Chez Budsmam: June 2025 reading and Storygraph

Bloodstone by P.C. Doherty on Audible (Carried over from April)

I really enjoy PC Dohertys Brother Athelstan series and I did enjoy this audiobook version. It did drag a little bit in places but has a good narrator and overall very enjoyable 3.75 🌟

Frost at Christmas by R.D. Wingfield

I'm really conflicted
It was mostly a good story but without giving spoilers I was conflicted about the way the main murder played out, the secondary murder seemed to gain in precedence in the narrative.
But the main reason for being conflicted is the eye watering misogyny, now I lived through the 70s and 80s and this misogyny was par for the course, but it's hard reading it, especially the attitudes to children it's really hard to read. But it was well written 3🌟

An honourable thief by Douglas Skelton

Absolute belter of a book. Very well researched. Well written, engaging MC feels incredibly authentic 4.5🌟

4.50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie

I had forgotten how excellent this book was, another cracking Miss Marple tale 5🌟

Girl without a chance by Rylie Dark

This was OK, a decent plot but slightly let down by a slightly irritating main lead. She comes across as quite immature at times but an enjoyable read with a decent twist at the end

3🌟

The night raven by Johan Rundberg

Loved this, so well plotted and written, really engaging main characters 4🌟

The blade itself by Joe Abercrombie on Audible

It really pained me to DNF this, Stephen Pacey is such a great narrator and the story is good but the subject matter is just not for me, if it had been shorter I might have continued but at 22 hours I'm just not that committed DNF

Stitched in silver by Jaime S. Medina

I seriously don't know what to say about this short story. It's not awful but it's not good either. The anachronistic language used really jars, saloon instead of salon, "super comfortable, nutcase, yeah, chops"??? In revolutionary France? I don't think so. I finished it because it was only 100 pages. I think 2 🌟 is generous 2 🌟

The darkest sin by DV Bishop

I really love this series. You are immersed in Florence the meticulous research leaps off the page. Aldo and Strocchi are full rounded and believable main characters, the plot was quite twisty but enjoyable non the less 4🌟

The outcasts of time by Ian Mortimer

Just not for me the story dragged and I wasn't seeing the point of it DNF

Crochet and cauldron by Nancy Warren

Loved this, this series gets better and better. Love all the story arcs, there are some predictable elements but overall these are well crafted and executed stories 4🌟

The Paddington mystery by John Rhode

Just not for me, dry and boring DNF

The word is murder by Anthony Horowitz on Audible

I really struggled with this audio book. I do normally love Anthony Horowitz but this felt very different

Nit just because he inserts himself in, I actually didn't mind that. The character of Hawthorn I did struggle with, but I'm willing to give him another chance with the second book in the series. Rory Kinnear did a good job of narration but at times it did feel flat 3.5 🌟

Still life with murder by PB Ryan

The story just dragged DNF

Murder on the square by Bonnie Blume

I was given an advance copy of this in return for an honest review. I did enjoy the book for the most part it was well written but there were some times with the plot that I did wonder if I'd missed something and had to go back to check. Also we find out who dunnit quite early on which is OK but the rest of the plot does drag slightly which is surprising for such a short read. I am also incredibly frustrated at the extremely stereotypical librarian (being one myself) I must admit this did put me off a bit

But I think I enjoyed it enough to maybe try others in the series hence the 3 🌟

Isle of winds by James Fahy

I really enjoyed this, it's different enough from other similar tales to avoid the usual comparisons. Look forward to the rest of the series 3.75🌟

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

Just an incredible story, the writing had me gripped from the start I couldn't put it down and finished in two sittings. I'm still thinking about the ending 4🌟

Necronomicon by L.P. Lovecraft on Audible

I did quite enjoy the stories but they are all so similar they blend into each other DNF

Woman on the island by Ann Cleeves

I bought this to see if i liked the characters and writing, turns out I do. Really well done short story, very enjoyable 3.75 🌟

Treasure Island by RL. Stevenson on Audible

I wondered how this would be as it is extremely abridged but it was still enjoyable mostly down to the excellent narration by Luke Evans 3.75 🌟

Murder before evensong by Richard Coles

I really really wanted to love this book more than I did, I love Richard Coles and was excited to read this.

It's not awful but it's not very good either. Firstly it should say upfront it's set in the 80s, I was very confused till I worked that out.

The murder itself happens a long way in and doesn't feel to be the main point of the story which is more small village minutiae which is not that awful but slightly boring in such depth

I've got the second in the series so will still try it to see if it gets better 2.75 🌟

Kidnapped by RL. Stevenson on Audible

I was skeptical as this is heavily abridged but it worked really well. Great narration by James MacPherson 3.75🌟

City of last chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky on Audible

I should just accept that fantasy is not for me DNF

Lost and found by Amy Shojai

I quite enjoyed this, I liked the sections where we saw the dogs point of view, the action was good a bit disjointed in places but overall enjoyable with good characters I'll follow this up 3 🌟