So it’s time to say goodbye to February, the shortest month of the year and supposedly the most depressing. For me, though, it really hasn’t been that bad. I had a week and a bit off work, got to spend quality time with friends and family and read some really good books…
Perfect Remains by Helen Fields, a truly excellent debut set in Edinburgh but with a French detective on the search for a serial killer who doesn’t seem to put a foot wrong. This kept me up late turning pages. If it wasn’t for Evil Games, this would have been my book of the month.
Evil Games by Angela Marsons, the second in the DI Kim Stone series and set in my former stomping ground of the Black Country. Here Kim is head to head with one of the most twisted characters I have come across in a while. This is probably the best book I read this month.
The Accidental Life of Greg Miller by Aimee Alexander, which turned out to be a romance with a difference (or at least I thought it was different because love stories are so not my normal read).
Where My Heart Used To Beat by Sebastian Faulks, one of my favourite authors. Here he looks at love, life, death and the ravages of war. Not the most light-hearted book but beautifully written and heart-wrenching.
Captive on the Fens by Joy Ellis, where I got to spend time with one of my favourite detectives, Nikki Galena. This is her fifth outing (and the third book I’ve read) and it was a good one as Nikki is on the trail of a serial kidnapper. What I especially liked was getting to know her team as well, people who are often side-lined in this genre for the main detective.
The Breakdown by B. A. Paris, where a single female makes a single decision on a rain swept night that seems to be coming back to haunt her in this tense thriller with a great twist at the end.
The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle, which was spoilt for me by the fact I have too many TV versions of Sherlock running round my head. Even without this, I’m not sure there weren’t too many holes in a plot that seemed to hope the pace would make me miss them.
All These Perfect Strangers by Aoife Clifford, a book I had such high hopes for but that just left me confused and frustrated as the story moved back and forth in time – maybe if I had liked the characters more I would have been more forgiving but this just wasn’t for me.
There was one book I didn’t rate Unlocking Italian with Paul Noble which was a guide more than a book but still a fun way to try and get my Italian language skills back on track.
And that’s it for me for February – like I said, not bad – with only one book I just don’t think I can bring myself to recommend. What about you – how was your month, reading and otherwise?
Emma
This month, I’m linking with Kathryn at Book Date and Nicole at Feed Your Fiction Addiction with their monthly round-up posts (clicking on the images will take you to the posts to check out what others have been reading).
One Readers Thoughts 
It looks like February was a really good month for you, Emma:). And while there was one book you had a struggle with, given the range and quantity of the books you’ve read, I think that’s good going. I hope that you find March equally enjoyable:).
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You had a good month, lots of good reads. I think it’s a success when you only have one book that isn’t well liked.
Stormi
Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my!
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You read quite a bit though. Happy March!
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I did. I will never reach the numbers some read but I am very happy with how many I made I through.
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My February was full of engaging books, too….and it was hard to pick a favorite. I can’t wait to get my hands on The Breakdown. Thanks for sharing, and enjoy March.
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It’s so nice to look back and feel satisfied with your reads isn’t it?
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Perfect Remains and Evil Games are both going on my TBR list!
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I hope you enjoy them…both excellent books!
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I like how you have rated your books, fun and clear. Good to hear February was a great month for you. Always good to appreciate and acknowledge it when it all comes together.
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Thanks. It’s my way of saying what I feel without number ratings. I always feel anxious with star ratings.
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I’ve never thought of February as a depressing month before, but it was this year. Glad yours wasn’t!!
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Blame that random bit of knowledge on working in mental health. Thankfully mine was good and hoping March is too!
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[…] Wednesday I posted my Monthly round-up for February which had some good books in it and so shaped up quite […]
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I had never heard of Angela Marsons and her series! Can’t wait to read it! Thanks!
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These are books that I haven’t heard of before, but I can see you are a huge fan of thrillers and detectives. I’m a wimp when it comes to scary stuff, so I stick to middle grade and some YA even for these genres.
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I am a big fan. I try and vary up my reading but there is something strangely comforting about reading about other people in peril. I don’t do gory or gruesome though. Just lots of danger and a bit of death.
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