I have to start this post by saying that May has been a really good month for me.  It’s my birthday and wedding anniversary  month.  Plus, one of my best friends has been here for the last week, visiting from the States.  We’ve spent the whole week in Scotland (which is why there have been no posts).  It was so lovely and – for the most part – sunny.  I got to visit lots of palaces and castles, making it the perfect place for me, and have come back with a plan to read up on Scottish history which I realised I know very little about.

This will be a change from this month, which was all about who-dun-it.  Looking back for this post, I realised all but one review has been crime related. My favourites were probably Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway by Sara Gran, which I haven’t stopped recommending since I finished it, and Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey, which had a very different “detective” as the central character.

Claire DeWitt is the second in a series and I’ll be going back to read the first soon.  I also discovered another new series for me in Camilla Lackberg’s The Ice Princess.  Unfortunately, I’m 10 or so books behind on this one so not sure if I will be able to catch up as easily.

It was a good read though, as were the final two books in my accidental “crime-fest”, The Detective’s Secret by Lesley Thomson and Before We Met by Lucie Whitehouse.

There probably isn’t much between these two (in hindsight they were my least favourite) but the latter is stand alone and so good if you are looking to take something on your summer holidays.

Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas was my only non-murder related review and not what I expected by a really good result for my latest classic club spin.  It reminded me I don’t read anywhere near enough poetry and that I am behind my target for my classic club challenge.  I plan on making a real effort in June to catch up.

In my world outside books, I got creative, travelled back in time and learnt to love the chaos that is my garden.  So, all in all, a good month.  How about you – how was your May?

Emma