This is my last monthly book review of the year 2024. December wasn’t a great reading month, as you will soon see, but I did read a couple of good books. So, this post includes my December 2024 book reviews.
I only managed to finish four books in December, as it was a super busy month for me. It’s okay though, I’m happy that I still read at all, considering. As expected, this will be a shorter post, but so it goes sometimes.
Without further ado, these are my December 2024 book reviews.
A Mother’s Love by Sara Baedel
In this latest Louise Rick thriller, she faces a new challenge as the head of a new department, The Mobile Task Unit. Away from her home in Copenhagen, Louise works with new colleagues she hasn’t met before. During the course of her investigation that involves the murder of an innkeeper and an apparent missing child, she needs to contact her ex, Eik. In order for him to lend a helping hand seeing that the case requires his special skills, she sets her ego aside and calls him.
That’s a challenge in itself, because they broke things off abruptly a while ago. She hasn’t come to grips with the heartbreak yet. She also contacts Camilla, her journalist friend who she can always count on in her personal as well as in her professional life. To top it all off, the death of her close neighbor’s companion adds to her stress.
Needless to say, Louise is not in the best frame of mind to find out who killed innkeeper Dorthe Hyllested and where the missing child is. But she, along with her newly-formed team, manages to solve both crimes in the end.
This was an enjoyable read, propulsive and fast-paced, although confusing at times. Louise and Camilla seemed to go through a disconnect of their own, as it is common in the series. It was a decent thriller, and I thank NetGalley and the publishers at Dutton for an advanced copy, but it didn’t wow me. The book is set to publish on March 11th 2025. I’m still glad I read it, and I would recommend it to those who love Nordic Noir thrillers.
Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates
An atmospheric read that was perfect for this time of year, Dead Of Winter was just an okay read for me. A lot of fellow bookstagrammers loved it, but I don’t share that opinion. Mind you, the twist at the end took me by surprise, but I find the book could’ve been a bit shorter. I’m over the abandoned cabins in the woods, locked-room mysteries, and characters that are all unlikable and untrustworthy. But for those who love those tropes, you will surely vibe with this book. It is categorized as a horror, but to me it’s more of a locked-room mystery. Appropriate reading in the colder months, I gave it three stars on Goodreads and Storygraph.
The Wolf by Samuel Bjork
On the other hand, this book by Samuel Bjork was much better in my opinion. The fourth in the Holger Munch and Mia Kruger series, this storyline happens before the previous three books. Hence, if you haven’t read them yet, this will give you the perfect preview of what’s to come in the investigator’s lives.
The author’s writing style is distinctive, but it still offers the chilly atmospheric vibe Nordic Noir lovers expect. It took me a while to get invested in the story, but once I did, it was hard to put the book down. The last third of the book flew by, and I didn’t see the ending coming. This tale of cat and mouse will keep you guessing until the end. I recommend this book for those of you who want to give Nordic Noir a try, or those who haven’t discovered the author yet.
Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic by Michael McCreary
Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic
A few of you may know that my grandson is on the spectrum. Hence, all books that tackle autism are appealing to me. This short book is written by a comedian, therefore it is light and easy to get into. I listened to it on audio while I was doing my puzzle, and it was a pleasant experience. It wasn’t a guide to how to treat those around you who are diagnosed with autism, rather the author’s personal experiences with how people view him. It was a quick read that I enjoyed and would be beneficial to those who are diagnosed, or the people close to them.
Concluding Words
This sums up my December 2024 book reviews. It was a short reading month, but I know January will be better.
I hope you guys have a great start to 2025, and I wish you all the best for the new year. Reading wise, I didn’t put any pressure on myself, since I know once my winter break is over I’ll go back to being super busy again. As long as I manage to squeeze in a few pages here and there, that’s good enough for me.
Have you set any reading goals for 2025, or personal ones? Let me know in the comment box below, and keep reading.
Until next time, fellow bookworms!
