2021 is gonna be my year!!!

1. The Return by Rachel Harrison

Overall I liked the book. I will admit the "twist ending" was a bit much for me, but Harrison managed to pull it off in the end.

2. The Swimmer by Joakim Zander

I liked the book overall, but it's not one I would normally read. It has a lot of political/government intrigue, almost a spy novel. It is definitely a book that you need to read quickly. There are multiple story lines, characters, and timelines that don't lend themselves to a leisurely read. (This appears to be the first in a series, but I didn't discover that until AFTER I'd finished it. I hate when that happens.)

3. Please Look After Mom by Kyung-sook Shin

This book had been sitting in my TBR pile for quite some time. It's a Korean book, so I think a little was lost in the translation. Overall, it was an eye-opening read.

The matriarch of the family goes missing, left behind accidentally on a subway platform. Each "chapter" is told from a different family member's point of view. What ties everything together is that no one in the family really knew who Mom was.

The eye-opening part of it all is that oftentimes we don't know anything about the people we are closest to. It's not until someone is gone that we try to figure out who they were. (Make sure you have some tissues nearby.)

4. Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards

Mira really needs to get home for Christmas, but a snowstorm cancels her connecting flight. Harper - Mira's previous flight's seatmate and a total stranger - has a solution: rent a car and get everyone home. Everyone? Brecken, Josh, and Kayla will be along for the ride.

Soon it becomes obvious the weather isn't the only danger on this road trip. Mira learns her four traveling companions are strangers to each other. Each has a secret, and one doesn't want the group to reach its final destination.

As car accidents and crimes occur and personal items disappear, Mira discovers something that will change everything.

Will she make it home for the holidays?

The book was definitely a fast read, and it was worth the time. There were a few places where things were a little too easily solved, a little too pat. And the ending left me with almost as many questions as answers. I will, however, give Natalie D. Richards credit for creating a twist I didn't see coming.

5. Killing the Mob: The Fight Against Organized Crime in America by Bill O'Reilly

I'm not a huge Bill O'Reilly fan, but I really liked this book. It was the first of the Killing Series I've read, so I may have to go back and check out some of the other titles.

6. The Chill by Scott Carson

After days of constant rain, the dam at Chilewaukee reservoir - The Chill to locals - is about to burst. Just beneath the surface of the water is what's left of Galesburg, a town that was flooded to help build The Chill, which was meant to help meet the water needs of New York City. Now a cast of characters (the local sheriff, a Department of Environmental Protection officer, the officer's father, the sheriff's wayward son, a dam engineer/inspector, and several of Galesburg's "former" residents) is working to either prevent or cause a catastrophe. What happens when a town's residents hold a grudge...even into the afterlife?

This supernatural thriller was one that disappointed more than it satisfied. 1) The story was about 50-75 pages too long. There were some detailed descriptions that just went on and on and on. The editor didn't do his/her job very well. 2) Each chapter is told from a different point of view. Switching the POV every few pages was a bit like whiplash after a while.

Update: I just discovered Scott Carson is the pen name for Michael Koryta. I've read some of his other work, and I definitely can see his hand in this story now.

7. Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl

I'm feeling lazy and don't want to write a full-fledged synopsis for the book. Here are the high points:

1) It's a young adult novel.
2) It involves a group of friends and a near-death experience.
3) It also involves a mystery...or two.
4) It's weird.

I liked the book even though it has a pretty cliched cast of characters and fairly predictable ending.

8. Home Before Dark: A Novel by Riley Sager

I enjoyed the Amityville Horror vibe, but was a bit disappointed by the ending. It felt rushed to say the least.