Reader Roundup: November 2024
Colder weather, darker days, earlier nights are downsides of winter, although on the upside those are inducements for more reading opportunities. Here are the five star reads for November.
The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson
What starts out as an aging man’s hope to find that one woman who made a difference in his life sixty years ago turns into a story of a young woman on the verge of thirty who needs to find herself. Told in a simple, yet captivating style, the story interweaves the story of several people who find unexpected answers through second chances.
The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Another perspective of WWII by way of the Betchley Park codebreakers is presented by the talented partnership of Sepetys and Sheinkin. Told through the alternating voice lens of brother and sister, Jakob and Elizabeth, their relationship is reminiscent of Enola Holmes and her brother Sherlock. The story provides engaging historical insights on the valuable work on breaking the Enigma, the coding machine. There is also the riddle of whether Jakob and Lizzie’s mother is alive, if she is a spy, and what her contribution to the war effort might be. Witty, informative, and appealing characters help the story transcend the age designation of middle grade or young adult.
Crook o’Lune by E.C.R. Lorac
Though it is the #38th entry of this particular detective series, it can be read as a standalone. Its languid pace and attention to detail creates a relaxed approach to a puzzling set of circumstances that involve sheep rustling, arson, and manslaughter. Think All Creatures Great and Small mashed with an Agatha Christie detective plot.
What types of reads brighten your long dark nights of winter?
Pam Webb 