What Crime/Mystery/Thriller book are you reading?
- Thread starter BrotherBenny
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Dammit! (Shakes fist at Smiths' shelf-stockers.) But there's an obvious solution to that problem - buy both books!
If they had had one, I might well have done, but...
I'd forgotten about this thread, or else I would have posted before now that my current thriller is The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox. Victorian literature is one of my favourite types of books, so I really appreciate that the author took time not only to research the setting but also to take the trouble of writing in the period style. Fortunately I'm finding the story to be quite compelling so the book works on more than just a superficial level.
I've very quickly gotten through A Quiet Belief in Angels by RJ Ellory. It's almost doing it a disservice to call it a crime/ mystery novel - it's verging on the literary. Like Ellroy meets Larry McMurtry. Beautifully written - I can't recommend it enough.
I haven't read Reichs, but yeah, I kind of dumped Cornwell a while back for that, and Patterson mostly now, too. Which is too bad--his books used to be really thrilling!
Apologies if I've mentioned this/asked you this already, but have you ready Gravity by Tess Gerritsen? Far and away my favorite one of hers--it's about a really deadly, scary virus that infects a group of astronauts. I couldn't put it down! If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it.
I love Victorian literature, too, and have long been curious about Cox. I got a copy of his second novel (also a Victorian-era one) and was wondering what people thought of him.
Sarah Waters' Fingersmith is another great mystery/thriller set in the Victorian era. And, of course, if you want great Victorian era mysteries written during the period, there's always Wilkie Collins! Even some of his more obscure ones (I Say No!, Jezebel's Daughter, Armadale) are excellent.
I've ordered that one online, so I'll be reading it soon, too.
I think I have heard of Fingersmith, and of course Wilkie Collins has long been one of my favourite authors.
Top41, yes I have read Gravity. It was my favourite one too.
Who is in your avatar?
Who is in your avatar?
I'm reading Zodiac. It's kind of non-fiction, kind of fiction. I'm not real sure. It's like the movie. I like it. I am typing in short choppy sentences for some reason.
I'll look forward to your thoughts on it!
I think I have heard of Fingersmith, and of course Wilkie Collins has long been one of my favourite authors.
Fingersmith is really good. And Collins is one of my favorites, too.
Yeah, so good and so thrilling! I couldn't put it down. One of the best thrillers I've ever read, period.
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers.
Wow...I've not posted in this thread in a while, so I guess I'll check in.
Currently, I'm reading Daniel Silva's series about part-time art restorer/part time Israeli spy Gabriel Allon. So far, I'm really enjoying this series. It sorta reminds of David Morell's early books - Brotherhood of the Rose, etc. I used to love those books and Silva gives me that same feeling. I think I am going to love this entire series.
I just ordered Janet Evanovich's first three Stephanie Plum novels - received them in the post today. I've been meaning to read these books for some time and have finally decided to bite the bullet and read them. I'm hoping they will be somewhat similar to Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone books.
I also ordered the first few Steve Hamilton's Alex McKnight novels and a couple of M.C. Beaton Hamish McBeth novels.
I've been in the mood to try new authors...and since Daniel Silva turned out so well for me, maybe I will have continued good luck!
Currently, I'm reading Daniel Silva's series about part-time art restorer/part time Israeli spy Gabriel Allon. So far, I'm really enjoying this series. It sorta reminds of David Morell's early books - Brotherhood of the Rose, etc. I used to love those books and Silva gives me that same feeling. I think I am going to love this entire series.
I just ordered Janet Evanovich's first three Stephanie Plum novels - received them in the post today. I've been meaning to read these books for some time and have finally decided to bite the bullet and read them. I'm hoping they will be somewhat similar to Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone books.
I also ordered the first few Steve Hamilton's Alex McKnight novels and a couple of M.C. Beaton Hamish McBeth novels.
I've been in the mood to try new authors...and since Daniel Silva turned out so well for me, maybe I will have continued good luck!
I've got a 100 pages to go with Duma Key by Stephen King. Just an incredible work of fiction. It's right up there with The Stand, It and The Green Mile. After I finish this one, I will be reading Insomnia by King. I have quite the bit of time to kill, since his next novel, Under the Dome, won't be out until fall. It's apparently going to be around 1500 pages. I can't wait.
I'm just finishing off Seafighter by James Cobb
Might pick up The Devils Teardrop by Jeffrey Deaver next
Might pick up The Devils Teardrop by Jeffrey Deaver next
Might pick up The Devils Teardrop by Jeffrey Deaver next
That one's great - it's not part of a character-series, but it's an excellent standalone that got me hooked on his stuff.
I think you'll be good with James Patterson for some time. I read the first several of his books and he had a nice run, I thought. I don't read them anymore as I think the quality has dropped off in recent years (or maybe it's just me losing interest), but Patterson is still a very popular writer, and he has a TON of books out.
I think that's the thing with these series featuring one character. The characters are nice to come home to for a while...but it gets tougher and tougher for the author to find new things to do with them.
Think about it - Sue Grafton started with the letter 'A' in the Kinsey Millhone series...and the letter 'T' just came out in paperback. That's alot of writing about one character!
If you like Patterson's books, you might like Jonathan Kellerman's series featuring Alex Delaware. He's a shrink who contracts himself out to the LAPD, and he...well...solves crimes. There are a few regular characters in the books - Alex, his on-again, off-again girlfriend, and his police detective buddy. They're interesting books for the most part, although there are a couple of duds. Almost all of them take place in L.A. And since Kellerman is a psychologist himself IRL, the character of Alex Delaware is believable in the role. Like with Patterson, it is good to start at the beginning as the relationships between the main characters develop over time. But it's not necessary to read them in strict order. Some of the early ones might be tricky to find, actually, as Kellerman has been writing Alex Delaware books for well over 15 years - maybe even 20.
Or other people actually writing them.
^ Seriously? I must admit I don't keep up with any drama in the writing world and so might very well be WAY out of the loop here.
Are you saying that someone else ghost-writes James Patterson's books?
That really would surprise me.
Are you saying that someone else ghost-writes James Patterson's books?
That really would surprise me.
Not that, but it's always "James Patterson And <insert name here>" for the past few years
So I finished The Meaning of Night.
I honestly don't know how to express my praise for the book; it was fantastic, I enjoyed it very much, and if you are interested in Victorian fiction (particularly what they called 'sensation literature') or indeed just good stories you have to give this novel a try. For myself a great deal of the pleasure came from the style of the writing: it's actually quite difficult to write in genuinely Victorian language, but Michael Cox makes it seem effortless--and without forsaking substance for superficiality either. From what I can tell with regards to his resume (he's edited numerous collections of Victorian fiction) that doesn't come as too much of a surprise. There are more than a few twists and turns, so I won't say much about the plot. Identity, truth, and love are all themes explored in a genuinely literary way beyond forming the backbone of the narrative. There's quite an interesting interview with the author here if you're interested. No huge spoilers.
I had been planning on taking a break between The Meaning of Night and it's sequel, The Glass of Time, but I decided to just jump right in. (And Top41: I think you said earlier you had picked that one up? You should read this one first; if you love Wilkie Collins...)
ETA: Since it's also a thriller, I guess I should mention I'm listening to Ian Fleming's Thunderball in bed at night. Simon Vance has a great voice for audiobooks. Trying to decide which Bond book to get next.
I honestly don't know how to express my praise for the book; it was fantastic, I enjoyed it very much, and if you are interested in Victorian fiction (particularly what they called 'sensation literature') or indeed just good stories you have to give this novel a try. For myself a great deal of the pleasure came from the style of the writing: it's actually quite difficult to write in genuinely Victorian language, but Michael Cox makes it seem effortless--and without forsaking substance for superficiality either. From what I can tell with regards to his resume (he's edited numerous collections of Victorian fiction) that doesn't come as too much of a surprise. There are more than a few twists and turns, so I won't say much about the plot. Identity, truth, and love are all themes explored in a genuinely literary way beyond forming the backbone of the narrative. There's quite an interesting interview with the author here if you're interested. No huge spoilers.
I had been planning on taking a break between The Meaning of Night and it's sequel, The Glass of Time, but I decided to just jump right in. (And Top41: I think you said earlier you had picked that one up? You should read this one first; if you love Wilkie Collins...
)ETA: Since it's also a thriller, I guess I should mention I'm listening to Ian Fleming's Thunderball in bed at night. Simon Vance has a great voice for audiobooks. Trying to decide which Bond book to get next.
Just finished "The Private Patient" by P.D. James. She's still writing beautifully and going strong at 89 but it was good of her to tie up some loose ends with beloved characters in this novel... just in case.
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