Once again, trying to list my favourite reads this year was tough! I read so many good books and discovered a number of new authors along the way. But these were the standouts (in no particular order)
The Rose Code is a wonderful blend of love, secrets, spies and suspense. This well-researched story centres around three women who come together to work at Bletchley Park, Britain’s secret World War II code breaking facility. The fact that many of the characters and fictional stories are based on war time diaries and first-hand accounts, makes for an even more fascinating read.
The Thursday Murder Club is a fabulous, heart-warming mystery novel about a group of resourceful pensioners who meet to review unsolved cold cases, until their peaceful retirement village is shocked by not one, but two murders. Suddenly The Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case! Clever writing, with plenty of red herrings and a cast of fun characters. In the second book in the series, The Man Who Died Twice, Elizabeth receives a letter from a dead man and The Thursday Murder Club are back in action avoiding mafia hit men and racing to find stolen diamonds.
One of the best books that I read this year. Ruby Jones, newly arrived in New York looking for a fresh start, discovers the body of a young women while out jogging one morning. But this isn’t just another story about a dead girl and the search for her killer, it’s a story about friendship, missed opportunities, heartbreak and love.
Another well-researched, most enjoyable, dual timeline historical fiction novel from Natasha Lester. Nazi art theft in Paris is at the heart of a story full of danger, intrigue and compelling characters, together with the glamour of the Riviera and vintage fashion.
A clever, dark and funny mystery novel all about family and fitting in. When her teacher is murdered, Tippy, her Uncle Pike and his boyfriend Devon (visiting from Australia to look after Tippy while her Mum is away), use their shared love of old Nancy Drew books to form The Nancys, a secret crime solving club, to solve the murder. I’m looking forward to the follow up, Nancy Business.
A gripping story inspired by Catherine Dior’s (sister of fashion designer Christian) Parisian resistance network during World War II. Richly researched, with the glamour of 1940s fashion juxtaposed against the menace of war and deprivation.
I loved these three books. Beginning with Fall of Giants, the saga follows the intermingling lives of five families; Welsh, English, German, American and Russian through the First World War, the Russian Revolution, the struggle for women’s suffrage and a changing social landscape. Winter of the World follows the families through the enormous political, social and economic turmoil of the years leading up to and during World War II and into the beginning of the Cold War. Edge of Eternity follows the next generation through the turmoil of the 1960s to 1980s with civil rights, political assassinations, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, all set against a backdrop of changing social norms and rock and roll. Wow!
The peace and tranquillity of the beautiful wine growing region of Matakana is broken by the discovery of a severed hand beneath a farm house. Four old friends are being targeted, but by whom and why? Fabulous descriptions and a community of interesting characters, this is a thrilling, page-turning crime novel.