Procranstaberries—cranberry chutney served at Christmas, when you forget to make it at Thanksgiving.

This is the 4th Chief Inspector Adamsberg mystery in the series, and, WOW! These have got to be the oddest mysteries I have ever read, and I love them. It is difficult to give a synopsis, but there is a town crier, disturbing messages, talismans, the plague, toxic siblings, murder, and, yes, all in the 21st century. Adamsberg is his at his quirkiest, most intuitive self, with his difficult relationships with his fellow human beings. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the 2nd Chief Inspector Adamsberg in the series. It is a whirlwind of a mystery/thriller with a whiplash of an ending. I was completely baffled right up to the reveal. I loved the characters and the environs. If you want a picture of the French Alps, there are vivid descriptions. There might be a werewolf. Read it, and find out. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the 5th book in the Kincaid/James mystery series and it is by far my favorite. It starts with a request for help that quickly becomes a personal quest. There are startling revelations and Duncan and Gemma make some rash decisions and some parts were reminiscent of the collegial feeling of The Likeness by Tana French and The Secret History by Donna Tartt. This series has become more complex with each installment. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the 4th Kincaid/James mystery in the series, and we are back on track with an intriguing mystery. This one engaged me from the get go. We are treated to a jumble of clues and suspects and motives and emotions that lend to the chaotic feel of all parties involved. But a certain rhythm is regained and things fall into place and we have an extremely satisfying ending. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Who‘s up for this fun #LitsyPartyOfOne #24B4Monday weekend readathon? Check out the 3 posts @MrBook and plan to join in the fun!

This is the 3rd Kincaid/James mystery in the series, and it felt rather slow until about 3/4 of the way in. There was the actual mystery and relationship mysteries, one of which was resolved and the other...made more complicated? I am a bit ambivalent about the latter, but the series continues, and we shall see what we shall see. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It‘s National Cat Day. This is my Oz! #catsoflitsy

This, the 5th book in the Inspector Rebus mysteries, is the best one yet! It has everything: really scary bad guys, a seemingly unsolvable crime, bad things happening to good guys, from all sides, characters‘ flaws that are just enough to highlight their humanity, a satisfying, though not completely resolved, ending. Time to get more books in this series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Rabbi David Small books are mysteries, but are also treatises about the Jewish faith. We learn a lot about the life of a rabbi and the Temple and its congregants. Written in 1969, I shouldn‘t have been surprised that there was some racist content, but it struck a sour note. The rabbi speaks out against it, unsurprisingly, and that helps some. I didn‘t like this one as much as the first 2, but I‘ll probably continue with the series.

This is the 4th Inspector Rebus mystery, and I did like it, but it was an incredibly slow start, hence the 3 stars. I really like this series, so I knew if I kept reading, that I would be rewarded, and it has an ending that I did not see coming. Although there are still flawed characters, maybe because I‘m getting used to him, I liked John Rebus a lot more in this book. Forward the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This 2nd Kincaid and James mystery is even better than the 1st one! It is a quietly twisty psychological mystery. Superintendent Kincaid displays his very human side and you almost don‘t want him to solve this mystery. I love the interaction between Duncan Kincaid and Sergeant Gemma James. They play off each other‘s strengths. I highly recommend this series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the first Kincaid and James mystery and I enjoyed it. A good start to the series. It was a little slow to begin, but reads quite quickly. I found the story to be clever and the characters engaging. Now to binge read the rest of the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is classified as a historical mystery and it does fit that categorization, but it is also a semi cozy mystery. The crimes are deadly and the reasons behind them are shocking (for the time), but the main detective is an outcast from “society”, so it feels cozyesque, if that makes sense. It is a quick read and I did enjoy it, although this is not my usual genre. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don‘t know how anyone could give a sufficient synopsis, and I‘m not going to try. This is Ann Patchett‘s finest work of literature. I did not love all of the characters, but they‘re essential to the narrative. It is a marvelously rich story of a brother and a sister, and their complicated relationship, and complications from an extended family, and, yes, a house. You don‘t want to miss this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the 3rd book in the Inspector Rebus series, and it was awesome! It got back to the type of mystery represented in the 1st book of the series, and was so much better than the 2nd book. Again, there are many flawed characters and the London police have strong feelings about Scotland. Our “hero” being from Edinburgh, this adds to the difficulties surrounding the solving of this case. It had me guessing right up to the end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the 2nd Inspector Rebus novel. I did not like it as much as the 1st, but it was still a good book. It is not necessary to have read the 1st to read the 2nd. This one was far less thrillerish and maybe that‘s why I found it slow in parts. It was a pretty good police procedural with a pretty good mystery and it did show the tedium of police work. Flawed characters abound. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

It did not really take me that long to read this book. I just read some other books in between. If you like flawed characters, this book is full of them. I think I like John Rebus, but not very much. This is a police procedural and done very well. I enjoyed it immensely for a book from the 1980s. I had never heard of Ian Rankin, but I will have to read more of his Inspector Rebus books. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Don‘t let the length of this book intimidate you. It is an extremely fast and easy read. Gory? In parts, but that is not the main focus. It is an intelligently written psychological mystery/thriller. I was surprised by the reveals. With some lengthy books, I have found myself wishing for the end. Not so with The Chestnut Man. I could have kept reading and reading and reading. Don‘t miss this one! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I never had the least intention of reading a Veronica Speedwell mystery, but when it‘s a Modern Mrs Darcy book club pick, well, what choice do you have? I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it, although it was a bit corny in places. I guessed Veronica‘s secret before the reveal, and kind of knew what the resolution would be, but it was a fun read. #mmdbookclub @annebogel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a tough read, because of the content, not the writing. A mystery set in the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia, the search for missing children shows the disparity between the small, ethnic communities and the bigger, more modern, Russian city. Families, friends, tragedies, love, confusion, emotions, everything. Resolution? I‘m still not sure. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When you buy a book because you thought it was by a different author but it turns out to be a really good read and you think you really need to buy some more books in the series, you know you‘re a true book nerd. Also, I can‘t believe I read this one out of order. Still, Cassie Dewell is my new favorite detective. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I like Megan Miranda novels. They are engaging, quick reads, with an underlying darkness. Had it not been for work, i would have finished this in one day. I loved All the Missing Girls, so I was prepared for this book to be equally engaging, and I was not disappointed. If you like deeply flawed, almost-unlikable-but-not-quite heroines, then you'll love this book! Also, it's the Reese Witherspoon book club August pick. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Given the depths of the universal lying that is at the center of this book, it feels as though the truth is never going to be told, until, eventually, we learn the truth all at once, but too late. Those who deserve to be punished, mostly, are punished, and there are a lot of guilty what ifs. It's entertaining and informative and well written and a quick read. #deweyaug #reversereadathon @DeweysReadathon ⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of the places that I sometimes read: kitchen table. The light is great in here and I have padded chairs. And there‘s food and tea. #deweyaug #reversereadathon #readathonhourlyphoto @DeweysReadathon

I‘m actually almost done with the book, but this is the first page of my current read. #deweyaug #reversereadathon #readathonhourlyphoto @DeweysReadathon

I made it. Even though I slept, I still made it! #24in48readathon2019

I had a hard time starting this book because I just don‘t like the cover. But, as they say, don‘t judge a book...Anyway, I‘m glad I could get past the cover because this book is wonderful! Lori Gottlieb is a warm and intuitive and compelling writer. This book is so much more than even the subtitle reveals. I was surprisingly enchanted by the subject and subjects contained within these pages. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#24in48readathon2019

Making good time. Anonymous stack. One of many stacks. I have no control. #24in48readathon2019 @24in48

I‘ve been up for a while, but I had to sleep. Back into this gorgeous book for #24in48readathon2019 @24in48

I had to switch books for a while for #24in48readathon2019 #24in48

Woohoo! Starting #24in48.

My favorite heroine is Perveen Mistry. She is a lawyer in India in the 1920s, an independent woman determined to live her life her way. This is the second mystery in the series and it is every bit as good as the first. I love that these stories, while fiction, deal with the history of India under British rule. Perveen, despite her cultural constraints, is a feminist before her time. Great fun to read and extremely well written. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book put me through the wringer! I was leery of it because I had been turned off by the Wayward Pines series, but, no worries. This book is so different from that series and so different from any book I‘ve read. Simplistically, it‘s about the lengths some will go to to save humanity from itself. It‘s a much more complicated novel than that. Read it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don‘t even know where to begin with how this book makes me feel! It‘s a rollercoaster ride of thrills and scares and heart-in-the-throat moments, and a hell of a twist that hit me hard. Read this book! You‘ll devour it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had originally intended to listen to the audiobook, because I've listened to 2 of her books on audio, but somehow, for me, this book lent itself to the act of reading. As most of us will never be the food critic for the New York Times, this is an eye-opening look at that world. I loved reading her columns and her recipes, but the best parts are her personal interactions. Whether you read or listen, this is a wonderful book!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was not prepared for this jewel of a novel. I had no idea what this book was about as it unfolded over the coast to coast tour booked by a widow who had never been out of Kolkata, India. Although we are privy to her reason for taking this tour, it is abruptly revealed to her traveling companions and it changes the lives of everyone involved in unforeseen ways. The ending was truly lovely, there was laughter, and, yes, tears. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was prepared to give this book a 3.5 to 4 stars until I got to part five. Even the arrival of Amy in the Netherlands was not enough to elevate this book, but then, in part five, the curtains open completely, and everything makes sense. With a great whoosh, the story soared and I fell in love, backwards. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

While reading Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok, I came across this wonderful description. I looked it up in the dictionary and not only found the definition, but an illuminating diagram. Love as a mathematical expression. ❤️

I loved this book! I wasn‘t sure I was even going to read it, initially, because I was afraid it was a typical WWII era book and a romance, to boot. I couldn‘t have been more wrong. It is neither of these things. It is the best of historical fiction about a unique event and the effect it had on many, but specifically, two, people. It is about the postwar and deprivation and hope and family and friends and love and industry and art. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this book!! I read it one day!! A group of college students, a cabin in the woods, an insane asylum, selective amnesia, unlikely survivors, twisty plot, and chills right up to the end. Every bit as good as The Last Time I Lied. I can't wait to read Lock Every Door, coming out in July. Riley Sager is one of my favorite authors. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC/NetGalley. Inventive plot, extremely engaging with one hell of a reveal mid-book that had me yelling, “WHAT!?!?” There are parts I would recommend NOT reading at night. Ultimately a book about fathers and sons, it‘s a murder mystery involving a serial killer, children, a small town, an empathetic boy, his widowed, haunted father, and reconciliation. Do not miss this one!! #TheWhisperMan #NetGalley #CeladonBooks ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is another publication from Celadon Books. I am loving their selections. This book had me guessing right up to the final sentence. It‘s told from three perspectives: father, daughter, mother. And I think “nearly normal” is a misnomer. I devoured this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sometimes the shortest books are the best books. This charming gem is excellently written and a marvelously enjoyable read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am in love with this book and I didn‘t think I would even like it! It is a #MMDBookClub choice and I couldn‘t be happier. Goodbye reading slump. Things are looking up.

This is my first Rawi Hage, but not my last. The absurdity and chaos of trying to live in a city in the midst of war is brilliantly conveyed through a writing style that is frenetic, poetic, often energetic, and insane. Pavlov is a relatable, somewhat unreliable, sometimes lovable, main character. I highly recommend this disturbing, important novel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I listened to this one because I love Ruth Reichl's voice and her narration of her own books adds so much to her fascinating story. I gave this one a 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, even though I later found out that it was abridged. I'll have to read the book to see what I missed. I would recommend any Ruth Reichl audiobook, but especially this one and Save Me the Plums. (No picture as I am having extreme difficulty uploading them to Litsy.)

I loved this audiobook! Ruth Reichl is a wonderful narrator and tells a marvelous tale. This is a memoir but it reads, or in this case, sounds like a novel. She has had an interesting life and I have downloaded other audiobooks of hers. I haven‘t enjoyed an audiobook this much since Born A Crime by Trevor Noah. Give it a listen! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Despite my 3 star rating, I really liked this book. The writing is exciting and I was hooked from page one, I just thought that the “big twist” at the end was a let down. But read the book because lots of others have loved it and it is truly very well written. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I just love to read memoirs of people‘s‘ adventures in other countries and this is one of the best that I‘ve ever read. The writing is engaging and accessible and I felt like I was in Rome and I didn‘t want to go home at the end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️