Sunday, 31 August 2025

August storygraph and reading

A Caribbean mystery by Agatha Christie 
I adore all Miss Marple books but this is the one I adore the least I have to say. Not quite sure why but it's still a solid 5 5🌟
Murder on Lake Everly by Bonnie Blume
This was engaging, following a similar pattern to the first in the series but with a nice twist I didn't see coming and some blossoming romantic interest 3.5
The bear pit by S.G Maclean on Audible 
(Carried over from July)
Cracking story, well researched, beautifully written and great narration 4.5🌟
A new lease of death by Ruth Rendell
I used to read Ruth Rendell a lot and it was interesting to go back to read her many decades later. I did really enjoy this and her writing is great but oh my the attitudes and prejudices of the period are quite startling 3.5 🌟
Heroes by Stephen Fry on Audible 
Another fabulous audio rendition of his Greek mythology series from Stephen Fry. He narrates as ever with gusto and enthusiasm. I took 0.5 of a star off because these are so long nearly 16 hours, I felt that for this type of storytelling a shorter book would suit me better. The constant changing of characters and plots can be tiring towards the end. 4.5 🌟
The lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes
I did enjoy this tale, there is a creeping sense of dread, akin to Edgar Allen Poe. It is very much of its time as reflected in its language and attitudes. 3.5
Medicus by Ruth Downie
This was my second time reading this and I'm still giving it a 3 🌟 the writing I'd good, great characters and good humour but it's so long, it began to drag for me 2/3 of the way through and there seemed no discernable plot reason for it. But again it is well written and humorous 3🌟
Cipher of bones by Flynn Cooley
This is a real roller coaster of a story. I love the first in the series so was excited to read this.
It didn't disappoint, at times I had to read very carefully as there is do much information packed into a relatively small page count! But it was worth it, engaging characters and plot line with a breathtaking pace 4🌟
The sentence is death by Anthony Horowitz on Audible 
I quite enjoyed this but there is something about these stories that doesn't quite sit well with me, I think it's the character of Anthony Horowitz within the story
Rory Kinnear is an excellent narrator  3.5 🌟
Save the date for murder by Vivian Keyes
This is quite short, but very well written. A lot is packed into this story which clips along at a good pace. Engaging characters and a satisfying conclusion. 4 🌟
The Eighth detective by Alex Pavesi
I really enjoyed this book. As others have said it does contain a spoiler for Agatha Christies "And then there were none"
It is a bit gruesome in places but the twisty turny plot drew me in. Unlike many others I didn't find the ending a disappointment I felt it quite fitting. 4 🌟
Body in the bindery by Eve Barrett 
This was an enjoyable if slightly dense read. There is a lot of technical information entwined in the plot which dies sometimes overwhelm the plot but overall enjoyable 3.5 🌟
The collected stories of Arthur C Clarke Volume 1 on Audible
I love Arthur C Clarke and these stories are a great example of his work although I do prefer his later to his earlier works. The Narrators are great but the stories have literally no gap between them which is a bit disconcerting 3.75 🌟
Dangerous women by Hope Adams
I did really enjoy this book, well paced well written. Believable characters with an air of authentic historical accuracy 4🌟
Deadline by William Shaw
A brilliant addition to the series, loved it. Well plotted and pace Cupidi is an amazing FMC all the characters are believable it gripped me from page one 5 🌟
Behind the seams by Esme Young 
This is just a lovely book and is written so that it feels like a chat with the author. She comes across as engaging bold and intrepid, just a lovely woman. 4🌟
One virgin too many by Lindsey Davis on Audible 
I just didn't gel with the narrator DNF
Frankly by Nicola Sturgeon 
Absolute belter of a book, loved it. Nicola Sturgeon has a lightness of touch in her writing which was refreshing in a political memoir. She is honest and Frank 😊 as the title implies, I felt she was very fair when talking about things such as her working relationship with Alex Salmond. She takes full responsibility for things where she felt she was wrong or could have done better (the reviewers who say otherwise have frankly not read this book or have done so through incredibly jaundiced glasses) at times she made me cry, talking about her miscarriage was one point and reflections on leading Scotland through the pandemic were another. I loved it. 5 🌟
Falco the complete BBC radio collection on Audible 
Carried over to September 
The Polaroid murder by Vivian Keyes
Really enjoyable mystery, it's nice seeing the main characters develop. The back story around them and the town is good, some emotional moments, just a nice quick read. 3.75 🌟
Pies, pines and peril by Neela Snow
Slightly formulaic but still very enjoyable short read 3.75 🌟
The pain hunter by Jeffrey Deaver
Fantastic short story, Jeffrey Deaver packs so much into 60 pages. Twists and turns a plenty. Part 1 of a 4 part series I look forward to reading the rest. 4.75 🌟
The dodge by Jeffrey Deaver
Fantastic story, no 2 in a series of 4 but all can be read as stand alone. Tense twisty with a Fantastic female lead. 4.75 🌟
Execution day by Jeffrey Deaver
Fantastic 3rd in the series of 4 short stories. This is as good as all the others, tense atmospheric and nail-biting to the end, some lovely twists and turns too. I love that these can be read individually or as a series. 4.75 🌟
Sixty one seconds
I've loved this series. 4 stories which are intertwined but can be read as stand alone, this one was great and pulled together all of the other stories but I was slightly disappointed in the ending. 4 🌟
Whispers in the snow by Maisie Graves
I really enjoyed this short story but I'm frustrated at the ending. It's more of a cliffhanger but to what? I can't see that any of the other books in the series carry on from this? But it's well written and engaging 3.75 🌟

So what do the stats say? Location is par for the course, mostly America followed by England
Genre, no huge surprises less police procedural but more non fiction 
Series, yip this is standard I mostly read series!
Boom source, well I tried some from prime reading this month, a few Jeffrey Deaver short stories which I loved




I do love seeing the reading calendar, I started off with a few lengthy books but things sped up.towards the end of the month. I often.start and finished two books.on the same day? Interesting, I like having two print books on the go at the same time. Lets see how September goes





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