Bibliomaniac's Books of 2017
BIBLIOMANIAC'S BOOKS OF 2017
What a year! So far I have read 208 books in 2017 -and there are still a few days left to squeeze in a few more! I have read so many fantastic books this year. There have been books that I could not put down, books that gave me a great story, a bit of escapism and light relief when I most needed it, books that have challenged me, books that are exquisitely written and books I've just fallen in love with. There have been books that might not get that coveted 5 star rating but have resulted in more discussion, made perfect book group reads or been the ideal novel to recommend to friends. It's just been a year of books, books and books. I wouldn't, couldn't have it any other way!
So, in no particular order, here are my favourite books from 2017.
Click on the book title to read my full review.
Complex, intriguing and gritty, this is a brilliant historical thriller from a very gifted story teller, set in 1837 about a woman sentenced to hang after being accused of murder. This book is for fans of historical fiction, crime fiction and for fans of character driven stories. In a plot that weaves an intricate web of secrets and lies, this is a book for fans of exquisite, engrossing and absorbing writing who like a story that is both exciting and moving. Highly recommend!
Having spent more hours than I can count at the zoo with my young children, this book really resonated with me and was definitely one book I found completely gripping. Trapped in the zoo while a gunman is on the loose, Gin Phillips has written an incredible thriller that takes place over three hours. Intense, but not sensationalised, and with stunning prose that captures fear, the panic of half formed thoughts, reflections on parenting and a mother's instinct to protect her son has got to be one of the best books I have read.
In the interest of full disclosure, I probably need to say that I love Holly Seddon's books. Like, totally, love them. Seddon writes the perfect psychological thriller. They are not only chilling, gripping, unputdownable and full of twists but also deliver multilayered, interwoven plot lines and characters with depth and emotional complications. This book considers mental illness, parenting, family relationships, violence, abuse and what it really means to be normal and what it really means to help someone. It's fantastic.
Snare is punchy, fresh, daring and original. Not only is it exciting, dramatic, dangerous and edgy, it includes the sophistication and deception of financial crime, the violence, threat and danger of drug crime, and it also includes the emotional issues and complications within relationships, marriage and parenting. All of this is presented in crisp, fresh, punchy and original prose with writing that is as breathtaking as the storyline. A short, concise, taut novel that is action packed but also very character driven. Awesome.
The Boy Made of Snow is about the arrival of prisoners of war arriving in a small English village in 1944. Impossible to forget, this is an outstanding novel that is heartbreaking, emotive, haunting and quite simply stunning. The beautiful prose, the use of repetition, shadows, suggestions and fairy tales is so cleverly woven throughout the story that it is impossible to put down.
Anything For Her has a plot which is complex, intricate and incredibly well executed, full of hidden layers, twists, sub plots and emotional journeys. Each thread is masterfully brought together in a highly readable and extremely satisfying thriller. With characters you won't forget, this is a cracking, unputdownable and very sophisticated psychological thriller.
Set in the 1930s on a cruise ship destined for Australia, the atmosphere of this novel is totally delicious and perfect for a novel full of mystery, suspense, tension and intrigue. A Dangerous Crossing has fantastic characterisation as well as the richness and exquisiteness that echoes crime classics from Christie and Du Maurier. Amazingly it is also gripping, compelling and chilling in the way only a modern, contemporary fiction novel can hold you to ransom until you've turned the last page.
DON'T SAY A WORD by A L BIRD
A L Bird grabbed me from the beginning with this novel - not just with the suggestion of danger and hints that something darker is hiding between the pages, but with her writing. Told in first person, the narrative is jumpy, full of anxiety and panic and quite frankly relentless in it's use of cliffhangers. You will spend the entirety of this novel with your heart in your mouth, holding your breath and in a state of fear as you become entwined in the story of Jen who will do anything to protect her son from the truth she thought she had hidden so well.
I fell in love with this novel that blends the gothic, ghostly and supernatural to create a compelling story written in such a beautiful, poetic and lyrical prose that it is gorgeous and unforgettable. It has all my favourite elements - sisters, a big house, a dysfunctional mother, ghosts and snow. With a dual timeline that reflects, mirrors and echoes itself, this is a story to savour and reread. Exquisite.
Last Seen Alive isn't just a story about delivering a twist or shocking the reader, it's a novel about mental health, friendship, marriage, love, revenge, jealousy and just how far people will go to make a better life for themselves. It is a clever novel that's incredibly well executed. The evocation of feelings, fears and the sense of the past catching up with the present are also very well captured, tangling the reader up with the characters because the writing is so believable. I love Claire Douglas and I love this book.
Well, there you go. My Top Ten. This was so much harder than I expected....! I could easily gone on and on with more and more recommendations.
Thank you to all the publishers who have sent me such great books this year and to all the fabulous authors who continue to entertain, entice, engage and terrify me with their fantastic books. Thanks for feeding my bibliomania and addiction to books!
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