The Best Book I Read This Month: The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson

The best book I read this month packed quite a gut punch. The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson imagines a second pandemic on the heels of COVID-19, one in which people are prone to inexplicable bouts of homicidal violence. For Chelsea Martin and her daughter Ella, the Violence becomes a way to escape domestic violence.

I have to admit, I almost did not finish this one. I found it hard to stomach the scenes of abuse early in the story. Some just hit too close to home, and all of them were visceral.

But I’m glad I stuck with it. Watching Chelsea and Ella find themselves and remake their lives was worth it. Even more rewarding was seeing their abusers get their comeuppance or change their ways. Such arcs rarely happen in real life.

Meeting the support cast was another reward, especially the crew that Chelsea takes up with. Mensches, every one, and each colorful in their own way.

I normally recommend books whole-heartedly, but this time I recommend The Violence with a caveat: add this to your TBR only if you can handle scenes of explicit violence and abuse.

The Best Book I Read This Month: The Seamstress by Allison Pittman

The best book I read this month was a lovely work of historical fiction. Set during the French Revolution, The Seamstress by Allison Pittman tells the story of a minor character in A Tale of Two Cities—the unnamed seamstress who accompanies Sidney Carton to the gallows.

Pittman gives the seamstress more than just a name. She gives her a rich story filled with memorable characters, not just Marie Antoinette but a whole town in the French countryside, for this tale of the French Revolution is about the countryside more than Paris or the palace. It’s a refreshing take on the revolution—not just a rural perspective, but a woman’s perspective. Two women, actually: the seamstress Renée and Laurette, the sister-like cousin she leaves behind.

I found the pace of the story slow, but then I’m used to mysteries and thrillers that move at a breakneck pace. Harder for me to accept was the way that Gagnon, the surrogate father that Renée leaves behind, and his wards always miraculously escape starvation. Somehow, they always find enough to keep two dogs, a few sheep, and themselves alive, even as the number of souls to be fed increases. I found that disbelief hard to suspend.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the story and still recommend it, especially if—like me—you love A Tale of Two Cities.

The Best Book I Read This Month: Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

The best book I read this month was a romp featuring four 60-year-old assassins. Yes, you read that right—I used the words romp and assassins in the same sentence. I never thought I’d describe a book about murder as fun, but that’s exactly what Deanna Raybourn’s Killers of a Certain Age is: fun.

Billy, Natalie, Mary Alice, and Helen are celebrating their retirement—from nearly forty years of working as assassins—when they discover they themselves are targets for assassination. What follows is part murder mystery, part buddy road comedy, part revenge drama.

It was a delight to read about women “of a certain age” without the focus being on divorce or loss or aging. Loss and aging play a role here, but these women are not going quietly into that good night. They are action heroes—smart, sassy, capable, and kick-ass. I loved it. I want more books with characters like these women—mature, strong, and badass.

The Best Book I Read This Month: Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

The best book I read this month is a compelling Young Adult novel by Angeline Boulley. Firekeeper’s Daughter follows 18-year-old Daunis Fontaine as she tries to make sense of family and community tragedies.

I don’t usually read Young Adult books—I am the opposite of their target audience—but the dramatic cover grabbed me and I’d heard from others what an incredible read it was. They were right.

Daunis is mixed-race—white and Anishinaabe—and her life straddles both cultures. When meth infiltrates her community, she finds herself drawn into an FBI investigation, one that makes her question the people in her life.

Daunis is fierce and determined; her loyalty to her friends is both her strength and her weakness. Ultimately, she needs to draw on both of her cultures to find the answers she needs.

I really liked Daunis as a main character, but I LOVED being immersed in Anishinaabe culture. I want to read more stories with Anishinaabe characters, more that involve Anishinaabe culture, more by Anishinaabe authors like Angeline Boulley.