Wot I Read in July

The Dark Blood – AJ Smith

This is the 2^nd in The Chronicles of the Long War series. (FYI - The Black Guard was the first.) And it is bloody brilliant. I do love me some epic fantasy and this book delivers on all angles. A carefully constructed world – just familiar and yet different enough to engage – great plotting, wonderful baddies and heroes you want to spend time with. Not read any fantasy for a while? Get stuck into this.

Cold in July – Joe R Lansdale

This book, from which the movie was made, had me scratching my head and asking, why the hell have I not read everything this man has ever written? He is tremendous. His characters are as quirky as a frog in a hat and his prose sharp and telling. Go read it already.

Walter Mosley – Rose Gold

A Walter Mosley release is an occasion in my house. What can I say, I’m a fan. And in this book, one of my favourite ever characters to be committed to print – Easy Rawlins – is back on the case.

Wonderful stuff.

Jay Posey – Morningside Fall

Legends of the Duskwalker Book 2 – follow up to “Three” the 2013 release from Angry Robot. This is sci-fi, but if you are not a fan of that genre don’t be put off – it’s gritty, truly action-packed and in your face. The action just does not let up for 400 odd pages. Just begging to be made into a movie!

Dominique Manotti – Escape

Two men escape from prison in a rubbish lorry. They part company, with Carlo heading to Milan and Filippo trekking over the mountains. Carlo is killed in a shoot-out with armed police and Filippo pitches up in Paris where he takes to writing a story Carlo told him in prison. A publisher loves it and it becomes a sensation throughout Europe. But the police don’t believe it is fiction – and the brown stuff goes splat onto the fan.

Manotti is a gifted writer, racking up the tension nicely thankyouverymuch. She also adds a touch of social, economic and political history for those readers who expect more from their authors than “just” action.

Deon Meyer – Cobra

Benny Griessel is back!!! Yeah, it’s totally worth three exclamation marks. Meyer is one of the best out there. He conjures up a tension that will have you reading into the wee hours. Go on, pick up one of his books. The man is a crime-writing genius.

1914 – Goodbye to All That (Writers on the conflict between life and art)

You have to stretch yourself as a reader now and again, yeah?  So get your baby blues stuck into this. It’s a truly fascinating collection of essays from a bunch of writers not afraid to give it some up close and personal stuff. You will be moved. You will be fascinated. Trust me.

What about you? What have you enjoyed reading this month?