Carol J's 2025 Reading Challenge

[Carol]

138. Polybius by Collin Armstrong - Thanks Gallery Books for sending me an ARC of Polybius by Collin Armstrong! This novel is about an urban legend(or is it just legend...) from the 1980s. The legend is that video game machines named Polybius were showing up in arcades across the country. People would play it, get hooked on it, & become very aggressive. Supposedly it was a government plant. In this book, in Tasker Bay, a machine called Polybius showed up @ the arcade & became popular. The writing kept my attention and so did the story. **** 4/26/25

[Carol]

139. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson - I loved this book! Lillian and Madison went to high school together for one year. They were good friends and life was great. Then it wasn't years in the future, Lillian gets a call from her rich, beautiful friend Madison who offered her a job. Madison discussed what was the job was about and Lillian says yes. ***** 4/27/25

[Carol]

Carol wrote: "138. Polybius by Collin Armstrong - Thanks Gallery Books for sending me an ARC of Polybius by Collin Armstrong! This novel is about an urban legend(or is it just lege..."

FYI... This book is on the goodreads giveaway shelf again. Only one and a half day left!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Carol]

140. Murder in the Rue Dumas by M.L. Longworth - The director of theology at the university in Aix is found dead and Judge Verlaque must figure out who killed him. **** 4/27/25

[Carol]

141. Music Is History by Questlove - A non-fiction book about rock music and it's connections to the time from which it came. *** 4/28/25

[Carol]

142. Selected Shorts: Wondrous Women by Teolinda Gersão - Short stories about strong female protagonists. *** 4/28/25

[Carol]

143. In Ascension by Martin MacInnes - Leigh is a microbiologist from Rotterdam. A deep undersea vent was found in the Atlantic ocean and she and a group go to explore. This did not grab me. I don't know why... ** 4/30/25

[Carol]

144. Battle of the Bands by Lauren Gibaldi - 15 interconnected YA Battle of the Band stories. *** 5/1/25

[Carol]

145. Confronting the Presidents: No Spin Assessments from Washington to Biden by Bill O'Reilly - Just like the title said, "No Spin Assessments from Washington to Biden". As a child I used to think if they made it to president they were poised to do a good job. It was surprising how many presidents did not do "a good job" Hopefully, they will learn from there mistakes... but i don't know. **** 5/3/25

[Carol]

146. The Goddess Effect by Sheila Yasmin Marikar - Anita moves from New York to LA to find herself. She discovers a program called The Goddess Effect and it does not seem to be, what it is meant to be. ** 5/3/25

[Carol]

147. The Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton - Agatha has had it with city life so she decides to retire from PR and move to Carsley in the Cotswolds. She feels like she is having a hard time fitting in so she decides to enter a local Quiche Contest. The only problem is that she can't really cook. No problem!! She'll just drive to another town and buy one from a bakery. Grumpy Agatha finishes the contest very dissatisfied and leaves the quiche with the judge. The thing is, the judge is found dead the next day of poisoning! **** 5/4/25

[Carol]

148. The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei - Maya is an art thief. Well, she returns stolen art to alien civilizations. One day she is ask to find an object that could save a civilization from extinction. *** 5/4/25

[Carol]

149. Dashing Through the Snowbirds by Donna Andrews - Meg is trying to get ready for Christmas. Her brother's software company is teaming with a Canadian company on a Genealogy/DNA project. The Canadian's boss is a real jerk. Meg is trying to be a good hostess to the rest of the Canadians. Then the jerky Canadian boss is found dead on an ice rink. *** 5/4/25

[Carol]

150. Silent as the Grave by Rhys Bowen - This time, Molly dips into the world of silent moving pictures. Some famous people make an appearance - Thomas Edison and Mary Pickford. **** 5/6/25

[Carol]

151. The Cat Who Went Up the Creek by Lilian Jackson Braun - While on vacation from his town of Pick Axe, James Qwilleran discovers a body floating dow the stream in the town of Black Creek. *** 5/6/25

[Carol]

152. The Family Izquierdo by Ruben Degollado - Three generations of the Izquierdo family suffer from misfortune. *** 5/7/2025

[Carol]

153. Death in the Vines by M.L. Longworth - A great mystery series for foodies and wine-O's. A lot of crime is happening in Aix. First a winery is missing many bottles of their stock and then some of their women's have been killed. **** 5/7/25

[Carol]

154. The Goodbye Man by Jeffery Deaver - Colter is very busy trying to help people. In one scenario, he goes undercover in a community... a cult... to save a young woman and maybe also other members. **** 5/9/2025

[Carol]

155. Die by the Gun by William W. Johnstone - In this 2nd book of the Chuckwagon Trail series, Dewey "Mac" McKenzie is still running from the law after being falsely accused of murdering his fiance's father. This is his 2nd trail drive as cook and he's feeling more confident. *** 5/10/25

[Carol]

156. Murder in an Italian Villageby Michael Falco - Positano, Italy - Bria investigates a death. *** 5/10/25

[Carol]

157. A Daughter of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd - Rosaline (Rosie) is the eldest daughter of Romeo and Juliet. What!? In this retelling, the couple didn't die tragically, but went on to live happily ever after (for the most part). She is 20 and thought to be a spinster. Then she gets engaged and then accused of her fiancee's murder. **** 5/10/25

[Carol]

158. Tarzan and the Golden Lion by Edgar Rice Burroughs - Early in the book, Tarzan finds a little golden lion cub that was orphaned. Later he is a companion with a big golden adult lion. *** 5/12/25

[Carol]

159. The Mountains of Mourning by Lois McMaster Bujold - This novella is part of The Vorkosigan Saga. This book series started in 1986. I love the family involved. If you like Ender's Game, you will like this series. This story is about a 20(ish) year old Miles Vorkosigan, who was appointed by his father to investigate the death of a small baby. The author has fleshed out the characters in this series so well. Dialog is so natural. ***** 5/12/25

[Carol]

160. A Dog's Life by Peter Mayle - A mongrel dog reflects on his life. *** 5/12/25

[Carol]

161. A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston - Eileen was engaged to a guy she worshiped and then her fiance left her to pick up all the pieces all by herself. A while later she was scheduled to go on a vacation with her friends, but they all cancelled. Eileen decided to go off on her own. Then her car broke down in a sleepy little town. **** 5/13/25

[Carol]

162. Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune - A complex and heart wrenching romance starting in Fern's early 20s and then fast forwards into her early 30s. *** 5/14/25

[Carol]

163. The Charity Shop Detective Agency by Peter Boland - A serial killer has struck Southbourne. One by one, the elderly are being killed. The only clue is that each victem has a domino in their hand with a name scratched on the back. Fiona, Sue and Daisy, senior volunteers at the local charity shop, Dogs Need Nice Homes are so upset that they start to investigate. **** 5/18/25

[Carol]

164. The Clocks by Agatha Christie - Sheila Webb was a "typist-for-hire". She has been scheduled to arrive at a home for a clerical job. She finds is a dead man. Mrs. Pebmarsh, the blind woman who owns the home, denies calling the secretarial agency and asking for Sheila by name. **** 5/19/25

[Carol]

165. The Ghost and the Bride by Bobbi Holmes - Lily and Ian are about to be married at Marlow House, but a new ghost has stopped by. **** 5/20/25

[Carol]

166. Murder in Tuscany by T.A. Williams - DCI Dan Armstrong is recently retired and taking a writing course. Then a few days into the course, the teacher is found stabbed to death. Looks like Dan is not retired after all. *** 5/22/25

[Carol]

167. Let's Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen - Historic fiction of the creation of and maintenance of the Barbie Doll. 5/23/25

[Carol]

168. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano - Author Finlay Donovan is having a hard time. She is having a hard time watching her small children and a hard time paying the bills. Then, while at lunch with her literary agent, she is overheard discussing her upcoming book and things go bad real quick. *** 5/24/25

[Carol]

169. Murder in a Minor Key by Jessica Fletcher - Jessica travels down to New Orleans for a writer's conference. She stays after the conference to sample the cities "flavor" and visits with her art critic friend, Wayne Copely. Unfortunately, he is killed and it looks like murder! **** 3/26/25

[Carol]

170. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - 2nd read - Tova Sullivan's husband died and thirty years ago, her 18 year old son went missing. She takes a job a local aquarium where she befriends an older octopus and a hot mess of a young adult. **** 5/26/25

[Elyse, Moderator]

Carol wrote: "170. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - 2nd read - Tova Sullivan's husband died and thirty years ago, her 18 year old son went missing..."

LOVE this book. I listened to the audio first time around and I just bought one of the sprayed edge paperbacks for a slower reread. I'm excited for the movie!

[Andrea, Moderator]

Elyse wrote: "Carol wrote: "170. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - 2nd read - Tova Sullivan's husband died and thirty years ago, her 18 year old so..."

So excited that this is going to be a movie!

[Carol]

Andrea wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Carol wrote: "170. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - 2nd read - Tova Sullivan's husband died and thirty years ago, her ..."

I didn't know this was going to be a movie! Must investigate!

[Carol]

171. The Cat Who Brought Down the House by Lilian Jackson Braun - A wealthy Hollywood star returns to Moose County in her old age. She starts a film club and her brother dies. Quill and his cats investigate. *** 5/27/25

[Carol]

172. Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View by Elizabeth Schaefer - Star Wars fan fiction by some published authors. These stories follow the movie, but are told from a different point of view. **** 5/28/25

[Carol]

173. Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop: A Memoir by Alba Donati - Memoir of a bookshop owner in Tuscany. *** 5/30/25

[Carol]

174. Overgrowth by Mira Grant - "Day of the Triffids meets Little Shop of Horrors". What if the earth was invaded by aliens... How do you think we would fare? *** 5/30/25

[Carol]

175. Return to Sender by Craig Johnson - Walt poses as a mail carrier, while looking for a missing mail carrier. **** 5/30/25

[Carol]

176. Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams - Emily and Jackson are rival 2nd grade teachers and neighbors. Something happens and romantic feelings start to happen. **** 5/31/25

[Carol]

177. Shoot Like a Girl by Kari Bovee - A prequel i8n the Annie Oakley Mystery series. ** 5/31/25

[Carol]

178. Unreliable by MaryJanice Davidson - Vampire Queen Betsy and her friends reminisce on a story that each one remembers differently. *** 6/1/25

[Carol]

179. Autopsy of a Fairytale by Nicole Scarano - Homicide Detective Isobel ‘Bel’ Emerson suffered an attack at her work. She moved to a small town to avoid the violence. Then in her new small town, there seems to be a new serial killer. *** 6/2/25

[Carol]

180. Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac - Malian, a Wabanaki girl quarantines on her grandparents' reservation. A local dog Malian names Malsum (means "wolf" in the Wabanaki language) befriends her and becomes her best friend. Through everyday life, Malian learns of the history of her and other indigenous people. ***** 6/3/25

[Carol]

181. Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown - 1942, WW2 England - Nellie Morris is 18 yo and meets a handsome young American soldier. One day the sirens go down and everyone makes their way to the underground shelters. Tragedy strikes. People panic rushing to the shelter and 173 people are crushed to death, including Nellie's father and little sister. **** 6/3/25

[Carol]

182. Birder, She Wrote by Donna Andrews - Meg is enjoying the local hummingbirds. Her grandfather wants her to help install some bees locally. Bada bing bada boom. Someone gets angry and then someone gets killed. *** 6/4/25

[Carol]

183. Murder on the Île Sordou by M.L. Longworth - Verlaque and Bonnet are on vacation on an island in the Mediterranean. Then one of the vacationers gets murdered. **** 6/6/25