I’m not big into numerology, but I think we can all agree that the numbers 2020 are just damn cool. No matter how you write it, there’s something magical about it. Twenty-twenty, 2020, two-zero, two-zero. Am I right?

So, it’s with anticipation for all the great things I’ll read in 2020, that I provide the best of what I read (or listened to) in 2019. In previous years, I read books and occasionally had an audio book going at the same time. This year, on any of the 365 days of 2019, my sitting and reading time was spent with a print or ebook and my walking, doing chores or driving time was spent listening to a different audio book. As a result, I listened more than read books this year. That said, by absorbing words while doing other things at the same time I was able to enjoy the written word even more than before.

As always, it was difficult to choose only a few to recognize.


Midnight Son, by James Dommek, Jr. – Not to be confused with The Midnight Son by Joe Nesbo … This Midnight Son is a free Audible Original. Unfortunately, originals are exclusive to Audible, which is truly sad, because I want everyone to hear this thing. It might be worth the free 30-day trial just for this story alone. (No, I don’t own Amazon stock).

With datelines and place markers, James Dommek, Jr. narrates this true story the way his Iñupiaq tribe ancestors would have told it. Like a podcast with cinema verite-style sounds and conversations, Dommek unfolds the winding tale of Teddy Kyle Smith, a man who grew up in the author’s small, remote Alaskan town and went on to became an actor. Smith had appeared in several independent films and had a burgeoning acting career going before he returned to Kayana, Alaska, his hometown, for a visit. What happens next is told by the narrator in a voice that demonstrates his shock and confusion.

I’ve seen other Audible Originals end up in print and available to a wider audience. I hope that happens to this story.


The Water Dancer, by Te-Nehisi Coats – Coats is known for his fearless nonfiction writing. His Between the World and Me, championed by both Oprah and Obama, set a shift in the tone of how people, especially black people, speak about race in a post-Obama world.  

With his fiction debut, he continues to demonstrate he will pull no punches in pursuit of his narrative. In The Water Dancer, Hiram Walker, the product of what happens when a master continually rapes his slaves, makes use of his photographic memory to better his lot. Later, with the help of Moses – Harriet Tubman – Walker is able to harness his powers of perfect visualization to change his world and the lives of the people closest to him.

Difficult to read at times, but other times hopeful, The Water Dancer is a, curl-up-in-bed-with-a-hot-cup-of-tea, kind of book. A satisfying escape.


Looking Glass, Murder Theory and Dark Pattern, by Andrew Mayne - Books two, three and four of Mayne’s mystery series, which started with The Naturalist. This straight up mystery-serial killer-series features the most unusual accidental sleuth I’ve ever read and mysteries which, by book three, I was finally starting to understand to a point where I would venture to make guesses.  Dr. Theo Cray is a computational biologist—whatever that means—who uses computerized models to follow patterns and to theorize who is killing people.

When you consider that Mayne is an illusionist by trade and went on tour with the likes of Copperfield, and, Pen and Teller, you begin to understand that this writer’s brain, and that of his main character, works a bit differently than your average human. This is a series I read one after the other, immediately starting the next as the previous ended. Page turners all, that will keep you up long past your bedtime.


The Girl Who Saved The King of Sweden, by Jonas JonassonI love a book that takes a bunch of serious subjects, forces you to see them from a completely different perspective, and makes you think the world’s problems aren’t as insurmountable as you thought.

Nombeko Mayeki, born in the poorest part of Soweto and destined to a short life of poverty and abuse, refuses to take her fate sitting down. She gets a job as a cleaner, escapes sexual assaults, teaches herself to read, advises her bosses, rubs elbows with world leaders and scrambles to save the world from nuclear annihilation, all the while holding the most positive attitude a person could have.

This story had me laughing out loud, going back and rereading to convince myself that what I’d just read was actually what I’d just read and completely sad when I was finished. This is one of those books that leaves you feeling as if anything else you pick up won’t hold a candle to the world you’ve just left. I was thrilled to hear that someone has optioned the book for a movie. One of my 2020 reads will be Jonasson’s first book, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.    


14, by Peter Clines – Now this book is just plain freaky, but once you get through the set up – which admittedly is a bit slow – you’ll be hooked, and, much like the characters in the story, you will feel an impossible-to-resist urge to unravel the mystery.

Nate Tucker thinks his luck has changed for the better when he leases an incredible apartment in L. A. The deal came along at the perfect time, since Nate is out of work and money is tight. As the out-of-work Nate grows increasingly bored, his attention is drawn to one apartment in his new building that is closed behind a conspicuous padlock. The more Nate gets to know his new neighbors, the more he begins to realize they all have a strange story to tell in relation to that apartment.

A bit like the unusual mysteries in Lost or even Twin Peaks, the strangeness increases as the secrets unravel, and the reader is left to hope that the final solution is worth the journey. I think it is.

Directly after reading 14, I read Grady Hendrix’s, Horrorstör. A somewhat funny, somewhat horrifying tale that takes place in a store that closely resembles that big blue furniture store with yellow letters … Anyway, if I hadn’t read 14 first, Horrorstör might have made my top ten.  


The Book of Etta, and The Book of Flora, by Meg Elison. Last year, I saw The Book of the Unnamed Midwife on several, best of lists. Once I read it, I not only understood why it was so highly recommended, I was sucked into the other two books in the series, The Book of Etta and The Book of Flora.

In Ellison’s post-apocalyptic world, live births are extremely rare and female births even rarer. In short, women are literally at a premium. Enslaved, bought and sold, traded and abused, the world is a dark and dangerous place if you have boobs and a vajajay.

By the second and third books, Ellison expands her exploration to ask questions like, what kind of power does a woman have over the men who want her? What happens to relationships when the opportunity for sis-gendered love is so rare? More importantly, when procreation is next to impossible and even dangerous, what is the value of gender in the first place?  

A bit like Harlan Ellison’s (no relation, I checked), 1969, A Boy and His Dog, each community has their own way of dealing with the new reality, some much more honest and accepting than others. I think this series is important in our world as we all become more informed about  gender neutrality and fluidity.  


The Tumbling Turner Sisters, by Juliette Fay – Part of the reason I picked this one up is because, when we were kids, my sisters and I took dance lessons together and each year, had a routine we practiced and performed. I’d always wanted to make a living somehow, dancing and singing like Shirley Temple … only with my sisters.

So this story, about a family of women who take to the vaudeville stage in a desperate attempt to keep a roof over their heads, appealed to me. The girls grow into women on the road, improving their act and learning lessons about life. With a glimpse into what vaudeville was like in 1919, this story is like Water For Elephants but on the stage instead of the circus. I loved this one.    


The Worldship Humility, The Code Book series by RR Haywood. Another book which started as an Audible Original, but is now available in ebook and paperback and we’re all the better for it. It's no secret that I'm an unabashed RR Haywood fan and will read anything he puts out. For a new series, I thought this got off to a good start.

This post-apocalyptic story finds the last of earth’s humans living on a fleet of ships aimlessly puttering through the dark universe while they use unmanned drones to desperately search for a livable planet that can replace the one they destroyed. I know Haywood is mad at work on the next book in this series featuring Yasmine, a petty thief who wants to live on the upper decks, and Sam, an airlock operator, bored with his on-ship existence.

Yasmine learns about Sam's knack with technology and comes up with a scheme she hopes will buy her a ticket to utopia. The two of them get up to some mischief that is both funny and dangerous.  

I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.


An Heir to Thorns and Steel, By Vow and Royal Blood Bath and On Wings of Bone and Glass, the Blood Ladders Trilogy, by M.C.A. Hogarth – I don’t remember why I first started reading this series. I don’t know if someone recommended it, or if I just lucked into it on a one-click wish, but once I started, I couldn’t walk away.

Subject to constant pain and the humiliation of seizures, Morgan Locke feels he is imprisoned in a body that curses him daily. He wishes for something, anything to save him from his torture. What is it they say? Be careful what you wish for. An interesting cast of characters and creatures, journeys and quests that drag you along and a satisfying ending. Each book seems just long enough to keep you lost for a while.


And finally, Zero Hour, is book 1 in the Order of the Dragon series, by Tina Glasneck – I have to admit, I haven’t read this yet, but I was so excited to meet another black, female, fantasy/mystery author online, I had to include her work here. I downloaded my free copy of Zero Hour and plan to read it this weekend. Here’s how it’s described:

Vampires + Dark Magic = Zero Hour.

The road to destruction is only one tempting spell away.
What happens when an untrained seer possesses the most powerful grimoire ever to exist?

Leslie's a romance author, who happens to be conjuring magic. She's researching sigils for her latest Highlander romance, but her intentions have powered something sinister.


I love Tina's covers too.

I could go on and on about the great things I read this year. I couldn't even get to The Cutting Season, by Attica Locke -- another new favorite author of mine -- which tackles two mysteries at once. One modern day. The other during the dying days of slavery on the plantation where the story takes place.

Very close to my heart was Radio Girls, by Sarah-Jane Stratford. It's about the beginnings of the BBC and the role women played in the early years of radio production.

And it breaks my heart that I didn't include The Belles, by Dhonielle Clayton -- another author with a library of books I'm adding to my 2020 reading list. Her richly told fantasy takes place in a land called Orleans, where everyone is born grey and can only become beautiful with the help of a Belle. I loved it and wanted more.

Now, I'm working on my reading wish list for 2020. Which book did you read this year that stuck with you the longest? What was the best thing you read? And what are you looking forward to reading next year?

Like most people who write, I read a lot. I mean, a crazy amount. There's rarely a moment in my day when I’m not reading something. I also listen to audio books, which means I “read” almost twice as much as I ever have before, driving, cooking, walking, shopping, getting ready for work and everything in between. These days I’ll read one book in the traditional way, while listening to a different book throughout the day. Depending on the book, I’ll switch back and forth between the two versions. Since the audio version can often feel like watching a movie or play, I’ve also been known to read the entire book then listen to the audio version. Taking in a story in two different ways always reveals something new. Since audio books can be crazy expensive, I borrow them from the library which helps satisfy my endless craving for more.

Bottom line is, my consumption has risen this year, which makes choosing the best more difficult. I’m going to list ten, but they are in no particular order.

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

This damn book ruined me for other books for a long while. I downloaded it, read the first page and that was all it took. Not only did the story consume me completely until I finished, it clung to me like tar; sticky, dark and impossible to wipe off. A twelve-year-old slave, George Washington Black, is on a cruel sugar plantation that makes short lives of its chattel. The brother of Washington Black’s vicious master, Christopher, takes a liking to Washington Black, but we soon learn Christopher’s privilege is just as damaging as the master’s whip. Globetrotting adventures, hope, heartbreak and writing that leaves you in awe. I’m going to read everything Edugyan has ever written. One of her books will surely end up on my 2019 best of list.

Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones

I picked up Silver Sparrow because I’d been blown away by An American Marriage, the book Oprah has optioned for a movie and the one which has rocketed Jones to writing stardom. I’ve been Facebook friends with Jones since Silver Sparrow first came out but hadn’t gotten around to reading it. I’ve sort of lurked around her posts, watching as her recognition has grown and grown and grown. She’s had one hell of a year and I’m so happy for her.

In Silver Sparrow, an African American teenage girl learns her mother is, “the other woman.” The man who is her father, who comes and goes in the stretch limousine he drives for a living, is married to someone else. She becomes obsessed with her father’s other daughter and orchestrates occasions for their paths to cross. Jones demonstrates her skill in telling a story from multiple, sympathetic points of view, each one richly drawn and absorbing.

I am embarrassed to say I met Jones at the Decatur Book Festival this summer for the first time, face to face and was as tongue tied and senseless as a Beatles groupie. She was beautiful, calm and patient. I hope she forgets me so if I run into her again I can get a second chance at a first impression!

15 Lives of Harry August by Claire North

It’s the story for those of us who have wondered what life would be like if you could do it all over again knowing what you know now. Harry August, and a bunch of other people, discover they are immortal by living the same life over and over again. If you think this means they eventually get it right, consider there is a secret cabal who find their unusual lives threatening. North's writing is as incredibly interesting as this unusual story. I listened to the audio version and Peter Kinney’s characterizations of so many different voices was completely engrossing.

I’ve read many mixed reviews of this book. Often people say they try to slog through hoping it will get better. Others says it’s too confusing, yada yada yada. I suggest saving 15 Lives for a long weekend, or a vacation where you will have several uninterrupted hours to really dig into it. A little extra effort pays off in the end.

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel

This science fiction tale is told completely through interviews of the people participating in a crazy, secret project that results in consequences no one anticipated. It starts with the discovery of a gigantic, steel hand, about the size of a house, buried deep beneath the earth. I haven’t read the other two books in this three part series, but I intend to. Not only is the story unexpected and filled with surprises, the interview format is a curious writing device. The subjects aren’t always reliable, sometimes holding back information, other times providing too much. I applaud Neuvel for sticking to the restrictive format no matter what. The story is made more fascinating for it.

The Naturalist by Andrew Mayne

I smile when I think of this book. I almost forgot it since I read it in January. I remember thinking I'd started the year right with a great read. It belongs on this list since this is by far, the most unusual accidental sleuth I’ve ever read. Dr. Theo Cray is a computational biologist.

A computational what now?

This dude sees patterns and details everyone else misses. When he tries to use scientific conclusions to help solve a murder, he is dismissed and forced to do things on his own. For such a super intelligent guy, there are times when you want to kick him in the pants for doing stupid stuff, but you’re also amazed at how he pulls the facts together.

Mayne is a magician as well as a writer and you can see his sleight of hand at work here. There is a second book in the mystery series out now Looking Glass, and Murder Theory is slated for a March 2019 release. I’m adding both to my reading and listening list.

So You Want To talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

I’ve been black all my life and all my life I’ve struggled to explain things to people who aren’t black Americans. How do you explain the issues about race in this country? How did we get to this point? Why didn’t having a black president make racism go away? And what about slavery? This link to a Youtube talk Oluo gives, is just a taste of what you will find in her book. Oluo speaks to white people in these pages, but it is for people of all colors and races. I learned so much from her. Her wisdom and simple, nonjudgmental explanations were magical to me.

In the world we live in today, when white nationalism and hate crimes are on the rise and, well … Trump, this book was like a buoy that helped keep me afloat. A white woman friend suggested it to me and now I recommend it to anyone who will listen. Thanks again Jerri Bell!

I sat in on Oluo’s interview during the Decatur Book Festival as well this year. It was well worth the hour of my time, just as reading the book is worth every word consumed.

The Boy on The Bridge by M. J. Carey

Simply put, if you liked The Girl With All The Gifts, you’ll enjoy The Boy On The Bridge. It’s a different world, a different set of characters, a different reason for the end of the world and a different point in time, but Carey tells us the story with all the same skill and depth as the first book. I was sucked in from the beginning and had the same desperate desire to see what happens next. I enjoyed it just as much as the first book.

The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish

This is a delicious, absorbing read that bounces back and forth between modern day historians studying the centuries old writings of a rabbi, and the life of that rabbi in the 1660s. The story mirrors the relationships between the self-absorbed graduate student and the senior history expert struggling with her failing health, and the ailing rabbi and his young scribe who worries she will be persecuted if it is discovered she is doing what is forbidden for a woman – writing. Kadish expertly switches storylines and points of view seamlessly so you are unaware you're reading two separate books artfully melded together.

Fear by Bob Woodward

Ugh. I hate this cover but it is what it is.

This aptly titled book is just one of many that will be written about this period in our history. Woodward wrote this based on the administration’s first year. Think about that. Just one year. So much happens.

The fear comes in as you realize how well the stage is set for the second year. An out of control White House bouncing off the walls with policies that force us to remember we are  Americans ... jailed children, teargassed refugees, a midterm that shifted power and the looming results of investigation after investigation. This story isn’t over. Hopefully we all come out okay in the end.

The Undead 23: The Fort by R. R. Haywood

It’s hard to believe I’ve been reading this zombie apocalypse series through more than 25 books…a couple of days in the series carry over through more than one book and there are a couple of companion novels. No matter how many hundreds of thousands of words Haywood writes in this series, readers continue to beg for more. It’s funny, heartbreaking, fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable. I’ve read the entire series more than once and listened to it more than once and the funny parts still make me laugh. If you start from Day One, just know that was Haywood’s very first book. It takes him up to about Day Four before his mastery with characterization comes through. I can’t have a “best of” list without having at least one Haywood story included. By the way, Haywood’s Extracted series has been optioned for a movie. We’re still waiting for some smart producer to pick up The Undead world so we can enjoy it on the small screen.

That’s it. Those are my top ten selections out of the scores of books I read this year and it’s only November. I figure I can get a few more in before 2019 is here.

Read my recommendations along with those of a bunch of other authors in The Military Spouse Book Review blog. The lovely Andria Williams pulls this together each year featuring different authors in multiple posts. Keep checking in and sign up for updates. I get many of my reading list additions from TMSBR blog.

What were your favorite books this year? Suggestions and links are much appreciated!

Copyright 2024 M. L. Doyle | All Rights Reserved
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