Favourite Euro Crime Reads of 2013 - Raven

In today's instalment of the Euro Crime reviewers' favourite reads of 2013, it's Raven's (aka JF's) favourite Euro Crime reads:

Raven's favourite reads of 2013

5. Steffen Jacobsen - When The Dead Awaken tr. Charlotte Barslund

An exceptionally good crime read from a new-to-me Danish author appearing for the first time in English, When The Dead Awaken is a thriller not to be missed. Drawing on the influence of Roberto Saviano’s Gomorrah, Jacobsen has fashioned an enthralling thriller set in Naples and focusing primarily on the criminal activities of this feared criminal organisation, but also the frustrations of and danger to those that seek to bring them to justice…

4. David Thomas - Ostland

To simply label Ostland as a crime thriller would not only do a great disservice to the sheer power and scope of this novel, but would in turn devalue a book that truly encompasses the very best elements of both the crime and historical fiction genres. With its skilful melding of both the hunt for a serial killer and the unflinching depiction of the atrocities of The Final Solution, this is a novel that unerringly stimulates the thoughts and emotions of the reader, compounded by the harsh realities of human history that form its foundation.

3. Kevin Sampson - The Killing Pool

The mean streets of Liverpool loom large in this, the first, of a projected series featuring Kevin Sampson’s newest creation DCI Billy McCartney - a veritable conundrum of a character that you are guaranteed to love or loathe in equal measure. Opening with the discovery of a mutilated body exhibiting all the hallmarks of a gangland hit, the reader is instantly transported into a dark and gritty read that makes you feel positively grubby, but in such a good way.

2. Pierre Lemaitre - Alex tr. Frank Wynne

Every so often a crime thriller comes along that leaves you breathless and takes you on a disturbing journey into the darkest recesses of human experience- Alex is one such book and you are guaranteed a tale of the unexpected from start to finish. With its mesmerising female protagonist, and unique detective this is an absolute gem of a crime novel that is wonderfully dark, scary, mad, bad and dangerous to know, but just far too good to miss.

1. Derek B. Miller- Norwegian By Night

From the first few pages, I was totally immersed in the life of Sheldon Horowitz, our curmudgeonly hero of the piece: a man haunted by the ghosts of his former life and coping with the daily frustrations of growing old. From the synopsis, it is impossible to harness all the themes and subtlety of prose that this book conveys to the reader. On one level, not only does the book contain all the quintessential elements of a Scandinavian crime novel, it also encompasses the Korean, Vietnam and Balkan conflicts, and on a more emotional level, presents a poignant and meditative examination of ageing and regret, that unusually for this cynical reader, really touched me, engaging me even more with the characters and the multi-faceted plot. A book that still strays into my thoughts and my Euro Crime pick of the year...

Favourite Discoveries 2013 (8)

Today's instalment of favourite discoveries of 2013 comes from Raven who blogs and reviews at Raven Crime Reads as well as at Euro Crime.

Raven's Favourite Discovery of 2013

I’m always keen to discover new home-grown crime authors so would like to highlight Hull-based writer Nick Quantrill as my favourite discovery of 2013. Currently the author of three titles featuring private investigator Joe Geraghty - BROKEN DREAMS, THE LATE GREATS and THE CROOKED BEAT - Quantrill perfectly captures not only the past glories of Hull’s history in terms of its importance as a major port, but also how the intervening years have led to an all too familiar story of deprivation and change on a once thriving city. However, despite the underlying darkness of a city’s ruination, Quantrill balances the more positive aspects of Hull and its inhabitants with an affectionate and mildly teasing tone, particularly through the character of Joe Geraghty himself, in this assured and very readable series.

Each book has an entirely believable premise highlighting the less than honest citizens that Geraghty finds himself investigating, all the while tapping into the gritty realism of life in the North, and the inevitable scrapes that Geraghty finds himself in. Unlike some authors, Quantrill does not resort to the lazy imitation of wise-cracking PIs that so many rely on, instead bringing to the reader an entirely more realistic depiction of his investigator’s daily entanglements in each investigation and the ups and downs of Geraghty’s personal life and relationships. A strong series so far, and definitely one for you to discover for yourselves.