EURO CRIME
Euro Crime's Top 2010 reads
2010's Euro Crime contributors: Pat Austin, Maxine Clarke, Amanda Gillies, Terry Halligan, Geoff Jones, Laura Root, Karen Meek, Michelle Peckham and Norman Price reveal their top European crime reads of that year (links are to the reviewer's own review of that title). NB. I have preserved the order that the lists were sent to me, assuming that if they are not in alphabetical order that they are a ranked list.
A summary of the lists in terms of favourite titles, authors and translators can be found here on the blog.
Runners-Up: Kishwar Desai - Witness the Night and Alan Glynn - Winterland
Amanda Gillies
"My criteria for enjoying books include not only a storyline that is somewhat unusual but also good use of grammar and vocabulary. If a book is too much of an easy read I get bored very quickly! I also particularly love books with a supernatural twist and/or something historical - often, but not limited to, a Biblical theme. My "Top 5" for this year was not easy to choose as I have far more favourites than these. However, they all fit very well with most, if not all, of my criteria and I loved reading every single one of them.
Terry Halligan
a)English Language Origin:Fascinating plot to kill Stalin in 50s Russia
Intriguing history of a billionaire who apparently killed himself.
Impressive new historical mystery fiction from the pen of Professor of history
Exciting new legal thriller involving Dublin murder of a Russian emigrant
The Sharpe Of The English Civil War in his first adventure
b)Translated into English:
The first of the acclaimed Wallander novels. Dealing with immigration and racial hatred,set in January 1990.
Cracking detective story of a hunt for an assassin of the Salvation Army set in the bitter cold of Oslo.
The ultimate Millennium Trilogy book, where we discover more about enigmatic heroine Lisbeth Salander.
An Italian Court Drama, where no one apparently wants to give evidence. against the brutish son of a powerful local judge.
An interesting blend of fantasy and crime in this mystery set in 1932.
Geoff Jones
Laura Root
Runner-up: Marek Krajewski's Phantoms of Breslau
Michelle Peckham
A gripping detective story as the introspective Erlendur tries to solve an apparent suicide and two disappearances in the past.
An exciting thriller involving corruption, the Polish mafia, drugs and a prison break.
A forty year old police procedural still as good today as when it was written.
Harry Hole's search for a serial killer with the usual twists and turns that are Jo Nesbo's trademark.
A sharp political thriller that draws on the Danish experience of occupation and collaboration, and connects it to the Cold War and conflict in the Balkans.
Runners-up: Liza Marklund - Red Wolf (tr. Neil Smith) and Karin Fossum - Bad Intentions (tr. Charlotte Barslund)
January 2011