I can’t believe I read 94 books and 2 short stories in 2024!
I read quite a bit on the Kindle phone app, so I sneak in reading time on the treadmill at the gym, waiting in lines and in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep but don’t want to turn the light on. So, I think my reading time is probably around 25% more than if I just read paper books. When I had a long commute, I didn’t have as much time to read paper books but listening to books on CD kept me sane — and, yes, “listening” to books counts as “reading” to me, because it’s all about the story, not about the delivery.
I would recommend any of these books.
My Extra Special Favorites are in RED
I left one or two out of the list that I finished reading but didn’t really like and I won’t mention the books that I didn’t finish reading (DNF). DNF is so subjective – sometimes you’re not in the mood for the subject matter, you find the writing disappointing or the characters or story just don’t spark your interest – so why bum a writer out by giving a bad review when maybe it really is just YOU…
Listing out all the books I’ve read in 2024 has been an interesting exercise. I read 48 cozy mysteries, fully half of my reads this year. Autobiographies are not usually my thing, but I read 8. I usually read a lot more Young Adult but I only see one on the list! This must be rectified in 2025! It also struck me that I don’t care what category a book is in – I just read what interests me – so when I was trying to categorize some of these books, I had to look them up on Amazon!
You may wonder how I compiled this list. A few years ago, Barnes and Noble ran a promotion where they gave away a book journal with every $xx amount spent. I managed to get two of them and I’m on my second one now, with a couple of sweet notebooks about the same size stashed away for when this one runs out. I notate my impressions of the characters and plot, what moved me, what bored me and what made me laugh. Sometimes, I also make notes about my own works in progress in relation to the author’s choices and plotlines.
I hope your 2024 was filled with books and stories you loved! Please comment your faves!
(EB) = Ebooks
Cozy Mystery (*Historical)
The Plot and the Pendulum Jenn McKinlay
A Killer Edition Lorna Barrett
Handbook for Homicide Lorna Barrett
Crook Tales for Two* (EB) Ellen Byerrum
Antiques Carry On Barbara Allan
A Deadly Deletion Lorna Barrett
The Man Who Died Twice Richard Osman
Clause of Death Lorna Barrett
The Bullet that Missed Richard Osman
Death Knells and Wedding Bells Eva Gates
Tea is for Trouble (EB) Karen Sue Walker
The Last Mrs. Summers* Rhys Bowen
Hiss Me Deadly Miranda James
Tea is for Toxin (EB) Karen Sue Walker
Tea is for Tragedy (EB) Karen Sue Walker
Wild Irish Rose* Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles
Whiskers and Lies Sofie Kelly
A Questionable Character Lorna Barrett
Tea is for Tarot (EB) Karen Sue Walker
God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen* Rhys Bowen
Paws to Remember Sofie Kelly
Peril in Paris* Rhys Bowen
All That is Hidden* Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles
The Proof of the Pudding* Rhys Bowen
The Stranger in the Library Eva Gates
Requiem for a Mouse Miranda James
Burden of Poof (EB) Julie Anne Lindsey
In Sunshine or in Shadow* Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles
Tea is for Traitor (EB) Karen Sue Walker
Haunting License Carol J. Perry
It’s Elementary Elise Bryant
Fatal First Edition Lorna Barrett
Tea is for Tears (EB) Karen Sue Walker
Tea is for Temptation (EB) Karen Sue Walker
Tea is for Taken (EB) Karen Sue Walker
A Controversial Cover Lorna Barrett
The Expectant Detectives Kat Ailes
Vinyl Resting Place Olivia Blacke
No Paw to Stand On Laurie Cass
Dead Tired Kat Ailes
A Fatal Groove Olivia Blacke
The Windsor Knot* SJ Bennett
Rhythm and Clues Olivia Blacke
All The Queens Men* SJ Bennett
A Merry Little Murder Plot Jenn McKinlay
Murder Most Royal* SJ Bennett
We Solve Murders Richard Osman
We Three Queens* Rhys Bowen
Romance
The Marriage Jinx (EB) Krista Noorman
Hang the Moon (EB) Alexandria Bellefleur
Love at First Book Jenn McKinlay
Book Lovers Emily Henry
Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater (EB) Debbie Johnson
The Christmas Fix Lucy Score
Holiday Hideaway (EB) Mary Kay Andrews (Short story)
The Christmas Cupid (EB) Jennifer Joyce
Christmas Magic at Holly Oaks (EB) Racquel Henry
Middle Grade (*Historical)
Holes Louis Sachar
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane Suzanne Collins
Let It Glow Marissa Meyer and Joanne Levy
The Bletchley Riddle* Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Literary Fiction
All Together Now (EB) Matthew Norman
The Bookstore Sisters (EB) Alice Hoffman (Short story)
The Beantown Girls (EB) Jane Healey
Main Character Energy (EB) Jamie Varon
You’d Look Better as a Ghost Joanna Wallace
Colored Television Danzy Senna
On Rotation (EB) Shirlene Obuobi
LGBTQ+ (*YA) (**Romance)
One Last Stop** Casey McQuiston
Always the Almost* (EB) Edward Underhill
Written in the Stars ** (EB) Alexandria Bellefleur
The Fiancé Farce** (EB) Alexandria Bellefleur
Dragged to the Wedding** (EB) Andrew Grey
The Guncle Abroad Steven Rowley
The Secret Life of Albert Entwhistle (EB) Matt Cain
Alternate History
In the Bleak Midwinter (EB) Judy Peters
Eve Dallas – Police Procedurals but these books also have romance and friendship, plus they’re slightly sci-fi
Encore in Death J.D. Robb
Humorous Fiction
Class Mom Laurie Gelman
You’ve Been Volunteered Laurie Gelman
Yoga Pant Nation Laurie Gelman
Smells Like Tween Spirit Laurie Gelman
A Grand Old Time (EB) Judy Leigh
Witchy/Magical Fiction
The Crone of Midnight Embers (EB) Iris Beaglehole
The Crone of Solstice Flames (EB) Iris Beaglehole
The Crone of Elders Blaze (EB) Iris Beaglehole
The Keeper of Enchanted Rooms (EB) Charlie N. Holmberg
Heir of Uncertain Magic (EB) Charlie N. Holmberg
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Reapers (EB) CA Kennedy
Autobiography
Always Looking Up Michael J. Fox
Lucky Man Michael J. Fox
Beyond the Wand Tom Felton
Walking with Sam Andrew McCarthy
Being Henry Henry Winkler
The Third Gilmore Girl Kelly Bishop
Hello, Molly! Molly Shannon
Sonny Boy Al Pacino
I'm Writing As Fast As I Can 