November 2025 Wrap Up

Books Read:

The Rose and the Yew Tree by (Agatha Christie writing as) Mary Westmacott (1947)  4/5 stars

The complex and layered story is not pleasant and the characters mostly unlikable, yet it's a completely engrossing novel, and a fine example of Christie's talent outside of mysteries.

 An Afternoon Walk by Dorothy Eden (1971)  4/5 stars

I was completely hooked by this suspense novel and devoured it in about 24 hours.  Though I felt the ending was too quick, it's a totally entertaining read, full of tension and uncertainty. 

Bride of Pendorric by Victoria Holt  (1963)  4/5 stars

This is a lightly romantic novel of gothic suspense which was fully entertaining and engrossing.  

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen (2025)  3/5 stars

This thriller had a compelling start, but fizzled out to an underwhelming ending.

Wait for What Will Come by (Elizabeth Peters writing as) Barbara Michaels (1978)  3/5 stars

This gothic thriller had a complicated and sometimes silly plot, but it was still quite enjoyable. 

Whistle for the Crows by Dorothy Eden (1962)  3/5 stars

A gothic thriller/mystery that, while not fully believable, was still engrossing and entertaining. 

The Copenhagen Connection by Elizabeth Peters (1982)  3/5 stars

An improbable but still enjoyable mystery.

Audiobooks Completed:

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (1900)  4/5 stars

I don't care for the movie, but I found the book (which is a good deal different from the film) to be generally enjoyable, though Baum's writing isn't strong enough to make me want to read more of the series right away.  Like traditional fairy tales, it's a bit violent here and there, but overall this imaginative story is a fun read and I can see how it influenced other later fantasy writers.

I only completed one audiobook this month, as, after many, many starts and stops, I began a reread of the first of the long Palliser novels by Trollope.

Did Not Finish:

Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble 

One Small Lie by Colleen Coble

I mostly enjoyed the first book I read by Coble, and though I could only give it three stars, I was interesting in reading more of her thrillers.  Neither of these two worked for me, though, due to credibility issues; I doubt I'll try any more.

House at Riverton by Kate Morton

Morton seems to be really hit-or-miss with me -- I've read and enjoyed two, and stopped midway with another two.  This makes the third I've not finished, though I really tried.  Ten hours into the audiobook, with ten still left to go, I just had to give up.  I own two more by her, but am really hesitant to try them now. 

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

This popular time travel-mystery/suspense was not a good fit for me.

Everyone Is Lying to You by Jo Piazza 

Another popular suspense that just wasn't for me.

The Mind Readers by Margery Allingham

This is my second time trying this penultimate Campion novel; for some reason I'm just not able to get into it.

An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott

Just wasn't what I was in the mood for at the time.

The Christmas Egg by Mary Kelly

This is from the British Library Crime Classics collection so I was eager to read it, but I found it to be hard to follow.  It's probably a case of "it's not you, it's me".