NanaCC’s (Colleen’s) 2019 Reading - Part 2

Hi, I’m Colleen. Welcome to my 2019 thread. I will post my current reading here. I don’t usually set goals for my reading, as I get distracted by shiny new things, and my goals fall apart. I think I’d consider my posts as comments about the books I’ve read, rather than reviews. If I try to write reviews, I wind up spending less time reading than I’d like.

I enjoy listening to audio books in addition to reading paper books. In 2018 the mix was almost 50/50. 43 paper or kindle books, and 42 audio books. 52 of the books were by women. My final thread for 2018 can be found at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/293036

Happy reading everyone. I look forward to your suggestions to add to my towering wishlist.

CURRENTLY READING:

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
Mrs Tim Gets A Job D. E. Stevenson

Currently Listening:

If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O by Sharyn McCrumb
Killer Market by Margaret Maron, narrated by C. J. Critt
The Lonely Hour by Christopher Fowler, narrated by Tim Goodman

Books Read 2019

Print/Kindle

1- In the Presence of the Enemy by Elizabeth George
2- A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters
3- Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
4- The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
5- Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
6- The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
7- The Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett
8- My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
9- Closed Circles by Viveca Sten
10- Guiltless by Viveca Sten
11- Tonight You’re Dead by Viveca Sten
12- In the Heat of the Moment by Viveca Sten
13- Where Memories Lie by Deborah Crombie
14- In Harm’s Way by Viveca Sten
15- Deception on His Mind by Elizabeth George
16- In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner by Elizabeth George
17- A Traitor To Memory by Elizabeth George
18- No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie
19- The Sound of Broken Glass by Deborah Crombie
20- The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths
21- The Woman In Blue by Elly Griffiths
22- A Place of Hiding by Elizabeth George
23- One Corpse Too Many by Ellis Peters
24- Monk’s Hood by Ellis Peters
25- Saint Peter’s Fair by Ellis Peters
26- Garden of Lamentations by Deborah Crombie
27- With No One as Witness by Elizabeth George
28- Big Sky by Kate Atkinson
29- Careless in Red by Elizabeth George
30- Mrs Tim Carries On by D. E. Stevenson
31- Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie
32- Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce
33- A Better Man by Louise Penny

Audio

1- The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Clare Corbett
2- Becoming by Michelle Obama, Read by Michelle Obama
3- Shooting at Loons by Margaret Maron, narrated by C. J. Critt
4- In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin, narrated by James Macpherson
5- Tombland by C. J. Sansom, Narrated by Steven Crossley
6- In a Dark House by Deborah Crombie, narrated by Michael Deehy
7- In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren
8- A Fountain Filled With Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren
9- Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, narrated by Rosamund Pike
10- Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins Mystery)by Walter Mosley, narrated by Michael Boatman
11- Raven Black by Ann Cleeves, narrated by Gordon Griffen
12- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, narrated by Cassandra Campbell
13- Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren
14- The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley, narrated by Jayne Entwistle
15- Water Like a Stone by Deborah Crombie, narrated by Michael Deehy
16- To Darkness and to Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren
17- All Mortal Flesh by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren
18- I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren
19- One Was a Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren
20- Necessary as Blood by Deborah Crombie, narrated by Jenny Sterlin
21- Up Jumps the Devil by Margaret Maron, narrated by C. J. Critt
22- To Dwell In Darkness by Deborah Crombie, narrated by Gerard Doyle
23- The Guards by Ken Bruen, narrated by Gerry O’Brien
24- Milkman by Anna Burns, narrated by Brid Brennan
25- The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Jane McDowell
26- The Blackhouse by Peter May, narrated by Peter Forbes
27- White Nights by Ann Cleeves

Stats

Books Read Total = 60
Print/Kindle = 33; Audio = 27; Women authors = 51; New to me authors = 11

I just got the next book (9th) in the Inspector Lynley/ Havers series. I will have to add Deception on His Mind to my current reading.

Happy new thread, Colleen.

>4 BLBera: Thank you, Beth. The other was becoming too long.

Hi, Colleen.

Hi, Linda. Funny that you should stop by. I just downloaded the fourth Deborah Knott book, Up Jumps the Devil. I’m really enjoying this series thanks to you.

27. In the Heat of the Moment by Viveca Sten, translated by Marlaine Delargy

It’s Midsummer’s Eve on Sandhamn in the fifth novel of the series. As always, teenagers flock to the island for non-stop partying. Alcohol, drugs, and anything else you can think of are on hand. The police are on the island to try to keep things in check. But a sixteen year old boy is found dead the next morning. Lies abound, as the teenagers don’t want their parents to know everything they’ve been up to, making it hard for Thomas Andreasson to put the clues together. Nora’s new beau has a young teenage daughter who has joined the partying, and she hasn’t come home. There is only one more book that has been translated at this point. I’ll hold off reading that one for a bit, in hopes that more will be in English soon.

28. Where Memories Lie by Deborah Crombie

The 12th book in the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series was a good one. Gemma’s friend Erika has always been a private person, and Gemma knows very little about her past, other than that she and her husband had escaped the Nazis during WWII. When Erika calls asking Gemma to discreetly look into the sale of a diamond brooch at an auction house, it opens a huge can of worms and murder follows.

Noticed your current reading. Deception on His Mind rings a bell; is it the one where Barbara is primary? If so, it was my favorite of the series.

>10 avaland: I haven’t actually started it yet, Lois. I need a kindle book in bed on the weekend. I can read that with the light out. I’ll start Deception tomorrow.

29. In Harm’s Way by Viveca Sten

The sixth book in the Sandhamn series is the last one that has been translated into English at this time. A famous investigative journalist arrives on the island on Christmas Eve. She’s frazzled and disoriented. The next morning, she’s found dead in a pile of snow. There were several twists and turns in this story which involved corruption and a group of anti immigration nutters.

30. To Darkness and to Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren

This is book four in the Reverend Clare Fergusson/ Russ VanAlstyne series. A woman is reported missing in the woods. A huge tract of land is in the process of being sold to developers. There are those who would wish to stop the sale, and murder happens along the way. Accidental? maybe. This was another solid installment in the series.

31. Deception on His Mind by Elizabeth George

Book nine in the Lynley/Havers series was the best yet in my opinion. In the last book, Barbara Havers had a more significant role than she’d had in previous books. In this one, she is supposed to be on leave, but when her Pakistani neighbor and his little girl travel to Essex to support a family member, she follows to be sure they are ok. A Pakistani man has been murdered, and racial tensions are high. There are several people in the community who feel that it was a hate crime, and there are many people who fit the suspect role. Havers manages to insert herself into the investigation, and she is fearless. I’ll be reading the next book in the series soon. I’m looking forward to finding out what happens to her next.

For the last month I've been entertaining a friend who was visiting from Australia so I've a lot to catch up on here on LT. As usual you are adding lots to my list. The Viveca Sten books look interesting but none of the libraries around here have any so I'll have to keep an eye out for them.

>15 VivienneR: I’ve missed you, Vivienne. It’s amazing how much catching up we have to do after just a few days away from LT. I can’t imagine a month away.

I got the Sandhamn books last month when they were on kindle sale. Or, I should say, I got books 2-6. I got the first book last year when amazon was giving away 6 free kindle books as part of World Book Day.

32. All Mortal Flesh by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren

Book five in the Clare Fergusson / Russ Van Alstyne mystery series, starts with Russ having been thrown out of the house by his wife, and then weeks later a neighbor finding her mutilated body on the floor of their kitchen. I’ve been enjoying this series, but I think I found this one a bit too manipulative on one’s emotions. It was much darker than the ones I’ve read thus far. Dark doesn’t bother me, but for some reason in this one it did. And I wanted to slap both characters upside the head when they put themselves in situations that you knew they shouldn’t have. Would someone act the way they did in real life? I’ve already loaded the next book to listen to while I knit, so obviously my complaints aren’t earth shattering. The series is very good.

33. In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner by Elizabeth George

After the ending in the previous book, I couldn’t wait to read this, the tenth book in the Lynley/Havers series. It starts with a famous theatrical producer killing himself after his new show opens to thunderous applause. A young woman who has gone camping is found murdered in the woods, and a young motorcyclist is found stabbed to death in her campsite. Lynley selects detective Nkata to accompany him, and puts the newly demoted Havers on the computer to slog through data. Havers being Havers can’t stay out of trouble. I loved this one. These books need to be read in order, because the character development is so much a part of the story.

34. I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren

This is another series that I seem to be plowing through. I love the characters and the fraught relationship between Russ and Clare. A Latino man has been found shot in the back of the head. Clare becomes involved because of her work with the migrant farm workers. Two more bodies show up, and the fear that a serial killer may be working his way through the town has everyone on edge. I’ve already started the next book. I’m rolling my eyes. I couldn’t help myself. As a consequence I’m getting a lot of knitting done. :-)

35. One Was a Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren

These books seem to be getting darker and darker. In this book, Clare Fergusson and four other soldiers arrive home after a tour in Iraq. They all have their specific issues with re-entering civilian life. They’ve all brought the horrors of war home with them in some way. In their support group, they have a difficult time opening up about their individual problems, but when one of their group dies and the death is ruled a suicide, they all band together to disprove that theory. Clare and Russ are planning their wedding. I think there is only one more book, before I need to wait for the new book which is supposed to be released at the end of this year (I think).

>1 NanaCC: Colleen, I too read Cherry Ames, I too love Dickens, I love Georgette Heyer, I like mysteries way too much. I am not good at social stuff, but I'll watch your thread.

Oh, and I knit. But I watch baseball with my husband while I do that.

I have read several new mystery series this past year. I'll try to remember some of them to ask you about.

>21 sallypursell: Thank you for stopping by, Sally. It sounds like we have similar tastes. We may find new series from each other.

You are tearing through he Spencer-Fleming series, Colleen. Does she have a new one coming out soon? Hooray! Maybe I should reread the last couple to refresh my memory. It's been a while.

>23 BLBera: Hi Beth. Welcome back from your vacation. It sounds like you had a good time despite your missing suitcase. I’m looking forward to your vacation book reviews. There is always so much to do after vacation. I know that book reviews don’t top that list.

When Bonnie got me hooked on the Spencer-Fleming series, I had started it because of all of the excitement and warbling about a new book coming out. Apparently the author’s husband had been very ill, and he has since passed away, but that was the reason behind the years since the last book. I just checked, and the new one called Hid From Our Eyes isn’t due to be published until April 2020, so you may want to hold off on your rereads for a little while. :-)

36. Necessary as Blood by Deborah Crombie, narrated by Jenny Sterlin

In this, the thirteenth book in the Duncan Kincaid/ Gemma James series, a young woman who is an artist asks a friend to watch her two year old daughter for a few minutes, while she runs to do a quick errand. She never returns. Months later, her husband, a Pakistani lawyer, is found murdered. Gemma becomes involved and is worried about the little girl who might be placed with her racist grandmother and uncles. Duncan takes over the murder investigation. The descriptions of London’s East End and Brick Lane add color to the story, and there are enough red herrings to make figuring out the ending quite fun.

37. A Traitor to Memory by Elizabeth George

Eugenie Davies left home after a family tragedy. She left behind an eight year old son, a child prodigy who became a famous violinist. Now at the age of twenty-eight he has lost his ability to play the violin, and no memory of his mother or of the tragedy that drove her away. She is murdered by a hit and run driver, and Lynley and Havers need to find out if the murder is connected in any way to the events of the past. I’ve already ordered the next book in the series. The writing is very good, and the plots are very interesting.

>24 NanaCC: April 2020 eh? I feel like previous announcements said sometime in 2019. Oh well, I have plenty to read while I wait.

>27 lauralkeet: Based upon what Bonnie had said, I thought it was sooner too, but Amazon says April 2020. Maybe they are wrong?

>28 NanaCC: I think that it was initially supposed to be this year but got pushed. Same thing that happened to Kathy Reichs's new Brennan novel (my library had even started accepting holds for it before it got pushed; not sure if "Hid From Our Eyes" was that far along in its publisher's line as well...

>29 AnnieMod:. Thank you, Annie. I was turned on to this series a few months ago by Bonnie (brenzi) in the 75 group. Everyone was excited about a new book coming out, and I wanted to have the earlier books in the series finished before the new hit the market. I’ve been zooming through them. But now I’ve only one left before the new one, so I’ll wait for a bit, I think.

I just looked back to what I said about the new Julia Spencer Fleming novel Colleen. Here it is:

Omg.....

Julia Spencer Fleming announced earlier today that she has completed the ninth novel in the Claire Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series and we can expect it to be published next winter. She last published a book in this series in 2013 and has been plagued by illness, deaths in her family and depression but she's finally back on track. WOO HOO!!! Can't wait!

So I took that to mean next winter Jan or Feb maybe. We'll just have to be patient. In the meantime I'm enjoying your summaries.

>31 brenzi: You succeeded in getting me hooked on the series, Bonnie, and, of course, now like everyone else, I can’t wait! :-)

38. No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie

In the 14th book in this series, a woman who is an Olympic level rower and also a Met Police officer is found drowned near her cottage on the river. She’s been murdered, and Kincaid is asked to discreetly investigate. Gemma is looking into sex crimes reported by several of the women on the police force that may point to a high ranking senior officer. She and Duncan have been ordered to tread lightly.

If you like a good mystery/police procedural, this might be the series for you. The books are well written and the plots are usually tricky enough to keep you guessing. They should be read in order, as relationships develop throughout the series. The first book is A Share in Death.

39. Up Jumps the Devil by Margaret Maron, narrated by C. J. Critt

This is the fourth book in the Judge Deborah Knott series. Thanksgiving is approaching, which means a big Knott family get together. But before the get together there are two murders which may be tied to land, or to money made from crops. There are several suspects, including a couple of Deborah’s relatives. I like the author’s descriptions of people and place. There is humor. A scene with her nephew and his capture of an 8 point buck deer is quite funny. And there is a suspenseful scene at the end where Deborah realizes who the murderer is, and almost gets herself killed. I thank Linda (laytonwoman) for introducing me to the series.

I'm so glad you're enjoying Deborah Knott, Colleen. I wish there were a dozen more, but you have a lot of good reading ahead of you.

>35 laytonwoman3rd: That’s good to hear, Linda. They are pretty good on audio. The narrator does a pretty decent job. Helps me keep moving my knitting along. :-)

40. The Sound of Broken Glass by Deborah Crombie

The 15th book in the Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James series is another solid entry in this series. The story starts with a band playing at an unfamiliar venue because the lead guitarist’s manager wants him to be seen by a producer. The session doesn’t go well because his band mates are jealous and try to mess up the session. It ends with the guitarist furious with his two friends, getting in a shouting match with one man and punching another in the nose. The man in the shouting match winds up dead later that night, and the story takes off from there. Gemma and her partner, Melody, are leads in this investigation. These books seem to get better with each installment. They are well written, and I do really like the characters. The books should be read in order because the character and relationship development progresses with each book, and Ms. Crombie doesn’t keep repeating things from previous books.

>40 VivienneR: I really must get back to Crombie's books. They sort of fell by the wayside when Duncan and Gemma were no longer on the same team. Your review shows that they are just as good or better than ever.

>38 VivienneR: I think that Crombie handles the different teams thing well, Vivienne. They may be on different teams, but they really find ways to work together, or step on each other’s toes. :-) I like the relationship between them, and I think some mystery readers don’t want that. They just want the mystery. I think these mysteries are solid, and the relationships just add to the color.

I forgot to add that I downloaded The Guards by Ken Bruen, after reading your review of Priest yesterday. You had added the series with an earlier review, but that review pushed me to push the button.

I'm glad my review encouraged to you try a Ken Bruen book - just as yours has encouraged me to get back to Deborah Crombie!

I hope you like Bruen, I'll feel bad if you don't. The best is that his spare writing style makes for quite slim novels so you won't have to plough through a brick.

>40 VivienneR: Just as I’ll feel bad if you are still put off by the Crombie books. I know that some people don’t like the personal relationships in their mysteries. I do happen to enjoy them.

41. The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths

This is the seventh book in the Ruth Galloway series. A man operating a digger machine on a construction site hits something metallic. When he investigates, it is an American WWII plane that had crashed in the field. To his horror, the pilot is still inside. Detective Nelson and forensic archeologist Ruth Galloway are called to investigate. Ruth determines that the body is not that of the plane’s pilot. The bullet hole in the skull turns it into a cold case of murder. The land is part of one of the many American flight bases that had been set up in England during the war. The family that owns the surrounding land and owns a creepy crumbling manor house become involved when DNA evidence shows that the pilot was a member of the family. The mystery was a pretty good one, although there were a few things that really were unbelievable. They didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book.

I love Ruth Galloway’s character. She isn’t perfect. She’s a single mom, who loves her five year old daughter and definitely has feelings for Kate’s father, married detective Nelson. I’ve listened to the previous books, but this book and the next were not available on audio. The audio versions are very good, and I found myself hearing Ruth’s voice as I was reading this one.

You have some great series going, Colleen. I love the Crombie and Griffiths series and wish Maron would write some more! I guess I could do a reread...

>43 BLBera: Sometimes I think about rereads, Beth, and then I think about all of the books I still haven’t read....time, time, need more time.....

>42 NanaCC: skimming past that review bc I've only read the first two. I really enjoyed them though, and need to make room for more in my reading plans.

>45 lauralkeet: I’ve enjoyed all of them, Laura. I think you will too.

Pondering whether to start the Elly Griffiths series Colleen. The library only has the first one on audio and I've kind of been limiting my series reading to audio with a couple of exceptions. Hmmmmm......

>47 brenzi: I think you would enjoy the series if you start it, Bonnie. I listened to the first six, and then had to go to the paper copy because seven and eight were not available on audio. I’m enjoying the paper copies, so either format works for me with this series. Ruth Galloway is really a great character.

42. To Dwell In Darkness by Deborah Crombie, narrated by Gerard Doyle

When I finished The Sound of Broken Glass last week, I hadn’t intended to go on to the next book right away. However, the cliff hanger ending left me wanting more, and it was available on audio, so here we are. 16 books into this series, and they are still really good. In this one, a member of a protest group sets off a bomb in St. Pancras Station, killing himself in a fiery explosion. The other members of the group swear that it was only supposed to be a smoke bomb. Kincaid in his new position works with his new team to find out who the victim actually was, and was it part of a greater terrorist plot. He secretly uses his old partner from Scotland Yard to do some digging online as he isn’t yet comfortable with his new team. Meanwhile Gemma is investigating the rape and murder of a twelve year old girl. She knows who did it, but trying to get the evidence to prove it is not going well. This one also ended with a cliff hanger, so it won’t be long before I’m reading the next one.

43. The Woman in Blue by Elly Griffiths

These books always leave me wanting to rush on to the next one, so that’s what I did after reading The Ghost Fields. Number eight in the Ruth Galloway series begins with Cathbad house and cat sitting for a friend in Little Walsingham. The real town is known for its priory and abbey grounds, Anglican shrine, and Slipper Chapel, which are all featured in this book along with some fictional churches as well. The cat gets out of the house, and when Cathbad goes to fetch it he sees a woman in a white gown and blue cloak. He thinks he’s seen a vision, but the next morning a woman dressed as he’s seen her is found dead in a ditch. Nelson is there to investigate. Ruth becomes involved when she is asked by a woman she’s knows from university to look at some threatening letters she has received. The woman is an Anglican priest, in town for a course involving other female priests. Another murder occurs just before the town’s annual Good Friday Passion Play.

I’d love to rush right on to the next book, but I better spread them out just a little. :-)

>50 NanaCC: *looking at that through squinty eyes*

Seems like you're still enjoying the series, which is great news! I'm looking forward to reading more, but am thinking I might finish the Inspector Sejer series first. I only have two left.

>51 lauralkeet: I loved the Sejer series, Laura. I should probably check to see if I’ve read them all. I read them several years ago, and had read all that had been translated. I think that was one I read before I joined LT. Since then, I’ve discovered so many more series, thanks to everyone on this site. It’s hard to keep up. I miss FictFact.

*** just checked, and there are a few I haven’t read. Yay!

>52 NanaCC: yes, I think there are 13 now, and the 13th is a relatively recent translation. I didn't read the first one (the first one written, not the first one published in English). I saw some pretty bad reviews and was well into the series by that point and decided I didn't need to go back.

Re: FictFact, I've been able to compensate for much of what I used it for. I have a spreadsheet to track my progress on series I care about (see message #2 on my latest thread). I use LT's Series to see how many books are in a series and which one is next. But what I will miss is Fictfact telling me when a new book is coming out; I don't have a good way to track that other than "buzz" here on the LT threads.

>50 NanaCC: NanaCC I realized that a lot of what I like has detectives which are not police, and therefore not police procedurals. I do like the Police Procedurals, though. Have you read the books by Anne Perry, about the Victorian detective (a policeman) who is the protagonists husband? They involve mostly police procedure, but not solely.

>53 lauralkeet: laurelkeet, have you tried "following" authors on Amazon? That's how I do it.

>55 sallypursell: Oh, that's interesting. I didn't know about that Amazon feature. Off to investigate, thank you very much!

>53 lauralkeet: I’ve been using the LT lists to pick next books in a series, but I have so many series going that I need to keep track of which series I’m reading, or that I have on my wishlist. On FictFact I had quite a few that I had not started. Series that had been put there by suggestions from threads on LT. I did download the file that FictFact provided. I haven’t had a chance to play with that file yet. I’ll be checking out the Sejer series to be sure I get to the ones I haven’t read.

>54 sallypursell: I haven’t read any of those books, Sally. I’ve read the first two books in the Charles Lennox series by Charles Finch. Charles Lennox is an amateur sleuth in Victorian time. The first book is called A Beautiful Blue Death. I’ll check out the authors feature on Amazon too.

I read a few of the Ann Perry books years ago, but lost interest. And then there was all the controversy about the author herself...google her, you'll see. I do enjoy the Charles Lennox series a lot.

>58 laytonwoman3rd: Have you read the Elly Griffiths books, Linda? I think you’d enjoy them. How about the Deborah Crombie books? I know ... so many series. And I want to get back to the Sue Grafton series too.

I haven't tried either of those, Colleen. My MIL reads Deborah Crombie, I think. Unfortunately, that has made me feel like I wouldn't care for her stuff.

>57 NanaCC: right, Colleen, I also have series I haven't started but want to keep in mind. Those are on my spreadsheet, because I don't have the books in my LT catalogue yet.

>59 NanaCC: Seconding the Elly Griffiths rec for Linda!

>60 laytonwoman3rd: LOL!

>60 laytonwoman3rd: LOL!

>61 lauralkeet: I use the LT wishlist to put the first book of a series that has been recommended. I put the name of the person who recommended it in the comments section. I add it to my library if I actually buy it or get it from the library.

After years of not being a big series reader I now find myself following several and starting to lose track. I completely forgot I started and loved the Rennie Airth series and need to move on with it. Sigh. First world problems Colleen.

>63 brenzi: Bonnie, I have this series on my wishlist, but haven’t started it. I don’t even know who put it there. I have it tagged as WWI so it must have hit my wishlist in 2014 when we were doing reading for the centennial. “Sigh” is right. It may even have been before I started using FictFact, which points out how much I wish that it hadn’t gone away. Thank you for putting the series back on my radar.

>59 NanaCC:, >61 lauralkeet: Well, FINE, you guys. I've put the first Ruth Galloway adventure on hold at the library.

>65 laytonwoman3rd: *high-fives Colleen*

>65 laytonwoman3rd:, >66 lauralkeet: Yay! I hope you love her as much as we do.;-)

>65 laytonwoman3rd: Well done! Add my name to the list of Ruth Galloway fans.

>68 VivienneR: ;-). Ruth Galloway has a lot of fans on LT.

I see you have the audio version of Milkman on your current reading list. I've put a hold on that one at the library but it might be months before I get it. I'm looking forward to it and comparing it with the print version that I read a couple of months ago.

I think that will be my next up after The Guards. I’ll look forward to seeing what your comparison tells you.

>59 NanaCC: It was quite bittersweet reading Y is for Yesterday knowing it was the last one.

>72 rhian_of_oz: I’ll probably go back to the beginning. I only got as far as “M”, I think. I was working, and wound up doing most of my reading on audio during my long commute. I’m not sure if they weren’t available that way, but I never got back to them. I’d like to start over, and I know that Linda says that she’s enjoying the reread. I’m sure knowing that the ending came sooner than expected was bittersweet for all of the fans.

44. The Guards by Ken Bruen, narrated by Gerry O’Brien

The first book in the Jack Taylor series introduces the main character, and the mystery really takes a back seat to that. Looking at reviews, it seems like this is a love it, or really hate it book. I enjoyed it, and maybe audio is the way to go for this one. Jack Taylor is an alcoholic. Thrown out of the Garda for his over indulgence, he’s sitting at a bar drowning his sorrows, when a woman comes in and asks for his help. Her teenaged daughter was found drowned, and her death was ruled a suicide. The mother doesn’t believe that for a minute. She has heard that Jack is good at finding things. The story is told in first person, and in the audio version, the reader conveys Jack’s struggle with booze, with relationships, and with himself. The author says a lot with few words. There is no padding. The writing is crisp and tight. The book may not be for everyone, but if you like noir crime, you should try this one.

I just want to add thank you to Vivienne for recommending this series.

>74 NanaCC: So glad you enjoyed it, Colleen. I know Taylor is a bit too noir for some readers. Watch out for him on Netflix.

>74 NanaCC: Speaking of alcoholic investigators have you read Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder series?

>75 VivienneR: I will do that, Vivienne. Thank you.

>76 rhian_of_oz: I haven’t, Rhian, but I just put the first book on my wishlist. Thank you.

>77 NanaCC: I look forward to hearing what you think.

>78 rhian_of_oz: It may be a while, Rhian, as I have quite a few books lined up right now. But I will get to the first one sometime this year.

I just added the last Jackson Brodie, Started Early, Took My Dog, as a reread, because Atkinson just released a new one in that series. It was so long ago, that I think everyone thought the series was finished. I’m not sure if I really need to reread that one, but I can’t remember how it ended.

45. A Place of Hiding by Elizabeth George

This is number 12 in the Lynley / Havers series, but disappointingly, Havers is no where to be found, and Lynley only pops in for a minute. Instead, Elizabeth George has used Deborah St. James as the lead character in this one. This must be the book where Lois (avaland) threw up her hands and said “I’m done”. Deborah is the most annoying character, and in small doses I can tolerate her, but this was above and beyond. The mystery itself is pretty good. It takes place on the island of Guernsey, where Guy Brouard, a wealthy man on the island, has been murdered. Deborah and her husband Simon become involved when an old friend of Deborah’s, from her three years in California, is accused of the murder. The woman’s brother comes to England to ask for their help in proving her innocence. There are several possible suspects to pull you along through the novel. There are so many issues with the believability factor, however. Why would the police let this woman run around trying to find evidence to prove her friend innocent. I’m glad to see that Deborah’s name isn’t mentioned in the book description of the next in the series.

>80 NanaCC: This must be the book where Lois (avaland) threw up her hands and said “I’m done”.

This made me laugh! I've only read the first book in this series, but loved the TV adaptations. I might read more someday but then again, I just bought a bunch of Ruth Galloways. I bought only four initially, but since I like them and since all but the most recent are $2.99 on Kindle, I gave in to temptation. So I really should read those and the Sandhamn mysteries, also a recent purchase. So many books, as they say.

>81 lauralkeet: I love both of those series, Laura. And I really like the Lynley / Havers series. This book just had way too much of the character we all seem to dislike.

You all seem to know so many series I don't! Can any one of suggest a place to start on these? I have read as a dilettante in this genre, and it appears I have missed so much that is good.

>83 sallypursell: What kind of a setting do you think you'd like? Amateur sleuth or police detective? Male or female protagonist? Lots of personal life detail in your characters, or "just the facts" kind of story line?

>83 sallypursell:, >84 laytonwoman3rd: Sally, Linda has put it perfectly. There are so many different kinds. I personally like all of them, but other people prefer “cosy” mysteries over the more graphic ones, and visa versa. Before I joined LT, I only had a handful or two series that I followed. After suggestions from people here, my list has grown to over 50. That’s a guess, but it wouldn’t surprise me.

>84 laytonwoman3rd: >85 NanaCC: I think I like them all. I don't have a preference on gender, both types of detectives, personal life is a plus, but "just the facts" is okay, too.

Really, there haven't been many mysteries or detective stories that I have disliked.

>86 sallypursell: One of my favorites has been the Judge Deborah Knott series, by Margaret Maron. The first title is The Bootlegger's Daughter. Those are set mostly in North Carolina. I also enjoy Maron's other series, featuring Sigrid Harald, a NYC police detective. One Coffee With is the first. Two very different protagonists, and quite different sorts of stories, as well.

If you like Victorian, Charles Finch's series with Sir Charles Lenox is very good, beginning with A Beautiful Blue Death.

How about Australia in the 1920's? Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series is lots of fun. And of course, there are Sue Grafton's alphabet series, if you haven't read those---very easy to know where to start and what one comes next in that one!

Linda’s suggestions are great. I also love the Dublin Murder Squad mysteries by Tana French. The first one is called In the Woods. Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series is really good. The first book is called Still Life. There are so many choices. If you haven’t read any of the ones listed, you have a lot of fun reading ahead of you.

And, if you hang around long enough, you wind up constantly adding more. Just looking at Linda’s suggestions, I’ve added the Kerry Greenwood series to my wishlist. I haven’t read that one.

>88 NanaCC: Sorry Colleen to possibly add to your list but Kerry Greenwood also has a series set in modern day Melbourne featuring baker Corinna Chapman. They're a bit quirky and lots of fun. The good news is there's only seven of them.

>89 rhian_of_oz: :-) The more the merrier, Rhian.

>89 rhian_of_oz: Kerry Greenwood has written a truckload of books aside from Phryne and Corinna too: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/g/kerry-greenwood/

I’m drowning in suggestions. :-) Such a great problem to have.

This is why LibraryThing is responsible for so many endless TBR lists! You have all just added to mine.

>87 laytonwoman3rd: >88 NanaCC: >89 rhian_of_oz: and so on.... Thank you all so much! I can't wait to start on these. I am familiar with Phryne Fisher, a little, I can't remember why. I'll be looking for these at my local library, to start with. There is a municipal library cooperative I have membership to, and that means I am likely to find them.

The enormity of my TBR pile already may slow me down, but not for long.

46. One Corpse Too Many by Ellis Peters

This is the second book in the Chronicles of Brother Cadfael series. It is the summer of 1138, and war is beginning in the town of Shrewsbury between the forces of the Empress Maud and her cousin King Stephen. When the battle is finished, the prior of the abbey puts Brother Cadfael in charge of burying the ninety-four defenders of the castle who had been hanged. He soon discovers there is one extra body, that of a young man who had been murdered. And so the story begins.

I’m enjoying this series, which was introduced to me by Meredith (mabith).

47. Monk’s Hood by Ellis Peters

The third book in the Chronicles of Brother Cadfael series takes place in the weeks before Christmas in 1138. A man has turned his estate over to the monks, in exchange for the monks caring for him and his wife for the rest of their lives. They are living in a cottage belonging to the abbey, when one of Brother Cadfael’s herbal ointments is used to poison this Gervase Bonel. The sheriff sets his sights on Bonel’s fifteen year old stepson. Cadfael is not one to jump to conclusions, and he sets out to find the truth. As with the last book, a couple of new recurring characters are added to the series. This book also fills in more detail about Cadfael’s past.

I have jury duty tomorrow, and I’m trying to decide whether to read the next book in the series, Saint Peter’s Fair, or Mrs. Tim Carries On by D. E. Stevenson. I have both on my Kindle and I’ll see what my mood is when I get there.

I had jury duty yesterday, which allowed me to finish the third Ruth Galloway!

>97 lauralkeet: That’s great, Laura. I had listened to the first six. The reader was perfect. I read paper copies of seven and eight. I think that audible didn’t have them on audio at the time. I just checked and they still don’t. They had changed the reader for the sixth and seventh and I think people didn’t take to her. The next ones available have gone back to the original reader. Anyway, I’m hoping that I get to read tomorrow. :-)

Well, when I did my check in last night to see if I needed to report for jury duty, I was told that we were not needed. Now, I guess I’ll have to do some house cleaning before I get to read. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do itself. ;-)

>99 NanaCC: hmm, a mixed blessing I guess.

>80 NanaCC: 😂😂😂😂 Could be.... There just are so many choices these days. It would have been nice to see Ms Havers running the place, you know?

>101 avaland: I’ve loved the couple of books where she took the lead, Lois. And from the blurbs on a few of the books coming up, she’s back in full force. I love her character. 😄

48. Saint Peter’s Fair by Ellis Peters

This is the fourth book in the Brother Cadfael series. It is the summer of 1139, there is a fair coming to Shrewsbury. The new abbot wants everything to run smoothly, and of course it doesn’t. A wealthy merchant is found dead in the river. Brother Cadfael and his friend Hugh Beringar, the deputy sheriff, must find the killer. Civil War between King Stephen and the Empress Maud may have something to do with it. I’m enjoying this series. Now I need to stop myself from zipping through them.

>81 lauralkeet: When I read your thoughts about this one I sort of had deja-vu and went back to see my rating of the novel. 1/5 stars. So I do share your disappointment. For me, it was the first I read in the series. And the last one, obviously.

>104 OscarWilde87: Oh, my. Well you really should read a series like that from the beginning. A Place of Hiding is the only one so far that I found to be a big disappointment. And it was because she chose to make the whole book about her least likable characters.

>105 NanaCC: True that. I got the book as a present and hadn't known it was a series before I started reading...and I always finish a book.

>106 OscarWilde87: maybe some day you’ll try the series again from the beginning. And then skip that one, because we know it’s bad...😄

I read the first Ruth Galloway novel several years ago and somehow didn't get back to it. I got caught up in reading Katy Munger's Casey Jones series, which is about to get a new addition, and Ellen Crosby's wine-themed series. Along with other like SJ Rozan's Lydia Chin series and HPR's standalone. I've been waiting eagerly for Julia's and Debs' next entries too. Thanks for the reminder to revisit Ruth while I'm waiting!

>108 Jim53: Ruth has a lot of love on LT, Jim. I hope you enjoy her too. I’m going to check out the series you’ve listed.

49. Garden of Lamentations by Deborah Crombie

This book is 17th in the Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James series, and the last to be published to date. I will need to wait until October for the next one.

After the cliff hanger ending of the last book, I was planning to wait to read this one, but my curiosity got the better of me. Kincaid has questions about the death of an undercover special branch cop. The death had been listed as a suicide but he doesn’t believe it. His former boss asks to meet with him in a pub that is not one of the usual haunts of the police force. There, he tells Kincaid that he had transferred him to his new assignment to keep him and his family safe. Shortly after the meeting breaks up, Kincaid finds out that his friend was attacked as he walked home. As Kincaid investigates, he finds that he is delving into dangerous territory that goes deep into the police force, and he’s not sure who he can trust. Gemma has been assigned to a case where a young woman’s body has been found in a gated garden. The garden is only accessible through the houses surrounding it, or through a locked gate. As usual, this was an entertaining read. I’m sorry that I’m caught up, as I now need to wait for the next installment.

>110 NanaCC: That's a great title on that book, Colleen, and it sounds fascinating.

>111 sallypursell: I love this series, but they do have to be read in order. Relationships develop, and some plot lines continue from one book to the next. This book was #17, and it was very good. It has been a solid series, with few missteps. The first book was called A Share in Death.

>112 NanaCC: Colleen, have you read the Flavia de Luce mysteries, by Alan Bradley? The first one was The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. A thoroughly original detective there, a child. Thank you for the information on the Deborah Crombie series.

>113 sallypursell: I’ve read all of the Flavia de Luce series, Sally. They are delightful.

I’m still listening to Milkman, but my listening time is limited right now. I’ve been spending a lot of time with grandchildren, and definitely can’t listen to that one while they’re around. My reading book is a kindle version of Elizabeth George’s With No One as Witness. It is long at close to 800 pages. I’ve been redoing our bedroom the past two weeks. We moved the furniture out. I painted the room, and then had the old carpet removed. We had a wood floor installed, then moved all of the furniture back. I’m exhausted! 😄 My hubby is now in Florida on vacation, and I’m spending more time with granddaughter number three who will be leaving for college next week. To top it off, I just got notice that my request for Atkinson’s Big Sky is ready for me at the library. Life is good....as long as I don’t watch the news.

Ooh, Big Sky. You'll enjoy that one! It's nice that you're getting some dedicated time with your granddaughter before she leaves.

>115 NanaCC: I'm sure that you're enjoying your newly redecorated room, despite the exhaustion! I just finished painting the walls of my daughter's bedroom. I still need to paint all the trim. Since she's now off at university, we both decided to redo her room so that it's no longer a childhood bedroom, and since she's no longer living here much of the year, to adapt it to also be a guest room.

>116 lauralkeet: I’m sure I will enjoy it, Laura. I love Atkinson.

>117 RidgewayGirl: When the kids start leaving the house, it is an emotional roller coaster. Or that was how it was for me. But it is a great time to do some redecorating. The trim is the worst for me now. Getting down on the floor (well really getting back up from the floor) can be harder than I’d like it to be. When I was younger, I could do a room pretty fast, and trim was my favorite part. I like painting with a brush vs. the roller. It is nice having it done. I’ve wanted to get rid of the carpet for years. And I wanted a new bed. I splurged, and bought one of the Sleep Number beds. I’m very happy that I did.

Hooray for a new bedroom, Colleen. I understand about getting up from the floor!

Enjoy Big Sky - I was not disappointed.

>119 BLBera: All I can say, Beth, is that getting old is not for sissies. 😄

I hope to start Big Sky this weekend.

50. With No One As Witness by Elizabeth George

This is the 13th book in the Lynley/Havers series, and I thought it was a page turner. It kept me up into the wee hours of the morning several nights. It’s over 700 pages, but that definitely didn’t bother me. There is a serial killer on the loose, killing and mutilating young boys. Lynley and Havers are desperately searching for the killer, while trying to keep their boss, Hillier, out of the way. He wants to have a journalist follow the team around, and you just know that isn’t going to end well.

I’d love to plunge on into the next book, but my request for Big Sky, Kate Atkinson’s new book, just came in. I’ll start that one tonight.

I should definitely try to catch up on the Deborah Crombie series. I really enjoyed the ones I read.

Hope you enjoy Big Sky, I loved it. I've always been a fan of Jackson Brodie.

Congratulations on your decorating achievement. I got as far as choosing the paint colour 'way back in March… then my Australian friend's visit, spring gardening, summer heat, happened! Excuses, excuses.

And here I thought I was the only one who spent a lifetime painting Colleen lol. When I moved into this house I didn't have to do a thing since the previous owner had gutted it and everything was like new. I was ecstatic because I knew I wouldn't have wanted to hire someone to do the painting. And yes, growing old is not for sissies.

I also loved Big Sky.

>122 VivienneR: I think you’d enjoy the Crombies, Vivienne.. I really enjoyed the previous Jackson Brodies so I’m pretty sure this one will be a hit too.

>123 brenzi: I still have so much more I want to do in the house, Bonnie, but I need to hire someone to paint my downstairs. I have a cathedral ceiling in the living room, and it needs someone with scaffolding. My kitchen cabinets could also use replacing. I’ve been saying that for over a year though, so who knows. ;-)

I’m a bit behind on reading, as well as posting.

I have about an hour left in Milkman by Anna Burns, which I will probably finish tomorrow.

I’m about two thirds done reading Big Sky by Kate Atkinson. Fortunately, I had put myself back on the hold list, because I was able to renew it today.

I’m behind on reading, but have had other fun things going on. Last Wednesday, my daughter in Massachusetts took the train down to New York City, where I met her to see the matinee of Oklahoma. It was very good, but definitely not the Oklahoma of the past. The script was the same, and the songs were the same, but it was a much darker interpretation of the play. I enjoyed it. We then met my other daughter and one of my granddaughters for dinner, followed by the award winning Hadestown. The show was fabulous. I loved everything about it. Fortunately, we had purchased our tickets the night before the Tony awards, as I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t be able to get them at a decent price now. The next day I drove my daughter back to Massachusetts and spent the weekend there enjoying two of my grandchildren. I didn’t have enough left of Milkman for my journey home, so downloaded The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths.

I hope to have some books to report tomorrow or Thursday. ;-)

I've heard the Oklahoma revival is different but excellent in its own way. I'm glad you enjoyed both shows. I'm glad you enjoyed so much "daughter time" as well!

>126 lauralkeet: The four of us have been doing dinner and a show once a year for a few years. My MA daughter wanted to see Oklahoma and my other daughter and granddaughter had already seen it. So I was ready and willing. Who wouldn’t be?!?! It only takes me a little over an hour to drive into the city if I time it right. I like to know exactly where I’m going, so that means I need to plan. I’m not a city girl, but not afraid to drive there.

51. Big Sky by Kate Atkinson

This is book five in the Jackson Brodie series. It has been about nine years, I think, since the previous book in the series was written. I’m not sure if everyone was like me and had assumed Atkinson was done writing this series because of the long gap, but I’m glad she did this one. As usual, she has written great characters, witty dialogue, and a good story. This story deals with human trafficking, and very wealthy men are involved. It seemed quite timely with the arrest of Jeffrey Epstein happening so recently.

This is a really good series, starting with the first book Case Histories.

52. Milkman by Anna Burns, narrated by Brid Brennan

Winner of The Man Booker Prize 2018, and shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019, this book is very original in the way it is written. The book is narrated in first person by an unnamed girl of 18 years of age. No names are used, rather a person’s place in the history of the story are used instead. For example she talks about ‘first sister’, the ‘wee ones’ (her younger sisters), ‘first brother-in-law’, ‘Somebody McSomebody’, the ‘real milkman’ vs ‘the Milkman’ (the guy who is stalking her), ‘maybe boyfriend’, and she herself is ‘middle sister’. The time is the 1970’s during the Troubles in Ireland, and takes place in Belfast, although that name is never used. Gossip and innuendos are rampant and dangerous. Violence is threatened constantly, but there is some humor as well. I really think that the audio version is the way to go for this powerful book. It was wonderfully done, as the narrator captures the voice of ‘middle sister’ just as I would expect to hear her....

53. The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Jane McDowell

Book number nine in the Ruth Galloway series deals with homeless people living in the underground tunnels under Norwich. Some bones are found, and Ruth determines that they are not ancient, but more recent, and they become part of a murder investigation. A woman who has been living rough is reported missing. Two homeless men are found stabbed to death. I want to rush on to the next book in the series, but I’ll try to be patient for a little while. I’ve only got two left. Although I think I saw that a new one is scheduled for early next year. (I hope that isn’t wishful thinking).

Couldn't agree with you more about the audio version of Milkman Colleen. Really well done I thought.

And yay for Big Sky. And also for girlfriend time. Sounds like so much fun.

>131 brenzi: I am really lucky to be able to spend quality time with my daughters. And even though we don’t get to spend as much time as we used to, with my grandchildren, as well. College, school, and distance...I take whatever time I can get. ;-)

>128 NanaCC: I'm so glad Kate Atkinson returned to Jackson Brodie and I really enjoyed Big Sky too. I'm hoping to read the series again from the beginning but you know how the shiny new books attract attention.

>129 NanaCC: Excellent review of Milkman. I read the print version but have since acquired the audiobook as well. I've put off listening to it to let some time elapse between print and audio but after reading your review I'll move it up. The story is still vivid in my mind which says a lot for the quality of Burns' writing.

>130 NanaCC: You are a couple of books ahead of me in Griffiths' series. At halfway through The Ghost Fields you will understand that I'm concerned about Cloughie. (BTW do you know how that name is pronounced? I haven't come across it before. Cluff, Clow... ??)

Glad you had a good time with your daughters and grandchildren.

>133 VivienneR: In the audio version, they are pronouncing it Cluff. When exasperated, Nelson might call him Cluffy.

I think you will find the audio version of Milkman quite compelling. I thought the reader’s voice was perfect for the book.

And shiny new books...I just put my name on the list for Louise Penny’s new one. I took Big Sky back to the library this morning, and asked if they were getting A Better Man in soon. She put my name on the list. I’m eighth in line, but they are getting two copies, so it shouldn’t take too long.

I meant to add that I wasn’t able to see the new book online. If I hadn’t gone into the library, I wouldn’t have known that they already have a waiting list.

>134 NanaCC: Ah, thank you for that. My eyes hover over the name every time I come to it. I have relatives with a similar name but different pronunciation.

I think you'll get A Better Man before me (as usual).

Thanks for the reminder about A Better Man. I jumped over to my library's site and put in my hold--I'm number 143. But I'm only number 7 for The Murder List.

>135 VivienneR: I think that is why I enjoy audiobooks, Vivienne. Some of the first books I listened to were the Number One Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. Hearing the reader pronounce the names I was looking at was very helpful.

>136 Jim53: I stumbled on the release date for A Better Man by accident, Jim. So I’m happy to help. ;-) I haven’t heard of The Murder List. I’ll check it out. Is it part of a series?

***The pop-up book descriptions are nice, but on my iPad they don’t go away so that I can see what I’m typing. I’ll have to disable them, but I wish they would work correctly on the iPad. I think they are a nice feature.

>125 NanaCC: This sounds like a lot of fun, Colleen.

I also loved Big Sky.

>138 BLBera: The plays were terrific, Beth. Oklahoma was very different, but good. And, Hadestown was amazing. I’m still thinking about it. I highly recommend it, if it comes near you.

Glad you had a great time in NY with the family. I'm getting itchy for another NYC trip (which always includes a play or musical (although once we skipped it and went the Blue Note instead).

Great review of Milkman. I'll probably be the last CRer to finally get to it, but I'll get there in the end!

>140 avaland: There are several plays or musicals that I’d like to see, Lois. Hadestown was my granddaughter’s pick, and she couldn’t have picked better. It got its start in Vermont. Anaïs Mitchell wrote the music and lyrics. It’s based upon the Greek myth with Orpheus, Eurydice, Persephone, Hades, Hermès, with the Fates and the chorus. The cast and the music were fabulous. There is one song called Why We Build the Wall that was so powerful. And in light of where we are today, it was so surprising to find out that she wrote that song long before the 2016 election.

>141 AlisonY: I’ll be looking for your review of Milkman when you get to it Alison. It’s definitely worth reading. I don’t know if you ever do audio, but I’m glad that was the way I went.

>137 NanaCC: Have you noted this issue in the Bug Collectors thread, Colleen? Maybe Tim and company could modify the feature somehow so that the pop-up works properly with the Ipad.

>144 laytonwoman3rd: I think I’ve seen the issue on a thread that was listing improvements they are making, and ones they are fixing. I’ve seen other people complaining about the same thing.

**I don’t think I see the issue under bug collectors. I’ll mention it there just in case.

>145 NanaCC: The huge problem caused by the hack may have slowed up work on the pop-up. I hope the issue has been resolved.

I just saw a response to my question that said there shouldn’t be pop-ups for iPads at all. :-(

I’m reading an Elizabeth George Lynley mystery as my kindle book right now. I just checked my library site and see that I’ve moved up to number 6 on the hold list for A Better Man. I was almost ready to use one of my Audible credits for the audio version, but I’ll wait for the book instead. Patience isn’t always one of my better traits. ;-)

>148 NanaCC: I'm pretty high up on my library's list for A Better Man too, Colleen. I'm away on vacation at the moment, so I was a little worried I'd receive the "your book is ready for pickup" notice while I'm away. Then my hubs pointed out that even if that happened, we would be back within the 10-day pickup window. And the reality is, our library system moves rather slowly and may not even have the book ready for distribution until after the holiday weekend anyway. *whew*

Hi. Just waving hello. Agree with you about Milkman on audio, very well done. But also I think if I reread in text, I think it will add a lot.

>149 lauralkeet: Enjoy your vacation Laura. You are probably right about the holiday weekend, and a ten day pickup time is really good. Mine is much quicker. How long will you be gone?

>150 dchaikin: Hi Dan. Waving back.... I think that Milkman is worth a reread.

>151 NanaCC: we'll be home on Sept 7, Colleen. And I'm not sure with the pickup window, whether that's measured in calendar days or days-the-library-is-actually-open. The branch is always closed Saturdays and Sundays (don't get me started on library funding issues), and they'll be closed this Friday & Monday for the holiday. Either way, I should be fine, especially since I haven't received any notices yet.

>143 NanaCC: I've never tried an audiobook to be honest. I was wondering one day whether I could manage to listen to one while I'm running, but I'm not sure if I would concentrate properly. Only one way to find out I guess!

>152 lauralkeet: I don’t think I’d worry about it, Laura. It sounds like you have plenty of time. Just enjoy the vacation.

>153 AlisonY: I know that several of my friends who run do listen to books, Alison. I find that some books work better for me as an audiobook than others. I usually can’t do non-fiction, as I’d want to be looking things up. I listen while I walk, or while knitting or doing certain housework chores. If you need to be listening to something which will keep you pumped while you are running, books probably wouldn’t be the way to go.

>153 AlisonY: >154 NanaCC: For me, personally, audiobooks don’t work while running or any higher intensity exercise. I like walking with an audiobook.

>155 dchaikin: I am the same, Dan. There are certain books that don’t work in the car for me as well.

>154 NanaCC: I can't do audiobooks at all, but I like podcasts for my power walks.

>157 lisapeet: I know that audiobooks don’t work for everyone. I do listen to podcasts occasionally in the car. If I’m not alone in the car, podcasts are something we enjoy. For me, a good audiobook helps make a long car ride seem shorter. When I drive alone to my daughters’ houses in CT and MA, I feel like they are a must. ;-)

>158 NanaCC: My issue is that I lose track of audio so easily—I'm always having to do that little rewind on podcasts because I zone out and miss a few seconds. I do the same for written text, probably, but don't notice because it's easier to go back and reread a sentence. It's a wonder I can function at all...

>159 lisapeet: ;-) I feel that way every day, I think.

>159 lisapeet: - happens in audio and text for me. I spend a lot of time re-reading the last couple paragraphs. On audio I just have to have some tolerance for missing some things and accepting that to really get the book’s details, I’ll have to read. If the language is too precise and subtle, I can’t do it on audio. Occasionally I can rewind*several minutes and not recognize anything. I kind of amaze myself. Where was my mind? But it’s not as bad as that all sounds. Audio is a different experience. And sometimes I do get a lot more from listening than from reading. I appreciate the story telling element more out loud, read by a storyteller, than on text. But it’s imperfect for me.

*odd word for an audiobook on my phone

>161 dchaikin: ”*odd word for an audiobook on my phone”

But it works, Dan. I just do the 30 seconds back if I need to, or I can hit it a couple of times if I’ve really zoned out. It sounds like rewinding to me. :-) That doesn’t usually happen though, unless I’m finding the book particularly boring. Plus I know that certain audiobooks are not good choices for my listening in the car.

54. Careless in Red by Elizabeth George

Number fifteen in the Lynley/ Havers series. Lynley has been on a solitary walking journey after the murder of his wife forty plus days ago. He hasn’t quite returned to the land of the living, when he discovers the body of a young man who has fallen from a cliff climb. He becomes involved in the investigation of the young man’s death. Havers is assigned to assist by their boss in the hope that she can convince Lynley to return to London and resume his position at Scotland Yard. There were lots of characters who were mostly unlikeable, but they moved the story along. As usual almost all of the subplots merged nicely at the end. Not my favorite of the series, but it was good.

Is the format of your spreadsheet for series somewhere I can see it? I think you mentioned it once before, but I didn't know I wanted it then!

>164 sallypursell: Sally, I used to use a website called FictFact, but they have since been forced to close.

Now, when someone reviews a book that is part of a series that I think I’ll be interested in I add the first book in the series to my wishlist here on Library Thing. In the comments field I add the name of the person who put the book on my wishlist. I use the Library Thing series list to see how many books there are in the series, plus as I mark them as read it checks them off the list. Some people have started creating their own spreadsheets. And, I believe someone might have mentioned that amazon has a series tracker. (It might have just been that they can remind when a new book comes out.) Either way, I miss FictFact. It was ideal. The problem now is that I often forget about a series that sounded interesting until someone mentions it or another book in the series.

****I just checked, and you mentioned using Amazon to track authors. I haven’t done that yet.

>165 NanaCC: That's a good idea adding a comment on how from LT brought a book to your attention. I tend to add ones that I like to a list on Amazon, but I never have the name of who's review prompted me to add it, and then when I finally get around to reading it I regret that I can't remember that.

Actually, my Amazon list is getting way out of control - it now takes several minutes to scroll down to the bottom of it. I should get back to adding them to a LT wish list as it's organised better.

>166 AlisonY: I’d never remember who I took the recommendation from, Alison, if I didn’t track it somehow. I do this for all types of books. But I do miss FictFact for the series tracking. I may try creating a spreadsheet, but who knows when I’ll find time to do that.

55. Mrs Tim Carries On by D. E. Stevenson

Dorothy Stevenson was a Scottish author, born in 1892. She wanted to go to university, but her parents were not supportive. She wrote her first novel in the 1920’s, and wrote a book a year until 1969. The first book to bring her success was Mrs Tim of the Regiment in 1932. I read that one several years ago and I’ve read quite a few of her other books since then. I loved the Mrs Buncle series. I finally snagged this book as a Kindle deal a little while ago. I forgot how enjoyable her books are. They are simple books that are full of humor. The Mrs Tim books are written as a diary and this one, written in 1941, is full of the war that is going on at the time. I will have to look for the next books in this series. There are several laugh out loud moments, and sometimes we just need that, don’t we?!?!

Hi Colleen, I have Mrs. Tim Of The Regiment and Miss Buncle's Book languishing on my Kindle.. I could use a laugh or two so maybe I'll read them. 😃

>169 brenzi: They are light reading, Bonnie. She had a way of commenting on people, time, and place in an amusing manner. I’ve read several of her books, and enjoyed them all.

>169 brenzi: I adored Miss Buncle's Book, and the sequels were fun if not quite as delightful as the first. I'm sure you'd have fun with them, Bonnie.

The Mrs Tim books sound like fun reading as well, Colleen.

>171 lauralkeet: I think I read the first Mrs Tim book just before I joined LT, Laura. I believe it was one of the first books I read on kindle. They aren’t easy to come by at a decent price, so I get them when I see a deal. That’s probably true of most of her books.

I see by the header you are reading Peter May's The Blackhouse. I really enjoyed that series, I hope you do too.

I picked up a couple of Elizabeth George books recently but I've seen all episodes of the Lynley/Havers tv series so I'll probably put them off for a while.

>173 VivienneR: You and Lois put the Peter May series on my radar, Vivienne, and I’m really enjoying the book. I also love the narrator’s accent in this audio version. Nice to know that he reads all of them. (I’m a sucker for a lovely accent).

I’ve recently watched all of the Lynley tv series, and I must say that after a certain book (I forget which one), the tv series was not following her books. They were original scripts based upon the Lynley/Havers characters. I’ll try to remember which book and update this post. I was really annoyed with the actors playing the parts. They looked nothing like their book descriptions.

**** I just checked, and A Traitor to Memory was the last one that was actually based upon one of the books. That was about half way through season 3. The book is number 11. I’m not sure how far you had read. I think the books are much better than the tv series, but that’s only an opinion.

Interesting comments on the Lynley TV series vs books. I've only read the first book, but have seen most or all of the series. So of course when I imagine Lynley and Havers, I imagine the actors.

>175 lauralkeet: hi, Laura. Your recent trip sounded lovely. I’m jealous. :-)

In the books, Lynley is described as fair with light hair. And Havers is described as dumpy. Overweight, and pretty much a slob. A good detective, but very unattractive. The tv characters just don’t look as I expected them to. It didn’t stop me from binge watching them recently.

>176 NanaCC: yes, we had a very nice trip, thanks Colleen. And wow, the TV characters couldn't be more different from the book!

>168 NanaCC: thanks for putting Dorothy Stevenson on my radar - I'd not heard of her before. I'm imagining something similar to Barbara Pym?

>177 lauralkeet: I really haven’t watched many tv series based upon books that I’ve read, but the casting on this one made me wonder why they went the way they did.

>178 AlisonY: I think you could put Stevenson’s books in the same class as Barbara Pym’s. They are entertaining, humorous, and usually have some little romance going on with some of the minor characters. If you like Barbara Pym, I think you’d enjoy D. E. Stevenson.

>179 NanaCC: If you like Barbara Pym, I think you'd enjoy D.E. Stevenson.

What!! And why am I not aware of this? I love Barbara Pym and in 2013 read all her novels in order of publication for a Virago thing. I know I have two of Stevenson's to get started with and then I'll have to find any others. Thanks for that Colleen.

>180 brenzi: Oh, I do hope you like them, Bonnie. Which ones do you have?

>180 brenzi: I see up above in >169 brenzi: the two that you mentioned. They are quite good. I hope you enjoy them.

FYI..Several of the D. E. Stevenson books are $3.99 on kindle right now.

56. The Blackhouse by Peter May, narrated by Peter Forbes

This is the first book in the Lewis trilogy, which had landed on my wishlist by way of a recommendation by Lois (avaland) and a push by Vivienne. A gruesome murder is discovered on the Isle of Lewis in the Scottish Outer Herbrides. Fin McCloud is a detective in Edinburgh investigating a similar murder, and having grown up on the Isle of Lewis, he is sent there to see if the two cases are linked. The story flashes back and forth between memories of his unhappy childhood on the island, and the present day investigation. The Lewis victim was a bully and just about everyone had a motive to want him dead. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the island and it’s people. The reader was perfect, and I look forward to the next book.

Hmmm well, somehow Colleen, all the Mrs. Tim books are now sitting on my Kindle. Oops.

>185 brenzi: Ha! But why am I not surprised?

>185 brenzi: I’m so sorry, Bonnie. :-) Those deals are really hard to pass by, aren’t they!?!?

>186 lauralkeet: I think you are partly to blame, Laura. ;-)

I just wanted to add that if it’s any consolation, I bought the Mrs Tim books that I didn’t already have as well.

>186 lauralkeet: Guilty as charged!

57. Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie

This book is part of the Hercule Poirot series. Caroline Crale went to prison for poisoning her husband, Amyas. She was sentenced to life in prison, but died several years after Her imprisonment. Before she died, she wrote a letter to her daughter who was only five at the time of the murder. The letter asks her daughter, who is now 21 and engaged to be married, to believe her when she says that she was completely innocent. The daughter goes to Poirot to ask him to prove her mother’s innocence. He agrees to look into it, and interviews the law enforcement people who were involved, as well as the five other people who were in the house at the time of the murder. As usual, there are lots of red herrings thrown about, but I did guess the result of this one well before the end.

Hi Collen - I also miss FictFact. :(

I loved the Miss Buncle books but haven't read the Mrs. Tim ones yet. I have the first one on my shelf, so one of these days...

I also want to read The Blackhouse; I've heard so many good things about it here on LT.

>190 BLBera: If you enjoyed Miss Buncle, Beth, I’m pretty sure Mrs Tim will be right up your alley. I really enjoyed The Blackhouse. I did the audio version, and I’m really glad I did. The reader’s accent was lovely. I almost downloaded the next book right away, but I have quite a few in the queue already.

58. Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce

In this charming story, Emmy Lake wants to do her bit during the Blitz in 1940’s London. She’s hoping to become a war corespondent and is delighted when she sees an advert for the perfect job as a typist for a big publication. She applies knowing that she will be close to the action, gaining experience to get to her dream job. She gets the job which turns out to be for the Women’s magazine under the publisher. She’s typing responses to people who write in to Mrs Bird looking for help. Not really what she was looking for. When she finds out that Mrs Bird won’t respond to women who write in about “unacceptable” things, she takes it upon herself to answer them. The story goes on from there, and is funny and often sad. Emmy also works for the Fire Brigade, which is a stressful job during the Blitz. I loved this book. If you are looking for something to make you smile, and maybe even to tear up a little, this is the book for you.

Edited to add, I forgot to mention that this book landed on my wishlist via Bonnie (brenzi) and Beth (BLBera). Thank you! I really enjoyed it.

It was a charming book wasn't it Colleen. But I was truly gutted by the storyline with her best friend and her fire brigade fiancé that I thought I'd choke. And I don't know how she got through that interview at the end with the owner of the paper. I'm so glad I read it.

>193 brenzi: Is anyone willing to tell me how to do the Spoiler effect?

>193 brenzi: It really was charming, Bonnie. And the part you mention really did me in. I gave the book to my daughter this weekend. I told her she’d love it.

>194 sallypursell: Sally I’ll try to find the link I used to figure out how to do the spoiler and other things.

>192 NanaCC: Add me to the fanlist for this book.

>194 sallypursell: You put "spoiler" (without the quotes) between triangular brackets at the start of what you want to hide and "/spoiler" in triangular brackets at the end.

>196 rhian_of_oz: I think Mrs Bird is getting a lot of love on LT.

FYI, I did go to Sally’s thread to tell her how to do the spoiler, but she had already found the link with the instructions. I wouldn’t want you to think I had ignored her.

>195 NanaCC: >197 rhian_of_oz: Thank you, generous ladies. I did find it on my own, but that doesn't negate your kindness and helpfulness.

>198 NanaCC: I should've thought to check Sally's thread before responding but I was so pleased to be able to help I just jumped right in. :-)

>200 rhian_of_oz: The more the merrier! ;-)

59. A Better Man by Louise Penny

This book is 15th in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. I finally got to the head of the waiting line at the library for this latest installment. There are changes in Gamache’s role at the Surete du Quebec, and changes in life plans for his daughter Annie and son-in-law Jean-Guy Beauvoir. A battered woman is missing, flood waters are rising, and emotions are high. And I can’t say more without spoiling a very good addition to the series. This is a series that I may reread at some point. I love the characters and the setting.

60. White Nights by Ann Cleeves

This is the second book in the Shetland Island series. White Nights refers to the time in midsummer when the sun never sets. A famous artist hosts a party at her gallery. Very few guests show up. A stranger comes in and while looking at a painting, begins to cry, and claims he doesn’t know who he is or why he’s there. The next morning he’s found hanging in a boat shed. Detective Jimmy Perez is sure this is murder. Another guest at the party is murdered, and Perez is convinced that the two are connected.

I enjoyed this book, and will continue reading the series. I recently binge watched all of the Shetland series. I’m not sure that it follows the books, but draws from them for the characters. I really enjoyed it.

>202 NanaCC: just started this one, NOT LOOKING!!!

ETA: I loved the Shetland series. The character development across the seasons was excellent, especially Tosh's sexual assault and her recovery.

>204 lauralkeet: I’m looking forward to your review of A Better Man, Laura. I was watching two of my grandchildren for a few days, and had lots of reading time while they were in school, so finished it pretty quickly. Truth be told, I had a hard time putting it down.

I agree with your assessment of the Shetland series. It was very well done. Will there be any more?

I think it’s time for a new thread.