It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (July 21, 2025)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

This was another week with Air Quality Alerts due to particulates from Canadian wildfires. I spent most of the week shut up in my air-conditioned house. I read and listened a lot. Lots of what I read or listened to were novellas. I have three more of the In Death novellas to listen to this week before I am caught up.

I enjoyed the Baseball All-Star break and the opportunity to do a lot of reading because there weren't baseball games to catch my attention. The All-Star game itself was very entertaining. I was pleased that my Braves made good showings and that the National League won even if it did come down to a Swing-Off to settle things. 

I did some cooking this week too. I tried a crockpot recipe from my new cookbook, and I made up a recipe based on one we had enjoyed a couple of weeks ago. Leftovers from Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore are in today's plan. The other casserole was enjoyed a few days ago with still one serving left to be eaten.

I added a huge number of review books this week from emails inviting me to download and read the titles. I now have four 2026 releases on by Review Books pile. I also added the rest of the mysteries from Minotaur that I didn't already have on my stack. Then I used my Kindle Reward points and a double points offer to complete the Harbinder Kaur series by Ellie Griffiths. Now I just have to find time to read them. 

This week should also be quiet. I have a very brief doctor's appointment on Thursday but no other appointments. I'd like to complete all of my August review copies before the end of July, but I seem to be inadvertently participating in the Big Books of Summer Challenge since a couple of the remaining books are over 400 pages each.

Read Last Week

• Hunter's Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Taylor (Review, August 5) -- Historical mystery set in Vermont in 1965. State Police Frankin Warren is called to a hunting camp to investigate an accident which turns out to be murder. My review will be posted on July 31.
• Haunted in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook, mine since June 5, 2025) -- Novella is book 22.5 in the In Death series. 
• A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King (Audiobook, mine since April 11, 2021) -- Mary investigates murders connected to the New Temple of God which is run by Margery Childe. Great historical detail and intriguing characters. My review will be posted on September 11.

• Picking Up the Pieces by J. B. Abbott (Review, August 12) -- Nice cozy mystery in which a group of jigsaw puzzle players solve the mystery of one of their own. My review will be posted on August 5.
• Ritual in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook, mine since June 5, 2025) -- Novella is book 27.5 in the In Death series. 
• Eternity in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook, mine since June 5, 2025) -- Novella is book 24.5 in the In Death series. 

• Missing in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook, mine since June 5, 2025) -- Novella is book 29.5 in the In Death series. 
• Steadfast by Mercedes Lackey (Audiobook, mine since September 28, 2021) -- 8th book in the Elemental Masters series. A retelling of the tin soldier story set in a Victorian England with magic. My review will be posted on September 4)
• Possession in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook, mine since June 5, 2025) -- Novella is book 31.5 in the In Death series. 

• A Measure of Menace by Jennifer Ashley (Kindle novella, mine since February 17, 2025) -- Kat and Daniel investigate when Lady Cynthia's father is accused of murder. This novella filled in some blanks. 
• A Silence in Belgrave Square by Jennifer Ashley (Review, August 12) -- The eighth Below Stairs novel has Kat and Daniel investigating the activities of Irish rebels and then the death of a viscount who might be conspiring with the rebels. My review will be posted on August 7.
• Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver (Review, August 12) -- Near future science fiction thriller about Earth needing to elect a Protector to save it from total climate disaster. Marcus Tully, investigative reporter, gets involved when one of the candidates is the man he blames for the death of his wife and the other is an artificial intellect named Solomon. My review will be posted on August 5.

Currently

• Thunderbird Falls by C. E. Murphy (Audiobook, mine since October 29, 2021)
• The Witch's Orchard by Archer Sullivan (Review, August 12)

Next Week

• Knife in the Back by Karen Rose (Review, August 12)
• Puma by Jorrie Spencer (Kindle, mine since August 1, 2009)
• The Story That Wouldn't Die by Christina Estes (Review, August 19)

• The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols (Review, August 19)
• Murder by the Book by Amie Schaumberg (Review, August 19)
• Ain't She Sweet? by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Kindle, mine since October 8, 2009)

Reviews Posted

• The Last Wizard's Ball by Charlaine Harris (Review copy)
• Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell (Review copy)
• Heart Marks the Spot by Libby Hubscher (Review copy)

• New York to Dallas by J. D. Robb (Audiobook)
• Gone Gull by Donna Andrews (Audiobook)
• The Librarian by Judith A. Barrett (Audiobook)

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:

• The Killing Stones by Anne Cleaves (Review, September 30)
• These Violet Delights by Madeleine Roux (Review, November 4)
• Haze by Katharine Kerr (Review, November 11)

• The Queen Who Came in from the Cold by S. J. Bennett (Review, November 11)
• Dark Horse by Felix Francis (Review, September 23)
• Blood Oath by Steve Urszenyi (Review, November 18)

• The Snow Lies Deep by Paula Munier (Review, December 2)
• All My Bones by P. J. Nelson (Review, December 2)
• A Grave Deception by Connie Berry (Review, December 9)

• The Devil in the Details by Vicki Delany (Review, January 6)
• A Deadly Clue by Victoria Gilbert (Review, January 13)
• The Bookbinder's Secret by A. D. Bell (Review, January 13)

• A Field Guide to Murder by Michelle L. Cullen (Review, January 27)
• The Lost Book of Elizabreth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown (Review, April 14)

Bought:

• The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths (Kindle, Kindle Rewards, $8.99)
• Falling Awake by Jayne Ann Krentz (BookBub, $2.99)

What was your week like?