My favourite books this year were a mix of crime and historical fiction, in no particular order:
The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
Set in post-World War II Washington, D.C., this novel is full of mystery and secrets, with a fascinating cast of characters and a cleverly woven twist. The story depicts the paranoia of the McCarthy era, shifting societal attitudes and the changing roles of women. Highly recommended.
The Shadows of War series by CW Browning
Evelyn Ainsworth was the spy the Germans never saw coming. An aristocratic heiress with a penchant for languages, Evelyn is recruited to MI6 at the outbreak of World War II and thrown into near-impossible situations, first in Norway, then in Belgium and France as the Nazi war machine rolls across Europe. With her spitfire pilot boyfriend, Miles Lacey, risking his life every day defending the skies over England, the pair must fight with everything they have to survive. I devoured this 7-part series, and eagerly await the next instalment.
Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
Trent Dalton’s unique storytelling shines in this gritty yet heartwarming tale of a girl with no name and her mother on the run from the law and living on the streets of Brisbane. The girl dreams of life as an artist and a way out of the grip of the city’s drug dealers. Loved it.
The Bookshop Detectives: Dead Girl Gone by Gareth Ward & Louise Ward
Set in New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay, ex-cops Garth and Eloise, owners of a bookshop, The Sherlock Tomes, are attempting to host an international book launch while trying to solve a decades-old murder. This is a funny, engaging read with a cast of quirky characters.
Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Elizabeth Zott, a gifted research chemist, finds herself the unlikely star of a 1960s TV cooking show. This is a fabulous, at times funny, look at feminism and resilience. I can’t wait to see this one on the big screen.
The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour with Jude Dobson
This is the astonishing true story of one of the last SOE agents to escape France alive after the liberation of France in 1944. Pippa Latour lived an extraordinary life full of adventure long before she joined Britain’s Special Operations Executive during World War II. It’s a fascinating read.