*2021 - 50 BOOKS FOR THE YEAR*

No 43 Keeping Mum by James Gould-Burn. A book group choice. It was ok, that’s all.

#82 Anxious People Fredrik Backman.
Wonderful. By turns very funny and very sobering. A stand out read of 2021 for me.
#83 Hard Time Jodi Taylor.
The second in the Time Police series. Ms Taylor is one of my favourite authors and I find all her books a delight.

Book 126 is A Mother`s Secret, by Dilly Court. Loving it.

#61. After The Party by Lisa Jewell.

Haven’t finished the Sun Sister yet, but have put it aside now I have some library books. The SS is one I can go back to later.

I seem to be a way behind here!!
#31. A Thousand Roads Home - Carmel Harrington
#32. From a Low and Quiet Sea - Donal Ryan
#33. A Man called Ove - Fredrik Brackman
#34. Three Hours - Rosamund Lupton
#35. The Woman in the Window - A.J. Finn
#36. Postcards from a Stranger - Imogene Clark
#37. The Burning Chambers - Kate Mosse
#39. Buried Angels - Patricia Gibney
#40. Silent Voices - Patricia Gibney
#41. Little Bones - Patricia Gibney (Currently Reading)

No 44 The Seafarers by Stephen Rutt. It’s non-fiction, a book about the many and varied seabirds that live around Britain’s coast, written by a young man who left his stressful life in London in order to focus on his well-being.

Mrshat, I thought that Three Hours was a very good read, sad though.
Book 127 is Cinderella Sister, by Dilly Court, I love her books.

46 was The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory. The first of this author for me and enjoyed it. Have another couple of hers on the shelf waiting to be read.
47 is Elizabeth is Missing by Helen Healey. When I started reading the story it seemed familiar and I realised that I had seen a dramatisation with Glenda Jackson on TV a little while ago.

Hellogirl I loved Three Hours! I couldn't put it down!!

Book 128 was A Mother`s Trust, by Dilly Court, book 129 is another Dilly Court, The Best of Daughters,

Book 130, the last of my Dilly Courts for now, The Lady`s Maid.

Book 131, Born in Shame, by Nora Roberts.

No 45. Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers. A novel about a virgin birth in 1950’s Kent. A bit of an odd tale, really.

51 The Heron's Cry = Anne Cleeves The second of the Matthew Venn series, I found it a little bit disappointing, not as good as some of the Vera/Shetland ones imo. Nevertheless I love the North Devon setting lots of descriptions of those.

52 Death de Jour (audio) I realise I read the book years ago when it was first published, I devoured a lot of Patricia Cornwall and Kathy Reichs once upon a time, until I got fed up with the umpteen acronyms in the former's books and the gruesome descriptions of how hapless victims were murdered. However, when I go to my local library I usually like to pick up an audio to listen to when ironing, there's not always a lot available unless they are pre ordered, hence this one, the story came back to me as it unfolded, ok seemed such a long time ago now lots of mentions of the millennium looming on the horizon!
53 The Missing Sister - Lucinda Riley It was a sad day for devotees of Lucinda's writing when we read that she had died recently. When I first started reading this I was expecting it to be her swansong, but it seems not, a further book on the elusive Pa Salt is to follow which I presume will tie up a lot of the loose threads, slightly frustrating that this book didn't provide the answers to the many conundrums of the series.

Having said that I loved it, and I imagine it must have been close to Lucinda Riley's heart having set the final one of the series in her native Ireland. Going back to the 1920s the time of British occupation and the dark days that surrounded Irish independence. The books only fall into a lull for me when the sisters reconvene back in Lac Geneva and the whole rigmarole of raking over where they all came from and what happened to Pa, essential part of the narrative it may be, personally I can't wait to get back to the back story. Anyway, I await that 8th book and hope all will be revealed.

I also have Small Pleasures on my shelf SueDonin but I'm thinking from your description, you found it somewhat underwhelming

I've just finished A Room Made of Leaves by Kate Grenville.

"Do not believe too quickly"
We know the official story of the life of Elizabeth MacArthur, wife of the notorious settler John MacArthur, but this story of Elizabeth's life is taken from letters and documents she wrote.

It is the author's interpretation of what Elizabeth's life may well have been like married to the undoubtedly unpleasant MacArthur.

A work of fiction with its roots in reality.
Fascinating and enjoyable.

No 46. The Glass House by Eva Chase. I didn’t finish this one, nothing resonated with me so I decided to move on.

Terribull Small Pleasures could have been so much better. It’s got an intriguing beginning and paints a great portrait of 1950’s life, but it seems to fizzle out, which is a shame.

Book 132, have just started The Killing Hour, by Lisa Gardner, very promising so far. About a killer who strikes when the temperature gets very high, takes 2 girls at a time, one body is always found very quickly, the other much later. The locals dread the hot weathetr.

#62. Strange Affair by Peter Robinson.

Started this a few days ago, nearly finished it but forgot to update.

#84 Troy Stephen Fry.
An audiobook read by the author. It is the third of his retelling of Greek myths and heroes. Very enjoyable not least because of the incomparable Mr Fry's narration.
#85 Saving Time Jodi Taylor.
The latest and best of the Time Police series. I do love this author's books, pure escapism.
Not sure what I shall read next. I have a virtual pile of Kindle freebies so will choose something from there.

#63. The Last Train To Gipsy Hill by Alan Johnson.

The former Labour MP’s first fiction book.

Us Three by Ruth Jones... I enjoyed it, light easy read.
In Gratitude by Jenny Diski ... Jennys journey through in operable lung cancer, a slog of a book, but well written.
People like her by Ellery Lloyd... A thriller about the social media life of an influencer. I didn't think this would appeal to me but I found it fascinating.

No 47 One August Night by Victoria Hislop. A follow-on from her novel about the leper colony on Spinalonga island in Greece.

I got confused by all the names and how they were linked.

I quite enjoyed it SueDonim.

#42 - Day of the Dead - Nicci French [Frieda Klein#8]
#43 - The Clockmaker's Daughter - Kate Moreton (currently reading).

The Killing Hour was very good. Just starting book 133, Earthly Joys, by Philippa Gregory, set at the start of James 1 reign.