Monday Book Recs--My Favorite Detectives

Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley Series

Careless in Red was probably my favorite so far. That's the one after Lynley's sainted wife Helen dies and he is traveling up the coast. I think I have a thing for crushed, broken heroes. But I like all the books in this series, and wish frankly that she would just buckle down and write some more of them. I admit, I didn't read them until I had seen a few Masterpiece episodes. I am intrigued by the differences in the two alternate universes of Lynleys. I love anything British, so that explains some of it. I love the relationship between Lynley and Havers. I loved Lynely's problems as a cop, past and present. I love the glimpse into the upper class world. I also think I love that they are written by an American. I will admit, I occasionally wish that there were more focus on the detectives than on the cases. I don't want a hundred pages about the local folk before the murder starts. That's my soap opera heart.

Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone Series

I think I remember recommending this series foolishly to my mother, who complained that there was too much swearing. Well, it's detective fiction. And it's gritty. I like Kinsey's lonely life, her small town friends, the restaurant she goes to, her friend Henry who is 80. I like how the series has changed and grown more thrilling. I think that Grafton is a superb character sketch writer and I am trying to learn from her how to quickly and incisively introduce a character in ten words or less. I also love Kinsey's difficult relationships, with her clients, and with others. I like the past we learn about slowly as readers. And I love the idea that seems to permeate all these books, that you are mostly likely to be killed by someone you love. Chilling and true.

Robert Parker's Spenser Series

OK, yeah, I admit I got tired of Spenser/Susan and the dog. I really wanted to shoot the dog after a while. Sorry! But the early books are amazing as Spenser becomes himself, and Hawk is a fascinating character. I like some of the early stuff with Susan and feminism. I even liked the later books so long as there was little to do with Susan. I got really REALLY annoyed with the constant references to great sex always, and Susan's utter inability to cook and yet her precise care of her appearance at all times. On the other hand, I thought Parker was so perfect at dialog. That is what I keep trying to steal from him, since I steal from every writer I admire (and probably those I don't admire, too, unconsciously.) He could write in about two pages a scene that would take me about twenty to write and he would make it seem effortless.

Robert Parker's Jesse Stone Series

I think I started liking Jesse Stone more after Tom Selleck picked him up. And maybe because I was getting tired of Spenser. I wanted to shake Jesse sometimes, his thing with his wife, but that's intentional on the writer's part, I think. The lonely man, and all that. I liked the novel about the woman who wanted to pitch professional baseball. Interesting insight again into Parker on men and women. I don't necessarily agree, but I thought it was fascinating. I also liked the small town feel of these books, the sense that there is something dark lurking in every small world.

Anne Perry's Monk Series

I read the Pitt series first, and only grudgingly read these, because there wasn't anything else of Perry's to read. But I think I prefer this series to the other at this point. I really like how the relationship between Hester and Monk has grown. I like the lawyer who is always between them. I like the time period, though Perry does all time periods well. She seems excruciating in her detail. I could never write historical like this and I don't think I even want to. But as a primer in how to make a fantasy world real, I think there is no better example than these books. I like the courtroom thrill and the feeling of the Thames as a creature. Also the horror of life at this time in poverty, the underground being built, the gallows, the jails. I like dark, what can I say?

Anne Perry's Thomas and Charlotte Pitt Series

This series in an interesting mix of the underside of Victorian London and the glitsy upper class side. I find the match between Thomas and Charlotte fascinating and the latest book, where Charlotte goes off to Ireland with another man (Thomas's superior who is in love with her) had me on the edge of my seat all the way. A great way to combine plot suspense with character suspense. I am trying to learn from her the way to write a marriage that isn't either cliched boring or cliched difficult. Thomas and Charlotte are in love, but they have tensions between them. I don't know how she writes marriage so perfectly, but she does. And Great Aunt Vespasia--there is no better female aunt character in all the world.