Every day books show up at my front door, FREE! And that’s just one of the greatest perks of being a book reviewer.

Here’s the criteria for making the Top 10

1. You have to have published more than 1 book. If it’s your first book, you’ve got a good chance to be on the new and up and coming authors list.

2. When I open the plane brown enevelope all the publisher’s use to mail books and discover your book I scream “YIPPEE! The next — insert outstanding author’s name here — book is here. Then my wife starts the espresso machine because she knows I’m going to be up all night.

The list below is just a start.

If you are looking for recommendations on what to read next, send me an email with a short list of the books or authors you like. As long as they are in the genre, I’ll send you a list of personal recommendations. No machine generated recommendations here, just me at a typewriter, suggesting some new authors you might enjoy.

Here’ the current list of authors. Please be patient, This page is constantly being updated, expanded and developed because new books show up everyday.

Anthony Bourdain

Jon Land. Lots of great books including anything in his new Caitlen Strong series.

Lee Child. Warning, you start reading Reacher and you might not be able to stop. There are 14 outstanding books with more on the way.

Robert Parker. At Grit-Lit we prefer the Spenser series with one of the best every almost silent tough guys, Hawk.

David Morrell. League of Night and Fog, Brotherhood of the Rose,

Stephen Hunter. The Bob “The Nailer” series is my favorite.

Randy Wayne White. The Doc Ford series

James Lee Burke pretty uuch anything with Dave Robicheaux.

Andrew Vachss. The early Burke series books are his best.

Harlan Coben – the Myron Bolitar series.

Clive Cussler. An institution, the entire Dirk Pitt is outstanding. The other books are mostly, co-authored. Mr. Cussler meets with the partnering writer, discusses plot, story line, character development and then  is involved in the writing process. The co-authored books are all in the same genre. And all are very good, but Cussler’s Dirk Pitt is still my personal favorite.

Robert Crais — his most current Joe Pike book is the absolute best.

Michael Crichton

Joe R Lansdale

James Swain

Timothy  Hallinan

David Liss

Joseph Finder

THE GUYS WHO BEEN ON THE LIST SO LONG WE HAD TO PROMOTE THEM TO FOUNDING FATHERS

Mickey Spillane — the immortal Mike Hammer

John D Macdonald — the even more immortal Travis McGee