November was a surprising reading month, in that I discovered a series that blew my socks off. That would be The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower. The books are short (at least at the start of the series) and so far eight volumes have been released. Supposedly many more are to come, which makes my heart happy. Waiting for them is going to be difficult now though, since I am obsessed.

Otherwise, I read six additional books besides the eight Emma M. Lion books. Three in print, three on my Kindle.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower. Read my impassioned review here. All these books are free on Kindle Unlimited. I recommend the Kindle version or borrowing from your library, as the cost will soon add up with all the volumes. 5 whole-hearted stars.

The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O’Neill. I was taken in by the title of the book, as my daughter Sara is a master of “the Irish goodbye”, which is slipping away from a gathering quietly and without farewell. Unfortunately, the book didn’t deliver for me. The book is set at Thanksgiving, when a large family gathers at their Long Island home to celebrate the occasion. Every single member of this dysfunctional family is obnoxious. Without exception. Even the little kids. I may be in the minority, but the hateful characters made this book very hard to finish. I kind of wish I had availed myself of an Irish goodbye and left at the halfway point. 2.5 stars

The Killer Question by Janice Hallet. Have you read anything by this author? Her books are a treat. They are mysteries executed in a mixed-media style. This means that her books are told through emails, voice mail messages, texts, letters, notes, etc. This creates a puzzle-like, immersive reading experience where the reader pieces together the evidence, rather than having a traditional narrator. Don’t be put off by this style. It just takes a minute to get used to, and you will be fine. This book focuses on a rural English pub run by Sue and Mal Eastwood, which is known for its competitive Trivia Nights. A mysterious new team turns up and wreaks havoc with the locals, and soon enough, a body turns up in the river. A great “who-done-it” book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. 4.25 stars

The Other Side of Midnight by Simone St. James is one of this author’s earlier books. You might know her more recent offerings, such as “The Sundown Motel” and “Murder Road”. I enjoyed this mystery set in 1920s London featuring Ellie Winter, a practicing medium specializing in finding lost things. This book was a great combination of a “classic ghost story, historical fiction, and romantic suspense”. 3.75 stars

The Girl Who Was Taken by Charlie Donlea is very highly rated by thriller lovers. I am not exactly that reader, so my rating is lower, so take that with a grain of salt. If you love a good thriller with the missing-girls trope, this is for you. Two high school girls go missing, and while one of them resurfaces, the other remains missing. The missing girl’s sister is a forensic pathologist who devotes herself to finding her sibling. The book is fast-paced and will hit the spot for all you lovers of contemporary suspense. 3.5 stars

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman was a delightful third addition to The Thursday Murder Club series. If you think you might enjoy a mystery featuring four septuagenarians living in a senior community in England, give this series a try. I am late to the party, but I have been loving these books. In this one, Elizabeth, Ron, Joyce, and Ibrahim join forces to solve a decades-old case that has mystified local authorities. Full of charm and humor and characters you will come to love: I highly recommend this series! 5 stars

The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes-Chapman was a spooky, gothic-style mystery that many of you will enjoy as much as I did. On an isolated estate in late seventeenth-century Wales, a disgraced young English doctor uncovers secrets that may well threaten his own life. Due to his circumstances, Dr Henry Talbot has no choice but to accept a mysterious offer of employment by a “Lord Julian”. Dr. Talbot is shunned by the locals and becomes a victim of vandalism by the superstitious villagers. When he discovers that his predecessor died under very suspicious circumstances, he decides to stay on and try to find out what happened. Lots of interesting side characters, and enough twists to make you scratch your head, this was a very entertaining book! Only $1.99 on Kindle Unlimited as I write this. 4 stars

That’s it for November! I hope that if you read any of these, you will let us know what you think in the comments! Later this week, I will have a couple more book-related posts for you, including some suggested “holiday reads”.