\u00a0 I’d hoped to share my books of 2024 post a little earlier this year but I have a new role at work which is taking up all my time and attention. However, after another year which saw me enjoy some wonderful books, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to look back at some of the titles that particularly resonated with me. As always, this blog is my place to recommend books and I don’t have the time or energy to finish or to write about the books I haven’t enjoyed.\u00a0If a review appears on Hair Past A Freckle it is a true endorsement.\u00a0<\/span>Reading is so subjective and I know I’m often affected by my mood when it comes to the books which really struck a chord with me, so if I reviewed your book this year and it doesn’t appear here, please know I enjoyed it, recommend it and am grateful to have spent time with your words.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Due to work commitments I read fewer books in 2024 but many were still absolute gems. Here, then are my brilliant 2024 Hall of Fame books, listed in reading order.<\/span><\/p>\n January – March<\/u><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n The Descent by Paul E. Hardisty<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n The Shadow Network by Tony Kent<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n Death Flight by Sarah Sultoon<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n Crow Moon by Suzy Aspley<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n City on Fire by Graham Bartlett<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n The Collapsing Wave by Doug Johnstone<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n April – June<\/u><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n The Midnight Man by Julie Anderson<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n The Kitchen by Simone Buchholz (tr. by Rachel Ward)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n The Estate by Denzil Meyrick<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n Long Time Dead by T.M. Payne<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n Boys Who Hurt by\u00a0Eva Bj\u00f6rg \u00c6gisd\u00f3ttir (tr. by Victoria Cribb)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n The Chamber by Will Dean<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n July – September<\/u><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Rewind by Joy Kluver<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n Prey by Vanda Symon<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n Living is a Problem by Doug Johnstone<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n The Torments by Michael J. Malone<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n October – December<\/u><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Something More to Say by Tony J. Forder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n The Burning Stones by Antti Tuomainen (tr. by David Hackston)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n Dark as Night by Lilja Sigurdard\u00f3ttir (tr. by Lorenza Garcia)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n The Christmas Stocking Murders by Denzil Meyrick<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n My Top Books of 2024<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n Now for my top eleven(!) books of the year; the first ten are listed in the order I read them, with my Book of 2024 at Number One! Click on the title to be taken to my full review of each book.<\/span><\/p>\n With its first-rate sense of place, Seven Days is a brilliantly engaging, compulsive and fast-paced thriller. It is also a perceptive, compassionate look at disappointment, forgiveness and the importance of family, even those which may not be typical. Twisty, tense and superbly characterised, this global race against time and across the world is a top read.\u00a0<\/span>Very highly recommended!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While obviously a work of fiction, the convincing portrayal of a puzzling, sensitive case is mesmerising. Although a decision is eventually reached, the thought-provoking exploration of justice juxtaposed against questions of guilt and culpability is fascinating. Compulsively twisty, beautifully empathetic and an achingly raw mystery; reading Finding Sophie means being put through an emotional wringer but it is absolutely worth it \u2013 what an exceptional book this is!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Hold Back the Night by Jessica Moor<\/a><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n Hold Back the Night is a powerful, affecting novel; it is heartrending and angry, and yet ultimately a hopeful story of love and redemption. I loved every word and very highly recommend it.<\/span><\/p>\n M.W. Craven weaves a complex tale exploring themes such as religious beliefs and intolerance, mental health and sexuality with a compassionate examination of fear and the need to belong, but while it may be heartrending, the storyline is irresistibly exciting and utterly compulsive throughout.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The Mercy Chair is exceptional and M.W. Craven is the consummate master of intense, dexterously plotted thrillers \u2013 I cannot wait to read what comes next!<\/span><\/p>\n Set in 1938, the narrative vividly evokes that brief period between the wars, and the atmospheric country house setting, with its dark history and layers of intrigue allows for the suspenseful drama to unfold amidst a captivating portrayal of society at that time.\u00a0 Cabaret Macabre is a hugely entertaining,\u00a0 ingeniously crafted Golden Age mystery, and one of my favourite reads this year. I very highly recommend it.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n By the very nature of its extraordinary subject, A Woman of Opinion was always going to be riveting but Sean Lusk also captures the authentic tone of the period effortlessly and it’s easy to believe that Mary guided his hand throughout. Truly exceptional, a book to savour \u2013 I loved it!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>J\u00f8rn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger’s electrifying narrative is irresistible and Victim is another exceptional instalment in a series which consistently offers the very best in crime fiction. The piercingly honest exploration of some distressing, tragic topics is heartrending and yet ultimately it is a novel imbued with the promise of hope. Thrilling, emotive and completely unmissable, I cannot recommend it highly enough.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n A Violent Heart is a nuanced, addictive thriller; David Fennell complements his nerve-shredding, serpentine plot with warmth, compassion and humour, always ensuring the victims are infused with their humanity. A stellar read and most definitely one of my favourite books this year, I whole-heartedly recommend it.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Persis must confront corruption, conspiracies, crime and sexual chemistry, and as her investigation takes her on a dramatic visit to Delhi before\u00a0 returning to Bombay, the transportive sense of place which is such a trademark of this series is as vibrant as ever. City of Destruction is one of those beautifully written, intelligent and gripping books which makes me grateful to be a reader; it’s an outstanding read and I cannot recommend it highly enough.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Hunted is a superlative read; this multifaceted, suspense thriller marries the nail-biting, manipulative world of geopolitics and counterterrorism with the universal desire to protect our families and to find a sense of belonging. Penetrating, powerful and emotional \u2013 I cannot recommend it highly enough.<\/span> Now for my Book of the Year 2024…<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n This is the book I was most excited to read this year and it more than lived up to all my expectations; I’ve been shouting about it since I read it first time and loved it at least as much the second time I read it and it is undoubtedly going to be one of my favourite books of all time.\u00a0 My book of the year is of course…<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Betrayal of Thomas True by A.J. West<\/span><\/p>\n In his author’s notes, A.J. West reminds us that this is a work of fiction, and certainly there are some almost fantastical elements woven into the intricately plotted storyline. However, Thomas True, Gabriel Griffin and the other mollies represent the real-life homosexual men of Georgian London whose bravery as they revelled in their authentic, often outrageous selves, in spite of the deathly penalties they risked, should be remembered and celebrated. I think they would be enormously proud to be brought back to life so vividly in The Betrayal of Thomas True. I couldn’t have loved this exceptional book any more; I laughed, I couldn’t breathe and I wept. Exciting, evocative, witty, heartbreaking and so, so beautiful; Thomas and Gabriel will be in my heart forever.<\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjVrPoF9Wi0Yf0bA5jMPMh2T4knKI-c1LF0_KZFBOUcxt2mBbwToocKq-XLqOdj2PLOG2OGhheLpONyuISmt-w604QEmBw1FahXyaEMOGqLNzqAsJftaC2Zg2gKMPfQB7GjA05MepuKVjizXsSFFgsl9cMMXGNL8NYVXdL-jc4ym2JkMDVk8llEA7NvBXw\/s1238\/imageedit_3_9900010373.jpg\")
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