Reading round-up: April 2026

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The Blitz Detective Investigates - The Custom House Murder: Mike Hollow

The Blitz Detective Investigates - The Stratford Murder: Mike Hollow

The Blitz Detective Investigates - The Dockland Murder: Mike Hollow

Death In Holy Orders (Inspector Adam Dalgliesh Book 11): PD James

The Murder Room (Inspector Adam Dalgliesh Book 12): PD James

Gardeners' World August 2025

Gardeners' World September 2025

Gardeners' World October 2025

Gardeners' World November 2025

Making Happy Things: Sue-Ching Lascelles

Stay-Stitched: Erin Arsenault

Despite feeling somewhat low and dispirited, I nevertheless managed to read a fair few books during April.  As you've probably realised by now, I do rather enjoy a good detective murder mystery 😉

I have come to the end of catching up with the Gardeners' World subscription I took out last year.  I dropped these last four copies off at our local library this morning, which is where I've been donating all the GW magazines once I've finished reading them.  The librarians are always highly delighted to receive them, as cost-cutting measures has meant that they can no longer buy subscriptions for the library.

My little butterfly mind is also flitting back to the possibility of having a go at making some clothes for myself, hence the sewing books.  I haven't actually done any "dressmaking" since I was in my first year at senior school, and then it was a subject that I really couldn't get the hang of ~ it took me a whole school year to make one simple item, a little skirt in red crimpolene 😄  In recent years though I have come across the concept of sewing without paper patterns, instead just using basic shapes to make simple clothes.  I'm working up the courage to try this idea to make myself a skirt, as I haven't been able to find anything that really appeals to me.  I currently only have one to my name and would really like another couple as a change from always wearing wide-legged jeggings.  I'll be sure to let you know how things go when I actually pluck up the courage to try!