The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
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Sharon
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May 16, 2012 05:31AM


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Finished this one yesterday myself and it's going to be one of the top books in the series for me as well. The main plot is contemporary, loved the sub-plot and Letty has always been one of my favorite characters.

Nice imagery. I like Ellroy but, as you pointed out, he gets amped up too much for me. I was thinking enema rather than fire hose.
I read Ellroy after seeing LA Confidential and then read pretty much everything else. I liked Black Dahlia more because of Ellroy's personal ties.


Can this be read as a stand alone?





What did you think of Lady Killer? I really liked it. It was my first read by her.



I read Ellroy after seeing LA Confidential and then read pretty much everything else. I liked Black Dahlia more because of Ellroy's personal ties.
LOL. That's definitely an apt description. The violence and perversion in the book could be a sticking point with a lot of potential readers.
And you're right, The Black Dahlia was an excellent book--in some ways, better than L.A. Confidential. But Dahlia I felt, was stylistically more akin to his earlier works--Brown's Requiem, Hollywood Nocturnes, etc. It seems (and granted, I haven't read his entire catalog) that L.A. Confidential was where Ellroy really started to develop into his current narrative style, where his writing became "Ellroy," rather than typical crime novels or police procedurals.
Though, I can't say if that is a good thing or not. I read Blood's a Rover recently (published 2009), and ho-boy! "Dense" doesn't even begin to cut it. The same goes for the rest of the Underworld USA trilogy, I hear.








Who is the author?
Lori wrote: "I'm new to the group and don't always read mysteries, crime or thriller stories. I mix things up. But last night I started the 2nd Jackson Brodie book by Kate Atkinson: One Good Turn. Is anyone els..."
Hi Lori, I really enjoyed the Masterpiece Mystery series. Was the series taken directly from the books or are the books different storylines with the Jackson Brodie?
Hi Lori, I really enjoyed the Masterpiece Mystery series. Was the series taken directly from the books or are the books different storylines with the Jackson Brodie?


Can this be read as a stand alone?"
I would think it could be. The plot does not depend on any of the 'backstory' to actually work well, although it is obvious that there *is* a lot of backstory because of the characters that are not developed in this book but are part of the working police group, A few references to situations involving the main character and his wife and adopted daughter but I don't think it would affect the plot in this one.


I've followed this series and for the most part, liked it very well, some I've re-read often. I prefer the first three ... the author seemed to have some problems with the main character as a married woman ... but in the last book in the series Poison Flower I thought he very much hit his stride again.

Brain freeze. I read the above and it reminded me of the series with the cop in New Orleans. Lives on the bayou and runs a fish camp/bait shop? Couple of movies made from them. First a plane crashes near his home? Dave Robichaeux??
Little help?

Brain freeze. I read the above and it reminded me of the series with the cop in New Orleans. Lives on the bayou and runs ..."
Brain freeze here too, can't remember the author or any of the titles, but I know the series you're talking about.
I've read a few of the series you're talking about but not all of them. The only similarity, really, is that the main character in those books is married and has an adopted daughter ... very different style ...

Brain freeze. I read the above and it reminded me of the series with the cop in New Orleans. Lives on the bayou and runs ..."
James Lee Burke wrote those, I believe. Wasn't the first one The Neon Rain? And then the series changes pretty drastically from the second book on... something about Heaven's.... something. That one was a movie, no?

OK, I have to check this one out. If it's a spoof on the U.N.C.L.E. books from the 60s, I'm totally in.

Brain freeze. I read the above and it reminded me of the series with the cop in New Orleans. Lives on the bay..."
Just read a book by Burke's daughter, Alafair Burke....Like his books better than hers, though I've only read one of hers. Long Gone was the one I read I think.

It's odd that I can think of four children writing now with a parent that is/was a well known author and I don't recall any from my earlier reading years.
James Lee Burke's daughter, Anne McCaffrey's son, Dick Francis's son ... plus the mother/daughter team writing as P.J. Tracy.

It's odd that I can think of four children writing now with a ..."
Iris Johansen's son Roy writes books with her and without as well.

Another brain freeze moment ... and I just read one written by the two of them.
Kari wrote: "There is also Anne Rice and Christopher."
She isn't an author I read, so neither are familiar to me. But really, of the authors I read a lot back in the 60s and 70s, I can't think of any that were the sons/daughters of a well known writer. I'm sure there must have been some but not ones I was familiar with.

Heartbroken by Lisa Unger (ARC) can't say that I have gotten into it yet, but that could be because I have been to busy to really sit down and read!

Donna: The tv series generally follow along with the books. But the writing is especially enjoyable. I just love finding an author who is new to me. The books follow the different characters' points of view. But obviously, super-cool Jackson Brodie, is the main guy. As I said, I'm reading the books in the correct chronological order but I don't think it's necessary. If you loved the series, though, you MUST try the books.
Hi Marjorie. I've read one or two of Massey's books and I have the Salaryman's Wife on my bookcase. Maybe I'll more it up the list since a new one is coming out. Sounds interesting.


Have you read Nathan's Runthat has to be one of my all time favourite reads

It's odd that I can think of four children writing now with a ..."
And J & F Kellerman's son and Stephen King's son....

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski ...kind of an interactive book described as part ghost story, part love story. So far I see only the ghost part of this. Well, really no ghost yet, but a very creepy house.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski ...kind of an interactive book described as part ghost story, part love story. So far I see only the gho..."
Stick with it, this book is very unique and you will need patience, but it's one of the best horror books I have ever read.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski ...kind of an interactive book described as part ghost story, part love story. So far I s..."
Sounds like fun! Just saw it listed as 700+ pages....hmmmm....since going back to work, my reading time has decreased and it's taking me twice as long to finish books now, not sure I could get through 700 pages these days....







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