My Year in Books ... 2024

My 2024 continued much like my 2023 — a bit less work, more family time, lots of travel, lots of reading.

I'm now blessed with TWO wonderful grandsons and doing my best to introduce them to the joy of reading. It is so interesting to see how, over the months, they respond to different visuals—first just the high-contrast black-and-white, then moving things, then objects that they are starting to identify. Soon, it will be the words that captivate them—as they do me!

Sad to say, my reading trends have not changed much, despite my stated plans to read more nonfiction and more literary fiction. What can I say ... I read for enjoyment, and what I love most of all are mystery series! So here is my list of books read in 2024.

BOOKS READ 2024

FAVORITES

THE RUNNING GRAVE, Robert Galbraith. Another 900+-page Cormoran Strike mystery from this exceptional writer. Despite all the detail and the intricate plot, the story never bogs down and the pages fly by.

THE ISLAND OF MISSING TREES, Elif Shafak. A wonderful, rich, moving, sometimes funny, beautifully written exploration of home, trauma, nature, and finding one’s place in the world. I loved the Fig Tree and the back-and-forth storytelling from 1970s Cyprus to modern-day London. Thanks to Irving Stackpole for the recommendation!

THE FROZEN RIVER, Ariel Lawhon. This book was on my “to read” list for quite a while, so I was delighted when it was selected for my book club. I was captivated from the very beginning—a childbirth scene in rural Maine. Midwife Martha Ballard is based on a real person who delivered nearly 1,000 babies without ever losing a mother to childbirth—rare today, unheard of in the 1700s. The story involves a murdered man, a charge of rape, an unusually harsh Maine winter, and Martha’s involvement in so many of the births, deaths, illnesses, and intrigues of small-town Hallowell (today’s Augusta). It was an exceptional read.

CASE HISTORIES, Kate Atkinson. Well-written, absorbing, really excellent story, the first in the Jackson Brodie detective series. The author delves deep into the characters, provides insights without over-explaining, and connects the dots in a satisfying but not overly methodical manner. I look forward to more!

FAVORITE SERIES

THE DENTIST, Tim Sullivan. Excellent first entry in the DS Cross detective series. The detective has Asperger’s syndrome, which makes him both challenging to work with and exceptionally good at his job. The author does a great job of making him much more than his challenging behaviors, and the rest of the book is also peopled with believable, quirky characters.

Also read: THE CYCLIST — THE PATIENT — THE POLITICIAN — THE MONK — THE TEACHER

RAG AND BONE, James R. Benn. I started this series toward the end of 2023 and eagerly continued this year. During WWII, Boston Irish cop Billy Boyle gets assigned to General Eisenhower’s staff and becomes a special investigator for all kinds of crimes that involve the armed forces. Every book has been captivating! I’m on the library wait list for the latest. (Note to audiobook readers … I tried one of these as an audiobook and had to go back to print. The Boston accent was just not right! 😊)

Also read: A MORTAL TERROR — DEATH’S DOOR — A BLIND GODDESS — THE REST IS SILENCE — THE WHITE GHOST — BLUE MADONNA — THE DEVOURING — SOLEMN GRAVES — WHEN HELL STRUCK TWELVE — THE RED HORSE — ROAD OF BONES — FROM THE SHADOWS — PROUD SORROWS

FICTION

THE WOMEN, Kristin Hannah. The Vietnam War seems so recent, and a strong memory from my childhood—yet it was more than 50 years ago! This novel brings us to Vietnam with a young, naïve nurse who quickly becomes expert at trauma/surgical nursing and forges deep connections with others who are serving. The return home is difficult, as it was (and is) for so many veterans. Yet the story is one of hope and positivity despite the trauma. I enjoyed it very much.

THE PARIS NOVEL, Ruth Reichl. A (mostly) light confection of a novel, full of wonderful food and drink, improbable coincidences, and amazing transformations. If you love Paris, good food and wine, and seeing people discover their true talents, you will enjoy this book—as I did! The plot races along with one amazing event after another, and the descriptions of the food and the city are quite magical. To be savored with a lovely glass of wine nearby and a delicious dinner bubbling on the stove.

A GIRL CALLED SAMSON, Amy Harmon. I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, based on the true story of Deborah Samson, who enlisted as a man in the American revolutionary army and kept her disguise intact for more than a year before she was wounded. I know it’s historical fiction … and I believe most of the rest of the story was quite accurate … but the fairy-tell romance and happy ending were not.

LONG ISLAND, Colm Toibin. A bittersweet continuation of one of my favorite reads from a few years ago, BROOKLYN. It continues the story of Eilis Lacey, Irish immigrant, 20 years later. Life is far from perfect and Eilis decides to visit her mother in Ireland after a gap of many years. The writing is quite matter-of-fact but the emotions and challenges and even turmoil come through, as Eilis navigates her old village, family, and friends.

GOOD NIGHT, IRENE, Luis Alberto Urrea. A wrenching novel about Red Cross “Donut Dollies” in World War II, based on the real experiences of the author’s mother. Beautifully told, about friendship and heroism and the consequences of war.

THE LIBRARIAN SPY, Madeline Martin. Interesting take on the WWII novel, focusing on two women—one an American librarian who goes to Lisbon to help gather news at the American Embassy, the other a Frenchwoman working with the Resistance in Lyon to print covert publications sharing war news despite Nazi occupation. A lot of heartbreak but much that was uplifting.

HUCKLEBERRY FINN, Mark Twain. I could categorize this as a “re-read,” but it was so very long ago I didn’t remember much. Decades later, I find it hard to believe that this was positioned as a children’s book (maybe “young adult” is more accurate). The language is challenging and the passages long and detailed. Parts are funny, and it’s certainly adventurous. But it is definitely a book of its times (racist language and all), and I’m very interested to see another perspective—as I will when I read JAMES, by Percival Everett, for my January book club meeting.

NONFICTION

THE TENTH MUSE: MY LIFE IN FOOD, Judith Jones. Judith Jones was the editor who discovered Julia Child (as well as rescued the Diary of Anne Frank from the reject pile). Her memoir is lovely and interesting. I enjoyed the inside scoop on her early years in France, the Julia Child years, and many more decades of her long life deeply engaged with both books and food.

THE RIDE OF HER LIFE, Elizabeth Letts. I greatly admired the heroine of this book, Annie Wilkins, who at age 62 decided to ride her horse from Maine to California to fulfill a long-time wish. In poor health and with very little money, she sets off in 1953—without a map or a plan, in a world without GPS or cell phones, with only her horse Tarzan and her dog Depeche Toi (“Hurry Up” in French). Along the way she is welcomed by strangers, gets into a few trouble spots, receives a proposal of marriage, and ends up on the Art Linkletter show once she reaches Los Angeles. An inspiring story of what you can do when you set a goal and act on it.

THE DEMON OF DESPAIR, Erik Larson. Excellent nonfiction book about the start of the Civil War, focusing on activities in the city of Charleston (Fort Sumter) and the new Lincoln administration in Washington DC. P.S. Anyone who says the Civil War wasn’t about slavery doesn’t know their history.

FOR SMALL CREATURES SUCH AS WE, Sasha Sagan. Subtitled “Rituals for finding meaning in our unlikely world,” this book provides extensive details about the use of rituals in various societies over the ages and suggestions for how to create our own rituals that fit our personal circumstances—our family and friends circles, religious beliefs, family traditions, etc.

MYSTERY SERIES

NOBODY WALKS, Mick Herron. An offshoot of the popular (and fantastic) Slough House series. A bit dark and depressing, but as always an intriguing look into the twisted activities of the Intelligence Service.

THE SECRET HOURS, Mick Herron. An extension of the Slough House series, it brings new light to Jackson Lamb’s past and, as usual, paints a complex picture of the activities of spies on every side. P.S. If you haven’t watched the AppleTV+ series Slow Horses, I highly recommend it!

THE UNEXPECTED MRS. POLLIFAX, Dorothy Gilman. I’m not sure how I re-discovered Mrs. Pollifax; I remember reading some of her stories decades ago. But I revisited them this year and enjoyed each one. I appreciate the main character very much—especially now she and I are in the same age range! She truly is unexpected, amazing, elusive, and more.

Also read: THE AMAZING MRS. POLLIFAX — THE ELUSIVE MRS. POLLIFAX — A PALM FOR MRS. POLLIFAX — MRS. POLLIFAX ON SAFARI — MRS. POLLIFAX ON THE CHINA STATION — MRS. POLLIFAX AND THE HONG KONG BUDDHA — MRS. POLLIFAX IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE — MRS. POLLIFAX AND THE WHIRLING DERVISH — MRS. POLLIFAX AND THE SECOND THIEF — MRS. POLLIFAX AND THE LION KILLER — MRS. POLLIFAX, INNOCENT TOURIST — MRS. POLLIFAX UNVEILED

WHAT ANGELS FEAR, C.S. Harris. First book in the Sebastian St. Cyr series. It was OK … I am going to read the second and see if I want to continue any further. I do like the time period (Regency England in the early 1800s), but the hero is a bit too perfect and the romance is more distracting than entrancing.

Also read (Obviously, I went on to read all of the books in this series. It was not my favorite but was an enjoyable way to pass the time): WHEN GODS DIE — WHY MERMAIDS SING — WHERE SERPENTS SLEEP — WHAT REMAINS OF HEAVEN — WHERE SHADOWS DANCE — WHEN MAIDENS MOURN — WHO BURIES THE DEAD — WHEN FALCONS FALL — WHERE THE DEAD LIE — WHY KILL THE INNOCENT — WHO SLAYS THE WICKED — WHO SPEAKS FOR THE DAMNED — WHAT THE DEVIL KNOWS — WHEN BLOOD LIES — WHAT CANNOT BE SAID — WHO CRIES FOR THE LOST

DEAD MAN’S WAKE, Paul Doiron. Continuing the Mike Bowditch Maine game warden series, this book did not disappoint. Two new titles are just out or forthcoming, and I look forward to continuing the adventures and the evolution/maturation of the main character.

ALL THE QUEEN’S MEN, S.J. Bennett. A complex and enjoyable mystery in the “Her Majesty the Queen Investigates” series, involving art theft and forgery, dirty deeds done at the palace, and (as usual) Queen Elizabeth and her trusted aide, Rozie, solving the crime.

MURDER MOST ROYAL, S.J. Bennett.

THE MYSTERY GUEST, Nita Prose. Highly entertaining second chapter in the story of Molly the Maid, who turns out to be quite the detective. I loved the back story about Molly and her Gran—a wise and inspiring figure, as always.

ANOTHER GIRL, Peter Grainger. The latest saga of the Kings Lake police force, this time fighting drug lords and organized crime. The audiobook was read, as always, by the brilliant Gildart Jackson.

WE SOLVE MURDERS, Richard Osborn. First in a new series by the author of the Thursday Murder Club. I wasn’t enamored at the start, but before long I got into the characters, the story, and the humor and ended up enjoying this book very much.

CALL FOR THE DEAD, John Le Carré. This is the first book in the George Smiley series, by the original spy novelist! Very different from many mysteries that are action-packed. I am intrigued by the character of Smiley and eager to learn more about him in future books in the series. Also, perhaps, to watch some of the many movies made about this character and these books.

A MURDER OF QUALITY, John Le Carré.

STANDALONE MYSTERIES

PAPER CAGE, Tom Baragwanath. A riveting mystery set in a small town in New Zealand, involving the disappearance of three Maori children and the middle-aged police records clerk who works to find them. Quite sad in parts, and with a plot that is propulsive.

THE RED HOUSE MYSTERY, A.A. Milne (yes, the same man who created Winnie the Pooh).

THE BEAST MUST DIE, Nicholas Blake.I learned about these 2 old-timey mysteries on a book-lovers’ email I get from the NY Times. Both were highly enjoyable—classic stories of detection and each with a twist at the end. Great fun.

THE SPY COAST, Tess Gerritsen. This is the first book I have read by this prolific author, and it was a good one! The protagonist is a retired spy whose past comes back to threaten her and the friends she’s made in her new life.

A BORROWING OF THE BONES, Paula Munier. The premise of this novel was good—a traumatized Afghanistan vet returning to her home in Vermont with the also traumatized bomb-sniffing dog that belonged to her lover who was killed in action. But the story had so many improbable actions that I found it a bit hard to swallow.

MESSAGE FROM MALAGA, Helen MacInnes. I was able to get the audio version of this book immediately on my return from a visit to the beautiful Spanish city of Malaga. It brought back many fond memories, as my Dad loved this author and read all of her books. This was a Cold War spy novel with many twists and turns—very entertaining.

EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE, Benjamin Stevenson. A rather quirky mystery story set at a ski resort in Australia, involving a very complex family with a boatload of history that leads to murder and, ultimately, resolution. Quite funny at times. The first of a series—I am undecided about continuing.

RE-READS

ENIGMA, Robert Harris. Everything Robert Harris writes is good. This is my favorite … and pretty much an annual re-read.

DEATH IN BERLIN, M.M. Kaye. A fine book to take along on my trip to Germany and then down the Danube! This mystery, set in 1953 when Berlin was divided into occupied zones by the Americans, British, and Russians, harks back to the war years and old secrets and betrayals.