Fair Play by Louise Hegarty

Abigail is hosting her annual New Year's Eve murder mystery party in combination with celebrating her brother Benjamin's birthday. Six of their friends are attending. However, during this year’s festivities, Benjamin will actually be murdered. Which of the guests is the killer? Fair Play plays with mystery conventions by having a famous fictional detective work on the case after the authorities deem Benjamin's death a suicide. Additionally, author Hegarty plays with places and times to turn the locked room mystery novel on its head. Perfect for fans of Janice Hallett's novels.

The Award by Matthew Pearl

Writer David Trent is thrilled when he and his partner, Bonnie, move into an apartment above the famous author Silas Hale in Cambridge, Massachusetts. However, Silas is not a nice person and takes great glee in putting other people down. When David's first novel wins a literary prize, Silas's attitude toward David changes. However, David finds that being the recipient of the award has its downside... A page turning satire in the style of Peter Swanson.

Nightshade by Michael Connelly

Detective Sergeant Stilwell is now in charge of the small police department on Catalina Island after clashing with a fellow homicide officer in Los Angeles. He is trying to put his past behind him and make Catalina home. When a woman with ties to the mainland is found dead in the harbor, Stilwell finds it hard not to get involved. In addition to that case, the beheading of a protected buffalo on the island has put Stilwell in the crosshairs of some locals. In this series opener, Connelly writes a story that will be pleasing to his fans.

My Favorite Books of 2025

Here are the five books I enjoyed most this year.

In alphabetical order, by author:

Love Forms by Claire Adam

The unusual setting and sympathetic main character make this novel a standout.

The Killer Question by Janice Hallett

A fantastic puzzle that keep you guessing until the end.

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

A novel of psychological suspense that's hard to put down.

I'll Come to You by Rebecca Kauffman

Kauffman shines in this novel of family relationships.

The Witch's Orchard by Archer Sullivan

An outstanding debut mystery.

The Tree of Light and Flowers by Thomas Perry

In this final book of the long-running Jane Whitefield series, Jane and her husband, Carey, have recently become parents, but there are still people out there who want Jane dead because of all the individuals she has helped disappear safely over the years. Russian Magda Kaprovna, who featured in The Left-Handed Twin is back, ready to kill Jane if she can find her. Will Jane be able to keep Carey and her baby, May safe? A fitting end to the series, yet sad knowing that this is Perry's last book. It will be published in March.

Delphine Jones Takes a Chance by Beth Morrey

Delphine Jones lives with her father and her eleven-year-old daughter Emily. Money is a constant worry, as there never seems to be enough for everything the family needs. Delphine's dream of a college education was put on hold when she got pregnant in high school. Lately, however, there are signs of hope. A new job and friends for Delphine are giving her the confidence to consider taking the A level exams. She also begins spending time with a widow named Letty so she can practice the French that her mother spoke to her while growing up. There is even a possible love interest in Dylan, who is part of the band Delphine joins. Yet her past disappointments and mistakes at times threaten her confidence. Will Delphine put herself out there to try and change her life for the better? A great read-alike for the novels of Jojo Moyes.

Some Bright Nowhere by Ann Packer

Claire and Eliot have been married for almost forty years. Claire was diagnosed with breast cancer about eight years ago. Through chemo, radiation, and everything else that goes along with her illness, Eliot has been at her side. He is stunned when Claire, who has recently begun hospice care, tells him that she wants her final days to be spent with her two best friends, Holly and Michelle--not him. The novel explores Eliot's feelings about the news, looks back and Eliot's and Claire's marriage and parenting their two now-grown children, Abby and Josh, in addition to detailing Claire's last months. A perfect choice for book clubs.

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

Margo and her husband, Ian, have been looking for the perfect home in the Washington D.C. area for over a year and a half and have been outbid eleven times. Margo then sees Jack's and Curt's home, which is soon to come on the market, and deems it perfect for herself and Ian and the baby they soon hope to have. Can Margo convince Jack and Curt to sell the house to them before it's listed? If they say no, is there anything Margo won't do to make the home her own? A suspenseful tale of obsession similar to The Last Mrs. Parrish, Stone Cold Fox, and The Perfect Girlfriend.

The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman

It's a Tuesday at Aunt Orsa's, the one fine dining restaurant in a small midwestern college town. Usually Tuesday evening is one of the slower nights, but best selling author John Grisham is dining at the restaurant after doing an event in the town. When Danny, the Operations Assistant, arrives at Orsa's in the morning he discovers that someone has stolen twenty-two rib eye steaks. He informs Orsa when she arrives of the theft and she wonders which of the employees could have taken them. The Reservation recounts the day and evening at the restaurant through the eyes of all the employees. Readalikes include Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman and Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan. It will be published in February.

59 Minutes by Holly Seddon

It's pandemonium in London and its environs when an alert says a nuclear missile will hit the area in 59 minutes. Carrie is on her way home from work and is desperate to be with her partner Emma and young daughter Clementine. Meanwhile, Frankie, newly pregnant, is on holiday with her boyfriend Otis. Mrs. Dabb, on the other hand, is frantically trying to find her teenage daughter Bunny, who did not take the school bus home and is missing. The reader follows these three women as they deal with their current situations the best way they can. Readalikes include 24 Hours by Greg Iles, Siege by Simon Kernick, and No Exit by Taylor Adams.

The Widow by John Grisham

All lawyer Simon Latch can see is dollar signs when eighty-five-year-old Eleanor Barnett comes to his office asking if he'll draft a new will for her. Eleanor is a widow with no children and says she has no debts and stocks worth $16 million. With a family to support and a penchant for small time sports betting, Simon is always in debt. Being Eleanor's lawyer could really help his financial situation, but he knows he needs to keep Eleanor's wealth secret so he doesn't lose out on making some real money. But is Eleanor really rich? And what about her two stepsons, Clyde and Jerry, who want their share of the fortune? Will meeting Eleanor turn out to be the best thing ever to happen to Simon or his worst nightmare?

The Dentist by Tim Sullivan

DS George Cross is extremely successful at his job. Having autism allows him to see things others don't, in addition to having a thoroughness and tenacity that is unmatched at the Bristol police station. Cross' latest case is the murder of Leonard Carpenter. Leonard was a former dentist who went missing years ago, was declared dead by his family, and has just been found dead near a gorge. Where has Leonard been all this time and why did he come back to his hometown of Bristol? Cross, his partner DS Josie Ottey and Police Staff Investigator Alice Mackenzie attempt to uncover the mystery of his death. The Dentist is the first book in the DS George Cross series with the next books being published over the next several months. A great read for those who enjoy British police procedurals.

Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent

Martha Thornhill comes back to her hometown of Oxford to take a job as the senior editor of the Clarendon English Dictionary (think OED). She spent the last ten years living in Berlin, trying to put the disappearance of her older sister Charlie behind her. When letters start arriving addressed to Martha and her colleagues Simon, Alex, and Safi that seem like coded messages related to Charlie, the quartet can't ignore the clues in front of them. The police become involved again in the investigation, and the dictionary group start following their instincts and interviewing people themselves. It seems that maybe Martha and her father Gabriel will finally have closure. Guilty by Definition is a leisurely-paced novel for those who enjoy etymology, puzzles, and mysteries set in academia.

Menu of Happiness by Hisashi Kashiwai

In this third volume of the Kamogawa Food Detective Series, people again come to Kyoto to have chef Nagare and his daughter Koishi make a meal that reminds them of a specific time in their lives. There's Sakyo, a former dancer, who wants the duo to make him the kake soba he ate with his father from whom he is now estranged. While Nobuo, who makes the laquerware that the restaurant uses, wants a curry and rice dish made by his daughter before she went to prison. Nobuo wants to be able to share the dish with his grandson. In addition, Yumiko, a former pianist, wants to eat the yakisoba a former boyfriend cooked for her. Knowing that Nagare and Koishi are always successful in their mission provides the reader with a cozy enjoyable read.

The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly

Mickey Haller is now involved in civil court as a lawyer. For his latest case, he had taken a woman named Brenda Randolph as a client. On her behalf, he is suing the tech company, Tidalwaiv, because he believes their chatbot encouraged a teenage boy to kill his ex-girlfriend, Brenda's daughter Becca. As the trial begins, Mickey believes he has a good chance at winning, but it seems Tidalwaiv is possibly intimidating witnesses and spying on Mickey and his team. Will Mickey prevail in court? The Proving Ground takes the reader through the whole trial with all its ups and downs.

The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park by Michiko Aoyama

There are several people who could use the help of the plastic hippo that resides in a park in a Tokyo neighborhood. Kabahiko the hippo is said to be able to help people in their time of need, just by the person touching him. The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park recounts the five people Kabahiko helps who all live in the five story building Advance Hill. There's Kanato (a student who is not doing well in his new school despite getting good grades at his previous one), Sawa (who struggles to fit in with the mom clique at her daughter's school) , Chiharu (a wedding planner who had to take a medical leave from work due to ear problems), ten-year old Yuyu (another recent transplant to the area who fakes an injury that then becomes real) and, lastly, Kazuhiko (who wants to improve his relationship with his mother who lives nearby). A cozy story similar to the Kamogawa Food Detectives series.

The Killer Question by Janice Hallett

Married couple Sue and Mal Eastwood operated a pub in Hertfordshire called "The Case is Altered." They owned the establishment for two years before it closed. Now, five years later, their nephew Dominic is shopping the story of what happened to them to various media outlets as a true crime documentary.  The Killer Question lets the reader observe through text messages and other communications the lives of Sue and Mal when they owned the pub, especially the controversies that arose around the weekly trivia quiz they held on Monday nights. The situation gets even murkier when a body is found nearby.  Author Hallett keeps the reader on the edge of their seat with a really original story that takes many twists and turns. If you enjoy novels that have a really good puzzle, this book is a must read.

Pick a Color by Souvankham Thammavongsa

Ning, a former boxer, owns a nail salon where she employs four other women. She requires them to all have black hair cut to the same length and go by the name Susan while they are working. Pick a Color recounts a day at the salon through Ning's eyes as customers come and go. All the women speak the same foreign language, so they are able to converse and joke without the customers knowing what they are saying. The novel explores what's its like to be an Asian woman and the owner of a small service industry business.

Murder in Miniature by Katie Tietjen

It's 1947 and Maple Bishop is on firm financial footing. Her dollhouse business is booming and she is a consultant to the local police department in the small Vermont town where she lives. The authorities ask for Maple's help after Daniel, a local firefighter, is found dead following a fire in his home. Daniel was a childhood friend of Kenny, a police deputy who is devastated by Daniel's death. With Daniel having run with a rough crowd when he lived in Boston, Maple and Kenny wonder if his death is connected to his time in the city, especially when a witness saw a man fleeing the scene. In this second book in the mystery series, Tietjen expands on Maple's personal life, writing a mystery that's hard to put down. Maple is based on Frances Glessner Lee, who is known "as the mother of forensic science." Readalikes includes the Maisie Dobbs series, Sarah Stewart Taylor, Julia Spencer-Fleming, and Linda Castillo.

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman

Joyce's daughter, Joanna, is getting married. At the wedding reception, Nick, the best man, confides to Elizabeth that someone tried to kill him. He then disappears and his business partner Holly is murdered. The Thursday Murder Club members (Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim) find themselves deep in a murder investigation that's related to a large amount of bitcoin along with a code to crack. Ron, though, is distracted by a feeling that all is not right with his children. Another enjoyable jaunt with the quartet and their circle of friends and family.

The Glass Eel by J.J. Viertel

On Caterpillar Island off the coast of Maine, Jeanette King makes a living selling crabmeat to expensive restaurants on the east coast. One evening, she comes upon her ex-husband Simon's boat, which seems to have been involved in a dubious activity--illegally catching eels. When someone Jeanette knew well is murdered, she decides to get to the bottom of what's really going on. With the help of  local activist Jesse Ed Davis and cop Toland Bates (whom Jeanette has known since he was a child), she attempts to make things right and see justice served. Readalikes include The Trouble Up North and The Distant Dead.

One of Them by Kitty Zeldis

At Vassar in 1946, Anne Bishop hides that she is Jewish because she doesn't want to be socially ostracized. She develops a friendship with another Jewish girl, Delia, in secret. Delia is unabashedly herself and doesn't care that she has no friends at the university. At times, Anne, is in awe of how self-confident Delia is. One day Anne betrays Delia and their bond is fractured. One of Them recounts their relationship and the lives of both women through college and after. Both have lost much--Anne's parents have both passed away and Delia's mother was presumed dead during the war in France. How they persevere, are comfortable with their faith, and grow into young independent women are all explored. A really enjoyable novel of historical fiction.

The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe by Catherine Greer

When Audrey loses out on a promotion and discovers her husband is having an affair, she quits her job in Sydney and takes off for Whitehaven Bay, a beach town she visited when she was young. The residents of Whitehaven are a quirky bunch. There's Audrey's landlord Buddy (who swims naked every morning), Billie (a teenager who is nursing a world of hurt underneath their tough exterior), and Shez (a flamboyant dresser and owner of the local holiday flats). However, what will Audrey do to make a living? Luckily, Audrey is a fabulous baker. Can she make enough money with her floral fortune cookies to stay afloat? The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe is a delightful story of second chances, friendship, and community. A great choice for readers of Freya Sampson and Clare Pooley.

We'll Prescribe You Another Cat by Syou Ishida

The only people that can find Nakagyo Kokoro Clinic for the Soul are the ones that need it. Inside, Dr. Nikke and nurse Chitose loan cats to individuals. There's Shousuke, who, while caring for a cat, gets the courage to switch colleges. Meanwhile, having a second cat in Reona's family helps the family members smooth out their differences. For Moe, taking care of three cats who are a handful over several weeks makes it easier for her to accept some unwelcome news from her boyfriend, Ryuji. A light, quick read.

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

In the 1930's, Felix Salt marries Margaret Anderson, and a few years later they move to the town of Bonhomie, in northwest Ohio. Another young couple, Cal and Becky Jenkins, also reside there. During World War II, the four find their lives intertwined in a way that will have repercussions for many years. Buckeye is a leisurely-paced read, spanning over sixty years in the lives of the two families. A great choice for book discussions and for those who enjoy family sagas. Read-alikes include Ask Again, Yes, Dearly Beloved, and The Two-Family House.

Isabella's Not Dead by Beth Morrey

At fifty-three, Gwen finds herself thinking about her former best friend, Izzy, whom she hasn't talked to in over fifteen years. Inseparable as teenagers, they began to drift apart a bit when Gwen married Angus and started to have children. Gwen struggles to remember what their last conversation was even about. However, Gwen knows it was Izzy who pulled away from her, ending the friendship. Now Gwen decides she must track down Izzy and try to make things right, but as Gwen goes on her journey--talking to Izzy's family, former boyfriends, and people Izzy worked with--she begins to realize that she is also reclaiming a part of her self that was lost. In addition, it appears that maybe there's a deeper reason that Izzy disappeared. A story of friendship and growing up, which is at times funny, yet goes deeper. Thoroughly enjoyable...

A Marriage at Sea: a True Story of Love, Obsession, and a Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst

In 1972, Maurice and Madalyn Bailey set sail from England on their boat, Auralyn, toward their final destination, New Zealand. The journey was expected to take a little over a year, but in March of 1973 on their way to the Galapagos, a whale in distress damages their boat beyond repair. What follows is the couple's journey of survival at sea hoping to be rescued. A Marriage at Sea recounts the story of Maurice's and Madalyn's first meeting, marriage, and life together. It's a tale of ingenuity, weakness, strength, and love.

Stillwater by Tanya Scott

Luke Harris is back in Melbourne to settle his past and move forward with a regular life studying and working towards an accounting degree. He meets Emma when he takes a job looking after her brother, Phil, who has developmental disabilities. Emma and Luke hit it off, but Emma's father, Jonathan, disapproves of their relationship. Jonathan is wealthy, abrasive, and involved in illegal activities--which Luke has some familiarity with. When Luke was young, he was known as Jack Quinlan, and was connected to local criminal Gus Alberici, who forced Luke into a life of crime. Now in the present, Gus has found out that Luke's back in town and coerces him into the fray. Still, Luke yearns for a normal life and finds himself caught between Jonathan and Gus. Will Luke be able to free himself from his past? A great read-alike for Thomas Perry, Lou Berney, and the Nick Mason series by Steve Hamilton. A promising first novel that has me looking forward to what Tanya Scott will write next.

The Witch's Orchard by Archer Sullivan

Private detective Annie Gore is hired by Max Andrews to find his younger sister, Molly, who went missing ten years ago. Molly was the third girl to disappear in Quartz Creek, North Carolina in a matter of months. The second girl, Olivia, was actually returned days before Molly was kidnapped. In addition, applehead dolls were left in the place where all three girls were last seen. Annie warns Max that many in the small mountain town will not take lightly to someone coming in and asking questions after all these years. Soon death and physical harm descends. Will Annie be able to give Max the closure he needs to move on? The Witch's Orchard is an unputdownable mystery with a great sense of place and an interesting main character. I'm so glad that this looks to be a start to a new series. A good read-alike for Northwoods by Amy Pease, the Bell Elkins series by Julia Keller and Sharyn McCrumb's Ballad novels.

Jenny Cooper Has a Secret by Joy Fielding

Linda Davidson, a widow, spends her days missing her husband and visiting her best friend Carol at Legacy Place, a memory care facility. On one visit, Linda meets Jenny, a ninety-two-year-old fellow resident, who tells Linda that she's killed several people. Not sure whether to believe her, Linda begins to visit with Jenny when she comes to Legacy Place. Jenny also reveal the names of the people she's killed--but is she telling the truth? A great read-alike for Hallie Ephron and Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante.

Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure by Rhys Bowen

In 1938, Ellie is stunned when her husband, Lionel, tells her he is in love with someone else and wants a divorce. With their two sons grown, Lionel expects that Ellie will move out of their home and into a small cottage in the village or move to London. Ellie instead decides to travel to France with Mavis, her former housekeeper, and Dora, an older woman that she's known for many years. With the South of France as their destination, the trio end up in Saint-Benet, a small fishing village near Marseille. They soon become part of the community, making friends, and finding a villa to call home. However, war is looming. Will Saint-Benet and its residents come through unscathed? Another enjoyable novel from longtime novelist Rhys Bowen.

Hunter's Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Taylor

Vermont State Police detective Franklin Warren and his assistant Walter "Pinky" Goodrich are called out to the Ridge Club, an old private fishing and hunting club for men, because former ambassador Bill Moulton has been shot to death. There are several high profile men staying at the lodge. Which one could have wanted Bill dead? As the winter weather begins to worsen, Warren and Pinky find themselves snowed in while trying to uncover the killer. Meanwhile, Warren's next-door neighbor, Alice, is having a dinner party and widow Sylvie Weber, another local resident, prepares for the birth of her fifth child. Hunter's Heart Ridge is the second book in Taylor's mystery series set in 1960's Vermont. A great choice for those who enjoy character-centered mysteries.

Love Forms by Claire Adam

At 58, Dawn lives alone in London after a divorce. Her older son, Finlay, a doctor, lives near her, while her younger son, Oscar, resides in the United States. Dawn was born and raised in Trinidad and when she was sixteen got pregnant. Her parents arranged for her to travel to Venezuela to have the baby, a girl, who was then put up for adoption. Dawn has for years been trying to find her daughter, to no avail. Love Forms recounts growing up in Trinidad in the 1970's and 80's, her journey to Venezuela, and her current life still hoping to be reunited with her child. A poignant character-centered novel memorable for its great sense of place. One of my favorite reads this year. Give to readers who enjoyed Nancy Johnson's The Kindest Lie.

Mendell Station by J.B. Hwang

At the beginning of 2020, Miriam's best friend, Esther, dies. The two women had been friends since they were teenagers. Esther's death unmoors Miriam, who finds herself now in her her early thirties questioning her faith and wanting to be alone. She quits her job at a Christian school and goes to work as a mail carrier just before the world shuts down because of the pandemic. A quiet book, Mendell Station, follows Miriam's life in the six months after Esther's death as she comes to terms with a world that doesn't include Esther. A good read-alike for You Can't Stay Here Forever.

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger

The Cassidy-Shaws are driving to son Charlie's lacrosse match when they are in a car accident that kills both people in the other car involved. Charlie was in the driver's seat of the family's self-driving car and grabbed the wheel right before the collision. The dad, Noah, was in the front passenger seat. Mom Lorelei was in the back of the vehicle, behind the two other kids in the family--teenagers Izzy and Alice. Lorelei, Izzy and Alice are injured and all five family members are traumatized by what happened. They wonder what the police investigation of the accident will bring. They then decide to rent a house for a week to get away, but the home turns out to be near tech billionaire Daniel Monet's compound, and he seems to already know Lorelei. Lorelei, who is a MacArthur fellow, professor at Johns Hopkins and a foremost authority on AI, denies any connection. The relationship between the two families is further complicated by the beginnings of a romance between Charlie and Monet's daughter Eurydice. Over the vacation, lies are exposed and the family's bonds are tested. A read-alike for Elin Hilderbrand, Jodi Picoult, and Hazel Says No.

A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Sera Swan lost almost all of her magic abilities fifteen years ago when she brought her great-aunt Jasmine back from the dead. Now in her thirties, she runs an inn called Batty Hole, where a quirky group of people have taken up permanent residence. Along with Sera and Jasmine, there's Sera's young cousin Theo, Clemmie (a fellow witch trapped in the body of a fox, Nicholas (who works at the local medieval fair and wears his armor almost all of the time) and Matilda (an older woman who tends to the garden). They have formed a close knit family who are there for each other. In addition, Sera would like nothing more than to get her power back. In fact, when she was a teenager she was a witch of unusual promise, rivalling only Albert Grey, who then and now is the most powerful witch in England. All Sera has to do is get her hands on the book "The Ninth Compendium of Uncommon Spells" which contains a spell that Sera believes will restore all her power, but having been expelled from the British Guild of Sorcery years ago, this is a huge task. Will Luke Larsen, who arrives at the inn with his young sister Posy, be able to help? Only time will tell...

Port Anna by Libby Buck

Gwen has come back to live at Periwinkle, the cottage in Maine her family has owned for generations. Fired from her job in North Carolina, she's hoping for a fresh start, even though Port Anna holds both good and bad memories. Although the cottage is not winterized, Gwen hopes her new job at the high school will provide some financial relief. It's obvious to those around Gwen that her old friend, Hugh, would like nothing more than to buy the land that Periwinkle sits on. Can Gwen hold onto the cottage and build a new life in Port Anna? A great read-alike for Sarah Addison Allen and Ellen Airgood.

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

When Ash's mother, Nina, starts dating Nick Radcliffe, she becomes very uneasy. Her dad Paddy died a year ago, and the whole family still feels his loss. Meanwhile, in another English town, florist Martha wonders about her husband Alistair's absence. What the reader knows is that Nick and Alistair are the same person and it's likely that neither of those names are real. This man has swindled many women out of money, broken their hearts, and destroyed lives. Don't Let Him In is a page turner recounting how Ash (along with Paddy's first girlfriend Jane) begins to connect the dots of Nick's past. Can the women convince Nina that Nick is dangerous--and finally make Nick pay for all his evil deeds? One of Jewell's best...

Hazel Says No by Jessica Berger Gross

Hazel, a senior in high school, moves with her parents Claire and Gus and her younger brother Wolf to Riverburg, Maine from Brooklyn. Gus has just started a new job at the small liberal arts college in town. On the first day of classes, Hazel's principal, Mr. White, propositions her. Dumbfounded and disgusted, Hazel screams no and runs from the room. In Hazel Says No, the reader follows the Greenberg Blum family over the next nine months as all their lives are changed by the incident. A great read-alike for Tom Perrotta.

The Second Chance Convenience Store by Kim Ho-Yeon

Mrs. Yeom is thrilled to get her missing wallet back. The man that returns it, Dokgo, has been homeless for several years and accepts free meals from the convenience store that Mrs. Yeom owns, rather than a monetary reward. Soon, Dokgo is working the night shift at Mrs. Yeom's store and doing an excellent job. What caused Dokgo to be in his current situation? The Second Chance Convenience Store reveals Dokgo's past, along with the lives of the others who work at and frequent the store. Read-alikes include The Passengers on the Hankyu Line and Yeonnam-Dong's Smiley Laundromat.

So Far Gone by Jess Walter

Retired journalist Rhys Kinnick has lived off-grid in a cabin for the past seven years. With no cell phone and not much human contact, he is unprepared when his two grandchildren, Leah and Asher, show up on his front porch. Their mother Bethany, who is Rhys' daughter, left them with instructions to be taken to Rhys rather than left with her husband, Shane. While Shane is a good man, he is part of a group with extremist beliefs that are antigovernmental and religious. So Far Gone is the story of Rhys trying to protect his grandchildren from the people that Shane is associated with. It is also a tale of a father and daughter trying to heal and find their way back to each other. While the plot of the novel sounds grim, Walter infuses it with humor and vivid characters.

The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson

Nova works at the St. Tredock Community Center and is due to be married in a few days to her boyfriend Craig. When £10,000 that was designated for a new roof for the center is stolen, it puts Nova's job in jeopardy. Nova was the one to lock the building the previous evening after a meeting of the community book club. The book club members, Phyllis, Arthur, and teenager Ash wonder if the fifth book club member Michael was the culprit, since he left the meeting abruptly. Then Michael's mother dies suspiciously and he disappears, which leads the quartet on an amateur investigation lead by Phyllis, who has a fondness for Agatha Christie. Will the group find the murderer and uncover who took the money? The Busybody Book Club is a humorous novel of friendship similar to Clare Pooley and Jenny Colgan. 

The Passengers on the Hankyu Line by Hiro Arikawa

In this novel, we meet some people who travel on a train line in the Kansai region of Japan and hear their lightly interconnected stories. A man named Masashi develops an attraction for Yuki, who has similar reading tastes to his own.  Meanwhile, Shoko is on the train in a wedding dress, having just been to the wedding of her former fiancee. Grandmother Tokie is taking a journey with her young granddaughter Ami, while they chat about Tokie getting a dog. Misa's ride on the train helps empower her to leave her abusive boyfriend Katsuya. Lastly, college student Kei'ichi meets a woman named Miho who attends the same school as he does, and it looks like a possible romance might develop between them. The reader then meets the same characters six months later and sees how their lives have moved forward. A read-alike for Yeonnam-Dong Smiley Laundromat.

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

Olivia is a ghostwriter, helping people tell their life stories. When her estranged father Vincent, a best selling horror writer, has his publisher reach out to Olivia asking if she'll help him finish his next book, Olivia agrees-- except this story is not fiction, it's a story from almost fifty years ago when Vincent's siblings Danny and Poppy were murdered. The crime was never solved. Olivia has grave misgivings about taking the job, but she's in need of money, since she was sued by a fellow writer and owes him half a million dollars. When Olivia arrives at Vincent's home, she finds him in bad shape. He has been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and has a caregiver, Alma, who has been helping him out. In addition, Olivia's and Vincent's relationship hasn't been great since he sent her to boarding school in France when she was a teenager. As Olivia and Vincent begin to collaborate, it becomes clear that the book needs a lot of work and more questions than answers about what happened all those years ago are raised. Who killed Danny and Poppy? Was it Vincent or someone else? Julie Clark keeps the reader turning the pages to find out what really happened.

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly

Mari has come to Martha's Vineyard under the guise of taking a private painting class with artist Elizabeth Devereaux. Mari's mother Nancy died recently and among her things were Elizabeth's name and some items that suggested Nancy was planning a trip to visit Elizabeth. Mari wonders what connection she has with Elizabeth and Copper Pond Farm, Elizabeth's residence. As Mari confesses the real reason she's come to the island, Elizabeth begins to tell her the story of siblings Tom, Cadence, and Briar, as well as their friend Bess, and their grandmother during World War II. It's a story full of love, secrets, Nazi U-boats, and betrayal.

Skin and Bones by Paul Doiron

Skin and Bones collects the short stories Paul Doiron has written about Maine game warden Mike Bowditch. There's "The Bear Trap", where Mike's mentor Charley Stevens regales him with a tale about capturing a hermit years ago. In "Snakebit", someone has been releasing rattlesnakes into the wild with dangerous consequences. While the last story, "Sheep's Clothing," takes place after the last Mike Bowditch mystery, Pitch Dark and is about a couple who died by murder-suicide--or did they? An enjoyable collection that is as solid as any of the other books in the series.

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs

Friends Pam, Nancy, Shalisa, and Marlene are still working in their sixties, with retirement just a dream. Their husbands lost all their money in an investment that Hank, Pam's husband, suggested they participate in. When one of the husbands dies, it sets in a motion a plan that involves the women hiring a hitman to kill their husbands. In turn, the men have secrets of their own that they've been hiding. The Retirement Plan is a lighthearted novel focused on who can come out on top to grab all the riches--and stay alive.

Heartwood by Amity Gaige

When Valerie Gillis disappears while hiking the Appalachian Trail, Maine game warden Beverly Miller is put in charge of the case. Valerie failed to show up to meet her husband, Gregory, who was supporting Valerie throughout her journey by bringing her food and gear. Valerie was last seen two days before by some fellow hikers. Heartwood explores three women's stories--Valerie's while she's missing on the trail, Bev's as she leads the investigation, and that of Lena, who lives in a retirement community in Connecticut and spends her days birdwatching and foraging the surrounding land. A leisurely-paced novel exploring the women's lives and how they intersect.

The Names by Florence Knapp

When Cora goes to register the birth of her son, she decides to name him Bear, at the suggestion of her nine-year-old daughter, Maia. Her husband, Gordon, who physically abuses her, wants the baby to be named after him,while Cora would have liked Julian. The Names cleverly follows the next thirty-five years in the family's life, with three branching storylines of how Cora's, Maia's, and the child's lives evolved based on the name that the baby was given-Bear, Julian, or Gordon. A novel about fate, chance, and family relationships that gives the reader much to ponder.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Sybil, in her seventies, lives in Maryland, where she tends to her garden and writes letters to the people in her life, such as her younger brother Felix in Paris and her best friend since childhood, Rosalie. Rosalie and Sybil actually married Belgian brothers, Lars and Daan (Sybil and Daan divorced many years ago). Sybil also corresponds with a teenager named Harry, the son of a judge she knew when she was a lawyer. The novel spans seven years in Sybil's life, as the reader meets the people in Sybil's circle through her letters. A book to ponder and savor with a memorable main character. A great read-alike for Meet Me at the Museum and The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett.

Hard Town by Adam Plantinga

Ex-cop Kurt Argento is housesitting for an old friend in Braylo, Arizona when a woman named Kristin Reed asks for help in finding her husband, Warren. He went missing in a town named Fenton, which is about 40 miles from Braylo. Kurt declines to help her, but when Kristin and her young son, Ethan, disappear, Argento decides he must get involved, because something very weird is going on in Fenton. In a town of about 1,000 residents, there are eleven men in the town's public safety department. They are not policeman and act more like soldiers. The men also very concerned with watching visitors to the town, like Argento and others who are passing through. In this second book in the Kurt Argento series, Plantinga writes a page turner that is a read-alike for Lee Child and Nick Petrie.