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#BackListReadathon
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

2024 Review:

Reading these books through again 5 years later is very revealing. I missed a ton of 'Kerwent' subtext the first time around, & knowing what I know about Derwent now, I can see how a lot of his banter & toughness is a front. The case also was a lot more interesting this time around & I've bumped my rating up by 1 star. 4🌟

OutsmartYourShelf 2019 Review:

DC Maeve Kerrigan returns in the fourth book of the series, and there is a serial killer targeting young women. As there are no signs of break-ins or violence, it seems the killer is able to get the victims to trust him, and the lack of forensic evidence points to someone in law enforcement. Maybe the killer is closer to home than even Maeve thinks.
1d
OutsmartYourShelf Maeve's boyfriend Rob, is pretty much out of the picture for most of the book, conveniently sent on a training course for 2 weeks. Most of the focus is on Maeve and DI Josh Derwent. I suppose the author wants Derwent to come across as a cheeky “Jack-the-lad“ type but mainly he comes across as an arse. There were a few glimmers of character development, but please, please don't put these two in a relationship. 1d
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DieAReader 🥳🤓Excellent! 1d
TheSpineView Awesome! 1d
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 14h
34 likes6 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
#NoEscape (Volume 3) | Gretchen McNeil
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Pickpick

17-year-old Persephone (Persey) struggles to live up to her perfect older brother, so when she is the first player to solve a supposedly unsolvable escape room & is invited to take part in the ultimate competition to win millions of dollars, she hesitantly accepts. 8 contestants are flown to Las Vegas to take part in the contest, & tension is high with the prize money at stake. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf When the competition starts it becomes clear that this is no ordinary escape room, but one with life or death consequences.

For me, this was the best book of the three. I love books set around escape rooms & this was a belter. I'm not gonna say any more than that as it's a read you don't want the merest hint of a spoiler for. 4.5🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5666284239
Read 10th-12th Nov 2024
4d
TheSpineView Fantastic! 4d
DieAReader 🥳Excellent! 4d
32 likes4 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

“No,” said Miss Marple. “You believed what he said. It really is very dangerous to believe people. I never have for years.”

Gwenda arrives in England from New Zealand. She's been sent ahead by her husband to buy a home for them & after several days house-hunting, Gwenda happens upon the charming village of Dillmouth. There is a house there up for sale & it's perfect for Gwenda & husband, Giles, (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf but Gwenda starts having strange déjà vu feelings so she escapes for a short break to some friends in London.

There she meets Miss Marple & after an outburst during a play at the theatre, Gwenda confides in her that she thinks a murder was committed in her new home. When Giles arrives he's not convinced at first but when evidence is found suggesting a mysterious disappearance around twenty years before,
5d
OutsmartYourShelf the couple decide to investigate further despite Miss Marple's warning to 'let sleeping murder lie'.

This is my least favourite episode of the 1980s TV series with Joan Hickson in the title role, but I actually really enjoyed the book. Although this is the 5th book in the series chronologically, it wasn't published until the 1970s & you can tell there has been a distinct improvement in the flow of the story & the fact that Miss Marple is more
5d
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TheSpineView Awesome! 5d
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 5d
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 4d
37 likes6 comments
blurb
willaful
Untitled | Untitled
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#31By31 Readathon: 34 books read!

#BacklistReadathon: read 1 book by Jackilyn Johnson, and 2 and 1 DNF by T. Kingfisher.

#TBRTarot Less than 100 pages: How to Make Friends with a Ghost

DogMomIrene Way to go! That‘s a lot of books 🙌🏼 2w
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! Fantastic month!! 2w
willaful @DogMomIrene I know! Sometimes it's fun to go nuts for a while. 😁 2w
DogMomIrene @willaful Nuts, but clearly methodical 😂 Love it! 2w
Catsandbooks Amazing! 👏🏼 🎃 2w
24 likes5 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
Catacomb | Madeleine Roux
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Mehso-so

In this 3rd & final book of the original trilogy, Dan, Abby, & Jordan hit the road on one last trip together before they head to college. Jordan is moving to New Orleans so the trio head towards the city. Abby & Jordan really want to put recent events behind them, but Dan is not so sure they can, especially as he thinks they're being followed. Then Dan starts receiving warning message from Micah by email - but Micah is dead, isn't he?

OutsmartYourShelf A slightly different concept for this book than the previous two in that it only has the faintest link to Brookline. I was hoping that the series was going to finish strongly but this is the weakest book of the three in my opinion. Jordan & Abby are rather annoying in this book, after everything they have been through as a group, they put Dan on the outside. The ending is also pretty unsatisfying. Overall it's a disappointing conclusion. 3⭐ 3w
TheSpineView Great job for finishing! 3w
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PuddleJumper 🧡🖤🧡 3w
Catsandbooks 👏🏼👻🧡 3w
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3w
24 likes6 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

The fourth book is one of the best of the series: danger, intrigue, dragons, & the Triwizard Tournament. There's plenty of action with the 3 tasks, alongside a few lessons on being careful who you trust. Sirius is back (briefly) & there are some new characters who will play a part in what is to come.

It's been a while since I first read this series & it's amazing just how much I 'forgot' through just watching the films. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf The whole storyline with Winky - I'd erased that one from my mind. Reading the books also allows you to fill in some details for events in the films that seemed quite incongruous without their backstory. Bit apprehensive about the next book for one reason only - Umbridge. 5🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/747560141
Read 17th - 24th Oct 2024

#Flerken #HauntedShelf 2501 points
3w
Librarybelle It‘s been so long since I read the series! 3w
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DogMomIrene Your comment about forgetting certain details because of watching the movies resonates with me. It‘s been a long time since I‘ve read these too. I‘ve been buying the illustrated versions, so I might need to heft those mighty tomes out in 2025. 3w
TheSpineView Fantastic! 3w
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3w
Catsandbooks 👏🏼👻🧡 3w
31 likes7 comments
review
kwmg40
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Pickpick

This installment of the Inspector Rebus series has Rebus sent for “retraining“ among other problematic police officers and involves several complex storylines.

#PSReadathon @bookwormjillk
#HauntedShelf #Flerken @PuddleJumper
#AfterDarkBingo #BodyCountBingo #GottaCatchEmAllSpooky
#Spookoween #SeriesLove2024 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

37 likes7 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
Friends of the Dusk | Phil Rickman
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Pickpick

A new bishop at the Cathedral sees Merrily's work in 'Deliverance' (aka exorcism) at risk. Meanwhile she is asked to take on a case of strange activity at a 12th century house on the border between Wales & England. The new owners have been seeing & hearing weird shadows & noises, but when Merrily goes to see them, she has the feeling they are holding something crucial back. Good news - Lol is finally back. Bad news - so is Jane.

OutsmartYourShelf Elsewhere, police detective Frannie Bliss is called in when storm damage unearths a skeleton.

Another long & mostly slow plot that somehow manages to keep me interested enough to keep reading. I don't know how Phil Rickman does it, I really don't. Merrily was bearable enough in this one, & the plot strand about the possible haunting was quite interesting. Can't say the same about Bliss & his boring relationship with boss, Annie Howe.
1mo
OutsmartYourShelf Also, I find Jane very trying to read about. If I were boyfriend Eirion, I'd have dumped her months ago. Mind you, Merrily is almost as bad sometimes with Lol. Just take 10 mins to talk to the man!

Overall, interesting enough but some characters make you want to commit a literary murder yourself. 3.5🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1289487542
Read 14th -16th Oct 2024
1mo
20 likes3 comments
blurb
willaful
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A teen in literal thrall to her mother and a middle-aged woman fearing for her susceptible brother work together to fight their extraordinarily powerful enemy. An almost unbearably anxious read, but the horror is well balanced with kindness, comradeship, and love. (There's an understated but very tender romance.)

#HauntedShelf #FrightClub #31By31 Book 20
#Spookoween #HalloweenAtoZReadathon
#BacklistReadathon

TheSpineView Fantastic! 1mo
dabbe 🖤🧡🖤 1mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1mo
Catsandbooks Awesome! 🧡 1mo
24 likes4 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
Sanctum | Madeleine Roux
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Pickpick

Following the events of their previous summer at New Hampshire College & the towering presence of Brookline asylum, Dan, Abby, & Jordan have remained in touch but can't seem to move on. Dan is persuaded into going to see Felix, another summer school student who has been institutionalised ever since, by Felix's mother & he tells Dan that he has to return to Brookline & gives him the co-ordinates for three addresses there.

OutsmartYourShelf So the three friends find themselves on campus once more, this time as 'prospies' (prospective students). They will need to sneak away from their guides to check out the addresses, but Dan has more problems - namely he has started to see the ghost of a young boy everywhere. Is he literally haunted?

1mo
OutsmartYourShelf I actually thought this was an improvement on the first book. It was much pacier, less focus on Dan & Abby's romance, & Jordan was at his best with the sarky comments. There were no big surprises but the story is unfolding nicely & I'm looking forward to the conclusion. 4🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2327137186
Read 13th-15th Oct 2024

#Flerken #HauntedShelf 776 points
1mo
Sace I‘m going to have to check out this series! I hadn‘t heard of it. 1mo
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PuddleJumper 🖤🧡🖤 1mo
OutsmartYourShelf @Sace I hadn't heard of it before, I happened to buy the 3 main books at a charity sale & they've turned out to be quite good. 1mo
Sace @OutsmartYourShelf I‘ve got a boxed set in my cart ready for online purchasing 😂 1mo
TheSpineView Great job!👍📖 1mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1mo
Catsandbooks 👏🏼👻🧡 1mo
26 likes10 comments