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Challenge #10:
Five Things! The five things are totally up to you.

Since I got back into reading, these are the top 5 books I've last year (in no particular order):

1. The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton - a groundshog day type mystery where the protagonist has to solve a murder and wakes up in a new body of a guest at the manor he's at until he finds out the truth. It was interesting and a page turner, though I ended up being really curious about the outside world building that resulted in a place like that existing and what the future held for the protagonists, even though I know that wasn't the point. One of those books that I would read a sequel for but it is probably best left to the imagination.

2. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - A story that explores the lives of two friends as they grow up and reach fame making video games. I thought the characters were interesting and three dimensional - I found them sympathetic and frustrating at various points - and the book was an easy read and a page turner, but I wasn't a fan of the twist. Outside of a few moments, I didn't get much romantic chemistry from them and felt they were better as friends.

3. A Body in the Library by Agatha Christie - A husband and wife wake up to an unfamiliar dead body in the library and Miss Marple helps solves the crime. It was enjoyable. I did figure out at least one twist, but I think that comes from recognizing hints after you've read a lot of AC books.

4. Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March - set in late 1800s British ruled India, a former Captain turned investigator looks into the deaths of two women that have been suggested to be suicide when the widower of one insists it wasn't. Fairly good. Some parts did drag and other parts were well paced. The politics was a little beyond me, and I have to admit I shipped the main character with the guy who hired him rather than his actual love interest, though they were fairly sweet too. A little sad too at parts but well done overall but I can't say much to the accuracy.

5. What Angels Fear by CS Harris - the first of the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries that came recommended to me. A woman is found murdered and his pistols are at the scene. After a tragedy during his arrest, he is on the run, trying to find the real murder, with a little help from new and old acquaintances. An interesting read. There were parts that were real page turners and others that dragged. The characters do come off as cliche and stereotypical, even though the leads are still likeable for the most part, but I was intrigued with the series.