Category: Five Favourite

Welcome to my wrap-up of the books I read in January – nine in all – and my pick of my favourites. Links from each title will take you to my full review or the book description on Goodreads. (I’m behind with writing reviews!)

Check out my list of all the books I’ve read so far in 2024.

If we’re not already friends on Goodreads, send me a friend request or follow my reviews.

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History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund (Weidenfeld & Nicolson) – The unsettling story of a solitary young girl living in the backwoods of northern Minnesota who becomes fixated by the house across the lake and the family who inhabit it.

His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet (Contraband) – An ingenious account of a brutal murder in a remote community in 19th century Scotland in which everything may not be as it seems.

To Kill a King by David Gilman (Head of Zeus) – The Hundred Years’ War is the backdrop to an action-packed eighth outing for Sir Thomas Blackstone, Master of War. [Digital review copy via NetGalley courtesy of Head of Zeus]

How to be Brave by Louise Beech (Orenda) – Two intertwined, moving stories about finding the courage to face life’s challenges.

All Day at the Movies by Fiona Kidman (Gallic Books) – Covering half a century and set in New Zealand, the book follows the fortunes – and misfortunes – of several generations of a family.

What were the best books you read last month? Have you read any of my picks?

Life events this month meant December was a slow reading month. I only managed seven books which didn’t make choosing the five I liked best particulatly easy. Links from each title will take you to my review or the book description on Goodreads. (I’m behind with reviews as well.)

You can find a list of all the books I read in 2023 here.  My round-up of my favourite books of 2023 will be published tomorrow as part of Top Ten Tuesday.

If we’re not already friends on Goodreads, send me a friend request or follow my reviews.

My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Zaffre for providing me with digital review copies via NetGalley.

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The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne (Transworld) – A sweeping and emotional story of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, with welcome touches of humour along the way.

Perfume River by Robert Olen Butler (Gallic Books) – An accomplished and insightful family drama exploring how personal choices resonate down the generations.

The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan (Hodder & Stoughton) – A moving, powerful and immersive story about a Malaysian family living through the Second World War.

Munich Wolf by Rory Clements (Zaffre) – Compelling thriller set in 1930s Munich in which Detective Sebastian Wolff must walk the thin line between doing his job and falling foul of the Nazi party he despises.

The Slowworm’s Song by Andrew Miller (Sceptre) – A quietly powerful story about a man struggling to come to terms with events of the past.

What were the best books you read last month? Have you read any of my picks?