Month: December 2021

Posted in Book Review

The Top Ten (non-mystery) Books I Read in 2021

Posted on by writingkat95

While I read mostly mysteries, thrillers, and gothics this year, there were a few stand out books of other genres I wanted to draw attention to. These weren’t all published in 2021 but I did read them all this year. Here they are in no particular order:

1. What Big Teeth

I don’t know whether to consider this gothic or fantasy or both, but it easily slid to the top of the list of my all time favorite books. As soon as I finished reading my borrowed library copy, I bought a copy of my own to reread over and over as much as I want. Lovely book for fans of the Addams family.

2. The Magicians

Lev Grossman’s fantasy series pulled me out of a very rough place this year and got me through the loss of someone dear to me. It made me want to read again, to see wonder in the world. I ended up reading 225 books this year and it really started with this one. If you want fantasy that looks unflinchingly at the world and demands that you still see the wonder in it, this is the book for you.

3. Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop

Deeply lovely book which, fittingly, felt like a nice cup of tea to read. It warmed me from the inside out and I plan to read everything the author writes from now on.

4. The Viscount Who Loved Me

The basis for the upcoming second season of Bridgerton, and so far my favorite book in that series (though I still have a few left to read). Absolutely lovable and a joy to read.

5. One Last Stop

A truly wonderful romance from the author of Red White and Royal Blue, and an absolute can’t miss. Beautiful and moving and more funny than I expected. I laughed, I cried, I recommended it to everyone I speak to.

6. Any Way the Wind Blows

The fourth book in the Carry On series from Rainbow Rowell, this book hit like a warm blanket after a cold storm. Loved it immensely.

7. Small Favors

If you want to feel a little bit stuck in the world of a book for days after finishing it, this is a perfect choice for you. Absolutely enthralling, this one is perfect to read on a chilly winter night.

8. The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics

Fantastic romance novel, so achingly lovely you’ll gasp from the emotional tidal wave of reading it. I adored the characters and I can’t wait to read more from the same author.

9. The Lost Apothecary

This one debatably could’ve gone on my mystery list, but it felt like it defied genre a bit and I’ve put it on this list instead. The dual timelines and incredible characters were quite well done. I absolutely loved it.

10. The Hollow Places

A lovely magical realism novel with great characters, spooky moments that build the tension perfectly, and beautiful prose all the way through.

I hope everyone reading has a lovely new year, and if you’re looking for books to read, the ones on this list and my other 2021 top ten list are all great picks. Support your local libraries and independent book stores!

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

The Ten Best Mysteries and Gothics I Read in 2021

Posted on by writingkat95

I set out to write a post about the top ten books I read this year, but found that I wound up with a list of 20 books, ten of which were mysteries or other vaguely spooky things, so I decided they should get a list of their own.

In no particular order, because I couldn’t possibly decide which books are the best of the best, here are the ten books I most enjoyed being spooked and thrilled by this year. They were not all published this year, but I did read them all this year.

1. If I Disappear

Kept me rushing towards the end and exclaiming out loud at each new twist. Super fun read!

2. Dial A For Aunties

I hadn’t thought I could laugh so hard, much less at a book that revolves around a murder. I plan to read this one again anytime I need a pick-me-up.

3. The Wife Upstairs

Easily the best modern take on Jane Eyre I’ve read, compulsively readable and a real pleasure. I can’t wait to see what the author does next.

4. The Wife Stalker

If you like thinking you’ve got a plot figured out and then being completely surprised by the ending, give this one a try and see if you are gripped by the sudden need to read everything else the author has ever written; I certainly was.

5. Don’t Look For Me

Absolutely nail biting suspense all the way through. This was another one that made me pick up and read several more by the author.

6. Behind the Red Door

I wish I could erase the memory of this one just so I could read it for the first time again. Memorable and full of incredibly well plotted twists.

7. Don’t Tell a Soul

Gothic and lovely, with a central mystery that ties up so satisfyingly you’ll want to read it again and again. The book equivalent of a fantastic meal, leaves you utterly content.

8. The Last House on Needless Street

If you’re reading this one and find yourself thinking “oh I know where this is going and I’m a little disappointed” no, you don’t, it’s going to surprise you. Read to the end and I dare you not to yell “oh my god, what?!” at least a few times near the end.

9. Summer Sons

One of the best gothics I’ve read in a long time, even in a year when I came across so many fun gothics to read. Memorable characters impossible not to root for.

10. The Death of Jane Lawrence

If Crimson Peak were a Doctor Who episode I imagine it would play out something like this book, which I enjoyed so thoroughly I immediately recommended it to several friends. I will be reading this one over again for many years to come.

I hope everyone has a great new year, and if you haven’t read the books on this list yet, I highly recommend looking for them at your local library or independent bookstore. Remember, most libraries allow digital checkouts of audiobooks, and many of the books on this list are even more delightful as audiobooks.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

Hannah Hall’s husband, Owen, slips her a note before disappearing. The note, which seems to refer to his daughter, says only: “Protect her.”

My Impressions:

Twisty and fun to read, if perhaps not the most suspenseful thriller I’ve read lately. The parts where this book truly shines, though, are the emotional moments between Hannah and her stepdaughter, Bailey. Their evolving feelings toward one another as they grapple with the uncertainty of Owen’s sudden departure are the true driving force behind this story, and it’s all the better for it.

Readers seeking a thriller without too much blood or bite but with no less opportunity for emotional investment are sure to enjoy this novel. Perfect to listen to as an audiobook on your commute or to read during the rare quiet moments in between the chaos of the holiday season, this is one novel you won’t want to miss.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

A woman named Shelby Tebow goes missing, followed shortly after by Meredith Dickey and her young daughter, Delilah. Eleven years later, Delilah miraculously reappears, throwing the town into uproar as everyone waits to hear where she’s been all this time. The secrets that come out following her reappearance shake the town to its core.

My Impressions:

This book was one of those thrillers that made me a little sick to my stomach, the terrible suffering of some of the characters truly palpable in the pages. I almost stopped reading a couple of times, and I feel I should note here that if you plan to read this book, you should probably find a list of trigger warnings. If you’re prepared for the stomach turning things you’ll witness within those pages, though, it’s an excellent suspense novel and a master class in how to write twists that feel simultaneously surprising and inevitable.

If you’re looking for something that will make you feel a little queasy long after the last page, this is absolutely the book for you. It’s easily one of the most suspenseful things I’ve read this year, and I highly recommend it for seasoned fans of the genre. For newer mystery readers, approach with caution but know that if you make it to the end, the payoff is worth the ride.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

While on the road with someone she met on her college’s ride share board, Charlie Jordan becomes increasingly convinced that the stranger in the car with her is in fact the serial killer who has been stalking the campus.

My Impressions:

It’s hard to make something scary and delightful, but this book manages it. I had a blast reading it, and that fun was only enhanced by the edge-of-my-seat state of suspense I was in. Just when I believed I had the plot figured out, more twists appeared and made me gasp out loud and whisper “oh of course” as the pieces fell into place.

Told in a cinematic style that practically begs to be adapted for film, Sager’s tense thriller had me hooked from the start. The themes of reality and self-doubt brought the atmosphere into an almost gothic space, and every scene advanced the story with such precise pacing it felt as if I were watching a movie in my head.

If you’re looking for a book to read on a long cold night that will compel you to finish it in one sitting, this is the book for you. Fans of Stephanie Perkins who are looking for slightly less gory fare than her horror YA will likely enjoy this book. Sager has a delicious authorial voice ideal for the fast pacing of the thriller genre, and this book really shines because of it.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

Lucy has had a tense relationship with her mother in law from day one, when they seemingly got off on the wrong foot. Lucy has never felt as if Diana accepts her, and Diana doesn’t quite know what to make of Lucy. Now Diana is dead and Lucy may know more than she’s telling.

My Impressions:

I’m a huge fan of Hepworth’s writing, and this book was a real treat. I went in with certain expectations about the characters and was surprised by the ways the story subverted those expectations, all while building the tension of the story until I found myself rushing towards the end to see what would happen.

If you are looking for a good book to read curled up by the fire or listen to on audio while you wrap presents this year, this is a great place to start. Fans of Liane Moriarty will surely enjoy Hepworth’s writing style, which is similar, though quite a bit more fast paced in my opinion.

Domestic thrillers can be hard to pull off without retreading the same characters over and over from one book to the next, and I have to say, Hepworth has managed to avoid that particular pitfall with her books. I highly recommend this book as well as her other works.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

Conniving social climber Amber sets her sights on Daphne Parrish. She wants Daphne’s social status, her husband, her life. Before long, she manages to insert herself into Daphne’s inner circle, becoming one of Daphne’s closest confidantes. But dark secrets threaten to disrupt Amber’s carefully laid plans.

My Impressions:

As an avid fan of Liv Constantine’s work, I was really excited to start reading this book. There was a lot of hype around it- I had it on hold from the library for quite a while before I got to read it- and it lived up to the hype. If Constantine’s other books kept me enthralled, this book held me hostage. I listened to one of the darker twists while on my afternoon bike ride and ended up riding an extra mile without noticing because I was so caught up in the excitement of the book.

If you want a book that will bother you on a psychological level and leave you feeling disturbed and strangely worried for the fates of fictional characters long after you’ve closed the book, this is the perfect read for you. Readers who enjoyed the dark and twisted inner worlds of Constantine’s other characters will be absolutely delighted to know that in my opinion, this is her most twisted book out so far. It is not for the faint of heart, it is not a cozy mystery to read by the fire. This book will make you feel upset and unsettled in the best way possible.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

After participating in an unsettling survey, Jess finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into a tangled web of lies and obsession.

My impressions:

Another nail-biter from dynamic duo Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks. I read this in one sitting, enthralled by the suspense as each new piece of the puzzle came together. Much like these authors’ other books, the pace starts off slow and picks up speed as it goes, becoming absolutely frantic by the time it reaches the climax.

While a lot of the plot hinges on the protagonist making less than sensible choices, further embroiling her in a twisted game of cat and mouse, it was still easy to root for her, hoping she’ll make it out alright. The narrative style has managed to capture the particular feeling of watching a girl in a horror movie go downstairs to investigate a spooky noise: the audience is yelling at her not to make the obvious mistakes, but the beauty of the thing is of course, that she doesn’t know she’s in a story. We all might make obvious mistakes, were we suddenly to be thrown into such a plot.

If you’re looking for a light read filled to the brim with suspense, this book is just the thing. I highly recommend it for fans of mystery writers like Ruth Ware and Alafair Burke.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

After the death of his best friend, Andrew is haunted by literal and metaphorical specters that push him to search for answers. The secrets he uncovers are old and bloody, and the journey to find the truth shows him secrets about himself as well.

My impressions:

When I saw the description of this book, which included the phrase “queer Southern Gothic” I immediately added it to my hold list at the library. It sounded like just my sort of thing, and it absolutely delivered on that promise. Fantastic prose and heartbreakingly real characters make this book a can’t-miss read.

As an avid fan of southern gothics, I particularly appreciate when a book strikes the perfect balance of spookiness and romanticism, and this book does exactly that. Additionally, there’s an air of dark academia with this one that manages to crossover well with the overall gothic vibe.

I highly recommend this book for fans of gothics, lovers of Appalachian lore, and readers of ghost stories everywhere. It’ll make you gasp, smile, cry, and sleep with the lights on before all is said and done.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

A year after the death of her girlfriend, Felicity Morrow returns to the boarding school they both attended. Despite her newfound caution towards the occult, she is soon embroiled in another student’s fascination with the legends surrounding the school, and the alleged witches who died there.

My impressions:

Stylistically lush and lovely, this book was impossible to put down. Add to that the wonderful narration in the audiobook and this made for a beautiful reading experience. The characters were compelling, and following their arcs was a real pleasure.

As for the twist, which I won’t reveal, I think it will be equally enjoyable for readers who figure it out as for those who are taken by surprise. Lee does an excellent job of foreshadowing without being too obvious, allowing readers to piece things together, whether in hindsight or as the plot unfolds.

Fans of dark academia such as We Were Villains or The Secret History who perhaps long for something with a similar vibe and snappier pacing may well enjoy this book, which I feel avoids some of the pitfalls of the subgenre. Less meandering than it’s compatriots, yet still every inch as character driven, this book is a good choice for old and new fans of the genre alike.

Happy reading!