What’s up with the first two books in a series matching, and then the third one goes totally random? I do like the third cover but it doesn’t match so that’s annoying!
Synopsis:
At a frozen lakeside crime scene, a corpse carries an accusatory note: “If anything happens to me, arrest Brendan Holmes.”
Mysteries trail Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple, and Auguste Poe wherever they go. At a remote lodge in upstate New York, the embattled private investigators have taken refuge from the assailant who bombed their sleek city headquarters. When the discovery of a body in the lake puts the detectives back in the headlines and under suspicion, the elusive killer issues his despicable orders: stop solving crimes—and start committing them.
I have a paperback ARC thanks to James Patterson Street Team, and it will be the next physical book I read.
The world’s #1 bestselling author reimagines one of America’s iconic thriller heroes.
Before Alex Cross, before Michael Bennett, before Jack Reacher, there was The Shadow!
Only two people know that 1930s society man Lamont Cranston has a secret identity as the Shadow, a crusader for justice. One is his greatest love, Margo Lane, and the other is fiercest enemy, Shiwan Khan. When Khan ambushes the couple, they must risk everything for the slimmest chance of survival … in the future.
A century and a half later, Lamont awakens in a world both unknown and disturbingly familiar. The first person he meets is Maddy Gomes, a teenager with her own mysterious secrets, including a knowledge of the legend of the Shadow.Most disturbing, Khan’s power continues to be felt over the city and its people.
No one in this new world understands the dangers of stopping him better than Lamont Cranston. And only the Shadow knows that he’s the one person who might succeed before more innocent lives are lost.
Circle of Death synopsis:
In this action-packed story fromthe world’s #1 bestselling author, a ruthless killer is seeking to overturn the world order—and our only hope is vigilante justice.
Since Lamont Cranston—known to a select few as the Shadow—defeated Shiwan Khan and ended his reign of terror over New York one year ago, the city has started to regenerate. But there is evil brewing elsewhere. And this time the entire world is under threat. Which is why Lamont has scoured the globe to assemble a team with unmatched talent.
Only their combined powers can foil an enemy with ambitions and abilities beyond anyone’s deepest fears. As their mission takes them across the globe and into the highest corridors of power—pushing them beyond their limits—can justice prevail?
The President’s Shadow synopsis:
One of America’s most iconic heroes recruits his lasting love, Margo Lane, and his great-great-granddaughter, Maddy Gomes, to join an international investigation in this thriller from the world’s #1 bestselling author, James Patterson.
For over 150 years, Lamont Cranston and his alter ego, The Shadow, have possessed an array of mental and physical powers: scientific skills, shape-shifting abilities, and mind control. When a series of deadly natural disasters strike the planet, The Shadow immediately sets out to identify who’s responsible. Is it …
A disgruntled graduate student?
The power-hungry president of the Americas?
Or could it be Shiwan Khan, the Shadow’s fiercest enemy?
The Shadow’s latest adventure is also his, Maddy’s, and Margo’s most dangerous. Triumph or perish, they’ll rise or fall … together.
I haven’t read this series yet, but I think I will aim to read it next year. I like how the first two covers match and give the same vibe… book 3 looks out of place. Let’s hope that’s not the case for the series!
I read books as a child, but stopped reading when I was a teenager. When I got back in to reading the first book I picked up was a James Patterson book my mom had sitting on a coffee table. I blew through that book! It made me WANT to read, and read more books by him. Little did I know that he publishes a bagillion books a year, haha!
Anyway, in 2023 I saw that his Street Team was looking for people and I applied, not really thinking I’d be chosen… but THEY DID CHOOSE ME!
These are most of the books I currently own that I have received through his Street Team over the years.
Next year I probably need to focus on reading a good amount of these, LOL!
Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks. Don’t forget to link up with Carole’s Random Life!
This week’s neglected book
Title: Mark The Fire Series: The Endarian Prophecy (Book 1 of 6) Author: Richard Phillips Format: eBook Length: 304 pages Publication Info: 47North / November 1, 2017
Epic fantasy centered around magic, prophecy, and powerful enemies
Lorness Carol, a young woman born into a powerful family, discovers that she may possess extraordinary abilities
Blade, an assassin closely connected to Carol, becomes caught up in events surrounding her
An ancient prophecy predicts the rise of someone capable of challenging a tremendously powerful enemy
Kragan, an ancient wielder of magic, is determined to find the person described in the prophecy
The story involves warlords, kingdoms, political conflicts, and battles for power
Includes assassins, warriors, dangerous missions, and plenty of action
Overall, it’s a fantasy adventure about destiny, magic, friendship, and an ancient evil threatening the world
This is book 1 in The Farseer Trilogy. I got this one on PangoBooks with the money I earned from selling a few books on PangoBooks. My credit card was not charged so I am counting this as a non-spend. This was also my first purchase on the app and I couldn’t be happier with how the whole transaction went.
I’m debating on just starting this series whenever I get a chance to, or waiting until the new year and focusing my whole reading journey on just bingeing the crap out the whole series in one go.
I joined a series challenge I saw in a Discord group earlier this year, and wanted to update how well I am doing on with it. With this challenge you earn points for finishing series, caught up on a series, if it’s a buddy read and a few other ways throughout the year (zero points for book 1 in a series, because the point is to complete series!).
I joined a series challenge I saw in a Discord group not that long ago, and after putting my series into a main reading tracker I realized I am up to my elbows in unfinished series. I think once I pick up a series I just need to binge the entire thing so I finish it.
I’ve been keeping up with a few series’ that I started already because of the discord challenge, so that’s a plus. But I also started some series as well. It seems it’s a never ending battle!!
Title: The Invitation Author: Jodi Ellen Malpas Format: eBook Length: 329 pages Rating: 4 stars Publication Date: July 1, 2025
I stayed up all night reading this book, which is rare for me. Was it a masterpiece? Not really. But I was totally invested in Amelia and Jude’s relationship. I liked the witty banter the characters had with each other and did laugh out loud a few times. I wish Jude would of came clean instead of just yelling “wait, wait” at her while Amelia was running away. Anyway, I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
I chose this book as a First Reads choice in June 2025.
I totally joined a series challenge I saw in a Discord group not that long ago, and after putting my series into a main reading tracker I realized I am up to my elbows in unfinished series. I think once I pick up a series I just need to binge the entire thing so I finish it.
“Series Summer” may turn into a thing for me come June, July, August. Anyone else wanna join me?
This year I am going to try to focus on getting series I started finished up to publication. And more than likely just keep better track of series I have ever started in my reading journey and decide if I want to keep reading them or not.
I am also doing a year long series challenge this year, so I am definitely wanting to keep myself accountable.
These are five series I want to get to this year. Have you read any of these? Let me know in the comments :)
Last month I posted about the series I am currently in the middle of. This is a my short update about how that’s going so far. (Oops! I started new series since my last update lol)
As you fill in this spreadsheet with books currently reading or when you finish a book, in a separate tab this sheet populates. I freaking love it!
I will probably share where I am at with all of my series at the very end of the year, and make a plan for 2026 to tackle some of them. Around November I start making 2026 plans… not that I am rushing the year along, but I am a planner and like to be all set up before January hits.
Have you watched Cross? The TV show is based on the best selling books by James Patterson. It’s been available to stream on Prime Video since last November.
Two weeks ago I posted about the series I am currently in the middle of. I never actually shared WHICH series those were. So here is a quick update!
As you fill in this spreadsheet with books currently reading or when you finish a book, in a separate tab this sheet populates. I freaking love it!
At the end of the year I plan to share where I am at with all of my series and make a plan for 2026 to tackle some of them. Around October/November I start making 2026 plans… not that I am rushing the year along, but I am a planner and like to be all set up before January hits.
I’ve seen a few posts where people are tracking their series they are currently reading. I wanted to do the same thing! I feel like I am not really a series person (because I love me a great standalone)… turns out that’s a lie.
Love me a great Clue (1985) reference
I went deep into my old Goodreads account, as well as trying to track down all the books on my virtual shelves… to get as close to an accurate reading as possible on this. I’m sure I will update my progress on this for the rest of this year and be all set up for tackling my series’ in 2026. P.S. I did find a few series that I read and finished and chose not to add the books into the spreadsheet because I got lazy and I was working on this spreadsheet for a bunch of hours over the weekend, lol.
Here’s what we’re looking at thus far:
Next year I plan to start two specific series that I’ve been eyeing for awhile now. I will be borrowing those through my library of course, but I think I am going to revisit ones I am in the middle of as well and make some progress on these numbers above. More on this later this year…..
Everyone raves about this series! I own the first book in paperback but never got around to reading it. Next year I have a goal of wanting to read two series… maybe I will choose this one. I still have time to decide on next years plans lol.
I saw this series floating around the HYCRED 2.0 chats (probably for either the Quadilogy prompt or the Adaptations prompt). All of the books are rather short, so I decided that I want to read this series. My library had all of these available to borrow, which is so awesome!
From Storygraph: “For readers who crave snappy, adventurous sci-fi centered on a sardonic cyborg’s search for autonomy—identity versus programming played for ironic laughs. Perfect if you like lightning pacing, minimal world-building, deadpan humor, and prickly loner POVs who’d rather binge shows than deal with feelings.”
Last year I went out of my comfort zone and chose a book with an interesting cover that is not in my usual genre for a Macmillan Audio Influencer pick. I ended up liking the story (I think it needed to be a little longer, to really get in depth with the characters).
Now I chose the second book in the series as last month’s Macmillan Audio pick. I plan to listen to it before the end of the month!
Synopsis for When Among Crows: When Among Crows is swift and striking, drawing from the deep well of Slavic folklore and asking if redemption and atonement can be found in embracing what we most fear.
We bear the sword, and we bear the pain of the sword.
Pain is Dymitr’s calling. His family is one in a long line of hunters who sacrifice their souls to slay monsters. Now he’s tasked with a deadly mission: find the legendary witch Baba Jaga. To reach her, Dymitr must ally with the ones he’s sworn to kill.
Pain is Ala’s inheritance. A fear-eating zmora with little left to lose, Ala awaits death from the curse she carries. When Dymitr offers her a cure in exchange for her help, she has no choice but to agree.
Together they must fight against time and the wrath of the Chicago underworld. But Dymitr’s secrets—and his true motives—may be the thing that actually destroys them.
Synopsis for To Clutch A Razor: A funeral. A heist. A mission born of desperation.
When someone in Dymitr’s family dies, he’s called back home for the Empty Night, a funeral rite intended to keep evil at bay.
The secret Dymitr is keeping from them makes returning home downright dangerous, but if he wants to get his hands on a book of curses that might appease Baba Jaga’s blood lust, he has no choice. And when that same funeral brings ferocious creature-of-legend Niko to town for his own bloody purposes, Dymitr’s charade becomes impossible to maintain.
Family gatherings can be brutal. Dymitr’s might just be fatal.
I received both of these audiobooks through Macmillan Audio Influencer Program.
