I think it’s fair to say that 2021 hasn’t been a vast improvement on 2020 but it has been an excellent year for books. It’s always hard to whittle down my favourites to just ten. As I’ve read fewer books this year due to writing, I thought it would be easier but no – it’s still been difficult. Anyway, here are the first seven in my top ten in no particular order.
A Woman Made of Snow by Elisabeth Gifford
Elisabeth’s writing is always divine and there’s no exception with A Woman Made of Snow. Switching between the 19th and 20th centuries, a buried body found in the grounds of a Scottish castle means there’s a historical mystery to be solved. Surprisingly, the clues lead to the Arctic and a Victorian voyage of discovery. A truly evocative read.
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Trust Me by T.M. Logan
The title of this book is almost misleading as Ellen, the main character, doesn’t know who to trust. However, a young woman does trust Ellen as she gives her a baby to look after. But there are quite a few people who also want baby Mia and keeping her safe becomes Ellen’s number one priority. Can Ellen fulfil her obligation to the young woman and Mia? Wonderfully tense throughout.
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The Significant Others of Odie May by Claire Dyer
The Significant Others of Odie May is a very different book. It starts with Odie’s murder (and that’s not a spoiler by the way as it’s in the blurb) but rather than reading about a full-on police investigation, instead we find ourselves in the waiting room with Odie. As Odie tries to work out who’s murdered her, she goes back over her life and thinks about the things she’s done wrong and the enemies she’s made. It’s a very thought-provoking book that isn’t judgmental in any way but makes you step back and look at your own life and the consequences of your actions. Just brilliant.
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The Trawlerman by William Shaw
It isn’t a top ten without William Shaw in it! And the reason he keeps coming back is because his books are fantastic. The Trawlerman is the latest in his DS Alex Cupidi series. Alex is signed off with PTSD which is hardly surprising considering everything William’s made her go through. But even though she’s meant to be taking it easy, Alex can’t help but investigate the murder of a local couple. Mental health is a theme that runs through this story and it’s sensitively handled. I hope William is going to be kinder to Alex in the next book!
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The Serial Killer’s Wife by Alice Hunter
There’s been a lot of hype around this book and rightly so! It’s my favourite psychological thriller of the year. This was a novel that I was immediately sucked into. The ‘I’ll just read for ten minutes’ quickly turned into much longer time periods. The narration of the story flicks between Beth and Tom, as well as past and present. Alice Hunter cleverly kept me on my toes as I was desperately trying to work it out. I really didn’t know who to trust and there was a brilliant ‘gasp’ twist halfway through the book. A fabulous read.
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Black Reed Bay by Rod Reynolds
I’ve loved all of Rod Reynolds books but there’s something particularly special about Black Reed Bay and it’s Detective Casey Wray. After reading only a few chapters, I felt as though I’d known Casey all my life. Tough but empathetic, Reynolds puts her through the wringer in this book but somehow she’s still standing at the end. This is the first in a new series and I’m eagerly anticipating the second one.
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The Colours of Death by Patricia Marques
This for me, is the debut of the year. Set in Lisbon, we follow Inspector Isabel Reis as she investigates the death of a high-ranking official. But Isabel is no ordinary detective. She’s Gifted. The Gifted are a group of people who have extraordinary powers – either telepathy or telekinesis. Perhaps not surprisingly, they are viewed with suspicion by Regulars or ordinary people. When I first heard about this aspect of the book, I wasn’t too sure whether it would work. But it does and brilliantly so. I look forward to reading the next novel!
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Now we’re down to the nitty gritty. My top three books of 2021.
At number three…
Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
I had an early copy of this book and it kept me company last Christmas. As we were in tier 4 and unable to visit anyone, I had a lot more time to read and I couldn’t keep away from this wonderful book. Laura’s depth of research comes across well and I felt completely submerged into Georgian London. Just thinking about it now I feel myself pulled back into that world. But if you’re expecting a Jane Austen Georgian view, then think again. Yes, we have the aristocracy and the wealthy but we also have the underbelly of London’s streets. There are three main narrators – Caroline Corsham, wife of Harry Corsham from Blood & Sugar; Peregrine ‘Perry’ Child, former magistrate now turned thieftaker; and Pamela, a young maid who wants more out of life so decides to auction her virtue to the highest bidder. Definitely not Jane Austen!
When Caro discovers the body of a young woman, she’s determined to find the murderer. Her husband is away so she hires Perry Child to help her. Sounds simple enough but when it’s revealed that the young woman was a high-class whore and not the lady Caro thought she was, Caro and Perry find themselves plunged into a very sinister world.
There is so much going on in this novel and I genuinely couldn’t work out who was responsible. Just when I thought I knew, there would be another twist. Even Caro has her own secrets to deal with. This book combines, art, Greek philosophy, the aristocracy, war heroes, whores, taverns, jewellers and banks. And that’s just what I remember. A truly magnificent novel.
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OK, we’re down to the top two and I have a dilemma. As you might know, my top read is normally described as ‘extraordinary’. But this year, I have described two books in this way. I can’t separate them so they’re going to tie for first place. So, which two books are my favourite reads of 2021?
The Last Thing To Burn by Will Dean
Where to begin? I haven’t read a book this devastating and claustrophobic since Room. As much as I wanted to keep on reading there were times when I had to stop and put the book down. I was so affected by the narrative and Jane’s (not her real name) terrible plight. Will Dean captures her voice beautifully. A woman desperately trying to hang onto herself and her sense of worth whilst systematically stripped of her few possessions and her humanity. A woman forced to slave for a man who claims to be her husband, watched by cameras when he’s out. A woman physically, sexually and mentally abused. A woman whose life seemed incredibly real to me. But in this dark, dark place there is a spark of joy for ‘Jane’. I’m not going to say any more about it but it’s this spark that lights a beacon of hope and points to a way forward.
I know Will Dean does a lot of research for all his books and aims to make them as accurate as possible. I’m sure he’s done the same here. As I’ve already said, this story was all too real for me. My hope is that people don’t just read this and wax lyrical about how wonderful it is (which it is) but will be spurred into action too. And that’s the whole point. This may be fiction but it’s a fact for so many people trapped in modern day slavery. The Last Thing to Burn highlights this so clearly and setting it in the Fens in the UK makes it our problem, something that can’t be ignored. An extraordinary book.
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And my other top read? Well, it’s…
When I Was Ten by Fiona Cummins
Model parents, Dr Richard Carter and his wife, Pamela, were brutally murdered by one of their young daughters. It shocked the country then and twenty one years on, the public are still fascinated by this macabre murder. A documentary is planned, including an interview with one of the sisters who is finally breaking her silence.
Brinley Booth, a reporter, is tasked by her paper to cover the story. But Brinley has an edge on all the other journalists – she knew the Carter sisters when they were children, growing up together in the same town.
As per usual, Fiona Cummins’ storytelling is breath-taking. Told in three sections of Who, Why and When, the story unfolds with two timelines and different voices – including one of the sisters and their childhood friend. It’s a tale of secrets, abuse and loyalty.
How do I begin to tell you about this incredible book that played out so vividly in my mind? There are of course the excellent twists, the scarily believable plot, characters so real you could almost reach out and touch them. It’s truly extraordinary.
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So there you have it – my top ten reads of 2021! Hopefully there might be some books new to you in this post that you might want to add to your Christmas list. Although I’ve put links in for the books, please go to your local independent bookshops to buy too. I know that Waterstones have exclusive editions of Daughters of Night (click here) and, coming 30th December, When I Was Ten (click here). Both have beautiful sprayed edges.
I only have one thing left to say, despite all the horrible stuff going on at the moment, I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in 2022 for more incredible books.
joykluver 