I just can't believe October is now behind us and we're entering the final couple of months of 2024. (Note: I have not mentioned the 'C' word.) I did a bit better with reading last month than I did in September... 6 books read as opposed to '2' (still haven't quite recovered from that!) So, these are they.
60. Bookworm - Lucy Mangan. A fun book about the author's favourite books of her childhood in the 1980s. Not my generation but close to my daughters' so it was a nice trip down memory lane.
61. Two-Way Murder - E.C.R. Lorac
62. The Haunting of Aveline Jones - Phil Hickes
63. The Woods in Winter - Stella Gibbons
64. The Spy Coast - Tess Gerritsen
Maggie Bird lives quietly, running a chicken farm in a village on the coast of Maine. She hasn't always done that however: Maggie is a retired CIA agent. She's not alone, around her are a peer group of similarly retired operatives, so when a dead body is dumped on her drive one night she is not short of assistance. In fact, the police are more of a hindrance than a help but one, Police Chief, Jo Thibodeau, is doggedly determined to discover who this group are and why one of them was presented with a corpse. So the clue here is in the title, The 'Spy' Coast, but for some reason I still expected it to be more of a crime story than a 'spy' one. Naturally, it was the other way around, which would be quite obvious to all but me, but there you go... Anyway, as with all of Tess Gerritsen's books it was very well written, but I'm not a huge espionage story fan so I did struggle a little with it. Plus, it felt a bit similar to
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn, enough that it felt like I was almost rereading that, although there are quite a lot of differences. Anyone, who hasn't read the Raybourn would doubtless enjoy
The Spy Coast as it is a good book, but there is considerable use of flash-back scenes, so if that's not your bag, this might not be for you. I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads but if 3.5 was available, it would've got that.
65. Saving Missy - Beth Morrey.
Millicent 'Missy' Carmichael, 79, lives alone in a huge house in London. Hardly anyone she loves is around any more - husband, Leo, her son lives in Australia with his family and Missy does not get on well with her daughter who lives in Cambridge. It's a walk in the park that changes everything for her. She meets Angela and her young son, Otis, and then their friend, an older woman, Sylvie. It's not easy for Missy to let them into her life, she's prickly and a bit secretive, but they persist and eventually fostering a female dog, 'Bob', (you have to know your
Blackadder) brings about proper change. This was a delightful contemporary story, a bit heart-wrenching in parts, 'very' in a couple of others, have your hanky ready, but it's also funny and very true to life. There are flashbacks but they're not intrusive and 'fit', if you know what I mean. And it is beautifully written. My cousin passed this one on to me and I'm so glad as I absolutely loved it.
So that was my reading October. A nice mix of crime and creepiness, some good seasonal reading and an excellent contemporary novel. I'm a happy bunny.
At present I'm reading this:
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett is a fantasy novel that is also a crime story. It is weird. Even for me, Queen of the Weird, it is weird.
I'm also still reading this:
This one is a beautiful read so I'm taking my time reading about the ancient churches of the UK.
I hope you're all enjoying your autumn reading and keeping well?
15 comments:
You read a nice eclectic mix of genres in October, even though there were one or two which didn't really appeal to me.
I have read one or two of Tess Gerritsen's stand alone novels and a couple from the 'Rizzoli and Isles' series and I generally enjoyed her style of writing and gritty storylines. I have several of her paperbacks on my shelves which could do with curating and of course, reading! :)
I did use faithful FF to check out Beth Morrey's books and I quite like the sound of them, so have added them to my list, although I don't like the idea that all of her titles seem to have alternatives, depending on region I guess - very confusing and unnecessary?
Happy reading in November :)
I'm glad you had some good reads, Cath. Like Yvonne, I've read some Tess Gerritsen. I like the immediacy of her writing style, but I can see how flashbacks can detract from a book if they're not one's thing. I'm glad you fit a Lorac in; I like her work, and I'm happy that the British Library is bringing back her stories. Here's hoping for good November reading!
Both Bookworm and Saving Missy sound like ones I would really like, too. :D And I hope to read one of Lorac's mysteries this year...or maybe next. You know how it goes. Have a great week, Cath!
Hi Yvonne. Yes, I'm like you in that I enjoy an eclectic mix of books every month. Variety is the spice of life, as they say. :-)
I think I've read about 6 of Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles series and they're excellent. I can also recommend the TV series, which is a bit different to the books but thoroughly enjoyable Peter and I thought... we watched it through Covid if memory serves.
The Beth Morrey I think you might like and would be interested to hear your take on it. Yes, it seems books often have a British and American title, heaven knows why, it's quite daft.
Thanks for stopping by to comment, it's much appreciated. Have a good week! xx
Margot: Yes, I've read one or two Gerritsen standalones and about six... I just checked, it's eight... of her Rizzoli and Isles books, which I really like. The Spy Coast seems to be a bit of a departure for her, into espionage, and really, I think a lot of people would enjoy it.
Yes, I think Bookworm and Saving MIssy would be for you but I also think you would like Two-Way Murder and The Haunting of Aveline Jones. :-) Yes, make a plan to try something by Lorac, you won't be sorry.
You had a nice month of reading. I have a copy of The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen on the Kindle, and I think it will be a good read. I have read 5 of the Rizzoli and Isles series. Saving Missy by Beth Morrey also sounds worth seeking out.
A lovely selection, Cath. I think I'll get Saving Missy. I could do with a book like that at the moment.
Tracy: Funnily enough, while I was reading The Spy Coast I was thinking, 'Tracy would like this a lot more than I do'. And I really think you would.
Val: I hope you enjoy Saving Missy if you do decide to get it.
Nice mix, Cath. I don't seem to be able to finish much of anything in the last few weeks before starting something else that's caught my attention. I'm finally reading Yellowface but finding it to be a little disappointing because of all the negative comments the author makes regarding one side of the political spectrum. Seems to have become the fashionable thing to do, and it's always directed at the same side as if it's a noble, accepted approach to the world. I find it all kind of depressing and insulting. I do have the new Richard Osman book on hand as of this morning and looking forward to that one. Reading a couple of historical fiction ones, too, one of them called The Secret War of Julia Child and another focusing on the Cuban missle crisis of 1962. Keep turning those pages...hope you are well.
Sam: Thank you. My reading is definitely not going as well this year as previous years. Hardly surprising I suppose, given the circumstances, and I'm not concerned as I've still read plenty of books and some good ones at that.
I hope you enjoy the Richard Osman book, I've heard good things about it and will read it myself at some stage. I have emailed you - nice to see you around again.
Cath, I bought a copy of Saving Missy because I liked the cover so much. I hope I get to read it soon.
I hope you like it as much as I did, Tracy!
Post a Comment