Eadie's 2020 Reading Log

Goal is to read 200 books in 2020.

January 2020
✔ ★ ☞ ☊

1.✔2019 - ☊ Empire of Lies by Raymond Khoury - 567 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/6/2020
This book is an alternate reality which asks "What if The Ottoman Empire won the battle of Vienna in 1683?" What would the world look like today? I enjoyed learning about the history of The Ottoman Empire and found the plot to be very believable. I found the characters of Rasheed, Kamal, Taymoor, Nisreen and Ramazan to be very well-drawn. I thought Nisreen was very courageous in wanting to travel back in time in order to change some things. The Tattooed Man was very unique and quite chilling at times. I found the book to be a page turner although there were some slow parts. Towards the end, the story took off and did not let go until the very end. I have never read a Raymond Khoury book but look forward to reading some of his other books. I would highly recommend this book to those who love historical fiction with a touch of fantasy. I would like to thank Bookishfirst.com for a free book for an honest review.

2.✔2007 - The Keeper of Lost Causes (Mercy) by Jussi Adler-Olsen - 400 pgs. - ★★★.5 - 1/6/2020
Copenhagen's police department created a new department called Q in the basement of their building. It is headed up by Carl Morck, a flawed policeman that nobody wants to work with. He is given an immigrant named Assad who is suppose to do menial work but his intelligence is very helpful to Carl. Department Q is in charge of cold cases and one case catches the eye of Carl. It is a liberal woman politician who has been missing for 5 years. Some surmise suicide or murder but she may still be alive. Carl and Assad are bound and determined to find out.
This book has a very interesting plot but the story moved very slow for me. I don't know if it was the translation but the book was very wordy and could have used better dialogue. Carl and Assad were unique but the other characters seemed very stilted to me. I switched to the audio version and that worked better for me. I will continue with the series and I would recommend to those who like mystery noir from Denmark.

3.✔2020 - Sea of Lost Girls by Carol Goodman - 320 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/6/2020
A twisty, harrowing story set at a prestigious prep school in which one woman’s carefully hidden past might destroy her future. Tess is a teacher and her husband is a professor at the school. She has a 17 year old son, Rudy, who is about to graduate from the school. Rudy's girlfriend, Lila, is found dead on the beach in Maine and 4 hours later Rudy and Tess's husband, Harmon, are the suspects. I found the book to be an easy read where the plot moves pretty quickly. The characters were very interesting. The school had a fabled history with many skeletons in the closet. The ending was a surprise and the best part of the book. I look forward to reading more from Carol Goodman and recommend this to those who like to read about murder at a elite boarding school. I would like to thank William Morrow Harper Collins Publisher for a free copy for an honest review.

4.✔2008 - ☊ The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg - 420 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/7/2020
Erica Falck returns home to Fjallbacka Sweden. Her friend Alex has committed suicide. She teams up with Patrik Hedstrom, police, to find the truth. Old family secrets surface and someone committed murder to protect them. Nice debut. Book was slow in the beginning. Ending was a surprise. Interesting characters. Plot twists. Looking forward to book 2. Recommend to those who love mystery thrillers.

5.✔1978 - ☊ - Eye of The Needle by Ken Follett - 445 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/8/2020
“The Needle” an enemy spy, aristocrat, and ruthless assassin. One person standing in his way. A lonely Englishwoman on an isolated Scottish Island who falls in love with him. Another Follett masterpiece. Full of suspense, intrigue, and adventure. Best WWII spy novel. Atmospheric and thrilling. A must read. I‘ve been reading Follett‘s books. Love them all

6.✔2011 - ☊ The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler - 592 Pgs. - ★★★ - 1/11/2020
Tumba Sweden. Triple homicide. One surviving witness is a young boy. DI Joona Linna asks Dr Erik Bark to hypnotize boy. Terrifying events unfurl. Dr. Bark’s son is kidnapped. His marriage is on the rocks. Dr. Bark is also a drug addict. Dark story. Slow start. Main plot gets sidetracked too many times and makes book too long. Warning: nasty sexual language. Hope next book gets better. Translation may be the problem.

7.✔2015 - Evil Games by Angela Marsons, #2 in the Kim Stone Series - 438 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/13/2020
Kim Stone and her team investigate pedophile ring. Dr. Alex Thorne, psychologist, is using her patients as experiments in evil. Kim matches wits with this sociopath of a Doctor as she has her eyes set to bring Kim down. This edge of your seat thriller is well-written. Unique characters. Real page-turner. Plot with twists moves quickly. Great series. Looking forward to book 3. Recommend to lovers of mystery/thrillers.

8.✔1985 - ☊ Lie Down with Lions by Ken Follett - 508 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/14/2020
Ellis, the American. Jean-Pierre, the Frenchman. 2 men opposite sides, a woman torn between them. A deadly romantic triangle, a mission with global stakes. The Russians want to assassinate Masud, leader of the Afghan guerrilla force. A gripping, masterful plot which keeps you on the edge of your seat. Audio narration was excellent. Intriguing characters. It‘s a love story and a struggle for freedom. Recommended.

9.✔1983 - On Wings With Eagles by Ken Follett - 500 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/15/2020
When two of his American employees were held hostage in Iran, H. Ross Perot and a select group of his employees took matters into their own hands. Only Ross Perot could make this happen. His team consisted of a group of volunteers from the executive ranks of his corporation, trained by a retired Green Beret officer. To free the imprisoned Americans, they would face incalculable odds on a mission that only true heroes would have dared. . . .
This is a fast-paced adventure story that kept the pages turning until the very end. Only Follett could write this book and do it justice. Hard to believe that it is a true story but I do remember when it happened in 1978. This book is not to be missed. It is a marvelous rare read!

10.✔2016 - ☊ Britt-Marie was here by Fredrik Backman - 337 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/18/2020
Britt-Marie is socially awkward and she can be annoying as she hates a mess. She always has a suggestion on how to live your life. She has a great imagination, big dreams and a warm heart. Backman's characters are very rich. I loved Ove and Britt-Marie is up there too. This book made me laugh out loud. She has lots of wisdom and I loved all the many uses for baking soda. I look forward to reading more of Backman's books as he is truly an excellent writer. Highly recommended!

11.✔2020 - Many Rivers To Cross by Peter Robinson - 416 pgs - ★★★★ - 1/18/2020
Book starts out slow with dark story of drugs, murder, sex trafficking. Not nice subject matters. Gets better middle to end. Cliffhanging ending leaves things unresolved. Interesting characters. Intriguing plot with lots of twists. Many music references as usual. Not my favorite in the series but still a good read. Looking forward to next book. Recommend to those who love mystery thrillers.

12.✔2015 ☊ - All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven - 416 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/19/2020
Just finished this audio. A heartbreaking love story about 2 fragile and damaged high school kids named Violet and Finch. Niven‘s writing is excellent despite the difficult topic. Narration alternates between Finch and Violet. Very touching and an honest depiction of depression and mental illness. Looking forward to Netflix movie 2/28/20.

13.✔2012 ☊ - Full House by Maeve Binchy - 128 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/20/2020
This is a short quick read and very enjoyable. It was easy to relate to the mother in this story and how all her grown children moved back home and expected her to cater to them. She gives them a dose of tough love and sets them straight. This was one of Maeve‘s last books and as always has a lot of wisdom in it about how to make your children more responsible. Enjoyed reading about characters from her other books too. Highly recommended!

14.✔1997 - ☊ Déjà Dead (Temperance Brennan, #1) by Kathy Reichs - 560 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/22/2020
TV show, Bones, is based upon this series. Tempe Brennan, Quebec‘s director of forensic anthropology, is in search of a serial killer which has killed her best friend and has her daughter in mortal danger. A slow beginning but fascinating look of working in a coroner‘s office. Harrowing plot and characters. Impeccable writing and suspenseful. Looking forward to book 2 and recommended to those who love gripping thrillers.

15.✔2019 - This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger - 464 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/24/2020
1932 #Minnesota 4 orphans (Odie Banion, Albert (Odie's brother), Mose, (their friend), Emmy (broken-hearted little girl) on life-changing odyssey during the Great Depression. A big-hearted epic that shows how the American landscape connects us all. Krueger is a master storyteller with beautiful prose. Well-plotted and imaginative with endearing characters. Recommended for adult and YA readers.

16. ✔2014 - Sister Caravaggio by Maeve Binchy - 256 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/26/2020
A Caravaggio painting disappears from the chapel of Doon Abbey in Kildare Ireland. Sister Alice, a novitiate, & Sister Mercy Superior investigate but the suspects and body count are many. I enjoyed this story but the book was written together with Binchy and other writers which caused it to be a bit confusing in parts. Loved all the humorous characters and the ending was surprising. Recommended for those whose love Binchy and humorous Irish tales.

17. ✔2020 - Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill - 400 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/27/2020
San Antonio Texas Det. Amara Alverez discovers that a school bus accident may not be what it seems. The accident involves murder, kidnapping and other crimes. Book was fast-paced & hard to put down. Loved Alverez and her pet iguana. She is an amazing heroine as she tries to save the children. The plot was very intriguing and held my attention to the very end. Recommend to those who love thrillers. Thanks to Revell and LibraryThing for a free copy.

18. ✔2012 - ☊ The Nightmare by Lars Kepler - 528 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/26/2020
Stockholm Police find lifeless body of woman on an abandoned yacht. A man’s body is hanged - a suspicious suicide. Are these deaths somehow related? Joona Linda & Saga Bauer investigate. Lots of action and very gripping plot keeps the pages turning! Only complaint is I’m finding these Swedish crime books a bit longer than necessary otherwise interesting storylines. Looking forward to next book and recommend this one to those who love thrillers.

19.✔2012 - ☊ Disgrace aka The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen - 530 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/26/2020
Copenhagen Department Q has another cold case to solve - brutal double murder of a brother and sister 20 years ago. They find out that Kimmie, a homeless woman, holds the key but they need to track her down. Violent characters who hide behind their money are suspects. A bit long-winded but suspenseful and an insightful look at ruthless people. Can be read as standalone. Looking forward to next book & recommended to those who love Nordic thrillers.

20.✔2008 - ☊ The Preacher by Camilla Lackberg - 516 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/27/2020
Fjallbacka Sweden - A sadistic murderer has returned to claim fresh victims. Det. Patrik Hedstrom & Erica Falck launch a desperate manhunt. Another fast-paced novel from Lackberg who is a master of suspense and plotting. Family secrets are about to be revealed. Love the characters of Patrik and Erica. They make a great team to solve crime in this small fishing village. Can’t wait to read the next installment. Recommend to thriller lovers.

21.✔2007 - ☊ Night Work by Steve Hamilton - 308 Pg. - ★★★★ - 1/28/2020
New York - Probation officer, Joe Trumball, is scared to death. His fiancee, Laurel, was murdered 2 years ago. His blind date from last night is found murdered. The police are now suspecting he is the murderer. How does Joe convince them that he is innocent? This is another interesting standalone from Hamilton. I read his book, The Lock Artist, a few years ago and was very impressed with his writing. I recommend these 2 stand-alone suspense books.

22. ✔2002 - A Painted Doom by Kate Ellis - 336 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/31/2020
Devon UK - Lewis Hoxworthy finds a medieval painting in his barn. Rock star, Jonny Shellmer, is shot & found on Terry Hoxworthy’s field & Lewis goes missing. DI Wesley Peterson & Chief Gerry Heffernan need to figure out what is going on. The village of Derenham is full of secrets, ancient and modern. How does the medieval painting (a 500 year old Doom) hold the key? Read this series and find out how Ellis interweaves the past & present.

January Totals - 22 Books and 9,385 Pgs.

Wow! You are really on the ball EadieB. And I am kind of liking your projected reading list. Good luck with your 2020 challenges. :-)

Wow! This is organised Eadie! How many books have you read so far this year? I really enjoyed Cruel Acts.

>3 rainpebble: Thanks! Now if I can just stick to my list. I get distracted so easily. I'll have to make a New Year's Resolution not to get distracted and visit the library so often for new books. I have so many of my own books to read.

>4 Andrew-theQM: The present Lacey Flint book will be 192 but my goal is only 200 so I should be able to make that by the end of the year.

I’m on 263...don’t know how!!! And close to finishing 3.Helped by a number of shorter books for the century challenge. Most ever, even by some time in November. Targeted 200 and read 242 last year (highest ever)

>7 Andrew-theQM: WOW! That's amazing! Can't wait to see next year totals as you are getting closer to 300!

>7 Andrew-theQM: I estimated low also. I love what Goodreads has done with our yearly reading report on the sign in page. Have you seen it? It says that I've read 101,031 pages across 287 books. 288 would be the Sharon Bolton book that I haven't posted yet and I'm almost done with 289.

February 2020
✔ ★ ☞ ☊

23.✔2018 - ☊ The Couple Next Door: A Novel by Shari Lapena - 344 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/2/2020
Upstate New York - Baby Cora was kidnapped while her parents, Anne and Marco Conti, were visiting their neighbors, Cynthia and Graham. Suspicion falls on the parents. Det. Rasbach knows they are hiding something. The couple do have secrets they‘ve kept for years. I loved this book as many twists and turns led to a very surprising ending. I‘m looking forward to another book by Lapena and highly recommend this book to those who love thrillers.

24.✔1999 - ☊ Death Du Jour by Kathy Reichs - 480 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/2/2020
Dr. Temperance Brennan uses her forensic skills to investigate a series of unrelated events - horrifying deaths in a Quebec fire & discoveries in North Carolina with a showdown in Montreal. I enjoyed the 1st book in the series more but in this book there seems to be too many plot lines. A relationship with Det. Andy Ryan seems to be starting. I look forward to the next book in order to see how this interest progresses. Recommended.

25. ✔Seattle Washington 2009 - ☊ The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein - 338 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/3/2020
Enzo is different from other dogs. He has acquired a nearly human soul by listening to the words of his master, Denny Swift, a race car driver. He helps Denny through the death of his wife, Eve, & custody battle over his daughter, Zoe. While dying, Enzo, knows he will return as a man. This is a heart-wrenching, funny & uplifting story of family, love, loyalty & hope. I really enjoyed listening to the audio & recommend it.

26. ✔2005 - ☊ Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer - 368 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/4/2020
Listened to this audio today & I wondered why I didn’t do this sooner. It is an uplifting myth which was born of the sorrows of 9/11. Parts were hilarious yet very heartbreaking. I found it difficult to once again hear about people jumping from the World Trade Center unable to escape the roaring fire. It was great to hear how many families are moving forward. I found Foer to be wise & compassionate and look forward to reading another book by him.

27. ✔4/7/2020 - German Heiress The by Scott, Anika - 384 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/8/2020
1946 Essen Germany - post-war German perspective. Clara Falkenberg, “Iron Fraulein”, is hunted by British Captain Fenshaw for war crimes. Clara is looking for her best friend, Elisa, and her son, Willy. Jakob Relling is also looking for Elisa and bans together with Clara. Well-researched book about family secrets, guilt, forgiveness & justice. Complex characters & well-paced plot. Thoroughly engaging. Recommend to historical fiction lovers. 4/20

28. ✔2012 - ☊ Invisible Murder by Lene Kaaberbol - 368 Pgs.- ★★★ - 2/9/2020
Copenhagen Denmark - Boys find weapons in an abandoned Soviet hospital to sell on the black market. Nina Borg, Red Cross nurse, helps to heal illegal immigrants suffering from the flu. Too many plot lines give this book a slow start. Dark & realistic about terrorism. Last part of book is best with a twist at the end. Listened on audio which made boring parts easier. Will not continue this series so cannot really recommend. #InvisibleMurder

29.✔1955 - Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh - 146 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/12/2020
Listened to the audio this afternoon after @Butterflyamore and her husband, Josh, made a You-Tube video and mentioned this book as one of Josh’s favorite books. It is a very short book (143 Pgs) with lots of wisdom from Charles Lindbergh’s wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh. I enjoyed it very much and even though it was written in 1955 the messages are relevant even today. As it was a 2 hour 24 minutes audiobook, I would highly recommended to all!

30. ✔2013 - How to Fall by Jane Casey - 352 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/12/2020
Port Sentinel near Devon UK - Jane Casey can write YA too! 16 year old Jessica Tennant and her mom holiday in her mom’s hometown where Jess’ cousin, Freya, was murdered last year. Jess is bound and determined to find out who did it but will be putting herself at risk. Well-developed characters. Gripping book and hard to put down. Surprise twist and cliffhanger at the end makes you look forward to the next book. Recommend

31. ✔2014 - Bet Your Life by Jane Casey- 432 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/14/2020
Port Sentinel near Devin UK - 2nd book in the Jess Tennant YA series. This book was better that the first book. While investigating who left Seb Dawson on the side of the road near death, Jessica’s dad shows up to reclaim his marriage to Molly, Jessica’s mother. He decides to stay and start a new business. I’m looking forward to the 3rd and last book in the series to see how Jess and her mom deal with this change in their lives. Recommended

32. ✔2015 - Hide and Seek by Jane Casey - 368 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/15/2020
Last book in the YA Jess Tennant series. Gilly Poynter, one of Jess’ classmates, is missing. Jess helps to find her but ends up in danger. Casey succeeded with another hard to put down thriller with surprising plot twists and intriguing characters. I enjoyed the entire trilogy! I’m looking forward to the next Maeve Kerrigan book coming out in April and highly recommend both series.

33. ✔2019 - Final Option by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison, #14 in the Oregon Files Series - 512 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/16/2020
Juan Cabrillo faces the worst enemy from his past in this latest action packed thriller from Clive Cussler. 3 American spies have been compromised and the CIA turns to Juan and his crew on the Oregon to rescue them. It is a trap and the crew finds themselves up against a ship that rivals their own. With the help of Boyd Morrison, Cussler has written his best book yet of the Oregon files. This book kept me glued until the end! Highly recommended!

34. ✔2016 - The Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knowles - 368 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/17/2020
This was not the best book but I found it very interesting. The setting of Philadelphia was very familiar and I enjoyed picturing all the places mentioned in the book. It covered a lot of familiar topics such as; eating disorders, rape, school shootings and bullying. The main character, Ani, is very unlikeable and calculating. Knoll does the mean-girl portrayal very well but I think she took on too many issues. I still found it entertaining!

35. ✔1978 - The Blackheath Poisonings by Julian Symons - 306 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/19/2020
1890 Blackheath UK Thanks to @gradcat for prompting me to read this book as I am mailing it to her this Friday. I never read a Julian Symons book before and enjoyed this very much. It had a surprise ending and the reader was given clues but they went right over my head. I look forward to reading another Symons book soon. I would highly recommend this novel as I thought it was very cleverly written!

36. ✔2010 - The Missing by Jane Casey - 496 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/23/2020
Casey’s debut psychological thriller. I would have to say that she has been talented right from the start of her writing career! Thought I knew who the killer was but a surprise twist right at the end took care of that thought. I have read all her books at this point but I am anxiously awaiting another Kerrigan book coming out in April. If you haven’t read Casey yet, what are you waiting for? She does not disappoint! #TheMissing #JaneCasey

37. ✔2020 - The New Husband by D.J. Palmer - 384 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/24/2020
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for a free copy for an honest review. I enjoyed this book very much and found it hard to put down. It is a fast-paced suspenseful thriller with unique characters and lots of twists I did not see coming. Nina Garrity’s husband, Glen, is missing in a fishing boat accident. 17 months later Nina meets Simon, falls in love and plans to marry Simon but something just does not feel right. Her daughter, Maggie, keeps warning her but Nina doesn’t listen until it’s too late and their lives are in jeopardy. I’m looking forward to reading another novel by Palmer as I like his writing style. Recommended!

38. ✔2015 - ☊ A Few of the Girls by Maeve Binchy - 404 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/25/2020
This is a book of short stories by Maeve Binchy that was compiled by her husband and publisher after her death. I don‘t usually like short stories but I really enjoyed them very much. Looking forward to reading Chestnut Street in March and I would recommend this book to those who love short stories or reading about Ireland.

39. ✔2006 - Fifty Grand by Adrian McKinty - 324 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/26/2020
Cuban cop Mercado is on her way to Colorado to avenge her father‘s death. Her deadbeat dad skipped out of Cuba and settled in a ski resort popular with the Hollywood set such as; Tom Cruise & Kevin Spacey. I found this book to be an interesting debut for Adrian McKinty. I liked the colorful characters and Mercado‘s fortitude in overcoming obstacles. The Sean Duffy series is still a favorite but I would recommend this to those who love thrillers.

40. ✔2019 - The Stone Circle by Elly Griffiths - 384 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/28/2020
The past is reaching out for Ruth and Nelson as they have been receiving threatening letters regarding finding the body of Margaret Lacey who was murdered 30 years ago. I enjoyed Griffiths writing, well-drawn characters and plot mixed with archeology and murder. The series should be read in order in regards to the complex relationships involved. Recommended to those who love British mystery thrillers.

41. ✔2019 - The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths - 384 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/29/2020
Ruth has a new job, home and partner but convicted murderer, Amyas March, requests that Ruth come back to Norfolk to help DCI Nelson find the bodies that he has buried. He leads them to an area haunted by The Lantern Men. This is another interesting installment in the Ruth Galloway series which finds Ruth and Nelson still having strong feelings for each other even though Frank also has his eyes on Ruth. Recommended

42. ✔2019 - The Benefit of Hindsight by Susan Hill - 336 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/29/2020
DCI Simon Serrailler returns to work after losing his arm. After a burglary, Simon makes a serious error of judgment when handling the incident. Stress from this and the trauma of losing his arm finds Simon in jeopardy with his job. There are a few more subplots that keep the book hard to put down. I am now awaiting the next book in order to find out more about things going on in Simon‘s life. One of the better books in the series. Recommended.

January Totals - 22 Books and 9,385 Pgs.
Februay Totals - 20 Books and 7,478 Pgs.

Total - 42 Books and 16,863 Pgs.

March 2020
✔ ★ ☞ ☊

Currently Reading

43.✔2013 -☊ The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George - 416 pgs. - ★★★ - 3/3/2020
What I liked about this book - the bookstore owner knows and matches the perfect book to the person, he picks certain books to heal people‘s emotions. The bookstore was a barge which sailed on the river and took on interesting characters. What I didn‘t like - romance not my favorite genre, writing was too wordy and descriptive, boring in parts. This book is a 50-50 gamble! Half the people love it & half are not too excited about it! Take a chance!

44.✔2013 -☊ A Conspiracy of Faith aka Redemption by Jussi Adler-Olsen - 504 pgs. - ★★★ - 3/4/2020
Message in a bottle from 13 years ago have Carl and gang wondering about 2 young Danish boys who are missing. Removing side plots that have nothing to do with main plot could have made book shorter and not so boring. Action only picked up towards the end. Rose/Yrsa character was interesting. Hope to find out more about this. Kidnapping and religious fanaticism main themes. Hoping for a shorter book next time! lol

45.✔2016 - The Borden Murders by Sarah Miller - 322 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/5/2020
Sarah Miller, #LitsyAuthor, has given a very balanced account of #TheBordenMurders a #truecrime that happened on August 4, 1892. As a maid and Lizzie Borden were the only ones home at the time of the murders, Lizzie became a major suspect. She was arrested, tried and found innocent as the prosecution didn‘t have any real evidence against her. Even after all this time, nobody has actually been charged with the murder. Very interesting book!

46.✔2020 - The Split by Sharon Bolton - 400 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/6/2020
Sharon Bolton has outdone herself with her new standalone psychological thriller. It starts out slow but in the end, it is a tension-filled gripping read that never lets go. Felicity Lloyd is a glaciologist and is hiding from her abusive ex-husband, Freddie, on South Georgia Island in Antarctica. Bolton's description of South Georgia Island makes you feel like you are there in all the ice cold temperatures.
While back at home in Cambridge for a break, she meets Joe Grant, a psychologist, who delves into her background in order to help her cope with her fears. On a daily basis, she feels someone is watching her. She needs to get back to South Georgia Island in order to feel safe. Is that person Freddie or is someone else out to do her harm? When she gets back to the island, the story takes off at breakneck speed. There are plenty of twists and turns that I never saw coming. I am sure that this book will be one of my favorite reads for 2020! I would highly recommend to those who love psychological thrillers! I would also like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC for an honest review.

47.✔2005 -☊ The Stone Cutter by Camilla Lackberg - 480 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/6/2020
Fjallbacka Sweden A little girl is found in a fisherman‘s net. The drowning is found to be murder. The mother is a personal friend of Erica who lives with Patrik Hedstrom, a local police officer. Another interesting book by Lackberg. Only complaint is that book is too long. Characters and plot are unique. Suspects are many and hard to flesh out. A surprise ending has me looking forward to next book. Recommended!

48.✔2013 -☊ The Fire Witness by Lars Kepler - 512 pgs. - ★★★★ - 3/13/2020
Mysterious murder at wayward girls home. One girl is dead, another is missing. Joona Linna must now discover who did this. The chapters are short so reading isnt a chore and the plot pace is steady. Needs some editing as book is too long. We learn more about Linna's past life with his wife and daughter. Recommend for those who like psychological thrillers Looking forward to book 4.

49.✔2019 -☊ The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern - 512 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/15/2020
Love story set in a secret underground world--a place of pirates, painters, lovers, liars, and ships that sail upon a starless sea. Zachary Ezra Rawlins is student in Vermont. He discovers a book hidden in the stacks. As he turns the pages, he reads a story from his own childhood. How has his own life come to be recorded? Zachary uncovers clues--a bee, a key, and a sword--that lead to a doorway to an ancient library. It is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. Zachary, Mirabel and Dorian work to preserve this archive. Zachary soon discovers his purpose--in both the mysterious book and in his own life.
A beautiful and well-written fantasy-filled story about stories with interesting characters and a plot that is a quest. It is a love letter to readers. A gem of a book with mystery and passion on every page. Highly recommended to those who love fantasy.

50.✔ 2020 - Catherine House by Elizabeth Thomas - 320 pgs. - ★★★★ - 3/15/2020
Thanks to LibraryThing and Harper Collins Publishers for a free book for an honest review. The book was part mystery & gothic realism. It‘s a bit slow but you have to stick with it in order to understand what is going on. I expected more mystery & horror as stated in book blurb so was disappointed in that respect. The book does have merit with the atmospheric house acting as a character having dark & disturbing secrets. Recommended

51.✔2014 - By The Book by Pamela Paul - 314 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/15/2020
Loved this book! 65 of the world‘s leading writers open up about books & authors that have meant the most to them. I really enjoyed the questions and answers posed to them especially what books these writers have read and enjoyed. I hope that they release a new book with more writers as I also enjoyed being admitted into the private world of the authors featured in this book. Thanks to @Cinfhen for calling this to my attention. Recommended

52.✔2002 - Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley -223 pgs. -★★★★★ - 3/15/2020
I found this book has a lot of useful information for my quest of getting my life in order. Lots of housecleaning tips about breaking down chores into manageable missions by spending 15 minute increments and then moving onto another room for 15 minutes more. Helps you set up a schedule of what to clean on certain days. De-cluttering tips are most helpful in order to simplify the chaos you may be living too. Lots of humor and musings. Recommended

53.✔2019 - Woman 99 by Greer Macallister - 368 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/22/2020
Late 1800‘s San Francisco. Charlotte Smith‘s parents commit her sister, Phoebe, to an asylum. She fakes madness & follows her sister inside. She becomes inmate Woman 99. She finds many women are not insane. Powerful people do not want the secrets to get out. Gripping story of the power of female courage. All things turned around & made for a great ending for Charlotte & Phoebe. This historical book is recommended!

54.✔2004 -☊ The Collectors by David Baldacci, #2 in the Camel Club Series - 546 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/25/2020
Annabelle is a beautiful stranger with a mysterious past, planning the heist of the century - two short cons to fund a long con, then a life of unashamed luxury, incognito in a foreign land. Unfortunately, however, things don't go according to plan. I liked the characters, the short chapters and the plot. A quick and easy read with some humor. The cons were enjoyable & Annabelle a favorite character. This 2nd book in series is highly recommended.

55.✔2020 - The Silence by Luca Veste - 400 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/29/2020
Liverpool. 2015 with Flashbacks to 1992 which tell how the six friends met. Matt is the narrator. He asks his friends to attend a revival of 90's music festival in the countryside. Matt brings Alexander, Stuart is with Michelle and Chris is with Nicole. They hear a scream in the middle of the night and find Stuart being attacked by a man. They killed the stranger and covered it up. They didn't know their victim was a serial killer. The six promise each other they would not tell anyone about the body they buried. A year later, the pact has been broken. And the killing has started again. They start to think the killer has a partner and is coming after each of them.
This is a standalone thriller about The Candle Man who is a serial killer. It's a chilling book which is hard-to-put-down with a shocking ending I didn't see coming. The characters are unique and the plot is dark. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Veste as I do like his writing style. I would highly recommend this book to those who love thrillers. I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a free copy for an honest review.

56.✔2020 - Outsider by Linda Castillo - 320 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/31/2020
This is the 12th book in the Kate Burkholder series. I have read the whole series and always look forward to reading a new one each year. Although part of the series, this book can be read as a standalone. Castillo makes a point in each book to give Kate's background. In this book we learn even more about how she decided to become a police officer along with her best friend, Gina Colorosa.
The plot starts with a phone call to Kate from an Amish widower, Adam Lengacher. He discovers an unconscious woman in her car stuck in a snowdrift at his farm. The woman turns out to be Kate's friend, fellow cop, Gina Colorosa. Kate has not seen Gina in 10 yrs. Gina is wanted for killing an undercover officer. Gina claims she is innocent and is being framed by corrupt officers.
Kate asks state agent, John Thomaselli, for help. John's superior tells John to back off. As Kate gets closer to the truth, Kate must confront a reality that changes everything she thought she knew.
The book is a very well-written edge-of-your-seat read with lots of suspense. I look forward to reading more about John and Kate's flourishing relationship in future books. I highly recommend this book and series to those who love suspense thrillers. I would like to thank Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a free book for an honest review.

57.✔2013 - The Purity of Vengeance aka Guilt by Jussi Adler-Olsen - 503 pgs.- ★★★★ - 3/31/2020
In 1987, Nete Hermansen plans revenge on those who abused her in her youth. Curt Wad, a surgeon, sterilized wayward girls in 1950s Denmark. 20 years later, Detective Carl Morck is presented with the case of a brothel owner named Rita who went missing in the 80's. Carl's assistants, Assad and Rose, learn that other people disappeared at the same time as Rita. Curt Wad's brutal treatment of Nete comes forefront and shows the evil Wad is capable of.
This novel brings to the forefront the forced sterilization of women in Denmark's recent history also the rise of a fascist political party. It is a top-notch thriller with lots of suspense from the beginning until the very end. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Highly recommended!

January Totals - 22 Books and 9,385 Pgs.
February Totals - 20 Books and 7,478 Pgs.
March Totals - 15 Books and 6,140 Pgs.

Total - 57 Books and 23,003 Pgs.

April 2020
✔ ★ ☞ ☊

58.✔2011 - The Devil Colony by James Rollins, #7 Sigma Force Series - 647 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 4/9/2020
Could the founding of America be based on a fundamental lie, one coded in secrets that stretch back to before the birth of Christ, to a mystery buried in the prehistoric past? The truth lies hidden within the ruins of a cursed lost colony of the Americas. A place known only as: THE DEVIL COLONY. The book is full of history, mystery, action and suspenseful adventure. The part I enjoyed most was interesting history about the early settlers of the US and the discoveries of Lewis and Clark. Rollins did lost of great research for this book which took him 2 years to write. I look forward to reading the next book in the Sigma Force series. Highly recommended!

59.✔2020 - Who Speaks For The Damned by C.S. Harris - 352 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 4/13/2020
1814 London 15th book in series but can be read as standalone. Sebastian St Cyr and his wife, Hero, are asked to solve the murder of Nicholas Hayes who was accused of murdering a French woman 15 years earlier. I learned lots of well-researched history about the East India Co's opium smuggling and Napoleon's defeat. Harris is a very talented writer. Her unique characters and plot make for a book that held my attention all the way through. I now look forward to reading the next book in the series and would highly recommend to those who love historical mysteries. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishers for a free copy for an honest review.

60.✔1905 -☊The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton - 464 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 4/13/2020
Wharton is an excellent writer and storyteller. House of Mirth is her 1st literary success. Lily Bart is an accurate portrayal of NY’s aristocracy at the turn of the century. Bart is her most unforgettable character. She is beautiful but finds herself broke from gambling debts and needs to find a wealthy husband. This ultimately leads to her tragic downfall. I found this book most interesting and look forward to reading Age of Innocence next.

61.✔2011 - The Gallows Bird aka The Stranger by Camilla Lackberg - 384 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 4/14/2020
Sweden. Tragic car crash. Woman is found dead. Reality TV show in town. Cast member dies. Cast/Crew is suspected. More bodies mount up. Chilly thriller with blood curdling horror. Hard to put down. Interesting characters. Lackberg has another winner. Looking forward to next book in series. Highly recommended to those who love mystery/thrillers.

62.✔2012 - The Sandman by Lars Kepler - 515 Pages ★★★★★ - 4/16/2020
Stockholm. This is the best book of series so far. Jurek Walter has been dead for over 7 years but he shows up with hypothermia. DI Joona Linda investigates and opens a kidnap cold case from years ago. Saga volunteers to go in isolation with Walter to see what she can learn. A creepy thriller with a very surprise ending. Need to read the next book soon! Highly recommend to those who love Mystery Thrillers and #NordicNoir.

63.✔2018 -☊ Normal People by Sally Rooney - 304 pgs - ★★★★ - 4/17/2020
Dublin. Marianne and Connell attend Trinity College and in a relationship. They are 2 complex characters and I could not invest myself in them but was interested to see what happens to them. In the end, they both knew they cared about each other but can‘t seem to get their act together. I felt let down. I enjoyed Rooney‘s writing and look forward to Conversations With Friends and would recommend this book to those who like coming of age stories.

64.✔2007 - ☊ Stone Cold by David Baldacci - 527 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 4/19/2020
Oliver Stone and his Camel Club are asked to come to the aid of Annabelle Conroy, an honorary member of the club and a con artist. Jerry Bagger, who killed her mother, was conned by Conroy for $40 million and now he's coming after her. Men from Stone's past have ended up dead. Harry Finn is the killer and his eyes are now set on Stone. The book is the best of the series so far. Non-stop action and unique characters kept the pages turning. I'm now looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Book would also make a great movie. I highly recommend it to those who love historical mystery thrillers.

65.✔1980 - The Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett - 508 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 4/19/2020
His code name: "The Sphinx." His mission: to send Rommel's advancing army the secrets that would unlock the doors to Cairo...and the ultimate Nazi triumph in the war. And in all of Cairo, only two people could stop this brilliant and ruthless Nazi master agent. One was a down-on-his-luck English officer no one would listen to. The other was a young Jewish girl... A spy novel with lots of action that keeps the pages turning. Great character development and excellent plot. Follett is the best storyteller and his books have accurate historical research. Recommended for those who love WWII spy thrillers

66.✔1920 - ☊ The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton - 384 pgs - ★★★★★ - 4/20/2020
The Age of Innocence is a richly drawn portrait of the elegant lifestyles, luxurious brownstones, and fascinating culture of bygone New York society. It shows the atmosphere of desire and emotion and the social order that disturbs the foundation of one's identify. Newland Archer soon will wed May Welland but is attracted to May's cousin, Countess Ellen OLenska. He finds his world comfortable one moment but oppressive the next. Wharton's characters are so true to life that we feel we have certainly met them and know their hearts, souls and yearnings. The ending pacts a powerful punch and is not to be missed. Wharton was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1921. I would highly recommend it to those who love classical fiction.

67.✔1911 - ☊ Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton - 182 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 4/24/2020
Ethan Frome is a story with a tragic ending. It expresses the power of love and how far one will go for love. Even though Ethan is married, his love for Mattie Silver causes the two to partake in an unthinkable act. Edith Wharton uses this theme, illicit love to present "a drama of irresistible necessity." The emotion of Mattie and Ethan was very evident and could be felt by the reader. It's hard to believe that anything so classic could be such a page turner. This novel is recommended for anyone who wants to read a short, simple love story.

68.✔1903 - ☊ The Riddle of the Sands: A Record of Secret Service by Erskine Childers - 413 pgs. - ★★★★ - 4/25/2020
Set before World War I, this enthralling novel pitches two amateur sailors, Davies and Carruthers, against the secret forces of mighty Germany. Powers of deduction and navigational skills prove equally important in uncovering a plot which threatens personal as well as national security. The book was responsible for the UK development of the naval base at Rosyth, as Davies gradually reveals that he suspects that the Germans are undertaking something sinister in the German Frisian islands. This book is said to be the first spy novel and was published in 1903. I enjoyed the book very much but since the author was a sailor the information about yachting was a bit too detailed. I would recommend this book to those who love yachting and spying.

69.✔2020 - The Cutting Place by Jane Casey - April - Maeve Kerrigan - 400 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 4/26/2020
Chiron Gentlemen Club is a private society for the richest and most privileged men in London. Paige Hargreaves, journalist, disappears while working on a story. Maeve knows the members have lots of secrets and she uncovers them and finds out what happened to Paige. The plot was excellent and characters were well-developed. This is the best book in the series as it was a very revealing book about Maeve's relationship with Seth and DI Josh Derwent's background. I'm just waiting for Maeve and Josh to come together in a relationship as they truly care about each other. I'm now left waiting for the next installment and I highly recommend this series to those who love police procedurals.

70.✔2014 - ☊Chestnut Street by Maeve Binchy - 401 pgs. - ★★★★ - 4/30/2020
This is a book of short stories by Maeve Binchy that was compiled by her husband and publisher after her death. I don‘t usually like short stories but I really enjoyed them very much. Looking forward to reading Maeve's Times in May and I would recommend this book to those who love short stories or reading about Ireland.

71.✔1913 - The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton - 480 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 4/29/2020
Published in 1913, Edith Wharton's The Custom Of The Country is a scathing novel of ambition featuring Undine Spragg, beautiful but very materialistic. She is one of Wharton's most memberable characters. Her rise to the top of New York's high society provides a commentary on the aspirations that eventually caused her ruin. Her misplaced values of greed and power is as relevant today as when it was written over a century ago. I found the book to be well-written with unique characters and enjoyed the book very much. I look forward to reading more of Wharton's books. I would highly recommend this book to those who love to read about New York's high society.

72.✔2007 -☊ Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill - 408 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 4/30/2020
This is one creepy, scary ghost story. Judas Coyne, a death-metal-rock god buys a heart-shaped box with a man‘s suit (which is haunted) inside. Strange things start happening and Judas decides to send the box back but the sender says the ghost is intend on staying with Judas. I like Joe Hill‘s writing and his well-developed characters. I need to read more of his books as I love to be scared! Chip off the block of his father, Stephen King!

73.✔1993 - The Black Ice by Michael Connelly - 448 pgs. - ★★★★ - 4/30/2020
The second Harry Bosch book was a very good read. We learned a lot more about Harry's background which was very interesting. The book also had a great plot with lots of twists and turns and kept me interested until the very end. Looking forward to reading the next installment of the series.

January Totals - 22 Books and 9,385 Pgs.
February Totals - 20 Books and 7,478 Pgs.
March Totals - 15 Books and 6,140 Pgs.
April Totals - 16 Books and 6,817 Pgs.

Total - 73 Books and 33,820 Pgs.

May 2020
✔ ★ ☞ ☊

74.✔2014 - The Marco Effect aka Buried by Jussi Adler-Olsen - 500 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/9/2020
Marco Jamison wanted to become a Danish citizen. His Uncle Zola forces him to beg and steal so Marco runs away. Carl decides to help Marco. This story was inspired by actual events. It‘s a story of honest people caught up by corruption of the times. Lots of twists keeps the pages turning! Book is a bit longer than needs to be but captivating otherwise! Looking forward to next book in the series.

75.✔2011 -☊The Hidden Child by Camilla Lackberg - 526 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/9/2020
Erica Falcon finds a Nazi medal among her late mother‘s things. She decides to investigate where it came from. She visits a history teacher who was a friend of her mother. She gets no answers and 2 days later he is found dead. Her husband, Det. Patrik Hedstrom, is on paternity leave but does get involved with the murder investigation. Could her mother‘s secrets endanger their lives. Read this book to find out! Looking forward to next installment!

76.✔2014 - ☊ The Children Act by Ian McEwan - 240 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/10/2020
Fiona Maye, High Court judge, is childless and her marriage of 30 years is in crises. She is called to a trying case where Adam, 17 year old boy, is refusing for religious reasons the medical treatment that could save his life. She visits the boy in the hospital and the encounter stirs feelings of powerful emotions in both of them. I found this book to be an excellent story and would highly recommend it!

77.✔1997 - ☊ Enduring Love by Ian McEwan - Author A Month - 247 pgs.- ★★★★ - 5/10/2020
A man is killed in an attempt to save a child in a hot-air balloon being tossed by the wind. A stranger named Jed Parry joins Joe Rose, a science writer, to bring the balloon to safety. Unknown to Rose, Parry becomes obsessed with Rose to the point where it threatens the love of his wife, Clarissa, and drives Rose to the brink of murder and madness. It‘s a novel of love, faith and suspense and how life can change in an instant. A must read!

78.✔2007 - ☊ On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan - 226 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/11/2020
1962 Florence and Edward celebrate their wedding in a hotel on the Dorset coast. The expectation of their marital duties weighs over them. This is story of lives transformed by a gesture not made or a word spoken. A heartbreaking story which could have turned around if Edward would have showed a bit of love and patience instead of giving up on her. A bit disappointing! I did love the ending however!

79.✔1990 - ☊ The Innocent by Ian McEwan - 226 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/11/2020
Mid 1950‘s Berlin. 25 year-old Leonard Markham is assigned to a British-American surveillance team. He meets Maria, a beautiful young German woman, who initiates him into a new world of love and sex. It turns to horror in one terrible evening - a night Leonard learns just how much of his innocence he‘s willing to shed. This is definitely my favorite McEwan book. The ending is a surprise you won‘t forget! Not to be missed!

80.✔1992 - ☊ The Child In Time by Ian McEwan - 224 Pgs.- ★★★★★ - 5/12/2020
Book shows just how quickly life can change in an instant. Stephen Lewis, an author of children‘s books, gets distracted while food shopping and his 3 year-old daughter has been kidnapped. His life is changed forever. His bereavement affects his relationship with his wife and his psyche. It was a very moving book with a beautiful ending! A book not to be missed! An extraordinary achievement by Ian McEwan!

81.✔1994 - The Daydreamer by IanMcEwan - 192 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/12/2020
This is a children‘s book that would appeal to adults too. 10 year-old Peter Fortune has a vivid imagination. He understands how it would feel to be a cat. He experienced the terror of being chased by evil dolls and he got to use vanishing cream that can actually make people disappear. When it takes him to where reality and daydreams meet, has it finally taken him too far? I will be passing this one onto my grandchildren. They will surely love it!

82.✔2008 - ☊ Divine Justice by David Baldacci - Friday May 8th - 387 pgs. ★★★★★ - 5/13/2020
Oliver Stone, also known as John Carr, is on the run after killing 2 men who destroyed Stone‘s life in the past. Master spy, Macklin Hayes, wants Stone dead. The members of The Camel Club risk everything to save him. They find Stone hiding in a coal-mining town of Divine VA which has secrets of its own. Lots of action makes for a fast-paced read and hard-to-put-down thriller! Looking forward to the last book in the series! Great series!

83.✔2012 -☊ Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan - Author A Month - 378 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/14/2020
1972. Cambridge student Serena Frome‘s beauty and intelligence makes her the ideal recruit for MI5. Operation Sweet Tooth is determined to manipulate writers whose politics align with the government. Serena, a compulsive reader, is the perfect candidate to infiltrate a promising young writer named Tom Haley. She loves his stories and then falls in love with him. How long can she conceal her undercover life? Read this book and find out!

84.✔2019 - ☊ Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan - 332 Pgs. - ★★★ - 5/15/2020
1980‘s London. Charlie is in love with his neighbor Miranda. He purchases a robotic human named Adam. Charlie courts Miranda and Adam finds himself central to their affair. I didn‘t care too much for this book especially when Miranda started having sex with Adam. That was too much for me so this became my least favorite McEwan book. Can not recommend this one!

85.✔2020 - ☊ Long Bright River by Liz Moore - 492 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/16/2020
Northeast Philadelphia. Gritty novel about Mickey, a police officer, and her sister, Kacey, who suffers from addiction and is missing. A serial killer is on the loose who targets women who engage in sex work to fund their addictions. Love all the Philly connections and Liz Moore‘s writing. Looking forward to reading more of her books.This one held my attention until the very end! Highly recommended!

86.✔2016 - Lying In Wait by Liz Nugent - 368 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/17/2020
Andrew, a judge, and Lydia Fitzsimons murder Annie Doyle, a drug-addicted prostitute, and bury her in their garden. Andrew begins to fall apart and Lydia becomes ever more determined to protect their social standing and their son, Laurence. But Laurence is not as innocent as his mother thinks. He‘s obsessed with the dead girl‘s family. This has the makings of a Hitchcock thriller. Need to read another book by Liz Nugent. You need to read this!

87.✔2016 - ☊ Stalker by Lars Kepler - 560. Pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/18/2020
5th book of Joona Linna series. Joona Linna is back again working with his son, George, after he was presumed dead from a suicidal drowning. DS Margo Silverman is the lead investigator of a woman found murdered from a serial killer known as a Stalker. Erik, the hypnotist is back again. I was surprised in the end to find out who the murderer was. These books are still too long and have sexual parts that could be cut without harming the story.

88.✔2020 - A Dream Within A Dream by Mike Nappa - 416 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/24/2020
Trudi Coffey is almost kidnapped by someone named Dream. She discovers he may be the key to finding the greatest unsolved art heist in history. Samuel Hill, Trudi's ex-husband, has people hunting him down but he has decided to help Trudi keep Dream safe from those who are interested in the missing artwork. But the question now is: "Who can they trust?" This is the 3rd adventure of the Coffey and Hill series which is based on Edgar Allen Poe's poems. I haven't read book 1 and 2 but found this book easy to get into but very hard to put down. The plot is fast-paced with lots of action. I loved the characters and found them very interesting with lots of wit and humor. The chapters are alternating POV by Trudi, Dream and Samuel so we get an insight into what the characters are thinking. I now look forward to reading book 1 and 2 and hopefully there will be more books to come. I would highly recommend to readers of mystery/suspense. I would like to thank Library/Thing and Revell publishers for a free copy of the book for a honest review.

89.✔2014 - A Dark and Twisted Tide by Sharon Bolton - 528 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/25/2020
Lacey Flint is living and working on the River Thames. She discovers a body while swimming in the river and is immediately drawn into an investigation. Who are these women and where have they come from? The book starts out slow but becomes more and more interesting as Lacey unmasks the secrets of the people living on the river. Her relationship with Mark Joesbury is moving forward and Lacey seems happier. This is the last book in the series but does not feel like full closure to me. In order to read this series, I suggest starting with Book 1 Now You See Me in order to fully understand the character of Lacey Flint. I look forward to reading some of her standalones and recommend this series to those who love mystery thrillers.

90.✔20 May 2020 The Silence by Susan Allott - 304 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/25/2020
This is Susan Allcott’s debut novel. The setting is Australia and Allcott’s excellent writing depicts the hot sweaty climate and makes you feel like you are there along with her characters. In 1967 Joe Green and Mandy Mallory had an affair. 30 years later Mandy’s brothers are looking for her In regards to her inheritance and Joe Green is a suspect in her disappearance. Joe calls his daughter, Isla, who now lives in England and asks her to come home to help him find out what happened to Mandy. Along with this mystery we also learn of the history of Aboriginal children who were removed from theIr homes in order to give them a better life. We learn that some were taken care of but many were abused. The alternating timelines were done smoothly and the characters are well-drawn. This is one book you will not forget and I highly recommend it to those who like a mixture of mystery and history. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. I would like to thank LibraryThing and William Morrow/Harper Collins publishers for a free copy for a honest review.

91.✔2018 - ☊The Broken Girls by Simone St. James - 416 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/26/2020
I loved this ghost story by Simone St. James. She did an excellent job slipping back and forth in the story from Vermont 2014 to Vermont 1950. Idlewild Hall is a place for the girls whom no one wants—the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good. There are rumors that the place is haunted and some girls have disappeared. Journalist Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her older sister's death at Idlewild Hall. When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored, a shocking discovery links the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past. I can't wait to read more by St. James as this book is quite eery.

92.✔2006 - Brethren by Robyn Young - 672 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/27/2020
On the eve of the last Crusade, two men's destinies will come together as two great civilizations go to war. Will Campbell, a young knight, risks his life to recover the stolen Book of the Grail. Meanwhile, the former slave, Baybars Bundukdari, and his army have taken over Egypt and Syria, and are planning a new Holy War to bring the Crusaders to their knees. Breathtaking battle scenes, memorable characters, and a riveting mystery at its center, Brethren is a historical drama that brings the Middle Ages vividly to life.I loved this book and it's interesting characters and look forward to reading book 2, Crusade.

93.✔2012 - The Drowning by Camilla Lackberg - 500 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/28/2020
Christian Thydell's dream has come true: his debut novel, The Mermaid, has been published. Christian is now receiving anonymous threats. One of Christian's closest friends, Magnus, goes missing. Erica's husband, Detective Patrik Hedstrom, must unravel a tangle of relationships, love triangles, and family secrets to discover what really happened to Magnus. This is a good addition to the series and a cliffhanger at the end makes me want to check out the next book right away.

94.✔2020 - From the Abyss: Short Stories and Poems of Descent & Redemption by Tessa James - 124 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/31/2020
WOW! This book blew me away! It is dark and full of pain and horror. Definitely out of my comfort zone but very soul-bearing about mental illness. It is not a book for everyone and comes with warnings about self harm and suicide. It is a very emotional read when you realize these thoughts are real and have been experienced by the author. James is a talented writer and her poetry and artwork goes well with her powerful short stories. Thanks, Tessa, for sharing yourself with your most personal thoughts. I'm sure your words will help others who think they are alone in their struggles. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy horror stories, poetry and art

January Totals - 22 Books and 9,385 Pgs.
February Totals - 20 Books and 7,478 Pgs.
March Totals - 15 Books and 6,140 Pgs.
April Totals - 16 Books and 6,817 Pgs.
May Totals - 21 Books and 7,856 Pgs.

Total - 94 Books and 41,676 Pgs.

June 2020
✔ ★ ☞ ☊

Currently Reading

95.✔2015 - The Hanging Girl by Jussi Adler-Olsen - 512 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 6/7/2020
This cold case for Department Q is about a 17 year-old girl, Alberte, who vanished years ago and was found dead hanging high up in a tree on the Danish island of Bornholm. Det. Carl Morck and his assistants, Assad and Rose, discover a strange sun worshipping cult and a skilled manipulator in Sweden and need to stop a string of new murders while trying to find out who murdered Alberte. This is a true and dark historical story with many twists and a surprise ending. I'm looking forward to the next book and highly recommend this one.

96.✔1977 - Paper Money by Ken Follett - 276 Pgs. - ★★★ - 6/12/2020
Early Follett book about high finance and crime. Not as good as his later books but a nice start to his career. Takes place during one action-packed day. The scheme moves “paper money” around at a dizzy pace. Interesting characters and plot but falls a little short in the suspense department. Looking forward to reading another of his books and recommend this book to those who like to read books with interesting characters.

97.✔02 Sept 2020 - Bronte's Mistress by Finola Austin - 320 Pgs. ★★★★★ - 6/14/2020
Yorkshire 1843. I wanted to read this book because I loved Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Fiona Austin has done excellent research of the rumors of an alleged affair between Branwell Bronte, brother of the famous sisters, and Lydia Robinson, Mistress of Thorp Green Hall. Branwell was a tudor for Ned Robinson, Lydia's son. He was 25 and a passionate poet and Lydia was 43 with a cold marriage which turned her into an adulteress. They both desired love and passion but Lydia left the relationship as a scandal was brewing. Branwell died from a broken heart and Anne and Emily died soon after as a result of the stress of Branwell's affair.
I enjoyed Austin's debut novel and look forward to reading other biographies about the Brontes that Austin mentions in her Author's Notes that show that this affair was possible. I would recommend this book to those who love historical fiction. I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for a free copy for an honest review.

98.✔☊2020 - The House in the Woods by Mark Dawson - 500 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 6/13/2020
I received this audio from Tantor Audio and LibraryThing for an honest review.
This story is a locked-room mystery. The setting is Salisbury England and the time frame is Christmas holidays. Atticus Priest has been dismissed from his CID police position and is now a private detective who suffers from Aspergers. There has been four murders from one family at a white farmhouse in the woods. The surviving family member, Ralph Mallender, is charged with the murder. DCI Mackenzie Jones, with whom Atticus has had a prior relationship, is working with him to solve this crime. Atticus feels that there is definitely more to these murders and he is bound to prove it.
Since this is a start of a new series, I found this book was mainly introducing us to the two main characters. I found the court room scenes very interesting. About midway the story takes off and the book is hard to put down. It has a clever plot with lots of twists which kept me guessing until the very surprise ending. I'm now looking forward to the 2nd book in the series and recommend this book to those who enjoy police procedurals.

99.✔☊2018 - The Lost Man by Jane Harper - 362 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 6/15/2020
Setting Australian outback. Family saga about the Bright family. Not part of Aaron Falk series. 2 Brothers meet and 3rd brother is found dead. Lots of family secrets which Harper peels back brilliantly. Twists and turns abound to a shocking ending. Perfectly paced and characters nicely drawn. The outbacks landscape and heat is separate character. Looking forward to Harper's next book. Highly recommended.

100.✔☊2019 - The Perfect Wife by J.P. Delaney - 432 Pgs. - ★★★ - 6/16/2020
This is a sci-fi domestic thriller. I do not usually read sci-fi so I didn't really enjoy it as much as a sci-fi reader would. Abbie wakes in a daze with no memory. Man beside her claims to be her husband. Abbie had a terrible accident 5 years ago. Her techie husband has a technological break through and brings her back. He calls it the miracle of silence. Abbie questions her husband's motive. Can she trust him? Abbie is dealing with Danny, her autistic son. I found the book a bit creep. It had a chilling ending. Found it entertaining if you like sci-fi.

101.✔☊1996 - A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines - 272 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 6/18/2020
1940's Cajun country. A very moving story, deep and compassionate. Grant Wiggins returns to visit Jefferson, a black youth, on death row for a crime he didn't commit. Very well-written book. The author gives us a look and feel through the black man's eyes. They both learned lessons and come to understand the meaning of racial bias that is inflicted on fellow human beings. This is a book everyone should read. Will bring tears to your eyes and I highly recommend reading this book.

102.✔☊2010 - Hell's Corner by David Baldacci - 645 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 6/19/2020
This is the last book in The Camel Club series which I liked the best. Oliver Stone is asked by the President to track down the source of a terrorist attack and navigate a shadowy world of betrayal and political secrets. A bomb explodes in Lafayette Park in front of the White House and Stone is given an urgent assignment: find those responsible. British MI-6 agent Mary Chapman becomes his partner in the search for the unknown attackers. Stone enlists the help of the only people he knows he can trust: the Camel Club.
If you want to read this series, it is best to start with book 1 entitled The Camel Club. The whole series is entertaining and exciting and I highly recommend reading it.

103.✔2016 - The Rabbit Hunter by Lars Kepler - 528 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/20/2020
This is the 6th book in the series. Enjoyed the plot and thought the premise was clever. Length of book is not necessary as story could be told in shorter version and not dragged out so much. Strengths - interesting plots and characters. Weakness - too much explicit sex and violent, graphic killings. I don't like that Joona is in prison and then they let him out to do investigations. That doesn't work for me. Doesn't feel like a real concept. Read these books only if you can handle grit and violence.

104.✔2020 - The Guest List by Lucy Foley - 400 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 6/21/2020
Setting: Island off coast of Ireland. Guests are gathered for a wedding which turns dark and deadly. Reminiscent of Agatha Christie. Alternating POVs keep you guessing and guessing wrong. Lots of clues keep the pages turning to a surprise ending I never saw coming. Plot is clever and characters are interesting. I would highly recommend this atmospheric thriller and I look forward to Foley's next book.

105.✔☊2017 - The Scarred Woman by Jussi Adler-Olsen - 544 pgs. - ★★★ - 6/27/2020
In a Copenhagen park the body of an elderly woman is discovered. A group of young women are being hunted. The attacks seem random, but could these brutal acts of violence be related? The plot revolves around the Danish welfare system and its abuses. The team are uncovering the dark and violent truth at the heart of Rose’s childhood. I do love all the characters in this series but this was a slow read as the book is too long and needs editing. I did enjoy getting more information about Rose's past. Here's hoping the next one is edited better.

106. ☊2020 - Ghosts of Harvard by Francesca Serritella - 615 Pgs. - ★★ - 6/28/2020
This book is a very slow start and way too long then it needs to be. Cady attends Harvard hoping to learn more about her brother Eric's suicide. I was hoping for more of a ghostly mystery story but was disappointed. I think the voices Cady heard were more in her head than actually coming from ghosts. The book tries to be too many genres and therefore suffers to meet any fully. The basic story is a good one but just got muddled in the telling.

107.✔☊ 2018 - The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris - 293 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 6/29/2020
This book is based on a true story. Lale and Gita met in Auschwitz and fell in love. I listened to the audio and found it to be a powerful read. It's a book that will stay with you after you finish. As I visited Auschwitz during my trip to Germany in 2000, I was able to picture in my mind's eye the scenes as they were laid out. It is a book about love, courage and hope for survival for Lale and Gita. I was glad that Lale was about to reconnect with Gita after the war and they finally married. I highly recommend this book as I found it very hard to put down. Looking forward to reading the sequel, Cilka's Journey.

107. 2020 - The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves - 384 pgs - ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - 6/30/2020
This is the 9th book of the Vera Stanhope mystery series. I have read all of the Shetland and Vera Stanhope books. Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite authors. Her books are all very hard-to-solve mysteries. This one works great as a standalone but it’s best to start with book 1 and get to know the characters.
Vera is on her way home and finds a toddler in a car which has slipped off the road. Brockburn is nearby so she makes her way there. It is the home where her father, Hector, grew up. She finds a party in full swing but a woman’s body is also found on the grounds. Vera soon finds that Brockburn holds many secrets from the past.
The plot was fast-paced and the characters were believable. Holly is my favorite and I love the way Vera relies on Joe so much meanwhile Sal, Joe’s wife, is always waiting for Joe to come home. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and highly recommend this book to those who love page-turning police procedurals.

January Totals - 22 Books and 9,385 Pgs.
February Totals - 20 Books and 7,478 Pgs.
March Totals - 15 Books and 6,140 Pgs.
April Totals - 16 Books and 6,817 Pgs.
May Totals - 21 Books and 7,856 Pgs.
June Totals - 14 Books and 6,083 Pgs.

Total - 108 Books and 47,759 Pgs.

July 2020
✔ ★ ☞ ☊

108.✔☊2019 - Some Choose Darkness by Charlie Donlea - 304 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 7/2/2020
Summer of 1979 five Chicago women went missing. Angela Mitchell went missing after she unmasked the killer known as The Thief. Rory Moore in 2019 has taken over the case after her father has died. Rory has OCD and reconstructs crime scene details others fail to see. The Thief is about to be paroled but Rory’s cryptic files found in her father’s law office suggests that there is more to this case. Terrifying truths start to emerge. Book is a page-turner that has many twists and turns and a very surprise ending. Looking forward to reading her next book and I highly recommend this one.

109.✔☊2017 - Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston - 336 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - 7/4/2020
This book is a true medical mystery story of an exploration into the world‘s densest jungle and a hunt for The Lost City of the Monkey God‘s somewhere in the Honduran interior. There is an ancient curse and 500 year legend that who goes these will fall ill and die. The most interesting part was after Doug Preston returned home he had a horrific disease. You need to read this book for yourself & see what happens.

110.✔☊1999 - A Trouble of Fools by Linda Barnes - 274 pgs. ★★★★ - 7/5/2020
1st book of Carlotta Carlyle series. Carlotta is an ex Boston cop now a private investigator. She is asked by Miss Margaret Devens to help find her missing brother, Eugene, who is a cab driver. Carlotta finds a scam of laundered money and drug running among Bostin-Irish politics. I listened to the audio version and found this book to be very entertaining. I’ll be listening to the 2nd book very shortly. Recommend.

111.✔☊2018 - Believe Me by JP Delaney - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/6/2020
Claire Wright is an out-of-work British actress. She is hired by a firm of divorce lawyers to entrap straying husbands. When Patrick Fogler's wife is found murdered, the cops ask Claire to lure him into a confession. Is there more to this setup than she's being told? Claire will soon realize she is playing the deadliest role of her life. I listened to this audio which had more than one narrator with a twisty plot that kept me guessing until the very end. It was very hard to know who to believe in this story. If you like psychological thrillers I would highly recommend this book.

112. ☊1979 - Triple by Ken Follett - 368 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/7/2020
EGYPT - a top secret project to build a nuclear plant that will give the Arabs "the bomb" nears completion.... — ISRAEL - Nat Dickstein is given the impossible mission: to beat the Arabs in the nuclear arms race.
RUSSIA - where top KGB officials have decided to tip the atomic balance in Egypt's favor....
ENGLAND - Dickstein makes what could be the fatal mistake of his career by falling under the seductive spell of Suza Ashford. THE HIGH SEAS - where the Mossad, KGB, Egyptians, and Fedayeen terrorists play out the final violent, bloody moves in this devastating game where the price of failure is nuclear holocaust....
This is one of Follett's earliest books and another one of his excellent reads. If you like espionage and James Bond type books then you will enjoy this one too.

113. ☊1989 - The Snake Tattoo by Linda Barnes - 320 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/8/2020
Carlotta Carlyle's old partner, Lieutenant Mooney of the Boston police, unfairly charged with brutality, asks Carlotta to find a hooker with a snake tattoo who can help clear him. aA teenager with a missing wallet and a split lip also asks Carlotta to help find his runaway girlfriend. Both investigations send Carlotta into Boston's Combat Zone and the dark alleys of the human heart. I listened to the audio of this book and enjoyed it very much. I find Carlotta Carlyle an interesting character and I will continue with this series in the near future.

114. ☊ Journey To the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne - 240 pgs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - 7/8/2020
I listened to this audio today. I read it before in 2015 and I loved it once again as it was full of excitement and adventure, with slight hints of humor and slivers of suspense. Verne is so creative and imaginative, yet so descriptive, that you feel as if you are there with the trio as they make their journey. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure.

115. 36 Questions by Vicki Grant - 288 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/9/2020
In a last-ditch attempt to salvage their crumbling marriage, a couple uses the 36 questions—an experiment known for making strangers fall in love—to save their own relationship. Starring Tony-nominated actor Jonathan Groff and Jessie Shelton, “36 Questions” is the world’s first podcast musical—made for your ears only.

116. 1975 - Cast, in Order of Disappearance (Charles Paris #1) by Simon Brett - 196 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/10/2020
Who killed Marius Steen, the theatrical tycoon with a fortune to leave his young mistress Jacqui? And who killed Bill Sweet, the shady blackmailer with a supply of compromising photographs? Charles Paris, a middle-aged actor takes to detection as a Scotland Yard Detective-Sergeant. It’s a light-hearted frolic that is, at the same time, a beautifully ingenious puzzle, and it fizzes with fun and wit.I enjoyed the audio of this book and will continue with this series.

117. 2012 - The Lost Boy by Camilla Lackberg - 500 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/11/2020
7th book Patrik Hedstom series. Best book so far. Mats Sverin, financial director for Fjallbacka, is murdered. Nathalie, Sverin’s high school sweetheart, has returned to Fjallbacka with her 5 yr old son. Can she shed some light on Mats death? Does she have secrets of her own? I found this book to be long-winded but the excellent plot held my attention. Lots of twists and turns kept me reading until the surprise cliffhanger ending. Recommended.

119. 1997 - Starvation Heights by Gregg Olsen - 436 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - 7/20/2020
In 1911 two wealthy British heiresses, Claire and Dora Williamson, came to a sanatorium in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, known as Starvation Heights, to undergo the revolutionary fasting treatment of Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard. But within a month the women were emaciated and waiting for death. Linda Hazzard, a quack doctor of extraordinary evil and greed, stole their jewelry and forged bank drafts transferring their wealth to Hazzard's accounts. It is a true story and one of the most unusual and disturbing criminal cases in American history. I was really surprised at how many people were victims of Linda Hazzard and how many praised her even though so many died from her treatment. The book is very interesting but could have been shorter as things were repeated many times. I still, however, enjoyed it very much and would highly recommend it. Reading it with a group on Litsy added enjoyment to the experience. I will also be reading more from Gregg Olsen as his books look very interesting.

120. 2019 - Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce - 378 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/21/2020
This is a fast-paced domestic violence psychological thriller disturbingly hard to put down because you need to know what is happening. Characters are unlikeable as the main character is a terrible person and mother. The book is intriguing and builds from the beginning to the end. Many twists keep you guessing until the very surprising ending. The explicit sex is overdone and not necessary. I found the writing so-so but the plot was very good. I do want to check out her other books as this was a powerful and thought-provoking read. Recommended.

121. Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly - 484 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - 7/29/2020
This was an intricate story with lots of twists and turns which holds your interest until the very end. I love the relationship between Harry and Sylvia. Bosch is such a complex character which makes the books very interesting and entertaining. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

122. 2020 - The Shadows by Alex North - 336 pgs. ★★★★ - 7/31/2020
25 years ago in Gritten Woods, Charlie Crabtree was involved in a cult-like murder but he has since disappeared. Paul Adams returns home to Gritten Woods because of his mother's dimentia. He has been haunted by these murders for 25 years. Now there are copycat murders which Detective Amanda Beck is investigating. Are they copycat murders or has Charlie returned? What secrets do The Shadows hold?
This is a gripping, atmospheric and creepy story about lucid dreaming and the past that encroaches the present. I listened to the audio which I received from MacMillian Audio and NetGalley for an honest review. I enjoyed the audio as it brought the story to life even more. Hannah Arterton and John Heffernan did an excellent job reading the story. There were two different POV's and a dual timeline.
I found the characters to be well-developed and I enjoyed the surprise reveal at the end. I would highly recommend this book to those who like creepy, suspenseful ghost stories.

January Totals - 22 Books and 9,385 Pgs.
February Totals - 20 Books and 7,478 Pgs.
March Totals - 15 Books and 6,140 Pgs.
April Totals - 16 Books and 6,817 Pgs.
May Totals - 21 Books and 7,856 Pgs.
June Totals - 14 Books and 6,083 Pgs.
July Totals - 15 Books and 5,435 Pgs.

Total - 122 Books and 53,194 Pgs.

August 2020
✔ ★ ☞ ☊

NetGalley Reads
123. 2020 - One by One Ruth Ware - 384 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/5/2020
Setting is French Alps St. Antoine ski resort. Eva Van den Berg and Topher St Clair-Bridges are co-owners of Snoop, an App company that allows members to listen to celebrities and other members’ music playlists. Liz Owens has a 2% share also. This holiday has been planned as a way to have a meeting about a buy-out of the company. Eva and Topher are vying for Liz’s vote. Before meeting they decide to ski the slopes as a major snow storm is about to hit. Eva goes missing and is presumed dead. Is Eva missing or has she been murdered? To complicate matters even more, the snow storm hits and causes an avalanche trapping them in the chalet without WIFI service. After two more murders, they decide there must be a serial killer amongst them.
Book has a slow start as characters are introduced but a very intense situation develops towards the end that keeps the pages turning. I had an obvious suspect in the beginning but expected a plot twist to change that which never came. I was a bit disappointed so the book lost a star from me. I found this book similar to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Two POV narrators were very interesting but I expected a surprise ending.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press Publishers for a free book for an honest review.

124. 2020 - All The Devils are Here by Louise Penny - 448 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 8/8/2020
16th book of the CI Gamache series. Location is Paris France and daughter Annie and Jean-Guy's second baby is about to arrive. Three Pines is missed but I loved all the backstory information this book provided. We learned more about Daniel and his father's strained relationship. The main story centers around Gamache's godfather, Stephen Horowitz, who helped raise him as a child. It's a real family affair as we find answers to why Stephen was a victim of a hit and run. I loved that Reine-Marie, Gamache's wife, had a hand in helping to solve the mystery.
As always I enjoyed Penny's writing. I received a free audio from MacMillian Publishers and NetGalley for an honest review. I also enjoyed the narrator, Robert Bathurst, very much. He had a soothing voice and did an excellent job narrating the female characters too. In the end, the whole family returns to Three Pines and I now await the next book in order to see how their story continues. In order to get the best enjoyment from this series, it's best to start with book 1, Still Life, but book can be read as a standalone too. Highly recommended.

125. 2020 - Markie Burkshire, Mystery Writer by Mari Sands - ★★★★★ - 8/9/2020
How can you not love a book that your best friend writes and you are the main character of that book? Markie Burkshire (that’s me) is a writer. She goes to a used bookstore with her editor and buys a book with magical powers and a voodoo man named Mumbrune from Haiti wants his book back. After her editor is murdered, Markie knows Mumbrune means business. The book is filled with all kinds of spiritual and ghostly happenings and I had to race to the end to see how things turn out. I knew my friend and author, Mari Sands, had a wild imagination but this book really surprised me with her writing talents. This book is part of Madison Monroe series which features different friends of ours from days gone by. I will be looking forward to reading more from this series and recommend others to check this series out. Thanks Mari for a free copy for an honest review!

126. 2017 - Victim 2117 by Jussi Adler-Olsen - 592 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/16/2020
This was the 8th book of the series and the one I liked the best. In this book we finally learn about Assad's backstory. Assad assumes that his family was dead but finds out that may not be true. Along with explaining his background we are thrown into an international terrorist plot in the hands of Ghaalib one of the most brutal tormentors from Abu Ghaib, Saddam Hussein's infamous prison. Victim 2,117 unleashes a murderous impulse by Danish teen, Alexander, to kill his parents. I found this book to be the most exciting book of the series but still the length of these books make them a chore to read.

127. ☊2020 - The Night Swim by Megan Goldin - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/16/2020
Rachal Krall is a true crime podcast investigator. She is on her way to Neapolis, North Carolina for a rape courtroom case. She receives a note under her windshield wipers from someone named Hannah asking her to look into the drowning of her sister, Jenny, 25 yrs. ago. Did Jenny drown or was she murdered? Are the cases related?
I enjoyed the audio version of this book as you get to hear Rachel's podcast of the courtroom proceedings. It is an emotional read as many feelings emerge about the rape as you are listening. After many twists and turns, the case comes to a very satisfying conclusion. I look forward to reading The Escape Room by Megan Goldin as I like her writing and I would recommend listening to this book on audio for a very interesting experience.

128. ☊2020 - The Switch by Beth O'Leary - 336 pgs. ★★★★ - 8/18/2020
This is a heartwarming story of a grandmother (Eileen) who lives in the country (Hamleigh) and a granddaughter (Leena) who lives in the city (London). They decide to switch places for 2 months as they are both grieving the death of Leena's sister, Carla. Leena is also feeling overworked from her job and Eileen is upset about her husband leaving her for a younger woman. The writing is enjoyable and the narrators for the audio capture the characters well. It was sad in some parts but also quite humorous too. I loved how their new lives helped them to heal and the affect they had on the people around them. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a free copy for an honest review. Recommended.

129. ☊2020 - The Perfect Father by John Glatt - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/20/2020
True crime story of Chris Watts who killed his wife, Shanann who was 3 months pregnant, their 2 daughters, Bella age 4 and Celeste age 3. It is not an easy read and a very shocking one as they appeared to be a happy loving family. The book is a timeline of how they deteriorated after economic, family and relationship problems. Shows how they lived beyond their means. But why did he do it? Wouldn‘t divorce have been an easier way out? Thanks to NetGalley and Tandor Audio for a free copy for honest review. The audio really brought the story to life and I would highly recommend listening to it.

130. ☊2018 - Thomas Jefferson and The Tripoli Pirates by Brian Kilmeade - 251 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 8/21/2020
Book about intrigue, bravery & battle on the high seas. The nation was in deep debt & the economy needed to grow but the Barbary pirates were attacking ships and holding sailors as slaves and demanding ransom & tribute payments. Jefferson decided to send US navy‘s warships and Marines to blockade Tripoli and take care of the problem.
This was a very interesting historical account of the battles that inspired the Marine Corp hymn. Recommended.

131. ☊2020 - The Girl From Widow Hills by Megan Miranda - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/21/2020
Arden Maynor was just a child when she was swept away while sleepwalking during a terrifying rainstorm and went missing for days. Arden changed her name and disappeared from the public eye. Arden now goes by the name Olivia Meyer. 20 yrs. later, Olivia feels like she’s being watched and begins sleepwalking again. She jolts awake in her yard one night. At her feet is the corpse of a man she knows from her previous life, as Arden Maynor. She is now once again the center of the story. This was a well-paced psychological thriller with several twists and turns and a surprise ending that I did not see coming. I would definitely read another book by her and I highly recommend this one.

132. 2020 - Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce - 400 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 8/29/2020
Margary Benson, a 47 year-old science teacher, abandons her job and sets out on an expedition to search for the golden beetle of New Caledonia. She hires Enid Pretty to be her assistant. Both ladies are strong, flawed, quirky characters who save each other a few times during the trip. It is a story about their friendship and how it grows. Uplifting and delightful, the story has many humorous and entertaining parts. I have read all of Rachel Joyce's books and love her writing. I look forward to reading her next book. I would highly recommend this to those who love travel and adventure. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for a free copy for an honest review.

133. 2020 - I Lie in Wait by Amanda Brittany - 279 pgs. - 8/31/2020
This is a psychological thriller about Lark, Amelia Taylor's sister, who went missing during a family holiday in the Highlands of Scotland. The family returns one year later in order to try to figure out what happened. While there, another girl goes missing and the family begins to realize danger is lurking once again.
This is a fast-paced page turner with interesting characters who all became suspects to me. The story switches from the present to the past with multiple point of views. I loved the short chapters with many twists and turns which kept the plot moving. The ending was a surprise and tied up all the loose ends. I enjoyed Amanda Brittany's writing and look forward to reading her next book. I would recommend this book to those who like psychological thrillers. Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for a free copy for an honest review.

September 2020
✔ ★ ☞ ☊

Current Reads

134. 2020 - A Good Marriage by Kimberley McCreight - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/3/2020
A woman’s brutal murder reveals the perilous compromises some couples make and the secrets they keep in order to stay together. Lizzie receives a call from Zach Grayson, an inmate at Rikers, who is an old friend. Zach is desperate as his wife, Amanda, has been found dead at the bottom of the stairs in their Brooklyn brownstone. Zach’s the primary suspect. Lizzie learns that Zach and Amanda weren’t what they seemed and were protecting troubling secrets. Lizzie is left wondering about her own marriage.
This is a legal thriller which was interesting from start to finish. The ending was a complete surprise. It was suspenseful and had unexpected twists. There were 2 POV's from Ananda and Lizzie. Lizzie finds out in the end that no marriage is perfect. Looking forward to reading Reconstructing Amelia by McCreight and recommend this one to those who like legal thrillers.

135. 2020 - The Wife by Shalini Boland - 292 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 9/6/2020
Zoe fainted on her wedding day. She’s feels something bad happened. On her 10th year anniversary she finds out the truth. This is a psychological thriller that kept me riveted all the way through. The character were well-developed and the plot kept twisting until the very end. The story was told through different timelines switching from Now and Then. The ending was a complete surprise and the epilogue leaves you thinking that a sequel is possible.
I enjoyed Boland's writing and will be looking forward to reading more of her books. I would highly recommend this book to those who love psychological thrillers. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy for an honest review.

136. 2020 - 60-Second Brain Teasers Crime Puzzles by M. Diane Vogt - 128 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/8/2020
This is a fun Crime Puzzle and brain-teaser type book for those who want to be crime scene investigators or just like solving puzzles. There are 65 crime stories with questions to answer. You will get a chance to listen to testimonials of experts and evaluate gory details in order to help solve the crime. Some are very easy and others need more speculation in order to figure out what happened. All in all, I found the book interesting. I think the physical book would be easier than the ebook version in order to get to the back of the book where the answers are. I would like to thank NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Fair Winds for a free copy for an honest review.

137. 2020 - Lazarus by Lars Kepler - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/30/2020
Jurek Walter is thought to be back. Saga and Joona thought that he died when Saga shot him 3 times but the most vicious killer has returned and has captured Saga’s father and sister and buried them alive. It is the 7th installment is the series by Lars Kepler and the best so far. All these books are very dark and violent but keep you on the edge until the very end. This one has a surprise ending and a cliffhanger and is no different than the others. They all keep you wanting more of the story after you finish the book. Best to read this series in order so you get to know all the characters and understand what is happening. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and would highly recommend to those who enjoy thrilling mysteries. I would like to thank Harper Collins and NetGalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

138. Lost Girls by Angela Marsons - 440 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/14/2020
Charlie and Amy have been kidnapped. The kidnappers' game is an auction. Whoever offers the most money, their daughter will live, the other will die. Kim Stone is tough on her team. She needs an attitude adjustment at times but she is good at her job. She is determined to bring these children back unharmed.
The story builds and builds and the plot twists and turns until the very surprise ending. Some of the characters are unique but the nasty ones are real nasty. I'm definitely looking forward to the next in the series and I highly
recommend this book to those who love mystery thrillers.

139. The Skeleton Room by Kate Ellis, #7 in the Wesley Peterson Series - 374 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/30/2020
7th book in the series. A woman’s skeleton is found during renovation of Chadleigh Hall in Devon. Wesley’s archaeologist friend, Neil, is investigating a ship wreck from 1772. I love how the historical story ties into the present day story in the end. The question is: how old is the skeleton? Interesting characters and plot line. Looking forward to next book. Recommend to mystery lovers.

140. Stiff by Mary Roach - ★★★★ - 9/30/2020
This is an hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem. Roach combines scientific information and makes funny comments to make the info go down easier. I read this with a group of Litsy friends who made comments throughout. It was interesting to see what others thought about the book. I look forward to reading another of her books and would recommend this book to those who love science.

141. 2006 - Sun Storm by Asa Larsson - 336 pgs. - ★★★ - 9/30/2020
This is the 1st book in the series. It is a book about religious fanaticism and violence. Victor Standgard, a well known priest is murderer. His sister, Sanna, asks her friend, Rebecca Martinsson, to help her solve this murder. Rebecca, a tax attorney is forced to relive her past.
The book was a little slow-paced and not too exciting. I’ll continue with the series as the books look like they get better. Just a rough start for this series, hopefully.

October 2020
✔ ★ ☞ ☊

142. Midnight At The Good Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan - 359 pgs. - ★★★★ 10/4/2020
Joey Molina kills himself in the bookstore's upper room. Lydia need to know why. She finds clues in his books that are hidden messages. Is Lydia's life about to become unraveled?
Sullivan's writing is beautiful and it's hard to believe that this is a debut novel. The story is a bit dark and creepy for a bookstore novel which is usually a light read. The characters are interesting and the plot keeps you guessing until the very end. Lots of mystery and intrigue keep the pages turning. I'm looking forward to reading Sullivan's next book. Recommended.

143. What She Saw by Diane Saxon - 359 pgs. - ★★★★ 10/10/2020
This is the 3rd book in the Sgt. Jenna Morgan series but the first book I have read by Diane Saxon and I found that the book can be read as a standalone.
The book starts out with a shocking bang as Gordon Lawrence shoots his entire family. His daughter, Poppy, escapes even though she has been shot. Gordon then sets fire to the house. Detective Sergeant Jenna Morgan is called to investigate the fire and death of the Lawrence family but the body count does not add up.
Who shot this family and why? This is an excellent plot but there are multiple side plots that distract from this main plot that I found unnecessary.
I enjoyed the humorous banter between Jenna and her partner, Mason. The older couple, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford were very interesting characters. Gordon Lawrence was a very scary as you didn't know what he was going to do next.
I found the book to be a riveting page-turner and needed to keep reading to find out how it would end. I would highly recommend it to those who love crime thrillers.
I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a free copy for an honest review.

144. Gone Before by Sam Hepburn - 312 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 10/11/2020
Phoebe Locklear needs to find out who she is. She knocks on the door of a woman she believes is her mother.
I read this in one sitting as I needed to know too. The book was well-plotted and fast-paced. I enjoyed Phoebe's character. She was a very strong person who just wanted to find out what happened so many years before. There were lots of twists and turns which keep me reading to the very end. I enjoyed Sam Hepburn's writing and look forward to reading her other books. I would highly recommend this book to those who love psychological thrillers. Thanks to Bookcoulture and NetGalley for suppling me with a free copy for an honest review.

145. The Girls in the Snow (Nikki Hunt Book 1) by Stacy Green - 318 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 10/12/2020
This is the debut novel for Stacy Green's Nikki Hunt series. The story is told in Nikki's point of view. There are two plot lines - find the serial killer of the girls and find out who really killed Nikki's parents 20 years ago. These plots move the story along at a fast pace with twists and turns that keep you guessing all the way. Nikki is forced to face her past and realizes that she can't trust people she thought she could. The characters were well-developed and the story was very engaging. I'm looking forward to the second book in the series. I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for a free copy for an honest review. Recommended to mystery thriller lovers.

146. 2011 - Where Shadows Dance by C S Harris - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ 10/16/2020
Regency London: July 1812. How do you set about solving a murder no one can reveal has been committed? — That's the challenge confronting C.S. Harris's aristocratic soldier-turned-sleuth Sebastian St. Cyr when his friend, surgeon and "anatomist" Paul Gibson, illegally buys the cadaver of a young man. This is the 6th book in the Sebastian St. Cyr series. It is one of my favorite series and I love at the characters. C.S. Harris does her homework on the historical facts. Her stories are political plots that are fast-moving. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and recommend this series to those who love historical novels with political intrigue.

147. 2020 - Penance by Edward Daniel Hunt - 263 Pgs. - ★★★★ 10/17/2020
John Gilfillan is a retired Boston homicide detective. There is a race to find Lori Doyle who witnessed a killing. She has since changed her name and started a new life. The book starts out slow and a bit boring with lots of description of all the characters. Needs to be mixed with action and dialogue as a lot of readers may stop reading thinking the book will lag all the way through. But once the story takes off, the chapters start to fly and becomes a real page-turner. The book abruptly ends leaving you wanting more and I do look forward to the next book. I would like to thank LibraryThing and Adalaide Books for a free copy for an honest review. Recommended.

148. 2018 - The Bishop’s Pawn by Steve Berry, #13 in the Cotton Malone Series - 459 pgs. - ★★★★ 10/18/2020
History notes that the ugly feud between J. Edgar Hoover and Martin Luther King, Jr., marked by years of illegal surveillance and the accumulation of secret files, ended on April 4, 1968 when King was assassinated by James Earl Ray. But that may not have been the case. — Now, fifty years later, former Justice Department agent, Cotton Malone, must reckon with the truth of what really happened that fateful day in Memphis.
This is an excellent book and I found out a lot of interesting facts about Martin Luther King. Steve Berry did a great job putting the information together. I can't wait to read his next book in the series, The Malta Exchange, about the Vatican. Recommended for those who love history.

149. 2020 - The Suicide House by Charlie Donlea - 368 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 10/22/2020
Forensic reconstructionist Rory Moore and her psychologist partner, Lane Phillips are investigating the Westmont Prep School murders and the suicides that followed those murders. Rory, who suffers from OCD is on the autism spectrum. She has a 6th sense for solving open police cases. The suicides have become the focus of a hit podcast. But, are these suicides really murders? I found this 2nd book in the Rory Moore/Lane Phillips series a very entertaining read. I look forward to reading Charlie Donlea's other books as I really like his writing. He led me to believe that I knew who the murderer was. With brilliant twists at the end, I was truly fooled. Recommended.

150. 2020 - Miami Noir: The Classics by Les Standiford - 400 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 10/23/2020
Akashic Books continues its award-winning series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each book comprises stories set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the respective city. In Miami Noir: The Classics, Standiford has turned his eye toward the outstanding noir fiction of yesteryear. It Features classic noir fiction from: Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Elmore Leonard, Lester Dent, Zora Neale Hurston, Brett Halliday, Damon Runyon, Edna Buchanan, James Carlos Blake, Douglas Fairbairn, Charles Willeford, T.J. MacGregor, Lynne Barrett, Les Standiford, Preston L. Allen, John Dufresne, Vicki Hendricks, Christine Kling, Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, and David Beaty.
My favorite stories were the excerpt from Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, The Odyssey by Elmore Leonard, The Red Shoes by Edna Buchanan and Tahiti Junk Store by Les Sandiford. I'm not a fan of short stories but these were exceptional. I'm looking forward to reading more short stories in the future and highly recommend this book to those who like to read about Miami.

151. 2016 - The Passenger by Lisa Lutz - 400 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 10/27/2020
This is the story of a woman who creates and sheds new identities as she crisscrosses the country to escape her past. From heart-stopping escapes and devious deceptions, we are left to wonder…can she possibly outrun her past? One thing for sure; the ride will leave you breathless. This is a psychological suspense that will keep you turning the pages until you find out the answers. This is my first Lisa Lutz book but won't be my last. Highly enjoyable book. Recommended.

152. 2014 - The Hotel on Place Vendrome by Tilar J. Mazzeo - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 10/30/2020
When France fell to the Germans in June 1940, the legendary Hotel Ritz on the Place Vendome; an icon of Paris frequented by film stars and celebrity writers, American heiresses and risque; flappers, playboys, and prince; was the only luxury hotel of its kind allowed in the occupied city by order of Adolf Hitler.
The book tells of the start of the hotel in 1898 and the sale of hotel in 1979 to Egypt's Mohamed Al Fayed but centers mostly on the WWII years of 1941-45 and all the comings and goings of famous people such as; Marcel Prost, Hemingway and his wife Martha Gelhorn, the Fitzgeralds, royalty, Churchill, and the German officers during the German occupation of Paris. It also contains a lot of WWII history. I found the book very fascinating and made me want to search out more information about various characters and events from that time period. Highly recommended to those who enjoy history.

November 2020
✔ ★ ☞ ☊

159. 2020 The Survivors by Jane Harper - ★★★★ - 11/16/2020
A body is discovered on the beach in Tasmania, long-held secrets threaten to emerge. A sunken wreck, a missing girl, and questions that have never been answered.
Book has a slow beginning which builds with lots of twists and turns. Harper's writing is very intriguing with good character development. All the characters seem to be harboring secrets from the past. When Pandora's box opens, the shocking truths are revealed. The main themes are grief, regrets, sadness and an examination of guilt. I enjoyed this book and look forward to her next book. Thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan and MacMillan for a free copy for an honest review. Recommended.

160. 10 Nov 2020 Shallow Ground by Andy Maslen - ★★★★★ - 11/16/2020
This is the first book in the Detective Ford series. DI Ford is riddled with guilt over his wife's mountain climbing accident and now he is left to raise their son, Sam, on his own. DI Ford is called in to investigate the murder of a young nurse and her son in a small flat in Salisbury. Soon there are other bodies found and Ford comes to the conclusion that a serial killer who leaves the bodies drained of blood is involved. The suspects ended up between two people and I kept changing my mind between them. The ending was a surprise and the book proved to be a real page-turner. All the characters were well-fleshed out and I look forward to reading more about them in book 2. Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon UK for a free copy for an honest review. Highly recommended.

161. 2020 - The Push by Claire McGowan - ★★★★ - 11/21/2020
The Push is a psychological thriller about a couples baby group that has a barbecue after the births of their babies. One person ends up dead by falling off a balcony and secrets abound. Were they pushed or did they fall?
The story is told by two narrators, Jax, an older pregnant woman and Allison, a police investigator and switches between the past and present. Characters are a bit hard to keep track of and the story is a slow build but comes a page-turner and screeches to a surprise ending. I have read McGowan's Paula Maguire series and her other books and have enjoyed them too. I look forward to her next book and recommend this book to those who love psychological thrillers. Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for a free copy for an honest review.

162. 2020 - The Searcher by Tana French - 576 pgs. - ★★★★ - 11/27/2020
After 25 years on the Chicago police force and a divorce, Cal Hooper decides to move to an Irish village. A local kid's brother is missing and he asks Cal to help find him. What Cal discovers is layers of darkness and secrets.
This is an atmospheric psychological tale but not much of a mystery. The story is slow getting started but French's prose is spellbinding. The characters are well-developed but I do miss the Dublin Murder Squad. I would sum up this book as not one of her best but still worth a read.

163. 2020 - A Silent Death by Peter May - 432 pgs. - ★★★ - 11/29/2020
Spain, 2020; Jack Cleland watches his girlfriend die, involving officer Cristina Sanchez Pradell, he promises to exact his revenge and destroy the policewoman. A SILENT LIFE Cristina's aunt Ana has been deaf and blind. She is the center of Cleland's cruel plan. John Mackenzie, Glaswegian investigator, is assigned to aid the Spanish authorities in their manhunt. He alone can silence Cleland. I found this book to be atmospheric and gave us a good sense of what it is like to be deaf and blind. Only Peter May can pull this off and make you feel like his character feels. It's not one of his best books but still a good read. I look forward to reading Lockdown as I have been living it for the past year.

December 2020
✔ ★ ☞ ☊

164. 2020 - The Parasitic Mind by Gad Saad - 235 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 12/6/2020
Dr. Gad Saad shows us how politically correct dogma is riddled with logical fallacies which are killing our common sense and rational debate. Our universities are endangering our freedom of thought and speech and has given us a brain virus. A mind virus that is corrupting the brains of students, professors and the public at large. Saad's enthusiasm for the much-neglected truth shines through this powerful book. I enjoyed his humor and logic while he laid out the reasons why our country seems out of control. He expertly diagnoses the malady and points the way to the cure. Read this book which will strengthen your resolve and help us all return to reason!

165. 2020 - A Song For The Dark Times by Ian Rankin - 336 pgs. - ★★★★ - 12/10/2020
I have been a big fan of The Inspector Rebus series. In this book, Rebus's daughter, Samantha, calls her father because her partner, Keith, has been missing for two days. Rebus knows his daughter will be the prime suspect. Will he be able to prove she is innocent? There is also a side story about the murder of a Saudi student which Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox are involved with. The cases do eventually intertwine with Big Ger Cafferty showing up too. I found this book to be cleverly written and I look forward to reading the next installment. Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for a free copy for an honest review. Recommended.

166. 2020 - I Jonathan by George WB Scott - 437 pg. - ★★★★ - 12/13/2020
This is the story of a resident, Jonathan Vander of Charleston SC, and his challenges and experiences living there during The Civil War. Jacob Johnson helps him secure a job as an overseer for freight deliveries. Jonathan was able to escape military service for the Confederacy. The story is pro-south but not pro-Confederate. It is anti-war and anti-slavery. Jonathan witnesses the bombardment of Fort Sumter, the last great Charleston horse race., the great Charleston fire of 1861. and the Battle of Secessionville. He visits the North Carolina mountain homes and plantations. He has an encounter with a VooDoo conjure man and runs through a Federal blockade. He visits the boomtowns of Nassau and Wilmington and we learn of the Battles of the ironclad and monitors. The author has research with authentic detail of the Battle of Battery Wagner which was in the Glory movie. I enjoyed the book which gave great information on all these experiences and the evils of slavery. If you are a history buff this is a book you need to read in order to get another perspective of The Civil War. Thanks to NetGalley and Southern Rocket and Fountain City Publishers for a free copy for an honest review.

167. 2020 - The Killer's Girl by Helen Phifer - ★★★★★ - 12/14/2020
Setting is the Lake District. It is the 2nd book in the series but can easily be a standalone. Gabrielle Stevens is found murdered in her bed. DNA is found from Gary Marks who has been in Strangeways Prison for over 20 years. Another close match fo DC Morgan Brooks is also found. We get more information about Morgan's past and family. Is Morgan personally connected to this case?
I found the characters to be well-developed. The plot was suspenseful and kept the pages turning with lots of twists and turns. I thought I knew the killer mid-way but the author surprised me in the end. I am anxiously waiting for the next installment and I would highly recommend this series for those who love mystery-thrillers. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for a free copy for an honest review.

168. 2021 - When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain - 384 pgs. - ★★★★ - 12/15/2020
This is a heart-wrenching suspense novel. Anna Hart is a flawed missing persons detective from the village of Mendocino near San Francisco who is hiding away. Will, her childhood friend and sheriff, offers to help Anna solve some missing children cases. Can solving them help her heal?
Anna has been a victim of sexual abuse so this is an emotional roller coaster ride for our main character. Paula McLain has written a few historical novels which I have read so this suspense thriller is a new genre for her. She brings the case of Polly Klass, a real-life missing child case, into the mix of the story which works to her favor. It gives the story an extra meaning as the Polly Klass case was extremely popular. The novel had a few slow parts but for the most, the story flowed well. I look forward to McLain's next book and recommend this book to those who love suspense thrillers. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a free copy for an honest review.

169. 2021 - The Butterfly House by Katrine Engberg - 352 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 12/16/2020
This is the 2nd book in the Detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner series which takes place in Copenhagen Denmark. A paperboy discovers the naked body of a dead woman, lying in a fountain. All the blood has been drained from her body. Another body is found again lying in water with the same MO. Are the murders related to The Butterfly House, a psychiatric hospital for juveniles?
Jeppe is recovering from a painful divorce and Anette is on maternity leave. Anette is at home bored and decides to do a little freelance sleuthing. After a series of twists and turns, she ends up helping Jeppe solve the murders. The book kept me guessing all the way through and the ending proved to be a surprise to me. I look forward to reading the 3rd book in the series and highly recommend this one. Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for a free copy for an honest review.

170. 2021 - The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins - 304 pgs. - ★★★★ - 12/19/2020
This book is a twist on the Gothic classic, Jane Eyre. In this book, Jane is a dog-walker in Thornfield Estates in Birmingham Alabama. She meets Eddie Rochester. Eddie is recently widowed. His wife, Bea, drowned in a boating accident with her best friend, Blanche. Jane and Eddie fall for each other, but Bea haunts Jane. How can Jane measure up to Bea? Can she win Eddie’s heart? Why won't Bea just stay buried?
The story is full of suspense, wit and plot twists. It is a love triangle and everyone has secrets. Listening to the audio made the story more of an enjoyable experience. The ending was a complete surprise that I did not see coming. I loved Rachel's writing style and will seek out her next novel. I would recommend this novel for those who love domestic thrillers. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillian audio for a free copy for an honest review.

171. 2021 - Deep into the Dark by P. J. Tracy - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 12/20/2020
I have read all of P.J. Tracy's Monkeewrench series and have enjoyed them all. This book is the start of another series by her set in Los Angeles. Sam Easton is back from Afghanistan and is separated from his wife. He is working as a bartender and is helping Melody Traeger who was beaten by her boyfriend, Ryan. When Ryan turns up dead, Sam becomes the major suspect. LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan cannot believe that Sam is guilty. How can she prove Sam's innocence?
This book explores obsession, revenge and grief. I found the characters well-developed and the plot action-packed. Even though the murderer was not a complete surprise, I do look forward to the next book in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Minotaur Books for a free copy for an honest review.

172. 2021 - The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon - 336 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 12/20/2020
I have read all of Jennifer's books and have enjoyed them all. This one is a chilling story about a woman who returns to the old family home after her sister mysteriously drowns in its swimming pool. Lexie has been out of touch with reality so Jax is not surprised that something has happened to her sister. Jax arrives at her grandmother's house and learns that Lexie was researching the history of their family and the property. Jax discovers that the land holds a far darker past than she could have ever imagined.
In 1929, a natural spring is showcased by the newest and most modern hotel in the Northeast which eventually becomes the pool on the grandmother's property. The story switches back and forth from 1929 to the present. It is a modern-day ghost story that illuminates how the past certainly has an influence on the present day. I found the characters to be unique and quite interesting. The story did not disappoint and I do look forward to Jennifer's next book. I would recommend this book to those who love ghost stories. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Simon and Shuster for a free copy for an honest review.

173. 2021 - Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay - 368 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 12/25/2020
This debut is a psychological thriller about the Pine family found dead in Mexico. The oldest son, Danny, is in prison wrongly convicted of killing his girlfriend, Charlotte. The younger son, Matt, is left to uncover the truth about his family's final days. The local police claim it was a gas leak but the FBI and the State Department claim it is foul play. The story is told through multiple points-of-view and alternates between the past and present. I was hooked at the beginning and it didn't let me go until the very last page. I loved the short chapters, the twisty plot and the believable characters. I would recommend to those who love thrillers and I look forward to the next book written by Finlay. I would like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a free copy for an honest review.

174. 2021 - The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths - 368 pgs. - ★★★★ - 12/28/2020
This is the 2nd book in the DS Harbinder Kaur series by Elly Griffiths. Crime novelists are turning up dead in this literary mystery and the death of Peggy Smith, a 90 year-old woman with a heart condition, should not be suspicious. But when DS Kaur finds a mysterious postscript in a novel dedicated to Peggy, she begins to wonder if the murders are related.
I love Elly Griffiths' books as I have read all of her Ruth Galloway and Brighton Mystery books. I find her characters to be believable and her plots unique. I found all the information about writers and publishing very interesting. The book had some humor which I thoroughly enjoyed and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I would recommend this book to those who love mystery thrillers. I would like to thank NetGalley and Quercus Publishers for a free copy for an honest review.

175. 2021 - The Other Side of the Door by Nicci French - 376 pgs. - ★★★★ - 12/30/2020
This is a re-release of Complicit from 2009. Who is more dangerous? An enemy? A friend? Or a lover? Bonnie Graham finds her boyfriend dead lying in a pool of blood. What happened? What will she do? Who killed him? Everyone tells lies to the police. Is anyone prepared to tell the truth to uncover a murderer?
I liked this book a lot and had a hard time putting it down. The story switched between The Before and The After of The Murder. The characters were believable. The ending was a surprise. I loved all the twists and turns. I would recommend this book to those who love mystery thrillers. I have read all of their Frieda Klein books but will catch up on their earlier books. I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for a free copy for an honest review.

>9 Carol420: Well done should easily get to 300 👏👏👏 I need to update the books read on Goodreads so not seen the report yet.According to the App I use I have read 109,977 pages so far this year, was targeting 100,000. Never got there before.

>8 EadieB: Perhaps one year get to 300 but might not be until I retire.

>22 Andrew-theQM: Well! That would be amazing and Carol is so close.

>22 Andrew-theQM: >23 EadieB: According to Goodreads Lynda & Oliver have read 319 books thus far with over 115,000 pages. If you haven't looked at what they have done with your book count you should go check it out. You can check your friends book totals also.

>24 Carol420: That's pretty cool! I read too slow in order to make 300 books in a year. I like my nice and steady pace with no pressure.

Century Reads
✔ 1997 - Déjà Dead (Temperance Brennan, #1) by Kathy Reichs
1996 - Touched by Carolyn Haines
1990 - Midnight Examiner by William Kotzwinkle
✔1980 - On Wings of Eagles by Ken Follett

1969 - The Intercom Conspiracy by Eric Ambler
1968 - The Shadow Wife by Dorothy Eden
1967 - Farewell, My Lady by Raymond Chandler
1966 - The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers
1965 - The Pretty Ones by Dorothy Eden
1964 - Bella aka Ravenscroft by Dorothy Eden
1963 - The Clocks by Agatha Christie
1962 - Cover Her Face by P.D. James
1961 - The Mirror Cracked from Side to Side by Agatha Christie
1960 - Ace of Spades by Dell Shannon
1979 - Service of All the Dead by Colin Dexter
1978 - The Colour of Murder by Julian Symons
1977 - Listen to Danger by Dorothy Eden
1976 - Last Seen Wearing by Colin Dexter
1974 - Puzzle for Puppets by Patrick Quentin
1970 - The Hot Rock by Donald E. Westlake
1987 - New York Trilogy - Paul Auster
1984 - The Thin Woman by Dorothy Cannell
1981 - Death by Sheer Torture by Robert Barnard

1959 - Incident at a Corner by Charlotte Armstrong
1958 - Listen to Danger by Dorothy Eden
1956 - Cop Hater by Ed McBain
1954 - Bride by Candlelight by Dorothy Eden
1953 - The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
1952 - Mrs. McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie
1951 - Strangers in the House - Georges Simenon

1949 - The Asphalt Jungle by W.R. Burnett
1946 - The Big Clock by Kenneth Fearing
1946 - Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham
1945 - The Yellow Room by Mary Roberts Rinehart
1944 - Green For Danger by Christianna Brand
1943 - The Lady in the Lake by Raymond Chandler
1942 - Calamity Town by Ellery Queen
1942 - Laura by Vera Caspary
1942 - Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie
1941 - The Black Dog Mystery by Ellery Quee
1940 - The Lady Is Afraid (#1 Max Hale) by George Harmon Coxe

1939 - Death in the Back Seat by Dorothy Cameron Disney
1939 - A Coffin for Dimitrios by Eric Ambler
1938 - Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie
1937 - Thieves Like Us by Edward Anderson
1936 - Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
1936 - The Lady Vanishes by Ethel Lina White
1935 - They Shoot Horses, Don’t They by Horace McCoy’s
1935 - The Hollow Man by John Dickson Carr
1932 - Hag's Nook by John Dickson Carr
1932 - The Greek Coffin Mystery by Ellery Queen
1931 - The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett
1930 - Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers

1928 - The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
1927 - The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
1927 - The Canary Murder Case by S.S. Van Dine
1926 - Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers
1926 - Benson Murder Case - S.S. van Dine
1925 - The Red Lamp by Mary Roberts Rhinehart
1922 - The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne
1921 - The Confession & Sight Unseen by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Started new series 2020

Temperance Brennan by Kathy Reichs
✔ 1. Deja Dead (1997) Currently reading 1/21/2020
✔2. Death Du Jour (1999)
3. Deadly Decisions (2000)
4. Fatal Voyage (2001)
5. Grave Secrets (2002)
6. Bare Bones (2003)
7. Monday Mourning (2003)
8. Cross Bones (2005)
9. Break No Bones (2006)
10. Bones to Ashes (2007)
11. Devil Bones (2008)
12. 206 Bones (2009)
13. Spider Bones (2010)
aka Mortal Remains
14. Flash and Bones (2011)
15. Bones Are Forever (2012)
15.5. Bones In Her Pocket (2013)
16. Bones of the Lost (2013)
16.5. Swamp Bones (2014)
17. Bones Never Lie (2014)
17.5. Bones on Ice (2015)
18. Speaking in Bones (2015)
19. A Conspiracy of Bones (2020)
Bones: Buried Deep (2006) (with Max Allan Collins)

Authors I want to read:
Johan Theorin
1. The darkest room : a novel
Book Book (2009.)
1 of 1 copy available at Indian Valley Public Library.
2. Echoes from the dead
Theorin, Johan 1963-
E-book E-book (2008.)

Elizabeth Jane Howard - BCL
Cazalet Chronicles
1. The Light Years (1988)
2. Marking Time (1991)
3. Confusion (1993)
4. Casting Off (1995)
5. All Change (2013)

Ragnar, Jonasson - BCL
Dark Iceland
1. Snowblind (2015)
2. Nightblind (2015)
3. Blackout (2016)
4. Rupture (2016)
5. Whiteout (2017)
6. Winterkill (2020)

Hulda
1. The Darkness (2018)
2. The Island (2019)
3. The Mist (2020)

Novel
The Girl Who Died (2021)

Eva Dolan
Zigic & Ferreira
1. Long Way Home (2014)
2. Tell No Tales (2015)
3. After You Die (2016)
4. Watch Her Disappear (2017)
5. Between Two Evils (2020)

Novels
This is How it Ends (2018)
One Half Truth (2021)

Cath Staincliffe PBS and BCL

Jorn Lier Horst
William Wisting
1. Dregs (2011)
2. Closed for Winter (2013)
3. The Hunting Dogs (2014)
4. The Caveman (2015)
5. Ordeal (2016)
6. When It Grows Dark (2017)

John Harvey I own 4 books

John Connolly

Other Reads
2013 - Dead Man's Time by Peter James
2014 - To Dwell in Darkness by Deborah Crombie

Where Shadows Dance by C S Harris, #6 in the Sebastian St. Cyr Series

2011 - Dead Man's Grip by Peter James
2011 - No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie
2018 - The Killing House by Claire McGowan
2006 - Looking Good Dead by Peter James - 544 pgs.
2014 - Dying Place by Luca Veste
2007 - Not Dead Enough by Peter James
2006 - The Dead Yard by Adrian McKinty - Michael Forsythe #2 - 364 Pgs.
2007 - ☊ The Bloomsday Dead by Adrian McKinty - Michael Forsythe #3 - 384 Pgs
2002 - The Skeleton Room by Kate Ellis, #7 in the Wesle
2002 - Blood on the Tongue by Stephen Booth
2011 - Vigilante by Kerry Wilkinson
2003 - Blind To The Bones by Stephen Booth
2007 - Not Dead Enough by Peter James
2013 - The Woman In Black by Kerry Wilkinson
2015 - Bloodstream by Luca Veste
2015 - Dark Suits and Sad Songs by Denzil Meyrick
2019 - Redemption by David Baldacci
2005 - Hidden River by Adrian McKinty
2016 - Black Rabbit Hole by Eve Chase
2011 - ☊ Iron House by John Hart - 500 pgs.
2003 - Now May You Weep by Deborah Crombie - 416 Pgs.
2008 - The Devil's Punchbowl by Greg Iles - 736 Pgs.
2004 - In a Dark House by Deborah Crombie
2008 - Dead Man's Footsteps by Peter James
2007 - Water Like a Stone by Deborah Crombie
2009 - Dead Tomorrow by Peter James
2008 - Where Memories Lie by Deborah Crombie

Audios
2009 - ☊ Leviathan by Scott Westerfield - 440 Pgs.
2007 - ☊ The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - 722 Pgs.
2011 - ☊ The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss - 1190 Pgs.
2011 - ☊ Fear Index by Robert Harris - 402 Pgs.

Group Reads
Play Dead by Angela Marsons, #4 in the D I Kim Stone Series
The Malta Exchange by Steve Berry, #14 in the Cotton Malone Series
2005 - With No One as Witness by Elizabeth George

Author A Month
Rainbow Rowell

Other Reads
2015 - You Are Dead by Peter James
2019 - A Bitter Feast by Deborah Crombie

Reads for 2021
✔ ★ ☞ ☊

Ways to hide in winter by St. Vincent, Sarah
The devil in the Marshalsea: murder stalks the debtors' prison Unabridged by Antonia Hodgson
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek | Kim Michele Richardson
The Book Jumper | Mechthild Glaser
Drive your plow over the bones of the dead by Tokarczuk, Olga
The Throne of the Five Winds | S. C. Emmett
Piranesi | Susanna Clarke
Bel Canto | Ann Patchett
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird | Josie Silver
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz | Erik Larson
The Corset | Laura Purcell
Playing Nice | JP Delaney
The Library of the Unwritten | A. J. Hackwith
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
A Stroke of Malice | Anna Lee Huber
The Mystery of Henri Pick | David Foenkinos - IVL
The Downstairs Girl | Stacey Lee
The Sun Down Motel | Simone St. James
Lady Sherlock by Sherry Thomas
1. A Study In Scarlet Women (2016)
2. A Conspiracy in Belgravia (2017)
3. The Hollow of Fear (2018)
4. The Art of Theft (2019)
5. Murder on Cold Street (2020)
Maybe in Another Life: A Novel | Taylor Jenkins Reid
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter | Tom Franklin
Leave the World Behind | Rumaan Alam
Black Water Rising (Harper Perennial) | Attica Locke
The Binding by Bridget Collins
The Dressmaker's Gift | Fiona Valpy
Essex Serpent | Sarah Perry
The Only Good Indians | Stephen Graham Jones
The Haunting of Ashburn House | Darcy Coates
Trap Door | Dreda Say Mitchell