2021 Book Reviews

A stolen collection of notebooks containing an iconic author's unpublished work becomes the obsession of multiple people across decades, with deadly consequences.

A travel writer retraces Hiram Bingham's historic journey through Peru, combining adventure narrative with the fascinating history of the 'discovery' of Machu Picchu.

A thought-provoking exploration of the modern food chain, tracing four meals from their origins to the table while examining America's relationship with food.

A woman born in captivity must confront her dark past when a serial killer begins recreating the bunker where she was held.

A short, heartwarming tale about a man who is losing weight without changing size, and how his condition brings a divided community together.

A collection of four novellas from the master of horror, including the title story featuring Holly Gibney from the Bill Hodges trilogy.

A dual-timeline novel connecting a modern woman to her ancestor who survived the devastating Johnstown Flood of 1889.

The first in the Jazz Ramsey mystery series, featuring a cadaver dog trainer who stumbles upon murder while demonstrating her dogs at a school career day.

A heartbreaking historical novel based on the true scandal of the Tennessee Children's Home Society, which kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families.

A successful news anchor faces unexpected challenges when a daughter she never knew existed appears in her perfectly ordered life.

The continuation of Stieg Larsson's Millennium series, bringing back Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist in a new high-stakes thriller involving NSA surveillance and artificial intelligence.

A gripping true story of the last American evacuation from Can Tho, Vietnam, as the city fell to the Viet Cong in 1975.

A sharp social commentary wrapped in a page-turning story about a young Black woman caught between her white employer and her white boyfriend, both with their own ideas about what she should be.

A fascinating exploration of how four plants - apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes - have shaped human history as much as we've shaped them.

A haunting novel about the mysterious death of a young woman on a Caribbean island vacation and her sister's obsessive quest for truth years later.

The inspiring memoir of Heather 'Anish' Anderson's record-breaking Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike and her journey to find herself in the wilderness.

A riveting novel that traces the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and the enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives.

Colin O'Brady's gripping account of his solo, unsupported, and unassisted crossing of Antarctica - a feat many thought impossible.

A genre-defying novel exploring the aftermath of a rumor about a high school party, told through multiple perspectives and forms, questioning the nature of truth and storytelling itself.

An adult Scout returns to Maycomb, Alabama, and must grapple with her father Atticus's views on race in this controversial novel, written before To Kill a Mockingbird.

John C. Maxwell explores eleven types of thinking that successful people use, offering strategies for developing better mental habits and decision-making skills.

Skye Shin is a plus-size Korean-American girl who dreams of becoming a K-pop star. When a reality show offers her the chance, she must defy expectations and prove that talent has no size limit.

Kendra Michaels, blind for the first twenty years of her life, uses her extraordinary observational skills to help find a missing pop star before time runs out.

An anthropologist examines how job seeking has transformed in the modern economy, exploring the new rules, rituals, and frustrations of finding employment today.

Seattle detective J.P. Beaumont investigates when a high school coach is found murdered, uncovering secrets that someone in the community will kill to protect.

A powerful YA novel about Tracy, a Black teen fighting to prove her father's innocence before his execution date, while her own family faces a new nightmare when her brother is accused of murder.

The true story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who abandoned everything to live in the Alaskan wilderness, and the tragic end of his journey into the wild.

A thrilling crossover novel bringing together J.A. Jance's two beloved detectives - Arizona Sheriff Joanna Brady and Seattle detective J.P. Beaumont - to solve a complex murder case.

A collection of three thrilling novellas about the dangerous secrets that can hide behind the most ordinary suburban facades. Your neighbors might not be who they seem.

Detective Lindsay Boxer and the Women's Murder Club investigate a serial killer targeting the homeless in San Francisco while Lindsay's personal life takes an unexpected turn.

FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock investigate two seemingly unrelated cases that lead them into a web of secrets, danger, and explosive revelations in this FBI Thriller series entry.

When Elle is dared to ask out the grumpiest man in the office, she never expects it to actually work. Now she's fake dating her boss's boss, and the lines between pretend and real are getting blurry.

The great American novel follows Huck Finn and escaped slave Jim as they travel down the Mississippi River, exploring themes of race, freedom, and morality in antebellum America.

CIA agent Emily Hudson and journalist Joel Lashley must work together to stop a criminal mastermind who has been holding Emily captive and plans to unleash chaos on an international scale.

In a seemingly perfect society without pain, suffering, or conflict, twelve-year-old Jonas is selected to inherit the position of Receiver of Memory and discovers the dark truth behind his community's utopia.

A modern retelling of Anna Karenina set among the elite teenagers of New York and Greenwich. Anna K has the perfect life until she meets Alexia Vronsky and everything changes.

Stephen King's masterpiece of horror follows the Losers Club as they confront an ancient evil that preys on children in Derry, Maine - first as kids in 1958, then as adults in 1985.

A lyrical masterpiece following Macon "Milkman" Dead III as he journeys from Michigan to the South to uncover his family history, discovering the power of heritage and the meaning of flight.

A classic self-help book exploring how the subconscious mind influences our lives and how we can harness its power to achieve success, health, and happiness through directed thought and belief.

A romantic comedy where two competitors on a wedding-themed reality show go from rivals to something more. Luna and Alec clash on every decision, but sparks fly both on and off camera.

The explosive finale of The Hunger Games trilogy. Katniss Everdeen becomes the symbol of rebellion as she leads the fight against the Capitol, facing impossible choices and devastating losses.

Melinda Leigh's romantic suspense featuring retired homicide detective Bree Taggert investigating her sister's murder while protecting her orphaned niece and nephew. Small-town setting, family stakes, and budding romance create engaging thriller. First in Bree Taggert series.

Tatiana de Rosnay's haunting dual-timeline novel about Sarah, a Jewish girl hiding her brother during the 1942 Vel d'Hiv roundup in Paris, and Julia, an American journalist in 2002 uncovering her family's connection to Sarah's story. A powerful exploration of complicity, memory, and the lasting echoes of historical atrocity.

Iris Johansen's Kendra Michaels thriller about reopening a cold case when new evidence suggests the convicted killer was innocent. Kendra must use her unique observational skills to find the real murderer before he strikes again. Solid series entry with cold-case twist.

Gregg Olsen's devastating true crime account of the Knotek sisters and their mother's horrifying abuse and murders. Difficult but important reading about survival, sisterhood, and finally breaking silence. Expertly researched and sensitively handled despite disturbing content.

The seventh No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novel finds Mma Ramotswe investigating petty crimes while contemplating happiness, contentment, and new blue shoes. Gentle, philosophical mystery with trademark wisdom, though perhaps too slight even by series standards.

Iris Johansen's Kendra Michaels thriller about a killer targeting people connected to Kendra's past. Personal stakes elevate the formula as Kendra must protect those she cares about while using her unique skills to stop the murderer before someone she loves dies.

Iris Johansen's Kendra Michaels thriller about a serial killer targeting performers. Kendra must use her unique skills—heightened from years of blindness—to protect potential victims and stop the murderer. Solid series entry with entertainment value and musical setting.

Mollie Player's memoir-meets-guide about her family's experiment living with minimal possessions for a year. Personal narrative about discovering what's truly essential through radical decluttering. Engaging storytelling but limited practical application.

Chloe White's minimalism guide about simplifying life to achieve more with fewer possessions and commitments. Practical advice on decluttering, time management, and intentional living. Familiar minimalism territory without much innovation.

Iris Johansen's Kendra Michaels thriller about hunting a serial killer targeting the blind. Kendra must use her unique perspective—having been blind herself—to understand the killer's mind and stop the murders. Personal stakes elevate familiar thriller formula.

Dean Koontz's mind-bending Nameless novella about a killer who seems to know the future. Nameless must stop this impossible threat while questioning the nature of time and fate. Cerebral, dark, and philosophically ambitious thriller.

Dean Koontz's chilling Nameless novella about a killer using venomous snakes to murder victims. Nameless must stop this serpentine threat while exploring questions about cold-blooded evil. Dark, creepy, and philosophically engaging thriller.

Dean Koontz's intense Nameless novella about a killer who drowns victims in blood. Nameless must stop this horrific murderer while confronting questions about vengeance and justice. Dark, visceral, and philosophically rich thriller.

Dean Koontz's darkly compelling Nameless novella about a woman who murders her husbands. Nameless must stop her before she kills again, while grappling with questions about predatory human nature. Tense, psychological, and disturbingly effective thriller.

Dean Koontz's chilling Nameless novella about a photographer who stages elaborate death scenes. When Nameless investigates, he uncovers disturbing artistic obsession and confronts questions about evil's nature. Dark, atmospheric, and philosophically engaging thriller.

Dean Koontz's Nameless novella about the enigmatic vigilante confronting a murderous arsonist with supernatural abilities. Dark, tense, and philosophically rich—Koontz at his pulp-literary best in compact form. Part of the addictive Nameless series.

Iris Johansen's Kendra Michaels novella featuring the blind-turned-sighted detective tracking a serial killer targeting hikers. Fast-paced thriller showcasing Kendra's heightened observational skills in compact format. Quick, entertaining series addition.

Iris Johansen's Eve Duncan thriller featuring forensic sculptor investigating a killer using hypnosis to control victims. When Eve herself becomes a target, she must trust a mysterious man with psychic abilities. Fast-paced suspense with paranormal elements and series character development.

The stunning conclusion to Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy. Lisbeth Salander fights for her freedom in court while Mikael Blomkvist exposes the government conspiracy that destroyed her childhood. Legal thriller meets investigative journalism as the series builds to a satisfying, cathartic conclusion.

The explosive second Millennium novel finds Lisbeth Salander framed for triple murder and on the run, while Mikael Blomkvist races to prove her innocence. As he investigates, he uncovers sex trafficking conspiracy and Lisbeth's devastating past. Dark, propulsive, and impossible to put down.

Stieg Larsson's international phenomenon about journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander investigating a forty-year-old disappearance from a wealthy Swedish family. Dark, compelling, and unforgettable—a mystery that explores violence against women, corruption, and justice with fierce intelligence and addictive plotting.

Cara Reinard's gripping psychological thriller about Sarah Ellsworth, whose privileged life in an elite Pennsylvania town unravels when her son is involved in a tragic accident. Family secrets, wealth, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child collide in this tense domestic suspense.