American author SA Cosby has delivered this year’s breakout novel. Blacktop Wasteland, set in Virginia, is the story of the downfall of Bug Montage, family man and small-business owner, who has never been able to quite kick the thrills of drag racing and armed robbery.

Part perceptive character study, rural noir and adrenaline-charged hardboiled thriller, Blacktop Wasteland takes inspiration from the classic American crime fiction written by the likes of Richard Stark and George V Higgins, and blends it with an appealing mix of 21st century social concerns to create a fresh and exciting novel that has broad appeal. You can read our full review here.