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: The Last Devil to Die
Top Ten Tuesday – Ten Favourite Books From Ten Series
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For this week, Top Ten Tuesday participants are tasked with choosing ten separate series and then listing their favourite book from that series. This was a rather interesting topic that really got me thinking. No matter how outstanding a series is, there is always at least one book that stands just that little bit above the rest, and I was curious to see how a list along those lines would turn out.
To come up with this list, I ran through some of my top novel and comic book series to try and work out what the most glaring examples of my favourite entries were. I tried to limit my choices to longer series rather than trilogies, and I also went for series that I’m mostly up to date with, rather than those I’ve only made a little bit of progress on. Despite these limitations, I ended up with a huge range of potential entries and I had to spend a bit of time culling down my initial list. I’m pretty happy with how the final version of this post came out, as there are some excellent books featured within. I do note that some of the series I mention below are recurring features in my other Top Ten Tuesday lists, but as they’re my favourites, that’s hardly too surprising. So let us see what made the cut.
Honourable Mentions:
The Gray Man – Gray Man series by Mark Greaney
An impressive debut that still stands up as the best book in this top spy thriller series.
Necropolis – Warhammer 40,000: Gaunt’s Ghosts series by Dan Abnett
Featuring an epic siege and deadly action, Necropolis is a particularly bright spot in an exceptional Warhammer series.
The Grove of the Caesars – Flavia Albia series by Lindsey Davis
There are so many great mysteries contained in this Roman historical fiction series, however, my favourite is The Grove of the Caesars, which contains a particularly dark story.
Thrawn – Star Wars: Thrawn series by Timothy Zahn
An amazing read reintroducing one of the best characters in the Star Wars canon. Thrawn is so much fun, and it serves as the best book in the new Thrawn trilogy, as well as Zahn’s other Thrawn related novels in the new Star Wars extended universe.
Top Ten Tuesday:
Guards! Guards! – Discworld series by Terry Pratchett
Unsurprisingly considering the name of this blog, I’m starting this list off with a Discworld novel. Written by the late great Terry Pratchett, the Discworld books remain one of my top series, and I cannot emphasise how outstanding these novels are. While there are many, many great books in this series, if I had to pick an absolute favourite it will probably be Guards! Guards!. Not only is this Pratchett at his very best, expertly combining a compelling mystery with hilarious fantasy elements, but it also sets up my favourite Discworld sub-series and introduces so many popular characters. A truly exceptional read and the best book to check out if you want to become addicted to the Discworld.
The Third Day, The Frost – Tomorrow series by John Marsden
Another formative book series for me is the Tomorrow series by John Marsden. An iconic Australian young adult series, the Tomorrow books follow a group of teenagers attempting to survive a brutal invasion of Australia. I honestly love every novel in this series, as Marsden produces an intense narrative that is well spaced out amongst all seven books. However, I always felt that the best Tomorrow entry was the third book, The Third Day, The Frost. Following the characters as they embark on their most ambitious mission yet, The Third Day, The Frost, is the darkest entry in the series, and it forces the protagonists to fully grasp the horrors of war. A masterpiece of emotion, sacrifice and heartbreak, The Third Day, The Frost, lives eternal in my mind for very good reason.
The Archer’s Quest – Green Arrow (2001) by Brad Meltzer
I have a lot of love for DC comics released around the turn of the century, but to my mind one of the best series that came out around then was the 2001 Green Arrow series. Bringing back the original Green Arrow after his explosive death, this new series contains some amazing comics focussed on the Emerald Archer, with several outstanding creative leads exploring him in a new light. While I personally think every arc of this series is exceptional, my favourite is the third volume, The Archer’s Quest. Written by Brad Meltzer, The Archer’s Quest sees Green Arrow go back to his road-trip roots to recover multiple artifacts from his past. While on the surface this sounds like a simple narrative, Meltzer turns it into a deep personal journey, that really captures the complex history of Green Arrow in comics. I love how moving this comic gets at times, and Meltzer layers in the feels to keep the reader emotionally invested in the story. One of the best comics I have ever read.
Code Zero – Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry
Fans of this blog will know that I have a lot of love for Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger series, which are some of the best science fiction thrillers out there. Following a damaged agent charged with protecting the world from unusual and technologically impossible threats, all the Joe Ledger books are addictive, and I love the complex stories, intriguing antagonists, and over-the-top action. There were several entries I could have mentioned here, but to my mind the best was probably the sixth book, Code Zero. Not only does it have a great story on its own, but it features one of the more intriguing villains who brings back multiple prior cases to mess with the protagonists. An amazing thriller that really showcased just how intense and intricate a Joe Ledger novel could be.
Magician – The Riftwar Cycle by Raymond E. Feist
I have mentioned many times how awesome Raymond E. Feist’s epic Riftwar Cycle is, and I have literally just started reading the next book in this series, A Darkness Returns. There were several books I considered featuring as my favourite, including the Empire trilogy, but in the end, I went with the original book Magician. A classic piece of fantasy fiction that perfectly sets up Feist’s iconic worlds, Magician is so damn amazing, and it still stands up to this day.
The Eagle’s Conquest – Eagles of the Empire series by Simon Scarrow
Few series have impacted me over the years as much as Simon Scarrow’s exciting Eagles of the Empire series. One of the very best Roman historical fiction series, the Eagles of the Empire books feature some great stories and classic action as the protagonists journey across multiple Roman battlefields. While there are multiple outstanding books in this series, my favourite is the second book, The Eagle’s Conquest. Not only does it perfectly continue some of the great storylines set up in the first novel, but it also takes some dark turns that shake the protagonist and make sure the reader knows that tragedy is always ready to strike. Without The Eagle’s Conquest, I’m not sure I would have become a life-long fan of Scarrow, and it proved to be an exceptional second entry in this series.
Changes – Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher
I doubt anyone who has followed my blog in recent years will be surprised that I am featuring the Dresden Files series on this list. As one of the very best urban fantasy series, the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher feature some elaborate and complex storylines, all following Butcher’s rebellious, but heroic, wizard protagonist, and I have deeply enjoyed binge reading all 17 books in the series. Choosing a favourite Dresden Files book proved to be particularly hard, as there were several epic entries I could have gone with, including Skin Game and Battle Ground. However, in the end I had to go with the 12th book in the series, Changes. Not only is Changes a particularly groundbreaking entry that fundamentally alters the trajectory of the series, but it also contains several dark twists that will shock you to your core. An exceptional read that shows author Jim Butcher at his very best.
Seasons – Usagi Yojimbo series by Stan Sakai
Another series that I had to feature here were the Usagi Yojimbo comics by Stan Sakai. I have long loved the adventures of the rabbit samurai, and every volume is a masterpiece in its own way. While I honestly would rate all the Usagi Yojimbo volumes a full five-stars, if I had to choose a favourite it would probably be Seasons. Loaded with a ton of memorable adventures, Seasons shows how diverse the Usagi Yojimbo stories can be, while also setting up several impressive future adventures and characters. I also have a lot of nostalgic love for Seasons, as a chance encounter with one of its stories introduced the Usagi Yojimbo world to me. As such, Seasons is a very worthy addition to this list, and one that showcases Sakai’s skill as both an artist and a writer.
Homeland – The Legend of Drizzt series by R. A. Salvatore
It proved very easy to put forth Homeland as my favourite book in R. A. Salvatore’s The Legend of Drizzt extended series. Homeland starts off a prequel sub-trilogy that seeks to provide valuable background to the life of Salvatore’s most iconic protagonist Drizzt Do’urden. Set in the underground city of the drow, Homeland expertly explores the early life of Drizzt and shows the events that led to him turning his back on his evil race. Easily one of the best things Salvatore ever wrote, Homeland is an amazing book I have re-read multiple times.
The Last Devil to Die – Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman
The final book in this list is part of the amazing new Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman. A clever, funny and sweet crime fiction series that follows four retirees who solve murders in their spare time, the Thursday Murder Club books are quite exceptional, and I have loved every single one of them so far. While both The Thursday Murder Club and The Bullet That Missed are outstanding entries, if I had to choose a favourite it would be the latest entry, The Last Devil to Die. The fourth book in the series, The Last Devil to Die has one of the most emotionally charged stories behind it, especially as Osman chooses to end several tragic plot points in incredible fashion. I cannot emphasise just how good this book is, and it remains my favourite in the series so far.
Well that’s the end of this latest list. As you can see, I have had an awesome time diving into some of my favourite series and choosing the best entry, and it produced a pretty cool collection of books. I hope you find the above entries interesting, and I would strongly recommend them, and the series they are associated with, to anyone looking for a new obsession.
Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Books of 2023
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. As we roll into the new year I am going to list my absolute favourite books of 2023, which is something I look forward to every year. This is a continuation of several lists that highlighted the authors and books I have been most impressed with this year. Previous lists for last year included my favourite pre-2023 novels, and my favourite audiobooks, sequels and new-to-me authors of 2023. However, this list here is the big one as it covers my absolute favourite releases of the year, of which there are quite a few.
I think we can all agree that 2023 has been another roller-coaster year for the world, but thankfully readers got a bit of solace as this was an amazing year for books, with a huge range of incredible releases coming out across the genres. Not only did several outstanding new series start but we had some exceptional debuts, and some big continuations of established works. I have had an amazing time reading or listening to some outstanding books this year and quite a few releases have become instant favourites. I must admit that I somewhat struggled to pull this list together, as there were so many books that deserved to be mentioned. Therefore, because I am a very soft touch, and because the quality of the books I read this year was so impressive, I have decided to expand this list out to 20 entries (just like I have the last four years). These 20 books are my absolute favourites from 2023, and I would strongly recommend every one of them to anyone interested in a great read.
To make it onto this list a book only needed to be released here in Australia during 2023. I have naturally excluded anything I have not read yet, even though there were quite a few awesome-sounding books I sadly didn’t squeeze into my reading schedule. I decided to leave off my usual Honourable Mentions section as the extra 10 entries make it unnecessary. There will be a bit of crossover between the below entries and some of my previous lists. For example, several of these novels appeared on my Top Ten Favourite Audiobooks of 2023 list and my Top Ten Favourite Books from the First Half of 2023 list, which I ran back into July. Overall though, I am very happy with how this Top 20 list turned out and I think it contains a pretty good range of novels that showcase the different types of books that I chose to read this year. So without further ado, here is the list.
Top Twenty List (no particular order):
City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky
For my first entry, I am doing a double entry with the first two books in Adrian Tchaikovsky’s The Tyrant Philosopher’s series. City of Last Chances was technically released late 2022 but I am including it here because I only got it in Australia earlier this year. Both books are exceptional fantasy novels set in a compelling world where a relentlessness army of anti-religious zealots are conquering everything. The first book, City of Last Chances, was an excellent character-focused novel set in an occupied city with several big personalities try to survive a turbulent period of revolution. House of Open Wounds is a loose sequel that follows one of the best protagonists from the first book as he gets drafted into an army hospital full of eccentric and forbidden healers. Both novels were outstanding, with a great blend of complex characters, intricate overlapping storylines and a subtle humour, and they make for a very worthy inclusion on this list.
I had to feature one of my favourite horror novels on this list with the latest release from Stephen King, Holly. The latest story featuring one of King’s most distinctive protagonists, Holly Gibney (introduced in Mr Mercedes), Holly is an intense and gripping novel that sees the protagonist investigate a missing person’s case. However, the more she digs the more disturbing things get as she uncovers a pair of terrifying antagonists with a dark, dark secret. Honestly one of the best Stephen King novels I have so far read, Holly had me hooked the entire way through, especially as it features two of King’s most disturbing villains. Highly recommended, especially in its audiobook format narrated by Holly’s Mr Mercedes’ actor, Justine Lupe.
Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry
It was a very good year for fans of Jonathan Maberry as we got two amazing books from him, both of which feature on this list. This first of these, Son of the Poison Rose, was the sequel to Maberry’s first foray into fantasy fiction, Kagen the Damned (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022). This gritty and brutal read continued to see the protagonist attempt to get revenge on an evil empire and their Witch-king after they slaughtered the royal family he was sworn to protect. However, his enemy has some terrible weapons at their disposal, including zombies, unkillable magical constructs and much, much worse. An excellent inclusion to one of the darkest fantasy series out there, Son of the Poison Rose was an outstanding read that continues to showcase how good Maberry’s distinctive style works in the fantasy genre.
Mark Greaney continues to impress with his outstanding Gray Man spy thriller series, the last several books of which have appeared on prior year’s versions of this list (including One Minute Out, Relentless and Sierra Six). This latest novel, Burner, sets Greaney’s lethal main protagonist and his conflicted former lover against a determined kill team, determined to keep Russia’s foreign influences secret. A powerful read that tastefully features contemporary conflicts, Burner was one of Greaney’s best books yet and I had an awesome time getting through it.
The Armour of Light by Ken Follett
One of my favourite historical fiction authors continued to showcase his impressive writing ability this year with The Armour of Light. The latest book in Follet’s iconic Kingsbridge series (previous novels include The Evening and the Morning and A Column of Fire), The Armour of Light took the reader back to the start of the Industrial Revolution in England as the town of Kingsbridge struggles with the march on progress. Following a vast cast of colourful and complex characters, The Armour of Light was an outstanding and massive read that I powered through in no time at all. A five-star piece of historical fiction that comes highly recommended.
The Book that Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence
One of the most inventive and bold fantasy novels of 2023 was The Book that Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence. Primarily set inside an impossibly large library in a unique fantasy location, The Book that Wouldn’t Burn follows two protagonists with very different experiences of the library as they try to discover its secrets. Impressive in its scope and creativity, The Book that Wouldn’t Burn was a brilliant read that perfectly starts a captivating new trilogy from one of fantasy fiction’s best authors.
My second Maberry novel on this list is Cave 13, which continues the outrageous adventures of Maberry’s most iconic and mentally traumatised protagonist, Joe Ledger. The third book in the Rogue Team International sequel series, Cave 13 follows on from Rage (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2019) and Relentless (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021) and sees Ledger and his team of specialists investigate a new terrorism case involving high-tech weapons. Cave 13 has one of Maberry’s more creative stories, as the protagonists try to stop a deadly plot involving ancient magic, the Dead Sea Scrolls, a traumatising bio-weapon and nukes in the Middle East. Fast-paced, wildly brutal, and featuring a cast of intriguing, over-the-top characters, Cave 13 was an amazing addition to one of my favourite series and I had an epic time listening to it.
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
One of the most moving, captivating and hilarious books of the year had to be the fourth Thursday Murder Club book by Richard Osman, The Last Devil to Die. Following on from Osman’s previous epic books, The Thursday Murder Club (one of the best books, debuts and audiobooks of 2020), The Man Who Died Twice and The Bullet that Missed, The Last Devil to Die follows four retirees who investigate the murder of a close friend. This latest entry had a fascinating case involving drug dealers, antiquities and other villains, all of whom are completely outclassed by four entertaining seniors. However, the best part of The Last Devil to Die was the outstanding characters, each of whom goes through their own emotional journeys in this series, which can be both extremely funny and brutally heartbreaking. One storyline in this book was particularly tragic and you will not be able to keep the tears from your eyes as you read it. One of the most moving, yet hopeful books of 2023, I cannot recommend this entire exceptional series enough.
Usagi Yojimbo: The Green Dragon by Stan Sakai
The 38th volume in my absolute favourite comic book series, The Green Dragon was another fantastic and beautiful addition to the Usagi Yojimbo series. Once again following Stan Sakai’s rabbit ronin through three more compelling adventures, The Green Dragon was an excellent addition to a creative and well-drawn series, and I read through this great volume the very second I got my hands on it.
Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead by K. J. Parker
One of the funniest fantasy authors out there, K. J. Parker (who also writes as Tom Holt), had a ripper of a year, releasing several outstanding books. Parker, whose Siege series has been heavily featured on this list in the past with books like Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City, How to Rule an Empire and Get Away with It and A Practical Guide to Conquering the World, released a complete trilogy in the later half of 2023 with the Corax books. Following a battlefield looter with a complex past as he gets caught up in all manner of conflicts, the Corax series is an intriguing trilogy that combines some amazing comedy with Parker’s unique outlook on life and fantasy fiction. I have only had the chance to read the first book of this trilogy so far with Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead, and it was something very special, as the protagonist finds himself embroiled in an over-the-top situation with substantial implications for the entire world. I loved every second spent reading Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead and if I had been able to read the sequels (both of which are currently sitting on my shelf), I have no doubt they would be featured on this list as well.
The Last Kingdom by Steve Berry
I have been really impressed with Steve Berry’s long-running Cotton Malone thriller series in recent years, thanks to great books like The Malta Exchange, The Warsaw Protocol and The Kaiser’s Web, but his latest novel, The Last Kingdom, might be one of his best yet. Cleverly combining a modern-day spy thriller storyline with an intriguing historical conspiracy about an iconic king of Bavaria, The Last Kingdom really got the right balance of modern-day excitement and fascinating history. There is so much to love about this exciting and insightful book and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next upcoming entry of the series coming soon.
The Will of the Many by James Islington
One of the best new fantasy authors I tried out in 2023 was James Islington who produced the outstanding novel, The Will of the Many, which has been topping all of my recent end-of-year lists. Following a runaway who is drafted into a war against an oppressive regime and forced to infiltrate their elite academy, The Will of the Many was pretty damn epic on a number of levels. Not only did it have an amazing magic school plot (something I am a big fan of), but it also featured some cool and unique fantasy elements while following a compelling protagonist. I was absolutely hooked the entire way through this impressive story and I cannot recommend this brilliant novel enough. I am really hopeful that we get a sequel this year, and I plan to read it the second it is released.
Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
After wowing the world with his impressive 2022 Australian novel, Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, author Benjamin Stevenson provided an outstanding follow-up with Everyone on this Train is a Suspect. Amplifying the clever and hilarious homage to murder mystery classics by forcing the protagonist to participate in a mystery writer’s convention aboard Australia’s version of the Orient Express, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect lovingly made fun of many classic crime fiction sub-genres while also presenting the reader with a compelling new mystery. Featuring an excellent blend of suspense, misdirection and comedy, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect was an amazing sequel that had me laughing the entire way through as Stevenson has fun roasting his fellow crime fiction authors and enthusiasts.
The Fall of Cadia by Robert Rath
There were so many amazing Warhammer 40,000 novels released in 2023, but one of the absolute best was The Fall of Cadia by the very impressive Robert Rath. Rath, who previously wowed me with his other Warhammer novels, Assassinorum: Kingmaker and The Infinite and the Divine, attempted to novelise one of the biggest lore events from the Warhammer 40,000 canon. Featuring a ton of cinematic battles and larger-than-life characters, The Fall of Cadia had me riveted from start to finish, and I loved just how well Rath was able to capture this climatic event. One of my new favourite Warhammer 40,000 books, The Fall of Cadia was so damn epic in every way possible.
The Shadow Casket by Chris Wooding
After waiting years for a continuation to Chris Wooding’s epic fantasy novel, The Ember Blade, readers were finally gifted a sequel in 2023 with The Shadow Casket, which was everything we hoped it would be. Featuring a massive and elaborate tale of revolution, comradery and difficult decisions, The Shadow Casket set a disparate group of friends against an oppressive empire in an outstanding read. Featuring some amazing character arcs, compelling world building, and massive war sequences, The Shadow Casket was such a great read and one of the best fantasy novels of 2023. I loved The Shadow Casket so much, and my biggest disappointment about it is that we are probably going to have to wait a few years to get the third book.
Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly
One of the world’s best crime fiction authors, Michael Connelly, is an author who always manages to impress me, and several of his books, including The Night Fire, The Dark Hours, Desert Star and Fair Warning, have appeared on prior year’s version of this list. Therefore, it should be unsurprising that his latest novel, Resurrection Walk, also needs to be featured here, as it was one of the best books I read all year. A new addition to his Lincoln Lawyer series, Resurrection Walk was a wonderful legal thriller that saw two of Connelly’s best protagonists team up to get an innocent woman out of prison. Wildly entertaining and featuring a fascinating and unique legal case, Resurrection Walk was one of the better Connelly books I have so far enjoyed and I had such an exceptional time reading it.
Mr Einstein’s Secretary by Matthew Reilly
An elaborate and compelling historical novel that followed a fictional secretary who was dragged into some of the biggest events of the early 20th century. Mr Einstein’s Secretary was an exciting novel that saw Matthew Reilly tell a particularly unique historical tale of love, determination and sacrifice, which cleverly inserted his protagonist into the lives of several major historical figures as their secretaries. This novel had so many compelling elements to it, from the bold characters, intriguing historical details, and a curious writing style, that I ended up finishing Mr Einstein’s Secretary off in a single day. I absolutely loved this book and I had to feature it here as a result.
Anthony Ryan ended his outstanding Covenant of Steel trilogy in 2023 with The Traitor. Serving as an excellent conclusion to The Pariah and The Martyr, The Traitor saw Ryan’s complicated and scruffy scribe protagonist caught in the middle of a bloody civil war as his beloved risen martyr attempts to unite the country and force out all the evil she believes corrupts it. However, nothing is as it seems, and the protagonist soon finds himself trying to decide whether he is actually on the right side. Filled with heartbreak, treachery, and damaged characters trying to do the right thing, The Traitor was an epic and moving piece of fantasy fiction that I had such an amazing time getting through. An epic end to a particularly impressive fantasy trilogy.
The Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks
Another amazing Warhammer 40,000 book I have to highlight on this list is The Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks. A key piece of Warhammer 40,000 fiction that covers the return of a major lore figure, The Lion: Son of the Forest was a thoughtful and moving character-driven read loaded with symbolisms and intriguing takes on established pieces of Warhammer 40,000 history. I had an amazing time with this particularly strong piece of Warhammer fiction and Brooks really impressed me as an author in 2023.
The final book I want to highlight on this list is the exciting and compelling historical fiction read, Battle Song by Ian Ross. Following an ill-tempered knight and his unlucky squire as they become embroiled in a lesser-known English civil war, Battle Song was a powerful and compelling historical adventure that had me hooked the entire way through. Smart, intriguing, and full of fun action, Battle Song comes highly recommended, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel coming out in the next couple of months.
Well, those are my 20 favourite books of 2023. It turned out to be quite a good list in the end, and I am very glad that I was able to highlight so many fantastic books. 2024 is set to be another excellent year for amazing reads, and I will be examining some of my most anticipated books next week. In the meantime, let me know what your favourite books of 2023 were in the comments below, and make sure you all have a happy New Years.
Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Audiobooks of 2023
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official topic for this list involved listing the ten most recent additions to your bookshelf, which is a topic I would usually try to address. However, I am afraid I’m going to have to skip this topic and instead I will continue my annual end of year wrap up of some of the best books of 2023. In previous weeks I have highlighted some of the best pre-2023 novels, best new-to-me-authors and the best 2023 sequels I read in the last year. However, this week I am going to look at something near and dear to my heart, the best audiobooks of 2023.
Readers of this blog only need to check out my extensive audiobook category to know that I have a lot of love for the audiobook format. In my opinion, the audiobook is often the best way to experience a good book and in many cases this format makes a novel far more enjoyable. As a result, I listened to quite a few audiobooks this year, and while a good chunk of them were books released before 2023 and featured in my Throwback Thursday posts, most were released this year. There were some truly outstanding and impressive audiobooks released in 2023 and I knew going in that I was going to have an extremely hard time coming up with a final version of this list.
For this list I have only included audiobooks released in 2023 that I have listened to, which left me with a long list of extremely impressive audiobooks which I wanted to include in this post. To help cut this down, I considered a range of factors, including the quality of the original novel, the skill of the narrator, production value, pacing and other features. Looking at all this I was eventually able to cut the list down to the absolute best 10 audiobooks, with my typical generous honourable mentions section. I had to make some very hard decisions here, and I ended up excluding several extremely good audiobooks from the main list. Still, I think it really represents the best audiobooks I enjoyed this year and there are some amazing productions below.
Honourable Mention:
The King of the Spoil, written by Jonathan D. Beer and narrated by Gabrielle Nellis-Pain
A fun and intense Warhammer 40,000 book that effortlessly blends gothic science fiction with a great crime fiction narrative.
The Last Kingdom, written by Steve Berry and narrated by Scott Brick
Intriguing European history and modern-day espionage combine perfectly in this new Cotton Malone novel by Steve Berry, which is expertly brought to life by veteran narrator Scott Brick
Cypher: Lord of the Fallen, written by John French and narrated by Jon Rand
The very talented Jon Rand does a wonderful job of bringing one of the most mysterious Warhammer 40,000 figures to life in this cryptic and fast-paced audiobook by John French.
Murtagh, written by Christopher Paolini and narrated by Gerard Doyle
Christopher Paolini cleverly adds to his iconic Inheritance Cycle with original series audiobook narrator, Gerard Doyle, returning as well, bringing some familiar and compelling voices to this epic piece of fantasy fiction.
Top Ten List:
Son of the Poison Rose/Cave 13, written by Jonathan Maberry and narrated by Ray Porter
In 2023, we were lucky to get two novels from one of my favourite authors, Jonathan Maberry, as he continued some of his best series. These novels were the dark fantasy epic, Son of the Poison Rose and the science fiction thriller, Cave 13, which continued the outstanding Rogue Team International series. Both books were awesome in their own way, but I chose to combine their audiobooks into a single entry here, due to the fact both shared the same narrator in the legendary Ray Porter. Porter, who is one of my favourite audiobook narrators, is synonymous with Maberry, having lent his voice to most of his books, and he always provides an exceptional performance that works so well with Maberry’s style and captures his complex and damaged protagonists. The combination of Maberry and Porter is always a winner, and the resulting audiobooks are something extremely special. As such, both come highly recommended, and both are some of the best audiobooks of the year.
Holly, written by Stephen King and narrated by Justine Lupe
I have been really enjoying some of the legendary Stephen King’s more recent books and my favourite so far is his latest novel, Holly. A continuation of the adventures of Holly Gibney that started in Mr Mercedes, Holly was a complex and dark thriller that saw the protagonist investigate a missing persons case, only to discover something truly disturbing and horrifying. This was such an incredible novel, that featured great characters and some shocking twists, and I can honestly say that my love for Holly was even more enhanced because of its amazing audiobook as the producers cleverly brought in actress Justine Lupe to narrate the book. Lupe, who played the character of Holly Gibney in the Mr Mercedes television series, once again dove into the character and really brought her to life. Combined with her great take on several other impressive characters, including two of King’s most surprisingly sinister villains, and Holly was a joy to listen to from start to finish, and indeed proved to be an excellent accompaniment for a fun road trip.
The Will of the Many, written by James Islington and narrated by Euan Morton
One of my favourite fantasy novels of 2023 was the inventive and exciting release from Australian author James Islington, The Will of the Many. A powerful read that saw a clever teenager with secrets attend a prestigious magical academy while also trying to bring down a destructive empire, The Will of the Many was one of the most impressive books of the year and I got really addicted to its elaborate storytelling and unique new world. The audiobook version of The Will of the Many proved to be extremely good, especially as it allowed me to absorb more of the compelling world detail and envision some of the more elaborate elements of the story. Narrator Euan Morton also provided a unique voice to the story, and this ended up being on of the best fantasy audiobooks of the year.
The Last Devil to Die, written by Richard Osman and narrated by Fiona Shaw
After wowing me with his previous Thursday Murder Club books, including The Thursday Murder Club (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2020), The Man Who Died Twice (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021) and The Bullet That Missed (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022), Richard Osman produced another outstanding release this year with The Last Devil to Die. Thanks to its clever mystery, subtle humour, and some of the best character work you likely to see, The Last Devil to Die was Osman’s best book yet, and I cannot emphasise how wonderful and moving it ended up being. The audiobook version proved to be particularly good, as they once again brought back actress Fiona Shaw to narrate. Shaw has an amazing handle on all the characters, and her excellent voice conveyed all the intense and powerful emotional that this book contained. I honestly teared up in placed while listening to this audiobook and I cannot recommend it enough as a result.
The Fall of Cadia, written by Robert Rath and narrated by Mark Elstob
I’m still listening to this next entry; however, I’m having such a great time with it that I had to include it here. This book is a fantastic Warhammer 40,000 book, The Fall of Cadia. Covering one of the most important events from the Warhammer 40,000 canon, the end of the 13th Black Crusade, The Fall of Cadia follows the epic last stand of the fortress planet of Cadia to the forces of Chaos. Massive in its scope and carnage, The Fall of Cadia is a difficult book to pull together but Robert Rath, who massively impressed me with his prior novels Assassinorum: Kingmaker and The Infinite and the Divine, does an incredible job of tying everything together into an exciting and manageable read. I am particularly loving the audiobook version as narrator Mark Elstob moves the lengthy novel along at an excellent pace and provides a huge range of voices to cover all the over-the-top personalities featured in the book. His narration also perfectly captures the full intensity of the many battles featured within The Fall of Cadia and he makes it sound as epic and brutal as possible. I am loving every second with this audiobook and I look forward to seeing how well the big finish comes out.
City of Last Chances, written by Adrian Tchaikovsky and narrated by David Thorpe
Probably one of the cleverest fantasy books I got to read in 2023 was City of Last Chances by the unstoppable and highly talented Adrian Tchaikovsky. Set in an occupied city loaded with rogues, revolutionaries and other lost souls, City of Last Chances was a clever, character-driven read, loaded with unique personal stories and unusual scenarios. This fascinating and entertaining narrative was expertly expressed by narrator David Thorpe who really dove into the strange characters and showcased all the absurdities and deep dramas perfectly. A wonderful audiobook from start to finish that I honestly could not stop listening to.
Burner, written by Mark Greaney and narrated by Jay Snyder
One of the leading authors of spy thriller fiction, Mark Greaney, produced another outstanding entry in his Gray Man series this year with Burner. Setting his infamous protagonist against both his former lover and a desperate Russian special forces unit, Burner was an amazing and intense read that expertly and tastefully utilised contemporary events to tell a complex story. The resulting action, spy craft, personal drama and carnage was expertly showcased by narrator Jay Snyder, who has lent his voice to all the Gray Man books. The resulting audiobook was extremely moving and intense, and Burner was one of Greaney’s best releases yet.
The Shadow Casket, written by Chris Wooding and narrated by Simon Bubb
The longest audiobook I listened to in 2023 was the epic fantasy novel, The Shadow Casket by Chris Wooding. The sequel to Wooding’s previous novel, The Ember Blade, The Shadow Casket was an outstanding listen that saw a desperate group of freedom fighters try to turn the tide against their relentless oppressors. Perfectly continuing the story set up in The Ember Blade while also featuring some impressive character interactions and a ton of worldbuilding, The Shadow Casket was a brilliant book, and I was so glad to get a continuation of this series. I deeply appreciated the audiobook version of The Shadow Casket, narrated by Simon Bubb, as it really helped me absorb this massive read so much better. Bubb did an outstanding job of making this lengthy story easy to follow, and I loved the fitting voices he gifted to all the complex characters. A captivating and extensive listen, I don’t think I would have enjoyed The Shadow Casket as much in any other format.
The Traitor, written by Anthony Ryan and narrated by Steven Brand
Bestselling fantasy author, Anthony Ryan, brought his Covenant of Steel trilogy to an awesome end this year with The Traitor. The fantastic follow-up to The Pariah and The Martyr, The Traitor showcased the end of Ryan’s scribe protagonist’s big adventure, and the inevitable fall to darkness that accompanied it. Intense, highly detailed, and featuring an outstanding antagonist, The Traitor was such a good conclusion, and I had such an incredible time listening to the audiobook version. Steven Brand, who did such a great job narrating The Pariah and The Martyr, provided another brilliant bout of narrating in this finale, and he perfectly captured the protagonist’s despair and determination as they fought to do the right thing one final time. A highly recommended audiobook and the only way to enjoy the Covenant of Steel books.
The Lion: Son of the Forest, written by Mike Brooks and narrated by Timothy Watson
The final entry on this list is another Warhammer 40,000 audiobook, The Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks. Brooks, who is quicky becoming one of the best authors of Warhammer 40,000 fiction (a quick shoutout to Brook’s other 2023 release, Warboss), sought to bring back one of the canon’s most significant characters, and did so with this deeply personal and symbolism laced novel. Intense, moving, and featuring some compelling characters, The Lion: Son of the Forest was extremely good, especially in the audiobook format narrated by Timothy Watson. While all Warhammer 40,000 audiobooks are pretty special and fun, I really enjoyed this one as Watson captures the gravitas of the main character perfectly while also highlighting the complex plot and pivotal action. One of the best Warhammer 40,000 audiobooks of 2023 as a result, this is really worth a listen.
Well that is the end of this latest Top Ten list, and as you can see, I have been lucky enough to listen to some awesome audiobooks this year (although I clearly focused a little too much on Warhammer fiction). All the above audiobooks are extremely good and I would highly recommend each of them in their audiobook format. Let me know what your favourite audiobooks of 2023 were in the comments below, and make sure to check back next week to see what my overall favourite novels of the year were.
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
Publisher: Penguin Audio (Audiobook – 12 September 2023)
Series: Thursday Murder Club – Book Four
Length: 10 hours and 50 minutes
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
The exceedingly talented and amazing Richard Osman returns with another exceptional entry in his acclaimed Thursday Murder Club series, with the entertaining and emotionally rich The Last Devil to Die.
Over the last few years I have been blown away by the incredible Thursday Murder Club novels, the debut series of British television personality Richard Osman. This amazing series follows four residents of a retirement village who solve murders as the Thursday Murder Club. Featuring a perfect blend of gripping mystery, brilliant and likeable characters, a fantastic sense of humour and a certain amount of tragedy, the series has been a real joy to read. This includes The Thursday Murder Club (one of my favourite books, debuts and audiobooks of 2020), The Man Who Died Twice (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021), and The Bullet That Missed (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022), each of which got full five-star reviews from me. As such, I have been eagerly awaiting the fourth book in this series, and The Last Devil to Die was one of my most anticipated books for 2023. Unsurprisingly, Osman did not disappoint and presented another compelling and highly addictive read that I absolutely adored.
Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron are the Thursday Murder Club, four bored and bright retirees living at Coopers Chase retirement village, spend their spare time keeping busy with an unusual hobby, solving murders. Already responsible for bringing several crooks to justice, the club hope to enjoy a nice Christmas without any deaths. However, murderers are rarely so considerate, and the four friends soon find themselves involved in a complex case that hits close to home.
Antiques dealer Kuldesh Sharma, an acquaintance of the group and an old friend of Elizabeth’s husband, Stephen, has been found shot dead on a dark country lane, apparently the victim of a professional hit. Determined to get justice for their friend, the club and their associates jump into action and begin their usual unconventional investigation. Their prying soon uncovers connections between Kuldesh and a local gang of drug importers who were using Kuldesh’s shop as cover for one of their deals.
It quickly becomes apparent that Kuldesh’s death is related to a box of heroin that was in his possession and which has since gone missing. To find Kuldesh’s killer, the members of the club will need to discover where the heroin is hidden, as well as why Kuldesh decided to steal it. Their investigation will take them into the dark world of drug dealers, art forgers and stolen antiquities, and force them up against several different groups of criminals each searching for the same prize. Can the Thursday Murder Club once again solve the case before the murderer escapes, especially when an even greater tragedy waits on the horizon?
This honestly might be one of the very best books I have read all year. Osman, who I have extremely impressed with in recent years, did a remarkable job with this fourth entry in the series, producing another superb and emotionally charged novel with a clever mystery around it. Thanks to some high-intensity inclusions and some brilliant character work, The Last Devil to Die is easily one of the strongest entries in this entire exceptional series, and I was hooked the entire way through. This latest book gets an easy five-star rating from me, and I doubt I will ever forgive Osman for everything I was forced to feel while getting through it.
The Last Devil to Die has an outstanding story behind it, and I was once again deeply impressed by how Osman effortlessly combines an elaborate mystery with intriguing character driven storylines. The book starts with Kuldesh Sharma, who appeared in the prior novel, getting murdered apparently over a missing box of heroin. This quickly sets off the new investigation, and the protagonists and their continuously growing group of associates utilise their usual unorthodox methods to get a good picture of events and pull together a group of unusual suspects. Of course, it doesn’t take long for the case to go in some very interesting directions, especially with extra murders and a segue into the world of antiquities forgeries. I really got caught up in the intriguing mystery, especially as there are some great complexities, an array of fun professional villains, and some highly entertaining encounters, including a remarkably fun lunchtime meeting with all the suspects. At the same time, I was also there for the characters, as Osman dove into their unique lives and provided some fantastic development. However, one major piece of character development proved to be the most compelling part of the entire book and really knocks you for six with a major event around two-thirds of the way through. This bit of development has been building for the entire series, but when tragedy finally hits you are not ready and it strikes you very hard in the feels. I honestly was near tears at parts of the book, it was that damn sad, and Osman works to ensure that every major character is affected in a noticeable and gloomy way.
Following this major event, Osman moves towards solving the various murders featured within the book. This last part of The Last Devil to Die is noticeably more subdued, which was honestly very fitting and completely understandable. Despite this darker tone, the reader is still very invested in the plot, especially as a solution to the mystery promises to bring some much-needed emotional relief. Osman delivers this in spades, and there are several clever and thoughtful solutions chucked in as a result. While I saw a few reveals coming, the way the characters solved the compelling case was impressive and quite brilliant. Several subtle and well-placed clues were masterfully exploited, and the way that Osman hid them in plain sight is exceedingly clever. The solutions to the other killings were great as well, especially as they tied into a fun longer-running storyline around a secondary character, and I loved how many of the villains got an appropriate reward for their deeds. The conclusion of the plot is very well handled, and the reader comes away from The Last Devil to Die both highly satisfied and very sad, much like the protagonists. This was such a brilliant and moving narrative, and Osman does a wonderful job of fitting in his mystery while wrapping up several long-running narrative threads.
Just as he has with the previous novels in the Thursday Murder Club series, Osman backs up his excellent story with some top-notch writing that drags you in with its tone, subtly and entertainment. The Last Devil to Die features Osman’s typical exquisite blend of mystery, humour and character development, which is expertly featured in every scene. While the main mystery is great, watching the brilliant characters grow as they solve it in the most entertaining way is so much fun, and you will be glued to the book as you go. The comedic charm of a Thursday Murder Club novel is very subtle and undeniably British, but it constantly flows into every scene, with the restrained and often topical jokes and observations of the characters working well with the other story elements. This includes a large amount of sombre and darker moments, as many of the characters experience a certain amount of tragedy, especially related to the woes of getting older. Osman honestly turns the heartbreak up to 11 in certain parts of The Last Devil to Die, and readers are in for some powerful emotional blows in this novel, which works both in the context of this single novel but the series as a whole, as it cleverly builds on prior events from the earlier books. Due to this, I would strongly recommend that readers start the series back at the first book, rather than diving into The Last Devil to Die first, as it will allow you to get the full emotional impact. However, Osman does ensure that The Last Devil to Die is open enough for new readers to experience, and they honestly will not be spared from the feels either. Osman does such a good job wrapping together the hurt with the humour, and the emotional combination really strengthens both the character arcs and the mystery elements of this outstanding read.
While the story, mystery and humour are all outstanding parts of The Last Devil to Die, without a doubt the high point of any Thursday Murder Club novel are the characters. Osman has an incredible knack for producing compelling, delightful, and impressive characters who you cannot help but fall in love with. Thanks to his split between different perspective characters (which includes a change in writing style for Joyce’s journal entries), you get to see so many different angles of this mystery, and I loved the amazing personal arcs that emerged as well. Osman does a great job of balancing the narrative between the many characters featured in the novel, including the recurring protagonists from the previous books and several new intriguing figures. These characters form the emotional heart of The Last Devil to Die and Osman really amps up the feelings, tragedy and love for this latest book to produce an exceptional and memorable read.
At the centre of the story are the members of the titular Thursday Murder Club: Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron, four cheeky and brilliant retirees who pass their time solving murders. Osman has done such a good job setting these characters up as a group throughout the previous books, and they each have a well-defined role in the group, with Elizabeth the hard-nosed former spy serving as leader, Joyce the loving grandmother figure who is a lot more devious and strong then people realise, Ron the tough larrikin who is starting to come to terms with his feelings, and Ibrahim the sensitive soul who can connect with everyone. These fantastic characters prove to be the usual dedicated and brilliant investigators, and it is always fun to see them utilise their unique skills and their old age to solve their crime. Much of the book’s humour is derived from them leveraging their advanced years and apparent helplessness to trick or manipulate the younger suspects, and I always enjoy their direct and hilarious take on crime solving. However, while there is a certain humorous element around these characters in The Last Devil to Die, certain significant events throw them into an emotional tailspin and watching them become unstuck and devastated really hits the reader hard.
Elizabeth in particular is hit the hardest and this is honestly the most significant novel for her, especially as the great tragedy she has been expecting for the entire series finally comes to pass, and your heart hurts at seeing such a strong character broken down so much. Joyce proves to be the emotional rock the novel, stepping up when the others are down and trying to keep the investigation going. I loved seeing Joyce the leadership role, and watching her come out of her shell proves to be quite heartwarming in light of other tragedies. Ron probably gets the least amount of focus in The Last Devil to Die, but he still has his moment to shine throughout this book. Not only does he have one of the funniest scenes when he has to pretend to be traumatised at discovering a body, but his chaotic romantic relationship raises some fun questions about when Christmas gifts should be opened. I also deeply enjoyed Ibrahim’s character focus, not only because of his warmth and insights, but because of his unusual friendship with imprisoned criminal Connie Johnson and his fantastic patter with Ron. Osman also finally reveals some secrets about Ibrahim’s past that have been hinted at in previous books, and I loved the extra layer of understanding about Ibrahim that results. Each of these main characters are so well featured and their emotional struggles prove to be such an important part of the plot and help to turn The Last Devil to Die into in a very powerful and moving novel.
In addition to the main cast, Osman’s ever expanding collection of supporting characters were very well featured in The Last Devil to Die, and while they are primarily there to assist the main characters with their investigation, the author always takes the time to develop some intriguing and heartfelt storylines around them. This includes the duo of DCI Chris Hudson and PC Donna De Freitas, who find themselves once again competing against their retiree friends to solve the case, despite their futile attempts to keep them out of trouble. While many of their scenes are played for laughs, especially as they get exasperated trying to stop the club members, they add in a good official police presence and move the story along in some interesting ways. There is also a continued focus on their personal lives, especially as they have both found true happiness thanks to the events of the prior books. Cocaine queen and jailbird Connie Johnson proves to be another great recurring figure here, especially as much of her story deals with her simultaneously manipulations of Ibrahim and her attempts at rehabilitations. Her scenes opposite the team’s psychiatrist are pretty hilarious, and it’s going to be fun to see how her storyline continues. The always dependable Bogdan is also a fantastic presence in The Last Devil to Die, and I loved how he proves to be both a supportive partner to Donna and a reliable assistant in Elizabeth’s attempts to undermine the police. Bogdan is also hit emotionally hard in this book and you really have to feel for this wonderfully written character who has the body of a thug and a heart of pure gold. Throw in several great new antagonists, an unpopular elite police officer and several entertaining new residents at Coopers Chase, and this proves to be an amazing book when it comes to supporting characters.
However, the character I need to talk about the most is Elizabeth’s academic husband, Stephen, who honestly has been one of the strongest and saddest figures in the entire series due to his growing dementia. A caring and intelligent figure, despite his ailment and his wife’s attempts to hide him from the world, Stephen is such an impressive character you honestly cannot help but fall in love with. It is always so tragic to see Stephen slowly lose his mind while Elizabeth’s heart breaks next to him, and I really appreciate how well Osman portrays the complexities of dementia when it comes to this figure. Despite that, he proves to be an essential part of the plot, and his insights into his friend have some major impacts on the case, even if you do not realise it at the time. Osman also makes sure to enhance the misery around Stephen again in this book, especially as he finally becomes aware of his condition in one of his lucid periods, and the resulting scenes are so damn moving and emotional as a result. Everything about Stephen in The Last Devil to Die, from his continued warmth, his love for Elizabeth even when he doesn’t know who she is, his sad friendship with a local fox, and his journeys back inside the past of his mind, is handled perfectly and powerfully, and he honestly steals every moment he is in. Stephen steals the show in his own way in The Last Devil to Die, but honestly every character in this book is pretty exceptional, and you will find yourself falling in love with them again, even if it breaks your heart.
Due to my previous experiences with this series, I chose to check out The Last Devil to Die on audiobook, rather than reading the physical copy I received. Coming in with a runtime of just under 11 hours, this is a relatively quick audiobook to get through, especially once you get caught up in the story, which you definitely will. I find that the audiobook format is pretty damn good at getting so many elements of Osman’s story across, including the characters, the powerful emotions and the fun humour, and you really will have a hard time turning off this audiobook of as a result. It also definitely helps that they keep getting such awesome narrators in to read these books. The first two entries in the series were narrated by Lesley Manville, who did such a great job bringing the characters to life, especially Joyce. Unfortunately, Lesley left after narrating the first two books, which I was initially sad about. However, they did a really good job of replacing her in the third audiobook with acclaimed actress Fiona Shaw, who also returns for The Last Devil to Die.
Now I was already a fan of Fiona Shaw before her work here, and I think she was honestly the best possible replacement they could have gotten for Lesley Manville. Utilising her trademark Scottish accent, Shaw hits the story with a soft and gentle voice that perfectly fits the more relaxed tone of these murder mystery novels. These gentler tones are excellent at conveying the unique humour and emotions of the Thursday Murder Club books, and I really got enveloped by the powerful story as a result. Shaw also does an outstanding job voicing each of the brilliant characters featured within this book and I have a lot of love for the vocal choices she makes here. Now, while there is a little difference between Shaw’s performances and the previous audiobooks with Manville (Manville is a natural Joyce, while Shaw more of an Elizabeth), Shaw really keeps the magic from the first two books going. She does a great job of matching many of the key voices Manville originally used, while also adding her own flairs to make the characters her own. I really loved how effortlessly Shaw slipped into the various members of the cast, and this honestly helps you fall in love with all the characters and the story as a whole. This entire audiobook honestly comes up pretty perfectly, and there is even a fantastic and cosy chat at the end between Osman and Shaw discussing the series. As such, I would strongly recommend the audiobook version of The Last Devil to Die to anyone interested in checking out this novel, and it is easily the best way to enjoy this fantastic series. One of the best audiobooks of 2023!
Look, I could go on about how good The Last Devil to Die is, but the bottom line is that this was an exceptional read and one of the best entries in the already great Thursday Murder Club series. Richard Osman did a wonderful job of producing an elaborate and compelling book that featured both an amazing mystery, and some outstanding character work. Funny and tragic in equal measures, and with some of the most emotionally charged scenes of 2023, The Last Devil to Die was an incredible book from start to finish and I cannot recommend it enough. This fantastic book is going to top all my end-of-year best of lists and I cannot wait to see what Osman releases next.
WWW Wednesday – 13 September 2023
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?
Code Red by Kyle Mills (ebook)
I just started reading the new Mitch Rapp novel, Code Red. The latest book in one of my favourite ongoing spy thriller series, Code Red sees the titular character of Mitch Rapp engage in another brutal war, this time against a Russian backed drug gang. I have made a bit of progress on this book so far and it is proving to be a worthy addition to this impressive, and often over-the-top, series.
Holly by Stephen King (Audiobook)
I managed to get through most of the new Stephen King novel, Holly, this week and boy was it something special. A compelling, character-driven murder mystery with some gruesome twists behind it, Holly is an exceptional novel that proves to be instantly addictive. I am loving this book so much and I have about an hour left on the audiobook version. I will probably finish this off first thing tomorrow and I cannot wait to see how King concludes this awesome and shocking read.
What did you recently finish reading?
Traitors Gate by Jeffrey Archer (ebook)
I managed to finish off the upcoming Jeffrey Archer novel, Traitors Gate this week, which ended up being a fun and compelling addition to one of Archer’s long running series. Focusing on an attempt to steal the Crown Jewels, Traitors Gate is a fast-paced and awesome read that was so much fun to get through.
Warhammer 40,000: Longshot by Rob Young (Audiobook)
I also managed to knock off the latest Warhammer 40,000 novel, Longshot by Rob Young this week. Following a talented sniper as she gets drawn into an intense battle against manipulative alien forces, Longshot is a really compelling and clever read that I am glad I got to check out.
What do you think you’ll read next?
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
I am hoping to dive into the unique historical novel, He Who Drowned the World later this week. The sequel to Chan’s impressive debut, She Who Became the Sun, He Who Drowned the World should be quite an awesome read and I look forward to getting through it.
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
My plan for tomorrow is to start the new Thursday Murder Club audiobook, The Last Devil to Die. The intriguing fourth book in one of the best crime fiction series currently running, The Last Devil to Die promises to be another exciting and hillarious read that will probably be one of the top novels of 2023.
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 – Books on my Spring 2023 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. The official Top Ten Tuesday topic for this week was based around favourite character relationships, which, while interesting, isn’t something I felt I could contribute to. However, as we are already a couple of weeks into the Spring (Autumn for folks in the Northern Hemisphere), I decided to instead move up my quarterly post about the best upcoming books to read (TBR) for the following three months. This is a regular post I do at the start of each season, and I honestly should have pulled this together a couple of weeks ago.
For this list, I have come up with 10 of the most anticipated novels that are coming out between 1 September 2023 and 30 November 2023. There are quite a few very cool novels set for release in the next few months that I am extremely excited for, including some of my most anticipated book of the year (as well as my most anticipated fantasy/science fiction books of the year). Due to how impressive some of these upcoming books are, it took me a little while to finalise my list but I was eventually able to whittle it down into a Top Ten list (with a few honourable mentions). I have primarily used the Australian publication dates to reflect when I will be able to get these awesome novels, and these might be somewhat different to the rest of the world. I also excluded several awesome Spring releases that I have already read or started reading (such as Holly by Stephen King which I am nearly at the end of). I have previously discussed a number of these books before in prior Top Ten Tuesdays and Waiting on Wednesday articles and I think all of them will turn out to be pretty incredible reads. I have extremely excited for the next three months as quite a few up these upcoming reads are easily going to be amongst the best books of 2023.
Honourable Mentions:
Long Past Dues by James J. Butcher – 10 October 2023
The Exchange by John Grisham – 17 October 2023
The long-awaited sequel to Grisham’s iconic novel, The Firm, this should be a very interesting and compelling thriller.
The Shadow King by Harry Sidebottom – 9 November 2023
Vendetta by Sarah Barrie – 15 November 2023
Top Ten Tuesday:
Code Red by Kyle Mills – 12 September 2023
The latest book in the iconic Mitch Rapp spy thriller series (originally written by Vince Flynn and currently authored by Kyle Mills), Code Red sounds like a very exciting and intense novel that I am hoping to read this week.
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman – 12 September 2023
Filled with mystery, great characters and a wicked dose of humour, Richard Osman’s fourth Thursday Murder Club book, The Last Devil to Die, is going to be exceedingly awesome and so much fun to read.
The Armour of Light by Ken Follett – 26 September 2023
An epic and massive historical fiction novel from the master of elaborate character-focused tales, Ken Follett.
Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead by K. J. Parker – 3 October 2023
An intriguing and awesome upcoming fantasy comedy book that I know I am going to love, Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead will follow a battlefield looter as they experience all manner of trouble. Two sequels to Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead are also coming out in the next few months, but I think I will just highlight this first book for now.
Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson – 17 October 2023
The fantastic sounding sequel to Stevenson’s hilarious and addictive 2022 Australian murder mystery, Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect sounds extremely amazing and should be one of the funniest and most compelling crime fiction novels of 2023.
Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly – 7 November 2023
Michael Connelly continues his entertaining and captivating Lincoln Lawyer series with Resurrection Walk, which sees the titular lawyer protagonist face off against a corrupt police force. An awesome legal thriller featuring several of Connelly’s best characters, this is going to be something very special.
Murtagh by Christopher Paolini – 7 November 2023
Acclaimed author Christopher Paolini returns to the world of his original work, the Inheritance Cycle, with a new standalone novel focused on the amazing character of Murtagh. Set to follow this conflicted and hated dragon rider as he encounters a new dangerous threat, this will be an awesome book and I am very excited to finally have a continuation of one of my favourite series.
Rebellion by Simon Scarrow – 14 November 2023
The always exciting Simon Scarrow continues his excellent Eagles of the Empire series with the fantastic sounding Rebellion. Set to follow the brutal battles of Boudica’s uprising, Rebellion looks set to be an outstanding addition to this already epic series.
Defiant by Brandon Sanderson – 21 November 2023
Sanderson brings his fantastic Skyward series to an end with the fourth book Defiant. Following on from previous epic reads, Skyward, Starsight and Cytonic, Defiant should be pretty damn exceptional and I am eager to see how Sanderson brings everything to an end.
Kill Your Husbands by Jack Heath – 28 November 2023
The final book I want to highlight on this list is the awesome upcoming Australian crime fiction novel, Kill Your Husbands. The sequel to author’s previous fantastic read, Kill Your Brother, Kill Your Husbands will feature a unique murder scenario with a twisted web of lies, deceit and intriguing characters surrounding it, and I cannot wait to read it.
Well, that is the end of my Top Ten list. I think it turned out pretty well and it does a good job of capturing all my most anticipated books for the next three months. Each of the above should be extremely epic, and I cannot wait to read each of them soon. Let me know which of the above you are most excited for and stay tuned for reviews of them in the next few months. In the meantime, it looks like I have quite a few books to get through soon and they should all be pretty awesome.
Book Haul – 11 September 2023
I have been having an excellent couple of weeks for book, as I have been lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from some of my local publishers and from Netgalley. These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including some books that have the potential to be the top novels of 2023. I am extremely keen to check out all of the books below and they should make for some amazing reads.
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
The first recently received novel that I need to highlight is the incredibly awesome The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman, which is one of my most anticipated novels of 2023. The fourth book in Osman’s exceptional Thursday Murder Club series (following on from The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice and The Bullet That Missed), The Last Devil to Die sounds pretty amazing and looks set to contain the same great blend of mystery, complex characters and unique humour that made the previous novels so damn epic. I cannot wait to read The Last Devil to Die and I have no doubt it will be one of the top books of 2023.
He Who Drowned The World by Shelley Parker-Chan
Next up I was very happy to receive a copy of He Who Drowned The World by Australian author Shelley Parker-Chan. The sequel to the author’s awesome debut, She Who Became The Sun, He Who Drowned The World will continue to follow Parker-Chan’s unique protagonist as they try to end the Mongol rule of China while establishing their own complex rule. She Who Became The Sun was one of my favourite debuts and Australian Fiction novels of 2021 and I have been eager to see a sequel for a while.
The Changing Man by Tomi Oyemakinde
A gripping and compelling sounding young adult thriller about a mysterious school and a dangerous presence changing its students. I love the unique sounding plot of The Changing Man and I think I’m going to really enjoy this book.
The Secret Hours by Mick Herron
One of the more interesting books that I recently received a copy of is The Secret Hours by Mick Herron. A compelling and complex sounding spy thriller about the inner workings of MI5 from a top author, The Secret Hours has a ton of potential and I will really try to make an effort to check this fantastic novel out.
Stop Them Dead by Peter James
I was very happy to receive another crime fiction read from Peter James, who has released a ton of novels in the last few years. This new book, which is part of his Roy Grace series, presents the reader with another intriguing case that I know I will have fun with.
Worst Knights Ever by Dane Hanson
I managed to get a copy of the fun fantasy novel Worst Knights Ever from Netgalley and I hope I get the chance to read it soon. This comedic novel will see four celebrity knights (Elton John, Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Anthony Hopkins) face off against a dragon bent on destroying London. This sounds like a very silly, but fantastic book, and I can’t wait to check it out.
The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill
I was pretty happy to get an advanced copy of the upcoming Sulari Gentill novel, The Mystery Writer. Gentill, who is one of Australia’s best crime fiction authors, has written some awesome books over the years and this new novel sounds particularly excellent as it follows a mystery writer who finds themself involved in an insidious murder investigation. I have no doubt this will be an excellent and complex mystery read and I cannot wait to dive into it.
Midnight by Amy McCulloch
The final book I recently received was an advanced copy of Midnight by Amy McCulloch. An intriguing thriller set in Antarctica, Midnight sounds like a very awesome read that I will hopefully get to soon.
Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post. As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in. Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.
Top Ten Tuesday – Most Anticipated Books Releasing During the Second Half of 2023 (Mystery, Thriller and Historical Fiction)
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 list, I continue to examine my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2023. While my previous list looked at the best upcoming fantasy and science fiction novels, this list will look at the crime fiction, thrillers, and historical fiction novels that I am most excited for in the next six months.
Just like with my list about fantasy and science fiction books, this was a bit of a difficult list to pull together. Even after I excluded fantasy and science fiction novels from it, there were still a ton of great books I could feature, and I had a hard time deciding what to cut. I was eventually able to whittle it down to a top ten list (with an honourable mentions section), and I am pretty happy with how it turned out. Just like with my fantasy and science fiction list, the following list does a great job of highlighting what books I am most excited for in the second half of the year, so let us see what makes the cut.
Honourable Mentions:
Killer Traitor Spy by Tim Ayliffe – 5 July 2023
Agent Eighteen by John Brownlow – 8 August 2023
A cool sequel to Seventeen, one of the best debuts of 2022, Agent Eighteen will continue Brownlow’s thrilling tale of elite assassins trying to kill each other.
Dark Corners by Megan Goldin – 8 August 2023
The Exchange by John Grisham – 17 October 2023
A sequel to the classic John Grisham novel, The Firm. Need I say more?
Top Ten List (by release date):
Kill for Me Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh – 3 August 2023
A fantastic and intense standalone thriller from the always impressive and fun Steve Cavanagh. I am a big fan of Cavanagh’s legal thrillers (see my reviews for The Devil’s Advocate and The Accomplice), and I look forward to powering through this awesome book, especially as it has a fantastic Strangers on a Train vibe to it.
Ripper by Shelley Burr – 30 August 2023
Shelley Burr, the author of Wake, one of the best debuts and Australian fiction novels of 2022, returns with an intriguing new crime fiction novel, Ripper. Set in a dying Australian town made famous for its serial killer heritage, Ripper sounds like another outstanding read from Burr, and I am interested to see how she continues the cool story started in Wake.
Holly by Stephen King – 5 September 2023
The master of suspense, Stephen King, has yet another awesome book coming out later this year with Holly. Following one of his most compelling recurring protagonists, Holly Gibney, this new novel from King will see Holly face off against dark secrets, hidden opponents, and a mysterious set of married, octogenarians, to find a missing child. This sounds like a very cool new book and I cannot wait to dive into the latest, captivating Stephen King novel in a few months’ time.
Code Red by Kyle Mills – 12 September 2023
For the last few years, I have had a lot of fun with the fantastic Mitch Rapp series, going out of my way to get a copy of each new release in the series. Following a dangerous government agent who faces off against all manner of elaborate threats, the Mitch Rapp books are a ton of fun and I have deeply enjoyed the excellent stories that author Kyle Mills (who took over from original author Vince Flynn) has come up with (check out my reviews for Red War, Lethal Agent, Total Power, Enemy at the Gates and Oath of Loyalty). The next book in the series, Code Red, will see Rapp once again face off against the Russians in a deadly conspiracy, and I know I’m going to have a fun time getting through it.
The Last True Templar by Boyd and Beth Morrison – 14 September 2023
Few new books from 2022 impressed me as much as the fantastic historical fiction novel, The Lawless Land by the team of Boyd and Beth Morrison. Following an excommunicated knight as he tries to regain his honour by saving a precious artefact from a corrupt cardinal, The Lawless Land was a brilliant, exciting, and powerful historical adventure, and one that I took great joy in reading. I was very happy to see that the Morrison’s were returning for a sequel this year with The Last True Templar, and I know it is going to be an outstanding read. I already have a copy of The Last True Templar and I am hoping to read it soon.
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman – 15 September 2023
Few books in 2023 are going to be as awesome as the new Thursday Murder Club book, The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman. Following on from the exceptional novels, The Thursday Murder Club (one of my favourite novels, debuts and audiobooks of 2020), The Man Who Died Twice (one of my favourite novels and audiobooks of 2021) and The Bullet That Missed (one of my favourite novels and audiobooks of 2022), The Last Devil to Die sounds like an incredible read and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. Continuing the story of the titular Thursday Murder Club, a group of bored retirees who solve elaborate murders, The Last Devil to Die will no doubt feature Osman’s trademark humour, intelligence and outstanding character work, which is always so impressive. I already know this is going to be one of the top books of the year and I am so damn excited for it.
The Armour of Light by Ken Follett – 26 September 2023
I was very happy to find out that Ken Follet was releasing a new historical fiction novel in 2023, especially as it is part of his iconic Kingsbridge series (see my reviews for The Evening and the Morning and A Column of Fire). This outstanding series follows a range of unique protagonists at various points in the history of the English town of Kingsbridge, and every novel in this series has been pretty damn incredible. This new book will be set during the start of the industrial revolution and the war with Napoleon, and you just know that Follett is going to have a lot of fun diving into this complex period. I have no doubt that this epic read is going to effortless grab my attention and this will prove to be one of the best historical novels of the year.
Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson – 17 October 2023
Few Australian authors are impressing me as much as Benjamin Stevenson these days, especially with his work in the crime fiction genre. As such, I am very keen for his new book, Everyone on This Train is a Suspect, especially as it is a sequel to his fantastic 2022 novel, Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone. Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone was one of the funniest and cleverest novels of the year and Stevenson wove together a brilliant narrative that combined a clever mystery with messy family dynamics, all while hilariously parodying classic detective novels/whodunits. Everyone on This Train is a Suspect looks set to continue this trend by forcing the protagonist to solve a murder on a train full of professional crime fiction authors. I have no doubt that I am going to laugh myself silly reading this book and I am so damn excited to read it.
Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly – 7 November 2023
What would the end of a year be without a new novel from legendary crime fiction author Michael Connelly. I have had an amazing time reading some of Connelly’s recent novels, including Dark Sacred Night, The Night Fire, The Dark Hours, Desert Star and Fair Warning, and I am always excited for a new novel from this amazing author. Luckily, I won’t have to wait too much longer as Connelly is releasing the intriguing novel, Resurrection Walk in November. The seventh book in the Mickey Haller series (make sure to check out my review for the sixth book, The Law of Innocence), Resurrection Walk will see the Lincoln Lawyer, Mickey Haller, defend another desperate client. Featuring a collaboration with Haller’s brother, Harry Bosch, Resurrection Walk should be an amazing read, and I cannot wait to see what cool shenanigans and heartbreaking character moments Connelly will feature.
Rebellion by Simon Scarrow – 14 November 2023
The final upcoming book I want to highlight tonight is the outstanding upcoming historical fiction novel, Rebellion by Simon Scarrow. The latest book in Scarrow’s long-running Eagles of the Empire series (The Blood of Rome, Traitors of Rome, The Emperor’s Exile, The Honour of Rome and Death to the Emperor), Rebellion will follow two veteran soldiers as they try to stop the hordes of Boudica’s rebellion. I have had an amazing time with the Eagles of the Empire books over the years and this new book from Scarrow is going to be pretty awesome. The perfect upcoming book to end this list with!
Well that’s the end of my second list. As you can see, there are some outstanding mysteries, thrillers and historical fiction novels coming out in the next six months which should prove to be amazing reads. Combine that with the fantasy and science fiction releases from my previous list and I know that I am going to have an incredible time in the second half of 2023. While I am waiting to get my hands on these books, why not let me know if any of the above interest you and let me know what your most anticipated releases for the next six months are in the comments below.
Waiting on Wednesday – The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
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. I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. In my latest Waiting on Wednesday I highlight the next epic entry in one of my favourite series at the moment with the upcoming fourth Thursday Murder Club novel by Richard Osman, The Last Devil to Die.
Over few years, me, and many other book reviewers, have fallen in love with one of the most addictive, funniest, and heartfelt murder mystery series out there, the Thursday Murder Club books by British comedian Richard Osman. I have been in love with the series since it first came out, and Osman’s debut novel, The Thursday Murder Club, was an exceptional five-star read. This unique series follows four complex and entertaining retirees living in an English retirement village, who entertain themselves by solving murders, known as the Thursday Murder Club. This first awesome novel had absolutely everything, including a brilliant mystery, amazing characters, and great British humour, all brought together by some dark and emotionally powerful moments. This first novel ended up being one of my favourite books, debuts, and audiobooks of 2020, and I cannot recommend it enough.
After having so much fun with The Thursday Murder Club, there was absolutely no way I wasn’t going to follow it up and luckily Osman made sure to release a cool sequel in 2021 with The Man Who Died Twice. This was an outstanding follow-up to the first book that did a good job of continuing several of the storylines and character arcs, while also introducing another great mystery. This ended up being another amazing novel, and it was one of my top books and audiobooks of 2021. The series continued to gain a ton of steam last year with the third exceptional novel, The Bullet That Missed. This third book was just as good, if not better, than the original The Thursday Murder Club, and I once again fell in love with the epic writing and loveable characters. As such, I had no choice but to give it another five-star rating and it was easily one of the best books and audiobooks I enjoyed in 2022.
Naturally, after having so many amazing experiences with this series, continuing it is a major reading priority for me. I have kept a close eye out for details about the next entry, and I they just released the cover and a basic plot synopsis for the upcoming fourth book, The Last Devil to Die. Set for release in September 2023, The Last Devil to Die, sounds really awesome (especially that title) and I am very excited to get my hands on it.
Plot synopsis:
You’d think you would be allowed to relax over Christmas, but not in the world of the Thursday Murder Club.
On Boxing Day, a dangerous package is smuggled across the English coast. When it goes missing, chaos is unleashed. The body count starts to rise – including someone close to the Thursday Murder Club – as our gang face an impossible search and their most deadly opponents yet.
With the clock ticking down and a killer heading to Cooper’s Chase, has their luck finally run out? And who will be ‘The Last Devil To Die’?
So, if my rant above wasn’t clear, I am going to get The Last Devil to Die come hell or high water, but it is always fun to find out some plot details in advance. While the synopsis above isn’t too detailed, it does have some intriguing points that is making me even more excited for this upcoming book. Firstly, I like the sound of a Christmas theme for this latest novel, and I imagine that is going to fit the fun British aesthetic of the series extremely well. Next, the idea of a mysterious package arriving and leading to several murders, is pretty cool, and it will be interesting to see how that unfolds, especially with how it connects to the main characters. Finally, the revelation that someone close to them is possibly going to die is pretty concerning, especially as Osman has done such a good job of building up an enjoyable supporting cast over the last three books. As such, I am even more eager for The Last Devil to Die than I was before seeing this synopsis, which I didn’t think would be possible.
In addition to some of the details contained in the synopsis above, there are a lot of other cool things that I am very excited to see in The Last Devil to Die. I am particularly keen for the unique and captivating main characters, especially as Osman writes all four of these hilarious retirees perfectly, and they serve as an excellent and funny bunch of narrators. I love the way these four play off each other, and it will be great to see more of their specific character arcs, especially as some of them can be quite emotional or tragic at times. It will be interesting to see who gets more of a focus in this novel, although I assume with the mysterious international package it will probably be another Elizabeth-heavy book, which I’m honestly fine with. I also cannot wait to get more of Osman’s dry, British, and hilarious comedy, which as really made the last three books stand out. I have such an amusing time reading through them, and it is particularly fun when the older characters manage to confound the younger characters who are constantly underestimating them. If Osman brings all this, and more, into his next book, than I know I am going to absolutely love The Last Devil to Die.
Look, I don’t think I can be any clearer with the fact that I am deeply excited for this next Thursday Murder Club book. Richard Osman can frankly do no wrong in my opinion, and I already know that The Last Devil to Die is going to top all my best-of lists for 2023. I cannot wait till September to get The Last Devil to Die and I am very, very keen to see how the entire elaborate story unfolds. I will probably try and get the audiobook version The Last Devil to Die, as the other Thursday Murder Club have been pretty exceptional in this format, and it will be interesting to see who the get as a narrator this time. Overall, this is easily one my most anticipated books of 2023 and it is going to be magical.
The Unseen Library 