October flew by for various reasons, and I only managed eight reads. A lot of October was also spent trying to catch up on my September reviews, which was a reading heavy month. It is often said that it is the quality of the books that you read that matters, rather than the quantity. This is true, but alas whilst I read less in October, the majority of my reads were disappointing one way or another, to varying degrees. One book bucked this trend and that is my winner of Book of the Month…
Helen Nielsen’s The Fifth Caller (1959) was an unexpected read and a welcome return to this author’s work after a two-year gap. I enjoyed her take on the traditional detective fiction mystery structure. Moreover, I felt the narrative offered an interesting window into 1950s America. Information is disseminated through the plot evenly, so I felt the central mystery was engrossing. Furthermore, I think Nielsen’s writing encourages the reader to invest in the central characters.
After my final October read, which did not go so well, I had a little pause from reading, but as of last night I have started a new book, from a series I have not tried before. It is light and funny and hopefully just what I need at the moment. I am not sure what else I am going to read this month, except Patricia Highsmith’s Beastly Murder (1975), which is the next book I need to read in my short story collection project.
What books are you hoping to read in November?
For readers who have Audible accounts you might be interested to know that a new audio adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) is being released on 14th November. Peter Dinklage is going to be voicing the character of Hercule Poirot, an actor you might be familiar with if you have seen Game of Thrones. In addition, Harriet Walter is also part of the cast, a name which I instantly recognised as she played Harriet Vane in the 1987 Lord Peter Wimsey series.
Finally, there are only a few weeks left to buy your classic crime advent calendar. So don’t miss out!!