Mystery Lovers! discussion
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What are you reading? Do you recommend it?
Greg,Please ignore my previous email as I just opened your email you referenced. Sorry, I have read all the authors you listed above and would add George Pelecanos, Archer Mayor, CJ Box, and Ken Bruen to your list. I once heard Michael Connelly speak and I always ask authors who they read, Michael said he never misses anything by George Pelecanos,
Mark
Also, when I read a James Lee Burke book the character was reading Ken Bruen and then the Ken Bruen character, Jack Taylor was reading a JLB book. That introduced me to Ken Bruen.
Mark,Interenting -- I was reading a Joe R, Lansdale book where one of the chatactors (iI think it was Leonard Pine) was reading an Andrew Vachss book.
Amonth later my favorite Vachss charactoe Burke was reading a Lansdale book.
I corresponded with Andrew Vachss and he said he and Joe were good friends.
Pretty cool.
Thank you for the suggestions.
Be in touch,
Greg
I'm reading a really good mystery set in Vancouver. Deadly Lessons is about a former lawyer, now a school teacher, whose colleague has been accused of a sexual relationship with a student. When the student is murdered, Winston is hired by the accused to represent him, but he's a little rusty on criminal defense. I have 100 pages to go and find the story quite suspenseful.
Debra,Thanks -- I appreciate the reccommendation!
I like this site for lots of reasons, and as I get older, read faster and my favorite authors are passing away --- well, it is great to get new leads.
Thank you -- I will look into this, as I like the play of tough, difficult situations ingrained into a plot.
Greg
Debra wrote: "I'm reading a really good mystery set in Vancouver. Deadly Lessons is about a former lawyer, now a school teacher, whose colleague has been accused of a sexual relationship with a student. When the..."That sounds really good!!
Greg wrote: "Debra,Thanks -- I appreciate the reccommendation!
I like this site for lots of reasons, and as I get older, read faster and my favorite authors are passing away --- well, it is great to get new le..."
You're welcome. This is a great place to share news of books and authors people might not have heard of.
Aiesha wrote: "Debra wrote: "I'm reading a really good mystery set in Vancouver. Deadly Lessons is about a former lawyer, now a school teacher, whose colleague has been accused of a sexual relationship with a stu..."Thanks, Aiesha. The topic is timely as the issue has come up more than once in BC over recent years.
I just started The Black Box by Michael Connelly. As expected it is great so far. I just finished Merry Christmas Alex Cross and it was one of the best Alex Cross books I have read in awhile.
Jorjann wrote: "I just started The Black Box by Michael Connelly. As expected it is great so far. I just finished Merry Christmas Alex Cross and it was one of the best Alex Cross books I have read in awhile."I enjoyed Merry Christmas Alex Cross as well Jorjann. I also love Michael Connelly.
Still on the waiting list for Black Box. I can't wait to read it after reading all the excellent reviews.
Jannene wrote: "I just finished Blind Pursuit. It was a very good and suspenseful book. My heart was racing at times reading it. The only downfall was that the ebook had a few half sentences and some other minor t..."Sounds great I will have to read it. thanks for telling us about it.
Scarlet wrote: "I'm reading The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen. They are fast to read. It keeps you on edge until the very end!"I love Tess Gerritsens novels for that very reason too they keep you interested to the very end. She is a brilliant author
Wendy wrote: "Scarlet wrote: "I'm reading The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen. They are fast to read. It keeps you on edge until the very end!"I love Tess Gerritsens novels for that very reason too they keep you ..."
I'm glad Tess Gerritsen's name has come up. I've heard great things about her work and keep forgetting to pick up a copy. She spoke at Canada's Bloody Words Conference in Victoria, June 2011 and was wonderful!
I have read all Garritsen's, Rizzoli. & Isles and many of her stand Malone's. She is a brilliant author.
I have discovered this series of crime fiction from Eastern Europe - Attack in the Library, Kill the General, Anatomical Clues. Quite exciting books, with strong stories taking place in interesting locations, places previously unknown to the general crime fiction reader). Recommended to everybody looking for solid Noir with a twist.
There's also a true crime story Rimaru - Butcher of Bucharest researched in the secret police archives of Romania, which is very well written.
All available in handy Kindle editions.
I read Solar Island by Rick Chesler and would definately give it five stars.
My F2F mystery group selected Death and the Maiden: A Max Liebermann Mystery by Frank Tallis. When I searched for it on the library website, I discovered that there was another mystery with the same title by Gerald Eliaswho writes a series about a blind violinist. I've read on GR that he has sidekicks. I'd imagine that they assist him in solving the mysteries. I just started reading the first one Devil's Trill and find it to be very compelling. The central character is cantankerous, but I think he has good reason.
I recently finished reading Learning to Swim
by Sara J. Henry, which won the Best First Novel Agatha Award for 2011. It was a great read and really deserved the award!
Just finished listening to Winter Of The World by Ken Follett, very long but well worth the effort, enjoyed it tremendously, reading Life Among Giants interesting and a bit different, will comment further upon completion.
Currently reading the Karen Vail series by Alan Jacobson... The 7th Victim (3 star), Crush (3 star), Velocity (2 star) and now starting Inmate 1577Long books, with lots of detail, twisty with lots of detail (did I say lots?). But I actually like the way the books continue into each other, so a series that's best read in order.
I am currently reading the Nathanial Cade seriec by Farnsworth. It is a fun read and if you allow the premise that a vampire can actually exist and help the President, well you can enjoy it. It is not bad, and is very good theropy when you read accounting, law, science, religion in between.I am beginning to like the main charactors and the stories are rather unique -- if you allow yourself the "ride".
Greg
I finished Demolition Angel by Robert Crais. It's a stand alone that doesn't feature Elvis Cole or Joe Pike. Highly recommended! It was excellent.
I just finished
Winter of the World
. It was too long, and segueing as it does from
Fall of Giants
--which I also read recently, only reinforces its seemingly unendingness. Though his prose doesn 't soar, Follett is a competent writer but I was more than ready for it to end.
Life Among Giants by Bill Roorbach, started it and thought it a bit strange but at the end enjoyed it immensely, recommend. Just starting Phantom by Ted Bell.
I haven't posted my current readings in a while. I'm still trucking along in 3 different series, In Death by JD Robb, Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly, and Rainie & Qunicy aka FBI Profiler series by Lisa Gardner. I finished
Still Missing and
Portrait in Death over the holiday. The In Death books are always great & funny, whereas Still Missing was a little disturbing but good. I just couldn't imagine myself going through all she went through!I'm now reading the 5th Harry Bosch,
Trunk Music and the 2nd FBI profiler,
The Third Victim. This year, I'd really like to finish the Bosch series and start the Kay Scarpetta Series by Patricia Cornwell. We'll see how that goes since I can have a solid plan of action and easily get distracted if I see something else good. I just can't get enough! :)
Read all the early Scarpetta series, haven't been able to get into the latest ones, Recnetly finished The Black Box by Michael Connelly, if you like Connelly, you will also like George Pelecanos.
I am currently reading For Sale in Palm Springs by Albert Simon. I am only on Chapter 4 but would recommend it. The book is moving at a good pace and already very addictive.
I cannot say enough about the book edited by Otto Penzler, The Lineup, it has 21 of the most famous crime writers tell how they developed their characters,Ken Bruen, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, Jeffrey deaver, Robert Parker just to name a few. The book starts out with a great Mark Twain quote"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them"
I just finished Trunk Music, which was another great Bosch story! I started Imitation in Death last night so I can keep trucking along in that series. I can't get enough of Eve Dallas! I'm currently on the library waiting list for Dark Places and The Next Accident too.
I just finished all of Kate Morton's books....The Secret Keeper was my favorite.
I'm catching up on one of my favorite series, the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith, with In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
.
I'm about 1/3rd of the way through Snowman by Nesbo. Good but gross stuff!
Just started Below Zero by CJ Box on CD and reading Suspect by Robert Crais two of my favorite authors.
Over half way through EverAfter by Kim Harrison
Mark wrote: "Just started Below Zero by CJ Box on CD and reading Suspect by Robert Crais two of my favorite authors."I'm waiting for Suspect at the local library. His last 7-8 books have been really great.
Reading The Snowman by Nesbo - good but gross stuff. Yeah, I'd reccommend it to anyone who wasn't a cozy mystery reader only
Currently reading Tana French's "The Woods." She gets mixed reviews, but I find her a luscious read. If you are looking for an action-packed fast read, this is not for you. For me her language is so rich and evocative I could spend a long time in her characters and settings. She is an Irish "crime" writer ....and it is hard to beat the Irish for language!
The best Irish author is Ken Bruen and he is not your luscious writer very down and dirty but excellent on the Irish way of life and excellent to read if you are a mystery fan.
Mark wrote: "The best Irish author is Ken Bruen and he is not your luscious writer very down and dirty but excellent on the Irish way of life and excellent to read if you are a mystery fan."Thanks, Mark! I am a Ken Bruen fan already ....working my way through the library's collection. You are right ...not luscious, but my kind of gritty!
Wow, Ken Bruen is prolific! Which series do you recommend I start with? It looks like he has some stand alone novels as well
Carol,I would recomend the Jack Taylor series as someone else mentioned he is flawed and gritty, but my kind of guy.
Betsy wrote: "Reading The Snowman by Nesbo - good but gross stuff. Yeah, I'd reccommend it to anyone who wasn't a cozy mystery reader only"I read the The Snowman by Jo Nesbo, which got me into trying more Scandinavian authors. I readThe Return of the Dancing Master by Henning Mankell which I loved! I have just finished listening to Nesbo's The Bat. I think this was his first book. It takes place in Australia, and along with the police procedural, Nesbo delves into Aboriginal culture and mythical beliefs. The background of Harry Hole is revealed as well. This probably isn't Nesbo's best, but fans will want to read this for insight into the Harry Hole character, and to enjoy the Australian setting.
Mark wrote: "Carol,I would recomend the Jack Taylor series as someone else mentioned he is flawed and gritty, but my kind of guy."
Thank for the recommendation, Mark. I will add that series to my TBR list!
Started Hour Of Peril by Daniel Stashower after hearing him speak, looked forward to it. I rarely do not finish a book, couldn't finish this one. Boring but I am now reading Dreamers Of The Day by Mary Doria Russell, wonderful book very entertaining, If you have not read The Sparrow by her, you have really missed out. Magnificent book
Just finished the Snowman by Nesbo. Its' good,gritty and definitely has enough plot twists to keep you squirming in your seat!! I started Safe Harbor for a totally different ambiance!
Just finished
... another great In Death read! Started
by Lisa Gardner! Loving this series!
I'm reading a real page-turner: 500 Days: Decisions and Deceptions in the Shadow of 9/11, by Kurt Eichenwald. We all know the general picture, but Eichenwald lays out all the details in a very suspenseful way. Highly recommended.
Mystery Lovers!
Books mentioned in this topic
Defending Jacob: A Novel (other topics)A Box of Darkness: The Story of a Marriage (other topics)
The Strangler: A Novel (other topics)
My Forbidden Past (other topics)
Double Life: A Love Story from Broadway to Hollywood (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Harlan Coben (other topics)Karin Slaughter (other topics)
Robert Crais (other topics)
Gerald Elias (other topics)
Robert Crais (other topics)
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Lawrence Sanders - Edward X Delahney "Deadly Sins 1 & 3 for sure.
John Sanford - Lucas Davenport -- The "_____ Prey" books, all are pretty good - this guy reminds me of Harry and Sanford writes like Connelly.
Lawrence Block -- Matt Scudder series "Sins of the Fathers" is a good start
James Lee Burke - the Dave Robiceaux books -- this guy writes like poetry and the bad guys are quite evil
John D MacDonald -- the Travis McGee series -- MacDonald is dead now, but the books are really great
Joe R Lansdale - the Hap and Leonard series. These two guys are idiots, that make for a great story.
Robert Crais -- Elvis Cole and Joe Pike are great
However, my all time favorite is Steven Hunter and his Bob Lee Swagger stuff and the first two books about Bob Lee's father Earl Swagger.
That should be enough to chew on for a bit.
Good Luck
Greg