This was the year I devoured mysteries--from Hammett (if you're looking for sharp dialogue that crackles off the page, you must read The Thin Man) to Georges Simenon's Maigret to Scott Phillips (don't bother with the Ice Harvest) to a turgid Donna Leon Venice mystery to Darwyn Cooke's amazing graphic novel adaptation of Richard Stark's Parker to Wilkie Collins Victorian classic The Moonstone (which wasn't bad, though very heavy on dialogue and light on action) to Walter Mosley's first Easy Rollin's mystery, Devil in a Blue Dress (solid & interesting, though there are parts that must be elided).
I will say, from my experience this year, most mysteries aren't worth reading, but the gems sure shine in a firmament few other genres can match.
Happy 2011!
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