seasonsoflove reads in 2013!

Happy New Year everyone! So excited for a great new year on this wonderful site, and to get my reading going for 2013!




January 2013
1. Murder on a Hot Tin Roof by Amanda Matetsky
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
3. The Naked Lady Who Stood On Her Head: A Psychiatrist's Stories of His Most Bizarre Cases by Gary Small
4. Dare Me by Megan Abbott
5. Died in the Wool by Ngaio Marsh
6. Superfreakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
7. The Child's Book of True Crime by Chloe Hooper
8. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson
9. Detective Piggot's Casebook by Kevin Morgan
10. The Lady and the Panda by Vicki Constantine Croke

February 2013
1. Into the Arms of Madness by Regina Pacelli
2. Capote in Kansas by Kim Powers
3. The Ghost and the Dead Deb by Alice Kimberly
4. Specials by Scott Westerfeld
5. First to Find by Morgan C. Talbot
6. Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
7. Broken Harbor by Tana French
8. Dark Truth by Mariah Stewart
9. Revenge of the Homecoming Queen by Stephanie Hale

March 2013
1. Bones to Pick by Carolyn Haines
2. The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
3. Gold Coast Madam by Rose Laws
4. On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle
5. Speaking From Among the Bones by Alan Bradley
6. Black Dahlia and White Rose by Joyce Carol Oates
7. The Trouble with Magic by Madelyn Alt
8. The Collected Bartleby and James Adventures by Michael Coorlim
9. Deadly Reunion by Elisabeth Crabtree
10. Trail of Blood by Lisa Black
11. The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill
12. The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door by Karen Finneyfrock

April 2013
1. The Color of Water by James McBride
2. Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon
3. All Booked Up by Terrie Curran
4. Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson
5. Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever by Jack McCallum
6. Night of the Loving Dead by Casey Daniels
7. A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris
8. The King's Jar by Susan C. Shea
9. Death by Latte by Linda Gerber
10. Death by Denim by Linda Gerber
11. Hello, Gorgeous by MaryJanice Davidson

May 2013
1. The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
2. The Cat Who Sang For the Birds by Lillian Jackson Braun
3. Manhunter: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
4. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
5. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
6. Cast of Shadows by Kevin Guilfoile
7. The Case of the Curious Bride by Erle Stanley Gardner
8. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
9. Private by Kate Brian

June 2013
1. The Woman Who Wasn't There by Robin Gaby Fisher and Angelo J. Gugliemo Jr.
2. In the Dark of the Night by John Saul
3.. The End of Everything by Megan Abbott
4. The Annals of Unsolved Crime by Edward Jay Epstein
5. Killer Show: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock Concert by John Barylick
6. Whodunnit? Murder in Mystery Manor by Anthony E. Zuiker
7. The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter
8. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
9. Manor of Death by Leslie Caine

July 2013
1. Sister by Rosamund Lupton
2. Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
3. The Kill Room by Jeffrey Deaver
4. Halls of Ivy by Roland Nunez
5. Darke Academy: Blood Ties by Gabriella Poole
6. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
7. Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender
8. Spying in High Heels by Gemma Halliday
9. Who Killed Mona Lisa? by Carole Bugge
10. The Year of the Gadfly by Jennifer Miller
11. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
12. Accomplished in Murder by Dara England
13. Souless Manga: Volume 1 by Gail Carriger
14. Third Degree by Maggie Barbieri

August 2013
1. The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison
2. An Appointment With Murder by Jennifer L. Jennings
3. Blood Price by Tanya Huff
4. Ghost Burglar by Jack Burch and James D. King
5. Loose Screw by Rae Davies
6. Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris
7. Whodunnit? Murder in Mystery Manor by Anthony Zuiker
8. Whodunnit? Murder on Mystery Island by Anthony Zuiker

September 2013
1. Night Film by Marisha Pessl
2. The Widows of Braxton County by Jess McConkey
3. Never Buried by Edie Claire
4. True Crime: Real-Life Stories of Abduction, Addiction, Obsession, Murder, Grave-Robbing, and More by Lee Gutkind
5. Zoo by James Patterson
6. How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny

Welcome back!

Thanks so much! So excited for a new year of reading!

1. Murder on a Hot Tin Roof by Amanda Matetsky

This is an entry in a fun mystery series set in the 50s, with a spunky girl sleuth named Paige Turner who works for a crime magazine. In this book, Paige finds herself involved in a show business slaying, when a handsome understudy who just had his star-making debut in the lead role in the hot new play (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) is found slashed to death in his apartment the very next morning.

Paige is a great character, determined, smart, and always finding ways to work within the social structure of the times she finds herself a part of, while still remaining true to her self and her views on the world. The mystery is a clever one as well, with great memorable characters and a suspenseful ending. The romance between Paige and her "Detective Dan" is a great one as well.

Hi Becca, Just stopping by to say hello and star your thread. Happy New Year!

Hi!! Happy New Year! I will be stopping by to star your thread as well :)

There you are! Happy New Year, my favorite mystery reader.

Hi Dad! Happy New Year!

2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

A high school freshman boy, Charlie, writes letters to a mysterious friend about everything that is happening in his life and in his head, as he struggles to figure out what happy is and how to be it, as well as how to participate in life rather than watch from the sidelines.

This is a book that sits heavy with me, that is hard to shake off. That's not a bad thing by any means, it just was an intense read, one I could not put down. As my best friend (whose favorite book this is) put it, "It pretty much covers every topic."

Hi Becca, I'm a little late but wanted to wish you a Happy New Year. Here's hoping 2013 is full of wonderful bookish surprises!

Glad to see you back with us again, Becca. It looks like your reading year is off to a terrific start!

Thanks so much to you both, and Happy New Year!

Perks packs a wallop, doesn't it, Becca? What a lot Charlie goes through, and he's such a good guy.

It sure does Dad! That's exactly how I felt.

3. The Naked Lady Who Stood On Her Head: A Psychiatrist's Stories of His Most Bizarre Cases by Gary Small

A friend who always reads really interesting non-fiction recommended this to me. In it, a psychiatrist who has studied and worked in a variety of psychiatric fields, from geriatrics to agoraphobia, discusses some of his most unusual cases, all of which had a major impact on himself and the way he practiced psychiatry.

This was one of those books I had to keep reading, because the stories were so interesting, and because I was rooting so much for each patient to overcome their obstacles. It was particularly interesting to read about combining talk therapy and medication, especially because this is a combination I have experience with myself. As someone with both a psychologist and a psychiatrist, seeing the field from the perspective of the person on the other side of the couch was fascinating.

Sherlock loves books too! ;D

4. Dare Me by Megan Abbot

This is one of those books where, when I finished, I literally said "Wow" out loud, and just stared at the last page. Recommend by Will Lavender, one of my favorite authors, it did not disappoint one bit. Dare Me tackles the complex issues of adolescence, popularity, friendship, mental health, fidelity, and personal responsibility, all while having the suspense of a psychological thriller, and cloaked in the story of a high school cheerleading team.

The narrator has been best friends with Beth as far back as anyone who can remember, save for an incident one summer no one is brave enough to talk about. Beth is the captain, the narrator her lieutenant, until one day a new cheerleading coach steps into their world.

Megan Abbot's writing style is amazing, her characters complex, and this book one you won't be able to put down. It's not even halfway through January and this is already one of my favorite books of the year.

Wow, great! I've never heard of this one, Becca, but I'm glad it turned out to be so good.

It was so good, Dad! I would lend it to you, but my copy is on my Kindle.

5. Died in the Wool by Ngaio Marsh

While an unusual novel for Marsh in that it is both a murder mystery and a spy story, Died in the Wool has all the wonderful typical components of Marsh's work-a secluded estate, a cast of complex characters, twists and turns, and the fantastic Inspector Alleyn.

Alleyn has been called to the scene of the crime a year after the murder occurred. It is wartime, and while Alleyn is obstentiously there to seek out the spy in their midst, he is also there to figure out who stuffed and pressed a woman's corpse in a bale of wool.

The dramatic denouement cleverly wraps up the mysteries, leaving the reader surprised and satisfied.

Hmm, that's one of the problems with Kindle (and we know it has a lot of positives). Mayhap I'll try the library.

"Obstentiously" - nice word! That sounds like an intriguing one. You like NM more than I do, but I've always had a good time reading her.

Thanks Dad! It was a good one :)

6. Superfreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner

Another fascinating book by these two authors, Superfreakonomics looks at everything from bystander apathy to the difference having a pimp makes for a Chicago prostitute. The writing style is wry and entertaining, and the topics covered are explored through real-world data and have real-world repercussions. I definitely hope these authors write more books in this vein.

Good for you for taking on Superfreakanomics, Becca. The subjects they cover sure sound interesting.

Seen any good plays lately? :-)

School of Lies was such a great play!!

7. The Child's Book of True Crime by Chloe Hooper

A multi-faceted story in so many ways, this novel expertly weaves together the crime of a murdered mistress, a children's book version of the crime, and a young teacher's growing delusions, eroticism, and paranoia. This is a very unique and gripping read.

8. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson

While Patterson's writing has definitely gotten weaker since his earlier amazing works like Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, his Alex Cross books are still his strongest. This was a suspenseful, quick read, with the earlier plot of a hostage crisis far more gripping than the seemingly rote and repeated terrorist plot that feels far too familiar from Patterson's last book featuring his female terrorist character.

#23: That one sounds pretty good. I will have to see if my local library has a copy. Thanks for the recommendation, Becca.

Becca- Happy New Year! Good luck with your various reading plans for the year. Are you joining us on Fantasy February? It's a blast.
I also recently read & enjoyed Perks. I know your Dad was a fan too!

hey Becca--i'm list-starring today. nice to see a Ngaio Marsh book mentioned. my favorite of hers will always be Scales of Justice. how can i not love a book that has village nurse who rides round on her bicycle saying things like 'i'll be on my way rejoicing' and an old duchess (iirc) who loves to fish and refers to a large catch as 'a woundy big trout.' i mean, really!

do you read Margery Allingham atall atall? about the same era, i think.

ciao.

#25-It was really good, definitely worth reading-really interesting!

#26-Happy New Year to you too!! I might join you guys, I'm not a huge fantasy reader, but I do have a few on my shelves I think.

#27-I don't think I've read Scales of Justice, I will have to get a hold of that one-I might even already own it.

I haven't read Margery Allingham but I will definitely look into her books!

Allingham's first two are my favorites. i have, or possibly had, old battered British paperbacks of them. the first is The Crime at Black Dudley and the second is Mystery mile. Mystery mile has the dog Addlepate and one of my favorite female characters of all time, the irrepressible, red-headed (iirc) and fearless young Biddy Paget. what a firecracker. written in 1930. Allingham writes amusingly and well but she won't tax you greatly.

Thanks for the information, I will definitely be checking those out-they sound exactly like what I like to read!

9. Detective Piggot's Casebook by Kevin Morgan

A true crime book I brought back from my family's trip to Australia, this book traces the life and career of Detective Piggot, an influential policeman essentially responsible for the introduction of forensic science in Australia. While Piggot was not perfect, he tackled some incredibly difficult cases, and used methods almost no one else was using at the time, making for a very interesting read.

10. The Lady and the Panda by Vicki Constantine Croke

This is a fascinating and incredible tale of a society woman who successfully treks through the uncharted parts of China and brings back two pandas to the United States, becoming the first person to introduce Americans to live pandas. Exploring the cultural, societal, historical, and personal implications of all that Ruth Harkness did and accomplished, this is an amazing insight into an extraordinary woman, an extraordinary country, and an extraordinary animal.

Hi Becca, I've had a YA version of this story on my wishlist for some time, Mrs. Harkness and the Panda, but I think I will switch over to The Lady and the Panda as I am sure it will give more details than the YA version.

Hi! The Lady and the Panda definitely goes into a lot of details :)

11. Into the Arms of Madness by Regina Pacelli (Member Giveaway)

A very blissful newlywed has her world turned upside down when her husband reveals a life-changing secret his family has been helping him hide for years. A really interesting premise, the book definitely ventures into unbelievable territory, which is where it lost me some. The secret itself wasn't so unbelievable (I do read a lot of mysteries and thrillers after all, hee hee!), but how the wife reacted throughout the story seemed way too calm and accepting-while her struggle is discussed (she is the first person narrator of the story), it just didn't seem realistic. The last paragraph of the epilogue though gives really interesting insight into her character, and kind of makes everything make a little more sense.

What interesting reading you've been doing, Becca! I'm glad the Detective Piggott book turned out to be worth the read. What caused you to read The Lady and the Panda? That one surprised me a bit.

Thanks Dad! Mom actually passed The Lady and the Panda on to me, and it made a great before-bed book.

12. Capote in Kansas by Kim Powers
A fantastical and heartbreaking tale, Capote in Kansas imagines the minds and lives of Truman Capote and Harper Lee in the later years of their lives, after their respective books have made them both famous and infamous. Now the ghosts of those whose lives Lee and Capote used for their stories are appearing in their bedrooms, and the authors are forced to confront issues of fame, friendship, privacy, and mortality.

Capote in Kansas sounds fascinating (not available in audio, blast it) but even more fascinating, and also not available in audio, is Powers' The History of Swimming. i wanna read that one!

have a good one.

Capote in Kansas is really fascinating-I hope it comes out in audio soon! I hadn't heard of The History of Swimming but will have to look into that one as well.

13. The Ghost and the Dead Deb by Alice Kimberly

This is such a fun series, and I'm really glad I rediscovered it by pulling the book from my shelves. It centers around the owner of an independent bookstore (Penelope), and a deceased PI (Jack) whose spirit is trapped in her bookstore. While this sounds like a bizarre concept, it actually works really well, and makes for a fun and different cozy mystery read.

In this book, a rich party girl pens a tell-all true crime novel about her former friend, who was brutally murdered at one of their fancy parties. When the rich party girl then turns up dead, Penelope and Jack must figure out the connections between the old crime and the new one.

I love mysteries surrounding secrets from the past, and wish it was possible to read the fake true crime book within the cozy mystery book because it sounded really interesting-that's how well-written and good this series is. I love the characters, and the relationship between Penelope and Jack, and the mysteries are always intriguing. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series, sooner rather than later.

14. Specials by Scott Westerfeld

I don't know if it was because I waited so long in between reading the second book in this series and this third entry, but I had a hard time getting through this book. I found it mostly boring, with things taking way too long to happen, and the ending was really unsatisfactory. For a series that started out with so much promise, the ending to the trilogy was highly disappointing. I'm debating reading the fourth book only because it (in summary at least) promises to have a fresh and different take on the idea of this "new world" but because it won't be adding anything to the story of the characters I had enjoyed, and because of how disappointing Specials was, it may be quite a while before I pick up Extras, if I do at all.

15. First to Find by Morgan C. Talbot (Early Reviewer)

This was a really interesting and original mystery, using the hobby of geocaching to spin a murder mystery with a lot of twists and turns. While some of the geocachers were a little hard to keep straight, even knowing next to nothing about geocaching I was still able to follow along almost completely, and in fact had my interest piqued enough to want to find out more about the hobby/sport. The mystery is a good one as well, with a satisfying and suspenseful solution. I look forward to more books in this series.

Did you like his Uglies, Becca? I've thought about trying that one.

Glad you got a satisfying ER book. Hope you and young Mr. Sherlock are having a fun weekend.

I did really like Uglies, it was my favorite of the series.

16. Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich

This mystery series is like great comfort food-enjoyable, familiar, and always makes you feel good. Stephanie gets her car blown up and ends up in a myriad of near-disastrous situations, is torn between two gorgeous men, each with their own pros and cons (I'm one hundred percent a Cupcake girl!), gets into hilarious hijinks with former-prostitute Lula, and attempts to bring in unique criminals who have skipped out on their bond.

I thoroughly enjoy every time I get to return to this series, and I hope they never change.

Yay! Me, too, Becca, on Notorious Nineteen. ("Cupcake" must be Morelli. What is Ranger?) I'll have to take a look sometime at Uglies. I know he has a big fan base.

Ranger is "Babe" :)

17. Broken Harbor by Tana French

When I read a book by Tana French I know what I will be getting: a beautifully written and insightful psychological mystery that will guaranteed break my heart.

Broken Harbor is no exception to this rule. Besides being a sometimes-painful insight into the fragility of human beings and their relationships, it is a fascinating mystery surrounding a slain family with one survivor. Why are there holes in the walls, and why are there baby monitors pointed at every hole? Who wiped the family computer's entire history, and why? And what brought a happy, healthy, loving family to their deaths in a house that was nothing like what was promised?

>43 seasonsoflove: So when Ranger says "Babe" to Stephanie, she should say, "Babe" back? No, that might get her into more romantic trouble.

>44 seasonsoflove: Yikes! Even the description of that one gives me the creeps. Did you sleep with the lights on?

Hee hee!

And I actually did not sleep with the lights on, but that probably was because I finished it in the middle of the day on my lunch break ;)

18. Dark Truth by Mariah Stewart

A quick read (well needed after Broken Harbor), Dark Truth also looks at how the secrets we keep from each other can have dramatic consequences, but with not quite the same finesse. It's more the kind of paperback you grab for cheap at a book fair, enjoy while you read, and then don't keep on your shelf when you're done, particularly since the ending is good but not as much of a surprise as I had hoped.

The protagonist has always believed her father to be guilty of the crimes he was convicted of, but when some new evidence comes to light over a decade later, she is forced to confront the idea that the father she subsequently ignored may have been innocent, and she will stop at nothing to discover the truth. There are some good twists and a nice romance along the way, and while the ending isn't a total shock, it's still suspenseful and well-done.

Hi Becca- Good review of Broken Harbor. I loved the first 3 French books but haven't got to this one yet. Looking forward to it.
Can you join us on April 6th?

Hi Mark! Thanks so much!

I should be joining you guys on April 6 :)

Looks like you've had some great reads so far this year, Becca! I added several to my wishlist. Dare Me looks particularly good, as I've read and enjoyed Megan Abbott in the past. Detective Piggot's Casebook and The Child's Book of True Crime sound right up my alley, too, as I've been on a bit of a true crime kick of late.

I've really been lucky with my reads this year :) I would definitely recommend the three you mentioned-I want to read more Megan Abbot now, and true crime is one of my favorite genres.

19. Revenge of the Homecoming Queen by Stephanie Hale

Exactly the kind of light mystery read I needed after the darker fare I've been reading lately, Revenge of the Homecoming Queen is the tale of Aspen Brooks, a popular high school girl who suddenly finds herself seemingly losing her bid for Homecoming Queen, and crushing on the boy considered the biggest nerd at school. When the girl who (supposedly) won the crown disappears, Aspen finds herself thrust into a mystery and romance she never saw coming.

This is exactly what it sounds like-a read that is fun and not challenging, that makes you laugh and smile, with a nice twist at the end of the mystery and a sweet romance you root for.

I very much would like to read the other books in this trilogy-however unfortunately and surprisingly the public library system here does not have any of Ms. Hale's books in electronic or print form. I have added them to my Kindle wishlist for the rare time when I have extra money for an extra treat ;) Whenever I have extra money, somehow extra books always end up jumping onto my Kindle and/or shelves! ;)

>50 seasonsoflove:, Have you read Die A Little or The Song Is You? Those are the Megan Abbott books I've read, and I remember really enjoying them both, especially Die A Little.

Buying Kindle books is way too easy. I often find far more of my budget disappearing into the Amazon Whispernet than I would like.

I haven't read either of those, I'm going to add them to my TBR list. Thanks for the recommendations!

It is way too easy! I "shop" the Top 100 Free Kindle Mysteries and Thrillers at least once a week because it gives me at least some of the thrills ;)

20. Bones to Pick by Carolyn Haines

A Southern Belles mystery, Bones to Pick stars Sarah Booth, a private investigator sharing her family home with a ghost and her own complicated love life. When the shunned daughter of a prestigious family is murdered , the suspect's brother hires Sarah Booth and her partner named Tinkie to clear his sister's name and find the real killer.

This book was merely okay, and I think a lot of that stems from the fact that I just read a mystery that handled similar ideas much better. The Ghost and the Dead Deb also has a resident ghost that only the female protagonist can see, and also investigates the murder of a society girl who writes a tell-all about her wealthy acquaintances, and it is a much more interesting and well-written read. Bones to Pick isn't bad, not at all, it just gets bogged down in Sarah Booth's emotional turmoil about her love for a married man, and the ending goes on way too long after the mystery is solved.

21. The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Richelle Mead's books are addictive reads full of fascinating characters set in a creative world, and this is a great entry in this series. I don't want to say too much as I don't want to give away what happened in the first book, but there is romance, suspense, and humor, and some great twists. I highly recommend this series and Mead's previous series, the Vampire Academy series.

Looks like lots of fun reads, Becca. I particularly like your review of Revenge of the Homecoming Queen.

I'm getting closer to overcoming my reluctance to read Beloved. I figure I should give her a try, and I remember your most excellent English paper on it. So sometime soon I'm going to suck it up and read the darn thing.

Thanks Dad, I have been on a reading roll lately (though when am I not hee hee ;D ). Revenge of the Homecoming Queen was really fun to read and review, I'm hoping the library will come to their senses and get copies of the other books in the series, or that when I add up all my change and put it on an Amazon card, I can get the other two.

Beloved is so good!! It's definitely unique, but a book I think everyone should read. I'm going to read The Bluest Eye soon, probably after Mystery March.

22. Gold Coast Madam by Rose Laws (Early Reviewer)

Rose Laws was known as the Gold Coast Madam from her days in Chicago running a high-class prostitution "agency", and this is her memoir, after she has been forced into retirement from the business through various arrests and jail time.

This is definitely an interesting read, especially because so much of it takes place in Chicago. Rose Laws' life was full of crazy twists and turns, and events I doubt very many other people have experienced. I did feel that some of the events were so out there and unbelievable that they took me out of the book wondering if they could be real, but I don't doubt that Ms. Laws is telling the truth in her memoir. It's just such a crazy tale, and that's what definitely makes the reader keep reading. The writing style is merely okay, but the story is fascinating.

23. On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle

A cozy coffee house mystery, On What Grounds's protagonist, Claire Cosi, must figure out what caused her employee to fall down the stairs and end up in a coma. As evidence mounts that the fall was an accident and The Village Blend is liable, Claire enlists the help of handsome Detective Quinn to solve the mystery, all while juggling a tempting ex-husband and the mission to brew the perfect cup of coffee.

While not the best mystery I've ever read (I occasionally got bogged down in all the trivia about coffee, though I did find it interesting, and I did feel the mystery took a while to get going), this was a fun light read with great characters and a wonderful setting. I plan on reading the rest of this series at some point in the future.

24. Speaking From Among the Bones by Alan Bradley

This is one of those mystery series where I am always excited to hear there is a new book out, and I can't quite put my finger on why. I think it must be a combination of factors. The writing style is really clever and fun, the mysteries (while not the best I've ever read in terms of twists and turns) are always good, and the characters are entertaining and complex (I know the narrator, specifically her age compared with how she talks and thinks, can be polarizing, but I love her).

While not the best entry in this Flavia de Luce series, Speaking Among the Bones was still a great read. There was character development, an engaging mystery, suspense, some historical, medical, and scientific knowledge thrown in, and an incredible last line that left me desperately wanting the next Flavid de Luce mystery now!

25. Black Dahlia and White Rose by Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates seems to be a polarizing author-especially in my own family-but I love her, particularly her writing style. I was particularly interested in this book, as I've read a lot on the Black Dahlia and Marilyn Monroe, and Oates did not disappoint. The title short story was definitely my favorite in the book, but all the stories were really creative and interesting, and definitely worth the read.

26. The Trouble with Magic by Madelyn Alt

A fun but merely okay read, The Trouble with Magic centers around a shop run by a self-proclaimed witch named Felicity, who takes the narrator, Maggie, on as her assistant. As Maggie learns about the word of magic and her own possible powers, she juggles her attraction to two very different men and tries to clear her new boss from a murder charge.

I think, for me, what made this book merely okay was there was way more setup than actual mystery. The author's focus was on lengthy introductions of the characters and in-depth descriptions of magic, as opposed to the murder mystery.

The last two chapters, which really focused on solving the mystery, were great-really suspenseful. This gives me hope for the rest of the series, which hopefully won't need as much introduction.

Hmm, who in your family isn't a Joyce Carol Oates fan? :-) Looks like lots of interesting and fun reading, Becca.

Hee hee, I wonder who! ;)

27. The Collected Bartleby and James Adventures by Michael Coorlim (Member Giveaway)

This was a really fun and interesting collection of short stories, which read like a great combination of steampunk and Sherlock Holmes. In a world where reanimated corpses and flying hotels make perfect sense, Bartleby and James are private detectives, Bartleby with knowledge of the human psyche, James with knowledge of engineering and science. Together they solve mysteries ranging from a murderous "Scissorsman" to sabotage in the skies. I really hope Coorlim writes more adventures for these two.

Jeesh - "which read like a great combination of steampunk and Sherlock Holmes" - that's not something you come across too often! It does sound fun. Hope more show up for your delectation.

Exactly! That's why it was such a great read to come upon :)

28. Deadly Reunion by Elisabeth Crabtree

A fun, clever, cozy mystery, Deadly Reunion takes place at a high school reunion fraught with tension, lies, and really bad outfits. When one of the attendees is pushed down the stairs, Grace and Kyle (two really fun characters I'm hoping end up together in a later book) pose as detectives and get themselves hired to solve the case. Along the way, they learn that this murder may be tied to events in the past.

This was a quick read with great characters and a lot of clever twists and suspense. The only part I didn't enjoy was the annoying and over-the-top advances of one of the characters towards Kyle-her character and actions got very irritating very fast. Other than that, the book was a fun read.

29. Trail of Blood by Lisa Black
A fictional take on a set of famous murders, Trail of Blood traces how past and present mysteries collide when a series of murders begin to occur replicating the famous Torso Murders. A strong female protagonist and her cousin make for great main characters, and the mystery and its solution contain a lot of suspense and twists, with a powerful ending.

30. The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill
As I was reading this, it reminded me of P.D. James in a really great way. The Various Haunts of Men is a powerful psychological mystery, taking as much time with its characters as the mystery. A varied collection of people start disappearing from the Hill, while a mysterious psychic surgeon moves into town. Knowing who the murderer was about three-quarters of the way through only made this book even better, because the suspense was amped up even more.

31. The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door by Karen Finneyfrock

I'm visiting my brother in Seattle, and he recommended I read this book by his friend while I'm here. I picked it up and could not put it down, and finished it in less than four hours. A YA novel, it follows Celia Door, a fourteen year old who is now calling herself Celia Dark after an incident at school surrounding "the Book" the previous year. All Celia wants is to get revenge on the girl who was so cruel to her, but her friendship with a new boy in town has her viewing life differently.

32. The Color of Water by James McBride

One of my best friends read this for a class, and lent it to me, and I'm so glad she did. What an incredibly powerful book. The Color of Water tells the stories of both the author and his mother, along with those who had a major impact on their lives, and tackles such topics as race, class, religion, love, and identity. Beautifully written and immensely touching, I would definitely recommend this memoir.

Oh my, you read two that I have. I liked Various Haunts of Men, too. There are plenty more in the series featuring Simon S., although I haven't read any of them.

I thought The Color of Water was a great memoir, too. I'm glad it was assigned in a class, as I was just thinking I haven't heard of people reading it for a while. I second your recommendation.

Yeah, Lauren read it in one of her graduate classes and immediately passed it on to me. She passed along another book I'm looking forward to reading too.

33. Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon

A stunning book that constantly keeps you guessing, Don't Breathe a Word is another incredible book from an extremely talented author.

Moving back and forth between the present and fifteen years previously, this book centers around two female characters-young Lisa, who believed completely in fairies and disappeared after heading into the forest to meet one; and Phoebe, who is dating Sam (Lisa's brother) and is pulled into a confusing and terrifying puzzle that strongly suggests fairies and shadow people might really exist.

A psychological mystery with twists and turns up to the very end, this novel is definitely in par with her other amazing books.

34. All Booked Up by Terrie Curran

A bit of a disappointment, All Booked Up seems from the description to be a great mystery selection for book lovers. Set in a library, All Booked Up centers around rare books, murder, greed, librarians, and professors, and ends up being a decent but convoluted read.

The problem unfortunately lies in the author's clear love for literature and linguistics. So many names and parts of speech get thrown at the reader that you can't help but be completely confused and it becomes a bit of a chore.

35. Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson

Three threads cross and uncross in this latest addition to the series-two killers involved in a twisted game, a reporter out to get Cross for a mistake from the past, and the status of the Cross' foster daughter in their lives. Each plotline is definitely full of tension and suspense, and each gets resolved in its own way. The Cross books continue to be the strongest of Patterson's more recent works, and this is a good addition to a good series.

I've heard the Cross books are his best. Glad you're still enjoying those lovely page and a half chapters. :-)

It's always nice to take a brain break :)

36. Dream Team by Jack McCallum

I was raised a massive basketball fan, and remain one to this day, having graduated from watching games on the tiny TV on the porch (the TV being attached to the house by a giant bright orange extension cord) to cheering in the stands at the United Center. But while I loved and adored players like Michael Jordan and my beloved Scottie Pippen, I knew very little about them off the court, and almost nothing that went on behind the scenes of the Dream Team.

This was a great read by an author who quite literally had the inside scoop, and shares his stories with a fun, sometimes biting wit, telling about everything from the greatest game ever played (that no one got to see) to what exactly went down when Michael and Scottie froze out Toni Kukoc. I highly recommend this book to basketball fans.

I'm first in the queue to borrow that one, Becca!

Hi Becca, I'm just passing through, the sheer size of the 75 group this year means I've been doing a lot of lurking. You've been keeping busy with the reading I see, Don't Breathe A Word has caught my attention, I have Promise Not To Tell by that author on my TBR shelves.

#74-Definitely Dad!

#75-Hi!! I definitely understand that, time has kept me doing a lot of lurking myself. I love everything Jennifer McMahon has written.

37. Night of the Loving Dead by Casey Daniels

One trope that can guaranteed take away from a decent book (at least for me) is the self-absorbed narrator who starts out the book by stating multiple times how gorgeous she is and how well she dresses and how everyone wants her.

Pepper is, unfortunately, very much that type of narrator. I almost put the book down within the first few pages, but decided I wanted to see where the mystery went, and I'm glad I did. This book was in no way a classic, but it was a fun, light read, with some interesting paranormal aspects. The ending wasn't the best ever, but it was satisfactory within the context of the book.

If the author can tone down the narrator ( and the stereotypes about how one can be beautiful or brilliant but not both) and tampen down the ridiculousness of some of the dialogue towards the end, this could be a fun series people stick with.

38. A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris

Another book leant to me by the friend who leant me The Color of Water, this was another excellent and impactful read. A work of fiction, A Yellow Raft in Blue Water follows the stories of three generations of women caught between their lives on the reservation and the lives they envisioned for themselves.

Each section is told from the point-of-view of one of the women, starting with the youngest, so we learn more and more backstory, and gain more and more understanding.

39. The King's Jar by Susan C. Shea (Early Reviewer)

I'm a big fan of genre mysteries, and this is a really fun and unique addition to the many genre mysteries out there. The protagonist is a woman in charge of fundraising at a museum, and she gets drawn into the world of socialites, secrets, and international controversy when the centerpiece of the museum's new exhibit goes missing, and an archaeologist is killed.

I definitely want to read more of this very enjoyable series.

The King's Jar looked like it had a lot of potential, Becca. Is this one you'd recommend to your ma and pa?

Hi Becca- I wanted to tell you, I did finish Broken Harbor. This is a vintage police procedural with deep psychological angles. I liked it better than the last one. Check out my mini-Review. I wonder what French has in store for us next?
I have not read the McBride or the Dorris books. Bad Mark.

#80-I would recommend it Dad, I liked it :) It's in the bag of books to bring to you guys.

#81-Hi Mark! I really liked your review! I'm curious if French is going to take a minor character from Broken Harbor and spin the new book around them?
The McBride and Dorris books are really good, I was lucky to have my friend recommend them.

40. Death by Latte by Linda Gerber

I needed a light, upbeat, non-thinking read, and this fit the bill perfectly. The sequel to the equally wonderfully ridiculous Death by Bikini, Death by Latte features Seattle, spies, a plane crash, lots of double agents and sneaky maneuvers, and some romance to boot. This is one of those great books to just lose yourself in and go along for the silly fun ride.

*waving* at Becca

In regards to Broken Harbor, I would like to see Kennedy's young partner return, even though he screwed up and was demoted. He was an interesting character. I think it's also time for the lead in In the Woods to come back.

#83-*waves back* at Stasia!!!

#84-My thoughts exactly Mark!

41. Death by Denim by Linda Gerber

Another ridiculous, over-the-top, young adult spy thriller, and once again it was a lot of fun to read. This one is set in Europe, and wraps up the reoccurring storyline of The Mole and the Agency, with a lot of chase scenes and double and triple agents. The ending is not entirely satisfactory, as if the author was planning on writing more of the series but just never did.

The "Death By" mysteries sound like light fun, Becca - is the Denim one definitely the last?

#87-I looked on Amazon and it does look like Death by Denim is the last one in the series.

Too bad, especially since you've enjoyed them so much.

It is too bad, I'm hoping to find another similar fun series to get lost in.

42. Murder Actually by Stephanie McCarthy

A really fun cozy chick lit mystery, Murder Actually is a play on the conventions of romance and mystery in novels. The heroine is a romance novel writer who does not like mysteries, but finds herself in the middle of one when her town suddenly becomes like one in an Agatha Christie novel, and people start being murdered left and right. The characters are clever, the writing is fun, and the mystery is a good one. I hope the author turns this into a series.

43. Hello, Gorgeous by MaryJanice Davidson

Continuing my streak of fun, slightly ridiculous, light chick lit mysteries, Hello, Gorgeous centers around a party-loving girl who gets in a terrible car accident and wakes up to find herself part-cyborg and working for a secret government organization, all while trying to stop a series of murders and romance the only other part-cyborg on the planet. It's as fabulously ridiculous as it sounds, and is a fun quick read. If you can get past the occasionally corny, roll-your-eyes writing that springs up every once in a while, it's a lot of fun.

Sounds like a couple of good fun mysteries, Becca. "Fabulously ridiculous" - nice!

#86: Another ridiculous, over-the-top, young adult spy thriller,

Aren't those the best kind?

Funny, I saw Hello, Gorgeous and I thought you were referring to me but it turns out to be a light chick lit book. Might be time to go to bed. Beautiful day, wasn't it?

Hi Becca, I've enjoyed the odd MaryJanice Davidson in my time, at one point she was a great favorite of my younger daughter.

#92-Thanks Dad :)

#93-They really are sometimes, just what I needed right now.

#94-Ha! Love it Mark! It was such a beautiful day, and another one today.

#95-Hi! She's definitely a lot of fun to pick up sometimes.

Becca- Your Dad mentioned how much you love true-crime, I stumbled upon this title, it's one of Gillian Flynn's favorites: People Who Eat Darkness. I immediately requested it too!
Have you read Ms. Flynn yet? I just started Dark Places. OMG!

People Who Eat Darkness is on my TBR list now for sure! Dark Places is amazing!

44. The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

I am a huge fan of Kate Morton-I've read every book she has out, and not a single one has disappointed, this one included. My Kindle battery was running really low, and I just kept praying that the battery would last long enough for me to finish The Secret Keeper (luckily it did!) because I could not put it down.

The Secret Keeper is centered around an incident in a family's past, one that a now-grown daughter begins to learn has far-reaching roots in the past. The novel effortlessly weaves together past and present, and every setting and character comes vividly alive. I had one of the biggest twists called earlier in the story, but the writing was so excellent that I actually became convinced I must be wrong, right up to the very end.

If you haven't read anything by Kate Morton, you need to.

45. The Cat Who Sang for the Birds by Lillian Jackson Braun

I found this on my TBR shelf, and brought it with me for the plane ride to Vegas, in honor of my friend who was getting married and used to be so into The Cat Who books. She saw it in my suitcase and got a real kick out of it, which was really fun.

The book itself was okay. This series is definitely a cozy series, but I had forgotten how little actually seems to happen in these books. The mystery surrounds arson and murder, as well as some sort of shady land deal and suspicious goings on at the Art Center. The ending is lackluster, but the read is a comfortable one.

I remember us listening to an audiobook for a Cat Who mystery on one of our car trips and having the same reaction: not much happened, and it was pretty lackluster. Someone said the early ones in the series are the best.

I seem to remember the earlier Cat Who books definitely being better.

46. Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson

This is an especially gripping non-fiction book, taking readers on a journey from the endings of the Civil War right up to the Presidental Box at Ford's Theater where John Wilkes Booth took his fatal shot, and all the way along the twelve days Booth hid and America hunted.

What I especially liked about this book was how it followed through with so many of the historical figures involved who don't usually get much mention.

47. Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed

I feel compelled to start this review by saying this is an amazing book, and one of those books that came into my life at a time when I needed it most. A selection of letters to "Sugar" (Cheryl Strayed's pen name while writing the advice column) seeking advice, and her incredible responses, Tiny Beautiful Things made me think, question, hope, agree, disagree, and most of all, feel. It made me want to write my own letter to Sugar.

Yay! Glad you liked it, Becca. Isn't she something? As far as I know, she doesn't do the advice column any more, which is too bad, as she's so awfully good at it.

Great to see you and the furry one yesterday!

I definitely wish she still did the advice column!

It was great to see you guys too-see you tomorrow!!

48. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

When this series first came out, I couldn't get enough of it. Now, with the fourth book in the series, it doesn't seem to have the same magic for me anymore. I don't know if its that I waited too long in between reading the third and fourth books, or that the series became a bit repetitive (boy and girl are deeply in love but can't be together but can be together but can't), or that the ending of the third book was such a perfect ending of the series that as much as I love the characters (and I do), I wanted it to end there.

That said, my heart was pounding and I couldn't stop reading as I got closer to the end of the book, because of regardless of how I feel about the storylines, I care deeply about the characters still. This series reminds me a bit of the Twilight series in the sense that, no matter how ridiculous/irritating the storylines might get, I had to find out what happened because I really cared about the characters.

And even though I rolled my eyes at the ending to City of Fallen Angels, I will still be reading the fifth book in the series to find out what happens to the characters.

49. Cast of Shadows by Kevin Guilfoile

I almost put this book down after the first few pages, because I was worried it might be too "science fiction-y" for me, but I'm so so glad I kept reading. This is an amazing book.

Cast of Shadows is set in a future Chicago where cloning is legal, ethical lines are blurred, sides are chosen, and a doctor's daughter is murdered. The killing sets off a mystery and a chain of events that made it impossible for me to put the book down. This book is so complex and gripping I'm struggling to find the words to describe it in its entirety-multiple storylines interweave expertly together, including a world within an extremely popular computer game called Shadow World, and the ending of this book was incredible. I will definitely be reading Kevin Guilfoile's other book.

50. The Case of the Curious Bride by Erle Stanley Gardner

Another fun Perry Mason read as always. This one has a woman who might be the bride of two men, one of whom was presumed dead in an airplane crash but might actually be alive...until he's murdered. Perry Mason is hired by the woman, while her father-in-law attempts to hire him to throw the case and let her be convicted. Doorbells, alarm clocks, telephones, and sets of keys all come into play in this fun and exciting mystery.

I hope you have a great day with the family, Becca! You have been reading some great books. I LOVED Manhunt & Tiny Beautiful Things. And Cast of Shadows sounds terrific. On the list it goes.

Happy Birthday, Becca. Saw the news over on your Dad's thread. Have a lovely day.

Happy Birthday, Becca! Sure seemed like a good one. As your ma said, you have the nicest friends ever.

Birthdays are a great invention! Did you know that the Entire Universe Danced on the Very Day YOU were born? It did! Many happy returns, Becca.

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes!!! It was a really wonderful birthday :)

Happy belated Birthday, Becca!

Thanks so much!

51. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

This is one of those great books that hits so many of the things I like to read about: mysteries, London, Jack the Ripper, paranormal activities...

In The Name of the Star, the first book in the Shades of London young adult series, the narrator is an American girl named Aurora (Rory), who is spending a school year in London while her parents teach in Bristol. Meanwhile, a series of murders echoing the Jack the Ripper murders is occurring right around Rory's school, and only she can see the prime suspect.

This is a really good read, with great characters, a lot of suspense, good twists, and a good mystery. I really want to read the next book in the series, and hope she continues to write this series for a long time.

Becca- Have you read Life After Life yet? I am less than halfway and already think this would be one you and your Dad would love.

Hi Mark! I haven't, because I've been disappointed by her later works, but I might have to check it out with so many people (including you!) loving it so much.

52. Private by Kate Brian

I started this young adult series because it sounded somewhat like Pretty Little Liars, and it definitely does have its similarities. Private centers around Reed, a teenage girl desperate to go to the prestigious Easton boarding school to get away from her small town and her hard home life. Having always been a loner, Reed becomes desperate to get in with the Billings Girls, the most popular girls on campus, and will seemingly do anything to become part of their world.

Even though I do wish there was more of a mystery going on, I'm enjoying this series enough to have already gotten the next book from the library.

53. The Woman Who Wasn't There: The True Story of an Incredible Deception by Robin Gaby Fisher

Having watched the documentary of the same name, as soon as I learned there was a book as well, I immediately hurried to the library and grabbed it up. The Woman Who Wasn't There is the amazingly true story of a woman who lied about one of the biggest things you can lie about-she lied about being a 9/11 survivor. And not only did she lie, but she spun an elaborate and heartbreaking story that made her perhaps the most famous survivor of them all...until a reporter started to put the pieces together.

I read this book in less than two days. Even though some parts, about the actual day of September 11, were very difficult to read, I'm really glad I did read this book. I couldn't put it down.

Fascinating how these stories can just grab us and hold on. I just finished reading Waiting to Be Heard by Amanda Knox about her years long ordeal of being falsely accused, and convicted, and then acquitted, of murderting her roommate Meredith Kirtcher. Wow. She is back in Seattle, and unfortunately there's another appeal in Italy; however, I do not think she'll be going back. Her story is just gripping.

It really is amazing how some stories are just so gripping. I've been thinking about reading Amanda Knox's book, and based on your review, I think I should give it a go.

53. In the Dark of the Night by John Saul

A supernatural thriller, In the Dark of the Night tells the story of a seemingly idealic town that's hiding some very dark secrets inside Pinecrest House. It starts out pretty slow, with the build up to the characters actually moving into Pinecrest for the summer, but once some mysterious objects (and their connection to famous serial killers) comes into play, it gets more interesting. Not the best book I've ever read, not the worst. I did feel the author sometimes threw in gruesome details just because he could, but otherwise, a pretty decent read.

54. The End of Everything by Megan Abbott

Another incredible book by this talented author, Dare Me explores what happens when a young girl vanishes, all through the eyes of her best friend, who has always believed they knew each other's innermost thoughts. Tackling love, sexuality, secrets, familial bonds; questioning how much we can ever really know and understand another person; Megan Abbott's writing takes you on a gripping, heartbreaking, powerful journey.

>114 seasonsoflove: I'm so glad that Name of the Star turned out to be such a good one, Becca. It did seem to have your name written all over it. Is that the one Sherlock bought for you?

The Woman Who Wasn't There sounded fascinating when you were telling me about it. Good to hear the book lived up to your hopes. What strange "con" to perpetrate, and what a hard one to expose as untrue, with all the disarray after 9/11.

That is the one Sherlock bought for me-he has excellent taste :) I'm thinking I might use some of my gift cards from my students to buy myself the second one in the series :)

The Woman Who Wasn't There was really amazing-definitely recommended reading.

Hi Becca- I read many John Saul books, way way back when you were just a twinkle. Is he still alive?
See you Sunday! Do you have WL's ready to roll?

Hi Mark! According to Google, he is :)

See you Sunday! I'm ready to go!

55. The Annals of Unsolved Crime by Edward Jay Epstein

In this book, Edward Jay Epstein examines a multitude of unsolved crimes, ranging from the political to the celebrity, revisiting the evidence and using his journalistic skills to dig up new evidence and come to his own conclusions.

My interest in this book waxed and waned throughout. While the crimes Epstein was covering were full of twists and turns and intrigue, his writing style unfortunately tends towards the dry, which can make the reading less interesting than it should be. I also did have trouble following and understanding certain political and economic crimes, though that could just be my lack of prior knowledge.

56. Killer Show: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Nightclub Fire by John Barylick (Early Reviewer)

This was one of those reads that was difficult but fascinating.

Barylick was actually one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs of The Station fire, so he has an insider's knowledge of everything that happened. The Station fire was the deadliest fire in an American nightclub, with 100 people dying due to fire, smoke, and stampedes.

I had to take breaks while reading the parts describing people getting trapped in the nightclub, the descriptions were really detailed and horrifying.

What was fascinating to me was the mystery of it all, the way photos and video and audio and physical evidence all came together to help everyone figure out what had really happened, and who was responsible.

57. Whodunnit? Murder in Mystery Manor by Anthony E. Zuiker

This book is a tie-in to the Whodunnit reality series starting Sunday on ABC, a series I am really excited for. As soon as I heard there was going to be a tie-in book, I bought it for my Kindle right away.

A prequel to the show, Whodunnit introduces us to the butler, Giles, who appears in the show, and to the game, a literal game of life and death. Guests must solve the murders the killer (who is one of them) sets out before them, or they may be the next corpse.

This was a really good read-a really intriguing premise that was pulled off with great twists and turns. It made me even more excited for the show to premiere.

58. The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter

A fascinating read, The Monuments Men traces the wartime jobs of The Monuments Men during WWII, a group of soldiers (many of whom with extensive backgrounds in art and art history) who are put in charge of protecting, tracking down, and rescuing cultural monuments, paintings, and other works of art. The Monuments Man manages to be a collection of character studies, a history study, and an art lesson, all in one fantastic book.

If you're looking for another one along the same vein as The Monuments Men, check out The Rape of Europa by Lynn Nicholas -- it's a brilliant survey of Nazi art trafficking during the war.

>126 seasonsoflove: Your ma and I were talking about how the upcoming Whodunnit tv show has Becca written all over it. (Among other things, we remember how much you and your bro enjoyed The Mole).

Sounds like The Monuments Men has your dad written all over it. I hope you'll let me borrow it at some point.

#127-Thank you so much for the recommendation! I am definitely adding that to my TBR list.

#128-Mom actually already brought home my copy of The Monuments Men for you to read ;)

Monuments Men sounds just like my kind of book, too!

#130-It's really good! Definitely recommended!

59. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

The first in a new young adult series, Unspoken centers around a wonderfully strong female protagonist, Kami, who is part Nancy Drew and part Harriet the Spy, who lives in a town in the shadows of a mysterious and fearful manor. Her best friend has always been just a voice in her head, a boy named Jared, and they have been speaking to each other through their thoughts their whole lives. But when the owners of the manor move back, and Kami learns Jared may be more than just her imaginary friend, everything changes.

This was a really well-written, complex, and gripping read, with great characters and exciting twists. I can't wait for the second book in the series to come out!

60. Manor of Death by Leslie Caine

This is part of a really fun cozy mystery series, surrounding an interior designer and her tendency to end up in mysterious circumstances no matter what home she's working on. In this book, working on a tower room that has been blocked off since a girl's suicide decades ago, Erin Gilbert is forced to consider that the space may be haunted, but the murders are all too real.

Sounds like fun reading, Becca. Thanks for Monuments Men!

Did you ever read Willa Cather in school? She's becoming one of my favorites.

No problem Dad!

I never read her in school, but I've been interested in reading My Antonia for a while now.

oh! let me add my encouragement to reading Willa Cather. I think she gives us one of the very best visions of an earlier era and the movement of Americans across the country. Her writing is golden.

See you soon for ALA, Becca!

I will definitely be looking into reading some Willa Cather :)

ALA was so fun, Dad!

61. Sister by Rosamund Lupton

An amazing and powerful thriller about the familial bond, Sister is told from the point of view of Beatrice, in an open letter to her sister Tess, who has gone missing. Beatrice is telling Tess all about what has happened to her, what she has learned, and what she has yet to learn, all the while coming to deep and personal realizations about herself, her life choices, and her relationship to Tess. Beatrice is solving not only the mystery of what happened to Tess, but also figuring out who she is and what her life means.

62. Packing for Mars by Mary Roach

I love everything Mary Roach writes. She writes about such a wide range of topics, in such a funny, fascinating, insightful way. In Packing for Mars, Roach researches, experiences, and dissects various aspects of space travel, from the struggle to find a lightweight food the astronauts actually want to eat, to entire sectors studying the best methods of zero gravity waste disposal, to people who get paid to lay in bed for months to figure out the effects of space on a human body.

Cool! Looking forward to reading Packing for Mars. I wonder whether I'll ever see my copy again.

Hee hee! Somehow I think you've already seen it again ;)

63. The Kill Room by Jeffery Deaver

Another great entry in the Lincoln Rhymes and Amelia Sachs series, The Kill Room has Rhymes and Sachs working to solve a mysterious assassination, one possibly ordered by the U.S. government, all the while coming up against massive outside opposition and intense moral and ethical issues. The Kill Room is filled with constant twists and turns, from beginning to end, none of which I ever saw coming.

I am so sorry for not visiting here more often. So many of the books you read thus far this year are those that are either on the tbr list, or I've read.

And, I loved Packing for Mars. Her description of the chimps made me laugh right out loud.

Oh, your mom is going to like The Kill Room, I'm sure.

You're right, Packing for Mars mysteriously appeared. I'm lining up The Monuments Men for one of my next reads.

#141-Hi!! Absolutely no apologies necessary, I have barely been able to visit anyone else's threads myself. I've been really lucky with the books I've read this year, so many good ones :)

#142-She's really excited to take it on the trip. And yay for you reading Monuments Men-its really good!

64. Halls of Ivy by Roland Nunez

In Halls of Ivy, Cheyanne Winters has studied human development and psychology, but must put everything she has learned and more into play when her research at Sun Valley University turns into something much more. A rash of suicides on campus draws Cheyanne into a dangerous investigation, and a desperate attempt to save the students she has come to care about so much.

This was a really interesting and intriguing read, and the mystery was definitely intriguing. I would have rated it higher, but I felt like the writing sometimes became cliched or had too many grammatical errors or typos. Otherwise, a good read. I plan on reading the next book in the series at some point.

Somehow all my reviews that I had written for the books I read on my trip disappeared :( Well, I loved Darke Academy Blood Ties , Code Name Verity, Marie Antoinette Serial Killer (this was given to me as an ARC at ALA, and it was really fun-definitely look for it when it comes out in October!), and Spying in High Heels. Who Killed Mona Lisa was merely okay.

Now my new reads:

The Year of the Gadfly by Jennifer Miller

An amazing novel in the vein of The Secret History, The Year of the Gadfly follows the stories of a few students of Mariana Academy (some current, some past), whose lives become intertwined with Prisom's Party, an underground society at the school whose stated mission is to expose students and teachers who commit crimes and/or immoral acts. The main protagonist, Iris, is a new student who is all too familiar with loss, and she is determined to become a reporter like her hero Edward R. Murrow. To that end, she becomes involved with Mariana and its faculty and students in ways she never imagined.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

I wanted to read this as it was one of the few major Russian classics I hadn't read in my college classes, and while it wasn't my absolute favorite, I still enjoyed it. The story is fascinating-what could cause everyday people to commit horrific crimes, and how would those crimes effect their lives, regardless of if they get caught or not? While which character was which sometimes got confusing, and occasionally the story dragged a little, this was still an impressive and interesting read.

Oh, too bad, Becca, on the lost reviews. I was looking forward to your comments on Code Name Verity in particular. The title Marie Antoinette Serial Killer makes me laugh every time.

The Year of the Gadfly sounds like your cuppa, all right, and I'm glad you in the end enjoyed Crime and Punishment. I have trouble sorting through those Russian names, too, with all their permutations. One short one used the same way all the way through would sure help.

I can definitely redo those reviews Dad, I'll work on them soon :)

72. Accomplished in Murder by Dara England

A well-written gothic mystery novella, Accomplished in Murder is a quick-moving and engaging read, centering around the heroine, Druscilla, and the murder of her close friend Celeste. The ending seems a little rushed, but it was still a good gripping read.

73. Souless: Volume 1 by Gail Carriger

The first in the manga version of one of my very favorite book series, this is a really excellent adaptation of the novel. The drawings are great, the storyline is adapted really well, and the characters really come alive just like they did in the novel. I can't wait to get my hands on the second volume-hoping maybe at Comic Con next weekend, fingers crossed!

Have fun at Comic Con. I hope you are able to find several books you will love!

#149-Thanks so much! Comic Con is always so much fun :)

74. Third Degree by Maggie Barbieri

This is a mystery series I love, but had let fall by the wayside. I'm so glad I picked it back up. The protagonist, Allison, is a college professor with a habit of ending up involved in murder investigations, which led to her being romantically involved with a handsome detective. In this entry in the series, Allison literally walks into a murder, all while just trying to get her morning cup of coffee. The books are funny, the characters are great, the romance is worth rooting for, and the mysteries have good twists and turns.

Sounds like one your mom will like, Becca. Glad you're having a good time with this series.

Thanks Dad!

Woohoo 75 books goal hit!!

75. The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison

This is one of the novels that leave you breathless while you read it. In the vein of Gone Girl, The Silent Wife is a psychological thriller, a character study, and a morality play of sorts, all centered around the disintegration of a twenty-year relationship. The author's technique of alternating point of view between chapters is highly effective, and the writing style is incredible.

Congrats on the 75, Becca! And I'm glad you liked The Silent Wife. Sounds like a well done one.

Congrats!

Hi Becca- Hooray for 75!! Good job. Did your Dad tell you that I read and loved the GN, My Friend Dahmer? That might be just your cuppa. Dark, creepy and fascinating.

Thanks so much!

And I might have to check My Friend Dahmer out-I'm just a little concerned it might be too dark and creepy even for me.

76. An Appointment With Murder by Jennifer L. Jennings

In An Appointment With Murder, a massage therapist whose marriage is languishing has her world turned upside down when she finds her newly-hired receptionist murdered at her desk. This was a quick, fun read, though the main character occasionally felt too stagnant-I would have liked more character development than the suddenly rushed decision she made at the end.

Congratulations on having met your goal of 75 books read! Whoo Hoo! *shoots off some confetti cannons**

Thanks so much!

77. Blood Price by Tanya Huff

I started reading this series a while ago, and really liked it, but when I went to spend my semester abroad, I couldn't take many books with me, and lost track of the series. I rediscovered it on my shelves, and decided to start it again from the beginning, and I'm really glad I did.

Blood Price introduces its readers to the main characters-Vicki, a former cop who is slowly going blind and now works as a private investigator; Mike, her former partner and current sparring partner and lover; and Henry, the bastard son of Henry VIII who is still alive because he is a vampire. Together they have to stop a very misguided college student from raising a demon that will bring about the end of the world.

The characters are really engaging, and the storyline is gripping and moves along at a good pace. This book flew by.

Hi Becca, just dropping by to say hi, and now see that congratulations are in order - Congrats for reaching 75. The Silent Wife sounds like a good one and will now take up residence on my massive wishlist.

Hi! Thanks so much for dropping in, and I definitely think you will like that book!

78. Ghost Burglar by Jack Burch and James D. King (Early Reviewer)

This was one of those books that was just fine. Nothing wrong with it, but still not as good and as gripping as you would hope. Ghost Burglar competently tells the true story of Bernard Welch, who went on an unprecedented crime spree, and was brought down by his own hubris. A fascinating story, it took me a while to finish because the writing style and method of storytelling wasn't as interesting as other books calling to me from my shelves.

79. Loose Screw by Rae Davies

A light mystery read, Loose Screw's protagonist is the owner of Dusty Deals, an antique shop, who finds a dead body in the alley outside her store. The murdered man had recently purchased at auction a medicine man set connected to one of the most prominent families in town.

This is an easy read without a lot of substance, which was actually very nice since the other books I'm reading are much heavier in subject. The book got a little frenetic at times, but was a pretty fun read.

80. Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris

One of the best books I've read this year, Gentlemen and Players has everything going for it-mystery, suspense, character studies, and secrets that are slowly and perfectly revealed in shocking twists and turns that all make sense when you look back. It is the story of a prestigious all-boys boarding school slowly being brought down from the inside, by someone from its past. It is a chess game with a pawn who longs to be something more. It is a book I can't recommend enough-an absolutely amazing book.

Did a re-read of the first Whodunnit book right after the first season ended and right before the second book came out :)

82. Whodunnit? Murder on Mystery Island by Anthony Zuiker

Another great entry in this series! This time the killer game is set on an island, ala And Then There Were None, and the suspense and mystery are really good. I hope there's another book (and another season) soon!

Sounds like a lot of good reading, Becca, with Gentlemen and Players a real stand-out.

I've been really lucky with my reading lately for sure!

83. Night Film by Marisha Pessl

I could not wait for this book to come out, as Special Topics in Calamity Physics is one of my favorite books of all-time. While Night Film isn't quite as amazing as Special Topics in Calamity Physics, it is still one of the best books I have read this year.

The plot is genius-a woman commits suicide, and it is revealed she was the daughter of a reclusive film director, a film director whose films are so dark and twisted they are referred to as "night films" and can only be seen in underground theaters run by a cult of his followers. A disgraced journalist, Scott McGrath, is determined to find out the truth, and soon finds himself living a Cordova film, unsure what is real anymore.

Sounds like I should be keeping an eye out for Marisha Pessl books! I was intrigued with the premise for Special Topics in Calamity Physics, but never got around to actually reading it. Your high praise for both books makes me think I need add Pessl to my author list I carry around with me when I visit second hand book stores!

#167-I really can't recommend her books enough! Not everyone likes them (my dad for one is not a fan), but I'm planning a re-read of Special Topics this winter for sure.

84. The Widows of Braxton County by Jess McConkey

(This was an Early Reviewer book)

The Widows of Braxton County does an excellent job of portraying two parallel stories, of two women caught in marriages that aren't what they expected, and two murders that are eerily similar, despite being separated by over a century. Kate, in 2012, uproots her whole life to live with Joe, her new husband, on his farm, but quickly discovers that there may be unforeseen consequences to her new life. And Hannah, at the end of the 19th century, is trapped in an abusive marriage, but soon finds things can get even worse. It's a gripping, well-written story that has some very interesting things to say about women's roles and how past deeds can drastically effect the future.

Best wishes for an excellent year teaching, seasonsoflove! I remember adjusting from summer mode to working mode, and I know it takes a bit of time to settle in. Good luck.

Hope the second day is a little less taxing, Becca. Good thing this first week is a short one!

Glad you liked Night Film. It certainly sounded ambitious in the way she laid it out. And The Widows of Braxton County looks like another good read. You haven't had too many clunkers recently, seems like.

#170-Thanks so much! It is definitely an adjustment for sure, I'm completely wiped out by the time I'm home.

#171-Definitely a good thing its a short week! Nice to ease in a tiny bit.

I have really been lucky with my reading lately, and with my Early Reviewer books too-really excited for the one I got from the August bunch!

85. Never Buried by Edie Claire

A light fun read, Never Buried centers around two cousins who suddenly discover a dead body in their backyard-but this is no ordinary murder victim. Rather, this is a body that went missing years ago, and has suddenly turned up as a scare tactic to try to get the cousins to leave the house. Instead, it inspires them to try to figure out what someone could want so badly, and leads them to discover secrets from the past someone has killed to keep hidden.

86. True Crime: Real-Life Stories of Abduction, Addiction, Obsession, Murder, Grave-Robbing, and More by Lee Gutkind (Early Reviewer)

A collection of true-crime essays by various authors, this book contains a variety of subjects, many of which have never been written about before. While, as typical in a collection of essays, some are better than others, on the whole these pieces are well-written and well-researched. I may not have always agreed with an author's point of view, but the book as a whole was a gripping read.

87. Zoo by James Patterson

This is definitely nowhere near as good as Patterson's earlier works, but while ridiculous, Zoo is also entertaining and gripping. The premise is that for some unknown reason, animals all over the world are becoming highly aggressive and actively hunting and destroying humans, something the narrator has been predicting will happen for years. Somehow, Patterson manages to make this premise work, even though in the back of your brain there is frequently a little voice proclaiming how ridiculous the entire thing is. And yet sometimes the book manages to be really heartbreaking, and incredibly suspenseful, and while the ending leaves the reader feeling somewhat unsatisfied, it does make a lot of sense in the world of the story.