2005 is almost over. There were approximately 1500-2000 mysteries and thrillers published in the United States (not counting the vanity crap) and I saw most of them. I only managed to read 150 or so new books, but even that ought to earn me some kind of medal.
Overall, it was a good year for crime fiction, but not a great one. The last quarter of the year, in particular, was soft. Looking over my reading list, the last 2005 book I read that might qualify for my Top 10 list was published in September.
Speaking of Top 10 lists, I still haven't made mine yet, but there are several solid contenders. Nothing that really stands head-and-shoulders above the rest, though. This was a year of many good books, but few great ones. (I would be hard-pressed to single out a 2005 book and call it great.) We'll have to wait to see if any of them have the staying power to become great ones later on. So far, I have my doubts.
This was a lukewarm year for debuts. There were some good first-time books, but the overall pool was pretty shallow. (So many of them were just downright bad, too, making me wonder how they ever got published in the first place.) I suppose this is probably true most years, but maybe I'm just noticing it more this time since I'm a judge for the ITW's Best First Novel Award. It's been no easy task, believe me.
The best thing happening in the genre right now is that there is a steady and reliable core group of authors who publish a book each year that you can almost guarantee will be good. People like Barry Eisler, David Morrell, Joseph Finder, Laura Lippman, Denise Hamilton, Lawrence Block, George Pelecanos, Julia Spencer-Fleming, Lee Child, Stephen White and Daniel Silva once again put out excellent books that show why they're the dependable professionals they are. All of them should be bestsellers.
A handful of promising, relatively new writers like James O. Born, Harley Jane Kozak, Dylan Schaffer and Duane Swierczynski demonstrated why they're likely to become tomorrow's stars of the genre. I look forward to reading them for years to come.
There were also some authors who've been around for a while whose books took me by surprise (in a good way). Jonnie Jacobs wrote a thriller that I really enjoyed, and I was quite pleased with Reed Farrel Coleman's latest. I read my first book from the Burke family (one by Alafair) and was impressed. David Ellis wrote a thriller that unfolds in a reverse chronology that was both daring and entertaining. Paul Levine made a very welcome return to publishing -- I missed him the first time around, but loved his new book.
Of course, there were disappointments as well, with books by Robert Crais, P.J. Tracy and Elmore Leonard that let me down. There were also several highly hyped books ("The next Lee Child!" "The thriller debut of the year!") that I tried and didn't like, but that always happens.
Michael Connelly managed to have two books out (The Closers and The Lincoln Lawyer) that could qualify for Best of the Year status. Amazing. I've heard a rumor that he'll also have two books released in 2006. If true, I think I'll have to smite him.
Of course, Dean Koontz also had two books released in 2005 that could make my Top 10 list, but he does that every year. He's currently on a streak of 6 books in the last 3 years, all of which have been amazing. I don't know that anyone else could accomplish that.
The one book that really did blow me away this year isn't even out yet, even though I read it back in September. Robert Ferrigno's Prayers for the Assassin was probably the best thing I read all year, and it still won't be published until February. This is one of those books that gets in your head and just won't go away. One of the things that I particularly appreciated about it is that it tries to be something special and ambitious. (And, of course, it succeeds, which always helps.) I really hope people read it.
I finally read The Guards this year and learned why Ken Bruen is the favorite among crime fiction fans and writers that he is. I also finally met Ken after having just seen him across the bar at various functions for the past couple years. He's far too kind and generous a man to write that well.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the incomparable J.K. Rowling, whose latest Harry Potter book was once again one of my favorite reads. I know she has nothing to do with crime fiction, but that woman is amazing and I stand in awe, both of her talent and her success.
I re-read 9 books by Ross Thomas, my favorite thriller writer, over the past year and they were all wonderful. (A few of the early ones don't hold up quite as well, but they're still very enjoyable.) Thomas' body of work is unmatched in this or any other genre. I miss him a lot.
Finally, 2005 was also a year in which we lost some wonderful writers, including Evan Hunter (aka Ed McBain), Trevanian (aka Rodney Whittaker), John Fowles, Edward Bunker, A.J. Quinnell, Charlotte MacLeod and my friend Dennis Lynds. All of them will be missed.
Here's looking forward to a great year in 2006. Happy reading!
p.s. If I forgot an author or a book, please forgive me. The lists above aren't intended to be exhaustive.
