# Western writers widely recognized as master stylists

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-writers-widely-recognized-as-master-stylists/1001117>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** books-writing-myths\
**Created:** [May 3, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-writers-widely-recognized-as-master-stylists/1001117 "2024-05-03T22:17:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-writers-widely-recognized-as-master-stylists/1001117/21 "2024-05-04T18:11:36Z")

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I was going to add that …

I really liked one of his earlier books, _Absence of Malice_. It’s a bit dated now, both in setting and in language, but it was a fun read. The Deptford Trilogy is also a good starting point, with _Fifth Business_.

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**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2024, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-writers-widely-recognized-as-master-stylists/1001117/22 "2024-05-04T22:57:42Z")

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James Lee Burke

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