Monday, 31 August 2026

August reading and storygraph

Five on a secret trail by Enid Blyton 
Giving it 4 for nostalgias sake and it is a good story but oh my the misogyny and sexism, its hard to read now 50 years after reading it for the first time 4 🌟
Berlin red on Audible by Sam Eastland 
Oh my this amazing series comes to an end and what an end. Its difficult to review without spoilers but this was a fitting end to an wonder series 5 🌟
The bloodless boy by Robert J Lloyd
Just not for me DNF 
The health of strangers by Lesley Kelly
So interesting reading this after a pandemic which yhis book (written in 2017) so accurately describes
The story itself is ok but im not sure i woul have read it without the pandemic setting 3.75 🌟
Planet of the yeti by Karsten Knight
Excellent! Just the right amount of scary. Such original stories in this series 5 🌟
Death by Greek fire by B.R. Stateham
Just didnt grab me DNF
The power of action by Hoang Le
Such sweet stories with beautiful illustrations  5 🌟
Finders keepers by Sabine Durrant
Really good story. Loved the possibly unreliable narrator, a bit of a slow burner with quite a satisfying ending, kept me hooked 4 🌟
Power of humanity by Hoang Le
Another beautiful addition to this series. Simple yet powerful tales. Quick to read and beautifully illustrated with lovely drawings to colour in 5 🌟
Power of kindness by Hoang Le
This is such a lovely series. Gentle tales which impart a lovely message. Lovely illustrations too 5 🌟
Bastille spy by C.S. Quinn
Just not for me DNF
The last Olympian by Rick Riordan 
Rip roaring finish to the series although there do seem more to come! A belter 5 🌟
Apocalypse by Kyle West
OK while this wasn't bad enough to DNF it still wasn't that amazing. 
A very naive style of writing and very predictable plot 3 🌟
11.22.63 on Audible by Stephen King 
Incredible story, I knocked half a star off because it did drag in places but overall it was amazing. Wonderful narration 4.5 🌟
Death at the bookclub by Imogen Penrose 
Lovely cosy mystery, plenty of twists and turns. A delightful heroine plus cat and intruguing ghost. Most enjoyable. Thanks to the author for the copy 4 🌟
Worcester Whispers By Kerry Toombs
Enjoyable although it did drag to begin with, but entertaining once it got going 3.5 🌟
Whickering place by London Clarke
Just not for me DNF
The less dead by Denise Mina 
Wonderful story, literally couldn't put it down. Slightly abrupt ending but really good 4 🌟
Ravenser odd by Robert Wilkinson
Just not for me DNF
Five go to Billycock Hill by Enid Blyton 
Entertaining addition to the series and thankfully not as racist as some of the others 5 🌟
Cortes trilogy by John Paul Davis
Tripe DNF
Coffin road by Peter May
Brilliant 5 🌟
Harley James and the Puzzle in Paris by Leah Cupps 
Nice short mystery. 4 🌟
Victims of St Just by Sally Rigby 
Nice solid police procedural. Although part of a series could easily be read as a stand alone. I really enjoy the multiple suspects which kept the reader on their toes. Good pace, didn't flag. Enjoyable main characters 4 🌟
I feel bad about my neck by Nora Ephron
Enjoyable 4 🌟
Necklace and Calabash by Robert Van Gulik
 Such an enjoyable series 5 🌟
His missing wife by Jamie Lynn Hendricks
Too much abuse DNF
The safe room by Sarah Denzil
Absolute cracker of a thriller. Great pace which kept me engaged. I really felt invested in Amber's story. Loved the complex family dynamics which played out over the dual time line which worked really well. A very crisp ending which felt satisfying. Thanks to the author for the copy 5 🌟 
The Alpha Plague by Michael Robertson 
Just tripe DNF
Written in bone by Simon Beckett 
Beautifully written and such a gripping story but the ending(s) blimey still processing and not sure what to think? Hence 4 instead of 5 stars 4 🌟
Best laid plans by Tom Abrahams
There was obviously enough in this to keep me reading and while it wasn't badly written the clichés just became too unbearable in their obviousness 3 🌟
The Mecklenburgh affair by Imogen Penrose 
What a lovely addition to the series. Its so wonderful to see the story arc develop and see Cleos story unfolding while we learn more about Viviennes past.
A crisp and satisfying mystery accompanies this. Thanks to the author for the copy 4 🌟
Kill night by Victor Methos
This got off to a cracking start but then just ended abruptly, it had all the hallmarks of a great short story but then meh the ending 3.75 🌟
Safe room by Lisa Unger
Lisa Unger writes great short stories and this is no exception. Tight taught, great pace, she packs so much into such a short space 4.5 🌟

So what do the stats say? Firstly I reached 600 consecutive days tracking with Storygraph in August. I just love storygraph πŸ’•



Book source is much the same but more ARC and some prime too which is good
Still reading more series than stand alone which is fine, quite a few unsure, I've been taking more chances recently with books

Genre, well not much change there!
Ditto location 
Nice cover graphic
A couple DNF I'm becoming stricter about that 
Fewer hours listened? Didn't feel like that but 🀷





So a very good month, couple of crackers in there, how I love storygraph πŸ’•

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