Becca (seasonsoflove) Reads in 2018!

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Becca (seasonsoflove) Reads in 2018!

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1seasonsoflove
Modificato: Dic 31, 2018, 10:12 pm

So glad to be back with this group!

Here is my end of the year reading roundup for 2017: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2017/12/2017-end-of-year-survey.htm...

And now for the 2018 reads!

January 2018
1. Monkey Mind by Daniel Smith
2. Carrie by Stephen King
3. The Fact of a Body by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich
4. Disappearance at Devil's Rock by Paul Tremblay
5. Elephants on Acid and Other Bizarre Experiments by Alex Boese
6. Just Between Us by Rebecca Drake
7. The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
8. Another One Bites the Crust by Ellie Alexander
9. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
10. God Help the Child by Toni Morrison
11. The Girl Next Door by Brad Parks
12. Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
13. Nancy Drew: The Secret Within Book One by Stefan Petrucha and Sarah Kinney
14. Lady Killers by Tori Telfer
15. Whiskey Sour by J.A. Konrath
16. Friend Request by Laura Marshall
17. Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant
18. Troublemaker by Leah Remini
19. The Devils You Know by M.C. Atwood
20. Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart
21. Spinsters in Jeopardy by Ngaio Marsh
22. Vertigo by Pierre Boileau
23. The Marsh King's Daughter by Karen Dionne

February 2018
1. Good as Gone by Amy Gentry
2. Murder, Interrupted by James Patterson
3. Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner
4. Right Behind You by Lisa Gardner
5. Home Sweet Murder by James Patterson
6. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
7. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
8. A Whisper of Bones by Ellen Hart
9. Let's Play Dead by Sheila Connolly
10. Murder Beyond the Grave by James Patterson
11. Wolf by Kelly Oliver
12. The Bad Seed by William March
13. Muffin to Fear by Victoria Hamilton
14. Gossamer Ghost by Laura Childs

March 2018
1. Priceless by Robert Wittman
2. Grit by Gillian French
3. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
4. The Greek Coffin Mystery by Ellery Queen
5. The Postcard Killers by James Patterson
6. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
7. Into the Thinnest of Air by Simon R. Green
8. One Goal: A Coach, A Team, And The Game That Brought A Divided Team Together by Amy Bass
9. Nancy Drew Diaries #9: The Secret Within Part 2 by Stefan Petruca and Sarah Kinney
10. Dead Girls Don't Wear Diamonds by Nancy Martin
11. The Man From the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James
12. Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan
13. Jack the Ripper by Francois DeBois and Jean-Charles Poupard
14. The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell

April 2018
1. Stowed Away by Barbara Ross
2. The Blind by A.F. Brady
3. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
4. Lies She Told by Cate Holahan
5. Lie to Me by J.T. Ellison
6. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
7. Life Inside My Mind edited by Jessica Burkhart
8. The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
9. The General's Daughter by Nelson DeMille
10. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
11. Private Vegas by James Patterson
12. A Girl's Guide to Joining the Resistance by Emma Gray
13. Doll Bones by Holly Black

May 2018
1. I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
2. The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match by Elizabeth Eulberg
3. Snowed in with Murder by Auralee Wallace
4. Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertaili
6. The Marmalade Murders by Elizabeth J. Duncan
7. Ring in the Year with Murder by Auralee Wallace
8. Down the Aisle with Murder by Auralee Wallace
9. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
10. The Accident Season by Moira Rowley-Doyle
11. Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender
12. Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics

June 2018
1. Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead
2. Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien
3. S.T.A.G.S. by M.A. Bennett
4. Greenglass House by Kate Milford
5. Bonfire by Krysten Ritter
6. Social Creatures by Tara Isabella Burton
7. Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

July 2018
1. Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage
2. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
3. Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman
4. Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding
5. Somebody's Daughter by David Bell
6. Believe Me by J.P. Delaney
7. Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
8. Jack the Ripper by Bruce Balfour
9. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
10. She was the Quiet One by Michele Campbell

August 2018
1. The Rules by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie
2. Mary Jane's Ghost by Ted Gregory
3. Murder Games by James Patterson
4. Sherlock Holmes Crime Alleys by Sylvain Cordune and Nespolino Alessandro
5. The Party by Robyn Harding
6. Private: Gold by James Patterson
7. Adam and Eve and Pinch Me by Ruth Rendell
8. The Prisoner in the Castle by Susan Elia MacNeal
9. Malice by Keigo Higashino
10. Honeymoon by James Patterson
11. Second Honeymoon by James Patterson
12. Princess by James Patterson
13. Mysterious America by Loren Coleman
14. The Body in the Casket by Katherine Hall Page

September 2018

1. Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
2. If I Die Tonight by Alison Gaylin
3. The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie
4. The Destroyers by Christopher Bollen
5. The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
6. Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
7. Looking for Alaska by John Green
8. The Complete Dracula adapted by Leah Moore and John Reppion

October 2018
1. Murder on Millionaire's Row by Erin Lindsey
2. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick
3. The Sayers Swindle by Victoria Abbot
4. Under Suspicion: A Friday Barnes Mystery by R.A. Spratt
5. Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
6. Private London by James Patterson
7. All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
8. The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by H.P. Lovecraft
9. Toys by James Patterson and Neil McMahon
10. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers
11. Becoming Unbecoming by Una
12. Lore: Monstrous Creatures by Aaron Mahnke

November 2018
1. Crippen by John Boyne
2. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
3. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
4. Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
5. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
6. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
7. An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott
8. Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch

December 2018
1. A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell
2. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
3. (Don't) Call Me Crazy edited by Kelly Jensen
4. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
5. The Invention of Murder by Judith Flanders

2seasonsoflove
Gen 2, 2018, 8:21 pm

1. Monkey Mind by Daniel Smith

There are some books that really resonate with you, that are exactly what you need to be reading at the moment you are turning those pages.

This is one of those books for me.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-monkey-mind.html

3scaifea
Gen 2, 2018, 9:42 pm

Woot! Best Friend is here!!

4thornton37814
Gen 2, 2018, 11:10 pm

Have a great year of reading!

5drneutron
Gen 2, 2018, 11:12 pm

Welcome back!

6PaulCranswick
Gen 3, 2018, 6:17 am



Happy New Year
Happy New Group here
This place is full of friends
I hope it never ends
It brew of erudition and good cheer.

7FAMeulstee
Gen 3, 2018, 10:58 am

Happy reading in 2018, Becca!

8seasonsoflove
Gen 3, 2018, 2:28 pm

Thanks so much everyone, I love this group!

2. Carrie by Stephen King

Carrie tells the tragic tale of Carrie White, a teenager bullied mercilessly by her peers and abused by her mother. When a cruel prank turns a kindness on its head, it triggers a horror that takes over the town.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-carrie.html

9drneutron
Gen 3, 2018, 2:56 pm

Oooo, Carrie is one of my favorite of King's!

10scaifea
Gen 3, 2018, 5:02 pm

>8 seasonsoflove: Gosh, it's been a long time since I read that one.

11Familyhistorian
Gen 4, 2018, 1:21 am

I'm dropping my star to follow along with your reviews again in 2018, Becca.

12MickyFine
Gen 4, 2018, 1:54 pm

Dropping off a star, Becca. Happy to see you back. :)

13seasonsoflove
Gen 5, 2018, 9:15 pm

>9 drneutron: drneutron I really liked it! I'm reading Doctor Sleep this year as well for another category in that challenge (I read The Shining a few years ago and loved it).

>10 scaifea: scaifea I can't believe I hadn't read it before-I like spooky reads, and I've been reading more and more of King over the years.

>11 Familyhistorian: Familyhistorian thank you so much!

>12 MickyFine: MickyFine thanks so much, I'm glad to be back!

14rretzler
Gen 5, 2018, 9:16 pm

Hi, Becca. Dropping a star.



I loved Carrie - I read it when I was 11 or 12 (when it first came out,) and it started my love affair of horror, at least for the next 8 years, anyway. Haven't read a horror novel probably in 30 years!

Looking forward to your reviews!

15seasonsoflove
Gen 5, 2018, 9:17 pm

3. The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich

In The Fact of a Body, watching a tape of a convicted murderer turns everything Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich thought she knew, believed in, and had buried away on their respective heads.

Read the rest of the review here: https://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-fact-of-body.html

16seasonsoflove
Modificato: Gen 5, 2018, 9:18 pm

>14 rretzler: hi, and thank you! It was a great book, I'm just surprised I hadn't read it earlier!

17seasonsoflove
Gen 6, 2018, 10:11 pm

4. Disappearance at Devil's Rock by Paul Tremblay

Tommy Sanderson, a teenager, has gone missing. As his mother and sister frantically try to discover what has happened to him, mysterious things begin to happen all around them. Diary pages full of terror appear seemingly out of nowhere, neighbors report seeing a shadowy figure lurking by their windows, and Tommy's family feels his presence in ways they can't explain.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-disappearance-at-dev...

18seasonsoflove
Gen 8, 2018, 7:30 am

5. Elephants on Acid and Other Bizarre Experiments by Alex Boese

Sometimes you just need to re read a fascinating, fun favorite. This was one of those times, and this is one of those books.

Boese writes about the bizarre. In this book, he expounds on various scientific experiments over the years, that range from if people are more attracted to each other when terrified on a swaying bridge, to the titular exploration of just what elephants are like when dosed with LSD.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-elephants-on-acid-an...

19scaifea
Gen 8, 2018, 7:54 am

>18 seasonsoflove: Oh, that one sounds really good! Wishlisted!

How's it going? How's school going after break?

20jnwelch
Gen 8, 2018, 8:49 am

Happy New Thread, beloved one, and happy first day back teaching! I bet those little gremlins missed you.

Does your brother know about Elephants on Acid? If someone had told me about that book and asked which one of our kids read it, I would've guessed him.

21msf59
Gen 8, 2018, 9:57 am

Happy Reading in 2018, Becca. I hope your year is off to a fine start. I think your Dad, mentioned that you had a copy of The Fact of a Body. I know you as a die-hard True Crime fan, so I can not recommend it high enough, although it will haunt you for days.

22magicians_nephew
Gen 8, 2018, 5:17 pm

Waving hello to Becca and looking forward to following her thread this year

23seasonsoflove
Gen 9, 2018, 7:31 am

>19 scaifea: scaifea It is really good!

We started back up yesterday, I'm exhausted, but it's fun to be back with my students-we're doing The Gingerbread Man this week :)

>20 jnwelch: jnwelch thanks Dad! While I'm so tired, it's fun to be back with the little ones. Jess found about Elephants on Acid when I unwrapped it, and said the same thing, that it sounds like quite a Jesse book!

>21 msf59: msf59 Thanks Mark! You are right, The Fact of a Body was both amazing and haunting.

>22 magicians_nephew: magicians_nephew hi back!

24seasonsoflove
Gen 9, 2018, 7:32 am

6. Just Between Us by Rebecca Drake

Alison, Sarah, Julie, and Heather, four mothers and friends living in the suburbs, seem to have perfect lives. But underneath each of their veneers are secrets and lies, hidden until one becomes too big to handle and envelops them all. Each must decide how far they are willing to go to protect their friends and the lives they have created.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-just-between-us.html

25scaifea
Gen 9, 2018, 8:09 am

>23 seasonsoflove: That first week back is absolutely exhausting, isn't it?

Gingerbread Man! So fun. In kindergarten, Charlie's class baked a gingerbread man, who then ran away while they were out for recess. The followed clues around the school for a few days and made a trap to catch him. So cute. Charlie's best friend was really nervous when they finally caught it and wouldn't go near it because he was afraid it would just up and start running again! So funny.

26seasonsoflove
Gen 11, 2018, 7:33 am

>25 scaifea: scaifea it really is!

That's so cute and funny! We taste-tested gingerbread cookies yesterday and voted on our favorite, and saw what would happen if a gingerbread cookie really did go in the water-today we are voting on our favorite version of the story, and seeing if we are taller, shorter, or the same height as a paper gingerbread man we made :)

27seasonsoflove
Gen 11, 2018, 7:34 am

7. The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor

Though it is only January 11, I have already found one of my top books of 2018.

The Chalk Man is absolutely brilliant. Tudor tells the story of Eddie, whose childhood code of chalk men was corrupted when it was used to lead him and his friends to a dismembered body. Now a grown man, his past is brought into his present when he and his friends begin receiving chalk messages again--and when one of them goes missing and is found dead.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-chalk-man.html

28scaifea
Gen 11, 2018, 7:57 am

>26 seasonsoflove: Your gingerbread activities sound so fun! I bet the kids are loving it!

29rretzler
Gen 13, 2018, 12:07 am

>27 seasonsoflove: BB! Sounds quite good.

30jnwelch
Gen 13, 2018, 12:13 pm

I saw this on Mark's thread, and thought of you:

31ChelleBearss
Gen 13, 2018, 12:28 pm

Hi Becca! I thought I’d stop by and say hello! Looks like your year is off to a great start with 7 books finished already!

32seasonsoflove
Gen 13, 2018, 3:13 pm

>28 scaifea: scaifea thanks, it was a really fun week! Definitely one of my most successful units :)

>29 rretzler: rretzler it is so good!

>30 jnwelch: jnwelch ha! I love it! So true!

>31 ChelleBearss: ChelleBearss hi! Thanks so much for stopping by and say hi!

33seasonsoflove
Gen 13, 2018, 3:14 pm

8. Another One Bites the Crust by Ellie Alexander

When Jules' Capshaw is hired by her close friend, Lance, to provide the baked goods for his over-the-top Elizabethan extravaganza, she becomes a little concerned that he may be having a nervous breakdown. But when his lead actor is found murdered, and Lance becomes a prime suspect, Jules will have to go behind the scenes to solve the mystery and save her friend.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-another-one-bites-cr...

34seasonsoflove
Gen 14, 2018, 9:35 am

9. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

In The Woman in the Window, Anna Fox hasn't left her home in ten months, too afraid of the memories in her head and the world outside her door. She watches old movies and the neighbors she can see through her window, until one night her world expands for the worst as she witnesses something horrifying. When no one believes her--and she's not even sure she can believe her own mind--Anna sets out to figure out the truth.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-woman-in-window.html

10. God Help the Child by Toni Morrison

While not my favorite of Morrison's, this was still a beautifully written book about how what we do and say to children truly matters.

35seasonsoflove
Gen 15, 2018, 6:44 pm

11. The Girl Next Door by Brad Parks

This mystery, surrounding a hit and run that caused the death of a newspaper delivery woman, was merely okay. The main character and narrator really, at least to me, wasn't very likable or realistic. The twist ending did raise the book up in my estimation, but wasn't enough to save this read for me.

12. Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

This is a well-done middle grade mystery surrounding a hidden piece of art discovered by a young girl after her grandfather dies. Fitzgerald weaves in history while creating a strong protagonist and a great supporting guest.

36msf59
Gen 15, 2018, 6:58 pm

Hi, Becca. I don't read a lot of thriller/mysteries but I am interested in The Chalk Man and The Woman in the Window.

Had a great time carousing with your Dad yesterday. We do click.

37scaifea
Gen 16, 2018, 6:26 am

I ay need to track down Under the Egg...

38magicians_nephew
Gen 16, 2018, 12:02 pm

adding The Chalk Man to the TBR

39seasonsoflove
Gen 17, 2018, 7:17 am

>37 scaifea: scaifea you should definitely check it out, it's a quick read too! If you read it to Charlie, just know it does get into some details about the Holocaust.

>38 magicians_nephew: magicians_nephew I'm glad, it's so good!

40seasonsoflove
Gen 17, 2018, 7:18 am

13. Nancy Drew: The Secret Within Book One by Stefan Petrucha and Sarah Kinney

This is a fun graphic novel series containing a favorite character from my childhood, that makes for some fun light reading.

41seasonsoflove
Gen 18, 2018, 7:30 am

14. Lady Killers by Tori Telfer

In Lady Killers, Telfer tells the true stories of fourteen female serial killers from history, ranging from groups of women who banded together to poison the men in their lives, to a woman who kept finding her way to elderly men and their money. Telfer has a wonderfully wry writing style, and manages to find moments of subtle humor amidst the darkness, making her book very accessible, while never losing sight of her subject matter.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-lady-killers.html

42EBT1002
Gen 19, 2018, 2:48 pm

Hi Becca! Dropping off a star to follow your reading this year.

>35 seasonsoflove: What would you say is your favorite book by Morrison?
Last night I heard Jesmyn Ward speak and in the Q&A someone asked what her favorite ghost story is. She said Beloved and it made me want to read it a third time.

43seasonsoflove
Modificato: Gen 20, 2018, 1:00 pm

>42 EBT1002: Thanks so much for the star! I would say Beloved is my favorite Morrison book. I've read it twice now for two different classes, and I feel like I always find something new in it when I return to it.

44seasonsoflove
Gen 20, 2018, 1:03 pm

15. Whiskey Sour by J.A. Konrath

I had vague memories of reading a short story by Konrath with the same main character, Lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels, and enjoying it, which is what made me pick up this book. But either my memory was sorely mistaken or Konrath should only stick with short stories, because I unfortunately did not particularly enjoy this book. While I did like the character of Jack Daniels herself quite a bit, I felt the constant humor felt very forced, and the crimes themselves were so overly just plain gross that it made the book hard to read sometimes. Had I not been reading it for two separate reading challenges, I suspect I might have put it down before the end.

45ChelleBearss
Gen 22, 2018, 11:33 am

>41 seasonsoflove: Lady Killers sounds very good for my true crime category!

46seasonsoflove
Gen 25, 2018, 8:37 pm

>45 ChelleBearss: it's a really good read!

47seasonsoflove
Modificato: Gen 25, 2018, 8:41 pm

16. Friend Request by Laura Marshall

When Louise gets a Facebook friend request from Maria, her world stops--Maria is dead. Or at least she's supposed to be. One online notification sends Louise spiraling back into her past, forced to confront her actions and face the fear that everything that happened back then may be about to be revealed.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-friend-request.html

17. Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant

Lies have always led the narrator's life, and gotten him to where he is. But when lies take him on what should be an idyllic holiday, he begins to realize his lies may have finally caught up with him this time.

Read the rest of the review: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-lie-with-me.html

18. Troublemaker by Leah Remini

This is a fascinating, very candid read, where Remini bravely spills about her time in Hollywood and her time in Scientology.

48seasonsoflove
Gen 28, 2018, 9:31 am

19. The Devils You Know by M.C. Atwood

Boulder House is a house of legends and secrets, beginning with its original owner, who may have spread a curse, and continuing with the whispers that surround it to this day. When a local high school organizes a field trip to the site, five very different teens find themselves pitted against evils far deeper and darker than they could have imagined.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-devils-you-know.html

20. Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart

This is the tale of Imogen. And Jule. Who may be who they say they are. Or maybe not. Who you may be able to trust. Or maybe not.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-genuine-fraud.html

49seasonsoflove
Gen 31, 2018, 7:17 am

21. Spinsters in Jeopardy by Ngaio Marsh

While I prefer her English manor home murders, I love anything Ngaio Marsh writes, including when she just goes for the crazy and fully embraces it like she does in this book. Here, her intrepid detective and his family come into close and dangerous contact with a cult. Mistaken identities, kidnappings, and goat statues all come into play, and it is a fun wild ride.

22. Vertigo by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac

This is one of those books that completely disorients you and you enjoy every second of it. A man is hired by a friend to follow his wife, who is acting strangely. This seemingly simple task turns into a tale with so many twists and turns that even if you've seen the movie, you won't be sure you know where it's going.

50rretzler
Gen 31, 2018, 7:28 am

>44 seasonsoflove: Becca, I'm glad my instincts were right on that one. I tend to shy away from those "cozies" whose titles are too punny or cutesy.

>49 seasonsoflove: Loved the movie, but didn't realize that it was a book!

51seasonsoflove
Feb 1, 2018, 7:40 am

>50 rretzler: yeah, there are definitely better cozy mysteries out there, at least in my opinion

And I hadn't realized it was a book either!

23. The Marsh King's Daughter by Karen Dionne

In The Marsh King's Daughter, Dionne deftly and deeply explores the bonds and breaking of families, through the unique lens of a narrator who is the daughter of a kidnapping victim and her kidnapper.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/02/review-marsh-kings-daughter...

52jnwelch
Feb 2, 2018, 3:58 pm

Happy Friday, Becca!

I imagine you're done with parent conferences?

Lots of good reviews, especially that one in >51 seasonsoflove: for The Marsh King's Daughter.

53magicians_nephew
Modificato: Feb 2, 2018, 4:26 pm

>40 seasonsoflove: did you ever read Girl Sleuth?

Its a nicely researched history of Nancy Drew and the Strathmore Syndicate and the many anonymous writers who toiled in that vineyard for coolie wages and managed to come up with something that was magical for a lot of childhoods, mine not least?

Lord save us i find while looking up the touchstone for the Rehak book that someone has come up with a mystery series starring Lizzie Borden, Detective.

Have to read those - Ill be back

54seasonsoflove
Feb 2, 2018, 9:06 pm

>52 jnwelch: I am done, hooray! Thanks!!

>53 magicians_nephew: I loved (and own) that book-so good! I also can't believe there is a Lizzie Borden, Girl Detective mystery series!

24. Good as Gone by Amy Gentry

When Julie Whitaker, kidnapped from her home when she was only thirteen years old, seemingly returns to her family, it seems her parents and sister can finally begin to heal. But then a private detective begins to feed the flames of doubt Julie's mother, Anna, has already been feeling. If this woman isn't her daughter, who is she? And why would she be pretending to be Julie?

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/02/review-good-as-gone.html

55seasonsoflove
Feb 4, 2018, 12:56 pm

25. Murder, Interrupted by James Patterson

When I heard James Patterson was writing true crime thrillers, I was in--and this first one did not disappoint. Patterson always spins a gripping story, and now that he has actual true crimes to work with, he's created even more great quick reads that I can't put down. Patterson's language occasionally gets a little unnecessarily dramatic, given his subject matter is dramatic enough, but I am definitely looking forward to more of his true crime books coming in to my library.

56seasonsoflove
Feb 4, 2018, 1:56 pm

I not only love reading books, but taking photos of them! Here are a few of my book photos:







57scaifea
Feb 5, 2018, 6:26 am

Excellent photos!!

58seasonsoflove
Feb 5, 2018, 6:55 am

>57 scaifea: Thanks so much Amber!

59ChelleBearss
Feb 5, 2018, 8:46 am

Great photos! I especially love the second last one the nice clean white bed with the dark pillow! Makes me want to curl up and read right there!

60MickyFine
Feb 5, 2018, 2:07 pm

Nice book pics! Very nicely put together. :)

61seasonsoflove
Feb 7, 2018, 7:21 am

>59 ChelleBearss: thank you so much! I took that one in a hotel my family was staying at in Pittsburgh.

>60 MickyFine: thanks so much!

62rretzler
Feb 7, 2018, 6:16 pm

>56 seasonsoflove: What lovely pics!

63seasonsoflove
Feb 12, 2018, 7:23 am

>56 seasonsoflove: thank you so much!

64seasonsoflove
Feb 12, 2018, 7:31 am

26. Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner

This is a suspenseful mystery, but it took me much longer to finish than I had anticipated. It's hard to put my finger on exactly why, but I suspect it has something to do with why I find myself not able to get into Tana French's books anymore--Steiner spends so much time and energy on her characterization that she sometimes seems to forget about the mystery.

27. Right Behind You by Lisa Gardner

Some might find it ironic that Sharlah is on the cusp of being adopted by two people involved in law enforcement. After all, eight years ago her older brother, Telly, killed their drunk and abusive father with a baseball bat. While he did it to save Sharlah's life, they haven't seen each other since the incident.

But when a spree shooter seemingly goes on a rampage, and video footage captures Telly on the scene with a gun. Sharlah must face her past, face her brother, and decide what their future holds.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/02/review-right-behind-you.htm...

28. Home Sweet Murder by James Patterson

I am really enjoying these "true crime thrillers" by Patterson. This entry in the series looks at two terrifying home invasions. Patterson's short chapters and gripping source material make the book fly by.

29. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Stevie Bell loves mysteries and true crime. They fascinate her and help to calm her anxiety. So when she is admitted to Ellingham Academy, she knows exactly what she wants to do-solve the decades old mystery of Truly Devious, who kidnapped the founder's wife and daughter, leaving a taunting poem behind.

But when death comes back to Ellingham, Stevie is faced with the fact that she may have to solve a very current and dangerous mystery as well.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/02/review-truly-devious.html

65MickyFine
Feb 12, 2018, 2:34 pm

I'm glad you've enjoyed the Patterson true crime books. I've mostly just been resenting them because I have to buy so many copies for work and *whispers*I don't like his writing.

66rretzler
Feb 14, 2018, 7:02 pm

Happy Valentine's Day, Becca.

67seasonsoflove
Feb 17, 2018, 5:28 pm

>65 MickyFine: I totally understand that, I tend to find his books really fun, though some have been duds for me.

>66 rretzler: thank you! You too!

68seasonsoflove
Feb 17, 2018, 6:47 pm



30. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

In The Last Mrs. Parrish, Constantine (actually the pen name of two sisters writing together) tells the story of Amber, a woman who feels no one sees her and is determined to be seen. She covets the life of Daphne, married to a rich and handsome husband, and does everything in her power to take that life for herself, including becoming the best friend Daphne can rely on. But it might be better for Amber to stay in the shadows, as she has a past with the ability to end all her power plays and bring her down.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/02/reviews-last-mrs-parrish.ht...



31. A Whisper of Bones by Ellen Hart

What do you do when you remember someone from your childhood, but your family denies that he ever existed? In Britt Ickles' case, you hire Jane Lawless, private investigator. Jane starts on the case, but a set of bones found in a garage after a mysterious fire complicates matters even further.

Read the rest of the review here:

http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/02/review-whisper-of-bones.htm...



32. Let's Play Dead by Sheila Connolly

This was a fun cozy mystery, with the protagonist a woman who works for a historical society, who gets drawn into a mysterious death at a local children's museum. The characters were all interesting, as was the setting, and I especially loved the inclusion of the children's museum and children's books. The solution to the mystery wasn't the best I've ever read, but it was satisfying, and the book as a whole was a fun and quick read.

69seasonsoflove
Feb 19, 2018, 11:40 am

33. Murder Beyond the Grave by James Patterson

I'm hoping Patterson continues with his true crime thriller series, because I have definitely enjoyed the three that have been published so far. This is another quick, gripping read, that I flew through in about a day.

70scaifea
Feb 20, 2018, 7:42 am

>68 seasonsoflove: Okay, I can't stand it any longer - I've been staring at that photo for a couple of days now, off and on, trying to figure out how the candle is on a different angular surface from the book. Help! Before my eyes start crossing!!

71thornton37814
Feb 20, 2018, 10:15 pm

>69 seasonsoflove: I haven't tried Connolly's museum series. I'll probably work through that one after I get caught up with her Irish series.

72seasonsoflove
Feb 21, 2018, 7:30 am

>70 scaifea: The fabric is a dress that is laid over my bed, so the candle is on a bump from the quilt and comforter underneath :)

>71 thornton37814: I will have to check our her Irish series!

73seasonsoflove
Feb 21, 2018, 7:31 am



34. Wolf by Kelly Oliver

In Wolf, readers meet Jessica James, a graduate student with a nightmare of an adviser, who stumbles on his dead body after he refuses to give her back her thesis. This draws her into a web of conspiracy on campus and a case of missing paintings, leading her into contact with frat boys and the Russian Mafia alike.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/02/review-wolf.html

74scaifea
Feb 21, 2018, 7:45 am

Aha! Okay, now the picture makes sense! Thanks for explaining!

75The_Hibernator
Feb 22, 2018, 9:00 pm

>73 seasonsoflove: Beautiful cover!

76jnwelch
Feb 23, 2018, 7:03 pm

>73 seasonsoflove: Oh good, Becca. I'm glad Wolf turned out to be a fun one.

77seasonsoflove
Feb 23, 2018, 8:48 pm

>74 scaifea: Of course! :)

>75 The_Hibernator: It really is a great cover, and a good book too!

>76 jnwelch: Thanks for finding it for me Dad!

78seasonsoflove
Feb 23, 2018, 8:59 pm



35. The Bad Seed by William March

This is one creepy, eerie read! March tells the story of a child who may have no conscience, and a mother who is forced to reexamine her own past. Through a series of escalating events, March builds the tension until it is almost unbearable. I had no idea how this book was going to end, but March's capable hands managed to bring it all together in an extremely haunting way.

79jnwelch
Feb 24, 2018, 8:54 am

>77 seasonsoflove: Because we bought the hard copy, it's free on Kindle (who knew?) So your mom and I have it now.

80seasonsoflove
Feb 25, 2018, 6:24 pm

>79 jnwelch: that's great Dad!

81seasonsoflove
Feb 25, 2018, 6:27 pm



36. Muffin to Fear by Victoria Hamilton

Muffin to Fear by Victoria Hamilton first grabbed my attention on the shelf because a) it's a cozy mystery and b) it involved a ghost hunting TV team coming to the protagonist's inherited castle (Also because it was an entry in the series from 2017 and in such great shape for only costing me $1 at the thrift store!). Merry Wynter, newly married baker, returns to her home, Wynter Castle, to discover her best friend Pish hosting the cast and crew of Haunt Hunt, a paranormal investigation television show. They are at the castle to film because they feel the many murders that have occurred there have a strong possibility of having left some residual spirits lurking. But this is a group with a lot of residual drama lurking among themselves, which will out itself in homicide.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/02/review-muffin-to-fear.html

82ChelleBearss
Feb 25, 2018, 8:09 pm

>81 seasonsoflove: Sounds like one I would like!

Is that a photo you took? It's lovely and I LOVE that coffee mug!

83seasonsoflove
Feb 26, 2018, 6:43 pm

>82 ChelleBearss: it was a lot of fun, I would definitely recommend it!

I did take that photo, thanks so much! It's at a local bakery that I love.

84seasonsoflove
Mar 6, 2018, 7:40 am

37. Gossamer Ghost by Laura Childs

I love Childs' cozy mysteries, and this entry in the series is a blast. I love that it's set around Halloween, and Childs really makes New Orleans come alive (and makes me want to start scrapbooking again!). The characters are great, and there is a really excellent surprise twist at the end that I didn't see coming.



38. Priceless by Robert K. Wittman

This is a fascinating non-fiction read by Wittman, who for many years went undercover to try to recover many of the world's stolen art treasures. He talks about everything from Antique Roadshow scams to the famous Gardner heist to Native American headdresses. I learned a lot, and it was an entertaining read along the way.

39. Grit by Gillian French

In Grit, we meet Darcy, who everyone in town loves to spread rumors about and call the "town slut". But she's fine hiding behind the gossip so she doesn't have to think about the truth-what happened to her cousin Nell, her missing best friend, and herself, on the Fourth of July. Then someone nominates Darcy for Bay Festival Princess, and she can't hide anymore.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/03/review-grit.html

85jnwelch
Mar 7, 2018, 7:20 pm

As you probably know, your mom is loving Priceless. She's probably going to finish it before we leave.

86seasonsoflove
Mar 8, 2018, 7:27 am

>85 jnwelch: I'm so glad she is! I really enjoyed it too.

87seasonsoflove
Modificato: Mar 9, 2018, 9:32 am



40. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

There are times when you pick up a book at the exact time you need it. This was one of those times, and this was one of those books.

In John Green's Turtles All the Way Down, we meet Aza, a sixteen year old consumed by anxiety and obsessive compulsive thoughts, feeling forced by her own brain to focus on the bacteria that surround her and the bacteria she knows are inside her, an absolute all-consuming compulsion that compels her to reopen a cut on her fingerpad over and over to make sure it is clean and not infected.

When a billionaire goes missing, on the run because of shady things he's done with his money, Aza finds herself and her best friend drawn into the mystery, because of the reward, but also because of Aza's past connection with the fugitive's son, Davis. As Aza is drawn into the seemingly infinite and and completely overwhelming spirals of her own mind, she struggles to hold onto herself and the relationships she has formed.

Aza is so so painfully and amazingly real. Green has done a masterful and important thing by making her the first person narrator of her own story. I needed and need Aza, as I am sure so many readers did and do. I picked this book up not only because of glowing recommendations from people I care about, but also because I needed it. I am in the midst of my own work on my own anxiety disorder and depression, especially following the loss of my beloved dog, and while it is nowhere near where Aza finds herself, there is still so much in the book I could relate to, so much I needed to hear put into words. Green understands it so well because he's been there, and is still there, and this allows him to write with such honesty. He tells a story that needs to be told, because it makes all of us out there who can relate feel and know we are not alone. And that there is nothing to be ashamed of, no need to hide--a best-selling author has put out a best-selling book that tells our truth--and who we are is important, and valid, and makes us no less than anyone around us.

It is so rare to find a book that you keep nodding your head along to, that you feel every word in your heart, that resonates so strongly, and that makes you feel uplifted in your soul. This was one of those books for me. I recommend it with my whole heart, and with my spiraling, but beautiful, mind.

(Review can also be found on my blog: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/03/review-turtles-all-way-down...

88MickyFine
Mar 8, 2018, 11:10 am

>87 seasonsoflove: Glad to see that one was a read that was exactly what you needed. I also loved the book but it won't be one I'll read again. Aza's anxiety made me a little too anxious myself to want to experience the book again.

89scaifea
Mar 9, 2018, 7:56 am

Such a wonderful review, Becca. Well done! And hugs for you - I, like others, am so glad that you and this book found each other when you needed it.

90ChelleBearss
Mar 9, 2018, 8:22 am

Great review, Becca!
Glad you found the right book when you needed it! Love when that happens.

(the touchstone appears to be wrong though.)

91seasonsoflove
Mar 12, 2018, 7:08 am

>88 MickyFine: I completely understand, there are books like that for me too. For me, this is one of those that I know I will return to.

>89 scaifea: Thanks so much Amber! Sending hugs back.

>90 ChelleBearss: Thank you so much! And thanks for the heads up about the touchstone, it should be fixed now.

92seasonsoflove
Mar 12, 2018, 7:28 am

41. The Greek Coffin Mystery by Ellery Queen

While some of the views in the Queen books are definitely dated, the mysteries are always fun. This mystery surrounds a coffin that may contain more than just a body, and a solution that seems to be proven in the middle of the story before everything is turned on its head.



42. The Postcard Killers by James Patterson

While definitely not one of Patterson's bests, this is still a quick, fun read. A reporter and a detective with stakes in the case attempt to track down "The Postcard Killers", murderers who are wrecking havoc across Europe and always send a postcard to the newspapers before their kill.

43. Why is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

I love a memoir with humor, and Kaling is a very funny woman. She's also brutally honest about the ups and downs of her life, and some of the things she says are so surprisingly easy to relate to. This, to me, was not as fantastic as Tina Fey's Bossypants, but it was a fun book I finished in a few hours and enjoyed.

93MickyFine
Mar 13, 2018, 1:36 pm

I started watching The Mindy Project recently and I'm really enjoying it. I'll probably pick up her books after I finish the show. :)

94seasonsoflove
Mar 15, 2018, 7:17 am

>93 MickyFine: I haven't watched the show yet, but her book was really enjoyable.

95seasonsoflove
Mar 15, 2018, 7:20 am

44. Into the Thinnest of Air by Simon R. Green

When Ishmael Jones' partner Penny is invited to the private reopening of a infamous inn, they learn of the legend behind it, that the previous owner poisoned all his dinner guests while his wife and child disappeared. But when people in the present start disappearing, what began as a dinner among old friends turns into a frightening and possibly supernatural locked room mystery.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/03/review-into-thinnest-of-air...

96ChelleBearss
Mar 16, 2018, 5:08 pm

Thank you for sharing your leprechaun trap and the book on your Dad's thread! That's a wonderful idea and I found the book on Hoopla so I can read it to my daughter's tomorrow!

97seasonsoflove
Mar 17, 2018, 2:35 pm

>96 ChelleBearss: thank you! And that is so great, I hope you and your daughter have a great time with it!

98seasonsoflove
Modificato: Mar 17, 2018, 2:42 pm



45. One Goal: A Coach, A Team, And The Game That Brought A Divided Town Together by Amy Bass

Full disclaimer first: The author of this book is my cousin. That said, I would have wanted to read this book regardless, and I would have loved it regardless. It's thought-provoking, uplifting, and inspiring, and a fascinating read.

One Goal tells the true story of a high school soccer team, where Somali refugees not only play alongside boys whose families can trace their Maine lineage back generations, but play as a band of brothers. They weather cruel words thrown at them by opposing teams' fans and by people who live in their own town, even by a mayor who asks that Somalis stop coming to "his town". Through all this, they are a team, who stick together, play together, and win together. They are led by Coach McGraw, who never gives up on them and loves them as his own, who inspires them to greater heights than they ever thought they could reach.

This is a book that is desperately needed today. In a time when there are so many divides between people, when there is once again a politician calling for refugees to stay away, we all need to be reminded that we are stronger together.

You will not be able to stop rooting for this high school team, and for the inspiring lesson they, and Bass, impart.

http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/03/one-goal-coach-team-and-gam...

99jnwelch
Mar 17, 2018, 2:42 pm

Great review of One Goal: A Coach, Becca. Agreed. What a book she's written. Did you check out the Acknowledgments? The number of people she spoke to and the access she had, wow.

100seasonsoflove
Mar 23, 2018, 7:17 am

>99 jnwelch: Thanks Dad! I did check those out, and it really is amazing!

101seasonsoflove
Mar 23, 2018, 7:22 am

46. Nancy Drew Diaries #9: The Secret Within Part 2 by Stefan Petrucha and Sarah Kinney

I loved Nancy Drew as a child, and I still love her now. This graphic novel series is a lot of fun.

47. Dead Girls Don't Wear Diamonds by Nancy Martin

Nora Blackbird comes from old money, but that money is essentially gone thanks to her parents' indiscretions. Now she works as a society columnist, attending parties and fundraisers with the still-rich. And she's also possibly dating a man who may be a mobster--at least, his family are. Add in the wife of an ex-boyfriend being found dead at the bottom of a pool, and Nora's life has gotten plenty complicated.

This is such a fun cozy mystery. Martin's storytelling reminds me some of Janet Evanovich and her Stephanie Plum series, outlandish characters that work so well, a tough-as-nails heroine juggling love and stopping criminals, and a great sense of humor pervading the mystery. I'm definitely going to be reading the rest of this series.

Review can be found here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/03/mini-review-dead-girls-dont...

102seasonsoflove
Mar 27, 2018, 7:20 am



48. The Man From the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James

In The Man From the Train, James (with research assistance from McCarthy James), tackles the unsolved ax murders that shook America in the early to mid 1900s. Using his statistician background, James analyzes the crimes to prove they were part of a series, committed by one man, and then tells you who that one man was.

This is an amazing, fascinating, gripping read (I read the last 300 pages in one sitting). James' previous true crime book, Popular Crime, is one of my all-time favorites. He has a really unique take on true crime because of his mathematics background-but don't worry if you aren't a math person (I am not in any way a math person), because James' doesn't throw formulas at you. He uses his skills to analyze data and present a solution that no one has come up with before. James' also has this fantastically wry writer's style, that will have you giggling at times, even in the middle of a true crime book.

I would definitely, 100% recommend this book. And I would also 100% recommend that while you're picking this book up, get James' Popular Crime.

http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/03/mini-review-man-from-train....

103ChelleBearss
Mar 27, 2018, 9:38 am

Good review and I LOVE that mug!

Are you on Litsy that I can add? I think your book photos would be very popular there

104seasonsoflove
Modificato: Mar 28, 2018, 7:43 am

>103 ChelleBearss: Thank you so much! And I am on Litsy, I'm TheBookkeepersApprentice on there and on instagram :)

105seasonsoflove
Modificato: Mar 28, 2018, 7:44 am



50. The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani

This book is the definition of chilling. Slimani tells readers in the very first sentence exactly what the end of this story is going to be, but somehow manages to keep the suspense at both a slow burn and a fever pitch.

On the surface, this is the tale of a family who hires a nanny, Louise, when the mother goes back to work. They hire a nanny who their children love, who keeps their house clean and cooks meals their friends are envious of.

But all is not what it seems.

Slimani is masterful at ripping off the facade, of showing what it is that truly boils under the surface of a human being, especially one in a determined role of subservience. Louise is family, but she's not. She is loved, but she's not. Louise seems perfect, but she's not. Besides the chill of what you know is coming from sentence one, there is also the chill of the way the characters treat each other, the way humans can treat each other. And then there is a scene with a chicken carcass, and that's all I'm going to say about that so as not to spoil anything, but it just might be one of the eeriest, creepiest, most haunting things I've read in a long time.

This is a quick read, not just in length, but because this is a book that will not let you put it down.

http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/03/review-perfect-nanny.html

106ChelleBearss
Mar 28, 2018, 8:25 am

>104 seasonsoflove: Ha! Turns out I was already following you on Litsy and didn't know it was you :)

107seasonsoflove
Mar 29, 2018, 12:27 pm

>106 ChelleBearss: Ha! I love it :)

108seasonsoflove
Mar 29, 2018, 12:33 pm

In which I realize I completely forgot to post about book #49 I read, so let's take travel back in time a little here ;) :



49. Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

This is a harrowing, haunting, breathtakingly honest read about what it is like to have your brain and body suddenly betray you in ways the people around you, yourself, and even modern medicine don't seem to have any answers for. I sometimes had to put this book down to seek out lighter fare, but I always came back to it.

109jnwelch
Mar 29, 2018, 12:52 pm

Lots of good reading and good reviews, Becca. I love that Chelle was already following you on Litsy. I wonder whether other LTers may be following The Bookkeeper's Apprentice without knowing it's you.

I'd like to talk with you about Litsy. I'm on it but not using it, and it sounds like it might be fun - I'm even more intrigued now that Librarything acquired it.

I've had Brain on Fire on my tbr shelf for eons. Sounds like I should pull it off and read it.

110kidzdoc
Mar 29, 2018, 1:45 pm

I and several of my partners, along with a few of the pediatric residents who rotate on our service, have read Brain on Fire, and we've all enjoyed it. There have been several patients admitted to our service who have been diagnosed with that rare malady recently, and as we all learn more about it we're testing for it more often, and finding it more frequently.

111seasonsoflove
Apr 17, 2018, 7:26 am

>109 jnwelch: Thanks Dad! And I would love to talk to you about Litsy!

>110 kidzdoc: that's amazing!

112seasonsoflove
Modificato: Apr 23, 2018, 7:29 am

51. Jack the Ripper by Francois DeBois and Jean-Charles Poupard

This is a graphic novel with a unique and interesting take on Jack the Ripper. It gets confusing at times but the art is well-done and I always appreciate a different take on something that's been written about a lot before.

52. The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell

Only Vowell could make the history of the Puritans so funny. She fills her non-fiction books with fact, but also with a wry wit that categorizes her books in the humor genre as well for me.

53. Stowed Away by Barbara Ross

This was a fine cozy mystery, but not one that stood out for me--in fact, just a few days after finishing it, I couldn't remember the solution to the mystery.



54. The Blind by A.F. Brady

A story about a troubled psychologist and her mysterious patient, this book was an okay read. I had trouble connecting with the characters, and while the plot was suspenseful enough to keep me turning pages, I was able to call a lot of the major twists.

55. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

I'm so glad I finally read this book I had heard everyone raving about. It definitely lived up to the hype for me. It's the story about a seemingly perfect marriage, with a slow build that is so creepy it made my skin crawl. The use of flashbacks is so effective in building suspense. There are so many authors trying to make this exact plot work, and Paris is definitely at the top of the list for authors who know how to work this story line the right way.

56. Lies She Told by Cate Holahan

The lines become blurred between fact and fiction when a writer finds herself and her husband as prime suspects in a case that strongly resembles the novel she is currently writing. I really enjoyed how the lines were so blurred that I would sometimes become confused whose story I was reading-it was a really effective technique given the main plot. There were also some good twists and turns that had me really surprised.

57. Lie to Me by J.T. Ellison

This book started out strong, with a note left by a wife to her husband, suggesting she just needs to get away for a few days. But there are secrets under the surface of what seemed like a perfect marriage, that slowly leak out. I really enjoyed the twists and turns that left me really surprised. But I felt the book felt a little too long, and the ending felt too pat and not in keeping with everything we had learned about the characters.

58. Soulmates by Jessica Grose

This book was centered around a clever idea, a woman who sees in the newspaper one day that her husband, who left her to join a mysterious spiritual retreat, has died in a possible murder suicide. She has always struggled to let his memory go, and now she feels the compulsion to find out just what happened to him, and to understand just who he was and what their relationship truly meant. But the ending kind of drove me crazy. I see where Grose was going with it, but it just didn't seem to fit, at least to me.

59. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Here Brown has written an inspirational read that teaches us how to not only accept but embrace and love what it is that makes us truly ourselves.



60. Life Inside My Mind edited by Jessica Burkhart

Life Inside My Mind is a collection of essays by thirty-one authors who have personal experience with mental illness. They share their deeply personal stories, to let people know they are not alone, and to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Read the rest of my review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/04/review-life-inside-my-mind....

113ChelleBearss
Apr 23, 2018, 12:16 pm

Glad to see you enjoyed Behind Closed Doors. I have all three of her books waiting for their turn

114MickyFine
Apr 23, 2018, 2:08 pm

Nice photos, Becca!

115jnwelch
Apr 24, 2018, 8:45 pm

I'm glad Life Inside My Mind worked so well for you, Hon. I love that more and more people are sharing stories like this.

116seasonsoflove
Apr 27, 2018, 7:40 am

>113 ChelleBearss: I'm looking forward to reading more of her books!

>114 MickyFine: Thank you!

>115 jnwelch: Thank you for buying it for me!

117seasonsoflove
Modificato: Apr 29, 2018, 11:54 am



61. The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

Idlewild Hall has never been a happy place. In the 1950's, it was a boarding school for girls whose families had deemed them unwanted. In the 1990's, it's grounds were the location for a murderer to dump the body of Deb Sheridan. In the 2000's, it is being restored, and Fiona Sheridan is drawn to both writing a story about it and trying to solve what truly happened to her sister. But as she delves deeper into the story, shocking revelations come to light about the past--and about the ghostly woman who has been appearing at Idlewild since its inception.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/04/review-broken-girls.html

118jnwelch
Apr 27, 2018, 8:36 am

Now it's time for I'll Be Gone in the Dark, yes? I can't believe they finally nabbed the guy.

119seasonsoflove
Apr 27, 2018, 9:23 pm

>118 jnwelch: It is! I can't believe they finally did either!

120jnwelch
Apr 28, 2018, 9:57 am

>119 seasonsoflove: :-) Have fun today with the Readathon.

121seasonsoflove
Apr 29, 2018, 11:52 am

>120 jnwelch: Thanks Dad I had a blast!

122seasonsoflove
Modificato: Apr 29, 2018, 1:19 pm



62. The General's Daughter by Nelson DeMille

I had actually watched the movie version years before (and actually own it, and am rewatching it right now), but this was one of the rare occurrences when I didn't realize it had been a book first. This is a suspenseful psychological mystery surrounding the murder of a general's daughter, and the unpacking of her past that led to a painful collision with her present.



63. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

Binti is traveling through the galaxy to reach Oomza University, a highly prestigious school she has been accepted to. But this means leaving her family behind to study with those who do not understand her. It also means coming into the middle of a frightening war, which will require her to call upon all her strengths to survive.

This is not a genre I normally read, but I'm definitely glad my dad and brother recommended this to me. Binti is a wonderfully strong character, and her story is absolutely one worth reading. I look forward to it continuing in the second and third books.



64. Private Vegas by James Patterson

In Private Vegas, various stories intertwine, from two diplomats running amuck with their immunity, to the trial of one of Private's key investigators, to a man training women to marry rich and then kill. I always enjoy the Private series and Patterson's books, and while this wasn't one of the strongest entries (there was just a little too much going on), I still had a good time reading it.



65. A Girl's Guide to Joining the Resistance by Emma Gray

This was a really great book that I'm so glad was published now. Gray draws from an extensive well of amazing women to help inspire all of us to join the fight for good. She provides immediate ways to start helping, as well as important discussions on terminology, privilege, and self-care. This is an important and highly topical read.



66. Doll Bones by Holly Black

This was a creepy, well-done middle grade read. It surrounds three friends who have created an elaborate world of play with their imaginations, but one begins to pull away when his father and teammates tease him. But when a possible ghost enters their lives, the three friends must go on one more quest together.

123MickyFine
Apr 30, 2018, 12:58 pm

Wowzers! Look at all those books knocked out this weekend. Getting close to the magic number!

124ChelleBearss
Mag 1, 2018, 9:33 am

Looks like you had a successful readathon! Love the Doll Bones photo!

125PaulCranswick
Mag 6, 2018, 8:49 am

Impressive reading Becca.

Happy Sunday. xx

126seasonsoflove
Mag 10, 2018, 7:16 am

>123 MickyFine: Thanks so much! It was the Dewey 24 Hour Readathon, one of my favorite times of the year!

>124 ChelleBearss: Thanks so much! It was a really fun readathon.

>125 PaulCranswick: Thanks so much! I hope you are having a great week!

127seasonsoflove
Mag 10, 2018, 7:33 am



67. I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

I had been wanting to read this book since it first came out, and was so excited when my dad surprised me with a copy.

And then they caught The Golden State Killer.

I dropped every other book I was reading, and went straight for this one.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/05/review-ill-be-gone-in-dark....



68. The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match by Elizabeth Eulberg

This is such a fun, quick middle grade read. Shelby Holmes and her friend John Watson are great as a child-take on Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, very in character but still unique. The mystery seems to be about a teacher's missing watch, but it turns out there's something even more mysterious happening behind the scenes.



69. Snowed in with Murder by Auralee Wallace

This is one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series! The characters are so great, as is the romance, and this entry takes its cue from one of my top three books of all-time, And Then There Were None (it even gets a shout out in a line of dialogue. A highly dysfunctional reality TV family has rented the retreat of Erica Bloom's mother, and Erica finds herself stranded with them there, a murderer among them, as a storm rages inside and out.

128MickyFine
Mag 10, 2018, 11:13 am

>127 seasonsoflove: Wishbone! There was a great post a few years ago on The Toast about the pitch meeting for Wishbone. Since the demise of The Toast, it's been preserved on Imgur.

129jnwelch
Mag 10, 2018, 1:51 pm

Hi, Becca. So much good reading! I'm glad that I'll Be Gone in the Dark was all that you hoped.

Gosh, I remember the Wishbone days. He had quite an imagination, that little dog.

130seasonsoflove
Mag 10, 2018, 9:28 pm

>128 MickyFine: I've had Wishbone since I was a kid, I loved that show! And I especially loved this Wishbone because he is wearing a Sherlock Holmes outfit!

>129 jnwelch: Thank you for buying me I'll Be Gone in the Dark, it was out of stock on Amazon for days after they caught the Golden State Killer, and I would have had to wait so long to read it if it hadn't been for you and Mom! I still love that Wishbone stuffed animal, he's dressed up like Sherlock Holmes!

131seasonsoflove
Mag 10, 2018, 9:36 pm



70. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

I can't believe how long it took me to read a book like this that has been so universally highly recommended, but I am so glad I finally picked it up now! I read it in less than a day, started it this morning, finished it about an hour after getting home from work. I could not put it down. Simon, our lead protagonist, has not come out yet to anyone, but when a set of e-mails that hold immense meaning for him are found by a classmate, Simon finds himself having to navigate new waters and decide on his own truths. This is a love story, a story about family and friends, about high school, and about being true to who you are.

132seasonsoflove
Mag 14, 2018, 9:49 pm

71. The Marmalade Murders by Elizabeth J. Duncan

Penny is a spa owner who has solved quite a few mysteries, and has now been asked to help out at her town's agricultural show. But when something fishy happens with the entries, and a dead body is found, Penny finds herself drawn into the mystery.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/05/review-marmalade-murders.ht...

133seasonsoflove
Mag 17, 2018, 7:45 am

72. Ring in the Year with Murder by Auralee Wallace

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. In this entry, a party turns poisonous when a glass of wine seems to have been spiked with something deadly. Erica and her best friend Freddie are on the case, even if it means Erica has to protect the love of her life's current girlfriend. The characters are so great, the book has humor and suspense, and the mystery is surprising and well-plotted.

134seasonsoflove
Mag 22, 2018, 7:32 am

73. Down the Aisle with Murder by Auralee Wallace

Erica's friend Candace is getting married, but after a wild bachlorette party, Candace's maid of honor is found dead. Erica works to solve the case, make sure Candace has a wedding, and figure out where she stands with the love of her life.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/05/review-down-aisle-with-murd...

135seasonsoflove
Modificato: Mag 25, 2018, 7:37 am



74. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

This was a really fun read. Four brilliant children are brought together by a mysterious advertisement, and soon must go undercover on a crucial mission to a school that is far more than it seems. I really liked the mystery and the characters, and also the messages of friendship and working together.

136seasonsoflove
Mag 26, 2018, 9:38 pm



75. (!!!) The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle

Fowley-Doyle has a beautiful lyrical quality to her writing that highlights the magical realism of the stories she tells. In The Accident Season, she spins the tale of a family who is beset by accidents and tragedies every October, but who are also beset by the secrets they hold inside.

137ChelleBearss
Mag 27, 2018, 8:22 am

Congrats on hitting 75 already!!

138msf59
Mag 27, 2018, 9:40 am



^Have a great birthday, Becca! And hooray for hitting #75!! Our magical number!

139drneutron
Mag 27, 2018, 6:41 pm

Congrats!

140MickyFine
Mag 28, 2018, 12:34 pm

Felicitations on reaching the magic number!

141seasonsoflove
Mag 28, 2018, 9:56 pm

Thanks so much everyone!!!

142seasonsoflove
Mag 28, 2018, 9:57 pm

76. Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

This is one of those books that seems to have a lot of potential, but ends up disappointing. Alexis, the protagonist, has noticed her younger sister, Kasey, is acting stranger than usual. This leads to scary confrontations, intense research, and a lot of changes in Alexis' life.

One of the main issues I had with this book is how annoying I found Kasey, before, during, and after the "event" that the back of the book pretty clearly alludes to. I know I was supposed to have sympathized with her, but since she annoyed me from the very first pages of the story, I just couldn't.

Also, I've read a lot of books with similar themes, and they were better written, and better plotted. This book felt pretty juvenile, which a middle grade/young adult novel certainly does not need to be.

There were some parts that had potential, namely in the relationships Alexis forms outside of the ones with her family. But the story itself just wasn't good enough. The ending especially, given the many, many pages of plotting that had gone on beforehand, just seemed way too pat.

I was honestly very surprised to find out this book is the first in a trilogy. To me, it wasn't strong enough for one book, let alone three.

http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/05/review-bad-girls-dont-die.h...

143FAMeulstee
Mag 29, 2018, 6:22 am

Belated congralulations for birthday & reaching 75, Becca!

144seasonsoflove
Mag 31, 2018, 9:35 pm

>143 FAMeulstee: thank you!

145seasonsoflove
Mag 31, 2018, 9:37 pm



77. Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics

Amanda Verner is happy to have her family leave their cramped cabin behind for the prospects of the prairie. She prays that this will be exactly what she needs to leave her old nightmares behind. But when they arrive at the abandoned cabin they hope to make home, it's to find it drenched in blood and surrounded by stories of families murdered by their own kin.

I'm here to tell you, this is one creepy book. It might not seem that scary at first, and that's what makes it such a good read. The creepiness creeps up on you. It's a brilliant slow build, made especially impressive by the fact that this is not a long book. Lukavics manages to draw you in from the start by letting you into Amanda's life and mind, then begins to drop little hints that all is not well. By the time the bigger scares hit me, I was reading with my hand over my mouth in shock, totally terrified and unable to stop turning pages. This one part with scarecrows (and that's all I will say so as not to spoil anything) still has the power to make me shudder, and I finished the book over twelve hours ago.

If you want a quick, scary read that you will not be able to put down and that will stay with you after you've turned the last page, I highly recommend you get your hands on a copy of this one.

http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/05/review-daughters-unto-devil...

146jnwelch
Giu 3, 2018, 1:20 pm

Lots of good reading, Becca. I read Mysterious Benedict Society a few years ago, and likewise enjoyed it.

Congratulations on a successful book sale. You're now well-funded for Printers Row Lit-Fest. :-)

147seasonsoflove
Giu 13, 2018, 9:16 pm

>146 jnwelch: Thanks Dad!

148seasonsoflove
Giu 13, 2018, 9:20 pm

78. Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead

This was a quick, enjoyable, good middle grade read with a really surprising twist. Stead does a great job of packing a lot into a short book, tackling issues surrounding family, friends, and truth in a heartfelt and unique way.

79. Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien

Lana Lee is back working at her family's restaurant, but when their property manager is found dead after eating dumplings from said family restaurant, Lana finds herself embroiled in a mystery that forces her to question what she thought she knew about the place she calls home.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/06/review-death-by-dumpling.ht...

149seasonsoflove
Ago 2, 2018, 11:00 am



80. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

This was the perfect book to read in Italy! It was so fun to read the names of places I was in or near, and to read it in front of Italian churches. I struggled through some of the chapters where the paragraph went on for pages and was a rumination on religious debates or lust, but I found the book really interesting and enjoyed the mystery aspect as well.

81. S.T.A.G.S. by M.A. Bennett

This book has a fantastic premise. A scholarship student is suddenly invited by the most popular and richest students at her boarding school to a weekend of "huntin' shootin' fishin'". But though it seems to be a dream come true, Greer soon realizes there is something more sinister going on below the surface. This is such a suspenseful thriller and I couldn't put it down. I'm excited to find out it's going to be a movie!

82. Greenglass House by Kate Milford

I had this recommended to me by a middle schooler at my most recent book sale, and I'm glad she did. This is a fun middle grade read surrounding a house used as a stopping point for smugglers for years, and the adopted son of the proprietors. When far more guests than usual show up at Christmastime, Milo and his new friend decide to start their own quest to solve the mystery.

83. Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

This is a well-written, very suspenseful read, about a woman who returns to her hometown to investigate the possibility of tainted water supplies, and finds herself drawn back into the past she wanted to forget. There are simultaneous mysteries going on that Ritter handles well, and there is an eeriness to her writing style that ups the suspense. I couldn't stop turning the pages with this one.

84. Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton

To say Louise is struggling in life would be an understatement. But when she meets the rich and beautiful Lavinia, Louise thinks everything is going to change for the better. Louise is drawn into the parties, the decadence, the drugs and the drinking, as well as finally being part of a group where she has the chance to matter.

But what the reader knows from the start is that Lavinia is going to die. Louise tells us herself.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/07/vacation-arc-review-roundup...

85. Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

In Bring Me Back, Paris continues to explore relationships, facades, and the complications of secrets and lies.

The love of Finn's life, Layla, disappeared at a roadside stop a decade ago. Now Finn is marrying Layla's sister, Ellen, an event that seems to have brought Layla--or someone pretending to be her--back into their lives. But there are things both Finn and Ellen have been keeping secret for a long time, and whoever is sending them messages is determined to bring everything into the light.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/07/vacation-arc-review-roundup...

86. Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

This is one well-done, very creepy book, and definitely not a read for the faint of heart.

Hanna is not your typical child. She is a seven year old who refuses to speak, but she is also a child who shows terrifying and escalating aggression towards her unwell mother, Suzette. Hanna's father never sees anything but a loving little girl who needs help to express herself--but Suzette sees a dangerous mind in the body she carried inside her.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/07/vacation-arc-review-roundup...



87. Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman

When a newlywed couple finds something completely unexpected on their honeymoon, they make decisions that change everything for them and their life together.

Here's the thing with this book. It starts out with a lot of promise. The first chapter is a great set up that had me hooked right away.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/07/vacation-arc-review-roundup...



88. Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding

Kate Randolph seems like Frances Metcalfe's savior. Ostracized by the other school moms for an incident involving her son, unhappy with her looks, and feeling deeply lonely, Frances has always yearned for a friend like Kate. Kate brings Frances and her son out of their shells, and Frances helps Kate's daughter feel comfortable in her own skin.

But within this seemingly perfect friendship, something is terribly wrong. One of these women is Amber Kunik. One of these women is a murderer.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/07/vacation-arc-review-roundup...

89. Somebody's Daughter by David Bell

When Michael finds out he might be the father of a missing girl, he immediately jumps into action, finding himself lost and confused on a road trip with his ex-wife. His ex-wife insists she knows who is responsible for kidnapping the little girl, but as the night progresses, Michael begins to question everything he thought he knew.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/07/vacation-arc-review-roundup...

90. Believe Me by J.P. Delaney

Claire has had to make a living by working undercover with divorce lawyers to prove wive's suspicions that their husbands are cheating. But when one of her clients is suddenly murdered, Claire goes deeply undercover to get a confession out of the husband. As Claire gets more and more entangled in the husband's life, she finds herself more and more unsure about who she truly is and what she is truly involved in.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/07/vacation-arc-review-roundup...



91. Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor

I've recently gotten back into this podcast series, and this book was a really fun and clever addition to the world of Night Vale. Two women find what passes for normal in Night Vale is disrupted by a man pressing papers into hands that say King City--papers that people then literally can't let go. This can be read as a stand alone, but I found even having heard just a few of the episodes added to my enjoyment of the book.

92. Jack the Ripper by Bruce Balfour

A graphic novel positing on the Jack the Ripper killers, the main detective characters are clever and definitely worth rooting for. Balfour's theory is a popular one, that has been written about a lot in the past, and I thought the use of his own original characters as the investigators was a smart move that made his work feel fresh.



93. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

This was not an easy read. It's well-written and a dark clever commentary on a vain culture during the 1980s, and a rumination on if "the inside matters". It gets really gory at times, to the point where I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get through certain paragraphs without feeling sick, but I powered through those parts, and I'm glad I did.

150ChelleBearss
Ago 2, 2018, 11:05 am

Wow, that was a huge update! You are powering through the books! :)

I need to get to American Psycho at some point. I've always wanted too

151scaifea
Ago 3, 2018, 5:34 am

Charlie and I both love Greenglass House - I'm glad you did, too!

152jnwelch
Ago 6, 2018, 5:17 pm

Great! I'm glad Name of the Rose worked for you, and that Krysten Ritter's book was good. I'm now a KR admirer based on her turn as Jessica Jones.

153seasonsoflove
Ago 10, 2018, 7:18 pm

>150 ChelleBearss: a lot of them were read when I was in Italy, when I didn't have my computer with me, to update my blog or LT :)

>151 scaifea: have you read the others in the series? I've been thinking if I should pick them up.

>153 seasonsoflove: I was really pleasantly surprised how much I liked Krysten Ritter's book, I can be a little skeptical when it comes to celebrities writing books, but hers was really good.

154seasonsoflove
Modificato: Ago 10, 2018, 7:59 pm

94. She Was the Quiet One by Michele Campbell

Twins Bel and Rose start at Odell Academy, a boarding school full of wealth and opportunity, but also temptations and malice. As the sisters choose sides, their relationship, and that of those around them, change for the worse, leading to destruction and tragedy.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/08/review-she-was-quiet-one_10...

95. The Rules by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

This was a young adult take on the teens all gathered at one place, start getting picked off one by one by a mysterious killer. It was definitely a suspenseful read, and I really liked how the book made me think one person was the killer, then completely switched it up. But I found the motivation for the killer really cliched and that took away from my enjoyment of the book and the ending.

96. Mary Jane's Ghost by Ted Gregory

A great find by my dad, this was a true crime story, but also a commentary on the life of a journalist and how it is affected by the shrinking of print journalism in the digital area. Mary Jane was a young woman whose murder was never solved, and whose case became an obsession for a local man, who sent over a hundred thousand dollars in an attempt to solve it and put her ghost (that he believed haunted his restaurant) to rest. When Gregory is drawn into it, he begins to understand how the crime draws people in and refuses to let go.

97. Murder Games by James Patterson

I picked this up because I found out a show I really like, Instinct, was based off this book. The first episode of the show takes the plot from the book, and then spins off with the characters into different mysteries. I actually liked the ending of the pilot of the TV show better than the book's ending, but the book was still really suspenseful and a very quick read.

98. Sherlock Holmes Crime Alleys by Sylvain Cordune and Nespolino Alessandro

This was an interesting prequel to the Sherlock Holmes we all know, with Holmes attempting to find out why men of talent are disappearing all over London. I didn't love it, but I liked it, and found it an interesting take on Holmes and Moriarty.

155scaifea
Ago 11, 2018, 9:50 am

>153 seasonsoflove: I've got the rest of the series (so far? Dunno if she's still going), but haven't read them yet.

156jnwelch
Ago 11, 2018, 10:19 pm

>154 seasonsoflove: Score! I'm glad Mary Jane's Ghost was a good read for you.

157seasonsoflove
Ago 13, 2018, 8:37 pm

>155 scaifea: I'm debating picking up the next book in the series.

>156 jnwelch: It was a really good book! Thanks again!

158seasonsoflove
Ago 13, 2018, 8:39 pm

99. The Party by Robyn Harding

When a sweet sixteen party goes terribly wrong, the terrible aftermath crumbles the foundations of friendships, family, and status.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/08/review-party.html

159seasonsoflove
Ago 14, 2018, 12:22 pm

100. Private: Gold by James Patterson

This was definitely not one of my favorite Patterson books. I tend to really enjoy the Private series, and I liked the characters a lot, but the plot was too convoluted, and felt rushed to fit into one of Patterson's "Bookshots".

160seasonsoflove
Ago 27, 2018, 7:30 am



101. Adam and Eve and Pinch Me by Ruth Rendell

This was my first foray into reading Ruth Rendell and I definitely plan on reading more. Multiple characters are tied together in an eerie, suspenseful way that kept me turning pages. The ending was really haunting and I'm still thinking about it.

102. The Prisoner in the Castle by Susan Elia MacNeal

A group of agents in World World II are secreted away on an isolated island, made prisoners because they know too many secrets. Maggie Hope is desperate to get back so she can help the war effort, but soon she finds herself desperate to stay alive as her fellow island inmates begin dropping dead.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/08/review-prisoner-in-castle.h...

103. Malice by Keigo Higashino

This is such a clever, unique book. As the book cover describes it, it's a mystery of "whydunnit" as opposed to "whodunnit". A suspect and a detective alternate chapters, as the detective and the reader chase down the true motive behind the murder of a writer.

104. Honeymoon by James Patterson

Patterson has created the story of a black widow serial killer who has fooled everyone but one man-and she may be fooling him as well. There were some really clever twists that I didn't see coming, which is a Patterson staple that I always enjoy.

161Caroline_McElwee
Ago 27, 2018, 8:07 am

How funny Becca, I just pulled together the three Rendell I have, for some Autumn reading.

Lovely to see Indy, she's adorable. And I like your biddy bookshelf.

162seasonsoflove
Ago 31, 2018, 7:15 am

>161 Caroline_McElwee: I'm really excited to read more of her, I have a few more of her books on my TBR shelves.

Aw thank you! I got the tiny bookcase in Florence, there was a whole store of them, it was amazing.

163seasonsoflove
Ago 31, 2018, 7:31 am

105. Second Honeymoon by James Patterson

While I didn't like this as much as the first in the Honeymoon series, I still found this really suspenseful. There were a few moments that really shocked and surprised me in a really good way. I really liked that there were reoccurring characters from the first book, and that events from that first book had such deep repercussions in the second. The solution to one of the new cases really blew me away and I never saw it coming. You definitely need to read Honeymoon first to enjoy this book.

164seasonsoflove
Modificato: Set 7, 2018, 7:33 am

106. Princess by James Patterson

I've been on a James Patterson run lately-his books are so easy to read, and fly by, and always have great twists. It's been interesting because I've sort of been able to do a bit of a Patterson comparison, and while I love the Private series, I didn't feel this was one of the strongest. I think the solution to the main mystery was a little disappointing-it made sense, but I was hoping for something a bit more. The book was good, it just didn't feel up to the rest of the Private series.



107. Mysterious America by Loren Coleman

This is an interesting look at the different creatures and phenomenon that may be running (or flying) around America. I must admit the section on the different scientific parts surrounding possible unusual animals kind of dragged for me, but that's just because that's not an area I'm particularly interested in.



108. The Body in the Casket by Katherine Hall Page

A fun cozy mystery surrounding a caterer and amateur detective who is hired to not only provide multiple meals over a birthday party weekend, but to figure out who wants to kill the host. The mystery centers around a musical that was a flop many years ago, and readers get little snippets of what each character is thinking. At first, the book was so enjoyable that I didn't really mind how long it took to get to the mystery, but then the end of the mystery did feel rushed.

165seasonsoflove
Set 16, 2018, 8:05 pm



109. Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

This is a sequel to The Shining , and I definitely recommend you read that book first before reading this one (in fact, I just recommend you read The Shining period). It continues the story in a way that is satisfying and creepy (I don't want to say more for fear of any spoilers for The Shining.)

110. If I Die Tonight by Alison Gaylin

When a former pop star claims she is the victim of a carjacking, one that has put the teenage boy who tried to save her in a coma, it shakes up the foundations of a small town and brings everyone's secrets into the light.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/09/review-if-i-die-tonight.htm...

166seasonsoflove
Set 21, 2018, 8:52 am

111. The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie



Tessa is already upset with having to move from Florida to Chicago for her dad's job, but when she starts to suspect her house is haunted, she wants to move back to the sunny beaches even more. A new group of friends just might change her mind, both about Chicago and about solving the mystery behind her home's history.

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/09/review-peculiar-incident-on...

168seasonsoflove
Ott 3, 2018, 7:19 am

114. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

This is one of those books where I'm left wondering how in the world I hadn't read this before. This was so good-suspenseful, terrifying, a real thriller that had me desperate to keep turning pages. Hannibal Lector and Clarice Starling are, of course, fascinating characters in their own right, but the supporting cast around them are complex and gripping too. I found myself finding every spare moment I could to find out if they would catch Buffalo Bill, if Lector would talk to Clarice, and just what they would all find.



115. Looking for Alaska by John Green

Like Paper Towns, I struggled to like the main female protagonist, Alaska, at first, But I think that was the point. As we get under her skin, we learn so much more about her and why she is the way she is. And the narrator is someone I could certainly sympathize with and understand-going into the teenage years wanting to find yourself, wanting to find your tribe and what your purpose is. I love John Green, and need to make sure I've read everything he's written.



116. The Complete Dracula by Leah Moore

I love the book Dracula, so I was highly intrigued by this graphic novel adaptation. This managed to be faithful to the original, while bringing its own level of horror and eeriness to the story with really great drawings.

Reviews here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/10/week-in-review-silence-of-l...

169jnwelch
Modificato: Ott 3, 2018, 8:45 am

I love that Indy is reading Ruth Rendell now. Although she doesn't seem too interested in Mysterious America or The Body in the Casket.

I'm glad you got wowed by Silence of the Lambs. Me, too! I wasn't looking for your reaction to the Japanese mystery Malice, but maybe you read that a while ago.

P.S. I'm looking forward to borrowing the graphic The Complete Dracula.

170seasonsoflove
Ott 4, 2018, 7:35 am

>169 jnwelch: Ha! Yeah, she will pose for me, but not always in the most interested manner.

My review of Malice was a pretty short one, but I really liked it-it's got great alternating perspectives and is more of a "whydunnit" then a "whodunnit" which is super interesting.

I think you will really like the graphic novel version of Dracula, it's really well done.

171seasonsoflove
Ott 4, 2018, 7:36 am

117. Murder on Millionaire's Row by Erin Lindsey

I loved this book!

Rose Gallagher is a force to be reckoned with, a housemaid who is determined to find her missing employer. Yes, she is in love with him (and that is a romance I am definitely rooting for-their chemistry just oozes off the pages!), but she also is a strong and brave woman in a time when women, especially women in her station, were supposed to stay in their small set roles. The supporting cast is wonderful as well, but Rose is the star of the show.

And there are ghosts!

Read the rest of the review here: http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/10/review-murder-on-millionair...

172seasonsoflove
Ott 9, 2018, 9:50 pm



118. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

This was definitely outside my comfort zone in terms of what I normally read, but I found it really interesting. I'm not sure I entirely understood every bit of it, but I thought the idea was really unique, that people would have to emigrate off Earth but that androids would try to emigrate back--and that those androids would have to be "retired". The world Dick created was fascinating and so eerie.



119. The Sayers Swindle by Victoria Abbot

This is a fun cozy mystery surrounding a missing set of first editions of Dorthy Sayers novels. Jordan must get them back for her employer, all while juggling a myriad of other mysteries and family matters.

173Caroline_McElwee
Ott 10, 2018, 8:28 am

>172 seasonsoflove: The iconic film Blade Runner was based on this book Becca. One of my all time favourite movies.

174seasonsoflove
Ott 11, 2018, 7:13 am

>173 Caroline_McElwee: such a good movie! I need to watch it again, it's been way too long.



120. Under Suspicion: A Friday Barnes Mystery by R.A. Spratt

I love this middle grade mystery series: Friday Barnes is a brilliant young girl detective who solves mysteries at her boarding school. These mysteries are funny, clever, and the illustrations that accompany some pages are really fun too.

175scaifea
Ott 11, 2018, 7:30 am

Hi, BFF!!

>174 seasonsoflove: I keep seeing that series and feeling that I need to give it a go...

Please to give that adorable pup some ear scritches for me.

176jnwelch
Ott 12, 2018, 6:06 pm

Hooray for Friday Barnes! I should give one of those a go some time.

I'm thinking Indy has a possible career in book modeling. She does it awfully well.

177seasonsoflove
Ott 19, 2018, 7:25 am

>175 scaifea: Hi BFF!

It's a really fun series, I would definitely recommend it.

I passed on the ear scritches!

>176 jnwelch: You really should, they're so fun!

She is an excellent book model, though I am highly biased ;)

178seasonsoflove
Ott 19, 2018, 7:31 am

121. Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

and 123. All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I am completely hooked on the The Naturals series. They are so suspenseful, and creepy, and just really well-done young adult reads. The Naturals are a group of teens who all have special (non-supernatural) abilities that help out with cold and active cases-the ability to detect lies, profile, read someone's face to know what they're feeling...in these two books they tackle a serial killer who is seemingly a copycat of someone who hits close to home, and a serial killer targeting people at casinos in a very specific pattern. This is the kind of series where I already took every book in it out of the library.



122. Private London by James Patterson and Mark Pearson

Another fun, quick read in the Patterson collection, this one takes place in one of my favorite series' of his, the Private series. All over the world there are groups of private investigators with unlimited resources who tackle some of the biggest cases. This one seemed to go a little off the rails for me in the last third, but i still enjoyed it.

179seasonsoflove
Ott 21, 2018, 1:28 pm

I participated in Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon yesterday! I started and finished 4 books for a total of 897 pages and had a great time as always!



124. The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by H.P. Lovecraft

This was a very creepy and well-done graphic novel adaptation of a Lovecraft story surrounding an escaped asylum patient and his family secrets.



125. Toys by James Patterson and Neil McMahon

While this was not my favorite Patterson-it's a strange futuristic tale surrounding a new society-there are still Patterson's trademark twists and turns which had me hooked enough to keep reading.



126. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers

Lord Peter Wimsey is such a fun character, and this is a great classic mystery surrounding a body in a bathtub and a mysterious pair of glasses.



127. Becoming Unbecoming by Una

This is an amazing graphic novel that manages to be memoir, powerful statement about physical and emotional violence against women, and true crime tale about the Yorkshire Ripper.


180seasonsoflove
Ott 23, 2018, 7:34 am



128. The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures by Aaron Mahnke

I love the Lore podcast, TV series, and now the book series (and can't help but hear Aaron Mahnke's voice as I read the book). Monstrous Creatures tells so many creepy (true?) stories from all over the world about everything from wendigos to spirits to vampires. Whether or not you believe, the tales are fascinating and make for the perfect reading for the Halloween season.

181jnwelch
Modificato: Ott 30, 2018, 5:44 pm

You have the best book photos! I plan to get to the two graphic novels soon.

I'm a big Lord Peter fan, as you know. Down the line there are some fun ones when he meets Harriet Vane.

P.S. Do you know this story? When we were first dating and your mom said she wanted to try reading a mystery (I know, hard to imagine now), I gave her a copy of Sayers' Nine Tailors. I think it's the best-written of all the Lord Peters. Some people cross their eyes over all the bell-ringing, but I don't think you would.

182seasonsoflove
Nov 9, 2018, 7:38 am

>181 jnwelch: Thanks Dad! And those graphic novels were really good!

I'm excited to read the ones where he and Harriet Vane meet! And I love that story about you and Mom! I have read Nine Tailors per your recommendation and really enjoyed it.

183seasonsoflove
Nov 10, 2018, 9:55 am

129. After the Fire by Will Hill

There was a fire, a terrible fire with gunshots and people dying all around her. But Moonbeam made it out. Now she has to figure out a life outside of the compound, outside of Father John's control, all while holding two secrets inside her that refuse to let her go.

Read the rest of the review here: https://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/10/review-after-fire.html



130. Crippen by John Boyne

The focus of this book is a fictionalized account of the Dr. Crippen murder case. What is known as facts are that Dr. Crippen's wife was murdered, and that Dr. Crippen and his lover Ethel Le Neve tried to get to Canada on a boat posing as a man and his son.

Read the rest of the review here: https://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2018/11/review-crippen.html



131. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

What a beautiful, wonderful book! It tells the story of A.J. Fikry, whose life is changed forever by what he discovers in his shop. But it is also the story of the love of books, of independent bookstores, of people finding each other and finding themselves by their love of the written word. This book is so well written, I couldn't put it down. As an avid reader, it really spoke to me, and I highly recommend it.



132. The Bat by Jo Nesbo

I really enjoyed The Snowman but I just didn't enjoy this first book in the Harry Hole series nearly as much. Harry is in Australia to help solve a murder with a lot of twists and turns, but the book drags on somewhat and can get confusing. It does start to explain how Harry ends up how he is in later books, which was interesting.

184seasonsoflove
Nov 12, 2018, 9:30 pm

133. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

This is not by any means an easy read-it is still with me a full 24 hours after I read the final page-but it is an important read. Gawande tackles the hard issues surrounding this topic with grace and understanding.

185Caroline_McElwee
Nov 13, 2018, 8:05 am

>184 seasonsoflove: I agree Becca. There is a lot to be leaned from this fine book! both as individuals, and in regards to the systems that support us, which are often greatly flawed. Seeing Gawande's own learning curve was moving too.

186jnwelch
Nov 15, 2018, 1:47 pm

I'm so glad you read Being Mortal, Becca. Gawande tackles the hard issues surrounding this topic with grace and understanding. Well said! And as Caroline said, I also liked the personal angle where Gawande shows his own viewpoint changing and maturing.

187Familyhistorian
Dic 4, 2018, 2:31 pm

>179 seasonsoflove: Becoming Unbecoming really packs a lot in for a GN and gets its message across really well, I thought. I liked Crippen, too. Did you ever read Thunderstruck which also brings in the Crippen case?

188ChelleBearss
Dic 24, 2018, 12:09 pm

Hope you have a great Christmas!

189PaulCranswick
Dic 25, 2018, 4:47 am



Happy holidays, Becca. I hope that you are feeling a bit better. xx

190thornton37814
Dic 31, 2018, 12:59 pm

191seasonsoflove
Dic 31, 2018, 10:08 pm

Thank you so much everyone for your comments and kind wishes! My apologies for being gone so long. Computer and health troubles conspired together. I'm going to do a quick update here of the last few books I read this year, and get my thread set up for next year. I'm hopeful my health is on the upswing, and that a call to the wireless company will enable me to update from home again (borrowing my mom's really nice computer right now).

134. Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley

A recommendation from my dad that definitely paid off-a clever and unique mystery full of character.

135. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

This was a light-hearted time travel romp full of romance and humor.

136. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I found it hard to believe I hadn't read this book before now-it did drag a bit for me in parts, but the writing style was absolutely beautiful, and the ending was so powerful.

137. An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott

Reading this childhood classic was even more fun because it was my mom's copy, and she even read some to me.

138. Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch

This is a powerful rumination on grief and the power of books to heal and connect.

139. A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell

I wanted this book to be so much better than it was-very intriguing premise, but not expertly executed-quick intriguing read but not great.

140. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

I love this series, and the second entry does not disappoint one bit-I especially love that the plot revolves around a writer writing a mysterious book that may be a veiled tell-all.

141. (Don't) Call Me Crazy edited by Kelly Jensen

This is another in the list of powerful, important books on mental health coming out recently that I would highly recommend to everyone.

142. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

An incredible book full of pain and hope, a creative and unflinching take on history.

143. The Invention of Murder by Judith Flanders

I would definitely recommend this book for all true crime lovers. Flanders ties in real crimes with popular literature and theater of the time, and the public's fascination with it all.

192scaifea
Gen 1, 2019, 9:03 am

I'm happy that your beginning to feel better - I remembered that your dad mentioned you not feeling well and I've been thinking of you.

And yay for Life of Pi! I loved that one so much.

Happy New Year, BFF!!!

193seasonsoflove
Gen 5, 2019, 10:11 am

Thanks so much BFF, and Happy New Year to you too! I'm really glad to be feeling better, I'm hoping it's an upswing that will stick.

Life of Pi was so good, I can't believe it took me so long to read it!

194jnwelch
Gen 8, 2019, 10:01 am

Happy New Year, Becca! That’s a great way to end your reading year, and I’m happy you’re reunited with Miss Indy.