It's August. Seriously it's the END of August - where did the year go? When did the promise to catch up with MtTBR piles evaporate? Where did any of the good intentions for this year go?
Reviews
Another very varied set of book styles, so another set of fanciful categories.
Starting out with the fun / not so serious: Other Plans by Caimh McDonnell (listened to the audio of this a while ago, just love these slightly manic, very funny books). Following on the Irish path I did recently listen to this first in a series A Plot to Die For by Ardal O'Hanlon. Gentle, meandering fun with a bit of romance, intrigue, and Tidy Town plotting thrown in. Then a couple of books in a cosy, paranormal series - The Retired Assassin's Guide to Country Gardening / Orchid Hunting by Naomi Kuttner very much in the YMMV grouping, I really liked the retired assassin aspects, wasn't so convinced about the gardener talking to ghosts bit. Finally, and a bit of a standout that I just sort of fell over The Picasso Ransom by A.T. Prewett set in Melbourne, using the real life story of the theft of Picasso's Weeping Woman from the National Gallery of Victoria - this was a hoot, good fun, full of believable and very engaging characters, featuring a central 70-something woman on a journey of awakening (and criminality). Finally, and no less on the excellently slightly daft side was Parrot Heaven by Jessica Howland Kany. No pressing need to have read the first novel in the series, but why not, particularly if slightly madcap, fish out of water but swimming bloody hard with the tide and ending up caught up in all sorts of eddies appeals.
Finally the slightly more serious: the historical and sixth book in the Reggie Da Costa series The Bathing Box Murders by Laraine Stephens. On the lighter side but charming as opposed to comedic, this is a lovely series set in Melbourne in the late 1920's.
Then a walk on the wilder side: firstly one from the "master of the unexpected" The Ledge by Christian White which made me kick myself for always being behind with this author's always excellent work, and The Corrector by Kim Hunt first in a new, really engaging series by this NZ based author.
Just Finished Pile
The finished reading pile - most recent additions - included a few entries including from other places - A Spy in the Blood by Paul Warner and The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood (audio version). Locally there was She Lied First by Dinuka McKenzie (which is to be reviewed at Newtown Review of Books as soon as my current dose of brain fog clears).
According to Hardcover - my stated aim of 100 books to be read in 2026 is at 78 so I'm still ahead of schedule.
Current Reading Pile
The current reading pile is as weird and disorganised as ever with Cold River by Margaret Hickey slightly dropping down due to some hard and fast deadlines which includes Shot by Shelley Burr, Choppy Water by Jack Heath, and Something He Did by SK Lynch which yep - has jumped a lot of other books based on the first chapter I read when it arrived. I'm also hoping I might sneak in Middle Rage by Myf Warhurst because a LOT of that blurb resonates.
#NextUp
The standard thing about juggling, and taking into account a few in the previous paragraph that are technically #NextUp's unless you count having read the first chapters of them all....
#Library(WhatWasIThinking)
The Gardens by Emma Babbington
#MustRead / #WantToRead / #ReallyReallyWantToRead
#FeelingGuiltyAbout
Still everything. Not a single book around here doesn't make me cringe with guilt about how far behind I am.
#NgaiosSubmissions
To be fair these are ones that I want to get back to, having done a read through already now.
A Man Called Box by Tina Clough (2026 Ngaio's), The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney (2026 Ngaio's) and The Birds Began to Sing by Jeffrey Buchanan (2026 Ngaio's)
#NudgedToRead
Red River Road by Anna Downes and The Writers Retreat by Victoria Brownlee
#NetGalleyReads
Upcoming Releases
A brief taste of the things I noticed, added, found, am wanting to read badly.
Starting out with a "how the hell did I miss that!" Hang On St Christopher by Adrian McKinty is the 8th book in the Sean Duffy series and I just give up on trying to keep up (came out on 1/1/2020!)
Not crime but... July 2026 and Screw Nice by Amy Remeikis was purchased immediately on notice, as was, Middle Rage by Myf Warhurst which did say it was out in September, but arrived in my Kobo list today. I also immediately purchased a copy of How to Sell a Genocide because all the book banners should be forcibly put in a van.
From 2018, and a series the author's untimely death reminded me to get on with was Newcomer by Keigo Higashino. Another from the same year, because it popped up on my reminder lists was Earth Storm by Mons Kallentoft (excellent Swedish author).
This is starting to look like a list of books from author's I'm supposedly following that I've missed but at the risk of looking like I'm hopeless at this There Should Have Been Eight by Nalini Singh came out in 2023, as did Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth. Then there's The Miller Women by Kelli Hawkins, Into the Flames by James Delargy, Storm Child by Michael Robotham and The First Friend by Malcolm Knox from 2024 which will be of interest to readers who also managed to miss them (she's says hoping she's not the only one that did...).
From 2025, and to be honest I'm not sure where I heard about this one - The Serial Killer Support Group by D B Stephens but it sounded like something I'd enjoy, which I realise says a lot about me. I'd also like to mention the Ill-Mannered Ladies series by Alison Goodman - the first two books stood up and reminded me they existed this month: The Benevolent Society Of Ill-Mannered Ladies and The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin. Also The Wedding Party by Rebecca Heath an author increasingly on my radar.
July 2026 saw the release of The Hotel Manager's Guide to Murder by Erlendur Arason - a new series called Reykjavík Shadows which reminded me I haven't read a book set in Iceland for ages and need to rectify that asap. From Japan (I'm trying to catch up on a long time favourite location) comes Murder at the End of the World by Akane Araki which is partially dystopian. Locally there is The Fatal Island by Paul Toohey which I "think" is fiction but sounds very real, and All The Missing Children by Zahid Gamieldien which is on my library list now.
August, 2026 - and the second in The Clarendon Lexicographers by Susie Dent, Death Writ Large, popped up in audio form so I happily grabbed a copy. Read the first one, so will be interested to see how the second works ***. On the local front there's Teeth Kicker by Glenn Orgias which sounds very intriguing and the true crime offering Falsely Convicted by Neil Mercer.
November 2026 will see the much anticipated new release from Ronni Salt - The Cross. Really really really looking forward to that one! as well as Choppy Water by Jack Heath which seems like a bit of a departure from his last couple.
Due out in January 2027 (sigh we're doing this now for real) is She Won't Leave by Rebecca Heath
*** Originally thought I'd read this one but after the newsletter went out, suddenly remembered I'd listened to it as well. I'm starting to think this old age thing isn't to be taken lightly (or at least that's a better excuse than alternatives...)
Tedious Spammers Alert
As mentioned in this blog post Tedious Spammers Alert some loser is using a gmail address that includes "austcrimefiction" in the handle along with various numbers and other things, pretending to be me offering partnership or cooperation agreements. Remember these things only exist because some people engage with them. Block them if you can. Report them if you can. Wish them to the deepest darkest corners of hell if that suits you.