Reading Challenge/Goals for 2024

[tiggrbaby]

March:

#15/75: Three-Inch Teeth (Joe Pickett #24) by C.J. Box (4/5) (mystery)

A rogue grizzly bear is on the loose, killing people. And Dallas Cates has been released from prison, intent on revenge against those he blames for putting him away, including Joe and Nate.

Really unhappy with what he did to the one character!

#16/75: Troubled Blood (C. B. Strike #5) by Robert Galbraith (4/5) (mystery)

Strike is asked to find a woman who went missing in 1974 under mysterious circumstances. Although he has never tackled a cold case before, he takes on the case in addition to what he and Robin are working on.

#17/75: The Fury by Alex Michaelides (3/5) (fiction)

A reclusive movie star and her friends are stranded on a private Greek island during a storm. When a murder occurs, it obviously is someone on the island.

#18/75: The Ink Black Heart (C. B. Strike #6) by Robert Galbraith (3.5/5) (mystery)

When Robin is approached by a distressed young woman who is being persecuted online, she turns her away as she feels that they cannot help her. So when Robin finds out that she has been murdered, she is horrified. The agency ends up in a quest to unmask who was responsible.

#19/75: The Running Grave (C. B. Strike #7) by Robert Galbraith (4/5) (mystery)

A worried father hires Strike to rescue his son who has joined a cult. On the surface, it appears that the group has humanitarian goals, but something sinister is under the surface. Robin goes undercover to try and rescue the young man, but she is unprepared for the dangers that await her.

#20/75eadly Anniversaries edited by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini (4/5) (mystery anthology)

#21/75: When a Stranger Comes to Town edited by Michael Koryta (4/5) (mystery anthology)

Two collections of short stories by bestsellers and award winners from the Mystery Writers of America.

April:

#22/75: Argylle by Elly Conway (3.5/5) (thriller)

A Russian magnate's dream of restoring his country to greatness threatens the world. Argylle, a troubled CIA agent may be the only one with the skills to defeat him, if he can get past his troubled history.

#23/75: Iron Lake (Cork O’Connor #1) by William Kent Kruger (4/5) (mystery)

Cork is the former sheriff of a small Minnesota town struggling to deal with the breakup of his marriage that takes him away from his children. When the town judge is murdered a a local teen goes missing, Cork takes on the case, which unveils secrets that shock.

#24/75: Boundary Waters (Cork O’Connor #2) by William Kent Kruger (4/5) (mystery)

Cork is hired to locate a missing young country singer. While he leads a group to try and locate her, another group also searches for her - but with the goal of killing her.

#25/75: How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Penn (3.5/5) (mystery)

1965: Frances Adams receives shocking news from a fortune teller - one day she will be murdered. Frances spends her life trying to solve the murder that has yet to occur. But one day, she is found murdered. Her great-niece Annie arrives, determined to catch the killer.

#26/75rift (Rachel Hatch #1) by L. T. Ryan (4/5) (mystery)

Rachel Hatch has been drifting since leaving the Army as a criminal investigator. But when her twin sister is found dead, she returns to her hometown to uncover the truth.

First book was a free read on Kindle, but the rest of the series is only free for Kindle Unlimited.

#27/75: Purgatory Ridge (Cork O’Connor #3) by William Kent Kruger (4/5) (mystery)

When an explosion kills the night watchman at a wealthy industrialist’s lumber mill, the local tribe is blamed. Cork agrees to help investigate.

#28/75: A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci (4/5) (legal thriller)

Virginia 1968: A local male white lawyer and a Black female lawyer from Chicago team up against a deeply unfair system to find justice for their innocent Black clients, accused of murdering a prominent white couple.

 

[cayennews]

I finished a couple of good books this week.
#6 - The Woman in Me by Brittany Spears
This was an interesting read, though poorly written. I really felt sorry for her and wanted to just give her a hug. I learned a lot about her that I didn't already know.

#7 - The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens
Very good book. It was hard to put down. Never a dull moment. Very suspenseful. I think I went through every emotion. Highly recommend.

 

[DisneyHardin]

#6 - The Woman in Me by Brittany Spears
This was an interesting read, though poorly written. I really felt sorry for her and wanted to just give her a hug. I learned a lot about her that I didn't already know.

That's exactly what I felt about that book. I was very surprised at how poorly written it was.

 

[Beezle2]

32/75 Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton. The newest by the author of Mickey 7 which I also liked. Mal is an A.I which was just THINKING about a body, trying one on for a few minutes..then he gets stuck there in a meat suit. Lots of augmented humans and adventure.

 

[bobbiwoz]

7. Educated by Tara Westover . Outstanding. An account of a woman who was raised in rural Idaho by Mormon survivalists.

I decided to borrow this. They had it in Libby.

It took me a long time, but I read it and found it very interesting!
4/5

17/80

 

[RJPoste]

Wow! What a great thread! And what fun! Thanks for hosting this!

Mostly a Fantasy, Sci Fi reader, but always looking for new things to read.

Since it is my first time, I'll go with 36.

1/36 Daughter of the Empire by Raymond Feist (a re-read)
2/36 Servant of the Empire by Raymond Feist (a re-read)
3/36 Mistress of the Empire by Raymond Feist (a re-read)
4/36 I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (new read)
5/36 The Rest of the Robots by Isaac Asimov (new read)
6/36 The Complete Robot by Isaac Asimov (new read)
7/36 The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov (new read)
8/36 The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov (new read)
9/36 The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov (new read)
10/36 Robots and Empire by Isaac Asimov (new read) The current read.

More to come.....

 

[Kirby]

Mostly a Fantasy, Sci Fi reader, but always looking for new things to read.

Ooh! I'll watch what you read! I read a lot of different genres but Fantasy is a big favorite of mine. I don't read much Sci-Fi but always ready to give it a chance.

#29 - Triple Cross: Book 30 of the Alex Cross series by James Patterson.
Genre - Thriller 5/5
A killer strikes under cover of darkness, triggers no alarms, and leaves no evidence behind.
Detective Alex Cross is on the hunt of a killer who is targeting entire families around Washington, DC.
But Cross isn't the only one investigating - a charismatic true-crime author has spotted patterns in the case of 'The Family Man' killer that others have missed.
It's up to Cross to determine whether the writer's theories are fact or fiction - before another family falls victim.
We finally find out who the mysterious "M" is!

 

[MGMmjl]

12/32 - Rich Waters by Robert Bailey

Description:
"Now that attorney Jason Rich has returned home to Guntersville, Alabama, the 'In an accident? Get rich!' lawyer is anxious to leave his checkered past behind. Jason hopes this next chapter in his life will be a chance to confront his personal troubles while making amends with his family.

But when a former high school football star stands accused of killing a police officer, Jason is unwillingly thrust into the chaos. The local meth king blackmails Jason into defending the alleged murderer, and Jason knows he can’t refuse. With the lives of his family and closest friends on the line, he takes the obviously unwinnable case.

As Jason dives into the investigation, he vows to dismantle the meth empire gripping his hometown. But as he confronts alternative suspects and follows new leads, Jason realizes that everyone has secrets to hide and interests to protect—at any cost."

This is book #2 in the Jason Rich series. I really enjoyed it! The 3rd book in the series is coming out next Tuesday, and I look forward to reading it soon.

 

[Wood Nymph]

14/30 - Death in the Clouds: A Hercule Poirot Mystery - Agatha Christie - 4.5/5

I have been reading this series in chronological order and I think that her books are getting better.

"From seat No. 9, Hercule Poirot was ideally placed to observe his fellow air passengers. Over to his right sat a pretty young woman, clearly infatuated with the man opposite; ahead, in seat No. 13, sat a countess with a poorly concealed cocaine habit; across the gangway in seat No. 8, a detective writer was being troubled by an aggressive wasp. What Poirot did not yet realize was that behind him, in seat No. 2, sat the slumped, lifeless body of a woman."--The publisher.
Fans of Doctor Who might recognize the wasp in this Agatha Christie story. One of the Dr Who episodes involved a giant wasp while this book had a normal wasp. The stories have nothing in common, but it is a fun connection.

 

[Beezle2]

10/30 None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

Two women meet by chance on their forty-fifth birthdays and they dub themselves “birthday twins.” Their lives become entwined and one of them is not quite who she appears to be.

Twisty and suspenseful, every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, it didn’t! Quick read that kept me hooked.

I picked this one up after you posted it. Starting off pretty good

 

[Beezle2]

33/75 The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
I'm in love..this is the first book in a series and I am going to really enjoy it. The Gentleman Bastards were orphans raised by a priest with a past. They are brothers in arms and thievery, full of charm and daring.
Secret Societies, ancient artifacts, powerful magics, and brutal living conditions for the masses. I found a lot to

 

[OKW8297]

I need to check out his books. He did a great job with the last several of Robert Jordan's books in his Wheel of Time series.

I've started this series, need to get back to it.

This is my book club's pick to read in June.

I enjoyed this book also. My nephew walked the Appalachian Trail from top to bottom 15 years ago. He has some good stories about it.

#27 - House of Earth and Blood: Book 1 of Crescent City Series by Sarah J. Maas. Genre - Paranormal Romance 5/5
Bryce Quinlan loves her life. Every night is a party, and Bryce is going to savour all the pleasures Lunathion - also known as Crescent City - has to offer. But when a brutal murder shakes the very foundations of the city, Bryce's world comes crashing down.
Two years later, Bryce still haunts the city's most notorious nightclubs - but seeking only oblivion now. Then the murderer attacks again. And when an infamous Fallen angel, Hunt Athalar, is assigned to watch her every footstep, Bryce knows she can't forget any longer.
As Bryce and Hunt fight to unravel the mystery and their own dark pasts, the threads they tug ripple through the underbelly of the city, across warring continents and down to the deepest levels of Hel, where things that have been sleeping for millennia are beginning to stir ...

One of my nephews is walking the Appalachian Trail right now!

 

[Wood Nymph]

15/30 - To Sir Phillip, with love - volume 5 of Bridgerton series - by Julia Quinn - 3/5 -

It is hard to read this series without noticing the repeat of certain patterns and topics. This was not as good as some of the other books in the series. But it was a quick read.

My dear Miss Bridgerton. We have been corresponding now for quite some time, and although we have never formally met, I feel as if I know you. Forgive me if I am too bold, but I am writing to invite you to visit me here at Romney Hall. It is my hope that after a suitable period of time, we might decide that we will suit, and you will consent to be my wife'. Sir Phillip knew from his correspondence with his dead wife's distant cousin that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he'd proposed, figuring that she'd be homely. Except she wasn't. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, all he wanted to do was kiss her. Eloise Bridgerton couldn't marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking and wondering and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she hoped might be her perfect match. Except he wasn't. Her perfect husband wouldn't be so moody and ill-mannered, and while Phillip was certainly handsome, he was rough and rugged. But when he smiled and when he kissed her the rest of the world simply fell away, and she couldn't help but wonder could this imperfect man be perfect for her?

 

[willowsnn3]

March:

#15/75: Three-Inch Teeth (Joe Pickett #24) by C.J. Box (4/5) (mystery)

A rogue grizzly bear is on the loose, killing people. And Dallas Cates has been released from prison, intent on revenge against those he blames for putting him away, including Joe and Nate.

Really unhappy with what he did to the one character!

#16/75: Troubled Blood (C. B. Strike #5) by Robert Galbraith (4/5) (mystery)

Strike is asked to find a woman who went missing in 1974 under mysterious circumstances. Although he has never tackled a cold case before, he takes on the case in addition to what he and Robin are working on.

#17/75: The Fury by Alex Michaelides (3/5) (fiction)

A reclusive movie star and her friends are stranded on a private Greek island during a storm. When a murder occurs, it obviously is someone on the island.

#18/75: The Ink Black Heart (C. B. Strike #6) by Robert Galbraith (3.5/5) (mystery)

When Robin is approached by a distressed young woman who is being persecuted online, she turns her away as she feels that they cannot help her. So when Robin finds out that she has been murdered, she is horrified. The agency ends up in a quest to unmask who was responsible.

#19/75: The Running Grave (C. B. Strike #7) by Robert Galbraith (4/5) (mystery)

A worried father hires Strike to rescue his son who has joined a cult. On the surface, it appears that the group has humanitarian goals, but something sinister is under the surface. Robin goes undercover to try and rescue the young man, but she is unprepared for the dangers that await her.

#20/75eadly Anniversaries edited by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini (4/5) (mystery anthology)

#21/75: When a Stranger Comes to Town edited by Michael Koryta (4/5) (mystery anthology)

Two collections of short stories by bestsellers and award winners from the Mystery Writers of America.

April:

#22/75: Argylle by Elly Conway (3.5/5) (thriller)

A Russian magnate's dream of restoring his country to greatness threatens the world. Argylle, a troubled CIA agent may be the only one with the skills to defeat him, if he can get past his troubled history.

#23/75: Iron Lake (Cork O’Connor #1) by William Kent Kruger (4/5) (mystery)

Cork is the former sheriff of a small Minnesota town struggling to deal with the breakup of his marriage that takes him away from his children. When the town judge is murdered a a local teen goes missing, Cork takes on the case, which unveils secrets that shock.

#24/75: Boundary Waters (Cork O’Connor #2) by William Kent Kruger (4/5) (mystery)

Cork is hired to locate a missing young country singer. While he leads a group to try and locate her, another group also searches for her - but with the goal of killing her.

#25/75: How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Penn (3.5/5) (mystery)

1965: Frances Adams receives shocking news from a fortune teller - one day she will be murdered. Frances spends her life trying to solve the murder that has yet to occur. But one day, she is found murdered. Her great-niece Annie arrives, determined to catch the killer.

#26/75rift (Rachel Hatch #1) by L. T. Ryan (4/5) (mystery)

Rachel Hatch has been drifting since leaving the Army as a criminal investigator. But when her twin sister is found dead, she returns to her hometown to uncover the truth.

First book was a free read on Kindle, but the rest of the series is only free for Kindle Unlimited.

#27/75: Purgatory Ridge (Cork O’Connor #3) by William Kent Kruger (4/5) (mystery)

When an explosion kills the night watchman at a wealthy industrialist’s lumber mill, the local tribe is blamed. Cork agrees to help investigate.

#28/75: A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci (4/5) (legal thriller)

Virginia 1968: A local male white lawyer and a Black female lawyer from Chicago team up against a deeply unfair system to find justice for their innocent Black clients, accused of murdering a prominent white couple.

I have got to catch up on my William Kent Kruger & David Baldacci reading! And Galbraith!

 

[willowsnn3]

Wow! What a great thread! And what fun! Thanks for hosting this!

Mostly a Fantasy, Sci Fi reader, but always looking for new things to read.

Since it is my first time, I'll go with 36.

1/36 Daughter of the Empire by Raymond Feist (a re-read)
2/36 Servant of the Empire by Raymond Feist (a re-read)
3/36 Mistress of the Empire by Raymond Feist (a re-read)
4/36 I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (new read)
5/36 The Rest of the Robots by Isaac Asimov (new read)
6/36 The Complete Robot by Isaac Asimov (new read)
7/36 The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov (new read)
8/36 The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov (new read)
9/36 The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov (new read)
10/36 Robots and Empire by Isaac Asimov (new read) The current read.

More to come.....

Welcome!
Added you to our list on page 1.
I used to read a lot of fantasy & sci fi, might have to go back & check it out again.

 

[willowsnn3]

#19/50 Clear by Carys Davies
John, an impoverished Scottish minister, has accepted a job evicting the lone remaining occupant of an island north of Scotland—Ivar, who has been living alone for decades, with only the animals and the sea for company. Though his wife, Mary, has serious misgivings about the errand, he decides to go anyway, setting in motion a chain of events that neither he nor Mary could have predicted.
Another just ok for me.

 

[cayennews]

#8 - The Guise of Another- Allen Eskens

I found this author last week and read his first book quickly, so back to the library I went for his second book. It did not disappoint. Very suspenseful. Again, I could not put the book down. I'm getting his next book as soon as the library opens in the morning. His books are not a series, but some of the characters are reoccurring.

 

[Needsanap]

10/30 None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

Two women meet by chance on their forty-fifth birthdays and they dub themselves “birthday twins.” Their lives become entwined and one of them is not quite who she appears to be.

Twisty and suspenseful, every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, it didn’t! Quick read that kept me hooked.

I grabbed this one too. I agree with you!

30/25 None of This is True

 

[cayennews]

10/30 None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

Two women meet by chance on their forty-fifth birthdays and they dub themselves “birthday twins.” Their lives become entwined and one of them is not quite who she appears to be.

Twisty and suspenseful, every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, it didn’t! Quick read that kept me hooked.

This sounds interesting. I might need to pick this up.

 

[melk]

11/30 The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

Daphne Parrish meets Amber, who soon becomes obsessed with Daphne and her very wealthy husband and very soon desires everything that Daphne has.

What I liked about this book is that it was told in two parts, first from Amber’s point of view, then through Daphne’s. Things that you learn in part one are turned upside down in part two. What I didn’t like about the book is that it got very, very dark, at times very upsetting.