It’s been an incredible year for some great books, both mine and the CE’s. However, since he tends to be a bit heavy in stars, the following will be a short compilation of my favorite five star rated books, admittedly a few authors more than once. While any book four stars or more are recommend worthy, I am going for those I feel the wider audience would truly enjoy—and it was impossible difficult to narrow the list down to only those books that stand out.
The range of genre covers fiction in categories from action adventures and cozy mysteries to family drama, historical, suspense, and thrillers in audiobooks and digital formats.
These are the big twelve out of the twenty most memorable with a shout out going to The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson because while I loved the book, had a few quibbles that knocked it off the top rung. These are listed in no particular order and linked to my review.
The Lost Boys of London by Mary Lawrence – This narrative retains that high standard of Renaissance fascination with the waning days of King Henry VIII and the upheaval in the deeply dividing controversy of church and state.
The Wolf in Winter by John Connolly – One of the Charlie Parker series, the pace is frightening, barely ending one hair-raising, thought-provoking scene before it careens into the next.
Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron –I thoroughly enjoy the sense of humor this author brings to her storytelling…with fully developed characters alive with Southern hospitality personality.
The Last Agent by Robert Dugoni – Put it down? NOPE! The Last Agent is absolutely riveting from mesmerizing beginning to jaw-dropping conclusion. Brilliant!
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owen – The characters are brought vividly to life with the narration, alternately spoken by child or adult, literate or illiterate, as well as the Carolina drawl. The shocking conclusion caused a bonafide Book Hangover. For me, some five star rated books can cause that malady, while others may still qualify five stars without the accompanying downtime.)
Beneath a Blazing Sky by Amanda Hughes – I’ve followed the Bold Women series for some time and am always astonished at the unsung women and stories the author manages to pull together to create her strong female protagonists…Ms Hughes is an amazing storyteller with an easy emotive writing style…
The Incredible Key West-Caribbean Race by Michael Reisig – Another of my favorite authors who outdid himself thistime with a completely unique Key West-Caribbean action-adventure. Riveting and unputdownable!
Muzzled by David Rosenfelt – Part of the Andy Carpenter series, Andy’s first love is his dog rescue, the Tara Foundation. I’ve burned through a mix of uncorrected digital galleys from NetGalley (including this one), ebooks and audiobooks from the library, and have a particular affinity for the audiobooks narrated by Grover Cleveland. Always terrific.
Murder Ballad Blues by Lynda McDaniel –The author skillfully assumes the dialect of the Appalachians, that particular form of speech, and seamlessly added the Cockney of a visiting Englishman.
Leave No Trace by Sara Driscoll – Releasing late December, I couldn’t resist getting a jump of one of my favorite series about the awesome dogs and their handlers who work so effectively with law enforcement.
What a Dog Knows by Susan Wilson – The storyline grows in complexity as it does in emotion, wisdom, and tension. The harder her resistance, the easier to break—now she has too much in to walk away and all roads seem to lead back.
Hadley and Grace by Suzanne Redfearn* – The characters are so well developed. Concern grows for each of them with every page turn. Your heart sinks with each new development and the pages are now turning themselves.
Irish Car Bomb by Steven Henry
In An Instant by Suzanne Redfearn
Hawthorn Woods by Patrick Canning
The Secret of Rosalita Flats by Tim Jackson
In Her Tracks by Robert Dugoni*
The Pearl of York, Treason and Plot by Tony Morgan
Hanging Falls by Margaret Mizushima
The Highwayman by Craig Johnson (or anything in the Longmire series) – The TV Netflix version with the Longmire books by Craig Johnson here.
I’ve continued to whittle away at some of my favorite series, many times choosing an audiobook.
Did I turn you on to a new author? Which ones have you read? Did you love it? I’d love your comments!
* Represents a second book by the same author in the same year.
©2020 V Williams 
Rosepoint Publishing 
GIN I never found my patience to do this recap. I admire those who can
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it is a total time sink. spent WAY too much time on it. if i were heavier into business, i’d say the ROI wasn’t sufficient.
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More books to consider adding to the list… oh my. Lol. Have to get around to preparing my list too. Can’t believe it’s the turn or the year already. Happy 2021, Gin. May it be a good one.
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Thank you, Nina. Hope the best for you and your family as well.
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I agree that THE BOOKWOMAN Of TROUBLE CREEK is an awesome book. I read MUZZELD and HANGING FALLS are on my list. A new author for me is a K-9 series by Jen Blood. There are 3 books out and I recommend reading them in order for the backstory which is important. The MC and the dogs will grab and I connect immediately with them. I have read two books and will be started the third one today. The books are THE DARKNESS THREAD, IN THE ECHO, and the REDEMPTION GAME.
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yes, thank you, i don’t think you can go wrong with either Rosenfelt or Mizushima. i do enjoy K-9 books and looked for jen blood both on NG and my local library. nada, zero, zilch but i found the series on Amazon. i VERY seldom buy–but will try the first in the series now at $2.99. does she ever do NetGalley?
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I don’t know but I suspect not as she has a long list of book. I could get two free books of other stories. I have never heard of her before. The books would be better with a good editing.
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I am unhappy with Rosenfeldt as his K_( book with a lovely German Shepard is not a K-9 story. It is a good story. I feel the same with Kyle Logan her books she is marketing as K-9 are good mysteries but mentioning a dog does not make it a K-9 story. I would have brought anyway.
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yeah, Rosenfelt’s books are more the mystery and the legal thriller. I do have several similar, but like you, prefer when the dogs are active in the story, such as Sara Driscoll’s books–and Susan Wilson.
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ead either Sara Driscoll’s and Susan Wilsen. I have been thinking about reading Sarah’s book and need look up susan W.
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i think you’d enjoy Sara’s books.
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I have been thinking about downloading one but I have a number I need read right now.
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Glad we shared 1 in common!
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Dang! only one?
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Of these 10. Crazy!
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Thanks for sharing these books. I’d only heard of one of them, the cozy mystery. 🙈 Are they mainstream? I’m glad to be introduced to new authors with great books. 🙂
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ack! which one? yes, i think they are all mainstream. many from bestselling authors–depends on your preferred genre–but most of these got a LOT of attention–including the two that ended up as Netflix favorites.
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Actually, two. Murder in the Boneyard Bayou and Where the Crawdad’s sing. But that’s not surprising. It’s been a low reading year for me. 😔
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oh yeah, two of my favorites. i had to start having help (from the hubby). things are just getting overwhelming.
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yeah, two of my favorites. i started enlisting the CE’s help–i’m getting overwhelmed.
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