The Top Mystery Novels of 2007
A Look at the the Best of the Year's New Releases
The past year has seen some long-heralded novels released, some near-forgotten classics re-released, and some surprisingly good efforts by new authors.
The year 2007 brought thousands of new mystery novel releases, more than any one person could possibley consume. However, after reading over 100 of the good, bad, and just plain boring, some clear winners emerge. Below is a (purely subjective) list of favorites:
"Christine Falls." The mystery debut of Booker Prize-winning author, John Banville (writing as Benjamin Black) is a tightly written, suspenseful drama that leaves the reader satisfied, but wanting more. The ending is like a classic film noir that leaves the reader questioning who knew what and when did they know it. The tale centers around a all-too human, middle-aged pathologist named Quirke, a man with more than a few secrets of his own, and the death of a young woman under mysterious circumstances.
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows". What can be said about the final installment of the seven-book Harry Potter series that hasn't already been said? Despite all of the hype and publicity, the book delivers on its promise of tying all of the story threads from the previous novels together and letting the reader know Potter's fate. Are the Harry Potter novels the most eloquently-written books ever published? Most will say not. Still, author J.K. Rowling has a knack for creating fantasy that seems uncannily real and characters for whom the reader is left cheering.
John Bingham Novels. 2007 saw the re-release, by Simon and Schuster, of three mid-20th century mystery novels by John Bingham, the pen name of a MI-5 career agent and former colleague of author, John le Carre. Bingham's extremely well-written tomes have a dark, almost existential quality, and include not one unnecessary word. Pick up "My Name is Michael," "Five Roundabouts to Heaven," or "A Fragment of Fear" for a good mystery read that defies time and place.
"Volk's Game." Much has changed in Russia over the last two decades, but "Volk's Game" illustrates that deception, crime, and corruption have not gone away; they've merely changed hands. This sometimes violent novel by Brent Ghelfi takes the reader behind the scenes of Moscow's underground economy, where most anything can be purchased for a price. It's a refreshing change of pace and scenery from the almost cookie-cutter mysteries set in Washington DC and the Middle East.
A Nail Through the Heart." Tackling disturbing subject matter with eloquent and fluid prose and well-paced action, author Timothy Hallinan takes the reader to the seamier side of Southeast Asia. "A Nail Through the Heart," Hallinan's eighth novel is an insightful work that makes good use of the author's many years' experience living in Southeast Asia. It is at times a difficult book, not for the reader who prefers cottage cozies, but Hallinan's use of language and phrasing alone make this a book well worth picking up.
