These are my top 12 favorite reads of 2024
Thanks again to the publishers for providing me with some great review copies!
12.
Clive Cussler Ghost Soldier by Mike Maden
A brilliant and dangerous weapons designer and arms dealer is wreaking havoc around the world and putting America in danger. The CIA calls on Juan Cabrillo and the crew of The Oregon to discover his identity and how he is operating. What follows is high-octane action that moves around the world and features battles on land, at sea, and in the air.
Clive Cussler developed a formula, starting with a past event whose tentacles reach into the present. Add in engaging heroes, a clever villain, and great action. Mike Maden has honored that legacy and made it feel like a modern thriller with action second to none. The villain is worthy of James Bond. Cabrillo's airborne escape feels like a cross between Indiana Jones and Mission Impossible.
This is one of the year's best thrillers and easy to jump into for new readers and long-time fans!
11.
Extinction by Douglas Preston
A murder mystery with ripped-from-the-headlines scientific advances fuels this outstanding thriller. A game preserve in Colorado caters to the very rich with a park full of de-extincted creatures like the wooly mammoth. When a honeymooning couple disappears leaving behind only a slashed tent and a large blood pool, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is called in. Frankie Cash is on her first case as agent in charge, partly because her boss knows what a political landmine it is. Entitled wealthy patrons, an old-school country sheriff, and a resort security staff that appears helpful but has secrets to protect fill out the mix.
Cash has to navigate amongst these characters whose interests occasionally align but often conflict. She tries to keep her head down and focus on where her investigation leads her, but it becomes increasingly difficult as the suspect pool moves from eco-terrorists to something more bizarre and frightening.
Extinction moves fast from beginning to end with impressive scenery, clever twists, and shocking moments. This book is fun from start to finish!
10.
Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang
Wang has created a wonderful fantasy world with a dark secret at its heart. Sciona is determined to be the first woman to pass the exams and become a high mage in a society that places them at the top of the social order. The mages protect Tiren from the weather and the deadly blight outside its magical barrier. They are also responsible for the magic that powers the city's everyday conveniences.
Making it into the University doesn't automatically accord Sciona the respect she hoped for, at least inside its walls. The first sign of this disrespect is when they assign a janitor, Thomil, as her lab assistant. Undeterred, Sciona works on improving the magical methods that target and siphon energy. Such processes will be crucial for a planned expansion of the barrier covering the city.
In her research, Sciona uncovers dark secrets about the men who made the city and the magic that powers it. The burden of this knowledge nearly breaks Sciona, but with Thomil's help, she must find a way to right the historic wrongs.
Wang creates a well-developed world with a fascinating magical system. There is little subtlety in the patriarchal and class-driven society of Tiran. What is most revealing are the reactions of those confronted with the secret, whether it is already known to them or newly revealed. Sciona's and Thomil's journeys are both thrilling and heartbreaking. The story moves forward with clever twists and reveals all along the way, leading to a powerful and memorable ending. This is a very engaging fantasy novel!
9.
A Tide of Black Steel by Anthony Ryan
Anthony Ryan returns to the world of The Covenant of Steel with the first entry kicking off The Age of Wrath series. This world is so richly described and it is wonderful to see more of it painted in. The first series was told from one perspective, that of Alywn Scribe. This book shares alternating chapters with four main characters: rival siblings, Thera of the Blackspear and her brother Felnir Skyrnak, Ruhlin, a fisherman and captured slave with a strange ability, and Elvine, a scholar and heretic.
The land of Ascarlia is ruled by the Sister Queens. Rumors of demons and lost communication with parts of their domain cause them to send Thera to investigate. Felnir is likewise sent on a quest by their great-grandfather, assisted by the scholar Elvine. Ruhlin's capture takes him to the land of the invaders where he is set to do battle in gladiator-style matches.
Splitting the narrative into four viewpoints instead of one means that the story starts off a little more slowly compared to the previous series as you meet the new characters, get to know them, and understand their particular circumstances and quests. Ryan still includes plenty of fantastic action. Once you are immersed in the story and invested in these characters, the pace is much quicker. The storylines begin to move closer and let you in on the threat that they all face. Great characters and plenty of action move the plot forward. This book is a fantastic story in itself and sets up what looks like another thrilling series! I can't wait to see where this goes next!
8.
Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
I can't begin to describe how much fun this series is. Doomsday is the second book in the series, following Dungeon Crawler Carl and the events pick up right where the last book left off. The first book was just a training level, and things begin to get serious now. Carl is still barefoot and without pants, Princess Donut is as imperious as ever, and now they have to fight their way through the Over City. An Undead Circus and a mystery that sees prostitutes rain from the sky are only part of what lies in front of them.
These books are just pure guilty pleasure fun. Carl is so easy to cheer for and I would die for Princess Donut (who is a cat in case you didn't know). The action is silly, over-the-top, and fun. What sets these books apart is that there is some emotional investment created that adds depth. There are rivalries, tragedies, and mysteries. Some are resolved within each book, others thread through the series. These aren't just cookie-cutter characters. The relationship between Carl and Donut is special. The fighting is wildly fun and the interview segments are laugh-out-loud funny. Matt Dinniman has created something incredible here. I dare you to read it without a smile on your face. It can't be done.
7.
Ultimate Justice by Tee O'Fallon
Romance is not my most-read genre, but I do like a good romantic suspense story, and this book blew my socks off! Evan McGarry is an FBI agent who, along with his K-9 partner, Blue, has a special affinity for finding missing children. Evan and Blue are interviewing a frightened young boy named Noah in connection with a case involving dozens of missing children. Noah is initially scared but is comforted by the janitor with whom he has struck up a rapport, Marlie. Marlie and Evan's connection is electric, but they can each sense that the other is holding secrets. Both are damaged in ways that they don't think can ever heal.
The investigation leads to a cult that targets runaways. Evan is desperate to find the cult before they pull up stakes and disappear. Noah is the key to finding them and Marlie is essential in helping to unlock the information that Noah holds. He is in danger until the bad guys are found and stopped. Evan is determined to find them and protect Noah, but his attraction to Marlie keeps intruding on his thoughts.
I loved this book from start to finish. Great action, incredible characters, ingenious twists, and a plot that moves at a breakneck pace. A steamy romance is just the icing on the cake. Those scenes will leave you just as breathless as Evan and Marlie!
The characters are engaging, including, and maybe especially, the dogs! This book can be read as a stand-alone but is also part of the K-9 Special Ops series. The brief appearances from characters in the other two books are enough to make you eager to read their stories too, if you haven't already.
I was surprised by how much I connected with these characters and how much I loved this story. Tee O'Fallon is now on the must-read list. Such a wonderful book!
6.
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
I'm not sure if I'm more impressed with the audacity of the concept of this story or the skill with which it's told.
A small Greek island is home to 122 villagers and 3 scientists. Outside the island is a deadly fog that has swept the earth and is only kept at bay by a barrier designed by the scientists. Now one of the scientists, Niema, has been murdered and everyone's memory has been wiped of the events of the last 12 hours. The AI controlling the barrier has been instructed to turn off the barrier if the murder isn't solved by the time the clock runs out. And not even the murderer knows who it is.
The villagers are happy to go about their assigned daily tasks, listening to the AI voice, ABI, in their head that directs them and even makes them go to sleep every night at 8:45 pm, whether they've made it to their bed or not. Emory is a bit different. She has lots of questions and doesn't know what her role is. That makes her the perfect person to conduct the investigation. But what she discovers are some uncomfortable truths. And truths that upend what everyone believes are the hardest ones to get people to accept.
This book defies easy categorization. It's part dystopian novel, part post-apocalyptic-thriller, and part murder mystery. All of it works. An AI narrator guides you along. Emory is a wonderful character and easy to identify with. Many of the other characters are wonderful in their stubbornness and unwillingness to let go of the beliefs their lives have been based on, even with the end of the world staring them in the face. The mystery of the island and the murder are both beautifully layered and intertwined. Spooling out in a way that keeps you both one step ahead and still in the dark.
I was spellbound by this book and the wonderful narration of James Cameron Stewart, who captured the various voices of the characters as well as the AI. A truly wonderful experience.
5.
Listen For The Lie by Amy Tintera
Five years ago, Lucy Chase was found wandering in the town of Plumpton, Texas. She was covered in the blood of her best friend, Savanah Harper. Lucy had a head injury that resulted in amnesia blocking out what happened. When sympathy turned to suspicion, Lucy left town for Los Angeles.
Now a podcaster has decided to look into Savannah's murder, once again upending Lucy's life. Her grandmother, Beverly, convinces Savannah to return home for a visit. Once there, Savannah decides to take another crack at trying to find out what happened to Savannah and seeing if she can unlock the secrets in her own memory.
The story alternates between Lucy's perspective and episodes of the podcast. Each reveals clues that point to a variety of potential suspects. We also find out that there was more going on in both Lucy and Savannah's lives than previously known. The clever mystery is filled with twists that draw you further into the story. There is also humor that will have you laughing out loud at parts. I'm particularly fond of Grandma Beverly. It all leads to a startling and very satisfying conclusion.
January Lavoy and Will Damron are two of the best narrators in the business and they prove it again here with outstanding voice work. They navigate the humor and the serious bits effortlessly and pace the story just right, adding to the experience. A wonderful listening experience!
4.
Red Side Story by Jaspar Fforde
The long-awaited sequel to Shades of Grey does not disappoint. There is no disputing Jasper Fforde's inventiveness and sense of humor. Fans are likely to have different favorites of his, but for me, it is the world of Chromatica. A world where society is stratified according to what color you can see and the degree to which you can see it. Marriages are arranged to produce children who can see color in the most desired spectrums. Those who can see no color are the grays and are assigned the most menial tasks.
Eddie Russett is a high-seeing red, nearly 87 percent, and is unwillingly betrothed to Violet deMauve, a high-seeing purple. Eddie and Violet generally detest each other and Eddie is determined to continue his relationship with Jane Grey, who recently found out she can see a minimal degree of green.
Chromatica is built on the remnants of a previous civilization that is poorly understood. Things that can't be understood are generally banned by a byzantine set of rules that often don't make sense or directly conflict. Gloves, for example, must be manufactured but are forbidden to be worn. Knowing how to bend or evade rules is key, but you must do so in a way that doesn't find you labeled a troublemaker. Troublemakers often come down with Mildew, a deadly disease that seems to only affect them.
Eddie and Jane are both unhappy with the unjustness of society and are determined to change it, no matter how much trouble they find themselves in. Fforde has created one of the most inventive worlds I've read and created a compelling story that drags you along both gasping and laughing out loud. The ending of this story amazed me. The fifteen-year wait for this sequel was worth every minute. My love for this world is undying.
3.
On Vicious Worlds by Bethany Jacobs
The SF series with the action and pacing of a thriller continues in book 2 of the Kindom trilogy. On Vicious Worlds picks up right where These Burning Stars ends. The Jeveni have fled the Kindom to the planet Capamame. Jun Ironway fights to create a safe place for the Jeveni but is opposed by a mysterious saboteur hell-bent on causing chaos and destruction.
Chono and Six monitor developments in the Kindom, which is desperate to have the Jeveni back and control the sevite trade on which the Kindom runs. Chono and Six may have to return to the Kindom if they are to protect the Jeveni. And the shadow of Esek Nightfoot looms over all of them.
This story is action-packed, intricately plotted, and full of shifting alliances and stunning betrayals. The characters are razor-sharp and able to escape whatever corner they get painted into. The pace at which the action moves makes each revelation and betrayal more shocking. This is shaping up to be one of the best SF series of the last several years and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
2.
The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey
The authors of The Expanse, return with the first in a mind-blowing new trilogy. Humanity has settled in the far future on the planet Anjiin. Their origins are so far in the past as to be forgotten. When the powerful Carryx show up, along with several alien races in thrall to them, humanity's resistance is all but nil, and one-eighth of the population is killed simply as a show of force.
Select humans are transported to a Carryx world. They must prove that they can be useful to the Carryx or all of humanity may be wiped out. Among those selected are a group of scientists led by Tonner Freis who have done ground-breaking work studying and manipulating Anjiin's silicon-based life forms. Their work on the tasks set for them by the Carryx will determine humanity's fate.
Corey creates a world that is truly amazing and awe-inspiring. It is alien in its structure, society, and way of thinking. The humans must struggle with their work while adjusting to captivity and navigating a world and cultures they don't understand. Failure can have devastating consequences.
This book has two of my favorite things in all of science fiction or fantasy. A richly developed alien world to explore and an element of foretelling where you know something devastating will happen, you just don't know when, how, or why. The Carryx are locked in a long, long war, and they have unknowingly brought an enemy into their midst.
The scale conveyed here is almost beyond imagining. The size and construction of the world, the long history of the Carryx, and the number of races they've conquered, subjugated, and exterminated are incredible. It brings to mind Frederick Pohl in his best works.
The characters are amazing and provide great emotional heft to the story. The intensity of both the emotional arc of the characters and the intricate plot is a difficult feat that Corey makes look effortless. It is well-paced and suspenseful throughout. You'll be torn between wanting to race through the pages and wanting to savor every minute. This is one of the best SF books of the year.
1.
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
The Tainted Cup was my first "wow" book of the year. This is a brilliant detective novel in a fantasy setting that is marvelously inventive.
Ana Dolabra is an eccentric investigator sent to the outer reaches of the Khanum Empire. Young Dinios Kol is hired as her apprentice assistant. In the four months Ana has been there, their investigations have mostly involved pay fraud. When a dead body is discovered in a home belonging to the wealthy Haza family, she dispatches Kol to investigate.
Ana prefers to never leave her home, sitting blindfolded so as not to be distracted as she considers information. Kol has been specially altered to be an Engraver, able to recall everything he sees, hears and smells in the smallest details. He serves as Ana's eyes and ears. When Kol reaches the Haza mansion, he discovers Commander Taqtasa Blas who appears to have had a tree sprout from inside him, rendering him quite dead. Ana is intrigued by this fascinating mystery, which soon finds her summoned to the city of Talagray, which stands near the giant seawall built to keep out the leviathans that approach every wet season. Failure to stop the leviathans would threaten the entire empire.
More murders indicate that a complicated plot may be afoot, with implications for the entire empire. Some delicacy is required as the nobles and the items they produce on their vast lands are important to the functioning of the empire. The Haza family is nearly as wealthy as the Emperor, requiring even greater deference. Deference does not come naturally to Ana Dolabra. Finding the answers and preventing disaster may challenge even her formidable intellect.
This is first and foremost an excellent mystery. It is deeply intriguing and for each part of the mystery that is solved another is uncovered, more fascinating than the last. The fantasy elements are interwoven so unobtrusively that you may not even realize how much about this amazing world you have absorbed.
Robert Jackson Bennett notes in the acknowledgments that Ana was inspired by Nero Wolfe, even if elements of Hannibal Lecter crept in. Of all the great detectives, Nero Wolfe is at the top of my list and it is easy to see how Ana sprang from that inspiration, even as I suspect she quickly took on agency of her own. I hope that this will inspire some who love this book to seek out the Nero Wolfe books by Rex Stout, or even better, the outstanding audiobooks narrated by Michael Prichard, who is forever the voice of Nero Wolfe in my head.
The Tainted Cup is my favorite book of the year. Mystery and fantasy fans will be equally delighted. I can't wait for the next book
Happy reading everyone!
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