State of the Stack #96 (May 31, 2020)

This is my monthly State of the Stack post. It is my way to keep track of my review books and to hopefully reduce the stack that I have waiting for me. I take a look at my review commitments on or near the first of the month.

Here is my Review Books Spreadsheet I list them in publication order and sort them by month. I can quickly see how many books I have for each date. Ideally, this keeps me from over-committing to review books. Check my spreadsheet to find out where I got each book.

I also do this post because sometimes (frequently) review books sit on my stack for a while before I read and review them. I try to read and review books within two weeks of publication date. Sometimes I can't, though, if too many books are releasing on the same date or if the book arrives too near its publication date and my calendar is already full.

I am very grateful to the authors and publishers who support my reading habit.

I Read This Month

These are listed in the order I read them. Links go to my reviews for all that have been posted already. Otherwise, the date the review is scheduled for is listed.

1. Murder at Rudhall Manor by Anya Wylde (May 16)
2. Death of an Aristocrat by Anya Wylde (May 30)
3. The Girls Weekend by Jody Gehrman (June 2)
4. Spy, Spy Again by Mercedes Lackey (June 4)
5. Catalyst by Sarah Beth Durst (June 3)
6. Riviera Gold by Laurie R. King (June 6)

Read Previously, Reviews Posted This Month

1. A Study in Murder by Callie Hutton (May 5)
2. To Kill a Mocking Girl by Harper Kincaid (May 6)
3. Lady Rights a Wrong by Eliza Casey (May 28)

I Added These Books

These are listed in the order I received them. Links go to Amazon. Date published is listed in parentheses.

1. Monsters Among Us by Monica Rodden (Oct. 27)
2. The Cousins by Karen M. McManus (Dec. 1)
3. Bright Shining World by Josh Swiller (Nov. 24)
4. Girl on the Run by Abigail Johnson (Oct. 6)
5. Nightshade by M. L. Huie (Sept. 8)
6. A Highlander Is Coming to Town by Laura Trentham (Sept. 29)
7. Catalyst by Sarah Beth Durst (June 9)

My Review Pile

June

• American Demon by Kim Harrison (June 16)
• The Mountains Wild by Sara Stewart Taylor (June 23) 

• The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton (June 30)
• To Catch an Earl by Kate Bateman (June 30)

July

• Once You Go This Far by Kristen Lepionka (July 7)
• Out of Time by David Klass (July 7)
• A Desperate Place by Jennifer Greer (July 7) 

• Outsider by Linda Castillo (July 7)
• Hometown Hero by Liza Kendall (July 7)
• Paris Is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinlay (July 21) 

• A Royal Affair by Allison Montclair (July 28)
• Mr. Malcolm's List by Suzanne Allain (July 28)

August

• The Love Scam by MaryJanice Davidson (August 4)
• An Accidental Corpse by Helen A. Harrison (August 4)
• Murder in the East End by Jennifer Ashley (August 4) 

• Cold to the Bone by Emery Hayes (August 11)
• Little Falls by Elizabeth Lewes (August 11)
• Murder at Hotel 1911 by Audrey Keown (August 11) 

• Death at High Tide by Hannah Dennison (August 18)
• Shadows of the Dead by Spencer Kope (August 25)

• Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne (August 25)
• The Silence by Kendra Elliot (August 25)

September

• The Deadly Hours by Susanna Kearsley, C. S. Harris, Anna Lee Huber, Christine Trent (September 1)
• Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron (September 8)
• Second Chance Angel by Griffin Barber and Kacey Ezell (September 8) 

• Hanging Falls by Margaret Mizushima (September 8)
• Nightshade by M. L. Huie (September 8)
• A Highlander is Coming to Town by Laura Trentham (September 29)

October

• Shadow Ridge by M. E. Browning (October 6)
• Deception by Gaslight by Kate Belli (October 6) 
• Saddled with Murder by Eileen Brady (October 6)

• Girl on the Run by Abigail Johnson (October 6)
• Monsters Among Us by Monica Rodden (October 27)

November

• Bright Shining World by Josh Swiller (November 24)

December

• The Cousins by Karen M. McManus (December 1)