Happy Sunday all and what a glorious one it looks like it’s going to be (just like yesterday). The sun is shining and we have already been up and out in it for an hour. Plus I managed to make a fairly decent batch of croissants for the first time (I really should have taken a picture they looked so tasty).
It’s also been another pretty good week, though busy. I’m onto my last insanely busy week at work in order to get ready for my holidays. This included giving a presentation for a leadership course I’ve been doing. I hate presenting but it went well and now I just have three essays to submit befor I get my qualification. It feels like the heavy lifting is done though…yay!
Blog wise, I posted three times. On Friday I wrote about why I rarely give books as gifts (you can read about why here) and I posted two reviews, both for books I loved.
First up was Salt River by James Sallis, one of my favourite authors. This was the final book in a trilogy featuring Turner, a complex character who I have grown to care about despite him being complicated and damage. Here he starts to learn to say goodbye to people he has loved.
This was followed by Blame by Nicole Trope, an author I’ve never read before but who I will be reading more of if all her books are as good as this. Here, she weaves together the stories of two best friends following a tragic accident that leaves them more like enemies. It is a really human story about love, loss and motherhood.
Reading wise, I didn’t get to The Trap from last week and that’s on the list for this one instead. It’s because I got completely drawn in by Lost Girls by Robert Kolker.
Award-winning investigative reporter Robert Kolker delivers a humanizing account of the true-life search for a serial killer still at large on Long Island and presents the first detailed look at the shadow world of online escorts, where making a living is easier than ever, and the dangers remain all too real. A triumph of reporting, a riveting narrative, and “a lashing critique of how society and the police let five young women down” (Dwight Garner, The New York Times), Lost Girls is a portrait of unsolved murders in an idyllic part of America, of the underside of the Internet, and of the secrets we keep without admitting to ourselves that we keep them (from Goodreads).
I rarely, if eve, read true crime but this one caught my eye at the library and I’m glad it did. How about you – what have you been reading? How has your week been?
Emma
This week, I’m linking in with Kimba at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and her Sunday Post and with (a little early) Katherine at Book Date for It’s Monday, What Are you Reading? Head over to see what other bloggers have read, written about or just added to their shelves.
One Readers Thoughts 
I like true crime so I’ve added Lost Girls to my list. The Trap is on my list, too. Happy Reading!
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I’ve been looking at The Lost Girls book so I’m delighted to hear that someone who doesn’t read true crime found it so gripping
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All three books look really good, and I haven’t seen them before. I’m going to look for The Lost Girls because I love True Crime. My Sunday Post.
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i enjoy a bit of true crime from time to time and this one sounds like it must have been pretty good! 🙂
Stormi
Friday Memes
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IT is not something i normally go for but I’m glad i did in this instance. It’s been a really good read despite the subject.
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Both Lost Girls and Blame sound like books I would enjoy. Thanks for sharing…and enjoy your week. Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
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I have yet to finish Lost Girls but so far so good. Blame I can’t recommend enough. Hope you enjoy if you read them.
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I’m familiar with the Lost Girls story but haven’t read the book yet. It sounds like a book I should pick up. While I watch a lot of true crime I don’t read all that much for some reason. Blame looks really good and I’m curious about Salt River. I’m impressed with your croissant making! I’ve been too intimidated to give them a try but maybe it’s time to face my fears. Have a great week!
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I think the familiarity is why I picked it up. I remember a 48 hours or similar show and I wondered if this would finish the story. I have about fifty pages to go to find out.
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Yay, you are almost there! Good luck with the essays. I love true crime stories and look forward to your review!
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I know…counting the day. lost girls was a great read for a non expert like myself. I found it fascinating. Just posted my review.
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Croissants are so good. Best breakfast around! And your books look good. I don’t read a lot of true crime either but it can be quite compelling! Have a great week and hope your weather stays nice- the sun is out here too, hopefully it stays!
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The sun stayed all day – yay! I agree on croissants…you can’t beat them!
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The Lost Girls does sound very good! I’m glad you had such a good weekend… best of luck getting through this week before holidays.
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It really was – just posted my review. Also tragic that no killer has been found.
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Oh my word – you baked croissants! I saw them being made on The Great British Bakeoff and it looked an almighty fiddle – however I LOVE eating them and can only imagine just how yummy homemade ones are *sigh*. Glad you’ve had sunshine – though it started fine and sunny, it became windy and overcast as the day wore on… It looks like you had a great reading week and hope this coming one is as successful:) My Sunday Post – https://sjhigbee.wordpress.com/2016/07/31/sunday-post-31st-july/
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I did, though they were more circles than crescents. They were ice and flaky and I bet I’ll never get them right again…the same happened with bagels – made them once and have failed everytime since 😄
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I’m hugely impressed that you attempted them at all!
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Ugh…. being overly busy at work isn’t great but good if it’s all done to go on holidays! And well done on your presentation!
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IT isn’t great but better now than stress when I’m off ( for two and a half weeks but who’s counting?)
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I’m particularly enjoying true crime lately. I finished a few true crimes books last week, even. But Lost Girls is new to me. I’ll have to check it out. Hope you enjoy reading this week!
My It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? post.
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It’s not something I’ve ever really read but I did enjoy. It made a change. A nice one, despite the subject matter!
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I don’t read true crime often. That one does sound good though. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
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I don’t either but this one was good. Very human.
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I don’t read true crime at all, but I love to watch it! Perhaps I would like it. Yay that the heavy lifting is behind you! I can stand in front of kids and teach all day, but put me in front of my colleagues and I might as well be qualified to be a mime.
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Kids are much more forgiving I think. This was colleagues and so hard to not be nervous,
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Oh croissants. Now I want some, haha. Yeay for the last insanely busy week. I always hated presentations throughout my school years. So yeay for surviving that!
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I don’t know if I can go back to store bought again. If I never have to do a presentation. Again it’ll be too soon.
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All the best for the final count down I bet you will be so happy to be finished and be qualified. Just going to read why you never give books as gifts. For me all I can say is readers are so different.
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I will be thrilled. It feels like it’s been a long year getting there! It’s all down to personal tastes…I never get book buying right!
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