What I Read This Month (March 2024)
Spring is springing, the clocks have changed, (early) tulips are blooming, and there are new books in the air.!I think we should drive right in, don’t you?
March at a glance
The Mystery in Moonshine by Lindsay Emory
I’ve said many times before (and sometimes enthusiastically shouted at people including the author) that a new Lindsay Emory book is always an event for me. I adore Lindsay’s writing style, and this new story about an HGTV decorator whose life has spectacularly exploded, thus requiring her to go home to her quirky Delacourt family was no different. It has the perfect blend of wit, mystery, magic, and sass that hits all my reading sweet spots.1
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
I picked up this book while in NYC after mentioning to my friend Laura that I hadn’t read romance in quite some time. She gave this a strong recommendation, and I’m very glad I listened. I found myself charmed by this small town romance that follows the ghost writer of romance novels and…well real ghosts she can see—including the recently deceased editor she’s meant to be delivering a book to.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Sometimes you just need to put your hands up and admit that you missed a trend. For a historical novelist who pretty much exclusively focuses on women’s stories, missing Lessons in Chemistry when it first came out is a pretty big oversight—especially when my own father was the one who read it on audiobook shortly after it came out. However, I am happy to say that I’ve fixed the error of my ways and really, really enjoyed this novel. I’ve heard the Apple TV programme changes quite a bit, so if you’ve read and watched it do let me know if you think the TV show is worth a try!
A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie
I tend to reach for Agatha Christie in times of stress or when I need a pallet cleanser. Unfortunately, this often means that it takes me far longer to finish her books than it should given that I a) enjoy them and b) find them easy reads. However, I am happy to report that, despite letting this book linger on my bedside table for longer than I should have, I thoroughly enjoyed this Miss Marple outing.
What I’m currently reading
Scandalous Women by Gill Paul2
Out August 13, 2024
One of the things I have always admired about my parents is that they were very open-minded about what my sister and I read as kids. If we could understand it, we could read it. (And arguably even if we could only partially understand it.) That is why, when I was in middle school or early high school, I read Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann. I remember very little of it except for some key scenes,3 but fast forward decades later and I’m delighted with my past self because now I’m reading Gill Paul’s Scandalous Women which follows Jacqueline Susann through the publication of Valley of the Dolls, Jackie Collins as she writes The World Is Full of Married Men, and the fictional Nancy White as she starts her career in New York publishing. I’m only about a third of the way through the book, but it’s already a tearing good read!
What’s next on my TBR
The Last Murder at the Edge of the World by Stuart Turton
The Seven Deaths of Evelyne Hardcastle (or The 7 1/2 Deaths of Eveylne Hardcastle if you’re in the US) was a favorite of mine the year I read it and, while The Devil and the Dark Water didn’t grip me in the same way, Turton now falls solidly into the category of authors whose new releases I am always eager to give a try because I can trust them to try to do something interesting. (Janice Hallett falls into the same category.) I know very little about this book except that it is meant to be set in a post-apocalyptic world where a fog has wiped out humanity save for one island. The island is an idyllic utopia until someone ends up stabbed to death.
Women in Intelligence by Helen Fry
At the beginning of the month, The Gentleman went to a talk given by Helen Fry at the Imperial War Museum on this book. I found it fascinating listening to Fry talk about the stories of the women in various British intelligence roles, so I’ll be reading this one not just for potential future research but to satisfy my own curiosity.
The Last Twelve Miles by Erika Robuck
Out June 4, 2024
Erika Robuck very kindly sent me an advance reader copy of this book. Set against the backdrop of the Prohibition Rum Wars, The Last Twelve Miles is being billed as a cat and mouse game, and cannot wait to read it! I’ve always been fascinated with this time period—and Prohibition in particular—so I think this will be just the thing.
What have you recently read and enjoyed? Leave a comment and let me know!
Full disclosure, Lindsay is a friend of mine, but I have a rule that I never recommend if I don’t also adore a book so you can trust that I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Also a friend!
Probably not the ones you think I’d remember.
Just finished The Women by Kristin Hannah. Five stars and highly recommend.