Another bloody 365 days gone – what the hellpiece?! To be fair, I'm still in some sort of weird time loop that comes from the Chrimbo limbo. Is it Thursday? Is it Saturday? Am I an actual human being or some sort of cybernetic construct!? Whatever I am, I read some more books this year. Now, I'm going to be honest: I did not best last year's 116 books. Why? Well I started a new job in the summer that meant I didn't get to spend 90% of my life sat on my arse with a paperback in my hand. I also ended up doing – ironically – a lot of book editorial work towards the end of the year that really crushed my reading mojo.
But! I did read 51, which is almost one a week, which ain't too shabby! So let me slip on my familiar worn tweed jacket with the leather elbow patches, recline into my sumptuous leather armchair beside a crackling log fire (spoiler alert – it's one of those three-hour looped CGI fireplaces on Netflix) and run you through this year's literary highs and lows. Normal rules apply: tip-top best reads get an A+, anything that made me yawn face the depths of a C (and I don't mean Covid) or *shudder* lower. So settle back and buckle up: LET'S DO THIS!
1. The Return of the Pharaoh by Nicholas Meyer - Famed screenwriter, director and novelist Meyer returns with another Sherlock Holmes pastiche, this time taking Holmes and Watson to Egypt where they must investigate the mystery of a missing duke. A wonderful read, beautifully and intelligently written; Meyer’s Holmes books have always been a delight, and this instalment is no different: A2. Forever and a Death by Donald E. Westlake - A previously unpublished novel based on the author’s unused idea for the 18th James Bond movie (what eventually became Tomorrow Never Dies) finds a powerful businessman seeking revenge against China by attempting to destroy Hong Kong. All the ingredients of a good Bond movie, but a terrific novel in its own right - huge fun: A
3. Castle in the Air by Donald E. Westlake - Another of the acclaimed author’s comedy heist novels, this time focusing on a group of crooks, barely any of whom speak the same language, all of whom are trying to steal a castle. As mad as it sounds, with some beautifully snappy dialogue and hilarious set-pieces; I lost track of what was going on at various points, but it was a wonderful ride nonetheless: A
4. Blackmailer by George Axelrod - A publisher finds himself entangled in a web of intrigue and lies after being offered the final book by a deceased bestselling author. A solid mystery with some surprising twists and turns along the way: A
5. Lemons Never Lie by Richard Stark - A difficult to get hold of Hard Case Crime novel written by Donald E. Westlake under his Stark pseudonym. Having been determined to add it to my Hard Case collection, I eventually tracked down a copy - and it was well worth it. Focusing on a supporting character from the author’s Parker novels, this book sees Alan Grofield seeking revenge on a criminal who stole his profits from a previous heist and murdered one of his accomplices. A thrilling novel that never lets up: A
6. The Lost World by Michael Crichton - A gorgeous Folio Society edition, and companion to the Jurassic Park volume I read last year. I read The Lost World when it was first published back in the 90s and recall being not terribly impressed by it; rereading it now, my opinion is vastly different. It’s a brilliantly told, intelligently plotted story, and the perfect follow-up to Crichton’s Jurassic Park blockbuster. Ignore the significantly different movie interpretation, this is an absolutely brilliant read, and Folio Society once again deserve kudos for the stunning design and packaging: A+
7. Parker: The Martini Edition by Darwyn Cooke - Deluxe oversized, slipcased edition of Cooke’s first two adaptations of Richard Stark’s (a pseudonym of author Donald E. Westlake) Parker novels. Stark’s acclaimed novels are really brought to life here – Cooke’s stunning artwork leaping off the oversized pages, giving Parker’s misadventures an eye-catching and dynamic new dimension; I’ve always been a fan of the late artist, but here his work goes further than ever before: beautiful, brutal, and effective, with limited colours only enhancing the storytelling. The addition of some fantastic bonus materials makes an already wonderful book even more appealing: A+
8. A Diet of Treacle by Lawrence Block - A young woman falls in with a man whose drug-dealing housemate ultimately leads them down a dangerous path, ending in murder. A quick read, and a slow-burner that soon becomes a page-turner: A
9. Swashbucklers by Dan Hanks - Imagine a bit of Goonies, a little Ghostbusters, and a smattering of your other favourite 80s films but with the twist that the characters have all grown up to be in their 40s and you get an inkling of what author Hanks has come up with for his second novel (after the wonderful Captain Mosley and the Embers of the Empire). A hugely enjoyable read: A
10. Thieves Fall Out by Gore Vidal - An American man finds himself involved in a plot to smuggle a valuable necklace out of Egypt as the country finds itself on the edge of a revolution. While not a complex thriller, this is a decent page-turner that kept me entertained from start to finish: A
11. Krull by Alan Dean Foster - Novelisation of the 1983 fantasy film. I don’t remember the movie terribly well, but this adaptation felt very by the numbers. Easy to read, but the events of the movie failed to spring to life from the page as a really good novelisation can and should do: B
12. Call Me a Cab by Donald E. Westlake - The first publication of this ‘lost’ book from the acclaimed crime writer, in which a New York cab driver picks up a woman who asks him to drive her across the U.S. to Los Angeles while she ponders whether or not to marry her boyfriend. A simple concept is turned into a riveting read in the hands of Westlake, who crafts two likeable main characters in the form of cab driver Tom and his fare, Katherine, and a series of incidents that keep their cross-country road trip exciting. Beautifully written, touching and with wry sense of humour about it, Call Me a Cab is a book that will stay with me for a long time; I loved every page: A+
13. Memory by Donald E. Westlake - Actor Paul Cole is the victim of a vicious attack that leaves his memory clouded and him haunted by fear that he will never be the man he once was. A strong, melancholy tale from Westlake; Cole is an interesting character, and we learn little of the man he was before the attack, but are left rooting for the man he has become after it. I was surprised by the sudden ending, but in the context of a story such as this it worked very well: A
14. Gremlins by George Gipe - Novelisation of the 1984 movie, and an effective read in its own right. There are some decent additional story points added to this prose version - including the fact that the Mogwai are of extraterrestrial orgin! - and it’s an easy, enjoyable read: B+
15. Web of the City by Harlan Ellison - A brutal tale of a young former gang member seeking revenge against the man responsible for the death of his sister. A solid tale, backed up by three of the author’s similarly themed short stories, but not for the faint of heart; possibly the darkest Hard Case Crime book I’ve read to date: B
16. Familiar Spirit by Lisa Tuttle - Another title in Valancourt Books' Paperbacks from Hell series, Familiar Spirit tells the story of a young woman who moves into a large house only to find something sinister lurking within its walls. A decent enough read, but not one of my favourite books in this series: B-
17. Easy Go by Michael Crichton, writing as John Lange – Oddly, the third book I’ve read this year set in Egypt! Written in the 1960s under the pen name Lange, Crichton’s tale of a group of tomb-raiders looking to loot a previously undiscovered Pharaoh’s final resting place is a hugely enjoyable page-turner. Thoroughly good fun: A
18. Drug of Choice by Michael Crichton, writing as John Lange - In this Lange novel, a doctor finds evidence of new drug being used by a secretive corporation, and his investigation draws him into their inner circle. An intriguing premise (the notion of a secret island where experiments are conducted on unwitting tourists is particularly evocative of the author’s later Jurassic Park novels) and for the most part this is a good read, but I felt the ending was a little rushed and unsatisfying: A-
19. Binary by Michael Crichton writing as John Lange - Government agent John Graves finds himself with just hours to prevent a madman from unleashing a cloud of deadly gas across San Diego. A taut, rollercoaster of a thriller with plenty of twists and turns – probably my favourite of these three John Lange novels: A
20. Money Shot by Christa Faust - Former porn star Angel Dare finds herself on the road to revenge after being brutally attacked and left for dead. In Dare, author Faust has crafted a beautifully well-rounded character, helping to make what could’ve been a standard revenge thriller into a thoroughly enjoyable page-turner of a novel: A
21. Easy Death by Daniel Boyd - What should’ve been a straightforward money van heist on a cold winter’s evening goes awry, resulting in a furious chase through snow-packed parkland to find those responsible. A great read, packed with more twists and turns than I was expecting: A-
22. the Valancourt Book of World Horror Stories Vol. 2 - A second collection of short, under-represented horror fiction from around the globe in a gorgeous limited edition hardback (also available as a paperback and e-book). As with the first volume from a few years back, all the tales included here are entertaining, but there are some real standouts too. A great read: A
23. Star Trek: Year Five - Experienced in Loss - The Year Five comic book series comes to an end with this final collected edition of stories. It’s a decent read, wrapping up the over-arcing storyline well, and leaving all the characters in an appropriate place for their subsequent adventure in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but I was left a little underwhelmed by it; the collection is saved, however, by a cracking Valentines story spanning several years of Captain Kirk’s life: B+
24. Gun Honey - The first graphic novel I’ve read from Hard Case Crime, and it’s a lot of fun. Following the exploits of a young woman seeking revenge for the death of her family years earlier, the story moves along at a decent pace and the artwork is stunning. It’s a slight read, but one I enjoyed: A
25. A Likely Story by Donald E. Westlake - After reading a review of another Westlake book that mentioned this comedy novel, I had to track down a copy, ultimately finding a signed, limited edition slip-cased copy still in its shrink-wrap from 1984! Unlike over Westlake novels I’ve read, this is pure comedy, in which author Tom Diskant works hard to put together a book all about Christmas, while plagued by the machinations of the publishing industry and the complications of his overly complex personal life. Full of laugh out loud moments, A Likely Story has shades of Youth in Revolt, another book I adore; criminally out of print now, this is another Westlake stroke of genius, and swiftly earns itself a place as one of my favourite books ever: A+
26. Choke Hold by Christa Faust - This follow-up to the author’s hugely enjoyable Money Shot picks up the story of Angel Dare, still in hiding from the previous book’s villains, as she becomes embroiled in a plot involving an old lover’s son and some missing drugs. While Choke Hold doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessor, it’s still a thoroughly decent novel, and Angel Dare remains a beguiling character: A
27. Little Girl Lost by Richard Aleas - A very effective Hard Case Crime novel in which private investigator John Burke tries to find out who killed his high school sweetheart on a New York rooftop. Intricately plotted with numerous twists and turns and a very satisfying conclusion. A very enjoyable read: A
28. The Secret Lives of Married Women by Elissa Wald - A tale of two sisters, split equally between them and revealing vastly different life experiences. A Hard Case Crime book with little crime, but a good read nonetheless: B+
29. Dick Tracy Vol. 18 by Chester Gould – After almost a year since I last read a volume of The Complete Dick Tracy, it was a real joy to get back to the adventures of Gould’s legendary detective. In this volume Tracy goes up against two notable villains, Miss Egghead and Headache, in two engaging continuities: A
30. Songs of Innocence by Richard Aleas - Follow-up to the earlier novel Little Girl Lost, with the character of former private investigator John Blake returning. Now working at a college, Blake finds himself returning to his investigative roots to solve the mystery of the death of his lover. Plenty of twists and turns, and shades darker than it’s predecessor, this is an effective read with that rarest of things - an unhappy ending. Brilliant: A
31. Frank Lee: After Alcatraz - A Hard Case Crime graphic novel that explores what could have happened to Frank Lee Miller, one of three prisoners who fled Alcatraz in the early 1960s. Exquisitely illustrated and richly told, this was a sublime read: A
32. The Confession by Dominic Stansberry - Hard Case Crime novel in which a man is accused of killing the woman he’s been having an affair with… but did he actually do it? Not my favourite Hard Case Crime novel, but it does have a few twists and turns and a stellar ending: B+
33. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin - Fantastic graphic novel collected edition of the comics miniseries that tells the final Ninja Turtles story. It feels very much like a Turtles equivalent of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns; perfectly illustrated and brilliantly told, it makes me want to read more Ninja Turtles books: A
34. Parker: The Martini Edition - Last Call by Darwyn Cooke - Oversized, slipcased companion to the earlier Parker collection, bringing together the final Richard Stark tales illustrated by Cooke before his untimely passing. Beautifully drawn and expertly adapted from their source novels, this is a truly spectacular book, enhanced by a mass of bonus material and sketches: A+
35. The Next Time I Die by Jason Starr - After being stabbed to death, lawyer Steven Blitz inexplicably awakens to find himself living another version of his life. A solid read - Blitz’s resurrection is never explained and for a while I wondered whether the book was coasting along on a good premise, but it all builds to a strong conclusion that makes the journey worthwhile: B+
36. The Hunter by Richard Stark - Hardcover edition of the first Parker novel, written by Donald E. Westlake under his Stark pseudonym, with painted illustrations by Darwyn Cooke. Intended to be the first in a complete hardcover collection of the Parker novels, this series was ultimately cut short by Cooke’s untimely death with only this sole volume published; a tragedy, as this is a terrific read and a beautifully packaged edition: A
37. Captain Future: The Horror at Jupiter by Allan Steele (Kindle) - Fourth and final book in steele's rebooted Captain Future series sees our hero and his friends finally confront Ul Quorn, the villain who is threatening to use an alien super weapon to destroy the Earth. Suffers a little initially from having to remind readers about what has taken place in the previous three books, but the pace swiftly picks up and this ultimately proves to be a rousing conclusion to the series: A-
38. The Comedy is Finished by Donald E. Westlake - When comedian Koo Davis is kidnapped from the set of his television show, police must race to track him down before his kidnappers threaten to kill him. Another brilliant Westlake story published after the author’s death, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged: A
39. The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers - The fourth and final book in Chamber’s Wayfarer series sees a group of alien individuals trapped together on a planet surface. A charming read, and a suitable conclusion to the series; this is no life-threatening science-fiction epic, but rather a delightful story of disparate characters thrown together and how they deal with one another: A
40. The Man with the Getaway Face by Richard Stark - The second Parker novel finds the professional robber with a new appearance following the events of the previous book, and plotting an armoured truck heist to rebuild his failing finances. A wonderful read - expertly plotted, engaging, and easy to read; I enjoyed this even more than The Hunter: A
41. Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka - The novel on which my favourite film of the year is based. Less comedic and action driven than its big screen adaptation, subtly different in places, and with a significantly different ending, this is still a riveting read about five hired killers on a high speed train thundering across Japan: A
42. Swedish Cults by Anders Fager - A collection of Lovecraftian horror from a famed Swedish writer. There's a lot to enjoy here, with some truly inventive and enjoyable tales within; well worth a read, and Valancourt Books have created a handsome first translated edition: B+
43. The Valley of Fear by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - A Hard Case Crime edition of one of Doyle's famed Sherlock Holmes novels, in which the great detective is charged with investigating a brutal murder at a country estate. A gripping tale, even if HoImes and Watson are absent for the second half of the book, which instead takes the form of an extended flashback: A-
44. Batman ’89 - Graphic novel collection of the comic book series that returns us to the Gotham City of Tim Burton's big screen movies. Decent artwork, and a strong story that reveals how the Billy Dee Williams version of Harvey Dent from the first movie transforms into his alter ego Two Face, as well as introducing the Robin character that was to appear in the theoretical third film. A Decent read, particularly if you have an affinity for the Burton Batman films: B+
45. Charlie’s Good Tonight by Paul Sexton - Well-written, comprehensively researched biography of the late, great Rolling Stones drummer. A real insight into the life of Charlie Watts, and the important role he played in the world's greatest rock 'n roll band: A
46. Carnosaur by Harry Adam Knight - A fascinating, long forgotten novel that predates Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park novel, yet tells an eerily similar story, albeit one transplanted to the English countryside. A really fun, quick read; the story rolls along at a decent pace, with a building sense of tension and mystery before the dinosaurs are unleashed: A
47. The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories edited by Tara Moore - A decent collection of traditional haunting tales: B+
48. Trek the Halls by Robb Pearlman - A short Christmassy picture book for little ones. It's fun, but I wish the rhyming text was a little more engaging; gorgeous artwork, though, and it spans the full breadth of Star Trek series: B+
49. Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote - I've been meaning to read this for a long time now, and this gorgeous little clothbound Penguin classic was the perfect edition to crack open. Darker than the famous film which it inspired, short and easy to read, this tale of the story of the enigmatic Holly Golightly is a rare gem. Why it took me so long to read I don't know; that I eventually got around to it pleases me greatly: A
50. Star Trek: First Contact - The Making of the Classic Film by Joe Fordham - A lush coffee table book that goes in-depth on the making of the eighth Star Trek motion picture. There's little here that hardcore fans won't already know, but seeing production artwork reproduced large-scale on glossy pages is always a treat, and aside from a handful of easy to spot factual errors, the text is informative and easy to read: A-
51. The House on the Brink by John Gordon - A long out of print teenage horror, revived by Valancourt Books, in which a teenage boy finds himself caught up in a supernatural mystery involving a long-dead king's crown jewels. A fun read: B+
So there we have it. Not a bad selection this year, and I know next year will be every bit as good – mainly because 18 books are sat on my shelf waiting to be read. Not only that, but there's still a load of those Dick Tracy collections I've been ignoring (eek, I said the same thing at this point last year!) – need to rattle through those! Anyway, onwards, into a New Year. May it be a happy, healthy and prosperous one for you all!
