I recently had the privilege of participating in the Words and Nerds Four Critics, Four Continents podcast alongside critics Craig Sisterson, Ayo Onatade, and writer SA Cosby. It was great fun as usual, and we crammed in several of our favourite books from 2023 in just over an hour.
I was reminded once more by everyone’s choices of why I love to read crime fiction. Because it often captures a particular era’s social and political climate, this genre can serve as a perfect time capsule. It’s really never just about the story.
It certainly was the year for closed circle inspired crime fiction whether involved a group of people stuck on an island, in a mansion, on a mountain or in a cabin during a retreat/ storm/ bachelorette party, we’ve seen it all. In the last year or so, there has also been a notable increase in books featuring true crime podcasters as main characters. Not to be overlooked are the gothic mysteries inspired by Daphne Du Maurier that were published this year, such as Kate Griffin’s deliciously wicked and great fun to read Fyneshade.
It’s impossible to choose just a few books after reading nearly 120 and reviewing at least 70 of them. Nonetheless, here are some of the books I enjoyed reading this year.
SMALL MERCIES: DENNIS LEHANE
Until I picked up Small Mercies this I didn’t think Lehane or anyone else could top Mystic River. Yet 22 years later he comes up with a story which proves once again he’s one of the best crime writers out there.
Small Mercies is set in Boston in the 1974 during a heatwave and the desegregation of local public schools when high school students from low-income black areas were bused into poor white neighborhoods, and vice versa. The goal was to improve the quality of education system and create a balance between the funding given to underpopulated white schools and under-equipped Black schools. Obviously this backfired tremendously and the city erupted with protests and racial violence.
In this turmoil we find Mary Pat Fennessey, lives in Southie, a housing project where mostly Irish immigrants have settled. It’s a rough, poor neighbourhood where different rules are followed and the Irish mob has the last word. One of the characters calls Southie a place where “Every guy has a thousand-yard stare. Every woman has an attitude.” And Mary Pat Fenessey is certainly one of the tough ones. She’s a single working mother with two jobs and she’s barely keeping head above water. She’s been married twice and her son died from a drug overdose after he returned from Vietnam.
Lehane creates such an unlikable and thoroughly racist protagonist in Mary Pat, but simultaneously he goes to the core of the character and finds that little bit of humanity buried deep down somewhere.
At the same time a young black man is found killed on the subway station near the Southie neighbourhood and Mary Pat’s daughter disappears. This adds fuel to an already simmering fire of violence and hate.
Lehane grabs you all the way through. You’ll be enraged and angry at the injustice of life, as well as the tragedy, hopelessness and sadness of it all and that is exactly what a good writer should do-evoke emotion.
It’s not comfortable reading, instead it involves and challenges its reader to reassess preconceived ideas and prejudices, especially those inherited from our parents and society.
If there’s one book you need to read, this is it.
ON THE SAVAGE SIDE: TIFFANY MCDANIEL
Much like Small Mercies On the Savage Side is also inspired by real events: the disappearance of 6 women over 14 months in Chillicothe, Ohio during 2014 and 2015.
It’s not a typical procedural crime thriller, but rather chronicles the lives of two sisters growing up with their drug-addicted mother and the tragedy of history repeating itself because there’s no other alternative for them.
There’s a heart-breaking innocence to the narration of the two girls which makes it all the more chilling. Later as adults they experience a different type of threat as women in town are murdered and found in the nearby river.
The investigation of the murders is largely absent here, instead McDaniel gives a voice to the victims. Just because these women were either prostitutes or drug addicts their murders weren’t worth investigating. They’re considered disposable. On the Savage Side reminded me of Ivy Pochoda’s These Women and Camilla Sosa Villada’s The Queens of Sarmiento Park.
The same sexual violence and discrimination based on race, sex or social status occurs everywhere, whether it’s in America, India or South Africa. And that’s what makes On the Savage side such a powerful read.
If ever there has to be a trigger warning this books needs one that says: Warning, this book will break your heart. It’s gut-wrenching, bold and tragic, but nonetheless it has a brutal, visceral beauty which forces you to keep on reading even if you know that this isn’t a story with a happy ending.
A DEATH IN DENMARK: AMULYA MALLADI
A Death in Denmark introduces the charming Gabriel Praest, a Kierkegaard quoting, sharply dressed detective who is also a jazz musician.
Even though it’s set in Denmark, the book was written in English and isn’t your classic Scandinavian crime fiction novel. Malladi is a a Danish citizen, but was born in India and now resides in Los Angeles. It’s more hardboiled and tongue-in-cheek than it is gloomy.
The characters, particularly Praest, should not be taken too seriously. The writing style is typically noir, short sentences, to the point and it’s peppered with witty one-liners. This is almost over the top noir, and one wonders whether it’s done jokingly to reinforce the hardboiled styling.
A Death in Denmark is a strong debut novel with just the right balance of strong character and plot. You can read a more in-depth review here.
THE GOLDEN GATE: AMY CHUA
On the surface The Golden Gate seems like a classic golden age mystery inspired crime novel. A well-known politician is murdered in a fancy hotel in San Francisco and a socialite from a wealthy and influential family is one of the suspects. Yet, this is so well-written and avoids the typical cliches of mystery and crime fiction set in the 1940s.
This is San Francisco during a time of transition and it shows a slice of life for immigrants during the time while highlighting the accompanying social issues. It also has a main protagonist, detective Al Sullivan, who struggles to reconcile his Mexican-Jewish heritage with his job as police officer.
Even though Chua is known for her non-fiction work, including her memoir Battle Hymn of the Tiger mother, she is an accomplished writer who obviously understands the social and political climate of the time. The Golden Gate is her first fiction novel and it’s a pretty impressive debut. You can read the full review here.
SOMETHING BAD WRONG: ERYK PRUITT
It’s always interesting when a screen writer tries his hand at crime fiction because they tend to focus more on the visual aspects of the story and this is definitely the case with Eryk Pruit. His writing style and characterisation of the southern American landscape and a small group of its people is what makes it stand out. Read the full review here.
THE GIRL IN THE EAGLE’S TALONS: KARIN SMIRNOFF
This might be a bit of an unpopular choice because I think many Larsson fans are still comparing Stieg Larsson’s successors to him.
I won’t go into the plot detail, but Smirnoff brings a unique perspective to a popular series known for its intricate plots, action sequences and strong social commentary. This also feels more character-driven with a greater focus on Lisbeth than the previous books in the series. Even though she kept true to the characters and returns to Larsson’s important social and political commentary her version has more of a literary feel to it.
Her writing style is her greatest strength, whether it’s the terse, staccato sentences she employs to keep readers on edge or the expansive, dramatic and cinematic descriptions of her settings.
Karin Smirnoff undoubtedly had big shoes to fill. She’s not Stieg Larsson, but she doesn’t try to be. But I think she succeeds in her own way. Read a more in-depth review here.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Girls of Little Hope: Sam Beckbessinger and Dale Halvorsen
If you like a touch of horror and 90s cultural references, you’ll love this coming-of-age read. About three girls who went into a forest outside the fictional town of Little Hope, California and days later only two returned home. Lots of movie and music references and great fun to read. Afrikaans review available for Netwerk24 subscribers.
Old God’s Time: Sebastian Barry
Atmospheric, deceptive, beautifully written. Not strong on plot, but that’s not what’s important here. Barry delves into morality and memory with an unreliable narrator readers will sympathise with. Afrikaans review available for Netwerk24 subscribers.
Expectant: Vanda Symon
I do love a swearing, unapologetically flawed main protagonist and Sam Shepard fits the bill perfectly. Read the full review.
Fyneshade: Kate Griffin
Wonderfully dark and twisted gothic mystery with a deliciously evil main character you can’t help but like and hate at the same time. Read the full review.
The Acapulco: Simone Buchholz
Another strong female character. Chastity Riley is almost as rough around the edges as Sam Shepard, but what makes Simone Buchholz’s books stand out is her writing style. Short, almost surprisingly abrupt, but it fits in perfectly with the noir genre. I’m sure Rachel Ward’s translation plays a large role in Simone’s voice being conveyed in English.
Chastity’s wry commentary, astute observations and cool disposition combined with the seedy Hamburg setting already have outstanding hardboiled potential. Such fun to read. Read the full review.
Murder at the Residence by Stella Blomkvist introduces one of my favourite new female protagonists to English readers. Read the full review.
Skin Deep by Antonia Lassa is short, but impactful with a unique premise and original plot. Read the full review.
WEST WORDS REVIEWS 