What are you currently reading?

[QualityBookReviews]

An open discussion on what everyone is currently reading. Make recommendations to others, discuss what is new, hot, bestsellers, anything and everything related to books and the authors.

[I. J. Parker]

Yup.  Martin Cruz Smith is very good.  As is GORKY PARK.

[Karen from AustCrime]

Currently Reading the second from Gerard O'Donovan - Dublin Death.

[Susan]

How do you like his writing? I met him briefly at at a conference in New Orleans. Nice guy. Had plenty to say about the pedophile priest issues in Ireland

[Karen from AustCrime]

sorry for the delay Susan - behind in everything as usual.  I thought his first book was really interesting - certainly had to revise my "over serial killers completely" stance.  The second book carries forward the two main characters - a cop and a journalist / works with some expected elements in that sort of relationship, but creates a very readable book.  I've got to finish writing up a full review on it asap.

[I. J. Parker]

3 Tried and rejected:  (And this will shock people)

Garry Disher, KITTYHAWK DOWN.  Australian police procedural, well written, but . . . most of the characters are dysfunctional and so is society.  Ultimately, I couldn't take it.  It was too negative.

Michael Koryta, SORROW'S ANTHEM.  Much celebrated new P.I. author.  Again well written, but . . . this is another hardboiled P.I. walking the dangerous streets of the inner city.  I'm tired of those.

 

Raymond Chandler, THE LITTLE SISTER.  Now this is the darling of a lot of serious crime buffs.  I tried Chandler many years ago and wasn't turned on.  Tried him again and couldn't see it.  This is dated (naturally; it's old), but not because of technology. It has an extremely oldfashioned plot:  P.I. in his office; troubled young woman walks in.  He responds with lust.  More to the point, the much praised voice:  it's basically "Hey, I'm smarter than you are!"  When with women, Marlowe turns into a chauvinist.  As I said, dated.

[Tim Scanlon]

Probably why I liked Gary's Wyatt better. Crime Noir needs to be the anti-hero focus, otherwise it can get a bit too depressing.

 

I'm reading LA Larkin's The Genesis Flaw. I saw her at the Sydney Writers' Festival and won a copy of her book. So far so good.

[Susan]

Just finished the Martin Cruz Smith novel, Havana Bay. Fantastic book.

Am now in the midst of Patricia Cornwell's Book of the Dead. Gotta tell ya that the first 6 pages of the book are most chilling I've ever read. Seriously. The book features Kay Scarpetta and all the usual suspects: Benton Wesley, Marino, and KS's niece Lucy.   More when I finish it ...

[David DeLee]

Just finished ROADSIDE CROSSES by Jeffery Deaver. This is his second Kathryn Dance. I've read both, there may be a third. I have to check. either way, this was a great read. A lot of fun.
David DeLee
Fatal Destiny - a Grace deHaviland novel

[I. J. Parker]

Adrian McKinty, THE HIDDEN RIVER.  Irish author but U.S. setting mostly.  P.I. novel with thriller potential.  Very fast moving (a great chase scene) and with a fine protagonist, somewhat reminiscent of Jack Taylor.  Recommended.

[Raymond Embrack]

Thrift Store Bounty Hunters by Michael Lamendola. It's turning out to be a fun read.

[David DeLee]

I've returned to an old favorite -- reading Clive Cussler's POLAR SHIFT.

David DeLee
Fatal Destiny - a Grace deHaviland novel

[I. J. Parker]

I'm about to toss it.  Karin Slaughter, BLINDSIGHTED.  A very badly written book lacking all believability and research.  Female-focused thriller:  disgustingly violent and sexual crimes against helpless women by a male serial killer.  The psychology is way off.  Romance interferes every step of the way. The dialogue isn't logical. The big question: how does one rape a woman who is sitting on the toilet?  (Yes, it's a disgusting crime).

 

What surprised me and shouldn't have:  major publisher (Harper Collins) and over-the-top endorsements by George Pelecanos, Val McDermid, Peter Robinson, Laura Lippman, John Westermann, and Steve Hamilton.

Publishing is a dirty business.