In the past I've steered away, as much as possible, from "best of" listings because it's so hard for me to choose. But this is the first year I've had a newsletter running on the site, and given somebody has signed up I thought I should do something...
So these are the books that have stayed with me when I ran through the list of reviews posted (so far this year) on AustCrime. In no particular order, and sorted roughly into groupings that came straight from my head...
Crime Fiction
#AusCrime
Gunnawah, Ronni Salt This is well written, thoughtful and cleverly done, populated by characters, situations and a sense of place that's very real. Out 1st January, I'm strongly advising pre-orders and/or queuing.
The Mother Paul Series, June Wright June Wright has faded from view, but in 1948 her novel Murder in the Telephone Exchange outstripped sales of Agatha Christie in Australia.
The Chilling, Riley James A fortuitous pick from the library, which I shouldn't be doing but I'd heard a whisper and the whisper should have been shouting. This was really good.
Last One to Leave / Find Us, Benjamin Stevenson Available as stand-alone ebooks / these novellas also come under the title FOOL ME TWICE. Also as audio books. Great little snippets into why Stevenson is a master of misdirection.
Kill Yours, Kill Mine Katherine Kovacic (aka Seven Sisters) this is a standalone that's beautifully written, powerful, provocative and cheering. It shouldn't be, but it bloody well is. #wasn'texpectingthat
The Crag, Claire Sutherland The initial attraction of this one was definitely location, being set an hour away from me, at and around Mount Arapiles. What kept me reading were a couple of wonderful female characters and a doozy of a twist.
Liars, James O'Loghlin A bit of a doorstopper, there's more than enough story to fill the pages in this engaging, addictive and intriguing small town thriller.
It Takes a Town ... to solve a Murder, Aoife Clifford This author does small towns so well, and in this case celebrity returned to small town very well.
Sanctuary, Garry Disher It's Disher. It's a lone wolf. She's female. It's brilliant.
Dirt Town, Hayley Scrivenor Another author doing small rural towns with considerable aplomb.
Halfway House, Helen FitzGerald Meanwhile this is an author who is doing cities and flawed characters with that same aplomb.
The Good Dog, Simon Rowell Another series with a brilliant central character - read all of these.
Kill Your Husbands, Jack Heath Clever twist, follow up to KILL YOUR BROTHER but seeing as I stuffed up and got them out of order, you should be able to as well. Or read them both. #wasn'texpectingthat
Everyone On This Train is a Suspect, Benjamin Stevenson Follow up to Everybody In My Family Has Killed Someone which avoids second book syndrome. Quite something as the premise here is a tricky one.
The Wiregrass, Adrian Hyland I'm cheating as I reviewed this back in December 2023, but this is such a good series that everyone should read.
The Hitwoman's Guide to Reducing Household Debt, Mark Mupotsa-Russell Funny, different, funny, clever, different. Confrontational to start off with undoubtedly, but don't you wish revenge could always be like this. #wasn'texpectingthat
The Hunted / The Inheritance, Gabriel Bergmoser This year I've been on a Bergmoser catchup. Shouldn't have been, criminal that I missed too many of these books when released but I've just about rectified that now. (Currently reading The Hitchhiker and it's creepy good).
Broken Bay, Margaret Hickey This author has rapidly become a favourite - her writing of place is brilliant, and the series, and characters engaging.
Death Leaves the Station, Alexander Thorpe This (and the next one listed here) are from the cosier end of the spectrum which isn't my favourite place to dwell, but these worked. Great characters, clever plotting, wonderful dialogue.
The Tea Ladies, Amanda Hampson As per the one above.
#YeahNoir
Woman, Missing Sherryl Clark Sherryl Clark does excellent female protagonists of all shapes, sizes and sensibility. Lou Alcott is one that ticks a lot of boxes and I cannot wait for the next outing.
The Quarry, Kim Hunt I love the central character in this series, NSW ranger Cal Nyx. The stories here are also nicely different, revolving around characters who aren't out of the cookie cutter mould, and scenarios that are believable. Read the entire series.
Devil's Breath, Jill Johnson Another one with a very different central protagonist, a neurodivergent professor of botanical toxicology, Eustacia Rose. I want this to be a series.
The Pain Tourist, Paul Cleave It's Cleave, so you know it's going to be different, and very good. Just read everything of his.
The Call, Gavin Strawhan So good I checked that it was a debut, and then half way through doubted it, and checked again. This is a very good debut.
El Flamingo, Nick Davies Another from the well I wasn't expecting that category. Cleverly done. #wasn'texpectingthat
#SomewhereElse
Murder Mindfully, Karsten Dusse This was just fun. Violent, over the top in some places, fun. Different. You might hear Henning Wehn's voice in your head. #wasn'texpectingthat
The Mystery of the Crooked Man, Tom Spencer Masterclass in how to put a reader (listener) in the head of a thoroughly unpleasant person and make them realise that sometimes there are reasons for that. #wasn'texpectingthat
Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies, Catherine Mack Came very very close to making this a hard no, the blurb seemed to be hinting a bit more ditzy chick style than I can normally stomach, but this one made me laugh. #wasn'texpectingthat
The Dublin Trilogy (books 3 - 7), Caimh McDonnell I link to this review of books 3 - 7 in the trilogy now made up of nine entries, including two novellas. At the time of writing. God knows how many there will be at the time that you're reading this, in the next 12 months, when the whole thing ends. Perhaps trilogy has a different meaning in Gaelic. Don't care. This series is huge fun. Especially in audio format. #wasn'texpectingthat
The Other Half / The In Crowd, Charlotte Vassell Another one of those series that I chanced upon and just loved. The tongue in cheek swipes here are so pointed they'd make air bleed. #wasn'texpectingthat
Murder by Natural Causes, Helen Erichsen It's been a year for well I wasn't expecting that. This was one from that category. And then some. #wasn'texpectingthat
The Dead of Winter, Stuart MacBride It's MacBride so of course it jumped queues, resulted in some missed deadlines. No apologies. I was expecting this and got exactly what I was hoping for.
Non Fiction / Memoir / Stuff
#NonFiction
He Went Back for His Hat, Justice Michael Lee This was one of the clearest examples I have ever read of the deep thinking, knowledge, awareness and sharpness of people like Justice Michael Lee. TRIGGER WARNING - this book discusses a civil case that revolved around an alleged rape. There are some challenging aspects to the observations and testimony recorded here.
Crossing the Line, Nick McKenzie and Flawed Hero, Chris Masters were standouts in helping to understand the defamation system as well as it's impact on some of the parties involved.
#JustWow
We Are the Stars, Gina Chick I mean you watch Series One of Alone Australia and you realise that there's something special about Gina Chick. And then you read this memoir and you realise there's special and there's Gina Special. What a story. What a woman.
A Stroke of the Pen, Terry Pratchett A collection of unearthed stories from Sir Terry before Discworld, fame and fortune. Of course I would read this, and of course I cried. What the world lost.
#JustBecause
What, John Cooper Clarke I'd read this man's shopping list. Preferably I'd listen to him while he recites that list, and then maybe give him a hand to carry the shopping bags home. Basically I'd probably stalk this man if I had half a chance.
I Am Behind You, John Ajvide Lindqvist The only horror author who is on my WHY HAVEN'T I READ THIS YET list.
And Away ..., Bob Mortimer Listened to this on audio. He's a funny and incredibly thoughtful man.
Things I Want to Read, Badly
There are so many great books still lagging on the reading list from this year (all the years if I'm honest), and if the build up that has already commenced for next year is anything to go by, it's going to be another stellar year. Hopefully I'll catch up with Michael Bennett's books, as well as finish off my series re-read of the Flaxborough Chronicles (could it get any more different)... But let's face it, if I can get the To Be Read list down to something that's not blotting out the moon anymore, I'll be happy (at the time of writing I'm still refactoring but believe me - it's long and deep and wide).
Hope everyone has a good, safe and peaceful Festive Season break however you celebrate it. I desperately hope it rains on our side of Victoria eventually, and that the early start to the bushfire season keeps itself nice and doesn't impact too many people. If you're in the path of the big ones in the landscape right now - we have everything crossed for you. Hope to see everyone on the other side.