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27 December 2008

Your Best Crime Fiction reads in 2008

Lots of people are publishing their "best reads" for 2008.
Mine are easy to find.

I thought perhaps we could try something different here, by having readers of this blog give me their top 10 crime fiction reads for 2008 via a comment, and then in about a week's time I will collate the lists with mine and give a definitive list.

O.K. So the rules are
  1. it is about crime fiction you've read in 2008. Year of publication doesn't matter.
  2. about 10 titles in the format of title, author (no need for description etc).
  3. any order will do. If you think one was so much better than the others, you might like to put it in your list twice.
  4. You have until Jan 4 to do it.
  5. You can help on your own blog by writing about what I am doing and pointing people to this post, so they can come here and contribute their list.
I'm looking forward to seeing what the final list looks like.

The first results:
What we said - tops in 2008

76 comments:

  1. Kerrie: Thanks for your Best Reads, 2008, challenge: I'm posting a list here, but I'll post some discussion (or justification) on my own blog--and I can't resist posting some films & TV series, too (though I'm saving a "worst film" for my blog).
    Books:
    Peter Temple, Bad Debts
    Giancarlo De Cataldo, Crimini
    Jo Nesbø, The Devil’s Star
    Dominique Manotti, Lorraine Connection
    John McFetridge, Dirty Sweet
    Håkan Nesser, Mind’s Eye
    Jakob Arjouni, Kismet
    Magdalen Nabb, Vita Nuova
    Carlo Lucarelli, Via Delle Oche
    Arnaldur Indridason, Arctic Chill
    Allan Guthrie, Savage Night
    Adrian Hyland, Diamond Dove
    Movies & TV:
    Proof (Irish TV series)
    The Wire (HBO TV series)
    The Brush Off, Sam Neill (Murray Whelan)
    Jar City (Myrin), Baltasar Kormákur (Erlendur)
    Noise, Matthew Saville
    Pars Vite et Reviens Tard, Regis Wargnier (Adamsberg)
    In Bruges, Martin McDonagh
    The Lookout, Scott Frank

    Glenn
    internationalnoir.blogspot.com

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  2. Here's my list!

    The Ape Who Guards the Balance by Elizabeth Peters

    Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

    Seduction in Death by J D Robb

    The Falcon at the Portal by Elizabeth Peters

    Exit Strategy by Kelley Armstrong

    Diamond Dove by Adrian Nyland

    Purity in Death by J D Robb

    When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson

    The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.

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  3. I'm already doing this for Karen's annual Euro Crime reviewers' round up, so watch for Euro Crime blog and compare! (Previous years' choices are also on the Euro Crime listings page.)

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  4. Thanks for your responses. I think this may result in a very disparate list of titles.
    I see what I am doing in asking my readers for their choices as a little different to most lists of crime fiction "tops" Maxine.

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  5. Kerrie I am also doing this for Karen's Euro Crime Annual List so it will be interesting to compare lists.

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  6. Good idea, Kerrie. Here are mine:
    The Risk of Darkness, Susan Hill
    The Redbreast, Jo Nesbo
    Slip of the Knife, Denise Mina
    The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson
    Lying Dead, Aline Templeton
    Gentlemen and Players, Joanne Harris
    The Cold Dish, Craig Johnson
    White Nights, Ann Cleeves
    The Cruelest Month, Louise Penny
    No Time for Goodbye, Linwood Barclay

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  7. Thanks for your list Lourdes

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  8. Oh this is fun. My "bests" are actually scheduled to post on my blog tomorrow morning, with the caveat that I read too many amazing detective stories this year to pick a best. But I can give you the top seven:

    Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell
    Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler
    The Murderer Vine by Shepard Rifkin
    The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
    The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
    The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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  9. Thanks Nicole. You said 7 but there are only 6 in your list. Did you leave something out?

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  10. Here's my list:

    -Nox Dormienda by Kelli Stanley
    -Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
    -Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn
    -When Gods Die by C.S. Harris
    -What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris
    -The Devil Can Wait by Marta Stephens
    -The Black Tower by Louis Bayard
    -The Victoria Vanishes by Christopher Fowler

    Carey

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  11. Been meaning to read both those Raybourn's Carey

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  12. Here are my favorite crime fiction titles for 2008:
    Black Seconds, by Karin Fossum
    Cold in Hand, by John Harvey
    Demon of Dakar, by Kjell Eriksson
    Finding Nouf, by Zoe Ferraris
    Not in the Flesh, by Ruth Rendell
    The Girl of His Dreams, by Donna Leon
    Monsieur Monde Vanishes, by Georges Simenon
    The Graving Dock, by Gabriel Cohen
    The Chameleon's Shadow, by Minette Walters
    The Pure in Heart, by Susan Hill

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  13. Robbie's Wife, Russell Hill
    Dust Devils, James Reasoner
    Four Corners of the Night, Craig Holden
    Some Unknown Person, Sandra Scoppettone
    I Am Legend, Richard Matheson
    Go With Me, Castle Freeman
    Give Us a Kiss, Daniel Woodrell
    Dawn Patrol, Don Winslow
    Sleeping Dogs, Ed Gorman
    Small Crimes, Dave Zeltserman
    Songs for the Missing, Stewart O'Nan
    Bury Me Deep, Megan Abbott

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  14. They are all "new titles" to me Patti

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  15. As I said, thanks for the idea. I'll post my list on my blog, and a link to yours. Here's my list, Kerrie.

    The Fault Tree by Louise Ure
    Blood of the Wicked by Leighton Gage
    The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny
    Death Will Get You Sober by Elizabeth Zelvin
    What Burns Within by Sandra Ruttan
    The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
    Rubicon by Lawrence Alexander
    Hell Hole by Chris Grabenstein
    The Fourth Time is Murder by Steven F. Havill
    The Anteater of Death by Betty Webb

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  16. The list grows. Thanks Lesa. There are now over 100 titles and very few "repeats". Just shows how strong the genre is, doesn't it?

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  17. 9 bests, no order Kerrie, I enjoyed them all. I have other 'non crimes' I rated hgher, but for your genre, my list. :)

    Frantic by Katherine Howell
    Malicious Intent: by Kathryn Fox
    Vodka doesn't freeze by Leah Giarratano
    Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
    Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman
    Body count by P.D. Martin
    Shatter by Michael Robotham
    Out of the deep I cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming
    My Enemy's Cradle by Sara Young

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  18. It's terrific, Kerrie. Nice to see all of those titles on the list. And, my blog links to yours tomorrow, suggesting people send you their lists.

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  19. My list is

    The Broken Shore by Peter Temple

    The Savage Altar (a.k.a The Sun Storm) by Asa Larsson

    Blue Heaven by C J Box

    Still Waters by Nigel McCrery

    Devil's Peak by Deon Meyer

    A Certain Malice by Felicity Young

    Earthly Delights by Kerry Greenwood

    The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

    Vodka Doesn't Freeze by Leah Giarratano

    The Collaborator of Bethlehem (a.k.a. The Bethlehem Murders) by Matt Beynon Rees

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  20. The accumulated list is beginning to look very interesting.
    Thanks Rhubarbwhine, Lesa, and Bernadette.

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  21. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE by Stieg Larsson - UK [Quercus] / US [Random House]

    Death was the other Woman by Linda Richards [Thomas Dunne Books]

    Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
    UK Simon and Schuster
    USA Grand Central Publishing

    Kate Atkinson's WHEN WILL THERE BE GOOD NEWS

    BONE BY BONE by Carol O' Connell

    BAD THINGS by Mike Marshall

    Arnaldur Indridason, Arctic Chill

    No Time for Goodbye, Linwood Barclay


    So Many Books So Little time - so these are from the top of my Head

    Best wishes for 2009
    Ali

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  22. It isn't easy to whittle the list to ten, but here goes:

    Once Were Cops, Ken Bruen
    Drowned Hopes, Donald E. Westlake
    Chasing Darkness, Robert Crais
    Envy the Night, Michael Koryta
    Toros & Torsos, Craig McDonald
    Trigger City, Sean Chercover
    The Cold Dish, Craig Johnson
    The Virgin of Small Plains, Nancy Pickard
    The Bridge of Sighs, Olen Steinhauer
    Coffin's Got the Dead Guy On the Inside, Keith Snyder

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  23. Followed the link from Lesa's blog. I did a top reads list on my own blog, but thought I'd list the mystery/crime tops from that list here (since you're collecting!)

    State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy
    Dead Woman's Shoes by Kaye C. Hill

    The rest on my top ten list were either fantasy, sci/fi or urban fantasy. It's probable that John Levitt's "New Tricks" could go on this crime list because it's definitely full of crime, but it is a fantasy novel, so I didn't include it above.

    I love these lists. I always find good things to read!!!

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  24. Here are mine. I've linked to your blog on my post!

    * The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson
    * The Dead Hour by Denise Mina
    * Slip of the Knife by Denise Mina
    * Broken Skin by Stuart MacBride
    * The Stick Game by Peter Bowen
    * Cruzatte and Maria by Peter Bowen
    * Dreaming of the Bones by Deborah Crombie
    * No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay
    * The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
    * Echoes From the Dead by Johann Theorin

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  25. Good idea, Kerrie - I'm thinking about which books to list and I'll let you know when I've posted them on my blog.

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  26. This project has certainly taken off!
    18 contributors so far, and some more promised. 165 books listed (some repeats) and some contenders for the leader board. Probably too, when the dust settles, we'll find that some of the books mentioned by others, while not making our personal top 10, were in the next 10. Just illustrates the depth of what is out there.

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  27. Many thanks Ali, Corey, Cathy, Maria, and Marg (in anticipation).
    Thanks for helping to spread the word everyone.

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  28. In anticipation?? My post went up on December 27.

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  29. Another Marg (from the other side of the globe)

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  30. Ahhh.

    Confused me for a minute!

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  31. I've posted mine at my blog but to make things easy, here they are:

    The Cleanup by Sean Doolittle
    Gas City by Loren Estelman
    A Nail Through the Heart by Timothy Hallinan
    Reconstruction by Mick Herron
    Everybody Knows This is Nowhere by John McFetridge
    The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo
    Mean Town Blues by Sam Reeves
    Shatter by Michael Robotham (let's hear it for the Aussies!)
    Echoes from the Dead by Johan Theorin

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  32. My Best Reads of 2008

    1. Down River - John Hart (2007)
    2. The Last Good Kiss - James Crumley (1978)
    3. Already Dead - Charlie Huston (2005)
    4. No Dominion - Charlie Huston (2006)
    5. Small Crimes - Dave Zeltserman (2008)
    6. The Brass Verdict - Michael Connelly (2008)
    7. The Unquiet - John Connolly (2007)
    8. The Blonde - Duane Swierczynski (2007)
    9. The Blade Itself - Marcus Sakey (2007)
    10. Bad Luck and Trouble - Lee Child (2007)

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  33. Welcome Barbara and CT. Thanks for your selections

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  34. Best Crime Fiction Read in 2008:

    Curse of the Spellmans – Lisa Lutz
    Cutter and Bone – Newton Thornberg
    The Big Clock – Kenneth Fearing
    The Deadly Percheron – John Franklin Bardin
    Christine Falls – Benjamin Black
    In The Woods – Tana French
    What The Dead Know – Laura Lippman
    The Widow – Georges Simenon
    The Barbarous Coast – Ross Macdonald
    Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong: Reopening The Case of The Hound Of The Baskervilles -- Pierre Bayard

    (the last requires special pleading -- it either qualifies as a book about crime fiction, or, in my idiosyncratic opinion, could be read as a crime novel itself, rather like Josephine Tey's "the Daughter of Time")

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  35. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  36. Sorry about the previous comment. Made a mistake, so let's start over.


    My Best Mysteries of 2008

    In the Shadow of the Glacier–Vicki Delaney
    A Flaw in the Blood–Stephanie Barron
    Death’s Half Acre–Margaret Maron
    Fractured–Karin Slaughter
    Tilt a Whirl–Chris Grabenstein
    Mad Mouse–Chris Grabenstein
    Whack a Mole–Chris Grabenstein
    Hell Hole–Chris Grabenstein
    The Keepsake-Tess Gerritsen
    The Cold Dish-Craig Johnson
    And Only to Deceive – Tasha Alexander

    That's more than 10, but what can I say? My very favorite for the year was FRACTURED with THE COLD DISH a close second. Also, Chris Grabenstein was my big discovery. What a talented author with such fun books!

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  37. Wow, over 200 books now folks. Keep em coming.
    Thanks Bullwinkle and Kay.
    With our reading list you won't have to look for any new books!

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  38. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  39. OK, let's see. I've posted a list of five outstanding crime novels published in 2008 that I've read. There are, in no particular order:

    1) Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, by John McFetridge

    2) Second Violin, by John Lawton

    3) The Draining Lake, by Arnaldur Indriðason

    4) The Big O, by Declan Burke

    5) Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio, by Amara Lakhous

    6) The Chinaman, by Friedrich Glauser

    Numbers 4 and 6 come with asterisks. I read The Big O and The Chinaman in 2007, but both were published in the U.S. in 2008, and the list was for an article in a U.S. newspaper.

    Other highlights of my crime-reading year were Adrian McKinty's Michael Forsythe trilogy (Dead I Well May Be, The Dead Yard, The Bloomsday Dead) and Ken Bruen's Priest.

    Honorable mention to short stories by Arthur Morrison and Michael Gilbert.
    ==============
    Detectives Beyond Borders
    "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
    http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

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  40. Kathy Durkin commented...
    The absolute best read of 2008 was
    The Likeness, Tana French
    This Night's Foul Work, Fred Vargas
    In the Woods, Tana French
    The Girl of his Dreams, Donna Leon
    Finding Nouf, Zoe Ferraris
    A Slip of the Knife, Denise Mina
    The Man in the Blizzard, Bart Schneider
    Every Secret Thing, Laura Lippman
    Generation Loss, Elizabeth Hand
    What was Lost, Catherine O'Flynn
    A Patent Lie, Paul Goldstein
    Open and Shut, David Rosenfeld
    Death will Get you Sober, Elizabeth Zelvin
    Last Rituals, Yrsa Siggarddottir

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  41. I should throw Bertie and the Seven Bodies by Peter Lovesey in there, too.
    ==============
    Detectives Beyond Borders
    "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
    http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

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  42. Kerrie - have just nipped over from Random after seeing your comment and I will be delighted to give you my list. Will have fun working on this today!

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  43. Not in any particular order (and I'm sure I've forgotten a few good ones):

    Bleeding Heart Square - Andrew Taylor
    When will there be good news? - Kate Atkinson
    White Nights - Ann Cleeves
    The Blood Pit - Kate Ellis
    The Headhunters - Peter Lovesey
    The Prisoner - Boileau and Narcejac
    Woman of Straw - Catherine Arley
    The Private Patient - PD James
    The Mind's Eye - Hakan Nesser
    Little Face - Sophie Hannah

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  44. Here's my list (also on my blog with a link to yours):
    The Death of Dalziel, Reginald Hill
    Messenger of Truth, Jacqueline Winspear
    A Splash of Red, Antonia Fraser
    The Seven Dials Mystery, Agatha Christie
    Nemesis, Agatha Christie
    Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders, Gyles Brandreth
    An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, P D James
    Lock 14, Georges Simenon
    The Arsenic Labyrinth, Martin Edwards
    The Tiger in the Smoke, Margery Allingham

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  45. Hi Kerrie - hope I've done this right, but here are my top ten crime reads for 2008. I did wonder about including Winter in Madrid but decided against it. It often appears in the Crime Section of bookshops over here, but that's probably more because of its author's other works - I don't really think it's a crime novel. I'm also thinking of adding a 'reader's feature' to my own blog in the New Year (once I've worked out the technology!), so watch this space! Happy reading for 2009.

    Jo Nesbo, Nemesis
    Karin Fossum, Black Seconds
    Ake Edwardson, Frozen Tracks
    Colin Cotterill, The Coroner's Lunch
    Andrea Camilleri, The Patience of the Spider
    Andrea Camilleri, The Paper Moon
    Qiu Xialong, Red Mandarin Dress
    Arnaldur Indridason, The Draining Lake
    Natsuo Kirino, Grotesque
    Declan Hughes, The Colour of Blood

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  46. Here is a list of the books I enjoyed the most this year:
    1. Joseph Caldwell, Pig Did It
    2. Mary Ann Shaffer, Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
    3. John Levitt, New Tricks (This is a new series written by a cop who presents us with a dark and magical San Francisco rich with jazz, scotch and appealing characters)
    4. Rachel Caine, Gale Force (another series I discovered this year, and found fascinating enough to devoured all 7 books in a weeks time.)
    5. Martin Millar, Lonely Werewolf Girl (This is a new favorite I will certainly read again.)
    6. Mike Carey, Vicious Circle
    7. Kathleen Kent, Heretic's Daughter
    8. Selden Edwards, Little Book
    9. Michael Cox, Glass of Time
    10. Kate Morton, House at Riverton

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  47. The following is a first draft set in alphabetical order - I'm torn between two equally amazing books, unable to decide which one is the best of the year. I'll post a ranking on my blog when I finally make up my mind.

    Evelyn Berckman, The Becknoning Dream
    Ursula Curtiss, Don't Open the Door
    Pierre Darcis, L'Estompe
    Doris Miles Disney, Room for Murder
    Michel Guibert, Piano Nobile
    Paul Halter, Les Larmes de Sibyl
    Cyril Hare, An English Murder
    Maurice Leblanc, The Extravagant Life of Balthazar
    Jean Stubbs, Dear Laura
    Henry Wade, Released to Death

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  48. What a great idea, Kerrie! Here are my ten crime fiction novels of the year:

    The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson
    Moonlight Downs by Adrian Hyland
    Out by Natsuo
    Death Without Company by Craig Johnson
    Shot Girl by Karen E. Olson
    A Grave in Gaza Matt Beynon Rees
    Kindness Goes Unpunished by Craig Johnson
    Sun and Shadow by Åke Edwardson
    Anarchy and Old Dogs by Colin Cotterill
    Baby Shark by Robert Fate

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  49. Latest contributors acknowledged - Literary Feline, Xavier, ProfMike, Lorri, Martin, and an addenda from Peter - many thanks to all of you. The number of books is up to 300 - probably about 250 when I take duplicates into account, and 30 contributors who look like the Who's Who of crime fiction bloggers. 3 days to go before I'll close the activity off and start to do lists etc. but it is going well. There is an amazing range of titles and authors.

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  50. Well, I only read ten crime fiction books during the year, so a top ten from me would be not right. However, I'll give my top three:

    The Yiddish Policemen's Union, Michael Chabon

    Give and Take, Stona Fitch

    The Talented Mr. Ripley, Patricia Highsmith

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  51. My Top Mystery for the year was: Shatter by Michael Robotham

    After this my top 10 are (In alphabetical order by title):
    An Easeful Death by Felicity Young
    Blood Precious by Sara Banerji
    Body Count by PD Martin
    Bright Air by Barry Maitland
    Dead Lovely by Helen Fitzgerald
    Frantic by Katherine Howell
    Friend of the Devil by Peter Robinson
    Nathan Fox:Traitor's Gold by Lynn Brittney
    Overkill by Vanda Symon
    Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourne
    The Darkest Hour by Katherine Howell
    The Murderers' Club by PD Martin

    OK - so that is twelve books - but it is 10 authors :)

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  52. Every little bit counts Ratty

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  53. And thanks to you too Sally

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  54. OK, in no particular order:

    THE BRASS VERDICT, Michael Connelly
    BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD, Sean Chercover
    THE BLOOMSDAY DEAD, Adrian McKinty
    SINS FOR FATHER KNOX, Joseph Skvorecky
    QUEENPIN, Megan Abbott
    TRIGGER CITY, Sean Chercover
    NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, Cormac McCarthy
    THE STATE COUNSELLOR, Boris Akunin
    MONEY SHOT, Christa Faust
    SHERLOCK HOLMES IN RUSSIA, Alex Auswaks

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  55. Hi Kerrie

    I've read a lot of crime fiction this year, and the quality has been fantastic, but I'll stick to the rules and only list ten. Don't want to think about it too much, so I'll go with the ones that pop into my head first. No particular order.

    American Skin, Ken Bruen
    Hidden River, Adrian McKinty
    Eightball Boogie, Declan Burke
    Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, John McFetridge
    Yours Confidentially, Garbhan Downey
    Gallows Lane, Brian McGilloway
    The Colour of Blood, Declan Hughes
    Orpheus Rising, Colin Bateman
    The Delegates' Choice, Ian Sansom
    Fifty-To-One, Charles Ardai

    Already I'm thinking of more that should be included in my best reads, but these guys popped into my head first, so I'll stick with the list as it is.

    Cheers

    gb

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  56. How widely we read! Thanks Rafe and Gerard

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  57. This was very difficult since I read so many mysteries. The fact that I remember these means they must have been in the top ten. The Guernsey book is not technically a mystery, but it's fabulous. Check my blog for other reviews and titles.

    What a fun activity. Very well read people... very diverse.

    When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson
    Deadheads by Reginald Hill
    In the Woods by Tana French
    The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
    The Likeness by Tana French
    The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
    The Headhunters by Peter Lovesey
    The Last Enemy by Grace Brophy
    Water Like a Stone by Deborah Crombie
    I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming

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  58. Thanks janet. I'm not sure how much fun it is going to be sorting 350 suggestions by 35 or so people! The lists certainly make interesting reading though.

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  59. -The Star & The Sea- Joseph O'Connor
    -Money Shot-Christa faust
    -No More Heroes -Ray Banks
    -A Star Called Henry- Roddy Doyle
    - Black& White- Nick Quantrill
    -Powder Burn Flash
    -Twist Of Noir
    ...just of the top of my head!

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  60. Are the last 2 written by Cormac Brown Paul?

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  61. Hi Kerrie: the last 2 are ezines that have featured Comac, Ed Lynskey and many, many more...Happy New year BTW!

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  62. Great Idea. Here are mine (some new and some re-reads):
    -The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson
    -Echo Park, Michael Connelly
    -Brass Verdict, Michael Connelly
    -The Woods, harlan Cobein
    -Heart-Shaped Box, Joe Hill
    -8 Million ways To Die, Lawrence Block
    -The Cheater, Kevin Michaels
    -Powder Burn Flash (literary zine)
    -Darkness before the Dawn (another literary zine - both feature writings from Cormac Brown, Kevin Michaels, Joe Grant, Paul Brazill)

    Thanks

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  63. Good list David and thanks for the mention but I haven't had anything in DBD! Haven't sent anything yet!Will give it a shot one day, though!

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  64. Thanks for the clarification Paul, and the list David

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  65. It is already the 4th in Australia but I'm posting my list anyway. I also thought about cheating by claiming a trilogy and quartet as a single titles but decided that wasn't in the spirit of the list. In no particular order, the 10 best of my reading in 2008:

    A Hell of a woman: an Anthology of Female Noir, Megan Abbott editor.

    Queenpin, Megan Abbott

    Dead I May Well Be, Adrian McKinty

    In a Lonely Place, Dorothy B. Hughes

    The Blank Wall, Elisabeth Sanxay Holding

    1980, David Peace

    The Big O, Declan Burke

    Trigger City, Sean Chercover

    Hoodtown, Christa Faust

    The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

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  66. Never too late Mack. In reality I'm not doing anything about creating final lists etc. for another 30 hours, just to accommodate all time zones

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  67. SHATTER, Michael Robotham
    THE BROKEN SHORE, Peter Temple
    WHAT THE DEAD KNOW, Laura Lippmann
    THE DEVIL'S REDHEAD, David Corbett
    BENEATH THE SKIN, Nicci French
    MIRACLE MYX, Dave Diotalevi
    SAY GOODBYE, Lisa Gardner
    THE KEEP, Jennifer Egan
    MISSING, Karin Alvtegen

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  68. Good to see SHATTER and THE BROKEN SHORE there Sara. many thanks for participating

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  69. Here are mine. I have done a lot of re-reading of old favourites this last year as well:

    Vows of Silence - Susan Hill
    Private Patient - P D James
    Death in Holy Orders - P D James
    Gaudy Night - DL Sayers
    Thrones Dominations - Joan Paton Walsh and DL Sayers
    Girl of his Dreams - Donna Leon
    Cat Among the Pigeons - Agatha Christie (one of her later books and unlike most of them, no rambling, brilliant)
    Five Little Pigs - Agatha Christie. One of her best 'middle period' books
    Death in a White Tie - Ngaio Marsh

    and have read several Miss Silver books by Patricia Wentworth, only just discovered, and enjoying them all

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  70. That's a good list Elaine. Thanks

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  71. My top 10 for 2008 are these:

    The Black Dove, by Steve Hockensmith
    The Black Tower, by Louis Bayard
    Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith
    Dancing for the Hangman, by Martin Edwards
    Fatal Lies, by Frank Tallis
    The Dawn Patrol, by Don Winslow
    Killing Frost, by R.D. Wingfield
    A Quiet Flame, by Philip Kerr
    Second Violin, by John Lawton
    Stratton’s War, by Laura Wilson

    Cheers,
    Jeff Pierce
    Editor, The Rap Sheet

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  72. The list is up folks, or at least stage 1 is
    http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-we-said-tops-in-2008.html

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  73. Thanks to Marg of Reading Adventures who has supplied me the perfect award to hand on to you.
    You will find it at my most recent post
    http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2009/01/great-buddy-award.html

    Please take it in the spirit in which it is offered, dispaly it on your blog if you will, and pass it on to 5 of your blogging buddies.

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Thank you also for your interest in my blog.
From time to time you will find these comments have been put into moderation - I'll try to approve them as quickly as I can.