2023 - The Year in Review

It's hard to believe that today is New Year's Eve. I thought I'd take time to look back over the books I've read in 2023.

The book I was reading when 2023 began was A TRACE OF POISON by Colleen Cambridge. This was the second Phyllida Bright Mystery. The first book I started in 2023 was THE ACCIDENTAL SPY by David Gardner while my first review of the year was MOVING IS MURDER BY Nellie H. Steele. The last review I wrote in 2023 was for MURDER ON MISTLETOE LANE by Clara McKenna. The last book I finished was MASTER OF ILLUSION by Nupur Tustin and the book I am reading to finish out the year is MURDER IN A CUP by Lauren Elliot. 

I read 100 books in 2023 and wrote 97 reviews-and I still have 4 to write! The moment that made me most proud was when I learned that my review of BULLETPROOF BARISTA by Cleo Coyle is quoted in the Penguin Random House Catalog!

Things were also busy on my Cozy Up With Kathy Party Page on Facebook. In addition to the big Welcome to Winter and Halloween Spooktacular parties, I had a few smaller parties throughout the year. I plan on doing the same in 2024.

So, what were my favorite books of 2023? As I say every year, I hate to make lists as I'm sure I'll forget someone, and books read earlier in the year are harder to remember off hand.

Favorite ongoing series include, The Deep Dish Mystery series by Mindy Quigley, The Mrs. Claus Mystery series by Liz Ireland, The Phyllida Bright Mystery series by Colleen Cambridge, The Deadly Series by Kate Parker, The Rita Calabrese Culinary Cozy Mystery series by Maureen Klovers, the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series by Dianne Freeman, and the Jane Wunderley series by Erica Ruth Neubauer, to name just a few.

Several new series also introduced great new characters and stories. Some of my favorite new series in 2023 include Murder in Postscript by Mary Winters, Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts, Paw and Order by Chris Abernathy, A Grave Roast by A. N. Sage, and Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder by Catherine Lloyd.

I enjoyed many books in 2023 and I hope you did as well. Wishing you all a wonderful 2024 filled with lots of great reads!