Saturday, January 1, 2022

What I Read In 2021

 155 books total, but 82 of them were historical mysteries.  Hmmmm...... I really think I need to try to broaden my focus for 2022.

Below are the lists, as divided by genre.  The total will be more than 155 because some books are really in more than one genre and thus appear on more than one list.

 

Cozy Mystery (24 total)
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman **** (good mystery, sad book) mystery, almost a cozy 1/18/21
Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams **** cozy 1/23/21
Suddenly Psychic by by Elizabeth Hunter **** cozy 2/28/21
Death By Chocolate by Sally Bearnathy ***** (excellent cozy) cozy 3/22/21
The Spies of Shilling Lane by Jennifer Ryan *** (stock characters, too easy solutions, preachy, but funny) cozy/historical 3/28/21
The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James ** cozy (mousy, wimpy protag, lying love interest, obvious villain, predictable use of cat) 4/6/21
His Right Hand by Mette Ivie Harrison (2nd time) **** edgy cozy 5/29/21
For Tine And All Eternities by Mette Ivie Harrison (2ndtime) **** edgy cozy 5/30/21
Not of This Fold by Mette Ivie Harrison (2ndtime) **** edgy cozy 6/2/21
 A Study in Stone by Michael Campling ** (very juvenile writing) cozy w/male protag 6/10/21
 The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths ***** sort of cozy mystery 6/11/21
 The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson **** (too pro-pot, has teens as overnight camp counselors in ’78) YA mystery 7/9/21
 Murder, She Edited by Kaitlyn Dunnett **** (much better than ave cozy) Cozy Mystery 8/14/21
  Penned In by Linda Cahoon ** Cozy Mystery 9/1/21
 Haunted Hibiscus by Laura Childs **** cozy 9/17/21
 Fleece Navidad by Maggie Sefton *** (obvious killer) 9/21/21
 The Coloring Crook by Krista Davis **** cozy mystery 10/4/21
 Murder Ink by Betty Hechtman **** cozy mystery 10/11/21
 Writing a Wrong by Betty Hechtman *** (writer hates commas & question marks, uses UK punctuation for direct quotes but US spelling, is cliche about cliches) cozy 10/13/21
  The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman *** cozy 10/27/21
 Bad Housekeeping by Maia Chance **** cozy mystery 11/5/21
 Bad Neighbors by Maia Chance **** cozy mystery 11/6/21
  Death At High Tide by Hannah Dennison *** cozy mystery 11/15/21
 Death In Castle Dark by Veronica Bond *** cozy 12/29/21


Historical Mystery (82 total)
A Presumption of Death by Jill Paton Walsh **** historical mystery 1/27/21
Callendar Square by Anne Perry *** (no denouement) historical mystery 1/28/21
The Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry *** (no denouement) historical mystery 1/29/21
The Late Scholar by Jill Paton Walsh *** historical mystery 2/3/21
Thrones and Dominions by Sayers and Walsh *** (143 pages/7 chapters of exposition before the murder. Ugh.) historical mystery 2/6/21
Resurrection Row by Anne Perry *** (no denouement) historical mystery 2/8/21
Rutland Place by Anne Perry *** (has a denouement, but justice is not served) historical mystery 2/9/21
Bethlehem Road by Anne Perry (finally! a denouement and a satisfying end!) historical mystery 2/10/21
Highgate Rise by Anne Perry *** (no denouement) historical mystery 2/13/21
 Belgrave Square by Anne Perry **** historical mystery 2/15/21
 Farriers’ Lane by Anne Perry *** (obvious villain) historical mystery 2/19/21
 The Hyde Park Headsman  by Anne Perry ***** historical mystery 2/21/21
 Bluegate Fields by Anne Perry **** historical mystery 2/22/21
 Death in the Devil’s Acre by Anne Perry **** historical mystery 2/22/21
Traitors’ Gate by Anne Perry **** historical mystery 2/25/21
 Pentecost Alley by Anne Perry **** historical mystery 2/26/21
 Paragon Walk by Anne Perry **** historical mystery 2/27/21
 Ashworth Hall by Anne Perry *** (really good until the end; murderer not revealed/caught) historical mystery 3/1/21
 Brunswick Gardens by Anne Perry **** historical mystery 3/3/21
 Bedford Square by Anne Perry **** historical mystery 3/5/21
 Half Moon Street by Anne Perry *** (unrealistic motive for crime) historical mystery 3/8/21
 The Whitechapel Conspiracy by Anne Perry **** (she finally made a denouement!) historical mystery 3/10/21
 The Dark Heart of Florence by Tasha Alexander **** (villain was evident from 1st murder, treasure spot less evident, timely side plot designed to show terror of religious right & destruction of art & critical thinking) historical mystery 3/27 21
 The Spies of Shilling Lane by Jennifer Ryan *** (stock characters, too easy solutions, preachy, but funny) cozy/historical 3/28/21
 Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) **** historical mystery 4/10/21
 Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) ***** historical mystery 4/11/21
 Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) ***** historical mystery 4/12/21
 Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) **** historical mystery 4/14/21
  An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) ***** (superb!) historical mystery 4/16/21
 Among The Mad by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) **** historical mystery 4/18/21
 The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) **** historical mystery 4/19/21
 A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) **** historical mystery 4/21/21
 Elegy For Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) **** historical mystery 4/22/21
 Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) **** historical mystery 4/23/21
 A Dangerous Place by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) **** historical mystery 4/24/21
 Journey To Munich by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) *** (based on assumption that every woman wants to be a mother) historical mystery 4/25/21
 In This Grave Hour by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) **** historical mystery 4/26/21
 To Die But Once by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) ***** historical mystery 4/27/21
 The American Agent by Jacqueline Winspear (2nd time) **** historical mystery 4/28/21
 The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear **** historical mystery 4/29/21
 An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn *** historical, A/A 5/3/21
 The Huntress by Kate Quinn ***** WWII/Cold War historical, crime 7/12/21
 Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley **** historical mystery (London, 1881) 7/25/21
 Scandal Above Stairs by Jennifer Ashley **** historical mystery (London, 1881) 7/26/21
 Death in Kew Gardens by Jennifer Ashley **** historical mystery (London, 1881) 7/27/21
 Murder in the East End by Jennifer Ashley **** historical mystery (London, 1882) 7/28/21
 A Soupcon of Poison by Jennifer Ashley **** historical mystery (London, 1880) 8/1/21
 The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex *** (lame ending) historical mystery 8/20/21
 Death At The Crystal Palace by Jennifer Ashley **** historical mystery 8/23/21
 Mrs. Jeffries and the Yuletide Weddings by Emily Brightwell **** historical mystery 9/23/21
 Mrs. Jeffries and the Feast of St. Stephen by Emily Brightwell **** historical mystery 9/25/21
 Mrs. Jeffries and the Alms of the Angel by Emily Brightwell **** historical mystery 9/26/21
 Mrs. Jeffries and the Three Wise Women by Emily Brightwell *** historical mystery 9/28/21
 Mrs. Jeffries Takes The Stage by Emily Brightwell *** historical mystery 10/1/21
 Mrs. Jeffries Takes The Stage by Emily Brightwell *** historical mystery 10/1/21
 Mrs. Jeffries Forges Ahead by Emily Brightwell **** historical mystery 10/2/21
 Mrs. Jeffries Delivers The Goods by Emily Brightwell **** historical mystery 10/7/21
 The Secrets Of Wishtide by Kate Saunders **** historical mystery 10/8/21
 Laetitia Rodd and the Case of the Wandering Scholar by Kate Saunders **** historical mystery 10/15/21
 Mrs. Jeffries Demands Justice by Emily Brightwell **** historical mystery 10/16/21
 The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair ***** historical mystery 10/19/21
 A Royal Affair by Allison Montclair ***** historical mystery 10/20/21
 Portrait of Peril by Laura Joh Rowland *** historical mystery 10/22/21
 Mrs. Jeffries and the Mistletoe Mix Up by Emily Brightwell 10/23/21
 Mrs. Jeffries Defends Her Own by Emily Brightwelll *** historical mystery 10/25/21
 Mrs. Jeffries on the Ball by Emily Brightwell **** historical mystery 10/29/21
 An Old, Cold Grave by Iona Whishaw ***** historical mystery 11/7/21
 A Sorrowful Sanctuary by Iona Whishaw ***** historical mystery 11/9/21
 A Deceptive Devotion by Iona Whishaw **** historical mystery 11/11/21
 The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden by Kate Saunders **** historical mystery 11/13/21
 Death In A Darkening Mist by Iona Whishaw **** historical mystery 11/19/21
  A Bitter Draught by Sabrina Flynn **** historical mystery 12/6/21
 Death Comes To The Nursery by Catherine Lloyd **** historical mystery 12/8/21
 Death Comes To The Village by Catherine Lloyd **** historical mystery 12/10/21
 Death Comes To London by Catherine Lloyd **** historical mystery 12/ 11/12
 Death Comes To Kurland Hall by Catherine Lloyd **** historical mystery 12/12/21
 Death Comes To The Fair by Catherine Lloyd **** historical mystery 12/15/21
 Death Comes To The School by Catherine Lloyd **** (historical mystery, best in series so far) 12/17/21
 Death Comes To Bath by Catherine Lloyd **** historical mystery 12/20/21
 A Lethal Lesson by Iona Whishaw ***** historical mystery 12/21/21
 The Midnight Hour by Elly Griffiths *** historical mystery (anachronisms, poor research) 12/23/21
 Death Comes To The Rectory by Catherine Lloyd **** historical mystery 12/26/21



Crime (9 total)
A Song For The Dark Times by Ian Rankin ***** crime, Tartan Noir 1/16/21
The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths ***** crime 6/12/21
The Zig-Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths ***  crime 6/13/21
The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths **** crime 6/16/21
Now You See Them by Elly Griffiths **** crime 6/17/21
 Smoke And Mirrors by Elly Griffiths **** crime 6/18/21
The Vanishing Box by Elly Griffiths **** crime 6/20/21
The Huntress by Kate Quinn ***** WWII/Cold War historical, crime 7/12/21
 The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths  **** crime 10/10/21


Historical (12 total)
Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce **** historical, WWII, chicklit 3/30/21
The Last Bookshop In London by Madeline Martin *** historical, WWII, chicklit 4/30/21
The Lost Apothecary by  Sarah Penner **** historical, chicklit 5/4/21
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn ***** (predictable “surprises” but still really good) historical 5/13/21
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan *** (cute, but characters not in depth, problems solved too easily, too didactic) historical, WWII, chicklit 5/14/21
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn *** (very dark WWI & II) historical, A/A 5/26/21
The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (again) ***** sci-fi/historical time travel 6/24/21
To Say Nothing Of The Dog by Connie Willis (3rd time) ***** sci-fi/historical time travel 6/28/21
The Paris Apartment by Kelly Bowen ***** WWII, Historical 7/5/21
 The Huntress by Kate Quinn ***** WWII/Cold War historical, crime 7/12/21
 The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict *** Historical Fiction 9/4/21
 The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict ***** historical 12/30/21

Chicklit (4 total)
Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce **** historical, WWII, chicklit 3/30/21
The Last Bookshop In London by Madeline Martin *** historical, WWII, chicklit 4/30/21
The Lost Apothecary by  Sarah Penner **** historical, chicklit 5/4/21
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan *** (cute, but characters not in depth, problems solved too easily, too didactic) historical, WWII, chicklit 5/14/21

Sci-Fi (2 total)
The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (again) ***** sci-fi/historical time travel 6/24/21
To Say Nothing Of The Dog by Connie Willis (3rd time) ***** sci-fi/historical time travel 6/28/21

Fantasy (3 total)
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland *** (no research on setting, dialect) YA Fantasy 6/7/21
The Empire of Dreams by Rae Carson ***** YA fantasy 7/15/21
The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith *** (predictable) YA historical fantasy 9/11/21

Realistic (4 total)
Sourdough: or, Lois and Her Adventures in the Underground Market by Robin Sloan *** (disappointingly dull climax, end) realistic 3/13/21
Prodigal Daughter by Mette Ivie Harrison * (NOT a mystery, just a #MeToo rant with stock characters and no real plot) 6/25/21
Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson **** (unnecessary hate for teacher, clueless parents) YA realistic, A/A 7/8/21
Lucy Clark Will Not Apologize by Margo Rabb ** (caricatures, not characterization, bad teachers) YA, “realistic” 7/29/21


Steampunk (3 total)
Romancing The Werewolf by Gail Carriger ***** steampunk/paranormal 1/19/21
Meat Cute by Gail Carriger **** steampunk, paranormal 2/11/21
How To Marry A Werewolf by Gail Carriger ***** paranormal, steampunk 2/28/21

Paranormal (5 total)
Romancing The Werewolf by Gail Carriger ***** steampunk/paranormal 1/19/21
Meet Cute by Gail Carriger **** steampunk, paranormal 2/11/21
How To Marry A Werewolf by Gail Carriger ***** paranormal, steampunk 2/28/21
The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith *** (predictable) YA historical fantasy 9/11/21
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson **** YA paranormal 11/4/21

Action/Adventure (3 total)
An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn *** historical, A/A 5/3/21
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn *** (very dark WWI & II) historical, A/A 5/26/21
Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson **** (unnecessary hate for teacher, clueless parents) YA realistic, A/A 7/8/21

Non-Fiction History (14 total)
The Pinks: The First Women Detectives, Operatives, and Spies with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency by Chris Enss **** non-fiction, US, 1800s, history 1/2/21
How To Behave Badly In Elizabethan England by Ruth Goodman *** (has some glaring errors) non-fiction, history, English Renaissance 1/5/21
Interior Desecrations by James Lileks ***** non-fiction, 70s, decorating, history, humor 1/29/21
Tudor Monastery Farm by Peter Ginn, Ruth Goodman, and Tom Pinfold **** (poor editing) non-fiction, historical, Tudor, agriculture 2/5/21
The Doctors Blackwell by Janice P Nimura **** non-fiction, history, biography, women’s issues 2/7/21
American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee by Karen Abbott *** non-fiction, biography 3/12/21
Wartime Farm by Peter Ginn, Ruth Goodman, Alex Langlands **** (missing whole topics covered in BBC series) non-fiction, history 3/21/21
A Season With The Witch by JW Ocker (2nd time) ***** non-fiction, travel, history 4/7/21
Fifty Foods That Changed The Course Of History by Bill Price *** non-fiction, food, history 5/7/21
 Victorian Pharmacy by Jane Eastoe **** (does not explain why some recipes are poisonous)  non-fiction, history 5/9/21
Elements of a Home by Amy Azzarito **** non-fiction, history 6/7/21
 America’s Women by Gail Collins ***** non-fiction, history, women’s issues 7/22/21
 Black Tudors by Miranda Kaufmann *** (kind of dull) NF history, Tudors 8/7/21
 The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair ***** NF art, history 12/31/21

Non-Fiction Travel (2 total)
A Season With The Witch by JW Ocker (2nd time) ***** non-fiction, travel, history 4/7/21
Gastro Obscura; A Food Adventurer’s Guide by Cecily Wong and Dylan Thuras ***** Non-Fiction, Food. 12/22/21


Non-Fiction Food/Cooking (4 total)
Beating the Lunchbox Blues by JM Hirsch ***** non-fiction, cookbook 1/10/21
 Fifty Foods That Changed The Course Of History by Bill Price *** non-fiction, food, history 5/7/21
Truly Madly Pizza by Suzanne Lenzer. * non-fiction, cookbook (but it’s really a rambling memoir) 7/19/21
Gastro Obscura; A Food Adventurer’s Guide by Cecily Wong and Dylan Thuras ***** Non-Fiction, Food. 12/22/21


Non-Fiction Biography/Autobiography (4 total)
The Doctors Blackwell by Janice P Nimura **** non-fiction, history, biography, women’s issues 2/7/21
A Woman’s Crusade: Alice Paul and the Battle for the Ballot by Mary Walton **** non-fiction, biography 2/23/21
American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee by Karen Abbott *** non-fiction, biography 3/12/21
Truly Madly Pizza by Suzanne Lenzer. * non-fiction, cookbook (but it’s really a rambling memoir) 7/19/21

Non-Fiction Women’s Issues (4 total)
The Pinks: The First Women Detectives, Operatives, and Spies with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency by Chris Enss **** non-fiction, US, 1800s, history 1/2/21
The Doctors Blackwell by Janice P Nimura **** non-fiction, history, biography, women’s issues 2/7/21
A Woman’s Crusade: Alice Paul and the Battle for the Ballot by Mary Walton **** non-fiction, biography 2/23/21
America’s Women by Gail Collins ***** non-fiction, history, women’s issues 7/22/21

Non-Fiction Art, Crafts (3 total)
Interior Desecrations by James Lileks ***** non-fiction, decorating, history, humor 1/29/21
Wire-O-Mania by Klutz *** non-fiction, crafts 6/14/21
The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair ***** NF art, history 12/31/21

Non-Fiction Writing (1 total)
1. Monster, She Wrote by Lisa Kroger *** non-fiction, writing 3/22/21

Humor (1 total)
1. Interior Desecrations by James Lileks ***** non-fiction, decorating, history, humor 1/29/21

YA (8 total)
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland *** (no research on setting, dialect) YA Fantasy 6/7/21
Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson **** (unnecessary hate for teacher, clueless parents) YA realistic, A/A 7/8/21
 The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson **** (too pro-pot, has teens as overnight camp counselors in ’78) YA mystery 7/9/21
The Empire of Dreams by Rae Carson ***** YA fantasy 7/15/21
Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres **** MG realistic 7/23/21
Lucy Clark Will Not Apologize by Margo Rabb ** (caricatures, not characterization, bad teachers) YA, “realistic” 7/29/21
The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith *** (predictable) YA historical fantasy 9/11/21
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson **** YA paranormal 11/4/21