Chez Budsmam: 2026

The complete Sherlock Holmes narrated by Stephen Fry on Audible

Carried over from November and carried over to January 2026

Mistletoe murder by Mona Marple

Adorable addition to this lovely series, I love the character development the was the background story moves on. Just a lovely quick read 4.5 🌟

Miss Marples final cases by Agatha Christie

Brilliant, wonderful collection of Miss Marple stories. This was my final read in my Miss Marple list it's been fabulous visiting them all again 5 🌟

25 days by Per Jacobsen

A really original idea loved the chap book format. I felt there was a lot unresolved at the ending but it was a good read none the less 3.75 🌟

Arabian nights vol 1 on Audible

I was enjoying it but its a bit too gory DNF

A winter of secrets by Vicki Delany

Im quite conflicted by this book. I liked the plot enough to not DNF it but the characters were so unlikeable. The murder itself felt as if it were secondary right till the end 3.5 🌟

Bards daughter by Sarah Woodbury on Audible

Really enjoyable, interesting characters, nice plot. 3.75 🌟

Candy cane killer by Mona Marple

Another enjoyable installment of this lovely series 4 🌟

12 ways to murder your family at Christmas by Natasha Bache

Absolutely loved this! It gaslight me guessing till the end, couldn't put it down 4.75 🌟

Albion: the legend of Arthur by Robert Valentine on Audible

Really enjoyable, great narration, not sure about the story, it didn' feel very true to the Arthurian legends I know but still enjoyable 3.75 🌟

Murder at the vicarage by Jill McGowan

Really enjoyed this, the main story was engaging well paced with believable characters, enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes. The running back story between the police officers added extra depth to the main story. Loved it 4 🌟

God rest you merry by Charlotte MacLeod

I would have DNFd it but it was short and I had added it to a challenge

There is a decent ish mystery here but the characters are so unlikeable and it is so dated in attitudes 2.5 🌟

The Santa Klaus murder by Mavis Doriel Hay

There was enough of a mystery here to keep me reading but it's very dated and non of the characters were terribly sympathetic 2.75 🌟

Yule be sorry by Mona Marple

Cracking addition to the series. Slightly longer than the previous instalment and this gives the story more scope I feel

Loved the addition of the Yule lads 4.75 🌟

Snow on the airwaves by Maisie Gray

A very sweet short addition to the series 4 🌟

Holly jolly homicide by Mona Marple

This was still an enjoyable addition to the series but there were some differences. Gilbert has changed. He's always been highly strung but he's now a diva? Just unexpected. The mystery itself was ok but felt a but thin. Nice ending though. 3.75 🌟

The prisoner of Ravens Gaze Hall by J.C. Briggs

Really good gothic story. Good pace, good atmosphere and a good ending 4.5 🌟

The ABC murders (Peter Dinklage)

by Agatha Christie on Audible

Fantastic and very faithful adaptation. Peter Dinklage is an excellent Poirot and Himish Patel is a wonderful Hastings 5 🌟

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeny

Loved this a great homage to "And then there were none" well written, engaging and a great twist at the end 4 🌟

Fair Isle and fortunes by Nancy Warren

Loved it, a really well thought out plot. The back story continues to delight 4.5 🌟

Murder at Bramhurst chapel by Izzie Harper

This was OK, ending felt rushed and the mystery felt unnecessarily convoluted but an enjoyable read 3.5 🌟

Christmas murder game by Alexandra Benedict

This was an OK mystery I felt that some of the plot got lost in the shoehorning around the 12 days and the game aspect of the book. Also many of the characters were deeply unpleasant 3.5 🌟

Christmas carol narrated by Hugh Grant on Audible

Wonderful adaptation, Hugh Grant is perfect 5🌟

Valley of fear by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle narrated by Derek Jacobi on Audible

I love Derek Jacobi but oh my goodness some of the accents he adopts here are really awful, I can only spea for his Scottish one which as an Aberdonian myself was really painful

But it's a great story and I do (mostly) love listening to him 4 🌟

Replacement by Jordan Rivet

I felt this took a while to get going but thats probably because its a series starter. I loved it when it did get going will definitely follow up 3.75 🌟

Deadly Christmas by Rachel MacLean

I really wanted to like this but the plot felt very drawn out and the ending was a bit flat 3.5 🌟

Dead on arrival by Jack Carson

Just didn't gel with this one DNF

The coffin trail by Martin Edwards

OK the ending was really good but I struggled up to that point. So much misogyny and there was also a fair bit not explained 3🌟

Eden rising by Andrew Cunningham

I really enjoyed this, a straightforward post apocalypse story, simply told, enjoyable. 4 🌟

Blackstone and the rendezvous with death by Sally Spencer

This was an OK historical mystery. It perhaps laboured the social injustices a bit 3.5 🌟

A winter of blood by Jack Cartwright

Well there was obviously enough to keep me reading this book but i felt a bit let down at the end. Very convoluted, also the back stories although very worthy felt a bit forced 3 🌟

Durham deception by Philip Gooden

Really enjoyable addition to the series. Wonderful set of characters and entertaining mystery 4 🌟

Christmas is murder by Val McDermid on Libby

A bit of a mixed bag. Some stories better than others 3.5 🌟

Buried by Jeffrey Deaver

A fairly brisk short story. Mostly enjoyed it, but it felt a but uneven in the pacing 3.75 🌟

Treachery in Bordeaux by Noël Balen

This was actually a really enjoyable short read, no murder but intriguing mystery satisfyingly wrapped up 4 🌟