I read twelve books in November and, although there were no five star reads, plenty of others came close and vied for contention in my top five.
You can keep up to date with all my reading in 2019 here with links to my reviews. If we’re not already friends on Goodreads, send me a friend request or follow my reviews.
First up it’s historical fiction and The Photographer of the Lost by Caroline Scott. The book movingly explores the legacy of war, in this case the First World War, through the stories of Edie and Harry. Read my full review here.
Next it’s Wolf of Wessex by Matthew Harffy, a standalone novel from the author of the Bernicia Chronicles series. Set in 9th century Wessex, former warrior, Dunston, sets off on the trail of a band of ruthless killers alongside Aedwen, the daughter of the man they murdered. The story involves plenty of dramatic action scenes, as you would expect from the author. You can read my full review here.
Staying with historical crime, Death Makes No Distinction by Lucienne Boyce is the latest in her Dan Foster Mysteries series. Dan, Principal Officer of the Bow Street Runners, investigates the murders of two women at opposite ends of the social scale. I described it as ‘an assured historical crime mystery with a wealth of period detail’ but you can read my full review here.
More crime but this time from an author described as ‘a masterful pioneer of psychological mysteries and thrillers’. I confess I’d never heard of Margaret Millar before reading The Listening Walls, first published in 1959, and if you think the final page reveal is a modern invention, think again.
My final choice is a book I read as part of Nonfiction November, The Outrun by Amy Liptrot. It’s an unflinching and honest account of the author’s recovery from alcoholism as she returns to her childhood home on the Scottish island of Orkney. You can read my full review here.
What were your favourite books you read in November? Have you read any of my picks?
First up it’s historical fiction and The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey. The story moves between 1936, as nine year old Alice seeks to uncover the secrets of her mother’s past, and 1925 in which her mother, Selina, recalls her days as one of the ‘Bright Young People’.
Next it’s Asylum Road by James L. Weaver, the fourth book in the Jake Caldwell crime series. When I need a break from historical fiction this is the series I turn to for some gripping, page-turning action. I’m never disappointed.
Back to historical fiction and a book that’s also the latest in a series, A Ration Book Childhood by Jean Fullerton. The book follows the fortunes (and misfortunes) of the Brogan family in London’s East End during World War 2. I particularly like the way the author completely immerses you in the atmosphere of the period. Read my full review 
Next it’s Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout the long-anticipated sequel to the much-praised Olive Kitteridge.
Did you know John Buchan, author of The Thirty-Nine Steps, wrote historical fiction? Well, he did and The Blanket of the Dark is widely considered one of his best. Set in the reign of Henry VIII in the Oxfordshire countryside Buchan knew so well, its premise is a ‘what if’ of history. Read my full review 
What Cathy Read Next... 