10 Top Picks from My Goodreads TBR List
With the holidays coming, I’ve had to commence the horrid task of going through my Goodreads TBR list to decide on which books I am going to put on my wish list. There are over 200 books on my list, and though my friends and family love me, they are not going to buy me 200 books (I will continue to question their loyalty until they do). That being said, I made a list of books from my TBR that I was most excited to read so I did not put everyone into bankruptcy.
1. The Invention of Murder: How the Victorians Reveled in Death and Detection and Created Modern Crime by Judith Flanders
“In this fascinating exploration of murder in nineteenth century England, Judith Flanders examines some of the most gripping cases that captivated the Victorians and gave rise to the first detective fiction. . .” –Goodreads
There’s a lot of non-fiction on my list, but this one caught my eye immediately. Murder, Victorianism, AND crime fiction? It’s everything I love in one book. I was not aware that there was a fascination with murder in 19th century England, nor that it had such an influence in the creation of crime fiction, so I am eager to get my hands on this book and fill my head with murderous knowledge.
2. Outpost by Adam Baker
“Kasker Rampart: a derelict refinery platform moored in the Arctic Ocean. A skeleton crew of fifteen fight boredom and despair as they wait for a relief ship to take them home. But the world beyond their frozen wasteland has gone to hell. Cities lie ravaged by a global pandemic. One by one TV channels die, replaced by silent wavebands. The Rampart crew are marooned. They must survive the long Arctic winter, then make their way home alone. They battle starvation and hypothermia, unaware that the deadly contagion that has devastated the world is heading their way... “ –Goodreads
This is actually the first book in a series, so hopefully I enjoy it and can add even MORE books to my list (I don’t have a problem). I’m a sucker for apocalypse fiction, and it’s a topic with which I have a morbid fascination. I’m well aware I will die very quickly, but I can only hope preparing through books will increase my chances of survival, at least a little bit. I was immediately drawn in by the promise of isolation, but then the description starts talking about a pandemic, and I was sold.
3. The Alienist by Caleb Carr
“The year is 1896. The city is New York. Newspaper reporter John Schuyler Moore is summoned by his friend Dr. Laszlo Kreizler—a psychologist, or “alienist”—to view the horribly mutilated body of an adolescent boy abandoned on the unfinished Williamsburg Bridge. From there the two embark on a revolutionary effort in criminology: creating a psychological profile of the perpetrator based on the details of his crimes. Their dangerous quest takes them into the tortured past and twisted mind of a murderer who will kill again before their hunt is over.” –Goodreads
More 19th century murder! I have wanted to read this book for a while, and with a show coming out, I figure now was as good a time as any. If I were any good at science, I would go into forensics. The history of the field is incredibly interesting to me, and I cannot wait to see how it is applied in this novel.
4. Smashed, Squashed, Splattered, Chewed, Chunked and Spewed by Lance Carbuncle
“Idjit Galoot has a problem. He escaped from his master's house for a brief romp around town, seeking out easy targets such as bitches in heat, fresh roadkill and unguarded garbage cans. When he returns to his house, the aged basset hound discovers that his master has packed up their belongings and moved to Florida without him. "Smashed, Squashed, Splattered, Chewed, Chunked and Spewed" is the story of Idjit Galoot's ne'er do well owner and his efforts to work his way back to the dog that he loves. Along the way, Idjit's owner encounters Christian terrorists, swamp-dwelling taxidermists, carnies, a b-list poopie-groupie, bluesmen on the run from a trickster deity, and the Florida Skunk Ape.” –Goodreads
I found this book on a random list on Goodreads Listopia, and holy moly, that description! This book sticks out from the rest of my list like a sore thumb, but I was immediately intrigued. A dog named Idjit? Christian terrorists? Taxidermists? What is going on in this book??? I can’t wait to find out.
5. In the Woods by Tana French
“As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours. Twenty years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a twelve-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox—his partner and closest friend—find themselves investigating a case chillingly similar to the previous unsolved mystery.” –Goodreads
“Stephanie, don’t you have enough books about murder?” NO. Never have, never will. Crime thrillers involving children never fail to shake me to the core, AND this book has a thing called the Dublin Murder Squad. What’s not to look forward to? This is also part of a series, so you know what that means. MORE BOOKS.
6. As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes and Joe Layden
“From actor Cary Elwes, who played the iconic role of Westley in The Princess Bride, comes a first-person account and behind-the-scenes look at the making of the cult classic film filled with never-before-told stories, exclusive photographs, and interviews with costars Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Mandy Patinkin, as well as author and screenwriter William Goldman, producer Norman Lear, and director Rob Reiner.” –Goodreads
1. I love Princess Bride. It’s a classic, it’s hilarious, and it’s my childhood. 2. I ADORE Mandy Patinkin, so you know I slammed that “Want to Read” button the second I saw this on the Goodreads app. I am really excited to read stories from the set and see how the movie impacted the cast as it has impacted the fans.
7. Origin by Dan Brown
“Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology and religious iconology, arrives at the ultramodern Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend a major announcement—the unveiling of a discovery that “will change the face of science forever.” The evening’s host is Edmond Kirsch, a forty-year-old billionaire and futurist whose dazzling high-tech inventions and audacious predictions have made him a renowned global figure. . . the meticulously orchestrated evening suddenly erupts into chaos, and Kirsch’s precious discovery teeters on the brink of being lost forever. Reeling and facing an imminent threat, Langdon is forced into a desperate bid to escape Bilbao. With him is Ambra Vidal, the elegant museum director who worked with Kirsch to stage the provocative event. Together they flee to Barcelona on a perilous quest to locate a cryptic password that will unlock Kirsch’s secret.” –Goodreads
UGH, I love the Robert Langdon novels. Dan Brown is one of my biggest writing inspirations, so I can’t wait to shove more of his expertise into my brain. I was actually walking OUT of a bookstore when I saw this book. I had already checked out, so I fought my bookish desires and stopped myself from buying then, but mark me, I will get my hands on it.
8. Day Four by Sarah Lotz
“Four planes. Three survivors. One message. It seemed like the end of the world... but it wasn't. This, however, just might be. Four days into a five day singles cruise on the Gulf of Mexico, the ageing ship Beautiful Dreamer stops dead in the water. With no electricity and no cellular signals, the passengers and crew have no way to call for help. But everyone is certain that rescue teams will come looking for them soon. All they have to do is wait. That is, until the toilets stop working and the food begins to run out. When the body of a woman is discovered in her cabin the passengers start to panic. There's a murderer on board the Beautiful Dreamer... and maybe something worse.” –Goodreads
You’re all probably tired of me talking about The Three by now, but lookie! The sequel! The end of the first book left me with a lot of questions, so I am eager to have them answered in book two. First planes, now a cruise ship? Sarah Lotz is determined to ensure that I never travel ever again.
9. Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips
“The zoo is nearly empty as Joan and her four-year-old son soak up the last few moments of playtime. They are happy, and the day has been close to perfect. But what Joan sees as she hustles her son toward the exit gate minutes before closing time sends her sprinting back into the zoo, her child in her arms. And for the next three hours—the entire scope of the novel—she keeps on running. Joan’s intimate knowledge of her son and of the zoo itself—the hidden pathways and under-renovation exhibits, the best spots on the carousel and overstocked snack machines—is all that keeps them a step ahead of danger.” –Goodreads
I read this description, and now I just really want to know what this woman and her son are running from in this zoo. Do the animals get loose? Are gunmen running through the gates? Is there a pushy zoo representative trying to sell season passes? Whoever wrote this description did a great job of capturing my interest.
10. The Dead Women of Juárez by Sam Hawken.
“A visceral crime novel based on the true story of mass murder in a Mexican border town. In the last twenty years, over 3000 women have disappeared from Ciudad Juárez, on the border between Mexico and the USA. Sam Hawken takes this story of mass murder and abduction and around it weaves the story of Kelly Courter, a washed up boxer from Texas, who doesn't mind playing the stooge in the ring, so long as he gets paid.Courter is sucked into the underworld of organised crime that flourishes in the city, soon finding himself in way over his head. As his life spins out of control he becomes obsessed with seeking the truth about the female victims of Juárez.” –Goodreads
Ah, yes, more true crime, because I am determined to destroy any trust I have in other people. I have a pretty good idea of what happened to the 3000 women that went missing from Ciudad Juárez, but that’s definitely not stopping me from reading this and confirming my theory.
Have you read any of these books? What did you think?
