TGIF at last

 Cyber security protocol

I'm soft DNFing the Stanley Tucci book. It is a library loan that is up in about three days. I'm at about 55% in it. It is a diary of sorts and pretty much about his meals and the people he meets. It is a book that is best dabbled into rather than reading straight through. Reading it straight through is kinda tedious. I'll pick it up again some day. 

I think I'll be starting HEAD CASES by John McMahon. 1st in a new series it appears. 

FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles. He also has a blind spot on the human side of investigations, a blindness that sometimes even includes people in his own life, like his beloved seven-year-old daughter Camila. Gardner and his squad of brilliant yet quirky agents make up the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit, the FBI’s hidden edge, brought in for cases that no one else can solve. When DNA links a murder victim to a serial killer long presumed dead, the team springs into action. A second victim establishes a pattern, and the murderer begins leaving a trail of clues and riddles especially for Gardner. And while the PAR team is usually relegated to working cold cases from behind a desk, the investigation puts them on the road and into the public eye, following in the footsteps of a killer. Along with Gardner, PAR consists of a mathematician, a weapons expert, a computer analyst, and their leader, a career agent. Each of them must use every skill they have to solve the riddle of the killer’s identity. But with the perpetrator somehow learning more and more about the team at PAR, can they protect themselves and their families…before it’s too late?

Published 2025; 352 pages. 

On Tuesday is a new JD Robb. Woot! 

Last night I finished the February crochet project other than threading in the two ends. Now onto the wedding blanket in cream, orange, and blue. 

Sprints tomorrow afternoon. I need to make a vat of egg roll soup. Otherwise, making no plans. Supposed to be getting winter again on Sunday.

Have a good weekend

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Still January

Cyber security protocols, doncha know. 

I have thirteen books in my TBR possibilities so of course I choose to read something completely different. 

THE COMFORTS OF A MUDDY SATURDAY by Alexander McCall Smith 5th in Isabel Dalhousie series. 

Isabel Dalhousie is a new mother and a connoisseur of philosophy; she'd rather not be a sleuth. But when a chance conversation at a dinner party draws her into the case of a doctor whose career has been ruined, she cannot ignore what may be a miscarriage of justice. Because for Isabel ethics are not theoretical at all, but an everyday matter of life and death. As she attempts to unravel the truth behind Dr Thompson's disgrace, Isabel's patient intelligence is also required to deal with challenges in her own life. There is her baby son Charlie; Cat's deli to look after, not to mention her vulnerable assistant Eddie; and a mysterious and unlikeable composer who has latched on to Jamie, making Isabel fear for the future of her new family. Isabel treads a difficult path between trust and gullibility, philanthropy and interference, while keeping in her sights the small but certain comforts of family, philosophy and a fine Saturday morning.

Published 2008; 278 pages. Both ebook and audiobook I have out from the library. We'll see if this hits the spot.

I've been enjoying in general the Stanley Tucci book, WHAT I ATE IN ONE YEAR but as it is a sort of diary about what his meals are and who he meets with, it can get a little tedious. Even though this is also from the library and it took six months to get it, I may pause on it and come back to it later. I'm only in July of the book right now and it goes back in five days. 

Sprints tonight.

Have a good day.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster 

Monday Monday ... you gave me no warning

 Sorry, going to practice safety protocols for a bit. 

I read in one day a fabulous thriller. 5 stars.

Evie Porter has everything a nice, Southern girl could want: a perfect, doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence and a garden, a fancy group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist.The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job. Evie isn’t privy to Mr. Smith’s real identity, but she knows this job will be different. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can’t make any mistakes—especially after what happened last time. Because the one thing she’s worked her entire life to keep clean, the one identity she could always go back to—her real identity—just walked right into this town. Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there’s still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn't be higher—but then, Evie has always liked a challenge...

Published 2024; 384 pages.

And I finished A GENTLEMAN OF SINISTER SCHEMES by Grace Burrowes. 4 stars. 

February 2025 Scavenger Hunt Prompts 

• February 9th

 ***Any sort of Festival*** 

• February 16th

***New to you author***

I've put some options for those in an Amazon list and will be narrowing it down soon. 

I've got two readathons I would like to participate in in February. 

• RetroRomance
• GarbAugust 3.5

Plus the next-in-series and a couple new releases I'm looking forward to. 

And February is a short month. Oh boy.

No sprints tonight. Crocheting and reading. 

Have a good day

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Tuesday. Here we go again.

 Still practicing cyber security so no downloads.

Receptionist out. Service manager out.

Currently reading A GENTLEMAN OF SINISTER SCHEMES by Grace Burrowes. 8th of 8 in Lord Julian regency set series. 

Lord Julian Caldicott has been tasked with discovering who wants the Marquess of Dalhousie dead. Two attempts have already been made on Dalhousie’s life, and the evidence Julian uncovers casts suspicion on members of the marquess’s own family. The dashing heir presumptive to the Dalhousie title certainly has a motive for murder, as does Dalhousie’s embittered aunt, his feuding neighbors, and even his disgruntled staff. When further attempts to end Dalhousie’s existence put Julian himself in danger, Julian must choose between disorderly retreat and a steadfast pursuit of truth, though either choice might well cost him his honor or his life!

Published 2025; 291 pages. I'm enjoying this so very much.

Got notified of a hold shaking loose so I'll be starting WHAT I ATE IN ONE YEAR (And Related Thoughts) by Stanley Tucci. 

Food has always been an integral part of Stanley Tucci’s life: from stracciatella soup served in the shadow of the Pantheon, to marinara sauce cooked between scene rehearsals and costume fittings, to home-made pizza eaten with his children before bedtime. Now, in What I Ate in One Year Tucci records twelve months of eating—in restaurants, kitchens, film sets, press junkets, at home and abroad, with friends, with family, with strangers, and occasionally just by himself. Ranging from the mouth-wateringly memorable to the comfortingly domestic and to the infuriatingly inedible, the meals memorialised in this diary are a prism for him to reflect on the ways his life, and his family, are constantly evolving. Through food he marks—and mourns—the passing of time, the loss of loved ones, and steels himself for what is to come. Whether it’s duck a l’orange eaten with fellow actors and cooked by singing Carmelite nuns, steaks barbequed at a gathering with friends, or meatballs made by his mother and son and shared at the table with three generations of his family, these meals give shape and add emotional richness to his days. What I Ate in One Year is a funny, poignant, heartfelt, and deeply satisfying serving of memories and meals and an irresistible celebration of the profound role that food plays in all our lives.

Published 2024; 368 pages.

Sprints tonight. Reading and maybe crocheting. 

Have a good day

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Monday. Here we go.

 Still under security protocol so no photos other than the books. 

I started and finished THE MISSING DIAMOND by Lynn Morrison & Anne Radcliffe. 1st of 4 in The Crown Jewels Regency Mysteries. 

London, 1813: With his reputation and inheritance on the line, Lord Percy is determined to win the heart of the coveted diamond of the season. When that beautiful woman vanishes, his failure seems all but certain. Unless, that is, he can find her. Lady Grace is devastated when her best friend disappears. Society may be willing to believe the worst, but Grace knows her friend would never run off without leaving her a clue. Someone kidnapped her - but who? With the clock ticking, Lord Percy and Lady Grace find their best hope lies in working together. But strong wills, brash decisions, and pesky sparks aren't the only things standing in their way. Can they trust each other in a society where people will do anything to rise to the top?

Published 2024; 264 pages.

I've got one coming today, a physical book via UPS, a few days early from its official release date. I'll be starting it tonight. 

I'll do the info on it tomorrow. 

I think I'm sticking with finishing MURDER ON THE SEA WITCH by Irina Shapiro. 7th of 16 in series featuring Redmond & Haze. 

When the body of a renowned British archeologist is found inside a sarcophagus he was bringing back from a dig in Egypt, Redmond and Haze must determine who aboard the Sea Witch had reason to want him dead. The method of murder suggests it was someone familiar with the funerary rites of the Ancient Egyptians, casting suspicion on members of the expedition, but there were others aboard the vessel who might have harbored a grudge against Blake Upton for reasons unconnected to the dig. Confronted with professional jealousy, affairs of the heart, simmering resentment, and corrosive blame, Redmond and Haze must solve the case before the killer strikes again.

Published 2022; 270 pages.

So far for February, I'm getting a full plate of ones I want to read next:

I'm adding another gift blanket to crochet ASAP. I'm about done with the birthday pashmina due in February. I'll get going more on the wedding blanket; the event is in March. Now, I need to add a baby blanket - due in May. Here's the one I've chosen to do. 

So I'll have to put off doing any projects for myself but that's okay. I'm thrilled for the couple and I'm glad I found something cool and gender-neutral (they're keeping it a surprise) I can do fairly easily. It just takes the time to do it.

No sprints tonight. Just crocheting and reading. God Bless America. 

Have a good day

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster 

Quick reading update

 Hello

Not going to do any images here for a bit other than the books. Still practicing some cyber security. 

Finished DEATH COMES TO THE VILLAGE by Catherine Lloyd. 1st of 8 in Regency era histmyst series.

Major Robert Kurland has returned to the quiet vistas of his village home to recuperate from the horrors of Waterloo. However injured his body may be, his mind is as active as ever. Too active, perhaps. When he glimpses a shadowy figure from his bedroom window struggling with a heavy load, the tranquil façade of the village begins to loom sinister. . . Unable to forget the incident, Robert confides in his childhood friend, Miss Lucy Harrington. As the dutiful daughter of the widowed rector, following up on the major's suspicions offers a welcome diversion--but soon presents real danger. Someone is intent on stopping their investigation. And in a place where no one locks their doors, a series of thefts and the disappearance of two young serving girls demands explanation. . . As Robert grapples with his difficult recovery, he and Lucy try to unearth the dark truth lurking within the village shadows, and stop a killer waiting to strike again. . .

Published 2013; 290 pages. 3 stars. It was in 4 star territory until the ending petered out. I'll give it another try though in book 2 later.

We're still in MidWinter HistMyst Readathon so I'm concentrating on those types of reads. The next two I'm going to be trying are new-to-me on purpose. They've been on my radar but I've not committed to them as of yet. 

THE BONES OF SANTORINI by Joni Swift. 1st of 4 in series. 

Suez Canal Egypt and Santorini Greece, 1863: Edward Tyrington had no intention of meeting the only woman he would consider his equal over the body of a murdered man in Egypt, but nothing had gone according to plan since his father squandered the family fortune and abruptly died. The poverty that followed led him to leave London and take a position as the Chief Archaeologist with the Suez Canal Company. When another man is murdered, this time at his archaeological excavation, suspicion turns to him. Thus begins his turbulent alliance with Catherine Briggs, who proves to be both reckless, cunning in her efforts to clear his name. With corrupt police and international forces in play, time is running out to catch the murderer. If they fail, Edward will either be the next victim, or the man who will hang for the crimes.

Published 2023; 329 pages.

And CITY OF VENGEANCE by D.V. Bishop. 1st of 4 in series. 

Florence. Winter, 1536. A prominent Jewish moneylender is murdered in his home, a death with wide implications in a city powered by immense wealth. Cesare Aldo, a former soldier and now an officer of the Renaissance city’s most feared criminal court, is given four days to solve the murder: catch the killer before the feast of Epiphany – or suffer the consequences. During his investigations Aldo uncovers a plot to overthrow the volatile ruler of Florence, Alessandro de’ Medici. If the Duke falls, it will endanger the whole city. But a rival officer of the court is determined to expose details about Aldo’s private life that could lead to his ruin. Can Aldo stop the conspiracy before anyone else dies, or will his own secrets destroy him first?

Published 2021; 416 pages. I love this time period and setting particularly after watching the miniseries The Borgias a few years ago. I hope this clicks with me. 

Sprints tonight. Crocheting and reading.

Have a good day

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Taking a break

 Guys: 

I'm going to have to suspend operations for a bit. Protecting computer from viruses for a while. They're getting clever-er in getting access.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster 

Home time yet?

 Thursday. 

I'm getting that urge to do a book again. Here is how I envision her:

But as a sci-fi slice of life series. Incorporating The Grand Bazaar and the Geneva Freeport operations. She is a courier of people, diplomatic cables, artwork, etc. Corporations, cold war-ish. Character-driven. 

It will pass. It always does. 

A couple of fellow Booktubers in February are doing their annual Retro Romance Readathon. I'm tempted to finally read WHITNEY MY LOVE by Judith McNaught. It's a chunker but this is my Year of the Chunky Monkey books. 

And it's on KU so no money output individually for it. 

Sprints tonight. 

Have a good day

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

I don't want to play office today

 

Wednesday

Sorry, work stuff going on. Not much to report. Steve's got the gun range tonight. No sprints tonight. Crochet, watching The Rookie, reading, bed. 

Have a good day

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

What? A full week?

Tuesday. Yes, five days in a row.

I think I may be starting IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE by Jo Callaghan. 1st of 2 in Kat and Lock series.

In the UK, someone is reported missing every 90 seconds.Just gone. Vanished. In the blink of an eye. DCS Kat Frank knows all about loss. A widowed single mother, Kat is a cop who trusts her instincts. Picked to lead a pilot programme that has her paired with AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) Lock, Kat's instincts come up against Lock's logic. But when the two missing person's cold cases they are reviewing suddenly become active, Lock is the only one who can help Kat when the case gets personal. AI versus human experience. Logic versus instinct. With lives on the line can the pair work together before someone else becomes another statistic? 

Published 2023; 416 pages. And I'm thinking it may be the scavenger hunt pick for prompt: blue on cover. (what, my fourth attempt at it now? Winner of the Crime Writers’ Association’s John Creasy New Blood Dagger Award and the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year. 

The new season of The Rookie starts tonight. They say a full-ish season of 17 episodes. Woot! I'll be watching next-day-via-Amazon-Prime. 

Sprints tonight. I'll crochet and listen to the audio of this book. 

Have a good day

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Monday

Paws-itive thinking. 

I finished my first book of 2025. A DEADLY VOW by Carla Simpson. 4.5 stars.

Being MidWinter HistMyst, I'm currently reading MURDER AT KING'S CROSSING by Andrea Penrose. 8th of 8 in series featuring Wrexford and Sloane.

Celebration is in the air at Wrexford and Charlotte’s country estate as they host the nuptials of their friends, Christopher Sheffield and Lady Cordelia Mansfield. But on the afternoon of the wedding, the festivities are interrupted when the local authorities arrive with news that a murdered man has been discovered at the bridge over King’s Crossing, his only identification an invitation to the wedding. Lady Cordelia is horrified when the victim is identified as Jasper Milton, her childhood friend and a brilliant engineer who is rumored to have discovered a revolutionary technological innovation in bridge design. That he had the invitation meant for her cousin Oliver, who never showed up for the wedding, stirs a number of unsettling questions. Both men were involved in the Revolutions-Per-Minute Society, a scientific group dedicated to making radical improvements in the speed and cost of transportation throughout Britain. Is someone plotting to steal Milton’s designs? And why has her cousin disappeared? Wrexford and Charlotte were looking forward to spending a peaceful interlude in the country, but when Lady Cordelia resolves to solve the mystery, they offer their help, along with that of the Weasels and their unconventional inner circle of friends. The investigation turns tangled and soon all of them are caught up in a treacherous web of greed, ambition, and dangerous secrets. And when the trail takes a shocking turn, Wrexford and Charlotte must decide what risks they are willing to take with their family to bring the villains to justice . . .

Published 2024; 368 pages.

No sprints tonight. Continuing to get rid of the cold. 

Have a good day

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

The crud just 'sploded.

TGIF

Well, my cold just exploded. I was going to go home but then Candy called in "sick". 

Sprints tomorrow afternoon. I cancelled my hair appointment tomorrow morning. Good thing I'm intending to grow it out. Mostly just resting and medicating and pushing fluids. 

Have a good weekend

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster 

Thursday. Totally confused on days with the holidays. But we're close to Friday and weekend. 

I've got Steve's cold. 

I'm very sad with a development in the Brandon Sanderson I'm reading. I'm getting George R. R. Martin flashbacks.  

I LIKED that character a lot, Brandon.

I think I'm DNF-ing the Auden book. 

But I'm still reading the other three books of course. Sprints tonight. Tired but going to push through.  

Have a good day

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster