Top 10 for first half of 2007

[Karen from AustCrime]

It's coming up to the end of June (damn that means end of financial year and all that rotten paperwork!) and I'm pinching an idea from one of my favourite online mystery discussion lists.

What were your favourite 10 books from the first half of the year - the ones you'd happily tout to all and sundry in the local pub. They don't have to be published in 2007, just what you read up until the end of June.

[Karen from AustCrime]

Laura - great to see a couple of Australians on your list :) (Okay so I'm biased slightly....)

But I was also interested to see The Savage Garden there - I loved that book as well and hummed and haaed about cheating with my 10 and including it.

[Gumshoe Carl]

It has been a so-so year. Here are some of my favorites for 2007 (thus far).


To The Power of Three by Laura Lippman

Stealing the Dragon by Tim Maleeny

The Overlook by Michael Connelly

Dying Light by Stuart MacBride

Borkmann's Point by Hakan Nesser

The Watchman by Robert Crais

[Craig Clarke]

So far this year, very little of my reading has been from this year, so there are a few oldies. Also, my reading covers many genres, but these are all crime-related in one way or another.

Jimmy the Kid by Donald E. Westlake
Guys and Dolls by Damon Runyon
The Spaces Between the Lines by Peter Crowther
Ash Wednesday by Chet Williamson
Robbie's Wife by Russell Hill
Beyond the Outposts by Max Brand
The Vengeful Virgin by Gil Brewer
The Blonde by Duane Swierczynski
Two-Way Split by Allan Guthrie (thanks to Donna)
Fake!: The Story of Elmyr de Hory, the Greatest Art Forger of Our Time by Clifford Irving

[LJ Roberts]

Of the 94 books I've read so far this year, these are my TOP reads:

Box, C.J. - Free Fire
Bruen, Ken - Cross
Craig, Philip R. - The Vineyard Stalker
Crias, Robert - The Watchman
de Castrique, Mark - Final Undertaking
Setterfield, Diane - The Thirteenth Tale
Tey, Josephine - Brat Farrar
Todd, Charles - A False Mirror

Happy reading,
LJ

[Lesa Holstine]

Here are my top 7 books read during 2007, no matter what category. These are in order as to date read. I don't have 3 more I'd put on the list at the present time.

1) Terrier - Tamora Pierce
2) Silent in the Grave - Deanna Raybourn
3) Mistress of the Art of Death - Ariana Franklin
4) A Fatal Grace - Louise Penny
5) Raven Black - Ann Cleeves
6) The Lightning Thief - Rick Riiordan
7) Michael Tolliver Lives! - Armistead Maupin

[Karen from AustCrime]

Look at all these lovely suggestions.

I wonder what the carrying capacity of a 2 bedroom house is.........

[Cheryl Reynolds]

Keep in mind that I am usually several years behind with reading "what's new and hot" so most of these are NOT new releases. I also read from many different genres so several of my actual favorites are not listed here and some of these would be bumped off the list if I were listing favorite reads overall--these are my top mystery/crime books, no particular order.

1) BIRDMAN by Mo Hayder
2) BLIND TO THE BONES by Stephen Booth
3) BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD by Sean Chercover
4) THIRTY-THREE TEETH by Colin Cotterill
5) EVAN'S GATE by Rhys Bowen
6) JAR CITY by Arnaldur Indridason
7) THE JANISSARY TREE by Jason Goodwin
8) TILT-A-WHIRL by Chris Grabenstein
9) PRAIRIE GOTHIC by J.M. Hayes
10) DREAMING OF THE BONES by Deborah Crombie

Cheryl

[Linda Lee]

Death Message-Mark Billingham
Written in Bone-Simon Beckett
Sharp Objects-Gillian Flynn
Not Dead Enough-Peter James
Intruders-Michael Marshall
Broken Skin-Stuart MacBride
Darkness Inside-John Rickards
Skin Privilege-Karin Slaughter
White Room-Matyn Waites
Fear-Jeff Abbott

[Roger Newbury]

I should have known that there had to be a Mark Billigham and Peter James title sooner or later! And guess who it was??? !!! hehehe Hi Linda!

Finally got some reading done...

Buried - Mark Billingham
Dying Light - Stuart McBride
Dead Simple - Peter James (signed copy)

My eyes are hurting, better rest them before I continue reading anymore books!!

[Karen from AustCrime]

I agree with you both on Mark and Stuart - I think I'm almost at the stage that I'd read Stuart MacBride's shopping list :)

[Linda Lee]

Couldn't imagine what he would have on his shopping list...after reading his books maybe sweeties??

[Linda Lee]

Get reading Roger...no slacking off! Lots more fantastic crime out there to try :-)