 BLBera: I’m glad to be of service. :-)

Beth, I listened to Pillars of the Earth before I joined LT, but I think it was in 2012. I enjoyed it, but wasn’t wowed by it, as many people were.

19. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, narrated by Cassandra Campbell

I loved this book. Bonnie (brenzi) in the 75 group gave it a glowing review a short while ago, and I downloaded the book right away. The narration is perfect. Kya Clark is known as the swamp girl. Abandoned by her mother at the age of six, by her siblings, and eventually her abusive father, she manages to survive thanks to her knowledge of the marsh and to the kindness of a few key people. The townspeople look down her. She never attends school, because the children laughed at her when they found out she couldn’t read. She eludes the truant officer for years. An older boy who was friends with her older brother teaches her to read, and the story just blossoms from there. It is a heartbreaking coming of age story, filled with loss, love, resilience and of survival. There is a possible murder and a twist I didn’t see coming. The descriptions of the marsh on the North Carolina coastline are wonderful. Highly recommended.

**the touchstone is fixed

>160 NanaCC: I have wondered about this book, as I have seen it on the very top of the Publishers Weekly bestseller list for a very long time, but had not heard of someone here in this group reading it. Now I have. Glad you enjoyed it.

>161 avaland: Fair warning, Lois, Deborah (Cariola) hated it. Her review is on the work page, but hers was the only negative by someone I knew.

>160 NanaCC: there's been a lot of positive buzz about Crawdads over in the 75 Books Group, and my taste overlaps almost 100% with Bonnie. I put my name on the library hold list a little while ago, so I'll read it whenever.

>160 NanaCC: I'll have an opinion of this book in the fall as my book club is reading it. I tend to like my fiction less heartwarming, but I did just buy a copy to give a friend as a gift. I may also bring a copy to my MIL later this month. I do like finding books that may not be to my taste, but that I can be sure will be enjoyed by people who prefer kinder books.

>163 lauralkeet:, >164 RidgewayGirl: I’ll be interested to see your comments, Laura and Kay. I generally have similar tastes as both of you, and also as Bonnie. She also did the audio version and recommended it. I think she said she was new to audiobooks, and thought this was a great start. I thought the narration was very well done, and that may have added to my enjoyment.

Colleen: I also enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing. I would have ended it right after the trial, but I loved the descriptions of nature.

>162 NanaCC: I likely will not read it, but was curious.

>167 avaland: I had a feeling that it wouldn’t necessarily be your thing, Lois. I haven’t even been able to get you to read Blonde, and I know you love JCO. ;-)

20. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

I’ve been watching the series The Durrells in Corfu on PBS, and I’m looking forward to the next season (I think it’s the fourth) which will start soon. The scenery is beautiful, the stories in each episode are quirky and delightful, and I always wonder how much has been embellished for the series. Well, after reading this book, apparently not much. The series is based upon Durrell’s Corfu Trilogy. Gerald Durrell was ten when his family first moved to Corfu. His love of animals took precedence, in his mind, over education. The island was a treasure trove of creatures big and small. When he wrote the book, he says that he started out writing a book about the animals he had made friends with on Corfu, but then he brought his family into the story, and it took off from there. There were many laugh out loud moments as I read the antics of the family. And there were many interesting descriptions of the insects and animals he studied and documented. He did eventually become a zoologist and dedicated his life trying to save endangered species of animals. This book was first in a trilogy. I’ll eventually read the other two.

>19 NanaCC: Where the Crawdads Sing sounds intriguing.

>170 auntmarge64: I enjoyed it, Margaret. I listened to the audiobook. I know that it has a lot of love in the 75 group.

Oh I'm so glad you loved Where the Crawdads Sing Colleen. I don't always like books that get a lot of buzz and I avoided this one for a long time. Unfortunately I don't know what (or who) pushed me to give it a go. The audio, as you said, was absolutely perfect.

I love the PBS series The Durrell's in Corfu and am looking forward to the next season.

You hit me with a couple of BBs there, Colleen. My Family and Other Animals sounds wonderful too, both the series and the book. I always got the impression Durrell had both a fascinating and eccentric life, so I'm sure it's a great read.

>172 brenzi: I thank you again for the recommendation, Bonnie. I’m so glad I listened.

>173 AlisonY: If you haven’t seen the series, Alison, you are in for a treat. Quirky fun. And the book just reinforced how delightful Gerald Durrell must have been as a child.

I have a copy of My Family and Other Animals and I really want to get to it soonish. Where the Crawdads Sing is on my wishlist, so one of these days...

>175 laytonwoman3rd: I think you’ll like both, Linda. I’ll look forward to your comments.

>169 NanaCC: I adored Durrell's books and can remember moments like I just read them yesterday. I watched a few of the tv series but didn't continue.

>177 VivienneR: I will definitely read the other books in this trilogy. His humorous take on everything was enjoyable to read. I love the tv series, and I’m looking forward to the new season. I usually wait until they’ve all recorded so that I can watch them without having to wait a week for the next installment.

21. Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren

The third book in this series moves back and forth from the 1920’s to the current timeframe of the series, which I think is the early 2000’s. Four children in the Ketchem family die of diphtheria in 1924, and in 1930 their father disappears. The widow sets up a fund to open a clinic in memory of her husband. She supports a promising young man through college and residency with the promise that he will continue as doctor for the clinic. Moving forward to present day, this doctor disappears. The doctor and clinic have been harassed by a woman who refuses to have her child vaccinated. She blames her sons’s autism on the vaccines that he received. Clare and Russ are once again pulled together to solve the mystery.

I got a lot of knitting done while listening to this one. :-)

>179 NanaCC: I'm enjoying following along as you read this series, Colleen, re-reading my reviews after yours. I didn't remember much about this one, but I read it in 2010 so I guess that's not too surprising. I gave it four stars and loved the way the story was constructed.

>180 lauralkeet: I hope that when I said I got a lot of knitting done while listening, Laura, that it didn’t sound negative. It was actually the opposite. I was enjoying the book and couldn’t turn it off. I’m enjoying the way that the relationship between Clare and Russ is evolving, and I thought the structure of this one worked well. I have to restrain myself from just jumping into the next one. But I’ll be doing that soon enough. ;-)

Oh I didn't take your knitting reference as negative at all, rather as an added bonus. And then I forgot to ask, what are you making?

>182 lauralkeet: I just finished a blanket for one of my granddaughters. It’s made up of 20 12 inch squares. Each is a different pattern. I’ll give it to her when I see her on Sunday. I’ve started a different one for my youngest grandson. It will be months before I’m finished, but listening to books helps me keep moving.

>179 NanaCC: >180 lauralkeet:. And I read it in 2011 and didn't remember much either but I too am enjoying following along with your reading Colleen.

>183 NanaCC: nice!

>184 brenzi: I’m so glad I saw your enthusiastic response to the new book coming out, Bonnie. It’s really an enjoyable series.

>185 lauralkeet: :-)

I like the Spencer-Fleming books as well, Colleen although it's been a while since I read them.

I want to learn to knit. Your blanket sounds beautiful. You should post pictures.

>187 BLBera: I haven’t figured out how to post pictures, Beth. I guess I haven’t really tried.

As for learning how to knit, my daughter used YouTube videos and she is a whiz at it. I wasn’t ever successful trying to teach her myself, as she is left handed.

22. Closed Circles by Viveca Sten, translated by Laura A, Wideburg

This is the second book in the Sandhamn mystery series. I was introduced to the series last year, when the first book, Still Waters, was offered as a free kindle book for World Book Day.

In this installment, a wealthy bankruptcy lawyer, Oscar Juliander, is shot at the start of a big race. Police detective Thomas Andreasson and his friend, lawyer Nora Linde, work together to uncover the who and why this murder happened.

Note, I did post on the message board that Amazon is offering nine free books as part of this year’s World Book Day. The offer is through April 24th. They are all books that have been translated into English.

Also meant to note that the Sandhamn books 1-6 are on sale right now in the kindle version on amazon. I think they must be part of the monthly deals, because I downloaded them earlier this month.

>168 NanaCC:: But I did buy a paperback in the past year or so (because the hardcover is very large and hard on arthritic hands) and thus I will be ready when the right time arrives!

>190 avaland: I think you’ll love it once you get to it, Lois. I read it on Kindle so didn’t have the weight of the book issue. When I read No Ordinary Time, my daughter bought me a book pillow because the book was so heavy. That helped a lot.

>191 NanaCC: I have a Bookseat, though of course when I'm reading on the couch I can't be bothered getting up and end up using one of the (ordinary) cushions that are close to hand :-).

>189 NanaCC: Colleen, you've sold me on trying the Sandhamn series. The first one is available for free for Prime members so I've downloaded it. And thanks for the heads-up about the free Kindle books for World Book Day - I got two of them. I had to search around to find them, so I thought I'd include the link: https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=17728818011

>192 rhian_of_oz: That sounds familiar. I often do the same thing. ;-)

>193 auntmarge64: I forgot to add the link for amazon, so thank you for that. As for the Sandhamn series, I enjoyed the first enough to continue, and the second is a better mystery. So I’ll keep going. I downloaded all of them. They were either $1 or $1.99 each, so I couldn’t resist.

>179 NanaCC::
I really liked the Spencer-Fleming books when I read then. I am intrigued by the Sten series and got the 6 titles through Kindle Unlimited. At the moment I am rereading Maisie Dobbs and enjoying them more. I think I better understand her now and her mode of investigation.

>195 pmarshall: I have enjoyed the Maisie Dobbs series, Penny. I think I have three more to read. I’ll be curious to hear what you think of the Sandhamn series. I have the next book in the Spencer-Fleming series downloaded. I’m trying to listen to a couple of others first. Sometimes I have a tendency to binge, which isn’t always the best thing.

23. The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley, narrated by Jayne Entwistle

This is the 10th book in the Flavia de Luce series. I read recently that Alan Bradley was 69 when he wrote the first book. He hadn’t been thinking about a series, but with the popularity of the book his publisher signed him up for a ten book contract. So this may or may not be the last in the series. Bradley says that it depends upon whether Flavia gives him another story.

In this installment, Flavia is now 12. Her sister Ophelia (Feely) is getting married. At the reception, as the bride and groom cut into the wedding cake, they find a severed finger stuck into the frosting. Flavia quickly wraps it in a napkin and whisks it away to her laboratory. While trying to figure out the ‘who and why’ of the finger, Flavia and Dogger (Flavia’s deceased father’s valet) in their newly formed Arthur W. Dogger & Associates, Discreet Investigations, are asked to investigate some missing letters. Flavia is growing up, but I love that she still rides around town on her bike, Gladys. I missed the usual banter between Flavia and her sisters, but Mrs Mullet and little cousin Undine were there to fill in the gaps. I chuckled over Mrs Mullet telling Flavia that her sister Daffy was locked up in the library reading some silly book called Useless by some woman named Joyce. If the series continues, the relationship between Flavia and Dogger, and their new agency could be put to good use.

24. Guiltless by Viveca Sten

This is the third book in the Sandhamn series. A teenage girl goes missing in the late fall. After a few weeks of searching, it is assumed that she has run away. Months later a severed arm is found buried in the woods, and police detective Thomas Andreasson is once again on Sandhamn investigating a murder. His friend, Nora Linde, is also on the island with her young boys after having a relationship ending fight with her husband. The mystery in this one is good. There is another storyline that takes place mostly in the 1920’s, and Sten manages to tie them together rather nicely.

>189 NanaCC::
Thank you for the introduction to the Sandhamn books. I just finished Still Waters and look forward to the next. They will be a nice alternative to Maisie Dobbs. They are ‘uplifting’ in comparison to Henning Mankell!

>199 pmarshall: I’m glad that you enjoyed it Penny. I’ve finished the first three, and have the fourth as my kindle book read in bed. I like having a kindle book that I can read with the light out while my hubby sleeps. And, yes, definitely not as dark as Henning Mankell....although I loved the Wallender books.

25. Tonight You’re Dead by Viveca Sten

This series is a bit addictive as each seems to end with a bit of a cliff hanger. In this one, book 4 in the Sandhamn series, a college student is found hanging in his dormitory room. At first it is assumed to be a suicide, but as a man he was interviewing for a school project is found murdered, Thomas Andreasson starts putting together clues that tie a group of former Coastal Rangers to the dead man.

26. Water Like a Stone by Deborah Crombie, narrated by Michael Deehy

Book 11 in the Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series is a page turner, or in my case a great listen. Kincaid and James are at Kincaid’s parents’ house with their boys for their Christmas holiday. The boys are delighted meeting their cousins. But the holiday is interrupted when the mummified body of a baby is found. And to top things off a woman is found murdered. Duncan’s sister and her husband are having troubles in their marriage, and their daughter Lally is mixed up in something quite dangerous. It sounds quite like a soap opera, but it was actually well done and very tense. Michael Deehy’s narration is very good.

>201 NanaCC: This series is a bit addictive as each seems to end with a bit of a cliff hanger.
Well I'm glad to hear that, since you *forced me* to buy #s 2-6 all on Kindle not so long ago! I have no idea when I'll start reading but I'm glad to see you enjoying them so much.

>203 lauralkeet: I’m sorry that I twisted your arm, Laura... ;-)

I think that the mysteries are better after the first book. I like that the relationship between Thomas and Nora is strictly platonic. The translator changed after the second book. I wonder if that helped, as well.

Wait, do I have you to blame thank for recommending the Ruth Galloway mysteries? I bought a bunch of them for Kindle a while ago and am finally going to start the series this month.

>205 lauralkeet: LOL.. you will thank me, if it was me, Laura. But I’m guessing you picked it up from someone else. It’s very good.

I just checked, and it was Vivienne who put Ruth Galloway on my wishlist.

>206 NanaCC: Woo hoo! Another Griffiths fan! Ruth Galloway mysteries are favourites of mine. I'll be starting #5 of the series, A Dying Fall soon. And I love Stephens & Mephisto the other series by Elly Griffiths set in the seaside resort of Brighton in the fifties.

>207 VivienneR: I haven’t read anything from Griffiths other series, Vivienne. Soon....