I didn’t start my book blog until 2003, so there was zero tracking of what I read before then. So I have no idea of how many times I reread books by Charles de Lint or Guy Gavriel Kay or Robert B Parker etc, other than at least one more than the number of rereads I tracked once I started the book blog.

Most of my reading at that time was used books picked up from the Bookshelf–whatever looked interesting; since I was underemployed, I wasn’t reading any new releases.

The Lions of Al-Rassan (1995) Guy Gavriel Kay

(reread ~3x) (Historical Fantasy) [Rating: 9.5]

I love Guy Gavriel Kay’s writing. It’s breathtaking. He generally researches the crap out of a subject and time period that interests him, then with all that background creates a new world based upon his research. His books are slow reads, to be savored and thought about.

I have to be in a certain type of mood to read a Guy Gavriel Kay book, but when I’m in that mood, there is nothing else like his writing.

Whom the Gods Love (1995) Kate Ross

(Julian Kestrel #3/4 -completed) (reread 3x) (Historical Mystery) [Avg Rating: 8.7]

There are only four books in this series, because the author died entirely too young, but I love rereading them.

“People suppose what I do must be right, because I do it with conviction”

Sabriel (1995) Garth Nix

(reread 3x) (Fantasy) [Avg Rating: 9.75]

I remember the feeling of reading this for the first time, more than anything else.

Well, anything except Moggett.

Mogget yawned, showing a pink tongue that seemed to contain the very essence of scorn.

The Ivory and the Horn (1995) Charles de Lint

(reread) (Urban Fantasy) [Rating: 8]

Charles de Lint has long been one of my favorite authors. He is a master of the short story, and of tales that–despite the darkness often within–leave you with a sense of hope.

“What bedevils you,” he says, “is that you have misplaced the ability to see–to truly see behind the shadow, into the heart of the thing–and so you no longer think to look. And the more you do not look, the less you are able to see. Wait long enough and you’ll wander the world as one blind.”

I really really need to reread some of his anthologies.

Memory & Dream (1995) Charles de Lint

(reread) (Urban Fantasy) [Rating: 7]

This is a novel rather than a short story, and I tend to prefer his short stories.

Thin Air (1995) Robert B. Parker

(Spenser #22/33) (reread ~3x) (Mystery, PI) [Rating: 8.5]

This is one in a run of excellent stories. Even when I don’t necessarily remember the details of the mysteries, there are bits and pieces that lodge themselves in my brain.

Slums were immutable. The ethnicities changed, but the squalor and sadness and desperation remained as constant as the movement of the stars.

Sister Fidelma series (36 books -completed) by Peter Tremayne

Shroud for the Archbishop #2 (1995) [Rating: 8],  Suffer Little Children #3 (1995)

(reread) (Historical Mystery)

I loved this mysteries, but have very few of them as ebooks, so not much rereading.

(N)o one, especially no woman, should put up with verbal abuse from others. The Bretha Nemed makes it an offence in law for a woman to be harassed and especially to be verbally assaulted.

Death and Judgment (1995) Donna Leon

(Commissario Guido Brunetti #4/33) (reread 3x) (Mystery, Police) [Avg Rating: 7.7]

This is the story where Signorina Elettra finally comes into her own.

“I’ve had a modem installed on the Vice-Questore’s phone,” she said, pointing to a metal box that sat on the desk a few centimeters from the phone. Wires, Brunetti saw, led from the box to her computer.

The Nun’s Tale  (1995) Candace Robb

(Owen Archer #3/15) (reread) (Historical Mystery) [Rating: 7.5]

This is actually the first book in the series I read, as it was the first I came across, but I don’t recommend starting here, but rather at the beginning.

I’m not sure if this series is finished or not. Several years will pass and then there will be a new book.

Voodoo River (1995) Robert Crais

(Elvis Cole #5/20) (reread) (Mystery, PI) Rating: 7.25]

Don’t remember too much about this story, but remain amused by this:

Ben ate quickly, then asked to be excused and raced to the TV so that he could watch Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Murder in Grub Street (1995) Bruce Alexander

(Sir John Fielding #2/11 -completed) (Historical Mystery) [Rating: 7]

Whyyyyyyyy is most of this series not available as ebooks? Whyyyyyy?

The Silent Strength of Stones (1995) Nina Kiriki Hoffman

(Urban Fantasy) [Rating: 7]

Nina Kiriki Hoffman writes urban fantasy along the lines of what Charles de Lint does, and she is also very good at short stories. This is one of her earlier books.

Justice (1995) Faye Kellerman

(Decker & Lazarus #8/27 -completed) (Mystery, Police)

I started reading this series more than two decades after it came out, and although I was willing to cut it some slack for the time period, this is the book where I gave up. Too depressing.

And thus ends my retrospective.

I didn’t get an eReader until 2011, but once I had one, my reading quickly shifted to predominantly ebooks (by 2012 60% of my reading was ebooks; by 2016 I was at 91% ebooks (that percentage is currently back down to 65%, but only because 35% of my current reading is audio)).

Which is why I have fewer rereads of books from the mid 2000s, because they were paper books, so I need a second copy (ebook or audiobook) for a reread.

Stand-Alone

A History of the World in 6 Glasses (2005) Tom Standage

(2013 favorite) [Rating: 10] (Non-Fiction)

I like non-fiction, but it doesn’t pull me in the way fiction does, so I read it much slower, and thus a whole lot less of it. (And now I must force myself to NOT go back to old spreadsheets to compare how long it takes me to read fiction vs non-fiction.)

Child of a Rainless Year (2005) Jane Lindskold

(reread 4x) [Rating: 8.9] (Urban Fantasy)

This is a phenomenal book, and I love it just as much every time I go back to it.

(L)ike so many who look at themselves too often in mirrors, she thought that this reverse image, seen rigidly straight on as we are so rarely seen by others, was her truest self.

A Short History of Myth (2005) Karen Armstrong

[Rating: 8] (Non-Fiction)

I have always appreciated Karen Armstrong’s research and writing–I have many of her books in paper and electronic format. I just wish reading about religious history wasn’t so depressing.

The City of Falling Angels (2005) John Berendt

[Rating: 8] (Non-Fiction)

Although I had owned this book for several years, I didn’t read it until I found Donna Leon’s Brunetti series, in which Venice is as much a character as Brunetti and his family.

The Oxford Murders (2005) Guillermo Martinez, translated by Sonia Soto

[Rating: 7] (Mystery)

I remember nothing about this.

Spook  (2005) Mary Roach

[Rating: 6] (Non-Fiction)

I want to reread this, to see if my feelings changed, knowing now what to expect.

Comics

Rising Stars: Born in Fire (2001), Power (2002), Fire and Ash (2005) J. Michael Straczynski

( /5 -complete ) (reread 5x) [Avg Rating: 9.75] (Superhero)

This is one of the first graphic novel series I picked up on my own (on the recommendation of someone), and it still astounds me every time I read it.

The Rabbi’s Cat (2005) Joann Sfar

(2012 favorite) [Rating: 9] (Historical Fantasy)

I should really do a better job rereading comics and graphic novels.

Digger, Vol. 1 (2005) Ursula Vernon

(1/6 -complete) [Rating: 8] (Fantasy)

I discovered this in 2021, and it is a delight.

Series

Snake Agent (2005) Liz Williams

(Detective Inspector Chen #1/5 -complete) (reread 3x) [Rating: 7.8] (Supernatural Mystery, Police)

This is a marvelous series, with a mixture of fantasy, supernatural, science fiction, and mystery.

The trouble with Hell, Zhu Irzh reflected bitterly, was not so much the palpable miasma of evil (with which he was, after all, ingrained) but the bureaucracy.

THUD (2005) Terry Pratchett

(Discworld #33/40 -complete) (reread 3x) [Rating: 8.75] (Fantasy)

The 7th book in the Watch subseries of Discworld.

Vetinari waved a languid hand. ‘But full carts congesting the street, Vimes, is a sign of progress.’ he declared.

‘Only in the figurative sense, sir,’ said Vimes.

The Paper Moon (2005) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli

(Inspector Montalbano #9/28 -complete) (reread) [Rating: 7.75] (Mystery, Police)

Although the book was written in 2005, the English translation wasn’t published until 2008, so this isn’t technically a back list read.

“(I)n our neck of the woods, and not only our neck of the woods, politics is the art of burying one’s adversary in shit.”

“What’s politics got to do with me?”

“A lot, even if you don’t realize it. In a case like this, do you know what your role is?”

“No. What’s my role.”

“You supply the shit.”

Tiger Eye (2005) Marjorie M. Liu

(Dirk & Steele #1/11 ) (reread) [Rating: 6] (Paranormal Mystery)

These books are nice distractions, with lots of action and adventure but you know things are going to turn out ok in the end.

Bangkok Tattoo (2005) John Burdett

(Sonchai Jitpleecheep #2/6) (reread+ audio 3x) [Rating: 7] (Mystery, Police)

In some ways, Sonchai’s Bangkok reminds me of Brunetti’s Venice–history, corruption, and religion mashed together into something that works for no one.

Blood from a Stone (2005) Donna Leon

(Commissario Guido Brunetti #14/33) (reread 3x) [Rating: 7.5] (Mystery, Police)

This was a particularly depressing story.

To Kingdom Come (2005) Will Thomas

(Barker and Llewelyn #2/16 -ongoing) (reread) [Rating: 7.75] (Historical Mystery, PI)

This is another series that I can’t read one book right after the other, but once I’ve read a book I forget to return to the series.

The Traveler (2005) John Twelve Hawks

(1/3 -complete) [Rating: 8] (Urban Fantasy)

This story stuck in my brain and I really do want to finish the series, yet somehow have failed to do so.

The Forgotten Man (2005) Robert Crais

(Elvis Cole #10/20 -ongoing) (reread) [Rating: 8] (Mystery, PI)

Starts out like Spenser, then becomes it’s own thing, and then, like Spenser, the characters stop aging.

Urban Shaman (2005) C. E. Murphy

(Walker Papers #1/9 -complete) (reread) [Rating: 6.75] (Supernatural Mystery, PI)

One day I will read the rest of this series, instead of getting distracted and forgetting about it.

And Only to Deceive (2005) Tasha Alexander

(Lady Emily #1/19 -ongoing) (reread 3x) [Rating: 6.75] (Historical Mystery)

First read I got mad because this was as much a romance as a mystery, and I wasn’t expecting any romance. Second time I was prepared and liked it better.

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (2005) Lauren Willig

(1/12 -complete) [Rating: 6] (Mystery)

The only thing I remember about this is that there was a modern timeline and she was researching an historical timeline

Still Life (2005) Louise Penny

(Chief Inspector Gamache #1/20 -ongoing) (reread audio) [Rating: 7.5] (Mystery, Police)

I recently listened to the first several books of this series, but ended up stopping when things took a darker turn than I was capable of dealing with.

Infernal (2005) F. Paul Wilson

(Repairman Jack #9/16 -complete) [Rating: 6] (Supernatural Mystery)

I love a supernatural mystery; it’s been a long time but IIRC the earlier books switched back and forth between mystery and supernatural. I of course got distracted and never finished the series.

Every Which Way But Dead (2005) Kim Harrison

(Rachel Morgan #3/18 -ongoing) [Rating: 7] (Supernatural Mystery)

As noted previously, Michael read more of this series than I did.

Cross Bones (2005) Kathy Reichs

(Temperance Brennan #8/24 -ongoing) [Rating: 7] (Mystery)

I initially loved this series, then every book ended with Tempe and Ryan working things out, and the following book began with the two of them on the outs.

Just… UGH.

Peach Cobbler Murder (2005) Joanne Fluke

(Hannah Swensen #7/30) [Rating: 6] (Mystery)

I recently picked this series up, and read several books but backed off when she couldn’t make up her mind about what guy she liked.

I didn’t start my end of the year round-ups until 2008, so I’ll just divide 2005 into front list and back list reads.

First up, front list (of course)

Frontlist (Read in 2005-2006)

Series

Cast in Shadow (2005) Michelle Sagara

(Cast #1/19 -ongoing) [Rating: 9] (Fantasy)

The last book I read in this series was Cast in Chaos (2010). I have later books in the series, but wanted to do the reread I’d need to get back into the series.

Nightside by Simon R. Green

Hex and the City (2005) (#4/12) [Rating: 8], Paths Not Taken  (2005) (#5/12 -complete) [Avg Rating: 6.5]

(reread 3x) (Supernatural Mystery)

As previously mentioned, I haven’t read the last book in this series, but I WILL. Someday. Up until that last book I was reading them as soon as they were published.

Dead as a Doornail (2005) Charlaine Harris

(Sookie Stackhouse #5/13 -complete) [Rating: 8] (Paranormal)

— was reading the Sookie books as soon as they came out until I got completely fed up and quit the series after 2009’s Dead and Gone. Every single male characters falling in love with Sookie was just… ugh.

Kitty and the Midnight Hour (2005) Carrie Vaughn

(Kitty Norville #1/16 -complete) (reread) [Avg Rating: 7.5] (Urban Fantasy)

This was another series I pre-ordered and read as soon as it came out–until the final book, which I put off reading for several years.

Seventy-Seven Clocks (2005) Christopher Fowler

(Bryant and May #3/18) [Rating: 7] (Mystery, Police)

I picked this up on a whim and then went back to read the earlier books. Grandmom quite enjoyed these books.

For Camelot’s Honor (2005) Sarah Zettel

(Paths to Camelot #2/4 -complete) (reread) [Avg Rating: 7] (Historical Fantasy)

I loved the first book so much that the second ended up being a little bit of a let down.

The Good, The Bad, and the Undead  (2005) Kim Harrison

(Rachel Morgan #2/18 -ongoing) [Rating: 7]

Michael kept up with this series longer than I did; I dropped off in 2008, not because it was bad, but more there were other things I wanted to read more.

Dead Beat (2005) Jim Butcher

(Dresden Files #7/18 -ongoing) [Rating: 7] (Supernatural Fantasy)

I dropped this series completely when I heard the next book ended in a major character death. I realized this was one of those series where the main character just gets stronger and stronger and stronger. I don’t mind characters learning and become more talented, but I dislike it when characters suddenly have more power to deal with problems rather than using wit and teamwork.

Cold Service (2005) Robert B. Parker

(Spenser #32/39) [Rating: 6] (Mystery, PI)

This series is being continued by another author, but I’d already kinda dropped back on keeping up about this time.

Stand Alone

Zorro (2005) Isabel Allende translated by Margaret Sayers Peden

[Rating: 8] (Historical)

This book started off a search for the Zorro book that I read as a teen.

Where’s My Cow? (2005) Terry Pratchett

(Discworld) [Rating: 9] (reread) (Fantasy)

The Discworld picture book of Sam Vimes reading Where’s My Cow to little Sam.

“Children’s Winner of the Ankh-Morpork Librarians’ Award. OOK!”

Across the Wall (2005) Garth Nix

[Rating: 7] (Fantasy Anthology)

This is a collection of short stories, some set in the world of Sabriel, some not.

Comics

Fables by  Bill Willingham

Vol 5: The Mean Seasons (2005) [Rating: 7], Vol 6: Homelands (2005) [Rating: 9] ( /22 -complete) (Urban Fantasy/Folktale)

At this point I was avidly and eagerly awaiting each new volume, and would do so for the next ten years.

Ex Machina by Brian K. Vaughan

The First Hundred Days (2005) [Rating: 7], Vol 2: Tag (2005)  [Rating: 7] ( /10 -complete) (Science Fiction)

I picked this up because it intrigued me, and kept reading for the same reason.

Runaways: Vol 4: True Believers (2005) Brian K Vaughan, Adrian Alphona, Craig Yeung

[Rating: 7] (Marvel Superhero)

I loved the first seven books of this series, then got mad after a writer change and stopped reading.

 

I’m simply going to note these last two, with no links or further commentary

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2005) J.K. Rowling

Anansi Boys (2005) Neil Gaiman (reread)

Comics

I really need to get new reading glasses so I can get back to reading comics on a regular basis.

Read in 2015 or 2016

Black Widow: Vol 1: The Finely Woven Thread (2015), Vol. 2: The Tightly Tangled Web (2015), Vol. 3: Last Days (2015)

Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto (2015 favorite) (Marvel Superhero) [Avg Rating: 8.3]

I enjoyed the Black Widow comics, especially because they were readable without knowing all the backstory and what happened elsewhere in the Marvel Universe.

Fables Vol. 21: Happily Ever After (2015), Fables Vol. 22: Farewell (2015)

Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, and Andrew Pepoy (Urban Fantasy/Folktale)

These were the last two volumes of the Fables series, which I loved. I really need to go back and reread the whole thing.

Read 2017-2020

Lady Mechanika: Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse (2015)

Joe Benitez, Peter Steigerwald (1/8 – ongoing) [Rating: 7.5] (Steampunk)

I love this series and back the new volumes on kickstarter.

Valor: Swords (2015) edited by Isabelle Melançon and Megan Lavey-Heaton

[Rating: 8.5] (Fantasy/Adventure)

This is a middle-grade / YA comic of female-focused folk & fairy tale-type stories.

Series

Looking at some of the series I dropped off reading, and some of the synopses of recent books, maybe I’m ok not going back to revisit those worlds.

Read in 2015 or 2016

Dark Ascension (2015) M. L. Brennan

(Generation V #4/4) [Rating: 7] (Urban Fantasy)

A different take on the vampire mythos with lots of other folklore sprinkled in. I need to reread this series.

Deadly Spells (2015) Jaye Wells

(Prospero’s War #3/4) [Rating: 7] (Supernatural Mystery)

Magic cops, which is a favorite subgenre of mine.

Falling in Love (2015) Donna Leon

(Commisario Brunetti #24/33) [Rating: 7.5] (Mystery)

Set in Venice, it’s almost a police cozy, and the city is the reason I keep reading.

A Red-Rose Chain (2015) Seanan McGuire

(Toby Daye #9/19 -ongoing) [Rating: 7] (Urban Fantasy)

I fell off reading this series, and keep meaning to start up again, but that’s a lot of catch-up, the they synopses of the last couple of books look really depressing.

Pocket Apocalypse (2015) Seanan McGuire

(InCryptid #4/15 -ongoing) [Rating: 7] (Urban Fantasy)

This series changes main characters as it goes along, and at some point I didn’t care as much for the characters and dropped off.

Bound by Flames (2015) Jeaniene Frost

(Night Prince #3/4) [Rating: 7] (Supernatural Romance)

Vlad the Impaler. The story pulled me in and didn’t stop, but when I’d finish there’d be a lot of things that bothered me.

The Dark Side of The Road (2015) Simon R. Green

(Ishmael Jones #1/11) [Rating: 8] (Supernatural Mystery)

Another series where I fell off and restarting is a bit daunting. As always. his humor is what I enjoy most.

Read 2017-2021

Kitty Saves the World (2015) Carrie Vaughn

(Kitty Norville #14/16) [Rating: 8] (Urban Fantasy)

This is actually the last book in Kitty’s story arc. The later two books are about secondary characters. This is a series where I love the world building, and she has lots of excellent short stories set in this world, a couple of which are favorites.

Magic Shifts (2015) Ilona Andrews

(Kate Daniels # 8/10) [Rating: 8] (Urban Fantasy)

Another series I fell off reading, because the stories shifted from stand-alone urban fantasy to more epic fantasy where nothing is every really tied up at the end of the book.

A Pattern of Lies  (2015) Charles Todd

(Bess Crawford #7/13) [Avg rating: 6.25] (Historical Mystery)

I like this series, but my habit of reading the books in a series one after the other doesn’t work here, so I’ll read a book and then forget to come back to it and then I have to start all over.

Vision In Silver (2015) Anne Bishop

(The Others #3/5) [Rating: 7] (Fantasy)

More of an alternate reality than urban fantasy. I like the world building but somehow I fell off reading the series.

A Geek Girl’s Guide to Murder (2015) Julie Anne Lindsey

(#1/3) [Rating: 7.5] (Mystery)

Geek girl cozy mystery series.

The Mermaid Murders (2015) Josh Lanyon

(The Art of Murder #1/5) (Queer Mystery) [Rating: 8]

Procedural with on-again off-again romance.

Model Citizen (2015) Lissa Kasey

(Haven Investigations #1/4) (Queer Mystery) [Rating: 8]

These books have pretty much all the trigger warnings, yet they pulled me in and wouldn’t let go. What sticks out most to me is the realistic portrayal of concussion.

The Rest (2017-2022)

These are stand-alones or books that can be read outside of their series.

A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie (2015) Kathryn Harkup

[Rating: 8.5] (Non-Fiction)

Agatha Christie, science, and murder. Perfect.

Good Enough to Eat (2015) Alison Grey & Jae

(Queer Fantasy Romance) [Rating: 7]

This was a fun story that I will probably reread at some point.

The Rogue Not Taken (2015) Sarah MacLean

[Rating: 6.5] (Historical Romance)

I tend to enjoy the first books in her series, but end up getting annoyed at a character or plot in some later book.

You’re the Earl That I Want  (2015) Kelly Bowen

[Rating: 7.5] (Historical Romance)

I remember absolutely nothing about this book.

Getting It Right (2015) A.M. Arthur

[Rating: 8.5] (Queer Romance)

Another book with all the trigger warnings. The story stuck with me, and I want to reread it and read other books in this series, but… all the trigger warnings is too much for my mental state these days.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (2015) Becky Chambers

(Wayfarers #1) (Science Fiction)

This is a favorite of so many people, and I get why, but I read it when what I really wanted was more Murderbot, and that’s not what this is.

I found this list to be particularly interesting. There are books here that got a middling rating initially, but I’ve come back to repeatedly, as well as books that maybe I didn’t rate very highly, yet the stories stuck in my mind and I had to revisit them.

Read in 2015 or 2016

Dead Heat (2015) Patricia Briggs

(Alpha & Omega #4/6) (reread+ audio 8x) [initial rating: 7.5; Avg rating: 8.4]

This whole series works extremely well for me on audio, which is why it has so many rereads. And because one of the secondary characters, Asil, is one of my favorites.

The series is also full of bits that are almost short stories on their own.

“Shut your piehole, punk kid,” Max said, thumping her on the head with the palm of his hand.

“I’m telling Mama you said ‘Shut your piehole,’” Michael said. “‘ Shut your piehole’ is a bad word.”

“‘ Shut your piehole’ is three words, Michael,” said Mackie.

Undaunted, Michael said, “I’m telling Mama you used three bad words.”

I am up to date on this series, however, I had a LOT of issues with book six, which makes me nervous about another book in this series.

A Talent for Trickery (2015) Alissa Johnson

(The Thief-Takers #1/3 -complete) (reread 5x) [Initial rating 7; subsequent readings 8.5]

This series has so many things that have stuck with me. I love how she writes characters and dialog, and how I feel like I know the characters.

He took hold of her hand gently and turned it over to study the wrist. His thumb caressed the palm of her hand. “Has this happened before?”

“Manacles? Yes, but—”

“No, not manac—” His head snapped up. “Wait. Yes? Yes? Who the hell put you in manacles?”

“My father. He felt it was important I know how to get out of them.”

Dark Heir (2015) Faith Hunter

(Jane Yellowrock #9/15 – complete) (reread+ audio 3x) [Avg Rating: 7.8]

I picked up this series when the first book came out, and pre-ordered every book as it came out. Yet I haven’t read the final two books in this series. Partially because I have a bad habit of putting off reading the final book in a series, partially because a major character was killed in book 13, and partially because things had reached a point where the books were no longer stand-alone stories. It’s not that there were cliffhanger endings, just that there were too many things to be resolved in a single book.

Why that makes a difference I don’t know, my brain just thinks it does.

I really enjoy Khristine Hvam’s narration, which is why most of my rereads have been listening to the audiobooks.

The Soldier’s Dark Secret (2015) Marguerite Kaye

(reread) [Avg rating: 7.75]

This is a book I wasn’t expecting to like as much as I did.

It’s a Harlequin Historical, so I expected it to fit into tight and restrictive patterns. It did follow the expected beats, yet was so much more, with a hero suffering from what we now term PTSD, a heroine with her own problems, and importantly, neither’s problems are magically solved by love.

Read 2017-2024

Think of England (2015) KJ Charles

(reread 4x) [Avg rating: 8.75]

I can’t believe I’ve only read this story four times. Likely, every time I come across one of my posts for it, I end up rereading all the quotes I have for it–and there are many.

KJ Charles writes queer historicals–some mysteries, some fantasy, some straight up romances. I love almost all of them, but her mysteries tend to be my favorites.

This is a stand-alone, about a man looking into the accident that caused the deaths of seventeen of his men and the mutilations of even more, as well as his being invalided out of the army.  It’s a golden retriever black cat pairing, and we get only the golden retriever’s POV which is perfect for this story.

“I, er,” said Curtis, with the natural awkwardness of an Englishman caught reading poetry. “I just, er, picked this up.”

A Queer Trade (2015) K.J. Charles

(Rag & Bone) (reread) [Avg rating: 7.25]

This is an historical fantasy novella with a very intriguing magical system, and a trade I’d never seen a main character have before, which fascinated me.

How to Be a Normal Person (2015) TJ Klune

(reread) [Avg rating: 7.25]

This is an odd story. It’s a bit of a romp, with over-the-top characters, but many parts of it stuck in my brain.

That One Friend

We all have them. You know what I’m talking about. That One Friend. Yes, That One Friend who you love dearly and enjoy very much, but who can be a bit on the wild side. Their personality isn’t for everyone. What you might consider bubbly, others might potentially consider undesirable. Before you decide which of your friends is That One Friend, make sure you look inside yourself to make sure that you’re not That One Friend.

Oh hey, it’s me.

The Bellingham Mystery Series Volume 1 (2015), The Bellingham Mystery Series Volume 2  (2015) Nicole Kimberling

(reread 3x) [Avg rating: 8.2]

I stumbled across Nicole Kimberling in a queer mystery anthology and immediately sought out her books. The main character is a reporter who–despite working for a free local paper, feels himself an investigative journalist, and keeps looking into local crimes.

I really like her writing and wish she was able to write more.

Status Update (2015) Annabeth Albert

(#gaymers) (reread) [Avg rating 7.25]

A closeted professor who teaches at a Christian college and an ADHD video game designer on an accidental road trip together.

What stuck with me in this story was Noah’s religious faith and how it made him fear his family’s reaction to him (as well as the loss of his job if he came out).

The Book Riot podcast has been “power ranking” the books of 10, 20, and 30 years ago, and though I have zero interest in power ranking books, I was curious about the books from those years I’d read, and how they’d held up (assuming I read them as front list and not back list).

I decided to note whether I reread the book, how many rereads, and if any of were audiobook listens.

Whether a book is part of a series is important, as is how far into the series it is; Books in a long, ongoing series, are less likely to be rereads, and I tend to judge them against the rest of the series, rather than books by other authors. I also wondered how many series I’ve abandoned–or at least not finished.

Couple things of note:

In my year-end round-ups (where I’ve been looking for end-of-the-year favs) I’d stopped noting older back-list books. This was mostly due to how much I read during the pandemic (a lot) as a way to shorten the lists a bit. But as my reading (especially new-to-me books) has been slow the past couple years, I should probably make note of back-list books again.

Books that can stand alone are ones I’m more likely to reread over and over. And audio books where I like the narrator are ones I’ll listen to repeatedly. That will become apparent in the next post.

Interestingly, there is only a single romance here–everything is fantasy or mystery.

These are the books published in 2015 that made my year-end favorites lists.

2015 Favorites

Half-Resurrection Blues (2015) Daniel José Older

(Bone Street Rumba #1/3-complete) Urban Fantasy (reread+ audio 4x) (2015 favorite)

Despite the undead, I love this series.

The Dragon Conspiracy (2015) Lisa Shearin

(SPI Files #2/8) Supernatural Mystery (reread+ audio 3x) (2015 favorite)

No new additions to this series in the past couple years, however, individual books could be read as stand-alones.

Who Buries the Dead (2015) C.S. Harris

(Sebastian St. Cyr # 10/21-ongoing) Historical Mystery  (+audio) (2015 favorite)

I am not quite current with this series, but did do an audio re-read earlier this year to get mostly caught up.

Tales from the Nightside (2015) Simon R. Green

(Nightside-complete) Supernatural Mystery (2015 favorite)

I still have not read the final book in this series. I own it–preordered it likely–but haven’t read it. And I’ll want to do a full reread before I finish the last book.

2016 Favorites

Newford Stories: Crow Girls (2015) Charles de Lint

Urban Fantasy (reread) (2016 favorite)

A Soupçon of Poison (2015) Ashley Gardener

(Kat Holloway #0.5/8-ongoing) Historical Mystery (2016 favorite)

This series is a pre-order for me.

A Study in Death (2015) Anna Lee Huber

(Lady Darby #4/13-ongoing) Historical Mystery (2016 favorite)

This series is a pre-order for me.

Once Upon a Marquess (2015) Courtney Milan

(Worth series#1/3) Historical Romance (reread) (2016 favorite)

Shadowshaper (2015) Daniel José Older

(Shadowshaper #1/3-complete) YA Urban Fantasy (2016 favorite)

I didn’t finish this series, because I wasn’t in the mood for YA, and now I’ll need to reread the first book before I continue on.

Witches of Lychford (2015) Paul Cornell

(Witches of Lychford #1/6) Urban Fantasy (2016 favorite)

I fell behind on this series, and really should get back to it.

The Beat Goes On: The Complete Rebus Stories (2015) Ian Rankin

(Inspector Rebus) Police Mystery (2016 favorite)

I finished this series up to Rebus’s retirement, but haven’t read any of the post-retirement stories. I regularly consider a reread of the series, but I’ve had trouble with thrillers and darker stories in recent years. At the very least I should reread this anthology, as Rankin is good with short stories.

2017 Favorites

A Curious Beginning (2015) Deanna Raybourn

(Veronica Speedwell #1/10-ongoing)  Historical Mystery (+audio) (2017 favorite)

The last book I read (#9) annoyed me, so I’m not current on this series and haven’t decided if I want to continue.

2018 Favorites

Undeath & Taxes (2015) Drew Hayes

(Fred, the Vampire Accountant #2/8-ongoing) Urban Fantasy (reread+ audio 5x) (2018 favorite)

According to the author this series isn’t complete yet, but there are no cliffhangers so you can read without fear. Which is one of the reasons I’ve reread it so many times, since I can start and stop without difficulty.

Voyage of the Basilisk (2015) Marie Brennan

(Memoirs of Lady Trent #3/5-complete) Fantasy (+audio) (2018 favorite)

I love this series and the audio books. Now I want to reread it.

2024 Favorites

Shady Hollow (2015) Juneau Black

(A Shady Hollow Mystery #1/6-ongoing) Fantasy Mystery (+audio) (2024 favorite)

This was recently picked up by a publisher and reissued. It is delightful and I eagerly await a new book.