Catherine Chant's Home Page

What I'm Reading

For a complete and up-top-date list of my reading activities, please visit my Shelfari web page.

Of special interest to writers:

Don't Murder Your Mystery: 24 Fiction-Writing Techniques To Save Your Manuscript From Turning Up D.O.A. by Chris Roerden
Don't let the title fool you. This book is not just for mystery writers. ALL fiction writers can benefit from advice on how to avoid backstory dump, two-dimensional characters and chit-chat dialogue (to name just 3 of the 24 areas covered). 5 stars! (Full review available at FMAM.)

Previously I read:

The Loveliest Dead by Ray Garton - 4 stars. A chilling suspense that was hard to put down, and a heartwrenching story, especially if you're a parent.
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown - 4 stars. (Yes, I'm a little late to jump on the bandwagon. :-) ) I found this book fascinating and entertaining. Fast-paced and hard to put down.
The Liar's Diary by Patry Francis - 4.3 stars. An engrossing book that's hard to sum up in just a few words. It keeps you turning the pages, and the story stays with you after you finish
The Woods by Harlan Coben - 5 stars! A "can't-put-down" suspsense. I think I read this one in record time and sent copies to several friends as Christmas gifts this year. Now I'll have to start through Coben's back list.
The Death List by Paul Johnston - 4.5 stars. A "thrilling" suspense that kept me guessing until the end.
Whitewash by Alex Kava - 4.5 stars. Excellent thriller!!!!!
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling - 4.5 stars - Fantastic conclusion to the series. I wasn't thrilled with the 6th installment (the Half Blood Prince), but this one more than made up for it.
The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols - 5 stars +! - This story is adorable! I laughed out loud at so many of the "Lori-isms". I rarely (like close to never) re-read books, but this one I'm tempted to, just to brighten my day.
Dead Right by Brenda Novak - 4.5 stars! An excellent conclusion to the trilogy.
Say You Love Me by Rita Heron - 4 stars - great suspense. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Inexcusable by Chris Lynch - 4.4 stars - Un-put-down-able. Fabulously unique book, love how time switches back and forth as the story moves toward that moment of realization for the character. Read it in one sitting. Wish the ending didn't leave me wondering so much, though.
The Night My Sister Went Missing by Carol Plum-Ucci - 4.4 stars - riveting story and interestingly told over the course of just one night.
The Devil's Footsteps by E. E. Richardson - 4.5 stars! Delightfully creepy YA that keeps you in suspense until the last page. Wow!
Fear No Evil by Allison Brennan - 4.5 stars! Excellent suspense. Can't wait for her next series.
The Intruders by E.E. Richardson - 4 stars. Although I guessed the ending of this YA early on, the suspense kept me reading until that very last page.
The Old Willis Place and A Witch's Garden by Mary Downing Hahn - two more excellent MG suspense stories. 4 stars each.
Wait Til Helen Comes, Time for Andrew and The Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn - I'm in the middle of a middle grade ghost story phase. 4 stars all around for Ms. Downing's ghost stories. I just love these types of books!
Dead Giveaway by Brenda Novak - 4.5 stars! A winner!!!
See No Evil by Allison Brennan - 4.5 stars! Fantastic!!
I'm really looking forward to the third books in BOTH these trilogies!
Alpine For You by Maddy Hunter (4.3 stars - another funny mystery. I've been working my way backwards in the series since PASTA IMPERFECT hooked me. This is the first book in the series.)
G'Day to Die by Maddy Hunter (4 stars - I've finally caught up with all the books in the Passport to Peril series. Can't wait for the next one!)
Toasting Tina by Evan Marshall (3.9 stars - cute mystery, memorable characters, good red herrings. Expected more from the cat. ;-) I'm probably too spoiled by Midnight Louie. I'm interested in trying another in the Jane Stuart series.)
The Terror by Dan Simmons (Full review available at FMAM.)
Speak No Evil by Allison Brennan - 4.5 stars! Excellent!!!
Cell by Stephen King (4 stars - classic King, with a realistic ending that really gets to you, and nothing is tied up too neatly.)
Knight of Darkness by Kinley MacGregor (4.5 stars - wonderful addition to the Lords of Avalon series!)
Top O' The Mournin' by Maddy Hunter (4.3 stars - another funny mystery. I've been working my way backwards in the series since PASTA IMPERFECT)
The Devil Served Tortellini by Shirley Jump (4.4 stars - an adorable romance with lively characters and lots of great food!)
Hula Done It by Maddy Hunter (4 stars - a funny and entertaining mystery. She got my attention with PASTA IMPERFECT a couple years ago and now I'm hooked on the Passport to Peril series for good! Keep 'em coming!)
His Dark Desires by Jennifer St. Giles (4.2 stars - A great gothic! I liked this one even more than Mistress of Trevelyan)
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (4.5 stars - exceptionally well written and funny YA)
On the Head of a Pin by Mary Beth Miller (4.5 stars - excellent YA, wonderful use of multiple first person POV)
The Surrogate by Judith Henry Wall (4 stars - heavy on narrative backstory at the start, but otherwise quite a page turning suspense, reminded me of a contemporary gothic.)
Shock Point by April Henry (4 stars - a real page turner, but the ending was a little too tidy)
The Harrowing by Alexandra Sokoloff (4 stars - review available at FMAM)
Mistress of Trevelyan by Jennifer St. Giles (4 stars - a wonderful gothic heralding the return of a long missed genre!)
Last Kiss Goodbye by Rita Herron (4 stars - a very good suspense, keeps you guessing 'til the end.)
Dead Silence by Brenda Novak (4.5 stars - fantastic romantic suspense!)
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi (4.5 stars - a classic.)
Major Crush by Jennifer Echols (had to see the finished product after reading the "work in progress." 5 stars of course!)
The Kill by Allison Brennan (4.5 stars! Another thrilling suspense from Ms. Brennan. Couldn't put it down.)
Lake of Sorrows by Erin Hart (4 stars - a wonderful and unique murder mystery that takes place in Ireland.)
Sword of Darkness by Kinley MacGregor (4.5 stars - read my review)
Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti (4.5 stars - read my review)
The Hunt by Allison Brennan (4.5 stars - review available at FMAM)
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (4 stars - enjoyed learning more about Voldermort's backstory, but felt the overall pace was slower than previoius books.)
April Showers by V.C. Andrews (2 stars - In one word: "Plodding." If you're expecting anything even close to the suspense and storytelling of the Flowers in the Attic series, save your money. This book was a huge disappointment to me.)
Raising Atlantis by Thomas Greanias (review available at FMAM - 4.5 stars)
Body Snatchers in the Desert by Nick Redfern (review available at FMAM - 5 stars)
Dare Me by Leigh Ellwood (read my review - 4 stars)
The Prey by Allision Brennan (review available at FMAM - 4.5 stars)
Deadly Impulse by Olga Bicos (review available at FMAM - 4 stars)
Riggs Park by Ellyn Bache (review available at FMAM - 4.5 stars)
Silver is for Secrets by Laurie Faria Stolarz (4 stars - great YA book!)
Royally Jacked by Niki Burnham (4 stars - another fun YA book! Looking forward to the sequel - Spin Control)
Dead I Well May Be by Adrian McKinty (5 stars - Brilliant book!)
A Breath Away by Rita Herron (review available at FMAM - 4.5 stars)
Blue Twilight by Maggie Shayne (review available at FMAM - 4.5 stars)
Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase - read my review (4 stars)
Seize the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon - read my review (4.5 stars)
Her Frog Prince by Shirley Jump - read my review (4.5 stars)
The Bride Wore Chocolate by Shirley Jump - read my review (5 stars)