Monday, June 07, 2021

May 2021 Additions to My eBook Stockpile

 


Regardless what reading purists say, there are many good things about the eBook format. You won't run out of shelf space. It's not a problem if you can't find your dictionary because one is built-in. If you have eye problems, it's a snap to increase the size of the font or even change to a completely different one if need be. Those are just three of the benefits. Of course, there's always a dark side, isn't there? Like not being able to pass up freebies or bargains?

Fortunately, I don't have uncontrollable eBook-gathering lust, but I do have to admit that never a month goes by when I can't find something that I just have to have. The following is the list of eBooks I just couldn't pass up last month. I've grouped them according to genre/subgenre, and if you click on the title of the book, you'll be taken to Amazon US where you can find out more about it.

Let's see what I couldn't resist!


~~~Police Procedural~~~

In Her Tracks by Robert Dugoni, a Tracy Crosswhite police procedural set in Washington state. This is the newest addition to one of my favorite series. I really like Tracy, so even though I'm only on the third book in the series, I know this is a series that I want to have on hand.


~~~Cozy Mystery~~~

Death of a Diva at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison, set on a country house estate in England. In many ways, I've been "going off" cozies the past couple of years, but I still have some favorite series. Dennison's Honeychurch Hall is one of them. I love the humor. I love how Dennison weaves country house history into her stories, and I love main character Kat Stanford and her background in antiques.


~~~Amateur Sleuth~~~

The Sedleigh Hall Murder by Roy Lewis, set in northern England. I'd read one of Roy Lewis's other series and really liked it, especially since the architecture of Northumberland featured in it. This is the first Eric Ward mystery. Ward is a police officer who was forced to retire and is now a lawyer. The change in occupations intrigued me, and I liked the fact that it was written in the days before cell phones, etc.


~~~Historical Fiction~~~

The Huntress by Kate Quinn, set in Massachusetts, Germany, and Russia. I couldn't resist this story about a British war correspondent who joins forces with a former "Night Witch" to track down a Nazi war criminal in America. Ever since I heard about the Russian women fighter pilots known as the Night Witches, it's been in the back of my mind to read something about them. Then this eBook went on sale, and you know what happened!


~~~Fiction~~~

Rosy Is My Relative by Gerald Durrell, set in England. You're welcome to take a look at my review of this fun read.
 
The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. I don't think it's any secret that I have a slight affection for knitting, and after reading Knitting Yarns which was edited by Ann Hood, I thought I'd give this one a try.


~~~Short Stories~~~

Santa Cruz Noir edited by Susie Bright, an anthology set in Santa Cruz, California. I have yet to be disappointed with any book in this series published by Akashic, so when I find them on sale, I snap them up. I believe in maintaining a healthy digital security blanket.
 
The Playground by Ray Bradbury. I was in the mood for a little SciFi, so I purchased this one. I found it a bit meh and rated it three stars on Goodreads.
 
Unlikely Friendships, Dogs by Jennifer S. Holland. I am an unapologetic dog lover and couldn't pass this one up.
 
Hero by Susan Hill, a Simon Serrailler short story set in England. I've read a couple of books in this mystery series and thought I'd spend a little time with Simon again. It just might encourage me to go back to the series (which is a good one).
 
 
So... did you find any that you had to add to your own lists? Which ones? Or do you have feedback on any that you've already read? Inquiring minds would love to know!




14 comments:

  1. The Honeychurch Hall series is a good 'un, Cathy, and I'm glad to see one of them here. I need to catch up with Kat, myself. Your others are good 'uns, too, and I hope you'll enjoy them.

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    1. I was right up-to-date with Honeychurch Hall then Dennison seems to have lost her US publisher. Now I'm a bit behind, but I will catch up. I do have to admit that I miss those lush covers the books used to have.

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  2. I've been meaning to read the Honeychurch Hall series. The Huntress is also on my TBR. The Sedleigh Hall Murder looks intriguing... In fact, most of them look intriguing.

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  3. Very nice additions this time around, Cathy. I recently read Dugoni's In Her Tracks and really like it a lot. I've only read three other Robert Dugoni books, including the two "Charles Jenkins" books, and those are great, too. I'm pressed by the guy's writing.

    As for the Akashic books, I couldn't agree with you more. I love those things, and got one in the mail just today: Palm Springs Noir. Have you tried the new Akashic series of "Speculative" story collections. The only one I've seen so far is "Speculative Los Angeles," but that one was a little of a disappointment to me...too many earthquake stories.

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    1. I haven't tried Akashic's "speculative" story collections; mostly because I haven't been in the mood for that type of writing. (Doesn't mean I won't ever read them, though!)

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  4. Several of these books look good to me, including the Dugoni. I have planned to read one of his books for a long time. And the police officer-turned-lawyer also calls out to me, as I am a fan of good legal crime fiction.

    And, of course, the book on dogs. How could I resist?

    I'm in the midst of John Grisham's latest Jake Brigance legal mystery, A Time for Mercy. Did I do anything else in the last few days, but crack that book up? Nope.

    Here's to good reading and health.

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    1. I've been in the midst of a wonderful reading binge. I hope it continues!

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  5. I didn't know about the new Dugoni! I enjoy that series, so that's good news.

    The Huntress has been on my list for a while, for the same reason that you mentioned - the Night Witches sound fascinating. I recently read the newest book from Kate Quinn, The Rose Code, and found it very good (though I thought yhe structure used for the storylines made it too long), so I anticipate a good read when I do get to The Huntress.

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    1. Yes, I'm really looking forward to The Huntress, too.

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  6. I can haardly wait for the reviews of these books.

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    1. That always gives me incentive to read faster.

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  7. I have owned Kindles ever since they came out and have only purchased about five books. My hundreds of ebooks come from the library :)

    For new releases I do tend to like print copies better for some reason but I can read fast on my Kindle. Do you read faster on yours?

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    1. Yes, I do read faster on my Kindle. Probably because it's easier to hold, you can adjust the print to just the way you like it, and the pages are even faster to turn. Plus, that built-in dictionary can work like a charm.

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