As the year winds down, I’ve seen all sorts of “best of” lists. I’ve read 132 books this year (although there’s still a few days to sneak one more in) and it’s hard with that many books to pick just one or two so I’m going to give you a top sixteen list of books unranked because (with the exception of one which I’ll discuss a little bit below) the list could go in any order.
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due. As a fan of historical horror I knew this would be right up my alley from The beginning. The characters were so well written they came to life on the page and that makes it easy to root for (or against them).
Human Shaped Fiends by Chandler Morrison. I’m a huge fan of Morrison’s work and this is one of his best. The dual time lines and meta take on a horror western was fresh and made the book feel special an different.
Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi. I said this list wasn’t going to be ranked because any one of the books could take the top spot. While that’s technically true this is the best and most important book I read this year. If you haven’t read it, you should. I think it should be required reading.
A Dark and Endless Sea by Blaine Daigle. This book reads like a fever dream on the cold ocean where inexplicable occurances happen on a daily basis. I’m a huge fan of nautical horror in general and I had a feeling I was going to love this one going in and I did. Daigle hasn’t disappointed yet.
All the Fiends of Hell by Adam Nevill. Nevill is one of the best horror writers working today. He’s the master of building tension and filling his books with an overwhelming sense of dread. Carve out some time when you open this book. It’s hard to tear yourself away.
Beta by Sammy Scott. Sci-fi horror that feels a little too real at times. A writer lives in a fully automated, AI house-hijinxs and terror ensues.
Undead Folk by Katherine Silva. This is a very short book but it’s a story that sticks with you long after you shut the book. I read it in a day and had to give myself a day before starting something new because I could stop thinking about it and the characters Silva creates.
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. I made an entire very emotional post about this book earlier this year so I won’t rehash that. You can find it here. If you have a few minutes I’d love for you to give that post a read as well. About this book, I’ll just add that Hemingway is a legend for a reason.
The Reattachment by Douglas Ford. When I say a book is weird, I mean it as a compliment. When I said this in the weirdness book I’ve read this year I mean that as a compliment also.
All the Living and the Dead by Hayley Campbell. This is a non-fiction book where Campbell examines different professions that deal with death. It was a fascinating read.
You Like It Darker by Stephen King. He’s the King of horror for a reason. I’ll never get tired of reading Kings work.
House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias. My favorite Lovecraft story is The Shadow Over Innsmouth. This book has the same feel as that story especially in the second half. Iglesias fills this books with his unique blend of grief, revenge and crime horror that forcefully drags you through the pages.
Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay. I listened to this one on audiobook and it was one of the best audiobook experiences I’ve ever had. It’s more like an audio drama than someone narrating a book.
Chicano Frankenstein by Daniel A. Olivas. This was the surprise of the year for me. A great mordern retelling of Frankenstein from the point of view of the person who was reanimated. If you’ve read my book Never Dead a lot of the same themes are discussed in this book. I read this one in a day and couldn’t put it down.
How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith This is about the history of slavery and how slavery has shaped the United States in ways we can’t often see day in and day out.
Loteria by Cynthia Pelayo. This is a collection of very short stories. They were all fantastic and quick reads. I’m always left asking questions and thinking about Pelayo’s stories after I’m done reading them. This was a tremendous read.
Not all horror books in there, but there were a lot. I used to read horror books here and there sprinkled in with a steady diet of history books. Over the years I moved the other way reading primarily fiction with some history sprinkled in. This was the first year in a while where I read quite a few history books (and quite a few thicc bois clocking in at 500 or 600 words) and it felt good to jump back into those historical works again.
That’s all for my reading wrap-up for 2024. Stay tuned later this week for a year end writing wrap-up. Reminder that the year end sale at my shop ends on January 1 so if you’re looking for cheap signed books give it a gander!
Until next time…
Comments