The Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton

 

All through the first third of this, I was seriously considering abandoning it because it just seemed so cliched (professor shows initial promise but then nothing, job threatened and no new grants, problems in personal relationships, blah blah blah). And then there was a plot twist so fun that I ended up taking the day off of work to finish the book. So: highly recommended.

Review copy provided by publisher.

So Far Gone by Jess Walter

 

Weird and unbelievably good.

What to Do When Someone Dies by Nicci French

 Meh

A Murderous Relation by Deanna Raybourn

 I do really like this series.

Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win by Jo Piazza

 Very good.

The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood

 

Very, very good.

Worse than a Lie by Ben Crump

 

Meh.

The Plans I Have for You by Lai Sanders

Decent. 

Whidbey by T. Kira Madden

 

This was very, very well done.

The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley

 

So much fun.

Everyone in this Bank Is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

 

Possibly my favorite mystery series. Just a great combination of meta commentary, humor, and throw backs to golden age mysteries.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Escape! By Stephen Fishbach

 

Fun.

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

 Sweet but not cheesy.

In Her Defense by Philippa Malicka

Meh. 

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton

 

Solid.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley

 

I loved this so much.

This Story Might Save Your Life: A Novel by Tiffany Crum

 

This was so engaging -- most plots seem overdone to me, but this wasn't. That said, it got pretty close to shark-jumping at the end. Julia Whelan as a narrator is a plus.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden

 

So dumb.

Judge Stone by Viola Davis and James Patterson

 

For the most part, this was quite engaging, and having Viola Davis as the narrator was certainly a plus. I do wish that it had had just a bit more nuance, however.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Dear Miss Lake by AJ Pearce

 

Solid.

Murder Bimbo by Rebecca Novack

 

OK-ish.

The Optimists by Brian Platzer

 

This seems like the kind of thing I wouldn't like, but I loved it.

What Happened that Night by Nicci French

 

Meh

Challenger by Adam Higginbotham

 

Fascinating.