Top reads of 2015?

[Werner]

Here's our annual thread where we invite you to look back on the year just past, and single out a few of your top reads for special mention. I try to pick my top five, though that's often a challenge, and no less so this year. Out of 32 books I read in 2015 (I finished an additional one today --just as I did last New Year's Day!-- but again it'll count towards next year's total), I gave 17 of them 5 stars, and eight more got four stars; so this was definitely a very rewarding year for reading!

My personal picks for the top five books read this past year are:
1. Operation Chaos, by Poul Anderson.
2. Doha 12, by Lance Charnes
3. The Dark Horse, by Rumer Godden
4. In the Shadow of the Conquistador, by Shane Joseph
5. Saint Sebastian's Head, by LeAnn Neal Reilly

Again this year, my top favorite book was a surprise, one I hadn't expected to like nearly as much as I did. I love it when a book exceeds my expectations!

[Reggia]

Only one book really stands out at the moment;

1. Cutting for Stone