TOP TWENTY-FIVE FOR FIRST TWENTY-FIVE (20-16)

In this next section of the best twenty-five crime novels and thrillers published in th first twenty-five years of this century, we have five writers that show how to lean itno genre to create something fresh and memorable.

20. HOLLOW MAN by Mark Pryor- An ADA who is also a sociopath becomes involved in both a heist and a femme fatale in this pitch black noir with a great use of point of view. Pryor's Dominic could be a later generation cousin to Jim Thompson's Lou Ford..

19. A FINE DARK LINE by Joe R. Lansdale- While knocking out many books this century that planted his name in literature. Joe's coming of age mystery often gets lost in the shuffle. He mines parts of his own life for this story of a thirteen year-old boy in 1959 who discovers the love letters of a couple who were victims of an unsolved murder. With the help of the black projectionist at his parents drive in, he works to solve the cold case. Full of Lansdale's humor, southern gothic viber,and word play, it also shows him at his most humanist.

18. MYSTIC RIVER by Dennis Lehane- One hell of an emotional novel with three estranged friends on different sides of the law whose bond was broken when one was the victim of a past crime brought back together when one of their daughters is murdered and one becomes a suspect. Lehane mined his Boston community for and observant, suspenseful, and moving novel.

17. FRANK SINATRA IN A BLENDER by Matthew McBride- Pure insane, ultra violent fun. Semi-functioning alcoholic P.I. Nick Valentine chases after the robbers who committed murder at a credit union and the cash they took from it is a fast paced tale of dogs, guns, and chainsaws and still finds a beating heart iin it's story and hero, This book is wrong for all the right reasons. Don't just take my word , Charlie Shen touted this book in during his tiger blood phase.

16. MONEY SHOT by Christa Faust- Faust kicked off her trilogy with pornstar-turned-avenging angel, Angel Dare on the run when pinned for murder in this unapologetic pulp novel..Faust gives us an inside look at the adult entertainment industry and loving take on hard boiled fiction.