Crime Fiction Recommendations - Page 25

rschauer · 06-27-2011, 04:30 AM

I just started reading Sue Grafton, so I thought I'd chime in and agree with the couple of mentions that are here. Started at the beginning ("A" is for Alibi), and have already moved on to the second one. Pretty easy reading, great for a couple of chapters before bed or 10-15 minutes on lunch break.

I gave in to the hype and read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo recently as well. I found it overrated, but entertaining. The sex is gratuitous, the ending is drawn out and rather anticlimactic, and it kind of feels like something was lost in the English translation. I still found it to be a decent read and a good mystery. The cons aren't enough to dissuade me from reading the other two in the series.

DMB · 06-27-2011, 04:44 AM

I just looked for the Blotto and Twinks books on amazon.co.uk and unfortunately they're not available there in ebook format, just dead tree.

I would like to recommend John Connor's rather unusual books, now available at both amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. His detective, Karen Sharpe was a former undercover agent for MI5 infiltrating the IRA. She is haunted by her background. They are best read in order:

Phoenix

Playroom

A child's game

Falling

Unsafe

SensualPoet · 06-27-2011, 10:22 PM

This is my first encounter with Rumpole in print (ok, e-ink), so I thought I'd start at the beginning. The first couple of stories in this volume wet my appetite but later tales really turn on the charm. Reading Rumpole is a bit like slipping into a comfy pair of jeans and slippers. It's also a great "in between" read to "cleanse" my little gray cells as I switch from one thriller or police procedural to another.

John Mortimer's The First Rumpole Omnibus is actually a collection of three books published in the late 1970s: Rumpole of the Bailey, The Trials of Rumpole and Rumpole's Return -- and these, in turn, are based on a BBC Television series. There are at least two other Omnbius editions as well as other one-off novels.

In the main, I enjoyed the 12 short stories more than the lengthier novel which brings Rumpole out of retirement, linking a chance encounter with a flower child in Florida with a murder trial that draws him back to England. Rumpole is an acquired taste with all things in the world seen through his somewhat self-serving eye. But it is delightful to give in to Rumpole behaving like a little boy ... sixty or so years younger than his age.

Small caveat: Penguin have allowed an appalling number of simple typos to creep into this edition. Truly: the text is a mess by any reasonable professional standard.

Available for Kobo and Kindle for around $10 (although in Canada, bizarrely, Penguin wants over $15 ...).

Scott Nicholson · 06-27-2011, 11:24 PM

Reading RUN by Blake Crouch, leans more toward a horror thriller but it's good

Scott

poohbear_nc · 06-28-2011, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

This is my first encounter with Rumpole in print (ok, e-ink), so I thought I'd start at the beginning. The first couple of stories in this volume wet my appetite but later tales really turn on the charm. Reading Rumpole is a bit like slipping into a comfy pair of jeans and slippers. It's also a great "in between" read to "cleanse" my little gray cells as I switch from one thriller or police procedural to another.

John Mortimer's The First Rumpole Omnibus is actually a collection of three books published in the late 1970s: Rumpole of the Bailey, The Trials of Rumpole and Rumpole's Return -- and these, in turn, are based on a BBC Television series. There are at least two other Omnbius editions as well as other one-off novels.

In the main, I enjoyed the 12 short stories more than the lengthier novel which brings Rumpole out of retirement, linking a chance encounter with a flower child in Florida with a murder trial that draws he back to England. Rumpole is an acquired taste with all things in the world seen through the his somewhat self-serving eye. Bu it is delightful to give in to Rumpole behaving like a little boy ... sixty or so years younger than his age.

Small caveat: Penguin have allowed an appalling number of simply typos to creep into this edition. Truly: the text is a mess by any reasonable professional standard.

Avaialble for Kobo and Kindle for around $10 (although in Canada, bizarrely, Penguin wants over $15 ...).

The Rumpole omnibus editions were pulled from the USA Kindle store b/c of geo restrictions. I snagged a copy before this happened - and yes, the number of typos is appalling.
Rumpole is a very "comfy" read - the film adaptations with Leo McKern are the finest translation of book into film that I have ever seen (along with Morse) - the actors chosen fit my mental images perfectly.

poohbear_nc · 06-28-2011, 08:21 AM

I don't think anyone has mentioned Chelsea Cain - her Archie & Gretchen "Heartsick" series. Gretchen Lowell truly is the finest successor (alongside Dexter Morgan) to Hannibal Lector - as a completely evil, soulless, brilliant, manipulative, and yes - likeable - serial killer. Start with Heartsick, if you're snagged - read them in order.

(http://www.amazon.com/Heartsick-eboo...9263578&sr=1-2)

globals · 06-29-2011, 07:23 PM

Crime Beat by Scott Nicholson.

benham · 06-29-2011, 07:45 PM

Just started reading James Sallis but he looks pretty good.

NightBird · 06-29-2011, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benham

Just started reading James Sallis but he looks pretty good.

Which one are you reading? I hadn't heard of him before, so went to look for him at Amazon. He sounds interesting. There is a deal on a 3-book bundle for $9.99 (What You Have Left). I am putting it on the Deals board.

benham · 06-30-2011, 11:10 PM

Cyprus Grove, the first in the Turner series so you would get all 3 books in the series. Sounds like a good deal!

HarryT · 07-01-2011, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Rumpole is a very "comfy" read - the film adaptations with Leo McKern are the finest translation of book into film that I have ever seen (along with Morse) - the actors chosen fit my mental images perfectly.

It was actually the other way around. The Rumpole books came AFTER the TV series.

HarryT · 07-01-2011, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

This is my first encounter with Rumpole in print (ok, e-ink), so I thought I'd start at the beginning. The first couple of stories in this volume wet my appetite but later tales really turn on the charm.

Forgive the interjection, but I think you meant "whet" my appetite, not "wet" it. You are sharpening your appetite, not dampening it

. This is one of those homonyms that really bugs me

.

amward · 07-01-2011, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Forgive the interjection, but I think you meant "whet" my appetite, not "wet" it. You are sharpening your appetite, not dampening it

. This is one of those homonyms that really bugs me

.

We're kindred spirits Harry, my kids used to say the the reason I liked Inspector Morse was because he was always correcting Lewis.

HarryT · 07-01-2011, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amward

We're kindred spirits Harry, my kids used to say the the reason I liked Inspector Morse was because he was always correcting Lewis.

I don't normally go around correcting people, but this particular one, as I said, really bugs me, because it's not normally a typo - people are genuinely not aware that it should be "whet", perhaps because it's not a terribly common word.

teacher1971 · 07-01-2011, 05:22 AM

Although this is part of a series, I read it and thoroughly understood and enjoyed it as a stand alone book. I haven't read a mystery/ thriller this good since Silence of the Lambs! It is amazing. I can't wait to read more of this Norwegian author's books. They are all currently being translated into English. They are not difficult reads, yet they are challenging enough to stimulate avid readers. I am a Nesbo fan!

06-27-2011, 10:22 PM	#363
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	John Mortimer - The First Rumpole Omnibus This is my first encounter with Rumpole in print (ok, e-ink), so I thought I'd start at the beginning. The first couple of stories in this volume wet my appetite but later tales really turn on the charm. Reading Rumpole is a bit like slipping into a comfy pair of jeans and slippers. It's also a great "in between" read to "cleanse" my little gray cells as I switch from one thriller or police procedural to another. John Mortimer's The First Rumpole Omnibus is actually a collection of three books published in the late 1970s: Rumpole of the Bailey, The Trials of Rumpole and Rumpole's Return -- and these, in turn, are based on a BBC Television series. There are at least two other Omnbius editions as well as other one-off novels. In the main, I enjoyed the 12 short stories more than the lengthier novel which brings Rumpole out of retirement, linking a chance encounter with a flower child in Florida with a murder trial that draws him back to England. Rumpole is an acquired taste with all things in the world seen through his somewhat self-serving eye. But it is delightful to give in to Rumpole behaving like a little boy ... sixty or so years younger than his age. Small caveat: Penguin have allowed an appalling number of simple typos to creep into this edition. Truly: the text is a mess by any reasonable professional standard. Available for Kobo and Kindle for around $10 (although in Canada, bizarrely, Penguin wants over $15 ...). Last edited by SensualPoet; 06-29-2011 at 02:01 PM. Reason: simple typos sigh

07-01-2011, 05:22 AM	#375
teacher1971 teacher1971 Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Louisiana Device: Nook Color	The Snowman by Jo Nesbo Although this is part of a series, I read it and thoroughly understood and enjoyed it as a stand alone book. I haven't read a mystery/ thriller this good since Silence of the Lambs! It is amazing. I can't wait to read more of this Norwegian author's books. They are all currently being translated into English. They are not difficult reads, yet they are challenging enough to stimulate avid readers. I am a Nesbo fan!

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06-27-2011, 04:30 AM	#361
rschauer Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 40 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Iowa Device: Kindle 3	I just started reading Sue Grafton, so I thought I'd chime in and agree with the couple of mentions that are here. Started at the beginning ("A" is for Alibi), and have already moved on to the second one. Pretty easy reading, great for a couple of chapters before bed or 10-15 minutes on lunch break. I gave in to the hype and read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo recently as well. I found it overrated, but entertaining. The sex is gratuitous, the ending is drawn out and rather anticlimactic, and it kind of feels like something was lost in the English translation. I still found it to be a decent read and a good mystery. The cons aren't enough to dissuade me from reading the other two in the series.

06-27-2011, 04:44 AM	#362
DMB Old Git Posts: 958 Karma: 1840790 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Switzerland (mostly) Device: Two kindle PWs wifi, kindle fire, iPad3 wifi	I just looked for the Blotto and Twinks books on amazon.co.uk and unfortunately they're not available there in ebook format, just dead tree. I would like to recommend John Connor's rather unusual books, now available at both amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. His detective, Karen Sharpe was a former undercover agent for MI5 infiltrating the IRA. She is haunted by her background. They are best read in order: Phoenix Playroom A child's game Falling Unsafe

06-27-2011, 11:24 PM	#364
Scott Nicholson Scott Nicholson, author Posts: 363 Karma: 2029337 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Boone NC Device: Kindle	Reading RUN by Blake Crouch, leans more toward a horror thriller but it's good Scott

06-28-2011, 08:21 AM	#366
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 63,434 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	I don't think anyone has mentioned Chelsea Cain - her Archie & Gretchen "Heartsick" series. Gretchen Lowell truly is the finest successor (alongside Dexter Morgan) to Hannibal Lector - as a completely evil, soulless, brilliant, manipulative, and yes - likeable - serial killer. Start with Heartsick, if you're snagged - read them in order. (http://www.amazon.com/Heartsick-eboo...9263578&sr=1-2)

06-29-2011, 07:23 PM	#367
globals Member Posts: 18 Karma: 20000 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: kindle	Crime Beat by Scott Nicholson.

06-29-2011, 07:45 PM	#368
benham Guru Posts: 882 Karma: 5565888 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Townsend, WI Device: Palm TX, PRS-505 (BLUE)	Just started reading James Sallis but he looks pretty good.

06-30-2011, 11:10 PM	#370
benham Guru Posts: 882 Karma: 5565888 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Townsend, WI Device: Palm TX, PRS-505 (BLUE)	Cyprus Grove, the first in the Turner series so you would get all 3 books in the series. Sounds like a good deal!