[continued from part one]
8] Favourite new authors discovered
A bit repetitive but those I have mentioned previously Jussi Adler-Olsen, Arne Dahl, and Tom Franklin.
9] Most hilarious
Those who have been reading the blog will know that I found The Dinosaur’s Feather by Sisssel-Jo Gazan rather funny, and posted about it at Back story blues…..
I am still not convinced that the author was being entirely serious with this book, but if she was my apologies for making fun of her style.
10] Most thrilling unputdownable book
I think this was The Vault [Box 21 in the USA] by Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom. I felt this was a far better book than Three Seconds which won the CWA International Dagger. The Vault left me shaking at the end as I realised over the last few pages that it was going to end with that dreadful twist.
11] Book most anticipated
I had been looking forward to the new John Lawton Troy book A Lily of the Field, and it did not disappoint.
I like the covers of books to be evocative of the story and not just a stock photo taken out of the archive.
Therefore my favourite cover was that of Death on a Galician Shore by Domingo Villar.
And the book was very good as well.
13] Most meaningful character
I think Larry Ott in Tom Franklin’s Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter is someone I will remember for a long while. He is absolutely desperate for a friend, and loneliness is a dreadful problem in western countries where today close family ties are the exception rather than the rule.
14] Most beautifully written book
This is too difficult for me as I am not a judge of literary excellence, I just like a good story simply told.
15] Book that had the most impact
At the time I read it The Vault [Roslund-Hellstrom] but I suspect that the book I just finished, and have not reviewed yet, The Tears of Autumn by Charles McCarry about the assassination of President Kennedy will have a great impact.
16] Book you can’t believe you waited till 2011 to read
This was Missing by Karin Alvtegen. I have enjoyed all her books and Missing won the Nordic Glass Key back in 2001. Way before there was Lisbeth Salander there was Sibylla Forsenstrom.
That’s it.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year.
CRIME SCRAPS REVIEW 
Norman – An excellent finale to a terrific couple of posts. Thanks for sharing!
Great completion to the set, Norman. Wasn’t Missing good?! I am still trying to find the film (TV?) of it – does not seem to be available anywhere but was made some years ago, apparently.
A very happy new year to you!
Oh very true that Villar book does have a great cover. I hate the stock images too. You have reminded me I must read more Karen Alvtegen books.
Thanks for sharing Norm. I am working on this one.
Wishing you and your family all the very best in 2012.
And hope to catch up with you again during it!
On to a happy and healthy new year — and one of excellent global crime fiction.
Thanks for an informative — and fun — blog. Always a treat to come here and read the posts.
Thanks all. Happy New Year to you. I think this sort of meme is good for clarifying your thoughts. Missing is very good, but I don’t think I can include it in the best of 2011 simply because it is so old, but it fitted neatly into that category.