When a teenage boy is brutally murdered in a small Alaskan town, the town immediately knows who is responsible. It is not a jealous, a jaded friend, or serial killer stalking the teenagers of Deadhart. The culprit is a far deadlier enemy, a member of the Colony, a vampyr.
Detective Barbara Atkins isn’t as confident.
In a world where an uneasy alliance exists between humans and vampyrs, Barbara knows that whenever someone turns up dead, a vampyr is immediately blamed. As a result, Barbara works for a government agency in charge of investigating all possible related vampyr incidents and determine if a vampyr is truly at fault. If they are, Barbara is authorized a cull.
Arriving in Deadhart, all the evidence seems to point to a vampyr culprit but as Barbara digs deeper and learns that old prejudices thrive in Deadhart, she begins to suspect that the young boy’s death may only be the start to unraveling a web of deception and old town secrets.
To begin, this is an excellent story to pull out during the cold dreary months of January and February where, if you live in a place like me, snow and cold weather are the norm. You immediately feel the coldness Deadhart is situated in and it adds to the reading experience. But it is not just the ambience that The Gathering succeeds at. This is a fast paced read that, while revealing a lot of information and including a large cast of characters, is never bogged down or feels to drag. The tension is continually built and leads to exciting reveals.
The world Ms. Tudor constructs around the vampyrs is excellently done and it makes the reader think these types of groups do actually exist. Of course, it doesn’t take the reader long to realize that the Colony is very much an allegory for how minorities are treated in the United States, but Ms. Tudor does make it her own and the story feels very original.
While The Gathering is classified as a horror novel, I would not describe it overall as very scary or gruesome. While there are scenes discussing violence and how someone was killed, it was not very graphic and I would say this would be the perfect book to pickup if you are new to the horror genre (like myself).
The ending gives the impression that a second book is possible and I do hope Ms. Tudor decides to continue Barbara’s adventures. I would certainly pick it up in a heartbeat.
5 out of 5 stars
Elderly Vivien Morris receives a letter from an old friend’s daughter, informing her that the daughter’s mother has passed away. With both her parents gone, the daughter asks Vivien how she came to know her family.
In 1940, Vivien was a dropout of Vassar College. Fed up with their daughter, Vivien’s parents pack her away to New York City to life with her theatrical aunt, Peg, in her crumbling theater house, hoping it will teach her a lesson and finally led Vivien to decide on what she values in her life. Instead, Vivien finds herself in a new world, filled with showgirls, sex, and freeing ambition. But when a lapse in judgement leads to Vivien being outcasted, she will have to decide just on who she wants to be.
City of Girls is very much a character study, focusing on one woman’s journey from girlhood into being a successful, well-rounded, and confident woman who learns she can’t rely on the approval of others to be happy. It’s a story that well resonate with a lot of people, regardless of gender. Often, at least in my own experience, life in your early years can feel overwhelming and it is can be easy to be swept up in the confusion of it all. But as Ms. Gilbert demonstrates in this story, that’s okay. The important lesson to be taken is to learn from your past mistakes and strive to be the person you want to be.
Concerning the plot itself, it does at time lags, particularly in the first half. There are some parts that Ms. Gilbert could have omitted from the story in order for it to flow better. The atmosphere is interesting and I loved exploring the world of a New York City showgirl. The family dynamics, not just with Vivien and her parents but also with her brother and aunt are fascinating to explore and the story does focus on the idea that family is not always who you are blood related to but the people you surround yourself with.
All that being said, it should be noted that while the summary of the story promises a nonstop adventure of showgirl life in the 1940s, it really is not. As I previously mentioned, this is very much a character study about a woman’s life, primarily focused in the 1940s but also exploring the New York City that came out of the Second World War in the 50s and 60s. Nonetheless, it is still a story worth diving into.
4 out of 5 stars.
And here we are. The best of 2024. Any last guesses? Was it the one you bet I would pick it?
My favorite book of 2024 goes to the post-World War Two thriller The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly.
What is it about? During World War Two Josie Anderson, the daughter of an American ambassador, and Arlette LaRue, a native Parisian and new mother, joined the French Resistance and became known as the Golden Doves, stealing many of the Nazis’ secrets and becoming heroes in Occupied France. But when they are finally arrested and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp, Josie and Arlette witness the true horrors of Hitler’s regime. Josie’s mother, a renowned Jewish singer, is experimented on by a sadistic Nazi doctor and Arlette’s young son is taken from her to be given to a “good” German family. Against the odds the two women survive and attempt to rebuild their lives in postwar America and France. Josie begins working for U.S. Army Intelligence but finds herself at odds with the American way of dealing with valuable Nazi war criminals and Arlette works at a cafe, still holding out hope that her son is alive. When both women are given an opportunity to achieve what they desire most, they immediately agree but will discover that while the war ended nearly a decade ago, they are still in just as much as danger as before.
Why did I love it? There is nothing that this book does not have. Told against a historical backdrop, filled with mystery, and thrilling until the very end. Josie and Arlette were among my favorite characters this year and each woman is well flushed out with defining characteristics and skills. Both stories are compelling and one can gather that Ms. Kelly did her research when constructing this story. Though a large book, it flies by and I was surprised at how fast I got through the story. After experiencing a dip in my historical fiction, I can say that The Golden Doves helped me bounce back and, if you are in a reading slump, this is the perfect book to pick out.
To read my full thoughts, check out my review at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/06/the-golden-doves-by-martha-hall-kelly-review/.
With that, this is my Best Books of 2024. Did you read any of my favorites from this year? What did you love this year? Happy New Year and I’ll see you all in 2025!
The silver spot goes to our first historical fiction to crack the top 10 as well as the first graphic novel to ever be featured on the Best Books list. It is Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.
What is it about? The year is 1979 and ten-year-old Marjane is living in Iran with her forward thinking parents. Smart and blessed with a rich imagination, Marjane has a happy childhood, a childhood that seems to drastically change by all the rumblings and changes occurring in Marjane’s country. Like many in Iran, Marjane’s parents protest against the Shah’s regime and demand change. When that does happen, Marjane’s life is changed forever. As the Ayatollah ushers in a new tyrannical regime Marjane and her family find themselves in challenging circumstances that ultimately leads them to make an impossible decision.
Why did I love it? It is sad to say but stories like Persepolis seem more timely than ever. Tyrannical regimes and actions to hinder the rights of women seem to be happening around the world with more frequency. It is times like these that can make it hard to pick up stories like Persepolis but I would argue that they need to be read more to fight back those who work to take anyone’s freedoms and rights. This is a moving but heart wrenching story that while adults should certainly read, it should also be shared with the younger generation (and by that I mean early teenage years since there is content that isn’t suitable for younger readers). Marjane Satrapi shows that even in the most difficult of times there is still hope and people can still make an impact even when the odds seem impossible.
My full review of Persepolis can be found at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/06/persepolis-by-marjane-satrapi-review/.
We’ve made it to my top 3 books of 2024. Have you been able to guess yet what my favorite book of the year is? Taking the bronze spot is another snowy thriller that spins martial problems on it’s head; Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney.
What is it about? Adam and Amelia Wright are a married couple who should have separated a long time ago. But what will one more weekend together change? For Amelia, she’s hoping everything. For Adam, he thinks it is a waste of time in a marriage that has already passed its expiration date. They do love each other, but their relationship has seemingly desegrated under stress from work, their conflicting schedules, differing goals, and secrets they are both hiding from each other. So when Amelia wins a free weekend getaway to a remote chapel turned Airbnb in Scotland she can’t pass it up and drags Adam and their dog, Bob, along. But the romantic weekend Amelia has been hoping for vanishes when the couple realizes they aren’t alone.
Why did I love it? Martial problems in thrillers is not a new concept so it can be understandable while some people might skip Rock Paper Scissors. Yet I’m here to tell you that you would be cheating yourself out of a wild good time if you did. The setting for this story helps elevate it and the isolation Adam and Amelia begin to feel is palpable. Then, slowly, odd things begin to happen to them and it has you on the edge of your setting. But it is truly the ending of Rock Paper Scissors that got it to my #3 favorite book of the year. I’ve read a lot of thrillers in the past two years and yet I still had not anticipated how Ms. Feeney chose to end the story. For that reason alone, you should pick up this fast paced thriller during the wintery season.
Check out my full review at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/01/rock-paper-scissors-by-alice-feeney-review/.
Spot #4 goes to a new author on our countdown, Taylor Adams, and his nail biting thriller The Last Word.
What is it about? It’s official. Emma Carpenter has just read the worst book of her life. Well, that might be a stretch but it is certainly up there and Emma can’t help but vent her frustration in a one star review on Amazon. That should have been the end of the matter. That is until the author, H.G. Kane, messages Emma and asks her to take down her review. Emma refuses and Kane swears she’ll regret not doing as he ordered. Emma thinks nothing of it. But one night, a stranger appears outside the house she is taking care of. It’s the author, and he promises Emma she’ll find his next book very realistic. Too bad she won’t be around to read it.
Why did I love it? If you ask anyone who has spent some time living alone, they’ll tell you that while it is fun, exciting, and liberating, there can also be some scary moments. A strange noise in the middle of the night. An person passing by that you’ve never seen before. Brief moments that can send a shiver down your spine. But, 9.9 times out of 10, it ends up being nothing. But those 0.1 other times is what Taylor Adams plays with in The Last Word while also tackling the issue of social media and its impact on people’s mental health. Most of us can deal with the criticism we might receive online, but there are plenty of others who don’t and what they do with that rejection can be terrifying. Every page in this book is wrapped in nail biting tension and might not be for the faint of heart. Still, if you are a thriller fan, you would be remiss to miss out on this thriller.
For a full review head over to https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/03/the-last-word-by-taylor-adams-review/.
We are halfway there! Taking the fifth spot on our countdown is the dark academia mystery thriller The Maidens by Alex Michaelides.
What is it about? Therapist Mariana Andros is struggling. After losing her husband while on vacation in Greece, Mariana has attempted to bury her grief in her job. Surrounding herself with those struggling through life, Mariana consumes herself with work, believing it gives her a reason to get up everyday. Still, it can’t erase the hole in her heart. But Mariana’s grief is interrupted when she gets a frantic call from her niece, Zoe, at Oxford. Zoe’s closest friend has been murdered. With no other family near Zoe, Mariana rushes to her niece’s side and discovers that the murder victim was a member of a mysterious group of students called the Maidens, who study Greek under Edward Fosca. Though loved and adored by most, Mariana suspects Fosca is not as perfect as he is portrayed to be. Ignoring the advice of friends and fellow work professionals, Mariana decides to investigate Fosca and his Maidens in hopes of discovering the truth. But the truth is more of a Greek tragedy than a satisfying conclusion.
Why did I love it? Last year it was firmly established I am a dark academia girlie. A group of friends, studying the liberal arts, at an elite school or university and some sort of crime is committed? Sign me up. The Maidens continues the love for my genre while providing a twist by telling the story from the perspective of an adult not attending the university. This allows an extra layer of complexity to the story as the reader, along with Mariana, desperately tries to piece together the events that lead up to the murder of her niece’s best friend. But, since this is an Alex Michaelides book, that means we have an unreliable narrator. Can we believe everything she is saying, or is something more sinister afoot? If you are looking to continue your own journey with the dark academia genre and you haven’t had a chance to pick up The Maidens, don’t hesitate in the near year to pick this one up.
For my full review of The Maidens head over to https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/03/the-maidens-by-alex-michaelides/.
Coming in at #6 is a novella that hooks you from the start and doesn’t let you go until the very last word. It is Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio.
What is it about? At a small university, a group of insomniac adults meet in the graveyard of an abandoned church to smoke, talk, and pass away the evening hours. They hardly know each other, and yet share a bond that no one else can explain. They are haunted by their inability to sleep and find some solace in each other, even if they barely know anything deep about the person standing next to them. They work the graveyard shift, and that shift is about to become horrifying. When they come across a freshly dug grave, the group finds themselves in the middle of a terrifying experiment that they work to prove to the world before the night is over.
Why did I love it? It can be argued that novellas are harder to write than full length novels. Yes, one does not have to write as much but the writer must be able to create a compelling story at the right pace, create realistic characters, and wrap up the entire story in a neat little bow in under 200 pages (give or take). It can be a daunting task but one that Ms. Rio was able to pull off with expertise. While I did admit in my review of this thriller (see link: https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/11/graveyard-shift-by-m-l-rio-review/) that I wish the story had been longer, there can be no denying that Ms. Rio took the task of writing a novella and greatly excelled at it. The story takes off right away, yet somehow doesn’t feel rushed, and created numerous characters that felt real and authentic, even if each one of them is only given one or two chapters to focus on them and their motivations. It was an impossible story to put down and very worthy to be on anyone’s TBR list.
Spot #7 goes the newest release of one of my favorite authors, the lovely Lucy Foley’s The Midnight Feast.
What is it about? It is the opening weekend at The Manor, an exclusive resort that anyone who is anyone wants to stay at during it’s inaugural weekend. Every detail has been studied, planned, and executed. The Manor is poised for greatness, for prestige, and for success. People are excited, hastily booking their reservations, and packing their bags for a fun weekend. But not everyone is so happy about The Manor’s opening. The local townspeople resent it, believing it is intruding on their community. But while most are satisfied to grumble, others are taking decisive action. As the key players take their spots – the owner Francesca, her architect husband Owen, the mystery guest Bella, and the dish washer Eddie – dark secrets from the past force themselves to the surface and the forest The Manor is neighbored too is about to release one or two secrets of its own.
Why did I love it? It is no secret here that I’ve become a huge Lucy Foley fan. Her previous novels, The Paris Apartment and The Guest List, have appeared on my Best Books lists and it probably comes as no surprise that her newest release ended up here as well. The Midnight Feast continues Ms. Foley’s domination of the mystery genre, creating a complex story with multiple characters that is still easy to read and keeps you at the edge of your seat. While the ending does not shock as much as her two previous works, it does provide a good punch and satisfying end to a weekend that goes horribly wrong.
For all my thoughts about Ms. Foley’s newest release please head over to https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/08/the-midnight-feast-by-lucy-foley-review/.
The eighth spot is taken by a literary/mystery work that focuses on a current epidemic sweeping the United States of America. It is Long Bright River by Liz Moore.
What is it about? Mickey is quiet, shy, a single mother, and a police officer. Her sister, Kacey, is bold, outspoken, living on the streets, and addicted to opioids. In Philadelphia, rocked by the opioid crisis, this is not uncommon and Mickey is forced to watch her sister’s struggles from a distance, helpless in Kacey’s struggle. That is until Kacey goes missing at the same time as a string of murders begin to occur, targeting addicted women living on the streets. Despite orders from her superiors and those who love her to not investigate further, Mickey can’t stop herself from getting involved because she too has an addiction and that is Kacey.
Why did I love it? Despite being a chunky book, Long Bright River was one of the fastest reads I experienced this year. The subject matter is timely and many will undoubtedly be triggered or moved by the content. Ms. Moore manages to craft a story that gets at the heart of this tragedy. The story felt authentic and the bond between Mickey and Kacey was expertly crafted. While there is a murder mystery aspect to the story, this is also very much a character study and a fascinating one at that. Unflinching in it’s depiction of addiction, both of drugs and other relationships/beliefs/issues, Long Bright River is an unmissable novel from an author who I will be reading more from in 2025.
My full review of Long Bright River can be found at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/01/long-bright-river-by-liz-moore-review/.
