Here are the books I read and absolutely loved in May 2024. Here’s to my favorite reading season ever – SUMMER! What have you read and enjoyed? Below the five star reads is a list of all the books I read in May. 

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr

A book I wanted to hug when I finished. This is the charming story of 26 year old Clayton Stumper who was abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers. This eccentric group raised him and Clayton was content to be with the group as long as possible. Time, though, marches on, and Clayton finds himself adrift as Pippa Allsbrook, the matriarch of the puzzlemakers has passed away. The story alternates in point of view and time period, hearing from Clayton in present day and Pippa in the past as she started the fellowship. This is a warm feelings kind of book – a bittersweet story of a young man coming into his own and a reflection of how life changes over time. I just loved it so much. Outstanding characters. It was excellent on audio.

Girl walks into a bar . . .: Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle by Rachel Dratch

Dratch is a former Saturday Night Live star – and this is terrific. It’s a little bit of everything–life before, during and after SNL. It’s honest and funny and full of lots of heart. Her story of the surprise of motherhood at age 44 was so much fun to listen to. Really well done.

Old Girls Behaving Badly by Kate Galley

Told in alternating chapters between octogenarian Dot and her 71 year old recently hired companion, Gina, this was a funny, warm and mysterious story. Do not let the charming cover fool you into thinking this is only light and fluffy–at its core, this is a strong mystery set in an English manor house. Galley isn’t afraid to tackle tough topics like divorce, grief and moving forward, and she balances all that with such heart. The setting was so vivid I felt like I was right there with Dot and Gina, surrounded by an eclectic art collection and wondering who I could trust. Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club series.

James by Percival Everett

Wow. Just wow. This retelling/reimagining of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was brilliant. I finished listening to this several days ago and haven’t stopped thinking about it. It’s the kind of book that will stay with me for a long time. It takes everything I’ve thought about the story of Huckleberry Finn and turns it around, allowing me to see it in a new way. This would make an excellent book club discussion.

Funny Story by Emily Henry 

This title is everywhere and for good reason. It’s absolutely the best – funny and romantic and the perfect summer escape. Sometimes I go to my bookshelf and just smile at it, I love it that much. 

Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies by Catherine Mack

This is a solid mystery and also light and fun and funny and so clever. Bestselling mystery author Eleanor Dash is on a special book tour in Italy with other authors and fans. She’s excited to be in Italy, but all she really wants to do is figure out how to kill off her main character, Connor Smith, in her next Vacation Mysteries series book. But then an attempt is made on the real Connor’s life―the con man she got mixed up with ten years ago and now can’t get out of her life, and Eleanor finds herself trying to sort through a long list of suspects. Eleanor is a hilarious main character and often breaks the fourth wall to talk directly to the reader which I absolutely loved. This book has that zany Clue like feeling and also made me think of the wonderful Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz with the creative use of footnotes. So much fun. Add to your beach or pool bag and you’ve got an entertaining summer reading.

The Last Hope A Maggie Hope Mystery by Susan Elia MacNeal

The last book in the Maggie Hope mystery series–my absolutely favorite series ever. I have adored the Maggie Hope mystery series since the first book, Mr. Churchill’s Secretary was published in 2012. I have since read everything in this series, as well as Susan’s stand alone historical mystery, Mother Daughter Traitor Spy.  While endings are hard, they can also be beautiful. And that is the case for this book. We couldn’t have asked for a better ending. I don’t want to give anything away, but let me just say that as always with the Maggie Hope series, the plot and mysteries are solid, and we get to see and interact with our favorite characters. The ending has both tragedy and (I’m going there) Hope. I loved it. I am content to know that those wonderful characters are keeping their chins up and carrying on in their beautiful and complicated lives. I actually hugged my kindle when I finished. Can I give it more than five stars?

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi (Amina al-Sirafi #1) by Shannon Chakraborty

17ish hours of absolute delight. I could not stop listening. It is the perfect combination of adventure (pirates! treasure!), mystery (a missing granddaughter), fantasy (magic) and found family (my favorite theme ever). I had picked it up in print and struggled for a minute to get into it. Decided to give it a try on audio and I was off and sailing. I just loved this so much. Can’t wait to read more.

All the books I read in May:

Muffalettas and Murder by Jann Franklin

Purrfectly Framed by Ruth Hartman

Much Ado About Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin

Murder Marks the page by Karen R Smith

Labradored to Death by CB Wilson

An Escape Goat by Janna Rollins

Resort to Murder by Annie McEwen

Chamomile Tea & A Copycat Crime by Victoria Tait

The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis

Cant Spell Treason without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

Why We Read by Shannon Reed

Far From Home by TA Williams

A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr by Crystal S Paul

Love, Lies & Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

Red Beans and Rituals by Jen Pitts

Old Girls Behaving Badly by Kate Galley

A Body at the Dance Hall by Marty Wingate

The Last Hope by Susan E Macneal

Everytime I Go On Vacation Someone Dies by Catherine Mack

Girl Walks Into a Bar by Rachel Dratch

Funny Story by Emily Henry

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

James by Percival Everett

The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers by Samuel Burr

Nest of Vipers by Harini Nagendra