Kevin Tipple said his list of favorite books read in 2024 includes thirteen titles because he just couldn’t decide which three books to take off the list.
If you follow the blog, you know Kevin Tipple’s Corner Annex here where he shares reviews when I need help.Kevin’s own blog is called Kevin’s Corner, so it only makes sense that he has a Corner Annex here. Check out Kevin’s blog, https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/. And, he’s included links to his reviews on his blog with each book on this list. Thank you, Kevin!
As Lesa put out the call awhile back, I have created my list. “My Favorite 13” if you will.
Several are part of series that should be read in order. Others are the first books in what
I hope will become series.
Please remember that I remain very slow reading wise. The books selected refer to my
personal tastes, biases, and all that jazz. I am not saying that these are the best books
published. I am stating that they were my favorites during the past year. In each case,
they allowed me to escape my life here in the real world and that is no small feat. So, in
no particular order and without further explanation….
The Life and Death of Rose Doucette: A Novel by Harry Hunsicker brings readers to
Dallas, Texas, and private investigator Dylan Fisher. A superb mystery, and one hopes
the start of a series, the read is full of Dallas area landmarks. References that are often
not positive and may bring a snicker while delighting those of us born and raised in this
city. A city where not everything is golden and good. A great read and well worth your
time. (My full review is here. https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2024/10/review-life-and-death-of-rose-doucette.html
The Troubling Death of Maddy Benson: A Samuel Craddock Mystery by Terry
Shames deftly deals with a hard subject while entertaining readers with a complicated
mystery. A missing woman, a murder, politics and health care in Texas, and a lot more is
at work here. The latest in a great series is another very good read. (My full review is here – https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2024/10/review-troubling-death-of-maddy-benson.html
Blind to Midnight: A Nick Ryan Novel by Reed Farrel Coleman is the second book in
the Nick Ryan series that began with Sleepless City. Nick Ryan continues to work
cases as a sort of fixer and has a wide latitude to solve problems as a NYC police
detective. This book builds off the previous one, like all good series do, so they should
be read in order. (My full review is here – https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2024/08/review-blind-to-midnight-nick-ryan.html.
Shades of Mercy: A Porter Beck Mystery by Bruce Borgos is the second in the series
that began with The Bitter Past: A Novel. This one might be better than the first. That
first book was really good too. Nevada Sherriff Porter Beck deals with government
operatives, death and destruction, and a lot more in a great series that should, most
definitely, be read in order. (My full review is here – https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2024/07/review-shades-of-mercy-porter-beck.html
The latest in the series, The Burning: A Novel by Linda Castillo, finds Kate Burkholder
and John Tomasetti two months into their marriage. Readers of my reviews knows that I
have been a huge fan since the beginning. It has been a long time coming and the
marriage finally happened. The newlyweds are blissfully happy. Especially Chief of
Police Kate Burkholder as life is pretty good these days. Working the gruesome murder
of Milan Swanz results in a complicated and twisty read that also reveals a bit more
Kate’s history and just how important family is to her. (My full review is here. https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2024/07/review-burning-novel-by-linda-castillo.html
The latest in another series that should also be read in order, sees Maine Game
Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch return in Pitch Dark: A Novel by Paul Doiron.
Newly married, Bowditch is in the middle of an intense personal matter when he gets a
phone call. Game Warden Brandon Barstow is a young warden and unsure of himself,
but thinks he might have a missing person’s case. (The full review is here. https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2024/06/review-pitch-dark-novel-by-paul-doiron.html)
A Lonesome Place for Dying: A Novel by Nolan Chase takes the reader to Blaine,
Washington, in this very good police procedural. Chief of Police Ethan Brand has a body
just outside of town and it was very definitely murder. That might be the easiest of his
many problems to solve. A very complicated police procedural that is full of rich small
town characters, a complicated case, and a lot more are at work here. I really hope this
is the launch book of a new series. (My full review is here. https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2024/05/review-lonesome-place-for-dying-novel.html)
Eli North is a drunk. He is also a deputy thanks to his mom who is the Sheriff. They both
have reason to regret his choices in Northwoods: A Novel by Amy Pease. Finding a
dead child at the resort on a Wisconsin lake, with another child missing, means Eli is in
a mess, professionally and personally. What follows is a highly atmospheric and
enjoyable read. One hopes this is also the first book of a series. (My full review is here. https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2024/05/review-northwoods-novel-by-amy-pease.html
All The Rage In Texas: An Al Quinn Novel by Russ Hall is the latest reading in the
long running and very good series that started with To Hell And Gone In Texas. Road
rage leads to escalating violence putting retired Sheriff’s Department Detective Al Quinn
and his extended family in considerable danger. This is a fast paced action read with
occasional humor. (My full review is here. https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2024/04/review-all-rage-in-texas-al-quinn-novel.html)
As Home Fires: A Sheriff Hank Worth Mystery by Claire Booth begins, Sheriff Hank
Worth is sitting in church. He is attending the funeral of Dr. Michael Whittaker when he,
and many first responders in attendance, get the alert of a tragedy that will rock the
local area. This latest book in the series that began with The Branson Beauty is a very
good read. (My review is here. https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2024/04/review-home-fires-sheriff-hank-worth.html)
It would not be a favorites list from me without the latest in this long running series by
Steven F. Havill. Perfect Opportunity: A Posadas County Mystery features Bill
Gastner who still roams the roads of Posada County day or night. A recent thing he saw
as he was driving plays the major role in this complicated and very enjoyable read. (My
review is here. https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2024/03/review-perfect-opportunity-posadas.html)
The fifth book in the series finds Eve Ronin dealing with a lot in Dream Town by Lee
Goldberg. A case caused by the discovery of human remains, another case caused by
celebrity status, and a lot more is at work here in a complex police procedural that pulls
the reader along at a rapid pace. So too is the occasional flash of humor or sardonic
whit as a character comments on the players and the myths that Hollywood spins for
our viewing pleasure. (My review is here. https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2024/01/review-dream-town-eve-ronin-book-five.html)
Casey Carson knew she was in trouble as soon as soon as Javier Ramirez opened the
door in Obey All Laws: A Probation Case Files Mystery by Cindy Goyette. When she
went out to his home to let him know that she was his new probation officer, she had no
idea that he was at least six foot four, bulked out thanks to his recent stay in an Arizona
Department of Corrections facility, or that he was a member of one of the very
dangerous Phoenix area gangs. He is most displeased to see her. In the violent
aftermath, her cousin, who had sent her out there in the first place, goes missing and
things soon dangerously escalate. A very good first book in the series, the next
installment releases soon. (My review is here. https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2024/01/review-obey-all-laws-probation-case.html)
There you have it. Some folks have five favorites. Others have ten. I offer you my
thirteen favorites that allowed me to escape from the real world for hours. I hope they
work that way for you as well.
As always, thank you for reading.
As always, thank you for paying any attention, at all, to what I do.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2025
I didn’t realize Harry Hunsicker was still writing.
I didn’t either, Glen.
He most definitely is and is also attending Left Coast Crime this weekend.
Kevin, you have included several books from series where I have only read one book and need to continue on: the Posadas County Mysteries, the Kate Burkholder mysteries, and the Samuel Craddock mysteries. I also want to try Claire Booth’s series. Great list.
Thank you. You have a lot of good reading ahead.
The only one I’ve read was the Lee Goldberg book. I enjoy his books as well. Got his next preordered.
It is a good one.
What a great selection Kevin – these mini reviews have really made me want to read all of these books! I’ve read one or two of the Linda Castillo series, but none of the others.
Now to see if my library catalogue actually has any of the others….
And Kevin, I think many of us pay *lots* of attention to what you do because you do it so well. Your reviews are always so well written, and manage to whet the appetite without giving too much away – that’s a real skill, and one I feel I am still learning. (It’s why I never reveiw live comedy either….I just know I’d give away the jokes.)
Thank you for this interesting selection.
Thank you very much, Rosemary. I really appreciate it. Best of luck with the library hunt.
What a great list – some I have read and some are on hold at the library.
Thank you.
Great list, Kevin, and not just because I’ve read six of them and have a few more on my TBR list. Nice job.
Thank you.
Hi Kevin, and thanks for an interesting list with useful reviews. I appreciate it when you recommend reading a series in order, so I can make a note to look for the first book instead of reading the one you’ve reviewed. The only book on the list that I’ve read is the Terry Shames, which I thought was excellent.
Thank you, Kim. I am a big fan of reading series in order. Some series make doing so vitally important.
Thanks Kevin. You make all your choices sound interesting. I actually own two of them already(!) but haven’t read them yet – Northwoods, and the first in Claire Booth’s series – Branson Beauty. Then I’ve now added three others to my wish list (The Life and Death of Rose Doucette, A Lonesome Place for Dying, and will look out for the first in Paul Doiron’s Bowditch series) More books. Yay!
Thank you. More books is always a good thing, Lindy.
Great list! I’m adding a few to my list. I love the Claire Booth series and hoping she has a new one out soon.
Thank you, Bev. Me too. I just looked, in hope, and don’t see anything yet.
Big time thank you, Lesa, for having me back.