Down to the Wire by David Rosenfelt

 

meh

A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

 

This was Southern Gothic with an emphasis on straight-up comedy as well as dark comedy. The protagonist's role as a entomologist was well-developed and fit into the plot well. In all, super-fun and hilarious.

Review copy provided by publisher.

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

 

Very clever and well done.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

 

One too many coincidences in this one.

Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear

 

Maisie Dobbs is growing on me.

Deep Fake by Ward Larsen

 

This book was objectively ridiculous, and yet I still sort of liked it.

Review copy provided by publisher.

He Said He Would Be Late by Justine Sullivan

 

Is her husband having an affair?

This very cleverly plotted book toys with that question. It's a fun read. However, the narrator did the book a real disservice -- the register was all wrong. And the author deserves an editor who ruthlessly prunes bad similies.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

 

A few funny moments, but otherwise unremarkable.

The Lifeguards by Amanda Eyre Ward

 

I loved all of the local Austin references, but that wasn't enough to reclaim a really weak plot.

Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes

 

Super fun and funny.

The Enigma Affair by Charlie Lovett

 

Great set up, but I didn't love the execution.

The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland

 

I really liked this -- it was unusual and captivating.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Guest Lecture by Martin Riker

 

This was amazing. Maybe you have to be a high-anxiety academic to appreciate it, but I have rarely felt so seen.

Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes

 

Surprisingly good fluff. 

The American Agent by Jacqueline Winspear

 

I really enjoyed this.

Atomic Family by Ciera Horton McElroy

 

One of the disadvantages of reading as much as I do is that many books feel formulaic. Well, not this one. It's a fascinating reflection on life in the nuclear age and life in nuclear families. It would provide excellent discussion material for book groups, and the ending was amazing.

Review copy provided by publisher.

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

 

meh

I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai

 

I read a lot of books, but this one really stood out. I was just completely gobsmacked by it.

The Prodigal Daughter by Jeffrey Archer

 

Decent, but way too much repetition from the first book.

Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer

 

Fun in the way sweeping epics are fun and problematic the way 80s authors are problematic.

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

 

I can't decide if I liked this. It was right on that edge between horror and comedy, and I don't do horror.

Takes One to Know One by Susan Isaacs

 

This was super-fun.

Last Port of Call by Jean Grainger

 

This was just . . . very sweet and earnest, if a bit too inflected with modern sensibilities.

Augusta Hawke by G. M. Malliet

 

A solid mystery. 

Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan

 

meh

The Strangers by Margaret Peterson Haddix

 

I don't normally do kids' books for myself, but this was quite fun.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano

 

I think the Finlay Donovan books are one of my very favorite series -- they are so ridiculous and ridiculously funny.

Review copy provided by publisher.

All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

 

I can't decide if I liked this.

Guilty Minds by Joseph Finder

 

First half was great; second half was meh.

The Change by Kirsten Miller

 

An over-the-top feminist revenge fantasy. I loved it.

Wanderers by Chuck Wendig

 

Long and weird.

Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline

 

I can't decide if I liked this or if it was silly.

Girl in Ice by Erica Ferencik

 

Very unusual -- I think I liked this?

Locust Lane by Stephen Amidon

 

I really liked this. It reminded me of Little Fires Everywhere, but without being derivative. I think it would be a great choice for book groups.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Invitation to a Killer by G. M. Malliet

 

Despite one excessive plot twist, this was quite fun.

Review copy provided by publisher.

I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman

 

This was fun and funny.

Anthem by Noah Hawley

 

I didn't like this.

The Existential Worries of Mags Munroe by Jean Grainger

 

I really liked this: solid, funny protagonist and interesting cultural references.

Spare by Prince Harry

 

I have a lot of opinions about this.

The Thousandth Floor by Katherine McGee

 

Decent teen futurism.

The Game Is a Footnote by Vicki Delany

 

Decent if you like cozy mysteries, but it seemed like the conclusion was a bit too far-fetched.

Review copy provided by publisher.

A House Full of Windsor by Kristin Contino

 

Ridiculous fun.

All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers

 

Really good except for a few tiny plot points.

Fatal by John Lescroart

 

meh

Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth

 

This was . . . very, very weird.

Widowland by C. J. Carey

 

A very enjoyable alt-history.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

 

Engaging, but I kind of wanted it to end differently. So, overall, decent but not stellar.

Review copy provided by publisher.

In the Time of Our History by Susanne Pari

 

This was just lovely. 

Review copy provided by publisher.

Better the Blood by Michael Bennett

 

Interesting on so many levels -- plot, culture, characters, ethics.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genesis by Robin Cook

 

meh