Books

As of this writing I've finished 28 books so far this year.
Very few lemons and several top of the line recommendations.
Best of the bunch was The Last Good Kiss by James Crumley. I've been hearing about Crumley for a year and finally tracked down a few of his books. This one features his great character C.W. Shugrue, one of the toughest, best written characters I've seen in this kind of book. A terrific read.
---
We Pointed Them North by "Teddy Blue" is an ls an old cowboy's recollection of life on the range. Larry McMurtry has raved about this book for years and of course he's right. Lots of great detail about the "real" Wild West.
---
Walking the Dog is another terrific Walter Mosley book. This one features the fascinating Socrates Fortlow, an aging ex-convict who grapples with poverty and violence while at the same time pondering the more philosophical aspects of his existence.
---
The Third Call of Legba and The Devil Will Not Be Mocked are the first two volumes in a five-book collection of the works of the late southern fantasy writer Manly Wade Wellman. Reading them all at one time means some repetitiveness, but for the most part these two collections are fresh and fun. There's a knowing sense of the old rural south here and that's rare to find.
---
I didn't know anything about Jeff Somers before, but his two sci fi novels The Electric Church and The Digital Plague blew me away with their unrelenting pace, brutal violence and sly sense of humor. He's got a new one coming out this summer and it will immediately vault to the top of my to read list.
---
I've read several other really enjoyable books, but these top the list ... so far.