What Crime/Mystery/Thriller book are you reading?

[Top41]

I've just started reading James Patterson's Along Came a Spider. It's the first book of his that I'm reading, hopefully I'll enjoy it enough to continue the rest of his books.

Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls are the best Cross novels. There are some other really excellent ones (Roses are Red is a standout), but once you get to the more recent ones, I definitely concur with PKTrekGirl--the quality just isn't there. It's too bad, but I think a lot of authors just run out of steam. And Patterson produced 3-4 books a year now (or more maybe now that he has a YA series going), so I don't think the time goes into each novel that it should.

Has anyone else read his Women's Murder Club series? I loved the first three books, felt the fourth was so-so and haven't read the fifth, sixth or seventh. Anyone gotten that far in them, and if so, how are they? Worth picking up?

^ 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.

He has a lot of co-authors, and it's been said--and I can't remember the source, so take this with a big grain of salt!--that Patterson gives them outlines for the novels and then they ape his style and write the books. Not sure that's the way it actually happens, but it sounds plausible. AFAIK, though, he writes all the Alex Cross ones on his own.

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...)

I have a copy of The Glass of Time but not The Meaning of Night. But The Meaning of Night sounds really good--and I absolutely adore Victorian sensation fiction. So I might have to look into picking that up either at the library or the bookstore!

 

[S. Gomez]

Finished The Glass of Time. It's every bit as good a read as The Meaning of Night, though I confess for the first half I thought it ranked a close second to its predecessor. But it ends up being a very worthy sequel, and there's a thread or two that could easily be followed into a third one. Indeed, Michael Cox says that he always planned for there to be three books that trace the story of the Duport succession into the early twentieth century. Hopefully it won't be too long before we get to read the completion of the trilogy.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Currently reading Tess Gerritsen's The Bone Garden about the West End Reaper in 1830s Boston. It's pretty good, though I think it would be better without the present day framing story. A fuller review when I'm done with the book (tuesday probably).

 

[Lonemagpie]

Just picked Nick Stone's Mr Clarinet - that looks interesting

 

[Captaindemotion]

^Mr Clarinet is excellent. I think there is a sequel/ prequel out at the minute which I'm aiming to get. Mr Clarinet is set in the mid/ late 90s, IIRC and the later novel is set in the early 1980s, when the hero was still in the police. It looks like the writer will have his novels jump around in time , perhaps a little like Stephen Hunter has done with his books featuring Bob Lee and Earl Swagger.

 

[Ashu]

Ive been meaning to read Ian Rankins 'set in darkness' for a while now. I had started a while abck but only got a chapter in before school started.

 

[WillsBabe]

Just finished Knots and Crosses, Rankin's first Rebus novel. Just started on the second one. I wasn't massively impressed with Knots and Crosses. He writes Rebus with a bit too much of a woe is me attitude for my taste, and at times I found that to be quite amateur. Also, I don't think the novel has got much narrative flair. I'm hoping that the second novel improves, which I expect it will, since I read Bleeding Hearts on holiday (Jack Harvey) and found it quite compulsive.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Currently reading Tess Gerritsen's The Bone Garden about the West End Reaper in 1830s Boston. It's pretty good, though I think it would be better without the present day framing story. A fuller review when I'm done with the book (tuesday probably).

Finished the book last night and I enjoyed the story immensely, though the interrelated love stories left much to be desired. The tale of the West End Reaper and the motives were somewhat easy to see, but overall a good read.

A solid 6/10. I won't be in this forum for a while as the next couple of books are scifi and then fantasy.

 

[JWolf]

Finished reading "The Sinner" by Tess Gerritsen.

Wow!! Best one of hers yet and the twist at the end, superb.

I've read The Surgeon & The Apprentice. Have yet to read The Sinner. I kind of took a break from the series to read some of her stand alones which were also quite good. I'll eventually get back to her books.

I've just read Sue Grafton's "A" is for Alibi. Very good. It reads like a hard-boiled detective novel. So it you like that sort, you'll like these.

I've read the first four Spencer books by Robert B. Parker. I'm from Massachusetts so it's fun to know the places that Spencer is going in and around Boston and how it's changed since these books.

I've also recently finished http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/k/faye-kellerman/ritual-bath.htmThe Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman. That was an enjoyable read. The next books (waiting to be read) picks up where the 1st one left off.

I just started W.E.B. Griffin's By Order of the President. Interesting premise.

David Baldacci's Camel Club series is quite good.

My wife has read all of Vince Flynn's books and I'm going to start on Transfer of Power someday.

I did recently finish Linda Fairstein's Final Jeopardy and I really liked the main character. I just now have Likely to Die ready to go on my Sony Reader PRS-505.

I did see the movie The Bone Collector and thought it was ok. But then I read someplace online that the book was way better then the movie so I read Jeffry Deaver's book and found it way better then the move. I have The Coffin Dancer ready to go when I find the time for it.

I also like Michael Connelly's books. I've read the first three Harry Bosch books... The Black Echo, The Black Ice[/] and The Concrete Blond. I have the rest of the series on my 505 waiting to go.

I've also been reading some Agatha Christie. I've been reading the Tommy and Tuppence series. I've read The Secret Adversary, Partners in Crime and N or M. I'mgoing to look to see if the next one is in eBook format.

I think that's enough for now.

 

[Misfit Toy]

Just finished The Tin Roof Blowdown by James Lee Burke. I love his Dave Robicheaux series. Burke has a very evocative style that (IMO) effectively puts the reader in southern Louisiana.

The Tin Roof Blowdown is the first of the series to take place after Hurricane Katrina.

 

[Top41]

Finished reading "The Sinner" by Tess Gerritsen.

Wow!! Best one of hers yet and the twist at the end, superb.

I've read The Surgeon & The Apprentice. Have yet to read The Sinner. I kind of took a break from the series to read some of her stand alones which were also quite good. I'll eventually get back to her books.

I love her stand alones! I don't think I've read The Sinner. I love twist endings, so I might have to check it out.

David Baldacci's Camel Club series is quite good.

I read the first one and wasn't totally blown away. I love Baldacci's stand alones though--The Lottery is a great thriller.

 

[BrotherBenny]

I've read The Surgeon & The Apprentice. Have yet to read The Sinner. I kind of took a break from the series to read some of her stand alones which were also quite good. I'll eventually get back to her books.

You should, I've only got three of hers left to read (of the medical thrillers, not interested in the romantic ones).

I've just read Sue Grafton's "A" is for Alibi. Very good. It reads like a hard-boiled detective novel. So it you like that sort, you'll like these.

I read it a few years ago and it was "meh" then, but I never got rid of it so it's back on my reading pile. If you like hard boiled stuff with a bit of humour, then might I suggest the Aberystwyth series by Malcolm Pryce.

I've read the first four Spencer books by Robert B. Parker. I'm from Massachusetts so it's fun to know the places that Spencer is going in and around Boston and how it's changed since these books.

I've also recently finished http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/k/faye-kellerman/ritual-bath.htmThe Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman. That was an enjoyable read. The next books (waiting to be read) picks up where the 1st one left off.

I just started W.E.B. Griffin's By Order of the President. Interesting premise.

David Baldacci's Camel Club series is quite good.

My wife has read all of Vince Flynn's books and I'm going to start on Transfer of Power someday.

I did recently finish Linda Fairstein's Final Jeopardy and I really liked the main character. I just now have Likely to Die ready to go on my Sony Reader PRS-505.

Never read any of them, but then most of my book budget goes on Star Trek books and the series I'm currently collecting.

I did see the movie The Bone Collector and thought it was ok. But then I read someplace online that the book was way better then the movie so I read Jeffry Deaver's book and found it way better then the move. I have The Coffin Dancer ready to go when I find the time for it.

I find all of Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme books to be superb and of excellent quality even after seven or eight books, whereas many like Cornwell, Reichs or Patterson lose their edge.

I also like Michael Connelly's books. I've read the first three Harry Bosch books... The Black Echo, The Black Ice[/] and The Concrete Blond. I have the rest of the series on my 505 waiting to go.

I've also been reading some Agatha Christie. I've been reading the Tommy and Tuppence series. I've read The Secret Adversary, Partners in Crime and N or M.

Not read these either.

 

[WillsBabe]

Just sarted Tooth and Nail, the fourth DI Rebus novel from Ian Rankin. My favourite Rebus so far has been Tooth and Nail, set in London, which I enjoyed a great deal. I feel that Rankin's narrative has definately improved, but the main thing about him that makes him quite compulsive for me is the dialogue, and the ghastly characters.

 

[S. Gomez]

With the next volume coming out at the end of April, I'm re-reading Laurie R. King's Mary Russell-Sherlock Holmes series. I recently bought the new trade paperback edition of The Beekeeper's Apprentice and hope to get the others soon (they've got pretty nice covers).

 

[JWolf]

I've recently been reading some W E B Griffin. I'm reading his Presidential Agent series. I've already read By Order of the President and I am currently reading The Hostage. Both are very good. I highly recommend them.

By Order of the President
At an airfield in Angola, two men board a leased Boeing 727; then, once it is in the air, slit the pilot's throat and fly to parts unknown. The consternation is immediate, as the CIA, FBI, FAA, and other agencies race to find out what has happened, in the process elbowing each other in the sides a little too vigorously.

Fed up, the President of the United States turns to an outside investigator to determine the truth, an Army intelligence officer serving as special assistant to the Director of Homeland Security. Major Carlos Guillermo Castillo, known as Charley, is the son of a German mother and a Tex-Mex father, a Medal of Honor winner who died in Vietnam. A pilot, West Point graduate, and veteran of Desert Storm and the Special Forces, Castillo has a sharp eye for the facts-and the reality behind the facts. Traveling undercover, he flies to Africa, and there, helped and hindered by unexpected allies and determined enemies, begins to untangle a story of frightening dimensions-a story that, unless he can do something about it, will end very, very badly.

The Hostage
Charley Castillo works with the Department of Homeland Security, but more and more he is the man to whom the president turns when he needs an investigation done discreetly. And no situation demands discretion more than the one before them now.

An American diplomat's wife is kidnapped in Argentina, and her husband murdered before her eyes. Her children will be next, she is warned, if she doesn't tell them where her brother is-a brother, as it turns out, who may know quite a bit about the burgeoning UN/Iraq oil-for-food scandal. There is an awful lot of money flying around, and an awful lot of hands reaching out to grab it-and some of those hands don't mind shedding as much blood as it takes.

Brimming with rich characters, strong action, and cutting-edge drama, this is Griffin writing at the height of his powers.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Those sound pretty good. What are your ratings out of ten for them?

 

[S. Gomez]

So awhile back I posted that I was reading a book called The Meaning of Night and its sequel The Glass of Time. I had hoped that there would be a third book, especially since it was hinted that there might be.

It turns out we'll never get it. I just read that the author, Michael Cox, has died.

 

[S. Gomez]

*Don't know why it double-posted. Sorry.*

 

[SlyCardie]

Just found and finished "The Broker" by Grisham. It was the only think in my apartment that I hadn't finished so I read through it.

Not too bad actually and at the end I found myself anxious to get to the end and see how everything was resolved.

 

[BrotherBenny]

So awhile back I posted that I was reading a book called The Meaning of Night and its sequel The Glass of Time. I had hoped that there would be a third book, especially since it was hinted that there might be.

It turns out we'll never get it. I just read that the author, Michael Cox, has died.

They (the publishers or the estate) might get another author to write it based on whatever notes Cox left behind.