Well March was a strange old month, as everyone will be able to attest. Stockpiling, panic-buying and shelves swept clean. Luckily it wasn’t my bookshelves. And as we all know, it’s not hoarding when it comes to books.

Whilst the world outside has changed, and for many it has changed permanently, the comfort books can bring thankfully hasn’t.

So whilst the world goes on in it’s new, strange way, here’s what made it into the house, ready to be locked down on the bookcase.

Here’s what arrived

1. The Museum of Broken Promises by Elizabeth Buchan, sent for review by Love Reading.
2. The Bramble and the Rose by Tom Bouman, sent for review by Faber and Faber.
3. Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce, sent for review by Transworld.
4. Spark by Naoki Matayoshi, sent for review by Pushkin Press.
5. Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward, kindly sent to me by Amanda at Bookish Chat.
6. The Golden Rule by Amanda Craig, sent for review by Little, Brown.
7. The Viper by Dave Jackson, sent for review by Viper Books.
8. Rules for Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson, sent for review by Faber and Faber.
9. Miss Austen by Gill Hornby, a Mother’s Day surprise present.
10. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, another Mother’s Day present bought this time by me as a surprise to myself.
11. Summerwater by Sarah Moss, sent for review by Picador.
12. Forget Me by Andrew Ewart, sent for review by the author.
13. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, bought as a pre-lockdown treat.
14. The Fall and Rise of Sadie McQueen by Juliet Ashton, sent by the author.
15. The Sin Eater by Megan Campasi, sent for review by Mantle.
16. The Ninth Child by Sally Magnusson
17. The Sealwoman’s Gift by Sally Magnusson, both this and The Ninth Child were prizes sent from Two Roads for my mum, who sent them on to me once she had read them.
18. The Illustrated Girl by Polly Crosby, sent for review by HQ Stories.
19. Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi, sent for review by Michael Joseph.
20. Crossed Skis by Carol Carnac.
21. My Husband Simon by Mollie Panter-Downes.
22. The Tree of Heaven by May Sinclair. These last three were sent for review by the British Library.
23. Out of Touch by Haleh Agar, sent for review by W&N.
24. The Inspector of Strange and Unexplained Deaths by Olivier Barde-Cabucon, sent for review by Pushkin Vertigo.
25. Fifty/Fifty by Steve Cavanagh, sent for review by Orion.
26. Only You by Kate Eberlen, sent for review by Pan Macmillan.
27. The Best, Worst Job edited by Katherine May, sent for review by Elliot and Thompson.
28. The House of Hidden Wonders by Sharon Gosling, sent for review by Little Tiger.

Onto the outgoings and here’s what I read:

1. The Switch by Beth O’Leary.
2. The Museum of Broken Promises by Elizabeth Buchan.
3. The Bramble and the Rose by Tom Bouman.
4. It Started With a Secret by Jill Mansell.

I also sent two books out to fellow bloggers. So with 28 books in and 6 out, far more books arrived at the Emson bunker than made their way past the barricade but I am sure that April will be far more balanced. Until next month, happy and safe reading.