After all the year-end book lists and best-ofs that have poured in the past few weeks, I’m feeling jaded. It’s difficult to see the point in my writing a post about “what I read in December”. But here we are. Since my last post I stayed with the cozy theme and am caught up with Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, well, nearly. My hold for the most recent book, The Black Wolf, is pending; I’m 126th in line for the book. However, as I typed this, I was notified that my ebook hold came in via Libby! I know what I’m doing once I publish this post! Last month, I also read the 61st title in JD Robb’s In Death series. I decided to take advantage of the quiet at the end of December and use that time to reread as much of the series as I could. There was a bit more work than I anticipated which impacted my reading time (a wonderful problem), yet I still managed to finish the first seven books since December 22nd.
I wasn’t exclusively reading those books either. There’s other books I’m working on and I attempted to read the next book for the sisterhood book club. I made it at most three chapters in and was annoyed enough I returned it, early. It’s very rare for me to DNF a book with such strong feelings. Maybe our discussion later this month will change my mind, but while the topic and a brief description of the characters is one that should’ve hooked me, the writing didn’t engage me.
I struggle to write about series, so let me try to share some thoughts about the two mystery series I can’t seem to get enough of: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Eve Dallas/In Death. They’re quite different, and I find both enjoyable.
I first read J D Robb’s series several years ago, I think in 2019. I wanted something to shut my brain off after the death of my mother and the fact that my in-laws were downsizing and moving about a mile from our house. I didn’t want anything precious or special. I wanted it somewhat predictable but different enough from current real life I could escape. Because it’s set about 30 years in our future and it’s focused on NYC that provided me just enough fantasy but with enough that’s familiar I didn’t have to think. The first book, Naked in Death, was published in 1995 and it’s fascinating to try to remember what technology Nora Roberts pulled from for some of the concepts. The romance scenes aren’t my thing (as my face blushes) but I want to know the tech! I also am not sure I’m pleased at how much/often rape exists. I know it always has, so I guess human nature not changing is more likely than not. But sometimes when I’m binging the books it’s hard to keep reading. It’s fun rereading the early books and knowing how characters’ various relationships change as the series progresses. I’d forgotten how Peabody and McNab met so that was interesting. Is it amazing literature and well written? It’s fun. I see these books as akin to a TV sitcom and enjoy them accordingly.
I was surprised to find that I fell hard for Three Pines and Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. A year or two ago I read the first two books and they were ok. They were definitely cozy and I wasn’t quite sure what they were. We were watching a good deal of Midsomer at the time and The first book was okay, as was the second. I didn’t work too hard on finding the third book, The Cruelest Month and set the entire series aside until July. I then read books 4-19 in November and December! I love how the characters grow and change and relationships evolve. I’m not as familiar with Canadian Geography but have been to Montreal and up to Quebec so that helps. Three Pines feels a lot like where I wish I grew up. The tiny population matches, but Three Pines actually has a vibrant village (bakery, bistro, B&B!) and friendly people; key parts that didn’t exist where I lived. It’s definitely cozy and happy. I love that “secondary characters” are as integral to the story as Gamache. Oooh, I’m now looking forward to curling up with The Black Wolf before shabbat.
If you’re curious, here’s the list of what I read since my last post.
- Glass Houses by Louise Penny (2017), 391 pages, Mystery.
- Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny (2018), 389 pages, Mystery.
- A Better Man by Louise Penny (2019), 437 pages, Mystery.
- All the Devils are Here by Louise Penny (2020), 439 pages, Mystery.
- The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny (2021), 436 pages, Mystery.
- A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny (2022), 390 pages, Mystery.
- Framed in Death by J D Robb (2025), 368 pages, Mystery.
- The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny (2024), 421 pages, Mystery.
- Naked in Death by J D Robb (1995), 306 pages, Mystery, reread.
- Glory in Death by J D Robb (1995), 296 pages, Mystery, reread.
- Immoral in Death by J D Robb (1996), 296 pages, Mystery, reread.
- Rapture in Death by J D Robb (1996), 320 pages, Mystery, reread.
- Ceremony in Death by J D Robb (1997), 310 pages, Mystery, reread.
- Vengeance in Death by J D Robb (1997), 357 pages, Mystery, reread.
I’m not sure what compels me to write these posts. But for now I’ll continue off and on, though probably monthly. In 2025 I read a total of 157 books, 8 of those were rereads (six of those, being by J D Robb). The other two rereads were The Checklist Manifesto which related to a post I wrote for PSG Studio, and The Weight of Ink which a good friend read and wanted to talk about; it was even better as a reread. I’m going to continue as I’ve been, reading what strikes my fancy, rereading if I feel like it, and trying to find words to better explain why I enjoyed a book and think someone else might. I know the world has shifted greatly to more digital first “reviews”, I enjoy writing in this manner. Sometimes I do it eloquently sometimes, not so much. I hope someone finds it useful, not insipid, and that you find a new read.
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