The first of the year brought a stack of new books to enjoy, along with anticipation of new releases. But how is it already April, and I’ve read those and more? Guess I have to wait until my birthday and Mother’s Day for more. (Just kidding.)

You may have noticed Robert Dugoni’s name popping up recently on these lists. Once I discovered his novel The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, I wanted more and put this next piece of literary fiction on my wish list. While I waited for Christmas, I enjoyed a couple of his detective novels. Expect to see more.

The World Played Chess by Robert Dugoni

Masterful. Not your usual coming-of-age novel, it’s told in 3 parts – present day, memory, and a journal from a long-ago friend. As Vincent prepares for his son’s college departure, the surprise receipt of a journal from William, a Vietnam vet he once worked a summer job with, takes him back to that time of his own life and the lessons he absorbed from William. While not a memoir, the author clearly did his homework to make this so real. Did I say “masterful” yet? *Trigger warning for combat veterans.

Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld

I needed something less consequential after Dugoni, so I grabbed this hand-me-down. It’s a decent story, centered around identical twin sisters and their “senses” of the future. One tries to downplay hers, while the other makes it a career. An earthquake prediction on a certain date drives disruptions to both lives and their loved ones. I was annoyed by extraneous details and time passages that didn’t add up.

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith

Labeled a memoir, this is a beautiful, lyrical reflection on the author’s marriage and divorce. Part poetry, part journal, Smith shares her thoughts and her parenting without trying to blame or speak for her ex-husband. Her journey through anger and loss to happiness in her newly defined family is real and touching.

The Life She Left Behind by Nicole Trope

A good psycho-thriller, based in a family drama and domestic violence, both emotional and physical. The novel covers the decisions and deals people make and their long-term effect, as well as the ties that bind and significant loss. It’s a good read.

Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett

What would your life look like with a significant person gone? This one’s very different but interesting, delving into serious mental health issues. (*Trigger alert: suicide.) One family, 2 generations dealing with individual impacts of trauma, while remaining close in the ways they know how. Significant portions dragged for me, so not my favorite book.

In the Clearing by Robert Dugoni

Yes, I couldn’t resist book 3 in the Detective Tracy Crosswhite series. Another solid detective tale with interesting mysteries solved. This time, Tracy looks for answers in a 40-year-old closed case, as well as a current homicide. Dugoni also lets us see the human side of his detectives, which I appreciate.

The Tennis Partner by Abraham Verghese

I love Verghese’s fiction, so I couldn’t resist this memoir of a friendship. It’s a tough one. When the author was a relatively young infections disease specialist and medical school professor, he developed a close friendship with David, one of the slightly older students who was also a tennis player. (More tennis detail than I cared for.) Verghese shares their friendship and David’s addiction journey with vulnerability. It’s a harsh portrayal that can be difficult to read, and hard to like the two men at times, but I appreciated Verghese’s authenticity in sharing.

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

First, Rebecca warned me of emotional destruction with this one, and she wasn’t exaggerating. It’s an unsparing book about slavery. It’s also about mothers and daughters, with a spirit world ghost/angel thrown in. While I’m not keen on supernatural elements, it worked as a source of comfort and guidance for Annis through horrific circumstances. Ward is a gifted, poetic storyteller, and I’m glad I read it. (I always read the author’s notes, and after reading these, I was even more deeply moved.)

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Another hand-me-down from Rebecca, this novel served as a perfect buffer after the last one. While it really is a romantic comedy, it also revolves around feminism, societal expectations, and the pandemic. The couple involved are in their late 30’s, which makes it less cheesy and more adult; Sally is a comedy writer and Noah is a well-known singer-songwriter. It’s a good read in many ways.

Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

McBride is an author who can truly make a reader feel. Set in the 70’s (shudder that it’s within my lifetime), the Heaven & Earth Grocery store is the centerpiece of a story about racial, gender, and ethnic differences; violence; and the families we choose. It’s a tough read, with a lot of characters to keep straight, but it’s a powerful look at our recent history.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

I’ve enjoyed Rowley’s books, because they’re fun, quirky, and full of heart. The Guncle (Gay Uncle) is a story of grieving and finding connection between GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) and his young niece and nephew. Patrick isolated himself after the loss of his true love in a car accident, but when his sister-in-law/close friend Sara dies and he is asked to care for the kids for two months, all bets are off. I could see a great sequel in following this family.

The Prince of the Skies by Antonio Iturbe

How could I resist the cover and weight of this book, especially since it’s a biography of the author of my favorite book? Antoine de St. Exupery was a pilot before he was a writer/illustrator. The book details his aviation history, some history of airmail services, his time in WWII, closest friendships, and how The Little Prince came to be. There’s a lot more aviation detail than I needed, but the ending was little bit magical.

After Annie by Anna Quindlen

It’s been a while since Quindlen published a novel. Told through the eyes of her husband, daughter, and best friend, this is the story of Annie’s life and the hole her unexpected death left in their lives. Despite an estranged mother, a bitter mother-in-law, her friend’s substance abuse, and a very random situation with the daughter’s friend, I didn’t find anything enlightening in this family’s grief journey. Predictable.

The Trapped Girl by Robert Dugoni

Yep – book 4 in Dugoni’s Detective Tracy Crosswhite series. I like Tracy and her team more with every book. This one is a bit more complicated, with two missing women, missing money, and elements of the case in different jurisdictions. It’s a good mystery, plus this novel takes the reader another step into Tracy’s personal life. Expect to see book #5 in the next quarter.

Hidden Treasures by Michelle Adams

This is a bittersweet tale of love lost and rediscovered, along with finding oneself in the clutter of life. It’s all based within the search for a long-hidden treasure that had once been stolen by Nazis. Though part of the story made me uncomfortable (think: older man - not the protagonist - teenage girl), it all worked, and I appreciated the element of art restitution. It's rather sweet.

Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri

Lahiri has a gift for packing a lot into short stories. These are all based in Rome and portray the lived experiences of all types of people: rich or poor, married or single, often visitors or expatriates. Each story is a glimpse into someone’s day, thoughts, and experiences. They’re not morality tales or patronizing. Lahiri does not name the characters, rather refers to them as initials or “the mother.” It feels odd at first but allows the reader to form their own picture of each.

Playing Nice by J.P. Delaney

There’s no room for *playing nice* in this psychological thriller, and no time to put it down. The premise is two families, two toddlers, and the discovery that the children had been switched at birth. What starts as a seemingly amicable arrangement turns into a nightmare. Every step leads to a new discovery, more unanswered questions, and no apparent way out. Truly a page-turner.