Fridays: The Books You Have To Read

Patti Abbott had the wonderful idea of talking up the books that might have been forgotten over the years. We all know the blockbusters, the big hits, but every year there are gems that don't catch on in the mainstream, and it's a shame, because they're incredible books that deserve to reach a wider audience.

Honestly, it was hard to know who to write about. There were so many options, especially since I read a lot of books that don't have US deals yet, and it's tragic. However, I ultimately decided the book I wanted to talk about today that shouldn't be overlooked is...

James Reasoner's DUST DEVILS

James Reasoner is the real deal, with dozens upon dozens of titles to his name. DUST DEVILS earned starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Booklist, and that comes as no surprise to me.

Set the scene: You know those hot summer days, the ones when it's quiet, but not a calm quiet? The ones when you can sense trouble is on the horizon, just waiting to be unleashed? That's the way it feels when Toby goes to the farmhouse, looking for a job. He's determined, and he's set his sights on this particular place.

Why that farm? Well, that's the first twist in a story that shows how an expert weaves an intricate tale so skillfully you don't always see the twists coming. They sneak up on you, and with every new revelation you're drawn deeper into the story, turning the pages because you have to know what happened. This is a short book that packs a hell of a lot in its 152 pages and is worth every moment you'll spend reading it, and then some, so what are you waiting for? Order your copy today.


Patti recruited an impressive list on contributors to start. You should make a point of dropping by Patti's, Bill Crider's, Bo Fexler's, Anthony Neil Smith's, Sandra Scoppettone's, Patrick Shawn Bagley's, Josephine Damian's, the Random Acts of Kindness blog, Travis Erwin's, Lisa Kenney's, and Brian Lindenmuth's, for all the other book recommendations.

It's my understanding that now, I have to tag someone, who will make a post like this next Friday. This time, I'm going to tag John Scalzi, because this is an idea worth spreading on to other parts of the blogosphere, and hopefully, it will find its way into other genres as well, highlighting their gems that deserve to reach a wider audience. And I think I'm 1 for 5 off my tag list from earlier in the week, so my rate of return can't get much worse anyway.

And for those interested, January Magazine has me in their Author Snapshot this week, with a photo I've never let anyone see before.

Which makes it sound special, but it really isn't.

And now, back to packing and general insanity.