'Tis the Season for 'Best of' lists

The * Best of 2008 * lists have been raving about DHS all-stars. Here are the outstanding authors in January Magazine's Best Crime Fiction of 2008:


EMPTY EVER AFTER, by Reed Farrel Coleman

"Reed Farrel Coleman is a writer at the top of his game. The winner of several prestigious mystery-fiction awards, he never cheats his readers. There are well-delineated reasons his characters do what they do, and his stories leave you thinking. Coleman writes lush back-story, and wry observations are coupled with broad comedic touches that lighten the tone. Gem-like characters pebble the landscape"


ENVY THE NIGHT, by Michael Koryta

"Envy the Night is that rarest of literary creatures: a standalone thriller that you want to see turned into a series. Could it happen? We live in hope."



SEVERANCE PACKAGE by Duane Swierczynski

"In Severance Package, the Pole with Soul offers up...a combination of The Terminator and Die Hard, except this is written by Duane Swierczynski, whose debut novel, Secret Dead Men, centered on a schizophrenic zombie. So this is really Terminator and Die Hard on acid. As a bonus, the novel shows some influence from Swierczynski’s comic-book work. This book makes the list on its weird factor alone."


Over at Mystery Bookshelf, Swierczy's THE BLONDE is one of the Top Ten Best Reads of 2008.






Last, but certainly not least, is GO-GO GIRLS OF THE APOCALYPSE, by Victor Gischler.

Not only is it one of January Magazine's Best books of 2008, but it's also in Bookgasm's Top 10 books of 2008.

"This is the book that surprised me the most. This is a living, breathing world where the worst things you can imagine could happen, do. The scariest part is how plausible it is. I daresay it’s even better than Cormac McCarthy’s slightly overrated THE ROAD, because its satire is a lot smarter. And because of how funny it is, the horror of the world’s situation is even more horrific. I can’t believe how great this book is. Go find out for yourself." - Cameron Hughes

And for anyone out there who doubted go-go girls could be fodder for literary research, the Science Fiction Research Association (SFRA) has some choice words for you:

"Gischler’s book, as it straddles the line between science fiction and Southern studies, presents a vision of the American South that estranges and interrogates contemporary notions of the modern South, and especially, the notion of Atlanta as an 'international city of the future'...Gischler is onto something here...the city’s cultural identity and its landscape have been transformed and fragmented by economic processes...Gischler’s entertaining narrative and rugged, fun prose give us something to consider"


A merry toast to one and all!