#28. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson

Title:	The Girl Who Played With Fire
Author:	Stieg Larsson
Genre:	Scandinavian Murder/Crime Fiction/Thriller
Synopsis:	Journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander are reunited after a journalist and a scholar are murdered whilst investigating a connection between prostitution, the government and organised crime. An old conspiracy is raked up and intrigue and violence abound as we discover more of Lisbeth's past and some of it comes looking for her.
Verdict:	Larsson’s story and characters continue to be gripping, unexpected and really carefully presented. More pieces of the puzzle are revealed by the picture as a whole is still a mystery.
Pages:	569
Read:	December 2009

#27. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Title:	The Handmaid’s Tale
Author:	Margaret Atwood
Genre:	Post-Apocalyptic Fiction/Thriller
Synopsis:	Via a kind of diary we find the main character in a patriarchal oppressive religious society which is based around infertility and ritual.
Verdict:	This book scared the bejesus out of me on a whole other level. The idea that women’s rights could slowly – or not so slowly – be phased out again, even in a developed country and then completely removed left me feeling panicky and convinced that a) I have never appreciated those rights before and b) I should be doing a lot more personally to cement and advance gender equality. The first person account seemed stream of consciousness rather than recounted later – as it is described in the book – but I was too creeped out be much bothered by that.
Pages:	324
Read:	December 2009

#26. The Hyperion Omnibus by Dan Simmons

Title:	The Hyperion Omnibus
Author:	Dan Simmons
Genre:	Science-Fiction
Synopsis:	Pilgrims on the way to visit the Time Tombs share their stories as an intergalactic war threatens. Their interlacing tales and fates that bring them to this point at this time drive a compelling plot as they try to uncover the divisions within their company and identify the enemies outside their civilisation.
Verdict:	Very layered, intriguing high-concept sci-fi. Impressive and carefully planned.
Pages:	779
Read:	December 2009

#25. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

Title:	Heart-Shaped Box
Author:	Joe Hill
Genre:	Horror/Supernatural/Thriller
Synopsis:	An aging rock star buys a ghost off the internet and finds himself actually haunted by a vengeful spirit, punishing him for his past, intent on ensuring he hasn’t got a future and none too careful of those around him.
Verdict:	This was a lot darker and more emotional than I expected, raw and honest and harsh. Lots of fun to read, real gut twisting reactions. One of those books you can’t put down until you’ve finished it because you won’t be able to sleep with the events it describes unresolved. Also I really, really appreciate owning dogs after reading this. Read it, you’ll understand.
Pages:	309
Read:	November – December 2009

#24. The Complete Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby

Title:	The Complete Polysyllabic Spree
Author:	Nick Hornby
Genre:	Book Reviews/Humour
Synopsis:	The author reviews other writers’ books and documents his purchases, his own reading habits and his complete failure to ever get around to certain books.
Verdict:	Entertaining but not hilarious, gave me some reading ideas. I’ve never liked Nick Hornby’s novels but found his reviews decent reading.
Pages:	273
Read:	November – December 2009

#23. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Title:	The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Author:	Stieg Larsson
Genre:	Scandinavian Murder/Crime Fiction/Thriller
Synopsis:	A disgraced journalist is asked to investigate the 40 year old disappearance of a young girl and finds himself joining forces with a dysfunctional hacker in order to uncover a much more shocking chain of events than anyone anticipated.
Verdict:	Harsh, confronting but balanced and enjoyable. Fresh characters that exceed expectations with their actions and depth. The first part of the book is heavily taken up with establishing the characters’ back stories and personalities but I felt it was time well spent which paid off later on.
Pages:	533
Read:	October 2009

#22. The Death Of A Mafia Don by Michele Giuttari

Title:	The Death Of A Mafia Don
Author:	Michele Giuttari
Genre:	Italian Crime Fiction/Police Procedural
Synopsis:	There is an attempt on a policeman’s life that leads back to a mafia power struggle and political corruption.
Verdict:	It felt very forced and the action one-step removed, I didn’t really care what happened to the main character and only really felt sorry his for enthusiastic but underappreciated assistant. Either it was a bad translation or a decent plot badly written.
Pages:	371
Read:	October 2009

#21. A Mind To Murder by P. D. James

Title:	A Mind to Murder
Author:	P. D. James
Genre:	Murder/Crime Fiction/Police Procedural
Synopsis:	An unpopular nurse at a psychiatrist’s clinic is murdered in a thoroughly unexplainable fashion. Though surrounded by mental patients and disgruntled co-workers in a secure environment a culprit is no easier to find than an explanation.
Verdict:	P. D. James books always feel a bit cold and formal but this one felt particularly clumsy and old-fashioned as it was written in the 1960s/1970s by an upper-class author who made plenty of references to girls completing typing courses and getting jobs in order to pass the time until they met a nice gent. Mostly I read P. D. James for the descriptions of clothes and food, odd I know.
Pages:	225
Read:	October 2009

#20. Nation by Terry Pratchett

Title:	Nation
Author:	Terry Pratchett
Genre:	Fiction/Drama/Humour/Alternate History
Synopsis:	A young girl is shipwrecked on an island during a hurricane that wiped out almost the entire island’s population bar one young man. As survivors from surrounding islands join them they must each overcome their alienness to each other in order to communicate, survive and try make sense of the world they now find themselves in.
Verdict:	A touching, engaging look at cultural divides and how hard it can be to find a common ground that allows each side to recognise the shared humanity that truly underlies it. Pratchett’s strongest female character yet. This is a masterpiece.
Pages:	404
Read:	October 2009

#19. Last Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko

Title:	Last Watch
Author:	Sergei Lukyanenko
Genre:	Russian Supernatural/Horror/Thriller/Drama
Synopsis:	Ordinary humans are being mobilised against Others as part of the ongoing centuries old intrigue for power which is rapidly spiralling out of control and spilling out onto the streets (woo! clichéd terms!)
Verdict:	I will never stop being amazed by how the elements of all four novels were drawn together and how almost every little thing was referred to again highlighting that they were all part of a comprehensive whole, with nothing left to chance or incidental to the story as a whole. Awesome.
Pages:	394
Read:	October 2009

#18. The Forest Of Hands And Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Title:	The Forest Of Hands And Teeth
Author:	Carrie Ryan
Genre:	Supernatural/Horror/Post Apocalyptic/Zombies
Synopsis:	A young woman begins to learn the truth about her community as she questions their place in a zombie-infested world and the rules that keep them safe but subjugated.
Verdict:	The feeling of claustrophobia and hope is palpable, well-written but very desolate. I had a bit of trouble identifying with the main character as almost every step she took forward I was yelling at her to run away but if she’d listened to me that would have made for a short boring book.
Pages:	308
Read:	September 2009

#17. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Title:	The Kite Runner
Author:	Khaled Hosseini
Genre:	Drama/Historical Fiction
Synopsis:	The actions of two young boys in pre-war Afghanistan have life-long ramifications for both of them.
Verdict:	This book broke my heart in a way no other book has before. I’m glad I read it, I feel a better person for having read it but it definitely broke me. An incredibly moving and beautifully told story of loss, identity and hope.
Pages:	324
Read:	September 2009 – February 2010

#16. Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko

Title:	Twilight Watch
Author:	Sergei Lukyanenko
Genre:	Russian Supernatural/Horror/Thriller/Drama
Synopsis:	The possibility that Others may be able to recruit from regular humans instead of waiting for potential Others to be born throws the balance into chaos as each side searches for foretold champions.
Verdict:	The truth of the Others and the things that define and separate them continues to be drawn out and I am impressed all over again by Sergei Lukyanenko’s attention to detail.
Pages:	405
Read:	September 2009

#15. Day Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko

Title:	Day Watch
Author:	Sergei Lukyanenko
Genre:	Russian Supernatural/Horror/Thriller/Drama
Synopsis:	The nature of the light and Dark is further outlined as they manoeuvre.
Verdict:	For a series based on the nature of morality, there are no simple answers. Another excellent novel from Lukyanenko.
Pages:	405
Read:	September 2009

#14. Patient Zero by John Maberry

Title:	Patient Zero
Author:	John Maberry
Genre:	Thriller/Action/Zombies
Synopsis:	A cop is pulled onto a team which is trying to stop terrorists using zombies as a biological weapon.
Verdict:	Fast-paced, bite-sized chapters, good characters ad not dogmatic. Plus there are zombies.
Pages:	424
Read:	September 2009

#13. Butcher Bird by Richard Kadrey

Title:	Butcher Bird
Author:	Richard Kadrey
Genre:	Superanatural/Action/Fiction
Synopsis:	A tattoo artist has an encounter with a supernatural being and is suddenly aware of other spheres of reality and must go on a quest to try regain normality.
Verdict:	Complex, detailed, intriguing and entertaining. Very fast-paced without feeling rushed.
Pages:	266
Read:	September 2009

#12. Flat Earth News by Nick Davies

Title:	Flat Earth News
Author:	Nick Davies
Genre:	Non-Fiction/Exposé
Synopsis:	Examines the changes in modern media and how they have led to inaccurate, incomplete and dangerous reporting, misleading and misguiding us.
Verdict:	Illuminating but very depressing, especially its highlighting of how little information we somehow manage to share and/or distribute despite the fact we’re more connected than ever.
Pages:	397
Read:	August 2009 – January 2010

#11. Death Message by Mark Billingham

Title:	Death Message
Author:	Mark Billingham
Genre:	Crime/Thriller
Synopsis:	A serial killer sends photos of his victims and intended victims to the police as a challenge as he goes about his work.
Verdict:	Characters stay complex and lines are crossed which you always assume cops might but are rarely shown doing in fiction.
Pages:	376
Read:	August 2009

#10. Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott

Title:	Ivanhoe
Author:	Sir Walter Scott
Genre:	Historical Fiction
Synopsis:	A disinherited knight returns to England from the crusades and is caught up in the conflict of the times.
Verdict:	The language made it slow going but gave it a certain beauty. The sociological issues explored are still relevant today and very bold for the times.
Pages:	477
Read:	August – September 2009

#9. Bonk: The Curious Coupling Of Sex And Science

Title:	Bonk: The Curious Coupling Of Sex And Science
Author:	Mary Roach
Genre:	Humorous Research/Non-Fiction
Synopsis:	A study of the scientific investigation into the nature, function and physiological effects of sex.
Verdict:	A return to form after the let down of ‘Spook’. Interesting, informative and amusing.
Pages:	306
Read:	August 2009.

#8. The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko

Title:	The Night Watch
Author:	Sergei Lukyanenko
Genre:	Russian Supernatural/Horror/Thriller/Drama
Synopsis:	Supernatural law-keeping and intrigue in Russia. Conspiracy and power plays abound as different magical creatures and beings called The Others face each other and try to keep or destroy the balance of Light and Dark which holds the world in check.
Verdict:	Surprising, engaging and excellent. The foreignness of the Russian setting and mindset give the fantastic events a strange reality and grounding.
Pages:	489
Read:	August 2009

#7. Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Title:	Let The Right One In
Author:	John Ajvide Lindqvist
Genre:	Horror/Fiction/Drama
Synopsis:	A bullied young boy befriends an outcast girl during a time of personal drama whilst a murderer roams the streets.
Verdict:	Excellent. I can’t work out if I would have liked it more or less if I read it before ‘Undead’ but I wasn’t as shocked as I might have been since I had some experience of Lindqvist’s style.
Pages:	513
Read:	August 2009

#6. The Preacher by Camilla Läckberg

Title:	The Preacher
Author:	Camilla Läckberg
Genre:	Crime/Thriller
Synopsis:	The body of a tourist discovered near the remains of an older body lead the police to a family whose connection to an old travelling faith healer hides stranger secrets than anyone could anticipate.
Verdict:	Similar feel to ‘Ice Princess’, good characters, a bit less focused but still strong. Themes and long running stories continue to develop.
Pages:	419
Read:	July – August 2009

#5. Spook: Science Tackles The Afterlife

Title:	Spook: Science Tackles The Afterlife
Author:	Mary Roach
Genre:	Humorous Research/Non-Fiction
Synopsis:	An examination of the scientific studies done in an attempt to work out what happens to us after death, whether the soul can be measured and other such ideas.
Verdict:	I enjoyed it but not as much as ‘Stiff’. It felt a little vague and forced at times, no doubt because you can’t form proper scientific conclusions about something so philosophical which can’t be answered by the living and the dead have yet to comment.
Pages:	277
Read:	July – August 2009

#4. Handling The Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Title:	Handling The Undead
Author:	John Ajvide Lindqvist
Genre:	Horror/Fiction/Drama
Synopsis:	People in Stockholm begin to return from the dead and the living must deal with the ramifications.
Verdict:	Amazing. Well-drawn characters, interesting look at grief, mortality and human nature.
Pages:	364
Read:	July – August 2009

#3. The Mighty Book Of Boosh by Noel Fielding, Julian Barrat et al

Title:	The Mighty Book Of Boosh
Author:	Noel Fielding, Julian Barrat et al
Genre:	TV Show Companion
Synopsis:	Assorted extra material, stories, instructions and art.
Verdict:	Nice to have read it but I don’t need to own it. My favourite bit was the bingo rhymes next to each page number.
Pages:	304
Read:	July 2009