2013 Favorite Debuts

I went back and forth on how to do this one. Should I just include debuts that came out this year or all debut novels I read? I decided on the latter since my other lists have included books published prior to 2013. This year I read 21 debuts (a new high, topping 18 in 2010). Of those there was only 1 I didn't finish, so they were all very good debuts. These are the ones that were favorites of that group. I'll definitely be watching closely for more from these folks.


Country Hardball by Steve Weddle - I've just finished this one, so you'll get the review soon. It's very unusual for a collection of short stories to appear on my end of the year favorites lists...primarily because I don't read many. But this one is exceptional. The interconnection of the stories telling an overall story of a Southern small town is engaging, lyrical and authentic. Great, great book!

The Qualities of Wood by Mary Vensel White - This one technically debuted last year as an ebook; it will have its print debut next year, so I read it sandwiched in the middle. Another authentic look at a small town full of colorfully dimensional characters. The writing is beautiful and the atmosphere is rich. Hope there's lots more to come from White.

The Guilty One by Lisa Ballantyne - The depth of this plot is suspenseful and beautiful. The dual storylines are handled deftly and the characters are stunningly memorable. For me the little added bonus on this one is seeing the workings of the British legal system. Ballantyne integrates them without weighing down the story but still providing a birds-eye view.

Loyalty by Ingrid Thoft - The introduction of Fina Ludlow to the crime fiction world is a highlight of my 2013. She's a great female character vying in a male-dominated world. Thoft balances the humor with her situation's gravity and creates a great all-around PI. I'm looking forward to Fina's future feats!

Dead Harvest by Chris Holm - This debut was actually last year also, so I was a little slow in my introduction to this great trilogy. And really any thing that can pull me out of my traditional crime fiction realm has to be pretty spectacular. The meticulous care Holm took in creating this "Collector" world made for an amazing story and an all-around fun reading experience.

Shadow of the Corps by James DuPont - I know you've all experienced the "I can't put this book down" read. Shadow of the Corps is one of those for me. And then at the end, I didn't want to put it down. The plot twists, the psychological element, and fascinating characters all add up to one outstanding debut.

It's always fun to discover new authors, isn't it? These are my favorite debuts of 2013, but I actually read 65 authors who were new to me just this year. While adding so many new authors to the mix makes it challenging to keep up with everyone, it's fabulous to know that there's plenty of good stuff out there to keep me in good books for a very, very long time. What new authors did you discover this year?

Tomorrow I'll wrap up 2013 with my overall favorites list. Hope you'll stop back and share your favorite reads this year!

Happy Reading! 

The Guilty One - Lisa Ballantyne

My review of The Guilty One appeared last month in Shelf Awareness for Readers. It is appearing here with their permission. This book was also one of my Nerdy Picks for March at Pop Culture Nerd's blog. If this book doesn't make my overall favorite list of 2013, it'll definitely be a favorite debut. I loved it!

First line: "The air smelled of gunpowder when Daniel emerged from the Angel tube stop and headed for Islington Police Station."

Debut novelist, Lisa Ballantyne, writes as though she’s a practiced, polished veteran of the craft as well as an esteemed expert in the realm of child psychology. Her protagonist, Daniel Hunter, was a troubled youth who found his saving grace in an eccentric widow named Minnie.

As an adult Daniel is a successful solicitor who has taken on the defense of the “Angel Killer” Sebastian Croll, an eleven-year-old boy accused of brutally murdering his eight-year-old neighbor. Adult Daniel sees his younger self in Sebastian and is determined to keep him from a life of imprisonment. Guilty or innocent, Daniel believes no child Seb’s age can benefit from the London penal institution. It can only work to destroy mind, body and spirit.

Meanwhile, Daniel receives news that Minnie, his adoptive mother, has died. Estranged from Minnie for over 15 years, Daniel experiences mixed and confusing feelings. By alternating chapters between the present, the progression of Seb’s trial, and the past, Daniel’s youth, Ballantyne slowly unveils the mystery of Daniel and Minnie’s estrangement.

A story of redemption and regret, Ballantyne shows how prisons aren’t always made of steel bars and freedom isn’t always what we perceive it to be. Readers will be as captivated by the unparalleled characters as they are by the intense, psychological plot.

Haunting and heart wrenching, The Guilty One is a highly emotional, addictive reading experience that will appeal to readers of all genres. With a debut this explosive, it’s hard to imagine what Ballantyne’s encore will bring.

The Guilty One is available in trade paperback (ISBN: 978-0062195517) from William Morrow. An audio version was recorded in the UK, but I don't know if a US version will be made or not. I'll update you if I hear anything.