This week’s topic for Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) is “New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2022”. There were lots of authors I tried for the first time last year, but the ten I’m listing below are all authors I enjoyed and am hoping to read again.
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1. Catriona McPherson – In Place of Fear, a mystery set in 1940s Edinburgh, was my first book by Scottish author McPherson. I think I might try one of her Dandy Gilver mysteries next.
2. Nevil Shute – I finally got round to reading Pied Piper last year and enjoyed it. A Town Like Alice is probably going to be the next book I read by Shute.
3. Frances Quinn – Frances Quinn’s That Bonesetter Woman was one of my books of the year in 2022, so I’m looking forward to reading her previous novel, The Smallest Man.
4. F. Tennyson Jesse – I had wanted to read A Pin to See the Peepshow, Jesse’s retelling of the Thompson/Bywaters murder case, for years and was finally able to with this new British Library edition. Her other books seem to be more difficult to find.
5. Tom Mead – I loved Death and the Conjuror, a new mystery series set in the 1930s and featuring retired magician Joseph Spector. The next book, The Murder Wheel, is out in July!
6. Karen Joy Fowler – Another book I enjoyed last year was Booth, Karen Joy Fowler’s fictional biography of the theatrical Booth family. Her books had never appealed to me before, but I obviously need to look at them again,
7. Patricia Wentworth – I chose Fool Errant as my first Patricia Wentworth novel for last year’s 1929 Club. I didn’t love it but it was entertaining and I’m hoping to try another of her books soon, maybe one of her Miss Silver mysteries.
8. William Boyd – Another of my books of the year for 2022 was my first William Boyd novel, The Romantic. He has a very extensive backlist which I’m looking forward to exploring.
9. Jill Dawson – I enjoyed The Bewitching, based on the true story of the Witches of Warboys. Her previous books seem to cover a wide range of topics and settings – the problem will be deciding which one to try next!
10. ETA Hoffmann – I read The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr for last year’s German Literature Month. It’s a very unusual and original novel and was a good introduction to his work!
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Have you read any of these authors? Which new (or new-to-you) authors did you discover last year?
She Reads Novels 
The Jesse is one of my favourites – wonderful book!!!
Yes, it’s great – I loved it!
I’ve read some of the Dandy Gilver mysteries and enjoyed them. Neville Shute is on my list today too. I loved A Town Like Alice and want to read more of his books. I’ve also read a couple of Patricia Wentworth’s books years ago and meant to read more. Boyd’s Love is Blind is one of my TBRs but I haven’t read any of his books yet.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the Dandy Gilver mysteries – I’m hoping to try one soon. I haven’t decided what my next William Boyd book will be yet, but Love is Blind is one that I’m interested in reading.
I was *very* impressed by ‘A Town Like Alice’. It’s not something I would normally read – indeed I originally thought it was going to be a very different story! – but ended up loving it. Plus it introduced me to one of my favourite female fictional characters. I hope you enjoy it if/when you get around to it this year.
I’m glad to hear that! I will definitely try to read it before the end of the year.
I would recommend The Crime Writer by Jill Dawson about a visit to England by Patricia Highsmith. Lots of new (to me) authors in 2022 that I enjoyed including Clare Chambers, Stacey Halls and Rosie Andrews
I love Stacey Halls, although I think I discovered her in 2021. The Crime Writer is one of the Jill Dawson books that sounds particularly interesting to me, so I’m pleased you would recommend that one!
Pied Piper is one of my favorite of Nevil Shute’s books, but I think A Town Like Alice is his best.
I haven’t read any of Patricia Wentworth’s Benbow stories, but I am a big fan of Miss Silver.
A Town Like Alice will definitely be my next Shute novel, I think. I’m looking forward to it as everyone seems to love that one! I only picked the Benbow Smith book because it was published in 1929, but it was quite entertaining and has left me wanting to try the Miss Silver books soon.
I read The Jane Austen Book Club and We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. I’d call both “good.” not “great” but certainly “good.” Booth sounds interesting. I hope to check it out!
I read A Town Like Alice about a hundred years ago. I remember liking it though!
I also read ETA Hoffman’s Tales of Hoffman in college. Again I don’t remember much about it, but I know I really liked it. Actually I think it’s worth a reread soon!
Here’s my list: https://franlaniado.wordpress.com/2023/01/24/top-ten-tuesday-new-to-me-authors-of-2022-that-made-me-want-more/
Booth was the kind of historical family saga I love – Karen Joy Fowler’s other books sound very different and I’m not sure if I’ll like them as much, but will give them a try! I’m looking forward to reading both Tales of Hoffmann and A Town Like Alice.
Oooh, I love a historical family saga! The other Fowler books I read are definitely different, but still enjoyable.
I’m up to speed with Frances Quinn: I hope you’ll enjoy The Smallest Man as much as I did. William Boyd I find to be a consistently reliable read too. The rest of your choices – yes, even Nevil Shute, remain unread by me – so far …
I’m looking forward to The Smallest Man, so I’m pleased to hear you enjoyed it.
I have read and enjoyed half of these authors: Boyd, McPherson, Fowler, Jesse, and Shute. I also think I might have read one or two books by Patricia Wentworth years ago, but I don’t remember her being one of my favorite authors. I have only read the one book by Jesse and two by Shute, but I have read quite a few of the books the others have written, and I think I’ve read everything by Catriona McPherson.
McPherson has written a lot of books, so I’m impressed that you’ve read them all! I’ll have to try another one soon.
I hope you like the Dandy Gilver books. I read those, but I prefer her stand-alones.
Oh, I just realized I lied. I don’t really like her new series set in the U. S. I read two of them but haven’t read any others.
A Town Like Alice I found a really good read when I tackled it many years ago. Much more meat than the film which, though bith stunning and harrowing, only covers the first half of the book. It will be interesting to hear what you make if it.
I’m definitely hoping to read A Town Like Alice this year. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the film so the story will be new to me. I’m glad you liked it!
I loved Tom Mead’s Death and the Conjuror! He was a new author for me last year, and I really hope he writes a sequel to it. 😀
I think the sequel is coming out this summer! Should be something to look forward to.
I too have been on the fence about Booth but think may start reading of now.
I really enjoyed Booth, particularly the parts about the actors Edwin Booth and Junius Brutus Booth. They were such a fascinating family!
I’ve read a few Boyd books… they’re very good. My husband was a huge fan, and I’ve several on my shelf that I haven’t read. Restless was the first of his I read – long, long ago!
I’m glad you’ve liked some of William Boyd’s books. I’m still trying to decide which one to read next!
Great list, I hope to get to Fowler and Dawson one day.
I enjoyed both of those books, particularly the Fowler one. They are both authors I’m hoping to read again soon!
I loved A Town Called Alice. The miniseries was also good. Not sure why I haven’t read anything else by this author.
I wasn’t that impressed with Dandy Gilver. The setting/timeframe did not compensate for the dim heroine.
Karen Joy Fowler’s books really vary in appeal. I have not read Booth.
I know you didn’t like that Patricia Wentworth much but please give her another chance. The Miss Silver books are nearly always better than the longer standalones. You might as well start at the beginning with Grey Mask.
I think you would enjoy Pied Piper, if you want to read something else by Shute. A Town Like Alice is a book I’m definitely hoping to get to this year.
I liked the Patricia Wentworth book enough to want to read more. It was really just the heroine in that one that annoyed me! I always like to start at the beginning of a series if I can, so will look for Grey Mask.