This Week, Last Month: 1st November, 2015 (and October round-up)

Hi All, welcome to November. This is one of my favourite times of year, with the weather changing and Christmas just around the corner, not that I’m quite ready for it yet but – now Halloween is over – there is nothing else I need to plan for to get in the way of getting excited about the season.

And this week has been all about Halloween, with a party Friday and trick or treating last night.  It’s also been half term, which has meant a few days away and little time to read, though I did manage to finish Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica and post one review, Drive by James Sallis, which I loved. He is one of my favourite authors and I never tire of his stripped back style of writing and interesting, flawed, characters.

The whole month has been a bit hit and missed with posting but can’t be helped. I have learnt not to beat myself up about it. Plus, I read some really good books, one other of which I loved…

Follow the Leader by Mel Sherratt, the second in the series involving DS Allie Shenton, was as good as – better even – than the first with a serial killer on the loose in the City of Stoke set on carrying out revenge on those who had done him wrong. It was well written with great characters. I have the third book ready to read and hope to be cracking the spine on this in the next few weeks.

And the rest of which I really liked, including…

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle, the first Sherlock Holmes I’ve read (and the first story featuring the greatest detective off all time), I could see why the story has stood the test of time.

The Sudden Departure of the Frasers by Louise Candlish, which I’d heard goods about and wasn’t disappointed by. Just what was going on behind the well-to-do front doors in this London suburb and exactly what happened to the most beautiful resident of the street made this a real page turner – and made me want to read more books by this author.

Eeny Meeny by M J Arlidge, the first in a series I’m already four books behind on but would like to catch up with. This was a pretty dark tale of a serial killer targeting couples but with a clever plot and interesting central character.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, which I read for Frightfall and also my Classic Club challenge. A book I felt I knew the story of but it turns out I didn’t. This was a horror story but also a tragic tale of a creature mankind just couldn’t accept. I needed up feeling quite sad by the end, rather than scared.

Looking back over the month, I was surprised to see there wasn’t one “blah” book amongst them – perhaps I’m getting soft in my old age or maybe have just been lucky, in which case I hope the look continues. I’m not sure what I’ll be reading next – I still have all last week’s books and I also picked up an audiobook about The Gunpowder Plot which seemed appropriate for the time of year.

What about you? What are you reading? Or what have you read I should be adding to the list?

Emma

This week, I’m linking in (rather belatedly) with Kimba at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and her Sunday Post and with (a little early) with Katherine at Book Date for It’s Monday, What Are you Reading? Head over to see what other bloggers have read, written about or just added to their shelves.