2026 - 50 Books a Year Challenge

#28 The Offing by Benjamin Myers
Summer of 1946, 16 year old Robert leaves school and decides to leave his Durham village for an adventure and to see some of life before he follows his father and grandfather down into the mine. He sets off on foot, picking up odd jobs and places to stay, or camping, as he goes. After a few weeks he is heading for Robin Hood’s bay when he meets Dulcie, an eccentric, world wise and outspoken older lady who lives in her ramshackle cottage with her dog Butler. She introduces him to the pleasures of good food, alcohol and poetry. They come from very different worlds, but as the summer progresses, a growing friendship develops which will change both their lives.
Very well written, with great characters and only 250 pages. 9/10

Sparklefizz I’ve enjoyed a few of Anna Quindlen’s books but not read that one. It sounds like one I’d enjoy so I’ll add it to my list.

I've read several books so far this year but haven't posted about them. However recently I've read the trilogy by Tom Bradby "Secret Service", "Double Agent" and "Triple Cross". I thoroughly enjoyed all three. So I was excited to read that "Secret Service" was being televised as a five part thriller with Tom Bradby involved in the writing and production.
Has anyone else read the books/ and or watched it on TV? I ask because we loved the books but didn't enjoy the TV version much. Some of the casting seemed "off", although Gemma Arterton and Roger Allam were extremely good; Julie and Imogen didn't fit their sexy, assertive roles. Also the plot had been messed around with significantly. All in all a disappointment in our view. Anyone else feel the same or disagree? I'd be interested to hear.

Qwerty I watched Secret Service and enjoyed it and have reserved a couple of Tom Bradby's books from the library to see what I think of them.

Sparklefizz

Qwerty I watched Secret Service and enjoyed it and have reserved a couple of Tom Bradby's books from the library to see what I think of them.

We watched it too and wished I'd read the book first because the plot was complicated.
However, I did suss out who the culprit was 🙂

I read a Tom Bradby book many years ago and it was very good.

AliBeeee

#28 The Offing by Benjamin Myers
Summer of 1946, 16 year old Robert leaves school and decides to leave his Durham village for an adventure and to see some of life before he follows his father and grandfather down into the mine. He sets off on foot, picking up odd jobs and places to stay, or camping, as he goes. After a few weeks he is heading for Robin Hood’s bay when he meets Dulcie, an eccentric, world wise and outspoken older lady who lives in her ramshackle cottage with her dog Butler. She introduces him to the pleasures of good food, alcohol and poetry. They come from very different worlds, but as the summer progresses, a growing friendship develops which will change both their lives.
Very well written, with great characters and only 250 pages. 9/10

Sparklefizz I’ve enjoyed a few of Anna Quindlen’s books but not read that one. It sounds like one I’d enjoy so I’ll add it to my list.

My bookclub loved The Offing. As did my DH as he knows the area well. I also would highly recommend it.

Book 5 Peter James, One of us is Dead.
Book 6 Peter James, Dead Man's Grip. Enjoyed both of these stories.
Book 7 Linwood Barclay, Too Close to Home. Always great thrillers by this author.
Book 8 Lee Child No Middle Name. Short stories
Book 9 Tracy Chevalier, The Glassmaker. Highly recommended.
Book 10 Carol Drinkwater, The Olive Farm. True account of how the former actress and her husband renovated a run-down farm in Provence. Very entertaining
Book 11 David Baldacci, Simply Lies. Not the best story.
Book 12 Erin Littken, The Memory Keeper of Kyiv. Excellent read.
Book 13 Susie Dent, Guilty by Definition. Her first novel. Rather a convoluted story!

Allira - I found having read the books first made it more confusing as various aspects of the plot were changed for TV. It will be interesting to see if you find the same!

Qwerty

Allira - I found having read the books first made it more confusing as various aspects of the plot were changed for TV. It will be interesting to see if you find the same!

Why do they always change things?

28 Dead Heat Sabine Durrant

A good page turner if you happen to be heading off to Greece for a beach holiday. Down on his luck, 50 something journalist Matt is staying, courtesy of friends, in a guest cottage in the garden of their home in Greece. Specifically the Mani Peninsula near the ancient city of Sparta. Later joined by long term friends, Celia and Adam property owners and their entourage of various children along with their respective friend and partner. Adam, a previous protegee of Matt's whose career has long since overtaken his own. Matt down in the doldrums, having been let go at work, broken up with his partner and as a consequence lost his home to boot, he is now in the process of writing a screenplay, which may or may not be his salvation. Matt's, complicated relationship with Adam blows hot and cold between best buddies and simmering resentments about Adam's treatment of his much nicer wife Celia who he is very fond of. Adam having all the hallmarks of a self absorbed louche narcissist are brought to the fore when into their circle comes Reynash, owner of a newly built glass palace perched in an enviable position across the bay. Reynash and Adam have a shared history the latter having been bullied at school by Adam, but has since emerged as a millionaire heading up a tech company. Tensions rise as Gatsbyesque parties play out at the new house, until a fatal accident occurs, or was it?? plus the mystery of Reynash's business partner who went out for a run a few days before and has never returned, possibly having met with an accident. The narrative is laced with a fair sprinkling of ambiguities, prevalent throughout but in particular as to the ending. I enjoyed it, not as good as a couple of her previous books.

12 It Takes a Village by Hannah Ellis
Not my usual kind of book but the setting appealed to me as it is set in an area of Devon I particularly like.
The struggles that a single father encounters when taking on his newborn baby alone. Predictable but enjoyable if you're looking for an easy read.