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I'm reading "Every Dead Thing" by John Connolly - it's the first in his Charlie Parker series. So far it is meeting (or surpassing) expectations. Looks like I'll have another series to follow...

I looked for Roger Smith after reading about him here. I really appreciate this board as I'm always looking for new authors. I was on an Ian Rankin/Rebus tear for a while then onto Ken Bruen after that. Some authors I always enjoy are George Pelecanos, Tim Dorsey, Elmore Leonard, Richard Stark, Ben Rehder, Rick Riordan, Adrian McKinty, James Lee Burke(every and any book), James Sallis, Charlie Huston( Hank Thompson trilogy and Joe PItt series), James Crumley, Joe R Lansdale( Hap Collins/Leonard Pine series), Allan Guthrie, Stuart Neville to name more then a few.

Just finished Gun Church which I thought was great, not a traditional crime book, but still great. Picked up Winter's Bone and Woe to Live on from the library and decided to start with WB. I saw the movie years ago and really enjoyed it.

Joe wrote: "After reading The Sins of the Fathers I've become a major Lawrence Block fan. During the last 14 days I've read 13 of the Matthew Scudder series, which seems to get better as it goes along.I like t..."

Im reading my first Burglar book right now and its grand to have another series of similar qualities to Scudder. Not as bleak or PI story but the same strong voice character, atmosphere,well use of the setting of NYC. Feels like im walking around with Bernie just like you do with Matt Scudder.

Im a new Block fan too and was afraid he was only real good with Scudder but he shows he is more consistent than that.

Tfitoby wrote: "Joe wrote: "After reading The Sins of the Fathers I've become a major Lawrence Block fan. During the last 14 days I've read 13 of the Matthew Scudder series, which seems to get better as it goes al..."

If i had time to read that many Scudder books in a row i wouldnt be able to do that anyway. At times the books are too real,emotionally bleak. I would need break mentally.

Mohammed wrote: "Joe wrote: "After reading The Sins of the Fathers I've become a major Lawrence Block fan. During the last 14 days I've read 13 of the Matthew Scudder series, which seems to get better as it goes al..."

I'd recommend the Hitman-Keller books as well

Just started Hot Wire by Gary Carson

Alberto wrote: "Tfitoby wrote: "That was a great movie, I didn't even think about the book when I saw it. How does it compare? "

Being yourself a great soccer fan, Toby, what do you think of the football stadium ..."

My memory of the thing is fuzzy Alberto but I do remember waiting for it after the hype and not being disappointed by it in the slightest.

Mike wrote: "I'm Reading Rain Fall by Barry Eisler."

Finished the book last night. Really enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading more in this series.

Col wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "Joe wrote: "After reading The Sins of the Fathers I've become a major Lawrence Block fan. During the last 14 days I've read 13 of the Matthew Scudder series, which seems to get bet..."

I did read early parts of first Keller book and it felt like weaker effort, thats is why i wondered about Bernie books. Keller first book made me doubt alittle. Although it could have been only weak start to that series.

Tfitoby wrote: "Algernon wrote: "I'm reading The Secret in Their Eyes , I already knew the story from watching the movie, but the book is worth it for its more leisure rhythm and greater attention to detail. I wou..."

I need to watch the movie again, I think the ending is a bit different and I liked it better in the movie, probably because it caught me unprepared. The romance angle (Irene) was great in both, and the main character reminds me a lot of Martin Beck (integrity, stubborness, lousy family life)

Mohammed wrote: "Col wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "Joe wrote: "After reading The Sins of the Fathers I've become a major Lawrence Block fan. During the last 14 days I've read 13 of the Matthew Scudder series, which seem..."

I like his Keller books most of all. The Bernie books are OK. (I've read three of them.) They're more like "cozy" mysteries, not hard-boiled like Scudder.

Just finished Mixed Blood by Roger Smith. Great read and I'll definitely look for more from him

Col wrote: "Russ wrote: "Just started Mixed Blood by Roger Smith. So far it's very good"

I read this late last year - blew me away, I don't think you'll be disappointed"

Hi Col. You were right. Great great book

Mike wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "Col wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "Joe wrote: "After reading The Sins of the Fathers I've become a major Lawrence Block fan. During the last 14 days I've read 13 of the Matthew Scudder s..."

They are not hardboiled crime sure more calmer heist books like Dortmunder books by Westlake. Thats an art form when well done. Bernie is a strong, fun character much more interesting than Keller so far. Im reading book 4 in the series so maybe You missed the stronger starting point to the series.

Im glad Block is more than Scudder series and not just other standalone books.

I've been reading The Living End by Frank Kane. Wasn't listed on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ so I put the book on with the cover. Great book.

Russ wrote: "Col wrote: "Russ wrote: "Just started Mixed Blood by Roger Smith. So far it's very good"

I read this late last year - blew me away, I don't think you'll be disappointed"

Hi Col. You were right. G..."

I just noticed that his Zombie novel written as Max Wilde - Vile Blood is free on amazon kindle today - at least it is in the UK - This has had some good reviews - I've got my copy!



Vile Blood

I just started Death Will Have Your Eyes by James Sallis.

Mike wrote: "Mike wrote: "I'm Reading Rain Fall by Barry Eisler."

Finished the book last night. Really enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading more in this series."

I like Barry Eisler also. All his books are great.

Finishing up Gil Brewer's book 13 French Street

I'm finishing up "Cuba Libre" by Elmore Leonard. I'll be starting "Miracles" by C.S. Lewis for a book discussion class.

If you like Pulp Fiction then you have got to read The Transylvania Flying Squad of Detectives that jsut came out. Best Detective Fiction ever. If Indiana JOnes was a detective in 1920 London, this would be his story. This book was so awesome, enough so that I wanted to tell everyone about and encourage them to read it. We have got get this turned into a movie. It would be bigger than The Avengers. The Transylvania Flying Squad of Detectives

Just started .
This is the first Max Allen Collins that I have read that's not a collaboration with Mickey Spillane.

AndrewP wrote: "Just started .
This is the first Max Allen Collins that I have read that's not a collaboration with Mickey Spillane."

You will like the Quarry series. I promise.

Quarry rocks. It's far better than the Hammer books with Spillane & I'm kind of a Spillane fan.

I've read my first Megan Abbott book : Dare Me . Didn't care much for the cheerleading theme, or the actual murder at the center of the plot, but the author I think is worth another chance for the quality of the writing. I understand she has some older books that are closer in style to classic noir.

Algernon wrote: "I've read my first Megan Abbott book : Dare Me . Didn't care much for the cheerleading theme, or the actual murder at the center of the plot, but the author I think is worth another chance for the ..."

Definitely give her another go Algernon. I'd suggest Die a Little personally.

A lit bit self promotion (who doesn't want to be "liked"?) and a little bit of promotion for a great group of crime writers at Crime Factory right here in my review for Hard Labour a collection of Aussie crime stories that I just finished. Not exactly a romantic St. Valentine's Day read I know. Great stuff, well worth your time and money for any enthusiastic member of this group.

Cathy recently recommended Vicki Hendricks to me and her apparent erotic-noir Cruel Poetry is my next read because it was the only one I could find at the library. And then, gasp, I shall FINALLY dig in to the much lauded The Friends of Eddie Coyle. Should get me through the weekend in style.

Reading Below Suspicion by John Dickson Carr. Great read so far.

Hi. This is my first post to this group.

I picked up a few of Georges Simenon's "romans dures," the psychological novels. I've been reading
Mankell's Wallander novels and wanted a counterpoint to them. I finished "The Widower." A petit bourgeois commercial artist in Paris finds that his wife is missing. A few days later she is found in a hotel after committing suicide. The back story is that she was a prostitute whom he rescued after her pimp beat her up. They were married for 8 years leading a humdrum life. As the novel progresses the character doesn't understand the hostility directed at him by the neighbors. Through mistaken perceptions and projection we learn why the neighbors don't like him, but we find out that both he and they are wrong.

First thoughts: Simenon is the consummate bourgeois himself so his portraits get at the the characters' essences. Plus he is one of the most economical writers I've encountered. His descriptions of the
types of people in a city neighborhood, in the police station, and in the commercial offices is vivid only after writing a brief paragraph.
Then Simenon is enough of a pervert so that by constructing a narrative he can't help putting his obsessions in.

I've read a few of his other psychological novels so even though I know he is using a formula, he still winds up surprising me.

The psychological novels are very dark and not really mysteries, very different in tone from his famous Inspector Maigret books.

The formula he uses is usually an introspective middle-age bourgeois is living a routine humdrum life until there is a shock to it. Then he is either forced out of his complacency or he uses the opportunity to abandon his comfortable life and enter new worlds, usually low-life marginal circles with people that he would never think about
previously. Simenon's strength is that he uses projection and mistaken perceptions to build his interactions that propel the story to its
conclusion.

Simenon was very prolific and it has been reported that it took him 8 days to write a book and he churned them out on a regular schedule. His books became source material for a lot of films. If you haven't read Simenon's psychological novels or only is Inspector Maigret books, this is a good place to get a distinct French take on noir.

David wrote: "Hi. This is my first post to this group.

I picked up a few of Georges Simenon's "romans dures," the psychological novels. I've been reading
Mankell's Wallander novels and wanted a counterpoint to..."

Hi David:

Hope you put this great information, your comments, in your review.

This is a great thread although I don't visit as often as I should.

Hey David, welcome, I'm a fellow Simenon fan. Trying to collect a full set but so far I still need about 170. Collecting Simenon is tough. Why did he write so many?!

TGI: How many books did he write? Need 170? Amazing.

In his own name nearly 200, buthe also had several pseudonyms and the real total is probably closer to 500.

He published the first six maigrets in one year i think. the man was a machine.

I thought Captain Vorpatril's Alliance would prove to be a nice neo-noir set in space. It starts with a criminal investigation and a couple of damzels in distress, some kidnapping, some police interogation. I'm about halfway through and it has become mostly concerned with romance. I still hope the story will get back on track and kick some major behinds.

Been reading Who Was That Lady. It's the biography of Craig Rice. Just got to the part where Rice sent her manuscript in for a book only to find that Dorothy Hughes sent in a book with almost the same plot. They took her book instead of Rice's book. Thought that was interesting since Dorothy Hughes is on for the March reading.

Ronhummer wrote: "Been reading Who Was That Lady. It's the biography of Craig Rice. Just got to the part where Rice sent her manuscript in for a book only to find that Dorothy Hughes sent in a book with almost the..."

Craig Rice is a woman? Never heard of her before this post Ronhummer, but if she's similar to Dorothy Hughes I'm sure she's well worth checking out.

Alberto wrote: "Past week tons of Lawrence Blocks and Robert B. Parker's Spencer books arrived to one of my favorite second-hand bookshops. A pity none else in this group lives in my town. There were all the Scudd..."

Your first Bernie book? I got Wrecking Crew in the mail this week, still not found the first Helm but I'm sure this will be a great read anyway.

Ronhummer wrote: "Been reading Who Was That Lady. It's the biography of Craig Rice. Just got to the part where Rice sent her manuscript in for a book only to find that Dorothy Hughes sent in a book with almost the..."

Ronhummer: It's those side stories which I enjoy so much. Thanks for the post.

Cathy wrote: "Ronhummer wrote: "Been reading Who Was That Lady. It's the biography of Craig Rice. Just got to the part where Rice sent her manuscript in for a book only to find that Dorothy Hughes sent in a bo..."

Sure. No problem. Check out the book. It's a great bio.

Just inhaled Fierce Bitches, a damned fine piece of noir. Check out the reviews, everybody's loved this book so far. It's dark as dark gets and well worth the relatively tiny outlay.

Halfway through The Draining Lake

Top read so far

Col wrote: "Halfway through The Draining Lake

Top read so far"

Not tried that author, I hear they're at the top of the pile of modern Scandinavian crime thrillers though.

Tfitoby wrote: "Col wrote: "Halfway through The Draining Lake

Top read so far"

Not tried that author, I hear they're at the top of the pile of modern Scandinavian crime thrillers though."

I read one of his earlier books a few years ago, but I can't recall enjoying it as much as this one.

I haven't read much Scandinavian stuff to be honest - one Mankell book that funnily enough was set in Africa, Jo Nesbo - The Bat, set in Australia and one of the Dragon trilogy. Shitloads on the TBR Pile including the Sjowall/Wahloo double act series that has a good rep.

Just discovered a new (to me) author and I'm pretty impressed.

Grant McKenzie

Switch
Port of Sorrow

Col wrote: "Tfitoby wrote: "Col wrote: "Halfway through The Draining Lake

Top read so far"

Not tried that author, I hear they're at the top of the pile of modern Scandinavian crime thrillers though."

Yeah i'm loving the Sjowall/Wahloo series myself. Got some Mankell to read too but not the African one, I'm of the theory that if I'm going to read a popular author i should read what theyre famous for first, in this case Wallander. But also the African one is always cheap in secondhand shops so i figure it cant be that good! Did you enjoy it?

Cathy wrote: "Ronhummer wrote: "Been reading Who Was That Lady. It's the biography of Craig Rice. Just got to the part where Rice sent her manuscript in for a book only to find that Dorothy Hughes sent in a bo..."

I forgot to mention that Craig Rice and Dorothy Hughes were very good friends. Craig said she was devastated when she lost out to Dorothy on that book.

Tfitoby wrote: "Col wrote: "Tfitoby wrote: "Col wrote: "Halfway through The Draining Lake

Top read so far"

Not tried that author, I hear they're at the top of the pile of modern Scandinavian crime thrillers thou..."

not the best book I've ever read, which sort of put me off picking him up subsequently,
one of my own reading quirks or challenges is to read 1 Scandinavian book a month this year, so I'll get back to him at some point.
I keep looking up Fierce Bitches and humming and hawing over taking the plunge....it'll probably take a month or two to get to me in the UK, which is no real reason not to buy it.

Alberto wrote: "Past week tons of Lawrence Blocks and Robert B. Parker's Spencer books arrived to one of my favorite second-hand bookshops. A pity none else in this group lives in my town. There were all the Scudd..."

That sounds so good you getting Tanner,Bernie books that way that its really a torture for me to handle just because im so envious of that bookstore you have there. I have to buy all those books as new expensive copies. Which takes time to earn to that Money :P

Col wrote: "Tfitoby wrote: "Col wrote: "Halfway through The Draining Lake

Top read so far"

Not tried that author, I hear they're at the top of the pile of modern Scandinavian crime thrillers though."

I read..."

Mankell has been living in Mozambique for decades. He has his own wing in the local African library here in Town!
´
Several of his books is set there but he is most famous seriues Wallander is about smalltown Swedish Town in typical gray,depressing Swedish smalltown. Wallander is the best modern detective series Scandianavia has. He has won Awards in many countries in Europe like some Peace medal in Germany.