The Slip by Lucas Schaefer

 

Books set in Austin are always fun

 But this was also confusing.

The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers by Samuel Burr

 

Decent.

Rocket Surgery Made Easy by Steve Krug

 

A good intro to usability testing.

Lights Out in Lincolnwood by Geoff Rodkey

 Interesting.

Bring the House Down by Charlotte Runcie

 

Recommended: this was fun and funny, with thoughtful social commentary.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz

 

Solid.

Daikon by Samuel Hawley

 

Really good.

The Fear Index by Robert Harris

 

Meh.

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.