Within the pages of a good book, I can be transported to just about anywhere. If I am lucky, I will meet people that will stay with me long after I close the cover and squish the book onto my overcrowded bookshelf. I will admit that I have a bit of a book hoarding problem and my to-read pile is always stacked precariously high. However, each time I get to pick my next read, I still get that twinge of excitement and anticipation. Sometimes, I revisit old favorites. On occasion, I discover a hidden title from years ago. However, most times I clamoring over the newest titles to be released ready to dive in with a large cup of coffee by my side. Here are the top five books I have adored this year…so far.
Macbeth by Jo Nesbø
My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A masterful retelling with grit, intrigue, and suspense.
The author has taken this classic macabre tale and turned it into something that I am still obsessing about. By reimagining the story as a Nordic police procedural, the reader gets what I like to call “classic Nesbø”. The story has it all. It is dark. It has those deeply flawed characters we all want to know more about. It exposes the grimy underbelly of corruption. And…it is jam-packed with lies and deceit. What is not to like?
Too Close to Breathe by Olivia Kiernan
My Highly Caffeinated Thought: An intricately developed mystery filled with unlikable victims, a serial killer, and an investigator who will not give up.
In its truest form, Too Close to Breathe is a crime novel. It follows Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan in her hunt to capture a serial killer. However, there are so many layers to this book that I soon realized what I thought I would be getting was only the surface. The way that the author developed the narrative was perfection. She carefully revealed bits and pieces of the characters, including the victims, to tease and add tension to the book.
Still Me by Jojo Moyes
My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A charming and completely entertaining read. Quintessential Louisa Clark.
This book is exactly what you would expect from Moyes. Without skipping a beat, we are thrust back into Louisa’s world only this time, she is in New York City. What I loved about this book was that Louisa was able to discover more of who she is and who she wants to be through the ups and downs life, yet again, throws at her. She is put to the test in this book and will have to make difficult decisions in order to make her own path.
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A haunting tale linking the past to the present in one positively addictive and gripping thriller.
The Broken Girls is an unsettling and chilling read which will keep you up at night reading. The author’s ability to weave together a tale that blends the past with the present so seamlessly is nothing short of exquisite. Sometimes an author can get lost in the space between a story that spans so many years, but St. James brought it to life. The craftsmanship behind the writing, the broad spectrum of characters, and the richness in the quality story made me want to slow down as I was reading so that I could make it last just a bit longer.
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
My Highly Caffeinated Thought: An irresistible dark tale that manipulates perception all with a Hitchcockian flair.
What is real? This question is the one constant of the book and is propelled by the evolution of Anna’s character. The way that the author gradually reveals bits and pieces of the characters’ lives adds both to the tension and the way that the story moves forward. By incorporating Anna’s mental illness and possible delusions, Finn expertly creates a narrative that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Oh, the twists and turns this book takes!
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