Each link below leads to RRPL’s catalog which allows you to further read about each title or place a hold.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
The Crime Brulee Bake Off by Rebecca Connolly
The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia by Juliet Grames
The Body in the Back Garden by Mark Waddell
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
When journalist Drew returns to her small town with a shrinking bank account and no job prospects, she’s surprised to run into her former best friend Steph. Steph is thriving financially and her skin is absolutely glowing. She’s eager to share her secret- it’s LuminUS, a skincare line that has paid for her seemingly luxurious lifestyle all while allowing her to be her own boss. Drew is hesitant, but the more Steph shares, the more Drew thinks this might be her ticket to turning her life around.
As Drew sends out sales pitches to everyone she’s ever known, she begins taking the LuminUS supplements. Soon it’s time for the annual conference where Drew gets to spend time with the rest of the bleach blonde team. Only things might not be as radiant as the skin of the women around her. Fights break out amongst the team members, and after a late night party, one LuminUS distributor is found dead.
Multilevel marketing is a tale as old as time, but this is a fun twist on your traditional whodunnit. The world of LuminUS shines bright in this lighthearted romp through the scammy world of direct sales. A fast paced and fun read! If you love a cheeky mystery or binged the LuLaRich docuseries, give this one a try.
Request a print copy here or a digital copy here.
Happy reading!
-Melinda
So, apparently I was really into horror, fantasy and the paranormal this year! I didn’t realize quite how much until I put this list together. It was a lot of fun. Hope you enjoy!
This is the third book in the Indian Lake Trilogy and it doesn’t disappoint. After the first two books, My Heart is a Chainsaw and Don’t Fear the Reaper, you wouldn’t think there would be anyone left to kill in Proofrock, Idaho, but you would be wrong. There is still unfinished business, and Jade Daniels is here to end it this time. One of my favorite series.
Ninth House is a great fantasy story about a tough girl who ends up at Yale on an unusual scholarship. She is required to monitor Yale’s secret societies that have been around for decades, full of rich, privileged students that dabble in forbidden magic and other occult activities to satisfy the needs of the most wealthy and powerful players in society. Part of a trilogy and I can’t wait for book 3!
The second book in a series about two sisters in Northern Ireland who are all too aware that conflict and the IRA are alive and well. The sisters try to start a new life with assumed identities and their young families, but the past is never far behind. Exciting book with many twists and turns, and also a good lesson for me about conflict in Northern Ireland.
A tale of how magic came to be and how it is at risk of disappearing from the world because of evil forces who are hoarding it. One little girl who possesses no magic of her own, may be the key to stopping dark forces and saving everyone. H.G. Parry is a fun-to-read author. I also loved his book The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep.
I guess this is my year for magic! Another title by Leigh Bardugo. In Madrid in the 1500s, a scullery maid named Luzia has a talent for seemingly small magic, like many of the other women of her family. But she has been told to keep it safe and secret because of the evil that could come of it if powerful men find out. When they do, Luzia is thrown into a world of kings, queens, priests, and the Inquisition, and must rely on a mysterious immortal to help her save herself- but can he be trusted?
This was a surprisingly good book, but pay attention or the characters will confuse you! At a summer camp in the woods, a camper goes missing. This is not the first time it has happened- her brother vanished from the same camp 14 years ago. Family, friends and employees have many secrets that come to light as they search for the missing girl.
This is the third book of the Legacy of Orisha series. It tells the final story of Zelie, a hero of the land of Orisha who has fought for freedom for her people who were oppressed for many years. She now faces a new threat and must convince the people of her home land to put aside their differences and unite if they hope to survive. A good ending to a great fantasy series.
This book is about a young girl named Silvia, who is forced to leave her home and move to a crumbling high rise apartment building in the city as a refugee in a world where global warming has caused the waters to rise, and only the wealthy can afford the dry land of the countryside. She and her mother try to navigate a world that is new to them while keeping their past a secret, not knowing who is friend and who is foe in the city. Silvia meets many characters and learns much about life and human nature through their hard experiences.
A 13 year old Tommy disappears without a trace in the local woods, and his friends are slow telling the truth about the details they know about that night and the weeks leading up to it. His mother thinks she sees his ghostly presence and that he is trying to tell her something. Soon random pages from Tommy’s diary begin to appear and the truth comes out about what has really been happening that summer.
A wonderful story of romance, mystery, time travel and a little bit of magic. June Farrow believes she is succumbing to the mental illness that has plagued many women in her family as she hears mysterious voices and suddenly sees a door appearing out of nowhere. But once she goes through it, she realizes she isn’t crazy at all, but her life is definitely not going to be normal.
It’s that time again – all this week, your favorite RRPL librarians will be sharing their Top Ten best books of 2024!
Click any of the book covers below to be taken to our catalog, where you can request a copy of the book with your library card number and PIN.
It’s hard to describe Stuart Turton’s newest novel: It’s a locked room murder mystery, but it’s science fiction. It’s a dystopian apocalypse novel, but also a hope-punk thriller. It takes you through a twisting narrative with surprises around every turn. If you’re looking for something weird, wonderful, and smart as hell, check this one out.
Yikes! Where did 2024 go? I know that I did not read as much as I usually do – my attention span was suffering a bit this year – but I still read quite a few great books. I’d love to hear what you read, too!
Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy: A mother writes to her baby about the harrowing days of early motherhood – deeply moving, fierce, and raw.
The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl: A joyful book about backyard wildlife, Renkl writes 52 brief essays inspired by the activity in her yard. There are also lovely collages by her brother.
Twists of Fate by Paco Roca: I read his newest book, Return to Eden, and then went back and explored his older works. This graphic novel tells the story of a former Spanish Civil War fighter who is forced to join a “The Nine”, a unit that fought all over in World War II – it’s a gripping tale that I wasn’t familiar with.
Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan: Set during the early years of a three decade Civil War in Sri Lanka, Sashi tells the story through the stories of her brothers and how each was affected by the war. Luminous, emotional, epic.
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino: Adina is an alien, sent from another planet to observe life on Earth, born as a human girl in Philadelphia, who faxes her observations to her superiors. Sounds weird, but it’s deeply moving, funny, and delightful – really a coming of age story about belonging and what it means to be human.
The Hunter by Tana French: A sequel to The Searcher, we delve deeper into the village of Ardnakelty and the history of Trey’s family. Love a well-written, dark mystery.
So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan: This is a collection of stories by the amazing Irish writer – just read it – she’s so good.
Clear by Carys Davies: This started out as standard historical fiction and turned into something completely different. Set in 19th century Scotland during the Clearance, when farmers are being forced off their lands, it follows an impoverished minister to a remote island, charged with telling it’s lone inhabitant that he has to leave. Language, love, loneliness – ah this is a beauty.
James by Percival Everett: Lots of hype but well-worth it. Totally surprising and turns the story on it’s head – read this one too.
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar: A debut novel by a poet about a young man from Iran, raised in the U.S. by his father, suffering from ennui and sadness, and his search for meaning through martyrdom. It’s really hard to explain the plot without giving it away, the writing is hypnotic and humorous – I loved this one.
~ Dori
My top ten are split into five pairs, one blurb per pair:
The Secret History by Donna Tartt and The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton.
These stories had me on the edge of my seat because I am pretty sure I have known these characters in real life. I kept really really hoping they wouldn’t wreak too much havoc or *gasp* get kicked out of school and have to move back home.
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle and a manga adaptation of HP Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness by Gou Tanabe, which is two volumes.
I appreciate how one mean, maladapted author produced such a mind-melting oeuvre that, ever since, it has been continually reinterpreted by a hugely diverse fan base. HP Lovecraft was a bigot, yet the terrifying Abyss he told us so much about calls to us all just as we are.
100 Boyfriends by Brontez Purnell and King Kong Theory by Virginie Despentes
I do not know how to call these books wise in a way that doesn’t sound like a standard publishing blurb. I want Brontez to be my big brother and I want Virginie to be my adoptive mom.
Eurotrash by Christian Kracht and The Cleveland Nazis: 1933-1945 by Michael Cikraji
The horrible past becomes so much more horribler whenever you’re reminded that it is not fully past.
Guilty by Georges Bataille and Les Fleurs du Mal / The Flowers of Evil by Charles Baudelaire
When I first read Bataille I thought, “I like this but it makes no sense, maybe I’m too young”. Older now, it is still unclassifiable and I still love it. When I first read Baudelaire, I said, “I want to reread this in the original language”. Twenty years of study later, I did. Never stop learning. Your local public library can help.
As ever, my list heavily reflects my fondness for classic crime novels. However, a pleasant surprise this year was the addition of a new mystery series that explicitly plays by the Golden Age rules in a fun, modern way. I read less science fiction and fantasy this year, but what I read was excellent and has helped round out my list.
I am always interested in seeing what others are reading and enjoying, so I will once again expand my list to share a few honorable mentions.
10. The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through the Hidden Connections of the English Language – Mark Forsyth
I’m actually still listening to this audiobook, but it’s been great so far. It is like listening to a bizarre word association game. Forsyth seamlessly transitions without pause from one interesting word to another, making etymological and cultural connections between words as he goes. It is utterly fascinating, and I will almost certainly retain none of the information.
9. Berta Isla – Javier Marías
I am going to call this a spy novel because that genre is more in my comfort zone than literary domestic fiction. However, this isn’t a high-octane thriller filled with tradecraft. Instead, the focus is on the relationship between Tomas Nevinson and Berta Isla and how a life of secret and split loyalties impacts their lives.
8. The Village of Eight Graves (Detective Kosuke Kindaichi, #3) – Seishi Yokomizo
I am thankful that Pushkin Vertigo continues to publish excellent translations of classic crime fiction from across the world. I am particularly fond of this series, which was first published in 1940s Japan. Set in postwar Japan, each mystery has been elaborately crafted and adheres to the Golden Age rules.
7. Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect (Ernest Cunningham, #2) – Benjamin Stevenson
Stevenson’s Ernest Cunningham series has been truly enjoyable. Modeled after Golden Age detective fiction, the narrator clearly defines the traditional “fair play” rules straight away. While red herrings and other cleverness abound, the reader will have all the information the narrator has at the time he has it, and the reader is guaranteed that there will be no surprise twins, magic, or more than one hidden passage! The second in the series is my favorite, but that may change since I have just picked up the Christmas special novella.
6. Howl’s Moving Castle – Diana Wynne Jones
This story was charming and wonderful. It is impossible not to fall in love with Sophie, Howl, and, most of all, Calcifer.
5. The Reluctant Fundamentalist – Hamid, Mohsin
This documents a single evening’s one-sided conversation in a Pakistani cafe between an unnamed American and Changez, a Princeton-educated Pakistani man who became disillusioned with America following 9/11. Changez’s is a fascinating perspective and so different than what I am used to.
4. The Mimicking of Known Successes (The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti, #1) – Malka Ann Older
In this new cozy sci-fi detective romance series set above Jupiter after humans were forced to abandon Earth due to ecological destruction, Mossa reconnects with her ex, Pleiti, during a missing persons investigation. Jupiter makes for a damp, foggy, atmospheric setting balanced by ample scones and hot tea.
3. The Big Clock – Fearing, Kenneth
Post-war 1940s New York noir. Newsman George Stroud takes his boss’s girlfriend out for a drink one evening before returning home to his family in the suburbs. As George drops her off near her apartment, he sees her meet up with a figure just outside her door. The next day, she is found dead in her apartment, and George’s employer assigns him to find out who dropped her off that evening and what they saw. George’s plate is cleared of all other work, and he’s given carte blanche to focus on his only priority – to leave no stone unturned until he has found the mystery man. Can George escape from becoming a patsy as he tightens the noose around his own neck?
2. The Blade Itself (The First Law, #1) – Joe Abercrombie
While I believe this often falls into the subgenre “grimdark” fantasy because it is violent and cynical, it was also funny and felt at times like a frolic through the wreckage. There are no heroes in this world, and characters continually disappoint you just as you begin to relate and believe in them
1. Point Zero – Seichō Matsumoto
Immediately following their honeymoon, Teiko’s new husband, who she’s married through an arrangement, travels to Kanazawa to tie up loose ends in his old job before returning to Toyko, starting his new position, and settling into his new life with Teiko. However, when he doesn’t return on the anticipated date or in the following days, Teiko sets off to Kanazawa to investigate his disappearance. Set in 1958-post-American Occupation Japan, this made for a fascinating and unique read.
Honorable Mentions
Greetings Readers! Another year, another Best Of list. I usually start these posts by lamenting how difficult it is to pick just ten titles and then going on to list 20 books I loved that year. Not this year, dear reader. This year I came nowhere near reaching my lofty reading goal and of the books I did manage to read, I only awarded five stars to 10 books. This could be the easiest Top Ten List of my life! Let’s go. Update: I picked 12 titles because the formatting was ugly with only 4 nonfiction titles. Update 2: There are 24 titles on my list…
Click on the photo to check availability!
FICTION
NONFICTION *1-4 were five-stars for me.
Well, that felt too easy, so here are few more titles I really enjoyed this year:
Now I am just showing off. Here are a few books I am looking forward to in 2025:
Happy reading!
~Megan
It’s that time again! All week, your favorite library staff will be sharing their Top Ten Books of 2024. From horror to memoir to fantasy to romance, we have a wide range of book to recommend. Be sure to keep checking back – there will be new Top Ten lists every day this week!
Click on the book cover to request a print copy of the book, or check out Libby or Hoopla for eBook and eAudiobook offerings.
In no particular order, here are my Top Ten!
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
Twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr., is sentenced to six months at a reformatory for kicking the son of the largest landowner in town in defense of his older sister, Gloria. So begins Robbie’s journey further into the terrors of the Jim Crow South and the very real horror of the school they call The Reformatory. Robbie has a talent for seeing ghosts, or haints. But what was once a comfort to him has become a window to the truth of what happens at the reformatory.
The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee
In a mysterious town hidden in our collective subconscious there’s a department store that sells dreams. Each floor specializes in a specific type of dream: childhood memories, food dreams, ice skating, dreams of stardom.
Full review here.
Youthjuice by E.K. Sathue
Joining HEBE, a luxury skincare/wellness company, 29-year-old Sophia Bannion is soon addicted to her HEBE lifestyle, especially youthjuice, the fatty, soothing moisturizer she’s been asked to test, but when she learns the gruesome secret ingredient, she must decide how far she’s willing to go to stay beautiful forever.
Full review here.
You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
The book begins with one woman’s personal, particular heartbreak, but its circles widen into a reckoning with contemporary womanhood, traditional gender roles, and the power dynamics that persist even in many progressive homes. With the spirit of self-inquiry and empathy she’s known for, Smith interweaves snapshots of a life with meditations on secrets, anger, forgiveness, and narrative itself.
The Farm by Joanne Ramos
Nestled in New York’s Hudson Valley is a luxury retreat boasting every amenity: organic meals, private fitness trainers, daily massages–and all of it for free. In fact, you’re paid big money to stay here–more than you’ve ever dreamed of. The catch? For nine months, you cannot leave the grounds; your movements are monitored, and you are cut off from your former life while you dedicate yourself to the task of producing the perfect baby.
A Grandmother Begins the Story by Michelle Porter
The story of the unrivaled desire for healing and the power of familial bonds across five generations of Métis women and the land and bison that surround them.
The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels
At eighteen, Brian, like so many other promising young gay men, arrived in New York City without much more than a love for the freedom and release from his past that it promised. But within six short years, AIDS would claim his lover, his friends, and his future. With nothing left in New York but memories of death, Brian decides to write his mother a letter asking to come back to the place, and family, he was once so desperate to escape.
Outofshapeworthlessloser by Gracie Gold
When Gracie Gold stepped onto center stage (or ice, rather) as America’s sweetheart at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, she instantly became the face of America’s most beloved winter sport. Now Gold reveals the exclusive and harrowing story of her struggles in and out of the pressure-packed world of elite figure skating: the battles with her family, her coaches, the powers-that-be at her federation, and her deteriorating mental health.
Mister Lullaby by J.H. Markert
As coma patients are trapped in a world full of evil mythical creatures of sleep, which is linked to an old train tunnel around town, one troubled man finally acts upon the voice in his head called Mr. Lullaby who wants him to kill all the coma patients he can find.
Full review here.
Dolls of Our Lives by Mary Mahoney & Allison Horrocks
Combining history, travelogue, and memoir, Dolls of Our Lives follows Allison Horrocks and Mary Mahoney on an unforgettable journey to the past as they delve into the origins of this iconic brand.
Happy reading!
-Melinda
Read it or Weep 