LUCY BURDETTE: it’s that time of the month again…no, not that! It’s what we’re reading!! I have been all over the place, from dark to light and back. Of course, I am waiting anxiously for Hank’s new book, and Jenn and Rhys after that. But meanwhile, I am reading The Upstairs Delicatessen by Dwight Garner, a memoir of food and reading that is right up my alley. Also, just finished Ali Rosen‘s Recipe for Second Chances – you will meet her on tomorrow’s blog. And then I went dark and read The Girl by the Bridge by Arnaldar Indridason. Dark Iceland at its chilling best. Finally now I’m reading Mambo in Chinatown by Jean Kwok–a story about two sisters raised by a single father in Chinatown, and the struggle between cultures.. She’s an excellent storyteller! How about you Reds? What are you reading or looking forward to reading?
HALLIE EPHRON: I just finished “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which Jenn recommended ages ago. I love old Hollywood and she totally captures 50s Los Angeles and the movie business. And it has a scene that takes place in my favorite Hollywood haunt, CC Browns (hot fudge sundaes!) And I’ve got Chuck Hogan’s “Gangland” queued up next. I’ve been a huge fan of Hogan ever since he blew me away with “Prince of Thieves.” And, on my bedside table is Phillip Lopate’s brilliant book on essay writing, “To Show and To Tell.”
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: You need to know about Cara Hunter. Cara Hunter is a massive bestseller in the UK, and is just coming to the United states. Her first US release was the incredible almost interactive standalone MURDER IN THE FAMILY, a multimedia tour de force of a crime thriller – not to be missed. The structure alone is worthy of a standing ovation. I loved it so much I looked up her back list, and found that her mystery series set in Oxford and starring DI Adam Fawley is about to be released in the US. I snapped up the first one, called CLOSE TO HOME. I devoured it, and then started book two, IN THE DARK. It's an ensemble cast, with terrific characters and a riveting mystery and gorgeously written. I have not been reading series very much–but this one–I am SO hooked! (If you've ever watched Line of Duty, this has the same vibes. I’m already on book four!
And: Elizabeth Gonzalez James’ THE BULLET SWALLOWER knocked my socks off–it's a magical realism western. Yes, you heard right.
JENN McKINLAY: Hallie, I love that you enjoyed Seven Husbands! Old Hollywood is the best Hollywood, IMHO. January has been home improvement/decluttering month at my house (new flooring - Yay!) so I have been too exhausted to read but two books I recently finished are THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES by Sangu Mandanna and it was just delightful - a cozy fantasy/romcom match up. And the other book I loved was Sarah Stewart Taylor’s THE MOUNTAINS WILD – at the recommendation of several of the Reds – and I just devoured it. A two timeline mystery set in Ireland - perfection!
DEBORAH CROMBIE: I seem to be having a non-fiction moment–I think I have four books going at once! The first is Patrick Bringley’s ALL THE BEAUTY IN THE WORLD, which Hallie recommended a couple of weeks ago, a memoir from a young writer who left his snazzy publishing job after his 
older brother’s death from cancer, and went to work as a guard in the Metropolitan Museum for ten years. Beautifully written, fascinating, and so moving. I’m also rereading, in bits, THE BOYS IN THE BOAT, the Daniel James Brown book on which the film is based. (I had read it when it was first published.) Then one I won’t get through very fast–THE DINNER TABLE a compilation of food essays edited by Ella Risbridger and Kate Young. (Lucy, this one is for you!!) And, lastly, Bill Wyman’s CHELSEA. Yes, that Bill Wyman! It’s a wonderful and intimate look at his (and one of mine) favorite London neighborhood.
Not much fiction at the moment, because deadline, but I’ve just finished the ARC of Marcia Talley’s new Hannah Ives, CIRCLES OF DEATH, which is, as always, a treat, and I’m looking forward to starting the new Connie Berry (ARC again), A COLLECTION OF LIES. This new Kate Hamilton/DI Tom Mallory is set in Devon and I’m really looking forward to it! Also looking forward to the new Laurie King, THE LANTERN’S DANCE.
Oh, and Hank, I thought Cara Hunter’s CLOSE TO HOME sounded so good, so looked it up. Seems I already own it on Kindle…
RHYS BOWEN: I’ve been having a hard time reading recently. What with worry about John’s radiation, my own knee surgery and then a sinus infection that has lingered and lingered I’ve found concentration is hard. Oh, and having my own deadline for the next Georgie book within in the month will do it too.
I am reading Kate Morton’s Homecoming, slowly, bit by bit, savoring the Australian setting which I still miss after all these years. My mom died at this time of year and I was with her in Australia so that setting is particularly raw and poignant right now. But for lighter fare my next door neighbor recommended MISS CECILY’S RECIPES FOR EXCEPTIONAL LADIES. It’s lovely–a young woman whose own life is a mess volunteering at this home for elderly ladies and meeting feisty, crochety Miss Cecily who gives her menus for various occasions that are instructions how to live her life.
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I've been craving an "And Then There Were None" mystery (Locked room mysteries? County house mysteries? We really need an accurate name.) I got loads of great suggestions from the gang at Reds & Readers. I got ONE BY ONE by Ruth Ware and EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE by Benjamin Stevenson, and I'm ready to dive in!
I'm re-reading Mur Lafferty's SF mystery STATION ETERNITY before I start the sequel, CHAOS TERMINAL. You non-SF readers might find this a great series to dip your toe into the genre: the heroine is a young woman who has fled earth because murders keep happening around her and she inevitably winds up solving them. As you might imagine, the real-life consequences of being the main character in cozies is a LOT less fun than the way we write it!
Finally, my non-fiction read is CROSSING: HOW ROAD ECOLOGY IS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OUT PLANET by Ben Goldfarb. Don't be put off by the clunky title; this is a fascinating look at how our ubiquitious road-building has shattered the lives and migration patterns of hundreds of other species. It won practically every science-book award for 2023. Highly recommended.
LUCY: Rhys, I adored that Miss Cecily book! One of my favorites a couple of years ago. I bought it for everyone for Christmas.
Red readers, what are you reading?
