A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert. I picked this one off the library shelf because the cover looked interesting. The blurb sounded like it might be good. And then I got it home, looked at the cover some more and thought "I think I've read this before". But, rereading the blurb, I wasn't sure if I had or if the storyline was just similar to a few others I've read in recent years. However, by Chapter Two I was predicting what would happen next, what 'new' character was about to come into the story--right down to their name, and I knew that yep, I have read this book. Well, into the DNF pile it went (although, technically if I read it all the way through in the past [covid times???] is it truly a Did Not Finish?) Like movies and TV shows, if I've read a book before it gets stored in some corner of my brain and then when I try to read/watch it again my brain goes "here, this is what's going to happen now and now and now, the end, let's think about something else shall we?" In other words, my concentration and enjoyment go out the window. Been there, done that, next!
The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall. I picked this one up at the spring book swap based on the blurb on the back of the book. Sounded like it could be interesting, depending on how it was done. It was alternately interesting, horrifying, somewhat frustrating (as in sometimes I felt the author was putting too many twists--character lifestyle wise--into the time period in question), a bit stale and trite, and I set it down, took a break, and picked it up again several times. I did finish it; about 2/3 the way through I thought I knew how it would end, what would be revealed in the final third, and so I did read it completely. Yes, I had figured it out. Overall, I think I did like the book and may possibly look up more from this author.
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman. Not sure where I first saw this book mentioned, but I ordered it from my local library. It sucked me in. What's that trite movie review quote? "I laughed. I cried." Very apt for this book. Entertaining and thought provoking (at least for me) at the same time. Two thumbs up.
Murder Unshelved by Vannetta Chapman. This is an author that I have read for years, mostly liking her murder mysteries more than her Amish fiction. This is her latest mystery (maybe the beginning of a new series?) If I may be blunt here, it was awful. Started out good, got a little questionable (Was it written by AI? By a high schooler? Was it editedn for content at all?) about a third of the way through and just past halfway I was so sick of the ever weakening writing that if it wasn't a short book I would have just set it down as a DNF. Instead I forged on to the end. But I don't think I will read another book by this author ever again.
How To Ride The Horse You Thought You Bought by Anne Buchanan. Another book I saw somewhere online and decided to see if I could borrow it from the library. While my local county library system didn't have it, I was able to get it via the statewide library interloan. So far, I've only read the first few chapters, which are very basic. Not to say they are lacking, but rather that after 40+ years with horses there wasn't anything in them I haven't known for a long long time. Hoping that further into the book there will be clear to understand descriptions of much more technical and difficult stuff (ie. perhaps new or stated in a new way to me) Everything so far has been written in an easy to understand format and with helpful illustrations.
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