Recent reads:
Raymond Chandler- Lady In The Lake
Rex Stout- The League Of Frightened Men
Ed McBain- Cop Hater
Colin Dexter- Last Bus To Woodstock
Recent reads:
Raymond Chandler- Lady In The Lake
Rex Stout- The League Of Frightened Men
Ed McBain- Cop Hater
Colin Dexter- Last Bus To Woodstock
Always agree to disagree.
Always give the other poster the last word, whether correct or not.
pragmatic (08-12-2017)
I discovered Chandler almost forty years ago, and read everything of his that I could find shortly thereafter. I should re-read the Marlowe novels sometime in the near future. With the exception of Ross McDonald, no one has come close to doing the hardboiled detective as well as Raymond Chandler.
I tried to read a Nero Wolfe book the other day - the first one, 'Fer-de-lance' - and I couldn't do it. Some popular writing from the thirties holds up, and some of it just doesn't. I knew after twenty pages that I was not going to enjoy it.
Been meaning to get into McBain's stuff for years, but have never gotten around to it.
“Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.” - Robert E. Howard
"Only a rank degenerate would drive 1,500 miles across Texas and not eat a chicken fried steak." - Larry McMurtry
Jets (08-03-2017)
I'm pretty sure I have a copy of that stuck back somewhere. I know that I've picked up a number of them over the years, with the intention of checking out the character...especially after reading William S. Baring-Gould's 'Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street' and finding out that Nero Wolfe is supposed to be Holmes' son by Irene Adler. (His physical and dispositional similarities to Mycroft being the big clue.)
“Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.” - Robert E. Howard
"Only a rank degenerate would drive 1,500 miles across Texas and not eat a chicken fried steak." - Larry McMurtry
Jets (08-03-2017)
You mean Lew Archer, of course. 'The Underground Man' is my favorite of his.
Speaking of favorites, check out Jeffrey Deaver's 'Garden of Beasts' some time. (Not to be confused with 'In the Garden of Beasts' by Erik Larson.) Unforgettable, and with a twist near the end that you will not see coming. JD told me that it's the book he's most proud of, and he's written about forty.
“Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.” - Robert E. Howard
"Only a rank degenerate would drive 1,500 miles across Texas and not eat a chicken fried steak." - Larry McMurtry
Jets (08-03-2017)
I haven't read anything by Crais yet. I read a number of Spenser novels a long, long time ago, and remember them fondly. I'm re-reading them currently, as time allows; I think I've re-read the first six, between reading other things. I met Parker a couple of times in Scottsdale and got him to sign his last few Spensers and the Phillip Marlowe books he did (and a very cool advertising poster for 'Poodle Springs', the book by Chandler that he completed). Then five years ago, Ace Atkins was chosen by the publishers and Parker's widow to continue writing Spenser stories; he's done five so far, and they are more than worthy. Ace always comes to town to do a signing when he has a new book out, and I try to time it so that I can jump right into the new Spenser book right away.
Other favorites: Craig Johnson's 'Longmire' books, Joe Lansdale's Hap and Leonard series (or anything else Joe has ever happened to write, particularly the epic western 'Paradise Sky'), Andrew Vachss' Burke series, Ed Kovacs' Cliff St. James trilogy, and Earl Emerson's Thomas Black series.
“Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.” - Robert E. Howard
"Only a rank degenerate would drive 1,500 miles across Texas and not eat a chicken fried steak." - Larry McMurtry
Jets (08-04-2017)
@Standing Wolf
I have read (literally) every book by Robert Crais, I even researched and got his first couple that were out of print! You don't have to read them chronologically, but I would start with one of his earlier ones, I feel that you would really like his style...
Btw have you checked out any of Ace Atkins non-Spencer novels? I just started The Fallen (a Quinn Colson novel) I think I found myself a new series
I think Crais is one of those writers who come to Scottsdale for signings on a regular basis, which is always nice. I will definitely check out his stuff.
I haven't read any of Ace's non-Spenser stuff, although I did pick up a copy of a book of his called 'The Wicked City' the other day. I've heard good things about the Quinn Colson series, but I'm so far behind on so many series now the last thing I need is to start another one. I thought at one time that I was going to be able to catch up on Lee Child's 'Reacher' books, but that's on the back burner now, along with Laurie King's 'Mary Russell' series, while I try to get current on Joe Lansdale's 'Hap and Leonard'. Too many good books - so little time.
“Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.” - Robert E. Howard
"Only a rank degenerate would drive 1,500 miles across Texas and not eat a chicken fried steak." - Larry McMurtry