By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham

This is the story of Peter Harris, a 44 year old gallery owner in New York and what happens to him over a period of a few days. This is a wonderful novel, a contemplation on encroaching middle age, on values, marriage, parenthood, art and ideals. The writing is exquisite, the language occasionally stunning. It surprised me, and I like being surprised. It's astounding how much is in the 238 pages of this novel, how vivid the images are, how vibrant the characters. Cunningham writes in a self-assured east coast tradition of Fitzgerald and Cheever. It's very erudite and empathic. Wow. Read. His previous novel The Hours won the Pulitzer and was made into a much lauded film.

Black & White by Lewis Shiner

This is a terrific novel about american race relations in the 60s and the fallout in one man's life. Michael Cooper comes back to his city of birth Durham, NC, when his father who is dying from lung cancer decides he wants to die there. The returns triggers events and secrets start to unfold. Beautifully written with strong characters this book poses interesting questions on identity and morals. This is the man we all should be reading instead of Messrs Foer and Eggers.

This Wicked World by Richard Lange

Excellent, well written, SoCal noir. Jimmy Boone tries very hard to do right, but his sense of justice brings him into situations he probably shouldn't be in. This is a great story of a broken hero battling to right wrongs. Very well written with nods to people like Beckett. Engaging

Five Days Apart Chris Binchy

Am I the only one who likes Chris Binchy? I've read all four of his novels, and they are terrific novels about the male psyche. This one concerns a love triangle where the protagonists socially stronger best friend edges him out of the love of his life. A direct enough love story that kept me reading relentlessly. Spread the word.

Ken Bruen – The Devil

The seventh book about the mostly unfortunate adventures of moral champion Jack Taylor sees him go face to face with perhaps his mightiest adversary so far...

Ken Bruen is a marvel. Noone writes like him, and it may be an acquired taste, but oh it's worth it! Start with The Guards and then you'll be hooked. A great extra with Ken Bruen's books are all the terrific literary tips he gives; Jack Taylor is forever reading good books, books you want to find out more about.
Do not tarry!

Neil Cross – Captured

I just finished reading Neil Cross' newest book Captured. It was a riveting, incisive read. I don't quite know how to best describe Mr Cross' work. On the one hand he could be said to be a British Harlan Coben in that he is great at making his characters feel real; normal people who are suddenly exposed to some measure of darkness. He writes equally well, pacy, with great flow. Very accessible prose and stories that grab hold.

On the other hand there's something more to him: he was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize a few years ago (for Always the Sun; amazing book!), and although I enjoy Mr. Coben he probably won't be longlisted for the National Book Award.

So perhaps one might say that Neil Cross writes literary thrillers about everyday characters with very real, often violent problems. He's not that well known over here, but I really feel he ought to be. In short: don't wait to discover Neil Cross.

"David Corbett – Do They Know I'm Running?

Great political thriller about US / Central American relations. This book is a deeply felt reckoning with how we are affected by our own underlying prejudices, as well as being a very pacy exciting read about engaging people struggling for, well, normalcy. Complex and intriguing. Read.

 

Liam McIlvanney – All the Colours of The Town

Very well written and interesting dark novel about the sectarianism of Western Scotland and how it is connected to the situation in Ulster. I learned quite a few things in this exciting read. Favourite scene: where the protagonist is in the wrong pub at the wrong time and suddenly everyone knows who he is and everything goes quiet, until the bartender places a hand on his shoulder and quietly says 'It's time you werenae here, son'...
Great stuff!!

 

Karen Campbell – After the Fire

This follow-up to The Twilight Time is definitely the best British police novel I've read in over a decade! This tops most books in the genre and also transcends it. More of a novel than a crime novel.
Everyone must read!

 

David Nicholls – One Day

Great british love story that takes place over 20 years. Each year we get to hear what happens to Emma and Dexter on St Swithin's Day. I really enjoyed the tone of this and the format was terrific. I'm sure this will get turned into a film, and a quite popular one at that!
Read!

 

Barry McCrea – The First Verse

Great first novel, has everything: set in academia (Trinity), concerns a literary cult with ancient origins (the sortes). In a sense I'm glad I didn't read this in my impressionable teens, I would have been all over this angle on using books!

 

Greg Williams – The Accidental Father

This is feel-good lad lit of the very best kind. Successful London 30-something Alex Taylor lives the jet set life, rather empty but quite fashionable. Then out of the blue he is contacted by a lawyer who informs him that an old girlfriend has died and left him ..... a 13-year-old daughter, Caitlin. Bam! Everything changes, and Greg Williams writes quite well about the decisions Alex has to make and the way his life changes. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Read!
(His previous novel Another Man's Life has similar themes and was also quite good.)

Chad Kultgen – The Lie

Or actually don't read this. Oh, I don't know. It's one of the most awful books I've ever read, it had me reeling for days. Let's pray the author is a cynical opportunist and not the astute social critic I fear he might be.
This is an American Psycho of gender relations. Not for the weak. Pitch black. No humour. No hope. You have been warned.

Lev Grossman - The Magicians

This was a very pleasant surprise. Imagine Donna Tartt rewriting Harry Potter and C.S. Lewis' Narnia books. This book might be the result. Read and be amazed.

 

Owen Hill - The Incredible Double

Brief beautiful counter-culture noir featuring poet/book scout/PI Clay Blackburn and set mostly in Berkeley. Who can resist a character who when checking out someone's bookshelves reflects: "I scanned the two small bookshelves. Jackie Susann and some movie bios. But also Terry Southern, Gore Vidal, Susan Sontag. No McSweeney's or Paul Auster. I felt relieved. The only poetry was by Bertolt Brecht. Not bad."

Craig Holden - Matala

Craig Holden is one of my favourite writers; his language is finely honed, his stories sleek and brief. It's a joy to read a new one and this one about an american backpacker who mingles with the wrong people is a treat. The question is how innocent the innocent truly are... Gorgeous cover too!

Charles Cumming - Typhoon

Charles Cumming is part of a new generation of British writers of spy fiction. Typhoon is his latest excellent book. Hong Kong & China, MI6 & CIA, love & betrayal, the brits & the yanks. Great read. And don't miss out on his earlier books! Think early Le Carré.

Helen FitzGerald - Dead Lovely

Another Glaswegian noir! Pitch black humour, fantastic story of social worker/single mum who stumbles into an amazing amount of violence and moral turpitude... This was so much fun to read. Start now!

Karen Campbell - The Twilight Time

Great first book from a new Scottish crime writer. Set in Glasgow with a strong complex female lead character, Sergeant Anna Cameron.
– I really enjoyed this and can't wait to read the next one.