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!
Definitely agree on both books (DYING LIGHT is really good, too.) Hope things settle down and turn for the better in your life soon.
Posted by: Sarah | May 25, 2006 at 03:50 PM
Sorry to hear you're having a rough time right now. You're right - when life is crazy, it's nice to turn to a good book and lose yourself in it, forget about your problems for a while.
And if you ever need to vent, you know where to find me.
Posted by: Sandra Ruttan | May 26, 2006 at 09:24 AM
I'm sorry things are tough right now. Things will settle down soon--they always do. But it is good to have a good mystery to turn to. I have a fondness for Agatha Christie or Robert B. Parker at times like this.
Posted by: Amy | May 26, 2006 at 09:38 AM
So glad you can find comfort in books. They've helped me through a lot of rough times. Hope life gets better for you soon.
Posted by: iliana | May 30, 2006 at 12:55 AM
I'm sorry to hear that things have been bad lately, but I know from experience that you can always rely on books! I'm sure that you'll get back on an even keel soon...
Posted by: dan | May 31, 2006 at 03:34 PM
I feel the same way about books and the difficult times in life. They provide an escape from the worry and stress. Love Peter Robinson.
Posted by: jenclair | June 15, 2006 at 10:30 AM
I also find great comfort in books. They are good to get lost in when you want to get away from real life.
Posted by: esteemarlu | June 20, 2006 at 12:04 PM
my name's tania and i live in france (paris) and i wants to speak with you if it's possible
kissss
Posted by: tania | June 22, 2006 at 06:31 PM
I hope things get better for you
Posted by: jr | July 10, 2006 at 07:14 AM
Sorry to hear things have been tough lately- glad to hear though that books offer some sort of escapism. Love your blog btw-I am a huge mystery fan and have been finding myself with a lot more free time lately-I look forward to checking out the books you have listed in your Recent Reads column!
Posted by: Kirsten | July 28, 2006 at 08:52 PM
I stumbled upon this site as I was in the process of doing some online research. I am a writer, educator, and avid blogger, but I also love a good mystery. There's something very hypnotic about a good whodunit!
Posted by: thebizofknowledge | August 10, 2006 at 04:55 PM
Hi I am here too all?
Because i am here too all.
Looking holler this years this years?Hollers
Posted by: Dina Maria Karonzoupouplos | December 08, 2006 at 03:54 PM
Those were all amazing books. I hope you all liked them as much as me.
Posted by: Alex | January 20, 2009 at 09:39 PM