In this category I prefer to read romance with a twist – a twist of social issues, a twist of crime or mystery, a twist of ….humour and fun. Here are a couple of my favourites from 2019:
Daughters of the Outback #3
Sasha Wasley
Penguin Random House Australia
Michael Joseph
ISBN: 9780143784562
Danielle Hawkins
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9781775541417
I found it very hard to limit myself to just a few contenders in this category I read so many EXCEPTIONAL and many great contemporary reads last year, perhaps I read more in this category in 2019 than in my preferred genre, crime fiction. I didn’t tally and compare but that what if felt like to me, but they were books that were written elegantly, beautifully; evoking many emotions, started many discussions and shone the spotlight on some many social issues. So many reason to love these ( in no particular order):
Anne Brinsden
Pan Macmillan Australia
https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781760784850/
Jessie Burton
Pan Macmillan Australia
Picador
ISBN: 9781509886159
The Woolgrowers Companion #2
Joy Rhoades
Penguin Random House
Bantam
ISBN: 9780143793724
The Other Half of Augusta Hope
Joanna Glen
Harper Collins Publishers Australia
The Borough Press
ISBN: 9780008314163
Felicity McLean
Harper Collins Publishers Australia
Fourth Estate
ISBN: 9781460755068
Delia Owens
Hachette Australia
Little Brown Books
ISBN: 9781472154651
Suzanne Daniel
Pan Macmillan Australia
ISBN: 9781760781712
Boy Swallows the Universe
Trent Dalton
HarperCollins Publishers Australia
ISBN: 9781460753897
***Late Entry ** I cannot believe I read this book, rated it, commented (on GoodReads) and then forgot to write my review. This was an amazing read. It blew me away. Dont you forget to add it to your TBR
If I have missed anyone I do apologise…there were so many exceptional reads in this category. I hope you find something you mind enjoy on this list.
This is always such a difficult decision to make but the best thing to do is just start, start listing… here goes; in no particular order my best Crime Fiction/Thriller/Mystery reads of 2017 are:
The Burden of Lies – Richard Beasley
The Child Finder – Renee Denfield
The Girls in Kellers Way – Megan Goldin
The Golden Child – Wendy James
The Last Act of Hattie Hoffman (aka Everything You Want Me to Be) – Mindy Mejia
The Right Side – Spencer Quinn
The Bird Watcher – William Shaw
The Good Daughter – Karin Slaughter
Fatal Crossing (Nora Sand #1) – Lone Theils
And the Fire Came Down – Emma Viskic
Did any of these make it on to your reading shelves last year? There were so many great reads last year the list could have gone on an on.
I have been mulling over the themes of a very moving book I read last year, Ache by Eliza Henry-Jones. This is the outcome. I am very happy with it 🙂
Australian Bush Fire mixed media on canvas. (c) 2018
Reading, Writing and Riesling 