There are so many books out there! On the one hand, that means there are probably tons of books I would love. On the other hand, how can I find them without wasting a lot of time reading books I don’t love?

This is the book lovers’ dilemma, and the reason for book reviews. Friends recommend books to me, and I discover other books through book reviews, but sometimes it is just luck that I pick up a book and discover it’s exactly what I needed. For that reason, I’m going to try posting an occasional book review, to help other people find books they’ll enjoy.

People’s tastes in books differ–enormously. Since the best reviews are those that come from someone whose taste in books in similar to your own, I’m going to list a bunch of books I’ve loved at the bottom of this post. Then you can decide if I am the right person for you to turn to for book advice.

I’m also going to focus on the elements of books that you may not be able to get from the jacket copy. What is it about a particular book that appeals to me–and might appeal to you? I’m going to start by focusing on mysteries, since people who read mysteries tend to run through a lot of books and are always in search of new titles.

To give an imaginary example, suppose someone tells me that Death on the Grapevine is about a family-run vineyard, and the main character is a former decorator who returns home only to discover a body in a vat.

So far I have no idea whether this is a mystery I want to read. But then they tell me that most of the mystery takes place in the family mansion during a thunderstorm. Ooh–a dark and stormy night, isolation, a family… I’m halfway persuaded already. If they add that the building containing the vats was locked and the deceased was the only person who had the key (and it was in their pocket!), then I’m all ears. Locked-room mystery, here I come!

The only thing that could make it better at this point would be if somehow the author managed to be funny as well, but that’s asking an awful lot of one book.

Mind you, the book might turn out to be disappointing for all that, but I’d at least want to give it a look.

There are other factors that contribute to my liking a mystery. I love puzzles. If I find myself flipping back to check details (Wasn’t there an umbrella on the table? What exactly did he say shortly before he was killed?), then I know I’m enjoying it. And plot twists–give me plot twists!

I also like unusual (to me) settings. It could be a different place, a different culture, a science fiction or fantasy setting. Alternatively, I like very familiar settings–my own town, my own hobbies.

While it would also be useful to know which books not to bother with, as an author I don’t want to diss anyone else’s book online. So I’m only going to review books I particularly enjoyed.

A List of Some Mysteries I’ve Enjoyed

• Diane Mott Davidson’s Goldy Schultz series, first book Catering to Nobody
• Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn and Chee series, first book The Blessing Way
• Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache series, first book Still Life
• Donna Andrew’s Meg Langslow series, first book Murder With Peacocks
• Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley series, first book A Great Deliverance
• Lawrence Block’s Bernie Rhodenbarr series, first book Burglars Can’t Be Choosers
• Anthony Horowitz’s Hawthorne and Horowitz series, first book The Word Is Murder
• Maureen Johnson’s Truly Devious series, first book Truly Devious (this is YA)
• Timothy Zahn’s Quadrail series, first book Night Train to Rigel (this is sci-fi)
• Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series, first book Midnight Riot aka Rivers of London (this is fantasy)