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Welcome to my favorites list — a continuation of “Novel Ideas,” a book review column I wrote for 18 years.
I’ll regularly suggest new books here, presented in a snappy new format.
These are the stories I’ll share when you ask, “read anything good lately?”
These are the books that have captivated me with well-drawn characters and plots that move like runaway trains.
Each favorite has a place of honor on my bookshelf, cherished friends I’m happy to suggest.
Page On! Enjoy!
"Murder at Gull's Nest," Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Here’s an endorsement. Though I’m not a fan of mysteries, I was gobsmacked by the first book in a who-dun-it series featuring a...
cstucky2
Apr 122 min read
7 views
"Rabbit Moon" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Lindsey, a red-haired American girl who works in the bustling city of Shanghai is out late when tragedy strikes. A driver high on rice...
cstucky2
Apr 12 min read
13 views
"The Jackal's Mistress" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
I became a Chris Bohjalian fan in 2003 with the publication of “The Buffalo Soldier.” Since then, this talented writer has churned out...
cstucky2
Mar 263 min read
19 views
"The Women on Platform Two" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Using rich, engaging characters, Laura Anthony immediately draws us into “The Women on Platform Two,” a novel that enlightens and...
cstucky2
Mar 173 min read
16 views
"Nesting" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Irish author Roiani O’Donnell tackles the complex issues women face escaping their abusive husbands in the searing must-read, “Nesting: A...
cstucky2
Mar 113 min read
13 views
"Broken Country," Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
The lush beauty of North Dorset comes to life in “Broken Country,” a brilliant, creatively structured novel by Claire Leslie Hall certain...
cstucky2
Mar 42 min read
31 views
"We Would Never" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Families have bonds that cement them for life, despite troubles that might arise between siblings and parents. But sometimes the thread...
cstucky2
Feb 252 min read
22 views
"The Dollhouse Academy" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Suspend reality and dive into the “The Dollhouse Academy,” an addictive thriller by Margariita Montimore. It’s a heck of a lot of fun,...
cstucky2
Feb 182 min read
26 views
"Three Days in June" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
There are writers whose work we never miss—favorite authors we return to, revisiting them like old friends. Anne Tyler is at the top of...
cstucky2
Feb 102 min read
28 views
"Isola," Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Heart in my throat, I absorbed “Isola,” a riveting work of historical fiction, a novel of survival, its characters experiencing the...
cstucky2
Feb 42 min read
88 views
"What Happened to the McCrays?" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Author Tracey Lange knows families, as evidenced by a favorite of mine, “We Are the Brennans,” (2021). In her recent literary offering,...
cstucky2
Jan 232 min read
17 views
"The Business Trip" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Readers will be in for a wild, unpredictable ride with “The Business Trip,” a mystery/thriller by Jessie Garcia who states in her...
cstucky2
Jan 142 min read
19 views
"The Heart of Winter" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
They only come around only so often, books that call you to your reading spot, demand your attention, beckoning to you like a siren....
cstucky2
Jan 72 min read
89 views
"Cher: The Memoir"
The beat goes on for the indomitable Cher in her new release, “Cher: The Memoir,” published in two parts, the next book hitting...
cstucky2
Nov 30, 20243 min read
19 views
"Ina Garten: A Memoir, Be Ready when the Luck Comes" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
If you’re like me you have some of her cookbooks, which include down-to-earth recipes for everyday meals. There’s not a hint of fussy in...
cstucky2
Nov 16, 20242 min read
19 views
"Intermezzo" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Beautifully written, “Intermezzo,” by Sally Rooney, opens with Peter, age 32, a Dublin lawyer, and his brother Ivan, age 22, a chess...
cstucky2
Nov 7, 20242 min read
18 views
"The Mesmerist" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Caroline Woods takes a page from history, combining fact with fiction, to create “The Mesmerist” an absorbing historical fiction novel...
cstucky2
Oct 17, 20242 min read
16 views
"The Sequel" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
It takes quite an imagination to conjure up and carry through the complicated plot line and wicked surprises in “The Sequel,” by Jean...
cstucky2
Oct 9, 20243 min read
38 views
"Here One Moment" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
I had a good cry after I finished “Here One Moment,” so touched by the wisdom and wonderfulness of Liane Moriarty’s new novel. I loved...
cstucky2
Sep 11, 20242 min read
322 views
"Madwoman" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Domestic abuse is center stage in “Madwoman” a gripping mystery/thriller by Chelsea Bieker. Though this subject is frequently written...
cstucky2
Sep 3, 20242 min read
25 views
"Five-Star Stranger: A Novel"| Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Imagine renting yourself out—acting a part and when the gig’s over checking your reviews on the Five-Star Stranger App. As a seasoned...
cstucky2
Aug 30, 20242 min read
16 views
"Peggy" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Art collector and socialite Peggy Guggenheim makes a fascinating subject for the page turner “Peggy: A Novel.” This marvelous, intimate...
cstucky2
Aug 22, 20242 min read
19 views
"Hum: A Novel" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
A mother makes a supreme sacrifice that changes her life in “Hum” by Helen Phillips, a dystopian novel that grabs you by the throat and...
cstucky2
Aug 6, 20242 min read
18 views
"The Lion Women of Tehran" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
It’s magical to pick up a book and become one with the story. I knew I had a goodie in my hands with “The Lion Women of Tehran,” by...
cstucky2
Jul 28, 20242 min read
50 views
"The God of the Woods," | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
As soon as I started “The God of the Woods,” I was mystified and held captive. Author Liz Moore was immediately in control of my psyche,...
cstucky2
Jul 9, 20243 min read
995 views
"The Bear" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Twenty-something sisters Elena and Sam live with their ailing mother on San Juan Island in the “The Bear,” by Julia Phillips, a novel...
cstucky2
Jul 3, 20242 min read
24 views
"All the Colors of the Dark"| Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
I finished “All the Colors of the Dark” with a sigh knowing I’d been immersed in an upcoming classic, a novel that would be one of my...
cstucky2
Jun 25, 20243 min read
554 views
"Same as It Ever Was" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Domestic bliss is something Julia Ames doesn’t have in “Same as it Ever Was,” a thought-provoking novel about love, marriage, parenthood...
cstucky2
Jun 18, 20242 min read
31 views
"When We Were Silent" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
“When We Were Silent” is an addictive novel by Fiona McPhillips about a subject that’s all too common, appearing in headlines we discuss...
cstucky2
Jun 4, 20242 min read
48 views
"Daughters of Shandong" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
A heartfelt family story set in China in the 1940s, when the Communists and Nationalists vehemently vied for power in the country. In a...
cstucky2
May 21, 20243 min read
25 views
"The Return of Ellie Black" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Hikers in Washington State find her—the teenager who goes missing from her home in Coldwell, Washington. The girl was supposed to be...
cstucky2
May 7, 20242 min read
36 views
"Real Americans" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
This week marks the publication of a certain bestseller—“Real Americans,” by Rachel Khong. It’s a beautifully written novel with rich...
cstucky2
May 1, 20243 min read
37 views
"Safe and Sound" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Missouri author Laura McHugh returns with her newest thriller “Safe and Sound,” a page turner set in the Show Me State. Local readers...
cstucky2
Apr 23, 20243 min read
44 views
"Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Salman Rushdie’s just-released memoir “Knife” details the horrific assault and subsequent recovery from a near-fatal stabbing two years...
cstucky2
Apr 17, 20243 min read
10 views
"What Happend to Nina?" Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Promoted as a thriller, “What Happened to Nina?, by Dervla McTiernan, is a compelling read, but unlike other books in this genre it...
cstucky2
Apr 5, 20242 min read
20 views
"Here After" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Somber, personal, heart-wrenching and wise describes Amy Lin’s gripping memoir, “Here After.” The Canadian author was widowed at 31,...
cstucky2
Mar 27, 20242 min read
49 views
"James" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
The ingenuity, heart and craftsmanship of “James” left me aghast in amazement. Author Percival Everett, a Pulitzer Prize Finalist, will...
cstucky2
Mar 18, 20242 min read
84 views
"Annie Bot" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
“Get outside your box,” I told myself, picking up a copy of “Annie Bot,” by Sierra Greer, a contemporary novel about A.I., featuring a...
cstucky2
Mar 14, 20242 min read
35 views
"The Great Divide" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
In “The Great Divide,” a historical fiction must-read by Cristina Henríquez, readers are treated to an immersive story about the building...
cstucky2
Mar 6, 20243 min read
133 views
"After Annie" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
We all have favorite authors we follow, waiting for another of their treasures to feed us as we sit transfixed, amazed at their craft....
cstucky2
Feb 27, 20242 min read
37 views
"The Teacher" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
“The Teacher,” by Freida McFadden, is a read-it-in-one-sitting thriller that I totally raced through. While I thought a couple of times...
cstucky2
Feb 13, 20242 min read
134 views
"The Women" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Popular, prolific author Kristin Hannah has made a name for herself with a long list of bestsellers over the years, including “The...
cstucky2
Feb 6, 20242 min read
90 views
"Small Town Sins" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
News about "Small Town Sins" just reappeared because it’s been nominated for a Mystery Writers Edgar Award, in the debut category....
cstucky2
Jan 26, 20242 min read
23 views
"The Fury" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
The narrator alone is reason enough to dig into “The Fury,” by Alex Michaelides, a bestselling author known for his psychological...
cstucky2
Jan 16, 20242 min read
113 views
"We Must not Think of Ourselves" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
In the gripping historical novel “We Must Not Think of Ourselves,” set in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II, the main character, an...
cstucky2
Jan 9, 20242 min read
45 views
"The Storm We Made" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Kick off the New Year with a stunning book from novelist Vanessa Chan. Her debut, “The Storm We Made,” is an absolute gem, historical...
cstucky2
Jan 2, 20242 min read
52 views
"The Mystery Guest" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
She’s back—Molly Gray, the endearing main character who debuted in “The Maid," published in 2021, a marvelous, fun mystery by Nita Prose....
cstucky2
Dec 11, 20232 min read
25 views
"The Berry Pickers: A Novel" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Indigenous people from Nova Scotia, who annually journeyed to Maine to pick blueberries, are center stage in the page turner, “The Berry...
cstucky2
Dec 3, 20232 min read
33 views
"The Little Liar" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
The cover of Mitch Albom’s newest book, “The Little Liar,” foreshadows its compelling narrative. Autumnal light fades into the sunset as...
cstucky2
Nov 24, 20232 min read
46 views
"Absolution: A Novel" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Alice McDermott offers readers a beautiful literary experience with her new novel “Absolution” a thought-provoking, nostalgic story set...
cstucky2
Nov 12, 20233 min read
54 views
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