Here's last years midyear and end of year posts.
Now on to 2018. Of the 110+ books I've read this year, around 30% of those were published in 2018, a stat I'm pretty happy with given I've made more of an effort this year to keep in touch with the new books fresh on the shelves. I've also made a dent in my Mount TBR Challenge too which has introduced a great way to read those books which have been stuck on the shelves forever and a day.
For my midyear 'best of' crime list I'm breaking it up into three categories;
Fiction (prose)
Fiction (graphic novel)
True Crime
Whilst I could easily fit about 3 times as many books onto this list I stuck with books which I'd rated 5 stars on Goodreads. There's a bunch of 4 and 4.5 star reads which were unlucky to miss out.
Top crime fiction (prose) reads so far:
Punishment by Scott J. Holliday (Thomas & Mercer)
Punishment introduces a cool concept into the dark world of crime fiction; a machine which enables law enforcement to temporarily transpose the dying memories of murder victims into their own corpus of memories. The criminals in the fictional (future?) world have acclimatized to this new wave of policing and now wear masks to hide their identity, which means good old fashioned policing is still paramount to catching a killer.
The Cyclist by Anthony Neil Smith (Bastei Entertainment)
A modern-day honey trap with sucks you in right from the start. The characters are well rounded and the linear plot, straightforward and as sharp as a knife blade. To use a somewhat corny term the book is 'all thriller, no filler'.
Don't Believe It by Charlie Donlea (Bantam)
Don't Believe It is a perfect fit for true crime documentary and podcast buffs; the novel has all the hallmarks of an addictive TV show playing out in real time, and is enhanced by an easy flowing narrative which not only captures the case as it unfolds but also captures the character of those involved, either directly or indirectly.
Sunburn by Laura Lippman (Isis Audiobooks)
Thought provoking with an simmering level of intensity which feels like its threatening to boil over at any moment, Sunburn reads equal parts Lisa Lutz (The Passenger) and James M Cain (The Cocktail Waitress) - suburban noir at its finest.
The Upper Hand by Johnny Shaw (Thomas & Mercer)
The Upper Hand is a great read; both lighthearted and loaded with emotional depth. The Ucker family are unique and complex but easily readable and enjoyable. Readers who enjoy a smile with their crime must read this book. Instantly addictive and a great read all the way through.
Retribution by Richard Anderson (Scribe)
Retribution is a blue-blooded rural crime novel which envelopes the reader in a dust encrusted film of Australia's outback dirt, complete with all the crime-caused-grit you'd expect from the genre.
Top crime fiction (graphic novel) reads so far:
Minky Woodcock, The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini by Cynthia Von Buhler (Titan Comics / Hardcase Crime)
The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini is a visual treat for fans of pulp art and a good old fashioned murder mystery. Author and artist, Cynthia Von Buhler's slice of noir is evocative and moody; art and writing creating a cohesive narrative across the 4 issues which span this story arc.
Normandy Gold by Megan Abbott and Alison Gaylin (Titan Comics / Hardcase Crime)
The graphic novel by authors Megan Abbott and Alison Gaylin is pure, unadulterated noir; there's no greater good or subplot device aimed at exposing political corruption or making the world a better place; Normandy walks among the sullen and grey, and that's where this story rightfully resides.
Top true crime reads so far:
I'll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara (Harper)
I'll Be Gone In The Dark is a haunting and disturbing book, beautifully written and densely populated with facts and footnotes all of which convey the authors fierce determination to catch a long hidden serial killer and rapist responsible for over 50 acts of unimaginable cruelty in California during the 1970's and 1980's.
Ice Nation by Jason Bray (Bonnier Publishing Australia)
Ice kills. That is the message of Ice Nation, and what better way to deliver that message than someone who has seen the affects up front and personal than author Jason Bray, a police officer tasked with bringing down a dangerous and unpredictable rural drug syndicate in the Australian state of Victoria.
The Darkest Web by Eileen Ormsby (Allen & Unwin)
The topical nature of the non-fiction peak-behind-the-curtain account of dark web warriors is not for the squeamish. The structure of the book leads the reader down a rabbit hole of murderous and unspeakable acts growing progressively darker as the digital depths of disgust unfold.
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