MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Please give a writer harder to put down than Dan Brown

Hitch · 08-04-2010, 04:22 AM

Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent. You won't be able to put it down, period. His other books, not so much.

If you like urban fantasy, and you've tried Jim Butcher's Dresden series (and like it), try Simon Green's Nightside Series, very good.

Others have mentioned Barry Eisler's Rain series. Excellent.

I am also a huge fan of Herbert's Dune series--all of them, up to and through Chapterhouse. Can't abide the drivel his son writes.

"Page-turners" are bloody hard to find. I like Raymond Chandler, but as you say, they're set quite a ways in the past.

Trevanian's Shibumi and The Eiger Sanction. James Clavell's books, particularly Noble House, Tai-Pan and King Rat. Shogun is also fantastic. (Not page-turners like Dan Brown, but I couldn't put down Noble House). Others have mentioned Follett--when he's good, he's very very good.

Thomas Perry's books, particularly his Jane Whitebread books. Fantastic. The Butcher's Boy is also a must-read.

I'm actually fond of Spider Robinson's Callahan series, but they're not page-turners like Dan Brown. You might see if you can download a sample to see if they interest you; more light humor and quasi-adventure than page-turning, save-the-world kind of stuff.

Timothy Hallinan's Poke Rafferty series. Brilliant, twisty, humorous, heart-wrenching--all set in Thailand. Great stuff.

If you like Dan Brown, you'll probably like Clive Cussler--stick to starting with his earlier books; some of his later stuff developed "I'm a Great Writer-itis," and should be ignored, but the first 5-6 are pretty good fun. The original Robert Ludlums--great also. With regard to Alistair MacLean, his earlier books are far better than his later works, as alcoholism tore down his brilliance in his later years. All three of these guys (Cussler, Ludlum, MacLean) write cliff-hanger style, which is Brown's M.O.

You said you read Christie--do you like detective novels? For simple, quick but enjoyable reading, Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series is pretty damned great. His POV character, Archie Goodwin, has great voice.

James Lee Burke, also should be read.

Oh, holy s**t, I can't believe I almost forgot Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels. You'll like these. Start with The Godwulf Manuscript and work your way to the end...there's dozens, so you have plenty to read.

Crap...it's hard to make a short list...but if you only want "cliff-hanger" type books, I think you'll like most of these.

OH...Dick Francis, FWIW, didn't just research "unusual" jobs and write books; he was the HRH Queen Elizabeth's jockey for Steeplechasing in Great Britain, several-time Champion Jockey. Francis knew whereof he wrote.

HTH,

Hitch

08-04-2010, 04:22 AM	#284
Hitch Bookmaker & Cat Slave Posts: 11,503 Karma: 158448243 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Phoenix, AZ Device: K2, iPad, KFire, PPW, Voyage, NookColor. 2 Droid, Oasis, Boox Note2	Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent. You won't be able to put it down, period. His other books, not so much. If you like urban fantasy, and you've tried Jim Butcher's Dresden series (and like it), try Simon Green's Nightside Series, very good. Others have mentioned Barry Eisler's Rain series. Excellent. I am also a huge fan of Herbert's Dune series--all of them, up to and through Chapterhouse. Can't abide the drivel his son writes. "Page-turners" are bloody hard to find. I like Raymond Chandler, but as you say, they're set quite a ways in the past. Trevanian's Shibumi and The Eiger Sanction. James Clavell's books, particularly Noble House, Tai-Pan and King Rat. Shogun is also fantastic. (Not page-turners like Dan Brown, but I couldn't put down Noble House). Others have mentioned Follett--when he's good, he's very very good. Thomas Perry's books, particularly his Jane Whitebread books. Fantastic. The Butcher's Boy is also a must-read. I'm actually fond of Spider Robinson's Callahan series, but they're not page-turners like Dan Brown. You might see if you can download a sample to see if they interest you; more light humor and quasi-adventure than page-turning, save-the-world kind of stuff. Timothy Hallinan's Poke Rafferty series. Brilliant, twisty, humorous, heart-wrenching--all set in Thailand. Great stuff. If you like Dan Brown, you'll probably like Clive Cussler--stick to starting with his earlier books; some of his later stuff developed "I'm a Great Writer-itis," and should be ignored, but the first 5-6 are pretty good fun. The original Robert Ludlums--great also. With regard to Alistair MacLean, his earlier books are far better than his later works, as alcoholism tore down his brilliance in his later years. All three of these guys (Cussler, Ludlum, MacLean) write cliff-hanger style, which is Brown's M.O. You said you read Christie--do you like detective novels? For simple, quick but enjoyable reading, Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series is pretty damned great. His POV character, Archie Goodwin, has great voice. James Lee Burke, also should be read. Oh, holy s*t, I can't believe I almost forgot Robert B. Parker's Spenser* novels. You'll like these. Start with The Godwulf Manuscript and work your way to the end...there's dozens, so you have plenty to read. Crap...it's hard to make a short list...but if you only want "cliff-hanger" type books, I think you'll like most of these. OH...Dick Francis, FWIW, didn't just research "unusual" jobs and write books; he was the HRH Queen Elizabeth's jockey for Steeplechasing in Great Britain, several-time Champion Jockey. Francis knew whereof he wrote. HTH, Hitch