Small Mercies
question
book recommendations needed!
Alana
Jan 08, 2024 03:35PM
Good reads community: I'm having trouble finding mystery (or even thriller) books to my taste. I thought if I provided some bullet points, someone out there might be able to pinpoint some for me. A series to sink into would be even more brilliant!
Good examples:
I loved Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane Also, the Susie Steiner set starting with 'Missing, Presumed'. And
Ónce there were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
- Mystery but not çozy novels, and no police procedurals
- Lots of back story on the protagonist - home life, personal relationships etc
- Excellent writing, propulsive pacing, and literary style with this desirable
- Dark is ok, but can't be unrelentingly bleak throughout.
- Balance of stakes and character development
- Middle aged protagonist more relatable for me
Not for me:
- Anything by the Baldacci's Pattersons Grishams etc, or Sally Hepworth and the authors who generally pump out a book a year (but maybe there are exceptions and ones which are well written?). Cliches, unoriginal tropes etc.
Thank you!
Good examples:
I loved Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane Also, the Susie Steiner set starting with 'Missing, Presumed'. And
Ónce there were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy- Mystery but not çozy novels, and no police procedurals
- Lots of back story on the protagonist - home life, personal relationships etc
- Excellent writing, propulsive pacing, and literary style with this desirable
- Dark is ok, but can't be unrelentingly bleak throughout.
- Balance of stakes and character development
- Middle aged protagonist more relatable for me
Not for me:
- Anything by the Baldacci's Pattersons Grishams etc, or Sally Hepworth and the authors who generally pump out a book a year (but maybe there are exceptions and ones which are well written?). Cliches, unoriginal tropes etc.
Thank you!
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I also loved Small Mercies. I wish I had other recommendations, but most of the mysteries I like are police procedurals, though ones that are not necessarily the usual suspects (Jackson Brodie, the Tana French novels). I assume you've read other Denis Lehane?
You’ve nailed my taste with The Goldfinch, thanks Hilary. I loved that one. Will check out ELAIC now 😀👍🏼
Hilary Sterne
It's definitely not The Goldfinch! What about Life After Life? It's not a mystery per se but it is one of those novels where you don't know what's abo
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