The Not So New 2024 50 Books a Year - Thread 2

49. One Puzzling Afternoon, Emily Critchley
82 year old Edie becomes obsessed with the fragmented memories of her friend Lucy, who simply disappeared one afternoon when they were both still schoolgirls. She knows there’s something important she hasn’t told, but what was it? This is a lovely book, so well written with believable and relatable characters, and a denouement I didn’t see coming. Highly recommended.

50. French Braid, Anne Tyler
One of my favourite authors, and she never disappoints. This is a ramble through several generations of a Baltimore family. It’s a comforting, gentle read. Again highly recommended.

Glad it’s not just me😊!

#79. Hide And Seek by Andrea Mara.

Yes Greyduster, I tend to feel bereft when I come to the end of a really good book - in fact, I have been known to slow down the number of pages I'm reading so that I don't finish it too quickly!

Since I posted in September, I’ve read another five of Mary Renault’s books and having just finished the last one, I feel rather bereft. Does anyone else feel like that when they come to the end of a good book, or a run of books? My next book will probably be Colleen McCullough’s “Song of Troy”.

Book 165, Marrying a Stranger, by Anna Jacobs. A bit chick-littish, not usually my cup of tea, but I actually quite liked it.

62 What a Way to Go Bella Mackie

I absolutely loved "How to Kill your Family" and had been waiting quite a while for Bella Mackie to follow that up, so I was very keen to get my hands on her newly published one.

I found this a bit of a disappointment and certainly didn't draw me in the way her last one did.

Multimillionaire by nefarious means, Anthony Wistern is to die in mysterious circumstances at his 60th birthday at his pile in the Cotswolds. From there he is shunted into one of God's Waiting Rooms where he can look down and observe his wife, Olivia who seems almost relieved to be rid of him and their four squabbling and fairly dislikeble grown up children, all presided over by a true crime pod caster. It has its funny moments particularly her observations regarding wealth, class and inequality, which is very much encapsulated in the Cotswold setting, but for me it just didn't have the unique appeal of How to Kill your Family. Although my feelings are contrary to most of the reviews, also my husband thought it was great, so just me then!

92-Wycliffe and the School Bullies-W J Burley. When 2 women are strangled Wycliffe tries to find a link between their lives. His investigations take him back to a prank on a school trip many years ago.

93-Wycliffe and the Windsor Blue-W J Burley. A story of three Falmouth painters. When one dies of a heart attack no one is suspicious, until the evening of the funeral, when his son is shot dead.

94-Wycliffe and the Dunes Mystery-W J Burley. The son of an MP disappeared 15 years ago, but when his body is found buried in the dunes, six friends are under scrutiny.

These 3 stories are slightly dated (no mobile phones or DNA testing) but nevertheless they get the grey cells working to find out whodunit.

No idea what number...I read 2 or 3 books per month.
I just read two end-of-life stories, both were wonderful in different ways.

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston. A case of mistaken identity lands homeless elder Fred in a nice retirement home. He really does try to straighten out the mistake, but life is so nice here....

West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge - Woodrow Nickel is 105, and feels an urgent need to write his story. He was the very young driver of a truck carrying two giraffes from New York to the San Diego Zoo in California in 1938.
"Few true friends I have know, and two were giraffes..."

Book 164, Mistress of Marymoor, by Anna Jacobs, set in Lancashire in 1759. A nice, light read if you need a change from the heavy stuff.

Book 55
The Other Mothers - Katherine Faulkner
To begin with, this book seemed so familiar that I thought I had read it before, but as I read on, I realised it was reminding me of the television programme, Motherland.
The book has two timelines, the first, Sophie, nanny to an affluent family dies in a wild swimming accident, or does she?
A few years later, freelance journalist, Tash, is asked by Sophie’s mother to look into it.
Tash has a little boy just starting playgroup, and is befriended by a group of yummy mummies, taking her completely out of her comfort zone, and as she gets to know them she is surprised to find a connection between her toxic new friends, and Sophie.
I enjoyed it, the characters were all horrible, but it was fast paced with a few surprises along the way
I found the ending a bit flat, but otherwise, quite good.

Book 47: The Plot-A historical novel about the Popish Plot. By Kate Braithwaite

Book 48:The Women of the Cousins War- By Philippa Gregory

Book49: University Challenges - By Jack Sheffield

#78. All Her Fault by Andrea Mara.

Hello FGT, yes I have Audible. One book a month included in the price, but there are some freebies which have been ok, I tend to listen to those with my Airpods during those long early hours of early morning when I find myself awake, insomnia is a curse! Sometimes if I'm lucky I realise I haven't a clue where I am when I pick up the story again, which means I must have drifted off. Sometimes its good to be read to, less effort

Sara1954 you’re welcome! 😊

I’ve just signed up for Amazon Audible. A new experience for me, never tried it before. See how I go with it! I’m thinking maybe use it for my book club reads as they’ve not been chosen personally.

Time will tell if I use it or cancel my subscription.

Anyway, I’m on Chapter 5 of ‘Kala’ by Colin Walsh. A 12 hour reading and I’m an hour in. It is a pleasant experience being read to. Like listening to an afternoon play on the radio.

I’ll report back when I’ve finished the book.

Do any of you use Audible yourselves and if so do you like it?

In a Single Moment by Imogen Clark
About two babies who may have been accidentally swapped at birth - or were they?

Book 163, An Independant Woman, by Anna Jacobs

No 27. The Party by Elizabeth Day.

I don’t know what genre this book fits into, but I enjoyed it. Two men who have been friends since their school days reach a denouement in their relationship at an ostentatious party. Secrets are revealed and revenge taken! I’d never heard of the writer before (was a book group title) but I thought it was well written.

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
The fourth in the Thursday Murder Club series.

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
But is it?
Psychological drama, edgy

The Vanishing of Class 3B by Jackie Kabler
Riveting!

47. I Know It’s You, Susan Lewis
Publisher Marina is sent the first chapter of a book by an unknown author, and soon realises it has echos of an incident in her past. As the chapters keep arriving, she starts to worry about what the author knows, and what she wants from her. This was an audiobook, which probably explains why I kept mixing up the many characters, past and present. Also, reviews of the book have said there were two endings to choose from - I’ve obviously missed that, so I’ll have to borrow it from the library again and check it out.

48. An Unwanted Guest, Shari Lapena
As guests arrive at a beautiful but remote inn, snow is falling and they’re soon trapped, unable to leave or contact the outside world when one of them is found dead at the bottom of the stairs. As the body count rises, they have to find out whether the killer is one of them, or a mystery guest they know nothing of. This one’s a page turner, the characters are well drawn, and the ending’s believable. I’d recommend it.

Book 162, Stop Them Dead, the latest Roy Grace novel by Peter James. Enjoyed it very much, can recommend it.

91-Dangerous Games-Danielle Steel. TV correspondent Alix gets sent all over the world to cover disasters and wars, but while in Tehran she hears that there is trouble at home. The Vice-President is making plans to win the next election, while making millions of dollars for himself.

FriedGreenTomatoed, Thankyou for the link to The Guardian, I am a big fan, and enjoyed the article, didn’t realise she was so old though.

#47 The Nonesuch Georgette Heyer.
My October reread of a Georgette Heyer title, I am revisiting one a month in 2024. Undemanding but lovely. I have enjoyed Ms Heyer's books for over 55 years.