*2021 - 50 BOOKS FOR THE YEAR*

Finished Ann Cleeves “The Darkest Evening” - her latest Vera novel and a real page turner. I bought it for DH for Christmas and he galloped through it too. I’m now reading “Kill Our Sins” by J.M. Dalgleish, one of his Norfolk Murders series. I like these books because being very familiar with the North Norfolk coast, it’s easy to visualise the storylines as they go along.

I see there are a lot of Ann Cleeves fans on here. Before Christmas I read The Long Call, the first in a new series set in North Devon around Barnstaple. Having spent several holidays in the area I could visualise the landscape, something this writer is great at reproducing in other locations, and the new set of characters and the story itself did not disappoint either. Look forward to more.

I have finished my first two books - Under Orders by Dick Francis and Phil Tufnell's Cricket Tales and have now moved on to a Patricia Cornwell Scapetta novel, The Body Farm and Julie Sumners Jambusters, the book about the WI in the Second World War which inspired the Home Fires TV series. The Cornwell novel is one of the early ones in the series but it had somehow been missed when when I first started reading them. I like to have some non-fiction on the go, too. Usually history or biography.

Finished my third book ‘Thirteen’ by Steve Cavanagh, really enjoyed this. What a thriller, had me gripped to the end. Never saw the twists at the end coming. Next up is ‘The Beekeeper of Aleppo’, I need something to calm me down a little after Thirteen!

Buddie
Same as you , I read the new Ann Cleese’s novel set in Devon, it’s an area we’ve stayed in many times, so I could place the locations.
Also a big Scarpetta fan.

Just finished book 7, Tidelands by Philippa Gregory. I really enjoyed it! Set in 1648 at the end of the English Civil Wars and a story about ordinary people rather than queens and princesses like so many of her other novels. Not a quick easy read but very good. Now to decide what to read next!

I'm new to this thread but like others on here, have been reading much more during lockdown. I've discovered and read all of Ann Cleeves' Vera books including The Darkest Hour. Now watching all we can get our hands on on catch up tv and itv3. Plus I've read her Shetland books and the one introducing Mathew Venn, set in Devon. OH bought me the full dvd series of Shetland for Christmas so we're watching those when there's nowt else on of an evening.

I've just finished reading Where The Crawdads Sing. It took some getting in to but my word, what a story! Fully deserving of its first place on the best sellers lists. I'm hoping Delia Owens writes more fiction. Up to now, she's majored on non fiction which I'll take a look at too.

Loved Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club. I heard it was to be made into a film. Hope he writes some more too.

So pleased I ventured into this thread. Lots more lovely reading to catch up on, by the looks of things... Thank you, everyone!

Just finished The Foundling by Stacey Halls which was very good. I'm about to start The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary.

A while ago I discovered an internet website www.archive.org. It is an online lending library with thousands of books and other media which you can lend for a given period. You have to register first then you can do a search for what you are interested in borrowing, sometimes there is a waiting list but not usually for long.

I've just finished Night Trains by Andrew Martin, my seventh book of the year. It is a travel book following in the footsteps of his real and literary heroes on the sleeper trains across Europe, although they are a shadow of their former selves and appear to be in their dying throes. In particular it is a paean of praise to the Wagons Lits company. The only thing that l was not as keen on were the annotations of train and carriage numbers.

#7 The Lost Hours by Susan Lewis.
This was an advance review copy sent by the publisher. Thoroughly enjoyed. Publication date 1/04/21

Just finished #8 Let Me Lie by Claire Mackintosh, a psychological thriller with unexpected twists and turns. It’s the third of her books I’ve read, all really good.

Just finished reading Mum and Dad by Joanne Trollope
A good bedtime read with easy to relate to family problems described in detail.
Also finished The Rosie Project by Graham Sansom. I enjoyed this too as it helped me understand a bit more about Asperges, as I have a distant cousin who has it.

Just finished my #4 book Stealing The Crown T P Fielden. It has taken me a while because I really didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped. I relegated it to my 'read for 20 minutes before sleeping' book and started listening to my #5 Troubled Blood Robert Galbraith. Very very good I expect to finish it soon. Haven't decided what to read or listen to for #6 yet.

The Year of the King by Antony Sher
A Theatre for Dreamers by Polly Samson
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman - I’m now enjoying the reading on Radio4.

Next? A toss up between Barack Obama and Rupert Everett.

I’ve posted 21 Rituals Which Will Change Your Life to a friend and am browsing Mindfulness for Worriers. Both helpful.

Just finished #5 Troubled Blood Robert Galbraith. I can highly recommend the Strike series, I do hope she writes more. I am now delving into the many free and 99p books on my Kindle that I downloaded on a whim. My #6 book is The Quantum Collectors and the Fabergé Egg Eva St John. It looks quite intriguing, parallel universes and the hunt for precious artifacts.

The Best Revenge Stephen White another passed on book. I see he has others so will look out for him.
It was a gritty thriller but flowed along nicely.

Started A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes.

A wonderful book, Mrstin; couldn’t put it down. She’s one of my favourite authors.

#8 finished; Mist in the Mirror by Susan Hill. An atmospheric, slow-burning ghost story in the style of Edgar Allen Poe. A short book but carries you along until the hints and half-hints are revealed in a thrilling climax.

Just finished number 4, Troubled Blood.

It was so good, I didn’t want it to end.

Will start ‘The Pure In Heart’ by Susan Hill next.

But my heart belongs to Cormoran Strike.

❤️

Thank you, Greyduster, I love listening to Natalie Hayes on radio.
Also fits in with a WEA Latin course I've started online!

#5 Quite by Claudia Winkleman..audio....loved it, made me smile. Will listen to this again. Not a story but snippets of thoughts, chats .... really loved it. Downside? Do not listen if you want to sleep.

“Kill Our Sins” was a decent read. The third Inspector Jannsen book. They’re quite pacey. Just starting “Execution” by S. J. Parris. I’ve seem to have missed out a few of this series.

I'm well behind most posters, I've only finished 3 books, but I've moved house and can't find my book stash they're in a box somewhere in the garage among the other 20 or so still to be opened!

Book number 2 was "Such a Fun Age" took me a short while to get into this one, I did think at first " oh not another over hyped book which doesn't justify the buzz around it" but after about the first 50 pages in, it really grabbed me. The protagonist, Emira a mid 20s black woman, college graduate without any great career prospects, child minds for a white 30 something feminist, blogger. A false accusation of kidnapping the child she is minding is made against her by a security guard in an up market grocery store in the opening chapters. The aftermath of that incident opens a can of worms. The book is told with humour and through the prism of not only Emira's experiences but those of her close girlfriends, white boyfriend and Alix the female blogger in exploring the themes of privilege, race and class, and these are particularly prevalent in the back story of Emira's employer, Alix. An impressive debut novel I really enjoyed it, can see Netflix or the like snapping it up.

My third book "With the Benefit of Hindsight" one of the latest in the Simon Serrailler series, it must have been ages ago since I read one previously, because a lot has happened to him, he has lost an arm his sister has acquired a new husband, his father remarried and divorced since his wife had died! I enjoyed it, maybe I'll have to go back and catch up with his personal life a bit.

My 4th book with be "My Dark Vanessa" heard a lot about this book on MN, all good, so have high expectations. Essentially it's about a 15 year old girl who has an affair with her English teacher, said teacher is then accused of sexual abuse by another former student.

Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens. A really good read with some surprises. I read a lot but never count how many - still a huge pleasure. I love Mrs Gaskell and highly recommend 'Wives and Daughters' - if you love Jane Austen (as I do) I think you will like this book. Brilliantly written and with some dimensions Jane doesn't engage with. Also North and South, and Cranford.