Dumb Witness was my Agatha Christie book this month. When an elderly spinster tripped over her dog's ball on the stairs it looked like an accident but the more she thought about it, the more Emily was convinced that one of her family were trying to kill her. By the time Hercule Poirot became involved, she was dead. Another enjoyable read with twists and turns throughout the book.
My favourite read last year was I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh. It was her first book so I was looking forward to seeing what she brought out next. I very rarely buy a book as soon as it's released, preferring to wait until it comes out in paperback or I can pick it up at a charity shop or from the library, but knowing how much I was looking forward to the release of Clare Mackintosh's second book, I See You, Mick bought me the hardback version for my birthday. I think it was a very interesting storyline and I did enjoy the book, however, I don't think it was a patch on I Let You Go. I'm afraid that's the problem with having such a good debut novel, the second one rarely lives up to it.
I picked up Walking Ollie by Stephen Foster from the charity shop. When I saw that cute little lurcher on the front cover, I just couldn't resist. It's basically about the author's experience of adopting a dog from the National Canine Defence League, now known as Dogs Trust. Ollie came with quite a few problems and though the author tried his best, Ollie just couldn't overcome them. I think the author was trying for a fun read but I actually found it quite sad, it was obvious that Ollie was very unhappy and some specialist intervention from a dog behaviourist was needed. It's not really a book I would recommend.
After reading The Last Days Of Rabbit Hayes by Anna McPartlin earlier in the year, I didn't hesitate to pick up Somewhere Inside Of Happy by the same author when I saw it in the charity shop. I'm glad I did as I really enjoyed this book. It's the story of sixteen year old Jeremy Bean who goes missing and the days which follow until the terrible conclusion a few days later. Other stories run concurrently with Jeremy's story and the book deals with a number of issues. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it, just make sure you have some tissues handy if you decide to give it a go.
Don't forget about the swap I'm running. The Twelve Days Of Christmas Swap 2016 Sign Up is still open if you fancy joining in, just leave a comment on that post and I'll add you to the list. It proved to be a very popular swap last year and it would be lovely to have more people joining in. It's a worldwide swap so it doesn't matter where you live, it's a great way to make new friends too.
I would have purchased I See You as soon as I saw it in the shops, but I will wait and get one second hand.
ReplyDeleteI See You has got some great reviews but personally, I much preferred I Let You Go. I don't usually buy books as soon as they come out.
DeleteSadly I am not managing to read very much at all so I am now going to look for some book tapes so I can listen whilst I am doing other things.
ReplyDeleteAudio books are a great alternative to actual books, as you say, you're able to get on with other things whilst you're listening. Great for those people who aren't able to read for one reason or another or for those of us who are just too busy.
DeleteI love your book reviews and I often order some of the books you've read. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'm really pleased my monthly reading post is helpful. I often buy books which I've read recommendations for on other blogs.
DeleteThat's a good average to read. I read more, generally about six every four weeks. I enjoyed rereading Dumb Witness not that long ago.
ReplyDeleteIf you've not read it I recommend Rescue Me by Melissa Wareham about the fifteen years she spent working at Battersea Dogs Home.
Happy reading, Flighty xx
It's only the last few years that I've really got back in to reading so I'm pleased with the amount I'm reading now. I have read Rescue Me by Melissa Wareham, I wrote a post about it back in 2011:-
Deletehttp://jo-throughthekeyhole.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/rescue-me.html
I didn't realise it was so long ago that I'd read it.
Good for you. I mentioned Rescue Me as I enjoyed rereading it again recently during one of my periodic bouts of insomnia. Flighty xx
DeleteIt's such a lovely book, isn't it. Some lovely happy endings for so many of the dogs and interesting to hear about life behind the scenes at Battersea Dogs Home. I always enjoy watching the Paul O Grady programme about Battersea.
DeleteGoo dbook recommendations; I am patient enough this year (translation; I have no spare cash) to wait for I See You to be out in Paperback, but I really enjoyed I let you go so I can see me reading this one as well! And Somewhere Inside of Happy sounds like a read I could share with a few others. Have a good Thursday night!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed I See You, just not as much as I Let You Go. I wouldn't have bought the hardback had I not been bought it for my birthday, I'm a bit tight where books are concerned, there's just so many others that I can be reading whilst I wait. I loved Somewhere Inside Of Happy and would definitely recommend that.
DeleteWell done with Septembers reading, an interesting selection.
ReplyDeleteI have I Let You Go on my kindle, it's been sitting there for ages and i haven't got round to it, I've noticed a couple of good reviews lately so i might have to move it up my list.
I'ts disappointing when you have really enjoyed an author and their next book fails to deliver.
I'm struggling to get into anything still, even my book clubs book this month didn't do anything for me.
We have a meeting on Saturday, perhaps October's choice will be more inspiring.
I think we all have times when different hobbies take a back seat for one reason or another. Do get reading I Let You Go, I'm sure you'd enjoy it, it was my favourite book last year. Sometimes, we just need something to inspire us again and then we're as enthusiastic as we were before.
DeleteAnother AC one which I've never heard of, I'm enjoying discovering these new stories too!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could have read the one about the dog, but glad to see the other 2 were good in their own ways.
Lisa x
I read a lot of Agatha Christie in my teens but I can't remember any of them now so they're all new to me too. I think the author tried to make Walking Ollie humorous, writing about his own misgivings as a first time dog owner, but it just highlighted that he was out of his depth with a dog which needed extra care, it was very sad really.
DeleteI haven't read much this month (I think I've been browsing magazines), love recommendations and new authors to look out for xx
ReplyDeleteI think there are certain months where I tend to read more and others where I read less. I always read more than usual when I go away on holiday, it's the one time of the year when I pick a book up during the day, usually I only read when I go to bed.
DeleteApart from the Agatha Christie these books are all new to me. I enjoy reading detective novels especially if the main characters are ones I've got to know through a series. I See You sounds rather scary from the title and cover blurb! You've done well with your reading for September.
ReplyDeleteI think it's like any book when they run in a series, you get to know the main characters and they become a bit like old friends. I think the storyline for I See You is really good and I did enjoy the book, just not as much as the author's first.
DeleteWell done on your September reads ...
ReplyDeleteYou'll be choosing some Christmas reading books soon, the way these weeks are going!
All the best Jan
I never usually read Christmas themed books around Christmas time but I think I might this year, I've seen other people have a whole pile of Christmassy books to read over the festive period and it quite appeals to me.
DeleteAnother good mix, I would have gone for the lurcher story but certainly won't now. I'm reading The Little Red Chairs by Edna O'Brien at the moment, it was a charity shop book and seems highly recommended but goodness....it's an awful slog. Why do I have to finish books?xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm exactly the same, there are very few books that I've given up part way through. I could have put Walking Ollie down without finishing it but I wanted to know what happened to him in the end.
DeleteThanks for your recommendations, haven´t had time really to read but have managed a couple of books this week as a way of chillin xcx
ReplyDeleteThat's why I end up reading quite a lot on holiday, it's a really good way to relax. I'm sure you'll have more time on your hands now that you're not crafting for the wedding.
DeleteI am very impresed toYou are an excellent detective of books.
ReplyDeleteI like to write about the books I've read each month, it's like a diary for me and a good reminder of what I've thought about them.
DeleteI rather depend on what books are available from the local charity shop but normally manage to find enough to keep me going, I'm also a four book a month person. The best one I have read recently is 'Here Comes Trouble' by Michael Moore. He has an interesting past.
ReplyDeleteI buy lots of my books from the charity shops or borrow them from the library, it's quite rare that I pay full price for any book these days. I only read in bed usually so I'm sure I could get through more books if I read during the day but I've got lots of other hobbies that I like to do too.
DeleteI loved Rabbit Hayes and needed the tissues for that one, i'll add this one to my list. I like her writing style.
ReplyDeleteI much preferred Somewhere Inside Of Happy to The Last Days Of Rabbit Hayes, I just think more happened to keep me interested. If you do read this one you'll definitely need the tissues again.
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