My Favorite Books of 2024

I had no plans on coming up with a list or creating this post. Just like I don’t understand why I should start a podcast and talk about books even though so many folks say I should, I have no idea why anyone would care about what I have to say about books. So, I did not do a mid-year list and had not planned on doing this.

 

But, the wonderful Lesa Holstine put out a call for lists a few days ago, and I started thinking about it. One thing led to another, and I put something together. Should you choose to scroll down, you will see that list. You may also see it, again, at Lesa's Book Critiques early next year if she chooses to run it. 

 

Please remember that I remain very slow reading wise. The books selected refer to my personal tastes, biases, and all that jazz. I am not saying that these are the best books published. I am stating that they were my favorites during the past year. In each case, they allowed me to escape my life here in the real world and that is no small feat. So, without further explanation….

 

The Life and Death of Rose Doucette: A Novel by Harry Hunsicker brings readers to Dallas, Texas, and private investigator Dylan Fisher. A superb mystery, and one hopes the start of a series, the read is full of Dallas area landmarks. References that are often not positive and may bring a snicker while delighting those of us born and raised in this city. A city where not everything is golden and good. A great read and well worth your time. (My full review is here.)

The Troubling Death of Maddy Benson: A Samuel Craddock Mystery by Terry Shames deftly deals with a hard subject while entertaining readers with a complicated mystery. A missing woman, a murder, politics and health care in Texas, and a lot more is at work here. The latest in a great series is another very good read. (My full review is here.)

 

Blind to Midnight: A Nick Ryan Novel by Reed Farrel Coleman is the second book in the Nick Ryan series that began with Sleepless City. Nick Ryan continues to work cases as a sort of fixer and has a wide latitude to solve problems as a NYC police detective. This book builds off the previous one, like all good series do, so they should be read in order. (My full review is here.)

 

Shades of Mercy: A Porter Beck Mystery by Bruce Borgos is the second in the series that began with The Bitter Past: A Novel. This one might be better than the first. That first book was really good too. Nevada Sherriff Porter Beck deals with government operatives, death and destruction, and a lot more in a great series that should, most definitely, be read in order. (My full review is here.)

 

The latest in the series, The Burning: A Novel by Linda Castillo, finds Kate Burkholder and John Tomasetti two months into their marriage. Readers of my reviews knows that I have been a huge fan since the beginning. It has been a long time coming and the marriage finally happened. The newlyweds are blissfully happy. Especially Chief of Police Kate Burkholder as life is pretty good these days. Working the gruesome murder of Milan Swanz results in a complicated and twisty read that also reveals a bit more Kate’s history and just how important family is to her. (My full review is here.)

 

The latest in a series that should also be read in order, sees Maine Game Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch return in Pitch Dark: A Novel by Paul Doiron. Newly married, Bowditch is in the middle of an intense personal matter when he gets a phone call. Game Warden Brandon Barstow is a young warden and unsure of himself, but thinks he might have a missing person’s case. (The full review is here.)

 

A Lonesome Place for Dying: A Novel by Nolan Chase takes the reader to Blaine, Washington, in this very good police procedural. Chief of Police Ethan Brand has a body just outside of town and it was very definitely murder. That might be the easiest of his many problems to solve. A very complicated police procedural that is full of rich small town characters, a complicated case, and a lot more are at work here. I really hope this is the launch book of a new series. (My full review is here.)

Eli North is a drunk. He is also a deputy thanks to his mom who is the Sheriff. They both have reason to regret his choices in Northwoods: A Novel by Amy Pease. Finding a dead child at the resort on a Wisconsin lake, with another child missing, means Eli is in a mess, professionally and personally. What follows is a highly atmospheric and enjoyable read. One hopes this is also the first book of a series. (My full review is here.)

 

All The Rage In Texas: An Al Quinn Novel by Russ Hall is the latest reading in the long running and very good series that started with To Hell And Gone In Texas. Road rage leads to escalating violence putting retired Sheriff’s Department Detective Al Quinn and his extended family in considerable danger. This is a fast paced action read with occasional humor. (My full review is here.)

 

As Home Fires: A Sheriff Hank Worth Mystery by Claire Booth begins, Sheriff Hank Worth is sitting in church. He is attending the funeral of Dr. Michael Whittaker when he, and many first responders in attendance, get the alert of a tragedy that will rock the local area. This latest book in the series that began with The Branson Beauty is a very good read. (My review is here.)

 

It would not be a favorites list from me without the latest in this long running series by Steven F. Havill. Perfect Opportunity: A Posadas County Mystery features Bill Gastner who still roams the roads of Posada County day or night. A recent thing he saw as he was driving plays the major role in this complicated and very enjoyable read. (My review is here.)

 

The fifth book in the series finds Eve Ronin dealing with a lot in Dream Town by Lee Goldberg. A case caused by the discovery of human remains, another case caused by celebrity status, and a lot more is at work here in a complex police procedural that pulls the reader along at a rapid pace. So too is the occasional flash of humor or sardonic whit as a character comments on the players and the myths that Hollywood spins for our viewing pleasure. (My review is here.)

 

Casey Carson knew she was in trouble as soon as soon as Javier Ramirez opened the door in Obey All Laws: A Probation Case Files Mystery by Cindy Goyette. When she went out to his home to let him know that she was his new probation officer, she had no idea that he was at least six foot four, bulked out thanks to his recent stay in an Arizona Department of Corrections facility, or that he was a member of one of the very dangerous Phoenix area gangs. He is most displeased to see her. In the violent aftermath, her cousin, who had sent her out there in the first place, goes missing and things soon dangerously escalate. A very good first book in the series, the next installment releases soon. (My review is here.)

 

There you have it. Some folks have five favorites. Others have ten. I offer you my thirteen favorites that allowed me to escape from the real world for hours. I hope they work that way for you as well. 

As always, thank you for reading.

 

As always, as we end another year, thank you for paying any attention, at all, to what I do here.

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2024