LJ Best Books 2010: Genre Fiction
By Tamara Butler (Christian fiction), Jo Ann Vicarel (mystery), Kristin Ramsdell (romance), Jackie Cassada (sf/fantasy), Rollie Welch (street lit), Jeff Ayers (thrillers) Nov 18, 2010As our 2010 Book Buying Survey made clear, fiction remains king of circ in public libraries, and in most cases, we'd bet it's owing to the rich and undersung standouts of genre fiction. Knowing that, we've turned once again to our longtime columnists for their favorites.
CHRISTIAN FICTION | MYSTERY | ROMANCE | SF & FANTASY | STREET LIT | THRILLERS
Dekker, Ted. Immanuel's Veins. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 9781595540096. $25.99.
In this thrilling novel of danger and seduction, Dekker visits the court of Catherine the Great to weave a compelling story of love, lust, and evil. (LJ 8/10)
Lawhead, Stephen R. The Skin Map. Thomas Nelson. (Bright Empires, Bk. 1.) ISBN 9781595548047. $24.99.
Lawhead's latest epic fantasy puts a new spin on an old legend as a young man goes on a quest led by his deceased great-grandfather; fast-paced and detailed. (LJ 8/10)
Rosenberg, Joel C. The Twelfth Imam. Tyndale. ISBN 9781414311630. $26.99.
Rosenberg returns with a gripping, quickly moving tale about a possible apocalypse brought about by the conflict between Israel and Iran; with well-drawn characters. (LJ 11/15/10)
Sullivan, Michael J. Necessary Heartbreak: A Novel of Faith and Forgiveness. Pocket: S. & S. ISBN 9781439184233. pap. $15.
A single father who has lost his faith and his 14-year-old daughter discover a time portal that transports them to first-century Jerusalem. Detailed settings and intriguing characters mark this wonderful time-slip novel. (LJ 4/15/10)
Wiseman, Beth. Plain Paradise. Thomas Nelson. (Daughters of the Promise, Bk. 4). ISBN 9781595548238. pap. $14.99.
Wiseman's heartwarming tale about a young adopted Amish girl and the secular mother who gave her up explores in a simple, engaging style the conflict between what we know growing up and what we yearn for as children. (LJ 4/15/10)
MYSTERY
Casey, Kathryn. The Killing Storm. Minotaur: St. Martin's. ISBN 9780312379520. $25.99.
As Texas Ranger Sarah Armstrong investigates the ritualistic killings of prize cattle, a four-year-old boy is kidnapped, and a hurricane heads straight for Houston. Riveting suspense and nifty plot twists in an outstanding series. (LJ 10/1/10)
Elias, Gerald. Danse Macabre. Minotaur: St. Martin's. ISBN 9780312541897. $24.99.
The execution of a man convicted of killing a famous concert violinist draws blind violin teacher Daniel Jacobus into an impromptu investigation. Musical know-how, an intricate plot, and fresh characters elevate Elias's second series title above standard fare. (LJ 7/10)
Harris, Gardiner. Hazard. Minotaur: St. Martin's. ISBN 9780312570163. $25.99.
A safety inspector probes a fatal mining disaster in Hazard, KY, that may not have been an accident. This outstanding debut boasts vivid details, insider knowledge of the mining industry, spot-on characterizations, and an engrossing mystery. (LJ 1/10)
Larsen, K.J. Liar, Liar: A Cat DeLuca Mystery. Poisoned Pen. ISBN 9781590587256. $24.95; pap. ISBN 9781590587270. $14.95.
Cat DeLuca, owner of Chicago's Pants on Fire Detective Agency, is up to her eyebrows in trouble when she tries to prove a man's infidelity. Her family of police officers and busybody relatives add comic relief in this cozy debut. (LJ 8/10)
Parker, I.J. The Masuda Affair: A Sugawara Akitada Novel. Severn House. ISBN 9780727869258. $28.95.
Sugawara attempts to help an abused boy, reconnect with his wife, come to terms with the death of a son, and solve a murder. Eleventh-century Japan is a perfect setting for this perceptive sleuth and complex crime novel. (LJ 11/1/10)
Bourne, Joanna. The Forbidden Rose. Berkley Sensation: Penguin Group (USA). ISBN 9780425235614. pap. $7.99.
From a burned-out chateau in the French countryside to the treacherous, violent streets of revolutionary Paris, this superbly plotted adventure pairs up an English spy and a French aristocrat. (LJ 6/15/10)
Brockway, Connie. The Golden Season. Onyx: Penguin Group (USA). ISBN 9780451412836. pap. $7.99.
A peerless lady of the ton learns she is almost penniless and surreptitiously sets out to find a wealthy suitor during her last "Golden Season." This delightfully witty, deliciously sensual romance is peppered with humor and enhanced by memorable characters. (LJ 2/15/10)
Dreyer, Eileen. Barely a Lady. Forever: Grand Central. (Drake's Rakes, Bk. 1). ISBN 9780446542081. pap. $6.99.
A woman whose life was devastated five years earlier by deceit, betrayal, and divorce has her peace shattered once more when her ex-husband is found at Waterloo, wounded, suspected of treason, suffering from selective amnesia, and convinced that they are still happily married. An emotionally compelling, flawlessly crafted gem. (LJ 6/15/10)
Kinsale, Laura. Lessons in French. Sourcebooks Casablanca.ISBN 9781402237010. pap. $7.99.
An aristocratic, bull-breeding heroine and a charming French émigré hero reclaim their love in this funny, whimsical, clever, and thoroughly rewarding sensual romance that is Kinsale's first appearance in the market in several years. (LJ 2/15/10)
McDonald, L.J. The Battle Sylph. Leisure: Dorchester. ISBN 9780843963007. pap. $7.99.
This stunningly creative and riveting debut novel of a young woman who escaped sacrificial murder to become the adored queen of her remarkable battle sylph is a mental and emotional delight for both fantasy and romance readers. (LJ 2/15/10)
Barclay, James. Elfsorrow. Pyr: Prometheus. (Legends of the Raven, Bk. 1). ISBN 9781616142483. pap. $17.
The mercenaries of the Raven journey to the heart of the elven continent of Calaius to save the land from dying in a superbly visualized fantasy adventure reminiscent of Glen Cook's classic Black Company tales. (LJ 11/15/10)
McCaffrey, Todd. Dragongirl. Del Rey: Ballantine. ISBN 9780345491169. $26.
Devotion and sacrifice are the twin keys that will save Pern from a plague that is killing the dragons necessary to combat the deadly space-born spore that falls from the sky. The son of sf Grand Master Anne McCaffrey continues the beloved world created by his mother. (LJ 7/10)
Miéville, China. Kraken. Del Rey: Ballantine. ISBN 9780345497499. $26.
Museum curator Billy Harrow tracks the preserved corpse of a giant squid through a London populated by cultists, paranormal investigators, and supernatural scoundrels. Brilliant storytelling and doses of eccentric humor and eerily compelling horror call to mind the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Jules Verne, and H.G. Wells. (LJ 6/15/10)
Newton, Mark Charan. Nights of Villjamur. Spectra: Bantam. (Legends of the Red Sun, Bk 1). ISBN 9780345520845. $26.
Conspiracy and murder threaten the grand city of Villjamur as an ice age's approach brings throngs of refugees to civilization's heart. Newton's outstanding fantasy series debut is filled with splendid imagery and compelling dramatic conflicts. (LJ 5/15/10)
White, Skyler. And Falling, Fly. Berkley: Penguin Group (USA). ISBN 9780425232347. pap. $15.
A neuroscientist seeking to cure his memories of past lives meets a fallen angel of desire in an underground asylum. One of the year's most unusual blends of supernatural fiction and urban fantasy. (LJ 3/15/10)
Diamond, De'nesha. Hustlin' Divas. Dafina: Kensington. ISBN 9780758247551. pap. $15.
Sisters LaShelle and Ta'Shara hook up with two rival gangbangers on the Memphis streets. Gritty street talk comes across loud and clear in this violent series launch, one of the best constructed street tales of the year. (BookSmack! 9/16/10)
K'Wan. Welfare Wifeys: A Hood Rat Novel. Griffin: St. Martin's. ISBN 9780312536978. pap. $14.99.
K'Wan's unmatched ear for street slang and dialog rocks his latest series installment (after Section 8, a best street-lit title of 2009) as tension between the players builds so thick you could cut it with a knife, or better yet, a razor blade. (BookSmack! 8/12/10)
Styles, T. Miss Wayne & the Queens of DC. Cartel Pub. ISBN 9780982391341. pap. $15.
Featuring biting trash talk, raw sex, and murder, this flamboyant spin-off from Styles's Essence best sellers Black and Ugly and Black and Ugly as Ever bursts with a fierce attitude. (BookSmack! 8/12/10)
Turner, Nikki. Natural Born Hustler. One World: Ballantine. ISBN 9780345523600. pap. $13.
Desember Day, an 18-year-old hustler, pats down her $300 weaves, wiggles into a micro miniskirt, and sexes up her boo in a movie theater. The lovers set off on a wild crime spree, and Turner's crisp, fast-paced writing will leave readers panting for Part 2. (BookSmack! 8/12/10)
Williams, Karen. Dirty to the Grave. Urban Bks. ISBN 9781601622693. pap. $14.95.
Friends Red, Goldie, and Cha share tragic pasts and now cruise the streets of Long Beach, CA, getting into fights, drug dealing, and worse. Raw, nasty, grimy, dirty, and outrageous, this title is pure, stripped-down urban fiction. (BookSmack! 7/12/10)
Connelly, Michael. The Reversal. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316069489. $27.99.
Two Connelly protagonists, Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer) and Harry Bosch (Nine Dragons), team up in a cold case that gets stranger as more evidence is unveiled. Connelly's latest solidifies his reputation as the master of the modern crime thriller. (LJ 9/1/10)
Dugoni, Robert. Bodily Harm. Touchstone: S. & S. ISBN 9781416592969. $25.
A lawsuit against a toy company becomes a gut-wrenching journey for attorney David Sloan. With an intriguing premise and plenty of in- and out-of-the courtroom action, Dugoni's legal thriller will satisfy fans of the genre. (Xpress Reviews, 5/14/10)
Jacobson, Alan. Velocity. Vanguard: Perseus. ISBN 9781593156213. $25.95.
FBI profiler Karen Vail (The 7th Victim) must put her personal feelings aside to rescue the man she loves from a killer in Jacobson's best book to date. (LJ 9/15/10)
Land, Jon. Strong Justice. Forge: Tor. ISBN 9780765323361. $24.99.
In tackling a case involving a Mexican slave trade with strange ties to her grandfather, fifth-generation Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong has to face her own O.K. Corral. Land is in top form mixing elements of a modern action thriller with the fine tradition of Western novels. (LJ 4/1/10)
Lynds, Gayle. The Book of Spies. St. Martin's. ISBN 9780312380892. $25.99.
A rare book dealer is framed for murdering her husband and ends up working with a former intelligence officer to uncover the legendary Library of Gold in this thrilling spy-laden, history-rich actionfest. (LJ 2/1/10)
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