I read 25 books in 2025 and I am on track for about the same in 2026.    Some books are rewarding, some are a bit of a struggle to finish, some are abandoned, and some are rereads.    Some short reviews of recently finished books are included here:

Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo

• Book # 2 in the Harry Hole series, translated from Norwegian
• A Nordic-noir detective book set in Thailand
• Dark, gritty, layered, and violent.
• The characters are not particularly likeable, including Harry Hole.
• I have read two other books by Nesbo in this series and both were better.
• 3.8 stars/5

The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss

• Book 2.5 in the Kingkiller Chronicles (I have read the first book in this series)
• A short, quiet, and meditative fantasy about a young girl named Auri who lives in an abandoned area of old rooms, passages, and secrets.
• Similar in narrative to Piranesi by Susanna Clark (one of my favorite books)
• An enjoyable interlude, without plot, but a magical tone
• 4.1 stars/5

The Rising of the Tide by Ann Cleeves

• Book # 10 of the Vera Stanhope series
• Murders on Holy Island (Lindisfarne) to be investigated by Vera and her team
• lots of local colour, the ordinary lives of locals and lots of hidden secrets
• An easy-to-read and enjoyable cozy murder mystery
• A surprise ending
• 4.4 stars/5

Darkness, Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane

I have liked Dennis Lehane’s books, but I found this one to be difficult to stick with.    The violence seemed to be gratuitous, the sex too explicit, and the characters seemed flat.     I got a third of the way through, then abandoned ship.