I’m always excited to start the year with new books. The photo only shows a few of this quarter’s reading list.

The Elements by John Boyne

This book will stay with me. Well-written, in a format that flows and reveals secrets at the right times. It’s presented in four sections (elements) representing people affected in different ways by crime, described as the enabler, accomplice, perpetrator, and victim. Their stories intersect in interesting and unexpected ways. Trigger warning: the crimes are truly horrific and difficult to read; not for the faint of heart.

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy

Van Booy’s books typically impart a bit of wisdom in the storytelling. Sipsworth is no different, in this story of an older woman who has given up on life after losing her husband and her son, until she meets an unhoused mouse. Though realism falters, the book reveals meaningful details about Helen as the story proceeds. It’s a pleasant read.

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

I’ve been a fan of Picoult’s books since her first, but this one is very different. While I like where she takes the story, the sections based in the 1500-1600’s required more knowledge of the times than I have interest in. (The pedophilia was disturbing, as it still is.) I would have liked more depth in the current day sections. I finished it, but I didn’t love this one.

Simply Lies by David Baldacci

This is one of Baldacci’s stand-alone novels, and it was a good read. The plot was convoluted, and a lot of characters are intertwined throughout it. It involves a lot of on-line searching and subterfuge that more tech-savvy people might enjoy. One irritating factor was the main character being referred to sometimes by first name and in other instances by last name.

Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre

A difficult to read memoir, but I decided the author deserved my attention for sharing such a vulnerable story. Her abuse started early, by her own family, and her first interaction with Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein was facilitated by her father. The details are horrific and difficult to read or imagine, but I appreciate her efforts to find justice for all victims. Her suicide before the book’s publication is tragic, and I have sympathy for her children and family.

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

First, the title and cover of this book held no appeal for me. I saw some great reviews, so when my friend loaned me her copy, with the caveat that she didn’t get into it immediately, I committed to reading all 448 pages. I’m glad I did, because the second half was the best part. It’s a good story, with a decent reflection on the long-term impact of the Vietnam War. I think the author could have spent less detail on every character’s background, before reaching the crux of the story. The second half was emotional and deep, which I appreciated. Good reflections on mothers and sons, fathers and sons, as well as on loss. Worth reading if you enjoy history and character development.

Her Cold Justice by Robert Dugoni

This is the third book in a series about lawyer Keera Duggan, and while it could stand alone, knowing the characters from previous books makes it richer. Not only is it well-written, it combines the best of the legal process and maneuvers, police procedural, and family dynamics. Keera is a terrific lawyer, representing a young man arrested for a brutal murder. He also happens to be the nephew of Keera’s investigator and friend. I can’t wait for the next installment.

Missing Sam by Thrity Umrigar

5 stars. This is Umrigar’s first foray into writing a mystery, but it deals with so much more than that. Start with a lesbian married couple, one Muslim and one Irish. Both have tough histories with their families. After a fight, when Samantha is apparently kidnapped while on a run, Ali must deal with her own guilty feelings, as well as the cruelty of social media and public attention. When Sam is found, the couple struggle to find a new normal. Throw in the start of the pandemic to complicate matters. The last couple of chapters are especially riveting.

I’d Give Anything by Marisa de los Santos

Four friends, from childhood to present day adulthood. A long-ago tragedy created a rift for reasons kept secret. Now as adults, Ginny’s husband is fired from his job for reasons she doesn’t want to face; rather, Ginny’s focus is protecting their daughter Avery, even as the marriage unravels. When Avery discovers Ginny’s journal from her teen years, everything demands explanation. It’s a good novel and deals with some present-day issues.

The Last Mile by David Baldacci

Baldacci is a tried-and-true author for me, and this novel was the 2nd in his Memory Man series. Amos Decker joins a team within the FBI, and they take on the case of a death row inmate who is suddenly released when another man confesses. It’s one of the most convoluted plots I’ve read, but it also has a nice touch of sentimentality.

About Grace by Anthony Doerr

The premise of this earlier novel by Pulitzer-winning author Doerr was intriguing, but it didn’t hold my interest like All the Light We Cannot See did. Too much natural imagery and scientific study for me tastes. I did read it all, and the last several chapters were satisfying.

More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen

A little disappointing, and it makes me sad to write that. I discovered Anna Quindlen when she was a columnist in the New York Times and loved her writing so much that a friend and I played hooky from work to hear her speak in Tampa. I’ve mostly enjoyed her novels, but this one had too many rabbit trails for me. The main plot point got lost in it all, and the end was somewhat predictable. However, Quindlen creates interesting characters with strong relationships, and I like that.

Still Life by Joy Fielding

This was another book with a unique plot device, in that the protagonist is in a coma from chapter 2. Shortly after we meet Casey, having lunch with longtime friends, she is hit by a speeding car and left with multiple injuries including traumatic brain injury. As she slowly gains awareness, yet unable to move, Casey hears the sometimes-disturbing conversations of her husband, friends, and even medical providers. A good thriller.

The Same Sky by Amanda Eyre Ward

Published in 2015, this novel hit even harder in 2026. Told in alternating chapters, it is the story of a woman whose life is good but not complete and of a Guatemalan girl trying to survive and reunite with her mother in Texas. Both stories draw the reader into these completely different worlds but under “the same sky.” Where they intersect is not unexpected but is meaningful.

Dinners with Ruth by Nina Totenberg

This is a beautiful memoir of friendship, primarily with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, written by the NPR journalist who covered the Supreme Court. It’s interwoven with Totenberg’s personal history, as well as stories of her husbands and other friends. For those of us who have long-admired RBG, it’s a sweet peek behind the curtains.

The Boys in the Light by Nina Willner

I’ve read a fair share of WWII novels, but what intrigued me about this one is that the author has written the story of her father, a Holocaust survivor. It is also the story of the U.S. Army platoon who rescued him. Told in alternating chapters are the horrors dealt to Willner’s family and the recruitment and deployment of D Company. It hit me hard that these were all teenagers – her father and his friend, as well as the young recruits of D Company. It’s a hard read but important, and particularly so in today’s environment.