To be honest, I keep meaning to do more recommendations for books I’ve loved, but I keep forgetting. So here is the accidental tradition that has become my November gift basket of awesome reads. It’s got crime, fantasy, sci-fi, comedy, non-fiction and even gobshites. Something for everyone, and full of ideas for pressies for you or someone else.
The Secret Hours – Mick Herron
I must admit, I started reading this when it first came out, and somehow I got distracted and wandered off. I came back to it this year and, wow, it starts at a sedate pace, but it builds to the most magnificent climax of any of Mick’s many fine books. It is Slow Horses adjacent, while technically not being part of the series, for me, it is undoubtedly his best work, and, without giving much away, it will be particularly exciting for anyone who is a fan of the books or the wonderful Apple TV show.
Blood Like Mine – Stuart Neville
Stuart is a brilliant crime writer (his debut Ghosts of Belfast (The Twelve) is one of my all-time favourites), but most recently he has branched off into the horror genre. Well, sort of. I, and this’ll shock you, am quite the wuss who avoids horror films, and I generally steer clear of all things labelled as horror. It probably goes back to watching a horror movie as a kid when I was too young or something. I may need to discuss this with a professional, or at the very least, Diller. Frankly, this book made me realise that I’ve stupidly taken an aversion to a certain type of movie and made it into a far too broad avoidance of an entire genre. First off, this book is no ‘gorier’ than any of my Stranger Times books, and secondly, and far more importantly, regardless of what genre it’s in, this book is sensational. It’s such a brilliant, clever reimagining of the vampire trope and so compelling, I found myself making excuses just so I could go back to listening to the audiobook. I cannot recommend it enough. The sequel came out a few months ago, so I’ve got that to look forward to.
The Gobshite Guidebook: A Survival Manual – Jarlath Regan
Not only is Jarlath a sensational standup, but he has conducted groundbreaking research in the field of gobshite diagnosis, prevention and survival. You may well have seen him on Instagram or similar doing his hilarious guides to the Irish Mammy, but he’s at his very best performing live, so if you get the chance, do go and see him on his current world tour. If you can’t make it to a live show, though, this book is sure to have you laughing your butt off.
Read The Gobshite Guidebook: A Survival Manual
We Live Here Now – Sarah Pinborough
I’ve read and really enjoyed some of Sarah’s earlier fantasy books, so I thought it was high time I dipped into her more recent crime works. This is what I guess is described as a psychological thriller, and it’s an absolutely stonking read. A masterful command of dropping twists and turns at just the right spots to wrongfoot the reader, while also being a brilliant depiction of a relationship in decline. This took me somewhere I wasn’t expecting, and I absolutely loved the ride!
The Devils – Joe Abercrombie
This is just a glorious romp of a book. Abercrombie has a genius for making characters in a fantasy setting magnificently real. He can take the classic formula of a ragtag bunch of misfits being thrown together and make it feel fresher than it’s ever been. He blends all the ‘traditional’ elements of fantasy with a beautiful eye for character and a fantastically dry wit. A writer at the very top of his game.
Fatherland – Robert Harris
Originally published way back in 1992, sadly, this book feels more relevant now than it ever has. Offering an alternate history, this is about so much more than what the world would be like if the Nazis had won the war. It’s a study of what happens when people let fear rule their lives and don’t stand up to those in power when they’re offering up simple scapegoats and encouraging everyday people not to question the narratives being forced upon them. All of that, wrapped up in one of the truly great thrillers.
The Wrong Hands – Mark Billingham
Mark is, of course, famous for his wildly successful Tom Thorne books, which are one of the very first series of crime books I ever really got into. I have to say, though, big Tom Thorne fan as I am, I was delighted when Mark took this slight left turn. Set in Blackpool, this series contains the beautifully constructed thrillers you’d expect from Mark, but he’s also let his inner standup comic back out of the box to add a delightful dash of comedy into the mix.
Murder Mindfully – Karsten Dusse
This was a delightfully dark comedic treat. I’m always a bit wary of books that have a strong satirical concept as the core conceit, but this one is pulled off with aplomb. It’s distinctively Scandinavian in the very best way, having that delightfully dry sense of humour to it while the story keeps moving and takes some lovely twists and turns. I’ve not caught the Netflix series yet, but I’ve added it to my ever-growing to be watched list.
The Corn Bride – Mark Stay
As you’ll know, I’m a massive fan of this series, and they get stronger and stronger the more you dip into them. You could probably read this as a standalone, but that’d be denying yourself the delights of the first four books. Go on, treat yourself, it’s almost Christmas.
Children of Time – Adrian Tchaikovsky
Not my normal read, but I’m so glad I decided to try something a little different. This book is an amazing achievement, as it is a gripping story told over millennia that manages to contain the evolution of an entire world at its core. I was so blown away by the incredible world-building in this book that I regularly still find myself thinking about it. Amongst all that, there is a gripping story. A towering achievement.
Mistletoe and Vinyl – Marc Burrows
As a man who turned 50 this year (yes, I don’t look it – let’s not discuss exactly how), I am very wary of getting all misty-eyed about how things were better ‘back in my day’. However, I will allow myself this one teeny tiny trip down memory lane because the Christmas number one, a peculiar tradition of this part of the world, has been rather killed by streaming. It was always such a big deal, and its propensity to allow the general public to latch onto something weird and wonderful despite all the marketing muscle trying to force them in one specific direction was a delight. And speaking of delights, I first met Marc Burrows while he was touring his brilliant tribute show to Sir Terry Pratchett – my all-time favourite author. He combines knowing his proverbial onions with being able to slice and dice those onions in order to bring tears of laughter to your eyes. I can’t decide if I love or hate that metaphor, but I’m leaving it in. I am truly loving this book, though.
A Particularly Nasty Case – Adam Kay
Adam first came to prominence when his debut book, This is Going to Hurt, which reminisces about his time as a doctor in the NHS, became a monumental smash hit. There have since been follow-ups, a great TV show, all manner of attempts by others to copy it (unsuccessfully), and he’s also found time to branch out into other areas. This book is his debut fiction novel, though, and it’s a cracker. Set in a hospital, it’s on one hand an outlandish whodunnit and on the other a brilliant depiction of a mind in disarray. It manages to balance humour, suspense and a very sensitive but highly insightful depiction of mental health issues. It’s a fun read, but it’s one of those books that’ll also stay with you long after you’ve read it.
Read A Particularly Nasty Case
Absolutely Everything – Jodi Taylor
No, that isn’t the title of yet another Jodi Taylor book that you’ve somehow missed – I just mean to say you can’t go wrong with any of her books. The woman is a literary terminator, relentlessly producing banger after banger at a pace that frankly makes me hate her a teeny tiny bit. I mean, I love her, but the woman is making the rest of us look bad – by which I mean authors in particular, but really the rest of humanity in general. If you need a specific book to start with, I suppose I could recommend Doing Time, book one of the Time Police series, but really, you can’t go wrong.
The Book of Doors – Gareth Brown
This is a delightful slice of fantasy fiction that I loved. Gareth creates one of those worlds that you instantly feel like you could spend days happily wandering around in. He takes the magic of books and spins it into a delicious web of supernatural mayhem as the forces of good and evil do battle.
Agent to the Stars – John Scalzi
I’ve read several John Scalzi books over the last couple of years, and it was honestly hard to pick just one to recommend. A brilliant humourist, I think the thing that most impresses me about his work is the width and breadth of it as he hops between genres while maintaining the same delightful voice throughout. This one just pipped the others to the post as the idea of an alien species hiring an agent to try to manage their introduction to humanity is just an absolute belter of a concept, which he delivers with aplomb.
Wonderwife here – I’m hijacking Caimh’s recommendations post to chip in my tuppence worth. Here are a couple of books that have taken my fancy.
Tiny Moments of Joy – George Penney
If you caught the online launch of Ring the Bells, you will have been introduced to the formidable George Penney. A best-selling romance author who, in more recent years, has turned to humourous fantasy (OverLondon was written by George and her partner Tony Johnson, and the audiobook is narrated by Brendan McDonald), Tiny Moments of Joy offers life-affirming observations of market day in Aotearoa New Zealand. I first started reading these when George posted them on social media, and their positivity always made me smile. Perfect for when you need something to lift your spirits.
The Christmas Appeal – Janice Hallett
If you’re looking for something for the holiday season (obviously after you’ve read Ring the Bells), Janice Hallett’ ‘s witty Christmas novella/short story is the perfect light-hearted read. This fast-paced mystery unfolds during an amateur dramatics Christmas panto and is told through a series of emails, text/WhatsApp messages and statements, helping us get into the mind of the characters and work out whodunnit.