March 2025 reading and Storygraph

Plantagenet on Audible 

It's a good adaptation but not for me at this time DNF

Wobble to death by MJ Trow

I had forgotten how good these books were. The detectives didnt turn up till a third of the way in but there is so much atmosphere and detail in the first third you almost don't notice, great interplay between two detectives, a cracking read 4🌟

The moving finger by Agatha Christie 

I read this many years ago and remember feeling cheated that Miss Marple only appears right at the end. Re reading it now I don't feel quite so cheated, the main narrator is likeable and the plot intriguing enough to hold its own till Miss Marple appears 

4 🌟

Alien planet by Adrian Tchaikovsky on Audible 

I did enjoy this, I loved the life forms on the planet the prison camp setting and the way the life forms interact with the humans  

The story did I feel drag slightly in places but was entertaining enough to keep me reading 3.5 🌟

The body in the Dales by JR Ellis

Interesting story line a bit of a riff on the locked room mystery, good local feeling and flavour 3.5 🌟

Murder at Greenwich Palace by Adele Jordan

It took me a while to get into this but that's often the way with series starters. However it was a cracking plot, well written with some interesting  characters and a good sense of place and time will definitely read more 4🌟

Thicker than water by JD Kirk

Loved this, such a good read. Enough humour (some quite dark) to keep the engagement up but it didn't feel forced, a mix of believable characters some sympathetic some not, great plot, just a cracking read  4🌟

The penultimate truth by Philip K Dick

Paused to allow me to focus on Kindle unlimited titles, resumed in April 2025

Monster from the abyss by Michael Coles

I'm giving this 2 stars because when the monster eventually appears there is some good action but way too much time is spent in (in my opinion) tedious scene setting, combined with characters I didn't actually like, they were so mean to the assistant! But the monster was good 2🌟

Occupied grave by AG Barnett

Enjoyable series starter, likeable characters. The plot felt a but disjointed dragged out a bit in the middle but then rushed at the end, still a nice read though 3.5🌟

Murder in the crypt by Irina Shapiro

Good series starter, a fair bit of scene setting and background but still entertaining. Likeable main characters 3.5 🌟

Puzzle of Nellie Bly by Kate Braithwaite

Enjoyable read, interesting dual person narrative, based on true events, I felt it did drag in places 3🌟

Dont Taco bout murder by Mona Marple

Enjoyable read, perhaps not quite as strong as some of the authors other series but still enjoyable 3.5 ⭐️

Self help on Audible by Ben H Winters

Entertaining but patchy story, great narration by Will Wheaton and Ron Perleman 3.5🌟

Seeds of murder by Rosie Sandler

I swithered between giving this 3 or 3.5, I did actually enjoy this story but I can see why there are some not so positive reviews, plot strands left hanging, a bit convoluted at the end but I did like the lead character and her dog so I'm going to give the rest of the series a go 3🌟

A matter of blood by CP Giuliani

Just not for me DNF

Maxwells house by MJ Trow

So dated, awful attitudes could not finish DNF

Return of the native by Thomas Hardy on audible

OK giving this a 4 purely for Alan Rickmans narration, I didn't gel with the story or characters but his voice kept me going on this book 4🌟

Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer

I did really enjoy this book, very likeable main characters enough twists but not too many, good sense of place and time 4🌟

Emerald coast murder by Christophe Villain

I swithered between a 3 and a 3.5 I mostly enjoyed this book, interesting character and setting but the plot got a bit too convoluted towards the end 3🌟

The girl in the window by Diana Wilkinson 

I did really enjoy this book and was on the verge of giving it a 4, but I felt the ending was a bit rushed and slightly too "pat" but having said that the story gripped me and I was always keen to get back to it 3.5🌟

The picture house murders by Fiona Veitch Smith

Solid plot, likeable characters but it dragged a bit for me 3🌟

Queens gold by Steven Veraapen

Just not for me, too much spying DNF

Magic movies and murder by Emily Fluke

Just not for me, dragged to much too many characters DNF

Ghosts of Mystic spring by Katie Forrest writing as Mona Marple

I really enjoyed this book but did have some reservations hence the 3.5 instead of a 4. Main reservation is the (what feels like) fat shaming of one of the main characters. It's not necessary and doesn't add to the story

But I did enjoy this and will continue with the series 3.5 🌟

Legacy by John Pilkington

I really enjoyed this, good tight plot, good sense of place and time, not too much or too little detail 4🌟

The lost hearts by MR James on Audible 

Cracking short read, great narration 4🌟

The tales of Max Carrados on Audible 

Dated but enjoyable mostly due to Stephen Frys narration 4🌟

Well a pretty successful month!! But I have been trying to use up as much of KU free trial as possible.  I think one of my charts is wrong (book source) may have to check on that! Ah I've figured it out and amended, I may be tagging too much 🤣🤣🤣🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ how unlike me 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤣🤣 I've found lots of good new series to follow up from KU  which is good. I've got it on flight mode so I can finish off what I have. Its been interesting but now I need to work on all the ones I have owned!

March furtle

So! I am still not stitching but still collecting needle minders 🤣🤣 but how cute are these!!!

We should all have a floral crown like foxy!

Couldn't resist this cherry blossom sashiko sampler from Japan crafts

And finally one last needle minder! What. Cute wee ghostie!

March seasons

So welcome March! This is the far left corner of the garden and neither of us can remember what the tree is 🤦‍♀️ once it's blooming again i can look it up

March has been quite warmer so far, still bitter days occasionally but yesterday all the children were playing outside 😊

You can just see a few blooms beginning on the tree, maybe we will soon find out what it is!

January

February 

March

 

February 2025 reading and storygraph

Silent knit deadly knit by Peggy Ehrhap

This was pleasant enough but not for me, I'm finding that I do like cosy mysteries but I'm only partial to some so this was DNF

Treasure Island on Audible

Absolutely cracking and faithful adaptation wonderful cast 4.5 🌟

Death in a scarlet gown by Lexie Conygham

This just dragged for me DNF 

The thirteen problems by Agatha Christie

I had forgotten just how much i adored these stories, Agatha Christie herself said that Miss Marple is very suited to the short story and she was absolutely right. Perfection 5🌟

The art of murder by Fiona Walker

Really didn't get into this at all, hated it DNF 

Arhkam County on Audible

Too many subplots too hard to follow DNF

My husband the murderer by Charlotte Barnes

I loved this book. A not unusual premise. Woman married to a serial killer hears his last Confessions, but Charlotte Barnes created such a complex heroine who I really engaged with and felt so much sympathy for 

The plot itself had a few good twists, some of which I saw coming but that didn't spoil the book for me. Loved it, I saw a few reviews saying the pace dragged I didn't feel that in the slightest 4 🌟

The Brampton witch murders by Ellis Blackwood

This was pleasant enough but had a mixed pace to it, I did find the lead characters a bit two dimensional 3🌟

Jamaica inn

I did enjoy this, great plot, attitudes very much of the time but great all round story telling with engaging characters 4🌟

Wake me after the apocalypse by Jordan Rivet

Really enjoyed this, well fleshed out believable characters, cracking plot, good pace, will definitely look at the rest of the series 4🌟

Birkett: five full cast BBC radio 4 crime dramas on Audible 

I did really enjoy this compilation well acted but the stories are reflective of the attitudes of the time 3.5 🌟

A fatal funeral by CD Couch

Just not for me. Really didn't like characters DNF

Broadland by David Blake 

I liked this enough to finish it but I did have some issues with it. The main characters felt a bit two dimensional and the "banter" between them irritated at times, maybe just not my cup of tea 3 🌟

The jungle book, the Mowgli stories by Rudyard Kipling on Audible 

Fantastic adaptation with a cracking set of Narrators, just sublime 4.5 🌟

The Antipope by Robert Rankin

Just not for me DNF

The hanging shed by Gordon Ferris

Very atmospheric story, captures post war Glasgow well. Well drawn characters with good chemistry between the two leads 4🌟

Alien out of the shadows on Audible 

Cracking story, pitched between Alien and Aliens.

Great cast. Lovely to hear Rutger Hauer and the actress who plays Ripley sounds uncannily like Sigourney Weaver 4🌟

River of eternity by Bruce Balfour

Just not for me DNF

Body in the library by Agatha Christie 

Perfect, Jane Marple at her best ❤️ good solid story, perfectly plotted 4.5 🌟

Slay bells ring by Katie Forrest writing as Mona Marple 

I love this series, so well written it could become saccharine but always manages to miss that, great fun read and I love the story arc developing 4🌟

Margate Murders on Audible 

Good story premise, excellent narration but a very frustrating ending, a twist thrown in at the end which was unnecessary 3.5 🌟

Lost claus by Katie Forrest writing as Mona Marple

I'm loving this series, well plotted, cosy but not saccarine. Loveable characters. This is a great addition to the series, am loving the story arc 4 🌟

A body on the flats by Max Manning

Pretty good police procedural. Fairly standard plot and characters but with good enough pace to keep the interest up, nice twist at the end 3.5 🌟

I Robot by Isaac Asimov

I first read this over 40 years ago as a teenager, it made a huge impression on me, with hope for the future 🤦‍♀️ coming back to it now in 2025 is quite surreal. The stories still hold up, Asimov was a master storyteller and Susan Calvin was a role model for me as a teenager of what women could achieve (ironic given Asimovs own problematic behaviour with women) 
But it still gives me hope reading this, we will have to wait and see if we can live up to this promise 4.5 🌟

Murder most foul by Theo Harris

Pleasant book, a bit slow to get going but it's a series starter so there is the expected scene setting. Reasonable ending maybe slight pat? But enjoyable enough 3🌟

1984 by George Orwell on Audible 

Incredible adaptation. Andrew Garfield is perfect as Winston. It was quite emotional listening to this as our very own 1984 is playing out in 2025, I first read to this in the 70s, I can remember the impression it made on me then, it made quite a different impression now, Incredible story 4.5 🌟

Childhoods end by Arthur C Clark on BBC Sounds 

Good adaptation great set of narrators 4🌟

So February was quite the month! Still getting the most out of my KU subscription which runs out end of this month

Let's see what Storygraph says about it all!

So pretty successful I think, more series to follow up than series not to follow up which is good that's the main reason I wanted the trial to find new authors to read. A very good month 😊 I'm becoming more strict about DNF ing a book which is good, no point in slogging on if its not working out. 

February furtle

Victoria Sampler has a huge place in my heart, some of my fondest memories of stitching with chums stem from VS. There was an embroidery shop/workshop in Aberdeenshire called Gamrie classics they were in a huge lodge in the coastal countryside. The classes were up in the attic with beautiful views across the coast. I went there several times for classes with some very dear friends this is where I first came across Victoria Sampler, Gamrie classics had all the accessory packs and patterns, I've made many and they all still hang in my house. It was always such a treat to go, the owners were lovely the husband would make a lovely lunch for us and we could sit at a huge dining table with linen napkins for soup and sandwiches all home made, as this was the 80s there was no Internet so the husband would run up to the attic where the classes were and tell us the football score if Aberdeen was playing 🤣🤣 it was a different time, we've been through so much me and those chums.

So VS is very special,  she is winding down a bit so when I saw these two charts and the accessory pack I had to have them, one last thing from VS.

These will be first on my list when I'm able to sew again 😊

I really can't justify buying any more kits or patterns! So I decided to buy some needle minders instead, I do love these, want to make some nice pouches for my embroidery with some of my lovely Japanese fabrics and have a needle minder for each project 

February look back

I'm now able to add a few more steps in when I go to the main bathroom or landing for my walks, so i pop into scoobs bedroom to add some more in 😊 he likes to show me that his Donkey Cookie is well looked after 🤣

 Well I am trying to overcome my shower anxiety, Robin suggested just sitting in the water for a minute no washing I think it's worked. Only done it once but it was OK, 🤞🤞

So sad the lovely lady who makes these prints passed away, I was wanting to buy more so hot these for the bungalow 😊 the bats will remind us of our lovely walks to see the bats up here

I have developed a taste for these my indulgence 😊

I was the first finisher for the selkies chilly challenge 🎉🎉

Woolly Bob has been keeping me company on my visits to the landing 😊

Some valentines day chilly challenge fun 🤣

Does GD come with you on your walks?? Silly question 🤣🤣

He's always there ❤️

Saying hello to cookie!

All the horses/donkeys are there! On one of Mark's cycle rides 😊

This just took my heart ❤️  a lovely chum has been writing to me using lovely notepaper, on a visit to her nephew she got him to write to me on his lovely polar bear notelets 💕💕

Postcard from her visit to Tirzah Garwood exhibition 

Fabric she is using for seeing box

So! How has February been? I'm keeping a short note of where I am every month this is where we are now:

January - Start walk to landing x2 no sit

January -End walk to landing x4 sit x2

February -End landing sit x3, sewing room x1, 15 mins, face wash, shower x1 week