2025 Reviews

 A record of my reading in 2025, with books listed in order of merit.

Updated last 29 December 2025

1. 5.0, THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS, Michael Robotham
2. 5.0, WHITE CROW, Michael Robotham 
3. 5.0, DICE, Claire Baylis 
4. 5.0. THE LAST DAYS OF KIRA MULLAN, Nicci French
5. 4.9, HIGHWAY 13, Fiona McFarlane 
6. 4.9, THE MOTHER, Jane Caro 
7. 4.9, THE PREY, Yrsa Sigurdardottir 
8. 4.9, LEGACY, Chris Hammer 
   
9. 4.9, A STRANGER IN THE FAMILY, Jane Casey
   
10. 4.8, THE WOLF TREE, Laura McCluskey 
11. 4.8, CAN'T RUN, CAN'T HIDE, Yrsa Sigurdadottir 
12. 4.8, THE WAKE, Yrsa Siggurdardottir  
13. 4.8, THE UNQUIET GRAVE, Dervla McTiernan
    
14. 4.8, THE FROZEN PEOPLE, Elly Griffiths 
    
15. 4.8, 17 YEARS LATER, J. P. Pomare
    
16. 4.8, THE DARK WIVES, Ann Cleeves
    
17. 4.8, SANCTUARY, Garry Disher
18. 4.7, EXPECTANT, Vanda Symon 
19. 4.7, GABRIEL'S MOON, William Boyd
20. 4.7, THE HALLMARKED MAN, Robert Galbraith 
21. 4.7, ONE DARK NIGHT, Hannah Richell 
22. 4.7, MISCHANCE CREEK, Garry Disher  
23. 4.7, THE PUNISHMENT SHE DESERVES, Elizabeth George  
24. 4.7, THE WAY IT IS NOW, Garry Disher
25. 4.7, WILD DOGS, Michael Trant
26. 4.7, WILD DARK SHORE, Charlotte McConaghy 
    
27. 4.7, THE TEACHER, Tim Sullivan 
28. 4.6, AN ILL WIND, Margaret Hickey 
29. 4.6, I AM PILGRIM, Terry Hayes  
30. 4.6, SILENCE, Jan Costin Wagner 
31. 4.6, GIVE UNTO OTHERS, Donna Leon 
32. 4.6, RESTLESS, William Boyd 
33. 4.6, DRAGON'S BREATH, Rhys Dylan 
34. 4.6, BLACK LIES, Mercedes Mercier
35. 4.6, THE GOOD DOG, Simon Rowell 
36. 4.6, THE WEDDING PARTY, Rebecca Heath 
    
37. 4.6, THE BOWMAN, Rhys Dylan
38. 4.6, A BODY OF WATER, Rhys Dylan  
39. 4.6, THE LIGHT REMAINS, Rhys Dylan 
40. 4.6, A MATTER OF EVIDENCE, Rhys Dylan 
41. 4.6, NO TRACE, Michael Trant
42. 4.6, THE GIRL WHO WAS TAKEN, Charlie Donlea 
43. 4.6, A REFINER'S FIRE, Donna Leon 
    
44. 4.6, GRAVELY CONCERNED, Rhys Dylan
45. 4.6, THE PEACOCK SUMMER, Hannah Richell 
    
46. 4.6, THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM, Laura Dave
47. 4.6, THE BOOKSELLER, Tim Sullivan   
    
48. 4.6, THE POLITICIAN, Tim Sullivan
49. 4.6, FROM DOON WITH DEATH, Ruth Rendell
    
50. 4.6, THE PATIENT, Tim Sullivan
    
51. 4.6, THE CYCLIST, Tim Sullivan
52. 4.5, PREY, Vanda Symon 
53.  4.5, LAST BUS TO WOODSTOCK, Colin Dexter 
54. 4.5, THE HITWOMAN'S GUIDE TO REDUCING HOUSEHOLD DEBT, Mark Mupotsa-Russell 
55. 4.5, MELALEUCA, Angie Faye Martin 
56. 4.5, NO ONE NEAR, Rhys Dylan 
57. 4.5, MURDER ON NORTH TERRACE, Lainie Anderson 
58. 4.5, THE BODY IN THE MARSH, Nick Louth
59. 4.5, A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED, Agatha Christie  
60. 4.5, MY DARLING DAUGHTER, J. P. Delaney 
61. 4.5, MURDER UNDER THE SUN, Faith Martin 
62. 4.5, FATAL SECRETS, Anita Waller 
63. 4.5, THE DROP, Michael Connelly
64. 4.5, THE FINE ART OF INVISIBLE DETECTION, Robert Goddard 
65. 4.5, THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE, Agatha Christie  
66. 4.5, THE TENANT, Freida McFadden
67. 4.5, THE MONK, Tim Sullivan
68. 4.5, LINES OF INQUIRY, Rhys Dylan  
69. 4.5, THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY, Agatha Christie 
70. 4.5, THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN, Agatha Christie 
71. 4.5, A MARK OF IMPERFECTION, Rhys Dylan
72. 4.5, BURNT ECHO, Rhys Dylan 
    
73. 4.5, THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD, Agatha Christie 
    
74. 4.5, THE WATER'S DEAD, Catherine Lea 
75. 4.5, BETTER LEFT DEAD, Catherine Lea
76. 4.5, THE RIVER HOME, Hannah Richell 
77. 4.5, THE DAY IS DARK, Yrsa Sigurdadottir 
    
78. 4.5, THE BLACK LOCH, Peter May 
79. 4.5, THE FLAMES OF LILLY PILLY CREEK, Abbie L. Martin
    
80. 4.5, OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES, Kelli Hawkins
81. 4.5, MURDER AT HOME, Faith Martin
82. 4.5, A TOWN CALLED TREACHERY, Mitch Jennings
    
83. 4.5, A FORGOTTEN SHADOW, H.L. Marsay
84. 4.5, TRAITOR'S GATE, Jeffrey Archer
85. 4.5,  A CHRISTMAS SHADOW, H.L. Marsay
86. 4.5, THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES, Agatha Christie
87. 4.5, KNOTS AND CROSSES, Ian Rankin 
88. 4.5, THE LAST THROW, Rhys Dylan 
89. 4.4, THE QUEEN OF POISONS, Robert Thorogood 
90. 4.4, THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTUNE, Richard Osman  
91. 4.4, WHISPERS OF THE DEAD, Lin Anderson
92. 4.4, THE BOOKSHOP MYSTERIES: THE BITTER PILL, S.A. Reeves 
    
93. 4.4, THE THRILL OF IT, Mandy Beaumont
94. 4.4, AFTER THE FIRE, Henning Mankell  
    
95. 4.4, TO THE LAND OF LONG LOST FRIENDS, Alexander McCall Smith
    
96. 4.4, MURDER ON THE LINKS, Agatha Christie 
97. 4.4, RIDGEVIEW STATION, Michael Trant
98. 4.4, THE VICARAGE MURDER, Faith Martin
99. 4.4, THE MOVING FINGER, Agatha Christie 
    
100. 4.4, MURDER ON THE MARLOW BELLE, Robert Thorogood
101. 4.4, I WILL FIND THE KEY, Alex Ahndoril 
102. 4.4, THE SEA HOUSE, Louise Douglas 
     
103. 4.4, THE BOOKSHOP DETECTIVES, Gareth and Louise Ward
104. 4.4, THE GHOST OF LILLY PILLY CREEK, Abbie L. Martin
105. 4.4, THE LIGHTS OF LILLY PILLY CREEK, Abbie L. Martin  
106. 4.4, THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ILL-MANNERED LADIES, Alison Goodman
107. 4.3, THE BOOKSHOP MYSTERIES: MURDER AT THE CHURCH, S. A. Reeves 
108. 4.3, THE CARETAKER, Gabriel Bergmoser
     
109. 4.3, THE BRIDE OF LILLY PILLY CREEK, Abbie. L. Martin
110. 4.1, THE LAST DEATH OF THE YEAR, Sophie Hannah 
111. 4.1, DEATH IN BRITTANY, Christophe Villain 
112. 4.0, THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS, Agatha Christie 
113. 3.5, THE LONG NIGHT, Christian White 
114. 3.2, THE WILL OF THE STANDING STONES 
115. 3.2, DEAD SWEET, Katrín Júlíusdóttir