EURO CRIME
Euro Crime's Top 2011 reads
2011's Euro Crime contributors: Pat Austin, Mark Bailey, Maxine Clarke, Amanda Gillies, Terry Halligan, Lynn Harvey, Sarah Hilary, Geoff Jones, Karen Meek, Michelle Peckham, Norman Price, Laura Root, Rich Westwood and Susan White reveal their top European crime reads of that year (links are to the reviewer's own review of that title). NB. I have preserved the order that the lists were sent to me, assuming that if they are not in alphabetical order that they are a ranked list (unless stated otherwise).
A summary of the lists in terms of favourite titles, authors and translators is available on the blog.
Mark Bailey
The 9th book in the series but using Elinborg rather than Erlendur as the chief protagonist.
The 19th Inspector Banks novel.
The 7th Detective Superintendent Roy Grace novel.
The 9th book about Arthur Bryant, John May and the Peculiar Crimes Unit.
The 5th Chief Inspector Van Veeteren book.
The 3rd Chief Inspector Lapslie novel.
An anthology of essays and short stories on Irish crime fiction.
These choices reflect my liking for police procedurals.
Amanda Gillies
"This has been an excellent year, with a plentiful supply of superb books and many happy hours spent reading them. There are other authors that are my favourites too who have not made it onto the list this year - not because I like them less but because these five books have simply blown me away.
As ever, I love a well-written challenge and usually, but not always, the darker the better. I also love a good book with a religious theme - and Sanctus hit me in all the right places. An excellent book - and my sister loved it too!
Books with a twist that I can't guess are always top of my choices - and all of my Top Five are spot-on in this regard.
Many thanks to Euro Crime for continuing to feed my reading passion. I am really looking forward to the delights that 2012 will bring..."
Terry Halligan
a)Historical:Disturbing story of murders in the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto in 1940,
Very atmospheric First World War murder mystery during the Somme Campaign.
Cumbria, 1783 very evocative thriller of murders in the beautiful Lakeland area.
More Elizabethan skulduggery and intrigue as John Shakespeare in 1595 looks for a murderer.
A very atmospheric thriller set in 1947 as Peter Cotton tries to protect a gay scientist from homophobic attack.
b)Non-Historical:
Spectacular international thriller of corruption, collusion and conspiracy.
A gripping thriller of a hunt to kill a builder of Improvised explosive devices.
The ultimate books of the Scandinavian mystery writer.
A high tech. conspiracy thriller combining murder mystery and sci-fi elements.
Geoff Jones
Special mention for:- End of the Wasp Season by Denise Mina, London Calling by James Craig and Or the Bull Kills You by Jason Webster.
Runner-up: Sergios Gakas - Ashes tr. Anne-Marie Stanton-Ife
Michelle Peckham
Laura Root
The best book I have read all year is, the non-fiction, Amexica by British author Ed Vulliamy, about crime/politics on US/Mexico border.
Rich Westwood
A weird story of skullduggery in 1970s Provence.
Excellent and deservedly much recommended.
Which I preferred to her other Adamsberg novels, I think for the depiction of the romantic rivalry of two of the characters.
An eerie and ambitious story in the long-running Merrily Watkins series.
Deserves a nomination purely for its vivid depiction of life in primary and secondary school.
Susan White
January 2012