who are some big name thriller writers.

[Musky]

I can see why you would like characters to have their own problems. I like that too which is Bosch is my fav in crime fiction. Usually i connect easy to characters with their own problems rather get hyped over the great crime mystery in the story. Thats a second for me in those type of crime books.

Great minds and all that.... You definitely need to read Burke. Make sure to start with the first Dave Robicheaux novel, The Neon Rain.

Since it's set in Cajun country, "I Guarantee" it.

 

[murphy]

By you know any great brits in this genre? I want police and privete eye type crime stories both hardboiled and realistic ala Bosch. Not one of those cosy mysteries in the country that the brits favour so much.

Ian Rankin and his Scots Inspector Rebus stories. See here.

Also, Martha Grimes, who is an American writing about a Brit. inspector and his helper, who is an ex-lord. Tend to the humerous side, but can also be very black. I've cried at some of her endings. First book there is Man With a Load of Mischief. (All her books are named after British pubs.)

 

[Connavar]

I have already ordered Ian Rankin first book in Rebus series looking for other brit crime.


Martha Grimes sounds good cause i dont care if the writer is brittish or american i just want to read brit crime to see the a crime story about in that setting. Dont wanna limit myself to american crime stories.

 

[Musky]

Now that I think of it, John Harvey is a Birtish crime author of some reknown. I read a couple in the Resnick series long ago.

I was once in a cool bookstore in Galway, Ireland called Kenny's I believe. It was twelve years ago so the name might be wrong. I remember asking the older woman working there about hard boiled Irish crime fiction.

She said there probably was some, but the Irish were lovers, and that's all she would tell me.

 

[murphy]

Then there's the Elizabeth George, Inspector Lynley (sp?) series. Starts with A Great Deliverance.

 

[littlemissattitude]

I've just started reading Michael Connelly's work and recommend him highly.

I started out with Echo Park, just picked it up at the grocery store because the blurb indicated that it takes place in L.A., and I love the city and books about it. Very good book. Then I read The Black Echo, the first Bosch book, and loved it as well. Now I'm reading The Closers, which is also very good but making me homesick because I am so familiar with some of the places he mentions in the course of the story - for example, he names specific streets that exist in reality and which I've driven on hundreds if not thousands of times. He has obviously done his homework, something I greatly admire in a writer.

 

[murphy]

I've just started reading Michael Connelly's work and recommend him highly.

I started out with Echo Park, just picked it up at the grocery store because the blurb indicated that it takes place in L.A., and I love the city and books about it. Very good book. Then I read The Black Echo, the first Bosch book, and loved it as well. Now I'm reading The Closers, which is also very good but making me homesick because I am so familiar with some of the places he mentions in the course of the story - for example, he names specific streets that exist in reality and which I've driven on hundreds if not thousands of times. He has obviously done his homework, something I greatly admire in a writer.

I feel the same way about Robert Crais' Elvis Cole books. He writes about my part of L.A. naming streets, the market I shop in, etc.

 

[Connavar]

I've just started reading Michael Connelly's work and recommend him highly.

I started out with Echo Park, just picked it up at the grocery store because the blurb indicated that it takes place in L.A., and I love the city and books about it. Very good book. Then I read The Black Echo, the first Bosch book, and loved it as well. Now I'm reading The Closers, which is also very good but making me homesick because I am so familiar with some of the places he mentions in the course of the story - for example, he names specific streets that exist in reality and which I've driven on hundreds if not thousands of times. He has obviously done his homework, something I greatly admire in a writer.

You have read 12 books that fast damn you are hooked !

He is my fav crime writer mostly cause of his great characters,his knowledge of LA and most importantly he knows alot of cops,lawyers etc thanks his previous job so he gets to know alot from them he use well in his stories.

For example The Lincoln Lawyer which is i think is top three in his best books list, he reasearched the way a Lawyer friend of his worked for 5,6 years before he wrote the book. Which is why the book is great.

Read it when you are done with Bosch and see for yourself.


Best HB books according to you? Wonder which ones other HB likes most.

 

[littlemissattitude]

You have read 12 books that fast damn you are hooked !

No, I've only read those books...While I bought Echo Park and The Black Echo, I've got The Closers out of the library. I'd like to read them through in order, but right now I'm just getting them as I can. Later on, I'll likely make a project of reading the series in order, but right now I'll take what I can get.

But, yes, I think I am hooked.

 

[kcs_hiker]

Conn, I know I've mentioned Philip Kerr before (elsewhere in another thread), but he is British and he did write a hardboiled detective trilogy set in WWII Berlin. They are collected in one volume under Berlin Noir.

 

[kcs_hiker]

8 Million Ways to Die. Now you're on the right track. The Matt Scudder series by Lawrence Block is mostly very good. The gentleman cat burglar books not so much. As might be obvious, I like the characters to have their own problems.

I am less enamored of the Crais novels, but they are fast, fun reads. Elvis Cole and Joe Pike remind a bit too much of Parker's Spenser and Hawk. Like many series, the early books appeal to me more than those that come later.

Burke's Robicheaux novels seem to avoid that in my opinion, but flirted with the problem for a couple novels. They got back on track in Purple Cane Road. Also check out one of his early books, The Lost Get Back Boogie.

So many good books, I wish I had the money to fill a castle with them.

ooo Cole/Pike vs. Spenser/Hawk

one thing for sure... Spenser can out-cook Cole.

 

[Connavar]

No, I've only read those books...While I bought Echo Park and The Black Echo, I've got The Closers out of the library. I'd like to read them through in order, but right now I'm just getting them as I can. Later on, I'll likely make a project of reading the series in order, but right now I'll take what I can get.

But, yes, I think I am hooked.

No no HB is known for his struggles in proffisionally and personally that you will ruin the series for yourself if you read without the right order.

HB books arent stand alones type crime with only episodic stories. Most of characters grow over the years.

For example when you read The Closers you missed out on why he had to quit the job in City of Bones and why he had to come back.

Reading The Closers and Echo Park is alright since they are the newest but the first 7,8 books have more characters and stories in common. Reading book 8 before book 2 is a huge spoiler for example.


Just an advice on how to enjoy the books more.

 

[murphy]

ooo Cole/Pike vs. Spenser/Hawk

one thing for sure... Spenser can out-cook Cole.

But Kay Scarpetta could beat them both in cooking.

 

[Connavar]

Conn, I know I've mentioned Philip Kerr before (elsewhere in another thread), but he is British and he did write a hardboiled detective trilogy set in WWII Berlin. They are collected in one volume under Berlin Noir.

Once again thanks looks like what im looking. Will be interesting to try other euro settings too.

 

[kcs_hiker]

But Kay Scarpetta could beat them both in cooking.

Scarpetta can do just anything better than those guys ... but she gets so darn depressed.

 

[Connavar]

Kay Scarpetta ? Which series ?

 

[kcs_hiker]

Kay Scarpetta ? Which series ?

15 book series written by Patricia Cornwell featuring forensic pathologist/lawyer Kay Scarpetta. Go here to read about both the good and the bad....

I read about half of them (or maybe 10) before I got tired of the bleakness.

 

[murphy]

15 book series written by Patricia Cornwell featuring forensic pathologist/lawyer Kay Scarpetta. Go here to read about both the good and the bad....

I read about half of them (or maybe 10) before I got tired of the bleakness.

I've read about 10 of her books also, but never visited her website. Cool site. She does get depressing. Nothing ever goes right in the later books.

 

[Connavar]

Hello guys lets make this thread our crime thread. If you read a new or old series or stand alones that are good let us know. Just the overall crime thread like there were a big thread for Historical Fiction thread before there were a forum for that.

There are enough writers and books to talk about.


Speaking about that i just started reading The first Rebus book by Ian Rankin. Its pretty good so far. Gotta get used to the scottish slang, *slog* and everything I can already feel the bleak mode of the book just by seeing Rebus view of the world.

 

[murphy]

Speaking about that i just started reading The first Rebus book by Ian Rankin. Its pretty good so far. Gotta get used to the scottish slang, *slog* and everything I can already feel the bleak mode of the book just by seeing Rebus view of the world.

There used to be a tv program about this character. It was done by the Brits, and therefore it was pretty good. (US tv ususually gets it all wrong.) I don't know if it's still on, but if you're into DVDs it might be out on that. Here's a link to the tv series.