I Love a Good Mystery: Recent Reads

Contact

Photos

« Congrats Donna! | Main | Current Reads »

May 03, 2007

Recent Reads

I am so far behind in both my reading and posting, but wanted to mention a few recent reads that impressed me.

THE DEAD HOUR by Denis Mina is the second book in the Paddy Meehan series (after FIELD OF BLOOD), and I thought it was even better than the first (and that's saying a lot). Great characters, and the story manages to both be interesting and raise some thought-provoking ethical issues.

Robert Crais' THE WATCHMAN is a nice return to Pike and Elvis Cole (in a smaller role than in previous books). It still wasn't quite as good as some of the earlier Pike/Cole novels, but I enjoyed it more than recent books by the author. That being said, an 'okay' Crais book is still better than much of what's out there.

THE BLONDE by one of my favourite authors, Duane Swierczynski, is truly fantastic. It's fast-paced, funny, dark, and wonderfully weird and unique. No cookie cutter aspects here. It's a great installment in what I'm sure will end up being an impressive body of work. I only wish he'd write faster!

Posted at 04:03 PM in Book Reviews | Permalink

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8342025bd53ef00d8353431c569e2

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Recent Reads:

Comments

Nice to see you back Tania!

Posted by: Sandra Ruttan | May 03, 2007 at 04:48 PM

I'm in the same boat.

When I first started I was able to get one review every other week but that has changed not sure how that has happened.

The Blonde was a great book and I can't wait to see how Duane is going to follow up that one.

Posted by: Lance | May 03, 2007 at 05:47 PM

Thanks, Tania! So glad you enjoyed it.

Posted by: Duane Swierczynski | May 06, 2007 at 09:26 AM

I'm new to blogging-but not new to reading! My favorite genre is murder mysteries and your site has a wonderful selection of must-get-to titles. Thanks!

Posted by: Patricia | May 30, 2008 at 11:21 PM

great! thanks very much for sharing!

Posted by: global mystery | August 13, 2008 at 11:37 PM

The comments to this entry are closed.

Categories

Recent Reads

Ray Banks: Sucker Punch
Donkey Punch (aka Sucker Punch) is funny, unpredictable and an impressive installment in the Cal Innes series.
Russel D. McLean: The Good Son
Great character, strong plot that carried all the way through, and perfect balance of funny bits and emotional tugs at the heart. PI story with heart, but by no means soft.
David Gordon: The Serialist: A Novel
Great mystery debut that actually touches on various literary genres via a compelling, sometimes dark and always funny story.
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.