Books to Cozy Up with This Winter

As winter settles in, the colder weather is arriving. This week, I am recommending some great books to read while cozying up by the fire. Each one is a fabulous story that will keep you turning the pages.

Here are some great titles that will keep you occupied during the winter weather:

Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli (thriller) – Creatively narrated by three women whose lives were taken by the same man, Ask for Andrea is a fresh take on the serial killer trope. Meghan, Brecia, and Skye all met James on a dating app, where he pretended to be charming and available; instead, he murdered each of them. Now these women must work together from beyond the grave to prevent him from preying on another victim. This compelling premise will have readers madly turning the pages cheering on these women as they try to find a way to stop the predator that took their lives. The character development is strong, each woman has a distinct voice, and the manner in which the story is relayed is creative. Ask for Andrea was self-published several years ago and, due to its popularity, was picked up by a traditional publishing house, Kensington, for an October release in hard cover with sprayed edges. Ask for Andrea is a quick and highly engaging read for fans of imaginative plots and fast-paced storytelling.

 

The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey (speculative fiction) – This lyrical combination of dystopian intrigue and historical fiction grabbed me from page one. Set in a 1970s small English town, the book follows triplet boys who are the only remaining residents at New Forest Home, in the care of three women they call Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon, and Mother Night. Their small and controlled world consists of taking their medicine to fight off an unknown illness, doing their chores, and playing games. A sense of dread builds in the reader as the story unfolds; clearly something is amiss, but what exactly? The tension ratchets up until the unexpected and highly satisfying ending. While there is a mystery at the heart of the story, so much more is at play – the nature of truth and control, testing the bounds of morality, and the age-old debate over nature versus nurture. This book will thrill readers looking for unique reads, provocative premises, and page turners.

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger (family drama, mystery) – A family’s world is upended after their car swerves, causing an accident that results in the death of two elderly people in an oncoming car. Oldest child Charlie was in the driver’s seat and grabbed the wheel right before the wreck, but the car was self-driving with AI technology. Who exactly is at fault? This engrossing novel explores culpability in the age of technology, and as AI becomes more prevalent, what our role is as humans in a world dominated by machines. Against the backdrop of technology, Holsinger also explores family dynamics, grief, secrets, and parenting. I have not stopped thinking about this page turner since I finished it; it is a must-read that is both timely and chilling. Culpability is for fans of thought-provoking premises, cutting-edge stories, and family dramas.

Dead Money by Jakob Kerr (mystery/thriller) – As one of the first employees at Airbnb, Jakob Kerr is intimately familiar with the world of start-ups and Silicon Valley, and his experiences inform this twisty, funny, and clever thriller. The controversial CEO of tech’s hottest startup Journy has just been murdered, leaving behind billions in “dead money” frozen in his will. Mackenzie Clyde, a fixer for the venture capital company that invested heavily in Journy, is brought in to consult and help solve the murder, but her help is not welcomed by the FBI. This intelligently constructed mystery into the wild and surreal world of the tech industry and startups where nothing is as it seems will keep readers on the edge of their seats; this debut is a clear standout in the genre. Dead Money will appeal to those who like smart thrillers that keep the reader guessing.

For more book recommendations and bookish thoughts, see Cindy’s monthly Buzz Reads column, her award-winning Thoughts from a Page Podcast or follow @ThoughtsFromaPage on Instagram.