Here are my top reads from 2021.
6.
A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones. This is such a fun book! Sunshine Vicram was kidnapped 15 years ago and rescued 5 days later with a swiss cheese memory and a baby on the way. Now, as sheriff of her New Mexico hometown, she finds the usually sleepy place perking up. A stabbing at the local bar kicks over a can of worms, especially as it involves the man she has had a lifelong crush on, Levi Ravender. Now she's juggling that crime, trying to figure out why everyone's confessing to the 15-year-old murder of her abductor, and dealing with her precocious teenage daughter who's developed a taste for detective work AND teenage boys. Jones puts together an entertaining and hilarious story with amazing characters, an intriguing plot, and some light romance (plus one particularly steamy scene). Lorelei King crushes the narration and turns the knob all the way to 11 on this great book!
5.
Clive Cussler's The Devil's Sea, by Dirk Cussler. I've been a lifelong fan of Clive Cussler and particularly his Dirk Pitt adventures. Dirk Cussler shows that this series isn't going to miss a beat as he takes the reins from his father. This story starts with a hectic escape from Tibet with an important Buddhist artifact and reaches into the present as Dirk and company seek to recover a downed Chinese missile in the sea near the Philippines. At the same time Dirk's children, Summer and Dirk Jr., follow the trail of the artifact from the Philippines all the way to the Himalayas. Mystery, adventure, thrills, and heroics are all on display in a tale that will take you away from the world for hours at a time. One of the most entertaining reads of the year.
4.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. The author who brought you
The Martian does it again with a fantastic space adventure that's going to require someone to science the sh*t out of it. Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship far from earth but he doesn't remember who he is or why he's there. His slowly recovering memory reveals that a microscopic organism is draining the sun's energy and he was part of a crew sent to discover the cause and find a solution. The story jumps back and forth between the events leading up to his trip and his efforts to discover a solution and save the Earth. But he might not be as alone as he thinks. Strong characters, a ticking time clock of a problem, and plenty of obstacles to overcome make this an amazing adventure worthy of many revisits.
3.
Blood of the Chosen by Django Wexler. This outstanding series continues as siblings Gyre and Maya work for and against the empire. Gyre is convinced that the Ghoul and the weapons they left behind from their war with the Chosen are the key. Maya believes that the empire can be a force for good, but sees that the Twilight Order has hidden agendas. Their separate quests help flesh out the world and highlight the gray area between what is right and what is moral. Each of their adventures is filled with suspense, excitement, and humor, often supplied by the great supporting characters Wexler populates his world with. When Maya and Gyre come together again, you know it's going to lead to a crescendo. Wexler wraps up one story arc while setting the stage for the next one in a series that is not to be missed!
2.
False Witness by Karin Slaughter. Karin Slaughter is in a class by herself as she keeps churning out one great book after another. This one introduces us to Leigh Collier, who clawed her way out of her humble upbringing to graduate from a top law school and work at a prestigious Atlanta law firm. When called in to represent Andrew Tenant against a violent crime charge, she realizes that both she and her younger sister are connected to him, and to secrets she thought she'd buried 23 years ago. Now the only one she can turn to is the sister whom she hasn't seen in years. Each sister must confront some demons but every step they take seems to put them further in danger and further away from a solution. Slaughter puts you in the character's shoes and raises the tension until you feel like you are going to burst. This book is one of her best and one of the best books of the year. Someday there is going to be an award named after her.
1.
The Pariah by Anthony Ryan. You know that feeling when the opening sentence of a book gives you a little shudder because it's that good and you know you are in for a treat? This is one of those books. Alwyn Scribe was cast into the forest as a boy and raised by outlaws. Alwyn's quick wits and quicker knife see him rise quickly in the gang until an unexpected betrayal leaves him alone and sets him on a path of vengeance. The brilliant narrative structure employed by Ryan lets you know that Alwyn will grow to become far more than a simple thief, but rather than remove suspense this creates anticipation. Excellent world-building rock-solid characters and a story filled with battles, betrayals, vengeance, and mysticism make this the best of what epic fantasy has to offer. I can't wait to see where this series goes next!
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