my favourite reads of January 2025

Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey (1949)

Not long after his parents’ deaths in a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Patrick Ashby disappears. He leaves a vague farewell note and his folded jacket near a cliff well known as a suicide spot, but his body is never found. Eight years later, cash-strapped Brat Farrar is recognized by a friend of the family as a dead-ringer for Patrick and together they scheme to reintroduce “Patrick” just in time for him to collect a large inheritance. Will Brat get away with it?

An excellent book. I loved it.

Dead Famous by Greg Jenner (2020)

An examination of celebrity (mostly human, but also the odd animal) from every possible angle.

Fun, fast-paced, really enjoyable.

Mike and Psmith by PG Wodehouse (1909)

Mike and Psmith meet at boarding school and hijinks ensue immediately. Like some of Wodehouse’s early work, it’s a bit heavy on the cricket for someone who does not know or care about cricket, but it’s still a lot of fun.

An A+ Christmas present from Charlotte!

Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie (1940)

Audiobook narrated by David Suchet.

Elinor Carlisle is accused of poisoning Mary Gerrard, her late aunt’s companion, after Elinor’s fiancĂ© confesses he is in love with Mary. The case against Elinor couldn’t look more bulletproof, but Poirot investigates anyway.

David Suchet is a great narrator.

Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (1848)

At almost 700 pages (of very small print), I started Vanity Fair last November and read a chapter per day, aside from a couple weeks at Christmas when my girls were home. Best friends Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley leave their girls’ school and head out into very different futures. The book’s original subtitle was ‘A Novel Without a Hero’, which is absolutely true since almost everyone in it is terrible. They scheme, lie, cheat, steal, manipulate, boast, blame, condemn, shun, and bootlick in a constant jostle for social superiority.

It’s a bit wordy, yes, but hilarious. I honestly looked forward to reading it every single day.


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my favourite reads of November 2024

Celebrating the Seasons with the Yorkshire Shepherdess by Amanda Owen (2021)

I can’t remember how this book entered my orbit, but it was an interesting glimpse into a lifestyle very different from my own. I especially liked the many photographs of absolutely gorgeous Yorkshire landscapes.

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie (1940)

Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser.

Poirot’s dentist seemingly commits suicide, but Poirot sets out to prove it was murder.

The Secret Hours by Mick Herron (2023)

I’m torn about whether to include this in my favourites because it was easily my least favourite Herron book. It starts off really well, but then gets bogged down with way too many words and much too little action. I’m not sorry I read it, but I wouldn’t recommend this one like I do his others.

The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie (1922)

Audiobook narrated by Nadia May.

Tommy and Tuppence, the Young Adventurers, are tasked with finding Jane Finn, who has important government papers and has disappeared. Not my favourite Christie, but still enjoyable.

Treasure Island!!! by Sara Levine (2011)

There is a book reviewer and blogger I follow whose taste is pretty reliably the exact opposite of mine, so when I saw she disliked this book, I immediately ordered it and I wasn’t disappointed.

A young woman becomes obsessed with Stevenson’s Treasure Island and blows up her entire life by trying to live by its maxims of “boldness, resolution, independence and horn-blowing.” I love these unlikeable protagonists.


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my favourite reads of October 2024

Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie (1937)

Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser.

Elderly Emily Arundell suspects a member of her household is trying to kill her and, sadly for her, she is correct. Features a star turn by Bob the dog.

Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie (1941)

Audiobook narrated by David Suchet.

Glamorous movie star Arlena Marshall ends up dead on a beach and neither her family nor anyone else at their resort seem particularly bothered by that, but Poirot solves the case anyway. A particularly good Christie, in my opinion.

Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie (1923)

Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser.

Another rich, elderly person suspects he is going to be murdered by a member of his household and he is also correct. Unfortunately, Poirot has a knack for responding to these pleas for help just a little too late.

To Love and Be Wise by Josephine Tey (1950)

A famous young American photographer goes missing during a hike in the English countryside and good old Inspector Grant is called in to figure out what happened to him. A clever and entertaining mystery.

Wilderness Knits by Linka Neumann (2021)

I haven’t knit many sweaters lately, but if anything was going to tempt me to start one, it would be a design from this book. Lots of appealing patterns.


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my favourite reads of September 2024

Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie (1938)

Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser.

A tyrannical matriarch is murdered while on holiday with her family in Petra and everybody has a motive. A bit slow to get going, but enjoyable.

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan (2024)

In which Amy Tan gets super into birdwatching. Her enthusiasm is entertaining, her observations are interesting and her illustrations are beautiful. Talented lady.

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (2004)

The first Jackson Brodie novel.

Jackson investigates three seemingly unrelated murder cases and gradually uncovers the truth in each case and how they are connected.

Another slow starter, but once it began to pick up momentum, I was hooked.

A Gentleman and a Thief by Dean Jobb (2024)

Exactly what it says on the tin: The Daring Jewel Heists of a Jazz Age Rogue.

Jobb has written another winner, just as gripping as The Case of the Murderous Dr Cream, which I loved in 2021. It’s meticulously researched and very entertaining. A+.

Golf Without Tears by PG Wodehouse (1924)

I love Wodehouse so much, I’ll even read a novel’s worth of stories about golf and golfers. Enjoyable, as always.

Murder Is Easy by Agatha Christie (1938)

A sudden flurry of murders in a small English village is written off as a series of unfortunate accidents by the locals, but Luke Fitzwilliam – alerted by a fellow train passenger who shared her suspicions and was then killed by a hit-and-run driver – suspects a serial killer.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (1920)

Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser.

How many times have I read/listened to this one? Ten times? A dozen?

Another unpleasant matriarch gets herself murdered and Poirot, in his first appearance, solves the case.

One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson (2006)

Audiobook narrated by Robin Downes. The second Jackson Brodie novel.

Atkinson again draws seemingly unconnected characters through a series of pretty traumatic situations until the connections are revealed. I liked it a lot.

Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie (1958)

Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser.

Yet another disliked matriarch is murdered, this time by one of her adopted sons. A witness comes forward with an alibi for him, however, which raises the question: who did kill her then?

Another one I’ve read/listened to multiple times. Such a great book.

Pompeii by Mary Beard (2008)

Pompeii from every possible angle. Very thoroughly researched and a pleasure to read.

Towards Zero by Agatha Christie (1944)

Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser.

And another disapproving old lady is murdered while hosting her nephew, his current wife, his ex-wife, and a few other friends and hangers-on at her oceanfront estate.

One of the top-tier Christies, in my opinion.


books

my favourite reads of August 2024

Dead Lions by Mick Herron (2013)

Audiobook narrated by Gerard Doyle.

I read this a couple years ago, but got the audiobook when I saw the library added it. Exciting, well-plotted and, as usual, better than the tv adaptation. (Which is also very good, I think.)

The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey (1948)

Probably my favourite so far in My Summer of Tey. A teenager accuses a middle-aged woman and her mother of holding her hostage and beating her. They didn’t – but how to prove you didn’t do something? Loved it.

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie (1938)

Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser.

Weird and inappropriate timing, but I needed an audiobook and this was available so whatever. Clever plotting, very enjoyable.

Psmith, Journalist by PG Wodehouse (1915)

Not my favourite Wodehouse, but Psmith is a very amusing character and I enjoyed it a lot.

A Shilling for Candles by Josephine Tey (1936)

Josephine Tey does it again! An actress is found drowned on a beach and it is assumed to be suicide until a coat button is spotted tangled in her hair. Cue the twists, turns and red herrings.


books

my favourite reads of July 2024

Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie (1936)

Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser. Entertaining, as always.

A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie (1964)

Audiobook narrated by Emilia Fox. Good fun, but some of her accents are a bit questionable.

A Damsel in Distress by PG Wodehouse (1919)

Audiobook narrated by Frederick Davidson. Not as slick and fast-paced as Wodehouse’s later work, but I still enjoyed it. It’s easy to spot the early seeds of Blandings in this.

The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey (1929)

Well-plotted, clever, entertaining. I really liked it.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench (2023)

A conversation with Judi Dench about Shakespeare productions she has been in. I enjoyed it very much and now have to re-read all Shakespeare’s plays. A good goal for 2025.

Something Fresh by PG Wodehouse (1915)

Like the Christies above, this was a comfort re-read to help me get through the summer. The two a.m. fight scene in the hall is pure brilliance.

What Was Shakespeare Really Like? by Stanley Wells (2023)

Interesting and inspiring, although I did enjoy Judi Dench’s book more.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (1908)

Charming, funny, suspenseful. I absolutely loved it.


books

my favourite reads of June 2024

Art Unpacked by Matthew Wilson (2023)

A detailed analysis of 50 paintings from technical, art history, social and cultural perspectives. Excellent.

Good Behaviour by Molly Keane (1981)

Aroon St. Charles tells the story of her aristocratic family’s decline. She is the most wonderfully unreliable narrator – naive, deluded, insecure, conceited, totally clueless. I liked it a lot.

Nonsense Novels by Stephen Leacock (1911)

Short parodies of popular storytelling conventions (the know-it-all detective, the ridiculous romance, the high seas thriller, etc). Some were okay and some were brilliant. Surprisingly modern.

Psmith in the City by PG Wodehouse (1910)

What else can I say about Wodehouse? Very amusing.

Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain by Amy Jeffs (2021)

Jeffs tells her own versions of ancient legends accompanied by linoprints. Really impressive.


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June 2024 in photos

As always, June was a whirlwind. End-of-school-year insanity is behind us now, but there was still more than enough going on for someone who likes her days super boring and uneventful.

Aside from two birthdays, June’s big event was an extra-long weekend in PEI visiting granddog Evie and her people. She’s a beach girl, too. Must be genetic.

Evie took us to Panmure Island, where I got the obligatory lighthouse shot.

The next day, she took us to a mysterious bridge out in the middle of nowhere where we watched a heron fishing for his lunch.

The day after that, Evie took us to Beach Point Beach because it takes more than a bit of mistiness to put us off a good beach walk. (A bee sting is what it takes, actually. Poor Foster.)

Now for the bird shots…


birds, family, PEI

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