So this is it – the final part of my year in books countdown and the last day of 2020. Later on this evening we will all be celebrating , as far as we can anyway which, as I write this post (pre-Christmas and mid tier four announcement), for many, isn’t all that much at all really. We will turn our backs on this year and hope for a more positive year ahead. I have been more fortunate than many, not as fortunate as some, but I am happy to count my blessings and to be thankful that, in spite of everything, I still have my sanity (mostly) and my books. It has been a difficult year for writers and publishers alike, but they have still managed to bring some magic to my life, to transport me to far and distant lands and take my mind off my troubles with some absolutely superb writing and storylines. Thank you to everyone who was a part of giving me that.
Here it is then – my final post of 2020 and the last few books in my reading year. What a spectacular way to end the year. And I’m pleased to report that as a booklover, 2021 already is looking mighty fine.
Shadow Sands – Robert Bryndza
Fallen Angels – Gunnar Staalesen
Deadly Cry – Angela Marsons
The Coral Bride – Roxanne Bouchard
Winterkill – Ragnar Jonasson
Her Last Breath – Alison Belsham
The Ice Killer – Ross Greenwood
There’s Only One Danny Garvey – David F. Ross
Kill A Stranger – Simon Kernick
The Chalet – Catherine Cooper
The CWA Short Story Anthology – Mystery Tour
One By One – Ruth Ware
Her Final Hour – Rachel Amphlett
The Open House – Sam Carrington
The Last Resort – Susi Holliday
The Goodbye Man – Jeffery Deaver
The Game – Luca Veste
Good Girl – Mel Sherratt
The Spiral – Iain Ryan
Smoke Screen – Thomas Enger & Jörn Lier Horst
Bound – Vanda Symon
Those You Trust – Bernie Steadman
The Coffinmaker’s Garden – Stuart MacBride
The Fourth Man – Kjell Ola Dahl
Single – K.L. Slater
Deity – Matt Wesolowski
The Last Thing To Burn – Will Dean
The Lake House – Christie Barlow
The Marlow Murder Club – Robert Thorogood
What I Did – Kate Bradley
The Burning Girls – C.J. Tudor
Blood On Snow – Rachel Amphlett
Before She Disappeared – Lisa Gardner
The Mystery of Montague House – Emma Davies
My Mother’s Secret – Julia Davies
End Game – Carol Wyer
Shadow Of A Doubt – Michelle Davies
The Dirty South – John Connolly
The Man In The Window – Kjell Ola Dahl
The Last Fix – Kjell Ola Dahl
An Eye For An Eye – Carol Wyer
Cuthbert’s Way – L.J.Ross
Lethal Investment – Kjell Ola Dahl
Now I am taking a punt at the point of writing this post that I will finish the last seven books listed. In truth, I wish I could finish more, but these are the ones I have committed to reading in the final weeks whilst I am hiding from the world and hiding from covid. I will have started them if not finished all. So that makes 43 books in the final quarter, and in a time when I was, on occasion, struggling to finish a book in a week, I will take that.
It was not the fault of any of the books – never the books – always me. I have just hit that wall. Many of us did this year. But it feels as though I found a way through, or at the very least a ladder so that I can climb over. I’m not good with heights so you may have to bear with me while I climb, but I still hope to emerge on the other side, relatively unscathed, and with my blog intact. Watch this space.
To see how I began my reading year, here are some links to my earlier posts:
So there we have it. My year in books. 178 books read (more or less). I am happy with that. Given that it is 40+ books more than 2019 when I had literally no excuses and no distractions, and my third best year since I started reading again six years ago, I’d say I did pretty well. So all that remains to be said is that, however you are spending your day and evening, and whichever tier you are in, I hope you have a good one and hope that we can all face a much happier 2021.
Keep reading – stay safe. See you on the other side.
Jen xx
Jen Med's Book Reviews 
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