My Empire is complete. Arrived a few days early to publication date. I'm waiting on my B&N, and Forbidden Planet Editions. And I will actually read the Trade Paperback. As much as I want to start reading right after this post, I'm having a very rare case of patience and saving this for my Christmas/New Year read.
pan2025 Reads continued.....
LATO - Cute but heartfelt dog story. I did sob a few too many times.
TA - Clever cosy crime with a different format. Although, felt the use of emails rather than messenging apps rather outdated already.
SH - Bleak, unlikeable characters and an ending I just didn't get. UGH
TDP - Another well plotted crime novel.
50th Anniversary Edition of Salem's Lot (arrived today), the other anniversary editions and my original paperbacks purchases from way back when.
pickUltimately, I thoroughly enjoyed this series.....it was long, way too bloody long! and needed a good edit, particularly when all the characters just kept repeating their emotions over and over. I did enjoy the periods the story was set, the use of the characters magic abilities and the ending was satisfying for me. I do recommend, but set aside a hefty chunk of your leisure time to read (2 years for me).
pick2025 Reads continued....
AW - Impressive debut eco thriller. A few 'I just knew it!' moments and then the ending went off in a different direction to what I thought would happen. Really enjoyed this novel. Sequel next year Infinite Wisdom.
Im also a REF fan. 36 novels later and I still love the world's of Midkemia and Kelewan, and now Garn. Read Magician when I was 16 in 1984.
My Broken Binding editions of The Riftwar Trilogy. Love them!
pick2025 reads continued
TTTNH - fun, witty banter gay romcom
WAV - enjoyable twisty and easily read. Betterthan MOTN
S - I laughed a few times but this def wasn't for me. Read in a day
ISRGOWH? - fun and loved the main characters. Her best since JHMYY
Got hold of an ARC. I'm only on page 28 and I'm already hooked.
An Eco-Political thriller that is spot on with it's timing. The tech and future-world building is subtly handled and not too much of an info dump. And the characters are intriguing. I have no clue where this is going though....
Feels like a hybrid of Stieg Larrson, I Am Pilgrim and The Silo trilogy
Already the sequel 'Infinite Wisdom' is planned for a 2026 release
pick2025 Reads continued...
CSIB - Tennis themed. Enjoyed.
ABOS - I decided to jump on the Romantasy train. Was determined not to like Gay Fairies but it kinda won me over. 🙄 at the Sex scenes though. Good plot and action.
DW - Urgh. Not much happened in this so called crime/thriller novel.
TT - twisty plot and timeline. Kept me reading.
pick2025 reads continued...
KOA - a welcome return to a very beloved fantasy author and a new trilogy not set on Midkemia
NP - not particularly interesting take on a Grenfell type story and the aftermath of 4 related(ish) people.
TD - OK whodunnit. Liked the setting but not the outcome
TBJ - Debut crime novel. Very Well plotted and intro to a new dectective series
The completely elusive Misery in Flipback Book format. This format was UK Publishings answer to portable reading in 2011, then the Kindle happened and killed it off.
Been searching for this for 10 years and never seen one for sale on Ebay until now. And the price was so much less than what I expected to pay.
Number One Fan is very very happy 😊
pickCrete 2025 holiday reading
TDS - typical boys own adventure from Clives son
MHM - 3rd outing for Susan Ryland and an Atticus Pund 'continuation“ novel. Clever book in a book novel. Part figured it out.
TGP - ok RomCom, inspired by the film Big
TW - OK Crime. Just.
pick2025 reads continued
Caught up with some non fiction TBRs
DOC - this sequel is just as good, if not better than TTC. I assume there will be a 3rd of this fantasy crime mashup sometime in 2026. V.much loving this series.
pick2025 Reads continued....
CH - Quirky, rambling first outing about a private dectective. Liked it, didn't love it
TBOCC - Slight let down from her previous ghostly novel. Liked it, didn't love it
TCM - Slow to begin with but ramps up the twists and turns a 1/3 way thru. Was great. Sequel due 2026
CTD - 5th Hawtorne novel with a different format which was refreshing .
My lottery win purchase.💰 Fantastic condition 43 year old paperback from Stephen King under his pseudonym added to my SK Collection. 📚📚📚
so-so2025 reads continued
TMG - 2nd OK whodunnit. Guessed the culprit early on.
56D - Murder in Lockdown Dublin. But was it? Lacklustre ending.
TSC - Still enjoying the story however way too long and should have been edited.
TTOTK - loving this 4th Murder mystery. Golden Age Agatha Christie style.
Think I was in the right place at the right time to acquire this rare Stephen King paperback from 1980. Fantastic condition for a 45 year old paperback. This was a complete indulgence, or more money the sense moment. 🤔
Still only 1 work away (The Little Sisters Of Eluria) from completing my SK Collection.
pick2025 Gran Can Holiday reads
TTM - a typical black humour short story from this author
T - Lovely debut from my fav Radio DJ. Had me tearful in places
BID - got funnier as the story progressed. OK 3rd from this Author
FOS - usual supernatural crime going ons brings Dectective out of retirement
pick2025 Reads started...
CBTB - Good Xmas read
TCJM - loved the eldery character and thought this was better than her previous novel
TTC- fantastic fantasy crime genre mash up. Interesting world, plot, and wonderful memorable characters
IAPOD - good black houmor crime novel. Just a little too long
pick2024 Reads continued...
ITU - fan of his podcast and equally this....Team Believer or Team Skeptic....I'm Team Inbetween
IIB - fan of the Holly Novella but not the rest
MMUTM - Readable Xmas RomCom.
KITS - 2nd in the series. Just OK
pick2024 reads continued
G - consistently readable thrillers!
ALTK - 3rd Hawthorne crime novel and really like the Agatha Christie-sque vibes. I am looking forward to novels 4 or 5, and excited for the 3rd Atticus next year
CIAC 2 - just as much fun as the original
TSF - good follow up novel, but no where near as scary as TWM.
pick2024 Reads Continued
TLS - Charming Narnia-esque story
TCBM - it's Prequel and first DS Marco novel are an OK start to a 5 book series based on Cardiff. Places I'm very familiar with.
COHF - I quickly got bored with this conclusion to the series. Will not be reading any subsequent series.
pick2024 Reads continued
Catching up on the crime genre
TMB - a shocking double ending when Thorne once again goes up against his nemesis Stuart Nicklin
TLD - really liked this new 'unconventional' detective and his sense of humour and the general humour of the novel.
Finally! Secured this rare 1989 SK treasure in very good condition for a very reasonable price via Ebay.
Only 2 more (probably expensive) rare titles to collect and my SK Collection is complete.
pick2024 Reads Continued
TGA - just as good as TG, if not better. I await a 3rd
TG - Vamps & human exist together. Very much a police procedure with a ending set up for a sequel. Was a very quick read
MOTN - Just ok. Like THATL, one of my least favs from Sager
HE - Cracking read! Probably his best so far
pick2024 reads continued
TY an OK Victorian Whodunit.
CR -Author has most certainly hit his stride in this 3rd Adam Tyler novel. Quick paced plotting and twists, and more of the characters developed. Ending setting up perfectly for no 4.
EOD boy does she put the 2 main characters thru the wringer in this one. Great plot but too long.
BGW. Didn't like the writing style and this stopped me from enjoying the story. Wish it had been better overall.
Managed to find a purple slipcase set of both the WHS & Waterstones editions ☺️
Just waiting on the Independent Booksellers & US editions to arrive
pickAlmyrida, Crete Holiday Reads 2024
KS : Interesting take on crime fiction masquerading as true crime.
TDT : thoroughly enjoyed this sequel. More of the same time travelling heist. Bit too long though.
ASOD : I love this authors novels, however this was mediocre short fiction, clearly most written before she hit the big time
AFC: Cosy Agatha Christie style crime which was a fun quick read
pick2024 Reads Continued
WYWD - a Quick Reads featuring Roy Grace.
PYD - 18 in the Roy Grace Series. Always enjoy these British Crime novels, this one about art theft and forgeries.
MITC - not as long as her previous novel and the formula remains the same. Romantic thriller.
TSID - Ingenious British crime novel no2 that's shaping to be a very good series.
"A life without books is a life not lived, Dior. There's a magik like no other to be found in them. To open a book is to open a door—to another place, another time, another mind."
So true.
Worked up a sweat moving my entire SK Collection to decorate. Would have taken half the time if I hadn't stopped and flicked through every one bringing back memories of how I acquired each one (and dusted them).
I simply adore the graphic quality, colours, and font of these US covers for the Daniel Hawthorne series. So effective in their simplicity.
pickBlood soaked and action packed from start to finish with revelations and plot twists a plenty. New characters introduced and a welcome return to the old characters Again it's taken me a while to get through this, but well worth it. Highly recommend this series!
Book 3 HURRY UP!
Twatgoblin! 😂
Shelfie No.1
I have officially run out of shelf space for my SK Collection.
Still need to get My Pretty Pony, Little Sisters Of Eluria and the forthcoming You like It Darker
pickTD - bleak pandemic but very readable thriller. 3 POVs that seemly don't connect. I figured out the big twists 3rd of way thru.
ATDT twisty crime drama. Was good but, not a patch on her debut novel
TLM - really enjoyed this and the time period it was set in. Look forward to the next book, however wary of how long books 2,3&4 are.
TDOW black humour crime novel set in a 'prison' town. Very quickly read this.
A good start to 2024 reading.
so-soFinal 2023 Reads
ARCFT - So many Christmas Clichés! Was average at best
TCK - Fairly decent debut novel, did figure out the killer way too early though.
AMLMC - Christmas soft Porn 🤭
Did laugh quite a bit and did really like the LGBTQ+ and body positive aspects of this. Will read the next one next Christmas.
so-so2023 Reads Continued...
MRIAV - fun nonsense rom com which deserves to have a follow up
MITF - Clever different format for a crime novel which kept me reading
HI - I really didn't like the writing style and I think because of this I found it rather dull for a 'horror' novel. Struggled to finish it.
MOTCE - another puzzle from this author. Quick read but nothing special.
😃That's my lottery win spent! 10 years of bidding and losing on EBay, I finally have a reasonably priced like new first edition slip cased copy of SKs rare SoD vol 2
Only My Pretty Pony left to find and I'm SK Complete.
pick2023 Reads Continued.....☀️ Holiday in Greece
ROW - Great conclusion to the Duology. Seemed to set it up for the next in Grishaverse novels
TDATDW - was a tad dull tbh. 500+ pages for very little pay off. Disappointed as Evelyn was so good.
TSBCGTSV - I liked the 90s setting and the housewives trying to keep up appearances vibes.
Was quite creepy in places.
pick2023 Reads continued
TFTOP - a welcome return to the Londons and characters old and new. Was all I hoped for and more. How long do I have to wait for book 2?
TOOL - Just how many twists can one get in a book? Suspended belief and just enjoyed the ride. Rolled my eyes but in a good way. IMO Sagers best since HBD.
pan2023 Reads continued
My last read by Emily Henry. Just as non rom com as the previous
two novels . The humour (was it even that?!?) just didn't do it for me.
Super chuffed that I bid and actually won this on Ebay. Super Rare ARC of The Secretary of Dreams Vol 1 #55 by Stephen King. I only need Vol2 and My Pretty Pony and my collection is finally complete after collecting his works for 44 years
