Hello, lovely readers! I’m sorry for my absence at the end of July but a whole lot of life—some of it very happy, some of it not so much—got in the way of my reading and reviewing. The happy was a family wedding and the not-fun was experiencing COVID for the first time. Wow. Even being fully vaccinated I’ve been laid low. You know it’s bad when even reading is beyond me. Hopefully, I can get back on track in time for all the big books of fall.
Published by St. Martin's
Publication date: July 23, 2024
Bookshop, Amazon
I’m just one more in the crowd of morbid folk who like reading true crime. A Hunger to Kill is about Shawn Grate, a man arrested for kidnapping and assault who ultimately confessed to killing five women in and around Ashland, Ohio. The book is written by the female detective whose interview style and technique are the key reasons he opened up about the murders. This perspective is riveting as her open and nonjudgmental demeanor is what kept Grate talking and brought him to justice.
A City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty: Review to follow
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn: My review
Tehrangeles by Porochista Khakpour
Published by Pantheon
Publication date: June 1, 2024
If you’re going to put a Persian cat wearing a diamond necklace and sunglasses with lots of glitter on a book cover you’d better bring an A-game of snark and satire. Sadly, Tehrangeles did neither. This clunky novel about one wealthy Iranian family chosen to have their own reality show had the potential for fun summer reading, but was stilted and forced. I DNFed early on and am still mad every time I see the cover.
You’d Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace: Macabre and sly tale of a part-time serial killer. My review
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff: Still marinating over this one. Review to follow
Published by Simon & Schuster
Publication date: April 19, 2022
Bookshop, Amazon
Fevered Star is book two in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy. The apocalyptic events of Convergence have occurred and a power struggle immediately fills the vacuum. The reborn Crow God, Serapio, has sworn to destroy the Sun Priest to avenge the devastation done to his tribe centuries ago, but fails in his mission due to an imposter. A young woman named Nara was the Priest, but was usurped. Now, she is running for her life from Serapio while trying to change the course of history in Meridian from violence to a sustainable peace. I’m still thoroughly enjoying this series set in the pre-Columbian Americas and ready for book three.
That’s it for me and time for a nap. What great reading did you have in July?
This post contains affiliate links to Bookshop.org and Amazon.com which means if you click on a link and make a purchase of any kind, I get a small commission (at no cost to you).
*I received a free copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.*
I’m sorry you got Covid! It’s no joke. Hope you recover quickly!
Thank you! I am feeling better, just a cough and fatigue left.
I hope you are feeling better now. Ugh Covid is harsh. I had it just once too … after we went to Italy last Octobert … at the end of the trip I was leveled with a high fever for two days. But luckily 10 days later I was back. The good news too … is that the Dems are back from the dead and I hope can win. They need to keep going. Desperate Don might be put to pasture once & for all … That should lift your spirits.