I've thought long and hard about these!
All the books in this list I've given 5* or 4.5* on Amazon and Goodreads. I've reviewed other books this year, too, many of which might be of interest to you. Here is my full list of reviews on Amazon UK. Most of them are also on my book blog, here.
Amazon UK and .com links are provided for each book in my top 20.
Notes:
- I have not included my re-reads of old favourites in this. If I did so, The Job by Douglas Kennedy would be in the top ten every year. Etc, etc.
- I have not included wonderful tomes I've read during research for my own books, or those by internationally famous writers; Phillipa Gregory, Stephen Alford and David Starkey don't need any help from me.
- I will not label a book as 'traditionally published' 'indie press published' or 'self-published' - to me, a book is a book. I also think that the only way for the second two categories to gain true acceptance is not to make this distinction. The twenty include a mixture of all three.
- I have not included two books by the same person, which I did think extra long and hard about; instead, I have put links to any other books by that author that I've reviewed.
Here we go!
Numbers 20 - 11 are in no particular order.
20. A wonderful anthology of short stories about mothers and daughters - every one a winner! I read it on my Kindle and was so impressed I bought the paperback for my sister-in-law for her birthday. A Kind of Mad Courage by Wendy Janes, Francine La Sala and others.
My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link
19. A fascinating tale about Frank and Chloe, two homeless people who battle against the world and find happiness. Losing it All by Marsha Cornelius.
My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link
18. Here's a terrific long-short story I read a while back; I was very impressed by it. Psychological drama A Fractured Understanding by Hache L Jones
My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link
17. Chick lit, me? One of my least favourite genres, but this is the best I've read, I really enjoyed it! Much more than a romcom: Mother of the Year by Karen Ross
My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link
16. I didn't even know what 'urban fantasy' was until I read this. I do now, though, and this was great, really sharp and funny! Don't Touch (Null City Book 2) by Barb Taub.
My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link
15. I loved this, and so did lots of other people too! 17th century witch hunts in The Black Hours by Alison Williams. Brilliantly researched, not for the faint-hearted!
14. A bit of light romance and country music in Made in Nashville by Mandy Baggot. Great fun, and a lovely example of the genre!
13. A collection of short stories now - Spanish folklore retold. Tales of the Mantequero by Jenny Twist. Loved these!
I have also read and reviewed An Open Letter to Stephen King and Other Essays and Doppelganger by the same author this year.
12. I'm not much of a one for crime thrillers, but I thought this was exceptionally good. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves the grittier side of this genre. Killing Instinct by Darcia Helle.
My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link
11. Here's another one I feared I might not like, but couldn't put down - Court of Conspiracy by April Taylor. It's a fantasy about what would have happened if Anne Boleyn had not miscarried her son by Henry VIII...
My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link
★.:*´`*:.☆
The Top Ten
These are in proper countdown order (very hard making the choices!) because I thought it would be more fun!
10. Slipping neatly into the last place in my top ten books of 2014, the best 'how to' book I've ever read, and an essential for all writers. Twitter for Writers by Rayne Hall.
My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link
9. Backpacking in at number 9, a fascinating travel memoir about Jo Carroll's time spent in Nepal, Laos and Cuba. From the Inside Looking Out - I was totally engrossed in this and thought about it a lot afterwards. Paperback only, it's collection of three books which are all available for some ludicrously cheap price on Kindle!
8. Now a terrific Native American historical adventure/drama. Two Rivers by Zoe Saadia, who is an expert on all things pre-Columbian America. I was so pleased to have discovered this writer's books, and I shall be reading the sequel to this any day now.
My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link
I have also read and reviewed The Highlander by the same author
7. A tongue-in-cheek Victorian murder mystery at number 7 ~ Honour and Obey by Carol Hedges. Colourful, witty, atmospheric and fabulously well researched.
My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link
I've also reviewed the prequel, Diamonds and Dust this year
6. I adore historical fiction, and this superb story about two runaway girls in 17th century London really hit the spot for me. The Gilded Lily by Deborah Swift
My full review on Amazon UK and here is the Amazon.com link
5. My number five choice was another big surprise:
Great Bitten: Outbreak by Warren Fielding. I didn't realise zombie apocalypse books were actually about people, I thought they'd just be a load of turgid blood and gore stuff and daft monsters. How wrong was I! Smart, smart writing.
My full review on Amazon UK and here is the Amazon.com link
4. Dark and fascinating psychological drama Carla by Mark Barry is at number four - a book I read all in one sitting. Terrific stuff. How talented is this guy! A real flair, different from anyone else I've read. So impressed!
My full review on Amazon UK and here's the Amazon.com link
Earlier this year I also read and loved The Night Porter by the same author.
The Top Three!
★.:*´`*:.☆
Phil is an amazing writer. Some people could make a jewellery heist or an escape from a POW camp boring; Phil can make a chap walking down the road and getting irritated because his tie keeps flapping up in the wind, interesting and funny. Get it. It's great.
My full review on Amazon UK, and the Amazon.com link
★.:*´`*:.☆
2. Number two! The silver medal goes to the magical African Ways by Valerie Poore. An account of Val's three years living up a mountain in South Africa. Just delightful, an absolute joy to read. Another reviewer said that it made him feel happy just reading it; I couldn't agree more.
My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link
This year I also read and loved Watery Ways and Harbour Ways by the same author.
★.:*´`*:.☆
Drum roll.....
1. Gold medal time!! If you follow my blog(s) you probably won't be surprised by my favourite book of the year - The Dead Lands by Dylan J Morgan which I've been raving about since I was a third of the way through it!
My full review says it all! Here on Amazon UK and Amazon.com
I've also loved Flesh by the same author.
★.:*´`*:.☆
I do hope you find something that interests you among these books ~ if everyone who sees this post read just one of the titles, it would go so far to getting some little known authors more well-deserved recognition. Often, the best writers are not the ones who scream 'bestseller' all over the internet, and so rely on word of mouth and blog posts. A big thank you to book bloggers Rosie, Bodicia, Cathy, Liz, Liz, Storm, Suzanne, Di, Roy, Claire, Jade, ESR, Charmaine, Sonya, Shaz, Agi, Kerry, Angie, Andy, Sterna, Madi and any others - you do a wonderful job!
Perhaps we could make 2015 'discover a new author' year!
I do hope you find something that interests you among these books ~ if everyone who sees this post read just one of the titles, it would go so far to getting some little known authors more well-deserved recognition. Often, the best writers are not the ones who scream 'bestseller' all over the internet, and so rely on word of mouth and blog posts. A big thank you to book bloggers Rosie, Bodicia, Cathy, Liz, Liz, Storm, Suzanne, Di, Roy, Claire, Jade, ESR, Charmaine, Sonya, Shaz, Agi, Kerry, Angie, Andy, Sterna, Madi and any others - you do a wonderful job!
Perhaps we could make 2015 'discover a new author' year!
I’ll definitely have to check out some of these! I already have Dead Lands in my Kindle queue, you’ve compiled a fascinating list. And thanks for the shout out :-)
ReplyDeleteA fantastic list - lots of books to add to my TBR list. Thank you so much for including 'The Black Hours' :)
ReplyDeleteTotally thrilled to make your Top Twenty, Terry! Thank you so much for taking the time to read Made in Nashville and for giving it such a great review!
ReplyDeleteMandy :)
Such an intriguing list! I have not read most of these, and now need to add them all to my ever-growing, insanely long wishlist on Amazon. I've decided how I will manage to make progress on this list. I'll plan a month-long readathon for 2015, which will take place on a tropical island. (I dream big!)
ReplyDeleteI'm honored to have one of my titles here. Thank you, Terry!
Darcia, the month long readathon really works!!! I read 20 books this month!!! usually, I actually BUY them all when I fancy them, can't resist it.... so they wait there hassling me on the Kindle!
DeleteThanks for your comments Mandy, Alison and Cathy, too!
Goodness! What an accolade, to be among this lot! Many, many thanks, Terry.
ReplyDeleteYou're so welcome - I hope to get to the Gap Year book soon; am on another Dylan Morgan at the moment!
DeleteThanks for the list. Will definitely check some of these out.
ReplyDeleteYour Amazon UK link for The Dead Lands seems to take me to another book...?
John, yes sorry - It kept going back to that one but I've eventually got it right! I'll tweet you the link anyway! Thanks for looking - I've got Eleven Town to read on my next reading binge!!
DeleteThanks Terry. I hope you enjoy reading Eleven Town.
DeleteI shall look up the ones which I haven't read...Carla is on my list already! :-) A fine assortment, Terry :-)
ReplyDeleteAs John pointed out above, my UK link to The deadlands was wrong, but is okay now!
DeleteI've only just seen this! Been busy with the festivities and hardly been near the internet.Thank you so much for this great list, and including my book too. I seem to be in excellent company, and I like the sound of quite a few, so I'm going to stockpile my kindle now!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Deborah, and I look forward to reading more by you - I really love how this list is getting the word out about books I love, too.
DeleteAnd only saddos like me go on the internet every day, ha ha!
Thank you Terry for reading, reviewing, and plugging my book(s). I'm glad you liked them so much. Your support this last month has been incredible.
ReplyDeleteCathy, thank you for buying a copy of The Dead Lands. I hope you enjoy it.
This is such a great idea and a great list! I've been really inspired by all your reading and am doing my best to try and catch up. I might try and publish my list before the end of 2014 although it looks a bit technical so maybe not :D
ReplyDeleteHa ha! Half the books on this list I read during the year, but the other half in my December readathon ( I say that word with tongue in cheek as I hate stupid words like that!!!!) - you can always just publish your top 10 with the covers, or something, it doesn't have to be all reviews and links like this one - people are still over the moon to be included, and it's still really interesting to read! This post has had HUNDREDS of views!
DeleteI really enjoyed reading it and you do a such good job of reviewing the books you've made me wants to read them all :D
DeleteWhat a lovely thing to say, thank you. I hope this gets some sales and recognition for some of these books, then!
DeleteI think you've really hit the spot with this list. All the authors (including me) are really chuffed to be on it, I've already got The Deadlands, so I missed the link error. I'm just going through them all now. Thank you for all your hard work putting this together. Love Jenny xxx
DeleteSome very intriguing titles here. My must-read list has just grown a little longer.
ReplyDeleteAll come highly recommended, Jo! And yes, my reading tastes are quite diverse!
DeleteBrilliant list of must reads - thanks for the recommendations, Terry.
ReplyDeleteThanks Terry, am flattered to have made the podium! I'd have been listening to Crockett's Theme and sipping a Margarita if I'd made it on to the list at all, never mind getting a medal! Thanks for all the support and promotion the last few months - and same to some of the people on the list and some of the commenters for it too: 'If it wasn't for you', as the cliche goes... And you know we love those =p
ReplyDeleteHi Terry,
ReplyDeleteI just stumbled onto your site via Twitter (Why Do We Blog?)- and I'm so happy I did!!! Based on your list above, I visited Amazon and purchased some books. Thank you! My question is, how did you come to find some of these? In one case, a book has only 6 reviews. It's a tough business I find, to get quality books in front of people. I've signed up to receive future posts and I look forward to reading more.
Kimberly! Comments like this make the whole reason for book blogs, etc, worthwhile! I'm so glad you've made some purchases based on my recommendations - I'd love to know which ones!!! How do I find them? It's virtually always Twitter. No, never mind the 'virtually'! With The Dead Lands, I came across Dylan Morgan on Twitter and became interested in him just because he lives in Norway! Then I thought I'd give one of his books a go and was blown away. I take notice of other people's recommendations, too. Yes, yes, you're so right - it's a tough business, which is why I write posts like this. You should follow my book review blog, more than this one, too - I seem to be reading constantly at the moment! Many thanks for taking the time :)
Delete