November 2024 Reads

 

November has probably been my most consistent month this year. Nine books and three audiobooks and each of them was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Some months there is usually a book or two that doesn't quite match up to the rest but November has been brilliant. I would recommend every single book this month. Hopefully there's enough of a mixture that you'll find something you might be interested in reading.

Nobody’s Hero by M. W. Craven, the much-anticipated sequel to Fearless, lived up to expectations. Anti-hero Ben Koenig, whose neurological disorder means he doesn’t feel fear, comes out of hiding to help solve why academics and professionals have been murdered. Trying to prevent a cataclysmic event from happening results in some ingenious, and stomach-churning, stand-offs.

A Serial Killer’s Guide To Marriage by Asia Mackay is a satirical look at a failing suburban marriage. Serial killer duo Haze and Fox have agreed to stop their killing spree and settle down now that they have a child. Unfortunately, Haze is struggling to come to terms with being a stay-at-home mother and frustration, resentment and mistrust begin to fester. The situation isn’t helped when she accidentally kills a man while out jogging and tries to hide it from her husband.

A bittersweet, yet uplifting read was The One Hundred Years Of Lenni And Margot by Marianne Cronin. Seventeen-year-old Lenni has just received the devastating news that her illness is terminal. During her enforced stay in hospital, she forms a strong bond with 83-year-old Margot. Together they start an art project, completing one hundred pictures based on their lives. While completing the project they share with each other stories of their lives.

The Stranger In The Room by Luca Veste is a psychological thriller. Three murders take place in a small town, while the police have no suspects everyone else is convinced they know who did it. Frustrated by the police’s inaction the mother of the most recent victim sets out to make the murderer confess. This is a story of grief and obsession, with a chilling conclusion.

How To Solve Murders Like A Lady by Hannah Dolby is the second book in a Victorian cosy crime series featuring Lady Violet Hamilton who is determined to push boundaries and become a lady detective. It is amusing to see what was once considered scandalous as Violet investigates the mysterious death of an outspoken member of society that may be linked to a doctor pushing dubious cures.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Fenney starts out as a missing person story when the wife of writer Grady Green disappears close to home. When Grady moves to a remote Scottish island a year later to overcome his writer’s block things become strange, almost surreal at times. There is definitely a sinister edge to this spooky tale.

Wanting to try something different I decided to read We’ll Prescribe You A Cat by Syou Ishida, a magical story about how cats can be beneficial in treating mental health. Five individuals seek help from a clinic tucked away down a narrow alley, little do they expect the treatments offered and the amazing results.

Serial killer Kitty Collins returns in I Bet You’d Look Good In A Coffin by Katy Brent. Kitty has been good since settling down with her boyfriend and joining a support group for angry women. When a misogynistic influencer targets Kitty she decides to start dealing with deviant men again by ridding the world of a TV presenter who sexually assaults young women.

I rounded the month off with Every Move You Make by C. L. Taylor, a terrifying story of how a stalker can impact a person’s life. Five people, all victims of stalking, form a support group. When one of them is murdered by their stalker the remaining people decide to take action so that they can reclaim their lives. Not only do you get a glimpse of how frightening it is to be stalked, but we also see how manipulative stalkers can be.

Another good month for audiobooks began with A Most Malicious Messenger by Katherine Black. This is the second in The Most Unusual Mysteries series, a slightly darker take on cosy crime. Someone in the small village of Blackheath is sending cryptic malicious text messages. When the target of one of the messages is murdered thoughts turn not only to who is sending them but who is the next target.

In Worst Idea Ever by Jane Fallon Georgia tries to boost her friend Lydia’s confidence by creating a fake Twitter follower, Patricia, who adores Lydia’s artwork. The plan backfires spectacularly when Lydia starts confiding in Patricia that she knows Georgia’s husband is having an affair. I loved all the twists and turns in this story.

My final audiobook of the month was a return to Beth O’Leary with The Wake-Up Call. Lucas and Izzy are receptionists in a quaint but crumbling hotel. The pair are complete opposites and their hostility frequently shows. When the pair are forced to work together to try and save the hotel they begin to understand each other a little better. The conclusion is obvious but learning about all the characters and the misunderstandings made this an enjoyable listen.

Publication dates to watch out for:-

A Serial Killer’s Guide To Marriage by Asia Mackay will be published on 14/1/25 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Stranger in The Room by Luca Veste will be published on 16/1/25 in paperback, ebook and audio format.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney will be published on 30/1/25 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

I Bet You’d Look Good In A Coffin by Katy Brent will be published on 30/1/25 in paperback, ebook and audio format.