My favorites of 2011, continued

(The first half of this list can be found here.)

Myracle, Lauren. Shine.

This is the story of 16-year-old Cat, whose one-time best friend Patrick was murdered in a hate killing in the small town of Black Creek, NC. It's a difficult story on a difficult subject, so be warned.
I reviewed it for VOYA earlier this year.


O'Donohue, Clair. Missing Persons (A Kate Conway Mystery).

From my review of June 28th:

Also the author of the Someday Quilts mystery series, much cozier than this first book of the Kate Conway series, O'Donohue writes from experience as a television producer of several programs for several networks, including truTV, TLC and The History Channel. Writing in the first person from Kate's point of view, the author somehow manages to allow the reader to draw her/his own conclusions rather than accepting what the character believes.

Penny, Louise. A Trick of the Light (Inspector Gamache #7)

From my Crime Fiction Collective review of August 22:

Each of Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Gamache novels has been outstanding, and each has seemed better than its predecessor. A Trick of the Light is no exception. As she has in the six earlier books, Ms. Penny draws us into the world of Gamache and Beauvoir and their team, and the isolated community of Three Pines. The policemen's relationship with the villagers doesn't hinder them from being objective, and all concerned are aware of this.

Rendell, Ruth. The Vault (Chief Inspector Wexford #23).

The retired (and bored) Wexford is asked to consult on a case by a former trainee, and accepts eagerly. But his investigation is interrupted by a family tragedy, casting Wexford in the role of victim for the first time.
Rendell's writing is exceptional as always.



Stanley, Kelli. City of Secrets (Miranda Corbie #2).
From my review of September 21:

Kelli Stanley is such a master of noir one could swear that she's Raymond Chandler reincarnated, and Miranda Corbie is the epitome of hardboiled. Unusual for a female character perhaps, but completely believable nonetheless.