This series of posts is my review of the top 31 books that I’ve read of 2011. As we enter the top twenty this is the first from an author who will feature again.

Two posts today, as the next two days are devoted to a virtual book tour and guest post.

The Lizard’s Bite by David Hewson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Falconi, Peroni, Costa, Lupo & the former FBI agent Emily Deacon return. 

A fire in a glass foundry leaves two dead, but is it an accident, a murder/suicide, or double murder?  Falconi and his team having been banished from their Roman home to the city of Venice slowly uncover a tale of deceit and murder in the ancient city.   With Massiter the intriguing Englishman all is not as it seems, and as further murders follow, Falconi’s men must uncover the truth.

This is the fourth “Nic Costa” book, and the series goes from strength to strength, from the horrific opening scenes to the satisfying final chapters, this entry in the Costa series is by far the best of the first four, in my opinion.  As I have read the series out of order I know that it goes from strength to strength from here on, but I am trying to start and read/reread the series from the beginning.

For me, whilst these are very much of the crime crime/mystery genre, they are also about art, culture, architecture, travel, good food and good wine.  One of my favourite weekend pastimes now is to sit with a Nic Costa tale, and a glass of Italian white that I have read about in a previous outing.

The Lizard’s Bite also sits alongside David Hewson’s standalone novel, “The Cemetery of Secrets”, although I have yet to read the latter, and either book can be read without the benefit of the other, some characters appear in both books.

Ah, Venice and murder, another outstanding Nic Costa tale from David Hewson, recommended!

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I think this is one of the first books that I read in 2011, and I remember enjoying it. It made me feel very cold, as much of it was set in the middle of winter.  Many of the authors other books went on to  my wishlist after I finished this one. I can see 2012, having a good few of them read too.

Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Brilliant entry in the Roy Grace series.

 

Dead Man’s Grip by Peter James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Peter James’s last book concerned a serial killer working from 1997 to the present, this book is very much in the present.

A fatal road traffic accident leads to a series of mafia hits, and Roy Grace has to solve the crime(s) and save the day once again.

One of the things I love the most about the Roy Grace series is the settings. I know the area a little and the descriptions of locations always feel so real to me, this outing is no exception.

Featuring a potential return of Sandy, Roy Grace’s long missing wife, and also a cameo appearance from Yac (and those Christian Louboutin’s), this tale is a breakneck read from start to finish.

I particuarly like the character of Tooth, even though he was a bad guy, and was actually glad that he survived (perhaps to return in the future)?

The only thing that I found a little unbelievable was some of the police procedural, would an officer really travel on blues and twos to a dead body? If they do they shoudln’t – the dead are dead, no sense in adding more dead, but perhaps this is true I don’t know. It didn’t seem factually or morally right – who knows.

A recommended read, if you like a good crime novel, and especailly if you have read any of the previous Roy Grace stories!

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Although in chronology I think this is the second Joe Pike book from Robert Crais, it is the first one that I have read. If you’ve read Robert Crais before you are probably familiar with Joe Pike as Elvis Cole’s sidekick, but in this tale Pike takes the lead and is out for revenge. Good solid stuff, with plenty of action and an unstoppable hero.

The First Rule by Robert Crais
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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One of my regrets with the books I’ve read in 2011, is not being able to read more of Brett Battles work, but that does at least mean I’ve got plenty read in 2012!

The Cleaner by Brett Battles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jonathan Quinn is an espionage agent, but he doesn’t work for MI6 or the CIA, he’s freelance.

Quinn is asked to investigate a suspicious arson and death, and soon someone is trying to kill him. Quinn needs to find out what’s going on and stop those who are after him before they put a stop to his investigation permanently. The trail will take Quinn to Vietnam, Germany and Brussels, and put Quinn in some tight spots where his death is one likely outcome.

This is the first in the Jonathan Quinn series by Brett Battles and I will certainly be getting the next one in due course.

Brett Battles knows how to tell an action packed tale, leaving me breathless at times, and not wanting to put my kindle down. The knowledge of spy craft and the “toys” that Quinn uses leave you wondering just how Brett knows the details that he writes in his book, but they form part of a nail biting tale.

I would heartedly recommend this book.

[On a negative point, although I have given my review 5 stars I have done so on the strength of the writing and the story alone. The transfer to Kindle was particularly poor, with a huge margin on the left of the page, and many other visual mistakes that made reading hard work.]

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Written by one of the masters of the genre, Lawrence Block has been writing the Matt Scudder series for what seems like a very long time.  This is one of the early ones, and one of the best with Matt solving an old closed case when new evidence comes to light.  Short, tight and a crime story at it’s best.

A Stab in the Dark by Lawrence Block
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Another one on the digital nomad vein, but in this case a more practical guide as to how to work from a shed in your garden. Great place to start from, and also full of some useful practical tips, as well as also having some great and inspirational photographs.

Shedworking: The Alternative Workplace Revolution by Alex Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Rereading my review again below, you might be wondering why this one made it into the top 31 at all. Well there are a number of Scandanavian authors who are getting a lot of press at the moment, and Hakan Nesser doesn’t seem to be one of them for some reason.  Although I didn’t rate this very highly it was much better than some of the others that I have read which get far more publicity.  So I think it’s worthy of inclusion above some of the others that I’ve read this year, but haven’t made it in the top 31.

 

Borkmann’s Point: An Inspector Van Veeteren Mystery by Håkan Nesser
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A very lightweight tale. There seems little in the characterisation or plot to really say this is a gripping tale. Some of the scenery is fantastic, and the final reveal is good (but predictable). As part of a series I’m not sure I’ll be hurrying to track down the others.

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I had to include this one somewhere in the overall list for the year. It’s one of the stand-out reads, and would be easy to place it much higher up, but then so are many of those books above it.

The Remains by Vincent Zandri
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Joseph Whalen, a convicted sex offender, attacked twin sisters Rebecca & Molly Underhill when they were children. He’s been in jail for the last 30 years but now he’s been released on parole. A lot has changed in 30 years, Molly has passed away and Rebecca now runs an art centre.

When Rebecca starts receiving anonymous text messages and the artist in residence at the centre Franny, an autistic savant, begins painting her pictures reminiscent of when she was attacked by Whalen, things begin to take a nasty turn.

Vincent Zandri cracks out a terrifying ride through both sub-conscious and conscious mixing memory and present in this fast paced thriller. From the opening chapters where he paints elements of doubt, and an is he isn’t he presence of Whalen, back in Rebecca’s life the story keeps you turning the pages.

The cat and mouse chase sequence in woodland, at night during a storm are reminiscent of some of the best adrenaline rides out there, and you know that the evil isn’t going to stop, just keep coming.

The final twisting and turning pages tie together nicely and remain believable where so many others in this genre would fall.

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