Two More Book Suggestions

Suggestion From Rebecca

Being a big fan of Stieg Larsson’s Millenium Trilogy, Rebecca was keen to suggest that we should read some Scandinavian crime ficiton - with suggestions including Arnaldur Indriðason (Iceland), Håkan Nesser (Sweden,) Henning Mankell (Sweden) and, Jo Nesbø (Norway). In the end, she plumped for Håkan Nesser, and for the time being I've selected his first novel published in English, The Return (but Rebecca, if you'd like a different Nesser, let me know!).



Suggestion from Russell

I’d like to suggest The Equivoque Principle by Darren Crask. Just because I like the sound of it. It’s got a Victorian ‘penny dreadful’, Sherlock Holmesian feel to it and I think it might be quite fun. I quite like the Sherlock Holmes stuff anyway but I’m hoping this will be a modern pastiche on a Victorian theme.

This now means that we've had 6 suggestions so far - which by my calculations, fills the first 6 months, without the need for a vote. However, if anyone would like to make a late suggestion, just let me know...

Another Book Suggestion

Suggestion from Barry

I would like to suggest A Drink Before the War by American crime writer Dennis Lehane. Although i've not read this or any of Lehane's other books I have been meaning to give him a go. He wrote a couple of really good episodes of 'The Wire' and two of his other novels have been adapted into interesting films - 'Mystic River' and 'Gone Baby Gone'. 'A Drink Before the War' is the first novel in a series of five, so far, featuring private detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro.

Early Book Suggestions

Hi everyone. Set out below are the book suggestions that I've received so far (including, funnily enough, one from me). It would be great to receive some more, so feel free to send them through to me or comment below.

Suggestion from Angela

I'd like to suggest Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell. It's the first in the Scarpetta series - the 15th was published last year and Cornwell is still writing them. The characters have changed almost beyond belief and the plots have become more and more outrageous over the years but I've stuck with them and probably will until the final instalment... I think the main reason I like the Scarpetta series is because, although the books include detailed forensic explanations and are pretty graphic when it comes to the type of crimes they deal with, they are about character too and the characters are extremely well drawn.


Suggestion from Ruth

"When the Bough Breaks" by Jonathan Kellerman is the first in the series of the Alex Delaware/Milo Sturgis novels and whilst maybe not the best is an excellent introduction.... Delaware is a high-achieving, workaholic and hence burnt-out child psychologist who is brought in by Homicide detective Sturgis in an attempt to elicit a witness statement from a terrified child. Kellerman has worked/published as a child psychologist which brings authenticity to his writing and his characters and plots develop compusively throughout the often very dark series.

Suggestion from Chris

The Taint of Midas by Anne Zouroudi is the second installment in the terrific Mysteries of the Greek Detective. Hermes Diaktoros, the "Fat Man", is a fascinating lead character with a mysterious background and a desire to deliver a special variety of justice. Each book is set in a different Greek Island, exploring one of the seven deadly sins. Beautifully written and brilliantly structured, I love this book.