library books – Wicked Witch's Blog

Stacking the Shelves 94

It’s the weekend again. The weeks seem to go round so quickly especially this week which has seen me back at work every day helping the school to run the Year 6 Sats tests. Sadly, the weather shows no signs of improving. It’s positively cold today and forecast to stay that way all next week. It would be nice to have some warm sunshine in May. The continuous grey skies are getting a bit monotonous.

Saturday means that it’s time for my weekly Stacking the Shelves post. Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality and details are on her blog. The gorgeous graphic is also used courtesy of the site.

Stacking the Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

As usual, my STS post is all about highlighting my library loans for the week. I’m very aware of how lucky I am and how many people don’t have access to public library service and I hope that maybe, these posts might encourage a couple of people to use their library more.

Again, this week, I had one reservation arrive and I found a couple of others on the shelves. This week’s books are all crime fiction. My two main reading loves are fantasy and crime fiction. The library service caters for my love of crime brilliantly but is far less useful when it comes to feeding my fantasy addiction. I sometimes think that I’m the only fantasy reader who uses my local library. The new books that I request just sit on the shelves after I return them. That seems such a shame and it does mean that the library service doesn’t invest in many fantasy books as there isn’t much demand for them.

Enough of my grumbling. Onto this week’s library picks.

Sepulchre Street by Martin Edwards
This is the fourth in the 1930s based series featuring Rachel Savernake. In this one, she is invited to a renowned artist’s latest exhibition. During the exhibition, the artist asks Rachel to solve her murder before going on to commit suicide in front of the invited guests.
That’s a fairly dramatic opening chapter to a novel so I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Venetian Gothic by Philip Gwynne Jones
I’ve read three other novels in this series and enjoyed them so picked this one up when I spotted it. Nathan Sutherland is a British diplomat stationed in Venice and his position sometimes brings him into contact with crime investigations. I like Nathan’s character and I always love books set in Venice so hopefully this will be as good as the previous books.

The Broken Afternoon by Simon Mason
I saw this on the shelf and was attracted by the cover. It’s set in Oxford and concerns an abducted four year old girl. I’ve never read anything by the author before so have no idea what to expect. That’s one of the beauties about choosing library books!!

That’s my library haul for this week and although it’s a bit less varied than usual, I’m definitely looking forward to reading all of them. I’ve got some interesting books on order that I hope will be arriving at the library soon too.

What have you added to your shelves this week.

Stacking the Shelves 92

It’s Saturday which means it’s time for my weekly Stacking the Shelves post. Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality and details are on her blog. The gorgeous graphic is also used courtesy of the site.

This week I had a couple of reservations arrive and then I wandered around the shelves picking books that appealed.

Best Place to Die by Charles Atkins
I read Vultures at Twilight a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it so I requested this next one about Ada and Lil. The books are set in a retirement community in Connecticut and Ada and Lil are two widows who become involved in crime investigations. This one is about a fire at a local nursing home which appears to be arson possibly to cover up a murder.

I really liked the characters in the first book so I’m definitely looking forward to reading this next episode.

My Kind of Happy by Cathy Bramley
Fearne is at a crossroads in her life and looking for contentment. A chance discovery makes her start a Happiness wish list which sets off on a journey into the unknown.
I really enjoy Cathy Bramley’s novels and the idea of writing a list of the things that make you happy and checking that you are actually doing them certainly appeals to me.

Killers of the King by Charles Spencer
I haven’t read any non fiction for a while so when I saw this reviewed by Spells and Spaceships a few weeks ago, I decided this would be my next non fiction read. This is the account of the search and punishment of the ‘regicides’, the fifty men who signed the death warrant of King Charles I. I’ve read a lot of fiction about this period in particular Acts of Oblivion by Robert Harris so it will be interesting to have a more factual view.

All of You Every Single One by Beatrice Hitchman

The beauty of the library is just being able to pick up books completely at random. The cover and the title of this one attracted me. It’s set in Vienna in 1911 and is the story of two women who give up their normal lives to be together. However, the longing of one of them for a child could destroy their happiness.

So that’s my library haul for this week and it’s quite varied. I’m just missing a fantasy novel but I have plenty of those waiting for me on my Net Galley shelf so all my reading tastebuds have been ticked for this week.

What have you added to your bookshelf this week? Do any of these appeal to you?

Stacking the Shelves 90

This week I had a couple of reservations arrive and also found a book that I have wanted to read as part of my Poetry Reading Challenge

We’re definitely going for a reduced colour palette this week 😃

The Show Must Go On by Anton du Beke
I read Anton’s previous series set during WWII and enjoyed it so I’m hoping for another entertaining read. This one is set in 1962 and centres around the Royal Variety Performance in front of the queen. Apparently it was inspired by Anton’s heroes, Len Goodmand and Sir Bruce Forsyth so should be interesting.

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
Geeta is believed to have killed her vanished husband and she doesn’t bother trying to correct that impression as it keeps her safe in rural India. But then she gets approached by another woman who wants her help in getting rid of an abusive husband.
I am definitely looking forward to reading this revenge thriller which is supposed to be both both funny and thrilling. It’s a great example of choosing a book because of its cover although the title also intrigued me.

Serpent’s Point by Kate Ellis
I love this series featuring DI Wesley Peterson and always including some sort of historical mystery too. I must have missed this one being published last year so was very happy to spot it on the shelf yesterday.

The Poetry of Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson was one of the poets that I wanted to read more of. I have seen so many of her poems quoted in books that I really want to explore her work more.

What have you added to your bookshelf this week? Do any of these appeal to you?

Stacking the Shelves 89

It’s Saturday and it’s the Easter weekend which in the UK means two bank holidays so a long weekend for most people. The sun is also shining which is a bonus at this time of year and gardens are full of Spring colour. Happy Easter to all of you who celebrate it.

Saturday means it’s time for my weekly Stacking the Shelves post. Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality and details are on her blog. The gorgeous graphic is also used courtesy of the site.

This week I didn’t have any reservations arrive so I spent a happy time this morning just wandering around the shelves and picking up books at random. These are the three that I picked up today.

We’re definitely going for a reduced colour palette this week 😃

Vultures at Twilight by charles Atkins
Lilian and Ada are residents of a retirement community who become involved in a world of dodgy antique dealers and murders when one of their friends dies and Ada is named as executor of her will.

Shield Maiden by Sharon Emmerichs
Set in the time of the great king Beowulf, this is the story of Fryda who longs to become a shield maiden but because of her disability is prevented from achieving this. A great celebration brings a threat to the clan and deep in her lair, a dragon is stirring.

Old Babes in the Wood by Margaret Atwood
A collection of short stories which I’ve heard good things about.

What have you added to your bookshelf this week? Do any of these appeal to you?

Stacking the Shelves 87

It’s Saturday and that means it’s also time for my weekly Stacking the Shelves post. Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality and details are on her blog. The gorgeous graphic is also used courtesy of the site.

This week I’ve got another bumper collection of books from the library as 4 reservations came in and another 6 are in transit to me. At this rate, I won’t have any books on hold so I obviously need to see what else is out there to reserve.

The Adventures of Amina Al Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
I’m really excited to read this as I’ve seen so many good things about it. Amina is a retired pirate captain who gets involved with hunting for the kidnapped granddaughter of a wealthy woman. It’s set in the real world in medieval times but is definitely a fantasy adventure. The cover is gorgeous although the shiny library cover made it almost impossible to photograph!

So Shall you Reap by Donna Leon
It’s Spring so it must be time for a new Brunetti mystery. I love this Venetian series. In this one a body is discovered in the canal and the investigation leads Brunetti to reflect and question some of the things he takes for granted. One of the things that I do enjoy about these books is the reflective side of Brunetti.

The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh
This is the first in a new crime series. There is a large New Year’s Eve party and the next day one of the guests has been murdered. In a small close-knit village, there are lots of secrets and no shortage of suspects. I really enjoy mysteries set in small societies so I’m definitely looking forward to this one.

Silence in the Library by Katharine Schellman
This is a historical murder mystery series that I haven’t read before. It’s set in Regency times and features a young widow Lily Adler who is developing a habit of discovering bodies.

That’s what I’ve added to my shelves this week. There is a definite crime theme as even the fantasy book is investigating a kidnapping.

What have you added to your bookshelf this week? Do any of these appeal to you?

Stacking the Shelves 83

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It’s Saturday and that means it’s time for my weekly Stacking the Shelves post. Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality and details are on her blog. The gorgeous graphic is also used courtesy of the site.

As usual, my STS post is all about highlighting my library loans for the week. I only had one request to pick up this week so was able to wander around and just pick up random books off the shelves.

Queen High by C J Carey
I loved Widowland when I read it last year and was really excited to see another novel in the same alternative history. C J Carey creates a world that is scarily believable, a world where literature is edited to remove any references that could provoke unrest (and isn’t that topical at the moment?) and where women are marginalised.

The Ambassador by Tom Flectcher
It’s been quite a while since I’ve read a political thriller and this one sounds excellent. It’s set after a global pandemic when a human rights activist is murdered live on the internet at the British Embassy in Paris. No-one seems to want to investigate so the ambassador decides that he has to. The author has been foreign policy advisor to No. 10 and an ambassador himself so he presumably should know what he’s writing about.

Desperation in Death by J D Robb
I haven’t read an ‘in Death’ book for a while and so I’m looking forward to going back to New York in 2056 and catching up with Eve Dallas and Rourke.

The Collar Bound by Rebeca Zahabi
Leicestershire library users don’t seem to read much fantasy. Certainly the books seem to sit on the shelves week after week. I always try to pick up any new ones that I see just so that they get borrowed. This seems to be a society on the brink of war, Mages in a castle and refugees in a city as well as random magic. I’m looking forward to reading a new author.

As well as my library books, I also bought the next two books in the Ash Princess Trilogy by Laura Sebastian after enjoying the first one.

What have you added to your bookshelf this week? Do any of these appeal to you?

Stacking the Shelves 82

It’s Saturday and we’re back at home this week after our lovely weekend in Bath where we ate far too much. There are so many lovely coffee shops and restaurants there and it’s all to easy to just nip in for a coffee and a cake.

As we’re back at home, my STS post is back to it’s normal role of highlighting my library loans for the week. After being away last weekend, I had several requests to pick up from the library as well as a book that I wanted to read just sitting on the shelf. Here’s my library haul for this week.

GodKiller by Hannah Kaner
This book is right at the top of my TBR as I’ve seen so many great reviews for it and I was very surprised to see it just sitting on the shelf. It’s on a short loan though so I have to read it within 7 days. I can’t see that being a problem somehow.

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
This retelling of the Medusa myth sounds brilliant. I loved the graphic novel Medusa last year and I’m really looking forward to reading this version.

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
This is another book that I’ve seen mentioned and review many times recently. It’s a modern retelling of the Christie novel And Then There Were None and I’m looking forward to seeing how the author uses the plot. I’ve not read any Alice Feeney before so it’s a new author for me.

The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths
This is another book that I can’t wait to read. I have loved the Ruth Galloway series since it started over 10 years ago and I’m sad that this is the last one at least for a while.

I am really excited about all of these books and my only problem is going to be deciding which one to read first.

What have you added to your bookshelf this week? Do any of these appeal to you?

Stacking the Shelves 80

As usual, my stacking the shelves post is my weekly haul of books from the library and this week is a bumper haul of books that I had reserved. Libraries are such a brilliant way of being able to read books for free. It always amazes me why they aren’t busier.

The Weather Woman by Sally Gardner
This historical novel sounds fascinating. It’s set in Regency England and is about a woman Neva who is able to predict the weather. As this is not a suitable gift for a young lady, she adopts a disguise. She gives her weather forecasts from inside an automaton designed by her father to look exactly like a young man. But then she falls in love with a man. It sounds as though it might have echoes of The Clockwork Girl which I loved last year.

Promise Me by Jill Mansell
The latest romance from Jill Mansell has had some great reviews so I’m looking forward to reading this one. Lou loses her job as a carer and her home and ends up taking the job of caring for grumpy Edgar who makes her an amazing offer. Of course, there are a couple of handsome young men living close by.

A Winter Grave by Peter May
I love Peter May’s mysteries and this is another set in the remote islands off the coast of Scotland. It’s set in 2051 which is unusual and is as much a book about climate change as a murder mystery. I love books set in the near future and can’t wait to read this one.

Becoming Ted by Matt Cain
Ted Ainsworth has always worked in his family’s ice cream business even though he doesn’t even like ice cream. When his husband suddenly leaves him, his world is turned upside down. Then he decides to take this opportunity to follow a secret dream, a dream that he has never told anyone about.

I am so excited about all of these books.

What have you added to your bookshelf this week?

Stacking the Shelves 79

As usual, my stacking the shelves post is my weekly haul of books from the library and this week they are all just random picks off the shelves although one is a book that has been on my TBR for over a year.

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
I don’t often look at the Y A shelves but had a glance at them this week and was really excited to see not only this one but Rule of Wolves too which have both been on my TBR for over a year. I only picked up the first one though. I loved the first trilogy set in the Grishaverse and am really looking forward to reading about what happens next.

A Death in Chelsea by Lynn Brittney
The rest of my library haul this week are all crime books. This one is set in 1915 in London. A young gossip columnist is found hanged in her flat but her family suspect foul play. Then another death occurs leading to the involvement of Chief Inspector Peter Beech. It’s all set against the background of WW1 and sounds like a book I’m going to enjoy.

A Gruesome Discovery by Cora Harrison
This is another historical crime series and it ‘s the next in the Reverend Mother Aquinas series. I love this series set in Cork in 1925. The plots are always really clever and I really like the character of the Reverend Mother.

The Body under the Bridge by Nick Louth
This is a more contemporary thriller involving DCI Craig Gillard. In this one, a missing persons investigation becomes more serious when the Home Secretary becomes involved. I’ve read a couple of these before and enjoyed them so I’m looking forward to this one too.

So that’s my latest library haul.

What have you added to your bookshelf this week?

Stacking the Shelves 77

It’s Saturday again which means it’s time for my weekly Stacking the Shelves post. Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality and details are on her blog. The gorgeous graphic is also used courtesy of the site.

This week we’re all back to normal as the library has reopened. This means my stacking the shelves will be the books that I have borrowed from the library this week. As I couldn’t borrow any books last week, I’ve got a bumper haul this week which is a mixture of random shelf picks and books that I had reserved.

The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper
This is the follow up to The Wolf Den and Amara is now freed from the slavery of the wolf den. However, she is still dependent upon the good will of her patron and so isn’t really free. I’m looking forward to reading more about the lives of these women in Ancient Pompeii

Cat Lady by dawn O’Porter
This is a completely random pick off the shelf. The title and the blurb both intrigued me.
It’s safer for Mia to play the part that people expect. She’s a good wife to her husband Tristan, a doting stepmother, she slips on a suit for work each morning like a new skin.
But beneath the surface, there’s another woman just clawing to get out.
And she owns a cat called Pigeon. How could anyone resist?

The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson
This was another random shelf pick. The cover attracted me but the story sounds very intriguing. Three different actresses have played the role of a 1930s detective Dahlia Lively, and they have to team up to solve a real murder.

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
This is was a Net Galley request that I wasn’t accepted for so I ordered it from the library. Four women have been assassins for years, working for the Museum. However, when they are sent off on an all expenses paid trip to mark their retirement, they realise that they are now the targets. Can they survive?

Beyond Absolution by Cora Harrison
I was really pleased to spot this one on the shelf as I love this historical crime series. It’s set in Cork in the 1920s and features Reverend Mother Aquinas who somehow keeps getting involved in murder investigations.

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
This was another book that I was really pleased to find. I have already read it back in 2021 when it was first released. I have got the second book Blade Breaker on order at the library but I realised that I don’t remember an awful lot about the first one. It’s a classic epic fantasy involving a group of very disparate characters who come together to save the world. I remember enjoying it but don’t remember the details so I’m going to have a quick reread before tackling the new one.

So that’s my latest library haul.

What have you added to your bookshelf this week?