My 5 star books of 2015

I read 122 books in 2015 and only had 6 five star books. Some of these probably received 5 stars because I was so relieved to read a good book. I actually quit many books this year, something I rarely do. I included the dates in case you want to read a more detailed review on my blog.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins - girl on a train sees something mysterious in a backyard. Lots of twists and turns. This is being made into a movie starring Emily Blunt. Feb 13

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Stein - a young girl with a different viewpoint than most loses her parents and finds a different sort of family. June 4

The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister - a magician tells her life story to the policeman who has arrested her for the murder of her husband. June 22

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny - A boy goes missing in Three Pines and retired Inspector Gamache finds much more in the forest. Aug 27

The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler - a young man becomes obsessed with finding the history of his family after learning many of the women in his family have drowned. Sept 11

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith ( J.K. Rowling) - the 3rd Cormoran Strike novel. A serial killer targets Cormoran and his assistant. Dec 14

Dec 20 - 26, 2015

No books this week. I'm in the process of reading S by J.J. Abrams. It's an interactive book with lots of writing in the margins and I have to keep two story lines straight. I might not finish it this year.

Dec 13 - 19, 2015

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (pseudonym of J.K. Rowling) - Cormoran Strike is back and he and his assistant, Robin, become intimately involved with a serial killer when a package is sent to Robin containing a human limb. Cormoran is certain the killer is one of four men from his past. I absolutely had no clue until it was revealed at the very end. This is probably the darkest of the series.

5 stars - but that may be partly because I was thrilled to read a good book.

Dec 6 - 12, 2015

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly - Jo Montfort has it all: a comfortable life in a wealthy home, a loving family, and soon a fiance from a prominent family. But then her father is killed while cleaning his gun (or is he?) and her life rapidly changes. Set in the 1890's, this is full of the contrasts between affluent women and poor women all yearning for the same thing: freedom. I somehow missed that this is a YA book. The young heroine torn between heretofore unknown passion for an unsuitable man and the sensible choice should have been my clue. The mystery part is pretty good but I had most of it figured out long before our heroine.

2.5 stars

Nov 29 - Dec 5, 2015

I didn't read any books this week!

Nov 22 - 28, 2015

A Fatal Twist of Lemon by Patrice Greenwood - a cozy mystery in every sense, this is set in a tea room in Santa Fe. Right before opening day, one of Ellen's patrons is murdered at a thank-you tea. And the arrogant cop thinks she did it. A pleasant read and I'll probably continue the series when I need a light book.

3 stars
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An Eye for Murder by Libby Fischer Hellmann - this story begins in Prague during WWII and then fast forwards to present day. Ellie Foreman, a documentary filmmaker, finds herself caught up in murder, politics, and secrets. Some things fit together too easily but the end was pretty good. Published in 2002, this is the first in a series of 15 books. The editing of the Kindle version was pretty bad, making conversations difficult to follow. This and the previous book were part of a bundle, not sure if I'll continue this series.

2.5 stars

Nov 15 - 21, 2015

The Golem of Paris by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman - this is the 2nd Jacob Lev book involving the mystic Jewish story of golems. Since the end of the first book, Jacob has been working on old case files. He comes across a case that eventually takes him to Paris. The story also goes back in time to tell us what happened to Jacob's mother to make her have a mental breakdown. The previous book is summed up concisely and quickly, which I always appreciate. A mystery with fantasy elements.

4 stars