Can’t tell you how hard it was to pull the trigger on this list. I hate to categorize writers along superficial lines (in this case - gender) but while looking back on my year’s reading, there’s just no getting around the fact that I’m primarily reading men.

Here’s the thing - I’m a dude. Into to dude stuff and dude sensibilities. I shouldn’t be too surprised then that after I’d compiled a list of my favorite debuts of the year, all of them turned out to be by dudes too. And I’m not apologizing. Not for my tastes or sensibilities, but I will be the very first to temper any misplaced expectations floating around out there that I’ve got anything like a well-rounded or objective approach or that I’m drawing from a deep well.

I don’t. I’m not.

But these are the books by first time fiction publishers that snagged deepest with me. Some of these debuts are smooth, assured and terribly accomplished, others are muscled-out prose engines shooting off sparks and waking the neighbors, and still others are squirrelly dodgers of expectations that kept me guessing and off balance, so - not all grand slams - but the debuts that interested me most in checking out book number two.

The Bastard Hand by Heath Lowrance. The first high-minded, gutter dwelling selection on this list was an early 2011 read that really helped set the tone for the rest of the year. Phinneas Childe is a brilliantly despicable villain who directs destruction like a conductor in front of a forty piece orchestra. The tasty, nasty tone of this first novel make round two a no-brainer.

Crimes in Southern Indiana by Frank Bill. Beware of the dog. No kidding. If the teeth bared on the first page of this story collection don't get your attention, then perhaps those on page two, or three, or four will. The high-octane prose you may expect to back down once its point is made simply refuses to. Why, dear lord is it trying so hard? Because it's desperate, because a fighting chance is the only chance it ever had. Because it aint even broke a sweat yet. You think you're ready for (Bill's 2012 novel) Donnybrook? You aint seen nothin yet.

The Dewey Decimal System by Nathan Larson. Feel like I've said a lot about this one already, but I am very intrigued to get to the bottom the rabbit hole.

Dove Season by Johnny Shaw. Since the passing of James Crumley, I've been looking for an heir apparent, and while Shaw may not be gunning for that particular slot, he's my personal front runner. I'm looking forward to more and misguided mayhem, two-fisted knockabouts in the next Jimmy Veeder fiasco - that cat has nine livers.

Mostly Redneck by Rusty Barnes. A short story collection from poet and publisher Barnes whose characters and stories don't always get full closure. In fact, it's that open-ended aspect, that 'where do we go from here?' and those 'what awaits us down the road?' moments that makes them so haunting. Want to know where you fall on the optimist/pessimist spectrum? Tell me what you feel after reading this collection.

The Samaritan by Fred Venturini. Never had any idea where this one was heading. Love that. Wore a lot of influences on its sleeve, but arranged in an unfamiliar structure that kept me off balance and at the author's mercy throughout. Humor, horror and humanity to burn. Not looking before I leap with the next Venturini.

Southern Gods by John Hornor Jacobs. Rich mix of mystery and horror, not to mention a clear love for and understanding of myth and music that is infectious. You can bet I'll be reading his upcoming YAbooks to my kids. No idea what to expect next for an adult reader, but very intrigued.

The Terror of Living by Urban Waite. Prose to match his themes, clear, compelling action strapped to well drawn characters - no question I'm eager for another round.

Triple Crossing by Sebastian Rotella. Epic setting, tight plotting, crackerjack pacing. Hell yeah, I'll jump on the next ride Rotella builds.

Volt by Alan Heathcock. Another collection of short fiction, so of course I'm interested in seeing a novel, but let's be clear, I don't think a longer story automatically equals more depth of character, intensity of emotion or a more memorable read. Certainly, it's difficult to imagine that being the case with Heathcock.

Now, because I can’t let this go entirely masculine, I’d like to point out that I did read some very compelling fiction by female authors (who I’d not read previously –so they were rather like debuts to me) that you can rest assured will not be the only books of theirs that I consume.

Damage Control by Denise Hamilton. No excuses for not getting to Hamilton earlier, but Damage Control was a fantastic introduction. Now where to?

I-5 by Summer Brenner. Goodness, what to say? Breathless, hardboiled and weird. I can't wait for my next Summer. My Life in Clothes sounds promising.

Learning to Swim by Sara J. Henry. One of the first indicators to me that 2011 was going to be a great year for reading. Here's what I said earlier.

Low Bite by Sin Soracco really blew me away and I said so way back here. 

Money Shot and Choke Hold by Christa Faust. Bought my copy of Money Shot way back when, but waited for some reason till Choke Hold was about nearly released to read them back to back. Wow. Quite a combination. Won't wait next time.

The Most Dangerous Thing by Laura Lippman. I knew Lippman's work through several short stories I'd read (and really enjoyed), but never actually read one of her novels before 2011's The Most Dangerous Thing. Since then I've also read I'd Know You Anywhere.

One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson. Yeah, I've been intending to get around to Atkinson since Case Histories and true, Started Early, Took My Dog came out in 2011, but fate put this one in my hands first.

The Territory by Tricia Fields. Second of my year end list Fields made with this book. Check out what I said earlier right here.

Women and Other Animals by Bonnie Jo Campbell. I know, I know, she published a book this year, and I can't wait to get to Once Upon a River, but after reading bits of American Salvage in the bookstore, I knew that her short stories were going to have real power over me. This is just the first one I picked up.

You Believers by Jane Bradley. I've since picked up Are We Lucky Yet? and have my eyes peeled forPower Lines. Read more right here.

Jedidiah Ayres writes fiction and keeps the blog Hardboiled Wonderland.