And so 2012 draws to a close and 2013 beckons. I’m really pleased that my blog is still going strong and that people are still enjoying it. I would like to give a big thank you to all of my readers who’ve taken time to comment on my posts, whether it was to share their opinions, make a request or correct any of my many mistakes!

I thought that I would share a few resolutions with you, although given that some of last year’s attempts weren’t exactly a resounding success, I’ll try a bit harder this time.

Last year I undertook a few personal challenges – most of which I achieved. I sailed through 20 new authors – got to about 45 and then stopped counting. Although I stopped recording them, I also challenged myself to read 20 different historical authors, to add a little extra to the Historical Tapestry reading challenge. I haven’t kept the page up to date but got to about 30 different authors on that one.

Other challenges I did less well on. The Global Reading Challenge ground to a halt after three books – to be honest, I wasn’t trying – and my bibliographies for Carter Dickson and Ellery Queen haven’t exactly leapt forward. Oops. It’s entirely down to the reading what I want to read philosophy. If I’m reading something because I “have” to read something, for whatever reason, then that always slows me down. Oh, and my Mystery Tour of the USA ground to a halt as well.

As such, the only official challenge that I’m signing up for this year is the Historical Tapestry Reading Challenge again, as that one is not a problem…

Instead, as with last year, I’ll be setting myself some unofficial targets instead.

1. More Golden Age authors – including Christie, Carr and Queen but also authors that are new to me. Probably, after the excellent Green For Danger, some more Christianna Brand as well.
2. More new fiction. Always a problem for someone like me who wants to read series in order, but I’d like to increase my quota of newly released fiction. NetGalley has been a big help towards the end of the year, so hopefully this will continue.
3. Just as many historical mysteries! Sorry for those who don’t read these, but they’ve rapidly become my favourite sub-genre, and, unless I’m mistaken, there aren’t many corners of the blogosphere that specialise in them. I’m never going to go more than 50% historical, but they are going to keep on coming. To tie in to my Historical Mystery Timeline, I am going to do things a little differently, at least at first.
4. Less neglecting authors that I enjoy. Sometimes this year I’ve forgotten, or not got round to, returning to authors whose books that I’ve loved. I’m going to do my best to correct this in the future.

So, what’s on the horizon?

I’ve a review of A Murder At Rosamund’s Gate by Susanna Calkins, a mystery set during the reign of Charles II [actually, this is going to be delayed until the book is released in April], Prague Fatale by Philip Kerr and The Book of Shadows by, yes, Paul Doherty.

Following that, I’m starting a sort of alternating season of reviews of mysteries set in the ancient world. I’d appreciate any suggestions – already lined up are Lindsay Davis, Steven Saylor, Paul Doherty (Amerotke, Rome, Alexander the Great), and Furies, a new book from D L Johnstone. Any other suggestions of mysteries set in Ancient Egypt, Greece or Rome (or anywhere else ancient) would be appreciated.

And so I bid you all a happy new year, and keep reading!