Another
year down and another year full of great books from great authors. Here is a
list of my Top 10 books from 2017. I looked at the reviews I posted this year
for each book and took some blurbs I feel encompass the best aspect from the
book, the writer, or a little of both.
Numbers
3 – 10 (in no particular order):
Down on the Street by
Alec Cizak
This slice of noir has a great storyline and
tight editing which allows Cizak to flex his writing muscles and showcase his
ability to keep it real. The plot gets pushed along at a rapid pace and the
reality of the situation (his main character) finds himself in pulls the reader
like a shot of heroin. The characters are unlikable, perfectly placed into the
world Cizak creates.
Everglade by Greg Barth
The vibe to this finely written finale is fitting
with its desire to bring closure to this saga that has manifested into one of
the best noir series ever written. I prefer my books to be packed with as much
violence and depravity as possible, but Barth knew exactly how to handle this
book to satisfy his fans, yet do justice to this series in a manner that is
satisfying, and most importantly, true to the essence of who Selena is. It
boils down to trying to find love in a violent world; love for others who love
us for who we are, love for others who look up to us, and the love of
ourselves, flaws and all. But when the odds are stacked up against you, as they
are against Selena, sometimes your best intentions may not be enough.
She Rides Shotgun by
Jordan Harper
Harper has blessed us with a book that will kick
your ass in a way that will leave you begging for more. She Rides Shotgun is
gritty, unflinching, and full of heart and soul. It is tender, yet
rugged. From prison gangs, death sentences, and drug mules, to creating family
bonds where there were none, loving the only way you know how to love, and
accepting the love someone is prepared to give you, even if it’s not the love
you thought you were looking for, this book covers a wide scope and does it all
with a poet’s touch. I think this book is going to garner a lot of attention
for Harper and it is well deserved. This novel does it all right.
Give Up the Dead by Joe
Clifford
For a book to be a must read, it needs to have a
few things going for it. A good plot, believable dialogue and perhaps most
importantly, have characters a reader can relate to in some capacity. To me
that doesn’t mean a character you 100% agree with or sympathize with, instead I
mean a character that in some manner you ‘get”. Maybe a character who regrets
the choices they made that pushed a former lover away or a character who aches
for more time with their child. Sometimes it is a character who longs to do
something in life that reminds them despite all the poor choices they make thy
can find some semblance of salvation. If you find yourself agreeing with my
sentiments, then Joe Clifford’s new Jay Porter book, Give Up The Dead, is going
to end up on your must read list.
American Static by Tom
Pitts
It is always a pleasure to bear witness to an
author grow with each book they publish. Novellas become novels, characters
become more fleshed out, plots become more multidimensional, and their books
just have deeper hooks that seem to pierce your soul in a different way, as if
the hook now has a barb that leaves a piece inside you after the book is over.
This is strong uncut shit here and it’s highly recommended.
Fatboy by Paul Heatley
There are few things I love more than reading a
noir book that has all the necessary components to be a kick-ass book. Books
that have plots driven by action, characters that come to life with
believability, and dialogue that rings true are essential components for all
books, but when they're embedded in a noir book that has crime, grit, and
darkness, these books suck me in. Every once in a while, I get the pleasure of reading
a noir story that has all these pieces, but also mixes in heart, believable
emotional conflicts, and leaves you feeling you would react the same way if you
were in their shoes. Although hard to find, these books are the types of books
that elevate authors into my “Must Read” group of authors. I am pleased to
report that… Paul Heatley has outdone himself.
Race to the Bottom by
Chris Rhatigan
If you have read any of Chris
Rhatigan’s books than you know he offers a lean, stripped
approach to his books; the writing contains only enough to drive the plot
forward and the extraneous, dull parts are surgically removed leaving only
vital muscular prose behind. This surgical precision is what makes
Rhatigan a must-read author whose books fit so nicely under the All Due Respect
banner….Once again Rhatigan pens a sure-fire
winner and All Due Respect publishes yet another gem. Both of those statements
seem par for the course from where I sit. I am eagerly waiting the next
Rhatigan book and hope the wait isn’t too long.
A New and Different Kind
of Pain by Daniel Vlasaty
I try to keep my reviews clean and I try to find
words to describe my emotions on a book that aren’t of the four-letter variety,
but I need to make an exception for the book I just finished reading: Holy shit, I just got my ass kicked by Daniel
Vlasaty….This book is an insanely great slice of hard boiled
noir. After reading this I can honestly say I may have already read the best
book I will read this year. It is killer with no filler type of good.
Top
2: I found it hard to pick which of these two books I liked the most, so they
are co-winners in my eyes. Bassoff has been a writing God in my eyes for a long
while and Vlasaty put himself into my pantheon of writing Gods this year. Both
of these are kick-ass works of art. If you missed either one of them, do
yourself a favor and grab a copy pronto.
The Blade This TIme by
Jon Bassoff
Have you ever imagined what it must be like to
rate and review one of the great Holy books? How does a mere mortal weigh in on
the creation and content of something drafted by great minds that are clearly
other worldly? How could you find the proper words to share the importance and
awe-inspiring feelings a book like this illicit in you? I don’t want to seem sacrilegious
comparing any book to the Holy books of major religions, but I find myself in
this unenviable spot when trying to review Jon
Bassoff’s new release, The Blade This Time. This
book is a blue print on a mind slipping further into the depths of insanity,
obsession, and immortality. In other words, this book is now a holy book in my
library of depraved and dark fiction.
Amphetamine Psychosis by
Daniel Vlasaty
After reading his biographical work of art, Amphetamine Psychosis, I am
officially placing Daniel Vlasaty on
my Mount Rushmore of writing Gods. I can’t even begin to articulate how well
written this book is. Due to its in-your-face representation of drug use and
abuse, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. In fact, it’s more a bitter cup of
espresso if anything; it’s a quick shot which burns going down and leaves you
wide eyed with your nervous system twitching from what you just put it through.
The manner in which Vlasaty strips himself and
his soul bare and finds a way to let you into his world of pain and anguish is
a thing of beauty. It’s simplistic in nature, yet the depth that his words cut
into you is a dichotomy that few writers can accomplish, let alone master in
the manner Vlasaty has. His prose is short and concise on every page, yet each
page leaves the reader exhausted from the emotional journey they have taken
with Vlasaty as their guide.
I would like to take a moment to thanks all the
authors and publishers who give me the chance to preview the many titles I ask
for. I take the obligation to share the positive aspects of their hard work
very seriously. I embrace my role as a typical reader sharing his thoughts on
books he loves. No fluff, no pressure from the writers or publishers; just an
honest attempt to spread the good word on good books. Thanks to all who take
the time to read my reviews as well. God bless and let’s hope 2018 is a great
one for everyone.
