Mysteries Abound
For a change of pace in your home for Center-Right Conversation, here are some mystery books I’ve gone through at bedtime of late which I can recommend to those so inclined.
I must first mention A Falling Knife by our own “Judith Deborah” Levy. It’s an exceptionally well-written tale rooted in buried human tragedy but expressed in a double-helix of biotechnology and high finance. I admit to picking this up out of Ricochetian loyalty, but I recommend it entirely on its own merits. The sole bone I had to pick had to do with a minor plot point based on a Catholic practice that is no longer operative. It’s a tough book, saturated with sadness and loss, but rewards on a lot of levels—not least learning some very interesting things from the cutting edges of biotech and money. I hope I can urge her to write more. (Judith, write more!)
Second, I enthusiastically recommend my friends Aaron & Charlotte Elkins’ new book, A Dangerous Talent, which seems to betoken a new series from Aaron, a recognized master of the genre, and Charlotte, a frequent co-author. The protagonist is Alix London, an aspiring art expert saddled with the fact that her father, a great conservator, ended up in prison as a forger. A high-tech millionaire friend nevertheless hires her to authenticate a Georgia O’Keeffe she’s been offered by a Santa Fe dealer. Complications ensue. I find the Elkins’ books utterly enjoyable to read. They’re immaculately constructed, wittily written, and play fair. The titles Charlotte has written with Aaron contain some of the best, most appealing young-women protagonists I’ve com across. Alix London is no exception, and I loved this book start to finish.
I’m late to the party, but wandering into Chris Ewan’s “Good Thief” series with the latest, The Good Thief’s Guide to Venice, was a pleasant surprise. I saw “Venice” and “first-edition Maltese Falcon” on the jacket and figured it was for me. It’s a picaresque jaunt about an author who’s a tenuously reformed burglar who gets blackmailed back into the game. It’s basically a heist movie, if you will, and provides swift, entertaining action sequences, along with well-written (well-established) characters, a light, deft style, and a good sense of humor.
Nothing But the Truth is the latest in Jarkko Sipilä’s “Helsinki Homicide” series (which is at least what the small press that issues the English versions calls them). Like a lot of Scandinavian mysteries, it attempts to address a larger issue in the context of the mystery (here the protection of witnesses by the justice system), but unlike many of them, it doesn’t belabor it to the point of pedantry (unlike, say, some of Sjöwall & Wählöö lesser works which used to bemoan the insufficient socialization of, wait for it, 1970s Sweden). Sipilä’s series is good, European-style police-procedural writing with interesting, if not very deeply drawn, characters. If you like this kind of stuff, you’ll like these. The previous books in the series are also good.
Well, that’ll do for now. So, what are you reading? What should I be reading?
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Comments:
Jul '11
Re: Mysteries Abound
The Last Good Kiss, James Crumley.
Re: Mysteries Abound
Wow. This means a lot to me, Bill. Thank you.
I just finished listening to two sort-of mysteries (well, one is much more of a straight mystery than the other, but neither is standard issue by any means) that just knocked my socks off. One is The Woodcutter by Reginald Hill and the other is Faithful Place by Tana French. Both books are virtuoso performances by writers at the top of their games. (The second is also likely to get you to fall on your knees and thank God not to have been raised in a tenement in Dublin.)
Oct '10
Re: Mysteries Abound
Judith... My wife and I both were surprised by the amount of detail and really clever turns that A Falling Knife took. We read a great many suspense novels, and your work is way high on our list.
For all, we both believe that this is a really great novel an Judith is to be taken seriously as major league.
Continuing onward, another Ricochet regular, Andrew Klavan, who writes in quite a different style than Judith is also to be taken seriously. We have just re-read Identity Man. It is a really good read.
For something with a more light and unusual touch, Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas series is fun and intriguing. There are five in the series, and all follow the same theme.
Nov '10
Re: Mysteries Abound
What should you, or anybody, be reading?
I try to avoid telling anyone what they “should” do or read, so I’ll just say that if you have not yet discovered Daniel Silva you are very lucky because you have about, who knows, 20 or 21 terrific and highly crafted mysteries to enjoy on the international intrigues of Gabriel Allon, master art restorer and secret operative for Mossad.
Silva’s fictional plots are well researched for the factual details woven into them. Anyone who enjoys a good story which informs as well as entertains will find much to like in Daniel Silva.
Jun '11
Re: Mysteries Abound
My daughter has just introduced me to a new author.. Jeffery Deaver.. who writes in the cop genre.. with a twist.. his hero cop is a paraplegic.
set in New york city. this was "Cold Moon"
Of course, anyone who hasn't tried one of John Sandford's "Nigel Davenport" series should do so.
May '11
Re: Mysteries Abound
A scary intelligent yarn is "Koko" followed by "Mystery" and "The Throat" by Peter Straub. It took me a couple times to get into when I was young, but once in, it was well worth it.
Bill- Links not working for me. I will have to put Judith's book on my read list.
TeeJaw- 2nd Danial Silva.
Bob- Sandford's Prey books and the off-shoots are my absolute favorites. I compare all others against his.
May '11
Re: Mysteries Abound
If you haven't read the South African crime novels of Deon Meyers, you are missing something really good.
Apr '12
Re: Mysteries Abound
Thank you for the list of new mysteries to dive into. I've been reading the Hugh Corbett mysteries by P.C. Doherty. Sir Hugh is King of England Edward I's spy master and murder mystery investigator during the late 14th century and early 15th. These book are very fun with the spy-vs-spy entertainment of the English vs. the French medieval intelligence agencies, the education about life in the time, and the prose of a Oxford historian.
P.C. Doherty is prolific author with other fun series I am exploring.