What I'm Reading - February 4

I always have a few books going.  Here is what I'm reading and what I'm thinking about them.

Ebook

The Whisking Hour by Ellie Alexander - This is the 22nd in the Bakeshop Mystery and as always I'm enjoying it.  It's maybe not a standout cozy series to me anymore but it is delightfully cozy.  Perfect comfort reading for the weather we've got going on right now!

Print Book

The Blind Side by Patricia Wentworth - This is a very traditional Patricia Wentworth mystery.  There's a family with some serious issues, a plucky heroine and a nice but capable leading man.  This is apparently the first Ernest Lamb book (he's a Scotland Yard detective) but I'm only 25% in so he hasn't shown up yet.

Audio Book

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry - I was a bit hesitant going into this as I'm a bit iffy with this author in general (I've loved 1 book by her and DNF'd another) and the reviews have been decidedly mixed.  I decided to give it a try after I saw a review from someone I follow who loved the book I DNF'd and didn't like this one.  So far I'm really enjoying it.  I'm about 25% in so it could go off the rails but 

Slow Read:  

Stella Mia by Rosanna Chiofalo - I pulled this off my overdue review shelf (and it is WAY overdue as it looks like it came out in 2014).  I'm not very far into it but so far I think it has potential.  

What are you reading today?

Top Ten Tuesday - Books on My TBR with Interesting Typography on Their Covers

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is Book Covers Featuring Cool/Pretty/Unique Typography.  I did a deep dive in my TBR and here are 10 covers that stood out.

1.  The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sacher

2.  Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill

3.  The Killer Question by Janice Hallet

4.  The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong

5.  The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore

6.  The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths

7.  I See You've Called In Dead by John Kenney

8.  Rules for Ruin by Mimi Mathews

9.  The Lost Books of First Loves by RaeAnne Thayne

10. The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay

Overdue Reviews - Hardcastle's Quartet + Brought to Book

 

Goodreads:  Hardcastle's Quartet by Graham Ison

Blurb:  Accident . . . or murder? Detective Inspector Hardcastle’s seemingly simple investigation turns more complicated, in his latest case
June 1918. A patrolling constable discovers the body of Georgina Cheney, wife of a naval commander, in the basement area of a house in Westminster. At first it is thought to be suicide or even a tragic accident. But as Divisional Detective Inspector Ernest Hardcastle of the A or Whitehall Division of the Metropolitan Police begins to investigate – ably assisted by Detective Sergeant Charles Marriott – they soon discover a different story. It is clear that the woman was murdered, and revelations about the victim’s previous life in Malta arouse Hardcastle’s interest.

But things are destined to get even more complicated for Hardcastle, when he is assigned two further murder cases by Detective Chief Inspector Frederick Wensley, head of the CID at New Scotland Yard. Could they be connected? This may be a puzzle too tricky even for Hardcastle to solve . . .

My Thoughts:  This mystery was really a delightful surprise.  This is a nice straightforward police procedural set during World War I.  There's no real angst or heavy emotion - just curmudgeonly DDI Hardcastle, his hardworking staff, and a complex and entertaining mystery.  I loved the dynamic between all the characters and seeing them unravel the complicated threads of the mystery.  This is definitely a series I'd really like to read more of and will definitely be on the lookout for more books in this series and by this author while I'm book shopping.  My Rating: Really Liked It! (4.25 Stars)

Goodreads:  Brought to Book by Anthea Fraser

Blurb:  Mystery and intrigue with a decidedly literary bent, from the bestselling crime writer When successful biographer Rona Parish is asked to write the life-story of a bestselling author, recently deceased, she is intrigued - to say the least. After all, Theo Harvey led a very colourful life, and died in mysterious circumstances. But Rona's husband Max is wary and, it soon becomes apparent, with good reason...As Rona begins to delve into Theo Harvey's life and death, and to interview his friends and family - some more willing than others - she realises that she has taken on a poisoned chalice.

My Thoughts:  This is the first book in the Rona Parish series and focuses on her doing the setup for a biography of a polarizing recently deceased author -and it's apparently a book someone doesn't want to see published.  I liked Rona and thought her relationship with her husband was interesting.  I did guess a pretty big part of the setup but there were some surprising twists.  My main issue with the book was that I couldn't stand Rona's twin sister Lindsey and she got way more page time than I would have liked.  She's really just a truly awful person and I inwardly groaned every time she appeared on the page.  The pacing was a little slow as well.  The mystery is solid with some good twists but I'm not sure that I'm motivated to read more in the series.  My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)

This Week in Reading - February 1st

 

It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

Death at a Firefly Tea by Laura Childs - I have mixed feelings about this series but I love the setting and all the food mentions so I can never resist it.  I'm hoping I love this one.  (Publisher)

Booking For Trouble by Jenn McKinlay - This is a favorite cozy mystery series and I'm looking forward to this one.  (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  The Whisking Hour by Ellie Alexander and Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts

Slow Read:  And Then They Were Doomed by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli - so far this one is just okay but the story does seem to be gaining some traction so I hope it starts improving.

Listening:  The Spitfire Murders by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley

Watching:  I finished season 8 of 911 and have moved over to 911 Lonestar.  I don't like it as much but I am enjoying it overall.

The first month of 2026 is finished and for the most part was a good one.  I made a list of all the places locally that I want to visit or things I want to learn this year.  I cleaned out all the overstuffed drawers.  I made my list of books I want to read.   I'm hoping for a more intentional and focused 2026.  As well we celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary and Will had a successful yearly checkup at St. Jude.  So all in all it was a pretty busy month!  

Have a great week and happy reading!

The Body in the Library - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads: The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

Rating: Loved It (5 Stars)
Source:   Purchased

Description:  It’s seven in the morning. The Bantrys wake to find the body of a young woman in their library. She is wearing evening dress and heavy make-up, which is now smeared across her cheeks.

But who is she? How did she get there? And what is the connection with another dead girl, whose charred remains are later discovered in an abandoned quarry?

The respectable Bantrys invite Miss Marple to solve the mystery… before tongues start to wag.

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  This is the January pick for the Read Christie Challenge.  The theme this year is Best/Favorite and this was the pick for the category of "Best Opening".

My Impression:   This is Miss Marple at her best.  There's a mix of time in St. Mary Mead and a ritzy hotel.  Sir Henry Clithering is there as are Colonel and Mrs. Bantry.  Even Griselda Clement makes an appearance so all my favorite Marple side characters are present.  I loved how both Dolly Bantry and Sir Henry regularly ask Miss Marple for village parallels.  

The mystery is one of Christie's best with lots of possible suspects and lots of unexpected twists.  The opening is definitely one of the best and definitely deserves it's spot on the list.  I also really loved both Dolly and Miss Marple's reasoning for getting involved in solving the mystery.  Their understanding of Colonel Bantry's personality really softens and humanizes a type that is often played as a fool in mysteries from this era.  This is always a favorite reread and this time was no different.  

The TV adaptation staring Joan Hickson (who is probably my favorite Marple) is good though the direction they take Mr. Jefferson is a bit bonkers.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  I'm already excited for the February pick.

Would I Recommend this Book? Of course!  This one is probably best read after Murder at the Vicarage but both are a delight so it's no hardship.  

Friday Fives - Five (Plus 4) Series I Enjoyed the Most in 2025

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. This week I'm listing the 5 series (plus 4 - I had a hard time narrowing it down) I enjoyed the most in 2025.  There are lots of other series that I enjoyed but these were the ones that seem to have stuck with me the most.

1.  Her Majesty the Queen Investigates by S.J. Bennett - I haven't read the earlier books in the series but I've really enjoyed the two most recent books and I'm looking forward to reading the rest.

2.  Rockton by Kelley Armstrong - I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed the first two books in this series and now I need to get reading because this author has a ton of books I need to read!

3.  Sebastian St. Cyr by C.S. Harris - I love historical mysteries and this one keeps getting better.  I'm looking forward to going back and reading the early books.

4.  Hardcastle Mysteries by Graham Ison - I picked this one off my overdue review shelf.  I typically enjoy historical mysteries but was surprised how much I enjoyed this one.  The characters were really interesting and the mystery was very solid.

5.  Pen and Ink Mysteries by Krista Davis - I've really enjoyed this series and I like that the main character uses her sketching as a way to help her process her thoughts on the mysteries she gets involved in.  There are only 2 books left in the series but I'm looking forward to reading them.

6.  The Noodle Shop Mysteries by Vivien Chien - This is such a fun series.  I love the mysteries and the family dynamics.  

7.  Fethering Mysteries by Simon Brett - I enjoyed this mystery with a more classic feel and it has stuck with me more than I expected.  I'm looking forward to revisiting the characters.

8.  Hidden Legacies by Ilona Andrews - This is decidedly not my genre but I enjoyed the story development so much that I'm looking forward to continue the series.   I do wish the covers were a bit less shirtless.

9. Kate Hamilton Mysteries by Connie Berry - I love this English mystery series involving an American antiques dealer and her detective husband.

What series did you enjoy in 2025?

Books from the Backlog - Murder Outside the Lines

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  Murder Outside the Lines by Krista Davis

Blurb:  With Halloween just around the corner, the fall colors in Georgetown are brilliant. As manager of the Color Me Read bookstore, coloring book creator Florrie Fox has arranged for psychic author Hilda Rattenhorst to read from Spooktacular Ghost Stories. But the celebrity medium arrives for the event in hysterics, insisting she just saw a bare foot sticking out of a rolled-up carpet in a nearby alley. Is someone trying to sweep murder under the rug? Florrie calls in her policeman beau, Sergeant Eric Jonquille, but the carpet corpse has disappeared without a trace.
Then in the middle of her reading, Hilda chillingly declares that she feels the killer's presence in the store. Is this a publicity stunt or a genuine psychic episode? It seems there's no happy medium. When a local bibliophile is soon discovered missing, a strange mystery begins to unroll. Now it's up to Florrie and Jonquille to expose a killer's true colors . . .

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:    I've really enjoyed this series and only have two left in it but it always gets put to the side in favor of newer shiner books.