Monday, December 22

Blodeuedd's Monday: The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey

Narrated by: Joanne Froggatt, Mark Noble, Asif Khan, Gemma Whelan, Simon Harvey

Release date: 12-30-25

Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher: Tantor Media

Fiction/to review


Have I ever heard of the Yorkshire Ripper? No, but he killed a lot of people! Those few years must have been quite scary for women.

Miv is 12. Her mother is not really present, but she does not know why. She is just there. Her dad is busy at work and her aunt is staying with them. Everyone is talking about the Ripper, and they are told to be careful. Even if he goes after a certain kind of women, something she is not sure what it means either.

But together with her best friend Sharon she makes list of suspects and they investigate. During their investigations they make new friends, and find things that are not right. But how to solve problems when you are just a child?

It does get sad too, I did not expect it to get sad, but you are warned.

It was a really interesting book, I do confess to checking out who the ripper actually was in the end. I was just so curious! But I also managed to forget the name so I never knew what would happen.

A story of growing up.

There is quite a cast of narrators, 5 in total, that pop in here and there. And it works well, mostly it is Mivs POV, but there are other people around her too.



Twelve-year-old Miv is panicking. Life has been complicated since her mom got sick, and now her dad is talking about wanting to move their family away from the town Miv has lived in her whole life—because of the murders. Young women are dying, everyone is afraid, and no one knows who the culprit might be.

But as far as Miv is concerned, leaving Yorkshire and her best friend Sharon simply isn't an option, no matter the dangers lurking round their way; or the strangeness at home that started the day Miv's mum stopped talking. Perhaps if she could solve the case of the disappearing women, they could stay after all?

So, Miv and Sharon decide to make a a list of all the suspicious people and things on their street. People they know. People they don't. But their search for the truth reveals more secrets in their neighborhood, within their families—and between each other—than they ever thought possible. What if the real mystery Miv needs to solve is the one that lies much closer to home?

Saturday, December 20

2026 Romance Reading Bingo Challenge



Hosted by: Blodeuedd @ Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell Jen @ That's What I'm Talking About Carole @ Carole Rae's Random Ramblings

We are doing it again in 2026! It's the Romance Reading Bingo Challenge (#RRBC2026), hosted by Carole, Linda, and Jen! The challenge is to read a book and check the boxes.

List of Challenges (Romance books):

  • Re-read
  • Wedding trope
  • Wallflower/Ugly Duckling
  • Office romance
  • Blind Date/Arranged Marriage
  • Number in the title
  • Cat/Dog on the cover
  • TBR over 2+ years
  • Part of a series you meant to go back to
  • Published in 2026
  • Duke in the title
  • Alien/Cyborg romance
  • Secret Royal/Billionaire
  • Pink Dress on the cover
  • Audiobook with 2+ narrators
  • MC Works in the Food Industry
  • Non-Regency Historical romance
  • Small Town romance
  • Second Chance
  • Sunset/Sunrise on the cover
  • Book starts with same letter as your name
  • LGBTQ+
  • Necktie on the cover
  • Travel / Vacation
  • Non-Christmas Holiday

Rules:

  • It MUST BE a genre romance book (HFN/HEA).
  • One box per book. If your book meets more than one box, you have to pick just one.
  • No changing the box. Once you put a book in a box, you can't move it.
  • Books can be used in other challenges. (examples: Goodreads, Library Love, TBR, Audiobook, etc.)
  • The goal is to get at least one BINGO! (see levels below)
  • The challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026.
  • You may join whenever.
Bingo Levels: 1 or 2 Bingos: Beginner 3 Bingos: You're getting the hang of this! 4 Bings: Expert Level Entire Sheet: Supreme Ruler of Bingo! If you want to add your blog or Goodreads to the list, click on the linky below. NOTE: You do not have to have a blog or URL to sign up!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
So what level will you try in 2026?

Friday, December 19

Audiobook Review: The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket


Author: Lemony Snicket
Narrator: Neil Patrick Harris
Title: The Lump of Coal
Genre: Humor, Fantasy, Children's story, Short Story
Format: Audiobook
Published: September 30, 2008
Where I Got It: Borrowed from library





Summary: 
This is a story about a lump of coal who can think, talk, and move itself around.

Is there a more charming holiday tale to behold? Probably, but Lemony Snicket has not written one.

Review:
I was digging through some quick audio shorts on my Libby app. I wanted something cute and Xmas-y, and then I found this. 

This is a story about a lump of coal who wants more out of life. 

This was certainly charming and funny. I want to find the actual book so I can see the illustrations! Maybe next year! I could read this again. It was super adorable. Very short, but fun for all ages. 

I ADORE the narrator. Everything he touches turns to gold. 

5 stars. 







 Challenge(s):
- Audiobook #62
- Library Love #33

Thursday, December 18

Audiobook Review: The Poisoner's Ring by Kelley Armstron


Author: Kelley Armstrong
Narrator: Kate Handford
Title: The Poisoner's Ring
Series: A Rip Through Time #2
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery 
Format: Audiobook
Published: May 23, 2023
Where I Got It: Borrowed from library



Summary: 
Edinburgh, 1869: Modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson is adjusting to her new life in Victorian Scotland. Her employers know she’s not housemaid Catriona Mitchell―even though Mallory is in Catriona’s body―and Mallory is now officially an undertaker’s assistant. Dr. Duncan Gray moonlights as a medical examiner, and their latest case hits close to home. Men are dropping dead from a powerful poison, and all signs point to the grieving widows… the latest of which is Gray’s oldest sister.

Poison is said to be a woman’s weapon, though Mallory has to wonder if it’s as simple as that. But she must tread carefully. Every move the household makes is being watched, and who knows where the investigation will lead.

Review:
Mallory is still in the body of a housemaid in 1869 Scotland. However, employers know the truth and have allowed her to moonlight as Dr Gray's assistant and work on cases. This case is a little too close to home. Men are dropping dead from a powerful poison, and all signs are pointing to Gray's eldest sister. 

Make sure to read book 1 first before going into this one. This review may have some spoilers if you haven't read book 1. 

Eeeee! I'm loving this series. I'm loving the fact that Mallory can be more of herself now that some people know the truth. 

I love Mallory. I love Gray. I love McCreadie. I love them all. 

This one had a lighter tone to it (at least in the beginning). Some jokes were tossed around, and some silly moments. I loved seeing Gray be...relaxed? 

Things do get more serious as we get deeper in the story, especially when it looks like Gray's older sister is a serious suspect for these poison murders. The ending was especially brutal. GOOD, but damn. 

The narrator was the same as book 1, and she does a great job. 

I can't wait to read the next one. It's short, and it sounds lovely. 

5 stars from me. 





 Challenge(s):
- Audiobook #61
- Library Love #32