As is my wont when I find somebody I like to read I binge read the lot and then am left wingeing and moaning because I have to wait for the author to get his laptop out and get cracking with the next one. As with Donna Leon, a prime example of this when I read all of the Brunetti books in a month. Each new one comes out, is devoured in a couple of hours and then I am stuck again. The only author who seems to be keeping pace with my reading rate is Alexander McCall Smith with his multiple series but I have found some of his output a bit variable and have abandoned the Scotland Street series and gave up on Corduroy Mansion almost immediately. The First Ladies Detective Agency are high on my favourite list, but best of all, I really enjoy the Sunday Philosophy Club series and one of those is due out soon thank the Lord.
The eagle eyed among you will have spotted I am reading Lee Childs and will write more about him when I have read them all. I am going great guns and have just downloaded three titles onto my Kindle, so though I may binge read at least I won't have a pile of books taking up space which is always a benefit in my bijou flatette.
When I asked for recommendations for new thrillers from my lovely Random Readers I was showered with suggestions and I was also told which ones not to bother with. Lee Patterson seems to be somebody to be avoided according to some of you and I will bear that in mind - trouble is he has written shed-loads and I may be in need of another series to pitch into at some stage. I will bear your comments in mind, however, and he is currently on the back burner. Michael Connelly was another recommended by many and I found one in the library the other day (yes, getting as many as these as poss out of my local lib, cheaper than a charity shop or a Kindle) and took it out to see if I liked it. Was called Nine Dragons and Harry Bosch is the divorced, lonely, work dedicated cop - this time in Los Angeles. Same old as always but I enjoyed this story very much. When investigating a murder in Chinatown which is linked to the Triad, Harry's daughter who lives with his ex-wife in Hong Kong is kidnapped after he is warned off the case. Cue Harry charging off to HK and loads of mayhem and fighting going on before he saves the day. Very filmic and pacily written and so another name on my list.
Have also recently read the latest in the Greek detective series by Anne Zouroudi-The Whispers of Nemesis. I simply love these and will be reviewing this title in the next few days.
Publishers have obviously twigged that I like a good thriller/detective/spy story and in the last two weeks I have had quite a few delivered by my lovely postman with whom I am now on very friendly terms as he knocks on the door and says 'More books today!' Some of these authors I know, but most I don't so if anybody has read any of the titles below or other books by any of these authors and has thoughts on them, please share them with me as I am not quite sure where to start:
- John Connolly - The Burning Soul. I gather this is a 'Charlie Parker' thriller.
- G J Moffat - Blindside. 'A Disgraced agent. A Lethal New Drug. A Perfect Storm' oo-er...
- Stephen Leather - Fair Game. A 'Spider Shepherd Thriller'
- Lisa Jackson - Without Mercy. Seems to be murder and mayhem in an elite boarding school in Oregon
- Jeremy Duns - Song of Treason. British thriller 'Where do you run when both sides want you dead?'
- Neil Cross -Luther Calling. It seems that we are now going to get a series of titles all about Detective Chief Inspector Luther as per the recent TV series. This is a case of the book coming after so will be interested to see what I think of it as I found the series totally compelling and Idris Elba as Luther sooooo sexy
- Camilla Lackberg - The Hidden Child. Have loved all her previous ones so am saving this one up
- Jane Casey - The Reckoning. I found this author's first novel, The Missing, a tad disappointing but then her second, The Burning, was so much better and therefore am looking forward to this one.
- Ruth Rendell - The Vault. Simply delighted when this one arrived as it is the latest Inspector Wexford. I always think each one featuring this lovely detective is going to be the last and so pleased when another one arrives. This is being definitely saved and gloated over before I treat myself to a read. All I need now is for PD James to produce another Adam Dalgleish novel as well and then I will be in heaven.
So there you have it - quite a collection I think you will agree and I have many happy hours of reading ahead of me. As always, a big thank you to all those kind and generous publishers who feed my addiction.
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Am off tomorrow for a couple of days to Suffolk to spend time with my family and to cuddle my beloved Florence. They are staying at a cottage in Long Melford which is a lovely place to be and we may be spending the day tomorrow at Jimmy's Farm, south of Ipswich. It is full of farm animals, particularly pigs and it seems Florence is rather into farm animals at the moment. Sounds interesting. Ahem!
Oh and finally - remember my hideous trek through London the other day after the diversion off the A12 because of the accident? Well, it seems I strayed into the Congestion Zone and guess what? I have received a penalty notice for not registering my car that day. I have written to them and explained the circs and told the powers that be that I had no intention of entering the Magic Circle but was forced to. We shall see what response I get or whether I shall fight it further. Never know I may end up as Random Jottings from the Tower of London.....
