I know February is only a few days shy of the other eleven months in the year, but it always seems to fly by. This year was no exception!

February Reads

I really enjoyed all the books I got to this month. I had three non-fictions, pretty unusual for me. Although to be fair, two were true crime/criminal justice reads – right up my alley. My favorite book this month was The Magnolia Palace. I just love how Ms. Davis makes a NYC building the centerpiece of each historical mystery, and the narrative takes place between two different timelines.

• Just Pursuit by Laura Coates. 5 Stairs. A collection of stories from former Federal Prosecutor Laura Coates. Some of these are difficult to read, but important insights into our justice system.
• The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis. 5 Stairs. My favorite read in February! I love the way Ms. Davis approaches her novels, creating a fictional mystery centered around a NYC building. This book focuses on the Frick Mansion.
• Bone Deep by Charles Bosworth, Jr. & Joel J. Schwartz. 4.5 Stairs. If you’re like me and have never heard of the Betsy Faria murder case, hang on. You’re in for a wild ride.
• The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson. 4 Stairs. This was a tough read at times, especially Part One. While the narrative of the book is about a pandemic of uncontrollable violence, the book’s real focus is on overcoming psychological and emotional abuse.
• The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix. 4 Stairs. I liked this story a lot, reminiscent of classic campy 1980s horror films. It just wasn’t quite as fun as The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires.
• Pirate Hunters by Robert Kurson. 4 Stairs. I found this story fascinating and appreciated the detail and history that backed up the hunt for the pirate shipwreck.
• The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl. 4 Stairs. The description “Once Upon a Time meets Pretty Little Liars” is spot on for this fairy tale retelling set in the world of dark academia.
• Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. 3.5 Stairs. This month’s #readchristie2022 selection ties in with the Death on the Nile movie release. Hercule Poirot finds himself on the Nile with a killer.

Started in February

Instagram Fun

Are you following me on Instagram? If not, here’s what you missed:

Final Thoughts

Well, looks like I didn’t get to ANY of the “black and red” books I pulled off my shelf for that Instagram February picture. I did find a few different black and red books that were really enjoyable. What should I read in March? (I already have one book on my shelf I’m hoping to get to that feels like a good March theme – it’s got shamrocks on the cover.)