Thursday, 31 July 2025

July storygraph and reading

Mythos by Stephen Fry on Audible 
A fantastic retelling of the Greek myths. Stephen Fry is an incredible narrator of his own re imagination of the classic tales, a real treat. 4.5 🌟
The mirror crack'd by Agatha Christie 
It gets 5 stars because its Agatha Christie 😊 but this is my least favourite of all the Miss Marple stories probabl because of the sadness of Miss Marple gettingbmore infirm and the changes to St Mary Mead. Having said that it's still hugely enjoyable and despite having read it before I still couldn't remember the eending 5🌟
Lamb to the slaughter by Karen Ann Hopkins
I did enjoy this story but I do have some issues with it!
Firstly this is also very much a romance story with a mystery attached. I felt that wasn't singposted enough in the blurb, I'm no keen on romance but I'm still glad I read it as the mystery element was good
Also I felt it quite damning on the Amish community, I'm not sure it was all warranted?
Those concerns aside it was an enjoyable mystery 3 🌟
Martyr by Rory  Clements on Audible
Too graphic and bawdy DNF 
The confessions of Caminada by Christopher Reason on BBC sounds
This was really enjoyable, nice historical mystery but more about the main protagonist who apparently was real and this is taken from his memoirs. George Costigan is really great a very under appreciated actor. The sound quality does vary though 3.5🌟
The hunter of the grotesque: From the casebook of Akechi Kogoro by Edogawa Ranpo
I'm quite at loss as to what to say about this book! It is very much of its time and very reflective of the Golden Age mystery books of the time
The plot is incredibly convoluted with many characters and twists and it's often difficult to know what's what
Also the attitudes towards women are very much of its time
But there was enough in it to keep me reading 2.75🌟
The anniversary by Laura Marshall
Should have realised it has storyline of dementia, not for me DNF 
The fair botanists by Sara Sheridan
I did enjoy this book it did take some time to get going but once I got into it I was captivated by the story and the characters 3.75 🌟
A captive in Algiers by A.J. Lewis
I did really enjoy this tale but some parts did drag slightly but overall an enjoyable story 3.25 🌟
Eater of souls by Lynda S. Robinson
I read these books many years ago but still didn't remember who the culprit was. These stories are very well written and do feel authentically historic but they are a bit drier than I remember them 3.75🌟
Once upon a crime by Katie Forrest writing as Mona Marple 
I was going to give this a far higher rating right up to the end but the denouement was a bit of a let down. Up to then it was engaging and the plot tricked along nicely. I will read more of these though it was good up to the end 3.5 🌟
Scale of the dragon by Richard Fierce 
I really enjoyed this book, likeable main characters two feisty female characters, interesting plot. Story moved along nicely, the ending felt a bit hasty but otherwise really enjoyed. 3.75 🌟
The Clamourous dead by David Field
Just not for me DNF
The day of the Jackalope by Eldritch Black
I do really love this series, I wouldn't say this was as good as the first one but still very enjoyable 3.75 🌟
Last Dance by Mark Billingham
I swithered about the rating for this thinking there are flaws which might knock off 0.25 of a point but overall I couldn't put the book down so that rates a 4 in my book.
Yes the humour is questionable and the ending felt a bit rushed but overall I really enjoyed this. The main character Declan Miller is obviously complicated and his humour can grate but I think its meant to, we all know Declans in our lives. I did thoroughly enjoy it 4🌟
In place of death by Craig Robertson on Audible 
Too graphic DNF 
The summer house by James Patterson 
I loved this story, this is not my usual type of read but I loved this. Great pace, I liked the way you didn't get signposted as to who was speaking each chapter also shorter chapters really helped keep the pace up
There were enough twists to keep the interest going. Loved it. 4.25 🌟
The watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley on Audible 
Just not for me DNF
Savage night by Jim Thomson
Just not for me DNF
You'll be next by Ava Strong
I feel 3 🌟 is generous. I did mostly enjoy this but the dialogue often felt clunky and the ending was abrupt and felt unexplained. The personal life of the FMC seemed to taken precedence in the narrative 3🌟
Mud season by Sarah Stewart Taylor 
This was a very short prequel story and I didn't really warm to the story But then I read the excerpt included from the first in the series and I love it, frustratingly the first in the series doesn't seem available on kindle so I can't find out the ending!
I did like the detective who seems to be the main character in the series but doesn't appear in the prequel 3.5 🌟
The bear pit by S.G. MacLean on Audible 
Carried over to August 
The umbrella by A.M. Stuart
An excellent  short story, well written with engaging characters and a nice precursor to the series 4 🌟
Magical, murderous cupcakes
Loved this, well written, good pace, good mystery. Engaging main characters, will definitely follow up this series 4🌟
The mystical coven of Santa Monica by Ron Tucker
This was a fun short read a good introduction to the Rosie Reynolds paranormal series 3.75
Dead and buried by Dan Padavona
I enjoyed this but was slightly frustrated that its a cliffhanger for the first book in the series. I enjoyed it enough to want to follow up. It does focus more on the FMC personal life than the mystery 3.5 🌟
Bundle up its murder out there by Bonnie Blume
Very enjoyable, nice pace, good introduction to the series 3.75 🌟
Snowblind by M.G. Cole
There was a bit more gore than I expected but this was a good read, tightly plotted. More of a cliffhanger for the series rather than a prequel I think 3.75 🌟
The Emporiums mercenary merchant by Sammi Mason
I found this very confusing, sometimes lots of detail but with no context I kept looking back to see if I'd missed something 2.5 🌟
Altitude of shadows by Flynn Cooley
Solid 4 for this, well plotted, great pace, intriguing premise, can't wait for the next one 4🌟
Murder by manuscript by Eve Barrett
Really enjoyable series starter, engaging characters, tight plotting and pacing 4🌟

Well! July has been productive! I've read quite a few "new to me" authors which has been nice and flagged up a few I want to follow up on Kindle Unlimited 
I still seem to favour series over stand alone but I think that's always been my preference it's nice to have it confirmed 😊 I do love storygraph so much all these lovely charts 😊













July furtle!

 Well July has been a busy month!!! I'm loving being able to stitch again, it's fab, I've been mainly working on this at the start my sashiko Snowmen panel. 
Also this round and round the woodland from Stitchdoodles 
And my teacup cross stitch
My lovely chum gave me a flower sashiko panel so I bought these variegated threads from Jspsn crafts for it
But this is the big news!!!! Scoobs brought my seeing machine downstairs 🎉🎉🎉🎉

And I sewed on it! Small steps but all in the right direction 
Finishes!! I have finishes!!! I finished the sashiko Snowmen and the teacup!!! 

So July has been a very productive month!

Tea cup cross stitch

My lovely chum Kim sent me this cross stitch tea cup kit to remind me of the mis matched crockery at our favourite cafe. It's been such a lovely gentle stitch to do
Above was where I got too last year before I crashed and was unable to stitch any more, i picked it up in June and it's been such a joy to stitch 😊






And that's a wrap!!! So chuffed with this

Sashiko snowmen









he's done!!!! I love this so much ❤️

Wednesday, 30 July 2025

July look back

Well July you've been quite a month! Especially shingles vaccine, not too bad apart from really sore and swollen arm. This was it after day 5!

My lovely swimming group are atill sending cards I really can't wait to see them all again. I miss them so much

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 I told you July was quite the month. I got downstairs!!!! Celebrating in the garden!

Grey Donkey loves the garden too, see my meter square!

My beautiful bottle carrier from Emma
I love this garden so so much





Also this!!!!! Scoobs took my sewing machine downstairs and I tried a little but of sewing, oh my it felt good.


A second visit to living room! Grey Donkey approves and found some embroideries I'd forgotten about 🤣
New specs! I like these 😊
Momentous day! Fab appointment I'm doing well she almost reduced my meds (i was hoping she would keep to the same level I'm feeling much better on this dose the higher dose wasn't nice) she decided in the end to keep me on 15mg which I'm really chuffed with she wants to see me in 6 months and  i think if im better and moving more she might reduce it
But best thing? On the way back mark drove me past donkeys and I asked to switch over and I drove home!!! Only 5 mins on back roads but it's a start it felt amazing!! Only 2nd time I've driven my new car in a year!!!



Black donkey brayed when I was leaving I think he missed me ❤️
My beautiful chum Jacky is simply the best. Beautiful fabric and amazing card from Japan the card is based on the 12th century manuscript used in the team lab osaka display it's beautiful 
My window ledge of love needs an extension  🤣🤣
Awww this made my day. My old boss Richard followed me on Instagram he was such a great boss I adored working for him

I had some finishes too! 

I wrote more about these on my furtle post
July has been mixed but still brilliant overall.