Mysteries/Thrillers

[Deleted]

I haven't read any Harlan Coben, but I feel the same about Jeffery Deaver. There is always a twist involving a main character whose loyalties and motivation are not what they initially appear to be. Granted, his twists are often quite clever, but after reading five or six books, the pattern is becoming too familiar. I still really enjoy his books though, particularly the Lincoln Rhyme series.

[MrsCatHead]

Jul 4, 2009 6:25:15 GMT -4 @litzikohanovich said:

I like the Wallander series by Henning Mankell. Anyone else?

I just started one of his books, The White Lioness, and I really like his writing. Very clear, concise. Not muddled or extraneous. I found out about him cuz I read an Indridason mystery and on the back it said he was Mankell's heir apparent.

[BinkyBetsy]

I went on a bit of a Dick Francis jag last summer, and recently I've been snagging as many of his books as I can -- used, which I'm doing as fast as I can before people catch on that he's dead and they can jack up the price. Favorite is Reflex. Also like Proof and Twice Shy and the one about the Mystery Race Train. Which brings me to the one slightly annoying bit: it's so hard to remember his titles. None of them are descriptive, really. The three I mentioned are at least loosely related to the general subject or the format, but I can't remember now which one was Risk and which was Nerve. Still and all, he's like potato chips.

[biondetta]

I've been reading Carl Hiaasen a lot recently. I'd read one of his books a few years ago and enjoyed it, but then we moved to the Netherlands and I tend to go with whatever I can find at the used book store in English. Fortunately, they've had a lot of his books recently, so we've been stocking up. I grew up in Florida, so there's an added level of interest for me, but mainly I just enjoy the writing and the sense of humor, mixed in with the mystery/crime element.

[anhedonia]

I was moving my books around this weekend and I was reminded of two of my recent favorites: Tana French's In The Woods and Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects. I'm not as much of a fan of French's follow-up, The Likeness, but I love her style of writing. I haven't gotten Flynn's new book, but I'm looking forward to getting my hands on it. I'm really enjoying the newest crop of female mystery writers - nothing fluffy or sentimental about them.

[Deleted]

Apr 5, 2010 17:45:07 GMT -4 @anhedonia said:

I was moving my books around this weekend and I was reminded of two of my recent favorites: Tana French's In The Woods and Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects. I'm not as much of a fan of French's follow-up, The Likeness, but I love her style of writing. I haven't gotten Flynn's new book, but I'm looking forward to getting my hands on it. I'm really enjoying the newest crop of female mystery writers - nothing fluffy or sentimental about them.

I loved both those books too! I agree, The Likeness wasn't as strong as In the Woods. I just didn't find Cassie as interesting a protagonist as Ryan. I didn't realize that Flynn had a new book coming out soon too. Did you see French has a new one coming out this summer as well?

I have just started getting into Peter Abrahams. I've read End of Story and am halfway through A Perfect Crime. They are not extremely complex or deep but they are enjoyable.

[anhedonia]

bronze, I didn't know that! I know that French has said before that Rob's story isn't over, and that she'll continue with him in a later book. I can only hope he's in the new one, because I loved him. He was so real to me - conflicted and angry but so funny with Cassie. I was bored by Cassie in The Likeness.
I have to get Flynn's new book soon. I knew she was a reviewer for Entertainment Weekly, so I wasn't expecting much from her first book, but she really surprised me with how well she wrote. I couldn't stop reading Sharp Objects, and even now, when I reread it, I'm sucked in right away.

[Carolinian]

I just finished a light historical mystery, Bellfield Hall, by Anna Dean. It is set in the English countryside in 1805. I appreciated that the heroine detective did not have knowledge that would be inappropriate for a woman of her class and station. She's clever, but the clues she picks up on are dependent on the sort of thing a spinster of modest means would notice- details of dress, personal habits of those around her, that sort of thing. Too many historical writers give their heros a 21st century sensibility and an incongruous worldliness. (Stephanie Barron and Miriam Grace Monfredo, I'm looking at you.)

[Auroranorth]

Mar 26, 2010 2:16:39 GMT -4 BinkyBetsy said:

I went on a bit of a Dick Francis jag last summer, and recently I've been snagging as many of his books as I can -- used, which I'm doing as fast as I can before people catch on that he's dead and they can jack up the price. Favorite is Reflex. Also like Proof and Twice Shy and the one about the Mystery Race Train. Which brings me to the one slightly annoying bit: it's so hard to remember his titles. None of them are descriptive, really. The three I mentioned are at least loosely related to the general subject or the format, but I can't remember now which one was Risk and which was Nerve. Still and all, he's like potato chips.

He really is, but good potato chips. I enjoy them as a good fluffy read.

The mystery authors I like tend to be cosy ones- Nancy Atherton and Susan Wittig Albert are both good. They always make me hungry, though- the food in their books is so good!

[hal9000]

I'll check out Nancy Atherton and Susan Wittig Albert, Auroranorth, because I am on a total cosy kick right now. Can anyone recommend a cosy with witches? Not the supernatural/Harry Potter kind, but the Wiccan/white witch kind. Maybe featuring witches who keep a herb garden or run a B&B or own a bookstore or something similarly idyllic?