Editors' Picks: Favorite Books from 2012

Editor's Note: The following is part of a special "end-of-the-year" series in which local editors from your nearby Patch towns highlight their favorites in various topics.  

What is the best book you read in 2012? 

Jeff Sullivan - Editor, Mansfield Patch

"Death of Kings" by Bernard Cornwell. If you want historical fiction, Cornwell is one of the greatest writers of all time. You thought Stephen King wrote a lot? Cornwell has written 53 books since 1981. King has written 55 since he started writing professionally since the 1970s. Anyway, the book is about the death of King Alfred the Great during the Danish invasion of England circa 899 AD. You might ask why care about Alfred, well, any town with the name "-borough" after it owes its monicker to him. He started building "Burhs," fortified towns across Saxon England and stopped the advance of the Danes across the country and led to the end of organized invasions in England. Also it's a bloody good book, whatever your interest in history.

Dan Libon - Editor, Wrentham Patch

Do comic books count? I hope so because the best thing I've read this year is "Stumptown" by Greg Rouka. A crime noir graphic novel by one of the best writers in the genre, "Stumptown" keeps the reader guessing as a detective's search for a missing guitar slowing becomes something bigger. 

Kelly Mello - Editor, Norton Patch

I haven't read a book written or published in 2012, but instead revisited the classic, "The Hobbit." I've read this book three times now, and it still a great story. It also helped get me excited for the movie.

Kelly Glista - Editor, Norwood Patch

One of the biggest book phenomena of this year in my opinion has to be "The Hunger Games" series. I read all three earlier this year at the insistence of several friends and found them to be very compelling, especially when you consider that they were written for a young adult crowd. Obviously they received even more attention when the movie came out, but I would certainly recommend all three books for both adults and young adults.

Jeremie Smith - Editor, Foxborough Patch

"Mortal Stakes" by Robert B. Parker. I’m cheating a little bit here. I did not read a book that came out in 2012 and I have read "Mortal Stakes" in the past. But I re-read it this year and must say it is among the best of Parker’s work. The late Boston crime/mystery writer has a great series of novels based on the famous private eye, Spenser. In "Mortal Stakes," Spenser pretends to be an author writing about the Boston Red Sox when he is really investigating a star pitcher on the team. Parker’s vivid descriptions of Boston and Spenser’s wit make this a must-read and re-read in any year.

Pat Maguire - Editor, Easton Patch

As someone who's never been interested in the latest book trends like "Twilight" or "The Hunger Games," I can't really say what the best book of 2012 was. I will say, however, that my favorite book of 2012 was the classic "In Cold Blood," by Truman Capote, which I read for the first time. Capote's detailed descriptions about a real-life murder were mesmerizing, and they served as inspiration to my own writing, research and reporting.

Want to weigh in? Let us know what the best book you read this year was! Tell us in the comments section below!