Mysteries/Thrillers

[deadduck]

PD James is one of my favourites. Can be some long boring scene descriptions, but the ton of details makes it harder to figure out whodunit. The more info, the less predictable.
Faye and Jonathon Kellerman are fast easy reads. I usually start reading them at a coffee shop near a book store, and finish that evening before bed time. Problem is they are very, very predictable. Especially Jonathon.
I just read Dan Brown's Deception Point and wish I had not bothered. Too out there with the concept for me, and had a predictable twist.

Is it just me, or are most "twists" in these books way too obvious now? Writing down to the lowest common denominator?

[linared]

. Sadly, I had to "break up" with Anne Perry because the last two Inspector Pitt novels were so annoyingly preachy that I just couldn't stand them anymore. I didn't read the latest one that came out, but a friend of mine did and she said that AP is continuing along that line.

Ripley , I don't think I have read the last few of Perry's book. Could you tell what was preachy about them? I'd like to know before I buy anymore of her books. I have never thought that the mystery part of the book was very good, I always liked social commetary and history.

[girlnamedcarl]

Oh, happy happy happy!! I just went to the B&N and found that four of my favorites have books out: Sandford, Deaver (he's on probation, though; some of his stances annoy me), Lee Child and Preston Douglas & Lincoln Child. I've just signed up for all 4 at the library. Yippee!!

Now if only John Connolly would put out a new one, I'd be a happy dog.

[Deleted]

Just read an article in the Wall Street Journal of the popularity of Lee Child's character Jack Reacher (think that's the name, I've only read one of his books) with women. The author specifically did not choose to make him a "wounded, sensitive anti-hero" but rather a tough, macho guy who moves on to a new woman with each book without looking back, and does not have inner demons to deal with like many heros of mysteries or thrillers do--the hypothesis of the article was that that was the reason so many women like these books.
Thought it was an interesting article, though I have to admit I don't usually read many mysteries.
Plus, Laura Lippman came out with a new book and will be speaking at my local public library in a couple of weeks. I only liked a couple of her books, but on the other hand, it's pretty cool to see/hear a real! live! author in person. Guess it depends what I'm doing that night.

[girlnamedcarl]

I find the new-woman-with-each-book bit tired and cliche, myself. (Why does it not surprise me that the WSJ would put forth such a clueless hypothesis? I swear, none of their writers or editors know any actual women, or if they do, they refuse to listen when the women tell them what they think.) I like Reacher because he's smart and efficient, and I wish I could be more like him.

I didn't know Lippman had a new book out! This just adds to the happy.

[Deleted]

I like the gothicky ones, like Mary Stewart and Phyllis Whitney. I'm reading Nine Coaches Waiting right now-I read it a while ago, but I completely forgot anything about it.

[scarlet]

deadduck said:

Faye and Jonathon Kellerman are fast easy reads. I usually start reading them at a coffee shop near a book store, and finish that evening before bed time. Problem is they are very, very predictable. Especially Jonathon.

Jonathan is very, very predictable, I agree. I actually find myself usually getting annoyed with the Alex Delaware character. I like that he straddles the police and psychiatry fields, but sometimes Dr. Delaware just makes me roll my eyes.

Michael Connelly is also a good, and fast, read. Less predictable (though, I agree--either I'm getting smarter <unlikely> or the plots are getting more simplistic) and I really like his Harry Bosch character.

[Sukie]

I just finished Lost Lake by Phillip Margolin. It was a good read. Kept me interested throughout. Anyone else have any experience with him? I am considering buying more since I enjoyed this one quite a bit.

[Deleted]

Guin, I read all the Mary Stewart books some years ago. Some are better than others. I liked "Nine Coaches Waiting," "The Ivy Tree," and "Touch Not the Cat." But I'm a sucker for romance, and to me, a mystery/thriller without any just isn't any good. Maybe that's why I liked Agatha Christies so much-she was great about always sticking in a hint of romance at the end of her books.
Has anybody read "Daughter of the Game" by Tracy Grant, a historical/romance/suspense--I really liked it.

[Carolinian]

Stargirl, you might enjoy Kate Ross's books. I'd consider them 'historical/romance/mystery'. Regrettably she wrote only 4-- she died in 1998. They are set in Regency England and Italy. I suggest reading them in order. The first is Cut to the Quick.

Another historical/romance/mystery series I've enjoyed is Lindsey Davis's Marcus Didius Falco series. The first is The Silver Pigs. She's written 17 to date.