Reading List 2025

I have the same goal for each year when it comes to reading. 25 books, minimum. That’s less than a book every two weeks. For someone who grew up a VORACIOUS reader, that should be a walk in the park.

And yet…

Once again, I have fallen short. My total for this year is 14. There’s good news and bad news in that. The bad news is that it’s clear I’m not over my pandemic inspired reading slump. My average over the last four years has been 15 books, so I’m a little shy of the average. Next year will be better.

I promise.

None of the books I read and reviewed this year finished below my three star (Worth A Look) rating. On the other hand, none finished above my four star (Recommended) rating. Nothing terrible but nothing great. As always, I remind you that these ratings are based on my opinion as a lifelong reader and storyteller. I need to get that disclaimer in early because I’m about to tick off a certain fan base.

Just missing my top 9/10 list is Mary Shelley’s iconic “Frankenstein”. While the story maintains its pivotal place in western gothic/horror, I found the writing less accessible than, say, “Dracula”. Writing from the 19th Century can be hit or miss for me. Stoker is late 1800’s, Dickens is mid- century and I have fewer issues with the use of language than I did with Shelley’s. Add into that the storytelling style. Much of this book takes place either off stage or inside the narrator’s head. Finally, the ending is dull. Georgian era readers enjoyed the long-winded valedictories between the two central characters, but I found them tedious. Thus, a solid “Worth A Look” recommendation. You may now gather your pitchforks and burning brands.

Here are the books I enjoyed the most, in no particular order. They are all 4 star recommendations. Links are to my full review.

Let me start with two non-fiction books:

• Honorable Treachery – A History of U.S. Intelligence by G.J.A O’Toole (1991) – I’ve always had a fascination for intelligence work and its history. This is a meticulous look at how our country gathered intelligence in both war and peace from prior to the American Revolution through the Second World War. Great stuff.
• The Field of Blood – Violence in Congress and the Road to Civil War by Joanne B. Freeman (2018) This is the history we are never taught. Violence, threats of violence, virtual gang warfare in both the streets of the nation’s capitol AND the aisles of Congress itself. We live in dysfunctional political times today, but it pales in comparison to what Freeman shows in this book. Stunning.

Now on to the fiction:

• The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (1860) – An internationally acclaimed author in his time, Collins is largely unknown today. This novel stands among the earliest examples of the modern murder mystery. While it started slow for me, it had me firmly involved by the end.
• The Grand Man – A Swedish Mystery by Florence Wetzel (2019) – The assassination of Swedish prime minister Olaf Palme was a blip on American media when it happened. The fracturing impact of it in Sweden serves as the foundation for this uptempo, wonderfully written mystery.
• Slow Horses by Mick Herron (2010) – I called it “Smiley for a new generation” and I stand by it. John Le Carre’s George Smiley remains the image of the seedy underside of the intelligence world. He looks like an Oxford don compared to the denizens of Slough House. A brilliant book and now a TV series.
• That Old Country Music by Kevin Barry (2020) The title threw me at first because I lumped the words country and music together instead of old and country. This is a brilliant collection of short stories about carefully drawn characters in Ireland. Some incredible writing.
• The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong (2023) A wonderful debut novel from Armstrong brings us strong characters (female main characters!), and a twisting mystery to solve. This was a lot of fun.
• You’re So Dead to Me – Grimdale Graveyard Mysteries, Book 1 by Steffanie Holmes (2023) – Ghost story and murder mystery with some sexy spiciness added in. Not something that’s a normal part of my reading, but I really enjoyed this one too.
• Monaco Unspoken – A Novel About The Things We Don’t Say by A. Moreau (2025) – I stumbled across this writer on social media. As “lostinathread” he posted stunning stories about people in the glittering alternate reality of the Principality of Monaco. The book gives him room to spread his storytelling wings. Probably the book with the greatest impact on me of the year.
• Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (2020) – Another brilliant series of books that are now a TV/streaming series. A group of retirees fill their hours with mysteries and murder. Good fun and fine writing. It’s witty, funny and sometimes sad.

That’s 2025 in the bag. You can read all my book reviews on the blog page! Here’s to an even better 2026.

Peace,

Jay