Please give a writer harder to put down than Dan Brown

[PhishStyx]

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

I don't think it has anything to do with intelligence. It's what you expect from and enjoy in books. It's different for everyone.

Agreed, my wife is just about the smartest person I've ever met, but when she reads for pleasure (rather than work), she wants a light adventure-y style of novel. I, on the other hand, look for much harder fare, not just more intense, but more difficult reading material.

For example, I'm reading and loving Hal Duncan's Vellum and Ink duology about mythos in the modern age, delving into the repeating nature of story and the common themes of myth throughout the world. There are time jumps, storyline jumps back and forth, the same characters playing multiple parts throughout several storylines, and so on. My wife would hate it; she'd put it down and tell me it's a confusing mess.

[Georgiegirl2012]

I'm currently reading page 7 of 21 of this thread and thought I'd suggest Chris Kuzneski - I've only read one of his books - "Sign of the Cross" but thought it a little Dan Brown-ish. So it's never going to be a great classic novel, but it doesn't have to be to be an enjoyable escapist plot.

Having just finished The Lost Symbol I can safely say that Digital Fortress is still my favourite Dan Brown book !!!!!!!

And after I've finished reading The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, I'm going to move onto "The Girl who Played with Fire"

[IzzyMad]

The only problem with Dan Browns books are that there is only one plot all he does is change the names and the conspiracy so just about anyone would be better just try asking any three year old to write something for you as it would be more original and far more rewarding

[Georgiegirl2012]

Got to the end of the thread - you might also enjoy the Anthony Horowitz books that are aimed at the teenage market - Alex Rider series and Power of Five series

I did start to read The Lost Symbol about 6 months ago in hardback, and couldn't get past about page 10. When I read it last week it had taken me about 5 days from start to finish.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - I found it difficult to get going mainly due to all the Swedish names, but by page 107 I had decided it was a book I was going to enjoy.

[Kumabjorn]

Sorry that we have such strange names, like Michael and Lisbeth.

[Georgiegirl2012]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Sorry that we have such strange names, like Michael and Lisbeth.

You're forgiven xxx

[DMB]

I managed to put Dan Brown for good after two pages of The Da Vinci Code, so I'm not the best person to give advice. But on the basis that although I've never managed to get past the first page of a book by him but am told his plots are gripping, how about Jeffrey Archer?

Personally, among the books I have read fairly recently some of the most gripping have been the Tudor books by C.J. Sansom. I see that they are all available from amazon.co.uk Kindle store, but only some of them from the US Kindle store.

[Zyzomys]

The only problem with Dan Browns books are that there is only one plot all he does is change the names and the conspiracy ...

I noticed the exact same thing and promptly stopped reading his books.

[ManosHandsOfFate]

I enjoy Dan Brown's short chap-Hey look there's a helicopter in the sky!

[Sawduster]

Many years ago I picked up a copy of Wibur Smith's --When the Lion Feeds--and found the entire Courney series a worth while read.

http://www.wilbursmithbooks.com/home/index.html

[jamesread]

Nelson Demille is a great writer as well. Might want to try him. Stieg Larsson is another fast read.

[emalvick]

I've only read the Davinci Code, so far. I thought it was a decent book, and it was definitely a quick read. I just haven't been too tempted to move on to other books of his because I've heard the plots are all similar, and he didn't leave much to the imagination in the Davinci Code.

That being said, I found his story to be not all that different from what I found when I used to read every Michael Crichton book out there. I could see Michael Crichton being a good read for fans of Dan Brown with a suggestion towards books like Eaters of the Dead, Timeline, Sphere, or Jurassic Park (books I remember enjoying).

[M. R. Mathias]

Originally Posted by frui

I know, I know, he is crap, everybody with a taste says.
His characters are flat. His language is bland. His world view is shallow. His plot is absurd. He is greatly flawed.

But he has an absolute power to absorb you from the very beginning to the very end, even in his weakest opus like "Deception Point".

I read all genres of thrillers, from Tom Clancy, through Kathy Reichs, to John Grisham. Every one of them has some shining points, but you will feel bored most of the time. No one has the talent of Dan Brown to catch you tight in every page.

So I believe there are two factions of writers. One faction includes Dan Brown alone. The other faction has all the other writers.

I am not paranoid. I am not a die hard fan of Dan Brown. I just want some books I cannot put down. I just find this humble request harder and harder to fulfil.

Now, my learned fellow readers, educate me, correct me, please! Add someone I don't know to the Dan Brown faction I mentioned above. I'd be overjoyed if I knew he was not alone.

Thank you.

The Usurper by Cliff Ball
He has a few others too. I dont know the link, but he is on Smashwords.

[Cliff Ball]

Originally Posted by M. R. Mathias

The Usurper by Cliff Ball
He has a few others too. I dont know the link, but he is on Smashwords.

Uh thanks M.R. Good to know someone thinks so

[HamsterRage]

Originally Posted by Georgiegirl2012

Having just finished The Lost Symbol I can safely say that Digital Fortress is still my favourite Dan Brown book !!!!!!!

As someone who builds software for a living, I found "Digital Fortress" almost insultingly ignorant about its subject matter. I could have gotten past that if the writing had been of a Robertson Davies calibre, but sadly, no.