Sherri Winston

Thanksgiving Day is perfect for recognizing our most cherished books read or heard in ’23

Happy Holidays everybody! I listen to 95 percent of my stories but trust me, I read, too! Here are some of my favorites from the year. What books/stories/listens inspired you this year?

Favorite listens in adult books

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto:

Delightful, refreshing take on a murder mystery, featuring a darling senior lady who runs a dying tea shop in Chinatown. When an unknown man dies in her shop, Vera’s mundane world plunges into one of mystery and intrigue. Told with such delicate care and aching honesty. I heart thee.

Judgement Prey by John Sanford:

Lead character, Lucas Davenport, has propelled dozens of titles and adventures in the Prey series and his latest, book 33 doesn’t disappoint. For fans of hardcore, gritty crime thrillers, no one does it better. Thank you, John Sanford for your latest tale of greed, madness and murder.

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman:

What can I say? No one makes aging cooler, sharper or more poignant than Osman’s cadre of septuagenarian sleuths back again for their latest romp and heartbreaking evolution. Growing old is not for the faint of heart, but this group proves it should be embraced and faced head on. An excellent series of any age!

The Best Worst Christmas by Kate Foster:

I love a good Christmas romance, especially when it skews from the syrupy sweetness of some in the genre. Lily and Tom have history and after 10 years the two are thrown together for an unforgettable reunion and a holiday you won’t forget. Bernice, Lily’s mother, is alone a great reason to listen. Who could resist a menopausal Christian pagan singing in a choir called, “the Wassailing Wenches?” It’s fun and lovely and will leave a lightness in your heart and a smile on your face.

Favorite listens & reads in kids and teen books

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks:

One of the most exciting listens of the year, this multi-cast performance is earnest, heartfelt and fast paced. It highlights something that gut-punches me every time–the willingness of greedy opportunists to violate disadvantaged children, robbing them of their education. When three boys at a so-called academy that looks out for at-risk youth, the murder of a principal, a swift call to justice and circumstance soon expose that the real risk to the boys wasn’t their pasts but their preset and presence in the Promise Academy. Young Adult.

Corduroy by Don Freeman:

This favorite from my childhood is a book I often credit with inspiring my writing career. When I saw that it was narrated recently by Viola Davis, I had to listen. OMG! The tale of the little bear lost in the shuffle of bright shiny toys and the adorable young black girl determined to make him hers still touches my heart and makes my imagination sing! All ages.

The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle by Taryn Souders:

An age-old thirst for adventure and a good old-fashioned treasure hunt propel this fun and fast-paced tale written by my good friend, Taryn. You go girl! An inspiring tale filled with riddles, puzzles and clues. Put on your thinking caps, kids. Time to outsmart the adults! Ages 10 and up.

The Braid Girls by Sherri Winston:

Okay, I couldn’t finish this list without mentioning the amazing multi-cast performance of a truly unique book. Our neighborhood didn’t have a lot of babysitters, certainly not enough to make a club. But we did have braiders–girls who could tighten up your cornrows and make you a braided bun or box braids that would hang and dangle with beads on the end. It was an honor to write this book from the three viewpoints of Maggie, Callie and Daija. I hope you get to introduce yourselves and hear their story of forgiveness, friendship and family.