of posting Bill’s Best of Fiction on December 31. I like to make it an actual assessment of my reading for the full calendar year. My next post will have Bill’s Best of 2025 Non-Fiction and a personal category of Bill’s Most Interesting of 2025. The lists do include books published earlier than 2025.
1.) Finding Flora - Part I and Part II by Elinor Florence - The story of Flora Craigie homesteading in Alberta resonated with me as a wonderful story, a great example of historical fiction and because my paternal grandfather, Carl, homesteaded in Saskatchewan in 1907.
Elinor sets out the challenges to homesteading in Western Canada and credibly outlines the prejudice against women filing for homesteads. What she does not do is make Flora some kind of superwoman. She imbues Flora with incredible determination. No matter the trial or tribulation Flora seeks out solutions.
Like her creator, Flora is woman of optimism.
1.) The Hunter Tana French - The author returns to Ardnakelty with another powerful story involving teenager Trey Reddy and former Chicago police officer, Cal Hooper.
The unlikely duo have connected over carpentry projects. Life is difficult at home for Reddy especially with the unexpected return of her charming abusive father, Johnny.
The murder mystery is an integral part of the plot. Life in rural Ireland is picturesque on the surface. The residents, especially in the presence of tourists, are genial.
In my review I said "French continues to capture the lyrical expressiveness of the Irish and their blunt descriptiveness".
At the same time they do not tolerate outsiders interfering in their business. Having been there but two years Cal is still a "blow-in".
There is a rare combination of subtlety and pace pounding drama in the closing 100 pages.
2.) The Solitary Friend by Gail Bowen - The 23rd book in the Joanne Kilbourn series sees her caught up in a contemporary manifestation of an ancient profession.
Calista Wallace has worked for seven years in Regina for The Right Woman which is "a discreet escort service that served two generations of our city's wealthy and sexually needy men".
Joanne imposes no moral judgment upon Calista. As a practical woman Joanne recognizes that there will always be sex workers.
What most drew me into the story were the trio of teenage girls (Joanne's granddaughters and one of their friends). They are the third generation of teenage girls to have a significant role in the series.
Joanne's back story is enhanced with a powerful story of a Christmas Day spent by herself with staff at boarding school.
I repeat my closing that The Solitary Friend has "a comfortable and compelling and challenging plot".
3.) May the Wolf Die by Elizabeth Heider - In her first novel Heider presents a complex plot set in and around Naples.
Her sleuth, Nikki Serafino, is a member of Italian liaison unit working with American military police.
When a pair of American naval officers are murdered there is a fierce jurisdictional battle over who will conduct the investigations.
The City of Naples is an important part of the story. I said in my review that "[I]t is a vibrant, often chaotic, city pulsing with energy, especially at night. Serafino thrives on its vitality".
The pressure of two governments (Italian and American) upon the investigators is intense.
Will dangerous men prevail? A witness says:
“The world is run by wolves. It’s their system, their rules. We can’t change it.”
I look forward to Heider's next book being published in 2026.
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As I reflected on this post I realized that a strong woman dominates each book. I found it striking that they range in age. Trey is a teenager. Flora is in her mid-20's. Nikki is in her late 20's to early 30's. Joanne is 57.
Happy New Year everyone!
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