David Liss





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David Liss

Goodreads author profile


born
in The United States
gender
male

website

genre

influences
Henry Fielding and Harry Crews

member since
September 2007


About this author

I am a novelist living in San Antonio, Texas, though, for the record, I am not from Texas. I just live here. I have four novels published: A Conspiracy of Paper (which won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel) and A Spectacle of Corruption were both national bestsellers. They are set in 18th century London and feature Benjamin Weaver, a Jewish former pugilist, thief-taker for hire. Weaver will be back in 2009 with The Devil’s Company, but he’s featured in a new short story, The Double Dealer” in the anthology Thriller , edited by James Patterson. The Coffee Trader is set in 17th century Amsterdam. It was also a national bestseller, and is a book group favorite. My most recent novel, The Ethical Assassin , is a contemporary animal rights thr...more


Average rating: 3.74 · 20,206 ratings · 2,662 reviews · 14 distinct works · Similar authors
A Conspiracy of Paper (Benj...
3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 4,724 ratings — published 2000 — 25 editions
The Coffee Trader
3.68 of 5 stars 3.68 avg rating — 3,337 ratings — published 2002 — 22 editions
The Whiskey Rebels
3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 avg rating — 2,961 ratings — published 2008 — 20 editions
The Devil's Company (Benjam...
3.89 of 5 stars 3.89 avg rating — 1,402 ratings — published 2007 — 19 editions
A Spectacle of Corruption (...
3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 avg rating — 1,403 ratings — published 2004 — 21 editions
The Twelfth Enchantment
3.38 of 5 stars 3.38 avg rating — 1,176 ratings — published 2011 — 11 editions
The Ethical Assassin
3.47 of 5 stars 3.47 avg rating — 770 ratings — published 2006 — 16 editions
Black Panther: The Man With...
by
3.74 of 5 stars 3.74 avg rating — 47 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions
Mystery Men
by
3.53 of 5 stars 3.53 avg rating — 64 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions
Fear Itself: Black Panther:...
by
3.39 of 5 stars 3.39 avg rating — 28 ratings — published 2012 — 2 editions
More books by David Liss…
A Conspiracy of Paper A Spectacle of Corruption The Devil's Company
Benjamin Weaver (3 books)
by
3.8751495811727166 of 5 stars 3.88 avg rating — 7,521 ratings

Upcoming Events

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David's Recent Updates

David is now friends with Aaron Delwiche
David and 3 other people liked E's review of The Twelfth Enchantment:
The Twelfth Enchantment by David Liss
" Oh historical fiction, with pelisses and carriages, and magic! How I love you! Didn't know David Liss had this in him! yay!

Extended review here " Read more of this review »
David rated a book 5 of 5 stars
Witches on the Road Tonight by Sheri Holman
Witches on the Road Tonight
by Sheri Holman
read in January, 2011
David rated a book 4 of 5 stars
How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely
How I Became a Famous Novelist
by Steve Hely (Goodreads Author)
read in October, 2010
David rated a book 5 of 5 stars
This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
A few years ago I received an email from a bookseller with whom I’d traded a few friendly messages. This time she wrote because she was bursting with excitement over a novel she’d read and she felt sure it was the sort of thing I’d like. The novel wa...more
David rated a book 4 of 5 stars
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
David rated a book 4 of 5 stars
Byron In Love by Edna O'Brien
Byron In Love
by Edna O'Brien
read in July, 2009
David rated a book 4 of 5 stars
Trust No One by Gregg Hurwitz
Trust No One
by Gregg Hurwitz
read in July, 2009
The Devil's Company by David Liss
David made a comment on his review of The Little Friend
775346
"Chris wrote: ""The Secret History" is such the better story. Some scenes in "The Little Friend" are very well written, but as a story...meh."

I loved T...more
"
More of David's books…
“Sometimes you make your mistakes with your eyes wide open.”
David Liss

“I enjoy my pettiness with a dose of wit.”
David Liss, The Whiskey Rebels

“You are but a hard turd in the ass of my journey.”
David Liss

Polls

28757
HISTORICAL FICTION POLL "D"
There will be a series of polls to begin putting together a potential reading list for the "historical fiction folder". I have divided the books into groups of 15 books apiece. Make sure to choose your favorite from each poll and make sure to vote in each of these polls so that we can generate a list according to priorities and interests. You will only receive one notification per poll. There will be simultaneous polls so please make sure to vote in each one.

The First Man in Rome (Masters of Rome 1) Colleen McCullough Colleen McCullough

THE FIRST MAN IN ROME BY COLLEEN MCCULLOUGH
 
  10 votes, 26.3%

The Crimson Petal and the White Michel Faber Michel Faber

THE CRIMSON PETAL AND THE WHITE BY MICHEL FABER
 
  5 votes, 13.2%

Maisie Dobbs (Maisie Dobbs, #1) Jacqueline Winspear Jacqueline Winspear

MAISIE DOBBS BY JACQUELINE WINSPEAR
 
  4 votes, 10.5%

Roma  The Novel of Ancient Rome Steven Saylor Steven Saylor

ROMA: THE NOVEL OF ANCIENT ROME BY STEVEN SAYLOR
 
  3 votes, 7.9%

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Susanna Clarke Susanna Clarke

JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR. NORRELL BY SUSANNA CLARK
 
  3 votes, 7.9%

The Hornet's Nest Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter

THE HORNET'S NEST BY JIMMY CARTER
 
  2 votes, 5.3%

Drums Along the Mohawk (New York Classics) Walter D. Edmonds

DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK BY WALTER D. EDMONDS
 
  2 votes, 5.3%

I, Claudius Robert Graves Robert Graves

I. CLAUDIUS BY ROBERT GRAVES
 
  2 votes, 5.3%

Possession  A Romance A.S. Byatt A.S. Byatt

POSSESSION: A ROMANCE BY A. S. BYATT
 
  2 votes, 5.3%

Freedom  A Novel of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil WarWilliam Safire William Safire

FREEDOM: A NOVEL OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN BY WILLIAM SAFIRE
 
  2 votes, 5.3%

A Conspiracy of Paper David Liss David Liss

A CONSPIRACY OF PAPER BY DAVID LISS
 
  2 votes, 5.3%

I, Elizabeth  A Novel Rosalind Miles Rosalind Miles

I. ELIZABETH: A NOVEL BY ROSALIND MILES
 
  1 vote, 2.6%

Girl in a Blue Dress Gaynor Arnold

GIRL IN A BLUE DRESS BY GAYNOR ARNOLD
 
  0 votes, 0.0%

Dissolution (Matthew Shardlake #1)C.J. Sansom C.J. Sansom

DISSOLUTION BY C.J SANSOM
 
  0 votes, 0.0%

The Course of Honor Lindsey Davis

THE COURSE OF HONOR BY LINDSEY DAVIS
 
  0 votes, 0.0%

9 comments
More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics posts views last activity  
History is Not Bo...: Historical Person You'd Like to Experience Life As 29 67 Mar 17, 2009 01:18pm  
Challenge: 50 Books: Stephanie's 2009 Books 29 189 Dec 29, 2009 07:31pm  
The History Book ...: HISTORICAL FICTION POLLS 6 155 Jan 21, 2010 12:04am  
Challenge: 50 Books: Ben's Books for 2009 45 249 Jun 03, 2010 08:50am  
The Seasonal Read...: Summer Challenge 2010 Completed Tasks (do NOT delete any posts in this thread) 3072 2937 Aug 31, 2010 10:39pm  
Cover to Cover Ch...: Jen's 144 Books in 2010 130 162 Dec 30, 2010 05:33pm  
2149 Q&A with David Liss — 37 members — last activity Jan 30, 2008 04:54pm
Goodreads Author David Liss will be available in January 7 - 21 to answer all your questions. Post your discussion questions here!
153 Our History — 534 members — last activity Jun 08, 2013 09:18am
This group is for anyone who is interested in history - biographies, narratives, hard history, historical fiction, alternate history, etc. - to share...more
3364 Writerpedia — 1311 members — last activity 4 hours, 5 min ago
This is a place to share knowledge. If you are writing and need to know something maybe someone here can give you an answer.
Groups_nophoto-25x33 Blog Tours for Readers — 121 members — last activity May 27, 2013 02:18am
We want to set up a list of reader blogs that would host virtual tours for books readers would enjoy. Children's Books Mystery/suspense Romance Mainstream...more
15336 fiction files redux — 270 members — last activity 18 hours, 4 min ago
this is a literary love-in, baby . . . books, literature, fiction of all shapes and sizes, these things we discuss . . . make yourself at home, check...more
More of David’s groups…



Comments (showing 1-10)    post a comment »
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message 10: by M

M Thanks for the invitation! I really loved The Ethical Assassin, but I still love my pork!! (Though I must admit it did put me off it for a bit.) However, I am definitely off door-to-door salesmen!! Actually, a week or so after finishing the book, a K***y guy stopped by and I let him clean my rug and then told them no thanks as I thought of Lem's slimy boss. Thanks for the confidence!!


message 9: by Meg

Meg Thanks for adding me to your friends. I promise to add more detail to my reviews of your books and post all the ones I've read. (And I've loved them all.)

;)


message 8: by Saleh

Saleh Hi.What We Talk About When We Talk About Love?PLZ Answer The Question In My Profile.


Rabeah I would like you to visit my picture exhibtion in our website at www.iranipc.net on 30 nov to 6 dec 2008 and give me your advice
http://www.iranipc.net/Farsi/Exhibiti...


Rabeah I would like you to visit my picture exhibtion in our website at www.iranipc.net on 30 nov to 6 dec 2008 and give me your advice


edifanob Hi David,
thank you for the book recommendation.
I put it on my to-read list.

ediFanoB


QUOTE
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
British scholar & fantasy novelist (1892 - 1973)


Jeannie Faulkner Barber Hi David and thanks for the book recommendation.
Sound pretty interesting. I'll have to check it out!
Jeannie


Jeannie Faulkner Barber Hi David and thanks for adding me as a friend. Even if you're not from Texas, I'm sending a warm southern hello and we're glad you're here. You have such an impressive bio! I know you're a busy man, but if you have the time, I'd love for you to visit my web site, jeanniebarber.com. I'm a novice writer so feel free to make any kind of suggestions, ideas or thoughts to correct it. I’m co-authoring a novel with Patty Wiseman, another friend on Goodreads. We’ve known each other for over 30 years. While you're there, please sign the guestbook, too! There’s also a link to our book you can click on…clairkelley@synthasite.com. This site is brand new and in the editing stage as is our story. Please visit it as well. We’re both very green, but we’ve met so many people on this site willing to reach out and offer advice or a guiding hand, we feel very blessed.
Thanks,
Jeannie



Vivian Zabel Thank you for adding me, David. I'm definitely interested in some of your titles. I'll add them to my list of books to read.

My first mystery/suspense was released in June, after many years of trying to write mysteries.

Are you participating in the Texas Book Festival in Austin? Our publishing house is too small to afford that festival, yet. We're going to Decatur (GA) the last of this month, though.

Vivian



message 1: by J.R.

J.R. Thanks for adding me to your friends, David. Your books are being added to my to read list.


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