Somewhat anti-climatic after my end-of-the-year roundup, but here it is anyway: the books I read in December.

Multiple new reads here–including two audio-first books. (I almost never listen to audio books I haven’t already read.) It most likely worked because I had a lot of organization and cleaning and sorting I needed to do.

So yay for T. Kingfisher! But it was weird hearing Khristine Hvam narrate something that wasn’t by Faith Hunter. Clocktaur War series by T. Kingfisher

Great entries into Richard Osman‘s Thursday Murder Club series and Stephen Spotswood‘s Pentecost & Parker series.

I was expecting to love The Last Devil to Die , but I’d put off reading Secrets Typed in Blood because I wasn’t certain I was in the mood for it.

There were also great continuations of fantasy series I’ve been reading. Morgan Stang’s books aren’t going to be for everyone, but I quite enjoyed them. And of course I read the latest Saint of Steel book as soon as it came out.

Mystery

• The Last Devil to Die (2023) Richard Osman (Thursday Murder Club) 9/10
• Secrets Typed in Blood (2022) Stephen Spotswood (Pentecost & Parker) 8/10
• So Shall You Reap (2023) Donna Leon (Commissario Brunetti) 7/10
• Board to Death (2023) Cj Connor (A Board Game Shop Mystery) 5/10

Romance

• Muscle Cub (2023) Slade James (Bear Camp) 7/10

Fantasy

• Murder on the Lamplight Express (2023) Morgan Stang (The Lamplight Murder Mysteries) 8.5/10
• Paladin’s Faith (2023) T. Kingfisher (The Saint of Steel) 8/10

Audio Books

• Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith: Midnight Riot, Audio Book (2012) 9.5/10, Moon Over Soho, Audio Book (2012) 8.5/10, Broken Homes, Audio Book (2014) 9.5/10
• Clocktaur War by T. Kingfisher narrated by Khristine Hvam: Clockwork Boys, Audio Book (2017/2019) 8.5/10, The Wonder Engine, Audio Book (2018/2019) 8.5/10
• Swordheart, Audio Book (2018/2021) T. Kingfisher narrated by Jesse Vilinsky 8/10