I very much thought I'd be easing into the year, but less than a week in, I started feeling a little overwhelmed with all that I had going on/ was coming up. It's surprising how on paper things are just things but when they start to take form and shape, some become so much bigger and can take up more space than others. Needless to say, my to-do list has been/still is a bit overwhelming.
Thankfully, I've been powering through chunks of it and listening to intriguing mysteries along the way. I usually only read murder mysteries (as you've probably guessed from my previous blog posts) but this time I added in something a bit different. Don't worry, there are still plenty of murder mysteries. I hope this inspires you to give one of these books a try or dive into a book you've had on your list for a while.
7 Intriguing Mysteries You'll Want to Read:
The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths
I couldn't resist another Elly Griffiths read. This book is a different series than the previous books I mentioned. This series takes place in 1950s Brighton. The main characters are a policeman and a magician who had both previously served in the war together in a secretive group called the Magic Men. This book definitely kept me guessing as to who the murderer was. I loved that as the story unfolded we learn a new meaning to the term 'zig zag girl.' If you love 1950s England, espianage, and a cozy murder, then give this book a read.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
This is not my usual read. After watching a clip of the tv version of this book on TikTok, I was intrigued to borrow the book from my library. And I'm so glad I did. This was an intriguing story about a con some of the gods are trying to pull. It's strange and at times brutal, but it all made sense because the characters are gods from different countries, times, and religions. There was even a smidge of a murder mystery thrown in too. This book is long but seems to fly by. I would definitely recommend it.
Smoke and Mirrors by Elly Griffiths
This is the second book in the Brighton Mysteries series, featuring the policeman and magician. This story focuses on the abduction and murder of two young children. It quickly becomes aggravatingly clear that detective work was extremely hard during this time and that modern technology has helped immensely in crime solving. I will admit, I fell for the red herring that Griffith laid out as the killer and never suspected the real murderer. But looking back, the clues were there. This was a good second installment in this series.
For the sake of those who aren't into the Brighton Mysteries series by Elly Griffiths, I also read The Blood Card, The Vanishing Box, and Now You See Them. I've been enjoying this series because Griffiths continues to throw red herrings in the plot. Every time you think you have a lead on the murderer, it turns out to be a red herring. It keeps you guessing until the end.
Get these books on Amazon: The Blood Card, The Vanishing Box, and Now You See Them.
What Lies In The Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
This book takes us back to my usual murder mystery reads. While What Lies In The Woods is fictional, it feels very modern true crime. And actually takes place in Washington state. Thankfully, I wasn't as in tune with all of the small towns mentioned so it didn't hit too close to home. I liked that as a reader you get a different perspective than authors usually give when it comes to murder mysteries. One line that really stood out to me (and I'm paraphrasing) was about how 'everyone has a secret, we just don't know yet what they're hiding.' Without giving away any details, this book definitely had me guessing until the end.
The Embroidery Side of Things
Much of my time reading these book was spent sorting out my newest embroidery kits and prepping embroidery kits for upcoming trade shows. Earlier this month, I launched a new kit, Cyanotype Botanicals. Whenever I release a new embroidery kit, I make sure to stitch the kit a few times. This helps me ensure the design is as I want it and that the kit instructions make sense.
Along with that materials I ordered: hoops, tread, and fabric all arrived, so I was able to put together tons of embroidery kits and restock my shop. I was running very low after the holidays, so I felt much relieved when materials finally arrived (minus a few shipping delays from the weather.)
***Thanks for reviewing my recommendations. This post contains affiliate links. Should you purchase an item listed, I may receive a small portion of the sale.***
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