December Reading

 Take It Back: A Novel (Zara Keel #1) by Kia Abdullah

I love a good courtroom thriller and this debut novel delivers, as well as introduces us to a fabulous new female. Zara Keel is a complicated woman; she is a talented lawyer who leaves firm life to become an advocate for victims of violence. Add to that, Zara is also a Muslim woman who left her arranged marriage, has multiple family dramas, and chooses a life of independence,  and it spells success for the subsequent series. In this first book, Zara is faced with a young girl, suffering from a physical disability as well as a traumatic home life, who has accused four young Muslim boys of rape. The subsequent trial and media circus  is gripping, making this book very difficult to put down. And when you think you have it all figured out, trust me, you don't. Can't wait for Book #2!

Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

This book, plain and simple, is fantastic. Set on a South Dakota native reservation, written by a Lakota tribe member, this thriller hits all the right marks: First, a fantastic lead character in Virgil, a reservation strong man with a troubled past and a moral compass; thoroughly developed and compelling supporting cast, especially Virgil's love interest; fascinating setting on Pine Lakes reservation, giving the reader enormous new knowledge of native life and its troubling relationship with the federal government; and a mystery that will keep one reading until the final chapter. I could not put this book down, and will be first in line for Weiden's second novel. (And yes, I am keeping my fingers crossed for a Virgil sequel!)

Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar

If you want to be kicked HARD out of the box you live in, read this book. If you want to be blown away by brilliant writing, read this book. And if you want to know what it is like to live as both a first and second generation immigrant, then yes, read this book. Akhtar smoothly weaves together autobiography and fiction to tell his tale of a father who emigrated to America from Pakistan, stepping back from devout Muslim faith but never leaving it entirely, and the complex relationship this father has with his son. Bouncing amongst many, many topics, there were times I wondered if all the detail as necessary? And then realizing, yes, it was, as Akhtar explores their world post 9/11, his search for value as a writer, his observations of marriages and relationships between Muslims as well as mixed culture marriages, his mother and her views of America vs. Pakistan, a court trial that sheds light on big corporations in healthcare, etc. So many topics are addressed, yet as it comes down to the end, the one question that is consistently asked is "What makes us American?" Brilliant book - I won't forget it anytime soon.

Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan: A Novel of a Life in Art by Deborah Reed

An Oregon author, a book I had never heard of, what would this story be? Magical, that's what, just unbelievably magical. This is a book that has not yet found a wide audience, and deserves one so very much. A story of Violet Swan, a woman in her nineties, a famous artist, resident of the Oregon coast, dying of lung cancer, and who has a story to tell, and what a life story it is! I loved the author's style and voice, the way she interspersed small moments of the past in an authentic manner, as tiny incidents sparked a memory for Violet., pulling us back to her past, yet also making connections with her life of today. The threads of the many decades of Violet's life, as well as her art, are woven together in a manner I will not soon forget. I so loved this book.

We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin

After the heaviness of some very serious books, I needed a good thriller to get lost in and this book did the trick. As many of you know, thrillers have been mostly 'miss' this year, with few 'hits,' but this tale of family secrets, murder, and police knocked it out of the park. I don't want to give anything away so here's the brief premise: ten years prior, Wyatt's sister and father disappeared, never to be seen again, with Wyatt blamed, becoming the Texas town pariah. When Odette, his ex-girlfriend becomes a cop in town, still obsessed with the sister's disappearance, the mysterious happenings escalate once again, dragging everyone into the mystery. Creatively plotted and well-written, this is a thriller that thoroughly satisfies.

The Cipher (Nina Guerrera, #1) by Isabella Maldonado

It's a rare FBI profiler-type mystery series that doesn't pull me in, but not every one of them satisfies - this one definitely deserves all the accolades it is receiving. Written by an ex-police trained in FBI tactics, Maldonado shows her deep knowledge in the creation of her main character, Nina Guerrera, as well as how the police and FBI interact and develop a plan to catch a serial killer. Nina's own past as a victim has pulled her into the latest kills of a very creepy killer, one that can give nightmares so don't read this in the dark. The twists and turns are plentiful, while the action consistently builds tension, leading to a page-turning finish. I loved the variety of characters created, with diversity in culture and gender. I will definitely be picking up the second book in this series when it comes out.

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

Oh, how I loved his first book The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, and could not wait to get my hands on this one. Almost 500 pages later, I was sadly left with feelings of 'meh.' It is the story of a boat, sailing back from Indonesia to Amsterdam in the 17th century. Populated with a wide cast of characters (take notes - there's a ton of people!), a lot of weirdly evil stuff happens on this ship. Plus, the most interesting character to me, the Sherlock Holme-ish detective, was kept imprisoned most of the time when I wanted him in the story more. Don't get me wrong - the plotting is creative. Yet it is also confusing at times, extraordinarily drawn out with many unnecessary details, and the ultimate denouement fell a bit flat for me. Considering all the pages it took to get me there, yes, I was disappointed.