Books read or listened to in February 206

Fortunate Son - Caimh McDonnell

The Family Jewels - Caimh McDonnell

Firewater Blues - Caimh McDonnell

Dead Man's Sins - Caimh McDonnell

Angels in the Moonlight - Caimh McDonnell

Systems collapse

Fugitive Telemetry

Network Effect

Bastille Versus the Evil Librarians

Alcatraz Versus the Dark Talent

Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens

Alcatraz Versus the Knits of Crystallia

Alcatraz Verses the Scrivener's Runes

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians

Books read or listened to in January 2026

A Man with One of Those Faces - Caimh McDonnell 

The book where it all begins. We meet Paul, Brigit, Phil, Jimmy Stewart and Bunny. Paul has one of those faces that puts people in mind of another person. However, this leads Paul, and Brigit into a whole host of trouble. In extricating themselves from some extremely dangerous situations they solve a decades old kidnapping.

In this book, Bunny is a minor character, but he just would leave the poor author alone. Bunny whispered in Caimh's ear, letting him know there were other stories to be told.  He also wouldn't stop waving his hurl around in a rather intimidating fashion. Not bad for a fictional character! 

The Final Game - Caimh McDonnell 

Paul is a friend of Dorothy. Or rather, he was a friend of Dorothy. She is dead, and believed she was going to be murdered. In a hilariously vicious video-will she set up a 'Hunger Games' competition to decide who gets her fortune. The players are Paul and the 'Leeches' (her description of her family). Each player has a co-player.

For the duration of the game, none of the players are allowed to leave the hotel or its grounds. Paul and Brigit play the game, and at the same time investigate Dorothy's death. On the outside, they are assisted by Jimmy Stewart and Phil.

Deccie Must Die - Caimh McDonnell 

Deccie, childhood friend of Paul and Phil, and annoyer of Brigit, is a radio talk show host, loved and hated in equal measures. During the night, his apartment is entered. When he wakes the following day, Deccie is confronted with the messaged 'Deccie must die' in red paint on his sitting room wall. Bridget, Paul, Jimmy Steward and Phil set out to keep Deccie safe and to solve the case.

The Bookshop Below - Georgina Summers

Every magical bookshop needs an owner. Prior to Chiron's death, he names Cassandra his heir. She sets out to restore Chiron's rundown bookshop, and to get her life back on the right tracks. In the process, she learns magic is disappearing, and who killed her former mentor, Chiron.

However, this is story that never really takes off. It lacks direction and oomph. We never learn about the nature of the magic. There's no world building. We're not drawn into to like the characters, and there's pitifully little character development.

The premise is excellent, but the execution is lacking.

All Systems Red, Artificial Condition - Martha Wells

A security unit (sec-unit) hacks its governor module and starts thinking for itself. All it wants to do is watch space operas. Sec-units are a melding of human and technology, but classified as 'inventory'. This particular sec-unit has partial memories of slaughtering a group of miners, and for this reason it has named itself 'Murderbot'.  The book is the first in a series of diaries composed by Murderbot.

This book is just over three hours long, but creates a rich universe. It's peopled by humans, augmented humans, sec-units, sex-units, bots and AI constructs. There's  Alliance and non-Alliance worlds,  different forms of government, big business, and small communes. 

'The Bookshop Below' rambles on for thirteen hours, and does not create such a compelling world, nor interesting characters. In addition, Murderbot has a story arc. It learns more about itself and the universe in which it lives. 

Books finished this month: 5

2025 Reading/Listening Challenge

The aim was to read or listen to 52 books this year. The new reads/listens are marked with an asterisk. 
January (10)

• Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

• Playing with Fire by Derek Landy

• The Faceless Ones by Derek Landy

• Dark Days by Derek Landy

• Mortal Coil by Derek Landy

• Death Bringer by Derek Landy

• Kingdom of the Wicked by Derek Landy

• Last Stand of the Dead Men by Derek Landy

• The Dying of the Light by Derek Landy

• *Geekerella by Ashley Poston (do not recommend)

February (17)

• The Library of the Dead by TL Huchu

• Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments by TL Huchu

• The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle by TL Huchu

• *The Legacy of Arnston House by TL Huchu

• *Fortunate Son by Caimh McDonnell

• Doing Time by Jodi Taylor

• Hard Time by Jodi Taylor

March (27)

• Saving Time by Jodi Taylor

• The Crow Folk by Mark Stay

• Babes in the Wood by Mark Stay

• The Ghost of Ivy Barn by Mark Stay

• The Holly King by Mark Stay

• *The Corn Bride by Mark Stay

• All Systems Red by Martha Wells

• Artificial Condition by Martha Wells

• Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells

• Murder on Milverton Square by GB Ralph

• Poison at Penshaw Hall by GB Ralph

April (33)

• *Death in Douglas Glade by GB Ralph

• The Left-handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix

• The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix

• The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer

• Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

• *Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

May (39)

• *HMRC - The Shadow Cabinet by Juno Dawson

• The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross

• The Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross

• The Fuller Memorandum by Charles Stross 

• Angels in the Moonlight by Caimh McDonnell

• Dead Man's Sins by Caimh McDonnell

June (46)

• Firewater Blues by Caimh McDonnell  
• The Case of the Missing Maid by Rob Olsen *
• The Family Jewels by Caimh McDonnell
• Fortunate Son by Caimh McDonnell
• A Man with One of Those Faces by Caimh McDonnell
• The Day that Never Comes by Caimh McDonnell
• Last Orders by Caimh McDonnell

July (49)

• Pyramids by Terry Pratchett
• Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Nothing recorded for August and September. I have no idea which books were consumed during these two months.

October (62)

• The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
• A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
• The Stranger Times by Caimh McDonnell
• Love Will Tear Us Apart by Caimh McDonnell
• This Charming Man by Caimh McDonnell
• Relight My Fire by Caimh McDonnell
• Tales from The Stranger Times by Caimh McDonnell*
• Ring the Bells by Caimh McDonnell*
• Doing Time by Jodi Taylor
• Hard Time by Jodi Taylor
• Saving Time by Jodi Taylor
• About Time by Jodi Taylor
• Santa Grint by Jodi Taylor

November

• Killing Time by Jodi Taylor
• Out of Time by Jodi Taylor *
• The Library of the Dead by T L Huchu

December

Books - November 2025

 

1. Killing Time

Jodi Taylor

2. Out of Time

Jodi Taylor

3. The Library of the Dead

T L Huchu

4. Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments

T L Huchu

5. The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle

T L Huchu

6. The Legacy of Arniston House

T L Huchu

7. Secrets of the First School

T L Huchu

8. The Ballymuchmore Bog Rocket

Steven Hooper

Books - October 2025

1. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

Becky Chambers

2. A Closed and Common Orbit

Becky Chambers

3. The Stranger Times (The Stranger Times)

Caimh McDonnell

4. Love Will Tear Us Apart

Caimh McDonnell

5. This Charming Man

Caimh McDonnell

6. Relight My Fire

Caimh McDonnell

7. Tales from The Stranger Times

Caimh McDonnell

8. Ring the Bells

Caimh McDonnell

9. Doing Time (Time Police)

Jodi Taylor

10. Hard Time

Jodi Taylor

11. Saving Time

Jodi Taylor

12. About Time

Jodi Taylor

13. Santa Grint

Jodi Taylor

Book Launch: Ring the Bells

What a fantastic book launch!

This afternoon, The Beloved and I, and a group of Stranger Tims, took a walking tour of Manchester. Our Group was led by Elaine (Wonderwife) and Brendan (The Voice). It was marvellous. 

The Case of the Missing Maid

A LGBTQ author I follow asked his reaers to join a Pride Challenge - read a book either written by a LGBTQ author, or whose protagonist is LBGTQ. There was a list of about 30 suggestions. Figuring that people normally worked from the top down, I started at the bottom. "The Case of the Missing Maid" by Rob Osler sparked my interest.

The book was set in 1890s Chicago, USA - a time when people were careful about disclosing their sexuality if they weren't straight. In this time period, it would have been far easier for women to set up home with another woman than it would be for two men. 

It felt like the author was hitting me over the head with the protagonist's (Harriet Morrow) sexuality. At one point, I wanted to shout, "I get it. She'd a lesbian!" I understand the importance of representation... hmm, new thought coming through... The author repeated numerous times about the restrictions placed on women, and the work they were allowed to do.  Did he really 'go on' about the lesbian aspect any more than he did about the restrictions on women? Am I so used to hearing about this that it slipped in under the radar and I didn't even give it a thought?

In many ways, it felt this was the set up book. The characters in the subsequent books will already have been introduced and have a back story. 

Did I enjoy the book? Yeah, it was okay.

Will I re-listen to it? Probably.

Do I want to listen to the next one in the series? If I don't get distracted, then yes.

Books: List of 2024's Books

1. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

2. The Very First Damned Thing by Jodi Taylor

3. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor

Dublin 'Trilogy'

A Man with One of Those Faces

The Day That Never Comes

Angels in the Moonlight

Last Orders

Books: Just One Damned Thing After Another

 

This is the start of the tales of Dr Madeleine Maxwell (Max), and her adventures through time. 

Max has a difficult childhood, of which we learn a more about in subsequent books. There are a few incidents that set Max on the pathway to become a historian at St Mary's Institute of historical Research. It is located in the beautiful St Mary's priory near the charming town of Rushford, and is part of the University of Thirsk.

There are three key events. The first is when young Maddy is hiding in the wardrobe, and finds a book about Troy. Later, in secondary school, Maddy believes she is about to be expelled, but instead the head teacher, Mrs De Winter offers her the chance to make something of her life. This comes in the way of extra tuition, and teaching in how to assimilate material, analyze, condense and report. This training leads Maddy to the University of Thirsk to study history. She  graduates with the PhD in ancient civilisations ('She won't get out of bed for anything later than the Peloponnesian War .' (431–404 BC) . The third event is when Mrs De Winter writes to Maddy suggesting she applies for a job at St Mary's.

This was a interesting take on fantasy time travel. It's most definitely not science fiction time travel. Absolutely no attempt was made to explain how it is possible, it's just presented at a fact. 

The story is good. Max is a presented as an intelligent, out-spoken individual, who is also rather guarded when letting others get too close. 

It's even more interesting coming back to this story, and looking at the same events, but with more information. For example, Max's first meeting with Leon is most definitely not Leon's first meeting with Max. Just as Leon provided help for little Maddy, Max provided help for a younger, heartbroken Leon.

My one question is, "Why did Leon wait almost five years from meeting Max at St Mary's to starting a relationship with her?" Now, of course, the answer is most probably the author was only thinking about the first time Max met Leon. It wasn't until later she realised Leon might have met Max before.  To quote another time traveller, "People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually, from a nonlinear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey... stuff."

Books: The Very First Damned Thing

 

"The Very First Damned Thing" by Jodi Taylor

It centres around Dr Bairstow. He has arrived from the future, just two years after the end of civil war, and he brings with him the secret of time travel. However, for some reason, he despises this term, and insists his unit will not be engaging in time travel. Rather, his team of historians  "will investigate major historical events in contemporary time". 

In Jodi-world, the main novels are sequentially numbered, and the short stories/novellas are slotted in between. This origin story is listed as "0.5", and was published after the first novel, "Just One Damned Thing After Another."

The story is read by Jodi Taylor, and not by Zara Ramm who read the first novel. Zara is a better narrator, and thankfully, Zara narrates almost all of the subsequent novels, novellas and short stories. A good narrator adds so much to the over all performance, bring the book to life.

Books: Legends & Lattes

 

"Legends and Lattes" by Travis Baldree

Viv is an orc adventurer who wants to change the 'is' to a 'was'. Her desire is to escape her current situation, running towards a simpler life, a life filled with stability, and coffee. She's had enough of running, fighting, stab wounds. Instead, she wants lattes and cinnamon rolls.

The story is one of warmth, friendship, stability, and finding things that bring joy and meaning. There's also a very low key budding romance between Viv, and her  assistant, Tandri.

'Feel good fantasy' and 'cosy high fantasy' have been used to describe it. 

At the end, I was satisfied. Girl gets girl, business is restored, the importance of friendship is underlined, and the bad guy meets a sticky end. I wasn't left desperately wanting more, but it was an elegant sufficiency. At some point, I'll probably get the second book.  Actually, I'll add the second book to my wishlist ready and waiting.

Goodbye, Things

I've just finished listening to "Goodbye, Things" by Fumio Sasaki. I'm so glad I was doing other things whilst listening to it, otherwise it would have been a waste of time. The author is self-obsessed, and the content is shallow. 

One reviewer wrote "What becomes immediately obvious, is that minimalism is for the author an aesthetic lifestyle choice, not an ascetic philosophy that aspires to any lofty ideals. The purpose seems pre-occupied wholly with external appearance. It's apt that the book begins with several "case studies" of fellow minimalist bloggers, because that's the quality the reader gets - a 258 page blog post." It's also incredibly weird the number of times he quote "Fight Club".

If you are after a book on minimalism. I'd suggest The Joy of Less.

Favourite Books: Born A Crime

I listened to the Trevor Noah read his book, and it was utterly amazing. He described his childhood; the hateful, barbaric laws of apartheid, and the love and laughter of his family. This man can really tell a story, and mixes the poignant and humorous with such skill and dexterity. "I always believe that funny is serious and serious is funny. You don't really need a distinction between them."

Favourite Books: The ABC Murders

This was my very first introduction to M Poirot and his good friend, Hastings. Together they solve the murders of Alice Ascher of Andover, Betty Barnard of Bexhill, and Sir Carmichael Clarke of Churston. At each murder scene was found an ABC railway guide.

I can distinctly remember reading this book, whilst trying to tan my legs during the summer holidays. I had opened the French doors and arranged cushions over the lip of the door frame. My legs were outside, my torso was inside, and I was cut in half by the blinds. My eyes were (are) too sensitive to be able to read a book in bright sunlight.

Whilst sunning myself, I fell in love with the murder mystery genre. Every summer I would read a few Agatha Christie novels, marvelling in the skills of the detectives. Forty years later, I still love this genre.

Favourite Books: Hilda Hopkins, Murder She Knit

The story starts out with Hilda Hopkins finding her elderly lodger has died in his sleep. He has left his bank card out, along with a his PIN. Hilda realises no one is going to miss him, and decides to keep his death a secret. This enables her to collect not just his rent, but all of his pension. As he will have no grave, Hilda makes a beautiful knitted doll in his memory.

Hilda decides to advertise for a new lodger, but this one proves to be a right pain. A new decision is made, to sedate him, and then garrote him with a knitted cord. This decision leads her on a killing spree, a flight from the law, and into many interesting places including a police cell, a castle in Scotland,  a seaside B&B, and a dominatrix's home.

I thoroughly enjoyed the stories about Hilda and her sociopathic life. I bought a copy of the stories for my Mam, and she loved them too. She has passed them around her circle of friends as is trying to get them back so she can re-read.

Favourite Books: The Grand Sophy

Georgette Heyer is an author I come back to time and time again. I have been reading her books over the last 30 years. The majority of her books are set in the Regency period. I've read a couple of her mysteries and other books, but for some reason I don't get on with them. It's her Regency romances I enjoy.

At their most basic, the stories are about young women who find themselves in difficult circumstances and do things that were outside of the norms of the time. My favourite is "The Grand Sophy". It's a glorious romp of a book. Sophy is foisted on her aunt at very little notice as her widowed father is required to travel to America. Sophy's well mean act turns the household on its head as she works her way through tricky situations to bring about the best for everyone. The final chapters of the book take one little logical step after another, but somehow it ends in utter chaos and confusion, until Sophy puts the final puzzle piece in place, and everything falls out neatly.

It's totally unbelievable, and a thoroughly good read.

Favourite Books: The Lonely Heart Attack Club

This is a book set on the Isle of Man, and written by an acquaintance's husband. The locations are so familiar to me, but it's the characters and humour that have delighted.

Jack owns a coffee shop, a rather down-at-heel coffee shop, and he is desperately trying to keep the business open. He is hopeless, and everything he touches turns to disaster. 

Emma works in the coffee shop, and grows concerned when one of their elderly regulars doesn't show for his morning coffee. She find out where he lives and pops round to check. He has been the victim of charities sending appeals after appeals. The letters keep coming, and he is phoned at all times by people begging for money. Emma helps him get the situation sorted, and learns quite a number of other elderly people in their community have been scammed.

Together Jack and Emma work to create a social group for isolate, elderly people where they can meet, laugh, dance, etc. The group shares information, and they teach each other how not to be scammed.

This description does not express the rounded characters, the humour, and what a joy it is to read. There were sections I had to read multiple times because they were just so funny.

Favourite Books: Skullduggery Pleasant

Meet Skulduggery Pleasant: detective, sorcerer, warrior. ... Oh yeah. And dead.

I love the very word 'skulduggery' - underhand, sneaky, not exactly on the right side of the law, and to team it with 'pleasant' is masterful. To me, it speaks of a likable, a very likable rogue. And, that's what the Skeleton Detective proves to be. He is an intelligent, humourous, wise-cracking person, full of goodhearted devilment. He knows the difference between right and wrong, and also that lawful isn't always the same as right.

Stephanie meets Skulduggery briefly the funeral of her uncle, Gordon Edgley, and then again at the reading of Gordon's will. Gordon was a writer of fiction, and Stephanie learns that Gordon's world might not be as fictional as people first thought. She discovers she has the ability to work magic. Stephanie and Skulduggery team up to do what is right (but perhaps not always what is lawful).

Favourite Books: Good Omens

On Facebook, there's a nomination thingy where for seven days you post a picture of the cover of one of your favourite books, and nominate a friend to do the same. It's very interesting to see what others have been enjoying.

My first choice was 'Good Omens' by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. It's the story of the birth of the Son of Satan, and how he will bring about the end of the world. An angel (Aziraphale) and a demon (Crowley) have been charged with hindering/helping. They later learn there's been a mix up in the hospital, and the boy they thought was Son of Satan is just a brat, and the actual Son of Satan has grown up to be incredibly human. This fully human boy decides he rather likes the world as it is, with a few tweaks, and stops Armageddon.

There's a supporting cast of nuns, Horsemen, bikers, a car that gives error messages in haiku, a couple of witches and witchfinders, and aliens.

To make things even better, Neil Gaimen is bringing the book to television. Along with Pterry, he created the world and wrote the book, and he has written the screen play. The television programmes will very much be grounded in their joint creation. Add onto this David Tennant (Crowley) and Michael Sheen (Aziraphale), and it's going to be good!

The Lonely Heart Attack Club

I am thoroughly enjoying The Lonely Heart Attack Club. It's written by local author, J C Williams. It's a story of love, of romance, OAP Mario cart, and an elderly stalker being hit in the back of the head with a fish.

The start of the book was a bit slow, and I found Jack to be rather cringe worthy. He felt grey and lifeless in the UK, but arriving back in the Isle of Man he blossomed and became real (rather like The Wizard of Oz - everything was in black and white until Dorothy arrived in Oz). 

Jack is a bit of a habit of getting into scrapes from time to time (cf the elderly stalker being hit by a fish). However, he dreams big, and works to make life better for many people.  It just doesn't quite go smoothly. 

The only problem is the story is on my Kindle, and it's currently out of power! I wanna find out what happens!

-----

I've just realised I'm reading the second one first! That might explain why it took a little while to get into it. The book I'm reading is The Lonely Heart Attack Club: Wrinkly Olympics. I've had to pause the Kindle as I was having problems breathing, and my ribs were aching from laughter. There are some people who have a knack of doing the wrong thing at the wrong time, but with the best of intentions - that's Jack.