Reading is Vital to My Conscientious Resilience!
Estimated reading time: 27 minutes, 7 seconds
Crime Beat
The crime genre has always captivated me—a thrilling escape into a world of mystery and intrigue. I fondly recall those fleeting moments before a plane or train departure when I would roam the aisles of a bookstore, hunting for a new read to dive into during my journey. My mission was simple yet exhilarating: to uncover the culprit’s identity before the final pages revealed the truth. Although my travel adventures are now fewer and further between, my love for the genre has only deepened. I find myself more invested in the richness of the story and the characters’ lives, savoring the twists and turns that keep me guessing. The evolution of storytelling in crime fiction has made each experience more immersive and satisfying.
Nothing But the Truth
In 2024, I discovered four outstanding books that I highly recommend. The first is “Nothing But the Truth,” the fourth installment in Robyn Gigl‘s Erin McCabe Legal Thriller series. The New York Times has selected it as one of the Best Crime Novels 2024. Initially, I had placed it on my long list of books to read, but I moved it to the top after my friend Bernie Wagenblast recommended it and mentioned that the author is a Cranford neighbor.
One of the reasons I chose to read this novel is that it—and the entire series—primarily takes place in Union County, specifically in Cranford, my hometown! Erin McCabe and her law partner enjoy salads from the Gourmet Deli, and she has dinner with her husband at the Cranford Hotel. In this installment, Erin McCabe, a transgender attorney from the Garden State, learns that uncovering the truth can be deadly.
The novel is well-written and engaging. I wasn’t confident how it would end until I reached almost the last page. Erin and her partner, Duane Swisher, are attorneys representing their client, a gay New Jersey State Trooper. Erin’s backstory as a transgender woman planning a wedding and having a child adds significant depth to the narrative. If I were reading this book today, in light of the ongoing attacks on transgender neighbors, I might categorize it entirely differently—as a crime against humanity.
The Searcher and The Hunter
I read two crime novels by Tana French, often called the Queen of Irish crime fiction. The first was “The Searcher,” followed by “The Hunter,” also selected by The New York Times as one of the Best Crime Novels in 2024. Both novels focus on Cal Hooper, a retired Chicago police officer who moves to rural Ireland for a peaceful life. However, Cal soon discovers that even in a small, quiet Irish village, a detective’s work is never truly over. These novels present a nuanced and atmospheric exploration of what we are willing to do for our loved ones, the lengths we will go for revenge, and the sacrifices that may arise when these motivations collide.
I should have read “The Searcher” first, as it is the prequel to “The Hunter.” However, reading them in reverse order enhanced my enjoyment. Both novels are gripping page-turners, and I look forward to exploring more works by Ms. French.
Creation Lake
“Creation Lake: A Novel” by Rachel Kushner was featured in The New York Times as one of the Best Crime Novels in 2024. The story follows the journey of a secret agent, a thirty-four-year-old American woman known for her striking beauty and ruthless tactics. Her covert operations take place in France.
The narrator introduces herself as “Sadie Smith” when she arrives at a rural commune of French subversives, whom she secretly monitors. She also meets her lover, Lucien, a young and affluent Parisian, through a so-called “cold bump”—making him believe their encounter was accidental. Like everyone else she targets, Lucien is helpful to her and ultimately becomes manipulated by her.
Sadie operates with a combination of strategy and deception, following instructions from her contacts—shadowy figures in business and government. Initially, these contacts want her to provoke reactions. However, as the story unfolds, their demands grow more complex. Rachel Kushner’s interpretation of “noir” is both taut and dazzling.
After almost 48 years, I recently lost my wife, Jan Lilien. Like The Little Prince, Jan and I believed that “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.” This blog is a collection of my random thoughts on love, grief, life, and all things considered.
The book Never Forget Our People Were Always Free is told through parables. It features intimate glimpses of political and 
