Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books Set in Snowy Places.
Note: The Silent Land is an under-the-radar gem! I read it back before I was blogging, so I don’t have a blog-based review to share — but here’s what I posted on Goodreads at the time:
A couple on a romantic ski getaway in the Pyrenees is caught in a sudden, early morning avalanche on the ski slopes. When they finally manage to dig themselves out and find their way back down the mountain, they find their hotel and its village have been evacuated, and they’re completely alone. Or is there something else going on? “The Silent Land” is simply told, but does a masterful job of evoking the glory of a snowy mountain, the joy of being with a soulmate, and the disquiet of realizing that some things defy explanation, no matter how hard you try to understand it all. It’s hard to go any further without divulging spoilers, which I won’t do. Suffice it to say that “The Silent Land” is both beautiful and ominous, gave me the chills, and kept me intrigued enough that I ended up reading in all in one day. Definitely recommended.
Do you have any favorite books with snowy settings?
My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.
Life.
It’s been… a week. Work has been busy, and my free time for reading and relaxing seems to constantly get gobbled up by errands and other commitments. I’m looking forward to a slower second half of the month… and Hanukkah, starting this coming Sunday evening!
What did I read during the last week?
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green: Highly recommended. See my review, here. Also included in the same review, Things My Son Needs to Know About the World by Fredrik Backman. Funny and heartwarming, this is a charming book that gave me a big boost just when I needed it.
The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: My book group’s latest project, finished after three months! It’s been a wonderful experience rereading this book and engaging in thoughtful discussions of each chapter. We’ll be starting The Return of the King in January.
And finishing up the excellent Rockton series:
The Deepest of Secrets (Rockton, #7) by Kelley Armstrong: The final Rockton novel! Just as fantastic as I’d expected. My review is here.
Dead Letter Days (Rockton, #7.5; Haven’s Rock, #0.5) by Kelley Armstrong: A follow-up novella bridging the end of the Rockton series and the beginning of Haven’s Rock. Loved it! My review is here.
Pop culture & TV:
I finished the first season of The Morning Show on AppleTV, and I’m curious to see where the story goes from here. The season was a bit uneven, but there are some true powerhouse performances throughout.
Meanwhile, I’ve started season two of A Man on the Inside on Netflix. So much fun!
Fresh Catch:
I won a giveaway from Simon & Schuster via Little Free Library! The theme was banned books, and these two lovely books arrived this week. They’re going into my LFL, of course (although I may hijack the Christina Lauren book and read it first). The picture book is adorable! I’ll be curious to see how quickly these two get snapped up.
I also treated myself, thanks to a gift card:
I’m a big fan of my daily dose of New York Times games, and the puzzle book looks perfect for me. I couldn’t resist getting a copy of the graphic novel version of The Parable of the Talents, even though I still haven’t read my edition of The Parable of the Sower graphic novel. I’ll aim to read both in the coming year!
What will I be reading during the coming week?
Currently in my hands:
The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage: This newest pick for Reese’s Book Club just happened to be available at the library for an instant borrow, so I grabbed it. So many contemporary royal-focused books are romances, but this one isn’t (at least, not as of what I’ve read so far). It’s very good, and I’m glad I decided to try it.
Now playing via audiobook:
Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding: I really enjoyed the previous two books in this Austen-inspired romance series, so I couldn’t resist when the library had this newest available to borrow. This one is a retelling of Persuasion, and it’s great so far! I’m very close to the end already — can’t wait to see how it comes together.
Ongoing reads:
My longer-term reading commitments:
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 10%. Coming up this week: Chapters 6 and 7.
The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffman (illustrated by Maurice Sendak): I’m reading this to wrap up a challenge, and since it’s a chapter book, I’m taking my time and reading just one or two chapters per day. It’s funny to realize that I’ve never actually read the story, after a lifetime of going to Nutcracker performances!
Title: Dead Letter Days Series: Rockton, #7.5; Haven’s Rock, #0.5 Author: Kelley Armstrong Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Publication date: February 20, 2023 Length: 87 pages Genre: Thriller/mystery Source: Purchased Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Eric Dalton spent most of his life in Rockton, a hidden town in the Yukon for people who need to disappear. Now that sanctuary is gone, and he’s holed up in a wilderness lodge with his girlfriend, Casey Duncan, and their friends, as they scout for a place to build their own Rockton. When Eric and Casey find a literal message-in-a-bottle, it leads them to the mystery of a woman who went missing decades ago, having never received that vital message. As they investigate that cold case, Dalton must finally lay to rest the ghosts of his own past and make some overdue decisions before he’s ready to step forward in his new life with Casey.
Strictly for Rockton series readers, this tidy novella provide an engaging bridge between the completed series and the spin-off Haven’s Rock series. We’re treated to familiar characters in a new, transitional setting, as they prepare to move to a new town and start fresh, on their own terms.
In other words… if you haven’t read the Rockton books, this novella is not for you! BUT… it’s an excellent series, so consider this my friendly encouragement to go pick up book #1, City of the Lost!
In Dead Letter Days, the plot revolves around two sets of communications, rediscovered years after they were written. The first involves a mystery of a missing woman, which Casey feels compelled to investigate. The second hits much closer to home, as letters related to Eric’s childhood come to light and provide him with much needed explanations and an unexpected opportunity for closure.
The Rockton books are all told from Casey’s point of view, so it’s a treat here in Dead Letter Days to have Eric as the narrator. It’s our first time getting to see the world through his eyes, and it’s fascinating.
As I’ve said, this is absolutely not a stand-alone or an entry point — but it is a terrific read that fans should not miss!
As for me, I’m dying to dive right into the Haven’s Rock series… but I’m going to show just a tiny bit of restraint and hold off until the new year.
Title: The Deepest of Secrets Series: Rockton, #7 Author: Kelley Armstrong Publisher: Minotaur Books Publication date: February 15, 2022 Length: 341 pages Genre: Thriller/mystery Source: Purchased Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
#1 New York Times bestseller Kelley Armstrong returns to the captivating town of Rockton in The Deepest of Secrets, the next installment in one of the most imaginative crime series on shelves today.
It’s not always easy to live in the hidden town of Rockton, something Detective Casey Duncan knows firsthand. Tucked away in the Yukon wilderness, the community survives—and thrives—because the residents’ many secrets stay just that—secret.
But what happens when these secrets start to come out? Overnight, no one is safe. It’s not a question of if your secret will come out—but when.
Casey and her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, need to find the culprit while protecting those who have been thrust into the spotlight. For a place built on privacy and new beginnings, Rockton isn’t handling these revelations very well. People are turning on one another, and when one of the loudest complainers turns up barely alive, it’s clear that their trickster is actually a murderer.
The threat of exposure is reaching its breaking point, and no one knows what’s going to happen next.
And so, I reach the end of the Rockton series! I’ve loved it right from the start, and this 7th book ties the overarching story lines together while also providing a fresh new mystery to explore. It also neatly sets the stage for the author’s spin-off series, Haven’s Rock, which I’m so looking forward to reading in 2026!
As with my previous Rockton reviews, I’ll share a quick recap of the series premise:
Rockton is a secret hidden town in the Yukon wilderness, a haven for those seeking extreme shelter from dangers in their real lives — or those who’ve committed some sort of wrongdoing and need a place to start over. Rockton, population 200, is filled with an uneasy mix of crime victims and white-collar criminals — although as Sheriff Eric Dalton and Detective Casey Butler come to discover, the town council is willing to defy its own rules for a price and allow more dangerous people to take advantage of Rockton’s protection.
As The Deepest of Secrets opens, Casey and Eric and their closest friends are well aware that Rockton’s days are numbered. The powerful council, which funds the town, funnels new residents into Rockton, and approves or disapproves current residents’ extensions, is clearly on the path to shutting the entire thing down. As they wait for an official announcement, something occurs to disturb the calm — a sign is posted that exposes one very trusted resident’s secret past. Suddenly, there’s an uproar. People want this person expelled, but are also fearful about their own secrets coming to light.
As Casey investigates to determine the source, and whether other secrets are about to be exposed, blackmail and murder soon follow. And once the council makes Rockton’s imminent closure official, panic and mistrust become rampant. Casey and Eric race against the clock to find the person or people behind these newest crimes, while also being tasked with scheduling the evacuation of Rockton and then dismantling the entire town
Without going into further detail, I’ll just say that the mystery is handled exceptionally well, as in all of the books in this series. Seven books in, there’s a huge amount of emotional investment in the core characters (well, for me at least), and seeing how the closing of the Rockton era pans out is truly fascinating and powerful. Unexpected dangers and surprise villains add to the tension of the story, and there’s a sense of sadness underneath it all as Casey, Eric, and the others literally take apart everything they’ve built over the years.
I can’t say enough about how excellent this series is as a whole. I’ve loved the unique premise, the characters’ individual journeys, and the relationship-building among so many of them, whether as friends, lovers, or reluctant colleagues. Casey and Eric’s romantic relationship is beautiful, especially seeing their deep trust and the careful way they consider one another’s needs and responses.
I do feel a bit of sadness at seeing the Rockton days end, but it helps to know that there’s another series with these wonderful characters to look forward to!
To truly wrap up my Rockton reading adventure, I’m planning to start this sequel/novella right away, which takes place following The Deepest of Secrets, and (from what I understand) is a sort of bridge to the start of the Haven’s Rock series:
Purchase links: Amazon – Audible – Bookshop.org – Libro.fm Disclaimer: When you make a purchase through one of these affiliate links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
Of the remaining fiction books, none were actually on my radar to read… mainly because they’re in genres I don’t gravitate toward. As for the two other nonfiction books, I’d simply never come across them before. Now that I’m seeing the History & Biography winner, How to Kill a Witch, I’m intrigued! That’s one I’ll be looking for at my library in 2026.
Even though in many categories I voted for books that didn’t end up winning, I’m a fan of the ones that did win! Although I still question whether The Compound really belongs in the sci-fi category.
Without going back to confirm, my impression is that I’ve read more of the winning books this year than I did in the last few previous years — which doesn’t particularly mean anything, other than that I appeared to have read a bunch of popular books in 2025.
And actually, several of these are likely to make my list of favorites for this past year! I’ve put a little heart next to the books I especially loved. ❤
I do still miss the old approach for these awards, which included more categories/genres, another round of voting (if I recall correctly), and the much loved and lamented option to write-in nominees.
So… how are you all feeling about this year’s batch of winners?
My two most recent audiobooks were both non-fiction — very unusual for me! — and both were terrific. (I should note that in terms of subject matter, tone, and genre, these books are nothing alike… but they happen to be the two short audiobooks I listened to most recently, so why not combine them into one two-fer review post?)
Here are my quick thoughts on each:
Title:Everything Is Tuberculosis Author: John Green Narrator: John Green Publisher: Crash Course Books Publication date: March 18, 2025 Print length: 208 pages Audio length: 5 hours 35 minutes Genre: Non-fiction / science Source: Library Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Tuberculosis has been entwined with humanity for millennia. Once romanticized as a malady of poets, today tuberculosis is seen as a disease of poverty that walks the trails of injustice and inequity we blazed for it.
In 2019, author John Green met Henry Reider, a young tuberculosis patient at Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone. John became fast friends with Henry, a boy with spindly legs and a big, goofy smile. In the years since that first visit to Lakka, Green has become a vocal advocate for increased access to treatment and wider awareness of the healthcare inequities that allow this curable, preventable infectious disease to also be the deadliest, killing over a million people every year.
In Everything Is Tuberculosis, John tells Henry’s story, woven through with the scientific and social histories of how tuberculosis has shaped our world—and how our choices will shape the future of tuberculosis.
Everything Is Tuberculosis is an informative, eye-opening look at tuberculosis, with a narrative style that’s personal, accessible, and highly engaging.
John Green is both the author and narrator, and his sense of urgency and deep personal commitment are evident throughout the listening experience. The author initially become drawn to the topic of tuberculosis while visiting a hospital in Sierra Leone and meeting a young patient there. As he describes it, he quickly became obsessed with learning more about the disease, to the point that for him, as his wife puts it, “everything is tuberculosis”.
The facts and figures are startling. I had no idea that tuberculosis is still the #1 killer amongst diseases in this day and age, with over one million people continuing to die from tuberculosis each year. This is especially heartbreaking in light of the fact that tuberculosis is curable — but as the author repeats throughout the book:
… the cure is where the disease is not, and the disease is where the cure is not.
Everything Is Tuberculosis focuses on the public health issues surrounding tuberculosis, especially the systems of scarcity, drug availability, stigmatization, and social constructs that that prevent people most in need from accessing life-saving medicines that can absolutely cure their illnesses, if only they could get them.
This is an important book, easy to digest yet providing endless food for thought.
A reading note: I do wish I’d had access to a print or e-book version as well (both of which have huge wait lists at the library). I’d like to be able to go back and revisit certain facts, incidents, and pieces of the history. My recommendation for fullest audio appreciation would be to pair listening with a print edition.
Title:Things My Son Needs to Know about the World Author: Fredrik Backman Narrator: Santino Fontana Publisher: Atria Publication date: May 7, 2019 Print length: 208 pages Audio length: 3 hours 10 minutes Genre: Non-fiction / humor Source: Library Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Things My Son Needs to Know About the World collects the personal dispatches from the front lines of one of the most daunting experiences any man can experience: fatherhood.
As he conveys his profound awe at experiencing all the “firsts” that fill him with wonder and catch him completely unprepared, Fredrik Backman doesn’t shy away from revealing his own false steps and fatherly flaws, tackling issues both great and small, from masculinity and mid-life crises to practical jokes and poop.
In between the sleep-deprived lows and wonderful highs, Backman takes a step back to share the true story of falling in love with a woman who is his complete opposite, and learning to live a life that revolves around the people you care about unconditionally. Alternating between humorous side notes and longer essays offering his son advice as he grows up and ventures out into the world, Backman relays the big and small lessons in life, including:
-How to find the team you belong to -Why airports explain everything about religion and war -The reason starting a band is crucial to cultivating and keeping friendships -How to beat Monkey Island 3 -Why, sometimes, a dad might hold onto his son’s hand just a little too tight.
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove shares an irresistible and moving collection of heartfelt, fictional, humorous essays about fatherhood, providing his newborn son with the perspective and tools he’ll need to make his way in the world.
I’ve read many of Fredrik Backman’s novels, so I already know that I enjoy his humor, his wordplay, and his quirkiness. Naturally, once I heard about Things My Son Needs to Know about the World, I simply had to give it a try. The short version of my review? This book is a delight.
Short, sweet, and filled with love, Things My Son Needs to Know about the World contains a father’s words of wisdom — about everything from video games to Ikea to the depths of love for a spouse and a child — written by the author with his toddler son as the intended future audience. So yes, he talks quite a lot about diapers and lack of sleep and how the preschool teachers don’t always appreciate his sense of humor… but through all the funny bits (and there are plenty), there’s also true emotion and powerful doses of reality and perspective.
But, mainly, oodles of fun. Parts of this book are quite moving, and nearly all of it is laugh-out-loud funny. I think parents of any age children would find something to connect with here.
The audiobook version, narrated by Santino Fontana, is a treat to listen to, and goes by very quickly.
If you need a break from stressful days and want to laugh (and maybe even cry) a little (or a lot), definitely check out Things My Son Needs to Know about the World!
Save
Two very different reading/listening experiences… both highly recommended!Save
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is a freebie — we choose whatever topic appeals to us! I enjoy finding patterns among my book titles — and I also enjoy having simpler TTT topics during weeks I know will be especially busy — so this week, I’ve chosen books with the word SECRET in their titles. There are a lot of them!
I’m focusing on books on my physical and virtual bookshelves. Some of these are books I’ve read, and some are from my TBR… and there are plenty of others I haven’t included, mainly because I’m trying to keep this list under control!
Reading now:
The Deepest of Secrets (Rockton, #7) by Kelley Armstrong
Read previously:
The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan (review)
The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers (review)
The Secret Commonwealth (The Book of Dust, #2) by Philip Pullman (review)
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (review)
My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.
Life.
Last week was lovely! First and foremost, it’s always a treat when my daughter comes to town! We had a very nice Thanksgiving celebration, small and cozy, and squeezed in all sorts of other togetherness too… including a Cirque du Soleil show, seeing Wicked: For Good, and joining friends for a morning dance session in the park to kick off Thanksgiving day.
What did I read during the last week?
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman: What a delight! I’ll definitely want to continue this series. My review is here.
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin: My most recent Classics Club Spin book! I’m so happy to have finally read this Australian classic. My review is here.
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green: This non-fiction audiobook was fascinating! I’ll try to post a review later this week.
Pop culture & TV:
Dancing with the Stars is done for the season, and the couple I was rooting for (Robert Irwin and Witney Carson) won! I really enjoyed the finale, especially the freestyle round. I was very interested to read an explanation of how audience votes and judges’ scores are combined — this actually makes me feel a little bit better about the process!
My daughter and I ended up watching the Netflix movie version of The Thursday Murder Club over the weekend. It was… okay. Really good cast, but it felt like a smoothed out, sugar-coated version of the story from the book. Not bad entertainment… but the book is so much better!
Fresh Catch:
I received a gift card a couple of months ago as a birthday present, and decided to treat myself to two hardcovers! The edition of Northanger Abbey is especially lovely, with cut-outs on the cover.
What will I be reading during the coming week?
Currently in my hands:
The Deepest of Secrets (Rockton, #7) by Kelley Armstrong: Back to Rockton to finish out the series before the end of the year! I’ve been loving this series so far, and I’m happy to be starting the final book (so I can dive into the spin-off Haven’s Rock series in the new year).
Now playing via audiobook:
Things My Son Needs to Know About the World by Fredrik Backman: Starting today! It’s a very short audiobook (about 3 hours), so I should be finished pretty quickly.
Ongoing reads:
My longer-term reading commitments (current and coming up):
The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: Another book group read, continuing our LOTR adventure. Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 60%. We’ll be finishing The Two Towers this week, and will take a break for the month of December before starting The Return of the King in January.
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 7%. Coming up this week: Chapters 4 and 5.
Title: My Brilliant Career Author: Miles Franklin Publication date: 1901 Length: 228 pages Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
The fierce, irreverent novel of aspiration and rebellion that is both a cornerstone of Australian literature and a feminist classic
Miles Franklin began the candid, passionate, and contrary My Brilliant Career when she was only sixteen, intending it to be the Australian answer to Jane Eyre . But the book she produced-a thinly veiled autobiographical novel about a young girl hungering for life and love in the outback-so scandalized her country upon its appearance in 1901 that she insisted it not be published again until ten years after her death.
And the synopsis from another edition:
Trapped on her parents’ farm in the hardscrabble Australian outback, sixteen-year-old Sybylla Melvyn loves the bush but not the toil it brings. She longs for refinement, and most of all she longs to achieve great things.
Suddenly she falls under the gaze of wealthy, handsome Harry Beecham and finds herself choosing between the conventional path of marriage and her plans for a ‘brilliant career’.
I don’t remember exactly how I became aware of My Brilliant Career, but once it caught my eye, I just knew I needed to add it to my Classics Club Spin list. I’m so glad that the most recent spin landed on this Australian classic!
This was life—my life—my career, my brilliant career! I was fifteen—fifteen! A few fleeting hours and I would be old as those around me.
In My Brilliant Career, teen-aged Sybylla has little to no say in her own life. One of many children, she experiences a severe downturn in her family’s fortunes when her father’s poor business decisions cause then to lose their vast land holdings and move to a smaller, less promising farm. Things go from bad to worse as their father continues to lose money and livestock, and then drink away what little money remains. When a drought leads to even more ruin, Sybylla is sent to live with her grandmother several days’ journey away, where she finally has the opportunity to explore music, books, and a more rewarding and enjoyable life.
While there, Sybylla catches the eye of a wealthy, attractive nearby landowner. We might expect a whirlwind romance to follow, but Sybylla absolutely does not fit the mold of a romantic heroine. She’s mean and dismissive, considers herself ugly, does not wish to be courted, and both yearns to awaken heightened emotions in her suitor and dreads declarations of love, repeatedly (and harshly) rejecting any talk of marriage. Sybylla doesn’t know exactly where her future lies, but she doesn’t see herself finding happiness as a respectable wife, and certainly doesn’t believe that she could make a husband happy, no matter how much he might believe he loves her.
My Brilliant Career is remarkable for its narrative tone, as well as for the unusualness of its main character and her decisions. This book is considered a groundbreaking classic of Australian fiction as well as of feminist literature. Published under a pseudonym when the author was just 21 years old, this debut novel was the first of many books and other writings to follow in the author’s career.
I loved the writing, especially Sybylla’s orneriness and humor. Her descriptions of her surroundings can be stunning, evoking the time and place with precision, and using Australian lingo that’s sure to both amuse and befuddle non-Australian readers.
Beyond that, Sybylla’s way of thinking is unique, and I loved the way she expresses herself:
I am afflicted with the power of thought, which is a heavy curse. The less a person thinks and inquires regarding the why and the wherefore and the justice of things, when dragging along through life, the happier it is for him, and doubly, trebly so, for her.
My mother is a good woman—a very good woman—and I am, I think, not quite all criminality, but we do not pull together. I am a piece of machinery which, not understanding, my mother winds up the wrong way, setting all the wheels of my composition going in creaking discord.
Girls! girls! Those of you who have hearts, and therefore a wish for happiness, homes, and husbands by and by, never develop a reputation of being clever. It will put you out of the matrimonial running as effectually as though it had been circulated that you had leprosy. So, if you feel that you are afflicted with more than ordinary intelligence, and especially if you are plain with it, hide your brains, cramp your mind, study to appear unintellectual—it is your only chance.
On making my first appearance before my lover, I looked quite the reverse of a heroine. My lovely hair was not conveniently escaping from the comb at the right moment to catch him hard in the eye, neither was my thrillingly low sweet voice floating out on the scented air in a manner which went straight to his heart, like the girls I had read of. On the contrary, I much resembled a female clown.
The ending of the book startled me, not because it ends with high drama, but rather because the character rejects what seems like her best prospect for change, and chooses to remain in the same family routine of working to scratch out a living on the land. I puzzled over the final chapter quite a bit and reread it several times before feeling satisfied that I got the point.
Overall, I’m really pleased that my most recent spin landed on My Brilliant Career. It makes me eager to explore more Australian fiction of the 20th century — please share any recommendations!
A reading note: I read this book via a free edition available for Kindle… and it was absolutely plagued with typos. If you’re considering reading My Brilliant Career, I’d recommend checking the library for a print edition or an e-book edition from a traditional publisher!
Title: The Thursday Murder Club Author: Richard Osman Publisher: Penguin Publication date: 2020 Length: 382 pages Genre: Mystery Source: Library Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders.
But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.
Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it’s too late?
I am very late to the party… but I’m glad to have finally arrived! It’s true — The Thursday Murder Club is just as much fun as everyone says.
This entertaining novel centers around a mismatched group of friends at a luxurious senior residence in the countryside who, for fun, devote their leisure time to solving cold case murders. The cases become much less cold when two murders connected to the property occur. Now, the Thursday Murder Club has a real-time case to investigate, much to the consternation of the local police, who always seem to be at least a step behind our gang of seniors.
The characters are terrific — a woman who would appear to have had an adventure-filled life as some sort of secret agent, a nurse, a psychiatrist, and a notorious rabble-rouser, plus the various other friends, relatives and acquaintances who fill out the population at Coopers Chase. Not everything is as it seems, and as the story progresses, many long-held secrets are revealed — some tied to the recent murders, and some not.
The tone is upbeat, even while discussing murders and other crimes and scandals, and I loved the motley assortment of personalities and skills and interests that the main characters present.
The Thursday Murder Club is delightfully entertaining, and I can’t wait to continue with the series!
Purchase links: Amazon – Audible audiobook – Bookshop.org – Libro.fm Disclaimer: When you make a purchase through one of these affiliate links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
Bookshelf Fantasies 