I haven't done one of these since September, so I figured I should jump back into the fray for the month of December.  There are some great topics coming up this month—I couldn't resist!  Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly meme and you should definitely join in.  Just click on over to The Broke and the Bookish to see what it's all about.  

One of my favorite things about a new year is checking out all the sparkly books it will be bringing us.  Here are ten on which I have my eye:  

Top Ten Books I'm Looking Forward to in the First Half of 2017 

1.  Returned by Kimberley Griffiths Little—I'm excited to see what happens in the finale of this YA Mesopotamian adventure/romance series.  I enjoy everything KGL writes, so this one is naturally at the top of my list.  Available February 7, 2017. 

2.  Caraval by Stephanie Garber—This YA novel sounds like an intriguing blend of adventure, magic, and romance.  What's not to love?  Available January 31, 2017.

3.  Wintersong by S. Jae Jones—This Phantom of the Opera-ish story sounds magical.  I want.  Available February 7, 2017.

4.  Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves—This YA novel about a girl who is Barren in a world of magic has intrigued me ever since I first heard about it.  Available March 28, 2017.

5.  In Farleigh Field by Rhys Brown—I received an ARC of this WWII novel the other day and can't wait to delve into it.  Available March 1, 2017.

6.  Follow Me Down by Sherri Smith—You all know I love me a good psychological thriller.  This one, about a woman who returns to her North Dakota hometown after her twin brother goes missing, sounds compelling.  Available March 21, 2017.

7.  Into the Water by Paula Hawkins—I enjoyed The Girl on the Train, so I've been anxious to see what Hawkins will do next.  I'm not sure what her newest is about, but that doesn't matter.  I'll read it no matter what.  Available May 2, 2017.

8.  One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus—YA mystery/thrillers are not exactly plentiful, so I get excited when I hear about one that sounds good.  In this one, five kids walk into detention, but only four come out.  How did Simon die?  And why?  Available May 30, 2017.

9.  Proof of Lies by Diana Rodriguez Wallach—Another YA mystery, this one is about a teen who's trying to solve the mystery of her sister's disappearance.  Available March 7, 2017.

10.  Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor—This YA novel, about a boy in search of a mythical lost city, sounds exciting and mysterious.  Available March 28, 2017.

What do you think?  Do any of these appeal to you?  What are you looking forward to reading in the first half of 2017?  I'd love to know.  Comment on this post and I'll happily return the favor.

Happy Top Ten Tuesday! 

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

With the recent death of her father, March Middleton has been left a penniless 21-year-old orphan with few prospects.  Being "unsuited to trade and too proud to go into service," she's relieved when her godfather offers to take her in.  March has never met Sidney Grice, but she learns some startling facts about her mysterious guardian on the way to his home in London.  The man, apparently, has made quite a name for himself as a brilliant, brave personal detective.  Not exactly a people person, Grice is civil to his new charge but hardly enthusiastic.

Fascinated by Grice's daring occupation, March longs for a taste of the excitement.  When a case presents itself, she offers to pay the client's fee if Grice agrees to investigate.  Reluctantly, the detective accepts.  Together, the unlikely duo look into the situation—a young woman has been stabbed to death, apparently by her husband.  The victim's mother insists her son-in-law is innocent.  March believes her.  Grice is less convinced.  Still, as the two dig deeper, they discover inconsistencies and clues that cast a new light on the crime.  The closer they get to the truth, the more dangerous the streets of East End grow for the curious pair.  Will March and her godfather live long enough to solve the case?  Or will they become the newest corpses discovered on the mean Whitechapel streets?

I don't know about you, but I enjoy a good Victorian mystery tale.  The Mangle Street Murders, the first in a new detective series by M.R.C. Kasasian, isn't my genre favorite, but I still found the story enjoyable.  Gruesome, mind you, but entertaining nonetheless.  March Middleton is a likable narrator—she's smart, determined, and more than capable of matching wits with her guardian.  Sidney Grice is an intriguing character in his own right, although the brilliant but socially awkward P.I. is fast becoming a cliché in crime fiction.  Still, The Mangle Street Murders is a compelling, atmospheric mystery that manages to be both bleak and funny.  Its setting can't help but be depressing, its subject matter gory and yet, I liked this one overall.  True, I haven't found myself clamoring for a sequel; that, however, is probably only a matter of time.  

(Readalikes:  Reminded me of the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn [A Curious Beginning; and A Perilous Undertaking] and Scotland Yard's Murder Squad series  [The Yard; The Black Country; The Blue Girl (novella); The Devil's Workshop; The Harvest Man; Lost and Gone Forever; and Dark House] by Alex Grecian)

Grade: 

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Newlyweds Jack and Grace Angel have what looks like the perfect marriage.  Their luxurious Spring Eaton home is one of the finest in Surrey.  Wealthy, successful, and beautiful, they're the perfect couple.  Except that their gleaming facade is a gilded lie.  Jack is a sadistic psychopath, Grace his terrified prisoner.  Desperate to save her sister—a 17-year-old with Down Syndrome—from Jack's clutches, Grace must find a way to break free.  But, how can she escape her personal Fort Knox?  Will anyone believe her incredible claims about her refined lawyer husband?  How can she save her sister when she can't even protect herself?

Behind Closed Doors, a debut novel by B.A. Paris, has been touted as "2016's Answer to Gone Girl" (Women's Health), a chilling psychological thriller that is "Amazing!", "Brilliant!", and "Unputdownable!"  I agree that it's compelling; I had to keep reading just to find out how it would end.  But amazing and brilliant?  Meh.  Not only does the plot lack depth and complexity, but it also gets a little absurd.  Far-fetched.  I prefer my psychological thrillers to take a subtler approach, surprising me with clever twists.  Behind Closed Doors does not do this.  The story is engrossing, there's no denying that.  It's just not very original or satisfying overall.  For me, it didn't live up to the hype it's been receiving.  Not at all.  Bummer, that.

(Readalikes:  Reminds me of The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for brief, mild language (no F-bombs); violence, and disturbing subject matter

To the FTC, with love:  I received an ARC of Behind Closed Doors from the generous folks at St. Martin's Press.  Thank you!

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

After her mother dies, 32-year-old Samantha receives a box filled with the dead woman's keepsakes.  Sam is stunned to find, among them, evidence that her mother's childhood was much different than her mother ever let on.  In fact, a young Violet White was placed on an orphan train in 1900.  Stunned by this news, Sam longs to know her mother's real story.

In alternating chapters, the dead woman's tale is told.  It's a sad one, a story of poverty and abandonment sent against a grimy New York City background.  As Sam contrasts her own rocky relationship with motherhood with her mother's experience, she comes to understand some truths about herself and her family.

It's difficult to describe Mercy Train by Rae Meadows because it's a very episodic novel, without a lot of connectivity between elements.  Except for the orphan children, the characters are not very sympathetic.  I didn't feel connected to any of them, which made the whole story seem distant.  Perhaps this was done on purpose to reinforce the book's disconnection theme?  If so, it's not a storytelling device I enjoy.  The book also ended oddly, not pulling things together in a satisfying way.  All of this combined with the overall depressing nature of the novel just made it a difficult read for me.  I find the subject of orphan trains fascinating, but Mercy Train simply did not do it justice.  In the end, I found the book a depressing slog.  Ah, well.

(Readalikes:  Reminds me of Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline; We Rode the Orphan Trains by Andrea Warren; and a little of Wanderville by Wendy McClure)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for language (a dozen or so F-bombs plus milder expletives), violence, and mature subject matter 

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find