Another year down, an another reading challenge crushed! In 2019, I was drawn to books set in new places. I continued my fascination with compelling but unlikable characters and, in retrospect, I clearly didn’t read enough non-fiction. I’ve linked to the books I recommend.
Anthologies/collections
Fishy Business, ed. Linda Rodriguez (my story “Exit Interview” was published in this anthology of Sisters in Crime Guppy chapter members!) Ghost Stories, ed. Tanya Eby (audio-only; my story “The Clockmaker” was included!) Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell (this collection was so good I hated to finish the last story and give it back to the friend who lent it to me but at the same time I hated to keep it in the house with its whisper of “why aren’t you writing like this?”) The Ostrich Street Anthology, ed. Ashley Melucci (A collection from Prague writers!) Strange Stones by Peter Hessler Rogues, ed. George RR Martin Wrong Turn, ed. Tanya Eby 
Literary fiction/contemporary fiction/women’s fiction
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty (As you can see, I was on a huge Liane Moriarty kick this year!) The Vegetarian by Han Kang The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Less by Andrew Sean Greer City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver Something Might Happen by Julie Myerson Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (We went to Naples so I was curious! I enjoyed this but I don’t know if I’ll read the sequels.) Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult (One of the only books from this year I don’t recommend. It follows a character falsely accused of rape. Maybe edgy when it came out but a hard plot to sit down and enjoy now.) 
Mystery & thrillers
The Marsh King’s Daughter by Karen Dionne (So! Good!) The Lost Man by Jane Harper (This, The Current, The Marsh King’s Daughter and the Inheritance Trilogy were my favorite reads this year.) The Current by Tim Johnston (I want to write like this guy. Great book.) The Gatherer by Colleen Winter (I met Colleen at ThrillerFest in 2017 and am excited to recommend her debut futuristic adventure story set in Canada) Little Voices by Vanessa Lillie (Vanessa and I are in an online writers group. I loved this twisty novel—her first—which came out this year!) Dark Picasso by Rick Homan (Rick is a fellow member of Sisters in Crime and the Guppies. I beta-read a previous installment in this series. Love the characters and the art plots!) Hunting Annabelle by Wendy Heard (This was a dark, twisty, fun book that I bought because I listen to the author’s podcast Unlikeable Female Characters. Check both out!) The Lost Night by Andrea Bartz (I bought this one because the author was on the aforementioned podcast. An exciting read set in New York City.) The Tourist Trail by John Yunker (I loved the setting of this one—a penguin sanctuary at the southernmost tip of South America—and the environmentalist plot and subplot) Keep This to Yourself by Tom Ryan (I recommend this to anyone who enjoys young adult mysteries! Really good small-town plot.) My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (I read this for the Nigerian setting but the plot was just as interesting.) The Killer Next Door by Alex Marwood Trust Me by Hank Phillippi Ryan Pretty Girls by Karen Slaughter Wicked Girls by Alex Marwood Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey Skeleton Run by John DeBoer (The author is a Twitter friend of mine. I enjoyed this thriller and will seek out more of his work!) Scrublands by Chris Hammer (Set in Australia—I read it while we were preparing to go on our own trip there this summer.) In a Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie This Night’s Foul Work by Fred Vargas (Read this for the French setting, which was fun. But the plot did not work for me.) The Forgotten Girls by Alexa Steele Next Girl to Die by Dea Poirier The Paris Diversion by Chris Pavone (still! so! many! lists!) The Suspect by Fiona Barton Blinded by Stephen White Simisola by Ruth Rendell The Fifth Woman by Henning Mankell Swimsuit by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro Death of the Demon by Anne Holt Nemesis by Agatha Christie Killer Takes All by Erica Spindler Shocking Pink by Erica Spindler Night Film by Marisha Pessl (This was a strange book but after a few months of reflection, I think I kind of loved it, kind of hated it. It was original, at least!) A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn (Read it because of the controversy. If you’re not familiar, enjoy the ride!) Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton A Stranger in the House by Shari LaPena Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (A re-read. Sadly, I didn’t like the new movie with Kenneth Branagh—did you?) Night Moves by Jonathan Kellerman Bone Box by Faye Kellerman (I love love love this author but this novel’s plot was super tone-deaf (it centered on a transwoman who Rina Decker finds murdered and did not pull off the balancing act required for that subject). I can’t recommend it.) 
Nonfiction
When by Daniel Pink (I’m going to need to read this again so it soaks in!) The Last Days of August by Jon Ronson (An Audible original about bullying and the porn industry. I’m counting it as a book.)
Sci Fi/fantasy
The Inheritance Trilogy (The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, The Broken Kingdoms, The Kingdom of Gods) by NK Jemisin (As a whole, one of my favorite reads this year) The Light Between Worlds by Laura Weymouth (Sad but compelling Narnia tribute. The author is a Twitter friend of mine. Can’t wait for her next title!) Melmoth by Sarah Perry (This is a quiet, weird, fantasy set in Prague and if you like creepy stuff you should read it.) Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler (I enjoyed this but didn't realize when I started it that she never finished the storyline in this series.) A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R R Martin (Read before I watched GOT S8, so my positive thoughts about this book are from a happier time.) What were your favorite reads last year?
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