Hogmanay seems a good time to share my 2019 favourites list.

My blog and it’s my rules – the books I include in my list do not need to be published in 2019, but if I read them this year they get considered.   I don’t have a top 10 this year.  I reviewed far fewer titles in 2019 and if I compiled an audiobook list and a Top Ten it would almost make it harder to be excluded than included.  Mental note to get more reviews written up in 2020.

I have selected five of my favourite reads, the stories which I had most fun with or the books which made the biggest impression on me as I read them.  After the five (not in any order) I have selected the three best audiobooks I listened to this year and I wrap up my selections with the best debut – the first title in what will be an ongoing series.  I hope you enjoy my choices and, fingers crossed, you may find some new books to enjoy.

 

The Five Favourites

 

Blood Orange – Harriet Tyce

Just released in paperback and a book you should be adding to your 2020 shopping list!  A nasty and unsettling story which had me hooked.

My gob was smacked in all the right ways and despite this being one of my reads from early in 2019 the story still sticks with me. It had to be included in this selection.

Review here: https://grabthisbook.net/?p=4093

 

 

 

Changeling – Matt Wesolowski

I love the Six Stories series by Matt Wesolowski and this, the third installment, was a chiller.  These books are the perfect blend of thriller/horror and much of the lasting impact comes through my overactive imagination long after the book has been read.

The podcast narrative style used in these stories is a wonderfully effective device and it does mean that Matt’s books are terrific audiobook listens too.

Review: https://grabthisbook.net/?p=4045

 

 

The Ringmaster – Vanda Symon

#YeahNoir is seeping into my reading lists more and more.  I am thoroughly enjoying the new exposure to New Zealand crime fiction and Vanda’s books are helping to lead the charge.  The Ringmaster is a great thriller and is included in my selection because it had the most memorable scene from any book I read this year (sadly). Yup – THAT scene. *sobs*

Review: https://grabthisbook.net/?p=4145

 

 

 

Death at the Plague Museum – Lesley Kelly

Another book which features recurring characters.  The Health Enforcement Team are a mis-mash of terrifically entertaining characters tasked with monitoring the health of the residents of Edinburgh after a brutal virus devastated the population.

I seldom know which books are being published until other bloggers start talking about them but I always have my eyes peeled for the next book in the Health Of Strangers series. Great books and this, for me, was the best yet.

Review: https://grabthisbook.net/?p=4174

 

Your Deepest Fear – David Jackson

 

This was my page turner of the year.  The book I didn’t want to finish, the one I just couldn’t put down.

The full review is here: https://grabthisbook.net/?p=4217  but quite simply, I loved it.

 

 

 

Best Audiobooks

Violet – SJI Holliday

This was listening bliss. The wonderful Imogen Church brought Susi Holliday’s words to life in the most incredible way.  When you listen to an audiobook you want a good narrator – Imogen is astonishingly good and nailed every accent to deliver what felt like a full cast production.

Obviously a good audiobook needs a good story and Violet is terrific.  Twisted and shocking but deeply engaging and compulsive.  I don’t really have enough good words for Violet.

Review: https://grabthisbook.net/?p=4440

 

 

Bad Memory – Lisa Gray

Another brilliant terrific narrator, Amy Landon, who delivered Lisa Gray’s Bad Memory in a gorgeous accent which I could have listened to all day.

This is the second Jessica Shaw thriller and I put up my hand to confess I could not see how Lisa could possibly find a way for Jessica to get any wiggle room for her client after I had read the opening chapters.  Great story telling and a wonderful listen.

 

Review: https://grabthisbook.net/?p=4435

 

 

The Lost Plot – Geniveve Cogman

Audiobooks take much more of a reading investment than a paperback or kindle title.  I could have read my paperback copy of The Lost Plot in 3 or 4 hours but I wanted a fun listen and I knew that this would deliver!  So I turned to Audible for a joyous 10 and half hours of listening pleasure.

Geniveve Cogman’s Invisible Library series are my go to titles when I want a fix of dragons, faye, adventure and magic.  Irene, the Librarian, can open doors into many worlds and as a member of The Library she is tasked with recovering rare books which may only exist in a single realm or reality.  The stories are hugely fun and carry engaging political drama as different factions try to outsmart each other.

If you enjoy fantasy stories these books really need to be on your radar.

 

Best Debut

 

See Them Run by Marion Todd

 

Regular visitors will know I love getting into a series of books and seeing recurring characters develop.  My selection for best debut reflects the fact I loved this story, the characters were well established and I want to know them better. The location was very well represented – St Andrews is probably best known for two institutions, neither featured in See Them Run and that was perfect.  I suspect both will appear in future but keeping the University and the golf course out of the action in the first book let the rest of the town shine.

As soon as I finished See Them Run I pre-ordered the next title in the series.  To put that in context, I only pre-ordered two books in 2019 – both the authors to achieve this rate feat feature in these selections.  I strongly urge you to seek out See Them Run!

Review: https://grabthisbook.net/?p=4415