'Algot, Anna Stina and the water of life' had the usual high level of humour from Jonas Jonasson. Clever and witty, set in 1853 rural Sweden as ordinary folk challenge the local aristo. A really entertaining read. #booksky

Richard Osman maintains his deft touch with the murder club members solving another crime in 'The impossible fortune'. Clever plot, humour and heart. #booksky

Nice to have an older female main character in Matt Haigs 'The life impossible'. Mystery, relationships, environmental protection and emotional intelligence woven in with some alien life too on sunny Ibiza. ##booksky

Recent read was 'A rock and a hard place' by JD Kirk. Good crime story set in Highland Scotland with wit and engaging characters. It is the 21st in the DCI Logan series, so I've borrowed the 1st (A litter of bones) and recommend it too. #booksky

Was given 'Dragonfall' by @lrlam.bsky.social as a gift. Very enjoyable read. Dragons and humans, magic and tense action with non binary representation included. First in The Dragon Scales trilogy #booksky

Written on the Dark by @guygavrielkay.bsky.social Another excellent story from one of my favourite weavers of words. Inspired by Medieval France and dove tailing subtly with his other works. Read it slowly so you can luxuriate in it... with the epilogue a perfect final touch #booksky

First 3 in 'The Tyrant Philosophers' series by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Varied characters, sciences and magic. Societies affected by the march of an empire-building military might. Very readable and I look forward to visiting new worlds via the Waygrove. @aptshadow.bsky.social #booksky

Latest read a return to Florence in 1537 for 'The darkest sin' by D.V. Bishop. Murder in a convent the second case for Cesare Aldo. Highly enjoyable. #booksky

'Benbecula' by Graeme Macrae Burnet was an unsettling read. That is rightly so because it was based on real events. Murders within one family on this small Scottish island in 1857 from the perspective of one brother. Info about source material helpfully included #booksky

Latest read 'The seventh son' by Sebastian Faulks. Interesting read raising question of ethics and power of wealth set in near future. Plot around Sapiens/Neanderthal species development and discrimination was thought provoking. #booksky

'Lost in a good book' by Jasper Fforde continued the book jumping and time travelling activities of Thursday Next. I loved the scenes with Miss Havisham!

Another criminal case for DI Rob Marshall in 'With soul so dead' by Ed James. High speed as usual with the longer story arc across the series keeping my interest too. #booksky

Ambrose Parry's 'The way of all flesh' starts the series in great style. Crime in Victorian Edinburgh's medical world made a real page turner. I erred previously by reading the 4th in the series first, so getting the origin was good though not essential. Looking forward to the others. #booksky

Hooray for the return of Wyndham and Banerjee solving another crime in "The burning grounds". @radiomukhers.bsky.social provides another page turner with action, twists and Calcutta as big a character as the main players. #booksky

Busy family life meant I failed to get "The last light of the sun" by @guygavrielkay.bsky.social at publication. Catching up now feels like a big bonus. Prose that sings (as ever) and a step back into the alternative world of his other novels. #booksky

Latest read was Samantha Shannon's "The Dark Mirror". No. 5 in The Bone Season series. Supernatural powers versus authoritarianism and discrimination makes an engaging, very enjoyable read. #booksky

Reading at the end of last year and into 2026 included - The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang (no sequel 😪 - The Fascination by Essie Fox - Full Nest by Fiona Gibson - We Solve Murders by Richard Osman - The Last King of Osten Ard (series/quartet) by Tad Williams A bit of a mix in terms of genre etc

Carved in Stone: a storyteller's guide to the Picts I've just received my copy and am so impressed by this work. Everyone who contributed to the research and creation required for this publication has my respect and admiration. @stoutstoat.co.uk @lizysimonen.bsky.social and so many more

Lizy@lizysimonen.bsky.social · 9mo ago

I am incredibly proud to have been a writer on CiS. The project produced a beautiful book, a unique gaming resource, and the most comprehensive explanation and exploration of the Picts ever published for the general public. Please give some love to the incredible creators involved in this project.

The Eyre Affair by @jasperfforde.bsky.social is a great read for book lovers and especially fans of Jane Eyre. The ability to step into a book is a clever premise and wittily handled. I highly recommend this book. #booksky

Book 4 A Shadow on the Door continues @edjamesauthor.bsky.social Rob Marshall series and is just as enjoyable! #booksky

@lhogg.bsky.social · last yr.

I enjoyed solving crime with D.I. Rob Marshall in 'A lonely place of dying' by @edjamesauthor.bsky.social. It's book 3 in the series, so I'm aware I've got more cases ahead. Having the Scottish Borders as the setting is a welcome change from the central belt.

Cari Thomas followed Threadneedle with Shadow Stitch. I enjoyed the magic systems and the plot in general but found the life experiences jarring with the age of the (teen) characters. #booksky

Alan Bennet is impossible to read without hearing his voice. Killing Time is a short read set in a care home and a mix of pithy turns if phrase, realistic characters and a reflection of real life. #booksky

Much later than intended, my recently read posts should include Missing by @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social . Aimed at children, this hit a perfect balance of explaining the persecution of Jewish people during WWII and the very personal consequences for the Rosen family. #booksky

Latest read 'A Game of Sorrows' by S.G. MacLean took me to 1620s Ulster. The second in the Alexander Seton series had danger and intrigue with the added bonus for me of understanding more about that time and place.

The recent anniversary of the publication of Tigana by @guygavrielkay.bsky.social prompted me to read it again. I enjoyed it as much as previously! As usual with his books, I'm sad to leave the characters and places at the end. #booksky

Latest read was The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng. Took me to the 1920s in Federated Malaya States (Penang specifically). Mixed real life events with fiction for a really atmospheric tale. #booksky

Really thought-provoking read of @joannechocolat.bsky.social book Broken Light. How women are treated and viewed, living on your own terms, friendships and magic to connect the whole. I felt a bit sad to leave Bernie Moon behind when I finished it. #booksky

I'm a bit later than intended getting to the Raven and Fisher books by @ambroseparry.bsky.social and picked up book 4 at the library. I will definitely be reading the others. Mid-19th century Edinburgh crime case with interesting characters was a winner for me. #booksky

Enjoyable read from Elizabeth Knox that was a refreshing take on the Sidhe and interaction with it. 'The absolute book' emphasis on libraries was very welcome too. UK/USA/NZ English and terminology was rather inconsistent for me. #booksky

Just finished 'The bookseller of Inverness' by S.G. MacLean. A real page turner set some years after Culloden. It is easy to forget that period of Scotland's history and that the Jacobite movement did not end. #booksky