Read in March

7) The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Read: 18 February - 19 March
Pages: 719
Rating: 6

Only finished one book this month, but it was a great one. Exciting, funny and somewhat scary (I don't think a book has ever caused me to experience vertigo before), with colourful characters set in a world I could easily picture. Locke Lamora is a charming and witty conman with a good heart, leading an equally charming and witty band of young criminals who con rich people out of their money because it's what they do best. Engaging characters, black magic, scary villains, an interesting world and a clever plot, this is "a story of adventure, loyalty, and survival that is one part Robin Hood, one part Ocean's Eleven, and entirely enthralling..." (fantasticfiction.co.uk) What's not to love?

Read in February

3) The Godwulf Manuscript by Robert B. Parker
Read: 28 January - 2 February
Pages: 204
Rating: 4

First in the Spenser series.

4) National Treasure: Book of Secrets by Ann Lloyd
Read: 2 - 3 February
Pages: 144
Rating: 4

Quick, easy to read novelisation of the movie (which I love). This is intended for younger readers, and I'm sure they will find it exciting, but as an adult I would have like to see the story a bit more fleshed out. As it is, it's simply a retelling of the movie (did I mention I love the movie?), no more, no less (except for Mitch Wilkinson's death, which is decidedly less).

5) 1st To Die by James Patterson
Read: 4 - 12 February
Pages: 462
Rating: 5

First in the Women's Murder Club series. Good crime novel with some obvious and some less obvious plot twists. I really like the characters, though Lindsay's constant crying irritates me no end (can I blame it on a male writer trying to "soften" the tough police woman?).

6) De kom til Bagdad av Agatha Christie
Read: 13 - 17 February
Pages: 209
Rating: 4

Passelig spennende spionroman fra 50-tallet med et stort persongalleri og en stemningsfull setting.

Read in January

1) Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher
Read: 1 December 2008 - 10 January 2009
Pages: 598
Rating: 6

One of my all-time favourites. A feel-good book, perfect for snuggling up with a blanket on a cold winter day.

2) The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Read: 11 - 27 January
Pages: 518
Rating: 4

Last book in the His Dark Materials trilogy (a name I'm still not sure I understand). Not as good as the second, but a satisfactory, if somewhat tragic, conclusion.

Read in December

33) Julemysteriet av Jostein Gaarder
Lest: 1. - 24. desember
Sider: 322
Karakter: 4

Adventskalenderbok med ett kapittel for hver dag fra 1. til 24. desember. Joakim finner en gammel julekalender i en bortgjemt bokhandel. I hver luke er det en liten lapp med historien om Elisabeth som følger etter det lille bjellelammet som rømmer fra kjøpesentret fordi det ikke orker å høre på lyden av alle kassaapparatene. Elisabeth reiser gjennom Europa og Lilleasia, men også bakover i tid, til Betlehem og Jesu fødsel. En koselig fortelling som blander de viktigste elementene i juleevangeliet med en slik gåte Jostein Gaarder er en mester på. Denne utgaven har flotte, fargerike illustrasjoner av Stella West.

34) The Christmas Promise by Donna Van Liere
Read: 25 - 26 December
Pages: 206
Rating: 5

35) Glad Tidings by Debbie Macomber
Read: 26 - 30 December
Pages: 475
Rating: 3

Two books in one: There's Something About Christmas and Here Comes Trouble. They're both your average romantic holiday story, quickly read and quickly forgotten.

Read in November

31) The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Read: 27 October - 22 November
Pages: 454
Rating: 5

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A tragic, yet beautiful ghost story with mad people, ruined mansions, dark secrets and a very wilful cat.

32) Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich
Read: 22 November - 1 December
Pages: 326
Rating: 4

Read in October

29) The Judas Strain by James Rollins
Read: 8 September - 12 October
Pages: 525
Rating: 4

30) The Last Oracle by James Rollins
Read: 12 October - 26 October
Pages: 430
Rating: 5

Read in September

28) Die Trying by Lee Child
Read: 1 September - 8 September
Pages: 422
Rating: 4

Second book in the Jack Reacher series.