2026 - 50 Books a Year Challenge

13 Workhorse Caroline Palmer

I loved this book, a bit The Devil Wears Prada/The Goldfinch hybrid. The setting is New York in the aftermath of the Twin Towers atrocity. The main character, "Clo" short for Clodagh, is a newbie on a glossy Vogue type magazine, desperate to climb the greasy pole and ascend to the higher echelons of editorial staff. The only thing holding her back, she doesn't have the right pedigree, the pedigree of coming from old money where doors are opened and an ascent in the cut throat world of fashion magazines is pretty much guaranteed. Surrounded by a glossy, glamorous peer group who have such advantages, known as the well connected "show horses" as opposed to her demographic, of the more basic "work horses" It is to one of the former she is drawn, Davis Lawrence, the daughter of a beloved actress whose star has faded somewhat. Nevertheless, Davis, mother has more money than she knows what to do with and when Davis who is supplied with a wallet full of her mother's credit cards to buy fripperies, offers Clo an American Express card whilst they're out shopping to buy a coveted coat beyond her means egged on by Davis with a "she never bothers to check purchases under $10,000". After paying, turning around to hand the card back, she sees her companion is distracted talking to another, so she pockets the card which is never missed and uses it regularly to supplement her meagre salary. The burgeoning friendship with her moneyed friend, Clo also manages to ingratiate herself to Davis mother Barbara and continues to coast along on their coattails whilst attending parties and receptions of the moneyed elite where she finds not only in her career but in her new found social life opportunities the ability to cross social boundaries whilst taking dangerous risks. Into her orbit also comes Harry Wood, Davis boarding school scholarship classmate, lacking Davis credentials nevertheless they have a deeply intertwined symbiotic relationship. Harry's outlook, is somewhat amoral, willing to game the system to achieve his ambition of his own media empire and drawn to Clo as a kindred spirit in that they share a similar grifter mentality.

A definite page turner, a tale of envy, betrayal, ambition and privilege.

14. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

16-Spinners Lake-Anna Jacobs
#5The last in the Gibson series. What a great set to read!

#18. The Mysterious Affair Of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood.

Same here, Apple3pie!

I agree with Maggiemaybe In the Blink of an Eye is brilliant. I can't wait for the next book in the series to see how the AI evolves.

13. looking at Linlithgow

This is a look at the history of Linlithgow and up to the present day through painting, sculpture,fabric etc. I found it quite interesting to see how the town has changed but stayed the same.

Book 14 The Wager by David Grann.

This is a true story of shipwreck, mutiny and murder in 1742. The author has done a huge amount of research judging by the bibliography at the back, and it was horrifying what the sailors went through, but after about 200 pages of frightening rough seas, smashed up boats, desert islands, starvation and murder, the poor men going one step forward and two back, I was desperate for a change of scene so admit to skipping some pages in the middle in order to move on. 7/10

6. The Impossible Fortune, Richard Osman

I enjoyed this, as I have all the Thursday Murder Club books. Good fun, easy to read, unpretentious and with characters I can like and root for. In fact, I see the Cooper’s Chase crew as old friends now.

7. In the Blink of an Eye, Jo Callaghan

Now this was a bit different. An AI detective is brought in on a pilot scheme to work with sceptical police detective Kat, who has her own reasons not to trust AI. It’s a thought-provoking and very entertaining read. Highly recommended.

15-Hallam Square-Anna Jacobs
#4 of The Gibson Family series
I've grown to love the characters in this series, and will really miss them wen I finish the final book#5. I'm learning a lot about that era which is fascinating.

I love Lisa Jewell books.

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.

#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

#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

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.

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

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.

#17. Murder In York by JR Ellis.

#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

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.

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.

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.

#16. The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena.

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.

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.