Marcy McCreary's 3 favorite reads in 2023

• 2023
• 2024

Titus Crown is the moral center of this brilliant, gritty, thought-provoking crime novel.

Titus (the first Black sheriff in a town rife with past and present racism) is a complex protagonist who grapples with his own past trauma as he investigates a horrific school shooting in which a white teacher is shot, and the Black boy who shoots him is gunned down by the police.

But nothing is black and white in this drama; there is something way more complicated and sinister at play here. The action is nonstop as Titus hunts down a serial killer who has been operating in the area for years.

This novel deftly conveys themes of racism, religion/faith, and social injustice through a layered, unflinching, authentic, compelling narrative.

I adore the ensemble cast of The Thursday Murder Club series.

Four septuagenarians are at the heart of the series—an ex-spy, a union boss, an ex-nurse, and an ex-psychiatrist—each cleverly contributing their unique skills and life experiences to solve cold cases (and in doing so, find themselves in a whole heap of danger).

Like the first two books in the series, this is another five-star read—witty, action-packed, poignant, heartwarming (and sometimes heartbreaking), fun, and super clever.

Richard Osman’s insanely lovable characters are incredibly well-developed and meticulously drawn. The prose crackles with witty banter. And the ingenious twist culminates in a climax that leaves the door open for more mayhem to come.

There’s a lot to be said about a brisk-paced novel that has you laughing one minute and absorbed in sinister dread the next. Throw in three badass women, a revenge plot, acerbic humor, and a touch of magic, and you’ve got all the ingredients of an unputdownable book.

It’s a wild ride as Harriet, Jo, and Nessa find themselves in each other’s orbits, band together and use their post-menopausal powers (yup!) to solve a string of murders.

Sharp satire that hits on all the feminist themes—glass ceiling, gender stereotypes, misogyny, sexism, toxic masculinity, ageism—makes this book a delicious read for any woman who has ever felt invisible, undervalued, or underestimated.