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Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson Ok, so it’s a science book, but as far as science books go, this is a pretty good one. I really enjoyed DeGrasse Tyson’s tone of voice, his easy, casual style, the way he broke down the complex into easy-to-understand bits of information. I kept…

What Was Mine by Helen Klein Ross My rating: 5 of 5 stars Wow! Just wow! What Was Mine was more addictive than Pringles with extra MSG! I couldn’t put it down and devoured it over the course of just a few sittings. Everything about it is beautiful: the story, the structure, the characters, the…

Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter Pieces of Her is a character-driven thriller focusing on themes of self-discovery, the tension of mother/daughter relationships, and a search for the truth. I love domestic suspense, so this was a great one for me. But fans should know up front that the book is very different from Slaughter’s…

See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt A deeply unsettling story based on the true ax murder of Andrew and Abby Borden. Lizzie, the protagonist and Andrew’s daughter (Abby’s stepdaughter), calls out to her maid and alerts the town of the grisly murder. While the police search for clues, Emma, the elder sister, comforts…

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders A sad but a weird story about loss and grief – literally the weirdest I’ve ever read. The plot follows the death of Abraham Lincoln’s son William, who is buried in Oak Hill Cemetary. Lincoln comes to see him, holding his dead body in his arms. Other souls…

When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love me a good thriller, and especially a thriller that explores thoughtful themes and raises good questions. Mary Kubica’s book When The Lights Go Out does exactly this. An intricately plotted thriller with likeable characters warring with their individual obsessions…

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris My rating: 5 of 5 stars An Odyssean tale of humanity, survival and love in the darkest of times, the Tattooist of Auschwitz is heartwarming and unforgettable. Enterprising Lale is appointed as Tätowierer at Auschwitz, officially working for the political wing of the SS. This gives him some…

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier How have I never read this book?! Rebecca is a pristine example of a psychological thriller and I enjoyed every second of it. It’s hefty, filled with beautiful, atmospheric pose, and lyrical, almost poetic descriptions, so it isn’t something you’ll race through, but the story, the protagonist, the setting are…

What Have You Done by Matthew Farrell My rating: 5 of 5 stars An edgy crime thriller reminiscent of a CSI episode, What Have You Done is an explosive debut by Matthew Farrell. The novel is a cross between a domestic suspense and a hard-bitten crime story, opening with a mutilated body investigated by forensics…