Touch Not the Cat - Fiction Review

Goodreads:  Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart

Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
Source:   Purchased

Description:  Bryony Ashley knows that her family's grand estate is both hell and paradise -- once elegant and beautiful, yet mired in debt and shrouded in shadow. Devastated by her father's sudden strange death abroad, she is nonetheless relieved to learn the responsibility of running Ashley Court has fallen to a cousin. Still, her father's final, dire warning about a terrible family curse haunts her days and her dreams.

Genre:  Fiction

Why I Picked This Book:   I'm slowly reading my way through Stewart's books and this is the most recent one I picked up.

My Impression:  While this one won't be on any favorites list I did enjoy it overall.  Bryony was a solid likable character and the Ashley family definitely has its oddities and stories.  There's a touch of supernatural that leans more towards to telepathy than ghosts and I'm still not entirely sure how I felt about it.  Ashley Court is an interesting setting and Stewart excels at making settings really come to life.  There is definitely something ominous lurking in the shadows and Bryony can't be sure what direction its coming from.  

Overall, this was fine.  I liked the characters and the setting and I was happy with the ending but it wasn't one that will stick with me or that I will go out of my way to recommend.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Yes, I'll read another book by her in 2026.

Would I Recommend this Book?  It's definitely not a must read but if you find a copy it's worth giving it a chance.

Friday Fives - Five Favorite Romance Books I Read 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 best romances I read in 2025.  I really didn't read very many true romance books and the first one I have is kind of questionable if it's romance or women's fiction as there were some other things going on but I didn't mention it in my fiction list so it's going here.  This is not counting rereads.

1.  Funny Story by Emily Henry - My first by Henry was a DNF so my hopes were not high when I picked this one up and ended up absolutely loving it.  I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

2.  Someone to Wed by Mary Balogh - I have been loving this series and this was one I really enjoyed.  The development of the relationship and the characters were interesting and a bit unique.

3.  The Sirens of Sussex by Mimi Matthews - I really enjoyed this one and I liked that it involved characters that were a bit different from the usual characters in historical romances.

4.  The Seven Rings by Nora Roberts - To be completely honest this wasn't my favorite of the trilogy or even close to my favorite Roberts book but I'm so in love with the premise of this series.  While there was a lot of filler I did really enjoy spending the time with the characters and in the manor.

5.  Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis - It's been awhile since I've read a Shalvis book and this one had dog rescues, vets, and some good found family vibes.

I'm hoping to read more romance books in 2026.  I really enjoy them but it's a genre that gets pushed to the side.

Books from the Backlog - The Glass Kitchen

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: The Glass Kitchen by Linda Francis Lee

Blurb:  Portia Cuthcart never intended to leave Texas. Her dream was to run the Glass Kitchen restaurant her grandmother built decades ago. But after a string of betrayals and the loss of her legacy, Portia is determined to start a new life with her sisters in Manhattan... and never cook again.
But when she moves into a dilapidated brownstone on the Upper West Side, she meets twelve-year-old Ariel and her widowed father Gabriel, a man with his hands full trying to raise two daughters on his own. Soon, a promise made to her sisters forces Portia back into a world of magical food and swirling emotions, where she must confront everything she has been running from. What seems so simple on the surface is anything but when long-held secrets are revealed, rivalries exposed, and the promise of new love stirs to life like chocolate mixing with cream.

The Glass Kitchen is a delicious novel, a tempestuous story of a woman washed up on the shores of Manhattan who discovers that a kitchen—like an island—can be a refuge, if only she has the courage to give in to the pull of love, the power of forgiveness, and accept the complications of what it means to be family.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  This one has been on my TBR since it was published and it's time to either read it or take it off the list.

Authors I Plan To Read in 2026

For the last couple of years I made a list of 10 authors that I've been meaning to read for ages but just have never managed it.  I've had really good luck with these lists so I'm looking forward to trying these ten authors.

1.  Sarah Adams - I'm planning on reading When in Rome which is the first in a series.  I have a love/hate relationship with rom-coms so I'm curious to see what I think of this author.

2.  Annabel Monaghan - I've picked up a few books by this author so I'll definitely be picking up one of the books on my shelf.

3.  Lisa See - This is another author I have several books by but for whatever reason still haven't read.  

4.  Allison Brennan - I think I'm going to try the first book in this author's Quinn and Costa series.

5.  Alice Feeney - I read a book by this author several years ago but she's had a bunch of new ones come out.  I have some mixed feelings about her books so I need to try another book to make a decision.

6.  G.M. Malliet - I'm intrigued by this author.  The books look very classic mystery and I'm looking forward to reading this series.

7.  Hester Fox - I do love a good atmospheric read and her books look fantastic.

8.  Kendra Elliott - I love suspense and I've seen some fantastic reviews for this author so I can't wait.

9.  Jennifer Probst - Her Meet Me in Italy series and The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti have both been calling my name for awhile now.  Not sure which one I'll read but it will be one of them!

10. Denise Hunter - I've seen some positive reviews about this author from some of my favorite book bloggers and she has a number of books involving bookstores so I feel like it's time to read something by her!

What authors are you hoping to read in 2026?

Top Ten Tuesday - My Ten Bookish Goals for 2026

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 Goals for 2026.  I'm focusing on my Bookish Goals for the year.

1.  Read 175 Books - I may change this back to 200 depending on how the reading is going by the end of the first quarter but I'm trying to focus on fun and not put arbitrary pressure on myself.

2.  Complete the Read Christie Challenge - This year the theme is Favorites/Best so it's a fantastic list of books.  I've already read the January pick which was on the list for Best Opening - The Body in the Library

3.  Read all the Books on my 2026 Priority List - I've picked 5 library books and 5 books from my shelves that I've been wanting to read and am focusing on getting them read.

4.  Read a book from each of the Authors I Plan to Read in 2026 list - Last year this list had me reading some fantastic books that I really loved so I'm excited to read some new authors this year.

5.  Read all the books on my Classic Mystery list - This year I'm mixing some favorite authors in my Classic Mystery list so it's a mix I'm really looking forward to reading.

6.  Make Progress on 10 series - and Finish 1 - I'm hoping to make some more substantial progress in my cozy series than I did last year and I definitely want to finish at least 1 so I can move more series in.

7.  Read 5 Overdue Review Books - I'm trying to make progress on my NetGalley shelf and so far I'm doing good but still need to make a bit more progress.

8.  Read 5 Nonfiction Books - I have 1 nonfiction book on my priority list and Read Christie has Christie's autobiography on the list so I need to come up with at least 3 more.

9.  Finish all the 2026 ARCs that I've Received - The last few years I've really focused on not having any new overdue review books and that's really helped keep my list from getting even more unmanageable.  I want to make sure I don't add to that list this year as well.

10.  Read 5 Books from my TBR Jar - I really enjoy an element of randomness to my reading and loved using my TBR jar last year.  I just have to decide if this includes both my regular TBR jar AND my audio TBR jar or just the regular one.  Decisions, decisions!

What are your goals for 2026?

A Very Novel Murder - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: A Very Novel Murder by Ellie Alexander

Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  June Munrow, an elderly resident of Annie’s home town, Redwood Grove, is convinced that young Kelly Taylor’s recent drowning wasn't the tragic accident everyone believes it to be. Despite the police ruling, June is determined to prove there’s more to the story and hires the Novel Detectives to uncover the truth.

As Annie delves into Kelly’s life, she discovers a tangled web of secrets involving Kelly’s complicated relationships, a peculiar landlord, and her mysterious roommate. Everyone connected to Kelly seems to be hiding something, and the deeper Annie digs, the more puzzling the case becomes.

With her trademark blend of curiosity and compassion, can Annie piece together the clues and solve her first official case—before she gets into deep water herself?

Genre: Mystery - Cozy 

Why I Picked This Book:  I've enjoyed other mysteries by this author and was curious to see how this series develops.

My Impression:  This is the first book in the Novel Detectives Mystery series which is very much connected to the recently concluded Secret Bookshop trilogy.  Annie and Fletcher's PI business is up and running and they have their first case!  

This series isn't my favorite of Alexander's.  Annie is a bit too perfect and it's a bit heavy on the description.  I also find the pacing a bit on the slower side - probably because of the heavy description lean.  

What keeps me reading this series is the side characters - especially Fletcher.  As well, I love the setting of an Agatha Christie themed bookstore complete with a secret room.  As well, the conclusion of the mystery was a bit of a surprise with an interesting motive.  I enjoyed this one - especially at the end - but I would have liked to see more of Annie's mentor and the side characters.  I'll probably read the next one when it comes out and if you enjoy cozy mysteries this series is one you to try.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I will definitely read more from this author and I will most likely pick up the next one in this series though it isn't as high on my priority list.

Would I Recommend this Book?   I would but only for big cozy mystery fans.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

This Week in Reading - January 18

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:

The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay - I love her books and this one looks really fun. (Publisher)

The Barn Identity by Diane Kelly - This is a series I've really been enjoying so I can't wait to read the next one. (Publisher)

The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea - I don't know why this one was in my Books to Buy list but I saw it on ThriftBooks so I bought it.  It looks fun.  (Purchased)

Aunt Dimity and the Duke by Nancy Atherton - This is the 2nd book in the Aunt Dimity series and I'm looking forward to seeing how the series progresses as I know it is very long running. (Purchased)

The Luck Runs Out by Charlotte MacLeod - This is the 2nd book in the Peter Shandy series and I very much enjoyed the first one - and I've really enjoyed everything I've read by this author. (Purchased)

Currently:

Reading:  Monster in the Moonlight by Annelise Ryan and The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams

Listening: The Dead Sea Cipher by Elizabeth Peters

Slow Read:  And Then They Were Doomed by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli

Watching: I'm on season 7 of 911 and Season 8 of Death in Paradise and I've been loving the Every Family Has a Secret show on the Ancestry Channel on YouTube.  

This coming week is my least favorite of the year.  We have to take Will back up to St Jude's in Memphis for his yearly blood work and tests.  I'm expecting everything to be absolutely fine as he's grown about 6 inches in the last year and I can't keep the child in shoes (he's wearing a size 13 now).  As well, color and energy are good which are all signs that things are great.  Regardless, I can't quite keep that feeling of dread from sinking in.   I'm bringing some fun rereads to hopefully distract me and we will be eating at our favorite Memphis restaurant a few times.  

Have a great week and happy reading!

My 2026 Classics List

Every year I make a list of classic mysteries to read and I always enjoy it.  This year I'm going slightly rogue and mixing in a few other books that I keep meaning to reread by favorite authors.

1.  Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist by Dorothy Gilman - I've been stalling on reading the last two Mrs. Pollifax books because when I do the series will be over but it is time to get the series done and then I can reread the whole series to celebrate.

2.  The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton - I picked up the whole Father Brown series at a used bookstore last year and this is the first one.

3.  The Gabriel Hounds by Mary Stewart - I'm slowly working my way through Stewart's books and this is the most recent one I've picked up.

4.  Have His Carcase by Dorothy L. Sayers - I have mixed luck with Sayers's books but this one features Harriet Vane so I have high hopes.  

5.  Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher - I have planned to read this one for years but somehow never do.  I love Pilcher's books and this is one that has fallen through the cracks.  I read it years ago but remember nothing about it.

6.  Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery - Last year I reread Blue Castle and thoroughly enjoyed the reread.  This is one I remember really loving but haven't reread.

7. Colour Scheme by Ngaio Marsh - I've really been enjoying Marsh's Inspector Alleyn books and am looking forward to this one.

8.  The Blind Side by Patricia Wentworth - I'm slowly working through Wentworth's standalones.  They're a bit inconsistent but I always enjoy them.  

9.  The Dancing Floor by Barbara Michaels - Michaels is my go-to slump busting author and I've read a lot of her books multiple times but somehow haven't read this one.

10. The Luck Runs Out by Charlotte MacLeod - I read the first Peter Shandy book at the end of last year and am looking forward to reading the next book.

What classic/vintage books are you hoping to read in 2026?

Friday Fives - Five (plus Two) Favorite Fiction Reads of 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 best fiction books I read in 2025 - though really it's 7 because I couldn't narrow it down.  This is not counting rereads and I incorporate genres like fantasy or sci-fi into this list as well.

1.  The Dressmaker's of London by Julia Kelly - I really enjoyed this one and it was a nice twist on the typical homefront book.

2.  The Keeper of Lost Art by Laura Morelli - Another twist on a homefront book with the main character being a child and the book being set in Italy.

3.  Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand - Hilderbrand was on my Must Read Author list for 2025 and I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

4.  The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst - This was a bit of a case of right book right time but I also just thoroughly enjoyed it.

5. The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick - This was another on my author list and another that I just thoroughly enjoyed.  The audio especially was fantastic.

6.  The Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather Webber - I love every book by Webber that I've read and this one just felt really special. 

7.  The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center - Another author on my must read list (2025 was a good year for that list) and the audio was just magical.

What were some of your favorite fiction reads?

Books from the Backlog - The Lacemaker's Secret

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:  The Lacemaker's Secret by Kathleen Ernst

Blurb:  Greed, Uncertainty, and Death Get Tangled in the Mystery of a Rare Piece of Belgian Lace
Curator Chloe Ellefson needs distraction from the unsettling family secret she's just learned. It doesn't help that her boyfriend, Roelke McKenna, has been troubled for weeks and won't say why. Chloe hopes a consulting job at Green Bay's Heritage Hill Historical Park, where an old Belgian-American farmhouse is being restored, will be a relaxing escape. Instead she discovers a body in a century-old bake oven.

Chloe's research suggests that a rare and valuable piece of lace made its way to nearby Door County, Wisconsin, with the earliest Belgian settlers. More importantly, someone is desperate to find it. Inspired by a courageous Belgian woman who survived cholera, famine, and the Great Fire, Chloe must untangle clues to reveal secrets old and new...before the killer strikes again.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  This is an overdue review book that has been on my shelf for far too long.  I read the first book in the series and liked it okay but wasn't immediately inspired to read this book that is later in the series.  I need to at least to attempt to read this one to get it off the shelf or DNF it.

My Book Series List for 2026

I'm a big cozy mystery reader and where there are cozy mysteries there are lots of series!  I'm trying to make progress and get caught up on 10 different series and when that happens, I roll in a new one. In 2025 I focused on reading one from each series and this year my plan is to get at least one series completed.  Here are the 10 series I'm working on for 2026.

1.  Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon by Donna Andrews - I love the later books in this series and have enjoyed the beginning books. This is the next one and I'm hoping I like it better than the previous book where Meg got on my nerves a bit.

2.  Murder in the Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams - I'm still not sure what I thought of the first book in the series so I'm going to give it another chance with the second book before I make a final decision regarding finishing the series.

3.  A Gala Event by Sheila Connelly - I'm not loving this series anymore but I only have a couple left so I feel like I should finish it.  I'm hoping that I enjoy this one.

4.  The Book Stops Here by Kate Carlisle - The next one in the bookbinder series and another one I only have a few left on.

5.  Mrs. Jeffries on the Trail by Emily Brightwell - I really loved the previous book in the series and am really looking forward to this one.

6.  A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander - I have enjoyed this historical mystery series so far and am looking forward to reading this new one.

7.  Give Up the Ghost by Juliet Blackwell - This is a fun series involving a general contractor who accidentally specializes in haunted places.  I'm looking forward to this one.

8.  Panic Button by Kylie Logan - This is the series I'm most likely to finish this year as there is only this book and one more left.  So far, it's been a fun read and it's amazing just how much stuff there is to know about buttons.

9.  Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower - This fun series set in an Amish candy shop is a good one and one I'm looking forward to getting back to reading!

10. Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen - I really enjoy this series involving 34th in line to the throne Georgie and have especially enjoyed the most recent books.  This is one of the few in the middle that I missed for whatever reason and I'm looking forward to picking it up.

Are you a series reader?  What series are you hoping to read in 2026?

Top Ten Tuesday - Most Anticipating Books Releasing in the First Half of 2026

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 the Books I'm Most Anticipating Releasing in the First Half of 2026.

1.  Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jessie Q. Sutanto - I have loved every book I've read by this author and this one looks really fun.

2.  Too Close to Home by Seraphina Nova Glass - I read another thriller by this author last year and loved it so of course I had to snap up an eARC of this one and can't wait to read it.

3.  Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett - I'm 50/50 with this author.  I adored The Grace of Wild Things but was a little meh on the first Emily Wilde (though I'm in the overwhelming minority there) but this one sounds wonderful so fingers crossed!

4.  The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor by Lucy Connelly - I love this author's series set in Scotland so this one set in Wales sounds just as fun.

5.  Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict - I enjoy what I've read by this author and this one involves archeology and ancient Egypt which are some of my favorite things.

6.  The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst - I have loved the previous two books in the series and this looks like a lot of fun.  Plus, I love the main character.

7.  A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn - I really enjoy this historical mystery series and am looking forward to seeing how Veronica and Stoker are doing and what they're up to.

8.  Where the Truth Lies by Katherine Greene - I enjoyed another thriller by this author last year so I'm excited to pick this one up.  I'll probably go the audio route with it.

9.  The Final Target by Nora Roberts - I always enjoy and look forward to Roberts' romantic suspense reads.

10. The Shippers by Katherine Center - I loved the book I read last year by this author and this one looks like a lot of fun!

What are you looking forward to for the first half of 2026?

My 2026 Reading Priority List

 

The last few years I've made a list of 10 books - 5 books off my shelf, 5 books from the library - that I'm really wanting to read.  This year I decided to really focus on my favorites - be it authors, tropes, genres, or whatever other category comes to mind.  Here are my 10 priority reads for 2026.

Library:

1.  The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths - I've really enjoyed other books by this author (especially series involving the post-War magicians) and this involves a cold case unit which is my favorite type of mystery.

2.  Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams - I typically enjoy this author and I love the premise of this one which involves a mother-daughter relationship and family secrets - and an old forgotten chest.

3.  The Librarians by Sherry Thomas - I love this author and this book is supposed to involve quirky librarians.  

4.  The Lost Book of First Loves by RaeAnne Thayne - I love this author and this one involves DNA tests, secret sisters, and some time recovering in a family cabin.

5.  Code Name: Lise by Larry Loftis - I've really enjoyed another biography written by this author and this one has been on my TBR for ages.

My Shelves:

1.  Year One by Nora Roberts - Roberts is one of my most reliable comfort read authors.  I've avoided this series because it always looked a bit too fantasy for me but I've been reading more fantasy lately so I decided to give this one a try.

2.  We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida - I have thoroughly enjoyed all the Japanese cozy fiction I have read and I adore this premise.

3.  The Secret of Terror Castle by Robert Arthur - This is the first in the Classic Three Investigators series which sounds kind of like a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys style series.  It was mentioned quite a lot in one of the Secret Staircase books by Gigi Pandian and it sounded like such a fun read that I bought it.

4.  Hope Springs on Main Street by Olivia Miles - I read the previous two books in this series years ago and enjoyed it.  I was really interested in this character and thrilled when I saw she was getting her own book - which I of course bought, put on my shelf, and never read.

5.  Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett - Roaring 20s and ghosts - plus someone whose reading tastes align pretty strongly with mine really loved it.   It sounds like a fun read.

What are you planning to read in 2026?

This Week in Reading - January 11

 

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:

Bryony and Roses by T. Kingfisher - I have no idea how this one showed up on my TBR but it did and when I saw it on Thriftbooks I figured I'd give it a shot. (Purchased)

The Official Disney Parks Dessert Cookbook - I'm slowly collecting all the Disney related cookbooks I can find.  It makes figuring out what I'm going to make for dinner a little more fun. (Purchased)

Whose Body in the Library by Eva Gates - I love this series so of course I had to pick up the next book in the series. (Publisher)

The Lake House by Lori Foster - I really enjoyed the first book in this series that came out last year so I'm hoping this one has the same warm cozy feelings. (Publisher)

The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen - On the opposite end of the reading spectrum is this one!  I really enjoy this author's thrillers and this one sounds really interesting. (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  A Very Novel Murder by Ellie Alexander and Season of Wonder by RaeAnne Thayne

Slow Read:  Still reading Brought to Book by Anthea Fraser but I should finish it up this week.

Listening:  Murder in the Crypt by Irina Shapiro

Watching:  We are still watching Death in Paradise and mixed in Why Didn't They Ask Evans? BritBox which I'm really enjoying.

I bought the cutest book counter from Etsy and it finally arrived yesterday.  I'm really looking forward to using it!

It's only about 6 inches tall and has a bunch of optional accessories and extra dice.  You can change the bottom die to change the length of time that you're tracking.  It's 3D printed so there's a little bit of dust but I just love it.  I got it from this shop on Etsy

Have a great week and happy reading!

Reading Recap for 2025

 

Total Books: 201

Format:  

Audio:  64

Print:  69

Ebook:  68

I was a bit surprised with how even the three formats were.

Genre:

Mystery:  127

Fiction:  43

Romance:  20

Nonfiction:  11

I knew I was primarily a mystery reader but wow!  I'm a little surprised by how much of a mystery reader I am.

Armchair Travel for 2025

Domestic Travel:

California: 15

Connecticut: 2

Wisconsin 3

Ohio: 4

Minnesota: 2

Virigina: 5

Texas: 2

Arizona 2

Tennessee: 3

Maine: 4

North Carolina: 4

Massachusetts: 11

Florida: 3

New York: 5

Washington: 2

Alabama: 2

Michigan, Louisiana, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, Illinois, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Georgia, Idaho, Washington, DC, Rhode Island, Maryland, Kentucky, Alaska and the US Virgin Islands - 1 time

I'm a little surprised that I never made it to Colorado or Mississippi but hopefully I will visit there in 2026.

International Travel:

England - 54

Korea - 1

Ireland - 3

France - 6

Canada - 2

Denmark - 1

Myanmar - 1

Scotland - 3

Italy - 2

Japan - 3

St. Vincent Grenadines - 1

Sweden - 1

Iceland - 1

Egypt - 2

Costa Rica - 1

Portugal - 1

And 1 trip across the Atlantic Ocean on a 1930s era ocean liner

How was your reading in 2025? Where did your reading take you?

Friday Fives - Five (Plus 3) Best Mysteries I Read 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 best mysteries I read in 2025 - though really it's 8 because I couldn't narrow it down.  This is not counting rereads (which means it excludes Agatha Christie books I read this year).

1.  Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass - I really enjoyed this one.  It was a bit procedural, a bit psychological thriller and super fast paced while not giving me nightmares.  I'm so excited to read more from this author.

2.  Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon - While this is actual family it had a very found family vibe with a twist of characters figuring out what they want in life - throw in a murder mystery and it was a fantastic read.

3.  Hardcastle's Quartet by Graham Isom - This was an overdue review book that I absolutely loved.  It's a police procedural set during World War I.  The mystery was intriguing, I loved the pace of the investigation, and I really enjoyed getting to know the characters.

4.  Death in the Countryside by Maria Malone - This was the first (I hope) in a series about a police officer living in a small village with her working dog.  I loved the mystery and the characters and just thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience.

5.  The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill - I picked up the audio book on a whim even though I had seen some really mixed reviews on it.  I'm not sure if it was because of the audio or my mood or what but I was pulled into this mystery immediately and loved every minute.  The end had me on the edge of my seat.

6.  We Solve Murders by Richard Osman - I have loved every interview I've seen of this author and while I didn't love The Thursday Murder Club (which may have been a mood thing - I need to reread it) this one really appealed to me.  It was so fun!  I loved the characters and the mystery and just the general adventure of it all.  The audio is fantastic.

7.  A Grave Deception by Connie Berry - This series lives somewhere between cozy and more straight forward mystery and I have enjoyed every single book in it.  The premise of this one was completely up my alley and it was just a delight.

8.  The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves - This was my first book by this author and the first book in the Vera Stanhope series and it won't be my last of either.  This was a fantastic mystery with lots of twists and turns and I can't wait to read more from this series (and watch the show).

What were some of your favorite mysteries that you read in 2025?