My top indie reads of 2022

Writers usually begin life as readers. My love of books began long before I could read, with bedtime stories and Sunday mornings in Mum and Dad’s bed, with Dad reading chapters of books aloud. In fact, it was why I wanted to learn to read. One chapter at a time was never enough. If I could read, I could keep going until the end. Soon, visits to the children’s library became the highlight of my week. This year I have been mainly reading other independent authors, and boy, what wonderful stories I’ve discovered. Such a change from the formulaic tomes churned out by the big publishing houses. Anyway, for my last post of the year, I thought I’d share some of my favourites with you. I’ve included the links, so you can read along if you like.

First up is Merryman by Vanessa Sperling. I almost passed this book by because it’s a novella, just 189 pages, so I expected something short on plot and description. I was wrong. From the outset, it captured my imagination, and I fell in love with the characters and the setting. It is historic fiction, set in the 1800s Midwest, and tells the story of Jess Picaro, a sixteen-year-old with a secret, who can’t be trusted to tell the truth. Well written, with a moral message, it gripped me from the start and I couldn’t put it down. The story, entwined with Gilbert and Sullivan references, kept me guessing to the end. It certainly proved to me that a short book can make a big impact. Check it out here.

Jessup by Stephen Ainley was even shorter at a mere 151 pages, but it packed a big punch and I thought about it long after I put it down. Jessup, a loveable rogue, suffering from PTSD after his wartime experiences, resonated with me. All the characters were believable, and I especially liked the way Jessup’s past and present entwined, with details like the Battle of Cable Street coming into play. The fast-paced plot was dark, but little touches of humour stopped it from being depressing. The setting and Jessup’s very real trauma were perfectly described. Although the twist was something I’d suspect all along, it certainly didn’t spoil the plot and the ending still came as a shock. A great one for those who like historic tales with a military slant. Click here to read it yourself. 

Mary Lay’s book, Catching Up, was a prize that arrived at the perfect time to distract me from Commando’s accident. Set in the mid-1920s, it was a gentle story of a girl from a sheltered background trying to find herself. Her quest to make up for lost time leads her from the threshold of the old world into the new. The book is filled with colourful characters who could well lead her astray. The ending left the door open for a sequel, which is currently on my long TBR list. Find out more and buy your own copy here. 

Canadian author Heather McBriarty’s Amid The Splintered Trees was another book I couldn’t put down. This well-written tale, encompassing the Great War from beginning to end was part love story, and part war story. It tells the tale of a young Canadian couple torn apart by the war. Will’s perspective on the horror and humour of the trenches was well-researched and believable. The characters he met along the way were so engaging that I worried about them. Emma’s story, her hopes, fears, doubts and longings and her quest to become a doctor against the odds gave an insight into life for women in the early twentieth century. I’d highly recommend checking this book out here. 

At 408 pages, Eve’s Garden by Glenda Bailey-Mershon is one of the longer books on my list, but it certainly didn’t feel like a long read. The prose was poetic, and the plot kept me turning pages. This story about uncovering family secrets spans three generations and gives an insight into different cultures. I picked it up because I was interested in the Romani, but I found much more than that. A tale of love, sacrifice, secrets and an orchard full of persimmon trees and pomegranates, beautifully written, evocative and vivid. Well worth a read, you can find it here. 

Harry James’s Angel follows a young stable hand who has left the slums of London to make a new life on the country estate of a Boer War veteran. It is definitely a tale of two halves, starting with Harry’s experiences of living amongst the aristocracy and his developing relationship with the daughter of the house. The second half covers the first weeks of the Great War. The mystery is whether he will come home and if love can conquer the class divide. This gripping story kept me guessing. The characters were engaging and, from the start, the historical facts were faultless. A thoroughly riveting tale. I look forward to the follow-up. If you want to know more, check it out here.

Stephen Black’s book, Skelly’s Square, was a departure from my normal reading matter. I’m not usually a big fan of fantasy, but this book came with a huge serving of reality, a side order of humour and plenty of twists and turns. Set in Northern Ireland, the descriptions and fabulously flawed characters bring it to life. The main characters make the most unlikely heroes, but as the story unfolds, you can’t help hoping they will come through. The twists and turns kept me guessing to the end. Well worth reading, you can buy it here.

Revenge is the theme of my own latest release so the title of Maurice Perkins’ book jumped out at me. I was glad I picked it up. The fast-paced, action-packed plot made it hard to put down, and I quickly became invested in the colourful characters, a group of ex-forces veterans, well past their prime. Maurice packed the plot with twists, turns and conspiracies and delivered a clear message not to judge a book by its cover. No one came out smelling of roses, and some didn’t make it out alive. If you’re intrigued, you can find it here.

I haven’t read a time travel novel since I was a teenager, but the title of Julie Bihn’s book, Titanic Voyage, intrigued me for obvious reasons. It turned out to be one of the best books I read this year. Living in a city so devastated by the sinking of the unsinkable ship, I wasn’t sure I’d like it, but it was well-researched and gripping. So gripping, in fact, that I read it in two days. The author succeeded in weaving together the main character’s modern-day troubles, time travel and his obsession with a Titanic passenger in a believable and compelling way. I highly recommend you check it out here. 

Will Tinkham’s, Bonus Man was another book I wasn’t sure about at the outset. American history is not one of my specialist subjects, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a man desperately trying to do the right thing while fate conspires against him. It reminded me of H G Wells, History of Mr Polly, and I couldn’t help rooting for Bonus Man, even when I wanted to shake him for messing up. I also enjoyed the references to American history in the 1930s, even if I had to look some up. This book is well worth a read.

Waiting For Saturday by Catherine Morrison gave me a villain to boo and a hero to cheer on. The familiar story of coercive control and how so many women get sucked into it was well-written and thoroughly enjoyable. Although the theme was dark at times, the book had the feel of a cosy romance and kept me turning pages until the end. If you want to check it out, you can find it here.

If you’re looking for a good read, you could do worse than pick up any of these indie authors’ offerings. They will certainly show you that independently published books are as good, if not better, than anything the big publishers have to offer. The big difference is that these authors don’t have huge marketing budgets and rely on word of mouth and reviews to get their books noticed. If you do read any of them, please leave a review and tell your friends about them.

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