The Perks Of Being A Book Addict discussion

Looking forward to reading about you plans for 2024, your current reads and your opinions/reviews on books read. 😊

My review of Love, Just In by Natalie Murray

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Tilt, by excellent Aussie author Chris Hammer, is the second in this rural mystery series, but it would be just as good as a standalone. Homicide detectives in small towns are up against generations of feuds and loyalties.
My review of The Tilt

Charles Dickens is known for many things, but this spooky story about a railroad worker seems different to me. The Signal-Man could easily have been a Twilight Zone episode.

My review of The Signal-Man

My review of Normal Rules Don't Apply: Stories by Kate Atkinson

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished The Serpent and the Wings of Night and wow what a great book. I think this one got lost or pushed aside due to the Fourth Wing but I loved this one. My review -> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished Falling Through the New World . 4 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.02 rounded to 4 stars review of The Deceiving Look by Victor Methos:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Crime and legal thriller
Third book in the series
Overall, this tense, suspenseful, and tragic novel gripped me from the beginning. The author brings strong characters, a great plot, and fascinating relationships to the novel.

my first book of 2024 finished!

Beautiful writing, loved the frank but compassionate way the author depicted both sides of the camp. Life is lived in grays, not black and white, and in all the light we cannot see.

full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 3.95 rounded to 4 stars review of Northwoods by Amy Pease:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

!! This is my 500th review that I've written and submitted to NetGalley in just over 4 1/2 years.

Crime Thriller and Police Procedural
The author brings strong characters, a great plot, fascinating relationships, and excellent pacing to the novel.

I finished these recently:

- my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

- my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

- my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm currently reading No One Can Know . Just starting today.

I finished my 1st book

Currently reading The Firm because I finally got a copy of The Exchange: After The Firm from the library!

My review of Simply Lies by David Baldacci

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished First Lie Wins and what an extremely fun ride this was. Had me guessing and wanting to know what was going to happen from beginning to end. Totally recommend it as it was a quick and fast read. My review —> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

FINISHED:

Elie Weisel - Night - 1960 Early Printing - VG Condition Hardcover Elie Weisel
Holocaust survivor. Very Raw.

The Ex

Good Read. With twists I never saw coming. Mind Bender.

The Inmate

Finished: 01/06/2024

A Merciful Death

Finished 01/09/2024



The Chocolate War
finsihed 01/15/2024
Written in 1974, when the subject of bullying was beginning to come to everyone's attention. School did nothing, teachers were rude, students hadn't really learned to fight back.


Beyond the Chocolate War
Finish
Had to read the last book in the series (of 2). Makes high school feel creepy.
Finished 01/18/2024


A Merciful Truth
Finished 01/13/2024


A Merciful Silence
01/20/2024



The Girl Who Was Taken
Finished 01/30/2024


Summit Lake
Finished 02/024/2024

Currently reading:

Fourth Wing
- Rebecca Yarros

Finished mystery novel Reykjavík: A Crime Story by Ragnar Jónasson

Review here

Completed The Alice Network by Kate Quinn ||

The Alice Network was real. Louise de Bettignies, (code name: Alice) it’s leader and her fate during World War I were too. As is the martyred French village Oradour-sur Glane still stands today.

The author uses this true life war heroine’s story to spin a dual timeline narrative. Two women. One haunted and searching for someone during time as a spy in WWI France. The other searching for her missing cousin post WWII. Both find strength, and search for absolution.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review of The Bookstore at Rivers End by Phillipa Nefri Clark

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I’m currently reading long lost and shatter me !

I finished my 2nd book

Here is my 3.52 rounded to 4 stars review of Devils Island by Midge Raymond and John Yunker:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mystery
Set in Marbury Island (fictional version of Maria Island) in Tasmania, Australia
Overall, this is an entertaining and informative mystery with a couple of surprising twists and turns. I loved the information about the island, its history, and the wildlife that is on it. There was a lot of tell versus show when it came to information about the characters. Some of the background information seemed unnecessary to the degree that was provided and this adversely affected the pacing.

I have just begun to read the novel Honta Yo An American Saga by Ruth Beebe Hill for the 4th. time.

If interested, you may view my rating and review of this book and the 150 others I have posted on Goodreads.
goodreads.com/review/list/25554164?re...

I finished my 3rd book

The Spy Coast, by Tess Gerritsen, is a new ensemble piece about five spies who have tried to retire quietly to a small town but discover it's not that easy. The author was inspired by real life circumstances near her, which made it even more interesting to me.

My review of The Spy Coast

not enough science explanation to make this a proper sci-fi, and not enough mystery for it to be a thriller.

full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.05 rounded to 4 stars review of The Clinic by Cate Quinn:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Psychological thriller
Overall, this engrossing and unsettling thriller has great characterization and world-building and pulls on the heart strings.

Struggling young author Junie is accused of racial passing, known as Yellowface, by social media critics in R.F. Kuang's novel. Good story - glad I'm not a publisher!

My review of Yellowface

Just finished as of last night. Found it to be veery fast paced. I liked it but wasn’t a fan of the ending —> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Currently Reading
Death of a King by Tavis Smiley and The Elite by Kiera Cass

I finished my 4th book

I’m on my second book , Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo.

I definitely like that this one just jumped right in and is more fast paced, unlike the first book Ninth House.

Read and highly recommend! It sort of has "A Man Called Ove" vibes.

Sarah wrote: "Just finished as of last night. Found it to be veery fast paced. I liked it but wasn’t a fan of the ending —> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Read the next book - The Housemaid's Secret I felt the same with the first - this one is really good. Lots of Easter Eggs in it!!

Tiffany wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Just finished as of last night. Found it to be veery fast paced. I liked it but wasn’t a fan of the ending —> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

I've become a fan of Freida McFadden. Waiting for book 3, but have read some of her others. Will try to get them all.

I agree - waiting for it as well. She has become one of my favorites.

Just finished Lady Tan's Circle of Women and thoroughly enjoyed the attention shown to historical details along with the story. My Review —> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Belatedly and wholeheartedly whishing you all a Happy New Year!! Finally catching up on threads and I've so far read 3 books I haven't reviewed yet:

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones - this was good, and I got the impression the author doesn't suffer fools lightly. Well paced and funny (and also ... you know, the whole mystery thing!). I'll be reading more.

The Recital by Gregg Andrew Hurwitz - this is an Orphan X short story. It was excellent and amusing (which is new to me for this series). Can't wait for Lone Wolf to be released this February!

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz - I was hoping this would be more philosophical than it turned out. It was a sweet story though, but I'd have loved a little more depth.

Rosalyn wrote: "

not enough science explanation to make this a proper sci-fi, and not enough mystery for it to be a thriller.

full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[bookcover:The O..."

I tried starting this ages ago (it was on Netflix at the time), but it failed to grip me at the time.

Here is my 4.34 rounded to 4 stars review of Lethal Vengeance by Robert Bryndza:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Police Procedural
# 8 in the series
Gripping, Complex, Good characterization, Page-Turner

I read The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store .5 stars .
My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Coming out in March for Kylie Minogue fans is another addition to the Little People BIG DREAMS series by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. The popular 'Neighbours' actress became a singing superstar with chart-topping albums five decades in a row.
My review of Kylie Minogue with several illustrations

I finished my 4th book

Here is my 4.36 rounded to 4 stars review of Dead Letter Days by Kelley Armstrong:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mystery
Novella
Set between the Rockton and Haven's Rock series
Well-written, entertaining
I've already read book one in the Haven's Rock series and book two is coming up soon when I realized there was a prequel.

i’m currently reading “a little life” by hanya yanagihara! this book has so many mixed reviews but i really enjoy it so far, she goes so in depth with every character and there is so much detail but it’s such a large book im not even half way through.

The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner

I read this last year and finally wrote my review. It's something to consider for those with better health resolutions in the new year.

My review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 2.98 rounded to 3 stars review of January Fifteenth by Rachel Swirsky:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Near future
Universal Basic Income
Switches points of view between four characters
Takes place in one day
Great premise, but didn't deliver everything I expected.
There wasn't a resolution / conclusion to the stories.
Thought-Provoking.