Hello and welcome, as always, to damppebbles. I hope you’re having a good week so far (although it’s barely begun, if truth be told). It’s day 21 of #R3COMM3ND3D2021 and we’re motoring! What a bevvy of beautiful books we’ve had so far, with lots more to come so make sure you stay tuned. Your new favourite read could be on the horizon! Today I am thrilled to welcome one of my very favourite bloggers to damppebbles, it’s HC Newton of The Irresponsible Reader. I love HC’s blog so if you’re not already following, now’s your chance to change that!

So, what is #R3COMM3ND3D2021? It’s about sharing the book love. It’s a chance for authors, book bloggers and bookstagrammers to shout about three (yes, *only* three) books they love. They can be written by any author, in any genre and published in any way (traditionally, indie press or self-published). But there is a catch. All three books must have been published in 2021. To make things interesting there are a couple of teeny, tiny rules; 1) the book must have FIRST been published in 2021 and 2) special editions and reissues do not count. I like to keep you lovely people on your toes 😉

As this is the fifth year of #R3C, things are going to be a smidge different this year. There’s a scary deadline involved *shudder*. The #R3COMM3ND3D application form will only be open until midday (GMT) on Wednesday 1st December. If you would like to take part in #R3C this year (and I would LOVE you to!) then please get your three choices in sooner rather than later. Any posts scheduled for later in December will be brought forward and I will close the series early if I’m not able to fill all of the available dates. The form is at the bottom of this post if you fancy taking part.

Here are the three books HC recommends…

The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson
This is a dark, unsettling read—there are two pages toward the end that may be the most disturbing pages I’ve ever read. And yet…there’s something very appealing about the novel—it’s gripping and compelling, it’s also entertaining. The pacing was perfect. The characters were well-drawn and felt fresh. It’s the kind of book that makes you ignore responsibilities–and possibly food and hygiene–or at least want to until you finish.
HC’s Review of The Jigsaw Man

Moonlighting: An Oral History by Scott Ryan
Why did I choose this one? It’s probably the most fun I’ve had with a book this year. Somehow, Ryan’s able to capture a little bit of the flavor of the show while getting into the history. Moonlighting was a revolutionary show, and Ryan is able to talk to just about every significant figure involved in the creation and production of it for this history. He chronicles the ups, downs, and all around zaniness. There are deep-dives on important episodes and or tricky scenes, as well as broader looks at themes, storylines, characters, etc. It’s easy to forget just how magical this show was (it’s not streaming anywhere, nor syndicated anymore, the DVDs are almost impossible to find), but spending some time with Ryan will remind viewers of a certain age of just what a ground-breaking, oft-controversial, and entertaining series it was.
HC’s Review of Moonlighting: An Oral History

Suburban Dicks by Fabian Nicieza
You’ve never met protagonists like these–a disgraced journalist struggling to find some sort of professional redemption (not to mention a better paycheck), and a pregnant mother of four who gave up her lifelong dream of being a FBI profiler to raise a family. These two pair up to investigate their suburb’s first murder in decades because the police department just isn’t up for it (assuming they’re not too crooked to do the job right). You get a great mix of dark comedy, social commentary, and clever mystery as the pair unearth secrets that have been buried for generations on their way to solve the murder of a gas station attendant.
HC’s Review of Suburban Dicks

Three brilliant picks which are all going on the wish list, thanks HC. I remember reading your review of Moonlighting: An Oral History when it was first published on your blog and thinking, ‘wow, that’s a blast from the past!’. They really don’t make shows like that anymore.

About HC Newton:
Just some guy with a hobby that’s gotten out of hand.

HC’s Blog and Social Media Links:
| The Irresponsible Reader | Twitter @HCNewton | Facebook |

If you’re a book blogger, bookstagrammer or an author and you have three books published this year which you want to shout about then please complete the following form (or click this link: https://forms.gle/pHinvKCHGP89wumn9)