Phrynne’s Comments (group member since Aug 13, 2012)

Phrynne’s comments from the Aussie Readers group.

My review of Murder Bears Fruit by Rosie Sandler

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks:)

Finished
Annual Challenge 2025 - Calendar of Books
Duration: 1/1/25 - 31/12/25
Level: Hard
24/24

TITLES
January Just a Regular Boy by Catherine Ryan Hyde 4 stars 7/1/25
February The Four Queens of Crime by Rosanne Limoncelli 5 stars 18/2/25
March Mexico, Margaritas, and Murder by Wendy Day 4 stars 16/3/25
April Asylum by Jack Adams AA 5 stars 17/4/25
May Mrs. Pollifax and the Whirling Dervish by Dorothy Gilman 5 stars 10/5/25
June Joy in the Morning by P.G. Wodehouse 5 stars 11/6/25
July Just After Midnight by Catherine Ryan Hyde 4 stars 26/7/25
August Aunt Bessie Understands by Diana Xarissa 4 stars 9/8.25
September Sienna by Annie Seaton AA 4 stars 17/9/25
October One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner 4 stars 20/10/25
November Newlyweds Can Be Knocked Off by Amanda Flower 3 stars 20/11/25
December The Devil in the Details by Vicki Delany 4 stars 12/12/25



AUTHORS
January Joy Ellis : Graves on the Fens 5 stars 5/1/25
FebruaryRhonda Forrest : Elizabeth's StarAA 3 stars 16/2/25
March Adrian McKinty : Hang on St. Christopher AA 5 stars 30/3/25
April Arthur W. Upfield : The Bone is Pointed AA 5 stars 2/4/25
May Angela Marsons : Broken Bones 5 stars 15/5/25
June Jack Adams : Stalker AA 4 stars 21/6/25
July J.R. Ellis : The Otley Murders 4 stars 26/7/25
August Angela Marsons Dead Memories 5 stars 25/8/25
September Harriet Steel : Cold Case in Nuala 4 stars 6/9/25
October Carol O'Connell : Killing Critics 4 stars 30/10/25
November Jo Nesbø : Wolf Hour 5 stars 24/11/25
December Garry Disher : Whispering Death 5 stars 18/12/2025 AA

Finished

Annual Challenge - Book Bingo
Duration - 1/1/25 - 31/12/25
Level: Hard
25/25

#1 Down
a - Male author - Port Vila Blues by Garry Disher AA 4 stars 26/1/25
b - Four word title - Murder at Raven's Hollow by Louise Marley 5 stars 3/1/25
c - Blue cover - The Life Impossible by Matt Haig 3 stars 19/1/25
d - House on cover - Grave Words by Gerri Lewis 3 stars 31/5/25
e - Mystery - Winds of Evil by Arthur W. Upfield AA 5 stars 10/3/25



#2 Down
a - Cosy mystery - Blondes, Bikinis and Betrayal by Emerald Finn AAb - New to me author - Mexico, Margaritas, and Murder by Wendy Day 4 stars 16/3/25
c - Set in Australia - The Secrets of Willow Bay by Phillipa Nefri Clark AA 5 stars 18/1/25
d - Female MC - Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb 5 stars 12/2/25
e - Place name in title - Hangman's Gap by Rachel Amphlett AA 4 stars 25/2/25



#3 Down
a - Published 2025 - The Four Queens of Crime by Rosanne Limoncelli 5 stars 18/2/25
b - Young Adult - The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson 4 stars 19/12/2025
c - Favourite author - Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd 5 stars 27/1/25
d - Male MC The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny 3 stars 14/2/25
e - Set in another country - The Unquiet Grave by Dervla McTiernan AA 5 stars 28/3/25



#4 Down
a - Part of series - Graves on the Fens by Joy Ellis 5 stars 5/1/25
b - Favourite genre - Mystery - To Catch a Thief by David Dodge 4 stars 25/2/25
c - Title begins with D - The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves 5 stars 2/2/25
d - Book I bought - Midnight and Blue by Ian Rankin 5 stars 11/1/25
e - Author's name begins T - The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood 5 stars 1/10/25



#5 Down
a - One word title - Asylum by Jack Adams AA 5 stars 17/4/25
b - Female author - Haunting and Homicide by Ava Burke 4 stars 10/1/25
c - Aussie author - The Knitting Club at Wagtail Ridge by Janet Gover AA 4 stars 10/9/25
d - Borrowed from library - The Winds from Further West by Alexander McCall Smith 5 stars 8/1/25
e - Colourful cover - A Village Theatre Murder by Katie Gayle 5 stars 21/2/25

Finished

Annual A-Z Road Trip
Duration: 1/1/25 - 31/12/25
26/26

I am going on a road trip, and I'm spying with my little eye...

A Alpaca The Knitting Club at Wagtail Ridge by Janet Gover AA (on cover) 4 stars 10/9/25
B Boy Just a Regular Boy by Catherine Ryan Hyde (on cover) 4 stars 7/1/25
C Cat A Witch Worth Praline For by H.Y. Hanna AA (on cover) 4 stars 25/5/26
D Dog Haunting and Homicide by Ava Burke (on cover) 4 stars 10/1/25
E Egg The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer (on cover) 4 stars 27/2/25
F Flower Sienna by Annie Seaton AA (on cover) 4 stars 17/9/25
G Grey wolf The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny (on cover)3 stars 19/2/25
H Hat Emerald Secrets by Rhonda Forrest AA (on cover) 4 stars 30/1/25
I Island The Life Impossible by Matt Haig (on cover) 3 stars 19/1/25
J Jack'o'Lantern Grave Words by Gerri Lewis (on cover) 3 stars 31/5/25
K Knife The Four Queens of Crime by Rosanne Limoncelli (on cover) 4 stars 19/2/25
L Lighthouse Blondes, Bikinis and Betrayal by Emerald Finn (on cover)AA 4 stars 2.2.25
M Moon Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief by Dorothy Gilman (on cover) 5 staes 9/7/25
N Nose The Gatsby Gambit: A Novel by Claire Anderson Wheeler (on cover) 4 stars 26/3/25
O Orange Orange Blossom Cafe by T.I. Lowe (on cover) 28/2/25
P Plate The Empire Biscuit Bites Back by L.E. Gordon AA (on cover) 4 stars 21/25
Q Queen The Four Queens of Crime by Rosanne Limoncelli (in title) 5 stars 18/2/25
R Raincoat Glenrock by Lee Christine AA (on cover) 5 stars 8/9/25
S Shadow A Viking's Shadow (on cover) by H.L. Marsay 5 stars 24/10/25
T Train Death on a Scottish Train by Lucy Connelly (on cover) 4 stars 15/10/25
U Umbrella Mexico, Margaritas, and Murder by Wendy Day (on cover) 4 stars 16/3/25
V Village A Village Theatre Murder by Katie Gayle (in title) 5 stars 22/2/25
W Windmill Graves on the Fens by Joy Ellis (on cover) 5 stars 5/1/25
X Box The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson (in title) 4 stars 19/12/25
Y Yellow writing Joy in the Morning by P.G. Wodehouse (on cover) 5 stars 11/6 25
Z Z The Zanzibar Wife by Deborah Rodriguez (on cover) 3 stars 22/2/25

January's Featured Author - Darry Fraser
Duration: 1/1/26 - 31/1/26
Level: hard
0/10

TASKS

#1. Read a book by an Australian author
No Good Deed by Katherine Kovacic AA

#2. Read a debut novel
Better than the Real Thing by Brooke Crawford AA

#3. Read a book where the first letter of each title word fits into HISTORICAL FICTION (Min 2 words)
The Secret Hours by Mick Herron

#4. Read a book with a strong main female character
Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled by Dorothy Gilman



SPELL OUT
F A Field Guide to Murder by Michelle L. Cullen
R A Dedicated Man by Peter Robinson
A The Devil's Steps by Arthur W. Upfield AA
S The Golden Sister by Suzanne Do AA
E This Body of Death by Elizabeth George
R The Running Clubby Ali Lowe AA

Finished!

Annual Challenge 2025 - A-Z "Real Life" Locations
Duration: 1/1/25 - 31/12/25
26/26

A Australia -The Knitting Club at Wagtail Ridge by Janet Gover AA 4 stars 10/9/25
B Black country - Lost Girls by Angela Marsons 5 stars 20/1/25
C Canada - The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny 3 stars 14/2/25
D Douglas, Isle of Man - Arrivals and Arrests by Diana Xarissa 5 stars 5/1/25
E England - The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves 5 stars 2/2/25
F France - A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge 3 stars
G Galway - The Unquiet Grave by Dervla McTiernan AA 5 stars 28/3/25
H Hobart - Port Vila Blues by Garry Disher AA 4 stars 26/1/25
I Ireland - Hang on St. Christopher by Adrian McKinty AA 5 stars 30/3/25
J Japan - The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino 3 stars 19/3/25
K Kimmerston, UK - The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves 5 stars 15/3/25
L Louisiana -Haunting and Homicide by Ava Burke 4 stars 10/1/25
M Morocco - Mrs. Pollifax and the Whirling Dervish by Dorothy Gilman 5 stars 13/11/25
N New South Wales - Winds of Evil by Arthur W. Upfield AA 5 stars 10/3/25
O Outer Banks, North Carolina - Shot Through the Book by Eva Gates 4 stars 4/5/25
P Palermo - Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief by Dorothy Gilman 5 stars 9/7/25
Q Queensland - The Secrets of Willow Bay by Phillipa Nefri Clark AA 5 stars 18/1/25
R Riviera - To Catch a Thief by David Dodge 4 stars 26/2/25
S Spain -The Life Impossible by Matt Haig 3 stars 19/1/25
T Thailand - Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle by Dorothy Gilman 5 stars 24/22/25
U USA - Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb 5 stars 12/2/25
V Virginia - Schooled in Murder by Victoria Gilbert 4 stars 4/1/25
W Whitsunday Islands - Emerald Secrets by Rhonda Forrest AA 4 stars 24/1/25
X Mexico - Mexico, Margaritas, and Murder by Wendy Day 4 stars 16/3/25
Y York - A Viking's Shadow by H.L. Marsay 5 stars 5/10/25
Z Zanzibar - The Zanzibar Wife by Deborah Rodriguez 3 stars 2/2/25

Well done Helen!!!

Happy birthday Chris and Kim🎁🎂📚🎈

Annual United in Reading Calendar 2026
Duration: 1/1/26 - 31/12/26
Level: Medium
0/24

January:
Read a book by an Australian author.
No Good Deed by Katherine Kovacic AA
Read a book which is historical fiction.
The Devil's Steps by Arthur W. Upfield AA

February:
Read a book by a female author
Lest Angels Weep by Phillipa Nefri Clark AA
Read a book with a PINK cover (show cover)
Saltwater Place by Rhonda Forrest AA

March:
Read a book with a GREEN cover (show cover)
The Hollow Man by Rachel Amphlett AA
Read a book which makes you happy.
Aunt Bessie's X-Ray by Diana Xarissa

April:
Read a book which has a character who is a doctor or nurse
The General Hospital: A Menzies Mental Health Novel by Anne Buist AA
Read a book where the title starts with one of the letters in ANZAC
Aftermath by Peter Robinson

May:
Read a book with flowers on the cover (show cover)
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society by Sophie Green AA
Read a book where TEA is spelled in the title (any order)
Murder at an Irish Session by Carlene O'Connor

June:
Read a short book (between 125 and 250 pages) 224p
Odessa by Annie Seaton AA
Read a book with a boat on the cover (show cover)
Boats and Bad Guys by Diana Xarissa

July:
Read a book where the first title letter appears in NAIDOC
Carnival by Jack Adams AA
TBA

August:
Read a book whose title begins with H
Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French
Read a book where both the author's initials are in AFRICAN
The Obsession by Nora Roberts

September:
Read a book by a male author
The Ladies' Lounge by Graham Brack
Read a book set in the US
Stolen in Death by J.D. Robb

October:
Read a book which features older characters
A Meditation on Murder by Robert Thorogood
Read a novel set in rural Australia
Mischance Creek by Garry Disher AA

November:
Read a book set in Victoria
Her by Garry Disher AA
Read a book with a RED cover (show cover)
Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz

December:
Read a book with a cheery, colourful cover (show cover)
The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman AA
TBA

Great work Jonquil

Great work Zarrix

Great work Zarrix, Jackie and Kylie

Great work Barbara

Great work Teresa, Kylie and Clare!

Well done JP

Well done Jonquil and Kylie

Annual Challenge 2026 - Real Locations
0/26

A Australia - No Good Deed by Katherine Kovacic AA
B Brighton - The Vanishing Box by Elly Griffiths
C Cornwall - A Crushing Walk in Cornwall by Nicholas George
D Damascus - Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled by Dorothy Gilman
E England - Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French
F France - A Murder in Springtime by Martin Walker
G Gippsland - The Devil's Steps by Arthur W. Upfield AA
H Helmthorpe - A Dedicated Man by Peter Robinson
I Isle of Man - Aunt Bessie's X-Ray by Diana Xarissa
J TBA
K Kilbane - Murder at an Irish Session by Carlene O'Connor
L London - The Secret Hours by Mick Herron
M Melbourne - Lest Angels Weep by Phillipa Nefri Clark AA
N New York - Stolen in Death by J.D. Robb
O Oxfordshire - The Hollow Man by Rachel Amphlett AA
P Prague The Ladies' Lounge by Graham Brack
Q Quebec - The Black Wolf by Louise Penny
R TBA
S Saint Marie - A Meditation on Murder by Robert Thorogood
T Tiverton - Mischance Creek by Garry Disher AA
U TBA
V Victoria - Her by Garry Disher AA
W Whitsunday Islands - Odessa by Annie Seaton AA
X Oxford - All-Butter ShortDead by H.Y. Hanna AA
Y York - A Ghostly Shadow by H.L. Marsay
Z TBA

Well done JP!

My review of Murder on a Frosty Night by Verity Bright

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...