Hello and welcome to a catch up on the books I have read this week. I say read, and while I did read 2 books I also listened to a third. I know I would normally post this on a Monday (when I remember) but I was taking part in a Blog Tour and decided to stick to one post a day! I could have posted on Sunday just gone, but I keep away from social media and the PC then, well until the OH is having his post Sunday Roast afternoon snooze 😂

As promised last week I have photo’s of my newly organised spare room, now know as “My Library” 😁.

So to the books I read…

Monopoli Blues by Tim Clark & Nick Cook

I read this for an upcoming Blog Tour.

SYNOPSIS – In November 1944, Sub Lt Bob Clark, a twenty-year old agent with Britain’s top-secret Special Operations Executive, parachuted into northern Italy. He left behind the girl he had fallen in love with, Marjorie, his radio operator. 

Captured by the enemy, Bob’s fate hangs in the balance and Marjorie won’t know for six months whether he is alive or dead. 

Monopoli Blues recounts the story of Tim Clark’s journey to uncover the story of his parents’ war – and the truth behind the betrayal of his father’s Clarion mission to the Nazis… 

“Monopoli Blues puts the big picture in perspective. It is a detailed and intimate account of the Second World War drama as it affected two individuals who are in love and who are separated by the conflict. The story is the more powerful for being told by their son, Tim Clark. His assiduous search uncovers the drama and danger of facing a British agent who is betrayed and captured by the Nazis and whose girlfriend has no clue what has happened to him. This is the reality of war behind the headlines.” – Jonathan Dimbleby.

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The Outsider by Stephen King

This is the first of my #20BooksofSummer Reading Challange. I took it to work with me to read on a break… I was on a nightshift and the only person awake… I didn’t read any of this that night… just in case 😬😂

SYNOPSIS – When an eleven-year-old boy is found murdered in a town park, reliable eyewitnesses undeniably point to the town’s popular Little League coach, Terry Maitland, as the culprit. DNA evidence and fingerprints confirm the crime was committed by this well-loved family man.

Horrified by the brutal killing, Detective Ralph Anderson, whose own son was once coached by Maitland, orders the suspect to be arrested in a public spectacle. But Maitland has an alibi. And further research confirms he was indeed out of town that day.

As Anderson and the District Attorney trace the clues, the investigation expands from Ohio to Texas. And as horrifying answers begin to emerge, so King’s propulsive story of almost unbearable suspense kicks into high gear.

Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy but there is one rock-hard fact, as unassailable as gravity: a man cannot be in two places at the same time. Can he?

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The Tapestry Bag by Isabella Muir – Audiobook

I was lucky to be picked as a winner of the Audiobook version of this book. It was a Giveaway that Isabella was running as part of the Blog Tour with Rachel’s Random Resources.

SYNOPSIS – A young woman named Zara goes missing, one year to the day that her boyfriend, Joel, was killed in a hit-and-run. Is Zara in danger? Is she still alive? What really happened to Joel, and who is to blame?

In the quiet seaside town of Tamarisk Bay, the police appear to be doing little to find Zara. Her friend Janie decides to make it her mission to track her down. It’s the “swinging sixties”, and Janie fears that Zara may be mixed up with drugs, alcohol, or worse. As Janie explores the strange circumstances of Zara’s disappearance, she starts to question the truth about Joel’s death.

Janie runs the mobile library and has a passion for crime fiction, especially Agatha Christie. Can Poirot help Janie solve the mystery of Zara’s disappearance? 

As she looks for clues she comes across some unsavory characters who each have a reason for wanting Joel dead. Can Janie untangle the web of lies and find out the truth?

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Reviews for all three books will follow soon(ish) 🙂

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MY CURRENT READ IS – James Oswald – Cold As The Grave

MY CURRENT LISTEN IS – Passenger 23 by Sebastian Fitzek

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I am just 2% off reaching the half way point of my Goodreads Challenge, so I am very happy with this.

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I suppose you want to see what I have done with my books…

So this was the before photo…

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At this point I had to empty a bookcase, bring it upstairs, bring the books up and randomly put them on the bookcase to sort when I had ALL my books upstairs… I did this over several days, or it may have been couple of weeks! I had several bookcases, lots of books and very sore legs, arms and, shoulders.

If only there was an easier way of moving books!!!!!

Once they were all up, came the days of sorting into order and also buying some more books cases. I may still buy two more to replace the odd one that is on one side of the room, you will see what I mean when you get to it…

Along with my books I decided as this is my own space, it would be nice to add some of my photo’s and artwork.

Right here is the end result, it still needs a bit of tweaking as I am still not quite happy with the order of them at the moment.

🔰 This is such a random corner to try to sort out but I have my complete Robert Ludlum set of books, as well as older clothbound and paperback classics. With a smaller bookcase that I still need to sort out properly.

🔰The top shelf contains my Signed Books, as well as more that need sorting out. It will eventually hold my reference books.

🔰 As you see a little better this part of the shelf really does need more sorting. But the full set of Encycloepedias is staying put they are too heavy to keep moving around…

🔰 This is more military fiction, historical reference and the bottom is Classics like Hardy, the Bronte’s, Dickens, Austen and my favourite – Wilkie Collins. The case on the right is fantasy with just peepeing next to it more general fiction, historical and women’s fiction.

🔰 This is the rest of the shelf that has women’s, general and historical fiction. The shorter case next to it is one I may replace as the books on this one are double stacked… I hate that I can’t see all of them at the same time. That one contains mainly crime, thriller, murder mystery reads. The children’s books are on the top, with old annuals that i found in a charity shop dating back to the 50’s/60’s.

🔰 The little white shelf is all Agatha Christe, with Bernard Cornwells Sharpe series on the top. The boxing in the back has more reference books, if only the staircase didn’t come up just under there… I have a much better use for it…

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Right then that’s the lot from me for this week. I am hoping the weather dries up and I get to see that mysterious and warming phenomenon that I heard is called “SUMMER”!

Happy reading folks and if you feel like shairng it would be very welcomed indeed 🙂 xx