This is my second attempt at Jhumpa Lahiri and again a DNF. Her prose is fluid and on point, details well observed. Authentic characters & much to read between the lines. But the tone is too cool and remote for me (no places or characters are named). So I was not invested even though I love Rome and this should be the perfect setting to immerse myself in. An outsider‘s perspective & bleak re Italy not welcoming immigrants.

I enjoyed this but I don‘t think it‘s my favourite genre. The pace was a little slow & lacked tension (the author doesn‘t plan his novels so it felt more episodic than a tightly plotted thriller). Gabriel Allen is a sympathetic, wry character, cartoonish in his abilities (as they all are). It became a WW3 story across many countries, with a not unrealistic premise. Rich with art & music, I enjoyed the more grounded scenes in Venice & Denmark.

I enjoyed this more than BWWAY. The story of 2 brothers Peter and Ivan, I love how intimate & fly-on-the-wall it is, giving us a sense of real people. They‘re complex & flawed so we sympathise with one, then the other. Their conflicts feel true, details add texture. Explores siblings, grief & changing relationships. Some plot points felt contrived but it was an immersive reading experience.

I‘m so behind on my book reviews! 🫠 stand by for a batch of them coming soon (after I‘ve had a coffee 😅) … 📚

A brilliant novel. Baxter‘s prose is fresh and visceral, raw and often funny even as she tackles dark themes. We have a real sense of Sabine so committed to her art - ‘on her knees for art‘ - trying to corral her ideas into form & at the same time dealing with a dangerous stalker, so that you feel she might implode. Satirical about the art & online worlds mixed with the menace facing Sabine, it‘s an exhilarating ride. A strong book.

Beautifully written but this didn‘t work for me. We flit between characters & timelines so it feels more like a story cycle - it lacks the satisfying narrative of a novel. We only scratch the surface of characters & their stories. The love stories are all sweet in contrast with the war scenes but felt contrived or unreal. Stunning, economical prose. It just didn‘t quite hang together for me.

I enjoyed this more than I‘d thought I would (with low expectations) - there‘s great humour, wonderful observations by Ariadne Oliver about being an author & the joy of her and Poirot‘s company. The mystery is elusive & dissatisfying in that it stays so nebulous & hard to grasp throughout. This could be deliberate as memory (a theme) can be slippery too, but it feels vague. Elephants are mentioned far too often (especially for Poirot!).

I loved this Agatha Christie classic that I hadn‘t yet read and somehow had avoided spoilers! Poirot investigates an old case involving an art monster, his wife and his muse. Great characters, mystery and gentle wit. Recommended.

I wanted to love this - a cruise ship thriller described as Agatha Christie meets Succession, it sounded like a fun, escapist holiday read. It‘s gripping, pacy and kept me turning the pages. YBut the premise felt contrived & I didn‘t believe the friendship between Emily & Belle which is central to the book. The tycoon‘s family are all rude & unlikeable, a trope that didn‘t feel fresh & can be heavy going. It‘s action, not Christie-esque.

Currently reading. Claustrophobic with rich white people behaving badly but I need to know what happens next!

I really enjoyed this crime novel about a woman searching for answers after she is suspected of killing her friend. The set-up is that Ben is doing a podcast about her case, and I loved how the author created an odd couple vibe. Lucy is a sarcastic, witty but ultimately sympathetic character & her family wonderfully dysfunctional. I half guessed it but there were plenty of twists & turns making for a satisfying read.

I loved this singular novel about an Indigenous Australian woman who is forced into marriage with a future prime minister. Wright is virtuosic with language, mixing Aboriginal words with English, local vernacular with literary & mythological references. It‘s a hard-hitting commentary of racism & colonialism in Australia but satirical & very funny re bureaucracy. Infused with Indigenous thought, it makes you see differently.

A dark novel about two newlyweds who are spurned by the rural villagers because of the caste difference. Very disturbing as a portrayal of the caste system discrimination, narrow-mindedness & violence. The city which welcomes all is a haven by contrast. But I also found the marriage controlling (he ignores her plea to go home). The effect was a horrifying book told in a fairytale style with villains, a complicit groom & a damsel in distress.

I enjoyed this novel set in Delhi about a history teacher dealing with changes in his family and country. His trouble at work reflects a wider tension between Hindus & Muslims. He is bookish & philosophical but those around him are becoming more binary & commercial. A little slow & esoteric (for someone with no knowledge of India‘s history) but I was invested in Alif & enjoyed the rich details, sense of place & gentle comedy.

Mary Beard brings to life the Roman emperors in this fascinating study of their daily lives, homes & customs. She has a rich knowledge of this period to draw from &, following SPQR, this is an attempt to look at the emperors & their subjects as real people rather than a dry history. I don‘t know enough about the era so found it confusing switching between emperors as it‘s told as a series of anecdotes. But history buffs will enjoy this fresh take.

I enjoyed this classic murder mystery with a great puzzle and fun characters (= rich neighbours behaving badly). It kept me guessing as I suspected each character in turn and I liked the repartee between the detectives. Lovely Richmond setting and gated community intrigue.

A small gem, described as a black comedy and it is that, but it packs a real punch. Short enough to read in one sitting, the tension builds relentlessly and the impact is forceful by the end. One of those books that you have to think about for a while before picking up the next one. Winona is a smart, wounded narrator & there is much unspoken between the lines. The homage to Mrs Dalliway is masterfully done. Strong, poetic writing. 5 stars.

I loved this sweeping tale set in Georgian England. Red is a great character, resourceful & engaging, with skills in fortune-telling. She is involved with a wealthy family but realises they‘re lying to her & her life is in danger. Dickens vibes in the immersive historical world, pacy story-telling & dastardly deeds with an orphan hero. Beautifully written, a book to be swept away in.

An idiosyncratic memoir with much about Flanagan‘s father, WW2, the atomic bomb & invented vignettes about H. G. Wells & the physicists who developed the bomb. It‘s artfully woven together in his usual muscular style. His writing is jaw-droppingly good & he‘s distilled this tapestry of a life history to its essence. Humble, Australian & acutely aware of injustice in Tasmania 1780s through to the war, & how precarious life is, including his own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this classic murder mystery set in the theatre. A slow but engaging build-up as we meet the characters & intrigue is created with valuable relics & eccentric collectors. Alleyn is an elegant detective, the writing is beautiful, dialogue on point & the theatre world lovingly depicted. The murder comes late for modern reading tastes but I enjoyed being immersed in the world. The director‘s passion & actors‘ tantrums ring true.

I liked this but didn‘t love it as much as I wanted to. It was sold as a novel of food & murder but it‘s really about journalist Rika navigating work, friendships and society‘s expectations of women in Japan. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of food & her life in Tokyo & the unexpected turns the characters take. But it became repetitive & was more a coming of age than a suspenseful mystery. Authentic & thought-provoking but too long.

Perfect evening on the deck. Enjoying this beautifully written, well-observed murder mystery set in the theatre world.

A really fun murder mystery, with a knowing wink to Agatha Christie and the genre. I loved the tone, sense of humour and contemporary references, not least Dorothy who is a failed presidential candidate, leaving the reader to guess who inspired her character. I found it hard to believe she would investigate the murders & I‘m still curious about the bodyguard but otherwise a light, engaging read with setting, twists & elements of classic crime.

Recommended by Sophie Hannah as her favourite Christie and did not disappoint. A classic set-up with a dysfunctional family in a huge manor house returning from a funeral, another death & Poirot investigating. And a clever solution. As always I love the light touch, characters who are sketched so deftly you can see & hear them & the gentle poking fun at the wealthy family and their quirks. And clues that keep me guessing. A perfect mystery.

An eye-opening read that encompassed more than I expected. The supply chain to (US) supermarkets includes the trucking industry, farming and slave labour. The marketing tactics & the way suppliers are beholden to major chains is also tough. I really enjoyed the writing style, prose & humour reminiscent of Michael Lewis. A deep investigation & example of Cal Newport‘s Slow Productivity. Makes me want to buy all my food at the farmers market.

A brilliant history of Ancient Rome. Mary Beard has a mastery of her subject and an engaging writing style that makes this a pleasure to read. I came to this knowing very little so it‘s a lot to absorb and probably more comprehensive that I need (as a casual lay reader). But it‘s accessible as an introduction & would be super rewarding for those who have a particular interest. New material is still coming to light. Essential if you like history.

I enjoyed this novel set in Venice. A delightful love story with 2 enigmatic characters and a wonderful, rich sense of place. Lots of textures of the art, streets and history of Venice. It‘s gently paced & lacks the suspense of conventional mysteries but makes up for it with the erudite tone & wit. The dinner party scenes are wonderfully satirical & the characters well drawn. The solution was risky & well handled. A great read for Venice travel.

Excellent, sharp thriller about a publicist in Hollywood who ends up in a murder investigation. A strong sense of place evokes the smells, textures & diversity of LA while the knowing tone gives an insight into the tough, ruthless culture. Mae is a great character. Lots of details & references drawn from Jordan Harper‘s time in Hollywood. Fast-paced & the scenes spring to life.

A great, suspenseful crime novel. I was glued to the page and invested in the characters. I love the genre of ‘smart, put-together woman slowly unravels‘ and this was structured well, with dual timelines & fraught sessions with her therapist adding backstory as she grapples with a tragic death from her past. The depiction of wealthy New Yorkers & journalism is on point. The student friendships feel real as does Charlie‘s trauma.

I like the wry humour & art references. There‘s a fun dynamic between Jonathan Argyll and detective Flavia. But the action is slow, it lacks suspense and the tone & dialogue feel English, even though the characters & setting are supposedly (in part) Italian & Spanish. The mismatch between the English sensibility & European story was jarring. I didn‘t mind it as a nice, escapist read but not compelled to finish.

An interesting study of creativity. Albert Read looks at our imagination from different angles: observation; how existing art inspires new ideas; time to let our brain free associate; walking and nature & the importance of clusters for sparking ideas. These are things we can all practise: the ‘muscle‘ is a good analogy. I would have liked even more practical tips. Surprising he doesn‘t include meditation as this ties in with some if his themes.

I really this novel about a man sentenced to read aloud to the elderly & disabled. Wonderful, eccentric characters & a great sense of place in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The narrator‘s love & frustration with his home town infuse the story & add texture. His struggles feel real, including the backdrop of violence. His growth & relationships with other characters create tension & propel us forward with delightful poetic references woven in. Masterful.

A comprehensive history of modern Greece, well-written. I learnt much about where Greece sits in the wider context, including that it hasn‘t existed as a country until relatively recently - whereas there is a strong conceit of the Hellenic (or Greek) ancient history & culture. For a country that invented democracy, it seems to have been a hot mess for the last 200+ years. So many coups, periods of no government and reliance on imperial countries.

This didn‘t work for me. It succeeds in that it‘s an original take on a murder mystery, with a crime writer & mathematician as a framing device showing the rules of mysteries using maths & Venn diagrams. The eight stories are unsatisfying as we don‘t get to know the characters as with a novel, & they‘re vehicles for the formula. And the framing mystery happens at the end with a twist I didn‘t care about as I hadn‘t engaged with those characters .

Three stories featuring Peter Wimsey. These were fun to read with engaging characters and mysteries at their heart. I enjoy seeing how Wimsey relates to the world (including disciplining children in one of the stories). I prefer novels as a way of getting to know characters and trying to solve the mystery, but these were fun, easy reading. Another classic cover!

I loved this classic mystery set in an English country village. Adam Grant is a wonderfully warm, intelligent detective so it was fun to be in his company solving the disappearance of the Hollywood photographer Leslie. Great characters, nuanced relationships and it feels modern despite being published in 1950. Clean, strong writing with a sense of humour & well-paced. A simple story with rich layers underneath.

My first Ngaio Marsh. I loved the writing - witty & elegant - and fun cast of characters. Great, satirical portrayals of characters who work in the theatre (the deep voices, command of space). And a married couple as protagonists - artist Agatha (Troy) & her police husband. It felt long to read, with the murder happening halfway through. Almost more of a comedy of manners than gripping mystery. I enjoyed it. Not sure about the cover though!

I absolutely loved this classic mystery. Sophie Hannah recommended it as (one of) her favourite Christie books and I can see why. It has all the elements: Poirot, seaside resort, characters with intrigue and a murder where everyone has a motive. And Christie‘s wit and light touch. The solution is pretty tricky (almost too much) but a fun read, masterfully done.

I enjoyed this mix of murder mystery and feel-good up-lit. It has Eleanor Oliohant vibes with a socially awkward protagonist, but I found her annoying at times and the tone a little sentimental or almost condescending (to her) and she‘s portrayed as quite clueless. But overall an engaging feel-good story, the uplit part works better than the whodunnit given we know the culprits early on (notwithstanding the late twist). Love a matching bookmark!

A fun, clever heist novel. Two podcasters search for a missing woman & a stolen antique, with eccentric shady characters joining them along the way. Featuring an old chateau & obscure hobby of breaking into old houses without stealing, it has great pace, dialogue & depth of character. Mina‘s writing is crisp & alive. I was unsure who the protagonists were (& how they knew each other) but that didn‘t matter once I got into it. A good plane read.

I enjoyed this novel about Bob, a retired librarian who meets a new group of friends. The beginning section had me laughing out loud - I love deWitt‘s deadpan humour. The middle about Bob‘s marriage is affecting & characters are true to life. I find deWitt‘s matter of fact style comforting. His wit & mastery of character keep it interesting but it‘s understated & calm at the same time. It didn‘t sustain the energy of the beginning but a fun read.

A brilliantly written and comprehensive account of America‘s wars in Pakistan and Afghanistan (as it says in the title). I bought this when America pulled out of Afghanistan & it‘s taken me this long to pick it up - part of reading my TBR this year. It‘s a great insight into the different arms of govt, their struggles with other cultures, arrogance at times, the complex relationship with Pakistan as a nuclear state & the need for a clear purpose.

I loved Memorial so was eager to read this one. It has similar ingredients that I loved: a Houston setting that feels ethnically diverse with Korean-American families & gay characters authentically portrayed, & food as a motif. I loved how Cam & TJ make space for themselves & their (found) families. It felt slower & more downbeat with casual sex, drug use & grief. I enjoyed Memorial more but this is complex & accomplished w trademark raw honesty.

I loved this sweeping novel about family & friendship. At its heart is the mystery of the disappearance of Martin‘s wife, Cecilia. Rich with art & literature references, intricate as we follow Martin from youth to present day & full of Gothenburg & Antibes atmosphere. Complex characters & thought-provoking re Cecilia‘s absence. Erudite like The Hummingbird & compulsive as the Ferrante novels. Loved the satire of the (failing) art monster.

A great exposé of how the super-rich and corrupt politicians avoid tax and the countries who help them. Bankers, lawyers, real estate agents and the tax haven bureaucrats turn a blind eye as they take commissions on dirty transactions. The scale of offshore wealth is disturbing. Well-written & relevant to much of what‘s happening in the world today.

A good flight read. Pitched as miss Marple meets Succession. I would say it‘s more Succession meets SoHo House with a Fyre Festival vibe. Like reading breathless vanity Fair article. But well done & full of knowing details that feel authentic & evoke the world of Annabel‘s, SoHo House & those exclusive hotels in the forests of England. I enjoyed the fly on the wall feel but the characters were hard to like.

Beautifully written story of a Ghanaian-British young man coming of age in London. A sense of yearning & melancholy pervades the book as his life is touched by violence, racism & grief. He cautiously embraces moments of comfort, friendships & the joy in music & dancing. Poetic & compassionate, a little slow for me but authentic & full of insights & heart.

I thoroughly enjoyed this third book in the series. Great plotting, engaging characters and Osman‘s dry sense of humour. A cosy, comforting read with a fun puzzle to keep you guessing. Skilfully done. I highly recommend if you like murder mysteries with a British sensibility.

Excellent. A biography of George Orwell‘s wife Eileen that challenges our view of his treatment of her, the role of wives (or artists) in history and the form a biography can take. I love Funder‘s clean prose and her clarity of thought. She includes fictional vignettes that are imagined based on Eileen‘s letters & source documents. She explicitly brings it into the modern day with reflections on her own experience. Great for book clubs.

I really enjoyed this. It‘s beautifully conceived, thoughtful and pacey. I was invested in the characters so kept turning the pages to see what happened to them. I loved how Nović integrated sign language and the story was immersed in deaf culture. It‘s drawn from her lived experience so feels authentic rather than tokenistic. Whilst there‘s a ‘message‘ it‘s not too preachy & made me think. The closure of special schools is topical in Oz now too.