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I Read 140 Books in 2021. These Were My 5 Favorite Fiction Titles.
(And Two Honorable Mentions)
I recently published my list of what I thought were the 5 best nonfiction titles I read in 2021 (plus two honorable mentions). Now it’s time to take a look at what I thought were the best novels I read during the calendar year that ended last Friday.
As was the case with my nonfiction list, please note that not all of these books were published in 2021 — I just happened to read them during that year. Also, the following titles are not ranked in any way. They simply are listed in chronological order, beginning with the most recent read to the year’s earliest read. Finally, my fiction reading tastes trend toward mystery, thrillers, and historical fiction, so this list reflects that bias.
1. The Witch Elm by Tana French
Tana French is one of my favorite fiction writers. I’ve now read all of her published novels after finishing this standalone novel (i.e., not part of the Dublin Murder Squad series). Her books consistently captivate me for a number of reasons.
First, her ability to create believable characters — including their dialogue — is as good as any author I’ve ever read. And the protagonist and support characters in this novel were no exception.
