Now and then, we all go through a spell of reading where everything we pick up, well, sorta sucks. I'm having the pleasure of blazing through a winning streak, where I like every book as much as the last. Having just wrapped my main part of my book tour (which gives me lots of reading time), I have a few new favorites to report on.
Caught Stealing by Charlie Huston. This was recommended to me by my editor at Marvel, as Charlie writes Moon Knight for him. It is gritty, smart, intelligent, and fast-paced. A great down-and-dirty noir read. I've heard his next up, The Shotgun Rule, is also excellent.
Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk. I came into this one reluctantly, having never read Palahniuk, and being the only male in the United States who didn't love the movie version of the Fight Club. I was really blown away by Palahniuk's skill—amazing character development, sharp dialogue, and real poetic beauty.
Bangkok 8 by John Burdett. I know, I know, I'm behind the times, as usual. I generally don't like books set in "exotic locations" (forgive the term), because said locations are usually an excuse to avoid a plot, but Burdett handles all sides of this dirty little mystery with mastery.
Fuck Noir, anthology edited by Jennifer Jordan. A cracking, really smart introduction by Mark Billingham sets the tone for this edgy collection. And a variety of names you'll recognize contribute, all giving an homage to that king of all words.
Along my tour, smart mystery booksellers insisted I buy: Big City, Bad Blood, by Sean Chercover, and The Blonde, by Duane Swiercynski. So I have more reading—recommended from reliable sources—to come.
7 comments:
I'm always looking for new books to read, and may give these a spin. Recently 'found' your books and read them, one after another, gobbling them up like candy. Love 'em! Keep up the great work...
Thank you, Sue!
All best,
Gregg
I was on my way to Los Angeles from Southwest Florida last weekend to catch a race. Looked over every paperback on the rack at the airport as I knew it would be a long trip up and back. Read most of the back covers trying to find something that interested me. Then I found "Last Shot". Glad I grabbed it - what a GREAT book!
My dad's birthday is next week and I want to get him a good book. I enjoyed this title so much I'm inclined to get it (if I can find it in hardback), but I'd like to know if you might recommend another as it seems I've picked up in the middle of a series with Tim Rackley.
Thanks for the good read, and I look forward to your response :)
Glad you picked up -- and liked -- Last Shot. It is the fourth in the Rackley series. The first three are The Kill Clause, The Program, and Troubleshooter. If you're looking for a hardcover, The Crime Writer, my latest, just came out.
Thanks, I'll grab a couple copies of Crime Writer. Good luck with that.
Big city, bad blood is a TREMENDOUS debut.
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