Reading list 2025

Where is time going? It feels like just thirty seconds ago that I was writing not just 2024's reading list, but 2023 and 2022's. And yet here we are, on the cusp of space year 2026. Anyway, here we are, back at the very arse end of another year, and time for another look back over all the books I read in the last twelve months. Remarkably, and I have absolutely no idea how this happened because this has been QUITE A YEAR, I somehow managed to read 67 books in 2025, which is 22 up on last year. What's that in percentage? Forty? Eight hundred and nine? I'm rubbish at maths.

What I am good at though is reading. And looking at pictures, because it turns out I read quite a lot of graphic novel-y type books, among them the final volume in the complete Dick Tracy series – a collection I began reading back in 2016/17 or so. I also smashed through every Asterix story after getting the urge to reread them ahead of the latest album which published in October. 

So let's plough on! Gradings as usual run from A+ (I'll treat you to dinner and a bottle of red) to C (a depressing kebab on a wet Saturday night in Grimsby), although looking back over the list it turns out I have great taste – I didn't give anything lower than a B- this year. Note to self: read more shitty books in 2026.

Onwards!

1. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - I’ve long wanted to read this famed Sherlock Holmes novel, and it did not disappoint, with Holmes and Watson drawn into the mystery of Sir Charles Baskerville’s death and the family curse that apparently sealed his fate, and tasked with stopping the terrifying apparition from killing his heir. A terrific novel full of twists and turns, with a stunning cover by tattoo artist Duncan X for the edition I read: A

2. Dogmatix and the Indomitables - No Mercy for the Romans! - First volume of the Asterix spin-off series focusing on Obelix’s petit pooch, Dogmatix. This first volume features three short tales in which Dogmatix and his furry friends fend off Roman advances, and while ostensibly aimed at a younger audience there’s much to enjoy here for longtime readers of the Asterix books, not least the gorgeous illustrations. A little treat: A

3. Dick Tracy Vol. 29 by Chester Gould - At long last I reach the final volume of the complete Dick Tracy newspaper strips, featuring daily and Sunday strips from 1976 to Gould’s final published Tracy work on Christmas Day 1977. The villains Pucker Puss, Nought Zero and the Governor are not among Gould’s finest adversaries for his famous detective, but the artwork remains exceptional and the stories continue to rattle along at a fair old pace; even when not at his finest, Chester Gould always remains hugely entertaining. It’s been a joy to read these collections of stories over the last few years, and to be reminded of just what an achievement in comics history Dick Tracy remains: A

4 Dick Tracy by Alex Segura - And I’m not done with Tracy just yet! This is the collected edition of the first five issues of the recent, highly acclaimed Dick Tracy comic book, rebooting the yellow-coated detective in a new ongoing series set in post-war 1940s where Tracy investigates Big Boy Caprice’s rise to power. Packed full of familiar faces from Tracy’s rogues gallery, wonderfully illustrated and like Gould at his best, brilliantly plotted and written, this is huge fun: A

5. Batman: Resurrection by John Jackson Miller - Micheal Keaton’s Batman returns for a new adventure set between the events of Tim Burton’s 1989 classic and its 1992 sequel. Six months after the Joker’s reign of terror, Gotham city is still feeling the effects of his crime wave, and the renewed presence of his remaining followers. But as Batman works to clean up the city’s streets a new threat emerges and the question of whether the Joker actually died falling from Gotham Cathedral arises. The 1989 Batman film was a huge part of my youth, and for the most part this prose return to Burton’s Gotham city does a great job of riding the wave of nostalgia and telling a new tale that sits comfortably between the classic movies: A

6. Dick Tracy: 1977-1978 by Rick Fletcher - I may have finished the complete Chester Gould collection of Dick Tracy strips, but then I found a series of books that continue straight on from Gould’s last instalment, written by Max Allan Collins and illustrated by Rick Fletcher who was Gould’s assistant on Tracy for many years. Absolutely beautiful artwork brings to life riveting new storylines that abandon some of Gould’s more eccentric plotlines (the Moon stories are definitively ended with the assassination of Moon Maiden) and bring back some classic villains that help reinvigorate the famed detective: A+

7. The Count of 9 by Erle Stanley Gardner - A Cool and Lam novel in which Donald Lam finds himself investigating first a missing jade buddha and blowgun, and then a murder that was conducted with said blowgun. Packed full of the trademark wit that Gardner embued this series of novels with, this is another stellar outing for Donald and Bertha: A

8. Dick Tracy: 1979 by Rick Fletcher - A second brilliant volume of Dick Tracy strips from Fletcher and Collins, with another classic villain - Mumbles - making a shock return, and Tracy’s beloved wife Tess giving birth while in the hands of kidnappers. Hugely enjoyable tales, beautifully illustrated: A

9. Dick Tracy: 1980 by Rick Fletcher - The third collection of Fletcher’s run includes storylines where Tracy’s team works to solve the theft of valuable artworks, and stop an arsonist from burning down a disused building. Brilliant: A

10. Quarry’s Return by Max Allan Collins - My first Quarry novel is also the most recent Quarry novel; it may seem odd to read the last in a long series, but this book works brilliantly as a standalone read, with author Collins doing a marvellous job of updating new readers on just the right amount of detail from past books without it being overbearing. Here, aging hitman Quarry leaves his life of relative peace to track down his kidnapped daughter. As ever with Collins’ books, a hugely enjoyable read: A

11. Dick Tracy: 1981 by Rick Fletcher - The fourth collection of strips in the post-Gould Tracy continuity has the detective trying to find out who is taking shots at actress B.U. Tiffill, investigating celebrity stalker Ownley Chylde, and closing with colleague Lizz being abducted. Huge fun to read, and Fletcher’s artwork just gets better and better: A

12. Dick Tracy: 1982-83 by Rick Fletcher - The final volume of Rick Fletcher’s run on Dick Tracy is another hugely entertaining collection. Villain Angeltop returns as the kidnapper of Lizz (from the previous volume), the TV-hating Auntie Freedom goes on an axe-wielding television murder spree, while the mystery of who shot Chief Patton had me on the edge of my seat. The book closes out with the apparent return of an old villain in the form of Itchy’s ghost! Fletcher and writer Max Allan Collins brilliantly straddled the fine line of nods to Tracy’s back catalogue of rogues and their own interesting new villains in their near six-year run, and these five books have been a real treat to read: A+

13. Passport to Peril by Robert B. Parker - A cracking Hard Case Crime novel in which a man searching for his missing brother finds himself embroiled in post-war intrigue after procuring a dead man’s passport. I’d long wanted to read this book because of the stunning cover art, and was glad to find out there was a hugely enjoyable story behind it too: A-

14. Asterix Omnibus 1 by Goscinny and Uderzo - First volume in the collected Asterix series features the books:

• Asterix the Gaul
• Asterix and the Golden Sickle
• Asterix and the Goths

All are hugely enjoyable reads, although these early stories miss out on some elements of the series that we come to take for granted (for example, there’s no Dogmatix in these tales). Still, these are brilliant, colourful and lively stories that remain every bit as enjoyable as they were when I first read them years ago: A

15. Asterix Omnibus 2 by Goscinny and Uderzo -  The second volume of Asterix stories features the albums: 

• Asterix the Gladiator 
• Asterix and the Banquet 
• Asterix and Cleopatra

The series really starts to take off with these stories. Dogmatix arrives, the art becomes more refined, and the storytelling really starts to feel more polished; Asterix and Cleopatra in particular is a real highlight: A

16. The Get Off by Christa Faust - Angel Dare, star of two previous Hard Case Crime novels (Money Shot and Choke Hold), returns for one final page turner. After murdering a police officer and finding out she’s pregnant, Dare finds himself on the run, with time running out. Brutal, funny, action-packed and a fitting conclusion to Angel Dare’s story, I really enjoyed this: A

17. The Visitors by Nathaniel Benchley - A haunted house story in which a vacationing family move into a clifftop house in a sleep coastal town, from the father of Peter Benchley, author of Jaws. This is a quiet ghost tale with a building sense of foreboding, but also a nice line of humour running through it. Well-written, with some wonderful characters, I enjoyed it a lot: A

18. Thorn: The Complete Proto-Bone College Strips 1982-1986, and Other Early Drawings by Jeff Smith – I’m  a huge fan of Smith’s Bone comic book series, and these early strips from his college days give a wonderful insight into the development of that tale. There are glimpses of the familiar Bone storylines, but for the most part Thorn goes its own way, putting characters we know so well into unexpected places and events. The art is looser and the story less defined, but it gives a remarkable insight into Smith’s creative process, and remains hugely enjoyable in its own right: A

19. Dogmatix and the Indomitables: The Romans Go to the Dogs - The second volume of the Dogmatix prequel series features another three tales of the plucky little pooch and his friends going up against the Romans in Lutetia. Yes, it’s clearly aimed at a younger audience than the Asterix books, but for a fan there’s still a lot to like here: A

20. The Hollows by Daniel Church (Kindle) - After the discovery of a frozen body, the people of the snowed-in village of Barsall find themselves fighting off more than just the cold when strange creatures start attacking them at night, and they learn that something larger is waking under the hills surrounding them. I’d had my eye on this book for a long time, and when I saw it had dropped to 78p on Kindle I had to buy it. For the most part I enjoyed, but there was also a nagging feeling that this was a 480 page book that could’ve been a more concise 250 page one: B

21. Sherlock Holmes and the Telegram From Hell by Nicholas Meyer - The sixth Holmes pastiche from the famed screenwriter and director see Holmes and Watson travelling to the United States to intercept a telegram that has the power to turn the tide of the First World War. This wonderful novel is a joy from start to finish; I devoured it in days and can’t wait for Meyer’s next: A+

22. The Consultant by Seong-sun Im – Great novel about a man whose job it is to craft people’s deaths so as not to look like they’ve been murdered – only to find one of his ‘hits’ is someone he knows. An ingenious idea, and enjoyable to read for the most part; it meandered a little in places but don’t let that put you off: B+

23. Asterix Omnibus 3 by Goscinny and Uderzo - Volume 3 of the complete Asterix stories features:

• Asterix and the Big Fight 
• Asterix in Britain
• Asterix and the Normans

Another great collection; it was good to revisit the first tale in this book after it inspired the recent Netflix series, while Asterix and the Normans is one I didn’t remember too well. Asterix in Britain is the weakest tale on offer here, but still a fun read: A

24. Asterix Omnibus 4 by Goscinny and Uderzo - The fourth collection of the complete Asterix stories features:

• Asterix the Legionary 
• Asterix and the Chieftain’s Shield
• Asterix at the Olympic Games

Here, Asterix and Obelix join the Roman army, get themselves embroiled in the mystery of what happened to a legendary Gaulish chief’s shield, and compete in the Olympic games. All great additions to the series, and beautifully illustrated: A 

25. The Cabbie by Marti - Fantagraphics Books finally get round to publishing a complete edition of Marti’s down on his luck, cab-driving hero. I read the first edition featuring Cabbie’s initial storyline many years ago and recall enjoying its Chester Gould-inspired, Dick Tracy-esque adventure, but found it perhaps a little two gratuitous in places and lacking the subtle nuances and fine storytelling of the yellow-fedora’d detective on this read. Still enjoyable, though, and beautifully illustrated: B+

26. Asterix Omnibus 5 by Goscinny and Uderzo - Volume 5 of the complete Asterix stories features:

• Asterix and the Cauldron
• Asterix in Spain
• Asterix and the Roman Agent

More great Asterix tales – all three stories here are classics, with Asterix and the Roman Agent being a particularly brilliant addition to the series, as a devious agent sows discord in the village of indomitable Gauls: A

27. Asterix Omnibus 6 by Goscinny and Uderzo - The sixth collection of the complete Asterix stories features:

• Asterix in Switzerland 
• The Mansions of the Gods
• Asterix and the Laurel Wreath

Three more classic tales; I didn’t remember Asterix in Switzerland well, but it’s a fine tale. The other two are personal favourites from childhood and stand up well to reading again many years later: A

28. Asterix Omnibus 7 by Goscinny and Uderzo - Volume seven of the complete Asterix stories features:

• Asterix and the Soothsayer
• Asterix in Corsica
• Asterix and Caesar’s Gift

This collection features three wonderful tales – as a child I was terrified of the mischievous soothsayer, while Asterix in Corsica always was, and remains, one of my very favourite tales featuring our favourite Gauls: A+

29. Dogmatix and the Indomitables: Ruffin’ and Rollin’ in Lutetia - Taking a break from the Asterix series, I veer back to the spinoff featuring Dogmatix and his animal pals. Three more fun little tales featuring the plucky pooch in the days before he became Obelix’s pet. A quick but enjoyable read: A

30. The Last Quarry by Max Allan Collins - Collins’ aging hitman returns for another adventure in which he is hired to kill a seemingly unimportant woman with a normal life… the question being: why? Also features two Quarry short stories which are hugely enjoyable; a great read: A

31. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (Kindle) - I decided to read the classic Sam Spade detective novel ahead of Hard Case Crime publishing a sequel early next year, and I’m so glad I did. This is a wonderful noir read, as Spade is drawn into a mystery involving the murder of his partner and a missing, highly valuable statue. A brilliant novel that I devoured in mere days: A

32. The Man Who Shot Lucky Luke by Matthieu Bonhomme - A wonderful reimagining of the classic Lucky Luke comic book character. In this tale, Luke arrives at a dreary western town and finds himself embroiled in the mystery of tracking down a Native American accused of stealing a shipment of gold. With a more adult storyline and artwork, this was a great introduction to the character for me, and makes me want to start reading the original series from the start: A

33. Wanted: Lucky Luke by Matthieu Bonhomme - Bonhomme’s second reimagining of Lucky Luke is another brilliant read. In this album, Luke finds himself accompanying three sisters across apache territory, all while a $5000 random is hanging over him. Stunning art and a gripping story - huge fun: A

34. Lucky Luke 1: Billy the Kid by Morris and Goscinny - The first volume of the famous Belgian comic strip sees the titular cowboy going up against the infamous Billy the Kid. Huge fun with some good twists to keep readers entertained, and gorgeous artwork: A

35. The Damsel by Richard Stark - Donald E. Westlake’s more serious pseudonym delivers the first of the Alan Grofield novels, spun off from his Parker series, in which an injured Grofield wakes up in a Mexican hotel room only to find an attractive woman swinging in his window. I love the Grofield novel Lemons Never Lie, the fourth in the series, and while there were moments of charm in this, the main character didn’t feel as developed and the plot felt a little thin. It was enjoyable, but not my favourite Westlake/Stark novel: B+

36. Dick Tracy Vol. 2 by Alex Segura - The second volume of the new Dick Tracy comics reboot has the famed detective on the hunt for a serial killer named The Blank - a new twist on the classic villain from the original strip and the 1990 movie. Nicely illustrated and with some decent twists along the way, but I can’t help feeling the conclusion of this storyline could’ve done with a few more pages to really hit home: B+

37. Blake and Mortimer: The Complete Collection, Volume 1 by Edgar P. Jacobs - Having only just found out about this series of comic tales from Herge’s assistant on Tintin, I had to read them, and this first collection did not disappoint. When a Far East superpower mounts a devastating attack on the world, only Blake and Mortimer hold the key to seizing victory from the jaws of defeat. A wonderful, almost Indiana Jones-esque adventure, beautifully illustrated and – in this collector’s edition – packed full of insightful extra background material: A

38. Lucky Luke 2: Ghost Town by Morris and Goscinny - Famed cowboy Lucky Luke visits a town that is home to only one inhabitant – an old man insistent that he’ll one day find gold in his mine. Another wonderful, gently amusing and beautifully illustrated adventure for Luke: A 

39. Lucky Luke 3: Dalton City by Morris and Goscinny - In this adventure, Lucky Luke finds the devious Daltons taking over control of a town and making it a safe haven for gangsters and villains. Huge fun: A

40. The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz - As the title suggests, this is a follow up to the author’s earlier novel titled The Plot, a book that I enjoyed greatly. This, however, turns out to be a somewhat underwhelming sequel. At the end of the previous book the protagonist’s wife poisoned him; this tale picks up her story as she becomes a famed writer in her own right, but remains haunted by the book that her husband stole to become a bestselling author. A flat, somewhat unnecessary sequel, this book just didn’t have much to say where its predecessor felt so fresh: B-

41. Lucky Luke 4: Jesse James by Morris and Goscinny - Lucky Luke goes up against another famous name of the wild west when he encounters Jesse James in this brilliant addition to Morris’s cowboy series: A

42. The Dame by Richard Stark - Picking up where The Damsel left off, this second book in Donald E. Westlake’s Grofield series series the titular hero in Puerto Rico where he becomes embroiled in a murder in an isolated villa. I enjoyed this one more than the previous book in the series, but it still lacked the zing of some of Westlake’s other books: A

43. Asterix Omnibus 8 by Goscinny and Uderzo - This volume of the complete Asterix tales features 

• Asterix and the Great Crossing
• Obelix and Co
• Asterix in Belgium

The Great Crossing is a favourite I remember reading as a kid, while Asterix in Belgium is probably the weakest of the stories here, though memorable for being the last album Goscinny contributed to before his death. Not the finest collection in the series, but still hugely enjoyable: A

44. Asterix Omnibus 9 by Uderzo - Volume nine of the complete Asterix series includes:

• Asterix and the Great Divide
• Asterix and the Black Gold
• Asterix and Son

Three amazing Asterix stories – the first a Gaulish take on Romeo and Juliet, the second a brilliant adventure featuring a Roman spy that bears an uncanny resemblance to a certain former James Bond, and the third sees our hero finding a baby on his doorstep… but whose child could it be? Perhaps the strongest individual collection of tales – simply wonderful: A+

45. Asterix Omnibus 10 by Uderzo - The tenth collection of Asterix stories includes:

• Asterix and the Magic Carpet
• Asterix and the Secret Weapon
• Asterix and Obelix all at Sea

The first story in this volume was the last I read as a child (it’s a great Asterix adventure, by the way), and everything beyond it are Asterix stories I’d never read before. Both the Secret Weapon and all at Sea were hugely enjoyable reads, with the latter in particular being a fun and frantic adventure: A

46. Asterix Omnibus 11 by Uderzo - Volume 11 of the complete Asterix stories includes:

• Asterix and the Actress
• Asterix and the Class Act
• Asterix and the Falling Sky

The first two stories in this collection are decent, if not the most memorable tales in the series, but it’s the third story here that makes this volume memorable. Asterix and the Falling Sky remains a controversial addition to the series, as aliens visit the Gaulish village. It’s actually a reasonably entertaining story – Uderzo’s illustrations perhaps not quite as sharp as they once were, but still stronger than most – but it does stick out like a bit of a sore thumb in the Asterix cannon: B

47. Asterix Omnibus 12 by Goscinny and Uderzo, Ferri and Conrad - The twelfth volume includes Uderzo’s final Asterix album, and the first two from the new creative team:

• Asterix and Obelix’s Birthday
• Asterix and the Picts
• Asterix and the Missing Scroll

Uderzo’s final tale is a collection of short stories linked together by our heroes’ birthday; it’s fun, with lots of cameo appearances by old characters, but not a cohesive final adventure from the master. Asterix and the Picts is not the best start for the new creative team, with a weak story and art that lacks the charm of the original. Asterix and the Missing Scroll is decent, and probably the best story included here: A-

48. Asterix Omnibus 13 by Ferri and Conrad - Volume 13 of the complete Asterix stories features:

• Asterix and the Chariot Race
• Asterix and the Chieftain’s Daughter
• Asterix and the Griffin 

This is more like it! Ferri and Conrad really seem to have gotten a better handle on the series and its characters in this collection. The Chieftain’s Daughter is the weakest story here, while Asterix and the Griffin is the best, featuring more intricate art and storytelling closer to that of the original creators: A

49. The Blackbird by Richard Stark - Another of Donald E. Westlake’s Grofield novels, and it’s a good one. After the slight disappointment of The Damsel and the slight improvement of The Dame this third entry in the series proves to be a winner, as Grofield finds himself entangled in an international plot to secure a deadly weapon. More epic, and dare I say with a hint of a Bond adventure about it, this book is packed full of action, intrigue and unique humour. Lemons Never Lie remains my favourite Grofield novel, but this is a close second: A

50. The Last Match by David Dodge - I picked this old Hard Case Crime novel up in a Hay-on-Wye bookshop for the princely sum of £1.99, not really expecting much of it, but this tale of a scam artist working his way around the French south coast before ending up through numerous twists and turns in South America surprised me hugely. The narrator is a charming devil of a man, while the story flies along at a rapid pace. A cracking little twist at the end too. A hugely enjoyable read: A

51. Top of the Heap by Erle Stanley Gardner - Another Cool and Lam mystery from Hard Case Crime, this time with Donald Lam investigating murders, phony alibis and phantom gold mines – which push Bertha Cool to the edge of dissolving their partnership. Not my favourite of the series, but still a sterling read: A-

52. An Elderly Lady Must Not be Crossed by Helene Tursten - Saw this little hardback book in Shakespeare and Company in Paris and just had to buy it. A wonderful collection of six connected short stories telling the tale of Maud, an 89 year-old Swedish woman with a habit of killing people. A hugely fun read – Maud is devilish, but also has reasons for the awful things she does so you can’t help but find her a little endearing. I enjoyed this one a lot: A+

53. Plunder of the Sun by David Dodge - After enjoying the author’s The Last Match so much, I explored the depths of the internet to find a copy of his other Hard Case Crime release. Plunder of the Sun finds American Al Colby recruited to help smuggle an old artefact into Peru, but his efforts to do so lead to a deadly game of cat and mouse to be the first to find the Incan gold it holds the key to locating. A solid read; I preferred The Last Match, but this was an enjoyable novel: A-

54. Dogmatix and the Indomitables Vol 4: The Indomitable Ruff Things Up - The fourth volume of Dogmatix’s pre-Asterix and Obelix adventures is very similar to the previous volumes: fun stories that lean a little more kid-friendly than the more familiar Gaulish adventures, but which still provide a decent amount of interest while fans await the next Asterix album. This collection sees the plucky pooch and his pals help a lion escape from the colosseum, aid two Gauls make soup for a general, and rescue their menhir from the Romans: A- 

55. The First Quarry by Max Allan Collins - Author Collins takes us back to the first job for his anti-hero assassin Quarry. Charged with staking out and taking out a university professor, Quarry’s task is soon complicated by the professor’s wife and a mob boss’s daughter. What could have been a simplistic plot takes on extra layers in Collins’ hands, with a layer of dark humour running throughout: A

56. An Elderly Lady is up to No Good - by Helene Tursten - After enjoying An Elderly Lady Must Not be Crossed, I eagerly ordered this book, which as it turns out is the first in the series. This collection of short stories is packed full of beautifully written tales featuring murderous Maud’s exploits; like the other book, it’s easy to read, hugely entertaining and left me wanting more. What a marvellous creation Maud is, and how brilliantly Tursten has written her that we find we side with her in her killings. A lovely book - and kudos also for both books in this series being a small hardback format that really stands out and feels special: A+

57. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock – The Making of the Classic Film by John Tenuto and Maria Jose Tenuto - Following on from the authors’ previous volume on Star Trek II comes this natural follow-up. It’s a deep dive into one of my favourite Star Trek movies and explores in great detail how the film was conceived and brought to life. Perhaps there’s less concept art than similar books, but the authors have made up for that by really digging deep into The Search for Spock’s genesis, revealing abandoned plot ideas and deleted scenes, and conducting new interviews with surviving members of the cast a crew. A wonderful book: A

58. Sherlock Holmes and The Real Thing by Nicholas Meyer - Hot on the heels of Meyer’s previous Holmes pastiche comes this, his seventh and apparently final adventure for the famed detective and the faithful Watson. In this volume, Holmes is drawn into investigating the disappearance of an artist, only to find himself drawn into a web of forged masterpieces. Meyers does it again with The Real Thing – a novel that feels like it could have come from the pen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, filled with wit and intelligence. It’s a fine addition to the Holmes canon, and a brilliant finale to Meyer’s Holmesian adventures: A+

59. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway - An expanded edition of Hemingway’s recollections of his life in Paris in the 1920s. For the most part I enjoyed this, but truthfully, I didn’t connect with it as I thought I would, finding it a little disjointed in places: B

60. Comet in Moominland 80th Anniversary Edition by Tove Jansson - A new translation of the first Moomin novel, using the author’s revised text from the 1960s which has previously been unavailable to English readers. It’s been a few years since I read the original edition so my understanding of what changes have been made to differentiate the two versions are a little sketchy, but regardless, thius remains a beautiful novel packed full of heartwarming moments, gentle humour and adventure: A

61. Asterix in Lusitania by Fabcari and Conrad - The latest Asterix album comes hot on the heels of my reread of the whole series, and with the previous adventures fresh in my mind this did not disappoint! In this 41st tale, Asterix and Obelix travel to Lusitania to help free a man accused of attempting to poison Caesar, and of course find themselves in various scrapes along the way. The art and writing are impeccable and I had to remind myself this was not an album by Goscinny and Uderzo – the highest compliment: A

62. Maigret’s Revolver by George Simenon - My first Maigret novel, and what a great story. The theft of the famed inspector’s revolver leads Maigret on a search across Paris for the suspect, eventually taking him across the channel to London. Simenon’s prose is sparing but effective, making this short novel a quick read, but an involving one. Very good: A

63. Paris Shopfronts by Joel Holland (art) and Vivian Song (words) - A gorgeous book showcasing some of the most interesting and striking shop facades in the French capital. Holland’s art is gorgeous, while Song’s brief snippets of text give a real flavour of what to expect from each location, conjuring images of freshly baked pastries, the sound of clinking wine glasses and the warmth of various book shops. Such a simple idea, brought beautifully to life, this provides much inspiration for my next trip to Paris: A+

64. Batman Revolution by John Jackson Miller - Sequel to last year’s Batman Resurrection, this hefty tome weighs in at 530 pages… and kind of feels it. Where Resurrection was a tightly plotted tale that comfortably felt like an extension of Tim Burton’s 1989 movie, this follow-up feels a little more bloated, as The Riddler rises to power in Gotham City alongside a revolutionary movement attempting to seize control of the city. There’s a good story in here, but it just felt too long in places and too slight in plot to warrant such a huge page count: B-

65. Forever Paris by Marin Montagut - A delightful book I picked up in the author’s Paris boutique, listing favourite places to visit in the city of lights. Sumptuously illustrated and packed full of everything from bookshops and bistros to old-fashioned stores and parks, this is a treasure trove of things to do in Paris and, like Paris Shopfronts, has already inspired a list of places to visit on my next trip: A+

66. Bad Dreams in the Night by Adam Ellis - A brilliant graphic novel collection of short horror stories. Beautifully illustrated and concisely told, every story is a delight. I thoroughly enjoyed this: A

67. Paris Sketchbook by Fabrice Moireau (paintings) and Mary A. Kelly (text) - A beautiful book of watercolour paintings illustrating places of note in Paris, accompanied by short passages of text to enrich the art. Such a simple idea and so beautifully realised. This book has been in print for 20 years, and for good reason – it's a treat for the eyes: A

So there we have it. Sixty-seven books in total. I'm about one-third of the way through another at the time of writing, so tragically you'll have to wait another 12 months to find out what that one is and whether it's any good.

 

Any-hoo, farewell to 2025 and hello to 2026 – may it be a good twelve months. Happy New Year!