Read With The Lights On...

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Bookish Scares To Keep The Blood Pumping…

The Lesser Dead - Christopher Buehlman

All Souls Lost - Dan Moren

Boys In The Valley - Philip Fracassi

In The Valley Of The Sun - Andy Davidson

Dead Eleven - Jimmy Juliano

A Haunting On The Hill - Elizabeth Hand

A Light Most Hateful - Hailey Piper

Fever House - Keith Rosson

The Handyman Method - Nick Cutter

Your Lonely Nights Are Over - Adam Sass

Out There Screaming - Jordan Peele

Schraders Chord - Scott Leeds

Edenville - Sam Rebelein

Never Whistle At Night - Shane Hawk

Rouge - Mona Awad

Wasps In The Ice Cream - Tim McGregor

The Bottoms - Joe R. Lansdale

The Ancestor - Danielle Trussoni

Cry Your Way Home - Damien Walters

Armchair Travels...

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Escape To Destinations On The Page…

Nigeria - Rosewater - Tade Thompson

Russia - A Gentleman In Moscow - Amor Towles

Mexico - Mexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Japan - Strange Weather In Tokyo - Hiromi Kawakami

Egypt - City Of Brass - S.A. Chakraborty

Korea - The Plotters - Kim Un-Su

Argentina - Who Is Vera Kelly? - Rosalie Knecht

Malaysia - The Night Tiger - Yangsze Choo

Ghana - Homegoing - Yaa Gyasi

Australia - The Cartographers Secret - Tea Cooper

Sri Lanka - The Seven Moons Of Maali Almeida - Shenhan Karunatilaka

Netherlands - The Miniaturist - Jessie Burton

Sweden - The Stockholm Octavo - Karen Engelmann

Czech Republic - The Woman From Prague - Rob Hart

Greece - The Two Faces Of January - Patricia Highsmith

Portugal - Two Nights In Lisbon - Chris Pavone

Hungary - The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova

Sierra Leone - The Gilded Ones - Namina Forna

Nicaragua - Heir Of Uncertain Magic - Charlie Holmberg

Congo - The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingslover

Denmark - Smilas Sense Of Snow - Peter Hoeg

Finland - The Witch Hunter - Max Seeck

Norway - The Snowman - Jo Nesbo

Lebanon - The Arsonists City - Hala Ayan

New Zealand - Birnam Wood - Eleanor Catton

Jamaica - Black Cake - Charmaine Wilkerson

Vietnam - The Sympathizer - Viet Thanh Nguyen

Thailand - Bangkok 8 - John Burdett

Scotland - The Lost Queen - Signe Pike

Dark Sparkles...

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Tales of Broads, Babes & Rebels…

Charm - The Bone Orchard (Sara A Mueller)

Lanore - The Taker (Alma Katsu)

Sister Holiday - Scorched Grace (Margot Douaihy)

Celaena - Throne Of Glass (Sarah J. Maas)

Wren Connolly – Reboot (Amy Tintera)

Victoria McQueen – NOS4A2 (Joe Hill)

Anna - Hench (Natalie Zina Walschots)

Annie Wilkes – Misery (Stephen King)

Jessa-Lynn - Mostly Dead Things (Kristen Arnett)

Nova - Renegades (Marissa Meyer)

Hwa - Company Town (Madeline Ashby)

Chelsea - The Violence (Deliah S Dawson)

Martha - The Future (Naomi Alderman)

Flo & Clara - Plain Bad Heriones (Emily Danforth)

Jane - Bad Monkeys (Matt Ruff)

Jude - The Cruel Prince (Holly Black)

Carmen - Secret Identity (Alex Segura)

Lore - Lore (Alexandra Bracken)

Ada - Outlawed (Anna North)

Loretta & Hamara - Chain Gang All Stars (Nana Kwame-Adeji)

Nova - Zero Sum Game (S.L. Huang)

Gwendy - Gwendy Button Box (Richard Chizmar & Stephen King)

Small Mercies - Dennis Lehane

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Small Mercies - Dennis Lehane

Crime Fiction

Rating: 9/10

The author’s masterful way with words and the beauty of his prose carry the reader through the horrors of the hard life that the characters are enduring, depicting a brutal and unflinching story of both criminality and humanity. He will not let us hide from the fact that change, for those who have no say it, feels like a death to whatever dreams you had and whatever life you have made do with. You will not walk away from this read unscathed. And you will be fine with that.

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We Begin At The End - Chris Whitaker - (Replay)

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We Begin At The End - Chris Whitaker - (Replay)

Fiction

Rating: 10/10

There is nothing I can say that will do this book justice, no grouping of words that can embody how I felt at its conclusion. This is a staggeringly beautiful and powerful story; it will imbed itself in you, it will linger long after the final page is turned, and it will break you a little. If you are lucky. If you allow it to. I originally read this in 2021 and as we sit on the cusp of 2024, I am no less impacted by it.

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The Busy Body - Kemper Donovan

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The Busy Body - Kemper Donovan

Mystery

Rating: 9/10

Let’s begin at the end shall we. Hands down the cleverest denouement I’ve read in a long time. Dramatic, snarky, and deliciously gossipy, it was an absolute delight! An old-fashioned murder mystery with a touch of glitz and glamour with a cast of the rich and infamous. Dorothy has got time on her hands after losing the bid for presidential candidate, so she decides to hire a ghostwriter to help her with her memoir. Then someone dies. You know where we go from here…

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Wrap It Up!-Chapter Six

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Wrap It Up!-Chapter Six

My Christmas wish for you is this, as we navigate through another trying year, let books be the gift you choose to give. To others, and to yourself. This instalment of Wrap It Up gathers together books for those waiting for my 2023 Top Picks. Whether it’s you or a love one, find a cozy spot, crack open a book and have a wonderful, joyous, and peaceful holiday season.

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Wrap It Up!-Chapter Five

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Wrap It Up!-Chapter Five

My Christmas wish for you is this, as we navigate through another trying year, let books be the gift you choose to give. To others, and to yourself. This instalment of Wrap It Up gathers together books for those seeking mastery in their storytelling. Whether it’s you or a love one, find a cozy spot, crack open a book and have a wonderful, joyous, and peaceful holiday season.

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Wrap It Up!-Chapter Four

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Wrap It Up!-Chapter Four

My Christmas wish for you is this, as we navigate through another trying year, let books be the gift you choose to give. To others, and to yourself. This instalment of Wrap It Up gathers together books for those wanting to tease their brain with a puzzle. Whether it’s you or a love one, find a cozy spot, crack open a book and have a wonderful, joyous, and peaceful holiday season.

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Wrap It Up!-Chapter Three

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Wrap It Up!-Chapter Three

My Christmas wish for you is this, as we navigate through another trying year, let books be the gift you choose to give. To others, and to yourself. This instalment of Wrap It Up gathers together books for those wanting to lose themselves in make believe. Whether it’s you or a love one, find a cozy spot, crack open a book and have a wonderful, joyous, and peaceful holiday season.

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Wrap It Up!-Chapter Two

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Wrap It Up!-Chapter Two

My Christmas wish for you is this, as we navigate through another trying year, let books be the gift you choose to give. To others, and to yourself. This instalment of Wrap It Up gathers together books for those seeking some sustenance or indulgence. Whether it’s you or a love one, find a cozy spot, crack open a book and have a wonderful, joyous, and peaceful holiday season.

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Wrap It Up!-Chapter One

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Wrap It Up!-Chapter One

My Christmas wish for you is this, as we navigate through another trying year, let books be the gift you choose to give. To others, and to yourself. This instalment of Wrap It Up gathers together books for those seeking a glimpse into someone else’s story. Whether it’s you or a love one, find a cozy spot, crack open a book and have a wonderful, joyous, and peaceful holiday season.

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Once Upon A Time...

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The Gift Of Reading To Children…

Children’s books are magical. No matter our age, if we choose to turn the page on a storybook, we will feel that sense of nostalgia for the whimsy and wonder that they offer. Through tales of adventure that are rife with imagination, we will find ourselves. Among this very special collection you will find fractured fairytales, told with exquisite illustrations and magnificent story’s. You will laugh out loud at the crayons on strike, the endless farts, the pampered cats and sleepy sloths. You will embrace the snuggly hugs and the coolest alphabet book ever. And you will want to board a rocket ship in the cloak of night and the elevator to everywhere. Enjoy!

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All The Sinners Bleed - S.A. Cosby

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All The Sinners Bleed - S.A. Cosby

Crime Fiction

Rating: 9/10

Titus, a newly appointment Sheriff, and his deputies are called to the scene of a reported school shooter, one who has killed a beloved teacher and is himself killed when officers believe he is going to turn his weapon on them. Sounds straightforward, a bad man killed a good man and then a good man killed the bad man, what more could there be to talk about? Turns out quite a lot. This author is a masterful storyteller, able to have his characters stare into the abyss and yet still maintain their hope.

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The Art Thief: A True Story Of Love, Crime & Obsession-Michael Finkel

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The Art Thief: A True Story Of Love, Crime & Obsession-Michael Finkel

True Crime

Rating: 7.5/10

When I feature a non-fiction pick, it’s undoubtedly narrative in style, and if it’s a story chockfull of transgressions? Then count me in! If you call Stephane Breitwieser a thief or a con man, he will correct you in short order. He’s an art lover, a collector, a guardian of beauty. And if his method of acquisition is rather unorthodox? Well risks must be taken to shield art from the philistines putting it on display for all to see.

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One Puzzling Afternoon - Emily Critchley

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One Puzzling Afternoon - Emily Critchley

Mystery

Rating: 7/10

Imagine that you happened upon a mystery that you tasked yourself with solving, only to realize that the clues to its being pieced together were buried within a mind muddled by forgetfulness. Your own mind. Edie is an eighty something year old widow who is showing signs of dementia. While in town one afternoon she spots Lucy, her childhood friend. The problem is that Lucy has been missing since they were fifteen.

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Holiday Story's...

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Mystery, Romance & Fantasy, Oh My…

The Christmas Guest - Peter Swanson

The Kingdom Of Sweets - Erika Johansen

The Christmas Appeal - Janice Hallett

Christmas Orphans Club - Becca Freeman

Christmas Murder Game - Alexandra Benedict

I Am Half-Sick Of Shadows - Alan Bradley

Christmas Presents - Lisa Unger

Secret Santa - Andrew Shaffer

Sherlock Holmes & The Christmas Demon - James Lovegrove

The Usual Santas - Peter Lovesy

Always, In December - Emily Stone

Christmas By The Book - Anne Marie Ryan

Bright Lights, Big Christmas - Mary Kay Andrews

The Christmas Bookshop - Jenny Colgan

Silent Night - R.L. Stine

When Christmas Comes - Andrew Klavan

The Santa Klaus Murder - Mavis Doriel Hay

Murder On The Christmas Express - Alexandra Benedict

Hercule Poirot's Silent Night - Sophie Hannah

Guilty Pleasures...

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Read Shamelessly, Always…

Slay - Laurell K. Hamilton

The Watchmakers Hand - Jeffrey Deaver

Darius - JR Ward

Exit - Belinda Bauer

The Taker - Alma Katsu

The Rich - Rachel Lynch

House At The End Of The World - Dean Koontz

From Blood & Ash - Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Beautiful - Renee Ahdieh

Thank You For Listening - Julie Whelan

A Discovery Of Witches - Deborah Harkness

Hit List - Lawrence Block

Mortal Sins - Penn Williamson

Deal Breaker - Harlan Coben

Warriors Hope - Rebecca Zanetti

Last Time You Called - Carmi Heyman

Ascend - Amanda Hocking

Identity - Nora Roberts

You - Caroline Kepnes

Storytime Books...

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Picture Books That Rock…

The Very Best Hug - Smriti Prasadam Halls

The Tragically Hip ABC - The Tragically Hip

The Umbrella - Beth Ferry

Oh, Olive - Lian Cho

A Bad Case Of The Stripes - David Shannon

A Child Of Books - Oliver Jeffers

The Night Frolic - Julie Berry

The Stinky Cheese Man & Other Fairly Stupid Tales - Jon Sciezska

The Most Serious Fart - Mike Bender

D Is For Drool - Amanda Noll

The Day The Crayons Quit - Drew Daywait

Attack Of The Underwear Dragon - Scott Rothman

It's Only Stanley - Jon Agee

Lift - Minh Li

The Barnabus Project - Terry Fan

The Liszits - Kyo Maclear

Big - Vashti Harrison

5 More Sleeps 'til Christmas - Jimmy Fallon

Do Not Open This Book - Andy Lee

Check Out More…

Once Upon A Time

Detective Wannabe's...

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Whodunit’s In The Hands Of Amateurs…

West Heart Kill - Dann McDorman

The Mystery Guest - Nita Prose

The Last Devil To Die - Richard Osman

Glory Be - Danielle Arceneaux

The Busy Body - Kemper Donovan

Everybody On This Train Is A Suspect - Benjamin Stevenson

Close To Death - Anthony Horowitz

A Most Agreeable Murder - Julia Seales

Murder In The Bookship - Anita Davison

The Postscript Murders - Elly Griffiths

How To Solve Your Own Murder - Kirsten Perrin

Nosy Parker - Lesley Crewe

Golden Spoon - Jessa Maxwell

The Bingo Hall Detectives - Jonathan Whitelaw

I Only Read Murder - Ian & Will Ferguson

Death Comes To Marlow - Robert Thorogood

The Columbo Collection - William Link

The Cleaner - Samantha Beal

22 Murders Of Madison May - Max Barry