Hello book pals! Hope you are all having a good week. Mine has been good, but busy.
Before time gets away from me, I want to share a few books that I found memorable in 2023. As I've mentioned, I didn't read so many books number-wise this last year. Life took over. Ha! However, looking back at my reading journal, I picked out 5 books that I think I'll remember fondly. Here they are (no reviews) and tell me if you read them and what you thought if you'd like. I'll put a link if I did write about them in a post during this last year.
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn - talked a bit about it in this post.
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb - my thoughts on this book here.
Murder At Haven's Rock by Kelley Armstrong - blog post here.
Killers Of A Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn - have not shared about this book as yet - it's our mystery book group selection for March so more to come.
The Maid by Nita Prose - have not talked about this one - maybe when I get the next in the series read.
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I'll be around early next week to share four more books that I'm anticipating in upcoming months. Plus, at the end of next week, I'll have a guest post by my friend, Skye Alexander, from Kerrville. She has a third book in her Lizzie Crane mystery series out and I'm reading it right now. Hope to have some thoughts on The Goddess Of Shipwrecked Sailors soon. Take care and enjoy your reading!
Glad you are getting back to a regular blogging schedule, Kay!
ReplyDeleteThe Violin Conspiracy is one of those books, I think, that slowly builds momentum among readers.
Yes, I'm glad of the more regular schedule too. And I agree about The Violin Conspiracy. I have his second book on my list, but not read as yet.
DeleteThe Rose Code was a memorable read for me, too. It sent me down a Bletchley Park rabbit hole. I also read Code Girls and The Splendid and the Vile around the same time. Loved that experience! I'd like to read The Violin Conspiracy this year.
ReplyDeleteI think Bletchley Park has been so fascinating to me every since I first heard about it. I've read several books and watched more than one TV show about it.
DeleteI've always liked the ghostly element in St. James' books. I think that's why her first novels are my favs. And I liked The Paris Apartment, too; I thought Foley did a good job of bringing all the different POVs and pieces of the mystery together at the end. :D
ReplyDeleteGood to know about The Paris Apartment, Lark. I also have enjoyed the ghostly stuff in St. James' books. As I said, wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but they liked the story well enough. Some were curious why we weren't reading it in October. LOL
DeleteI've learned that I'm not really a "gothic" reader. I may still try The Broken Girls since it's one of your favorites.
ReplyDeleteI have The Rose Code in my stacks, and hope to get to it sometime this year. I haven't read any of your other favorites.
Happy reading, Kay!
Yes, I can see that Les about your not being necessarily a 'gothic' reader. I think you'd fit in well with some of the other members of our mystery group and what they thought. The Broken Girls does have some of the 'ghostly' aspects, but that's not all there is. I do think you would like The Rose Code.
DeleteI have read all but Killers of a Certain Age. I think we read The Rose Code in the book club a couple years ago? I like historical mysteries and a smattering of ghosts once in awhile. Lol
ReplyDeleteWe may have read The Rose Code a while back. I know I did discuss it with the historical fiction group in Kerrville. Anyway, it's a good one. Yes, I think you and I are more fond of ghosts than some others we know. ;-)
DeleteThe Broken Girls was one of my very early reads of 2023 and I absolutely loved it. I must see about reading more by the author.
ReplyDeleteCath, she will have a new book coming out in March. The info about that one will be on my post this week about upcoming books I want to try.
DeleteI had mixed feelings about The Book of Cold Cases. The paranormal part felt a bit forced, however, I'm planning on reading it again soon to see if I change my mind!
ReplyDeleteI think your experience was a lot like some of my mystery book group companions. If it doesn't work for you, try another one. :-)
DeleteI am currently reading Kelley Armstrong's 2nd book in the Rockton series. Enjoying it, although it has a bit more tension than I like. I have the third one also, and plan to continue the series.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read The Rose Code or The Violin Conspiracy, but may someday. I just have so many books to read and the authors keep writing them, so it is hard to choose. I liked both Killers of a Certain Age, as you know, and The Maid.
Hope the rest of January brings you good reading and decent weather.
Tracy, you made me laugh - 'authors keep writing them' - ha! Yes, they do. I'm afraid we will never catch up completely. The Rockton series is a bit grim at times and that doesn't work for everyone.
DeleteI read The Violin Conspiracy and The Maid and enjoyed both. Slocumb's Symphony of Secrets was my first book read in 2024, and I'm looking forward to reading Nita Prose's follow-up to The Maid.
ReplyDeleteCathy, as usual, you and I have some similarities in our reading and proposed reading. LOL
DeleteIt's fun to have you back posting regularly again. I'm hoping we'll both have a good 2024 reading year. I'd like to read the second Maid book -- I enjoyed the first one. The character of Molly is good. I also read The Rose Code and The Violin Conspiracy a couple years ago, good. Happy reading. & thx for visiting.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed some of the same books as I did. I also really liked the character of Molly. Hope #2 goes well for both of us when we get it read. LOL
DeleteI really enjoyed this one and want to read more from Simone St James this year. I haven't read Rose Code but its been on my TBR and I really enjoyed Killers of a Certain Age.
ReplyDeleteKatherine, I think you would like The Rose Code. Bletchley Park - fun!
DeleteI have only read a couple of Simone St. James books, which are the two you mention. I really enjoyed both. Although probably The Broken Girls a tad bit more. I really liked The Maid when I read it, and also The Rose Code. I read Killers of a Certain Age last year and enjoyed it quite a bit too. I hope you have a great week, Kay!
ReplyDeleteWendy, we have enjoyed many of the same books over the years and I'm glad you liked several that I mentioned. I'm also hoping that Simone St. James' new book is a good one.
DeleteKay hope you are making it through this cold front! I've been indulging in one too many cups of hot chocolate! haha... So far no crazy issues like two years ago. Knock wood. Anyway, sounds like the despite all of the busyness you still had some great reads. And, I do like Simone St. James. I've only read two of her books though and both had ghostly elements to them. Can't wait for your guest post!
ReplyDeleteHasn't it been cold? Brrr! Just happy there wasn't a lot of moisture. Now if it could just top freezing, I would be happy. Ha! Guest post comes on Friday.
DeleteI haven't read The Rose Code yet but I've enjoyed Kate Quinn's books!
ReplyDeleteI really like St. James' books for the most part. THE BOOK OF COLD CASES isn't my favorite. THE BROKEN GIRLS and THE SUN DOWN MOTEL are the two that I like best from her.
ReplyDeleteMURDER AT HAVEN'S ROCK was one of my favorite reads from last year. I just love the Rockton/Haven's Rock series—the setting, the characters, the writing, etc. I'm glad you're enjoying it too. I also loved THE MAID. I'm going to reread it, I think, before moving on to THE MYSTERY GUEST.
I haven't heard of the Slocumb book. I'll have to take a closer look at that one. KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE and THE ROSE CODE are both on my TBR, so I'll get to them...someday!
Glad you enjoyed all these.
Susan, I know that our reading overlaps on lots of books. Glad to be reminded of your thoughts on the ones I mentioned.
DeleteI haven't read any of your memorable books, but I did read and love Broken Girls in 2023!
ReplyDeleteAnother fan of Broken Girls. Seems like that's the experience that many of us had. Thanks for sharing, Stacy!
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