It’s that time of the year. I’ve made a list, checked it a couple dozen times, and now I’m posting it here.
This is not a “Best Of” list in the traditional sense. More of a “Man, I read some great books that got published this year!” list. The titles and authors are in no particular order, and there are probably a few I forgot.
If you haven’t already read these books, you should. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday are all great excuses to support your favorite booksellers. As if you need another excuse to buy books. (UPDATE: I’ve gotten some great suggestions for this list on other platforms. If you want to mention a book I didn’t, please leave it in the comments below Because: Conversation! —Thanks!).
Novels
- CANARY by Duane Swierczynski
- CONTENDERS by Erika Krouse
- STRANGE SHORES by Arnaldur Indridason
- HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY KIDNAP STRANGERS by Max Booth III
- THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN by Paula Hawkins
- RUMRUNNERS by Eric Beetner
- UNCLE DUST by Rob Pierce
- THE MAGICIAN’S LAND by Lev Grossman
- A NEGRO AND AN OFAY by Danny Gardner
- WORM by Anthony Neil Smith
- WAYS TO DIE IN GLASGOW by Jay Stringer
- GO DOWN HARD by Craig Faustus Buck
- VORTEX by Paul D. Marks
- NEW YORKED by Rob Hart
- YOUNG AMERICANS by Josh Stallings
Currently Reading
- THE MAN IN THE WINDOW by Dana King
- THE CARTEL by Don Winslow
Still On The TBR List
- KILL ME QUICK by Paul D. Brazill
- HASHTAG by Eryk Pruitt
- ZERO SAINTS by Gabino Iglesias
- BULL MOUNTAIN by Brian Panowich
- THE SUBTLE ART OF BRUTALITY by Ryan Sayles
Novellas & Anthologies
- THE FURY OF BLACKY JAGUAR by Angel Luis Colon
- DREAMING DEEP by Anonymous-9
- THE DEEPENING SHADE by Jake Hinkson
- REDBONE by Matt Phillips
- DEAD HEAT WITH THE REAPER by William E. Wallace
- KNUCKLEBALL by Tom Pitts
- SAFE INSIDE THE VIOLENCE by Chris Irvin
Looking Forward To 2016
- CLEANING UP FINN by Sarah M. Chen
- GRAVEYARD LOVE by Scott Adlerberg
- CITY OF ROSE by Rob Hart
- DECEMBER BOYS by Joe Clifford
- ROUGH TRADE by Todd Robinson
- HARD-BOILED HEART by Will Viharo
- FLOODGATE by Johnny Shaw
S.W. Lauden’s debut novel, BAD CITIZEN CORPORATION, is available now from Rare Bird Books. His novella, CROSSWISE, will be published by Down & Out Books in 2016.