Janet Emson (@janetemson)

Thanks 😊

31.01.2026 16:33 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

A Deadly Night at the Theatre by Katy Watson – review Published by Constable Publication date – 10 July 2025 (Hardback) 23 April 2026 (paperback) Source – review copy MURDER IS WAITING IN THE WINGS . . . Actresses Posy Starling and Caro Ho…

fromfirstpagetolast.wordpress.com/2026/01/28/a... via @janetemson.bsky.social

28.01.2026 16:18 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0

Balancing the Books – November 2025 I’ve done it again. I’ve neglected the blog and now it’s time to play catch up. I need to reach back as far as November for that month’s balancing the books. (OK I don&#8217…

fromfirstpagetolast.wordpress.com/2026/01/20/b... via @janetemson.bsky.social

20.01.2026 21:33 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0

Thanks 😊

21.01.2026 10:04 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

janetemson on Instagram: "Agnes has taken solace in the cat shelter she runs. There she can focus on the waifs and strays of Montreal and not on the loss of …" Agnes has taken solace in the cat shelter she runs. There she can focus on the waifs and strays of Montreal and not on the loss of her husband. Or she can until a battle between magicians ends up with her shelter becoming a ruin. Now she has to find a new home for her and her rescues. So it seems too good to be true when she finds a property in an exclusive part of the city for very little rent. It is too good to be true. Turns out the Witch King Haverlock Renard lives in the basement. Oh and his sister wants to kill him and doesn’t mind taking down the entire world with her. I loved every page of this book. It’s perfect to curl up with and get lost in. I was already hoping it would be the first in a new series before the end of the first chapter. This is a world where magic is known about. It may be frowned upon, especially as it nearly causes the end of the world. It is more seen as a way to class people, and judge them.Agnes is a great character. No nonsense, caring and with a practical side that comes in handy for dealing with recalcitrant magicians, she discovers that Haverlock may not deserve the reputation he has, and that her broken heart may be able to mend.It’s only recently that I’ve discovered cosy fantasy and how delightful it can be. Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter is a perfect addition to the genre. There’s a (very) slow burn romance, humour, a wonderful setting in a timeless city and cats. What more could you ask for? Ad: review copy#bookreviewersofinstagram #bookthoughts #heatherfawcett #agnesaubertsmysticalcatshelter #cosyfantasy #magicalfiction

Over on Instagram I reviewed Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett @orbitbooks.bsky.social www.instagram.com/p/DTSMibQCKz...

20.01.2026 11:20 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

The best recent crime and thrillers – review roundup The Cut Up by Louise Welsh; The Persian by David McCloskey; The 10:12 by Anna Maloney; Very Slowly All at Once by Lauren Schott; Vivian Dies Again by CE Hulse

#VivianDiesAgain by CE Hulse is a Guardian pick for best recent crime and thriller reads, described as a 'witty and innovative mystery'.

Get your hands on this clever time-loop murder mystery next week ⌛️

www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...

19.01.2026 10:00 👍 3 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0

A visit to Orkney with a gripping crime drama?
Yes please

www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/...

@spacemandan13.bsky.social @harpernorth.bsky.social #booktrailadvent

08.12.2025 17:06 👍 7 🔁 3 💬 2 📌 0

I’ve still not read it yet. I shall have to soon.

16.11.2025 23:21 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

I know how you feel. And it makes me feel under read. I’ve got the white pyjamas and the vegetable books left.

14.11.2025 19:03 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Rude of work!

14.11.2025 18:05 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

I forget the title of every book ever each year when this rolls around 😂

14.11.2025 18:05 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Two left now!

14.11.2025 17:24 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Hidden Books Game from National Book Tokens

Three left and I hate all books @nationalbooktokens.bsky.social #hiddenbookgame

14.11.2025 11:49 👍 7 🔁 0 💬 5 📌 0

An illustration of this year's game. Text says: "Hidden Books Game is BACK! Play at nationalbooktokens.com" and "Win £500 to spend on books".

Booklovers, your favourite game is back! 📚🔎

Guess all 20 books in the #HiddenBooksGame and you could win a £500/€500 National Book Token to spend in your local bookshop (the best gift ever, in our opinion).

Play now: buff.ly/460M0aR

13.11.2025 10:37 👍 36 🔁 26 💬 7 📌 34

Thanks 😊

01.10.2025 08:16 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Dictionary of Fine Distinctions by Eli Burnstein – review Published by Profile Publication date – 4 September 2025 Source – review copy Guilt or shame? Clementine or tangerine? We like to think that we choose our words with care, but are we us…

Dictionary of Fine Distinctions by Eli Burnstein – review… via @janetemson.bsky.social

fromfirstpagetolast.wordpress.com/2025/09/25/d...

26.09.2025 06:27 👍 6 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0

Winding Up the Week #438 This week we announce another brief break coming up, look at books read and reviewed, discover some of the best writing about literature on the blogosphere, keep up with literary anniversaries, foc…

bookjotter.com/2025/09/06/winding-up-the-week-438/ #AmReading #BookReview #WorldKidLitMonth2025 #ReadaBookDay2025 @petergraae.bsky.social @janetemson.bsky.social @cravenwild.bsky.social @bookmunch.bsky.social

06.09.2025 07:10 👍 4 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0

So it actually went up but I’ve narrowed it down to these. Which to say I’ve got about 2,300 to choose from isn’t bad. I’m only away for a week so I need to pick 5. Which ones would you take? #booksky📚

11.08.2025 08:23 👍 13 🔁 0 💬 7 📌 0

It’s an idea! I need to make sure I’m not adding any more. Or that I suddenly don’t want to read any of them.

09.08.2025 18:39 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Might have to. Or just eeney meeney it!

09.08.2025 15:19 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Three stacks of books, pages out so titles can’t be seen. There are 30 books in total. I’m only going away for a week.

Narrowing down which books to take on holiday is going well…

09.08.2025 14:19 👍 16 🔁 0 💬 3 📌 1

I’ll get there eventually.

02.08.2025 18:46 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Charity shop! £2. I’ve just checked and can’t see a label.

02.08.2025 15:44 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

A tote bag that looks like the facsimile cover of A Pocket Full of Rye. It’s black and red striped with the title in white font and Agatha Christie in yellow font.

Went book shopping. Came home without any books but with this. Which is book adjacent so counts.

02.08.2025 14:35 👍 25 🔁 0 💬 2 📌 0

Thanks again!

02.08.2025 14:33 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Attention All Shipping by Kathy Biggs – review Published by Borough Press Publication date – 8 May 2025 Source – review copy When you’re feeling lost at sea, what will it take to guide you home? Grace lives with her father Jac…

Attention All Shipping by Kathy Biggs – review fromfirstpagetolast.wordpress.com/2025/07/25/a... via @janetemson.bsky.social

26.07.2025 06:28 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0

Thanks 😊

02.08.2025 14:32 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie – review Published by Fontana Publication date – originally 1936 Source – own copy What secrets lie in the past? Fifteen years ago, during the Great War, Louise Leidner’s first husband was tried…

Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie – review fromfirstpagetolast.wordpress.com/2025/07/24/m... via @janetemson.bsky.social

26.07.2025 06:33 👍 3 🔁 2 💬 1 📌 0

Death on the Down Beat by Sebastian Farr Published by The British Library Publication date – 10 September 2022 Source – review copy As a rousing Strauss piece is reaching its crescendo in Maningpool Civic Hall, the talented ye…

Death on the Down Beat by Sebastian Farr fromfirstpagetolast.wordpress.com/2025/07/16/d... via @janetemson.bsky.social

20.07.2025 18:20 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0

Thanks 😊

21.07.2025 16:31 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Janet Emson

Latest posts by Janet Emson @janetemson