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/.

Now we move to our #9 best book of 2024. It goes to our first and only sequel to make the list, the second book in the Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano, Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead.

What is it about? Taking up immediately after the events of the first book, this second installment follows the adventures of Finlay Donovan, her loyal sidekick Vero, and the hot detective, Nick. I won’t say much about the plot in case you haven’t yet picked up the first story, but this next one in the series maintains the spirit and fun of that first.

Why did I love it? Whenever I enter a second installment of any series, I always make sure to temper my expectations. After all, falling in love a second time can often feel like lightening striking twice. Thankfully, it certainly did with Knocks ‘Em Dead. Ms. Cosimano continues this fun franchise with a fresh story while artfully balancing humor and drama in this book that reinforces my idea that the Finlay Donovan series is an excellent getaway from reality. Book number three is on my TBR list for 2025. Here’s hoping the memento keeps on going!

Read my full review at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/05/finlay-donovan-knocks-em-dead-by-elle-cosimano-review/.

Let the countdown begin! Yesterday I listed my honorable mentions for best books of 2024 and now we move to spot #10. Kicking off this list is Ruth Ware’s snowy thriller, One By One.

What is it about? The music app, Snoop, has taken over the music industry, allowing users to “snoop” on other listeners and their music preferences. With the company expected to continue to grow, the employees of Snoop head to a remote ski resort in the French Alps to discuss strategy and next steps. Everyone is excited by the app’s success and the little getaway trip. Except for former employee Liz, who knows her former colleagues all too well. Things are only made worse when the group becomes stranded in their chalet, leading to an unraveling of sanity that leads to the occupants disappearing, one by one.

Why did I love it? There is something about a snowy thriller that excites me. Perhaps it is the seemingly cozy and innocent atmosphere, or that these types of incidents (being stranded without power) can happen anywhere, leading you to wonder what you would do in that situation. Whatever the case by, One By One is an exciting thriller that expertly builds tension. The mystery itself is also compelling and the ending caps off this horrifying tale in a masterful way.

Head over to https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/01/one-by-one-by-ruth-ware-review/ for my full review.

Hello fellow readers and welcome to the first day in my countdown to the best books of 2024. Kicking off our list are three honorable mentions that didn’t quite meet the cut but are still worth the read nonetheless. They are The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren, 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn, and I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys.

What are they about? Starting off light, The Paradise Problem follows Anna Green and Liam “West” Weston, who entered into a marriage of convenience while in college to gain access to cheap housing. But once they graduated, they divorced and went their own ways. Or so Anna thought. She is more than a little surprised when West suddenly appears at her apartment, asking her to accompany him to his sister’s lavish and expensive wedding. Oh, and did I forget to mention they never legally divorced? The nonfiction 102 Minutes by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn is fairly self explanatory, but takes the reader minute by minute of the 9/11 terror attacks, following first responders, victims’ families, survivors, and those who watched it all unfold. Finally, I Must Betray You takes the reader to 1989 Communist Romania and follows teenager Cristian, who decides to take the ultimate step of rebellion, by revealing the horrors of the government’s tyrannical regime to the outside world. But he is willing to risk everything?

Why did I love them? These three books could not be more different; a romance, a nonfiction, and a historical thriller. Yet, these uniquely different works all excel at what they are trying to accomplish. For The Paradise Problem that is romance and situational humor, 102 Minutes‘ meticulous research does justice to both the victims and survivors of that tragic day, and I Must Betray You takes a dark page of history and shows that, even in times of great challenge and fear, one can always find the light. If you are looking to dip your toes into different genres, anyone of these are a fabulous place to start.

If you are interested in reading more about my thoughts, head to https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/07/the-paradise-problem-by-christina-lauren-review/ for my review of The Paradise Problem and https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/02/i-must-betray-you-by-ruta-sepetys-review/ for my review of I Must Betray You.