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Must-Read Books December 2025 |
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| A Bitter Wind by James R. BennA Boston cop prior to World War II, United States Army Captain Billy Boyle is on leave just before Christmas 1944. Walking with his English girlfriend along the white cliffs of Dover, he discovers a murdered U.S. Air Force major in a case that leads him to Axis-controlled Yugoslavia. Though this is the 20th in the series, newcomers can start here. For fans of: well-researched war mysteries with well-realized characters, including some based on real people. |
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| Good Spirits by B.K. BorisonIn this cozy contemporary spin on A Christmas Carol, antique store owner Harriet York receives a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past in the form of handsome Irish fisherman Nolan Callahan, who died 100 years ago. As the two revisit Christmases past, Harriet discovers she might not be the only one who needs help, and that her store may hold the key to freeing Nolan's spirit. For fans of: Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle; The Ghost and Mrs. Muir; Hot Frosty. |
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| If the Dead Belong Here by Carson FaustWhen her little sister goes missing in 1996 Wisconsin, Indigenous teenager Nadine discovers she'll have to commune with the ghosts of her ancestors to help find her. For another haunting horror novel that draws on Indigenous folklore, check out Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan.
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| King Sorrow by Joe HillBlackmailed into stealing rare books, college student Arthur Oakes and his friends summon King Sorrow, a powerful dragon from a supernatural realm. The creature saves them -- but their bargain binds them to provide an annual human sacrifice, unleashing dark, magical consequences that shadow their lives for decades. Try this next: The Dissonance by Shaun Hamill.
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| The Gun Man Jackson Swagger by Stephen HunterIn 1897 Arizona Territory, sharpshooter and Civil War vet Jack Swagger takes a job guarding deliveries to and from Mexico for prosperous rancher Colonel Callahan. But not everything is as it seems in this western by Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Hunter, which is “reminiscent of Larry McMurtry” (Booklist). For fans of: Hunter’s Bob Lee Swagger novels; William W. Johnstone’s novels. |
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| The Silver Book by Olivia LaingLeaving London after an unspecified incident, art student Nicholas Wade heads to Italy in 1974. In Venice, he has a one-night stand with famed production and costume designer Danilo Donati and becomes his assistant, working with celebrated directors Federico Fellini and Pier Paolo Pasolini. But the country is in turmoil, which leads to murder in this “mesmerizing, contemplative, and haunting work” (Kirkus Reviews). Try this next: Isa Arsen’s The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf.
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| With Friends Like These by Alissa LeeA deadly game from their Harvard days resurfaces when five alumni gather for the annual “Circus,” a playful elimination contest turned high-stakes gamble. With a fortune on the line, old rivalries and hidden betrayals come to light, forcing the friends to confront decades of secrets, ambition, and the shadow of a lost sixth roommate. |
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| The Intruder by Freida McFaddenWhen a bloodied girl appears on Casey’s doorstep during a violent storm, her quiet cabin in the New Hampshire woods becomes a trap. The girl’s mysterious past and deadly secrets soon put Casey in mortal danger. Alternating perspectives heighten the suspense as survival, trust, and hidden truths collide in this tense, pulse-pounding thriller. |
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| Evensong by Stewart O'NanIn Pittsburgh, a group of aging church women who call themselves the Humpty Dumpty Club help others in myriad ways, like by baking cookies, taking care of pets, running errands, and sitting with the sick. Then one of their own has a bad fall. This quietly moving character-driven story portrays the importance of community and chosen family. For fans of: Elizabeth Strout.
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| Slashed Beauties by A. RushbyIn present-day Seoul, antiques dealer Alys sets out to destroy three 18th-century Anatomical Venuses, who supposedly come to life at night to murder ill-behaved men. Meanwhile, in 1769 London, a trio of sex workers seek gainful employment and make a fateful decision. Fans of dual timeline novels and body horror will want to check out this "feminist gothic that stretches its waxen hands across time" (Booklist). Try this next: The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia; Old Soul by Susan Barker.
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| A Case of Life and Limb by Sally SmithThe Christmas Eve peace of the Inner Temple, the picture-postcard home of London’s elite lawyers, is disturbed when Sir William Waring receives a beautifully wrapped package containing a severed human hand. Brilliant Gabriel Ward, a fellow Temple resident, investigates while also working on a sensationalistic defamation case in this entertaining follow-up to A Case of Mice and Murder. Try this next: Claudia Gray’s The Murder of Mr. Wickham. |
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| Conform by Ariel SullivanIn a future ravaged by war, Emmeline, a woman at the lower end of a caste system based on genetics, is unexpectedly chosen to mate with Collin, an Elite who can give her the life she's always dreamed of. Conforming to the rigid expectations of the ruling Illum proves to be a challenge when Emmeline finds herself drawn to Hal, a resistance leader determined to bring down the system. This cinematic 1st in a planned trilogy will appeal to fans of dystopian science fiction romances like Dani Francis' Silver Elite.
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| The Dentist by Tim SullivanDS George Cross, who’s autistic and detail-oriented, investigates an unhoused man’s murder in South West England. Noticing clues that others miss and with help from his partner DS Josie Ottey, George unearths links to an old killing in this acclaimed series starter and bestselling police procedural from the United Kingdom. For other books with neurodivergent detectives, try Brandy Schillace’s Netherleigh mysteries or Daniel Aubrey’s Orkney mysteries.
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| Palaver by Bryan WashingtonIn the weeks before Christmas, a mother arrives unannounced in Japan to visit her estranged son, who isn’t happy to see her. They speak infrequently and haven’t seen each other in years, but can they come to an understanding with each other before it’s too late? Readers who appreciate sparse yet evocative tales or stories that center gay men and family in all its forms will enjoy Bryan Washington’s novels.
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| Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy by Julia IoffeIn this "pensive account of a revolution betrayed" (Kirkus Reviews), Moscow-born journalist Julia Ioffe's National Book Award finalist (as of publication time) explores a century of feminist history in Russia, revealing how women's freedoms after the Russian Revolution have devolved under the regime of Vladimir Putin. Try this next: Red Valkyries: Feminist Lessons from Five Revolutionary Women by Kristen Ghodsee.
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| We Survived the Night by Julian Brave NoiseCatBlending elements of memoir and reportage with oral storytelling traditions, Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation filmmaker and activist Julian Brave NoiseCat spotlights contemporary Indigenous life in North America, highlighting the triumphs and travails of misrepresented communities. Try this next: Sugarcane, NoiseCat's documentary for which he became the first Indigenous American filmmaker nominated for an Academy Award; Rez Rules: My Indictment of Canada's and America's Systemic Racism Against Indigenous Peoples by Chief Clarence Louie.
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| Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) by Linda Bailey; illustrated by K-Fai SteeleUnlike her feeble, feathered family, spirited Lena knows that she's not really a chicken in name or nature -- she's a mighty dinosaur! And when the coop is threatened, she has the chance to prove it. Get ready to roar: with dramatic dialogue and "gloriously goofy" (Publishers Weekly) artwork, Lena's story is an ideal read-aloud. |
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| Winging It by Megan Wagner Lloyd; illustrated by Michelle Mee NutterTwelve-year-old Luna doesn't want to move across the country with her dad, especially not to move in with the strict grandma she hardly knows. But after discovering old nature journals from the mom she never knew, Luna finds unexpected connections to her new home. Cartoony art and honest emotions make this graphic novel a strong choice for realistic fiction fans. |
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| The House Saphir by Marissa MeyerArmand hires Mallory, who can talk to ghosts, to exorcise his ancestral estate. Mallory plans to swindle him out of his money, but instead she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, and Armand is a suspect. This creepy novel is a witty retelling of the Bluebeard myth. |
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| Never Ever After by Sue Lynn TanWhen Yining, adopted as a child, discovers her magical heritage, she leaves her impoverished mountain village to change her fate. Tempted into a lavish world by a ruthless prince, Yining must unlock her full powers to fight for a better future for everyone. Read-alikes: June CL Tan’s Jade Fire Gold; Intisar Khanani’s The Theft of Sunlight.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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