A new #BooksThisYear thread begins for 2020!
1. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. My mom and I used to trade Kristin Hannah books back and forth and, man, we would have had such amazing conversations about this one. The setting! (Alaska) The characters! (TW: domestic violence)

2. The Favorite Daughter by Kaira Rouda. I'm not sure that there was a single central character in this novel with any morally redeeming characteristics, but it was RIVETING! I could not stop turning the pages! I was engrossed right up to the end! #BooksThisYear

3. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann. I wish I had learned about the events in this book sooner, but - as much as I was saddened by what I read - it's important that I know about them now. #BooksThisYear

4. Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers by Gary Paulsen. Last night, my brain would not stop racing. This book gave me something wonderful to focus on - it was tantamount to a love letter about Cookie, Paulsen's exceptional lead dog. A quick read, perfect for my #mushertwitter pals.

5. The Dry by Jane Harper. This one was hard to put down when things got hectic last week! There were enough layers to the characters that I was kept guessing for a while and I'll definitely be back for more of Aaron Falk's investigations. #BooksThisYear

6. Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett. I'm not sure which of you led me to Kristen Arnett on here, but whoever you are, thank you because this book - even after reading all the great reviews - surprised me with its examination of family & romantic relationships! #BooksThisYear

7. Dog On It by Spencer Quinn. The 1st in a series I learned about thru @charleshbryan, this story is told from the POV of Chet, the canine partner to human PI Bernie. Great mix of dogs & mystery - I'm glad I borrowed the first 3 books before my library closed! #BooksThisYear

8. Funny, You Don't Look Autistic by Michael McCreary. I opened my Libby app last week, and this book was spotlighted as part of the Big Library Read. The author - a stand up comedian - shares his perspective as a person with ASD. A quick, enjoyable, informative #BooksThisYear

9. This Brilliant Darkness by Jeff Sharlet. How to encapsulate all I feel and wonder after reading this book? I can't even begin. The stories, the pictures, the people... Sharlet's words are so powerful, I can't do them justice. Read this book. #BooksThisYear

10. The Other Mrs by Mary Kubica. A solid thriller with enough twists and complexities to the characters that, even as you start to figure out some of them, there will be more to keep you thinking. #BooksThisYear

11. When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton. Just the right mix of history, romance, and action. There are many facets to Beatriz Perez and her story had me engrossed from the beginning. I've already put in a hold request for the other Perez novel! #BooksThisYear

12. American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan. This one is a must-read for my peeps who fall in the middle of the Venn diagram of true crime and Alaska. #BooksThisYear

13. The Third Rainbow Girl by Emma Copley Eisenberg. I got to journey through the intricacies of a double murder in WV and be introduced to the people of Pocahontas County both then and more recently, as the author expertly wove in her own experiences living there. #BooksThisYear

14. Trust Exercise by Susan Choi. I was drawn to this book because, from what I gleaned, it was about theater kids. I spent the 1st half thinking how dreadful these particular kids were and the 2nd half thinking about how we experience and tell our stories. #BooksThisYear

15. The Adventurer's Son: A Memoir by Roman Dial. Powerfully written and full of honest, tender reflections and examinations of a life filled with adventure. Grateful to Blair, whose review of this book put it on my radar screen! #BooksThisYear

16. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. I began this book knowing nothing except that some folks on here recommended it. As I read, I was struck by the full life Rostov built for himself even while "stuck" at the Metropol. I want to know what happens next! #BooksThisYear

17. How it Happened by Michael Koryta. A thriller with a persistent FBI agent who's determined to get to the truth behind the deaths of two people in the quiet Maine town where the agent spent his childhood summers. #BooksThisYear

18. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. I'm 99% sure I learned of this book when it was someone's Surprise Me from Honest Dog Books! I learned a lot about Haiti and public health work through this nonfiction book about Paul Farmer and Partners in Health. #BooksThisYear

19. American Fire by Monica Hesse. This book chronicles a news event that I should remember but didn't - a couple on Virginia's Eastern Shore set a series of fires to mostly abandoned structures. Hesse paints a multidimensional picture of the people & the place. #BooksThisYear

20. The Suspect by Fiona Barton. 3rd in the Kate Waters series (I've read #1; #2 is waiting on my shelf). I liked putting together the shifting perspectives and even though I figured out the main plot twist, I enjoyed the wrap-up and there was one surprise left! #BooksThisYear

21. Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn. #2 in the Chet and Bernie series (see Book 7 in this thread), we follow the human PI (Bernie) and his canine partner (Chet) as they work a case involving a dog show. I love following their adventures from Chet's POV! #BooksThisYear

22. Down from the Mountain: The Life and Death of a Grizzly Bear by Bryce Andrews. Well-written and engaging throughout. The title should have prepared me, but I was still a mess when Millie died. Learned that her cubs are nearby so maybe a visit when life allows? #BooksThisYear

23. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. I could not put this down! I quickly and easily got wrapped up in the characters and their choices and the consequences thereof. Nothing was neat and tidy, which made the characters and their actions all the more believable. #BooksThisYear

24. The Dark Corners of the Night by Meg Gardiner. Third novel in the UNSUB series. I read the first two books 2yrs ago and was able to jump right back in with FBI behavioral analyst Caitlin Hendrix, this time tracking a seriously disturbed serial killer in LA. #BooksThisYear

25. The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich. I was entranced by all of the characters and the way their stories wove together. I have another of Erdrich's books on my shelf and I can't wait to read more of her writing! #BooksThisYear

26. The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian. I keep coming back to this author's works and I'm never disappointed! Hard to pick my favorite part - the intrigue, the science, the setting, and the characters (ok, ok, Ken might be my favorite!) all kept me turning the pages! #BooksThisYear

27. To Fetch a Thief by Spencer Quinn. #3 in the Chet and Bernie series. These books have been a wonderful escape this year! In this book, Chet (the dog) narrates as he and Bernie (the PI) work the case of an elephant who has gone missing from a traveling circus. #BooksThisYear

28. Pretty Things by Janelle Brown. After enjoying Watch Me Disappear by the same author last year, I knew I was in for a treat with this book! The story kept me thinking and confronting my own assumptions as the characters faced theirs. Highly recommend!! #BooksThisYear

29. When You Find Me by PJ Vernon. An engaging thriller that I looked forward to getting back to every day - a solid mix of mystery and psychological thriller. I definitely wanted to find out each character's fate! #BooksThisYear

30. Long Bright River by Liz Moore. The relationship between two sisters is at the center of this mystery/thriller. Set in Philadelphia, one sister is a cop and the other is an addict. Interesting supporting characters added to the compelling storyline. #BooksThisYear

31. The Safest Lies by Megan Miranda. When I saw this title, I remembered loving Miranda's All the Missing Girls, so I snapped it up. Totally did not realize it was YA until a few chapters in... will gladly read more of Miranda's adult and YA books! Really great #BooksThisYear

32. Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman's Search for Justice in Indian Country by Sierra Crane Murdoch. This account of Clarke's disappearance & Lissa Yellow Bird's quest to find out what happened also presents a personal & historical context to the oil boom. #BooksThisYear

33. The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal. We hear from sisters Edith and Helen, and Edith's granddaughter, Diana, in this story that crisscrosses decades. Brewing serves as a backdrop to a wonderful story about finding yourself and your family. #BooksThisYear

34. Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I quickly found myself caught up in the lives of Billy, Daisy, Camila...and the story of Karen and Graham really struck me. The "interview" presented the story in a way that made this a fast, interesting read #BooksThisYear

35. The Twenty Ninth Day: Surviving a Grizzly Attack in the Canadian Tundra by Alex Messenger. So glad that my library had this on audiobook so I could hear the story, read by Messenger, in advance of an author chat with @BooksHonest next week! #BooksThisYear

36. The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley. The story centers on a group of friends on a remote getaway and the gamekeeper and manager of the inn. One guest goes missing and is ultimately found dead; virtually everyone is a suspect. Definitely recommend this page turner! #BooksThisYear

37. A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight. I loved Reconstructing Amelia, so I was looking forward to McCreight's latest. The story, which centers on four couples whose lives intersect to reveal that what the outside world sees is not accurate, did not disappoint. #BooksThisYear

38. The Line That Held Us by David Joy. I finished this book so quickly in part because I had a hard time putting it down! The events are harsh, but the people were so real, flaws and all, typically motivated by love, even if twisted and misguided. #BooksThisYear

39. Thin Air by Lisa Gray. I had to actively fight my annoyance with things the author felt compelled to explain (like the meaning of "John Doe" and the phrase "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine") but if you can overcome that, the story wasn't half bad. #BooksThisYear