One of my favorite things as a reader is discovering new authors whose work I instantly fall in love with. Whether these are debut authors or bestsellers whose work I simply haven’t read yet, there’s nothing like that feeling of finding a new-to-you author whose books just work for you.
In this blog post, I’m thrilled to share with you the top five “new to me” authors whose work made a lasting impression on me this year! This list is a blend of debut authors and established writers -- what they all have in common is simple: 2017 marked the first time I explored their work, but it won’t be the last time I dig into their books. If you haven’t read these authors yet, let this be your inspiration to check them out - they’re fantastic.
Note: I am limiting this list to authors whose books were available for purchase in 2017, either as new releases or older reads. I’ve already started reading 2018 releases in preparation for the new year, but I won’t be mentioning those authors here!
Top 5 "New to Me" Authors from 2017
1. Vidar Sundstøl
Read in 2017: THE DEVIL’S WEDDING RING
CBTB Rating: 5/5
Read My Review // Read My Q&A With Sundstøl
If you love Nordic Noir, Norwegian crime writer Vidar Sundstøl simply must be added to your reading list. Sundstol is the award-winning author of the Minnesota Trilogy, but I first discovered his work through his 2017 standalone, THE DEVIL’S WEDDING RING. A masterful blend of Norwegian folklore and modern-day investigation, this atmospheric and immersive story follows a private investigator who becomes convinced that the death of his former colleague and longtime friend was no accident - and teams up with a local detective novel-loving librarian to dig into the mystery. THE DEVIL’S WEDDING RING transports readers to Norway’s Telemark region, delivering one of the most unique and compelling reads of my year. This is a slower-burning crime novel that I absolutely loved, from its chilling atmosphere to its fantastic characters and stunning location.
2. Chevy Stevens
Read in 2017: NEVER LET YOU GO
CBTB Rating: 5/5
Read My Review
I’m truly not sure how I made it this far into life as a crime fiction reader without reading a Chevy Stevens novel - but I’m absolutely positive I’ll have my eyes peeled for her next release. NEVER LET YOU GO is a visceral, completely addictive story of a relationship gone very wrong, and a woman fleeing from the abusive husband she thought she had put safely in her past. Stevens’ novel is impossible to look away from: an unflinching and disturbing portrayal of an abusive relationship, and a masterfully constructed psychological thriller. If you love psychological thrillers with rich character development, layered plotting, and a menacing air, NEVER LET YOU GO will be right up your alley. This was one of those reads that had me kicking myself for not reading this author sooner!
3. Liz Nugent
Read in 2017: UNRAVELING OLIVER
CBTB Rating: 4.5/5
Read My Review
Readers looking for something just a bit different will love Liz Nugent’s standout debut UNRAVELING OLIVER, released in the US this summer. A 360-degree view of a sociopath's development, this book is better qualified as a psychological profile than a psychological thriller. Through chapters alternately narrated by Oliver and those in his life, this story examines its main character's development from isolated young boy to manipulative and abusive grown man. This book begins with the story’s central crime - Oliver Ryan beating his beautiful wife into a coma - and then backpedals, providing readers with the puzzle pieces necessary to understand the psychology of the man behind this crime. Laced with menace and wholly immersive, UNRAVELING OLIVER is a standout: from its blunt, unnerving main character who is so matter of fact about his cruelty to its original and engaging storytelling, this is a crime book to remember.
4. Christopher Brookmyre
Read in 2017: BLACK WIDOW
CBTB Rating: 4.5/5
Read My Review
To coincide with my first-ever trip to Scotland this year, I decided it was time to dig into Scottish crime fiction - and naturally, I had to start with international bestseller Christopher Brookmyre. Brookmyre’s thriller BLACK WIDOW is part of his Jack Parlabane series, but can be read as a standalone - in fact, I would highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t already. Infused with social commentary and precise plotting, this is an example of truly high quality, wholly entertaining crime fiction. I was blown away by the sophistication, precision, and complexity of this book; BLACK WIDOW is a far cry from your average psychological thriller. Its intelligence, masterful plotting, and twisty, shocking plot make it a cut above. It’s no surprise why this book was named Scottish Crime Book of the Year in 2016—there’s an undercurrent of intensity running throughout BLACK WIDOW that demands the reader’s attention from first page to last, and an assurance to Brookmyre’s writing that is an absolute pleasure to read. If you haven’t read Christopher Brookmyre yet, now’s the time.
5. Karin Slaughter
Read in 2017: THE GOOD DAUGHTER
CBTB Rating: 5/5
Read My Review
Do you have any authors whose books you know you should have read, but you somehow haven’t yet? For years, Karin Slaughter has been that author for me - but that all changed in 2017. THE GOOD DAUGHTER, Slaughter’s 2017 standalone release, is an absolutely exceptional read. From its gritty plotting (this woman doesn’t shy away from the nitty gritty - and I love that about her) to its emotional complexity and depth of character development, THE GOOD DAUGHTER got under my skin in a huge way. THE GOOD DAUGHTER is the kind of exceptional psychological thriller that only comes around once every so often—a story as in-your-face shocking as it is tender and heartbreaking. Page by page, Slaughter methodically unfolds the history of two sisters, and reveals the horrific past that has both tied them together and driven them apart. Slaughter has written a brilliant, bold crime novel that examines the unbreakable bond of family and the lengths two women will go to uncover the truth about the brutal secrets of their past.
Plus: CBTB’s Best Crime Books of 2017
In case you missed it, my list of “Best Crime Books of 2017” is now live! This list includes my pick for Crime Novel of the Year, Debut of the Year, and a whole lot more. You can read the full list here.
Home ownership feel like a distant dream? Zillow listings have you convinced you’ll be renting for the rest of your life? The woman at the heart of Carissa Orlando’s debut The September House feels your pain—and she’s prepared to put up with a lot if it means she and her husband can finally have a place to call their own. In this case, that might just mean living in a house that’s haunted. Playful and irreverent, spine-tingling and spooky, The September House puts a fresh spin on the classic haunted house story, delivering an immersive tale about the secrets lurking within one building’s walls, and within the lives of its inhabitants.