January, a miserable month for us living in the northern hemisphere, was redeemed by some excellent crime fiction reading. I read 10 books for crimepieces and perhaps because there was a stong Scandinavian presence, the common theme seemed to be murders set to the backdrop of freezing winters. However, the highlight of my month was set in a much warmer climate, the Australian Desert. Gunshot Road by Adrian Hyland combined sparky writing with a great sense of place and one of the best female detectives around.
The books I read in January were:
1. Death and the Spanish Lady by Carolyn Morwood. (completed as part of the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge).
2. The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart
3. The Winter of the Lions by Jan Costin Wagner
4. Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George
5. Gunshot Road by Adrian Hyland
6. V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton (also reviewed for crimesquad.com)
7. The Mask of Glass by Holly Roth
8. The Final Murder by Anne Holt
9. 1222 by Anne Holt
10. Midwinter Sacrifice by Mons Kallentoft
Kerrie over at Mysteries in Paradise is hosting a meme summarizing the crime fiction recommendations for January 2012.
Sarah – I am so glad you thought Gunshot Road such an excellent read. I have to admit I think Adrian Hyland is an extremely talented writer, so I’m biased. Still it’s good to hear it won your “prize.”
Out of the books in your list that I’ve also read, I certainly agree that Gunshot Road would win for me, too. I’ve read five of the others and liked them, too. Roll on February – a slightly shorter month if (so far, one day in) an even colder one.
Thanks for participating in the Pick of the Month meme Sarah. I’m glad you chose GUNSHOT ROAD
Thanks. I’m glad you all concur about Gunshot Road. February is getting off to a cracking start with the Sara Gran book.
I’ve been reading lots of cold-weather books during this weirdly mild winter too–no big snow storms, and when we do get a few inches, it’s gone within 48 hours.
Thanks Rebecca. We’re not having a particularly mild winter in Europe but as yet, not as bad as last year.
Gunshot Road was one of my favourite books that I read last year. I’m hoping to read V is for Vengeance soon – I love the alphabet series
Thanks Shelleyrae. I think you’ll enjoy V is for Vengeance too.