Natasha

This should be required reading at schools!

While this isn't the most entertaining book I've read, you have to admire it and acknowledge the massive influence it has had on the genre and literature in general. All hail Queen Mary!

Fun twists and turns.

While the subject of this series is fascinating, and Mantel writes (wrote!) beautifully - I have no inclination to finish this series at the moment. That may change with time. Is the final instalment worth it?

3.5 stars

Two five star stories: Escape from Spiderhead and The Semplica Girl Diaries

Terrible people behaving terribly.

Delightful and dark at the same time. The ending really pulled on my heart strings.

The OG of locked room mysteries. What's not to love? Even though I knew the story and culprit (unfortunately I saw a BBC adaptation of it a few years ago) I still have to marvel at the brilliance of Ms. Christie. Bravo.

A fascinating read of interconnected stories. David Mitchell knows how to bring his characters to life and I felt like a knew every one of them by the end.

Just so much fun. I read it over Halloween and it is absolutely perfect for this time of year. I loved the homage to the queen of crime - Agatha Christie - and did not see the reveals coming.

Of all the horror books I've read this season, this was the most harrowing and disturbing - because it actually happened, and continues to happen.

4.5

2.5 stars. All this really did for me was to create a hankering to revisit the original - and watch the BBC TV series with Firth's Mr Darcy.

Dark and often disturbing folk tales. My favourite was The Bloody Chamber.

Way too many coincidences, unbelievable character decisions and motives, convenient memory lapses and accidents for me to suspend my disbelief with this one.

This was a slow burn and I loved it. Great characters, interesting plot, will continue with the series.

I'm loving spooky short stories at the moment

Action movie stuff. Fast paced and twisty - I had a good time.

Very disappointing. It was predictable.

Unsettling tales by some of my favourite new authors (Laura Purcell, Jess Kidd, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Elizabeth Macneal). Haunting and oddly cosy - perfect for rainy days and long winter nights.

This one gave me serious Jane Harper vibes. If you love her sense of place, small town mysteries and twists you will not see coming - then do yourself a favour and check out The Whispering by Veronica Lando. With only 162 ratings on Goodreads - this deserves a while lot more hype.

This is book you will read about an actress who is reading a screenplay about a writer who is reading a book about a woman who get scared shitless in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Have I lost you yet? Don't worry - it's not as complicated as it sounds. It's also probably not really a horror (although they address that in the book too).

I can see why this has received so many low ratings - it's very meta in its form - but I had a good time. I liked how the book (author) poked fun itself and the genre - almost like a 4th wall wink to the camera. Some people may call it pretentious and oh so blasé, but honestly I am not that clever - I kinda liked the story within the story within the.... well, you get what I mean.

Many thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Is this book trying way too hard to be politically relevant and topical? Yes. Did I enjoy it anyway? Also yes.