Best Books 2024

Best Books of 2024!

264 books read this year. The complete list by month follows the top picks. This year I have the Top eleven fiction, and the also ran top 17 on my list of the best of the best top 27 fiction. The date is the day my review was published. 

(All of the best books of the year earned my top rating. If you look at my year of reading many other books also earned a 'very highly recommended' rating too. The stars after the books on these mentioned best books are additional stars I gave them after reading specifically for my end of the year list.)

Fiction: Top 11 excellent fiction
The Women by Kristin Hannah, 1/24/24, literary/historical *****
After Annie by Anna Quindlen, 2/20/24, literary *****
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker, 6/9/24 literary *****
The Fury by Alex Michaelides, 1/6/24, literary suspense ****
Extinction by Douglas Preston, 4/6/24, mystery ****
Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman, 8/13/24, **** thriller
This Is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter, 8/18/24, **** mystery/procedural
I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin, 9/17/24, **** thriller/social commentary
What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella, 9/27/24, **** drama
A Woman Underground by Andrew Klavan, 10/3/24, **** mystery
Run by Blake Crouch, 10/5/24, **** science fiction, re-release

Also ran 17 excellent books
The Stranger in Her House by John Marrs, 1/3/24 psychological thriller ***
Three-Inch Teeth by C. J. Box, 2/18/24, procedural/mystery ***
Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner, 3/6/24, thriller/mystery ***
Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French, 3/9/24, mystery ***
The Memory Bank by Brian Shea and Raquel Byrne, 3/13/24, procedural/techothriller ***
The Truth about the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline, 3/13/24,  suspense/family drama ***
Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda, 3/23/24, mystery ***
The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella, 6/20/24, literary ***
Shades of Mercy by Bruce Borgos, 7/10/24, *** procedural/thriller
Only One Survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon, 7/16/24 *** thriller
Liars by Sarah Manguso, 7/20/24, *** literary
Burn by Peter Heller, 8/10/24, *** literary, dystopian
A Place Called Hope by Morgan Greene, 9/13/24, *** crime thriller
Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni, 10/7/24, *** legal thriller
Death Stake by Andrew Mayne, 10/14/24, *** action thriller
The Boundaries We Cross by Brad Parks, 10/17/24, *** thriller
To Die For by David Baldacci, 10/31/24,*** action thriller

Best Nonfiction:
Follow the Science by Sharyl Attkisson, 8/30/24 *****
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan, 4/12/24 ****
Pillars of Creation by Richard Panek, 10/13/24 ****
This Beautiful Day: Daily Wisdom from Mister Rogers by Fred Rogers, 11/14/24 ***
A Fatal Inheritance by Lawrence Ingrassia, 4/28/24 **
Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me by Wilfred Reilly, 5/22/24 **

Best Short Stories:
Dogs and Monsters: Stories by Mark Haddon, 10/1/24 ****

Books 2024

January

1. Only if You’re Lucky, 384 pages, 1/1/24, highly recommended

2.The Stranger in Her House by John Marrs, 352 pages, 1/3/24, very highly recommended *** thriller

3. The Search Party by Hannah Richell, 352, 1/3/24, highly recommended

4. Dream Town by Lee Goldberg, 300 pages, 1/6/24, highly recommended

5. The Fury by Alex Michaelides, 320 pages, 1/6/24, very highly recommended **** literary/suspense

6. Mr. Jimmy From Around the Way by Jeffrey Blount, 350 pages, 1/8/24, very highly recommended * literary

7. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett, 432 pages, 1/9/24, highly recommended

8. The Missing Witness by Allison Brennan, 416 pages, 1/11/24, very highly recommended * procedural

9. The Sleeping Girls by Rita Herron, 402 pages, 1/13/24, highly recommended

10. The Child at My Door by Sam Vickery, 306 pages, 1/14/24, highly recommended

11. The Girl in Room 12 by Kathryn Croft, 365 pages, 1/17/24, highly recommended

12. Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate, 384 pages, 1/17/24, recommended

13. A Soul for a Soul by Carol Wyer, 381 pages, 1/18/24, recommended

14. Fatal Harbor by Brendan DuBois, 250 pages, 1/20/24, very highly recommended *** mystery, re-release

15. Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra, 368 pages, 1/21/24, highly recommended

16. The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman, 304 pages, 2/6/24, very highly recommended ** procedural

17. The Women by Kristin Hannah, 480 pages, 2/6/24, very highly recommended ***** literary/historical

18. The Other Profile by Irene Graziosi, 224 pages, 1/26/24, so-so

19. The Stolen Girls by Jeff Stetson, 382 pages, 1/28/24, recommended

20. The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown,416 pages, 1/31/24, highly recommended

21. Blood Foam by Brendan DuBois, 246 pages, 1/31/24, very highly recommended *** mystery. Re-release

February

22. Daybreak by Matt Gallagher, 256 pages, 2/1/24, recommended

23. The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson by Ellen Baker, 384 pages, 2/3/24, highly recommended

24. How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi by Chris Balakrishnan, Matt Wasowski,320 pages, 2/4/24, recommended

25. The Bezzle by Cory Doctorow, 240 pages, 2/8/24, very highly recommended * financial thriller

26. The Deepest Kill by Lisa Black, 320 pages, 2/8/24, very highly recommended ** mystery/thriller

27. Keanu Reeves Is Not In Love With You by Becky Holmes, 224 pages, 2/10/24, highly recommended

28. Under the Storm by Christoffer Carlsson, 416 pages, 2/11/24, highly recommended

29. The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard, 304 pages, 2/14/24, highly recommended

30. The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen, 368 pages, 2/17/24, highly recommended

31. Studies at the School by the Sea by Jenny Colgan, 288 pages, 2/17/24, highly recommended -M

32. Leave No Trace: A National Parks Thriller by A. J. Landau. 352 pages, 2/17/24, recommended

33. Three-Inch Teeth by C. J. Box, 384 pages, 2/18/24, very highly recommended *** procedural/mystery

34. After Annie by Anna Quindlen, 304, 2/20/24, very highly recommended ***** literary

35. The Dredge by Brendan Flaherty, 256 pages, 2/21/24, recommended

36. The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger, 384 pages, 2/22/24, highly recommended

37. In Sunshine or in Shadow by Rhys Bowen, Clare Broyles, 304 pages, 2/24/24, highly recommended -M

38. Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood, 352 pages, 2/24/24, highly recommended

39. Storm Cell by Brendan DuBois, 268 pages, 2/27/24, very highly recommended *** mystery re-release

40. The Split by S.E. Lynes, 358 pages, 2/27/24, recommended

41. Watch It Burn by Kristen Bird, 336 pages, 2/28/24, highly recommended

 

March

42. Watch Where They Hide by Tamron Hall, 256 pages, 3/2/24, recommended

43, Dark Dive by Andrew Mayne, 296 pages, 3/2/24, highly recommended

44. One Moment by Becky Hunter, 352 pages, 3/6/24, highly recommended

45. Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner, 416 pages, 3/6/24, very highly recommended *** thriller

46. Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French, 544 pages, 3/9/24, very highly recommended *** mystery

47. Good Half Gone by Tarryn Fisher, 304 pages, 3/10/24, highly recommended

48. The Memory Bank by Brian Shea and Raquel Byrnes, 328 pages, 3/13/24, very highly recommended *** procedural/speculative

49, The Truth about the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline, 384 pages, 3/13/24, very highly recommended *** suspense

50. Everyone Is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf , 320 pages, 3/16/24, very highly recommended ** thriller

51. A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks by David Gibbins, 304 pages, 3/16/24, highly recommended

52. What's Not Mine by Nora Decter, 248 pages, 3/16/24, recommended

53. The North Line by Matt Riordan, 320 pages, 3/20/24, highly recommended

54. She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica, 336 pages, 3/20/24, very highly recommended ** thriller

55. Never Come Back by Joe Hart, 280 pages, 3/20/24, very highly recommended ** thriller/mystery

56. The Reaper Follows by Heather Graham, 320 pages, 3/21/24, recommended

57. Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda, 368 pages, 3/23/24, very highly recommended *** mystery

58. The Rush by Michelle Prak, 272 pages, 3/24/24, highly recommended

59. The Sleepwalkers by Scarlett Thomas, 304 pages, 3/25/24, recommended

60. The Gathering by C. J. Tudor, 352 pages, 3/26/24, so-so

61. The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr, 368 pages, 3/27/24, highly recommended

62. A Better World by Sarah Langan, 368 pages, 3/30/24, highly recommended

63. Hard Aground by Brendan DuBois, 232 pages, 3/30/24, highly recommended

 

April

64. You Know What You Did by K. T. Nguyen, 384 pages, 4/1/24, recommended

65. Nothing But the Bones by Brian Panowich, 336 pages, 4/3/24, highly recommended

66. Pay Dirt by Sara Paretsky, 400 pages, 4/6/24, recommended

67. A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci, 496 pages, 4/6/24, very highly recommended ** mystery

68. Extinction by Douglas Preston, 384 pages, 4/6/24, very highly recommended **** mystery

69. Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth, 368 pages, 4/8/24, highly recommended

70. At the Edge of the Woods by Victoria Houston, 256 pages, 4/8/24, highly recommended

71. Lucky by Jane Smiley, 384 pages, 4/12/24, recommended

72. The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan, 320 pages, 4/12/24, **** very highly recommended, nonfiction

73. Next of Kin by Samantha Jayne Allen, 336 pages, 4/13/24, highly recommended

74. Safe and Sound by Laura McHugh, 304 pages, 4/14/24, very highly recommended

75. Someone Saw Something by Rick Mofina, 400 pages, 4/17/24, highly recommended

76. Within Arm's Reach by Ann Napolitano, 352 pages, 4/17/24, highly recommended

77. Three Drowned Girls by Emily Shiner, 352 pages, 4/20/24, recommended

78. Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols, 320 pages, 4/20/24, recommended

79. The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean, 320 pages, 4/23/24, highly recommended

80. Counting in Danish by Celia Berggreen, 360 pages, 4/23/24, highly recommended

81. The Downloaded by Robert J. Sawyer, 192 pages, 4/24/24, so-so

82. When She Was Me by Marlee Bush, 400 pages, 4/25/24, highly recommended

83. The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson, 592 pages, 4/27/24, highly recommended, nonfiction

84. A Fatal Inheritance by Lawrence Ingrassia, 320 pages, 4/28/24, very highly recommended ** nonfiction

85. Last House by Jessica Shattuck, 336 pages, 4/30/24, recommended

86. Blood Red Summer by Eryk Pruit, 407 pages, 4/30/24, very highly recommended ** mystery

May

87. Cloaked Deception by Timothy Zahn 663 pages, 5/2/24, highly recommended

88. Under the Palms by Kaira Rouda, 269 pages, 5/3/24, very highly recommended, ** mystery

89. Someplace Like Home by Bobi Conn, 254 pages, 5/4/24, highly recommended

90. Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea, 352 pages, 5/4/24, very highly recommended ** thriller/mystery

91. Southern Man by Greg Iles, 976 pages(read approx. 250 pages) 5/4/24. Did not finish

92. Death Behind Every Door by Heather Graham, 336 pages, 5/7/24, recommended

93. One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware, 400 pages, 5/7/24, very highly recommended ** thriller

94. Knife River by Justine Champine, 368 pages, 5/8/24, recommended

95. The Second Coming by Garth Risk Hallberg, 608 pages, 5/11/24, recommended

96. If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay, 336 pages, 5/11/24, very highly recommended ** thriller

97. Don't Ask, Don't Follow by Mary Keliikoa, 320 pages. 5/13/24, highly recommended

98. Ambition Monster: A Memoir by Jennifer Romolini, 304 pages, 5/14/24, recommended

99. Number Three by Mary W. Mahoney, 258 pages, 5/15/24, recommended

100. Forgotten on Sunday by Valérie Perrin, 304 pages, 5/18/24, highly recommended

101. Things I Need You to Know by Mark Lamprell, 352 pages, 5/19/24, highly recommended

102. Dad Camp by Evan S. Porter, 368 pages, 5/21/24, highly recommended

103. Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me by Wilfred Reilly, 272 pages, 5/22/24, very highly recommended *** nonfiction

104. Middletide by Sarah Crouch, 288 pages, 5/26/24, highly recommended

105. The Marriage of Anna Maye Potts by DeWitt Henry, 282 pages, 5/29/24, very highly recommended * literary

June

106. Sandwich by Catherine Newman, 240 pages, 6/1/24, recommended

107. The Overexamined Life of Jacob Hart by Jerry Wald, 362 pages, 6/1/24, highly recommended

108. Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo, 512 pages, 6/1/24, highly recommended

109. The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley, 320 pages, 6/4/24, very highly recommended * thriller

110. The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier, 416 pages, 6/5/24, highly recommended

111. Terminal Surf by Brendan DuBois, 268 pages, 6/8/24, very highly recommended *** thriller

112. All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker, 608 pages, 6/9/24, very highly recommended ***** literary

113. You're Safe Here by Leslie Stephens, 320 pages, 6/12/24, so-so

114. How the Light Gets In by Joyce Maynard, 432 pages, 6/12/24, recommended

115. Moral Injuries by Christie Watson, 272 pages, 6/12/24, recommended

116. You'll Never Find Me by Allison Brennan, 400 pages, 6/15/24, highly recommended

117. Our Little Secret by Lisa Jackson, 384 pages, 6/15/24, highly recommended

118. The Surprise Party by Julia Crouch, 384 pages, 6/16/24, highly recommended

119. Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell, 384 pages, 6/19/24, very highly recommended * thriller, Marvel

120. The Haters by Robyn Harding, 352 pages, 6/19/24, very highly recommended * thriller

121. The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella, 304 pages, 6/20/24, very highly recommended *** literary

122. Ladykiller Katherine Wood, 368 pages, 6/22/24, highly recommended

123. The World After Alice by Lauren Aliza Green, 320 pages, 6/25/24, recommended

124. The Night the River Wept by Lo Patrick, 400 pages, 6/24/24, very highly recommended ** literary

125. Whoever You Are, Honey by Olivia Gatwood, 320 pages, 6/27/24, recommended

126. Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne, 352 pages, 6/29/24, very highly recommended *literary

127. All This and More by Peng Shepherd, 512 pages, 6/30/24, very highly recommended * sci fi

 

July 

128. The Day He Never Came Home by Andrew DeYoung, 368 pages, 7/1/24, highly recommended

129. The Family Experiment by John Marrs, 384 pages, 7/3/24, very highly recommended, ** sci fi

130. The Blind Devotion of Imogene by David Putnam, 246 pages, 7/6/24, highly recommended

131. One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day, 368 pages, 7/6/24, highly recommended

132. The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer, 352 pages, 7/8/24, recommended

133. Shades of Mercy by Bruce Borgos, 352 pages, 7/10/24, very highly recommended *** procedural/thriller

134. In the Belly of the Whale by Michael Flynn, 400 pages, 7/11/24, highly recommended

135. The Perfect Sister by Stephanie DeCarolis, 368 pages, 7/13/24, highly recommended

136. Only One Survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon, 400 pages, 7/16/24, very highly recommended *** thriller

137. Guilty Creatures by Mikita Brottman, 288 pages, 7/17/24, recommended

138. A Hunger to Kill by Kim Mager, Lisa Pulitzer, 320 pages, 7/18/24, highly recommended

139, Liars by Sarah Mangusom 272 pages, 7/20/24, very highly recommended *** literary

140. The Summer Club by Hannah McKinnon, 336 pages, 7/20/24, highly recommended

141. The Woman Who Lied by Claire Douglas, 400 pages, 7/20/24, recommended

142. Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp by Michelle Moran, 320 pages, 7/24/24, very highly recommended ** historical fiction

143. The Festival by Louise Mumford, 336 pages, 7/24/24, highly recommended

144. Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent, 320 pages, 7/24/24, very highly recommended * thriller

145. Unbalanced by D. P. Lyle, 354 pages, 7/27/24, highly recommended

146. House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen, 352 pages, 7/27/24, highly recommended

147. A World of Hurt by Mindy Mejia, 352 pages, 7/28/24, recommended

148. Only the Guilty Survive by Kate Robards, 288 pages, 7/31/24, recommended

149. Hum by Helen Phillips, 272 pages, 7/31/24, highly recommended

August

150. Agony Hill by Sarah Stewart Taylor, 320 pages, 8/1/24, highly recommended

151. The Lost Coast by Jonathan Kellerman, Jesse Kellerman, 368 pages, 8/3/24, very highly recommended * mystery

152. I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell, 304 pages, 8/6/24, highly recommended

153. All the Way Gone by Joanna Schaffhausen , 352 pages, 8/7/24, highly recommended

154. Fire and Bones by Kathy Reichs, 288 pages, 8/7/24, very highly recommended * mystery

155. Angel of Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, 352 pages, 8/9/24, very highly recommended * thriller

156. Burn by Peter Heller, 304 pages, 8/13/24, very highly recommended, dystopian literary ***

157. Two Sisters by Lorna Henderson, 294 pages, 8/8/24, recommended

158. Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman,336 pages, 8/13/24, very highly recommended, thriller ****

159. The Thing About My Uncle by Peter J Stavros, 260 pages, 8/16/24, highly recommended

160. City of Secrets by P. J. Tracy, 304 pages, 8/17/24, highly recommended

161. This Is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter, 464 pages, 8/18/24, very highly recommended **** mystery/procedural

162. Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger, 336 pages, 8/19/24, recommended

163. Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton, 400 pages, 8/21/24, highly recommended

164. The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves, 384 pages, 8/24/24, very highly recommended * procedural

165. Meet the Parents by Emily Shiner, 298 pages, 8/25/24, very highly recommended * thriller

166. Not Their Daughter by Laura Elliot, 424 pages, 8/27/24, highly recommended

167. Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson, 320 pages, 8/28/24, highly recommended

168. What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley, 320 pages, 8/29/24, very highly recommended * mystery

169. Follow the Science by Sharyl Attkisson, 336 pages, 8/30/24, very highly recommended ***** nonfiction

170. Unsound by Heather Critchlow, 349 pages, 8/31/24, very highly recommended * mystery

September

171. Your Little Lies by Sue Fortin. 336 pages, 9/2/24, highly recommended

172. Calico by Lee Goldberg, 416 pages, 9/4/24, very highly recommended * genre blending mystery

173. The Essential Elizabeth Stone by Jennifer Banash, 301 pages, 9/6/24, highly recommended

174. Den of Iniquity by J. A. Jance, 368 pages, 9/7/24, very highly recommended * mystery

175. Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty, 512 pages, 9/9/24, very highly recommended ** psychological thriller

176. My Sister's Boyfriend by Nicola Marsh, 266 pages, 9/9/24, recommended

177. The Camborne Killings by Sally Rigby, 240 pages, 9/10/24, very highly recommended * procedural

178. The Solstice by Matt Brolly, 300 pages, 9/11/24, very highly recommended * procedural

179. The Lake House Children by Gregg Dunnett, 356 pages, 9/13/24, highly recommended

180. A Place Called Hope by Morgan Greene, 383 pages, 9/13/24, very highly recommended *** crime thriller

181. A Reason to See You Again by Jami Attenberg, 240 pages, 9/14/24, recommended

182. Bad Liar by Tami Hoag, 416 pages, 9/15/24, very highly recommended * procedural

183. I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin, 400 pages, 9/17/24, very highly recommended **** thriller

184. A Dark Place by Trevor Negus, 436 pages, 9/18/24, highly recommended

185. Playground by Richard Powers, 400 pages, 9/20/24, highly recommended

186. The Son's Secret by Daryl Wood Gerber, 256 pages, 9/21/24, recommended

187. The Life and Death of Rose Doucette by Harry Hunsicker, 320 pages, 9/22/24, very highly recommended * mystery

188. The Bad Neighbor by Jenifer Ruff, 310 pages, 9/22/24, highly recommended

189. Loving Mothers by Miranda Smith, 316 pages, 9/23/24, highly recommended

190. The Day He Disappeared by Catherine Miller, 282 pages, 9/24/24, highly recommended

191. Broke Heart Blues by Joyce Carol Oates, 446 pages, 9/25/24, recommended

192. The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins, 320 pages, 9/26/24, highly recommended

193. What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella, 144 pages, 9/27/24, very highly recommended **** drama

194. Close Range by Shannon Baker, 300 pages, 9/28/24, highly recommended

195. Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris, 273 pages, 9/28/24, highly recommended, nonfiction

196. A Little Getaway by Bonnie Traymore, 261 pages, 9/28/24, highly recommended

197. The Launch Party by Lauren Forry, 400 pages, 9/30/24. highly recommended

 

October

198. Dogs and Monsters: Stories by Mark Haddon, 288 pages, 10/1/24, very highly recommended **** short stories

199. A Woman Underground by Andrew Klavan, 312 pages,10/3/24, very highly recommended **** mystery

200. One Last Prayer by Carla Kovach, 369 pages, 10/4/24, highly recommended

201. Her Deadly Rose by Carolyn Arnold, 322 pages, 10/4/24, highly recommended

202. Run by Blake Crouch, 336 pages, 10/5/24, very highly recommended **** science fiction

203. Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni, 384 pages, 10/7/24, very highly recommended *** legal thriller

204. Everyone Has Secrets by A J McDine, 361 pages, 10/8/24, highly recommended

205. The Woman in the Cabin by Becca Day, 300 pages, 10/9/24, highly recommended

206. In Too Deep by Lee Child, Andrew Child, 336 pages, 10/10/24, very highly recommended *

207. The Night of the Crash by Jessica Irena Smith, 330 pages, 10/12/24, highly recommended

208. The Ice Sisters by Rita Herron, 404 pages, 10/12/24, highly recommended

209. Pillars of Creation by Richard Panek, 256 pages, 10/13/24, very highly recommended, **** nonfiction

210. Death Stake by Andrew Mayne, 315 pages, 10/14/23, very highly recommended *** thriller

211. Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger, 336 pages, 10/15/24, recommended

212. The Girl in the Smoke by Matt Hilton, 240 pages, 10/16/24, highly recommended

213. The Boundaries We Cross by Brad Parks, 416 pages, 10/17/24, very highly recommended ***thriller

214. The Coldest Case by Tessa Wegert, 306 pages, 10/18/24, highly recommended

215. The Village Killer by Ross Greenwood, 401 pages, 10/19/24, highly recommended

216 The Swarm by Andy Marino, 512 pages, 10/20/24, highly recommended

217. The Loose End by A.J. Cross, 317 pages, 10/21/24, recommended

218. Her Final Secret by Paul J Teague, 291 pages, 10/22/24, very highly recommended * procedural

219. The Sea House by Louise Douglas, 448 pages, 10/24/24, recommended

220. The Last Ride by Nick Louth, 320 pages, 10/25/24, highly recommended

221. I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker, 352 pages, 10/26/24, recommended

222. April Storm by Leila Meacham, 272 pages, 10/27/24, highly recommended

223. Lazarus Man by Richard Price, 352 pages, 10/29/24, highly recommended

224. To Die For by David Baldacci, 432 pages, 10/31/24, very highly recommended *** action thriller

November

225. Cabinet of Curiosities by Aaron Mahnke, 336 pages, 11/1/24, very highly recommended, * nonfiction

226. Fatal Endings by Anita Waller, 295 pages, 11/2/24, highly recommended

227. That Care Forgot by James Warren, 304 pages, 11/3/24, highly recommended

228. Darker Than the Sky by Matt Tracy, 296 pages, 11/4/24, highly recommended

229. The Twelfth Floor by Michelle Kidd, 400 pages, 11/7/24, highly recommended

230. Lie To Me by Theo Baxter, 290 pages, 11/8/24, recommended

231. Raised by Wolves by James Patterson and Emily Raymond, 368 pages, 11/9/24, very highly recommended * mystery

232. The Family Home by L H Stacey, 322 pages, 11/10/24, recommended

234. Under Her Skin by Jessica Huntley, ebook, 11/11/24, recommended

235. Buried Road by Katie Tallo, 336 pages, 11/13/24, very highly recommended * mystery

236. This Beautiful Day by Fred Rogers, 400 pages, 11/14/24, very highly recommended *** nonfiction

237. Bellevue by Robin Cook, 352 pages, 11/17/24, highly recommended

238. Choke Hold by Paul Heatley, 330 pages, 11/17/24, highly recommended

239. What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane, 368 pages, 11/18/24, very highly recommended ** domestic thriller

240. Assume Nothing by Joshua Corin, 287 pages, 11/20/24, highly recommended

241. A Mother Always Knows by Nicole Trope, 321 pages, 11/21/24, very highly recommended, * thriller

242. Heartless Crimes by Michael Hambling, 284 pages, 11/23/24, recommended

243. Deep Fury by David Freed, 320 pages, 11/24/24, highly recommended

244. The Off Season by Kelly Simmons, 331 pages, 11/26/24, highly recommended

245. Lethal Action by Logan Ryles, 376 pages, 11/29/24, very highly recommended * action thriller

246. Watch Your Back by Terri Parlato, 320 pages, 11/30/24, highly recommended

 

December

247. The Final Truth by Morag Pringle, 343 pages, 12/2/24, highly recommended

248 All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall, 304 pages, 12/5/24, recommended

249. Dead Man's Shoes by Marion Todd, 400 pages, 12/6/24, highly recommended

250. Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds by L. V. Pederson, 330 pages, 12/7/24, very highly recommended * thriller

251. The Perfect Home by Daniel Kenitz, 320 pages, 12/8/24, highly recommended

252. Sweet Fury by Sash Bischoff, 288 pages, 12/10/24, recommended

253. See How They Hide by Allison Brennan, 400 pages, 12/12/24, very highly recommended, ***investigative thriller

254. Her Prodigal Husband by Becky Masterman, 288 pages, 12/13/24, recommended

255. Panic by Catherine Jinks, 343 pages, 12/15/24, very highly recommended * thriller

256. The Big Empty by Robert Crais, 384 pages, 12/16/24, very highly recommended *** thriller

257. Cross My Heart by Megan Collins, 320 pages, 12/17/24, very highly recommended *** suspense

258. I'll Tell You Everything by Rebecca Kelley, 267 pages, 12/18/24, so-so

259. The Lost House by Melissa Larsen, 352 pages, 12/19/24, recommended

260. Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow, 544 pages, 12/22/24, very highly recommended *** legal thriller

261. The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha, 352 pages, 12/23/24, recommended

262. KIND: The quiet power of kindness at work by Graham Allcott, 240 pages, 12/24/24, highly recommended, nonfiction

263. When I Disappear by Amanda McKinney, 311 pages, 12/27/24, highly recommended

264. A Voice in the Night by Simon Mason, 368 pages, 12/28/24, highly recommended

A Voice in the Night

A Voice in the Night by Simon Mason
1/21/25; 368 pages
Mobius
DI Ryan Wilkins #4

A Voice in the Night by Simon Mason is a highly recommended procedural and investigative mystery. This is the fourth novel in the series featuring DI Ryan Wilkins but can be enjoyed as a standalone.

At St Aldates police station experienced incoming DCS Rebecca Wainwright is reading notes on her new team, specifically about partners DI Ryan Wilkins and DI Ray Wilkins. Dependable DI Hare is investigating the murder of a security guard at the Pelzer Institute of Egyptology, so when the call comes in concerning an elderly man found dead outside a hotel in Sandford, she assigns Ryan and Ray to the case. It becomes clear to Ryan quickly that this was no heart attack.

Then the pair learn that Greta Emmett was awaken by a call at 3:35 am alerting her that her husbands fall alarm had gone off. She can't find him anywhere in the house or yard and reported him missing. She arrives at the scene outside the hotel and identifies the dead man as her husband, Linguistics Professor Joe Emmett. Adding more concerns is the organized shoplifting at the Co-Op where Jade, Ryan's sister works. when Jade confronted the gang, they threatened Jade, her daughter, and Ryan's son, little Ryan.

A Voice in the Night is a well-written, expertly plotted, twisty, and sometimes humorous procedural. It keeps up a quick pace throughout as clues in the cases are logically followed and the investigations all become increasingly complicated. This is an excellent choice for those who enjoy procedurals and following the clues in the investigation.

Ryan and Ray are under pressure to prove themselves to their new DCS, a woman who expects excellence and rule following. Considering the complete opposites that they are, Ryan struggles with the expectations and Ray worries about following them. There is a nice integration of their personal lives into the plot and some earth-shattering disclosures.

Thanks to Mobius for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

When I Disappear

When I Disappear by Amanda McKinney
1/24/25; 311 pages
Storm Publishing 

When I Disappear by Amanda McKinney is a highly recommended psychological suspense novel. (Previously published as The Stone Secret, this version has an updated plot and content.)

Sylvia Stone lives an isolated life ever since her mother, Marjorie, was killed twenty years ago. Now she has received four separate typed notes, all delivered around 2 o'clock in the morning, containing information that only the killer would know. The final note is a direct threat to her life. Sylvia takes the notes to the police and also begins to question what really happened years ago. 

Rhett Cohen, who always maintained his innocence, was convicted of the murder based on Sylvia's testimony and is being released. Now Sylvia also thinks he is innocent and the two begin to work together.

Chapters are presented through the point-of-view of Sylvia and Marjorie, and later Rhett. Sylvia's chapters, and later Rhett's, are all in the present day. Obviously, Marjorie's chapters are from the past, mainly when Sylvia was a child. The short chapters help the novel move at a fast pace.

There are several things going on at the same time in the novel and suspicions run high, including the police and a young man who went missing on purpose, Jesse. The main goal of the plot is to entertain and keep building suspense right to the end. Character development is light, but enough is provided to get a good sense of those involved.

While reading When I Disappear, you can tell there is more going on than is revealed, but enough hints are provided to hold your interest. Some readers will figure out the twists before they happen but the quick pace will still hold your attention to the end.

Thanks to Storm Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

KIND: The quiet power of kindness

KIND: The quiet power of kindness at work by Graham Allcott
1/21/25; 240 pages
Bloomsbury Publishing

KIND: The quiet power of kindness at work by Graham Allcott is a highly recommended self-help/leadership training book that focuses on creating a kind work culture. He turns to psychology and neuroscience along with management theory and business research to show how kindness helps encourage productive and positive work cultures.

The narrative is based on and written like a presentation or training seminar to help teach the information and principles shared. Graham Allcott offers practical advice on how leaders can make kindfulness part of the work environment. In the opening he shares the touching personal story of how his son Roscoe, who has autism, is developmentally delayed, and has some physical challenges, has taught him about kindness.

The information is presented in three parts.
Part One: The Case For Kindness takes a look at the science of kindness.
Part Two: The Three Myths of Kindness: The Evil Genius Myth, The Pushover Myth, and The Do-Gooder Myth
Part Three: The Eight Principles of Kindness at Work. These are: 1. Kindness starts with you; 2. Set clear expectations; 3. Listen deeply; 4. People first, work second. Always.; 5. Be humble; 6. Treat people the way THEY want to be treated; 7.Slow down; 8. It doesn't end with you. 
Followed by Notes and an Index

Within the chapters, which are open with a pertinent quote, are stories of a kindful hero. At the end of each chapter there are reflection questions for you to work through. These are followed by a Kindness challenge, taken from his courses.

After encountering many people over the years who could benefit from this training, I'm doubtful it will ever reach the ears and be put into practice by many of those who need it. I realized inadvertently that I used some of the principles when I was in management, but I also observed more people around me who would never consider even thinking about the idea. There is also something to be said about everyone throughout any workplace and in all positions keeping these principles in mind. Graham Allcott has other resources you can find online.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Inheritance

The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha
1/21/25; 352 pages
Penguin/Pamela Dorman Books 

The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha is a recommended family drama following the highly dysfunctional Agarwal family. This is a locked-room mystery where a wealthy family gathers on a private, luxury island off the west coast of Scotland.

The Agarwal family includes: Raj, the patriarch, Shalini, the matriarch, Myra, the oldest and owner of the island, Aseem, the son, Zoe, Aseem's wife, and Aisha, the youngest. Also present is Gabe, Aisha's boyfriend. The plan for the weekend is that the family will celebrate their parents anniversary, but more importantly for the children, Raj is going to announce the succession plan after the sell of his multimillon-dollar Delhi-based petroleum company. Nothing goes as planned for the weekend.

Every single character is unlikable. Every single character has secrets. Every single character is deceptive. They are all planning and scheming in various duos behind each other's back while presenting a privileged picture of wealth and simultaneously  genuflecting to their equally scheming parents.

The narrative is told from the point-of-view of Myra and Zoe. Myra is broken, both her heart and financially, while still grieving the loss of her twins. Zoe is pregnant and frustrated with her life being controlled by Shalini. She and Aseem plan to move to London after they receive their inheritance.

The quality of the writing is good and the setting is interesting, but the familiar plot moves at a glacially slow pace. Combining the pace with not a single character to support weighed this novel down for me. I did keep reading, hoping for a huge family fight and cataclysmic breakup. There were a few promising story lines presented that fizzled out into nothing. I felt like I slogged through all the complaints and secrets of this family with no real pay off until the shocking ending.

Mostly this novel is about a wealthy but miserable dysfunctional family who keep secrets. Thanks to the Penguin Group for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Presumed Guilty

Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow
1/14/25; 544 pages
Grand Central Publishing
Presumed innocent #3

Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow is an exceptional, very highly recommended legal thriller. This is Turow's third legal thriller featuring former Kindle County prosecutor Rusty Sabich which can also be enjoyed as a standalone.

Rusty, 77, is a retired judge living with his younger, soon-to-be wife, Bea. Bea has a young adult son, Aaron, 22, living under their supervision while on probation for drug possession. When Aaron disappears for a couple days with out a word to anyone, he returns a few days later explaining that he was on a camping trip with his troubled girlfriend, Mae. He thought their relationship had a chance but circumstances during the trip made it clear that they were done. Aaron hitchhiked home and expected Mae to already be back. 

When Mae doesn't return and days pass, Aaron is increasingly looked at with suspicion. Then Mae is discovered dead and Aaron is arrested and set for trial on charges of first degree murder. Rusty returns to court one last time to defend Aaron. After having been falsely convicted of murder himself years ago, Rusty understands how the justice system works.

This is a skillfully written, excellent legal thriller, especially for readers who appreciate all of the courtroom drama, suspense, and arguments laid out in detail as most of the massive novel is following the trial. The trial is followed in detail, so it reads like a movie. All the details, discoveries, and nuances of the arguments are clearly presented alongside evenhanded observations about the justice system. The twists and surprises are woven into the plot seamlessly.

The characters are all portrayed as fully realized, complicated individuals with both strengths and weaknesses. This includes the secondary characters too. Everyone in the novel comes to life, which makes the narrative richer and more impactful.

Presumed Guilty is an outstanding legal thriller that you will absolutely want to read. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Lost House

The Lost House by Melissa Larsen
1/14/25; 352 pages
Minotaur/St. Martin's Press

The Lost House by Melissa Larsen is a recommended Nordic Noir set in a small Icelandic town.

Agnes Glin accepts the invitation of true crime podcaster Nora Carver and travels to Iceland to discuss her family history and clear her grandfather's name. Forty years ago her grandfather Einar Palsson was suspected of killing his wife and infant daughter. Never charged with the crime, her grandfather along with his son fled the small town of Bifröst, Iceland, and moved to California. Now Agnes, who has spent a year recovering from a crushed leg and her grandfather's death, has agreed to talk to Nora in anticipation of clearing her grandfather's name.

Just two days before Agnes arrives, a young college student named Ása has gone missing and is presumed dead. There are posters up of the missing girl and search parties looking for her body. This new case provides another mystery for Nora and Agnes to investigate and look into while questioning if it could be tied into the murder from forty years ago.

Without a doubt the Icelandic winter landscape looms large as a character in this slow-paced, atmospheric mystery. Agnes is a very introspective character. She is flawed, hurting, and wounded, but is a fully realized character. In many ways her trip to Iceland is also a search of self-discovery and we spend a lot of time in her head. Nora and the other characters that cross her path are interesting.

The writing is good and along with the frozen setting does create a haunting, eerie atmosphere mystery and works well with the true crime tie-in. The measure, slow-pace was okay at the start, but the lethargic gait continued on much too long. It perhaps didn't help that I predicted the direction the narrative was heading.

This would be a good choice for those who would enjoy an atmospheric mystery with a slow-moving narrative. Thanks to Minotaur/St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.