The final quarter leading to Christmas and hopefully, a new stack of books, but several of these were real standouts for the year.

The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith, aka J.K. Rowling

The seventh in the Cormoran Strike/Robin Ellacott series is another tome at 945 pages. The detectives are working a case trying to return a young man to his family from his involvement in a religious cult. As their work proceeds, they find a lot of unexplained mysteries in this truly creepy situation. Throughout, Cormoran and Robin independently try to deal with their feelings for one another. Will this be the one in which they finally get together? Not telling, but this was probably my favorite in the series since the beginning.

The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar

Another incredibly moving family saga from an author who consistently delivers. This novel confronts the dreams parents have for their children, the damage of family secrets, the strength of a mother/child bond, and the power of forgiveness. While most of the novel takes place in Bombay and includes Parsi traditions, the author skillfully addresses the current American culture – and culture wars.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

When this movie came out, I hadn’t heard of the book, so I broke my own rule and saw it. Loved it. So now, however many years later and after reading a couple of Zevin’s other books, I read it. And loved it all over. It’s a book nerd’s dream, with A.J. as the grumpy but big-hearted bookseller you can’t help but love. His story has loss, love, redemption, and books.

The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan

I’ve enjoyed several of Tan’s novels, so when I came across this book of essays in a used bookstore, I bought it. The 20-year-old collection of musings reflects on the author’s life, family relationships, ethnicity, and even illness. I was most drawn to her thoughts about writing and reading, as well as a description of a CNN appearance abruptly interrupted by the events of 9/11.

20 Under 40: Stories from The New Yorker

I picked up this 2010 collection on a whim and even found a couple of familiar names among the contributors. I have great respect for the short story form and the power that a well-written piece can deliver. These were a mixed bag: some I enjoyed, some were so-so, and some I gave up on.

Three Sisters by Heather Morris

I’ve been intrigued by books about the Holocaust since I first read Anne Frank’s diary. This is the author’s third novel about Holocaust victims and survivors, based on their own stories. Three Sisters is about a Jewish family with a strong bond and their experiences, together and apart, in the camps, the death march, and in life after such horror as they help build the new land of Israel. I found it particularly poignant in light of the current Israeli war. The epilogues, from family members as well as the author, are fascinating.

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

After such an intense book, I grabbed this *rom-com* in my stack. It started with a basic plot of boy and girl fall in love in college, break up for an unknown reason, and reconnect 10 years later with a lot unspoken between them. The girl’s neurodivergent status was an informative twist; otherwise, it was a simplistic formula for light reading. But in Chapter 29, things got interesting. I won’t say more or ruin the surprise.

The Family Across the Street by Nicole Trope

This thriller is told from 4 perspectives and hooked me quickly. A family is held hostage, and while a neighbor and delivery person think something might be wrong, they are hesitant to interfere. Good character development as the 1-day story proceeds drives the story. Even knowing there would be a twist, I didn’t figure it out, but the author ties it all up nicely.

The Last of the Stanfields by Marc Levy

What an extraordinarily lucky find this was at the used bookstore! Spanning from late WWII to 2016, this novel is a family saga and secrets, mystery, romance, and intrepid investigation all in one. Perspectives and time periods shift to reveal partial answers and compel the reader along. By mid-point, I had a hard time putting this one down. And the conclusion was satisfying.

A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: The Journey of Doaa Al Zamel by Melissa Fleming

This is a hard read, the story of a young woman, her family’s travails in war-torn Syria, and her brave and frightening escape. Most of us can’t even imagine the horror described, much less as a teen. It’s a good reminder of how good our lives are and of the costs of freedom.

It’s a secret!

A friend has written her first novel and gave me the honor of being a Beta reader. One day, I’ll be able to share it with you!

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

Post-Thanksgiving, I was ready for a holiday treat, and this was a perfect choice. A cross country train ride in the days before Christmas provides a unique setting for strangers to bond and make friends. This short novel is basically the book form of a Hallmark Christmas movie.

The Little Liar by Mitch Albom

“Truth be told,” I’m not sure I have the words to adequately express how deeply emotional and powerful this tale is. Narrated by the voice of Truth, it’s a deeply researched, though fictional, story that begins during the Holocaust, then addresses the traumatic effects on three Jewish survivors for the rest of their lives. It’s a novel everyone should read.

My Sister’s Grave by Robert Dugoni

After reading Dugoni’s novel The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, I discovered he is a prolific author of detective stories and decided to try one. This one is the first in a series featuring Detective Tracy Crosswhite and a case involving her sister’s death years before. It’s a well-written novel, with a likable protagonist and an unusual twist in the plot. The family background presented will undoubtedly play a role in future books in this series.

Her Final Breath by Robert Dugoni

Yep, I moved straight into volume 2 in the Tracy Crosswhite series. This one revolves around the hunt for a serial killer, with side drama in the police department. And is the serial killer also stalking Crosswhite? The detective’s team becomes more likable, and storylines carry-over from the first novel. It’s another good mystery, so I guess I’m committed to the series.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury

I pulled out this classic collection of heartwarming stories to hold me over the last couple of days til Christmas. With cooking and last-minute prep for the holiday, I didn’t want to start an engrossing novel. Not to mention that I was expecting a new pile of books. These short reminders of the meaning of Christmas served my purpose well.

Christmas did serve up a healthy helping of new books (18 were exchanged), 6 for me and a nice selection to share among the family. I started with:

The Imposters by Tom Rachman

I thought this would be the first of the 2024 reviews, but I had a lot of reading time. Also, this book weaves a lot of characters in and out, so if I put it down too long, I lost track. And truthfully, I did anyway. Rachman is a wonderful writer, but this is not my favorite of his novels. It’s a convoluted tale of an aging, mostly unknown novelist trying to write a final book. Various characters from her life fill in gaps, but it never came together for me. The last chapter was my favorite for more than one reason.