The Apocrypha is worth a read, to understand Intertestimental times, between the Old Testament (Malachi) and the New Testament (Matthew).
1 Maccabees is a fairly accurate description of the events that occurred when the Syrians tried to make the Jews worship their gods. That does not make it inspired however.
Many other of the books are pure fiction, and some things outright lies. I bought a Catholic Bible to read them for Seminary, I didn't realize some Protestant Bibles still have them.