TOP 10, OKAY 12, CRIME NOVELS OF THE YEAR SO FAR

So far this year is one of the skilled veteran. Experienced authors either returning to their series bringing new light of trying something different and succeeding. There have been some great debuts, but the old hands ruled the first six months of the year. I found a way to cram twelve into my top ten.

Nothing But The Bones by Brian Panowich and Safe and Sound by Laura McHugh

Both of these authors prove rural noir is still a strong genre, Panowich's story of a crime rings enforcer on the run with a girl with a past and McHugh's tale of two sisters trying to figure out their cousin's years ago disappearance, each capture the lives of people on the edge of society and finds the inner strength in those broken by that life. Both books demonstrate the empathy crime fiction can offer.

Deus X by Stephen Mack Jones

The fourth August Snow book has the man facing the price of heroism while going up against a dark sect of the catholic church . A great look at the interior life of our protagonist with a cool political slant and even cooler shoot outs.

Ash Dark As Night by Gary Phillips

The second in the Harry Ingram series has the photojournalist/process server searching for a white businessman with ties to South Central's black community who disappeared during the Watts riots. Gary Phillip's voice of politics and pulp also carries a wonderful sense of community in this engaging series.

Cinnamon Girl by Daniel Weizmann

Weizmann's follow up to is brilliant debut, The Last Songbird, has his Lyft driver, Addy Zantz looking into a mystery involving an eighties garage band that never made it. A great southern California detective yarn that works as a meditation at group friendships and lost youth.

The Price You Pay by Jim Fusilli

Fusilli reminded us why he is one of the best at bringing complex emotions to crime fiction with this son of a corrupt cop getting involved with a more corrupt union in seventies New Jersey, The strong character creation and sense of place and time evokes the classic seventies crime on the both the screen and page.

California Bear by Duane Swierzcynski

An entertaining and poignant thriller with the lives of a questionable ex-cop, guilt-ridden ex con ex-con, genealogist, elderly serial killer coming out of retirement, and dying girl all coming together in a Southern California tale of blackmail, life, death, and human connection. Elmore Leonard smashed into Raymond Carver.

The Last ten Miles Of Road by Eric Beetner

An everyman's terminal diagnosis turns him into a vigliante. Beetner takes what seems to be a grim set-up and pulls out its humor and humanity.

Don't Let The Devil Ride by Ace Atkins

A fun thriller with an upper class Memphis wife and a supercool private detective, looking for her husband who has disappeared along with his business and getting into a plot involving international arms dealing, priceless artifacts, and the legend of Elvis. Fast paced, funny, and full of indelible characters.

Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart

A forner contract killer in a support group for those like him becomes targeted for something in his past, struggling to stay alive while trying not to be killed Cinematic action, laugh out loud moments, and more heart than you might expect if you haven't read Hart.

Owning Up and Buster: A Dog by George Pelecanos

Pelecanos shows what he do with the novella with a collection of four as well as a standalone that covers the life of a D.C. inner city dog. No matter race, income, or side of the law, the author sees the struggle for survival and dignity for all.