The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore
(TP, $23.00, order here)
My choice for Book of the Year is a combination of two of my favourite genres: legal and historical thrillers. Curiously enough, this book, which has no violence in it, is really a lot more exciting than 99% of the books we carry at Whodunit. It is the story of the real-life struggle between two American geniuses for control of the light and power business throughout the world. I read this book in one sitting, being unable to put it down. The legal question is a fascinating one involving how much of the construction of an electric light bulb is generic and therefore protected under Thomas Edison’s patents. I’ll leave the rest for the reader to discover. I will say this though; The Last Days of Night is not just my favourite book of 2017 but one of the best books I’ve read.