The Year in Books: July

This month's book is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.

I've had the book on my shelf for a few months now (Mum passed it on to me a while ago) but only now have I decided to read it.  It's fat (over 800 pages) with small text so I think it's one of those books you have to want to read.  So far, though, I'm absolutely loving it. 

June's book was Dissolution by C.J. Sansom which was very good indeed.  I do like books set in the Tudor era (mainly Philippa Gregory) and this was different, mainly because there were fewer clandestine sexual encounters!  It has a great plot (Henry VIII is dissolving the monasteries, a Commissioner is murdered at one and Shardlake, a lawyer, is sent there by Cromwell to work out whodunnit) which moves along at a decent speed and I'm definitely going to add the next two books in the series to my reading list.

I'd completely forgotten I'd read Last Night on Earth* by Kevin Maher until I checked my Goodreads page which perhaps indicates how much I enjoyed it!  Reading the blurb has jogged my memory though, but not by much.  Baby Bonnie is born very traumatically (I do remember the opening few pages) which puts pressure on the relationship between her parents Jay and Shauna.  Which is basically all I remember.  I clearly flicked through this very quickly on my Kindle, paying very little attention.

Second Helpings At The Serve You Right Cafe* by Tilia Klebenov Jacobs was a sweet little book.  Emet is out of prison following a ten year sentence and has a job working in a cafe.  He meets Mercedes, goes on his first date in years, only Mercedes has a brother determined to hurt her (and Emet).  An emphasis on second chances (the clue is in the title) this book left me wanting another cup of tea and slice of cake.

The Man Who Watched Women* by Michael Hjorth was absolutely brilliant.  What is it about Scandinavian crime writers?  They all seem to be so good!  This is actually the second book in a series, which I didn't realise, but there is handily a character list at the front (this person has this job and doesn't like this person) and there is enough reminiscing in the story that I generally had a good idea as to why the characters did(n't) like each other.  A serial killer is in prison, but a copycat killer is now murdering women using details about the first serial killer not made public.  The investigating team (police officers, forensic scientists, a psychologist) have their own personal issues to overcome as well as trying to identify and stop the second murderer before more women die.  The storyline was great, with lots of twists along the way and interesting characters.  Highly recommend!

Sealed With A Kiss** by Rachael Lucas was perfectly pleasant but not terribly exciting.

Kate's boring boyfriend ends their relationship (at her best friend's wedding, of all places) and she (Kate) then moves to a remote Scottish island to work for a Laird called Roddy.  All rather predictable but kept me entertained for an hour or so.

Quite a mixture this month!  Now back to The Goldfinch, I have to stop and put it down every now and again as the fat book does hurt my thumbs after a while!

Joining in with Laura.

*Thanks to the publishers via NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book.  All thoughts and opinions are, of course, my own.

**Thanks to Natasha at Pan MacMillan for sending me a copy of this book.  All thoughts and opinions are, of course, my own.