Top Ten Reads of 2021

 It's bittersweet to read my top reads post of last year and then to see how little has changed since 2020.  We are still here - still dealing with the pandemic - but when I wrote that post I still had hope that the end was in sight and that things would be getting back to "normal" soon (not sure really what normal is anymore).  Alas, we are still dealing with the pandemic and numbers are skyrocketing again.  Boo!  Happily,  books were still there for me as they always are.  My number of books read has continued to drop - I finished 55 books in total in 2021.  This is the lowest number of books read since I started tracking so many years ago, but I continued to really enjoy the majority of what I read.  I'll take quality over quantity always.  My blogging continues to be sporadic at best.  I'm not sure that I'll ever post as consistently as I used to when book blogging was at the height of popularity.  And that's okay.  But I'm also not sure that I'll ever give it up either.  I just love sharing my thoughts on the books that I read in written form here.  If you don't already, I'm much more of a consistent poster on Instagram so would love if you followed me there too.  But for now let's move on to the top ten books that I read in 2021:

Shiver by Allie Reynolds - This book was exactly what I look for in a winter thriller!  I loved the isolated, suspenseful atmosphere that the author created.  I read this one with snow on the ground in the middle of winter and just lost myself within its' pages.  The author did an amazing job of creating a suspenseful read that kept me guessing until the very end.  I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next!

The Lost Village by Camilla Sten - This was my first read of 2021 and I knew instantly after finishing that it would make my top reads list for the year.  It was just so good!  It was a slow burning, suspenseful read that I couldn't set down.  There was this constant feeling of dread that seeped through the pages that I just adored.  I have found that I need all of the creepy, atmospheric reads like this in my life so give me read-alike recommendations if you have them.  Another author that I am so excited to read more from in 2022 with her next release!

Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner - Mystery lovers, you are seriously missing out if you haven't tried out Gardner's books yet! This was originally supposed to be a standalone but is now being turned into a series - and for good reason!  This book was just SO good!  I loved Frankie's character - there is just something about flawed main characters in my mysteries that I can't seem to get enough of.  I'm so excited for the next book in this series and highly recommend this one if you haven't had the chance to check it out!

The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson - Fans of The Chestnut Man and dark mysteries need to pick this book up!  I was absolutely blown away by this series debut.  There is nothing better in my opinion than finding a new standout police procedural and this is definitely one of them.  As I'm thinking back on the books I loved from last year - it is the characters, the atmosphere, and the storylines that stick out for me.  This book had it all and then some.  I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on the second book in this series when it releases!

Gone For Good by Joanna Schaffhausen - Schaffhausen is another author that has become a favorite of mine over the past couple of years for good reason.  I'm sure you can imagine my delight when I absolutely LOVED this first book in her new series!  She just has a way with writing mysteries that I cannot set down and that keep me guessing the entire time.  The best part of this book though is the way that I thought I had this book figured out....when really I didn't at all.  Yet another series that I'm super hyped to continue on with in 2022!

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James - This is the 2nd year in a row that one of Simone St. James' books have landed on my top ten reads list.  Let me tell you that she is another author (really this statement is true for all of these authors) where you are missing out if you haven't tried her books yet.  I love that she really has something more to say when it comes to violence against women and that is present in her books.  The two timelines of this book were tied together perfectly and the hint of ghosts ensured that I absolutely loved this book.  SO good!

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon - This book reminded me exactly why I consider McMahon to be one of my favorite authors.  It's actually been a few years since I read one of her books - and this book made me wonder why I haven't picked anything up by her recently because her books are just SO GOOD!  This book had this sense of dread and foreboding that just built up page by page.  And then that ending.  Ugh - this book was perfection and was the slap in the face I needed to want to pick up everything that McMahon has ever written.  I should have done this already but at least I have more to look forward to in 2022 by her!

One by One by Ruth Ware - This is my first book by Ware (despite the fact that I own like all of her books) but it certainly won't be my last!  I also want to take a minute to appreciate the fact that this was another winter thriller that made my top reads list - and it also was a variation of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.  I loved this one from the very first page until the last.  It left me absolutely kicking myself for never trying Ware's books until now.  Yet another author whose backlist I need to work on catching up on ASAP.

Broken Places by Tracy Clark - Out of all of the books on my top reads list, this book deserves WAY more hype than I've seen it getting.  It's SO good!  I am always here for a good mystery and this one was a standout beginning to this new to me mystery series.  The characters were perfection and I loved that this author also used this book to look at both unjustified police shootings and police corruption.  I am repeating myself throughout this post but this is yet another series that I plan on reading more from in 2022!

The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor - If you love spooky, atmospheric reads then this is the book for you!  Actually, there are a few on this list like that (I have a type).  I LOVED this book for so many reasons but the main one was the spooky setting that the author created within these pages.  Hints of witchcraft, a small town filled with secrets, a small church that is possibly haunted....this book had it all.  And I ate it up with a spoon asking for more!  I've read two books now by Tudor and they both were standouts.  Yet another author whose backlist I need to read all of (story of my life at this point).

There you have it - my top 10 reads list for 2021.  There were SO many other books that I rated 4.5 stars and could have been included here so I'm not even bothering including honorable mentions because the list would be ridiculous.  What did I learn about myself as a reader from writing up this post?  That I love mysteries, creepy, atmospheric reads, and winter thrillers.  If you have any recommendations that relate to these three things - feel free to share them in the comments.  I have some goals for the new year so I plan on eventually sharing them all in their own post.  But mostly it comes down to reading the types of books that I love.  After two years living through a pandemic, it makes sense to read as much of the things that I love as possible rather than saving them for a rainy day.  

What book or books were your favorites of 2021?

Top Ten Reads of 2020

2020 - I almost feel like just saying the year out loud is all that needs to be said.  This past year was an experience that I hope and pray we don't repeat.  My reading suffered at times more often than not.  I still had an amazing year quality wise - according to Goodreads my average rating was 4.3 - which feels about right when I think about it.  I have a tendency to set books aside that aren't working for me rather than finishing (and hating) them.  I finished 59 books total for the year which is on the lower side (according to Goodreads this ties my lowest year of reading since I've been keeping track on there which was back in 2017).  Living through a pandemic just meant that I was unable to concentrate on reading like I usually do - it is what it is.  I did read some really great books though that I'm excited to share about with all of you.  Here are the ten best books that I read in 2020:

Long Bright River by Liz Moore - This book deserves ALL of the hype that it received this year in my opinion.  What do you say about a book like this?  It was outstanding.  I fell into the pages of this book and was absolutely swept away.  The author brought the characters to life in a way that has me still thinking about them...still thinking about how realistic their struggles were and how true to life they are for so many....just wow!  This is a book that deserves to be talked about and widely read. I cannot wait to see what Liz Moore comes up with next!

In the Dark by Loreth Anne White - This book on the other hand didn't get the hype that it deserved in my opinion.  DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS AMAZING BOOK!  This book is the best tribute to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None that I've read (besides the original book itself of course).  I loved this one so much that I instantly added ALL of this author's backlist to my TBR.  READ this book if you enjoy isolated mysteries that keep you guessing the entire time in the best of ways!

When You See Me by Lisa Gardner - Four books into this series and this author can do NO wrong in my opinion!  This mystery series is one of my absolute favorites because every book has been such a page turner filled with suspense!  I don't think that you have to start all the way at the beginning with book one (I didn't) but would suggest starting with the 1st book featuring Flora Dane which is Find Her.  This book gave us so many answers in regards to Flora which has me itching to see where the series goes next.  SOO GOOD!

The Good House by Tananarive Due - Wow!  This book absolutely blew me away in the best of ways.  Stephen King who?  Kidding - sort of - not really.  In all seriousness, I cannot begin to comprehend how more people aren't talking about this author and this book.  It's horror which I know isn't for everyone (it does have truly scary moments) but there is so much more to it.  Out of all of my favorites of the year - this is the one that I keep recommending over and over again in the hopes that many other readers will find it and love it like I did! I will be reading more by this author in 2021!

The Shape of Family by Shilpi Somaya Gowda - This book was another one that I felt flew under the radar (of bookstagram at least) which is an absolute shame!  This book was gorgeously heartbreaking at times and hopeful at others.  It had characters that I STILL think about and a storyline that I won't forget about anytime soon.  I need to read EVERYTHING else that this author has written!

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James - This book was one of the creepiest books I read all year (alongside The Good House of course).  This book was both dark and atmospheric making it a VERY suspenseful read.  And within the pages of this book the author manages to look at both violence against women and how victims are viewed in society by the way they lived.  Wow!  This is another author where I'm going to need to read EVERYTHING that she has written because this book was so damn good!

The Suicide House by Charlie Donlea - This is the 2nd year in a row that this author has made my top reads list of the year.  This book was page turning suspense at its finest!  I loved that in this book we were given the chance to learn more about Rory and Lane but was written where it could also be read as a standalone (I do recommend starting with Some Choose Darkness though if possible).  This book was a dark and thrilling read that I couldn't get enough of!

Don't Look For Me by Wendy Walker - This is my 1st book by this author but certainly won't be my last!  This book was a page turning, anxiety filled ride that I couldn't get enough of.  The author also really looks at a mother's grief over the loss of a child which wasn't always easy to read but yet... (I'm noticing a theme here of loving thrillers that take a look at some deeper issues as well).  I'm so excited to have found this author and will be checking out her entire backlist!

And Now She's Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall - This book was made my top reads of the year list easily!  There is just something about the way that this author writes that I just cannot get enough of.  It's the rhythm...the way that she keeps me guessing at every turn of the page...and the imperfections of her characters that keeps me coming back for more.  I'm determine to read this author's entire backlist which is why I'm already reading another of her books currently.

The Dead Season by Tessa Wegert - I actually read both books in this series (this is the 2nd) in 2020.  I've seen Death in the Family on a lot of favorites of the year list but for me this book is where it is at.  This book was a slow burning mystery filled with suspense in the best of ways.  I was absolutely there for the ride that the author was taking me on every step of the way.  I highly recommend both books in this series and I will be impatiently waiting for book three!

Looking back, I really did have such an amazing year of reading really great books.  There are at least six more books that could have been on this list.  Honorable mentions include the following - A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight, Cut to the Bone by Ellison Cooper, Revolver Road by Christi Daugherty, Shatter the Night by Emily Littlejohn, All The Best Lies by Joanna Schaffhausen, and Tuesday's Gone by Nicci French.  I could keep going which says it all.  

What book or books were your favorites of 2020?

And Now She's Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall (thoughts)

 

Summary from Goodreads:

"Isabel Lincoln is gone.

But is she missing?

It's up to Grayson Sykes to find her. Although she is reluctant to track down a woman who may not want to be found, Gray's search for Isabel Lincoln becomes more complicated and dangerous with every new revelation about the woman's secrets and the truth she's hidden from her friends and family.

Featuring two complicated women in a dangerous cat and mouse game, And Now She's Gone explores the nature of secrets -- and how violence and fear can lead you to abandon everything in order to survive."

My Thoughts:

Wow!  This book was SO, SO good!  In fact, it started my streak of two five star reads back to back which doesn't happen often.  Last year I read and really enjoyed They All Fall Down by this author.  Sidenote: That book is an amazing read as well and is a retelling (not sure if that is the correct term) of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.  I just knew that I needed to read more by this author so I eagerly picked this one up and it didn't disappoint.  One of the things that I enjoy most about this author's books is that there is a kind of rhythm to them.  She doesn't tell you everything all at once which adds to the suspense.  There were numerous times that I was going along reading this book thinking one thing only to realize that it was actually something completely different.  That sounds confusing but it really wasn't.  It's actually perfection in my opinion.  I loved how she managed to play with my assumptions in a way that would lead me down the wrong path.  I never knew what was going to happen or what to expect until the author actually wanted me to.  It was all done just so perfectly!  This isn't an easy read only because it deals with some very serious and dark subject matter (I will have content warnings below).  I still couldn't set this book down though even though there were times where it had my anxiety levels humming.  I loved Gray's character and everything about her.  She wasn't perfect but she was a fighter which kept me rooting for her the entire time.  I would actually love to see this become a series because this book was just that good and so was she as the main character!  This is honestly one of the best mysteries I've read all year!  Read this book and let this author take you for a ride you won't forget about anytime soon!  

Overall, I obviously really enjoyed this one as evidenced by all of my gushing.  I will be searching out Hall's backlist and reading everything else she has written after enjoying these two books so much.  The exciting part as it looks like her other books are part of a series (and you know how much I love a series).  I think that readers who enjoy mysteries where everything is not what it seems, those who enjoy suspenseful reads with strong characters, and those who just love a good thrilling read should pick this book up!  Highly recommended!  Please note that I am not an own voices reviewer so I would also suggest checking out some reviews from own voice reviewers.

Bottom Line:  One of the best mysteries I've read this year - that should tell you everything you need to know!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley but I ended up reading a copy from my local library.  Honest thoughts are my own.

CW:  Domestic abuse, miscarriage, domestic violence - these are the big ones but there might be a few others.

Top Ten Reads of 2019

2019 was a solid year of reading for me.  It wasn't my best year numbers wise and it wasn't my worst year either.  I do feel like I had a really great year of reading when it comes to the quality of books I read and enjoyed though. There were A LOT of four star and 4.5 star reads for me which makes me very happy.  I branched out a bit with my reading in 2019 but I want to do that even more in the new year.  Life isn't going to slow down any time soon though, so it's all about just making sure that I'm making the time to read.  Reading is (and always has been) my stress relief.  So as long as I keep on reading....that's what matters in the end!  Now let's move on though to my top reads of 2019!

Never Tell by Lisa Gardner makes this the 3rd time that this author and series has made my top reads list for the year.  I'm officially obsessed!  I also started in the middle of this series and haven't looked back (although I really do fully intend to go back and read those earlier books at some point...maybe 2020?).  This is a series and author that I want to see more readers find because it's SO GOOD!  I will be reading anything and everything she writes at this point.  I actually have the next book in the series on my kindle waiting to be read....I'm hoping to read it very soon!

The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup was officially the creepiest book that I read in 2019!  This book is so dark and thrilling (word of warning though that it really won't be for everyone because it is that dark).  It was also quite a chunky read but I liked that it was longer because it allowed for me to completely immerse myself within the book's pages.  I CANNOT wait to see what this author comes up with next!  I would also just adore if this book became the start of a series because I NEED more!

A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty is the 2nd book in the Harper McClain series and even better than the 1st book (which is saying a lot because that 1st book was also amazing)!  One of the things that makes this series stand out to me from other mystery series that I follow is that Harper is a reporter and not detective.  She also has a traumatic past that is leading into a very intriguing storyline (I won't say more because spoilers).  It sure has me chomping at the bit to read the 3rd book though!

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin has me regretting the fact that I haven't read more fantasy in the past couple of years because this book was AMAZING!  This was another chunky book that I just absolutely lost myself within.  It made me think (especially about the things that it wasn't necessarily saying but reflected our past history) and made me want to explore the fantasy genre more.  I am thrilled that this is just the 1st book in a trilogy - I cannot wait to continue on!  Also, the way this book was setup was absolute perfection!

Still Life by Louise Penny was actually a reread for me but still deserves a place on my top reads list!  The writing in this book was just gorgeous - I found myself marking quotes to save and share which isn't something that I often do.  I also just completely fell into the world of Three Pines - I actually read two books in the series this year and am already looking forward to continuing on and reading more!  This series is really hyped on bookstagram but I'm here to tell you that the hype is real and well deserved!

One Summer in Paris was one of those books that hit me right in the feels while reading it.  I related to this one unexpectedly - it was the way one of the main characters came to realize that she didn't know herself like she thought she did that I couldn't help but relate to.  She was comfortable with her life in a way that actually wasn't a good thing - and the things she experienced in the book helped her to get to know herself, her desires, and just what she wanted out of life better.  I loved the Paris setting, the relationship between the two main characters.....I just really loved this book!  I need to make sure that I read more from Sarah Morgan in 2020!

The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton was a dark thriller that had me completely hooked the entire time! Sharon Bolton has been on my favorite author list for some time now and books like this are exactly why.  This book was also quite creepy and atmospheric.  I believe there is going to be a sequel to this book at some point which is really exciting!  I will read EVERYTHING that this author writes and at this point I cannot even tell you how many times one of her books has made my favorites of the year list!

Buried by Ellison Cooper is the 2nd book in the Agent Sayer Altair series and also makes this the 2nd time that this series/author has been on my top reads list.  I am absolutely hooked on this series!  It is SO UNBELIEVABLY good!  One of the things that I'm loving in the series I have been reading lately is that there are underlying mysteries that carry on from each book.  There is one in this series that has me just itching to get my hands on the 3rd book in this series!  This is another standout mystery series that you need to check out if you haven't had the chance yet!

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager has officially cemented my love of this author's books!  This book creeped me out in the best of ways.  It has this feeling of dread that is present throughout the book that I just couldn't get enough of.  And the ending....the ending of this book was absolute perfection!  It gave me chills - no exaggeration!  I absolutely will also be reading anything and everything that this author writes at this point!

Some Choose Darkness by Charlie Donlea was a thrilling and page turning mystery that I enjoyed immensely!  I'm so excited to have found this author because this book was so flipping good!  I love, love, love when I find new authors like this - I cannot wait to check out what else he has written!  This book had a mystery that kept me guessing the entire time and characters that I really enjoyed reading about.  What else could you want in a mystery?  So good!

Just looking over all of these reads reinforces what an amazing year of reading I really had!  There were quite a few books that I loved that were so close to making this list.  I discovered some new authors, found some new series to follow, and just overall had a great year of reading.  I can only hope that 2020 turns out to be just as great!

Top Ten Reads of 2018

Happy New Year!  It's pretty crazy to think we are in 2019 already - I've been blogging now since 2007 which is even crazier to think about.  I had a really great year of reading in 2018 which is always a good thing.  I managed to read 71 books which wasn't quite my goal but is up from last year so that makes me very happy.  It's been a great year in books and I'm hoping that the new year goes just as well.  I can tell you that I'm planning on "trying" to be more present in the new year.  We will see how it goes but that's the plan currently!  Let's move on to my top ten reads of 2018 though!

Look For Me by Lisa Gardner is book nine in the Detective D.D. Warren series but only my second book read by this author so far.  It is also the 2nd time this author (and series) has made it on my top reads list for the year.  That should tell you everything you need to know about these books and my love for this series!  I'm so completely pumped that I have a copy of the upcoming book in this series to read and hopefully love in the new year!

The Body Counter by Anne Frasier is the 2nd book in another amazing series that has fast become a favorite of mine!  I enjoyed the first book a ton but it was this second book that has placed this series on my must read list.  It is dark mystery series but super compelling!  I'm so excited that there looks to be another book coming out in 2019 - I will be there for it for sure!

Caged by Ellison Cooper is the beginning to a new mystery series that I just couldn't get enough of!  This was a dark and twisty page turner that I just couldn't put down.  I'm so excited to read more of this author and series in the new year!  2019 is going to be an amazing year of reading at this rate!

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier was such a dark and thrilling read!  I feel like that's almost a theme from my reading in 2018 (so I have no idea what that says about me and the books I enjoy but...).  This book was such a compelling read but it wasn't always easy to read.  I've read two books by this author so far - and both were amazing!  I can't wait to read more by her!

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine was one of the most intense books that I read this year.  It was heart pounding and such a complete page turner!  I luckily have the next two books in this series to look forward to reading in the new year.  This was a nonstop heart-pounding read that I just couldn't get enough of.  Easily a five star read and has cemented my love of this author and her books!

Watch The Girls by Jennifer Wolfe was a thriller like no other!  This one had some serious horror vibes to it and I just couldn't get enough of it!  I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next because she also takes dark and twisted to another level.  This book is probably the most underrated one on my list this year - I hope that other readers find it and enjoy it as much as I did!

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn was such a delightful beginning to this historical mystery series!  I adored my time with this book so much and am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series soon!  If you love mysteries with just a hint of romance (I'm sure hoping for more though) then I cannot recommend this series enough!

Lost Girls by Angela Marsons is the 3rd book in the D.I. Kim Stone series and the third five star read for me in it!  This is one of my must read series that I just adore.  Kim Stone is such a great main character that I can't get enough of!  I love these books and this series so much!

Blue Monday by Nicci French is the second book I've read in this series but actually the first book in this series.  I read this one in a day which goes to show how much I enjoyed this book.  I actually read this one while my husband was going through shoulder surgery which goes to show how much of a page turner this was for me that it could keep my attention during a stressful time.  I cannot wait to continue on with this series!

The Dry by Jane Harper was such an atmospheric mystery that I couldn't get enough of!  I'm so glad that I took the time to knock this one off of my TBR list because it was just amazing.  I found myself just swept away in the pages of this book.  I'm really looking forward to picking up book two in the new year.

Well there you are - my top ten reads for 2018!  I'm not going to even try to give honorable mentions this year because there would honestly be SO many!  There are just so many amazing authors that I read this year.  It's crazy looking back how amazing my year of reading really was.  So many good books, so many new series and authors to follow, and so little time!

Here's to hoping that 2019 is just as amazing!

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Gina Royal is the definition of average—a shy Midwestern housewife with a happy marriage and two adorable children. But when a car accident reveals her husband’s secret life as a serial killer, she must remake herself as Gwen Proctor—the ultimate warrior mom.

With her ex now in prison, Gwen has finally found refuge in a new home on remote Stillhouse Lake. Though still the target of stalkers and Internet trolls who think she had something to do with her husband’s crimes, Gwen dares to think her kids can finally grow up in peace.

But just when she’s starting to feel at ease in her new identity, a body turns up in the lake—and threatening letters start arriving from an all-too-familiar address. Gwen Proctor must keep friends close and enemies at bay to avoid being exposed—or watch her kids fall victim to a killer who takes pleasure in tormenting her. One thing is certain: she’s learned how to fight evil. And she’ll never stop."

My Thoughts:

Wow - this was such an intense ride and left me beyond ready to get my hands on the second book when I finished.  If I had a copy of the second book ready and waiting for me - I'm 90% certain that I would have picked it up and continued on.  I enjoyed this book that much and wanted to see what was going to happen next!  This book was non-stop when it came to pacing.  The author creates this suspenseful and thrilling atmosphere from the very beginning and that feeling didn't end until the very last page of the book.  I literally could not stop reading this one because from very early on I became attached to Gwen and her kids.  As a mother she is doing all that she can to protect them - protecting them from the twisted legacy that their father has now left them and also protecting them from the public who may want retribution for the horror their father caused.  I almost felt that Gwen was paranoid at times and then their were other times when I realized she clearly wasn't.  You didn't know who she could trust while reading this book which really helped add to the layer of tension that Caine had already created.  I cannot put into words how intense I found this book and how hard it was for me to put down!  I believe I read this in two days but really I read the majority of it all in one day.  I just could not stop reading!  There were a few things I guessed but so many others that I did not.  I especially liked the ending because there was enough closure while also clearly setting things up for the next book.  I am so excited that I have the next book to look forward to!!!

Overall I really, really enjoyed my time with this suspenseful read which I'm sure you can tell from all of the gushing above.  If I gave ratings I would easily give this one five stars based off of intensity alone.  It was just so good!  I've read this author before - she has an urban fantasy series that I've read a few books from (and enjoyed) but I really feel like she has hit her stride with this series.  I hope that she continues to dip her hand in the mystery/thriller waters because I want more books just like this!  I can easily recommend this book to fans of suspense and thrillers.  I will give you the warning that you may want to have the second book ready to read as well.  I sure wished that I did after finishing this one!  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  A five star read for me - enough said!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.  Thoughts are my own. 

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Sisters. Strangers. Survivors.

More than twenty years ago, Claire and Lydia's teenaged sister Julia vanished without a trace. The two women have not spoken since, and now their lives could not be more different. Claire is the glamorous trophy wife of an Atlanta millionaire. Lydia, a single mother, dates an ex-con and struggles to make ends meet. But neither has recovered from the horror and heartbreak of their shared loss—a devastating wound that's cruelly ripped open when Claire's husband is killed.

The disappearance of a teenage girl and the murder of a middle-aged man, almost a quarter-century apart: what could connect them? Forming a wary truce, the surviving sisters look to the past to find the truth, unearthing the secrets that destroyed their family all those years ago . . . and uncovering the possibility of redemption, and revenge, where they least expect it."

My Thoughts:

This book was by far the darkest and most thrilling book that I finished in 2017!  It was so very intense and a complete page turner!  I picked this book up finally thanks my personal TBR challenge - it's the first book that I've read off of my list of TBR reads.  It was so unbelievably good and I'm kicking myself for waiting until now to read it!  I've now read three books by Slaughter and she has jumped on to my must read everything she writes list!  She definitely writes books that are on the darker side so they won't be for everyone.  They are my kind of books though as I couldn't get enough of this one!  I found myself completely immersed in this book from the very beginning.  The thing about reading it was that you just never knew what was going to happen next.  The author had me twisting and turning right along with the characters - I just couldn't stop reading because of it!  I found myself so immersed in this book trying to figure out what was going on!   And how it was all going to end - I just didn't want to stop reading.  I'm trying not to go into too much detail as I don't want to give anything away.  This is a book that you just need to read and experience for yourself!  The book begins when Claire's husband is killed which in itself is a pretty intense moment and literally doesn't stop from there.  I'm just basically gushing at this point but it was just that good!

Overall, this book easily ended up on my top reads list for 2017 as I absolutely loved it!  Not sure exactly what that says about me considering the subject matter and how dark the book was but there you have it.  This is one of those thrillers that I won't be forgetting about any time soon.  It was intense and heart pounding but just oh so good!  I'm really glad that this challenge finally helped me to pull this one off of my TBR list.  It's been on there since August of 2015 according to Goodreads.  Yikes!   I would recommend this one to fans of thrillers and mysteries a like.  Just be warned that there is some difficult subject matter and that this is an author not afraid to pull punches with her main characters.  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  Heart-stoppingly good!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley - my review copy expired a long time ago so I read a library copy.

Final Girls by Riley Sager (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to—a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout's knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them, and, with that, one another. Despite the media's attempts, they never meet.

Now, Quincy is doing well—maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won’t even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past.

That is, until Lisa, the first Final Girl, is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit, and Sam, the second, appears on Quincy's doorstep. Blowing through Quincy's life like a whirlwind, Sam seems intent on making Quincy relive the past, with increasingly dire consequences, all of which makes Quincy question why Sam is really seeking her out. And when new details about Lisa's death come to light, Quincy's life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam's truths from her lies, evade the police and hungry reporters, and, most crucially, remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished."

My Thoughts:

Final Girls was on my radar to read before it was even released which makes it so crazy that I waited until now to read this book!  I read that premise and just KNEW that this was a book that I had to read.  Let me tell you though that this book deserves all of the hype and praise that it has gotten!  This was one whirlwind of a ride and a book that I won't be forgetting about any time soon!  I'm not going to lie - I picked this book up with pretty high expectations after seeing so many other readers love this one.  Happily enough this book was able to live up to those high expectations and so much more.  I picked this book up and was basically hooked from page one.  I found myself unable to set it down and really didn't want to.  For me, this was one of those books where I just had to see what was going to happen next.  And even when Quincy was making stupid choices, I didn't want to stop reading. 

One of the things that I loved most about this book was the horror vibe that it had going on.  I'm not a huge horror movie fan but I've watched enough of those types of movies to recognize that same feel in this book.  It really added this layer of suspense and tension to the story!  I also really enjoyed the fact that as the reader I didn't know whether or not to trust Sam and her intentions.  I'm pretty sure that isn't a spoiler as it is alluded to in the above summary.  Books where you aren't sure who to trust are basically my reader catnip.  I just cannot resist books like this!  I found myself just so completely caught up within the pages of this book.  I can't say it any better than that!  And that ending was just absolutely not what I was expecting in the least!  I am being very careful here as I don't want to overshare and spoil anything but wow, wow, wow!  I loved the way that this book ended and I won't say any more than that.

This book was easily a five star read for me and made my top reads list for 2017!  It was such an intense reading experience!  I will be reading anything/everything that this author writes after loving this book so much.  What makes it even better is that he has a new book releasing in 2018 for me to look forward to!  I read this one in a matter of a few days because I just couldn't stop reading and had to see how it would all end.  It was a wild ride and one that I won't be forgetting about any time soon.  I would highly, highly recommend this book!  Such a great read!

Bottom Line:  One of the best thrillers that I read it 2017!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publishers and NetGalley.

Top Ten Reads of 2017

2017 seems to have flown by and here we are again with the best of lists coming out all over the place.  I absolutely adore seeing what books other bloggers loved in 2017.  My holds list at the library is a bit ridiculous thanks to all of these posts but I just can't seem to resist putting just one more book on hold.  It wasn't my best year of reading but quality wise it was a very strong year.  I ended up finishing 59 books in 2017.  This wasn't my lowest year numbers wise but it was pretty darn close to it.  I'm already looking towards ways of changing this in 2018 but that is for a different post.  I read a ton of really great books this year (actually the majority of the books I read were four star reads) so that makes me very happy.  My top reads for 2017 were the following:

The Doll's House by M.J. Arlidge is book three in this amazing series and also makes this the 3rd year in a row that this series has hit my top 10 reads list.  I am such a huge fan of this series and each book has been a five star read for me.  That should tell you all that you need to know - this is a must read series for me to catch up on in the new year!

Two Can Play by Kate Kessler is the second book in what is fast becoming another favorite mystery series of mine.  The cover quote says "Deliciously twisted" and I can't agree more!  While I think the first book was slightly better than this one, I still found this to be a five star read.  Audrey's character is a favorite of mine and I can't wait to continue on with this series in 2018 as well!

A Twist of the Knife by Becky Masterman was yet another amazing read by this author.  This is also the 3rd year in a row that this series has hit my top 10 reads list - I'm a lucky girl to have found so many great series that I love so much!  I haven't yet seen anything for the next book in the series but I sure do have my fingers crossed that it happens in 2018!

Dark Saturday by Nicci French was a dark, thrilling read that I couldn't get enough of!  This is my first time reading anything in this series (of which I read this one completely out of order).  It was just so good and now I plan to go back to the beginning and read the rest of the books in this series.  I loved this one and can't wait to read more!

Cause of Death by Patricia Cornwell wasn't the only book in this series that I read and adored in 2017.  I would actually have put both books on this list but I'm cheating and just including this one (the other was From Potter's Field).  Both were fast paced and intense five star reads for me.  This is a series that I can't read fast enough but am also trying to savor.  Highly recommended!

Asylum by Jeannette De Beauvoir was a mystery series were the dual storylines ended up blowing me away - especially after realizing that the author based this book off of true events.  It was a book that left me thinking about it long after I finished.  There looks to only be two books in this series so far but I won't be waiting long to read that 2nd book in 2018!

Into The Drowning Deep by Mira Grant was everything that I had hoped it would be and even more.  I've loved Grant's Newflesh trilogy previously and after loving this book just as much....well, I basically feel like I will love everything that she writes!  I cannot say enough good things about this book or this author.  You'll just have to try her for yourself!

Someone Else's Skin by Sarah Hilary was the beginning to a new to me mystery series that I just adored!  I am so thrilled that I have more books to look forward to after loving this book so much!  It was unexpected in the way that the author handled the mystery but I loved this book all the more because of it.  I will be continuing on with this series in 2018!

Final Girls by Riley Sager was everything that I enjoy in a good thriller - it was dark, intense, and one of those books that I just couldn't put down!  It had a horror movie vibe to it that I just couldn't get enough of.  I am so excited about this author and will be there for anything that he writes!  This was just that good and deserving of all of the attention that it got!

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter wins the award for the darkest and most thrilling book that I read this year (which says something after you've seen some of the other books that I've read in 2017).  This book was just so completely intense and full of twists and turns.  Slaughter's books are all now on my must read list after reading and loving two of her books this year.

There are so many amazing books on this list!  I plan on reading books by ALL of these authors in 2018!  There were so many other books that I read in 2017 that I really could have included on this list as well.  The following are honorable mentions (*by authors not included above):

• All The Secret Places by Anna Carlisle 
• The Lost Ones by Sheena Kamal
• A Season to Lie by Emily Littlejohn
• The Breakdown by B.A. Shapiro

I better stop there or I will end up listing the majority of the books that I read and enjoyed in 2017.  I am hoping for a better year quantity wise in 2018 but I would love to have just as great of a year quality wise.  I plan on stretching myself in 2018 with my reading so here is to a wonderful year in books in 2018!  May you and your family have an amazing and wonderful year in 2018!

Happy Reading!