Hello and the warmest of welcomes to damppebbles. I hope you’re having a book-filled week so far, despite it only being Tuesday! It’s day twenty-eight of #R3COMM3ND3D2023 which means that after today, there are only two more days left of this year’s feature. I know, I can’t quite believe it either! Where has the month gone? More importantly, how many books have you added to your TBR since we started ?

I mentioned yesterday that to close this year’s feature off, I have am delighted to welcome some of my very favourite bookish folk to the blog this week. Today is no exception. I am beyond thrilled to welcome one of the most knowledgeable and most influential crime fiction aficionados to damppebbles, it’s the fabulous Ayo Onatade of Shotsmag Confidential. As regular visitors to the blog will know, we’re all about the crime fiction here on damppebbles. So if Ayo is recommending it, then you can guarantee I’ll be reading it! I don’t usually even check the blurb. I trust Ayo’s opinion on crime fiction implicitly. If you’re also a crime fiction fan (and let’s face it, if you’re here, you probably are) then I urge you to follow Ayo if you don’t already. You really won’t regret it.

So, what is #R3COMM3ND3D2023? It’s about sharing the book love. It’s a chance for authors, book bloggers, reviewers 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 2023. To make things interesting there are a couple of teeny, tiny rules; 1) the book must have FIRST been published in 2023 and 2) special editions and reissues do not count. See, it wasn’t too painful. I just like to keep you lovely people on your toes 😉

Let’s find out which three books I’ll be immediately adding to my TBR today…

All The Sinners Bleed by S A Cosby
I am constantly thrilled by S A Cosby’s writing and All The Sinners Bleed is a powerful and unforgettable story of not only about a serial killer on the loose but also a tale about the still lingering effects of racism in the South, religious zealotry and dealing with trauma. S A Cosby has the knack of tackling timely issues without alienating the reader. S A Cosby should be on every crime fiction reader’s list.
Ayo’s Review of All the Sinners Bleed

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The Secret Hours by Mick Herron
I am a big fan of spy thrillers and of course a fan of Mick Herron Slough House series. However, The Secret Hours has shown why he is amongst the best. This is a spy thriller about a MI5 mission in Cold War Berlin that goes very badly wrong and the skullduggery that takes place. It will not only make you laugh out-loud but is also unnerving and poignant. It also serves as the back story of two major characters in his Slough House series. You don’t have to be a fan of the Slough House series to enjoy this but if you are then all the better.

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The Second Murderer by Denise Mina
Raymond Chandler is one of my all-time favourite authors and anyone taking on the mantle of writing a Phillip Marlowe story has a huge hill to climb. However, Denise Mina has done this with aplomb. In this tale of a missing heiress and a dead body, she has not only managed to evoke the LA landscape but also Chandler’s snappy dialogue, sarcastic humour, and the seedy circumstances. Lets also not forget the fact that the plot is utterly Chandleresque. A brilliant return of Raymond Chandler’s iconic detective. Read it and then read the originals.

Thank you so much, Ayo. I love the sound of all three and yes, they’re going straight onto the TBR.

About Ayo Onatade:
Ayo Onatade is a freelance crime fiction critic, blogger, moderator and commentator on Crime Fiction. She has written a number of articles on different aspects of crime fiction and has also given papers on the subject as well. She has an eclectic taste in crime fiction, which runs the gamut from historical crime fiction to hardboiled and short stories. Her research interests include historical fiction especially crime fiction and crime fiction literary criticism. She currently chairs the HWA (Historical Writers Association) Debut Crown, is a CWA Steel Dagger Judge and a Ngaio Marsh Award Judge amongst other things.

Ayo’s Blog and Social Media Links:
| Shotsmag Confidential | X (formerly Twitter) @Shotsblog | Facebook Group |

Sadly submissions for #R3COMM3D3D2023 are now closed. Shortly after the last post I will be inviting you to attend the virtual after-show party, which should be lots of fun. We’ll get to gaze upon the marvellous and majestic beauty of 2023’s books and also crown 2023’s winner, if we have one (they’re all winners, right?). Until then stay tuned as we have lots more bookish gorgeousness heading your way.