Books, books and more books

7:04:46 PM EST

There were 61 different series listed. Michael Connelly took this category too.

7 votes

Harry Bosch

5 votes

Harry Dresden - Butcher

4 votes

Maisie Dobbs - Winspear
Lucas Davenport - Sanford

3 votes

Benni Harper - Fowler
Sookie Stackhouse - Harris
Spenser - Parker
Stephanie Plum - Evanovich

2 votes

John Rain - Eisler
Clare Cosi - Coyle
Elvis Cole - Crais
Thursday Next - Fforde
Smokey Dalton - Nelscott
Jack Reacher - Child
Grant County - Slaughter
Sarah Pribek - Compton
Alan Gregory - White
Carson Ryder - Kerley
Lincoln Rhyme - Deaver

There were several authors who had more than one book listed as the best of the year. Some were series books; others were not.

Michael Connelly had 5 different books listed.

Thomas H. Cook, John Sanford

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11:52:28 AM EST
To me the world is a giant book shop. I feel the world opens to those who open books. And, I am convinced that books, if not furniture---are at least furnishing accessories.
Books open wide many a vista and become life long friends.
So a year that starts off with new novels from two of my favorite Florida crime novel authors, James W. Hall and P.J. Parrish and includes two from Michael Connelly is certain to be a banner year for reading.
In 2005, the mystery/thriller/crime novel category produced a bumper crop of first-rate reading.
Dr. Hall's "Forests of the Night" (2005) set the bar exceedingly high on opening day. In P.J. Parrish's "Killing Rain" (2005) lead character Louis Kincaid continues to grow and Florida comes alive.
Other Florida writers gave us outstanding reading as well.
Les Standiford's nonfiction "Meet You in Hell" about Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick read like a novel and was impossible to put down.
"Dead Men Rise Up Never" (2004) by Ron Faust was a new discovery for me and I am glad I found him. Jonathan King continued his string of exceptional Florida novels going with the most intriguing "A Killing Night." Not only a super story, but we learn quite a bit more about Max Freeman's past.
It is great to have Paul Levine back writing novels once again. This time it is two lawyers who appear as different as night and day. The pages of "Soloman vs Lord" (2005) fly by. Some of the most crackling dialogue this side of "His Girl Friday" infuses the book with a sense brilliant repartee. The start of a great new series.
Randy Wayne White's 12th Doc Ford adventure ("Dead of Night") (2005) featured bioterrorists at Disney and man eating worms. Florida's delicate ecosystem is a major character in the Ford series. Potent stuff!
"Walking Money" (2004) the initial novel from seventeen year veteran of the DEA, FDLE and the U.S. Marshall's service, Jim Born, is loaded with authenticity and a fertile cast of characters involved in a most engaging caper. Looking forward to "Shock Wave" (2005) and 2006's "Escape Clause." Jim Born is the real deal.
Jim Swain's Tony Valentine series produces some of the fastest reads I pick up. All the characters are vibrant and all the gambling scams actually happened---lending a bona fide aura to the narrative. The schemes, ruses, cons, dodges and swindles are totally captivating---and you could not make them up. "Mr. Lucky" (2005) shows off a master at work.
John D. MacDonald initiated the Florida-set crime novel and this year I enjoyed a couple of his 1970's Travis McGee novels, "Tan and Sandy Silence" and "The Turquoise Lament." They age well and remain absorbing reads.
This year I also "discovered" Ross Thomas, prompting me to ask, "under what rock was I living between 1966 and 1994" when he wrote perhaps the wittiest, most amusing, cynical and incisive novels involving spies, diplomats, lobbyists and politicians---when spooks and spymasters could keep a secret and complex plots actually were the norm. I read all nine of his books currently in print and haunt the used bookstores for the other. My favorite so far? "Chinaman's Chance" (1978)---or maybe "Briarpatch" (1984)---perhaps "The Fourth Durango" (1989)---or was it "The Cold War Swap" (1966).
Rupert Holmes was another discovery. "Swing" (2005) with its super CD was perhaps my most pleasant surprise of the year. The multi-talented Mr. Holmes is quite a writer. Extremely entertaining and highly recommended.
His novels are peopled with a host of Runyonesque eccentrics and the pleasure per page ratio is as high as anyone I can think of. It is never too late to uncover a rare gem.
Additionally from the past, I found great pleasure in Ross MacDondald's "The Moving Target" (1949) and "Underground Man" (1971). Crisp, concise, succinct and brimming with snappy dialogue, his Lew Archer series remains fresh, original and creative. Another master.
Sort of writing against type Elmore Leonard ("The Hot Kid"-2005) and Robert Parker ("Appaloosa"-2005) delivered mesmerizing reads.
"The Hot Kid" is depression era law man Carl Webster who shoots to kill and becomes larger than life as he chases after Jack Belmont (whose goal is to become the most famous outlaw ever). Big fun!
"Appaloosa" stars lawman Virgil Cole and his deputy (and narrator) Everette Hitch in a classic western. Remarkable entertainment. Parker's latest Spenser ("School Days") was a wonderful read as it entered the Susan-free zone---eliminating one of fiction's most tedious characters. Nifty plot as well.
George Pelecanos supplied us with another outstanding DC based unputdownable read in "Drama City." What spectacular characters, settings and convincing plot lines. And, finally I caught up on  his seven works from 1992 thru 2000. Consistently high standards…none are to be missed.
Just up I-95 in a Baltimore suburb, Laura Lippman provided us with a most insightful look into what can go wrong in a "perfect" teenaged world. "To the Power of Three" (2005) is a powerful work of fiction that resonates in your brain long after the final page. I am not sure, but I think it may be against the law to write as well as Laura does.
Two of our most prolific authors gave us new characters that give high marks to. John Grisham's (if it is February, it must be Grisham time) "The Broker" was fascinating to me. Seemed less legal oriented and more thriller to me. Nice treat.
And, Stuart Woods has created a new character in Billy Bob Barnstormer to invade the world of Stone Barrington. BBB refreshes the Barrington series.
Ed McBain's "Hark" (2004) and "Alice in Jeopardy" (2005) both grabbed me. His passing leaves a void. His works were always pithy and he got you involved with all his characters.
A number of authors on my "must read" list seem underrated to me.
Once again this year Daniel Silva presented nail biting suspense with "Prince of Fire" (2005). Every one of his books is first-rate. Most feature art restorer and former Mossad op Gabriel Allon is tales of assassins and undercover agents is situations where what went before resounds in the present.
In Michael McGarrity's "Slow Kill" (2004) New Mexico lawman Kevin Kerney discovers a murder while in California on a horse buying trip. Terrific police procedural, colorful settings and a growing cast of solid supporting character keep this series convincing and compelling.
"The Color of Law," a debut from Mark Gimenez lived up to all its advance raves. A fast paced novel that follows lawyer Scott Feeney's perfect life falls apart when he refuses to back off a pro bono defense of a drug addicted hooker. Filled with twists and turns and no lack of suspense.
David Baldacci's "Camel Club" (2005) moves at warp speed as four unconventional and unlikely men devote their latter years to exposing the truth in government. When they witness a murder, they become the hunted. Putting this one down is not an option.
I truly hope our government employs agent like Mitch Rapp. He returns in Vince Flynn's "Consent to Kill" (2005) and this time he is the one being sought by an extremely skilled pair of assassins. Tension is at a high pitch in this intense series. Great pacing and unforgettable villains.
Elvis Cole returns in "The Forgotten Man" by Robert Crais. Great back story fill in and worth waiting for. This continues to be a marvelous series and Elvis a terrific protagonist.
Lee Child ratchets up the trepidation in the latest Jack Reacher novel, "One Shot" (2005). Well researched and carefully plotted, this one grips you from the opening scene and keeps your undivided attention all the way. Spectacular series.
Scott Turow mesmerized me with "Ordinary Heroes." What an emotional, expressive and affecting story---engrossing beyond belief.
Liked "The Wake Up" (2004) by Robert Ferrigno a lot. Unusual premise that works and keeps your interest from start to finish. His "Scavenger Hunt" (2003) was also a treat. An author to investigate.
C.J. Box is another writer who I feel in under appreciated. I read both "Trophy Hunt" (2004) and "Out of Range" (2005) in no time at all. His books always keep me up much too late. Very seductive writing in an incredible Wyoming setting.
Harry Bosch back with the LAPD in "The Closers" and new character Mickey Haller in "The Lincoln Lawyer" were the two major highlights in an excellent year of reading. Michael Connelly maintains an incredible standard in his writing. Perhaps the best at hiding clues in plain sight, his books always require a second read as I invariably miss an obvious sign and fall for a noticeable red herring.
Quite possibly the finest crime novelist extant, a Michael Connelly novel is always something to look forward to. To get two in one year made 2005 a bountiful year.
And---even better--- I still have a stack of super books to open including: "Fiddlers" from Ed McBain, "American Gunfight" by Stephen Hunter, Christopher Whitcomb's "White," "No Man's Land" by G.M. Ford, Jack Kerley's "Death Collectors," "Blonde Lightning" by Terrill Lankford, "Shock Wave" from James Born and Jeff Abbott's "Panic."
Not to mention the outstanding "Turning Angel" by Greg Iles that am about to finish. His last two disappointed me, but this one is most outstanding.
My thanks to all the writers who provide so much pleasure. Please keep them coming!


 

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4:32:32 PM EST
Skinny-Dipping-Claire Matturro My first find from this years Bouchercon.  A really fun legal mystery set in Florida with a lead character who uses her formidable skills/OCD disorder to defend what are usually the bad guys (insurance companies).  Too bad this was not nominated for an Anthony this year because is was much better than the nominees I read.

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3:41:24 PM EST

. Immoral, Freeman
A debut novel that truly held my interest! Two teenage girls have disappeared and Lt. Stride must figure out what ties the two cases together while dealing with the relationships, past and present, in his life. I will definitely look for more from this author!


8. Creepers, Morrell
Very interesting premise… people who explore condemned buildings to get a glimpse into their past. I think this story just got too convoluted and started to encompass too many people and plots. On the whole I enjoyed it and will read more by this author.

9. Perfect Nightmare, Saul
Just the right amount of creepiness made this a fast, enjoyable read about missing girls and the cast of characters that race the clock to find them.

10. The Patriots Club, Reich
This was not my usual cup of tea, but a very good book nonetheless. A lot of political intrigue, some Wall Street thrown in and a cast of powerful, damaging characters.

 

 

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7:02:30 PM EDT

THE BONE PARADE  by Mark Nykanen  7 of 10  Very intense book!  The killer in this one is truly a nasty piece of work.  If you are bothered by graphic violence, this one isn't going to be for you.  That said, the plot moved fast and the characters were relatively well-drawn.  This one kept me reading to the end.

WHISKEY SOUR by J.A. Konrath  8.5 of 10  New author to me and this is the first book of a new series featuring Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels, a police lieutenant on the trail of a very nasty serial killer.  This killer gets very personal when he adds Jack to his list of "Things to do."  There is a second book out, BLOODY MARY, that I intend to get very soon, as this looks like a series I'll keep going with (just what I needed!)

LONG TIME GONE by J.A. Jance  8.5 of 10  The most recent of the J.P. Beaumont books, this one has Beau as an investigator for the State Attourney General's Special Homicide Investigation Team (I'll let you work out the acronym for that.)   Beau is investigating a 50 year old "cold case" because an eye witness comes forward claiming she's regained supressed memories of a murder she witnessed when she was five.  At the same time, Beau's ex-partner is in trouble when his ex-wife is found murdered after the two had had a row over a child custody agreement.  Very quick read, since I had trouble putting it down!

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5:52:58 PM EDT
One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury  5  The title refers to 9-11 and follows the lives of two families that become entertwined with the 9-11 disaster. 

  Darkness on the Edge of Town by J. Carson Black  4  This debut tale featuring Laura Cardinal, Arizona Department of Public Safety investigator, was fascinating.  Laura finds herself tracking what appears to be a serial sexual predator who finds his young-girl victims on the Internet.  MS Black has a second in this series due to be released in January.  It is titled Dark Side of the Moon   Desert Noir by Betty Webb  4 Another page-turrner that kept me reading into the wee hours of the morning.  Lena Jones is a PI based in Scottsdale, AZ.  She finds herself in danger as she tries to unravel the mystery of her friend's murder.  What a marvelous series! (I'm now reading book 2, Desert Wives).


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2:51:23 PM EDT

A real pity. The first two, Spandau Phoenix and Black Cross, were great WW2 type thrillers. The third, Mortal Fear, was one of the scariest thrillers I've ever read. The Quiet Game was a bit long but filled with Mississippi ambience and was great. I haven't read the latest one but I can vouch for those 4.

Bill

 

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9:00:49 AM EDT

Eleven on Top -Janet Evanovitch
Evanovitch can still be quite funny, and she is making every effort in this book to break the staleness that was creeping into her work and be fresh and new.  Don't get me wrong, things still blow up, and Stephanie's life is anything but under control, (B)

By a Spider's Thread -Laura Lippman
Tess Monaghan is back, faced with both a mystery and a challenge to her beliefs and faith.  I liked the book, Lippman did a terrific job of providing small pieces of information, usually given to the reader much as it is discovered by Tess.  The story, once it takes shape, is a surprise, maybe the ending is too. (B+)

Everyone Dies -Michael McGarrity
Kevin Kearney attracts enemies that are not very nice.  Our modern day cowboy ties to live a good and normal life, but the bad ones among us don't seem to be willing to let him, and he has killed off some good people along the way, so you can never get too comfortable… (B+)

A Killing Night -Jonathan King
A Max Freeman novel, this book departs from formaula in that Max leaves his swamp to rejoin the living, and finds himself in a case that pits old friend against new.  Once again, people seem to die, and mysteries seem to deepen.  The stories resolve, but probably not in the ways you would normally expect.  (B+)

The 12th Card -Jeffery Deaver
The book is certainly everything you expect from Deaver- taut suspense, twists and turns, people who are not who they appear to be, and new to this book, humanity where you least expect it.  As with past book, I was suspicious when  the story seemed to resolve with 150 pages to go.  I know better though, and this was merely the place where the roller coaster is boarded.  Deaver did a quality job of hiding the turth, but giving it to you in a way you were convinced was the truth once revealed. (A-)

Under the color of the Law -Michael McGarrity
McGarrity tackles the grand conspiracy here.  As hard as a conspiracy novel is to write well (and he writes this well), it is even harder to finish and extract the protagionsit intact, given that the government is ultimately all powerful, or at least more powerful than you and I.  This is another of those tales where you hae to be careful how you define success, or success will not be obtained.  I decided that merely surviving would be success, and I read this book in one sitting because I did not believe Kevin Kearney and friends could be successful. I guess there are degrees of success (foreshadowing here).  It was worth being tired the next day. (A-)

The Last Good Kiss -James Crumley
By today's standard, this would have been 500 pages long to contain the scope of this '70s era hardboiled novel.  I read this because Last Good Kiss is always the book Dennis LeHane credits as his inspiration in becoming a novelist.  This was a good read, but not a great one, and (to me) seemed somewhat derivative of the hardboiled works of 30 year earlier.  On another level, this was a love story, but a tragic one, adding a strong noir element to the story. (B)

The Judas Judge -Michael McGarrity
Still a fun series, but this book was a bit flatter than the others.  Kerney learns things about this life and past, and investigates a seemingly spree killing that seems anything but that to him. (B)

 

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7:15:44 PM EDT Murder in Alphabet City by Lee Harris (4/5) Second in the series about a female cop working on a cold case squad in New York City.  It was amazing how a case was built out of what seems to be absolutely nothing at the beginning.


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6:20:48 PM EDT Best Novel
      Ken Bruen -- The Killing of the Tinkers 
       William Kent Krueger -- Blood Hollow
      Laura Lippman -- By a Spider's Thread
      T. Jefferson Parker -- California Girl
      Julia Spencer-Fleming -- Out of the Deep I Cry

 Best First Novel
      Sandra Balzo -- Uncommon Grounds
      Judy Clemens -- Until the Cows Come Home 
       J. A. (Joe) Konrath -- Whiskey Sour
      Harley Jane Kozak -- Dating Dead Men

 

Best Paperback Original
      Robin Burcell -- Cold Case 
      Roberta Isleib -- Putt to Death 
      Susan McBride -- Blue Blood 
      M. J. Rose -- The Halo Effect 
      Jason Starr -- Twisted City 


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