1st Place
- House of Silk – Anthony Horowitz
Brilliant! is the one word description I would give to
Anthony Horowitz’s House of Silk. The characters came to life through Mr.
Horowitz’s pen; and his descriptions of the life of the privileged, lavish and
indulgent, juxtaposed against the desperation of the poor and the orphaned
provided the perfect setting; all wrapped up in the dirt and fog of a raw
English winter. I was there with Sherlock Holmes and Watson in Victorian
London. But it wasn’t only the weather
that chilled me to the bone. The subject
was so shocking to Watson that he ordered the manuscript not to be published
for 100 years. With two very different
murders to investigate the plot is deliciously complex. While some answers
seemed obvious, others took me by surprise.
This mystery was fulfilling on every level. The writing was beautiful,
the descriptions vivid, and the puzzle engaging right to the end. Written as a
reflection by Dr. Watson, some years after the death of Sherlock Holmes, the
characters were completely true to the originals. It’s no wonder that this was
the first Sherlock Holmes novel written by another author to receive the
authorization of the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate.
2nd Place
The Brutal Telling – Louise Penny
Once again Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand
Gamache makes my top 5 list. Armand is a
rare breed indeed – relentless in his
search for truth; yet honest, noble, intelligent and kind. The complex
storyline, lovable characters, and delightful setting for these mysteries make
them irresistible!
3rd Place - A Cold Treachery – Charles Todd
This Inspector Ian Rutledge case kept me guessing right up
to the end. The mother-son writing team offers a great study in human nature along
with an engrossing mystery.
Honorable mention - Believing the Lie – Elizabeth George
The latest in the Inspector Thomas Lynley series will not disappoint his followers as Thomas
steps in again to discreetly puzzle out what really happened in the boathouse
late that night. Surely it was just an unfortunate accident.
Bloodline – Felix Francis
I am happy to say that Felix Francis has filled the shoes of
his late father, jockey and mystery writer, Dick Francis. Without missing a
beat, this story provides the excitement and intrigue of the British Horse
Racing world that the elder Francis provided. It’s like a quick and enjoyable
romp among old friends.
