Johan Theorin: Echoes from the Dead
Strong sense of setting and an interesting story that alternates between the present and the past.
Sophie Littlefield: A Bad Day for Sorry
A fun read, but unfortunately I never became invested in the crime part of the story. Based on the character and the humour, I'll check out the upcoming 2nd book in this new series.
Tom Schreck: On the Ropes: A Duffy Dombrowski Mystery
Interesting character (social worker and part-time boxer), good story flow, and very funny.
Ken Bruen & Reed Farrel Coleman: Tower
Brilliant conception and execution. Yes, it's really that good.
Ken Bruen & Jason Starr: Bust
Noir at its best. When you have a group of flawed characters and bad things keep happening to them, it makes for a great read. Funny, dark, and very well-written.
Donna Moore: Go to Helena Handbasket
Laugh-out-loud funny spoof the crime fiction/P.I. genre. Great characters, pace and dialogue. This should be required reading for any fan of the genre.
Robert Crais: The Two Minute Rule
Great character, excellent pace, and interesting twists and turns in the story. I hope this is just the first in a new series.
Stuart MacBride: Cold Granite
Top-notch police procedural that is set in Aberdeen, Scotland. The dark subject matter (missing kids) doesn't overshadow the terrific writing style, strong plot, complex characters, and humour. A very compelling read.
Charlie Stella: Cheapskates
The dialogue, colourful cast of characters, dark humour, and wonderful unpredictable plot make this a great read.
Duane Swierczynski: Secret Dead Men
Check into the Brain Motel and you won't be disappointed. This is a unique, creative, funny, and compelling novel.
Rick Mofina: The Dying Hour
Suspense novel featuring rookie Seattle reporter, Jason Wade. Smart, scary, and interesting with fun twists and surprises. The first of what I hope will be a long-running series.
John Sandford: Broken Prey
Run, don't walk to go out and get this book. It's part suspense, part thriller, and part police procedural, and all parts are done masterfully. The characters, storyline, pacing and writing style make this a must read.
Chris Niles: Hell's Kitchen
The lives of various New Yorkers (including a serial killer, struggling writer, and beautiful pickpocket) intersect in this engrossing story. I loved the memorable characters and wonderfully dark humour.
Chris Mooney: Remembering Sarah
Fantastic novel about a man dealing with life after his young daughter goes missing. An interesting story full of complex characters and raw human emotion. Excellent.
T. Jefferson Parker: California Girl
Edgar (Best Novel) nominee doesn't disappoint. This book's two main strengths are the cast of interesting and complex characters, followed very closely by the twisting and turning storyline. Part family saga, part mystery, part slice of life of California in the 60s.
Robert Crais: The Forgotten Man
Elvis and Pike are back! The latest in this fantastic series is good (although not quite as good as earlier books). A little bit of the spark is missing, but it's still a fun read. It definitely left me wanting more, and I'm already looking forward to Crais' next book.
Mark Haskell Smith: Moist
What a wild ride! This book is fast-paced, darkly funny, and very colourful. The characters are slowly revealed to be much more complex than originally thought.
Alex Brett: Cold Dark Matter
This is a unique book that manages to both entertain and educate. The pace is good, and just
varied enough to keep the reader on his/her toes. The story has some great twists and turns, all leading up to a satisfying resolution. This is not only an interesting read but a very important read.
Peter Robinson: Strange Affair
This book has it all - great plot, characters (and character development), sense of place, suspense, dialogue, twists and turns, and atmosphere. It's a police procedural that will make you feel, cheer, shudder, and think.
Peter Moore Smith: Raveling
A young girl goes missing, and years later one of her brothers has a serious psychotic break. Are the event related? Gripping, wonderfully written novel. This story will suck you in, so get comfortable befor you start reading!
I've only read "Die a Little" - which I thought was excellent. I'll have to look for some of the others. Thanks for the link!
Posted by: iliana | February 01, 2006 at 10:35 AM