You know that saying about old dogs and new tricks? I've been a book blogger now for 20 years (my blogiversary is in August) in which time I have basically ignored Bookstagram. (I haven't even tried BookTube or BookTok.) I've always told myself that when book blogs go away, so will I. However, in the name of adaptability and keeping myself on publishers' radars, I've been trying to beef up my Bookstagram presence, even though I am no kind of photographer, videographer, or creative content creator. I know my way around Canva, but that's about it. It's been a bit rough and, honestly, I'm not sure this old dog can really learn new tricks. For now, I'm giving it a shot. If you have an account on Bookstagram, especially one that needs a little love, let me know and I'll give it a visit. I would love it if you would return the favor: https://www.instagram.com/blogginboutbooks/. I follow back as long as you don't use a lot of profanity or post content I find offensive. As for mine, it will be all books, no drama! 

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Today's TTT prompt is a great one—Top Ten Books That Live In My Head Rent-Free—even though my mind is drawing a blank on it. I mentioned that I'm old (turning the ripe old age of 51 this year), so it shouldn't surprise you that my memory is declining rapidly. Even my favorite books are foggy in my mind. To make things easier on myself, I'm going to go rogue and do an easier topic: Top Ten Books I've Read This Month. In addition to being old, I'm also lazy, okay? LOL

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.

It just so happens that I've finished exactly ten books so far this month. Here they are in the order I read them:

* Hyperlinked titles will take you to my Goodreads review of each book.

1. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke—This odd little novel was a book club pick, chosen by a woman who adores it. None of the rest of us could quite understand why because we all thought it was confusing and weird. The writing is undeniably vivid, even lovely in places, but man, it's a strange read. Not at all my kind of thing.

The story is about a man who lives in a dreamlike world in a building with endless, empty rooms. Only one other living person exists with him. As Piranesi observes and examines his lonely existence, he begins to understand that there's more going on than meets the eye. What is this world? How has he come to be here? What is his purpose? He's determined to find the answers to his now-burning questions.

2. A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie—Published in 1993, this is the first book in Crombie's popular, long-running Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James mystery series. In this series opener, readers are introduced to Kincaid, a Superintendent with Scotland Yard, who is taking a reluctant holiday at a time-share bed and breakfast in the Yorkshire countryside. His vacation is interrupted when the hotel handyman comes to a suspicious end. The local constabulary aren't the brightest bobbies, so Kincaid steps in to help. He knows a murder when he sees one and he will solve this one, with or without help from the locals.

Although A Share in Death is definitely dated and rather slow-moving, I enjoyed it overall. I plan to keep reading the series.

3. The Silent Ones by Anna McPartlin—This Irish crime novel is set in County Kerry in 1980. Mary Shea is one of only a few female gardaí in the country, and the solo one in her quiet coastal town. Her presence is barely tolerated by her male colleagues, who harangue her with sexist jokes and catcalls, demands for tea, and thinly-veiled threats. It's only when she discovers the body of a murdered newborn on the beach, prompting the arrival of a major crimes team from Dublin, that Mary starts to earn some respect. To the astonishment of the local lads, Matt Foley, who heads the investigation, actually wants to hear Mary's opinions. When he makes her his right-hand woman, she feels seen for the first time, in spite of her colleagues' lewd suggestions and insinuations about just how closely the two are working. Mary only cares about helping Matt find out who hurt the tiny baby. It's a horrible, harrowing case that will challenge and try her, causing her to question not only her job choice but her own instincts as a garda and a woman.

Even though The Silent Ones is a heavy, depressing read, it's also atmospheric and engrossing. I blew through it in a day because the story is so compelling. This is the first book in a planned series; I can't wait for the next one.  

4. It's Not Her by Mary Kubica—This murder mystery revolves around two related families who go on vacation together at a lakeside resort in Wisconsin. Although the place turns out to be a dive, Courtney Gray is determined to make the best of it, especially for the kids, two spiky teenagers and their lovable younger sisters. There's already tension in the ranks when the unthinkable happens: Courtney's brother and sister-in-law are brutally murdered in their cottage and their teenage daughter is missing. Mouthy, rebellious 17-year-old Reese quickly becomes the police's primary suspect, but Courtney refuses to believe her niece could be capable of such a heinous crime. As the police search for answers and Courtney launches her own investigation, hidden secrets come to light, leading to a shocking conclusion to a puzzling case.

I didn't end up loving this thriller, but it definitely kept me reading. It's an engrossing, twisty page turner. 

5. Tell Me What Really Happened by Chelsea Sedoti—This zippy YA mystery is about a group of teens who go camping in the woods at the behest of Maylee Hayes, a glossy, self-obsessed social media influencer who never does anything that makes her look less than her glamorous best. Like camping. When Maylee dies mysteriously during the trip, the kids are taken to the police station for questioning. Through transcripts of their interviews with the cops, each person tells a different story about Maylee, the kids' relationships with one another, and what really happened in the woods.

Tell Me What Really Happened is a fast-paced, intriguing mystery that kept me buzzing through the pages. It's predictable, but entertaining. The transcript format gives the story a fresh feel. Incidentally, if you're doing the 52 Book Club's 2026 Reading Challenge, this book fills Prompt #3 (Written Without Quotation Marks) nicely. 

6. Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister—McAllister's newest tells the story of a chef who flies to Texas from her home in London to spend two weeks camping with her teenage daughter, who has been in the U.S. attending a music camp. The next morning, Simone wakes up in their AirBnB to find her daughter missing. In her bed, she discovers a burner phone with a message saying that Lucy has been taken. If Simone wants to see her again, she must perform a series of dangerous tasks. If she contacts the police, her daughter dies. Desperate, Simone follows the instructions. Things quickly go from bad to worse, leaving a frantic mother running for her life, doing everything she can to save her daughter.

McAllister is one of my auto-read authors and her books are usually hits for me. Caller Unknown, though, just seems totally far-fetched and unbelievable. I couldn't put it down, true, but it was still just an average read for me.

7. Red Rising by Pierce Brown—This YA sci-fi/dystopian novel is the first in a popular series. It stars Darrow, a hotshot HellDiver who lives in an underground mining colony on Mars. As a lowly Red, his duty is to risk his life harvesting valuable helium-3, an element needed to make Mars and other planets livable for those who are stranded on a dying Earth. Despite his daily sacrifice, he lives in a brutal, impoverished community where Reds are never allowed to get ahead. When a series of tragic events offers him the unbelievable chance to lead a Red rebellion by going undercover as a rich, privileged Gold, he takes it. Proving himself brings him to the brink of death, but he has to endure it to accomplish his task of ushering in the rising of Red. 

Red Rising is a bit confusing and slow at first, but once I got into it, I enjoyed it. It's a little too similar to The Hunger Games for me, though. I wanted more originality. Still, I liked it for the most part and plan to read on in the series.

8. We Solve Murders by Richard Osman—This series opener was one of my favorite reads of 2024. It's typical Osman—upbeat, funny, clever, and entertaining—although I enjoyed it more than The Thursday Murder Club. It's a cozy read that stars a bodyguard who ropes her homebody father-in-law into helping her and her fiery new client solve a string of puzzling murders. I wanted to reread We Solve Murders in preparation for the forthcoming sequel, and it was just as fun to read the second time around.

See my full blog review here.

9. We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman (available September 15, 2026)—Stepping back into the world of We Solve Murders was so delightful! Although I didn't dig this sequel quite as much as I did the first book, I still enjoyed it a great deal. 

In this outing, the main characters from We Solve Murders have set up their own private detecting agency, which is, sadly, not getting any business. When a small-time British criminal living in Italy contacts them about the murder of his bodyguard, Amy, Steve, and Rosie hop on Rosie's private jet to meet with him. Another bodyguard is killed, then another. Someone is obviously sending a warning to the criminal, but why? And who will be next? When one of the detectives' close friends is targeted, solving the case becomes even more critical. Whodunit?

10. We Don't Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry—I've heard the sobering statistics about the disparity between media coverage of missing Black and brown people vs. their white counterparts, but I'm not sure I've ever read a book on the subject. This novel sheds light on that disparity. It's about a journalist who's cleaning out her late grandmother's home when she discovers a photograph of an aunt she never knew she had. She's even more shocked when she finds out that Aunt Carol was one of six Black teenaged girls who went missing from the same Raleigh neighborhood back in 1965, never to be seen again. Turns out, their disappearances were hardly investigated by the police and received no coverage in the newspapers. Incensed by the injustice, the journalist vows to find answers for the families of the Raleigh Six. In doing so, she uncovers dark family secrets that leave her questioning everything she knows. At the same time, she's struggling with questions about her identity as a sister, a daughter, a wife, a career woman, and a potential mother.

Although We Don't Talk About Carol is a heavy read, it's also an important, absorbing, and surprisingly hopeful one. It's a solid debut. I'm looking forward to seeing what Berry does next.

See my full blog review here.

There you go, the ten books I've read so far in July. Have you read any of them? What did you think? What books live rent-free in your head? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Today's TTT prompt is a great one—Top Ten Book Titles That Include the Word [Insert Word of Your Choice Here]—but I'm going to scooch ahead to next week's topic instead since I won't be in town on the 14th. That one is: Top Ten Books I Want to Read By New to Me Authors. Naturally, I could make a Top 100 list on this topic, but I'll *try* to stick to just 10.

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.

Before we get to that, though, I want to give a shoutout to Carol over at Reading Ladies Book Club. Every year, she asks fellow book bloggers to join her for a fun collab called Summer's One Must Read Book in which they recommend the one title they most feel like you should read. I've been privileged to contribute for several years now and I love it! The collab is a great way to get new reading recommendations, find new bloggers to follow, and support ones you may already be familiar with. Curious to know which book I recommended? Check out the post here.

1. Red Rising by Pierce Brown—I've had this YA dystopian novel, the first in a popular trilogy, on my shelf for years. It happened to come up in a conversation with friends during our Fourth of July getaway and their rave reviews made me want to give it a go. Although the story was a tad confusing at first, I'm finding it a very gripping read now that I'm into it.

The story revolves around 16-year-old Darrow, who lives in a mining colony beneath the surface of Mars. He performs a dangerous job in a brutal environment for very little reward, but he knows that his sacrifices are necessary in order to make the planet habitable for the people living on a dying Earth. When Darrow suffers a devastating loss, which leads him to a secret resistance group, he learns some shocking truths about his community and his real role within it. Feeling angry and betrayed, Darrow agrees to go undercover as one of the enemy in order to bring down the hierarchy from within. Can he accomplish his mission in a glittering Gold world without losing his earthy Red soul?

2. The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan—This is the first book in a series starring a ghostwriter who solves mysteries. In this initial outing, the writer is penning the story of Senator Dorothy Gibson, the first independent candidate to run for President of the United States. After the shocking results of the election, she has become the most talked about woman in America. It's a prime assignment for the ghostwriter, but when Dorothy's neighbor dies suspiciously, the ghostwriter is roped into another job: helping to solve a murder.

3. Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel—At 77, Pepper Mills is forced into living at a retirement home by her three children. Unexpectedly, she not only makes friends in her new home but she also falls in love. When she begins to experience the symptoms of morning sickness, she's astonished to discover that she's pregnant. The news shocks everyone, leading to a media circus that has everyone from Pepper's children to complete strangers voicing an opinion about what should happen next. Such an intriguing premise!

4. The Stargazer of Nantucket by Julie Gerstenblatt—It's 1851 and Winifred Starbuck's parents are about to embark on their last merchant voyage, a trip of a lifetime from Nantucket Island to San Francisco to China. Forbidden from going, Winifred stows away. Soon, she's on a thrilling adventure, one that will test her mettle, break open shocking family secrets, and change her life forever.

5. The Matchbox Girl by Alice Jolly—No one really understands Adelheid Brunner, a girl who doesn't speak, using only her writing and drawing to communicate. No one understands why she's obsessive about her goal of owning 1000 matchboxes. Dr. Asperger is the one person who seems to get her. When he invites her to live at his pediatric clinic in Vienna with other children like herself, she agrees. It's 1938, however, and things are only getting more heated in the city. Adelheid soon realizes she's in the middle of a dangerous game she can't even begin to understand.

6. The Fort by Christy K. Lee—I saw this historical novel recommended somewhere, but I can't remember where. Was it on your blog? Anyway, it's set during the middle of the bustling Canada fur trade and features an Englishwoman who comes to the country in order to leave her scandalous past behind. To support herself and her young son, Abigail Williams plans to mend horseshoes in her father's blacksmith shop at Fort Edmonton. When her past catches up with her, Abby escapes with a group of voyageurs heading to Montreal. It's a grueling trip, one she must survive in order to finally create the new life she and her son deserve.

7. Liberty Street by Heather Marshall—Also set in Canada, this dual-timeline novel centers around a notorious women's prison. In 1961, an intrepid female reporter goes undercover at the facility in order to investigate shocking claims made by an inmate. Once she's in, though, she may not be able to get out...Thirty-five years later, unidentified female remains are discovered in a small Ontario cemetery. The police investigation leads back to Mercer Women's Prison. 

8. How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Philipson—A self-help book that teaches people how to get away with murder seems to be the playbook a London serial killer is using to do just that. After being on a mental health leave for six months, Detective Samantha Hansen is eager to prove her competence by catching the murderer.

9. Mother Daughter Sister Stranger by Hank Phillippi Ryan (available September 1, 2026)—This mystery/thriller is about sisters who are the only survivors of the plane crash that killed their parents. The experience forges a tight bond between them that can never be broken. Until it is. When one of the sisters disappears, leaving her daughter behind, the other vows to find her, never expecting her search will expose sinister secrets about the sibling she thought she knew better than anyone. 

10. Game, Set, Murder by Monique L. Stover—The first installment in a new cozy mystery series, this book is about Madeline Quinn, a tennis player whose coach is murdered right before an important tournament. Madeline's sister is the chief of police and, although she knows her sibling will do a thorough job investigating the crime, Madeline also knows that, as an insider, she has a unique perspective on the case. Can the sisters figure out who killed the coach?

There you go, ten books I want to read by authors I've never tried before. Have you read any of them? What did you think? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

I was out of town for last week's Top Ten Tuesday, I'm late to the game today, AND I have no creative ideas for the prompt du jour, BUT I'm here. That counts for something, right? Today, we're supposed to be talking about the Top Ten Books That Include/Feature [insert your favorite theme or plot device here]. The sky is the limit with this one and, yet, I got nothin'. So, I'm going to get a jump on next week's topic: Top Ten Books On My Spring 2025 To-Read List. I'll post a Part Two next week.

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.

- Part One - 

1. Murder on the Page by Daryl Wood Gerber—I just started this cozy mystery today since I'm in the mood for something lighthearted and fun. The story's a little silly—I mean, the heroine's name is Allie Catt, after all—but it's entertaining so far. It's about a murder that takes place at a themed dinner Allie is catering. When her best friend is accused of the killing, it's up to Allie to use all the sleuthing she's learned from her beloved books to catch the murderer.

2. The House of Lost Secrets by Anstey Harris—Ever since Rachel Willoughby first invited Jo Wilding to Clachan, her family's cottage in the wilds of Scotland, it has been a dream refuge for Jo. The rugged landscape captured her heart, as did Jo's brother. Years later, Rachel beckons Jo back to the seaside sanctuary to reveal a long-buried secret, one that could change their friendship forever.

3. Isle of Ever by Jen Calonita (available March 25, 2025)—This forthcoming middle-grade fantasy novel is the first in a new series about a 12-year-old girl who learns she's the heir to an unimaginable fortune. All she has to do is follow a set of clues, find an island that disappeared long ago, and break a 200-year-old curse. Easy peasy! What could possibly go wrong?

4. Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human by Carlos Whittaker—This is my book club's pick for March. It sounds intriguing and inspiring.

5. The Chow Maniac by Vivien Chien (available April 1, 2025)—This is the 11th installment in one of my favorite cozy mystery series. When a rash of thefts and murders descends on Asia Village, private detective Lydia Shephard is called in to help. Enlisting the aid of Lana Lee, she launches an investigation that seems to be pointing to a secret organization that might just have ties to Lana's own family.

6. Red Rising by Pierce Brown—Sci-fi isn't really my thing, but I do like a compelling dystopian story. I've heard so many good things about this book, the first in a series, that I finally just bought myself a copy. It's about a man who lives in a society on Mars that uses a strict caste system. When he discovers that his life at the bottom is a lie, he risks everything to infiltrate the institute, a proving ground for people wanting to be part of the top caste. Will his sacrifice be worth it if he has to become the very thing he despises? 

7. The Sasquatch of Hawthorne Elementary by K.B. Jackson—I need to read a book set in the state where I was born for a reading challenge. This middle-grade novel fits the bill and it just sounds like an enjoyable read. It's about a kid who moves from Florida to Washington State. Fearing he'll be teased for being a Sasquatch hunter, he's thrilled to find two new best friends with the same interest. Together, they form a Bigfoot hunting company and tackle their first intriguing case.

8. Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell—This mystery/thriller doesn't come out until July 29, but I have the e-ARC and I'm dying to read it! The story stars Aubrey Spencer, an architect who is fascinated by derelict and abandoned buildings. While photographing the Seabrink Hotel, a once glamorous edifice that has sat empty for decades but is about to be renovated, she meets an online celebrity who is equally fascinated by the old hotel. When the man's corpse is discovered the next morning at the bottom of a cliff, Aubrey is understandably shaken. Although the police think the death was an accident, she's not so sure. It's not the first time someone has been killed at the old hotel. Aubrey can't let it go until she finds out what really happened to the dead man.

9. Dust by Hugh Howey—I read Wool and Shift earlier this year, then took a break from the intense storyline. Now, I need to finish the trilogy by reading Dust. Jules is the star of the book as she leads Silo 18 in a war to save their lives from destruction.

10. Death at the Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander—I've been enjoying Alexander's Secret Bookcase Mystery series. This third installment sees Annie Murray hosting a spooky dinner party at an old farmhouse with a sinister past. Everything is going swimmingly until a guest is killed at the table. Who murdered the man and why? When her good friend is accused of the crime, Annie finds herself once again investigating a murder.

There you go, ten books I'm hoping to read this Spring. What do you think? Have you read any of them? What are your Spring reading plans? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.