This week, I’m reading two American thrillers. One is a standalone novel by a prolific author who I promised myself I’d read more of and the other is a debut novel that launched the author into ‘Book Of The Year’ prominence.

I’m hoping that both of them, as well as being entertaining and exciting, will give me a flavour of America that is more distinctive than the standard Hollywood or TV drama fare.

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‘Moon Lake’ by Joe R. Lansdale (2021)

After having had Joe Lansdale recommended to me by a number of people, I tried him out a couple of years ago with the audiobook version of ‘Fender Lizards’, narrated by Casey Lansdale, Joe Lansdale’s daughter and had a good time with it.

I promised myself I’d read a lot more of Joe Lansdale’s books but you know how it is, too many books, too little time. I have the ebook version of ‘Savage Season’ the first Hap and Leonard book, published back in 2001, on my TBR but this week, I felt like having something to listen to so I’ve gone with ‘Moon Lake’, one of his most recent novels.

I hoping for a bit of well done Souther Gothic with a young protagonist discovering dark secrets in South Texas.

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‘Blacktop Wasteland’ by S. A. Cosby (2020)

S. A. Cosby made quite a splash with his debut novel ‘Blacktop Wasteland’ back in 2020. The book won so many prizes that I wondered if Crosby would be too intimidated to bring out a second novel. Then he dropped ‘Razorblade Tears’ on us and established himself as a writer that people look forward to reading

I’ve had both books sitting in my TBR for a while now, waiting for me to be in the mood for a literary thriller with some edge to it.

Well, now is the time. I’m hoping for something with a distinctive voice, believable people and a twisty plot that will keep me on edge.