Scott’s Top Ten of 2017 (So Far)

• Post by Crime Fiction Coordinator Scott Montgomery

Around this time of the year, we like to look back on what has come out so far in the year as we think of suggestions for reading for the rest of the summer. Below, you’ll find recommended reads that deserve their due. In fact some are so good I had to combine a few, so my top ten is a top twelve.

1. The Force by Don Winslow

I know, an obvious choice, but it is so obviously great. This epic look at today’s New York through police eyes has plot, character, and theme singing together in this opera of city corruption. You can find copies of The Force on our shelves and via bookpeople.com. 

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2. The Long Drop by Denise Mina

Mina takes Scotland’s crime of the last century and brings it to a chilly intimate scale. A deep, multi-faceted reflection on class, media, and the darkness that lies in our hearts. You can find copies of The Long Drop on our shelves and via bookpeople.com. 

3. She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper

A tour de’ force debut novel about a career criminal on the road with his eleven year old daughter after they’ve been targeted by a white supremacist gang. Both brutal and beautiful. You can find copies of She Rides Shotgun on our shelves and via bookpeople.com. Jordan Harper joins us to speak and sign his latest on Wednesday, July 21st at 7 PM. 

4. What You Break by Reed Farrel Coleman

The second Gus Murphy novel has the reluctant detective working two cases involving past sins. A perfect balance between a a hard boiled detective tale and a multi-faceted and emotional character study. You can find signed copies of What You Break on our shelves and via bookpeople.com. 

5. The Weight Of This World by David Joy

A heart breaker of a rural noir concerning a vet back in his Appalachian home, his mother, and ne’r do well friend whose who dive head first into violence and loss when a bunch of money and drugs falls into their laps. Joy poignantly shows how certain lives can close in one the ones living them. You can find copies of The Weight of This World on our shelves and via bookpeople.com. 

6. Little White Lies & The Fallen by Ace Atkins

Atkins uses Robert B Parker’s Spenser and his own Quinn Colson to explore Trump’s America. Both books prove you can how social insight and be entertaining as hell. You can find copies of Little White Lies on our shelves and via bookpeople.com. You can additionally find copies of The Fallen on our shelves and via bookpeople.com. Ace joins us to speak and sign his latest on Friday, July 21st at 7 PM. 

7. Crime Song by David Swinson & Exit Strategy by Steve Hamilton

Two debut characters from last year, junkie PI frank Marr and Nick Mason, a man in indentured criminal servitude to a kingpin who runs his empire behind bars, returned in novels that proved they can go the series distance. Both authors talent for reveals and reversals and emotionally real and complex characters have me impatiently waiting for the third book in both series. You can find copies of Crime Song on our shelves and via bookpeople.com. You can find signed copies of Exit Strategy on our shelves and via bookpeople.com. 

8. Every Night I Dream Of Hell by Malcolm MacKay

A wildly entertaining Scottish noir about an enforcer forced to take over his crew after his boss was nicked. Full of colorful criminal characters and pitch black humor. You can find copies of Every Night I Dream of Hell on our shelves and via bookpeople.com. 

9. A Welcome Murder by Robin Yocum

A twisted tale of rust belt town and its perverse citizens caught in the ripple effect of its high school sports hero returning from prison to grab his drug money and the murder of his old nemesis. Yocum creates each characters voice distinctively and keeps all the plates spinning in a funny and engaging fashion. You can find copies of A Welcome Murder on our shelves and via bookpeople.com. 

10. Bad Boy Boogie by Thomas Pluck

This story of a man coming out of prison, learning he still has to pay for murdering a mob bosses bullying son when they where teens is a moving study of stunted emotional growth and male identity. Picture Dennis Lehane slammed into James Lee Burke and filtered through Bruce Springsteen. You can find copies of Bad Boy Boogie on our shelves and via bookpeople.com.