pickA collection of 13 eerie & chilling short stories from Daphne du Maurier including the original story of 'The Birds' (inspiration for the Hitchcock film of the same name).
A mix of ratings here for me, but let's face it, even du Maurier's 'worst' stories are still rather good with her mastery of taking perfectly ordinary things (operations, holidays, birds, & trees) & completely turning them on their heads by the end.
Thank you #Netgalley! I was just approved for this #ARC.
I am always excited for a new Starling book. Thankfully this one had a Send-to-Kobo option as well.
It almost makes up for me being rejected for the Tim Curry memoir (I‘d rather get that on audiobook anyway 😁).
pickThis mystery is one of my top reads for September. Read my full review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#the-armchair-detectives
Publication is expected October 1.
#NetGalley #BookoutureAudio #TheArmchairDetectives 📚💙
pickIntrigue for the littles. Read my full review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#my-cat-is-a-secret-agent
Publication day: September 30.
#NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #MacmillanYoungListeners #MyCatisaSecretAgent 📚💙
so-soAs someone who has always enjoyed a meander through historic burial places, I thought this would be right up my street. There are definitely some interesting chapters covering cemeteries I had never heard of before, & lots of asides & thoughts about the deaths of figures such as Karl Marx & Eva Peron. As other reviewers have noted though, the coverage of the different cemeteries is rather uneven with some seemingly rushed through. (continued)
pick5/5
Chih travels to Baolin where they plan to gather stories about the famine that struck the area, but Chih is captured by the magistrate who would prefer to control what the world know about Baolin's famine.
This was a dark book about the tragedy of famine and what desperate people are capable of, but I thought it was well done. I think I love the books in this series the most where there are multiple stories explaining one event.
#netgalley
pick4.5/5
Lyssa has sworn to kill the faerie creature that killed her brother 13 years ago. Her first lead comes from Alderic, a nobleman who has more money than sense, but also posses the beast's claw and a map to its lair. Lyssa is forced to bring Alderic along with her as they journey to craft a sword capable of killing the beast.
I really loved the way the faerie and their monsters were depicted in this book.
#netgalley
so-soThis Christmas romance might have been better as a movie. Read my full review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#a-ruff-royal-christmas
Publication is expected September 30.
#NetGalley #BlackstoneAudio #ARuffRoyalChristmas 📚💙
pickChristmas rom-com readers (and watchers) rejoice—this one‘s for you! Read my full review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#christmas-people
Publication is expected September 30.
#NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #ChristmasPeople 📚💙
pickDI Jimmy Perez fans: He may have left Shetland, but he‘s still on the case. Read my full review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#the-killing-stones-jimmy-perez-and-w...
Publication is expected September 30.
#NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #TheKillingStones 📚💙
The standouts for me were:
'The Blue Lenses' - a woman who undergoes an eye procedure wakes up & sees the true nature of everyone around her as their normal heads have been replaced by animal heads (ancient Egyptian god style). 4 out 5
'Alibi' - a man with murderous tendencies suddenly decides to take up painting. 4 out of 5
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'Split Second' - a widow goes for a short walk but when she returns her home is no longer hers. 4 out of 5
4🌟
My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Little, Brown Book Group/Virago, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7731394709
Read 27-30 Sept 2025
#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
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