I’ve been umming and ahhing about this post for sometime. I was lucky enough to be involved in the #TBConFB 20/20 Blogger event in November which allowed me to share my top 20 all time favourite crime reads with members of THE Book Club on Facebook as well as with you lovely people. I’ve also been honoured to feature on several other brilliant blogs this year and have been asked on several of these occasions to name five top reads. Have I already made too many ‘Top Reads’ lists this year? Well, probably but I’m not going to let that stop me! No siree! There’s always room for one more, and anyway, this is my list of top reads from 2016 so it’s completely different to the others, honest…!
So, in no particular order here are my books of the year:
I haven’t been shy in telling the blogosphere about my very favourite book this year. I think I decided back in early October that no other book would/could come close to A Suitable Lie by Michael J Malone (published by Orenda Books).
If you haven’t read it, you are truly missing out. Staggeringly good, spine tingling and stomach churning, you’ll fall in love and be repulsed in equal measures. At times you’ll want to put it down and walk away for a breath of fresh air but find it impossible to do so. Quite possibly the most perfect piece of writing I have ever read!
And then we have this incredible selection of fabulous reads. All with something extra special about them and all highly recommended.
The Killing Game by J.S. Carol (published by Bookouture)
Dead Man’s Prayer by Jackie Baldwin (published by Killer Reads)
What Remains of Me by A.L. Gaylin (published by Arrow Publishing)
HEX by Thomas Olde Heuvelt translated by Nancy Forest-Flier (published by Hodderscape)
Love You to Death by Caroline Mitchell (published by Bookouture)
Inside the Whispers by A.J. Waines
Dancers in the Wind by Anne Coates (published by Urbane Publications)
PsychoAnalysis by V.R. Stone
The Devil’s Work by Mark Edwards (published by Thomas & Mercer)
Melody Bittersweet and the Girls’ Ghostbusting Agency by Kitty French (published by Bookouture)
The Sister by Louise Jensen (published by Bookouture)
Epiphany Jones by Michael Grothaus (published by Orenda Books)
Valentina by S.E. Lynes (published by Blackbird Books)
The Optician’s Wife by Betsy Reavley (published by Bloodhound Books)
Where Roses Never Die by Gunnar Staalesen translated by Don Bartlett (published by Orenda Books)
City of Shadows by M.J. Lee (published by Carina UK)
Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin (published by Penguin)
Flowers for the Dead by Barbara Copperthwaite
A Tapping at my Door by David Jackson (published by Bonnier Zaffre)
In The Shadows by Tara Lyons
The Tokyo Zodiac Murders by Soji Shimada (published by Pushkin Press)
Dust and Desire by Conrad Williams (published by Titan Press)
The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza (published by Bookouture)
Syndrome E by Franck Thilliez (published by Penguin Books)
OK, so there are a lot! But I’ve had such a good booky year this year that I just couldn’t whittle it down any further. Next year I will endeavour to have a smaller list…but that’s a whole year away.
I am extremely grateful for all of the wonderful support I have received this year. From fellow bloggers (there are some astonishingly good blogs out there with extremely talented bloggers holding the reigns), the brilliant publishers (one in particular springs to mind) and most important of all, the incredibly talented authors who pour their hearts and souls into their latest book so us bibliophiles can get our fix. Thank you each and every one of you. Thank you to everyone who has liked my Facebook page, to everyone who has followed me on twitter and to those that have tweeted, retweeted or just mentioned my blog in some way. To those who like and follow my blog, a heartfelt thank you. It’s made my first year as a blogger a humbling and thoroughly enjoyable experience. THANK YOU! I celebrate my first blogiversary on 14th January 2017 which I am so excited about. It feels like I’ve been doing this a lot longer than year but in the best way possible. I may, in a moment of pure generosity, organise a little giveaway to celebrate…
One last thing before I wish you a very happy New Year: I’ll be on the lookout for a guest reviewer to feature on the blog and help me reduce the #terrifyingTBR in 2017 so if you know someone who may be interested, please ask them to drop me an email at damppebbles@gmail.com.
Once again, wishing you all a sparkly New Year…here’s to making 2017 fantastic and full of books ♥
Several of these books are on my 2017 TBR so I’m very happy. You’ve had a fab reading year and I look forward to seeing all your reviews in 2017. Happy New Year!xx
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Thanks Janel. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. What a cracking first year we’ve had huh? Here’s to 2017 🎉
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A Suitable Lie is my next read – right after I’ve finished a non fiction book on GMC. Some great books on here and some new ideas for my TBR. Thanks for posting, Emma. You can never have too many ‘Top X’ lists 😁
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Oh gosh, I hope you love it. It’s hard going at times but it was a book that gave me #allthefeels. And I agree with you about never having too many ‘top x’ lists 😂😂
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So many tempting titles – the trouble is if I read them all there will be no time for new books in 2017 – bookblogger dilemmas
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😂😂 A common book blogger problem, Cleo!
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Some great choices on here Emma. It’s so flipping hard isn’t it. So many of your choices I have in my tbr and really want to get to. Must push up my list I think.
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I hope you love them Jen. It’s so hard with new books being published and wafted under our noses to find the time to read from your own TBR, isn’t it? 😕
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Absolutely. I’m determined to find the balance this year but I guess we’re going through the learning curve all new bloggers experience. Here’s to the ‘tween years’ all temper tantrums when we don’t get what we want from Netgalley lol
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Haha, when you find that balance let me know how to achieve it because boy, do I need help 😂😂 SERIOUS help!!
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Thank you so, so much for including Flowers For The Dead on your list of best books. You’ve been such a wonderful cheerleader for my book. Have a fabulous 2017!
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Thank you Barbara, FFTD was a pleasure to read. Happy New Year lovely lady 😊
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Reblogged this on Barbara Copperthwaite and commented:
Woo hoo! What a day, what a year! Flowers For The Dead has been chosen by fabulous blog DampPebbles as a Top Read of 2016! Thank you so much; this year really is ending on such a high 🙂
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Happy New Year, Emma 🙂 xx
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Thank you Cathy. And to you too 🎉🍷
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What remains of me & Love you to death ❤ Happy new year!
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Happy new year Annie 😘
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Awesome reading year for you Emma! I’ve enjoyed getting to chat with you and read your blog. Can’t wait to see what great reads 2017 brings. Happy New Year!
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Thank you Renee, it was lovely to meet you this year. Here’s hoping 2017 brings us both some brilliant books ❤
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Gosh, thank you Emma! Honoured to see my novel included here and wishing you all the very best for 2017!
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Great post and some cracking books. Wishing you a very happy 2017 Emma. Thank you for all your support xxx
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Thanks Abbie, and a very happy new year to you lovely x
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Love this list, which features more than a few that I’ve had my eye on. Here’s to a great 2017 x
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Thanks Jo. I just couldn’t whittle it down anymore. Looks like you have a great year of reading ahead of you x
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Thank you so much for including Dead Man’s Prayer, Emma. It was a lovely surprise! Wishing you all the best for 2017! x
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Such a pleasure Jackie. Happy 2017 x
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Happy new year! It’s been wonderful meeting you!
We are so on the same page about A Suitable Lie, I cannot think of a better book I read in 2016! Wishing you all the best for your second year of blogging!! xx
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Thank you Donna, the same to you lovely xx
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Happy New Year to you too! I really enjoyed Blackeyed Susans a real page turner!
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Blackeyed Susans was my most surprising read of the year. Only read it to move it off the TBR but absolutely loved it! Happy 2017 😊
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Wow! Love your reading list !! Amazing taste:)
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