In 2024…My Life in Books

In 2024...My Life in Books
When I saw this over on Book’d Out, I remember my daughter Carleigh and I having a lot of fun doing the 2023 version. So I tried it, and it turns out that it was fun because my daughter is good at thinking like this. So, I sent her the categories and a list of titles. She did most of this–and the ones I handled, I had her approve before I posted.

She gets full credit for any of this that you enjoy. If you don’t like a response, that was probably my contribution.


2024 was the year of: Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer
In 2024 I wanted to be: Running and Jumping by Steven Kedie
In 2024 I was: Spelunking Through Hell by Seanan McGuire

Cover of Zero Stars Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer Cover of Running and Jumping by Steven Kedie Spelunking Through Hell

In 2024 I gained: Another Girl by Peter Grainger (it was technically a couple of days before the New Year, but our new dog really jelled into our pack in 2024)
In 2024 I lost: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
In 2024 I loved: #CrimeTime byJeneva Rose, Drew Pyne

Another Girl The Tainted Cup Cover to #CrimeTime by Jeneva Rose and Drew Pyne

In 2024 I hated: Takeout Sushi by Christopher Green
In 2024 I learned: >What’s Eating Jackie Oh? by Patricia Park
In 2024 I was surprised by: Dinosaurs in Trucks Because Hey, Why Not? by Sandra Boynton (who wouldn’t be?)

Takeout Sushi Cover for What's Eating Jackie Oh by Patricia Park Cover of Dinosaurs in Trucks Because Hey Why Not? by Sandra Boynton

In 2024 I went to: The Other Family Doctor by Karen Fine
In 2024 I missed out on: A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian
In 2024 my family were: Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg

The Other Family Doctor A Midnight Puzzle Supercommunicators

In 2025 I hope it will be: After the Storm by Linda Castillo

Blank Space After the Storm Blank Space

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.

WWW Wednesday—January 15, 2025

It’s the middle of the week, pretty much the middle of the month, and I’m feeling fair-to-middling. Which all works out nicely. Let’s commemorate this synchronicity by going through this week’s WWW Wednesday, shall we?

 

WWW Wednesdays Logo

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Seems easy enough, right? Let’s take a peek at this week’s answers:

What are you currently reading?

Cover of Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds Cover of Sleep No More by Seanan McGuire
Pushing Ice
by Alastair Reynolds
Sleep No More
by Seanan McGuire, read by Mary Robinette Kowal

Words are failing me to try to describe Pushing Ice. I’m a shade past halfway through this and am so impressed. It’s my first Alastair Reynolds novel, and unless the second half falls off the rails, it won’t be my last.

It’s been too long since I spent time with Toby Daye, and I’m enjoying this revisit. As one expects, as I know what’s going to happen, I’m able to enjoy some of the details more. The details are really nicely added. McGuire gave her fans a treat with this one.

What did you recently finish reading?

Cover of The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs Cover of The Boys of Riverside by thomas Fuller
The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction
by Alan Jacobs
The Boys of Riverside: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory
by Thomas Fuller

I’ve said somewhere (or maybe a few places), that this Alan Jacobs book is as close to a Mission Statement that The Irresponsible Reader has. This re-read was a good reminder why I say that, as well as a challenge to make an adjustment or three to my approach.

Fuller provides an engaging and interesting book about a football team that can appeal to even those of us who really don’t care that much about SportsBall.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Question Marks Cover of The Accidental Joe by Tom Straw
The Accidental Joe: The Top-Secret Life of a Celebrity Chef
by Tom Straw

I have no idea what my next print book will be, it really depends on my frame of mind when I finish Pushing Ice; and how much energy it leaves me with. I have a few options, but I’m not going to commit.

Meanwhile, I’ve been wanting to try The Accidental Joe for some months now, and a local library finally added it to their collection–celebrity chef turned CIA asset? Should be fun.

How’s this week treating you?

HC Chats with Witty & Sarcastic Book Club about 2024/2025

I’m very pleased to welcome Jodie from Witty & Sarcastic Book Club to talk about what happened on our blogs last year, the books that stood out to us, as well as some hopes and goals for 2025–and very vague reading plans. We ramble a bit about some other things, too.

I hope you enjoy this.

The audio on my end is a wonky (and maybe hard to listen to) at the beginning, but it settles down after a little bit (but is still too loud compared to Jodie’s). Will go back to my old microphone next time.

Show Notes

Blogs/Websites we mentioned:
Peat Long’s Blog: https://peatlong.wordpress.com/
The Orangutan Librarian: https://theorangutanlibrarian.wordpress.com/
Pages Unbound: https://pagesunbound.wordpress.com/
Read Christie 2025: https://www.agathachristie.com/news/2025/read-christie-2025

Bookshop Pages, we’d appreciate you using one or all of these:
Behind the Pages Bookshop Page: https://bookshop.org/shop/BehindthePages
Witty and Sarcastic Book Picks: https://bookshop.org/shop/WittyandSarcasticBookPicks
HC’s Bookshop Page: https://bookshop.org/shop/irresponsiblereader

Particular Books We Mentioned:

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay: Vigilante Power Coupling

Cover of A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia MackayA Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage

by Asia Mackay

DETAILS:
Publisher: Bantam
Publication Date: January 14, 2025
Format: eARC
Length: 352 pg.
Read Date: December 23-26, 2024
Buy from Bookshop.org Support Indie Bookstores

What’s A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage About?

I had a long and drawn-out version of this planned, but I scrapped it when I realized it would be longer than everything else in the post—and you’d be in better hands if you read Mackay’s version.

So I’m going to try to be brief.

Every parent knows that having a child changes your life. There are two distinct phases—pre-child and post-child. If you’re in a marriage/long-term relationship, that changes, too. Significantly. Generally, it’s worth it—but we all know the “remember when we did X when we wanted to?” feeling. We all have to find new ways to relate to our partners, ways to keep things exciting.

But what if that X was killing people? People who abused women, in particular. What if the thing that brought them together, their joint purpose was this particular vigilantism—along with the travel necessary? What would they do after they had to put it aside for the safety and well-being of a daughter?

What would that do to their relationship? What would it do to them as individuals? What kinds of strain would be caused?

These, and many other questions, are answered in A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage

Hazel

You are going to almost instantly appreciate Hazel’s voice and perspective (assuming you can put up with the whole serial killing thing. But if you can’t, you’re probably not reading a book with this title)—part of that is because we start with her POV, partially because she’s a great character that anyone wants to identify with and empathize with.

She wants the best for her daughter and her husband. She’s a devoted mother and dotes on the girl. But she misses who she was. She misses who she and Fox were. She feels shackled by his decision to hang up their knives and live a “straight” life while raising their daughter (children?). She mostly agrees with the choice, but it chafes.

Hazel has never been good at making friends, but she’s trying to fit into her new, suburban life—going to mommy and baby groups, trying to forge relationships. And she is beginning to forge a friendship with a fellow mother when she discovers she’s made a bad choice. This new friend is a police officer.

Whoops.

Gripe #1: Fox’s Perspective

Fox does not make a good first impression—or at least Hazel doesn’t leave us with a good first impression. Thankfully, it didn’t take too long to see something from his perspective and it became possible to empathize with him some. In fact, once we get to see his self-deprecating wit, it’s hard for a reader not to like the guy a little—and to realize that Hazel was being (understandably) uncharitable.

It’s a thing that happens in marriage from time to time—especially the kind that could probably use a guide to marriage.

Fox is incredibly careful and thoughtful (about their criminal activities, anyway, not so much about his wife’s feelings). He does do much for Hazel—for their family’s sake—that he doesn’t tell her about, or explain fully.

There were two angles to things with Fox’s perspective that I think hurt the book as a whole while being things that Mackay clearly intended and I probably just don’t appreciate enough. The first is that we don’t know everything he’s up to and/or knows—this is done so we can learn about it at the same time as Hazel, which works for dramatic effect. But it feels like Mackay is cheating a little bit to get us there.

The other part comes as a result of Fox’s place in the novel—as a character, he’s second banana to Hazel. What she’s doing and thinking is far more important (and I get that), but in addition to having a lot hidden from us, parts of his story are rushed. There’s…a situation back in the States with his family’s company. We get a glimpse or two at it, and then it’s largely resolved—off-screen. It felt like a missed opportunity.

Gripe #2: Communication

One decent conversation with the person each thinks of as a soulmate. One decent conversation between people we see do so much for each other. One decent conversation between people who would die—or kill—for the other.

That’s all it’d take to make this a short story instead of a novel.

Or better yet, put them on a better footing so they could do other things together.

Yes, this is what happens between marriages all the time. Even ones where neither is a criminal of any kind. So it makes sense for Mackay to show this. But it could’ve been resolved quicker so we could see them as a couple (more or less on the same page, but not at loggerheads) when dealing with Fox’s family, Haze’s complicated taste in friends, parenting, etc., etc.

Sure, that’s not the story Mackay wanted to write—so I really shouldn’t gripe about it. But watching how she did everything else (very well, I want to stress), I’d have enjoyed seeing this version more.

So, what did I think about A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage?

I really enjoyed it. I wanted more from it though, as my second gripe (which looks worse on the page than it is in my mind) indicates—I think Mackay could easily have brought us something better. More like the Mr. and Mrs. Smith TV show than the movie (not that this is a great comparison in several ways, but it captures the gist).

So I’m going to move on from it there.

This is really aspirational in so many ways—their lifestyle? (obviously minus the murdering bits) Either in the carefree pre-parenthood days, or even the suburban version—is something that few of us will see. The travel, the house, the standard of living—it’s fun to imagine yourself there.

And honestly, we all sort of like the idea of being a lone vigilante (or a pair), doing the things the authorities don’t or can’t. Fox sees the comparison to a comic book figure—and embraces it with a grin. Readers will do the same.

At the end of the day, this is silly, trashy, fun—and I mean that as a compliment. I’m pretty sure that’s what Mackay was going for, and she achieved it. (if that wasn’t her aim, she still hit the mark). I think most readers are going to like it more than I did—I have a short list of people I’m gifting it to, and I am confident they will. Anyone who finds the pitch appealing is going to have fun with this Dexter-ish* comedy, and I recommend it to you.

* Heavy on the “ish.”

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.


3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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PUB DAY REPOST: The Big Empty by Robert Crais: The Muffins Rode Shotgun

The post title there really has little to do with the book, but I loved the line so much, I had to use it.


Cover of The Big Empty by Robert CraisThe Big Empty

by Robert Crais

DETAILS:
Series: Elvis Cole, #19
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Publication Date: January 14, 2025
Format: eARC
Length: 384 pg. 
Read Date: December 18-20, 2024
Buy from Bookshop.org Support Indie Bookstores

What’s The Big Empty About?

I’m tempted to skip this part and rush to the bit where I insist you go pick this up, throw up the five stars, and call it a day. But I won’t—I’d feel guilty about it. But honestly, feel free to skip this. It’s just filler until I get to the .jpg with the stars.

The Baker Next Door is an Internet sensation, she’s moving on to TV and brick-and-mortar stores. But her success isn’t enough for her, something’s been chewing at her for a long time, so Traci Beller comes to Elvis with a cold case. The ten-year anniversary of her father’s disappearance is coming up, and she wants some answers. She’d prefer Elvis find him hale and hearty, but she doesn’t expect it. But she wants to know what happened before. Five years ago good investigators that Elvis knows couldn’t find him, and the state declared him deceased. But Traci wants to try again.

Something about her and her determination gets to Elvis, and he agrees to look at the LAPD’s file—as well as the records from the other PIs. Also, Traci gave him muffins. It probably doesn’t hurt that Ben Chenier is fan, either.

Still, it’s a cold case. It’s not going to be easy to find something new—and it’s only something new that will move the case forward. Otherwise, he’s just going to be doing what his predecessors did, just probably less fruitfully. Thankfully (otherwise this would be a short story, not a novel), Elvis asks the right question and gets the answer he needs.

On the other hand, he might have preferred the less eventful version.

Elvis and Joe

At this point, Joe Pike is practically a super-human, or maybe a human so fantastic as to be unbelievable—like Batman or Jack Reacher. And I don’t care (I don’t think anyone does)—because he’s not infallible and we all love to see him come in to save the day.

Meanwhile, Elvis has always seemed pretty mortal. Something happens in The Big Empty that emphasizes this mortality. It is not like what happened to Spenser in Small Vices, but it reminded me of it. But Crais handles it better and more believably—Elvis is not infallible, he’s not invincible, and it’s good for the reader—and for him—to get a reminder of it.

Still, it appears that Crais has taken the “stop the characters aging” route—we don’t get references to Vietnam anymore to keep them from seeming as old as they are (see also: Spenser dropping references to Korea). I don’t care how much Tai Chi or whatever Elvis does—he’s too old to do half of what he does. I’m absolutely okay with that, I don’t need to see inconveniently-timed sciatica messing up Pike’s silent approach to a building or Elvis needing a cane or a hearing aid to get through the day.

Basically, I wouldn’t change a thing about what Crais has done with these characters, nor what he’s doing with them now—and The Big Empty is one of the best books to showcase the strengths of his approach to the characters since The Last Detective.

On the Other Hand, We Have John Chen

Really, truly, John Chen is a lousy excuse for a human being—he’s a decent criminalist (it seems) and he’s really easy for Elvis to manipulate into getting what he needs. But the guy is about as self-aware as a piece of toast. His self-delusions are at the level of Pike’s omnicompetence—this doesn’t make him any less entertaining (or cringe-inducing) to read, but wow…some growth in his character would restore some of my faith in humanity.

I was so happy when he showed up in these pages, and I loved every moment with him. (so, yeah, I really don’t want him to grow or develop as a character)

But what I really want—and I don’t know how this could happen—is a short story/novella where John Chen and Roddy Ho have to team up. It would be the ultimate in HR nightmares, and the two would hate each other (I assume). But boy howdy, would it be fun to watch.

So, what did I think about The Big Empty?

Yes, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that I’m going to love a new Elvis Cole novel. But that shouldn’t take away from just how ____ing good this was. If this was my first time reading Crais, it would not have been my last—and I’d have a stack of library books next to me now (which would be replaced by a stack of paperbacks fresh from the bookstore after I read one or two more).

There’s just something about Crais’ prose that makes you race through it. Because of the pace at which he puts books out lately, I wanted to take my time and savor it. Relish each paragraph. But you just can’t do it—the prose is so smooth, so well put together, that every time you try to slow down, Crais comes along behind you and gives you a nudge and you remember that you’re on a bobsled hurtling down the track. That almost sounds like you’re out of control—but you’re not. Maybe a better metaphor would be that you’re in a Lamborghini Murciélago, trying to drive slowly down a deserted highway to take in the scenery. But that car isn’t built for 35 MPH, and before you notice, you’re doing at least 80.

Also, that wasn’t me complaining (too much) about the pace Crais is publishing lately—if he was faster, that prose wouldn’t be as honed. He can take as long as he wants.

We got a larger-than-usual cast of supporting characters for a Cole or Pike novel (or so it seemed, I didn’t do a headcount, nor am I going to go back and do one for the last few books). I thought they were all great—from the antagonists, to the villains, the witnesses, and the innocent parties that got sucked up into something they shouldn’t have been. I believed them all and would like to see almost all of them again (if only it were possible). I can’t tell you the best characters because it would ruin too much, and I want to stay on Putnam’s good side. But when you get to the last chapter, the character there that I haven’t mentioned in this post? That’s the best character (by a nose) in this one.

The first chapter was great—maybe it didn’t do much in terms of story, but it gets you right back into Elvis and Lucy. Then we meet Traci and her manager (that you want Elvis to punch almost as much as he wants to), and you’re with Elvis in wanting to help her—and the book keeps building from strength to strength there—right up to the perfect closing paragraph.

The sole quibble I have with this was the way that the relationship between Elvis and the Sherriff Department’s detective. It just seemed off the way it developed from the natural antagonism to the endpoint where it seemed more (not completely) collegial easier than it should’ve.

So, yeah, I think I’ve made it clear that I really enjoyed The Big Empty, I don’t think it’s the best thing that Crais has written—but it’s gotta be in the top 5 (it could be recency bias talking, but I don’t think so). I’d have to think long and hard to come up with many (other than The Promise, because of Maggie). Regardless of how it stacks up with the rest of Crais’ oeuvre, it’s a dynamite novel, one of the highlights of 2024 for me—and I predict many people will say it’s a highlight of 2025 for them when it’s published next week.

Get your pre-orders or library holds in now, friends, you want to get your hands on this.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Putnam Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.


5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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MUSIC MONDAY: “We Happy Don’t Worry” by American Authors

Music Monday logo

Music Monday's originated at The Tattooed Book Geek's fantastic blog and has shown up hither, thither, and yon since then.

This weekend turned into one of those, so this is going to have to settle for the post for today (hopefully not tomorrow, too)

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Glorifying and Enjoying God by William Boekestein, Jonathan Landry Cruse, Andrew J. Miller: Heartfelt Application of the Classic Tool

Cover of Glorifying and Enjoying God by William Boekestein, Jonathan Landry Cruse, Andrew J. MillerGlorifying and Enjoying God:
52 Devotions Through the Westminster Shorter Catechism

by William Boekestein, Jonathan Landry Cruse, Andrew J. Miller

DETAILS: 
Publisher: Reformation Heritage Books
Publication Date: October 16, 2023
Format: Hardcover
Length: 229 pg. 
Read Date: January 7-December 29, 2024
Buy from Bookshop.org Support Indie Bookstores

What’s Glorifying and Enjoying God About?

This is a devotional, as promised in the subtitle based on the Westminster Shorter Catechism. The authors, inspired by the organization of the Heidelberg Catechism into Lord’s Days, did the same here—organizing the 107 questions and answers of WSC into 52 weeks.

Each chapter begins with the question(s) for the week and then spends roughly four pages discussing the language of the answers or the topic addressed.

Strengths

Honestly, there’s at least a paragraph or two in each chapter where I could point to something and say “That right there justifies the rest of the chapter.” Not that any chapter was a miss—sure, some were stronger than others, but they were all helpful—but there was at least that paragraph that was better than the rest.

Sometimes it was a bit of insight that I hadn’t considered before or just the right bit of application to drive the point home. Either way, it really doesn’t matter.

I would say that the chapters covering the Law and the Ten Commandments might have been the strongest in the book—I thought that the authors brought a little extra clarity to their points here. Not in any sort of legalistic way or anything—I just thought they did a great job of showing how the commandments/Law revealed God’s character and pointed to the work and person of Christ in a way that they didn’t consistently achieve in other parts of the book.

Weaknesses

Not surprisingly, what I’m calling a shortcoming is actually part of the design. It’s not a bug, it’s a feature.

But the length, and therefore the depth, of each chapter just wasn’t enough for me. Now I realize many (most?) of these questions and answers could be the basis of a full-length book, and I’m not arguing we should’ve had 5200 pages or more in a devotional. But I think twice the length of each chapter wouldn’t have been that much to ask. Typically, these chapters were 3 1/2-4 pages in length—5-7 would’ve been much better.

But that would probably have taken the book out of what people expect from a devotional, and therefore would’ve hurt it. Still, I think it’d have been a stronger overall volume that way.

So, what did I think about Glorifying and Enjoying God?

Cruse and Boekestein have written books that I’ve written positively about before (I have another Cruse book to talk about soon, too), which is what drew me to this—along with the concept. I will continue to be drawn to books they author (and Miller, now, too). It’s difficult to tell who wrote what chapter (outside of the times they identified themselves)—they did a good job blending their voices (possibly they and an editor, I don’t know how the mechanics of it all worked).

The language is clear and accessible—it can be used for a family with fairly young children (with some help from mom and dad) or individuals of whatever level of education.

It is clear that the authors are pastors, the devotionals are directed for real people with real concerns, not mere theory—it might not be all “practical,” but it’s all useful.

The minutes a week I spent with this were typically helpful and edifying, and I’m going to miss this refresher in the Catechism (I’ve taken their 52 week breakdown and will be following it to keep that freshness). I look forward to returning to this devotional in a couple of years, expecting other things to jump out at me than did this time—but I expect I’ll find it as useful.


3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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Saturday Miscellany—1/11/25

Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet Can You Guess the Book Titles from These Emojis? Test your knowledge of classic novels and contemporary bestsellers —Let’s start off the week with something silly. It’s also proof that I cannot communicate in emojis. I got none of these.
bullet Why reading out loud is important—something more for the “do audiobooks count?” nonsense (hat tip: booklistfordays)
bullet Craig Johnson’s Next Novel Drops May 27, Was Inspired By Cowboy State Daily Story
bullet There’s a New Version of Hamlet Staged in Grand Theft Auto—I initially rolled my eyes at this (but was going to include it only for the excuse to post the headline), but on third or fourth thought…I’m a little intrigued.
bullet Why I’m making 2025 my year of dead-tree books
bullet Raven’s 2025- The Year of ‘Read Like Nobody’s Watching’… —This is the approach we should all approximate
bullet Bookish Goals in 2025—good, SMART goals
bullet My 2025 Bookish Ins and Outs—wise plans
bullet Presenting the Picture Prompt Book Bingo Challenge for 2025 —After telling myself to cut back on challenges this year, I see this one–which looks like it coule be fun to try.
bullet Five Fantasy Bookstores and Libraries I’d Love to Explore—yeah, I would spend time in these
bullet Plot Pet Peeves—I cannot imagine anyone (other than authors/publishers, apparently) arguing aginst any of Krysta’s points.
bullet The 12 Best Sci-Fi Novels of the Last 10 Years—According to Collider and Reddit, anyway. Although, having read 5 of these, I’m inclined to believe them.
bullet Trying and Failing to Figure Out “Escapism” in Books—some good thoughts from Molly Templeton (as one expects) and others.

It’s the Time of Year for Best of Lists like these to embiggen your 2025 TBRs (or to give you fodder to think about).
bullet Celeste at A Literary Escape listed Favorite Books Published in 2024 and Favorite Backlist Reads of 2024
bullet My Top 10 Ten Books of 2024 and My Top Ten 10 Books for Children 2024—from Left on the Shelf (the latter defintely added to my TBR)
bullet From Worlds Unknown’s 2024 Wrap Up – A Year in Books + What’s Coming in 2025

A Book-ish Related Podcast episode (or two) you might want to give a listen to:
bullet Fiction Fans 2024: Year in Review—a fun look back at their year that was
bullet The Conversation with Nadine Matheson M.W. Craven: Luck, Crime Writing and Life Lessons—I would’ve gladly listened to a few more hours of them talking shop.

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago Week? (a mostly great week for reviewish posts and new releases)
bullet The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly
bullet Us by David Nicholls
bullet Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan
bullet And I noted the releases of Golden Son by Pierce Brown, Firefight by Brandon Sanderson, Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch, The Witches of Echo Park by Amber Benson, As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire by Seanan McGuire—The latest Wayward Children book is everything you want, as I tried to say recently.

An image of a woman searching through shelves of books over the words 'The person who doesn’t read lives only one life. The reader lives 5,000. Reading is immortality backwards. - Umberto Eco'

My Favorite Crime/Mystery/Detective/Thriller Fiction of 2024

2024 Favorite Crime Fiction
Finally, we’re at the end of my 2024 wrap-up. Thanks for sticking with me for so long! (assuming you have). I read /0 books I put in the category of “Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller” last year (and there are a couple of multi-genre novels that could beef that number up a bit), 33% of my reading last year. So I have to consider it apart from everything else when I put together my Favorites Lists, or just about everything else would get ignored. Even if I went with a Top 20 instead of a Favorite 10, maybe 5 books from the previous lists would’ve made it along with all of these. Maybe.

Once again, I’ll note that I limit my lists to things I read for the first time. Yes, there are some names on here that have been on a couple of these lately. Under half the list. Er, maybe half the list. I don’t want to look. No more than 50%. Most of those names will likely show up in the years to come. I might have to retire some authors from consideration.

As always, re-reads don’t count for these lists.

(in alphabetical order by author)

Cover of My Darkest Prayer by S.A. CosbyMy Darkest Prayer

by S.A. Cosby

Is this as good as Cosby’s later works? No. But it’s dynamite–and you can see (especially looking back) the potential in this gritty and grim work. (and what is as good as his later works, anyway?) Nathan Waymaker is a former Marine and an ex-sheriff’s deputy (his resignation is pretty dramatic). He operates as an unofficial fixer and investigator for various people in the community–when a notable local pastor is killed. His church leadership wants answers that the sheriff’s department doesn’t seem to want to find.

So Nathan starts looking. And finds a lot of things he wishes he didn’t. And the pastor’s attractive daughter (which he’s pretty glad about). But mostly he finds things he doesn’t–hopefully he can find a way out with his life intact.

5 Stars


Cover of The Big Empty by Robert CraisThe Big Empty

by Robert Crais

My original post
Sure, there’s a little recency bias going on here (I just read this two-and-a-half weeks ago), but I’m pretty sure it’d end up on this list no matter when I read it. It’s Crais at the top of his game. Pike as an avenging angel and would-be protector of the weak. Elvis making friends and enemies wherever he goes. Chen coming through with the goods when he needs to (while being whiny and offensive). The case doesn’t go where anyone thinks it will. And the prose is so sharp and smooth that you don’t want to finish the book.

5 Stars


Cover of The Mercy Chair by MW CravenThe Mercy Chair

by M.W. Craven

My original post
If I do retire something from this list, it’ll likely be Craven and his Poe and Tilly series. But I don’t see that happening because I love talking about them so much.

This book is dark. Which is saying something for Craven. It’s also sweet. And funny. Buuuuut, mostly it’s dark.
We start off with Poe in a therapy session, of all things. And he starts describing the ins and outs of his latest case–with all the strange twists and turns it takes him along.

There’s also someone shadowing Poe during the investigation as a performance audit (and that doesn’t go well for anyone). Poe determines quickly that the killer he’s has some major baggage–physical and spiritual abuse, likely some sexual abuse. And the way this is all discovered is pretty nasty. The more Poe and Tilly uncover the worse it seems and the need for Poe to get some therapy becomes more and more clear.

But the book never stops being entertaining or suspenseful. The characters are who we’ve come to know and love (or at least enjoy). They may be rough shape and pushed to their limit. But they’re Poe, Tilly, and Estelle.

Craven is the best around, this is just more proof.
5 Stars


Cover of The Last King of California by Jordan HarperThe Last King of California

by Jordan Harper

This is just a gorgeously written novel. The fact that it’s filled with criminals, low-lifes, and people more descipible than that doesn’t change that. Luke Crosswhite drops out of college and returns to his family’s home to live with his aunt and uncle, the closest thing he has to parents since his father is doing time for a murder that Luke saw him commit. Luke’s given up on going straight, he’s essentially resigned to taking up the family business.

He picked a bad time for it, his family is under attack from a bloodthirsty boss who wants to take over their territory and has essentially declared war on all criminals in their part of the state.

And, well, things get worse from there.

4 1/2 Stars


Assassins AnonymousAssassins Anonymous

by Rob Hart

My original post
Action. Comedy. Heart. This has it. Mark (and his cat) are on a global hunt to find out who sent a Russian hitman into his 12-Step meeting to kill him. It should be noted (as you can guess from the title) that this meeting is of Assassins Anonymous. Not a smart place to try to kill people, it likely won’t go well for you.

Mark has been out of the life for a year or so. Why does someone want him dead? How can he stop them while not killing anyone, maintaining his “sobriety”?

Hart does so many things well in this book, I can’t wait for the promised sequel so I can spend even more with Mark and the rest of his support group.

4 1/2 Stars


Cover of Spook Street by Mick HerronSpook Street

by Mick Herron

My original post
What can one say about Mick Herron and the Slough House series that countless others haven’t before–and better? This was harrowing and haunting, with twists I didn’t see coming. And I really can’t do better than that.

4 1/2 Stars


Cover of The Kill List by Nadine MathesonThe Kill List

by Nadine Matheson

After a little stumble in book 2 of this series, Matheson comes back on fire with this entry.

25 years ago, one of Anjelica Henley’s friends was killed by a serial killer, who was arrested by the man who became her mentor when she joined the police. Then the convictions were overturned, her mentor was found to have corrupted evidence, and the killings have started up again.

It’s up to Henley and her team to stop them and get the right person arrested this time.

There’s heart-breaking character moments–related to and separate from–this case. The mystery is beyond twisty. Matheson handles all of it with confidence and ease. It was just a pleasure from start to finish.

4 Stars


Namaste Mart ConfidentialNamaste Mart Confidential

by Andrew Miller

My original post
Who hasn’t read too many noir novels about amateur PIs who are also grocery store clerks trying to make it in stand-up or writing to investigate the disappearance of a lingerie store employee? You might as well try one more.

What doesn’t this book have, really? First off—and it’s easy to forget this, but you shouldn’t—it’s noir. Then you have a slice of L.A. life in 2013, and boy does it feel like it. There’s some comedy. There’s some satire. There’s commentary on the rise (and growing acceptance, it seems) of polygamous LDS groups. There’s some drama. There’s some over-the-top action movie-style gunfights. There’s a splash of politics. There’s more than a little commentary on the nature of celebrity. There’s some actual sweetness through one of the smaller arcs. You’ve got Armenian mobsters. Ex-actors turned business executives. Ex-actors turned artists. Grocery store clerks and very odd customers (just that part of the novel alone could be turned into a decent sitcom). A strange Scientology-esque group.

But the important thing to know going in—it all works. This jumble of seemingly incompatible ideas/topics that Miller brings to the table fit together in a way that feels natural. It’s like one of those cooking competition shows where the contestants are handed a bunch of ingredients that no one in their right mind should put together and they make something that gets that gets the approval of experienced chefs and restauranteurs. Miller ain’t getting chopped for this meal.

4 1/2 Stars


Cover of We Solve Murders by Richard OsmanWe Solve Murders

by Richard Osman

My original post

This was just so good, really. At this point, it’s not quite as good as Osman’s other work—primarily because nothing had the emotional weight that the gang at Cooper’s Chase seems to find in their adventures. But the potential is there for this series to equal it. And, really, considering the tone of this one, that kind of punch might have felt out of place or contrived.

It might not have had the emotional weight, but the comedy was stronger (and more obvious). I’m not going to complain about that.

Osman is on a heckuva streak. I hope it continues.

4 1/2 Stars


Cover of City on Fire by Don WinslowCity on Fire

by Don Winslow

Don Winslow starts the trilogy that marks his retirement by giving us a retelling of The Iliad set in warring mob families in Providence, RI in 1986. As one does.

I was sucked into this so much that I forgot it was The Iliad and couldn’t understand why one group fell for such an obvious trap (and boy, did I feel dumb when it clicked for me). That’s part of the magic of this book, you don’t realize it’s a story you know that well because Winslow is just that good.

This broke my heart, it made me angry, and it got me talking back to the characters who were doing reckless, impetuous things driven by hubris and misplaced loyalty. And I wanted more. (It’s a good thing there are two more books in the series I should’ve read by now)

Stunningly good work.
4 1/2 Stars


A few books that almost made this list, and I want to be sure to mention one more time:
Nobody’s Hero by MW Craven (My original post); The Late Lord Thorpe by Peter Grainger, Gildart Jackson (Narrator); Another Girl by Peter Grainger, Gildart Jackson (Narrator) (My original post); Smoke Kings by Jahmal Mayfield; and Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson.

A Few Thoughts on The Bang-Bang Sisters (Audiobook) by Rio Youers, read by Kristen Sieh: Rock and Roll!

Cover of The Bang-Bang Sisters by Rio YouersThe Bang-Bang Sisters

by Rio Youers, Kristen Sieh (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: HarperAudio
Publication Date: July 16, 2024
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 15 hrs. 23 min.
Read Date: January 3-8, 2025

What’s The Bang-Bang Sisters About?

I’m not even going to try to pretend to be able to summarize this, so I’m going to copy and paste the official description:

Meet the Bang-Bang Sisters: Brea, Jessie, and Flo. Together, they’re a kick-ass rock band with an unbreakable bond.

But that’s only half the story. Offstage, they’re highly skilled vigilantes, traveling the country in their beaten-up tour van to exact justice on criminals who have slipped through the system. Part rock stars, part assassins, they’re a force to be reckoned with.

Drawn by a tantalizing lead, the sisters head to Reedsville, Alabama—a city crawling with destitution and corruption—where they close in on a notorious serial killer known as “the wren.” But they soon discover that they have walked straight into a trap set by Chance Kotter, a ruthless mobster with a personal vendetta.

Bruised and beaten, the sisters find themselves at the mercy of Chance and a sadistic game of survival that will pit them against each other: Forty-eight hours. One city. Three sisters. Only one of them can survive.

Full of gripping action and shocking twists that come at a breakneck pace, The Bang-Bang Sisters is a relentless, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that will leave you breathless.

What did I think about The Bang-Bang Sisters?

I’m afraid if I spend my usual amount of time talking about this (or trying to come up with something coherent to say), I’m going to put it off for too long, and maybe overexplain. So let’s just go with this:

It captures the spirit of music and live performance (and inter-band dynamics) as…well, any rock novel I can think of.

You have a serial killer equal to Francis Dolarhyde.

You’ve got a violent, kill-or-be-killed, “game” as nasty as The Hunger Games, without the love triangle.*

You’ve got a violent, kill-or-be-killed, “game” as nasty and detailed as Chain-Gang All-Stars without the redeeming social commentary.

You’ve got a rich Southern guy as fat as Boss Hogg, as corrupt as Johnny Stagg, as weasely as Gríma Wormtongue.

You’ve got three great women characters with all the style, skill, and general badassery as The Deadly Viper squad.

Throw it all into a book with the violence level equal to—if not greater than—Kill Bill, Vol. 1.

It’s got the pacing of a classic rock song—with occasional bursts of speed metal.

It’s fast, it’s furious, it’s bloody, it’s raw emotion, it’s dangerous. It is so much fun. It is Rock and Roll.

If you can handle that combination, you’re in for a great ride. If one part of the above doesn’t appeal to you? Skip this.

I thought this was great, I hated to walk away from it every time I had to. Kristen Sieh’s narration was precisely what this book needed.

By the time the book ended, I felt like you do after a great concert—elated, a little worn out, and riding a high you don’t want to come down from.

* There is a love triangle, but it’s a good kind—it’s a supportive, sororal triangle.


5 Stars

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