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The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves - finished 4.7.23
The Paper Palace by Miranda Crowley Heller - finished 31.7.23
The Trees by Percival Everett - finished 22.12.23
A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle - finished 17.6.23
Black Hearts by Doug Johnstone - finished 4.1.23
Iron Lake by William Kent Kreuger - finished 3.9.23
A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson - finished 22.6.23
Case Study by Graeme Macrae Burnet - finished 28.4.23
If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor - finished 25.3.23
The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan - finished 20.2.23
The Offing by Benjamin Myers - finished 16.1.23
A Corruption of Blood by Ambrose Parry - finished 6.10.23

And my plus four

Red as Blood by Lilja Sigurdardottir - finished 4.4.23
The Magician by Colm Toibin - finished 24.12.23
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles - finished 31.12.23
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead - finished 16.11.23

What a great list! I really enjoyed Iron Lake, and several other books on your list are on my TBR as well. I hope you enjoy these.

Do you have 12 books? I only count 11. The only book on your list that I've read one of your alternates: The Lincoln Highway, which I really liked.

Lea wrote: "Do you have 12 books? I only count 11. The only book on your list that I've read one of your alternates: The Lincoln Highway, which I really liked."

Well spotted and thank you - now sorted - had missed Jon McGregor’s If nobody speaks of remarkable things

Most of these books are new to me. Good luck!

Great list. I have tried Colson Whitehead twice, and so next year is my last time trying.

I have a couple on my list already, so I will be interested in what you think

Good luck and happy reading

Except for The Lincoln Highway, I haven't read any of these books. Iron Lake is on my TBR because I loved other William Kent Kreuger's books, but everything else is totally new.
I hope they are all good and you'll have a good year of reading. Enjoy!

Iron Lake is very good. I have The Scholar on my list. Will be watching to see what you think!

Great list! A couple I read last year (A Town Called Solace & Iron Lake) & a couple I will be reading soon. Both with book clubs: Harlem Shuffle & Lincoln Highway.
Happy Reading!

It looks like an excellent mix. I have enjoyed a few of Cleeves' books and am looking forward to trying Whitehead. Good luck with 2023.

First Book completed

Black Hearts by Doug Johnstone

Love the Skelf series but this one had too many dramas for me

3 stars

I only have a few of these on my TBR. Good luck with your challenge.

Second Book completed

The Offing by Benjamin Myers

Beautifully written book - warmth and kindness - in post WWII era story of sixteen year old who leaves his mining village near Durham intent on seeing more of the world. Enroute he meets Dulcie an eccentric older lady living what seems an idyllic life

4 stars

Third Book completed

The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan

2nd book in the Cormac Reilly series - of course I didn’t realise and now have to read the first one !

Set in Galway crime novel with Cormac Reilly as lead character / detective. Now to find out if book one is the back story of Emma his girlfriend

4 stars

Fiona wrote: "Third Book completed

The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan

2nd book in the Cormac Reilly series - of course I didn’t realise and now have to read the first one !

Set in Galway crime novel with Corma..."

McTiernan writes a really great mystery, doesn't she?

Fourth Book completed

If nobody speaks of remarkable things by Jon McGregor

I loved Reservoir 13 so had high hopes of this one which had been on my TBR shelf for far too long. Bit disappointed in it if I’m honest

3 stars

Fifth Book completed

Red as Blood by Lilja Sigurdardottir

Second in the Arora series - love the Icelandic setting - if you like scandi-noir I can highly recommend this

Now patiently waiting on book 3

4 stars

Fiona wrote: "Fifth Book completed

Red as Blood by Lilja Sigurdardottir

Second in the Arora series - love the Icelandic setting - if you like scandi-noir I can highly recommend this

Now patiently waiting on b..."

I love this genre; and something about those nordic writers and the cold atmosphere. I will definitely check out book 1.

Sixth book completed

Case Study by Graeme Macrae Burnett

I have loved his three other books and had heard great things about Case Study (long listed Booker) but found it a bit more of a slog. The author’s style is similar to his other books which is laid out as if it is fact rather than fiction. The characters were all particularly disagreeable.

Attended an event this evening to hear GMB discuss the book - very interesting and engaging. Made me reassess my view of the book

3.5 stars

Seventh Book completed

A Fatal Voyage by Tom Hindle

Set on a liner heading to New York from England. A body is found and a policeman on the boat together with a crew member sets out to investigate. Found it rather slow going to begin with but picked up in the latter part. There’s a twist at the end part of which I had guessed. Decent first book for the author

3 stars

Eighth book completed

A Town called Solace by Mary Lawson

I love Sarah Moss, Clare Keegan etc books and so pleased to have read this one. I have Crow Lake on my TBR shelves so will be heading to it shortly.

5 stars

Ninth book completed

The Heron’s Cry by Ann Cleeves

Second in Matthew Venn series - bit of a slow burn but Ann Cleeves reliable as ever

Tenth book completed

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

Story of Elle and Jonas (and Peter) told over 24 hours and 50 years
- really enjoyed the Cape Cod setting

4 stars

Eleventh book completed

Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger

Thoroughly enjoyed the setting and getting to know Cork O’Conner. Loved the setting and descriptions of the area
I’ve read one of the later books in the series so decided to buy the first one when I was on holiday in USA at the end of last year.
Now for the rest of the series ��

4 stars

You are KILLING your list Fiona!

Fiona wrote: "Eleventh book completed

Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger

Thoroughly enjoyed the setting and getting to know Cork O’Conner. Loved the setting and descriptions of the area
I’ve read one of the la..."

Good grief; you're almost done!! Woot!!

It doesn't hurt that the last few books have been 4 & 5 stars. Kudos

Twelfth Book completed

A Corruption of Blood by Ambrose Parry

Third in the Will Raven series set in 1850 Edinburgh.

4 stars

Congrats on completing your challenge, Fiona. I've given up on mine this year...

Bill wrote: "Congrats on completing your challenge, Fiona. I've given up on mine this year..."

Thank you - still trying to complete the remaining four but a bit stuck on Harlem Shuffle and The Magician

I’m saving The Lincoln Highway and The Trees to read in December

Fiona wrote: "Bill wrote: "Congrats on completing your challenge, Fiona. I've given up on mine this year..."

Thank you - still trying to complete the remaining four but a bit stuck on Harlem Shuffle and The Mag..."

Harlem Shuffle required a bit of work on my part, but I ended up enjoying.

Thirteenth book completed

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

I’ve enjoyed the author’s previous books but struggled to get into this one. Slow start and didn’t really engage with Carney the main character.

3 stars

Fiona wrote: "Thirteenth book completed

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

I’ve enjoyed the author’s previous books but struggled to get into this one. Slow start and didn’t really engage with Carney the mai..."

This was my first Whitehead book. I'm hoping the other's I have are more enjoyable. I liked this.....

Fiona wrote: "Thirteenth book completed

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

I’ve enjoyed the author’s previous books but struggled to get into this one. Slow start and didn’t really engage with Carney the mai..."
I'm with you on the Harlem Shuffle. I read it with a book group and everyone loved it but me. I thought is was okay. I did think both The Underground Railroad & The Nickel Boys were great. Tough subjects but very well done.

Congratulations on officially completing your challenge, and kudos for trying to finish them out!

Fourteenth Book completed

The Trees by Percival Everett

New author for me - shortlisted for last year’s Booker Prize

Gruesome, scary but with humour

5 stars

Almost finished The Magician leaving a week to read The Lincoln Highway

Fifteenth book completed

The Magician by Colm Toibin

Fictional story of the life of Thomas Mann. Took me a while but it was interesting

4 stars

Woot! 15/16 is excellent! Congrats again.

Sixteenth book completed (with 2 hours to spare !)

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

I loved A Gentleman in Moscow and liked Rules of Civility so had high hopes. Thankfully I wasn’t disappointed - loved this one - great way to finish 2023 Reading Year

5 stars

Fiona wrote: "Sixteenth book completed (with 2 hours to spare !)

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

I loved A Gentleman in Moscow and liked Rules of Civility so had high hopes. Thankfully I wasn’t disappointe..."

Woot!! 🥳🥳🥳

I'm so impressed that you were able to knock out your last book before year end! I loved The Lincoln Highway also! It seems I must get Rules of Civility next, I haven't read that one! All the best for 2024!