It's hard for me to choose among the many, varied and good crime novels that I have read in 2016. But they touch lists of the year, so I had to select. I also keep what they are de four European writers of very different nationalities.

All belong to series with anticipation of continuity except, unfortunately, that of Thompson. To three of the protagonists (Servaz, Hole and Vaara) I already knew them and they have never disappointed. The discovery has been Rocco schiavone, in the tradition of those Italian inspectors so of manners and peculiarities. Let's review.

Do not turn off the light - Bernard Minier

Third title so far from the series starring French commander Martin Servaz.

Servaz faces a new case in a quite delicate psychic situation after the end of The circle. Those who know it will already know about their culture, their taste for literature and music (adores Mahler), his affable character at times, moody at other times, and his insight. They will also learn about the special relationship with their daughter, with her teammates and her love life. And of course they will know that Servant hates injustice and mediocrity, and it doesn't get along with technology at all.

Here we return to it, feeling sorry for his vulnerability, for the sadness that invades him and has him at rest in a residence for traumatized policemen. The shadow of his great enemy, the psycho Julian Hirtmann, the main cause of his emotional fragility.

This time Servaz will have an ally, a female journalist also very affected by having received the anonymous letter of a suicide. Servant has also received the hotel room key where a suicide bomber died. The two will contact each other and will have no choice but to face their weak spirits to unravel the mystery.

The plot mixes from references to classic operas with tragic endings, a very disturbing newspaper and the aviation industry near Toulouse. And the tension it keeps at all times.

Police - Jo Nesbø

The tenth and last title of the series of the immense Harry hole. It was published in the spring and for me it has been rereading because I had already read it in English last year. Nesbø readers were waiting impatiently for him after the shocking end of Ghost.

I will avoid gutting nothing for the neophytes or those who are still discovering the alcoholic and chaotic but so charismatic Harry Hole, here quite sober and unusually happy. I will only comment that met the forecasts and the end was open. And why are we going to fool ourselves, the Holeadictos of the world do not get tired of it. His father seems like neither (yet) and he 2017 will bring us a new title also in March, Thirst.

En Police there is again Nesbø's ability to manipulate, mislead and maintain the reader's tension. Perhaps the most seasoned can already smell his tricks, but we know that there will always be something that surprises us.

Here we have the nth serial killer who is killing cops, but what matters most to us is where is harry hole. Before you know it, you will have to read more than 100 pages. After that, everything almost matters little. Even one of the greatest and more unexpected blows of the entire series and that literally break the heart of readers. That lack of concessions is another most admirable points of this successful Norwegian writer. And they are grateful at the same time as they curse each other.

helsinki white - James Thompson

El third title from the series starring the very obscure Finnish inspector Kari Vaara. Written by the unexpectedly deceased James Thompson, American Author settled in Helsinki, is a quartet of which Only the first two novels are published in Spanish: Angels in the snow y The ninth circle of ice. To this helsinki white follow him helsinki blood, the last. Both are only English en.

I met Kari Vaara before Harry Hole and they are both my most idolized Nordic policemen. A great success of his novels is that they are narrated in the present and in the first person, which brings you fully closer to his complex personality.

Kari Vaara is one of those bad beasts of brutal past and harsh character, very marked also for him Extreme weather from his little hometown. Then he will move to Helsinki. But still, the influence of that climate es fundamental throughout the work. Vaara is one of those men and policemen with a greater contrast between his wildest and most deeply human and sentimental nature. Immensely in love with his American wife Katerine, their relationship is almost idyllic in the first two titles, after which we leave them with a newly released paternity.

But helsinki white their marriage will suffer a deep crisis due to the effects on Vaara's health after a major surgery he must undergo. What's more, unofficial work and almost criminal to which Vaara will be dedicated will be determining factor and will cause unimaginable events. To top it all, Vaara's particular and deranged team will do nothing to improve the situation.

A spring of dogs - Antonio Manzini

Third title from the series starring Rocco Schiavone after Black track y Adam's rib.

The deputy chief (never inspector or commissioner) Rocco Schiavone is a gulf of gangster spirit, bad temper and worse manners. A fan of morning joints, a lover of Clarks shoes and loden coats and a perpetual denier of the climate and the people of Aosta, his cold destination in northern Italy, so far from his longed for and beloved Rome. But behind that rough facade he is sentimental and he is deeply hurt by the tragic loss of his wife.

In this third novel Schiavone will have to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl. Manzini gets round off both a more complex plot and to Schiavone, making it one of the most interesting, cool and funny cops of recent times.

Reading their stories is like watching a good italian comedy. Traditional characters and almost crazy situations of dialogues full of humor they tend not to take them very seriously. And you don't care either because, first and foremost, you're having a good time.

Other crime novels

Very recent and already treated here as Broken dolls, Total memory o The owl.

In order. Best wishes for next 2017. May you have it full of good black readings (and of all colors). A huge greeting to all.