I set a goal this year to read 12 books and I am proud to say that I am doing a great job with it! I have finished 9 books so far, and the year is just at the mid-point, so I have a feeling I will beat my goal. Although I do read beyond mystery and detective fiction, I will keep the list below to that genre for the sake of the blog. You can find me on GoodReads if you want to follow along with everything I am reading or plan/want to read. Or, even better, you can follow me on Instagram. I would love to have you as a follower! : https://www.instagram.com/bookshelf_detective/

Still Life by Louise Penny

I’d heard of Louise Penny as one of the most important mystery authors, yet I had not picked up one of her books. I read this one on my Nook and truth be told, I think reading on an E-Reader tends to make reading and finishing the book more challenging, The format does not really work for me, so while this book was pretty good, I think the format made me struggle to get through it. I will try Louise Penny again, but in a physical book form as I expect I will have a better experience.

Nancy Drew: The Mystery of the Lilac Inn

One of my goals is to read all the Nancy Drew books. Well, at least the ones my Mother-in-Law gifted to me that she owned and read as a child. These books are quick, fun, heart-warming reads that brings me a lot of calm and joy. They are so innocent that one cannot help but smile while reading them. I often pick up a Drew book in between heavier reads or when I do not know what to read next.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Poirot, of course, makes not one but two appearances this quarter with one being non-fiction. My only knowledge of this story is the David Suchet television series version, so I knew the story and who in fact murdered Roger Ackroyd. This book is probably one of the most important and well-received mystery novel of all time because the twist is original and jaw-dropping. The story is a tad different from the TV version I was used to, so it was almost reading an entirely new story. I thoroughly enjoyed it and kind of wish I didn’t know who the murderer was before hand because I think it would have made for an even better reading experience.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

This was on a book club list, otherwise I never would have heard of it or picked it up. I decided to listen to this on audio and I am glad I did! The audio version is great and kept me wanting to keep listening and listening. I’d lay in bed at night, close my eyes, and listen to the story. I could see it all playing out in my head so easily. Audio books are hit or miss for me and this was a hit. The story is certainly an original one and could be in the same twist-vein as “Roger Ackroyd.” I plan to read Alex Michaelides next book!

Poirot: The Greatest Detective in the World by Mark Aldridge

I pre-ordered this book and anxiously awaited its arrival for 4 months. When it arrived, I flipped through it and realized it was not a narrative form, but rather a series of mini-sections. This is an incredibly well researched, well-written book as the definitive Poirot reference. Specifically the books (when they were written, the reception, the behind-the-scenes, etc.), radio, film, TV and theatre. The book stops in 2021 with the new movie expected to come out this year. It also discusses the Netflix John Malkovitch version which I’ve seen (you can read my thoughts here). I would say this is the encyclopedia of Poirot as written and depicted in media. Very interesting and fascinating. As Mark ends the book, “Poirot will out live us all.”

The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex

This was not a planned purchase when I went to the bookstore with my husband. In fact, he was the one who spotted it and thought it was something I’d read and like. I bought it on the spot because he knows how to pick good books, movies, etc. I really enjoyed it. It was a premise that was refreshingly original and the writing unique and engaging. Although there are two trigger-warning situations/moments that happen about 75% in that I personally struggled with. It got me thinking about books having warning labels. Maybe not to the likes of the Parental Advisory seen on music, but something on the book jacket that says what themes or events that are within that could be triggering. I do not believe in censorship, but certain things can really impact someone when they are not expecting it. Overall, this was an interesting book and worth the read, but the two situations made the overall experience not as great as it could have been.