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My favorite books of 2012

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gone girl

I really, really did read something other than mysteries and crime novels in 2012. Let’s see, I read the … hmmm. I read the oral history of MTV. I’m reading that new history of Marvel Comics right now.

But most of my reading has, in recent years, revolved around the murder and mayhem genres. That’s after a lifetime of reading science fiction and fantasy, a genre I still like to explore once in a while.

So this list skews heavily to crime novels and mysteries. But if you’re looking for a good read, you’ll find a few here.

My favorite book I read in 2012 was undoubtedly Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl.” The story of a seriously screwed up marriage and what happens after the wife goes missing, “Gone Girl” was a huge hit and is being made into a movie. You’ve probably read it by now, but if you haven’t, it’s worth seeking out. Be aware: There’s a twist in the middle. And if you’re married, it will have you seriously examining your relationship.

the last kind words

One of the best surprises of the year for me was “The Last Kind Words” by Thomas Piccirilli. The story revolves around three generations of a family that’s always been on the shady side of the law. What happens when one brother comes home just before the other is due to be executed makes for a gripping read.

Families and crime are also the stuff of “The Prophet,” Michael Koryta’s mix of “Friday Night Lights” and a murder mystery and “Live By Night,” Dennis Lehane’s continuing exploration of a mid-20th century Boston family whose members straddle both sides of the law.

Lehane’s early works are among my favorite books of all time, and 2012 featured new work by some of my other favorite crime fiction authors, including “As the Crow Flies,” Craig Johnson’s latest tale of Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire; Lee Child’s “A Wanted Man” and other Jack Reacher tales; “Spilled Blood” by Brian Freeman; “The Drop,” the latest Mickey Haller/Harry Bosch story from Michael Connelly; and “Taken,” another story about L.A. private eyes Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, from Robert Crais.

If you haven’t read anything by Josh Bazell, I highly recommend “Beat the Reaper” and his newest, “Wild Thing,” two books that follow a former mob doctor in hiding. The latest features a story about a search for a Bigfoot/Loch Ness-type creature as well as a guest appearance by political pin-up girl Sarah Palin. Seriously.

Ben H. Winters gave us the first of three books set in the waning days of the Earth. “The Last Policeman” features a cop trying to solve a homicide at a time when the world is going to hell and nobody else cares. I’m looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.

And we’ve noted the passing of legendary crime fiction writer Robert H. Parker. His estate has chosen a couple of writers to continue some of his series and Ace Atkins did an admirable job with a new Spenser story, “Lullaby.” Atkins’ tale was the equal of later-day Parker and that’s a good thing.

‘Last Kind Words’ mixes crime, family

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Most crime novels are told from the point of view of the cops or a PI because that’s who we sympathize with. Author Tom Piccirilli’s “The Last Kind Words” is squarely in the corner of a Long Island, New York, family whose business has been, for generations, crime.

And you’ll find yourself sympathizing with them (at least most of them) and even rooting for them.

It helps that Piccirilli, author of several books, is such a solid writer and that he centers his book on Terry Rand, the youngest son in the family. Terry returns home after a five-year absence. He fled after his brother, Collie, went on a killing spree, shooting, stabbing and strangling several strangers one particularly horrific night.

The family finds Terry and lets him know that Collie wants to see him in the final days before he is executed.

Terry comes back and, reluctantly, returns to his old life and his family’s home. He’s reunited with his teenage sister, Dale; his mother and father, his grandfather and his two uncles.

Dale isn’t in the family business yet, although her current boyfriend is a mob wannabe. But his uncles, Mal and Grey, are still hustlers and card sharps. His father, Pinsch, is obsessed with his porcelain figurine collection but can’t resisting breaking and entering a house now and then. Terry’s long-suffering mom is caretaker for Shep, the family patriarch who, despite being nearly lost to dementia, is still the smoothest pickpocket around.

And then there’s Collie.

Collie has asked the family to contact Terry because of a bizarre twist from the night of the killing spree. In a prison visit, Collie tells a disbelieving Terry that he didn’t kill one of the eight people he was convicted of murdering. The killer is still out there and is still killing.

Terry must overcome his anger at his brother as well as the distance he’s put between himself and his family to try to arrive at the truth.

Plaguing Terry throughout the book: Is evil inherited? Sure, everyone in the family except for their mother and Dale is a thief, a pickpocket, burglar or scam artist. But does that make them evil?

And what pushed Collie over the edge? And could that madness affect other members of the family?

There’s an element of danger for the Rand family in a dogged cop who years ago pursued the family but, because of his own loneliness, has become something of a family member.

But the greatest threat to Terry comes from within himself and within the family.

Piccirilli’s sly sense of humor is an undertone in the book. If you noticed anything odd about the names of the family, Piccirilli gradually reveals that they’re all named after breeds of dog. (Terry’s name is Terrier, for example.)

“The Last Kind Words” is a terrific book. It’s steeped in cool noir, with bad guys and even badder guys.

Best of all, Piccirilli is working on another book about the Rand family. I’ll be reading it.