Best Books of 2012

The books I rated highest from my 2012 reading.

1

Hollywood Moon

by Joseph Wambaugh

Joseph Wambaugh at his funniest and most cynical. The LAPD has never been portrayed better.

A-
2

Story

by Robert McKee

Robert McKee's screenwriting bible is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand narrative.

A-
3

Crocodile on the Sandbank

by Elizabeth Peters

A delightful start to the Amelia Peabody series. Peters created one of the most entertaining heroines in mystery fiction.

A-
4

Hit Man

by Lawrence Block

Lawrence Block at his darkest. Keller is one of the great anti-heroes in crime fiction.

A-
5

The Butcher's Boy

by Thomas Perry

A cold, efficient thriller. Thomas Perry's debut remains one of the best crime novels of its era.

A-
6

1984

by George Orwell

I finally read it, and it is as powerful as advertised. Essential.

A-
7

The Blinding Knife

by Brent Weeks

Brent Weeks improves on the first Lightbringer book in every way. The magic system keeps getting more interesting.

A-
8

Red Country

by Joe Abercrombie

Abercrombie does a western in the First Law world. It works better than it should.

A-
9

Hard Magic

by Larry Correia

Correia's noir magic in 1930s America is a great premise executed with his signature momentum.

A-
10

Legion

by Brandon Sanderson

Sanderson's novella is a clever, fast read. The premise of compartmentalized genius is memorable.

A-