May 2025 reading and Storygraph

Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian

Carried over from April. I did enjoy this but I do see what other reviews mean when they query the uneven pace of this story. But the characters were engaging and the story lines were enjoyable 3.5🌟

The plague charmer by Karen Maitland on Audible

Carried over from April I really enjoyed this. Dark and emotional 3.5 🌟

They do it with mirrors by Agatha Christie 

Carried over from April. I had forgotten how great this story was. Miss Marple is in it throughout, some nice twists and turns. Solid ending, loved it 

5🌟

New earth a prequel by E.L. Strife

This was a free short story prequel, I wasn't expecting much but rather enjoyed it, a nice twist at the end. Good scene setting for the series 3🌟

Shadows of the Past by Eric Goebelbecker

Just not for me DNF

Death of a ladies man by Helena Marchmont on Audible 

A great addition to the series, quite poignant and sad in places but with the usual tight plotting.

Love all of this series, perfect quick listen. Nathaniel Parker is a great narrator 5🌟

The cost by Morven Cry

I loved this book. I'm originally from Fraserburgh and this is an authentic and sympathetic representation of the town and it's folks, I know many Mrs Langs 😊 

Beyond that it's a cracking story, just the right amount of twists and I love Blake Glover I cant wait for the next one in the series 5🌟

Return of the Martians by Mark Hood

I did really enjoy this story and was swithering about giving it a 4 🌟 but I think 3.5 🌟 (still a high score from me) is right

It took me some time to get into the story and the characters but I enjoyed it once I did. The action scenes were well done and the writing style and tone did a good job of continuing from H.G. Wells 3.5 🌟

Drop dead gorgeous by Helena Marchmont on Audible 

Another cracker from Helena Marchmont, I feel the story arc is the main focus of this story rather than the murder, but still very enjoyable. 

Wonderful narration by Nathaniel Parker as ever 

5🌟

The pirates of Penn Cove by Eldritch Black

I really enjoyed this! What a lovely YA book, great story, tight plotting, loveable characters just really well written 4🌟

Tempest in the Tearoom by Libi Astaire

I almost DNFd this book but there was enough in the story to keep me interested. The pace did pick up towards the end but as others have noted the ending is very predictable 3🌟

Murder in high places by Helena Marchmont on Audible 

A great addition to the series, quite poignant and sad in places but with the usual tight plotting. Nathaniel Parker is wonderful as ever 5 🌟

The candlelight murders by Giles Brandreth

It was entertaining but just felt as if it was dragging I wanted it to get to the point DNF

A most peculiar Malaysian murder by Shamini Flint

I was enjoying it to begin with but then it just seemed to drag a bit DNF

The ghosts of Millers Crossing by David Clark

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, nice plot tightly written 

I almost knocked 0.5 of a star off because of some proof reading errors but I enjoyed the story enough to merit it a 4 🌟

Smaller and smaller circles by F.H. Batacan

I almost gave this a 4 but I did feel the plot didn't really take off until about 40% through the book, the first part felt a bit uneven 

When it did take off this was a terrific story, gut wrenching with an explosive and heartbreaking ending 

I did like to two main characters and hope more is written with them in. 3.75 🌟

Alice's adventures in wonderland by Lewis Carroll on Audible 

Just not for me, good narrator but I didn't enjoy the story DNF

The Charles Dickens BBC Radio Drama Collection:The Early Years: Seven BBC Radio Full Cast Dramatisations on Audible
It pained me to DNF this but I really struggled with the audio on this. DNF
Wulfhelms revenge by Keir Clayton
Just not for me DNF
The Stoning by Peter Papathanasiou

I really enjoyed this, it was quite emotional and very challenging but what a read. I didn't guess the ending which was quite explosive and gut wrenching 

I would gave give 4 🌟 but I felt the beginning was a bit uneven but once it got going I loved it 3.75 🌟

Ghostly tales an Audible original Christmas gift narrated by Simon Callow on Audible 

Fantastic narration by Simon Callow, I've heard The Signalman read by another narrator but Simon Callow is exceptional. Beautiful story written around the narration too. I took 0.5 of a star off because I felt one of the stories was a bit underwhelming but honestly Simon Callow can make anything sound wonderful  4.5 🌟

Murder in Whispering Falls by Debra Deetz

This was OK not awful not great, fairly well written and plotted a nice short story but the ending was a bit rushed 2.75 🌟

Legend of Pine Hollow by Nell Piper

I was really frustrated by this book, I was really enjoying it and at times it was really spooky but there was way too little explanation of the plot and the ending was just bizarre it felt like huge chunks had been left out 2.75 🌟

The invisible assistant,  The last customer by John Gaspard

A very solid 4, loved these two short stories, very well written, engaging main character, great plotting 4🌟

Blossomise by Simon Armitage, illustrated by Angela Harding

What a beautiful book, the poems are lovely but for me it was the illustrations by Angela Harding which made it so special 4🌟

The Hobbit, a Jackanory special read by Bernard Cribbins on Audible 

Yes this is very abridged but it's still a fantastic rendition of the story. Also a fantastic nostalgia fest. I saw this when it was first transmitted, Jan Francis and Bernard Cribbins are as wonderful as I remembered 5🌟

Pocket full of rye by Agatha Christie 

I had quite forgotten how much I loved this story it's quintessential Miss Marple, although this is my third time reading it it still took me a while to remember who did it 5🌟

Vikings apprentice by Kevin McLeod

There is a good story in here but this did feel quite stilted and a bit flat 2.75🌟

Sebastian's Waterloo by Alison Stuart

I wasn't expecting much of this short story but I really enjoyed it

Well written with a respect for historical accuracy  3.5🌟

Ad man, ad Astra by Richard J. Dowling

I normally would DNF a story like this but it was only 60 pages and there was a glimmer of a good story in there. But oh my it was all delivered in way too much of a heavy handed fashion 2.25 🌟

A box full of secrets by Carmen Radtke

I actually really enjoyed this! Well written with loveable characters, great series starter 3.5🌟

Shakespeares landlord by Charlaine Harris

I wasn't sure what to expect from this I bought it by mistake thinking it was another book! But I really enjoyed it. Great female MC good plot I didn't guess whodunit, fab series starter 3.75🌟

So let's wrap up May then! I passed my 100th book this year, OK some were short but the majority were 300 pages. I found quite a few new series to follow up, this is where I love storygraph so much I can easily see what I do and don't want to follow up on.

So quite a range of locations! This confirms I prefer a series over stand alone and ive found quite abfew to follow up this month. As for genres I've continued with cosy at top and continued with my liking for police procedural which I'm surprised at but maybe I just needed to find the right ones?

My wrap up looks good! My read pages says I'm down 18% but I'm OK with that, I'm doing more now and reading is fitting in with other things which is how it should be, I've read a lot of shorter books this month which I so enjoy. It's all good 😊 and I so adore the cover collages