A Christmas Legacy By: Anne Perry

My God, Anne Perry can write!  This is the 19th Christmas novel and they get better and better as each year passes.  This year's installment stars Gracie, CHarlotte and Thomas Pitt's former maid.  With an uncomfortable amount of tension this story races along to one of the most satisfying conclusions EVER!  A must read!

The Amber Room By: Steve Berry

This is my second time reading The Amber Room.  I first read it in 2010.  I have to say it's lost none of it's fascination in 11 years.  The subject matter is interesting (and still a real unsolved mystery); the characters are larger than life and put into extraordinary situations; and the action is gripping.  This was the first book that turned me onto Steve Berry's work and I've been a fan ever since!

Everyone You Hate Is Going To Die: and Other Comforting Thoughts on Family, Friends, Sex, Love and More Things That Ruin Your Life By: Daniel Sloss

 

Daniel Sloss is an acquired taste...and everyone should mature their palette and give him a try.  Look paste the foul language and you'll be treated to a healthy helping of hilarity and a side of brilliant insight.  Sloss is so intelligent it hurts-his dissection of difficult topics to bite size digestible pieces will make you laugh and think.  He's an utter genius!

Knights of the Black and White By: Jack Whyte

I have to say...this could have been a good book, but instead it was a slow moving, boring, 749 pages of set up for book two which I now have no interest in reading, if book one is any indication!

 

 

TOP TEN BOOKS I'VE READ IN 2021

10.) The Christmas Tree Farm Mystery Series (The Twelve Slays of Christmas, 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas, and Slashing Through the Snow) By: Jacquleine Frost

This delightful series is as charming as charming can be. Set in Mistletoe, Maine at the Reindeer Games Tree Farm, with wonderfully quirky characters, it was pure joy reading all three books in this series. Despite the corpses that keep popping up at Christmas time, Mistletoe is a place I would so live in!

9.) How Y'All Doing? By: Leslie Jordan

The diminutive actor packs a whole lot of story in a small book. I defy you to read it and not smile! A true southern gentleman, Leslie is a true storyteller, with a heart of gold. This little book is a pure gem!

8.) The Last Thing to Burn By: Will Dean

A harrowing, claustrophobic tale set on a sprawling farm. I can't actually say anymore than that without giving away major plot points. Suffice it to say, this novel will unnerve you at the same time the author's exceptional wiring will awe you.

7.) Station Eleven By: Emily St. John Mandel

Written about 10 years before COVID, this tale follows a theatrical troupe on it's rounds in the aftermath of a pandemic that wipes out most of the population. Think Outbreak meets The Stand.

6.) How Lucky By: Will Leitch

Reviews state that if you liked Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, you'll like How Lucky. This is a bit simplistic, because, other than the main character being differently abled and having a mystery to solve, the two books are not alike. They are both brilliant however. How Lucky is not what you think it is going to be, and you should just sit back and enjoy one of the most creative characters in literature and the ride!

5.) A Deadly Education By: Naomi Novik

A Novel that turns the fantasy genre on its ear. Think Hogwarts going to the Dark Side. A fascinating, fun and snarky boarding school/coming of age story with a sadistic twist. So GOOD!

4.) Wreathing Havoc By: Julia Henry (aka Julie Hennrikus)

I adore this cozy mystery series. The Garden Squad is comprised of a diverse group of people from all backgrounds and walks of life which is so refreshing! The mysteries are well plotted and the cast of characters a superbly drawn. I've singled this one out because the use of crafts (definitely my bailiwick) is so creative and delightful and just adds to the overall small town feel of Goosebush! Do yourself a favor and get this whole series, as a Christmas present to yourself!

3.) The Lincoln Highway By: Amor Towles

An expert story teller, Towles latest tome does not disappoint. A road trip in the wrong direction leads it's teenage protagonist and his little brother on a trip to self discovery, with unexpected fellow travelers and consequences. Gorgeous!

2.) The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo By: Taylor Jenkins Reid

A little bit of classic Hollywood backstage drama, a glamorous movie star, several secrets and a twist that will give you whiplash! This fantastic read lies up to its hype and then some!

1.) The James Herriot Memoirs (All Creatures Great and Small; All Things Bright and Beautifull;All Things Wise and Wonderful; The Lord God Made Them All; Every Living Thing) By: James Herriot

I can not gush enough about these books! Reading them was like sitting in an old English pub, in a worn leather chair in front of a fire, with a dog at your side and pint in your hand, while chatting with an old friend. Everything about these stories is comfortable, cozy, heartfelt, moving and funny. I binge read all 5 books at the beginning of this year and they have stayed with me all year!

Aunt Dimity: Detective By: Nancy Atherton

Half way through this one, I wasn't sure if I liked it or not.  It seems very simple with an odd twist-the Aunt Dimity journal thing.  By the time I finished, I found it to be cute.  Would I go out of my way to collect the series? No.  Would I read another one if I happened upon it. Yes.

Death By Dickens Edited by: Anne Perry

A book that is right up my alley.  Mystery shorts based on and/or inspired by Dickens and his work!!!  I was in heaven reading these clever, intelligent and fun mystery shorts stories!   A Stake of Holly had to be my favorite and was a perfect opener for this this book!

 

Myths & Magic By Kevin Partner

This was such a delightful surprise!  Don't let the humor and snark fool you, this is a well crafted fantasy adventure, that will have you tearing through it to see what happens!  Great fun!

Female Killers By: Eliza Toska

Not a lot of books in the true crime genre focus on the women who've stepped to the dark side, so it is refreshing to have Eliza Toska's book.  As a true crime fan I really appreciated Toska's ability to cram a lot of information into a small amount of space.  Having read a great deal of true crime, I was surprised to read about a serial killer that I hadn't heard of previously!

 

Sick and Twisted: The True Stories of Serial Killers and Why They Did It By: Jonny Cassidy

An interesting tour through the world's serial killers.  Some I knew of, some I didn't, some I wouldn't have included.  While there is a long list of resources, there are no notes within the book so it's hard to differentiate between a noted source and author speculation.  Also, not a great deal of "why they did it" in the recounting of their crimes. It was okay, not horrible, not great.

Escorting the Escort By: Lyssa Dering

I knew going into this that it was a short, but I found Eden to be so fascinating, that I wish it were longer so as to learn more about him and his past.  Both characters are fascinating and would make for great characters if there was more to their stories. With all that said, this little snippet of their lives intersecting and their romance was well done.

 

'Twas the Knife Before Christmas By: Jacqueline Frost

 

Another charming adventure in Mistletoe, with Holly and the gang.  With a Victorian Inn to finish, a kitchen remodel at the Hearth to finish, and a friend to save from arrest, Holly needs a Christmas miracle!  Despite the corpse and the threats, this series is so delightful and uplifting!

Twelve Slays of Christmas By: Jacquleine Frost

This first book in the Christmas Tree Farm mystery series is a wonderful introduction to Holly White, Cookie Cutter and the denizens the enchanting Christ mas village of Mistletoe, Maine.  Lovingly created this town is so vivid and charming the reader can't help but to want to visit!

 

Kids Who Kill By: Charles Patrick Ewing

Never judge a book by it's cover!  I was hoping this was going to be a salacious look at cases of kids who kill, but what I got was o much more-and I'm really rather glad,  Ewing's book is a look at why kids kill.  This is a well researched, well thought out look at what leads oung people to resort to the ultimate in violence.  This also looks at the court decisions surrounding kids and many of the judicial rules that are now in place.  A fascinating but sad read, because nothing has changed in the 30 years since this was published, and every cause that Ewing mentions is still prevalent and steadily getting worse.

Slashing Through the Snow By: Jacqueline Frost

I am ga-ga over this book.  I found the setting to be utterly charming, the over-all feel of the book warms you like a mug of hot chocolate and the mystery is well plotted.  Was sobbing during the last chapter!  Just a delightful read and I've ordered to first two in this series for my kindle because I didn't want to leave Holly and the gang of Mistletoe, Maine!

 

The Lincoln Highway By: Amor Towles

 

The way this man writes is astonishing.  This (and his other two books), are stunningly detailed depictions of the human conditions from all angles.  I thought I knew where this one was going-but I was so wrong-but I sure as hell enjoyed the journey!