I’ve been reading a fair amount, but overall, these past few weeks of books were disappointing. Many of the touted books failed to live up to the hype, and a beloved series goes a couple of books past its expiration date. Here’s my list for this month, with links for Amazon where you might want to read more on the synopsis, or find out if you can get it on your Kindle. Thank you for using my links when you can.
The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni – This book started out with so much promise – a fascinating puzzle drawn by a woman in a prison psych ward for murder who hasn’t spoken since she was arrested. A brilliant puzzle savant is contacted to solve the puzzle and find out what she is trying to say. Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it? And it was for about 100 pages. Then we take a hard turn into the occult and run completely off the rails, spending pages explaining esoteric rituals and beliefs from ancient times, eventually (spoiler alert) settling on a demon being responsible. Fans of the occult will like this, but I was disappointed in the easy out. This would have been far more interesting if the puzzle stayed in the realm of the real world.
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown – Did Not Finish – Content warning!! This book has a sadistic torture scene about 25% of the way in that was so revolting, it should have had a warning on the cover. I felt blindsided by the misdirection of the synopsis as I never want to have these kinds of images in my head. The book was touted as fantasy fiction, magical realism (which never has this kind of imagery), when it should be in the horror category. I closed the book at that point, never to read another word. Pass it by.
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub – A woman gets drunk on her 40th birthday, and wakes up to find herself in her 16 year old body for one day. She gets to see her dad in good health, not the dying man she left behind 24 years in the future. The next morning, she has returned to her own time. As the book progresses, she is able to return to that day several times, each time trying to change the one thing that might save him from dying in the future. But she also has to evaluate how those changes affected her own life as well. It was a very interesting concept, a different kind of story of the love between a parent and child.
Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Brianne Randall – overall meh. An obvious first novel, it seems over-written, way too much description and comparisons. Much of the middle reads like a bad romance novel with too much angst and repeating the same thoughts. The plot moves so slowly, it seemed there would never be a resolution. In addition, the ending seems like a set up for a sequel, and not satisfying. I’ll pass on a second in this probable series.
Daffodil Season by Melanie Lageschulte – Another trip to the rural town of Prosper, where Melinda is taking things day by day. The author wanted to stop this series before this book, but was talked into doing another one, and it shows. Although the story is interesting, the book is thin, and the plot line of another woman seeking to start over was glossed over. There was a good opportunity for a deeper story, but it seemed like the author just wanted to get it done and over. Still, it is enjoyable to visit with these characters again.
Firefly Season by Melanie Lageschulte – Now touted as the tenth and absolutely last visit to Prosper in the Seasons series, it is only marginally better than book 9. There is a bit more conflict with one business owner and long time friend making waves in town with an idea to compete with Melinda’s family business. There is an offer for Josh, and part of the book explores the ramifications if he takes it. So, a bit more depth here, but it still has the feeling of being the absolute last one. The predicted happy ending was right on cue. Certainly what we want to see in a series end. Ms Lageschulte states in the authors notes that she might revisit the town with a new character as the central protagonist, but that remains to be seen. Currently she is writing cozy mysteries, which for me is unfortunate, as I don’t ever want to read another one of those. I’ve read hundreds (literally!) and I’ve had my fill of them and more.
So, the quest continues for good literature, mysteries that do not involve someone being murdered, sci-fi that has some depth, interesting and different storylines. Suggestions welcome, particularly for books published within the past year.
What are you reading?
From My Carolina Home 
That is too bad that the books were disappointing. I made a resolution this year to ask friends for recommendations and then each month read at least 1 from that list. Right now I am reading a book by Brad Thor called Lions of Lucerne. The president is kidnapped and this lead agent needs to figure out how to get him back while also being set up as the villain. It isn’t my usual type of book and the first I have read from this author. I’m not sure that I would pick anymore of his up but appreciated trying something different. I am also listening on audiobook to Call Your Daughter Home. Still early on but I am really enjoying it. Historical fiction taking place in the south told by 3 women (each has a different narrator).
I was so disappointed when a favorite series of mine recently ended after 15 books because the author announced that she was just not inspired to wite about those characters anymore. I guess that is better than having to continue a series you don’t want to write anymore and ending up with books that readers don’t like! A recent favorite read was The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise, by Colleen Oakley. An elderly woman needs a live-in caretaker, who ends up being a troubled teenager, and they have quite an adventure!
Once I tried a murder mystery by a famous author and found the details so gruesome I thought it should have come with a warning. This week I read a cozy quilting mystery. Light reading – I’ve read more challenging Harlequin romances, LOL. The bare bones could have been developed more thoroughly into a decent mystery, although, come to think of it, I had figured out the supposed twist early on. As soon as you read twin, you can imagine where it ends.
Carole, thank you for honest reviews. I began rereading the classics and I am enjoying refreshing my mind on books that I had loved!
I hate a meh reading month. But the Straub does sound rather interesting in concept.
I only recently started following your blog, so I don’t know what kinds of books you read, but I enjoyed reading your reviews today. I almost never read sc-fi, but I have a favorite author and series to suggest. Martha Wells’s Murderbot Diaries series. The first one is All Systems Red. I think there are five to seven in the series, and I loved all of them.
Yes, I reviewed the Murderbot series a while back, and I am reading the recently published one System Collapse right now. You can use the books category on my sidebar to see lots of my book reviews. In general I enjoy most stories that are out of the usual in many genres, some recent favorites – Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, The Thread Collectors by Shaunna Edwards and Alyson Richman, The Lost Dresses of Italy by M.A. Mclaughlin. Do check out some of my previous reviews. The only thing I don’t want to read now are murder mysteries, I’ve had enough of those to last a lifetime.
I finished The Thread Collectors last month and just LOVED it. (Audiobook / public library)
An Invisible Thread (by Laura Schroff) true story of a woman who befriends a street kid. A very good book and another one I enjoyed is The Growing Season by Sarah Frey.
Authors I like: Jan Karon, C.J. Box, Kristin Hannah. (The Nightengale is the best), William Kent Krueger, Tara Westover wrote “Educated”Kim Michele Richardson, Jojo Moyes, Marie Benedict, Ivan Doig
I have the library app on my phone and listen while I sew …or cook…or clean.
One of my favorite “feel good” authors is Jennifer Ryan. She has written several novels set in England during the 1940s about women on the homefront. I recommend The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir, The Kitchen Front, The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, The Spies of Shilling Lane. I also liked Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce, about a plucky young English journalist who writes a wartime advice column, sequels Yours Cheerfully and Mrs. Porter Calling. Other authors I like include Jojo Moyes, Barbara Kingsolver, Kristin Hannah, Maggie O’Farrell. For nonfiction I have enjoyed David McCullough, Sy Montgomery, Erik Larson.
Here are some titles I’ve liked published within the past year or so: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, a novel based on the diary of an 18th century midwife in rural Maine; Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See, novel based on the life of a woman doctor in Ming Dynasty China; The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger, set in small-town Minnesota 1958; The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride, a novel about love and community in a black and Jewish neighborhood in 1920s-1930s Pennsylvania.
I always have multiple books going at any given time. Right now I’m reading My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand (Wonderful! If you like Barbra Streisand, you’ll love this book. If you don’t, you might change your mind.) and Spin by Patricia Cornwell (a novel involving technology and crime investigation–also very good).
The best American mystery & suspense 2023 – a compilation of “short” stories – AWFUL. Very dark stories, long winded where I have to go back and still can’t make the connection.
The sound of sleighbells – paperback, widow mom and 3 kids on a farm, hunk horseman next door, Christmas home invasion, Hunk rescue. Done. I’m going to look at the lists of everyone here – someone has to have something! Thanks for having this interactive review, good to know what “real” people think.
Both of those sound like total wastes of time. If you are on Goodreads, I post my reviews there as well. Or you can go back to some of my previous posts using the Books and Reading category on the sidebar. I’ll be looking at quite a few of the recommendations in these comments.
Thank you for your frank reviews.
Here’s a couple books to consider. The Inbetween by Hadley Vlahos is about a hospice nurse’s experiences. Loyalty by Lisa Scottoline is historical fiction about the mafia in Sicily. Both books written in 2023.
Three favorites that I read in the last year but were published before 2023. 1. Quiet by Susan Cain is about introverts. 2.The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams is fiction about a recently widowed man. 3.Arsenic and Adobo is a debut novel that had me laughing and in awe of the author’s metaphors but it does entail a murder but not graphic.
Good luck finding books that are well written page turners!
Jo Anne
Carole, Sorry so many books were disappointing for you!
Two great books I enjoyed were: ‘This Tender Land’ and ‘Ordinary Grace’, both by Wm. Kent Krueger.
I enjoy reading your e-mails and blogs!
Pat Ashton Savannah, GA
I’ve had a few months of bad books. This just means that you have a good month of books coming up because you’ve paid your dues! LOL!
just finished ‘the maid’ by nita prose….light mystery and well written….recommend highly…excellent bedtime read
I have read the “Growing Season” series and enjoyed all. The author has begun a new series set in the same rural Iowa area, this time about a mail carrier newly transplanted from the big city. It follows along the same lines as the other series, only with a postal spin on it. And, because it is set in a neighboring town to Prosper, we get to visit with those old friends every once in awhile. This series begins with “The route that takes you home”. I’m currently reading outside my usual genres…historical fiction. I’ve never read Jane Austen and just finished “Pride and Prejudice”. I liked it so much that I’m on to the next one “Emma.” I am waiting on several authors’ new books to come out, so it’s back to the 1800 England for me!
THE PUZZLEMAKER—-What started as a real “page turner” went south quickly! I did force myself to read about 100 pages, then realized there are 1000’s of books I would enjoy more than this trip into the world of occult and demons! So, back to the library it went!
I’d suggest anything by Barbara Kingsolver and Sarah Addison Allen. I know you said you’re finished with mysteries, but The Thursday Murder Club series (4 titles) are humorous and not graphic. I’ve been listening to some chick lit lately, but can’t really recommend as so many of the characters are just too annoying.
Lessons in Chemistry was also very good.
Pat
Current favorite: Uncharted Flight of Olivia West by Sara Ackerman. Fiction based on actual events…early years of flight…airplane race from California to Hawaii.