editors choice: top reads of 2016

City of Mirrors is the final book in The Passage trilogy. This post-apocalyptic trilogy takes place in a world infested with vampire-like creatures, the product of a government experiment gone wrong. What began as a secret government experiment on 12 prisoners, now known as The Twelve, quickly developed into this terrifying new world.

In this book the fierce warrior Alicia of Blades heads into the ruined city of New York in search of Zero. Zero is the first and last of The Twelve and he is both more deadly and more human than Alicia could have anticipated. Alicia must kill him in order for mankind to survive. 

I loved The Passage and I am a big fan of horror books in general so I had been eagerly awaiting the release of this final book.

One day in the summer in the late 1960's Evie Boyd stumbles across some girls with long, uncombed hair and dirty dresses dancing about in the lake. Evie is captivated by them all, especially Suzanne. 

Without realizing what is happening Evie is drawn into the clutches of a cult with a charismatic leader. As the summer progresses, and her obsession deepens, will Evie be able to present herself from becoming embroiled in the unthinkably violent conclusion.

I was unsure what to expect from this book when I first received an advanced copy for review but I was pleasantly surprised and found I couldn't put it down.

This fast-paced read was one of my favourites of the summer. 

On a quiet summers day in sleepy town of St. Roch a young girl comes running out the woods barefoot, bloodied and with no memory of what happened to her. Quinn Perkins is an American exchange student and the French family she was staying with have mysteriously disappeared.

As the media circus surrounding the events increases can Quinn remember what happened and is she the victim she appears to be?

Twenty-one years ago Sophie Collier disappeared from the pier leaving just a single trainer behind. Francesca, her best friend, was bereft. 

Now a body has been found and Francesca must return to her seaside hometown to support Sophie's family. Will the truth of that night finally come to light?

This suspenseful thriller had me gripped from the very first page which is unusual because if asked I would say that the crime genre is the one I like the least.

Boots and Bedlam by Ashley Farley novella in the Sweeney family series focuses mostly on Sam Sweeney. I read the other books on the Sweeney sisters earlier in the year and loved them so this book was always going to make it onto this list.

All Sam Sweeney wants is to get married to the love of her life on Christmas Eve surrounding by her friends and family. In typical Sweeney family style even this happy occasion cannot be pulled off without its dramas. Will the support of her family be enough to make sure the wedding goes ahead as planned?

When I first read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone I was staying at a family member's house and this was the only book that looked vaguely interesting to me. By the time I had finished the book I was hooked and couldn't wait to read the next books in the series. When I finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows I felt the familiar sense of loss that comes to saying goodbye to characters you have come to love. So I was delighted when I heard that the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was going to be published. 

I read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child within a few hours of purchasing it and I fell right back into life at Hogwarts. This book focuses primarily on Harry's youngest son Albus. Albus is struggling to live up to the legendary status of his father and decides to try and do something about it.

I have loved Jodi Picoult books since I read Salem Falls in 2001, since then I have read nearly every book she has published. Some of her books I enjoy more than others: The Storyteller, Lone Wolf and Small Great Things are among my favourites. 

Ruth is an experienced nurse on a labour ward who is prevented from looking after a baby because of the colour of her skin. When the baby suffers complication Ruth must make a decision: does she help and go against orders or does she do nothing and risk the baby dying? The results of her decision wil have long-lasting effects on everyone involved.

Dystopian books are my favourite kind of books so it was an easy decision to request this book for review. That decision was made easier when I noticed that my favourite author, Margaret Atwood, had recommended this book.

The Power was an amazing read in its own right. This book focuses on what would happen if the power to kill was in the hands of girls.The characters were well-developed and the story was absorbing. This is a must read.

Margaret Atwood is my favourite author and there are very few books of hers that I dislike, even so this is definitely a brilliant book.

Hagseed​ is a modern retelling of The Tempest developed as part of the Hogarth Shakespeare Project. This book combines all the best elements of Shakespeare with Atwood's unique style. 

This novel is full of the fun and mischief that regular readers of Atwood will have come to expect.

The Spy is my number one of my favourite books of the year for numerous reasons. Paulo Coelho takes the historical figure of Mata Hari and brings her to life in the pages of this book.

Prior to reading this book I had only ever heard of Mata Hari referred to in a derogatory manner but after reading this novel I realised just what an interesting historical figure she was. 

The opening lines of the book describe how Mata Hari was put to death for the crime of espionage in the early hours of the morning on 15th of October 1917. This book, based on Mata Hari's personal letters, illustrates the life of a woman who was powerful at a time when women were meant to be powerless.

In his own uniquely beautiful writing style Paulo Coelho tells the reader how she used the only tools available to her to get herself out of potentially dangerous situations.