Addiction starts here... by Cathy Ace

Hello folks! Because I tend to read in spurts, and get into a series, I'm going to take this chance to point you in the direction of some addictive reads I've succumbed to this year. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!! 

Val McDermid: the Karen Pirie books. The most recent title in this series, Still Life, was such a good read I went back to the beginning and started all over again. Val McDermid’s voice through all her work (her recent 1979, Allie Burns #1, was FABULOUS...cannot wait for 1989 to be published!!!) is one that appeals to me, and these Karen Pirie books are “procedurals”, yes, and are set in Scotland, yes, but they are blessed with rather different plot bases than one might expect. As always, McDermid’s characterisations, plots, and pacing, are superb. Worth reading in order? Yes, I’d say so. Start at the beginning and you’ll be sucked right in!

Ken Bruen: the Jack Taylor books. I’ll admit I still haven’t read all the Jack Taylor books (there are now 17, and I have reached #13) but I plan to catch up as soon as possible! I “found” Jack Taylor through the TV series, then read the first in the series, and found I adored the books! Once again (no surprise for any of you here!) it’s the author’s voice that appeals to me – it’s the way he takes me into the raw, dark world of the misfit that he’s portraying that I love (though it’s not always a comfortable place to be).

 

Lawrence Block: the Bernie Rhodenbarr books. The joy of these books is that they are both utterly "believable" and absolutely buffoonish at the same time. I’d probably pay good money to read Lawrence’s shopping lists, because I really enjoy his voice across all his work (that which I have read so far, in any case) and these books are outstanding. His tales of a hapless thief’s life are utterly entrancing, and make me laugh out loud as I read. Lawrence deserves every award anyone can invent to give him. If you can start at the beginning, then do – but dive in wherever you can!

Jeffrey Siger: the Andreas Kaldis novels. Set on the Greek Islands, these books are a) worth reading, b) worth reading in order, and c) rattling good books! I adore the chance to escape to the (not so quiet and peaceful) Greek Islands with Jeffrey and Andreas, and find the balance between place, plot, character, and action to be both impeccable and truly engaging. If you haven’t tried them – now’s the time!

I hope you enjoy a bit of travel - because these books will also allow you to do that.

So...here's to the end of another completely bizarre year (for me, anyway). I hope you're able to look back and smile a little, look forward and hope a lot, and are able to connect with those who matter to you in some way that allows you comfort. Thanks for your support from an author who's truly grateful for it! http://www.cathyace.com/

May I Suggest?

For Your Holiday Gift-Giving Consideration...Colin Conway

From Frank

You may have readers on your gift list (or someone you can help turn into a reader!), so here are some ideas for books to wrap up and put bows on for those folks. 

Caveats:  

(a) everyone's tastes differ, so make sure your intended recipient has at least a tangential interest in the type of book presented; 

(b) I'm expecting you'll check out the great books by my fellow Criminal Minds panelists, so this list is for after that exploration, and; 

(c) full disclosure: I've written multiple novels with Colin and he's my friend, so I'm clearly biased here. But he's a talented writer and his body of work has something for everyone who likes mysteries.

With that out of the way, here we go!

Colin Conway's 509 Universe  

509 is the area code for Eastern Washington (everything east of the cascades), which is where these books are set. Conway has woven three different series and a slew of short stories into this universe.

The main series of 509 Crime Stories consists of police procedurals (beginning in The Side Hustle) that rotate between a cast of police protagonists. A character may be the primary narrator in one book and a minor player in another that is told from some other character's perspective. The presentation even varies from first person to third, depending on whose viewpoint we're getting. This method keeps the series extemely fresh, and allows the reader to see characters through various sets of eyes. These are realistic procedurals that will undoubtedly scatch that itch. The police investigative process is on display, the mystery is intact throughout (so you can try to figure it out, too), and the emotional interaction of different characters is compelling and nuanced. Conway is able to make you sympathize or cheer for a character in one book and then think s/he's a jerk in another.

This series stands at six books, with a seventh (and, in my opinion, perhaps the best so far) coming soon.

My favorite? Number seven, which should be announced soon. Hit me hard. But of those already out, it's a tough call but I'll go with The Value In Our Lies, simply because I like Detective Morgan.

The Flip-Flop Detective series features Sam Strait, an ex-deputy who is now trying to live by a unique set of rules, the first of which is to live only where you can wear flip-flops. Another -- no drama -- gets tested in every outing. 

This series is three-deep so far, and each outing has Sam in a different locale, alternating between his lake home in the 509 during warmer weather to snow-bird destinations during the colder months. He's always trying to mind his own business, and getting dragged into a mystery that he needs to solve to keep his own head above water. 

Think of a cross between Jim Rockford and Travis McGee and then lighten up a bit and you'll have the tenor of this one. Not a cozy but something most cozy fans would still enjoy.

My favorite? Strait to Hell. A great mystery and fun setting.

Easily the most hard-boiled series in the 509, John Cutler Mysteries features a former cop from Seattle, now living in Spokane. A man in search of his better self, Cutler's tragic flaw is his own anger. However, as the series progresses (book 1 is out, book 2 will drop on December 27, and #3 in early 2022), Cutler shows some growth that is dearly-earned. 

These books also take place in the mid-2000s, so younger versions of characters from the main police procedural series show up on occasion. Seeing the captain of investigations as a working detective, for example, provides some deeper insight into this character.

Cutler gives Conway a chance to explore some difficult topics and darker elements of human behavior -- corruption and racism, for example. This is done in a way that isn't preachy and allows the reader to take the lesson however s/he wants. As in life, there are few easy or clear-cut answers but sometimes having the discussion is the first step. 

On the content side, if these were films, they'd be rated R. But the elements that merit that rating aren't constant and in your face, either. I also think that a few strategic trims or edits would render it PG-13. Thus, they will satisfy those who like it gritty without completely putting off those who prefer lighter fare. 

My favorite? Cutler's Friend. Watching JC go through the first two books to land here and start to actually change is rewarding.

If short stories are your intended's jam, Conway has two collections of his own work, all set in the 509 universe -- Murder By Any Other Name and Black and Blue in the Lilac City. These stories are drawn from throughout his writing career. Some of the minor characters in the 509 get center stage for their own story, which is fun for the series reader. Fair warning, though -- this is a mixed bag in terms of intensity. The stories range from PG to hard R, so be prepared to treat it like a buffet. Read them all or skip the ones that aren't to your taste. All in all, though, these short stories are a perfect complement to the 509 novels.

There are also two anthologies (with a third coming in 2022) set in the 509. These feature a slew of other crime fiction authors you'll no doubt recognize -- too many to list here but it's an amazing group. The Eviction of Hope and A Bag of Dick's both contain stories that spring from a well-designed premise and feature the unique take and voice of each author. The first centers around a low-rent hotel in which all of the tenants have been served eviction notices. The second begins with a cop, an informant, and a mystery man running away from a popular hamburger stand. Where the stories go from there is varied and fun.

My favorite? Too many to name here. Half a dozen of the Conway stories are among my favorite crime stories, and the two anthologies are chock full of great takes. Throw a dart twice and you're guaranteed to hit at least one of my faves.

So, whether you like procedurals, lighter mysteries, hardboiled, or short stories, the 509 universe has you covered.

Cozy Up series

The cozy was the only genre not included in the above but it is a genre Conway has ventured into as well. The Cozy Up series features a enforcer from a biker gang who has turned informant after the gang threatened his grandmother. In each book, the FBI places him in a different location as a protected witness, only to see things go to hell. Or, actually, I should say, go to heck. Conway obeys all of the rules of a traditional cozy (though he pushes the limit just a little with some violence), both celebrating and gently ribbing the various conventions. Oh, and there's a cat, too (of course, there is).

The thing about this series is that cozy readers will enjoy it but so will people who don't usually go that way with their reading habits (like me). For non-cozy readers, there's enough implied to satisfy the desire for grittiness, the mysteries are very sound, and the occasional jab at the subgenre (or the way in which the trope is turned on its head) is fun.

This series is up to five books now, and will continue for at least another five.

My favorite? Cozy Up to Christmas. I love the added edge of sarcasm the protagonist adopts in this one. Reminds me of a PG version of Bad Santa, attitude-wise.

Charlie-316 series

Okay, this is admittedly the quasi-BSP portion of our show. I mentioned that I wrote several books with Colin at the outset of this post. Well, this series is part of that collaboration. But it was originally Colin's idea and it is work I'm extremely proud of, so here it is.

The series begins with a traffic stop that immediately goes bad. There's a police shooting that falls under suspicion (suspect is possibly unarmed and shot in the back) even though the officer in question is a model officer, highly respected and well-liked. The book follows the aftermath of this event, shown through the eyes of the officer, the detectives investigating the case, leaders within the police department and city hall, and the public. Race quickly becomes an issue, though not in exactly the way readers may be accustomed to. Process, politics, and perception all come into play. And there are several twists before the end that I can all but guarantee you won't see coming.

The fallout of this initial event continues for all four books in the initial series arc. Stakes continue to rise, hard decsions get made, and there are events and outcomes that no one sees coming. This storyline comes to a conclusion in Code Four, the fourth book. However, there will be several more books set in this universe, including the 2022 release of The Ride-Along. While not a direct sequel in terms of the four-book arc already described, The Ride Along does continue the story of the events in this universe. It's about a solid cop who bleeds blue getting paired with a board member from the community organization committed to police reform for a ride-along. The pair must survive ten hours in the same police car together, despite their values and ideas clashing from the very first moment.

This series is on par with Conway's main 509 series in terms of content -- rated R but I suspect people who are okay with PG-13 books won't be put off by this series.

My favorite? Hard to pick where my own work is concerned, as each has its own reasons for being number one. But if you had to pin me down, I'd say Badge Heavy, because it's intense and it leaves you wanting more.

Happy Holidays!

Anyway, Colin's catalog has something for every mystery reader in it. I hope your gift recipients enjoy these books! And remember, if you want to give a writer a gift that keeps on giving all year long, a review (even a short one) is the perfect choice!

I wish you a happy holiday season, whenever and however (or if) you celebrate. See you in 2022!

Frank Zafiro

More Book Recommendations

Book suggestions

- from Susan

 

There can never be too many books. There can never be enough time to read all those books. Every day last week, as my Minds colleagues highlighted their favorites, my scribbled list of “must reads” got longer.

 

I agree with everyone that not all the noted books need to be crime fiction, nor do they need to have been published in 2021. In fact, after 2020, when I read all or parts of hundreds of crime fiction novels for the Edgar Awards, I needed to cleanse my palette, so I read a lot of non-fiction, older fiction, and a handful of books by authors who are friends. Here’s my grab bag of suggestions.

 

Half Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for Life, by E.O. Wilson. This was published in 2016, the last in a trilogy about our Earth and what we can do to save it. Wilson is revered as a biologist and also as a writer. I’ve read other books he wrote, but this one for me is a shining example of how science looks at and makes sense of the physical world in all its glory and potential. Wilson believes we can save the Earth, but the title is the clue to his theory, and it will be an uphill battle. 

 

Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein, published in 2012. My son, who tutors online, told me he had assigned it as a YA novel to a writing group and said it was well-crafted and captivating, which is how it caught my attention. It’s a World War II spy novel centered on the work of two young women, and I could not put it down. It’s packed with adventure, bravery, heartbreak, and resilience and, judging by the reviews on the cover of the paperback, neither could anyone else who read it. Why it’s classified as YA, I don’t know. I’ll have to ask him.

 

Tricky, by Josh Stallings, published in 2021. In a year when I was avoiding the ugliness of the world as much as possible, Josh (a Minds friend) got me with a story of police corruption and violence, and one man’s attempts to figure out a guy who is either a murderer or the victim of a frame-up. Cisco, who displays characteristics of being mentally disabled, is the beating heart of the story, vulnerable and hard to assess. Later in the book, another memorable character, appears. Won’t say who because that could be a spoiler, but this guy has his own (albeit small) good heart. I loved this book and Josh’s storytelling.

 

Out Loud, a memoir by internationally acclaimed modern choreographer and dancer Mark Morris, published in 2021. Morris is frank, outspoken, brilliant and – who knew- very, very funny. I laughed out loud as he described his growing up devoted to performing, his signature approach to dance as being inspired by music, the ups and downs (mostly ups) of a long career that started when he was about 10 years old. He’s a gay man who came of age during the nightmare of AIDS but managed to dance his way through the minefields, and who to this day creates dances the way most of us plan and cook dinner every day. 

 

Miss Buncle’s Book, by D E Stevenson, originally published in 1934. Catriona McPherson (also a Minds friend) turned me on to this escapist confection a few years ago, and I would love to pass along to Minds readers the delight of a story about a woman in a small town who must do something to make money and who decides to write a novel. She looks around her for inspiration and winds up creating fantasy outcomes for her neighbors. Fortunately or unfortunately, the book Miss Buncle writes becomes a best seller and the townspeople catch on and are not happy. Charming, sly, and amusing, it also resonated with me because Catriona gave it to me when my first French village novel came out, and, yes, I had done a bit of that myself! 

 

But Catriona’s present was even more welcome because it introduced me to the gems of the Persephone Books (London) curated catalog of works that have earned the distinction of being re-animated. Not only is their catalog full of delights, but the books themselves are gorgeous, well made paperbacks in dove gray covers with endpapers and bookmarks taken from period wallpapers and fabrics. I thought it might be a niche publisher, hardly known, but when I was in London in 2018 and went to Waterstone’s famous bookstore, an entire front window was dedicated to Persephone Books, and the clerk pointed me to a section upstairs set aside for those dove gray covers. My collection keeps growing. So, thanks, Catriona!

 

So many books, so many different tastes in reading, so many authors to admire and cherish. 

 

Happy holidays, happy reading, happy writing if you’re an author or reviewer. May 2022 be a better year for Earth and all of us who inhabit it!

 

 

 

 

Some Books What I Did Read

by Abir 

It’s that time of year again. The season when a new variant of covid rears its protein-spiked head and Christmas is cancelled (unless you’re a member of the UK government inner circle). Time for me to tell you about a few of the most memorable books I've read this year and which you should also read if you want us to remain friends.

 

Not all of these are books which came out in 2021. Some are older, and one doesn’t come out till next year. But as with most things, external realities such as publication dates have little bearing on me; the whole world only exists within my consciousness and what matters is when something comes to my attention.

 

So without further ado…

 

Favourite Crime Read of the Year:

Exit by Belinda Bauer

 

The Blurb:

Meet Felix Pink. The most unlikely murderer you'll ever have the good fortune to spend time with.
When Felix lets himself in to Number 3 Black Lane, he's there to perform an act of charity: to keep a dying man company as he takes his final breath . . .
But just fifteen minutes later Felix is on the run from the police - after making the biggest mistake of his life.
Now his world is turned upside down as he must find out if he's really to blame, or if something much more sinister is at play. All while staying one shaky step ahead of the law.

 

What I say:

Exit is the story of a bunch of people – the Exiteers – who assist terminally ill people with their wish to pass on to the other side. Unfortunately for Felix Pink, a British pensioner who has recently lost his wife, he ends up ‘assisting’ the wrong person and is technically a murderer. Exit charts the dilemma of a good, quintessentially middle-class Englishman who has unwittingly committed a murder.

 

This is the most wonderful book I’ve read this year. Belinda Bauer has a way of capturing the small details of ordinary human existence in a way few writers can – with warmth, insight and humour. I wish I could write a fraction as well as this. 

 

 

 

 

The Book I Wish I’d Written

Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby

 

The Blurb:

Ike Randolph left jail fifteen years ago, with not so much as a speeding ticket since.

But a Black man with cops at the door knows to be afraid.

Ike is devastated to learn his son Isiah has been murdered, along with Isiah's white husband, Derek. Though he never fully accepted his son, Ike is broken by his death.

Derek's father Buddy Lee was as ashamed of Derek being gay as Derek was of his father's criminal past. But Buddy Lee - with seedy contacts deep in the underworld - needs to know who killed his only child.

Desperate to do better by them in death than they did in life, two hardened ex-cons must confront their own prejudices about their sons - and each other - as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys.

 

What I say:

It’s no secret that I, along with others on this blog, am a great fan of S.A. Cosby’s work. His debut, Blacktop Wasteland was one of picks of last year, and this book is even better. It’s not just the breakneck pace of the plot; it’s not just the beauty of the language; for me, it’s the immediacy of the subject matter, tackled from a viewpoint we’re not used to seeing, which is most refreshing. No offence to anybody, but American and British crime fiction is all but monopolised by white, middle-class voices. What we need is a diversity of stories told from many different points of view. This book, and Cosby’s work in general, shows just how rich such an experience can be,

 

 

Most annoyingly good novel from an annoyingly brilliant author

I Know What I Saw by Imran Mahmood

The Blurb:

I saw it. He smothered her, pressing his hands on her face. The police don't believe me, they say it's impossible – but I know what I saw.

Xander Shute - once a wealthy banker, now living on the streets - shelters for the night in an empty Mayfair flat. When he hears the occupants returning home, he scrambles to hide. Trapped in his hiding place, he hears the couple argue, and he soon finds himself witnessing a vicious murder.

But who was the dead woman, who the police later tell him can't have been there? And why is the man Xander saw her with evading justice?

As Xander searches for answers, his memory of the crime comes under scrutiny, forcing him to confront his long-buried past and the stories he's told about himself.

How much he is willing to risk to understand the brutal truth?

 

What I say:

Barrister Imran Mahmood is a good friend of mine, so you can imagine how upset I was when I read this, his second novel, and realised just how brilliant it was. Imran is one of those authors who combines literary talent with cracking story-lines and serious messages. This is one of those books that makes you think as well as grips you from start to finish. 

In my opinion he’s up there with the best of them such as the wonderful Denise Mina. He also claims to be better looking than me – which alas, is also true. 

 

 

 

Strangest Find From Left Field

Pushkin Hills by Sergei Dovlatov

 

The Blurb:

An unsuccessful writer and an inveterate alcoholic, Boris Alikhanov is running out of money and has recently divorced from his wife Tatyana, who intends to emigrate to the West with their daughter Masha. The prospect of a summer job as a tourist guide at the Pushkin Hills preserve offers him hope of bringing back some balance into his existence, but during his stay in the rural estate of Mikhaylovskoye, Alikhanov's life continues to unravel.

 

 

What I say:

Sergei Dovlatov was a Russin journalist and writer who, because of his views, found it impossible to be published in the Soviet Union of the 1970s. Today and posthumously, he’s one of the most popular writers in Russia. I’d never heard of him till a few months ago when I watched a Netflix film about him, called simply, Dovlatov. There’s a great piece on him in the New Yorker here: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/a-russian-writers-lessons-for-being-a-nobody-while-being-yourself

 

 

Schadenfreude Feel Good non-fiction of the Year

Landslide – the Final Days of the Trump Presidency by Michael Wolff

 

The Blurb:

'We won. Won in a landslide. This was a landslide.'
President Donald J. Trump, 6 January 2021
Politics has given us some shocking and confounding moments but none have come close to the careening final days of Donald Trump's presidency: the surreal stage management of his re-election campaign, his audacious election challenge, the harrowing mayhem of the storming of the Capitol and the buffoonery of the second impeachment trial. But what was really going on in the inner sanctum of the White House during these calamitous events? What did the president and his dwindling cadre of loyalists actually believe? And what were they planning?
In this extraordinary telling of a unique moment in history, Wolff gives us front row seats as Trump's circle of plotters whittles down to the most enabling and the least qualified - and the president overreaches the bounds of democracy, entertaining the idea of martial law and balking at calling off the insurrectionist mob that threatens the hallowed seat of democracy itself.

 

What I say:

 

What a ride the Trump years were, eh? Remember the panic when he won, and that sinking feeling that world was going to hell in a handcart? Remember how it never got any better? Remember the arrogance and the incompetence, the racism and the flirting with the far right? Remember the Covid debacle? Remember the storming of the Capitol? It’s over, at least for now, and this book charts the ending. It’s here because I read the previous two in the series and it's nice to have a happy ending (hopefully).

 

 

Genius idea from Genius Writer

The City and the City by China Miéville

 

The Blurb:

When the body of a murdered woman is found in the extraordinary, decaying city of Beszel, somewhere at the edge of Europe, it looks like a routine case for Inspector Tyador Borlú of the Extreme Crime Squad. But as he probes, the evidence begins to point to conspiracies far stranger, and more deadly, than anything he could have imagined. Soon his work puts him and those he cares for in danger. Borlú must travel to the only metropolis on Earth as strange as his own, across a border like no other.

 

 

What I say:

There are certain books which are works of art. The City and the City is the tale of a murder in a city that is two places at once. The cities of Beszel and Ul Quoma occupy the same space at the same time, sometimes even different sides of the same street.  The residents of each are taught from childhood to ‘unsee’ the other side. Inspector Tyador Borlú of the Beszel police has to investigate the death of an American woman who was based in Ul Quoma but whose body is found in Beszel. It’s a story of politics and corruption but also an allegory for the way we unsee others, such as the homeless, on our own streets.

 

Sci-Fi pick of the Year 

When The Sparrow Falls by Neil Sharpson

 

The Blurb:

In the future, AI are everywhere - over half the human race lives online. But in
the Caspian Republic, the last true human beings have made their stand; and now
the repressive, one-party state is locked in perpetual cold war with the
outside world.

Security Agent Nikolai South is given a seemingly mundane task; escorting a dead
journalist’s widow while she visits the Caspian Republic to identify her
husband’s remains. But Paulo Xirau was AI; and as Nikolai and Lily delve
deeper into the circumstances surrounding Paulo’s death, South must choose
between his loyalty to his country and his conscience.

 

 

What I say:

Still reading this one, but what’s fascinating is the blend of retro politics and futuristic technological change. I’m loving it.

 

 

 

The One for Next Year (which I got an early copy of)

The Clockwork Girl by Anna Mazzola

 

The Blurb:

In the midst of an icy winter, as birds fall frozen from the sky, chambermaid Madeleine Chastel arrives at the home of the city's celebrated clockmaker and his clever, unworldly daughter.
Madeleine is hiding a dark past, and a dangerous purpose: to discover the truth of the clockmaker's experiments and record his every move, in exchange for her own chance of freedom.
For as children quietly vanish from the Parisian streets, rumours are swirling that the clockmaker's intricate mechanical creations, bejewelled birds and silver spiders, are more than they seem.
And soon Madeleine fears that she has stumbled upon an even greater conspiracy. One which might reach to the very heart of Versailles...
A intoxicating story of obsession, illusion and the price of freedom.

 

 

What I say:

 

For a book to impress me these days requires a combination of fantastic plot, interesting subject matter and beautiful prose. I have to admit, I didn’t expect to like this book. Gothic Fiction set in 18^th century France isn’t generally my cup of tea, but Mazzola’s writing, her wry humour and the intricacies of history and plot just came together and kept me reading in a way few books have. The last book I can remember which similarly impressed me was An Equal Music by Vikram Seth, a book set in the world of orchestral music and musicians, which has become one of my favourite books of all time. A Clockwork Girl might end up in that list too.

 

Mazzola, I should point out, has won an MWA Edgar, so you know she’s damn good at what she does. To be honest, I’m a bit jealous of her talent.

 

 

There you go then. Some fantastic books to get your teeth into. Read them all and read them quickly, cos I’ll be asking questions in January.

 

Merry Christmas, Happy holidays and a safe, peaceful and prosperous new year to you all.

 

 

End-of-the-Year Book Recommendations from James W. Ziskin

It's the time of the year for gift-giving, so give us your book suggestions please!

It’s becoming a tradition for me to put together an end-of-the-year list of books I recommend. This is not a best-of list. I’m not a fan of those since there’s no way people can read everything. So how can they declare some books the best? Not that I don’t admire the books that make those lists. I do. It’s simply that those big names and big successes get plenty of ink elsewhere, so I try to shine a light on excellent books and fine authors I enjoy instead. They may not be on the New York Times bestsellers list—yet—but these are some wonderful novels I’ve read in the past year. I highly recommend them.

In no particular order:

The Out-of-Town Lawyer, Robert Rotstein

This gem is set for publication in 2024. Rotstein writes beautifully, with great sensitivity and insight. His legal thrillers are top notch.

Staged for Murder, Erica Miner

Do you love music? Opera? Wagner? Intelligent murder mysteries? Then Staged for Murder is for you.

Murder at the Brand-New Jubilee Rally, Terry Shames

It’s always a treat when a new Terry Shames book falls in your lap. I got the chance to read Jubilee Rally early on. Not sure when it will be published, but it features Samuel Craddock at his best. You know it’s good!

Blacktop Wasteland, S. A. Cosby

S. A. Cosby needs no nod from me, but I’m offering one anyway. Blacktop Wasteland, as well as his latest Razorblade Tears, is on everyone’s best-of list. Nominated for every award you can think of, Blacktop is a heist-gone-terribly-terribly-wrong story. It’s tense and compelling. You just might grip the book so hard that you’ll pull it apart with your bare hands. It’s that good.

Implied Consent, Kennan Powell

A yet-to-be released legal thriller, this is a wonderful book, dealing with tough subjects and painful memories. Implied Consent is a #MeToo era story of Hollywood intrigue and dark behavior from a writer I always read. Always.

The Bombay Prince, Sujata Massey

Massey’s Perveen Mistry series keeps getting better with each book. I think I love this one best of all. The historical details are so rich and Perveen’s character is one of the best in crime fiction today. If you haven’t read any of these books, you’re missing out!

Death of an American Beauty, Mariah Fredericks

Another “beauty” from the oh-so-talented Fredericks. This series features the fierce heroine Jane Prescott and a cavalcade of shady characters, Bible-thumpers, and prostitutes in Gilded Age New York City. Read American Beauty for the historical tapestry, perfect plotting, and richly drawn characters. I love this series!

The Three Mrs. Wrights, Linda Keir

The team of Linda Joffe Hull and Keir Graff make an unusual—and unlikely—writing duo named Linda Keir. And they are marvelous together. The Three Mrs. Wrights is a tremendously entertaining portrait of a serial-cheating sociopath. If forced to describe this book in one line, I would say, “Love means never having to tell the truth.”

Pretty as a Picture, Elizabeth Little

Elizabeth Little is one of the finest word magicians plying today. Her sentences are so clever/beautiful/intriguing, and enviable. Wow. She can write. Pretty as a Picture is one part true-crime obsession, one part cold case, with the glitter of Hollywood glamour sprinkled on top. Green light this book.

What’s Done in Darkness, Laura McHugh

Laura McHugh is an award-winning writer of thrillers and crime fiction, and she’s at the top of her game in What’s Done in Darkness. A sensitive and terrifying story. So well done. 

The Hollywood Spy, Susan Elia MacNeal

Susan Elia MacNeal has done it again. Her indomitable Maggie Hope finds herself in Los Angeles in 1943. Far from the frontlines, Maggie discovers that not all the dangers of war were Europe and the Pacific. Fabulous book with Hollywood stars and social conscience galore.

Pesticide, Kim Hays

A new author to me, Kim Hays has delivered a remarkable procedural set in Bern. Pesticide, due out in 2022, is Switzerland’s answer to Scandinavian noir. Fresh and oh so readable, you won’t be able to put it down. A new favorite of mine.

Fogged Off, Wendall Thomas

One of my favorites at anything she does, Wendall Thomas is a wildly talented—and hilarious—writer. Fogged Off brings Cyd Redondo back in her third eco-adventure. London, Jack the Ripper, AND endangered species? What more could you want? 

The Strange Case of the Dutch Painter, Timothy Miller

The Strange Case of the Dutch Painter will delight Sherlockians, art lovers, and æsthetes of every stripe. With meticulous research and great erudition, Miller has written a stunning addition to the enduring and evergreen canon of Sherlock Holmes adventures. Highest recommendation for this remarkable novel. Coming in February 2022.

Death at Greenway, Lori Rader-Day

I ALWAYS recommend Lori Rader-Day’s novels. But this book exceeded my expectations. It impressed me so much. Not only is the story engrossing and superbly written, the characters are memorable and complex. I was stunned by the amount of research and detail that went into this book. The voices are all authentic and so British. And the main character, Bridey Kelly, is a richly drawn, brilliant piece of literary creation. Ditto for Gigi. A wonderful pair of characters set against the backdrop of World War II evacuations of children. Agatha Christie’s Greenway is a delightful bonus. This book is a wonderful treat.

Happy reading and holidays to all!

Deck the halls …

It's the time of the year for gift-giving, so give us your book suggestions please!

by Dietrich

Coming to the end of the year, I wanted to share some memorable reads from the past months. While I haven’t included any books I’ve already recommended in earlier posts, I found the hard part was picking a few from a long list of great books. The ones I ended up with are not all new, and they’re not all crime, but they’re all highly recommended. So, here goes:

Another Kind of Eden by James Lee Burke, published by Simon & Schuster, 2021. “She wore a black blouse with a white lace collar and had an animated sternness about her that suggested a conjugal situation similar to waking up each morning on a medieval rack.”  

Getting to the root of all evil from the master of description transports readers to the American midwest of the 1960s with another great novel. 

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead, Doubleday, 2021. “Carney was only slightly bent when it came to being crooked, in practice and ambition.”

A brilliant tale of heists, shakedowns and rip-offs in Harlem in the 1960s.

Taste, My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci, published by Simon & Schuster, 2021. “Now, I am not one who is necessarily drawn to the Michelin star. Often I find that many of the restaurants that have earned this coveted award are a bit fussy, to say the least, and I’ve left a few of them completely famished, as I have never found pretentiousness very filling.”

A charming memoir filled with stories from the actor’s life both in and out of the kitchen.

Billy Summers by Stephen King, published by Scribner, 2021. “He has no problem with bad people paying to have other bad people killed. He basically sees himself as a garbageman with a gun.” 

It’s a crime novel you won’t be able to put down.

Maid by Stephanie Land, published by Legacy Lit, 2020. “It seemed like no matter how much I tried to prove otherwise, “poor” was always associated with dirty.”  

A touching and inspiring memoir of one woman’s will to survive tough times.

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan, published 2018 by Knopf. “My current life, I realized, was constructed around an absence; for all its richness I still felt as if the floors might give way, as if its core were only a covering of leaves, and I would slip through, falling endlessly, never to get my footing.”

An epic tale of a field slave’s escape from a Barbados sugar plantation in the 1830s.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, published by Penquin, 2018. “Autumn leaves don't fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar.”  

It’s part coming-of-age, part crime novel, and it’s well told.

The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock, published by Doubleday, 2011. “Some people were born just so they could be buried.”

A dark, but solid debut novel.

The Right Mistake by Walter Mosley, Basic Civitas Books, 2008. “So if you shoot me in the back how’s that gonna make you into a man? Socrates asked then. “How yo’ son gonna learn yo’ last lesson if you sneak around and bushwhack me?”  

The third in a great series centering on the life and times of Socrates Fortlow. 

Paula Spencer by Roddy Doyle, Viking Press, 2006. “It’s the only thing sexier than a sexy woman. A sexy woman cooking fuckin’ sausages.”

The sequel to The Woman Who Walked Into Doors takes focus on the once booze-soaked life of battered wife Paula Spencer, picking up ten years after the death of her husband.

I Married a Communist, by Philip Roth, published by Vintage in 1998. “Why, emotionally, is a man of his type reciprocally connected to a woman of her type? The usual reason: their flaws fit.”

Follow the story of Ira Ringold as he falls victim to the McCarthy witch hunt of the 1950s. 

Cool Hand Luke by Donn Pearce, Fawcett Books, 1965. “I wish you'd stop being so good to me, Cap'n.” 

A classic that stands the test of time, about a prisoner on a Florida chain gang who refuses to get with the system.

All the best to one and all for the Holidays. I look forward to the coming New Year with the terrific crew of writers here at Criminal Minds.