The Rook by Daniel O’Malley, TP $22.99

My book of the year is The Rook. I picked this up in an independent bookstore in Chicago, started reading it on the plane home, and couldn’t put it down. On my next trip to Winnipeg, I gave it to my dad (Jack), who loved it as much as I did.

The Rook is the story of Myfanwy Thomas, a woman who wakes up one day with no memory of who she is but soon discovers that she is a senior official in the British occult secret service. The book doesn’t stint on lovingly rendered descriptions of the Byzantine minutiae of agency politics but also provides enough action-packed occult adventure to keep the reader engaged. And not to worry if you--like my dad and I--are sad to have the book come to an end - there is an equally engaging sequel called Stiletto! For fans of John Le Carre, Ben Aaronovich, and Guy Adams.