Originally published in the Canberra Weekly on 21 September 2023.
Make sure to check out my extended reviews for Holly, The Last Devil to Die and Starter Villain.
Tag: Stephen King
Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Pre-2024 Novels
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. This week participants of Top Ten Tuesday get a freebie to list whatever topics they want. So, I am going to take this opportunity to start my annual end-of-year lists here by looking at my favourite pre-2024 novels that I read this year.
Each December I have a lot of fun looking at some of the best and most impressive books and comics that I have read throughout the year in a series of Top Ten Lists. While these lists will mostly focus on books that came out in 2024, for the last few years I have also taken the time to list out some of the best older novels that I have read in the last 12 months. There are some excellent novels that were released pre-2024 out there that I haven’t had the chance to read before and it is always fun to go back and explore them. I ended up reading a bunch of awesome older books throughout 2024, including some incredible novels that got easy five-star ratings from me and are really worth checking out.
To come up with this list I had a look at all the novels I read this year that had their initial release before 2024. This proved to be a momentous task, as I read a ton of older books this year, including quite a few Warhammer 40,000 tie-in novels. Despite the awesome array of older novels and audiobooks I enjoyed this year, I eventually managed to pull together a fantastic list that covered some of the best books released before 2024 that I read. As I have in previous years, I combined novels that are part of the same series into a single entry, just to diversify it up a bit. While I might be cheating in places, this list honestly reflects the best pre-2024 novels I read throughout the year, so let us see what made the cut.
Honourable Mentions:
Warhammer 40,000 Brutal Kunnin by Mike Brooks – 2021
A highly entertaining read from a great rising star of Warhammer 40,000 fiction. Brutal Kunnin was particularly funny, and it allowed me to read it’s 2024 sequel, Da Big Dakka, in all it’s hilarious glory.
Warhammer 40,000 Witchbringer by Steven B. Fischer – 2022
A fantastic Warhammer 40,000 debut from a couple of years ago, Witchbringer was an awesome novel that I was really happy to finally check out.
Rebellion by Simon Scarrow – 2023
I got Rebellion, the 2023 entry in one of my favourite historical series, a bit late last year and it ended up being an early January 2024 read for me as a result. A captivating and action-packed novel, Rebellion was amazing and comes highly recommended.
Top Ten List:
Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett – 1989
I had a ton of fun re-reading one of my favourite Discworld novels this year with Guards! Guards!. One of Terry Pratchett’s best books, Guards! Guards! was just as amazing as I remembered it, and I still laugh at its elaborate narrative and exceptional humour. While I have read Guards! Guards! before, I’m including it on this list as it was the first time I listened to the new audiobook version with Jon Culshaw, Peter Serafinowicz and Bill Nighy. An incredible listen that I cannot recommend enough.
Gaunt’s Ghosts series by Dan Abnett – Straight Silver and Sabbat Martyr – 2002
As with last year’s pre-2023 book post, this list could have been dominated by the works of Dan Abnett if I hadn’t combined a few posts together. That is because I am still making progress on his Gaunt’s Ghosts series, which is one of the seminal pieces of Warhammer 40,000 fiction. Following the common soldiers of the Tanith First and Only, better known as Gaunt’s Ghosts, this series is a gritty series about camaraderie and the horrors of war for the common human soldier in the grim future of the Warhammer universe. I managed to get through two exceptional entries in the series this year, Straight Silver and Sabbat Martyr, both of which were epic in their own way. Featuring great characters, dark moments, and some particularly realistic depictions of war, these novels were so damn good, and I loved every second I spent listening to them. I am hoping to dive even deeper into this series next year, and I know I am going to love it.
Warhammer 40,000: Double Eagle by Dan Abnett – 2004
One of the absolute best Warhammer 40,000 novels I enjoyed in 2024 was another classic read from Dan Abnett, Double Eagle. A spin-off from his Gaunt’s Ghosts series (The Guns of Tanith specifically), Double Eagle was an exceptional and highly intense read that followed various Imperial pilots as they fight a brutal air war above a contested planet. Essentially the Battle of Britain in the grimdark future, Double Eagle was utterly addictive, and I loved every single second I spent listening to it. A must read for all Warhammer 40,000 fans, Double Eagle is just incredible, and I am looking forward to the sequel, Interceptor City, which is coming out soon.
Ciaphas Cain series by Sandy Mitchell – The Traitor’s Hand (2005), Death or Glory (2006), Duty Calls (2007) and Cain’s Last Stand (2008)
Another long-running Warhammer 40,000 series I read in 2024 was the Ciaphas Cain series by Sandy Mitchell. Following the heroic Commissar Cain as he fights in multiple battlefields, the Ciaphas Cain books are a particularly fun Warhammer 40,000 series due to the hilarious protagonist who is a lot more cowardly and practical than most people realise. I read four books in this series this year, mainly because they are so easy to listen to and enjoy. This includes The Traitor’s Hand, Death or Glory, Duty Calls and Cain’s Last Stand. All four were extremely good and featured distinctive and entertaining stories, with the last three featuring a great, loosely connected storyline. If I had to choose a favourite it would probably be Death or Glory, that set a young Ciaphas Cain on his path to hero status when he accidently leads a band of human survivors Mad Max style to victory. An outstanding series I will probably read more of in 2025.
Warhammer 40,000: Dead Men Walking by Steve Lyons – 2010
As I’m on a roll with awesome older Warhammer 40,000 novels, the next book on this list is the impressive Dead Men Walking by Steve Lyons. A particularly dark addition to the canon, Dead Men Walking pits Lyon’s favourite Imperial Guard faction, the Death Korps of Kreig (who Lyons also writes about in Kreig and The Siege of Vraks), against the unstoppable metal-coated Necrons, resulting in a devastating battle against two equally unrelenting foe. Cleverly told from the perspective of the normal humans caught in the crossfire of this brutal war, Dead Men Walking showcases just how dark Warhammer 40,000 fiction can get, and I loved the entire captivating and ironic story.
Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher – Skin Game (2014) and Peace Talks (2020)
After a couple of years of having a brilliant time exploring the Dresden Files books, I finally finished off the series this year by reading Skin Game and Peace Talks. Two excellent and compelling entries in the series, these books were particularly awesome in all the right ways. My favourite of the two was Skin Game, which saw the wizard protagonist forced to team up with his worst enemies to complete an impossible magical heist. However, the other book, Peace Talks, was also particularly moving and exciting, especially as it set up Butcher’s other 2020 novel Battle Ground, which is where I entered the Dresden Files series. I have had such an incredible time reading the Dresden Files books over the years, and I hope we start to get some new entries in it soon.
The Outsider by Stephen King – 2018
One of the books I was particularly happy to read in 2024 was the intense and brilliant Stephen King novel The Outsider. A complex, dark and shocking horror thriller, The Outsider starts off with a great concept when a local hero is accused of a terrible crime and all the evidence irrefutably shows that he did it. The problem, the accused claims to be innocent and he has an impossibly airtight alibi. I loved the fantastic and powerful story King wove around this idea, and I honestly could not stop listening to it. Probably one of the better King books I have so far read, The Outsider was so damn good and still cannot get over its exceptional story.
The Sandman – Act III by Neil Gaiman – 2022
After having a great time listening to the first audiobook adaptations of The Sandman in previous years (see my reviews for Act I and Act II), I managed to listen to the third act this year. An intriguing continuation of the story, Act III featured an excellent and addictive story, told by an all-star full cast of excellent actors and voice talent. I had such an outstanding time listening to the complex tales contained within this latest adaptation of The Sandman and I really cannot recommend it enough as an awesome way to enjoy this brilliantly dark and inventive series. I hope we eventually get a fourth act of The Sandman at some point, as I really need closure around how the series ends.
Saevus Corax Captures the Castle and Saevus Corax Gets Away with Murder by K. J. Parker – 2023
After having an exceptional time with Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead last year (one of my favourite books of 2023), I made sure to read the simultaneously released sequels, Saevus Corax Captures the Castle and Saevus Corax Gets Away with Murder in 2024. Both were clever and hilarious reads that followed the series’ smart, cynical and unlucky protagonist through a series of complex adventures. These sequels were extremely well written and planned out, and I loved how the overarching series came together. I cannot recommend the final two Corax books enough, and together with Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead, they form and exceptional and extremely smart trilogy.
Crucible of Chaos by Sebastien de Castell – 2023
The final book I want to feature on this list was the captivating fantasy novel, Crucible of Chaos by Sebastien de Castell. A loosely connected prequel to de Castell’s new Court of Shadows series, which started this year with Play of Shadows, Crucible of Chaos was an outstanding read that I am glad I went back to check out. Set in the author’s Greatcoats universe, Crucible of Chaos follows an unlikely magistrate as he journeys to an isolated monastery to arbitrate a religious dispute that has broken out on the grounds. However, upon arriving he discovers that the situation has irrevocably deteriorated, and he must investigate a terrible murder amongst on the storm rocked island, whilst dealing with armed factions and dark magic. A particularly impressive read that cemented my new-found appreciation for de Castell’s writing, Crucible of Chaos is an outstanding novel and a fantastic final entry on this list.
And that is the end of this list. As you can see, I have managed to read a huge number of epic pre-2024 releases this year. Each of the above were exceptional and fun reads and I would strongly recommend all of them, especially if you are in the mood for some fun fantasy or science fiction adventures. I look forward to reading many more older books in 2025, and it will be interesting to see what makes my next version of this list then. I imagine it will also end up being very Warhammer heavy, as I have plans to finish off the Gaunt’s Ghosts and Ciaphas Cain series, and I will probably also dive into a bunch of other awesome series from the franchise. Make sure to check back in next week for some other end-of-year lists as I continue to highlight some of my favourite reads from 2024.
Waiting on Wednesday – Never Flinch by Stephen King
Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight a book that is probably going to be one of the best things I read in 2025 with Never Flinch by Stephen King.
Stephen King is an author who honestly needs no introduction, considering how much he has shaped our cultural landscape over the last 50 years (Carrie literally came out in 1974 people). Despite his impact on the world of fiction, I’ve only started getting into King quite recently, although I have been making up for lost time by getting through some of his intriguing new releases. This includes exceptional books like Later, Fairy Tale, Billy Summers (one of my favourite books of 2021) and the short story collection You Like It Darker (one of my favourite books from the first half of 2024), all of which have greatly impressed me and I’m barely scratching the surface of King’s many, many books.
Out of all the novels I have so far enjoyed from King, my favourites have been some of the author’s distinctive crime fiction novels, as King examines elaborate dark thrillers and murder mysteries primarily through the eyes of a truly unique protagonist. This protagonist is the quirky and brilliant investigator Holly Gibney, who has emerged as one of King’s more distinctive and loveable long-term characters. Holly made her debut in the awesome novel, Mr. Mercedes, where she served as a compelling supporting character to protagonist Bill Hodges. King expanded the roll of Holly throughout the Bill Hodges series, before eventually spinning her off on her own adventures. This included the gripping book, The Outsider, which I had the great pleasure of reading earlier this year. The Outsider was a particularly impressive and dark novel that saw a man with an unimpeachable alibi framed for a terrible murder. I deeply enjoyed the initial concept of The Outsider and King expanded it out into a powerful horror read that brought Holly in for its gripping second half.
I cannot emphasise how much I enjoyed The Outsider, and it turns out that King was only just starting with Holly Gibney. That’s because last year King published an exceptional read simply titled Holly, that set the titular character on her first solo adventure. Holly was a gripping and complex novel that saw the protagonist investigate a series of disappearances around town, only to discover a horrifying and disturbing secret in the most unlikely of places. Holly was such an incredible book, and I still have chills from some of the big reveals that came out of it. Due to its addictive plot, brilliant characters, and incredibly dark moments, Holly got an easy five start rating from me, and it ended up being one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023, as well as being one of my favourite horror novels of all time.
Due to how much fun I have been having with King’s books I am always eager to see what he’s releasing next, and that is why I was so happy to find out some details about his next book, Never Flinch. A fascinating and awesome novel coming out in late May 2025, Never Flinch sounds extremely cool as King spins together another elaborate mystery. I was also particularly excited to see that Never Flinch was another Holly Gibney novel, which frankly is all I needed to become completely obsessed with this awesome upcoming book.
Plot Synopsis:
From master storyteller Stephen King comes an extraordinary new novel with intertwining storylines—one about a killer on a diabolical revenge mission, and another about a vigilante targeting a feminist celebrity speaker—featuring the beloved Holly Gibney and a dynamic new cast of characters.
When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to “kill thirteen innocents and one guilty” in “an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man,” Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think. Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhinged act of retribution? As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help.
Meanwhile, controversial and outspoken women’s rights activist Kate McKay is embarking on a multi-state lecture tour, drawing packed venues of both fans and detractors. Someone who vehemently opposes Kate’s message of female empowerment is targeting her and disrupting her events. At first, no one is hurt, but the stalker is growing bolder, and Holly is hired to be Kate’s bodyguard—a challenging task with a headstrong employer and a determined adversary driven by wrath and his belief in his own righteousness.
Featuring a riveting cast of characters both old and new, including world-famous gospel singer Sista Bessie and an unforgettable villain addicted to murder, these twinned narratives converge in a chilling and spectacular conclusion—a feat of storytelling only Stephen King could pull off.
Thrilling, wildly fun, and outrageously engrossing, Never Flinch is one of King’s richest and most propulsive novels.
Wow, I am so damn excited for this upcoming novel. It looks like King has come up with another epic and enticing story concept for Never Flinch with two separate gripping cases that his protagonist becomes involved with. The first case of the fourteen citizens about to be murdered is very interesting, and I am curious to see how that unfolds what twisted motivations lay behind it. At the same time, the threat to the women’s rights activist should add some intense social commentary to Never Flinch, and a determined and ‘righteous’ stalker should make for a fascinating opponent. While both cases sound extremely awesome on their own, I am very curious to see how King brings them all together and in what way the two distinctive crimes converge. I feel that if King manages to combine the storylines in a particularly ingenious way, which is something King is perfectly capable of doing, then Never Flinch is going to be extremely impressive. As such, I look forward to seeing how this new story unfolds, and I have no doubt that King is going to turn this upcoming novel into something very special.
In addition to these two complex cases, a key part of Never Flinch that I am keen on are the compelling and damaged characters that will no doubt fill the pages. King has always excelled at creating captivating figures with unique life stories, and I have enjoyed seeing these characters used to their full potential in some of his previous novels. I am especially keen to see more of Holly Gibney, who has really stood out as a protagonist to me in recent years. An unusual and socially awkward figure who also proves to be a skilled investigator and a surprisingly effective monster killer, Holly has been expertly used as both a supporting character and the main protagonist, and I have appreciated seeing her continued growth as she grows more confident in herself. It will be very interesting to see what happens to her in Never Flinch, especially after the chaotic events of Holly and the various secrets about her mother that came to light.
In addition to Holly, I am keen to see how some of the recurring characters from the previous Holly Gibney books will be utilised. This includes siblings Jerome and Barbara Robinson, Holly’s younger friends and assistants who have been such a key part of the previous novels. Both Jerome and Barbara have had compelling ongoing storylines throughout their previous inclusions, and it will be interesting to see how their lives have continued to change. In addition, I will be very keen to see what sort of antagonists that King will feature in Never Flinch. So many Stephen King books rise on the backs of their brilliant antagonists, and I know that I deeply enjoyed the outstanding and often disturbing villains of Mr. Mercedes, The Outsider and Holly. As such, King has some big villainous shoes to fill with Never Flinch, and I cannot wait to see what complex and memorable antagonists appear in this next cool book.
Honestly, there is no way in hell I am missing out on Never Flinch next year and it is already firmly at the top of my to-read list for 2025. Indeed, thanks to how I loved The Outsider and Holly, and the fact that it’s Stephen King writing this book, Never Flinch is one of my most anticipated book for next year at this point, and I think the only book I am currently as excited for in 2025 is The Devils by Joe Abercrombie. I honestly believe that Never Flinch will be one of, if not the absolute best, novels I will read next year, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
Top Ten Tuesday – Oldest (aka Earliest Published) Books on my TBR
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For this latest Top Ten Tuesday, participants are tasked with listing the books with the earliest publication date that is currently sitting on their to-be-read (TBR) pile.
Like most book lovers, I have a huge backlog of novels out there that I want to read but I haven’t been able to fit into my schedule due to lack of time or other books I needed to get through first. As such, this is a rather interesting list to pull together, and I hope that it inspires me a little to go back and read some books on my TBR pile. I also love the shoutout to the older TBR books I have, especially as I am easily distracted by new and shiny things.
I must admit I struggled a little to pull together some really old titles, so my list is most made up of books from the 80s and 90s. Still, this ended up being a rather interesting, if slightly predictable list if you know who some of my favourite authors are, although I made sure to limit myself to one inclusion from each author. Despite these limitations, I really like how it came together, so let us see who made the cut.
Honourable Mentions:
When the Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman – 1985
A classic crime fiction book from an author still going strong.
Space Marine by Ian Watson – 1993
An old-school Warhammer 40,000 novel I currently have on my shelf. While not the first Warhammer 40,000 novel ever written, it sounds bonkers, and I’m curious to see original universe from before they established the current canon.
Killing Floor by Lee Child – 1997
The first book in the epic Jack Reacher series. I loved the television adaptation of this book and I’m curious to read the series from start to finish.
Excavation by James Rollins – 2000
A fantastic older thriller I have sitting on my shelf.
Top Ten List:
Carrie by Stephen King – 1974
After some awesome recent experiences with Stephen King’s writing, I’ve been meaning to read more of his amazing books and there is no better place to start than his first novel, Carrie. A classic piece of horror fiction, Carrie is a bloody and complex read that I hope to check out one day.
Sharpe’s Eagle by Bernard Cornwell – 1981
I’m a massive fan of Bernard Cornwell, who is one of the biggest names in historical fiction. While I have read a couple of books in his iconic Richard Sharpe series, I need to read more, including the first book he published, Sharpe’s Eagle. A compelling historical adventure, Sharpe’s Eagle was the book that introduced the world to Richard Sharpe and Cornwell’s vision of the Napoleonic War. Thanks to Cornwell releasing his books out of chronological order, Sharpe’s Eagle is now the eighth book in the series, but it remains a key entry. I look forward to reading Sharpe’s Eagle one day and it sounds like a lot of fun.
Magician by Raymond E. Feist – 1982
I am slightly cheating by including Magician here, as I have read it a couple of times before. However, I really want to do a big re-read of Feist’s entire Riftwar Cycle and Magician is the best place to start this series. A particularly iconic fantasy novel, Magician sees a young boy discover his destiny as a mighty mage after the kingdom he lives in is invaded by soldiers from another world. This is a really, really good book and I cannot wait to read it again at some point.
The Black Company by Glen Cook – 1984
I have long wanted to read the epic The Black Company fantasy series by Glen Cook, which started back in 1984 with this book of the same name. Generally considered to be one of the best dark fantasy novels/series of all time, The Black Company follows a band of dangerous mercenaries as they find themselves drawn into a bloody and all-consuming war. I already know that I am going to love this book, and I will hopefully be able to make time for it at some point in the future.
The King Beyond the Gate by David Gemmell – 1985
A few years ago, I had the great pleasure of reading David Gemmell’s classic fantasy debut, Legend, which is honestly one of the best books I have every read. Gemmell was a very skilled author, and I have been meaning to check out more examples of his work. The obvious next step would be to read The King Beyond the Gate, which is the second novel in the series that started with Legend. Another compelling read that follows a small band of aging heroes as they face a seemingly unbeatable foe, The King Beyond the Gate sounds awesome, and I need to dedicate some time to getting through the rest of Gemmell’s books.
The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis – 1989
Long-term readers of this blog will know that I am a huge fan of historical fiction author Lindsey Davis, who has greatly impressed me over the years with her Flavia Albia series, which follows some deeply unique murder investigations in ancient Rome. However, the Flavia Albia books are only the latest series from Davis, who originally started back in the 1980s with her Falco novels. Following the father of Flavia Albia as he solves his own crimes, the Falco books have been on my radar for a while, and I fully intend to read them at some point. The obvious starting point for this would be The Silver Pigs, which introduced the world to Falco and Davis’s distinctive style. I have a copy of The Silver Pigs sitting on my bookshelf, and I look forward to the day when I get around to reading it.
Star Wars: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn – 1991
Some of my very favourite Star Wars novels were the recent Thrawn trilogies written by legendary author Timothy Zahn. A complex and compelling collection of books, the Thrawn and Thrawn Ascendancy trilogies follow Zahn’s best original character, Grand Admiral Thrawn and help to reintroduce him into the new Disney canon. However, Thrawn first appeared back in 1991 when Zahn released the iconic Star Wars novel, Heir to the Empire. A sequel to Return of the Jedi, Heir to the Empire was one of the very first proper Star Wars tie-in novels, and it set the stage for the massive Star Wars Extended Universe that followed. As a massive Star Wars fan, I have been remiss in not going back to check out this important novel, although I hope to change that in the future. From all accounts this book is extremely epic, and I am very curious to see the novel that first introduced Grand Admiral Thrawn to the galaxy.
The Black Echo by Michael Connelly – 1992
The next entry on this list is The Black Echo by Michael Connelly. The very first book from Connelly to feature his famous detective character Harry Bosch, The Black Echo set up the author’s shared universe which would later expand to feature so many memorable protagonists. I have had an exceptional time reading all of Connelly’s most recent works and I have been meaning to go back and explore his universe from the beginning, starting with The Black Echo. Like The Silver Pigs, I have a copy of The Black Echo sitting on my bookshelf, and when my reading schedule opens up, I hope to grab it and power through it. I have no doubt that I will love The Black Echo, and I am curious to see what Connelly’s writing style was like in this first book.
The Demon Awakens by R. A. Salvatore – 1997
I am a huge fan of R. A. Salvatore various additions to the expanded Forgotten Realms universe, having read nearly all of them over the years. However, I am also keen to read more books in Salvatore’s original Corona universe. I had a ton of fun reading the latest trilogy set in this world (The Coven books made up of Child of a Mad God, Reckoning of Fallen Gods and Song of the Risen God), and I felt that this was an excellent fantasy universe that I’d like to see more of. As such, I will try to explore this series from the beginning, which means starting with The Demon Awakens. An exciting adventure novel with some great characters, The Demon Awakens should be a ton of fun and I am keen to read it in the future.
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin – 1998
The final book on this list is A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin. The second book in Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Clash of Kings doesn’t need a massive introduction. I have been meaning to continuing this series after reading A Game of Thrones a few years ago, which means going through A Clash of Kings next. I am sure I will deeply enjoy this major book, and I am curious to see how it differs from the television show.
And with that, my list concluded. I felt that this latest Top Ten Tuesday post came together well, and I like the intriguing collection of books I listed above. It turns out there are a ton of older novels on my to-be-read list, and I hope I get the opportunity to get through them soon. In the meantime, let me know what older books are on your TBR lists in the comments below.
Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Horror Novels (Halloween 2024)
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. In this latest edition of Top Ten Tuesday, readers get a Halloween Freebie, meaning that they can list whatever topic they want, although a horror or Halloween them is encouraged. So, with that in mind, I thought I would take this opportunity to update some previous lists where I highlighted my favourite horror novels.
Back in 2020 for Halloween, I came up with a list where I looked at my top ten favourite horror novels. While horror is not my absolute favourite genre, I ended up producing a rather interesting list with some unique entries that I was very happy with. I must admit that many of my entries are hybrid books which combine horror elements with other genres I prefer to read, however, I think they make for good Halloween fare. This list got a bit of interest, and I decided I would make a bit of effort to come back to update this list every Halloween, especially if I had some new horror novels to add to it. I produced some interesting updates to this list in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and I have once again decided to come back to it again this year, especially as I have had the opportunity to check out some excellent and intense horror reads.
To sort out this update, I took a critical look at the previous version of the list and made some hard decisions about whether any of the horror novels I read in the last year might fit in better. I ended up making a few changes and while I was sad to see some of the previously featured novels removed, I honestly felt that the new entries are better overall horror novels. This resulted in a fun new version of this list, and I am pretty happy with how it turned out.
Honourable Mentions:
You Like it Darker by Stephen King
The master of horror, Stephen King, is going to appear a few times on this list, primarily because I’ve been having an epic time reading more of his stuff lately. One of the first books on this list is the recent short story collection, You Like it Darker, which gets an honourable mention here. Featuring a range of compelling and powerful stories, including some very memorable dark reads and even a sequel to the classic novel Cujo, You Like it Darker is an amazing horror book for all fans of Stephen King.
While more of a fantasy/superhero story than a pure horror comic, The Sandman did have some amazing horror sequences in it, including the infamous diner scene. These horror elements are greatly enhanced in the full-cast audiobook and you will end up cringing away from how dark this gothic comic gets. I also must highlight the Act II and Act III audiobooks that were released in subsequent years, especially as they also featured great stories and terrifying scenes.
Warhammer 40,000: The Bookkeeper’s Skull by Justin D. Hill
Fans of this blog will know I’m a big thing of all things Warhammer, and that includes the intriguing Warhammer Horror range. I’ve only read a couple of these so far, but my favourite is The Bookkeeper’s Skull by Justin D. Hill. A haunting and brilliant tale that makes full use of the grim Warhammer 40,000 setting, The Bookkeeper’s Skull was an amazing read, and I look forward to exploring more Warhammer Horror books in the future.
I had to feature one of Maberry’s best pure horror reads, Ink in the honourable mentions. While most of the other Maberry novels with horror elements focus either on zombies or Lovecraftian monsters, Ink features a particularly horrendous tale of a depraved being who steals a person’s tattoos and the precious memories associated with them. Set in one of Maberry’s most iconic settings, Ink had a very disturbing narrative, and I deeply appreciated this unique book.
Top Ten List (unranked):
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
I think it says a lot about my horror choices that the first book on my list is about killer mermaids. Into the Drowning Deep is exceptional book that actually turns a mermaid attack into a pretty terrifying experience. Grant did an amazing job of this book and Into the Drowning Deep comes very highly recommended.
Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry
I had a ton of awesome Jonathan Maberry novels that I could have featured on this list, but the obvious choice was the fantastically dark thriller Patient Zero. An epic book that features an elite counterterrorist unit as they attempt to stop terrorists spreading a deadly zombie virus across America, Patient Zero was the first book in a brilliant science fiction thriller series, all of which have a great horror edge to them. I have a lot of love for the thriller aspects of Patient Zero, however, the highlights of this book are the gruesome and terrifying zombie sequences, which sees the protagonists get overwhelmed by hordes of the infected. This results in some truly impressive horror scenes, and I had to include this book on my list as a result.
One of my favourite books from horror icon Stephen King, Holly, is primarily a thriller that sees the titular protagonist investigate a missing persons case. However, there are some devastatingly insidious and horrifying elements loaded into the story, especially with how exceptionally evil the excellent antagonists were. I found myself shuddering multiple times throughout the course of Holly and if that doesn’t make it a horror book, I don’t know what will. This was easily one of the best books and audiobooks of 2023, and I had to feature it on this list as a result.
I had to add this brilliant and compelling horror/science fiction read onto this list. The Dark is one of the best novels I have so far read from author Jeremy Robinson that focuses on an apparent demonic invasion of Earth. Filled with gore, monsters and body mutations, The Dark gets pretty gruesome and scary in places, which blends perfectly with the intense action and Robinson’s quirky humour. An outstanding read, this fantastic horror novel comes highly recommended and was one of my top novels and audiobooks of 2021.
One of the newer entries on this list is the impressive and memorable novel The Gathering by C. J. Tudor. A complex murder mystery set in a remote Alaskan town, The Gathering follows a vampyr expert as they attempt to determine whether a teenage was killed by members of the local vampyr colony, or other outside forces. Cleverly introducing a vampire focused alternate history and using it as a basis for a tense and fascinating mystery, The Gathering was an exceptional read that perfectly utilised its horror elements to enhance the entire thrilling narrative.
The Anomaly is an excellent horror novel from 2018 which follows an unfortunate film crew after they get trapped in a series of ancient caves and are forced to face the terrible horrors waiting for them inside. There are a lot of amazing elements to this book, but I personally appreciated the intense and claustrophobic atmosphere that Rutger was able to produce, especially as most of the novel takes place in the dark. Highly recommended, especially in its audiobook format that deeply enhances the claustrophobic nature of the story.
One of the more unique zombie books out there, World War Z recounts the history a devastating, world-wide zombie apocalypse and the various people it impacts. Told through a brilliant chronicle method where multiple interesting characters recount their distinctive personal stories, you get an impressive, multifaceted narrative that covers the beginning, middle and end of the zombie wars. Epic in its scope and filled with some great stories and characters, it honestly does not take long to get extremely addicted to World War Z, especially on audiobook which features an extremely stacked cast. While the focus is more on exploring the impacts a zombie apocalypse would have on the world, World War Z does have some pretty creepy moment. The darker tales of underwater zombies, massacres of modern armies, and the mental turmoil suffered by zombie survivors, are excellent horror material that makes this an easy book to include here. An epic and outstanding book that lived up to all the hype surrounding it.
Star Wars: Death Troopers by Joe Schreiber
I am a big fan of Star Wars fiction, but I had never been scared while reading a Star Wars novel until I came across Death Troopers. Death Troopers is part of the Star Wars Legends canon and features an Imperial prison ship, which of course contains Han and Chewie, encountering an abandoned Star Destroyer filled with a zombified crew. Watching a bunch of Star Wars characters attempt to escape from zombies is really cool, and Schreiber comes up with a number of gruesome scenes that will definitely stick in your mind. Also, if you really want to get a fright out of this book, make sure to check out the audiobook version of Death Troopers, as the various sound effects they include are extremely disturbing.
In addition to World War Z, Max Brooks also gets featured on this list for the brilliant novel Devolution. Expertly making use of a whole new horror monster when he explores the fate of an isolated community who are attacked by a tribe of sasquatches, Brooks really turns these creatures into a frightening and deadly force of nature, and readers are in for an exciting and well-written tale of survival and brutality.
The final book I want to highlight is the incredible Stephen King book, The Outsider. An extremely tense and disturbing thriller, The Outsider features a captivating narrative that sees local town hero charged with the gruesome murder of a child, with ironclad evidence indicating that he did it. However, the suspect continues to plead his innocence and has an impossibly perfect alibi for the time of the murder. While primarily a thriller, there is some brilliant initial personal horror as you witness a potentially innocent man and town hero so thoroughly painted as a monster before your eyes. King pivots to more supernatural horror elements as the book progresses, which fits perfectly with the dark narrative already ongoing, and the result is an exceptional book that proves deeply disturbing on multiple levels. An incredible read and a worthy final entry on this list.
That’s the end of this latest Top Ten Tuesday list. I think that the new horror novels were great additions to the list, and I think this new version of the list turned out really well. Each of the above novels, both new inclusions and existing ones, are outstanding reads that come highly recommended to all horror fans. I look forward to seeing how this list evolves once again this time next year, especially as I am sure some amazing and spinetingling horror books are likely to come out in the next 12 months.
Canberra Weekly Column – Thrillers – 27 June 2024
Originally published in the Canberra Weekly on 27 June 2024.
A copy of this column also appeared on the Canberra Daily website.
Make sure to check out my extended reviews for Eruption, Camino Ghosts and You Like it Darker.
The Outsider by Stephen King
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton/Simon and Schuster Audio (Audiobook – 22 May 2018)
Series: Standalone/Holly Gibney series
Length: 18 hours and 41 minutes
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
After years of having it on my to-read list, I finally got around to checking out The Outsider by Stephen King, and boy was it a particularly epic book.
Fans of this blog will know that I have been getting more and more into Stephen King lately, especially as I have been lucky enough to receive copies of his more recent books. I have so far deeply enjoyed Mr Mercedes, Later, Billy Summers (one of my favourite books of 2021), Fairy Tale, Holly (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023), and You Like it Darker (one of my favourite books from the first half of 2024). These have all been amazing reads in their own way and I really enjoyed the elaborate stories, dark plots, and complex characters that King comes up with. However, one of my new favourite King novels with a captivating scenario was the fantastic read The Outsider.
Released back in 2018, The Outsider was an intriguing novel that really caught my attention with its unique concept. I immediately identified it as a book I wanted to read, but I was unable to fit it into my reading schedule back then, which I deeply regret now. Despite not reading it when came out, The Outsider remained firmly in mind, especially as it had connections to the Bill Hodges trilogy, which I had also heard good things about. This need to check out The Outsider was dramatically increased after I read Holly last year and was blown away by the elaborate and exceedingly dark story. As such, I have been looking for an opportunity to enjoy The Outsider for a while, and a recent road trip gave me all the excuse I needed, and boy was I glad that I did.
It is the worst crime to ever occur in the history of Flint City. A young boy, Frankie Peterson, has been brutally killed, raped and mutilated, his violated body left on display out in the local park. The Flint City police, led by detective Ralph Anderson, are determined to find the monster responsible for Frankie Peterson’s death, and they soon zero in on a prime suspect, local sports coach and one of Flint City’s most respected citizens, Terrence Maitland.
With unassailable evidence and numerous witnesses placing him at the scene, the police have a watertight case against Maitland, and Anderson orders the public arrest of the coach in front of his family, friends, and the entire town. However, despite the DNA, fingerprints, and numerous reliable witnesses indicating that Maitland killed Frankie, Maitland insists that he is innocent and has an airtight alibi for the time of the murder, having been in a major public conference in another city, surrounded by unimpeachable witnesses.
Determined to prove that Maitland committed the murder, Anderson and his colleagues attempt to destroy his alibi. But the further they dig, the more apparent it becomes that Maitland was nowhere near the scene of the crime, and Anderson begins to believe Maitland’s pleas of innocence. With lives being destroyed all around him and the citizens of Flint City baying for Maitland’s blood, Anderson is forced to figure out how a man can be in two places at once. But when the situation takes a dark turn, both Anderson and Maitland’s supporters call in unusual investigator Holly Gibney, whose own experience with impossible cases will take them in the darkest of directions.
Well damn, that was particularly awesome. I knew I was going to love The Outsider well before I read it, but even I was unprepared for how impressive and captivating this novel proved to be. Featuring King’s typical elaborate storytelling, powerful characters, and unique insights into the human mind, The Outsider was a complex and sinister read that will have you hooked from the very beginning and which gets a very easy five-star rating from me.
King presents the reader with an incredibly, dark, complex and thoughtful narrative that burrows into your head and refuses to leave. Starting off strong and proceeding into darker and more horror-lined territory, this complex narrative sucked me in almost instantly thanks to the very impressive initial story concept. Introducing a particularly gruesome murder, The Outsider starts off in crime fiction/legal thriller territory, as King showcases the details of the initial arrest of Terrence Maitland, while also bringing in a few key characters. These early chapters are cleverly offset by a series of short inclusions that showcase police interviews and forensic evidence for the main investigation, all of which firmly paints Maitland as the killer. However, events take an outstanding turn shortly into the book, when Maitland reveals an impossibly airtight alibi that flies in the face of the substantial evidence of the police. The full extent of this alibi is particularly compelling, especially with King name-dropping one of his peers, and it really turns the entire plot on its head. The subsequent scenes are extremely intriguing, as the reader sees both sides of the case, and find themselves wondering if Maitland committed the crime, is completely innocent, or whether something far more sinister is going on. I honestly love every second of this first half of The Outsider, and I cannot emphasise just how exceptional and thought-provoking this complex scenario proved to be.
At around the halfway point, The Outsider features a substantial moment that changes the entire tone and focus of the plot. While I was initially a little disappointed with this, mainly because I was already loving the direction the story had been going up to that point, it helps turn The Outsider into a more typical King novel, loaded with complex horror elements that reflect dark human nature. The author also deeply enhances the story’s emotional drama, placing several characters in terrible situations, and amping up the desperate tragedy of the plot. Thanks to the introduction of recurring King protagonist Holly Gibney, the protagonists start to consider a more unnatural solution to the crime and begin to investigate accordingly. I quite enjoyed the dive into the darker, supernatural side of the story, and the resulting investigation is quite unique, requiring the grounded protagonists to believe in the unknown. King ensures that the supernatural investigation elements of the book come across in a compelling and sensible manner, and it was intriguing to see how the character’s reached their conclusions. The case eventually leads the protagonists on an extended trip to Texas, which ends with a series of showdowns. King keeps the intensity of the plot going all the way to the very end, and readers will be left guessing about who’s going to survive and how the story will unfold. The chase for the culprit and the big showdown were a very solid conclusion to the entire narrative, and you will come away extremely satisfied with how The Outsider ended.
I really enjoyed how this book came together, and I personally think that this was one of the stronger King novels I have so far had the pleasure of reading. A lot of this comes down to the initial clever scenario, which King does an extremely good job of setting up. The whole idea of someone accused of a crime they are innocent of and have a perfect alibi for really makes you think, and King utilises it to perfection, diving into the thoughts of the police, the alleged perpetrator, and the various family members associated with it. It helped that King once again returned to his favourite setting of a small American town, and he was able to capture the resulting chaos as rumour and fear spread throughout Flint City. You can really feel the emotional turmoil of all the people in the town, especially the main characters, and it helped to deeply enhance the impact of every scene, especially when you have no idea whether Maitland committed the crime or not. The way in which the author starts off as a more traditional crime fiction story also works extremely well and helps to drag the readers into the plot with its mystery. However, the transition over to horror is particularly effective, and the way in which the darkness infecting the plot goes from that created by ordinary humans to something more supernatural, is an effective and powerful part of the book. This proved to be a particularly haunting and moving read that will keep you up late at night thinking about how you would react in the exact same scenario.
While most of King’s books prove to be standalone reads, The Outsider is connected to the author’s previous Bill Hodges series due to the inclusion of a major supporting character. I had heard in advance that readers needed to be familiar with the Bill Hodges books to fully appreciate this book, however, I felt that The Outsider stood on its own merits as a standalone novel. New readers can easily dive into The Outsider’s excellent story without any issues and will become enthralled in King’s complex mystery and his excellent depictions of human nature. Established fans of the Bill Hodges books will probably get the most out of The Outsider, especially as it is a continuation of King’s unique look at the crime fiction genre, and the return of a key character offers a lot of opportunities for those who loved his previous trilogy. However, I would say that this is a book that pretty much all mystery, thriller or horror fans can really enjoy, as there is something for everyone here, although some readers should be warned about how dark and graphic this story can get.
I really need to highlight the outstanding character work that King featured within The Outsider. This fantastic book featured a rich cast of complex small-town characters who find themselves caught up the twisted darkness of a small child’s murder and the subsequent revelations about who was behind it. King does such an exceptional job of diving into the various mindscapes of the impacted characters, from the obsessed investigating detective who is taking the case personally, to the distressed wife of the apparent killer, and even the confused accused himself. The complicated mindscapes of all these characters, and more, are shown in exquisite detail throughout The Outsider, and you really grow attached to their powerful personal tales.
While I don’t want to go into too much specific detail about the book’s primary cast here for spoiler reasons, I will say that the way the various characters deal with events and the many dark twists makes for quite a personal and emotionally charged read, and it was fascinating to watch so many characters try to let go of their conventional thinking and try to see the world in a different light. I also must highlight the intriguing way in which King enhances his cast in the second half of The Outsider by bringing in investigator Holly Gibney from the Bill Hodges trilogy. Holly, the slightly unusual but brilliant private eye, proved to be a compelling addition to the plot, and it proved very interesting to see her interact with the established cast, especially as Holly has a much more open mind due to her previous experiences. Fans of the Bill Hodges books will really love seeing Holly return, and her compelling character development since her original appearance in Mr Mercedes proves to be a great part of the book. I really cannot emphasise just how impressive the various characters, as well as their complex development, is in The Outsider, and you will have to check it out. Be warned though, no one comes out of this book unscathed, including the reader when they become attached to these great figures.
As I mentioned above, I managed to enjoy The Outsider while out on a road trip, which meant that I listened to the audiobook version of it. I have had some great success with Stephen King audiobooks in the past, and The Outsider was another impressive example of how this format can enhance the powerful story within. Coming in with a substantial runtime of nearly 19 hours, listeners do require a bit of a time investment for The Outsider audiobook, but it is well worth it. I felt that I got a fantastic sense of the story while listening to it, and I love the intense depictions of the characters, the small-town setting, and the dark deeds being done within.
In addition to the great way it brings to the story to life for the reader, one of the big highlights of The Outsider audiobook was the inclusion of veteran actor Will Patton as the narrator. Patton, who has lent his voice to several of King’s previous audiobooks, does an outstanding job narrating The Outsider. His softly spoken and measured voice really fits the dark and sinister story contained within The Outsider, and you get an excellent sense of the personal horror and complex emotions that the events of this book unleash. Patton also does an outstanding job voicing the eclectic and damaged characters featured within The Outsider. Patton infected many of these characters with his southern accent, which fit the small-town vibe of The Outsider extremely well, and you can really imagine King’s characters a lot better with Patton’s voice behind them. Highlights for me include his take on the antagonist of The Outsider’s real voice, as well as an entertaining old lady found down in Texas, who steals all the scenes she’s in, especially with Patton’s exaggerated tones. However, I did feel that Patton overplayed the awkward nature of Holly Gibney when she entered the plot. Patton made all of Holly’s dialogue, as well as the description of events in the chapters told from her perspective, very subdued and halting, which messed with the flow of the audiobook. While I know that he was trying to capture Holly’s ethereal and damaged nature with this narration, it was honestly a bit distracting. Despite this slight annoyance, this ended up being an awesome way to enjoy The Outsider and I can personally guarantee that it is an incredible accompaniment to a long road-trip.
Overall, The Outsider proved to an outstanding and exceptional book from the always impressive Stephen King that I could not get enough off. Featuring both an incredible mystery and some brilliant dark horror moments, The Outsider is a particularly gripping and intense read that will live rent free in the dark corners of your brain. Highly recommended and one of my new favourite Stephen King books.
WWW Wednesday – 7 August 2024
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
So, let’s get to it.
What are you currently reading:
A Darkness Returns by Raymond E. Feist (ebook)
I just started reading the new Raymond E. Feist novel, A Darkness Returns. An intriguing high fantasy novel, A Darkness Returns sets up a cool new series from Feist that brings together two of his prior series set on different worlds. I am already really enjoying this book, and I cannot wait to see how it turns out.
Warhammer 40,000: Lelith Hesperax: Queen of Knives by Mike Brooks (Audiobook)
I was still in a big Warhammer mood this week, so I decided to listen to the latest Warhammer 40,000 audiobook, Lelith Hesperax: Queen of Knives. Written by Mike Brooks, who has released several amazing Warhammer novels in recent years, this new book will follow members of the canon’s most duplicitous race, as they battle for power and their immortal souls. I’ve only made a little bit of progress on this book so far, but I am very intrigued by its cool plot. Lelith Hesperax: Queen of Knives is a relatively short Warhammer audiobook, so I will probably finish it off in the next couple of days, and I cannot wait to see how it unfolds.
What did you recently finish reading?
The Outsider by Stephen King (Audiobook)
I quickly finished off the audiobook of The Outsider by Stephen King this week, and boy was it epic. One of the better Stephen King novels I have so far read, I cannot wait to review it.
Sentinel by Mark Greaney (Trade Paperback)
A sequel to Greaney’s previous novel, Armored, Sentinel was an intense and deeply exciting action read that proves hard to put down.
Warhammer 40,000: Renegades: Lord of Excess by Rich McCormick (Audiobook)
A fantastically over-the-top Warhammer 40,000 novel that follows the very best of the bad guys. I just finished this audiobook off, and it was pretty damn awesome. Easily one of the best debuts I have so far read this year.
The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey (Trade Paperback)
The team behind The Expanse, James S. A. Corey, produced another exceptional science fiction read with The Mercy of the Gods. Epic in scope and plot, this was one of the very best science fiction books of 2024.
Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell (Trade Paperback)
An intriguing murder mystery novel set in the Marvel universe and following the damaged figure of Jessica Jones as she investigates an unusual crime. Breaking the Dark was an outstanding read, and I am hoping to get a review up for it soon.
What do you think you’ll read next?
Confessions of the Dead by James Patterson and J. D. Barker
If I manage to get through my current book this week, I will probably start reading the compelling sounding thriller, Confessions of the Dead next. A dark and chilling read, Confessions of the Dead has a lot of potential, and I cannot wait to check it out.
That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.
WWW Wednesday – 31 July 2024
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
So, let’s get to it.
What are you currently reading:
The Outsider by Stephen King (Audiobook)
For the last week I’ve mostly been getting through the audiobook of The Outsider by Stephen King while away on a road trip. Unsurprisingly considering who the author is, The Outsider is a pretty dark and powerful read that sees unnatural forces surround a gruesome murder investigation. I have absolutely loved powering through this book in the last week, and I only have a little bit left until it’s finished. I will hopefully get a review of The Outsider up ASAP and I cannot wait to talk about how great this book is.
Sentinel by Mark Greaney (Trade Paperback)
A sequel to Greaney’s previous novel, Armored, Sentinel provide readers with an intense, action-packed read, and I am looking forward to seeing how it unfolds. Due to being away, I haven’t made that much progress with Sentinel in the last week as I would have liked, but I am hoping to make up some ground in the next couple of days.
Warhammer 40,000: Renegades: Lord of Excess by Rich McCormick (Audiobook)
A fantastically over-the-top Warhammer 40,000 novel that follows the very best of the bad guys. I haven’t made any progress on Lords of Excess in the last week due to other reading commitments, but I will start listening to it again in the next day or so and hopefully I can finish it off by this time next week.
What did you recently finish reading?
The Sandman: Act III by Neil Gaiman (Audiobook)
Another outstanding adaptation of the iconic The Sandman comic. Act III was a fantastic and addictive affair with an elaborate story and exceptional celebrity cast, and it proved to be a great follow up to the excellent Act I and Act II of the series.
What do you think you’ll read next?
The Mercy of the Gods by James S. A. Corey
One of the next books I am hoping to read is The Mercy of the Gods by the team behind The Expanse, James S. A. Corey. The Mercy of the Gods has an epic and deeply compelling plot, and this will probably end up being one of the very best science fiction books of 2024.
Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell
I am also hoping to read the intriguing murder mystery novel Breaking the Dark in the next week. Written by acclaimed crime fiction author Lisa Jewell, Breaking the Dark is set in the Marvel universe and will follow the damaged figure of Jessica Jones as she investigates an unusual crime. I am very curious about how this book is going to turn out and I have a feeling it is going to be awesome.
That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.
Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Books From the First Half of 2024
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently reside at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official topic for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday involved listing books with your favourite colour on the cover. While this is an interesting topic which I might come back to later, I had already decided in advance that this week I would take this opportunity to celebrate the fact that we are into the second half of 2024 by highlighting some amazing books from the first half of the year.
2024 has already proven to be a fantastic year for books, and I have already read some incredible new releases, including impressive standalone books, amazing entries in established series and fantastic debuts. Because of this, I thought that I would take the time to work out what my top ten favourite books from the first half of 2024 were. To be eligible, a book had to be a particularly epic novel released in the first half of this year. I have excluded any books released during this period that I have not so far read, although a couple of releases I have my eye on might have appeared on this list if I had read them in time.
Coming up with this list proved to be a rather bigger task than I originally intended, as I ended up amassing nearly 20 releases, all of which I consider to be outstanding reads. I was eventually able to whittle this down to an acceptable Top Ten list, although I did include my typical generous honourable mentions section. I am rather happy with how this list turned out, although I am surprised at some of the great recent books that ended up being excluded. Still, the entries below represent what I considered to be some of the best books from the first half of 2024, and I would strongly recommend each and every one of them.
Honourable Mentions:
Warhammer 40,000: Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward
One of the darkest and most compelling Warhammer 40,000 novels I have had the pleasure of reading.
Crucible of Chaos by Sebastien De Castell
An outstanding fantasy murder mystery from the very end of 2023 that I am sneaking into the honourable mentions due to how good it was.
Devil’s Kitchen by Candice Fox
One of Australia’s best thriller authors once again wowed me with the epic and moving Devil’s Kitchen.
The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe
An awesome sequel to the amazing young adult thriller The Girls I’ve Been.
Top Ten Tuesday:
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
The first book I want to highlight was the delightfully compelling and intriguing fantasy murder mystery The Tainted Cup. The start of a cool new series by Robert Jackson Bennett, The Tainted Cup saw a fun pair of investigators attempt to uncover the truth behind an impossible magical murder in a land constantly under siege from giant monsters. A relentlessly entertaining novel with a fantastic mystery behind it, The Tainted Cup was an early favourite of 2024 that I cannot recommend enough.
Another excellent book that blended the genres together was The Gathering by acclaimed author C. J. Tudor. A compelling murder mystery set in an alternate world where vampyrs exist, The Gathering sees the protagonist travel to an isolated Alaskan town to investigate whether a murder was committed by a local vampyr colony or something far darker. A unique tale that sets up an intriguing new world from Tudor, The Gathering was an addictive read that really impressed me.
Play of Shadows by Sebastien De Castell
Sebastien De Castell continues to expand his exceptional Greatcoats universe in a big way with Play of Shadows, the first book in the author’s new Court of Shadows series. Play of Shadows was a particularly clever and entertaining novel that followed a cowardly actor who taps into magical forces that allow him to reveal ancient secrets while on the stage. Thrust into a series of battles and intrigues, this resulted in a very fun and compelling story that I deeply enjoyed, and which made me seek out more books from this amazing author.
I had to include Extinction by Douglas Preston on this list, mainly because it was so damn entertaining and exciting. Focussed on a series of murders occurring in a park full of clone megafauna, Extinction was instantly addictive, and I loved just how crazy the story got at times. The last third of Extinction was so damn bonkers and I had such a brilliant time watching the chaos unfold. A very fun book that proved impossible not to enjoy.
The Silverblood Promise by James Logan
Debuting fantasy author James Logan burst onto the scene with the amazing first novel, The Silverblood Promise. Set in a cool new fantasy world and following a disgraced heir trying to uncover his father’s murderer, The Silverblood Promise featured a fast-paced and highly enjoyable narrative loaded with intrigue, adventure and mysteries. I absolutely powered through this awesome book and I cannot wait to see what fantasy stories Logan produces in the future.
The Mercy Chair by M. W. Craven
A last-minute addition to this list is the epically dark crime fiction novel, The Mercy Chair by M. W. Craven. This distinctive murder mystery sees the ritual stoning of a controversial religious figure turn into a haunting tale from the past for two unique investigators. I really got stuck into this story, especially as Craven cleverly layers twists upon twist for the reader to discover. I honestly cannot believe how much darker each reveal made this story as Craven leads the reader down a terrible path of betrayal, secrets and lies. Easily one of the best crime fiction novels of 2024.
One of the most entertaining Warhammer books of 2024 is the insane and hilarious read, Da Big Dakka by Mike Brooks. The follow-up to his previous novels, Brutal Kunnin and Warboss, Da Big Dakka follows an ork horde as they attempt to destroy the infamous city of the Drukhari, with nothing going the way anyone planned. An excessively fun and action-packed novel that mixes subtle humour with the outrageous actions of his alien protagonists, and which showcases why Brooks is one of the best current authors of Warhammer fiction.
The Chaos Agent by Mark Greaney
Mark Greaney continues one of my favourite spy thriller series with the new Gray Man novel, The Chaos Agent. Setting his iconic spy protagonist against a dangerous new enemy, The Chaos Agent had a great story behind it that proceeded to get very crazy once some memorable weapons technology is unleashed. An amazing entry in one of the best thriller series out there, The Chaos Agent was fun from start to finish and leaves the reader on a very interesting cliffhanger.
Point Nemo by Jeremy Robinson
One of the best authors of the science fiction thriller, Jeremy Robinson, returns with an impressive new novel, Point Nemo. Set on a mysterious island formed from alien material, Point Nemo is a gripping and thrilling adventure that blends unique science with dark and twisted moments. A very compelling book that I could not get enough of, especially in its audiobook format, Point Nemo comes very highly recommended and is really worth a read.
You Like it Darker by Stephen King
The final book I want to highlight on this list is the exceptional short story collection You Like It Darker by the legendary Stephen King. Featuring 12 short stories from King, You Like It Darker was a horror-themed thrill ride from start to finish as the author wowed me with his versatility and unique narratives. This book contains some particularly noteworthy short stories, including a sequel to Cujo and a unique story about the downsides of psychic visions, all of which grabbed imagination and refused to let go. You Like It Darker was so damn good and I loved every second I spent with it.
Well, that’s the end of this latest list. As you can see, I have already read some amazing and epic books so far in 2024 and we are only halfway through the year. I am pretty happy with how this list turned out, and it will be interesting to see which of these books ends up being amongst my top reads of the year. All the novels above come very highly recommended, and you are guaranteed to have a wonderful time reading them. Let me know what your favourite releases for the first half of the year are in the comments below and make sure to check out my two most anticipated reads lists for the second half of 2024 (fantasy and science fiction and other).