Sunday, January 10, 2021

My Best Reads of 2020

 

Although you can keep an eye on my Best Reads list throughout the year in one of two ways (clicking on the icon on the sidebar or clicking on Year's Best just below the blog title), I've learned that you also like to see them in a year-end post when I'm wrapping up all my reading statistics, and I'm happy to oblige. There's just something about year-end book lists, isn't there?

About the only difference between my year-end list and similar ones is that I don't post mine until after the New Year. I would imagine that sales have a lot to do with many publications posting theirs in November, but as far as I'm concerned, there's still plenty of good reading time left. I often have one "best read" in the latter part of December, and I like having a list that runs from January to December. Just call me perverse. (It wouldn't be the first time.)

Here's the list of titles that made my Best Reads of 2020. They are in chronological order, and if you click on the title, you'll be directed to my review of that book.
 
 
~~~ Best Reads of 2020 ~~~
 
 
Kill the Father by Sandrone Dazieri
A Royal Affair by Allison Montclair
Bluff by Jane Stanton Hitchcock
 
 
Even though my reading pace was on track for the year, I wound up with fewer best reads than in previous years. I'm chalking that up to ye olde COVID-19. 
 
The other thing I noticed about my list is that there's a little something for everyone on it. A short story anthology, two translated titles, thrillers, historical mysteries, cozies, police procedurals... Eight of the seventeen are set in the United States while the rest are in places like Thailand, Iceland, England, Russia, and Italy.
 
Where will my Best Reads of 2021 take me? I'm looking forward to the discovery!
 
 

 
         


18 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you had so many good reads, Cathy. This past year was the kind of year where we desperately needed excellent fiction to keep us sane, in my opinion. I hope 2021 has some stellar reads in store for you, too.

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  2. The Hollows was very good, and I meant to go back and pick up The Widows and forgot--thanks for the reminder. I've thoroughly enjoyed William Shaw's series, and I enjoyed Bluff (after seeing your review)!

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    1. We have to share some of the same reading DNA.

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  3. I love best reads lists! Thanks for posting yours. I also like how you pointed out the variety in them. That is something I should do with my list. It just shows what variety is found in a genre. I have seen Absence of Alice on a few favorites lists.

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    1. Yes, I've been happy to see Absence of Alice on year-end favorites lists, too!

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  4. OK, Miss Perverse, (oh, you were kidding! Ha!) I've only read one of your 'best of' - the Elly Griffiths book. However, that means that there are lots more to sample. And, yes, a lot of variety. Glad you enjoyed them and hope your 2021 list is 'practically perfect'. ;-)

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  5. I've actually read three of those and agree with you on two of the three...for a second, I thought there was a fourth since I just finished Dead Land by Sara Paretsky. But yours was Deadland by Shaw. :-)

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    1. I've had the exact same problem getting those two book titles confused, Sam. :-)

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  6. I like year-end lists, and I appreciate that you complete the calendar year before presenting yours - I wait until January 1 before using the Goodreads feature for my year in books for the same reason. And since I often come to your blog on my phone, I don't often think to use the drop-down menu to see the ongoing lists during the year, so that's another reason I'm glad to see it.

    Now, I'm off to look into The Hollows before I forget about it again ...

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    1. Yes! Please don't forget about it-- it's a good'un!

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  7. Good list. I read six of these and can't wait for the next in the series by Montgomery, Griffiths, Shaw and Locke.

    Here's to good reading. We surely need it now!

    I'm reading a very different type of book, character, writing style and I like it: And Now Shes Gone, by Rachel Howzell Hall. I saw the writer on PP and was fascinated.

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    1. Yes, I want to read that book, too. I met Rachel when the events at The PP weren't virtual. *sigh* I miss those so much!

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  8. Well, it must be disappointing to miss the PP event. But I'm across the country, and I love that their events are posted online so I cna see them.
    I read "The Less Dead," by Denise Mina and I liked it. I've seen her on two interviews, one by the PP, talking about the book.

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    1. Another author whom I've met at The PP. I, too, think it's wonderful that they post their events online so everyone can enjoy them. I was just taking a second or two to allow myself to miss the Good Old Days.

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  9. Oh, yes, what a treat to see the PP interviews or group chats. I like seeing a few authors talking together.
    I'm thinking of reading Alyssa Cole's or Lucy Foley's books. I need some new milieus until my favorite writers publish their next book.

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  10. I've read seven of these as I just finished "Bluff," and laughed constantly. What a smart character and writer.

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