2022 50 BOOKS - OR AS MANY AS YOU CAN MANAGE

Just finished 'Lady William' by Mrs Oliphant. A much underated 19th centry novelist.

Her characters are recogniseable today and act in understandable ways. Sometimes her plots are a little bit clunky in places.

The Expats was a bit slow and boring, but not too bad. Just started book 14, The Killing Lessons, by Saul Black. Violence from the off, but might be good.

I have rather let this thread get away from me this year, but I followed Lynda La Plante with “The Thursday Murder Club”, which took a while to get into and then turned out to be quite entertaining. I have just finished “Pine” by Francine Toon, her first novel. A rather creepy Scottish ghost story (it is described as a horror story, but I wouldn’t go that far). A good read. It would translate well to tv.

sodapop

For a bit of nostalgia I've started re reading some of the Georgette Heyer novels. Frederica at the moment.

I love G. Heyer...

Rosalyn69

I am enjoying The Twyford Code. It’s “different” and the style takes a little getting used to. I’d recommend it. I have read her previous book.

Thank you for your feedback Rosalyn, about to start The Twyford Code, her last one, took a while to get used to insomuch as the format, a series of emails was slightly off putting as first, but soon got used to that and ultimately really liked it. Hope this one is as enjoyable.

I’m reading Anti-Social
The Secret Diary of an Anti- Social Behaviour Officer by Nick Pettigrew. A fascinating read, such a tough job and written about with humour and understanding.

Still enjoying The Killing Lessons.

#13. A Change Of Circumstance by Susan Hill.

The Legend of Fire Mountain by Sarah Lark, the third in a trilogy about New Zealand in the 1800s.

Die Again by Tess Gerritsen. A Rizzolli and Isles story partly set in Africa.

The Killing Lessons was very good, but not if you don`t like violence, blood and gore. Book 15 is I Saw a Man, by Owen Sheers, but not sure if I`ll stick with it, it`s not doing anything for me so far.

No 8. Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker. It’s a true account of a family of twelve children, six of whom developed schizophrenia over the years. Horrifying, jaw-dropping and very interesting.

I’ll be moving on to something cheerier tonight, I think!

#10 was Little Girls Tell Tales by Rachel Bennett. An enjoyable thriller set on the Isle of Man, but a certain suspension of belief needed.
#11 was The Killing Room by Claire McGowan, a story about the aftermath of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
#12 was The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths. An early Ruth Galloway novel.
#13 was When Fraser met Billy by Louise Booth. A true story about an autistic child and the strong bond with his cat.
#14 was The Auschwitz Violin by Maria Àngels Englada. A moving, harrowing story about a violin made by a luthier imprisoned in Auschwitz.
#15 was The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous. An enjoyable thriller.

Scrapped book 15, have changed it to Deadly Decisions, by Kathy Reichs, I love her books.

#15 Chris Pavone ‘The Expats’ I wasn’t invested in the characters, so no suspense in the twisty plot for me. If someone makes it into a film, the European settings (Luxembourg, south of France, ski slopes, Paris) could be luscious.

I`m glad I`m not the only one to find The Expats less than thrilling.

Hellogirl1

I`m glad I`m not the only one to find The Expats less than thrilling.

I only realised from the end notes that the author is male. Perhaps that accounts for his portrayal of stay at home motherhood as completely petty and soul destroying while interest depends a lot on fast paced action…

12. Girl A, Abigail Dean

My DD1 recommended this and in turn I’d recommend it to anyone who’d like a really well-written gut-wrenching read. Girl A is one of 7 children in a family discovered being held captive by their fanatical father and submissive mother. This is the story of that time and their lives after being rescued.

I loved Deadly Decisions, now reading 15 Seconds, by Andrew Gross, book 16.

I’m enjoying “The Making if a Marchioness” by Frances Hodgson Burnett who wrote “The Secret Garden”.
I didn’t know she wrote adult fiction and it’s very enjoyable if you like the Edwardian period, similar to Edith Wharton.
It’s in the very stylish grey Persephone edition too.

Now reading “The Storyteller of Casablanca” but don’t think I will stick with it. SiL gave me a book called “Endurance”, about Ernest Shackleton. He said it’s one of the best book he’s ever read. So with that ringing endorsement……!

*14. Dry Bones That Dream by Peter Robinson.

Will be sad when I finish this book, as I will then have read all the DCI Banks series, all out of order!

Have just finished the latest Simon Serailler, but disappointed in it, not really as interesting as some of the others.

#16 Hannah Rothschild ‘House of Trelawney’ family saga, satirising the poisonous tendrils both historic privilege and of ‘new money’. Tragicomedy, with strong female characters. I raced through it.

Deadly decisions was good, book 16 is Angel Heights, by Michael Connelly. Dates from 1999, but the Harry Bosch books are usually worth reading.

#13 I thought You Said This Would Work Ann Garvin.
I picked this at random from my TBR Kindle pile. Didn't expect much from it: two former best friends undertake a mercy mission road trip, joined by a kooky 'has been' Hollywood star. I actually enjoyed it more than I expected; it was quite moving.
#14 Simon the Coldheart Georgette Heyer.
I have been a GH fan since my teens but I had never heard of this one. One of her very early books and in my opinion not one of her best. She obviously thought so too as she hadn't wanted it reprinted after her death, her son overruled her wish. It is not one of her familiar Georgian novels being set in the 15th century but the historical research is as usual impeccable. I'm glad I read it but unlike her other titles, I probably won't reread it.