The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant by Liza Tully

 

Decent.

Dinner with King Tut by Sam Kean

 

Sam Kean annoys me.

Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug

 

Really interesting.

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

 

OK, I guess. I think fantasy just isn't my thing.

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline

 

I was really worried that this was going to be lame -- but it wrapped up well.

Review copy provided by publisher.

You're Safe Here by Leslie Stephens

 

meh

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger

 

Lots of good elements, but some aspects were too on the nose.

Poppy Harmon Investigates by Lee Hollis

 

Solid.

The Unheard by Nicci French

 

Solid.

History Lessons by Zoe Wallbrook

 

A perfect blend of mystery, social commentary, and light humor. Recommended.

Review copy provided by publisher.

We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

 

Solid.

Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart

 

Decent, but not spectacular, and I find myself irritated at the praise that the author gets for this level of writing.

Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson

 

Decent.

The Beach House Murders by Peter Boland

 

Solid.

You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Sutanto

 

Solid.

New People by Danzy Senna

 

Meh.

Written Out by Howard Mittelmark

 

Quite fun.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano

 

I've been a little worried that this series was fading in quality, but this throwback short story was great fun.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Best of all Worlds by Kenneth Oppel

 

OK, I guess.

Eat a Peach by David Chang

 Very interesting.

Beach Hut 512 by Dorothy Koomson

 

I guess there is a market for what I have come to think of as "the implausible mystery," but it isn't me.

Review copy provided by publisher.

What Was She Thinking? by Zoe Heller

 

Very nice.

The Namaste Club by Asha Elias

 

OK, trying to describe this without spoilers: I was initially rolling my eyes a bit at the characterization, but the nice twist at the end redeemed the book in my eyes.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Runner 13 by Amy McCulloch

 

The setting -- an ultra marathon in the desert -- was quite promising. But the plot suffered from something that a lot of mysteries suffer from: just way too many coincidences and unnecessary drama.

Review copy provided by publisher.

You Feel It Just Below the Ribs by Jeffrey Cranor and Janina Matthewson

Really clever.

 

The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb

 This was engrossing and gutting, in the best way.

The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal

 

Solid. However, the narrator's voice and volume for the news articles is a crime against humanity.

El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott

 The disadvantage of reading a lot is that a lot of plots begin to seem overdone. But this was different, interesting and clever.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Beijing Payback by Daniel Nieh

 

Quite good.

Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick

 

Very good.

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

 I think Tia Williams is one of my favorite authors.

Far and Away by Amy Poeppel

 This was SO much fun. I read so much that so many books seem derivative, but plot and characterization were both fresh.

Community Board by Tara Conklin

 

Meh

Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller

 

OMG, this was amazing.

The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick

 

I thought I was going to love this because I really liked The Measure, but this one missed the mark. 

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Nimbus by Robert P. Baird

 This is the novel that the academic theology geeks have been waiting for! So much fun!

Review copy provided by publisher.

How the Other Half Eats by Priya Fielding-Singh

Decent.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

This was just OK.

Food Person by Adam Roberts

 

Fun.

Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild

 

I'm often critical of plots that jump the shark, and maybe if you read a synopsis, this seems like it would. But, honestly, I thought it worked well and was clever.

Review copy provided by publisher.

King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby

 

So S. A. Cosby is one of my favorite writers, and this was fantastic (if a bit gruesome).

Review copy provided by publisher.

Stupid TV, Be More Funny by Alan Siegel

 

This was a mixed bag: the subtitle is a bit of a misnomer in that the book focuses more on the history of the show than on the show's impact on the culture. That said, it was still fun and funny.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Sea Wife by Amity Gaige

 

Decent.

Class Clown by Dave Barry

 

Solid.

Chancing Your Arm by Jean Grainger

 Solid.

Nightshade by Michael Connelly

 

Meh

Park Avenue by Renee Ahdieh

 

So good. Really clever ending without being over the top.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor

 

This felt like it would be too similar to Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, but then it went in a different -- and much more interesting direction.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Flashlight by Susan Choi

 

I almost gave up on this because it had a strong 'one damn fact after another' vibe, but I'm so glad I didn't because it ended up eventually pulling everything together brilliantly.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Perfect Little World by Kevin Wilson

 

Meh.