Returning to fav reads of 2008, chronologically . . .
June: 22. Black & White by Lewis Shiner (Subterranean) A son confronts his dying father's past in Durham, North Carolina and also discovers the meaning of what urban renewal really means in a place called Hayti-- a once thriving African American community.
JULY 23. Singularity by Kathryn Casey (St. Martin's Minotaur) Fascinating thriller debut about a single mom who happens to be a crackerjack profiler for the Texas Rangers. Casey is a also a true crime journalist (A Descent Into Hell) and this bodes well for her future as a fiction author. Yeah, there's a serial killer afoot but Casey makes it all feel fresh as Lt. Sarah Armstrong's also dealing with the recent loss of her husband and helping her young daughter cope as well.
24. Lord Tophet by Gregory Frost (Del Rey) A Shadowbridge fantasy, Frost delivers a wonderfully surreal world that's very visual and poetic. A dreamy place of bridge spirals and enchanting puppetry.
25. Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer (Doubleday) Another fun debut, this one a romantic thriller about a TV journalistinvestigating a killer who appears to be addicted to killing off women named, you guessed it, Susan.
26. Occupational Hazards by Jonathan Segura (Simon & Schuster) Another solid debut about another journalist in Omaha, Nebraska who freaks out when he discovers his girlfriend's pregnant and so frustrated when a breaking story makes him face some irritating truths about himself.
27. Can I Get Witness? by Reshonda Billingsley (Pocket) Hilarious faith-based African American fiction about some sisters with some major love problems and a fierce Auntie who knows the power of the Word can sometimes pack a mean punch.
28. Handbags and Homiscide by Dorothy Howell (Kensington) Who says chick lit is dead? This crazy debut features a handbag whore and her adventures working for a grungy department store sorely in need of a makeover. Silly but satisfying.
29. The Ashes of the Worlds by Kevin J. Anderson (Orbit) The sweeping conclusion of Anderson'a ambitious Saga of the Seven Sons science fiction epic. Vastly entertaining featuring grand world building, colorful characters and exciting interconnecting plots that is space opera at its best.
AUGUST
30. Delicious by Sherry Thomas(Bantam) This yummy Victorian romance is set in In Great Britain but has a luscious French flavor--Madame Verity Durant is a talented chef and the former mistress of a wealthy Brit who dies unexpectedly. When his brother takes over the estate, Verity's seduction of Stuart begins.
31. The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff (Random) This summer stunner about a renegade cult not recognized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint is both a murder mystery and an historical exploration of the roots of the Mormonism. Plural marriage and its effect on children and women. Brutal, compelling read.
32. Deadly Beautiful by Sam Baker(Ballantine) The U.K. Editor-in-chief of Red delivers a fabulous thriller about a young model, once a child supermodel who disappears in Tokyo.Her half-sister asks her friend Annie, a fashion reporter and investigative journalist to find her, leading to some illuminating discoveries.
33. The Gypsy Morph by Terry Brooks (Del Rey) Possibly the concluding volume of the Genesis of Shannara, about a boy named Hawk who uses wild magic to save some brave children in a world torn apart by the evil that humans can do (and demons, of course)!
SEPTEMBER 34. Between Here and April by Deborah Copaken Kogan (Algonquin) Kogan's outstanding fiction debut (she's also a photojournalist, see Shutterbabe)examines a TV producer's lingering struggle to deal with a childhood nightmare--her best friend in first grade was killed by her mother.
35. The Leper by Steve Thayer (North Star) Here's one of those small press surprises that come out of nowhere. About a WWI vet who comes down with leprosy and after returning home to St. Paul, Minnesota finds his world torn apart after diagnosis sends him to a Louisiana to a scary leprosarium and eventually to Hawaii's Molokai lepter colony. What a journey brimming with history many Americans are not aware of.
OCTOBER 36. Exposed by Alex Kava (Mira) A real nailbiter about some villains who decide to wreak havoc by releasing the Ebola virus. Luckily, FBI special agent Maggie O'Dell's on the case but unfortunately she's. in an isolation ward after being exposed. Her partner R.J. Tully is able to conduct the outside investigation. Gritty stuff.
NOVEMBER 37. The Memorist by M.J. Rose (Mira) Rose follows up The Reincarnationist as Meer Logan becomes haunted by the past-life memories of Margaux Neidermier who knew Beethoven. A trip to Vienna, Austria finds Meer searching for a "memory flute" also sought by others, including the FBI.
38. Summer Morning, Summer Night by Ray Bradbury (Subterranean) a collection of new and old stories that serves as a poignant reminder of his gentle gift for mixing haunting themes with joyful nostalgia of a vanishing America.
39.Ultimate Weapon by Shannon McKenna (Kensington) A scorching thriller about Tamara Steele, a career criminal who's become a talented jewelry designer and single mom. Alas, her past is catching up to her and she must rely on friends to help her escape the clutches of a vengeful gangster. Escapist, erotic fare.
DECEMBER 40. The Suicide Collectors by David Oppegaard (St. Martin's). Wonderfully surreal fantasy debut that is not about the economy! LOL. This might remind folks of M Night Shyamalan's film, THE HAPPENING, but it's much, much better. It's a page turner not for the faint of heart.
41. The Reach by Nate Kenyon (Leisure) Shades of early Stephen King, Kenyon examines the plight of a ten year old girl believed to be the Anti-christ and locked away in a mental institute until a psychology grad student takes an interest in freeing her from those who would abuse her paranormal abilities.
42. Brimstone Kiss by Carole Nelson Douglas (Juno) Another example of how a small press can turn out some amazing work. This is the second Delila Street Paranormal Investigator adventure set in a wacky Las Vegas brimming with treats--like the oldest living vampire in Vegas named Howard, werewolves, CinSims (silver screen Cinema Simulacrums) and a rocking vampire . . .
Intriguing books I wanted to read--but just didn't have time to get to: The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent, and The Leather Maiden by Joe R. Lansdale (and many other books by Dean Koontz, David Schow, David Baldacci, etc.). Also, wanted to read Barack Obama's autobiographcal works and I still haven't read Marley & Me.
Happy Reading oh Fortunate Ones!
And now the FORTUNEHALL BEST NOVEL OF 2008?
THE 19th WIFE by David Ebershoff. I just keep thinking about it.
followed closely by
THE THIRD ANGEL by Alice Hoffman and THE GIRL WITH NO SHADOW by Joanne Harris.
And now the FORTUNE for the night:
You talents will prove to be especially useful this week.
(So get busy, celebrate the end of 2008 by honoring your talents and
helping others value their gifts.)
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