📚 Books I Read 2023

Below is a list of the books I have read in 2023, so far. They are organized in reverse chronological order. When I finish a book, it gets added to the top of the list. Five stars is the highest rating, one is the lowest.

TitleAuthorFormatGenreSubgenreRatingNotes
The WagerDavid Grannebooknonfictionadventure⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The HollowAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐⭐
Murder in the Mews and Other StoriesAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐
Five Little PigsAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐The same recounting gets repeated over and over and over again. The ending is satisfying, but it's a slog to get to that point.
The Murder at the VicarageAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐⭐I like Poirot as a character more than Marple, but the Marple mysteries tend to be more consistent than the Poirots. Poirot has higher highs, but lower lows.
Light BringerPierce Brownebookfictionfantasy⭐⭐⭐See my notes here.
The Moving FingerAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐⭐Quite the collection of characters. I was wrong about the killer.
Crook ManifestoColson Whiteheadebookfictioncrime drama⭐⭐⭐⭐The sequel to Harlem Shuffle. Whitehead is a two-time Pulitzer winner. Well worth a read.
The Girl with the Dragon TattooStieg Larssonpaperbackfictioncrime thriller⭐⭐⭐See my notes here.
Moonflower MurdersAnthony Horowitzebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐I guessed the Pünd mystery, but not the Ryeland. Fantastic sequel. I want more books than just a trilogy. There are nine Pünd "novels." There should be nine Ryeland novels as well.
Magpie MurdersAnthony Horowitzebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐⭐Consists of a story within a story, so you get two mysteries for the price of one. See my notes here.
The RithmatistBrandon Sandersonebookfictionsci-fi/fantasy⭐⭐⭐A fun YA book. It's only the first in a forthcoming series, so it feels a bit incomplete.
4:50 from PaddingtonAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐A Miss Marple.
Whose Body?Dorothy Sayersebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐Somewhat straightforward. At least Wimsey isn't boring.
Cards on the TableAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐One of the few Poirots that is unsolvable to the reader.
Evil Under the SunAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐
Gaudy NightDorothy Sayersebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐⭐If Vane is indeed based on the author's self, then boy did Sayers have an ego.
Dead Man's FollyAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐
By the Pricking of My ThumbsAgatha Christieebookfictioncrime thriller⭐⭐⭐A Tommy and Tuppence. Weaker than the first two.
Murder in MesopotamiaAgatha Christieaudiobookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐
The Autobiography of Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklinaudiobooknonfictionbiography⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐So many lessons to take away.
N or M?Agatha Christieebookfictioncrime thriller⭐⭐⭐⭐Another Tommy and Tuppence novel.
Poirot InvestigatesAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐⭐Excellent short stories.
Pastoral SongJames Rebanksaudiobooknonfiction⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Modern farming has gone too far, and we are starting to pay the price for it.
Hallowe'en PartyAgatha Christieaudiobookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐
The Secret AdversaryAgatha Christieebookfictioncrime thriller⭐⭐⭐⭐A Tommy and Tuppence novel.
The Mysterious Affair at StylesAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐The very first Poirot novel.
The Sun Also RisesErnest Hemingwayebookfictionliterary⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hercule Poirot's ChristmasAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐Very little to do with Christmas.
Death on the NileAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Murder on the LinksAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐Hastings at his most annoying.
The Illustrated ManRay Bradburyebookfictionsci-fi/fantasy⭐⭐⭐⭐Scary and accurate dystopian stories.
EnduranceAlfred Lansingebooknonfictionadventure⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Peril at End HouseAgatha Christieebookficitonmystery⭐⭐⭐⭐Underrated and clever.
The Library BookSusan Orleanebookficitonmystery⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Big FourAgatha Christieebookficitoncrime thriller⭐⭐A major departure from the usual Poirot novel. More crime thriller than mystery.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowGabrielle Zevinebookficitonliterary⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐A moving story with many lessons about life, loss, friendship, and creative collaboration.
After the FuneralAgatha Christieebookficitonmystery⭐⭐⭐Clever but immediately solvable.
The Body in the LibraryAgatha Christieebookficitonmystery⭐⭐⭐My first Miss Marple.
The River of DoubtCandace Millardebooknonfictionadventure⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐So good. It's more about the expedition and the Amazon than Teddy Roosevelt.
The Mystery of the Blue TrainAgatha Christieebookfictionmystery⭐⭐⭐Based on a short story, so the outcome was spoiled for me.