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Best Books 1995 - How Many Have You Read?

Are you interested in the best books of 1995? Here is a useful list divided by genre to help you navigate these backlisters.

What Were the Best Books First Published in 1995?

1995 was a good year for first-time published fiction. Dominating the shelves were mystery novels and thrillers. There was also a good selection of new science fiction and fantasy books along with some first rate general and historical fiction.

General Fiction

Three notable books from 1995 were each made into successful movies: High Fidelity by Nick Hornby, The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans and The Reader by Bernhard Schlink.

Rohinton Mistry's Fine Balance, a novel set in India, was published in 1995 and shortlisted for the Booker Prize a year later. Amy Tan, the bestselling Asian-American writer, renowned for her Joy Luck Club received a nomination for the Women's Fiction Prize for her novel entitled One Hundred Secret Senses published in 1995.

Crime / Thriller / Suspense

Heavyweights Patricia Cornwell (Kay Scarpetta, From Potter's Field), Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch, The Last Coyote) and James Lee Burke (Dave Robicheaux, Burning Angel) all added a new book to their successful thriller series in 1995.

We were introduced to Val McDermid's Tony Hill and Carol Jordan characters with the publication of the first book in the series The Mermaid's Singing. John Rebus, had his 7th outing with the launch of Let it Bleed by Ian Rankin. Both these hard hitting crime series, written by Scottish authors, were later adapted into very successful multi-season TV shows.

Harlan Coben became a #1 New York Times bestselling author in 1995 with his first Myron Bolitar novel Deal Breaker. Meanwhile Nora Roberts writing as J. D. Robb garnered a strong readership with her In Death series and prolific lawyer-turned-writer John Grisham treated us to two memorable legal thrillers: The Runaway Jury and The Partner.

Science Fiction / Fantasy

Robin Hobb gained a loyal following of science fiction and fantasy fans with the first book in her Farseer Trilogy, Assassin's Apprentice. Terry Goodkind published a second book in the Sword of Truth series with Stone of Tears. The now widely known (due to the popular Netflix series) Witcher books by Andrzej Saplowski added Book 2, The Time of Contempt to the stable.

Historical Fiction 1995

On the 1995 historical fiction front Larry McMurtry concluded his Lonesome Dove western trilogy with Dead Man's Walk. Popular author of adventure novels set in Africa, Wilbur Smith, followed up his Egyptian series with the publication of The Seventh Scroll. Also wrapping up her Regeneration series was Booker Prize winning author, Pat Barker, with her third book The Ghost Road.

For a comprehensive list of the best books of 1995 as voted for by members of Googlereads read on.

General Fiction / Literary Fiction

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Beach Music by Pat Conroy
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
Sleepers by Lorenzo Carcaterra
The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans

Crime / Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

The Rainmaker by John Grisham
The Last Coyote (Harry Bosch, #4) by Michael Connelly
From Potter's Field (Kay Scarpetta, #6) by Patricia Cornwell
Deal Breaker (Myron Bolitar, #1) by Harlan Coben
Sidetracked (Kurt Wallander, #5) by Henning Mankell
The Runaway Jury by John Grisham
The Partner by John Grisham
Naked in Death (In Death, #1) by J D Robb
Glory in Death (In Death, #2) by J D Robb
Come to Grief (Sid Halley, #3) by Dick Francis
Let It Bleed (Rebus, #7) by Ian Rankin
The Mermaid's Singing (Tony Hill and Carol Jordan, #1) by Val McDermid
A Maiden's Grave by Jeffery Deaver
Burning Angel (Dave Robicheaux, #8) by James Lee Burke

Historical Fiction

The Ghost Road (Regeneration, #3) by Pat Barker
A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett
Dead Man's Walk (Lonesome Dove, #3) by Larry McMurtry
The Seventh Scroll (Ancient Egypt, #2) by Wilbur Smith
Sharpe's Battle (Sharpe, #12) by Bernard Cornwell
Traitor's Gate (Thomas Pitt, #15) by Anne Perry

Young Adult Fiction

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1) by Phillip Pullman


Science Fiction / Fantasy Fiction

Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy, #1) by Robin Hobb
Stone of Tears (Sword of Truth, #2) by Terry Goodkind
Polgara the Sorceress (Malloreon) by David Eddings, Leigh Eddings
Maskerade (Discworld, #18) by Terry Pratchett
The Time Ships by Stephen Baxter
Sabriel by Gareth Nix
The Time of Contempt (The Witcher, #2) by Andrzej Sapkowski

Horror

Rose Madder by Stephen King
Memnoch The Devil (Vampire Chronicles, #5) by Anne Rice

Travel Memoir

From a Small Island by Bill Bryson

Self Help / Self Development

Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach
An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison

Humour / Cartoons

The Far Side Gallery 5 by Gary Larsen
Calvin and Hobbs Tenth Anniversary Book by Bill Watterson

How many books have you read on this list of the best books of 1995? Please feel free to leave a comment and share on social media.

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