I read two outstanding books from the USA in 2015. The heartrending The Secret of Magic by Deborah Johnson, which deservedly won the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, and Cop Town by Karin Slaughter, which won the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for Thrillers.
Both were set in the South and dealt with racism, in all its ugly incarnations. And interestingly both had female leading protagonists, always a good start in societies, the Deep South 1946, and Atlanta police force 1974, where women were regarded with a degree of circumspection. An excellent reminder for devotees of Nordic translated crime fiction that there are still great books coming out of the USA.
CRIME SCRAPS REVIEW 
Norman: The Secret of Magic was one of my favourite books of 2015 as well. The story will long stay with readers.
I agree Bill a superb book.
I read The Secret of Magic, enjoyed it and loaned it to a friend. Am hoping to loan it to others, too.
With Karin Slaughter, her name is literally what I objected to in her books. Read a few that had bloodbaths, including against women, and I couldn’t read any more.
Is this book very violent?
Exactly the reason I stopped reading Karin Slaughter years ago.
I approached this one with some trepidation but as it was a prize winner I thought I would give it a try.
Coptown doesn’t have much violence, and it comes down very heavily on the side of the good guys and girls. I was pleasantly surprised.
OK. I may try it.
I just got The Defenceless and I’ll be enrapt until I’m finished. Then on to Eva Dolan’s third book.