Stacking the Shelves #81

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. 

Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Happy reading y'all!

Arsenic at Ascot by Kelly Oliver (A Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery Book 4)

Libby borrow: Free

I'm ready to start the next mystery in this series and see what Fiona, Kitty, Archie, and Fredricks are up to. In this one, Fiona is invited to a country house to infiltrate animal rights activists and the death of a horse doctor. I love the mix of humor, WW I history, and Fiona's love triangle with Archie and Fredricks. It's a unique series with lots of fun twists. 

The History of Scotland by History Nerds 

Free with Kindle points

Yes, I'm a history nerd for sure so enough said.....all about Scotland from start to finish, written simply, and easily read by the average person wanting to know more. My favorite kind of history book. 

Crossed Skis: An Alpine Mystery by Carol Carnac (British Crime Classics)

Free with Kindle Unlimited free trial

I'm trying to slowly collect and work my way through this series of British classic mysteries. This one looked interesting from the title and cover. Written in 1952 and taking place in London and the Austrian Alps it looked like a good mystery to try out.

Happy New Year 2026

Wishing all my friends in the bookish world a fun year of reading, blogging, and learning. I hope you have the best year yet! My blog turns four today and I can't believe it. Thank you to everyone who has commented on or read it over the years. And thank you to all the fellow bloggers who are so helpful and give me great new ideas! 

No more reviews this week as I'll be reading, relaxing, and getting ready for new January posts. Happy reading y'all!

New Years Eve 2025 Post....my year in books

 

I love looking back on my reading goals on New Years Eve. Thanks to Goodreads that is easy to do! I am excited to be ending another great year in the bookish community and starting year five on my blog tomorrow. I can't believe it! I hope everyone has a great day today ringing in 2026. Here are my stats from 2025....it's been a great journey in the book world. 

Favorite Book: My re-read of The Land Beyond the Sea

Favorite Author: Sharon Kay Penman

Most read genres: History, Historical Fiction, Historical Mysteries, Fiction

Have you read any of these books? And what were your favorite books/authors this year?

The Sittaford Mystery by Agatha Christie (Read Christie 2025 December Selection)

 

Publication Date:

1931

Genre: 

Cozy Mystery/Historical Mystery

Length:  

288 pages

Series:

None

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

The Sittaford Mystery is Dame Agatha at her most intriguing, as a séance in a snowbound house predicts a particularly grisly murder. 

In a remote house in the middle of Dartmoor, six shadowy figures huddle around a table for a seance. Tension rises as the spirits spell out a chilling message: "Captain Trevelyan . . . dead . . . murder."

Is this black magic or simply a macabre joke? The only way to be certain is to locate Captain Trevelyan. Unfortunately, his home is six miles away and, with snowdrifts blocking the roads, someone will have to make the journey on foot.

My Thoughts

This story is a stand alone, no Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot this time. It was also published under another name in America, The Murder At Hazelmoor. It seems like back in the day the general public was obsessed with seances and boards and the supernatural even more than today. So this story being written in 1931 it's no surprise that it is a feature. When Captain Trevelyan's friends participate in one, declaring him dead, they want to check on him to be sure it's harmless. Major Burnaby makes the long, snowy trek and finds out it isn't all fun and games. 

Trevelyan's nephew's fiance Emily Trefusis quickly becomes the main character in that she spends most of the novel trying to find out who would want Captain Trevelyn dead and why. Her fiance, James has been arrested for the murder and she wants to get to the truth. A newspaper journalist, Charles helps her along with Inspector Narracott. 

I can't say this was my favorite novel, although I liked Emily and Charles and was rooting for them. There was a lot of well played misdirection as usual and it got pretty complicated for awhile with many new characters. I found myself getting a little bored halfway through though and had to really focus hard to finish. I think I just had this sense that we were getting a lot of useless clues and the ending proved me correct in that I don't think the culprit or murder plot took up much time to explain. It didn't involve most of the people mentioned and was not super detailed. At least that was my impression the last few pages. 

This was a good winter read for setting in that it was cold and snowy and definitely felt like a December or January book. It probably isn't on of hers I'd re-read though.

Stacking the Shelves #80

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. 

Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Happy reading y'all!

The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody Book 7)

Libby borrow: Free

I am up to book seven in this series and decided January is the time to get back to it. In this adventure, Amelia has to rescue her beloved Emerson who has lost his memory. Knowing the couple's interactions this should be an interesting and probably hilarious read, while having fun experiencing their romp through ancient excavations too. 

The Royal Bastards of Twelfth Century England: Power and Blood by James Turner

Free with Kindle points

I have way too many books about the wild and crazy Plantagenets and their dysfunctional children but I don't care. They are always a source of fascination and family dynamics for me. This book covers drama in the reigns of Henry I through Henry II. I may not learn a whole lot of new information but I never get tired of the stories. 

The King's Daughter by Christie Dickason

Free with Kindle points

I know nothing about Elizabeth Stuart, James I 's daughter but her story looks fascinating. This novel covers her relationship with her father, brother, and the court and then her marriage to Frederick of Bohemia, who I also know nothing about. I always love learning about royals from countries that aren't often featured and, of course, anything about the Stuarts. 

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot Book #37)

Publication Date:

October 24, 1960

Genre: 

Cozy Mystery/Historical Mystery

Length:  

65 pages

Series:

Hercule Poirot

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

In Agatha Christie’s short story, “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding,” Poirot is asked to attend a Christmas celebration in order to apprehend a jewel-thief who has taken advantage of an unwary eastern prince. Full of English holiday tradition and plenty of intrigue, this holiday tale first appeared in the December 12, 1923 issue of The Sketch magazine.

My Thoughts

Halfway through this short story I realized I knew it sounded familiar! I'd seen the TV episode on Prime on Poirot. It was a nice quick read for Christmas week and I hadn't intended to do so but it was free with my Kindle points. 

Poirot is his usual confident self as he tries to figure out what has happened to a large ruby lost by a Prince eager to show off to a pretty girl. Staying at the country house where the thief is suspected to be proves to be a fun holiday time for him via the hospitality of the hosts, oblivious as to why he's really there. 

I enjoyed reading it rather than watching it this time but also was impressed at how the show really stuck to the book's details. It's not creepy or scary in any way, light hearted but with a "murder" occurring halfway through that he has to solve. The ruby mystery is all linked as Christie always does well. The characters involve a lot of younger people who are vying to be cool and hip and jokesters. They can't get anything over on Poirot though. 

Descriptions of the Christmas festivities and food, especially the plum pudding really sets the tone for an authentic English Christmas and being American I was loving reading about the little presents in the pudding. A wonderful addition to read right before the big day. 

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Merry Christmas 2025

 

Just a quick post to say Merry Christmas to everyone today and thank you to anyone who has read or commented on my blog. It means so much to me especially the last two years with major family and health challenges. I am so grateful for this bookish community and just continue to love it more and more. 

Have a wonderful day with family and friends, always remembering why we celebrate..... for the child born this day who came to save the world. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Nun Shall Sleep by Graham Brack (Master Mercurius Mysteries Book Nine)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Nun Shall Sleep by Graham Brack. These are similar in tone to Anne Perry's Monk series. That darker tone with the whole "back alley London" vibe. In this story Master Mercurius is drawn into the mystery of a missing relic at a local convent. 

Hope you have found something you can't wait for! Happy reading y'all!

Historical Mystery

January 9, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Mercurius can’t believe his luck … but are things too good to be true?

1689

Master Mercurius is making plans for a holiday tour of cathedrals when a letter arrives from Abbess Mathilde asking for his help. Her convent has been left a substantial legacy which the abbess plans to use to fill the library, and she would like Mercurius to be in charge of buying the books. Mercurius has never accepted a mission so quickly. But as the summer wears on, strange things start to happen in the convent. A precious relic goes missing and an important key is lost. Mercurius is fairly certain somebody is up to something, but he doesn’t know who and he doesn’t know what. Desperate to hold on to the dream position he has been given, he finds himself drawn into the mystery. But is there something more sinister going on…?

Nun Shall Sleep is the ninth historical murder investigation in the Master Mercurius Mystery atmospheric crime thrillers set in seventeenth-century Europe.

Stacking the Shelves #79

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. 

Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Happy reading y'all!

Bloody Crowns: A New History of the Hundred Years War by Michael Livingston

Library Hold: Patience required!

This author was interviewed about this new book on a recent podcast The Medieval Podcast with host Daniele Cybulskie and I enjoyed his new take on how the hundred years war should actually be considered the two hundred years war. It is very hard to find material on this subject that isn't historical fiction or military based. I am sure it will be very interesting if you like this era. 

It is pretty expensive right now to either buy hardback or on Kindle, so I just have to wait in line at the library or hope it goes on sale. 

The Return of Captain John Emmett by Elizabeth Speller (Laurence Bartram Mysteries Book One)

Kindle Unlimited: Free with my 3 month trial

This series only has two books written over a decade ago but that's okay because I'm constantly getting roped into ones with 20 plus books I can never finish. It was free to try so I thought why not? A veteran of the Great War tries to solve the why behind the mysterious deaths of fellow veterans. From the description on Goodreads it looks like an edgier, William Monk type of book, which I'm a fan of if things aren't too dark.

Hieroglyphs and Homicide by Tracy Higley (A Clarissa Bell Mystery Book One)

Kindle Unlimited: Free with my 3 month trial

I hadn't heard of this series which is surprising since I love all things set in Egypt especially during the 1920's era. So when I looked ahead at the other books in the series I was excited to see this setting continues throughout. I'm hooked! The author has a degree in Ancient History and has actually traveled to Egypt. She has other books set in Egypt and Rome. In this book, the heroine discovers an ancient artifact which lands her in a lot of trouble, along with a love interest. I can't wait to get started on these. 

A Christmas Vanishing by Anne Perry (The Christmas Stories Book 21)

 

Publication Date:

November 7, 2023

Genre: 

Cozy Mystery/Historical Mystery

Length:  

190 pages

Series:

The Christmas Stories

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Charlotte Pitt’s clever grandmother investigates the sudden disappearance of her dear friend in this chilling holiday whodunit by New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry.

Mariah Ellison, Charlotte Pitt’s grandmother, accepts her longtime friend Sadie’s gracious invitation to spend Christmas with her and her husband, Barton, in their picturesque village. But upon arrival, Mariah discovers that Sadie has vanished without a trace, and Barton rudely rescinds the invitation. Once Mariah finds another acquaintance to stay with during the holiday season, she begins investigating Sadie’s disappearance.

Mariah’s uncanny knack for solving mysteries serves her well during her search, which is driven by gossip as icy as the December weather. Did Sadie run off with another man? Was she kidnapped? Has someone harmed her? Frustratingly, Mariah’s questions reveal more about the villagers themselves than about her friend’s whereabouts. Yet in the process of getting to know Sadie’s neighbors, Mariah finds a kind of redemption, as she rediscovers her kinder side, and her ability to love. 

It is up to Mariah to master her own feelings, drown out the noise, and get to the bottom of what occurred, all before Christmas day. With the holiday rapidly approaching, will she succeed in bringing Sadie home in time for them to celebrate it together—or is that too much to hope for?

My Thoughts

Sadly, this was the last Anne Perry Christmas story and I am bummed. I really love these during the holidays and she passed away in 2023. It was a nice one to end the series with though. 

I've always liked the characters in the Pitt novels and even though Mariah is often cranky and stuffy, I always felt she had a heart in there somewhere. This book shows her soft side and by the end of it, you come to like and admire her. She doggedly pursues her missing friend, Sadie, even as clues begin to pile up showing Sadie might have a darker side to her. Her heart seems to thaw throughout the story towards others and she opens up to the possibility of true love, which she did not have in her marriage. Because of her background, she is able to have compassion for others as she looks for what has happened to her friend.

The mystery part was original, one of the reasons I love Perry books, but not terribly detailed. As it unfolded, I realized this book was more about Mariah than Sadie. The disappearance seemed like a secondary story in a way, but it was still done well to keep you wanting to know the how and why behind it. Some of the Christmas stories were a little dark for me for the holiday season, but not this one. It was a nice change, although if it were a Pitt or Monk novel I'd probably want it to be a little edgier like her usual writing. 

If you'd like a heartwarming mystery for the holidays with redemption at the end this is a great story for next week. It is a wonderful book to make you think and also put you in the Christmas spirit.