Thrillers and Crime Fiction- Feeding the addiction

[Sheila English]

Since attending ThrillerFest last year in NYC I have been absorbed with this genre. I find I like two kinds of thrillers.

I like the scary kind, like Karen Rose's can be. And I like the kind that make you wonder who the killer is and take you through the steps so you can almost feel like you're a detective too! I guess those are more crime fiction.

I have read a lot of the classics, a lot of romance, self help and horror. If something sounds inspirational I'll read that. I read Tweak and it was amazing! But, I'm still pretty new to thrillers and crime fiction.

But I know I want to immerse myself in this genre. It is challenging! What I've read so far has been well written and well thought out.

Now what I need are recommendations. Who is BIG in this genre? Where are the books that you just can't put down?

I did a book trailer for Lisa Jackson's new novel Wicked Game that she wrote with Nancy Bush. I liked the book a lot and writing the script was a pure joy for me. I'm really hoping to pick up more work in this genre. One of the perks to my job is that I get free books! I still purchase books, but I get to "test drive" a lot of authors. I've bought entire backlists before!

If anyone wants to make some recommendations please do! I would appreciate it!

[Dana King]

Matt has Connolly nailed. I first found out about him when I was asked to review The Black Angel. Started it, thinking, "Ick. Supernatural thriller. Don't like those much." Kept at it because the quality of the writing was so good. Pretty soon I was hooked. Now I read everything he writes, and I've never been disappointed. Connolly has a knack of giving you what you keep coming back for, but always making ti different enough to keep you curious about what he'll do in the next book.

[Matt Hilton]

Sorry, above should read 'literary edge'. But I guess you got that.

[Matt Hilton]

I'll just add to the suggestion that you read John Connolly. I love his books. John writes crime thrillers, but with a literal edge that no one else touches in my opinion. To get a full understanding of the Charlie Parker character, and of Louis and Angel, his sidekicks, you should really read all of his books. In the first book, Every Dead Thing, you get a shocking introduction to his world. Very dark, but very thought provoking. Black Angel is probably my favourite - and the most supernatural - but all the books in the series are equally dark and spooky. The Bad Men is another stand alone where Parker only makes a guest appearance, but a great book nontheless(ghosts, murder, action). There is also a book of short stories - Nocturnes - featuring a short story with Parker which is a great lead into the later books in the series. Happy reading.

[Sheila English]

I do love classics. I have heard of that book, I think. Thanks!

[B.R.Stateham]

If you like classics, try a classic whodunit. Find Ryamond Chandler's, "Fairwell, My Lovely."

[Sheila English]

Your book sounds fun! I'm going over to check it out! I love a challenge!

[Sheila English]

I'm off to BN to buy a few books. I've heard of The Book of Lost Things and will pick that up too.
Thank you!

[Dana King]

I don't think Connolly has ever written a bad book, so you can't really go wrong. I think his darkest, most supernaturally-oriented novel is The Black Angel, which I highly recommend, though it might not be a bad idea to pick one or two of the earlier books to see how Charlie Parker's character evolves into what we see in The Black Angel. Whichever you pick, they're uniformly excellent.

One note: The Book of Lost Things is an excellent book, but it's a standalone, not part of the PArker series on which Connolly has built his reputation. I highly recommend it, as well, but it doesn't serve as an into to the Parker series.

[Sheila English]

I think I've heard of Connolly. I like a dark thriller, so I'm going give this a try. Any particular book that stands out for you that he's written?

[Michael Atkinson]

Hi Sheila,

If you like the dark, haunting kind of thriller check out John Connolly. I was completely addicted to his work for a while.

For me his work has everything I want/need in a novel, an unflinching hero, cool sidekicks and bad guys so psychotic you are half pleased half dissapointed when you put down the book.