2023 - 50 BOOK CHALLENGE

#50 was No Man's Nightingale by Ruth Rendell. This is a Wexford novel about a lady vicar (her sex is relevant to the stor)), who was making sweeping, unpopular changes to the services, and has been found murdered in vicarage by the cleaner. Excellent book, thoroughly recommended.

I finished The Dead Room, enjoyed it immensely. Have just started Talking to the Dead, by Harry Bingham.

#41. Devices And Desires by PD James.

60-Hush Hush by James Patterson. One of the Harriet Blue detective stories. Bit of a slow start but an exciting ending.

61-Bilbury Revels-my 2nd book of Vernon Coleman. Set in the 70's, a story of village antics of ex-doctor and his neighbours. This was really funny in lots of places. A nice change from some of the thrillers I usually read.

Talking to the Dead was book 96, OK, but not exceptional.

39 Pineapple Street - Jenny Jackson

I read a couple of good reviews of this debut novel. Set in Brooklyn Heights a fairly new upwardly mobile area of New York. Charts the lives of 2 sisters, conflicted about their family's wealth and one sister in law from a more ordinary background covering a gamut of issues, motherhood, corporate life, illicit love affairs, although the cliched meeting of one of the leading characters in a hate at first sight meeting, is always a sure to end in they'll be together eventually scenario. Well paced, easy to read escapsim.

40 Cardiff by the Sea - Joyce Carol Oates

Staying in America but with a much more sombre tone. Joyce Carol Oates is new to me, but I'd always wanted to try one of her books. The Cardiff of the title is not the capital of Wales but Cardiff, Maine. I didn't realise this book contained 4 different stories, which I don't usually go for, but it's probably a good introduction as any to a new author, The first story is about a young academic who is contacted by a firm of lawyers to advise her that her grandmother has left her, her entire estate. A grandmother, she didn't know existed, having been adopted aged 3. Contacting a couple of elderly aunts who were her late grandmother's sisters, gradually she pieces together why she was adopted and what happened to her mother, father and siblings. This first story takes up nearly half the book, the other briefer 3 are also darkly absorbing and have a common thread of the main female character suffering at the hands of very controlling men. I would definitely look for other works by this author on the basis of this collection of stories.

41 The Murders of Fleat House - Lucinda Riley

The late and much missed Lucinda Riley wrote this, her only crime novel way back 15 or so years ago which has recently been released. I definitely think she had the right feel to become a promising crime writer but veered off into romance and mystery. The plot centres around the suspicious death of a senior pupil at a small boarding school in Norfolk. Is it a tragic accident or foul play.?Into the fray steps Detective Inspector Jazz Hunter who for her own reasons wants to leave her London based career. As the staff at the school close ranks when another death of a housemaster follows, gradually as the narrative unfolds we learn the connected history and what's at stake. As always with Lucinda's books a great yarn.

TerriBull
Joyce Carol Oates has written some really good novels, I only discovered her a few years ago, and am gradually reading all her books.
The last one I read was ‘My sister, my love’ about an incredibly dysfunctional American family, I loved it.

Thanks for that recommendation Sarah, I did enjoy her writing so I'll be looking out for her books on my trips to the library, particularly that one, if I don't see it, I'll order it.

#41 Love Will Tear Us Apart C K McDonnell.
This is the third and latest in The Stranger Times series about the staff (particularly the irascible editor) of a newspaper specialising in reporting strange events and stranger people (along the lines of "Elvis is haunting my microwave!") who discover that some of the
stories are true and there is a world which most people are unaware of. This was an audio book wonderfully narrated by Brendan McDonald. Some books are better listened to than read and this is one.
#42 The Love of My Life

Rosie Walsh.
This was in my virtual pile of freebies from Amazon Prime. I expected it to be a frothy undemanding love story but it was anything but. Leo and Emma have been married for 10 years, they have an adored daughter and Leo thinks he knows Emma. But there are things in her past that he does not know, choices she has made. This book will stay with me for a long time. Recommended.

Book 97 is Victim Six, by Gregg Olsen, good up to now.

Book 57 Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty. Thoroughly enjoyed this, and one of her best books in my opinion.

Triplet sisters whose personalities could not be more different - all the arguments and ups and downs of family life now that they're adults.

#51 was Death on Cromer Beach by Ross Greenwood. This was advertised on my Kindle Amazon Prime free library as the first of a new series, and, being a Norfolk girl originally, l was intrigued as l know and love that area well. It did not disappoint. There is a serial killer at loose and all that is known at first is that it is connected to a teenage beach party that went tragically wrong thirty years previously. Lots of twists and turns. I can thoroughly recommend.

Hi Musicgirl as you come from Norfolk, have you read the Ruth Galloway series set in Norfolk by Elly Griffiths? It's a great series which you need to start at the beginning with The Crossing Places. This series kept me going during lockdowns.

Loving Victim Six, but it`s a bit gory.

Sparklefizz, yes I have and enjoyed them very much.

Oh, and a slightly different series l could recommend is the Wesley Peterson series by Kate Ellis, set in South Devon. Obviously, the other end of the country from North Norfolk, but if you enjoyed the Ruh Galloway series, l think you will enjoy these.

Loved Victim Six. Book 98 is Night Visitor, by Gillian White. OK, but a bit slow.

#43 Bridgerton - An Offer From A Gentleman Julia Quinn.
Knowing how much I have always loved the Georgette Heyer novels my sister in law presented me with all eight 😲 Bridgerton novels last year and I am slowly working my way through them. This is number 3, Benedict's story. They are not in the class of G H but quite entertaining nevertheless. I skip over much of the tedious sex scenes (Ms Heyer conveyed far more passion with a smouldering look).

I`ve a feeling that an unexpected twist is coming at the end of Night Visitor.

30 In a Good Light by Clare Chambers. The tale of a young woman who cares for her disabled brother and how her past comes to the fore in today’s world.

Musicgirl

Oh, and a slightly different series l could recommend is the Wesley Peterson series by Kate Ellis, set in South Devon. Obviously, the other end of the country from North Norfolk, but if you enjoyed the Ruh Galloway series, l think you will enjoy these.

Thanks Musicgirl. I'll take a look.

Someone a couple of pages back mentioned Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore which I read years ago but decided to re-read it. I had forgotten how tense and gripping it is, and discovered to my cost that it's not ideal bedtime reading.

I know the Clifton area of Bristol pretty well so I enjoyed being able to picture it all, and I would highly recommend this beautifully written page-turner. This was my book no. 58.

62-The web by Jonathan Kellerman. What an unusual story, set on a remote Pacific Island. There are lots of secrets for the visitors to unravel. I couldn't work out how this thriller would end, and lots of surprises along the way. This is the first one of his I've read, so will be looking for others on his list.

#52 was The Silver Ladies Do Lunch by Judy Leigh. This was another suggestion on my Kindle and an easy read while I was away for a couple of days. It was frothy, silly, light as air, predictable and unlikely but I still quite enjoyed it.

Books 34 and 35
Both quick reads, but I enjoyed them
34 The Night she Disappeared- Lisa Jewell
This is about teenage parents who literally disappear after a party at a friends house.
I liked the characters, and the story kept me guessing, but I found the eventual ending a bit unbelievable.
Book 35
Blood Orange- Harriet Tyce
Harriet is a new author for me, and I really enjoyed this novel, it’s about a barrister having an affair with a colleague, we find her dissatisfied with her marriage, drinking too much, and generally struggling with her life. But there are lots of unexpected twists, and this book has a very good ending, a bit sordid in places, but would recommend