My Favorite Books of 2019

Four books set in the past and one contemporary novel make up the list of the books I most enjoyed reading this year.

In alphabetical order, by author:

The Lost Man by Jane Harper

With a vivid description of life in the Australian outback and an engrossing mystery, this was my favorite page turner this year.

Learning to See: a Novel of Dorothea Lange, the Woman Who Revealed the Real America by Elise Hooper

I love novels that explore artists' lives, and Hooper's insight into Dorothea Lange was fascinating.

The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair

This debut of a new historical mystery series set after World War II was a hoot.

The Spies of Shilling Lane by Jennifer Ryan

A fun, lighthearted book set in wartime London--a welcome diversion from all those "serious" World War II novels.

Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall

Wall's portrait of faith, friendship, and marriage over several decades was memorable and moving.