The Case of the Missing Maid by Rob Osler

In 1898, Harriet Morrow has just been hired as an investigator at the Prescott Detective Agency in downtown Chicago. She is given a week to find Agnes Wozniak, a maid who has disappeared from the home of her employer, Pearl Bartlett. Harriet starts by delving into the life of Agnes and whose paths would have crossed Agnes', since Agnes worked six days a week and only had Wednesdays off. In addition, many of Harriet's fellow detectives and the secretaries at the Prescott Agency resent Harriet's presence there, making her job even tougher. Featuring an extremely likable main character and immersing the reader into 1890's Chicago, The Case of the Missing Maid is a promising start to this new mystery series.

Sweet Vidalia by Lisa Sandlin

When Eliza Kratke's husband Robert dies unexpectedly, he leaves her in debt--and with a secret he was keeping from her. Forced to sell most of her possessions, Eliza finds refuge living at the Sweet Vidalia. With constant worries about money, Eliza knows she must get a job. What kind of job can a woman get in 1964--especially one in her 50's who's never worked? Sweet Vidalia chronicles Eliza's life in the year after Robert's passing. It's a tale of someone coming into their own and realizing the strength and value they have. For readers of Anne Tyler.

My Favorite Books of 2024

Here are the five books I enjoyed most this year.

In alphabetical order, by author: 

The Most by Jessica Anthony

This novella about marriage roles in the 1950's packs an emotional punch.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

Can trading in your husband for someone different bring you happiness?

The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu

A year in the life of the employees of the fictional Baldwin High School.

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

A master class in suspense.

Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman

A workplace novel that's timely, humorous, and full of heart.

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

It's 1961 and in a rural part of Netherlands, Isabel lives alone in the home that her family has owned since the war. Her younger brother, Hendrik, lives nearby with his partner, Sebastian. Louis, the oldest, also lives on his own and has asked Isabel to take in his girlfriend, Eva, while he is abroad. Isabel, prickly and particular, resists, but reluctantly agrees to the request. Eva tries to get Isabel to relax and open up to her, but Isabel tries to keep her distance from Eva. Isabel has also always been obsessed with all the objects in the house and feels things are going missing. The relationship between Isabel and Eva then reaches a breaking point and neither woman's life will ever be the same. The Safekeep leaves the reader with much to think about and is a good choice for book clubs.

The Vanishing Kind by Alice Henderson

Wildlife biologist Alex Carter travels to New Mexico to determine if there are jaguars present in the area. She is working for the Land Trust for Wildlife Conservation. The organization believes that the animals might be coming over from Mexico and back again. Working alone by setting up cameras and hair snares, Alex revels in the flora and fauna near the Gila National Forest. However, there is a group of unknown men who are terrorizing nearby residents of Latino descent. They also don't like the work that Alex is doing because they believe in a closed border with Mexico, not one that would allow the jaguars to go between the two countries. In this fourth novel in the Alex Carter series, Henderson transports the reader to the southwest and features an extremely likable main character in Alex. The Vanishing Kind will be published in March.

Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens

Anna Appleby writes a column for Bath Living magazine. When Anna gets the news that the magazine is in financial trouble and her job is on the line, she comes up with the idea to devote her column to writing about the dates she goes on. Her hook will be that she will only go on dates with people suggested by her two children, Jess and Ethan. Unfortunately, Anna has to share the back page of the magazine with colleague Will Havers, who is always trying to give her advice to make her column better. Anna finds him so annoying, but when they go on an eco retreat for work, sparks fly. Will Anna and Will put themselves out there for a real relationship? Is She Really Going Out with Him? is a humorous romance in the style of Annabel Monaghan.

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

For the past two years, Annie has been Doug's bot girlfriend. They live together in his apartment in New York City where Annie stays home all day while Doug goes to work. When Doug's best friend, Roland, unexpectedly visits from Los Angeles, cracks begin to form in Annie and Doug's relationship. Told through Annie's eyes, the reader sees Doug as controlling and manipulative. While Annie tries to work out how she can be the best girlfriend to Doug, she grows emotionally and doubts begin to form whether living with Doug is the best thing for her. An interesting novel that's hard to put down.