That’s IT!!! thanks, was going to drive myself nuts!
They were very interesting character studies, IMHO. hope you like. My favorite involved a love triangle between 2 women, (one beautiful but vapid, the other strong and wise), and a genius composer. I think maybe “Giant’s Bread”??? Haven’t read it in years, but I still have very strong visual images from that one. Hmmm maybe I should take a trip out to the garage and poke around my boxes of books.
Actually, after reading AC’s autobiography, Giants Bread was the one that most interested me. I can’t remember which one I bought, but that wasn’t it. But you have renewed my interest in reading it, wring. I think I shall take a look around for it this weekend.
The most current author I have read in this type of fiction has been John Sandford, who wrote The Rules of Prey, Secret Prey, The Eyes of Prey, a whole series of Prey books which are page turners for me. But the books of his that I really like are about a more unconventional type of detective named Kidd. The first two Kidd novels, The Empress File and The Fool’s Run, were written under the name John Camp (his real name; he is a Pulitzer Prize winning Minnesota former jounalist who lives in the Twin Cities). The latest one, The Devil’s Code, which is my favorite yet, is written under the Sandford name.
Just checking back on the rest of the thread; I LOVE Agatha Christie, and was not aware she wrote under another name. I’ll have to check this out also.
Trust that friend of your who recommends Elizabeth George. If you like Faye Kellerman, you will love Elizabeth George. IMHO, her character development is even better, plus your reading of Christie et al will have taught you about the British police system, which gave me trouble at first–what is an Inspector vs. a detective, etc.
The first novel is A Great Deliverance, published in 1989. Some fans (not me, but I like to be even-handed) recommend reading A Suitable Vengeance first, which is a Star Wars-style prequel. I have found them at used book stores. Good luck!
Thanks, will do. Especially thanks for naming the first one (she couldn’t remember it). I met her through cyber space, too - turns out she worked like 1/4 mile away from where I work, we share passions for reading material, snideness and rubberstamping.
hope you can find a copy of Giant’s Bread. I’m definately going to look and see if I can find my copy. If I do find it and you can’t find a copy, let me know, I’d be happy to loan.
loloa –
If you like Agatha Christie I think you would like Ngaio Marsh. The stories (plot lines, etc.) are of the same type, although the detective character (Roderick Alleyn) is unlike any of Christie’s, more like Adam Dalgliesh than Hercule Poirot.
I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s suggestions and I’ve compiled a list for my next visit to the library. Some of the ones mentioned (P.D. James, Ruth Rendell) are ones I’ve enjoyed but forgot to list. Some others (that I won’t list) I’ve read and didn’t like, but I think taste in this genre can be highly idiosyncratic.
I’ll ask again, though, why do you think this is such a popular genre among dopers? My guess is that mystery fiction has a standard of logic and coherence that appeals – the plot development, the disguised clues, the red herrings – all these appeal to a reader who approaches life rationally more than emotionally. (Otherwise it’d be Danielle Steele, right?) It’s obvious there’s a wide range of taste within the genre that reflects more individuality, but I think most dopers would rate themselves pretty high on rational, even skeptical, thinking.
Oh – I just wanted to say genre one more time. Genre, genre, genre. Oops! That’s four more times. Sorry.
p.s. Genre! (Five!)
Sorry this took so long, Brynda-I am bedridden with a nasty respitory virus. Here are some authors I enjoy.
Nancy Pickard
Carollyn G. Hart
Carola Dunn
Sparkle Hayter
Ellen Hart
Julie Smith
Gillian Roberts
Annette Meyers
Betty Rowlands
Marian Babson
M.C. Beaton
Eleanore Boylan
Richard Barth
Monica Quill
Virgina Rich
Charlotte MacLeod
Alisa Craig
Richard and Frances Lockridge
Richard Lockridge
Patricia Cornwell
Rita Mae Brown
Carole Nelson Douglass
Dorothy Cannell
Diane Mott Davidson
Margaret Maron
Sharyn McCrumb
Nancy Bell
Joan Hess
Susan Wittig Albert
Dorothy Simpson
This list is NOT sorted in order of favorites, just the only ones I can recall right now. Many of my favorites have already been mentioned by others. And I do think you will like Ngaio Marsh.
I am now heading back to bed. Nyquil is my friend.
Scotti
(Oh, and I can come up with more later if you want.)
Scotti?
Wouldn’t it be simpler just to list the names of people who are not authors you like? 
Scotti?
You read any BOY writers?
She said “I bet ya don’t read women authors, do ya?”
I said “You’re way wrong,”
She said “Who ya read then?”
I said “I read Erica Jong…”
– Bob Dylan, “Highlands”
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike *
Lawrence Block is for the brainwashed. His peer (also a MWA Grandmaster…in fact, he got it the year BEFORE Block), Donald E. Westlake, can write rings around him. I’ve always considered the Rhodenbarr books to be pathetic knockoffs of the much superior Dortmunder series.
[quote]
Well, I’m not at all brainwashed, but I think Block, while he is quite capable of being very bad indeed, is superb at his best. But only the Scudder books; the Rhodenbarrs are miles too cute for me. The awards don’t mean anything to me; they’ve given them to too many bores. But I’ll give Westlake a try just the same 
For those who like female protagonists, I recommend very highly Liza Cody’s Anna Lee books. They’re almost uniformly excellent. The unspeakable TV series, should you have been unable to avoid seeing it, was a real disservice to a writer and character who deserve much better.
Cody also wrote three books starring Eva Wylie. The first two, “Bucket Nut” and “Monkey Wrench” are both terrific and – I guarantee – unlike any other mysteries you’ve ever read. Alas, the series comes unstuck in the third book, but the first two are very good indeed.
I started out with the immortal Mickey Spillane in the early '50s. Wrote a book report on ‘Kiss Me Deadly’ that got me suspended for 3 days. Mike Hammer was considered just dreadful then. Cheap bourbon, Lucky Strike cigarettes, fast women. Sudden death via the old .45. Great stuff!
Richard S. Prather: Shell Scott series.
Donald Hamilton: Matt Helm series.
John D. MacDonald: Travis McGee series and many others.
And a lot more, but those were my favorites and I wish they were still writing today.
Cat: I shouldn’t have picked on Block. The Scudders ARE excellent, particularly EIGHT MILLION WAYS TO DIE and WHEN THE SACRED GINMILL CLOSES. You’re also right about the Rhodenbarr books, which depend on Schtick. Humor arising from schtick gets old mighty fast.
The “brainwashed” comment grew from the fact that Block sepnds an enormous amount of time in self-promotion, and manages to get his mug plastered all over the New York papers every time a new book comes out. Westlake, who is comparable in many ways, stays home and writes. So when fifteen people go “Oh, swoon, Lawrence Block!” I always try to pipe up on Westlake’s behalf.
I’ve read Cody’s Wylie series…what WAS the title of that third one?
James Crumley writes violent, funny, whiskey-soaked novels about his modern-day cowboys from Missoula. His latest books are a little over the top; the boy could use some tighter editing.
Jamie Harrison (Jim’s daughter) has written 4 novels about life in Blue Deer, Montana. Entirely different from Crumley, she is funny and satiric and observant and her stories are entirely character driven. Her newest is Blue Deer Thaw ; it’s her best and the chapter on the bachelor party is the funniest thing I’ve read in months.
James Lee Burke is famous for his Dave Robicheaux novels set in cajun Louisiana, but one of them is set in Montana, as is an earlier non-series book. No humor here, just the twists and wrenches of a good man who is sometimes a cop and always and forever a drunk. Burke is great at evoking the cajun world and his hero’s love of that world and his immersion in it. Like Crumley, though, he’s gotten fat and furry and his more recent books have teetered on the edge of mindlessness in their violent excess. His latest is Purple Cane Road, which I have not read.
So I screw up even with preview. Montana, of course.
Lindsey Davis - historical mysteries set in ancient Rome
Sharan Newman - historical mysteries set in 12th cen. France
Lia Matera - two series, both featuring lawyers
Susan Wolfe, The Last Billable Hour
Sujata Massey - protagonist an Asian-American living in Japan
Of course, Ike!
But the thing is, I am not much of a “hard boiled” fan, and you have to admit that most “cozy” mysteries are written by women.
I DO like several male authors, and I can’t recall many of their names at the moment. Give me a break here, I am sick!
'Kay, here are the ones I remember now:
William Tapley
Jeffrey (Wilds) Deaver
Dick Francis
Stuart Woods
Robert Barnard
and…
I really LOVE Andrew Vachss. But you have to be in the right mood, and know the background. His books are REALLY dark, and shocking. He is a fascinating man, who writes mysteries to fund his REAL life passion, saving the “children of the night.” He maintains that the things he writes are taken from real life, and if that is true, this country should be ashamed. He is an attorney, and a child advocate.
I absolutely cannot stand Dean Koontz.
Better, Ike?
I promise to return with more BOY authors when my brain is functioning.
Oh, and I can’t believe I forgot Lia Matera on my original list. She is GREAT!
Ha, ha, ha, Pluto.
See if you get to sit next to me at the NEXT PNW Dopefest!
Seriously, I read a lot, and there are many, many authors I don’t like. I usually only manage to read one of their books, though, so I wouldn’t presume to diss them. After all, I may have read the only clinker in the bunch, so I would hate to criticize them without reading more than one.
I have a friend that absolutely LOVES Dean Koontz, so I kept trying. I just couldn’t believe that she could like him so much if he was as awful as I thought he was. IMHO, she is wrong. He stinks.
And hey, did anyone fall asleep reading “Snow Falling on Cedars”? Because I am a FAST reader, and that book moved slower than a PNW slug. I finished it, but only because I felt committed to the project.
I understand the movie was really good, though. I couldn’t bring myself to go.
“Musclebound,” and I had to go to Amazon to check, since I’ve blocked it out. Cody completely lost the character in that one, which was a real shame since the first two were so good.
Have any of you all read Sharyn McCrumb? You might have read “Bimbos of the Death Sun,” which may be the definitive (but not unkind) humorous commentary on fandom culture. Her Elizabeth MacPherson books are wonderfully funny and touching and just terrific books.
Cat,
I LOVE Sharyn McCrumb! She is one of my favorites, and the follow up to “Bimbos…” is really good, too. I think it was called “Zombies From the Gene Pool” or something like that.
Just thought of another favorite, Marcia Muller.
Scotti
I resent that. Mr. Crumley writes the books he wants to write, and it’s not up to an editor to make him do THE LAST GOOD KISS all over again. YOU, of course, are perfectly free to read his 1978 work all over again.