As we enter the final days of 2023, it’s time to recount my favorite books (and reviews) of the year. I’ve found that (in large part due to my challenges) my reading has been split into 3 major categories: little-old-lady cozies, adventurous epistolaries, and modern updates to traditional mysteries. The following list are my personal favorites – the ones I’ve recommended (and loaned to my reading friends). Starting with…
There was an old lady…
When you are looking for a warm yet puzzling read, there’s nothing better than a cozy mystery featuring an elderly sleuth (or a few!). The best stories in this genre make use of their elderly protagonists to Make A Point. These are little old ladies with hidden depths – whose life experience and knowledge make them crime solvers extraordinaire. Their stories usually force us to reckon with some dark themes, from loneliness to justice to mortality. And the best ones remind you there’s hope and light through all of it, that there’s always someone with a warm mug of cocoa and a hug.
…who loved tea and cooking
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers is a warm bowl of soup on a rainy San Francisco day. This is a story about finding family and warmth after decades of loneliness, with murder more as a catalyst than a true plot device. This was always going to appeal to me – I live in SF! I love tea! – but I was surprised by how deeply I felt the story and its themes of connection and loneliness.
…who kick-started a genre
I’ve read a LOT of Marple this year, and I struggled to decide which single one to put on this list. I ultimately settled on A Caribbean Mystery for a few reasons. First, it’s Vacation Marple – a setting I adore for her and which tends to force her to get creative in finding clues. Second, we meet Rafiel here, and it’s our first encounter with Nemesis explicitly. Third, I always enjoy the setting in this one, and its peek into what vacation life used to be like. Scandal, justice, and blackmail on the beach? Classic.
…who inspired her friends
I’ve already written two mini-essays on how and why I adore The Last Devil to Die. I went into it expecting more mystery hijinks from the Thursday Murder Club, and certainly we got those in spades. I wasn’t expecting the intense explorations of love, mortality, and community… But they were so, so appreciated. This book made me laugh and it made my cry and I will keep reading it forever.
The epistolary adventures of…
I love epistolaries. I LOVE epistolaries. So much so that I decided to pursue an epistolary reading challenge this year… And I had about as much fun as I expected, which is to say, a lot of it. What I was not expecting, however, wash much I would enjoy more adventurous epistolaries. My initial love of the genre comes from its inherent puzzliness and mystery nature. But in branching out this year, I found a number of fantasy and other adventures that were such a joy to read…
…an enterprising researcher of the fae
Out of all the characters I’ve read this year, I probably related the most to Emily Wilde. The introverted titular protagonist of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries just wants to research Norwegian Faeries in peace. But in her first few days in the dark and frigid village of Hrafnsvik, she manages to upset the locals and her hosts. Even worse, her extroverted and charming rival shows up in Ljosland at the same time, and extends his “help”. Emily documents her adventures in fantastic detail, in a novel that perfectly captures what a research log should feel like. She learns, she puts herself in harm’s way to save the world, and she somehow ends up with friends at the end of the day. I couldn’t help but enjoy her adventures – and her perfect tone in capturing the immense frustration of an organized and planned introvert just trying to figure out how to manage an impulsive, extroverted, friend.
…a swashbuckling pirate crew
The only possible way to describe Amina al-Sirafi is badass. In The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, she recounts an oral history of her life for her daughter. And what a life! I’m obsessed with Amina as an extremely competent leader whose motherhood defines her, but does not limit her. And I’m in love with the world in this novel, which recounts many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean myths. We’re talking demons, we’re talking daevas… Apparently this is the first in the trilogy, and I cannot wait to see what comes next.
(Is it stretching to call this an epistolary? Perhaps – but it’s framed as the scribe’s transcription of her retelling. So I’m counting it!)
…some Very Special Students
Growing up, I loved Lemony Snicket. I always figured I’d never find another book quite like his… until I read Murder Your Employer this year. There’s something about the wry humor and straightforward approach to murder that scratches the exact same itch. And then there’s the anti-mystery in the novel – we know that at least one student’s planned murder will fail, so there’s great suspense as each unfolds. A laugh out loud crime novel that kept me hooked all the way to then.
Turn your magnifying glasses to…
Then, of course, there are my tried-and-true favorites, the traditional mysteries. I read a lot of these, and real surprises can be hard to come by. So of course, I appreciate the well-conceived and well-executed innovations quite a bit more. 2023 was rife with them, starting with…
…a true-crime evidence bonanza
I am such a huge Janice Hallett fan. She is the modern master of the epistolary mystery, and her latest novel, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is a perfect example of her skill. I was so excited to read this, and Ms. Hallett did not let me down. Alperton Angels takes a true-crime twist to the typical epistolary format, following the a pair of true-crime writers as they investigate a crime at its anniversary. There are layers and layers of puzzles to unwind, and Hallett uses the epistolary format to its greatest extent, forcing the reader to consider a challenging choice. It’s a masterclass in the format and a truly fantastic mystery.
…a traditional mystery with a supernatural twist
I’m typically skeptical of paranormal investigations. In my experience, ghosts tend to be a bit of a “cheat code” for mystery solvers… So I was not expecting to fall in love with a ghost mystery this year. But along came Grave Expectations, a hilarious traditional mystery that uses actual clues to solve an actual crime. Not only that, the ghosts actually add to the story – they have characters and goals that expand the world Bell creates. Plus, you’ve got a GREAT found family – a trope I’m a sucker for. There’s another entry in the series coming out next year, and I can’t wait to spend more time with Claire and Sophie and Basher and Alex!
…a multi-angle literary mystery
Rounding out the list of my favorites for 2023 is West Heart Kill by Dann McDorman. I actually was lucky enough to read this as an ARC, and I was so excited about it and so nervous that I kept putting it off to avoid disappointment. I needn’t have worried – McDorman’s written something truly creative and unique here. This is definitely for a specific kind of reader – if the idea of multiple narrative voices including second person interludes and recounting of the history of crime fiction does not appeal, I would stay far away. But in my view, West Heart Kill is a love letter to the crime novel, and one that I loved reading.
…And that’s the list – my top reads for 2023.
As we head into 2024, I would love to know what else I should read – what did I miss? What should I add to my TBR?
More to come on my reading plans soon… But until then, stay cozy, and stay curious!
3 responses to “From mystery to epistolary: my best reads in 2023”
[…] From mystery to epistolary: my best reads in 2023 […]
Loved this posting❤️
So glad! Would love to know if you read any of the books what you think