2026 - 50 Books a Year Challenge

J52

I have just read Don't Let HimIn by Lisa Jewell, apologies if it’s been discussed before. A fantastic book, about a duplicitous and psychopathic con man.
It does flit through several time lines, but a very modern tale.

I loved this book and bought it for my daughter for Christmas.

Book No. 11 The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

An unusual story because the author includes himself in the plot as an author who has been asked by an ex-detective to write his biography. The author gets caught up in the latest investigation. 8/10

#15. Where The Truth Lies by MJ Lee.

13-High Street-Anna Jacobs
#2 in the Gibson family saga series. Unputdownable.

Book 11 Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier

#Terribull, my aim when I saw this thread was to kill two birds with one stone. My New Year's resolution was to read all the books I have piled everywhere and clear them out eg charity shop, give away to friends if they wanted them. Went to a charity shop with my OH and bought a collection of 4 books by Daphne du Maurier. On the upside I have read 11 books and bought 4 so I've managed to charity shop/pass on 7. Woo hoo! Now barred from charity shops book sections.

stewaris

Book 11 Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier

#Terribull, my aim when I saw this thread was to kill two birds with one stone. My New Year's resolution was to read all the books I have piled everywhere and clear them out eg charity shop, give away to friends if they wanted them. Went to a charity shop with my OH and bought a collection of 4 books by Daphne du Maurier. On the upside I have read 11 books and bought 4 so I've managed to charity shop/pass on 7. Woo hoo! Now barred from charity shops book sections.

What did you think of Jamaica Inn?

#Sparklefizz I really liked it and, although I'd read it about 50 years ago, I'd forgotten the ending which had a bit of a twist that I remembered when I got to it. I have read some of Daphne Du Maurier's other books and I really enjoyed them. If you're thinking about it I'd definitely give it a read.

Thank you stewaris Like you, I read it many years ago, and then on driving through Cornwall we stopped at Jamaica Inn for a drink. I don't remember the twist you mention so perhaps I'd better read it again

My favourite Du Maurier book is Rebecca, followed by The Scapegoat.

I won't spoil it Sparklefizz but the real baddie wasn't who I thought it was. Having said that I was always rubbish at working the baddie out. OH gets 20 minutes into a film and tells me he knows what's going to happen. I'm going to read Rebecca next. I bought a compilation of four of her books in the charity shop and Frenchman's creek and My Cousin Rachel is there too. So much for clearing books out!

I have sold books to World of Books in the past to clear the decks a little, but mostly I rely on the library and the only books I accumulate are for birthdays and Christmas. Both my adult children are bookworms like me, so mostly that's what we buy each other.

14-Ridge Hill-Anna Jacobs
#3 in the Gibson Family saga.
Full of highs and lows, births, marriages and deaths. It is almost like a history lesson as well, with the birth of railways, the Great Exhibition, and details of the fashions or that time. Fascinating reading.

This is a great thread. So many interesting books mentioned!
I'd like to join in if that's okay. I've already read six books this year. I'm hopeless at writing reviews but will try to write a few words.

1. Long Time Dead by T. M. Payne - A good mystery novel with a female lead.

2. Exit Management by Naomi Booth - Young working class couple desperate to improve their lives meet terminally ill wealthy man. Things get dark.

3. Rules of the Road by Ciara Geraghty - I love Geraghty's characters. In this book a middle-aged woman embarks on a road trip to stop her best friend's trip to Dignitas.

4. Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg - Very useful to improve communication and relationships. If I'll remember the tips...

5. With the End in Mind by Kathryn Mannix - Beautiful, compassionate memoir by a palliative care doctor

6. The Last Death of the Year by Sophie Hannah - Did not like this one, it was so boring I could barely finish it.

Book 4: A Heart Full of Headstones by Ian Rankin. I love the Rebus books . Here Rebus old and ailing fights for his freedom when he finds himself on trial for a crime that could send him to prison for the rest of his life.

#16. The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena.

Book 5: River Kings by Cat Jarman . This is a fascinating book. It is amazing to learn about the extent of the travels and culture of the Vikings and how they brought different influences to Western Europe so long ago.

Book 12 The Names by Florence Knapp

Thank you to the person who mentioned this outstanding book. It's original and heart-wrenching.

The year is 1987, and in the aftermath of a great storm Cora sets out with her 9 year old daughter to register the birth of her baby son.

Her horribly abusive husband intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition on his side and name the baby after him, but Cora hesitates. Going against his wishes will have consequences but is it right for her little son to inherit his name from generations of cruel and domineering men?

The choice she makes in this moment will shape the course of their lives.

Sparklefizz

Book 12 The Names by Florence Knapp

Thank you to the person who mentioned this outstanding book. It's original and heart-wrenching.

The year is 1987, and in the aftermath of a great storm Cora sets out with her 9 year old daughter to register the birth of her baby son.

Her horribly abusive husband intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition on his side and name the baby after him, but Cora hesitates. Going against his wishes will have consequences but is it right for her little son to inherit his name from generations of cruel and domineering men?

The choice she makes in this moment will shape the course of their lives.

I think it was me Sparklefizz. It was one of my outstanding books from last year. I'm glad you enjoyed it too.

#13 Prom Mom by Laura Lippman
When Amber is 16, she gives birth to a premature baby in a hotel bathroom while attending the high school prom, having not known she was pregnant. Afterwards, she left town for good, only returning 20 years later. Joe, her high school prom date and the baby’s father, never left town. He’s now happily married, childless and has a successful real estate company.
Now Amber is back, and as the two of them renew their once unlikely relationship, will their secrets destroy everyone around them?
This was a bit different from other Laura Lippman books I’ve read. It was largely set during the covid era, which played a big part of the story too. There was a significant twist at the end which I did not see coming at all. 7/10

#17. Murder In York by JR Ellis.

12 The Paris Library - Janet Skeslien Charles Audible

This was my latest book club read. I'm not sure why I found this book quite lacklustre, the subject matter was interesting enough, maybe the style of writing. The true story of the American Library in Paris during the German occupation and the lengths that the main character, Odile Souchet and her colleagues go to keeping the library open, delivering books to Jewish members who were precluded from entering during that time. This the main part of the wartime narrative runs parallel to a second timeline in the 1980s, where Odile has long since left France decamping after the war with her late American husband to his native Montana. It's here as an elderly reclusive widow she connects with teenage neighbour Lily originally to assist with her school research project, but over the course of time her past is revealed uncovering long held secrets about betrayal and courage. I didn't think the two disparate eras and settings enhanced the story imo the second rather detracted from the original Paris backdrop. I didn't particularly enjoy it, but that's the nature of book club choices as I'm beginning to find out.

Book 13 The End of Her by Shari Lapena

Yet another good book by this author.

Stephanie and Patrick are recently married with newborn twins who develop colic. Stephanie struggles with the disorienting effects of sleep deprivation and screaming babies, but there's one thing she knows for certain - she has everything she ever wanted.

A woman from Patrick's past turns up and makes a horrifying allegation. He always claimed his first wife's death was an accident but she says it was murder.

Patrick insists he is innocent and that this is nothing but a blackmail attempt, but is he telling the truth? Or has Stephanie made a terrible mistake?

10/10

7. Death at the Dog Show by Peter Boland - Part of a fun cosy crime series in which three mature ladies investigate murders. This volume starts with a dramatic Best Biscuit Catcher competition for the pooches.

#14 Air by John Boyne
This the fourth (final one?) in his short “Elements” series, I’ve read the first 3 and there’s a loose connection between them all. Each volume is only about 150 pages.
Aaron and his 14 year old son Emmet are on a 14 hour flight, and being stuck in the air gives Aaron time to reflect and take stock of how his life has got to this point. Emmet is at that difficult teenage state of hating everything about his parents and wants to be anywhere but where he is. The interaction between them is excellent and so believable for anyone who has ever been the parent of a 14 year old boy.
Beautifully written, as the previous volumes are. 9/10

#12 The Green Gardener by Anne Swithinbank

A really informative and interesting book. I'll be keeping this one to dip in and out of when I need some advice. Second book to break my New Year's resolution to clear the accumulation of books I have out. comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzle/64-10-2026

Apologies for the comp link. I don't really know how I managed to do that as ctrl-enter and ctr-v are at opposite ends of the key board. Sorry folks.