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May Wrap Up!

June 1, 2026May 21, 2026 theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you are all having a wonderful day. It is time to go over what I managed yo read in May.

May was definitely a busy month, I’ve had some health things going on and also I was finishing up my PhD thesis – which I have now sent in, so I should officially have my Doctorate very soon. Fingers crossed. In between all of this, I was enjoying my reading for this month. So far this year I have had amazing luck, most of the books I have got to I have loved or at least liked, there have been some disappointments and a few DNF’s but overall my reading is going well. I have noticed that although fantasy is my favourite genre, out of the nearly 60 books I have read so far this year, less then 10 have been fantasy. Which is a surprise.

How was your reading in May? Did you find any new favourite books?

First I will mention the books from my May TBR:

A Case of Life and Limb by Sally Smith – I did read this and I enjoyed it. This is the second book in the Gabriel Ward series, following Lawyer Gabriel Ward as he ends up tasked to solve different mysteries. Gabriel as a character is very endearing to follow. I am excited to continue this series when book three comes out.
It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh – I did read this. I was recommended it while I was in a bookshop browsing and I thought the premise sounded interesting, but this was actually my least favourite read this month. As the book goes on it becomes heavily political and I did not enjoy that.
Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price – I did read this. I am glad to finally have read the last book in the Jane Austen Murder Mystery series. In my opinion this was my least favourite of the trilogy but I still thought it was a nice read.
Tea and Alchemy by Sharon Lynn-Fisher – I did read this. I bought this on a bit of a whim, I loved the cover and when I read the premise I was intrigued by the idea of a tea leaf reader. I will be sharing a full review of this later in the month but I loved this book.
The Corpse Played Dead by Georgina Clarke – I am currently reading this and I plan on finishing it today so this one also counts. This is the second book in the Death and the Harlot series.
The Beast of Littleton Woods by T E Kinsey – I did read this and that brings me up to date with the Lady Hardcastle series until the next one comes out.
Traitors Blade by Sebastien de Castell – I did read this also. I had been putting off starting this series because I loved his other books and I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy this one as much but I loved the travelling/adventuring style of this novel.

So, from my TBR I read all the books I had and outside my TBR I also read three nonfiction books (a surprise for me as I don’t read much nonfiction): The Waiting Game, The Five by Hallie Rubenhold and Life Inside by Linda Calvey. I also read: An Archive of Romance by Ava Reid, and The Ending Writes Itself. This means I read 12 books this month. My favourite was Tea and Alchemy and my least favourite was It’s Not What You Think.

Have you read any of these books, what did you think of them?

Monthly TBRs

May TBR!

May 4, 2026April 22, 2026 theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you are all doing well today. It is May and that means it is time to talk about what books I hope to read this month.

What books are you all thinking of reading in May?

MAY TBR:

A Case of Life and Limb by Sally Smith

The Beast of Littleton Woods by T E Kinsey

Tea and Alchemy by Sharon Lynn Fisher

Traitor’s Blade by Sebastien de Castell

Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price

It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh

The Corpse Played Dead by Georgina Clarke

Book Reviews

Book Review: A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith

April 13, 2026March 17, 2026 theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a wonderful day today. I am bringing you my review of the first in the Gabriel Ward mystery series, the first book being called A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith.

Blurb/Synopsis:

The first in a delightful new mystery series set in the hidden heart of London’s legal world, introducing a wonderfully unwilling sleuth, perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Nita Prose.

When barrister Gabriel Ward steps out of his rooms at exactly two minutes to seven on a sunny May morning in 1901, his mind is so full of his latest case—the disputed authorship of bestselling children’s book Millie the Temple Church Mouse—that he scarcely registers the body of the Lord Chief Justice of England on his doorstep.

But even he cannot fail to notice the judge’s dusty bare feet, in shocking contrast to his flawless evening dress, nor the silver carving knife sticking out of his chest. In the shaded courtyards and ancient buildings of the Inner Temple, the hidden heart of London’s legal world, murder has spent centuries confined firmly to the casebooks. Until now . . .

The police can enter the Temple only by consent, so who better to investigate this tragic breach of law and order than a man who prizes both above all things? But murder doesn’t answer to logic or reasoned argument, and Gabriel soon discovers that the Temple’s heavy oak doors are hiding more surprising secrets than he’d ever imagined . . .

My Review: 4.5 stars

I was not sure about this book to begin with. I was intrigued by the blurb but in general books that featured lawyers heavily haven’t been my favourites although those have all been thrillers, except for the series by Rob Rinder which I do love. So I was worried that the main character in this novel would be off-putting and a bit info-dumpy. However, I was proven wrong. I like Gabriel Ward, he is very logical and organised both in his character and his mindset and therefore, the way the crime and the subsequent investigation is presented is also very logical and organised. I don’t think that will work for everyone but it did work for me and it was his personality that drew me in very quickly. I thought the murder itself was very unique and intriguing. Each lead took me in a different direction and I couldn’t predict where the story was going to go next which was something I loved about this book.

Have any of you read this book? What did you think of it?

Monthly Wrap Ups

March Wrap Up!

April 3, 2026March 17, 2026 theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today. It is the beginning of April, where has the time gone, and that means it is time to reflect on last month’s reading. March was an emotional month, a lot of ups and downs, but I managed to get a nice amount of reading done. Fingers crossed, but so far this year overall the books I have been reading have been great and I have found new favourites so hopefully, this will continue for the rest of 2026.

How was your reading in March? Did you have any stand out reads?

What I read in March:

From my TBR:

The Mourning Necklace by Kate Foster – I did start to read this but about halfway through I did soft DNF it. Not because there was anything wrong with the book, there wasn’t. I was actually enjoying the story but it was a little slow going and at the time I had a lot going on in my life so it was a combination of pacing and outside of reading events that led to this DNF. I am sure I will finish it in the future though.
Death and the Harlot by Georgina Clarke – I did read this. This was a book that I wasn’t sure about, the premise sounded intriguing and I love a period mystery but it did take a minute to get into the action of the story. Once it did though I read it in one sitting and I really enjoyed it.
A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith – I did read this. I have recently discovered that a trope I enjoy in books is following a character who is a lawyer. This was such a fun mystery book and I am really looking forward to the second book.
A Grave Inheritance by Felicity Epps – I did read this. Not only did I read it, but it turned out to be my favourite read of March! I had no five stars this month but A Grave Inheritance and A Case of Mice and Murder were both very close.
The Burning Issue of the Day by T E Kinsey – I did read this. The next installment in the Lady Hardcastle mystery series, and another solid book for the series. (spoiler: I read another two of this series in March)
Murder on the Prince Regent by Irina Shapiro – I did read this. Actually it was one of my favourites in the Tate and Bell series so far. I do enjoy a mystery set on a boat.
A Game of Scandal by Laura Wood – I am currently reading this book and I am enjoying it but not as much as the second in the series.

Outside of my TBR I also read: A Fatal Obsession by Faith Martin, Death Beside the Seaside and The Fatal Flying Affair both by T E Kinsey, and I read Message Not Found by Dante Medema.

That means I did complete my TBR this month and I managed to read 11 books this month. I am very pleased with that amaount.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?

Monthly TBRs

March TBR

March 6, 2026February 19, 2026 theblindscribe

Happy Friday Bookish people! I hope you are all doing well today! It is March, the best month, the beginning of Spring, and my birthday month. I have my fingers crossed that this month is full of only good things, I think we all need a little bit of that at the moment.

What books are you hoping to get to this month?

In terms of my reading, I am excited about all the options and it actually took me a while to make the final decision for my TBR this month but this is what I eventually decided on.