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Romey

@literarygem

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Always looking at how to fit in more shelf space.
Reading and collecting Classic books.
Building my dream library.

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Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie 😴🏡🐒🤚🏻

The @OfficialAgathaChristie 𝗢𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗕𝗘𝗥 #ReadChristie2026 book choice for 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲!

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 5🌟

𝗦𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 toggles between my 1st and 2nd favorite #agathachristie mystery novel 🤩

This cozy mystery is so clever and really addictive to read!

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘:
❊ Newly married couple
❊ House set up
❊ Devon coast location
❊ Gardens and garden details
❊ Past mystery brought to present
❊ Cozy descriptions
❊ Unexpected ending

This novel is also wonderful via audio book, especially if it’s the version narrated by Stephanie Cole. 𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨! Highly recommended!

This vintage hardcover edition is extra special because it was my Grandma Catherine’s copy (see photo with her signature) — I’m so grateful to have this copy in my collection!

What did you think of Sleeping Murder?

#murdermystery #queenofcrime #murdereverymonday

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Just a quick photo this morning, running out the door to work. It’s a cool rainy day here, and these stacks look peaceful, waiting for me to come home.

My father-in-law made the clay bust, and she looks so pensive, thinking about her books.

The stack on the left are a set of Jane Austen books, that I picked up at a sale. I think one volume is missing, and upon searching for it, I’ve discovered that these are quite valuable. Who knew?? They are lovely, but maybe too fine for me.

The stack on the right are all of my Miss Reads! As I go through piles I keep finding more. I was gifted a couple when I was in London in April (thank you, Romey @literarygem and Sue @myownbookjourneys), which are still in my special London book pile. I can’t yet bear to split up the collection!! My plan is to keep only the hardcovers and the older Penguin editions. My favorites!!

Maybe Jane and Miss Reads are busy chatting about their lives. I like to think so.

I am counting the hours and the minutes until I can go home. Work is a trial today!

#missread #janeausten #bookstacks

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Endless Night by Agatha Christie 🌙☠️🖤

𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯,
𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯,
𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵,
𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.
𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵,
𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.

- From ‘Auguries of Innocence’ by William Blake

@OfficialAgathaChristie 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 #ReadChristie2026 book highlights: 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 3.5🌟

Creepy, dark and eerie! Although this is not one of my favorite Agatha Christie mysteries, I liked it much more this time around.

There’s a thin line of tension from beginning to end that almost feels like it snaps once you figure out who the murderer is.

I was incredibly interested in Michael Rogers’ life and his relationship with his mother, Ellie (who is a sweetheart), and those around him.

𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 is especially dramatic and spooky when listening to the audiobook narrated by the talented Hugh Fraser (highly recommended)!

YAY or NAY to this #agathachristie mystery?

#murdermystery #queenofcrime #murdereverymonday

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The Rose and the Yew Tree by Agatha Christie 🤔🌹🌳

@OfficialAgathaChristie 𝗝𝗨𝗟𝗬 #ReadChristie2026 book highlights: 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁-𝗞𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁.

I’m torn about this #MaryWestmacott novel. I can’t say that I loved it, but I also didn’t dislike it.

It’s just so different from anything I’ve ever read by #AgathaChristie —the writing is still brilliant, but the tone is almost bitter and slightly depressing.

In a strange way, I felt compelled to read it. BUT, at the same time, I wasn’t feeling any positive connection to any of the characters or to the story itself.

Reading 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝘄 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲 reminded me of long-ago parable between opposing forces. Not between good and evil exactly, but more higher morals vs. old-fashioned everyday suffering. (𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦.)

I don’t know if I would read this novel again, but I am glad that I did.

P.S. I’m absolutely LOVING 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗲: 𝗔𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆! I was late in starting, but I’m adoring every second of it! 😄💜 How about you?

#MurderEveryMonday

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The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie 👨🏻‍🦳🔪📘🔍

@OfficialAgathaChristie 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗘 #ReadChristie2026 book highlights: 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗜𝗻 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴!

This 4th title in the #HerculePoirot series is a such a great choice for #murdereverymonday 🤩

I was surprised at how much more I liked 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝗸𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗱 this time around!

Although I remembered right off who the murderer was, it was actually really fun to find little clues in what the murderer said or did throughout the story that pointed to his/her guilt.

It was much cozier than I remembered it from past readings and re-readings. 𝘠𝘢𝘺! 🎉

It only goes to show how wonderfully clever Agatha Christie’s writing is—no matter how many times you read one of her mysteries, it only gets better and better!

All in all, it was a joy to read and listen to via audiobook. Hugh Fraser is my all-time favorite narrator of any Agatha Christie mystery!

Participating in this challenge never fails to encourage me to revisit more AC titles—which is probably a good thing since I tend to read the same 10-20 titles over and over. 😅

Have you read June’s #agathachristie #murdermystery before or is it your first time?

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The Labours of Hercules by Agatha Christie 👨🏻☠️🔍💪🏻

@OfficialAgathaChristie MAY’S #ReadChristie2026 pick highlights: 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!

This 26th title in the #HerculePoirot series is a perfect choice for #murdereverymonday 🤩

Although 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 is not my all-time favorite mystery collection, but there are definitely some gems in it! My favorites were 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗿, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗹 and 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻.

I adore short stories and Agatha Christie included some truly clever and fun plots in this collection with lots of twists and turns.

It’s been such a long time since I’ve read this one, but I’m so glad I did!

Participating in #readChristie encourages me to revisit more AC titles—which is probably a good thing since I tend to read the same 10-20 titles over and over. 😅

I also highly recommend the audiobook version of this collection narrated by Hugh Fraser. 𝘈 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵!

Tell me which #agathachristie murder mystery is YOUR favorite! 😍

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London Books Update! 🤩📚💖💛

Now that I’m back home and I’ve unpacked my books (𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘶𝘯𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰…𝘭𝘰𝘭!), I wanted to share all my #londontrip bookish info:

(𝘐’𝘮 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘪𝘻’𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘌𝘚𝘛 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘴….𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴, 𝘙𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘵! 💜)

𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗡𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗦:

2 = 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 (Ballet Shoes for Anna and my kindle)

8 = 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀

27 = 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲

27 = 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗜 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘅𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗵

56 = 𝗧𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 (I had to check an extra bag! 😱)

So many HUGE hugs and love to every single friend I met on this trip…it was simply unforgettable!
(Listed in order of meeting)

🌼 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮 @drlauravarnam
🌼 𝗦𝘂𝗲 @myownbookjourneys
🌼 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗸𝗮 @manderleypress
🌼 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 @dean_street_press_ltd
🌼 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮 and @francescabeauman @persephonebooks
🌼 𝗔𝗺𝘆 @pigeonpostbooks
🌼 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝗵 @beth.bonini
🌼 𝗕𝗲𝗮 @londontakesfive
🌼 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘆 @literarygem
🌼 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝗮 @quiteliterallybooks
🌼 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼 @caro.reads.books

Last, but not least, to my bookish bestie and travel buddy for this trip…the awesome navigator and super fun 🌟𝗟𝗜𝗭🌟 @pony.books

#lizandginagotolondon2026 #lizandginagotolondon #bookstack #bookstacks

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Whenever I take a photo of something on the ground I get my shoes in the photo by accident. So a while back I started including my shoes on purpose! And it became very fun to do this on purpose while I was in London.

Please enjoy a little bit of the ground in London, showcased with my shoes!

👟 Paddington train station
👟Skoob Books
👟 Selfridge’s
👟 Hamley’s
👟 St. Mary’s, Oxford
👟 University College chapel, Oxford
👟 Coffee shop
👟 London Marylebone train station
👟 W H Smith’s
👟 Somewhere in Bath
👟 National Gallery
👟 Durrants Hotel
👟 Spanish Place
👟 Outside Liberty’s
👟 Romey’s charming porch

#lizandginagotolondon2026 @literarygem @liz.blaufuss

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London Trip Highlights: Day 6! 🤩🦋💙🌸

Leaving for the airport this morning (noooo! 😫😫), but I wanted to share another day’s fun before I get on the plane.

Meeting Romey @literarygem was absolutely lovely! ❤️ She is so warm, welcoming and such a joy to spend time with. I felt completely spoiled (again!) 🥰 Romey was SO generous in every way!

Spending the day with her and @pony.books was exactly what we needed…a little slower day (but also lots of fun!) 🥳

HIGHLIGHTS FROM MONDAY:
🦋 Shopping at Liberty of London (bought fabric squares!)
🦋 Tea with treats (2 times!!..with Lottie the Caterpillar vegan cakes 🤩)
🦋 Thrift store shopping (yay, Oxfam!)
🦋 Looking through Romey’s AMAZING book collection (in awe!!!) and choosing books to bring home (soo generous!)
🦋 Gift swap and chatting in the garden
🦋 Delicious dinner (vegan meat pie, chips and then vegan lemon cake for dessert!)

I’m at least one day behind on posts from the trip, but stay tuned for more London fun in a day or two! Woo! 🥳

Warm spring hugs!! 💕🌸🤗🌸💕

#Lizandginagotolondon2026 #lizandginagotolondon #londontrip #libertyoflondon

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Just a quick little book recap while I pack!

2: The number of books I brought with me to read on the plane between Minneapolis and London.

12: The number of books I brought as gifts.

27: The number of books that were gifted to me! ❤️❤️❤️

28: The number of books I bought in Oxford, London, and Bath.

57: Total number of books that I have to pack up tonight! 🤪🤪🤪

When the number of books you receive as gifts pretty much matches the number of books you bought, you know you have been with some incredibly kind and generous people. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Thank you all so much for taking the time to host me and Gina! I enjoyed spending time with all of you and getting to know you better. My trip has been so fun but the highlight was meeting all of you. ❤️❤️

🩷Victoria @dean_street_press_ltd
🩷Sue @myownbookjourneys
🩷Amy @pigeonpostbooks
🩷Laura @drlauravarnam
🩷Rebeka @manderleypress
🩷Beth @beth.bonini
🩷Romey @literarygem
🩷Caro @caro.reads.books
🩷Lisa @quiteliterallybooks

And I can’t forget say thank you to my partner-in-bookish-crime!!
🩷🩷GINA🩷🩷 @babsbelovedbooks

#lizandginagotolondon2026

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Oooo…I did a little shopping today with Romey at some charity shops in her town and also in her own house! 🤣🤣 Romey did a little light book cleaning of her shelves and saved NINE bins of awesome books for me and Gina to look through.

Romey also gifted me some beautiful books, including a pony book for #ponybookmondays! Romey really is a Literary Gem!! Thank you, Romey! ❤️❤️❤️

I’ve posed some of my new books with the Harry Potter scarf that Gina knitted! She made Hufflepuff for me and Ravenclaw for herself! Gina is a Knitting Wizard! She a clearly also control the weather, as today is the first cool day we’ve had all week and we are doing something special with scarves today. Stay tuned…..

@literarygem @babsbelovedbooks #lizandginagotolondon2026 #arthurransome #josephinepulleinthompson @liz.blaufuss

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What a brilliant day! Today Gina and I met my dear friend Romey at Liberty for a little shopping expedition! We started out in Books and Stationery (of course!) and then ended up looking at some pottery…I saw I jug I loved and am still thinking about it…hmmm…We had a spot of lunch and then traveled on to Romey’s home to see her library!

What fun that was! Each bookshelf was more beautiful than the next. And can we talk about the silvery peacock curtains! Gorgeous!

Romey and Dave did everything to make us welcome, with a gift bag of books and oh…a little book shopping in the local charity shops and then some shopping from Romeys’s own shelves! One Book Woman’s cull is another Book Woman’s treasure! Check out the next post and take a gander at the lovely books I got today.

Thank you, Romey and Driver Dave for a beautiful day. ❤️❤️❤️

#lizandginagotolondon2026 #libertylondon @literarygem @babsbelovedbooks @liz.blaufuss

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