April 2025 reading and storygraph

The penultimate truth by Philip K Dick

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

I'm giving this a four because it took me about 30% of the book to really get into it but once I did I was hooked

What an incredible story PDK really was so far ahead of his time this could have been written today. It could read as current affairs and is a stark sobering read in 2025 4🌟

The Nostradamus prophecies by Mario Reading

Just not for me, not engaging DNF

The librarian of the haunted library by Brian Yansky

Just not for me. Clunky first person narrative DNF

The child by Sebastian Fitzek on Audible 

Good story and narration but far too spooky for me DNF

The last of days by PC Doherty 

Really enjoyed this, not the usual PC Doherty story this is more factually based. Narrated from an interesting and unusual perspective. Good narration 3.5 🌟

A killer welcome by Dionne Lister

Not for me, the rendering of the Irish accent was excruciating DNF

The secrets of Mystic springs by Mona Marple

I find this series frustrating, I really dislike one of the main characters, vain and self obsessed and there is way too much body shaming for my liking, but there was a story arc twist at the end which makes me want to read the next one, we shall see 2.5 🌟

Princess of Egypt by Nathaniel Burns

Just not for me, bit dull DNF

The turning of our bones by Ed James

Cracker of a book, plot kept me gripped, good characterisation, twist but not too many, great

 sense of place 4 🌟

The inheritors of Moonlyght tower by JC Briggs

Giving this a 4 because I couldn't put it down. A genuine gothic tale, sad, tense, emotional, dark and bleak.
There were twists and turns I genuinely did not see coming, heartbreaking at times 4🌟

A river of retribution by Clive Ridgway

Just not for me DNF

When the storm dies by Jack Cartwright 

I loved this book, Incredible plot, I loved the characters and the back story was so emotional (wait till the end) 4 🌟

The Witching pool by John Pilkington

I do like this series but this is not the best of it, good plot but uneven in parts 3 🌟

The orphanage by the lake by Daniel G Miller

Just not for me DNF 

The snow killer by Ross Greenwood

I did enjoy this book although I did feel it dragged slightly in the middle. It was a tough story to read at times but the characters were well drawn. It had a really good ending 3.5 🌟

The butchers of Berlin by Chris Petit on Audible

It wasnt so much the story line which is very much up my street but I just couldn't take to this 🤷‍♀️ DNF 

The curse of Mystic springs by Katie Forrest writing as Mona Marple

This was better than the second in the series, a lot less body shaming. The ending was predictable but the story and the series story arc clipped along nicely 3 🌟

The birthday mystery by Faith Martin

I'm not quite sure about this if I like it or not. The main character was OK the plot was a bit thin but no wafer thin I swithered about giving this 2.5 but there was enough for me to give it a 3 I think 3🌟

The Elementals by Michael McDowell on Audible

Just not for me just now, I liked the Narrators voice but there was a slight "tinniness" to the audio DNF 

The santa claus of Mystic springs by Katie Forrest writing as Mona Marple

OK I liked this one better than the second in the series (this is the 4th) the plot was a bit thin but the back story helped keep the interest 3🌟

 Deliverance by John Pilkington 

This is the last in the series and a fitting end. I enjoyed this series, solid plots good characters nice sense of place and time 3.5 🌟

Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge

I think I liked this book but I did have some issues with it. The plot took a long time to pick up pace but was satisfying enough when it did
A lot of the characters were a bit flimsy but maybe it gets better as the series goes on 3🌟

The plague charmers by Karen Maitland on Audible 

Carried over to May

A murder is announced by Agatha Christie 

Perfect Christie, Miss Marple at her best 5🌟 

The Christian Watt papers by Christian Watt 

I come from the same place as the author of this autobiography so perhaps it is more meaningful to me for that. It's an incredible insight into the lives of the people of the times and for me I can see and feel the characters and the personalities shining through many of the ways of thinking are still very current 

She lived a hard but incredible life 4.5 🌟

The hurricanes harvest by Flynn Cooley

This was OK fairly predictable plot, enjoyable short read 2.5 🌟

Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian

Carried over to May

The Wendell case by S.E. Grosskopf

This is a very short story, prequel to a series. I wasn't expecting much but was pleasantly surprised. An intriguing premise, tightly plotted and well written 3.5 🌟

Antiques to die for by Peyton Stone

Just not for me, God awful writing DNF 

Well a really interesting month! A lot more series to follow up but I think that reflects the end of the KU trial and I'm picking books I'm more sure about now. More historical mysteries too, interesting! I'm not sure the location tag is telling me much I don't know but it's interesting none the less