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 💕

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 💕

July reading and Storygraph

Circling the drain by Lisa Unger

It's all hotting up, really good series 5🌟

Love the way you lie by Lisa Unger

Cracking end to the series. All wrapped up nicely 5🌟

Five go down to the sea by Enid Blyton 

I remember this being a favourite whne I first read them a a child. They still enchant but do reflect the attitudes of the time 5 🌟

The emperors pearl by Robert Van Gulik 

I think this is my favourite judge Dee story. Mainly for the character of Miss Lieng. A rollicking good read 5 🌟

The Red Ikon by Sam Eastland 

I love this one. We get to see so much of Pekkala and Kirov. I love the dual timeline of all of the books in this series but this one seems the best to me. 5 🌟

Phoros nexus by Katherine Okia 

Cracking addition to the series. This is an engaging cosy sci fi mystery with a great cast of characters. I particularly love the female lead Mira and her friend Hannah, both strong women but in different ways. The mystery follows on from the first in the series I really appreciated the reminder at the beginning of the book about events from the first in the series. Sometimes this is missed out or sometimes it goes on far too long. Here it was just right. A very satisfying mystery follows, good pace enough but not too many twists and turns finishing with a very satisfying conclusion. 5 🌟

Unsolved by Heather Critchlow 

Excellent story, really gripping. I do love a dual timeline. Tightly paced, enough twists and turns but not too many and a nice twist 

at the end 4.5 🌟

The battle of the labyrinth by Rick Riordan

This is such a fantastic series. 5 🌟

Murder at devil's Ridge by Irina Shapiro 

Fantastic addition to the series. Its lovely to see Sebastian and Gemma enjoy married life as well as getting a glimpse into Sebastians past.
A particularly disturbing case involving what looks like a ritual child murder.
Plenty of suspects and enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. A sad but satisfactory conclusion I was kept guessing until the end. My thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the book 5 🌟

The night she disappeared by Lisa Jewell

Just not for me DNF

Five go to mystery moor by Enid Blyton 

OK im taking a star off because Enid Blyton Really can't hide her snobbery/racism in this one. Its a shame because its such a good story but her prejudices shame through even more in this one 4 🌟

A weekend getaway murder by Tam May 

A fabulous addition to the series. The characters feel fully fleshed and there is an authentic period atmosphere. The book is longer than most cosy mysteries I read but feels the better for it. More time to flesh out the plot which has enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. A very satisfying conclusion. 

My thanks to the author and Netgalley for a review copy 5 🌟

Unseen by Heather Critchlow 

It's not often I'm bereft at the end of a series. I do hope we get to see Cal Lovett again. This series has gripped me from the start. So well written, tight plotting and pacing and main characters you actually believe in and are rooting for. I can't wait to see what the author does next.
With thanks to the author and Netgalley for the copy.

 5 🌟

Murder at Marchmont and Bell by Imogen Penrose

Enjoyable cosy mystery set in an antiquarian bookshop.

I wasn't quite sure about the ghost but I think there will be more revealed in later stories.

Overall a quick Enjoyable read 3.5 🌟

Halloween of the Briar King by Karsten Knight

Great addition to the series. Not too spooky like others have been but just spooky enough 5 🌟

Hangman's holiday on Audible by Dorothy L Sayers 

Enjoyable short stories but I don't like the narrator 4 🌟

Conviction by Denise Mina

Just didnt grab me DNF

In the teeth of the evidence 

Nice set of short stories but I prefer the full stories and I  don't like the narrator 4 🌟

The first edition by Imogen Penrose 

Enjoyable short prequel 3.5 🌟

The cancelled leaf by Imogen Penrose 

I enjoyed this one, the historical aspect gave it a charm I liked 4 🌟

Rotters end by Melissa Peterson Lewis 

Really sad to see this series end I've thoroughly enjoyed it.

This final installment was a fitting conclusion. Slightly rushed towards the end but a very nice conclusion 4.5 🌟

The mermaids singing by Val McDermid

Just way too gory DNF

Harley James and the Falcon Queen by Leah Cupps 

I do love this series but this wasn't the most exciting one. It was still enjoyable just not on a par with the previous two

Also as a Scottish person I did bristle at the attempts at Scottish dialect. A bit of a mish mash 3.75 🌟

Wolf Hall on Audible by Hilary Mantel

Found it too dry and boring DNF

The moons feeble fire by Allan Gaw 

Just brilliant loving this series. I didn't feel the actual murder was quite as engaging as the previous one. But in a sense I feel the murder is secondary to the back story which is so gripping and well written 

All the main characters are so well fleshed out and so believable 4 🌟

Moss and malice by Sadie Finch

This was a sweet enjoyable read. A nice length for a cosy

mystery. A little bit of the paranormal but not too much.

Lovely characters, i want to see how these develop.

And as a retired librarian I was happy with the portrayal

of the librarians in the story. Not too stereotypical or

cliched which was a refreshing change. 4🌟

The pattern by Sadie Finch

This was a nice wee prequel to the series 3.75 🌟

The labyrinth by Robert McNeil

Solid police procedural. Nice series starter 3.75 🌟

The final hours by David Menon

There is a good story in here but the writing is too stilted DNF

The folk of the faraway tree by Enid Blyton 

The stories are lovely but the attitudes of the time show through hence 4 instead of 5 stars 4 🌟

Edinburgh dusk by Carole Lawrence 

Just turgid DNF

Joyland on Audible by Stephen King

This might be one of my favourite Stephen King stories. So bittersweet, classic coming of age tale mixed with mystery and a few Ghosts.

Great narration too 5 🌟

The beast beyond the fence by Marcus Rashford

Enjoyable and fun 4 🌟

Five have plenty of fun by Enid Blyton 

Giving it 4 stars for nostalgias sake. Still enjoyable stories but the further through the series I get the more I remember how she recycled plots. And oh my goodness the attitudes of the times are awful 4 🌟

Madness in the ruins by John A. Connell

Decent story, slightly one dimensional characters but enjoyable none the less. Quite graphic descriptions of torture 3.75 🌟

Up the faraway tree by Enid Blyton 

Classic Blyton 4 🌟

The adventure of Goblin the dog by Enid Blyton 

Its a classic Enid Blyton story and i love it for the nostalgia but over 50 years after reading it for the first time I now wince at some of the attitudes in it

But 4 stars for the nostalgia 4 🌟

Percy Jackson and the sword of hades by Rick Riordan

Thoroughly enjoyable short story 4 🌟

In malevolent hands by John A Connell

This was a mostly enjoyable short story but it seemed to lack some momentum half way through. Decent enough though 3.5 🌟

Frozen people by Elly Griffiths

Hmmmmm im really not sure about this book and somewhat at a loss as to how to rate it

I'll give it 3.25 because it did pick up over a third of the way in. I was on the verge of DNF several times before that

The ending was also "meh" but there was enough to keep me reading 3.25 🌟

Poets and murder by Robert Van Gulik 

Nice crisp short addition to the series 5 🌟

Striding folly on Audible by Dorothy L Sayers

Just love all the Wimsey stories 5 🌟 

Pigeon Tony's last Stand by Lisa Scottoline

Very sweet short story 4 🌟

Unknown caller by Lisa Unger 

Really poignant tale. Great short story 5 🌟

These cold strangers by J.T. Ellison 

Enjoyable but not the best in the series 4 🌟

Trouble by Janelle Brown

Cracking short story 5 🌟

Well July was a busy month for reading! 40 books 😳 but a lot of them were very short. Let's have a look at the stats. For source I was pleased to see more Prime reading in there and a fair few ARC books too. Ive been rereading quite a lot as well.

As seems to be usual im reading way more series than stand alone, follow up seems to predominately but a chunk of unsure. I was quite fatigued a lot of this month so tended to stick to books i knew I would like

Genre, well no surprise there! A bit more fantasy than normal? Maybe?

A new location this month, Germany but otherwise no surprises 

40 books! But many small ones, my page no has increased but it's still only averaging 220 per day which is ok I think 

All in all a very good month!

Reading and storygraph mid year review

So lets have a mid year wrap up shall we? What's the overall look? OK almost 10k more pages which averages 186 per day but less audiobook listening I think this reflects me sitting up more plus just being a bit stronger

Moods? Some slight jockeying for position here but apart from that its pretty similar 

Some slight differences in slow and medium pace but again not a huge difference 

Again not a huge difference in page number i like a short book!

Audiobook length? Pretty similar pattern there 

Ditto fiction vs non fiction!

A few changes in genres. More children's in 2026 and historical takes over from crime in second spot 

Ahh now some changes in tags, although this doesn't seem to represent all my tags? I was still reading KU for 2 months of 2025, in 2026 I finished my trial in the preceding December so no KU in 2026 so far. Plus I added inbthe little Sheila tag and rereading one.

Not much change in format 

Ah now you can see where my challenges affect the stats. All the top authors for 2025 and 2026 are from my reading challenges

Star ratings are really interesting. I think the KU trial really affects my star rating. Im afraid more liable to take a punt on something that might not be my thing. But in 2026 when im pulling only from my own supply of books im less likely to pull out a dud.

So let's look only at the wrap up for 2026, it looks fairly even overall which is nice

Well that was great fun!

June reading and storygraph

Five fall into adventure by Enid Blyton

Really enjoyable story, not quite as formulaic as some. Marred by misogynistic attitudes of the time

The Chinese bell murders by Robert Van Gulik

Great part of the series 5 🌟

The beast in the red forrest on Audible by Sam Eastland 

Just wonderful this series gets better and better. So good to see more minor characters such as Pochgrebichev get more prominence 5 🌟

Tha magic faraway tree by Enid Blyton 

I do think the faraway tree stories are some of the best Enid Blyton wrote. So much fun with all the different lands at the top of the tree 5 🌟

The housemaid by Sarah A. Denzil

I wasn't sure about this at first but it really took off about a third in. Really good gothic mystery 4 🌟

Earth lost by Daniel Arenson 

This was very very silly. The plot borrowed very heavily from Aliens. But still i enjoyed it 3.5 🌟

The godless by PC Doherty

I felt the story dragged for the first half, great though when it got going 3.75 🌟

Percy Jackson and the Titans curse by Rick Riordan 

Love this series, funny, emotional great pace wonderful story telling 5 🌟

Strong poison on Audible by Dorothy L Sayers 

Great adaptation, Ian Carmichael is Lord Peter Wimsey. I'm sad Bunter doesn't play a big part in this one but it's still magnificent 5 🌟

The bird watcher by William Shaw 

Incredible, just could not put this down. Intelligent moving, gripping story. Ive read a few others in this series first, this does not have to be read before the others, I actually think this is better having more knowledge of the characters before reading this one. 5 🌟

The body in the trees by Richard James

I'm so unsure about this series I really can't feel any sympathy for The main character or fathom why he is still a detective. But there was obviously enough in the story to keep me reading and not DNF 3 🌟

Killing the beasts by Chris Simms

Not for me DNF

The way of all flesh by Ambrose Parry

Wonderful book. So evocative of Edinburgh in that time. Fantastic sense of time and place 4 🌟

Five go on a hike together by Enid Blyton 

Love this series, this might not be my favourite though, quite a bit of misogyny especially from Julian! 4.5 🌟

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Just beautiful 5 🌟

Space force 2 on BBC Sounds by Charles Chilton

Lovely piece of 70s sci fi nostalgia. I took half a star off for the misogyny which was prevalent at the time 4.5 🌟

Five red herrings on Audible by Dorothy L Sayers 

This is one of my favourite Wimsey stories well all apart from the ending which is a typical Sayers very convoluted affair. But the lead up to it and the unravelling of all the various different strands are wonderful 5 🌟

The yarn that binds by Rebecca McKinnon

This was OK i did get caught up in the romance element but the mystery dragged 3 🌟

The red pavilion by Robert Van Gulik 

One of the more poignant in the series. Beautifully done as ever 5 🌟

The puppet show by MW Craven

Probably one of the best books I've read this year. Wonderful main characters, Washington and Tilly work beautifully together, a cracking but very emotional mystery. A gem. 5 🌟

Mondo bizarre by MW Craven 

Great fun, lovely short story 5 🌟

Five have a wonderful time by Enid Blyton 

Giving it 5 stars for nostalgia. Enid Blyton wrote really good stories but looking back with hindsight the misogyny and racism is hard to read 5 🌟

Salt rush by Melissa Peterson Lewis 

Fantastic addition to the series, im really gripped by this one. Well drawn characters a gripping tale, beautifully done. I just wish there was a slight recap at the start of these books. Im reading them relatively close together but still struggle a bit at the start of each one.

That aside its a great tale 4.5 🌟

Death at Melvin House by Maisie Graves

Another fantastic addition to this series. A thrilling mystery with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. The back story is filling out too it's lovely to see that flesh out some more. Its difficult to say too much without spoilers but its safe to say im keen to see the next installment to see how this pans out. 5 🌟

Have his carcass on Audible by Dorothy L Sayers

This is a favourite in terms of mystery element and while I dont mind Harriet Vane taking a more prominent role i do miss Bunter 4 🌟

Repository secrets by Katherine Okia

What a wonderful blend of cosy mystery and Sci Fi 

Katherine Okias background in aerospace engineering shows through in the meticulous world building.

A great series starter with tight plotting and engaging characters this story moves along briskly. The main female character Mira is well fleshed out and takes the reader along with her as the plot unfolds. A nice cliffhanger ensures I'll be coming back for the next in the series. 5 🌟

Highgate cemetery murder by Irina Shapiro

What a fabulous series starter. Gripping mystery. Two intriguing main characters, great historical atmosphere 5 🌟

Harley James and the peril of the pirates curse by Leah Cupps

Such a fun series. Great female main character. Good role model for young females. Exciting story, good pace. Just a treat. 4.5 🌟

Stay out of the basement by R.L . Stine 

Great fun, good amount of (age appropriate) horror and nice ending 4 🌟

Fog descending by Lisa Unger

Great series starter, nice horror 5 🌟

All my darkest impulse by Lisa Unger

Another gripping installment great fun! 5 🌟

A good month! What do the stats say? Nice to see some ARC and Prime and Sounds in there, a few rereads which is nice too

Yup! I think its a given that I love a series 🤣

Genre is pretty standard too

Location standard too

Pretty high average rating, I've been comfort reading a lot this month so picking things i know will be good

All in all a great month!