My Top Ten Reads of 2010

As of this writing (12/20) I've read 72 books in 2010 (an all-time high for me), and if I finish the 2 I'm currently reading and one goes beyond my expectations, I'll update this list.
It was easy for me to pick my top 5, but a bit of decision-making had to go into the other 5 (actually 6 as I ended up with a tie). I read (and liked) a lot of books not mentioned here (several in the bizarro genre), so if you don't see your title, no offense is intended. I tried to stick with 10 books that hit me deeply in one way or another, kept me engrossed throughout the entire reading time, and those that stuck with me for a while after finishing.
There were two novels I was a bit disappointed with in 2010, one being Kaaron Warren's debut, SLIGHTS, a heavily-praised supernatural chiller that--while very well written and original--would have worked better as a novella, and Bentley Little's THE DISAPPEARANCE, which saw my favorite horror author attempt a more mainstream thriller than the macabre horror his fans have come to expect. Here's hoping for a more gruesome 2011 for Little and a faster-moving 2nd time out for Warren...
Now onto my personal favorites, complete with links back to my original reviews.
1) A DARK MATTER by Peter Straub was easily his best novel since 1999's Stoker-winning epic, MR. X. Invest yourself in Straub's amazing cast and you'll be rewarded with scares, contemplation, and salty discharge escaping your eyes. Horror fiction rarely goes this deep.http://nickcato.blogspot.com/2010/03/sit-with-guru.html
2) PRETTY LITTLE DEAD THINGS by Gary McMahon is one of those horror novels where every page brings dread and gloom; the atmosphere and tone is to die for and there's plenty of surprises along the way. I couldn't get enough. http://nickcato.blogspot.com/2010/10/one-of-best-of-2010.html
3) DIMITER by William Peter Blatty was one of the most engaging novels of 2010, with several chapters requiring re-reads to make sure you've got it all. While more of a mystery than a horror novel, William EXORCIST Blatty kept me turning the pages at complete attention. http://nickcato.blogspot.com/2010/04/dimiter-by-william-peter-blatty-2010.html
4) NEW WORLD MONKEYS by Nancy Mauro. I usually don't include books not released in the year I'm looking at, but Mauro's debut novel (released hardcover in 2009 and trade paperback in 2010) is a near-perfect "chick lit" novel that's anything but chick lit. This intense (and wonderfully weird) look at a struggling married couple of five years was a pleasure to read from every angle. I re-read the richly symbolic ending several times before closing the covers. http://nickcato.blogspot.com/2010/10/smart-funny-and-weird.html
5) ELEVEN TWENTY-THREE by Jason R. Hornsby. After impressing me with his uber-original debut zombie novel, EVERY SIGH, THE END, Hornsby's sophomore effort gave as much as a unique spin on conspiracy theories as his first did to the undead. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next. http://nickcato.blogspot.com/2010/12/unread-history-of-world.html
6) Out of the many novellas to cross my path in 2010, Brian James Freeman's THIS PAINTED DARKNESS was simply the best. This powerful study of one man dealing with his imagination is a must read. http://nickcato.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-paint-against-darkness.html
7) Maurice Broaddus' KING MAKER: THE KNIGHTS OF BRETON COURT I is a wonderful, gritty, fantasy-take on 'hood life. His ability to "keep things real" when the fantasy elements come into play is quite impressive, and as of this writing I'm halfway through the second installment, KING'S JUSTICE, which (so far) is every bit as good. http://nickcato.blogspot.com/2010/11/dragons-invade-hood.html
8) BUTTERFLY by Simon Clark, like his classic zombie novel, BLOOD CRAZY, deals with evolution, yet comes from a different angle. While I try to avoid adding pricey, limited edition books to my annual list, this is one that's well worth seeking out. It contains (arguably) two of the best characters Clark has created. http://nickcato.blogspot.com/2010/08/clark-evolves-again.html
9) I LOVE when follow-up novels outshine the original. Such is the case with Lucy Snyder's SHOTGUN SORCERESS, the action-packed second installment to her Jessie Shimmer saga. While this may be bubble-gum pop fantasy, it was also one of the FUNNEST times I've had between the pages this year (rare for a book that ends on a wicked cliff hanger). Monster fans, take note. http://nickcato.blogspot.com/2010/11/jessies-back-and-better-than-before_3314.html
10) And we have a TIE! While it's yet to say if werewolves will ever replace zombies or vampires as the new "it" monster, there's been some good werewolf novels the past few years. 2010 saw Gregory Lamberson's THE FRENZY WAY, which combines clashing hairy beasts with some police procedural and an ancient religious order in a nearly non-stop romp of violence and thrills, while Jeff Strand's WOLF HUNT features mobsters, a nasty, sarcastic werewolf, and plenty of the author's trademark dark humor, masterfully done as to not interrupt the gruesome scenes of carnage. After letting it sit with me a while, WOLF HUNT has become one of my favorites from Strand's ever-growing catalog.
THE FRENZY WAY:http://nickcato.blogspot.com/2010/04/breaking-news-werewolves-wage-war-on.html
WOLF HUNT:http://nickcato.blogspot.com/2010/10/hunt-you-dont-want-to-miss.html

So there ya go. There were some GREAT bizarro titles released this year, as well as some interesting non-fiction titles (John Water's latest trip down memory lane was quite good), and if nothing else, 2010 proved that as far as horror fiction goes, the small press is still alive and well (and perhaps producing better material than ever).