Crime mystery and spy novels (non-comics)

[The Funketeer]

I didn't want to bog down the Spenser thread with unrelated material so I figured I'd start a crime fiction thread here instead. What are people reading?

My two favorite authors both ended their series in the last year.

Walter Mosley ended the Easy Rawlins series near the end of last year and while I was disappointed in the ending, the entire series played out well and it was clear that he had a love for his characters by the way he left them.

Andrew Vachss is ending the Burke series in December with the final novel in the series. I was surprised by the announcement given that the end of the last book set up a plot line that could have been milked for a while.

Vachss particularly had a profound effect on me and opened my eyes to a horrible world I think we all know exists but don't want to admit. He's done some comics work in the past. He'd make a great, but different interview for the podcast.

I've also been a big fan of Rucka's novels lately. The Kodiak stuff is fun but his Queen and Country novels are fantastic. I'd even go so far as to say that I like them more than the comic.

[NeverWanderer]

I just finished Greg Rucka's first Atticus Kodiac novel, "Keeper," and fuckin' loved it. Absolutely riveting. I'm looking forward to reading the rest.

[sonnylarue]

i read
robert parker
greg rucka
elmore leonard
max allen collins
dwayne Swierczynski
raymond chandler
james m cain
richard price
donald westlake/richard stark

[The Funketeer]

I just finished Greg Rucka's first Atticus Kodiac novel, "Keeper," and fuckin' loved it. Absolutely riveting. I'm looking forward to reading the rest.

What I love about Rucka's Atticus series is that after the first couple of books, he really starts to break from the formula and takes the characters out of their comfort zones for real. The ending of each book has drastic changes to the world they live in. Not a lot of writers are willing to do that and as a reader I don't look forward to Kodiak's next adventure but to finding out just what the heck Rucka is going to do with the characters.

[hamgmt]

i have enjoyed all the rucka novels too.

i read a ton of books, and my tastes have changed i think (e.g. years ago, i read and loved all the patricia cornwell 'scarpetta' novels but not so much anymore)...i tend to like true crime stuff too, ann rule is a great writer/reporter. but as far as fiction, another name that i haven't seen mentioned here is Lee Child.

-bob :)

[The Funketeer]

I'm curious about some of the Hard Case Crime stuff. I've always been tempted to try them out but with a 2 year old at home, my reading opportunities are limited. Anyone else sampled their work?

[ghost_writer]

I'm curious about some of the Hard Case Crime stuff. I've always been tempted to try them out but with a 2 year old at home, my reading opportunities are limited. Anyone else sampled their work?

I love the Hard Case Crime line of books; I haven't been disappointed by them yet. Some are better then others of course but three of the ones I found to be great are:

Little Girl Lost - Richard Aleas
Bust - Ken Bruen and Jason Starr
Lemons Never Lie - Richard Stark (A pseudonym of Donald Westlake's)

These books are real page-turners so you should be able to get through one of them relatively quickly.

[Shannon Chenoweth]

I'm curious about some of the Hard Case Crime stuff. I've always been tempted to try them out but with a 2 year old at home, my reading opportunities are limited. Anyone else sampled their work?

Some are good, some are just okay as ghostwriter said. Usually though, you can either borrow them at your library or buy them cheap, so it's worth it.

[mec]

I just finished Greg Rucka's first Atticus Kodiac novel, "Keeper," and fuckin' loved it. Absolutely riveting. I'm looking forward to reading the rest.

I started that, um, maybe a year a go and haven't finished it, but I really liked the two Q&C novels.

I don't read a ton of crime fiction, but I've read more in the last few years to sort of reaquaint myself with the stuff happens elements of novels so I can balance my own writing, which is heavy on character, with a little more eventufulness.

Anyway, I've read a lot of Dennis Lehane and George Pelecanos and a little Ross Macdonald (if you like Spenser, you'll like his stuff, and if you like Brubaker, you'll like his stuff -- I picked up a bunch of his books after reading interviews with Brubaker where he talked about him) and Richard Price.

[Kurt Russell Crowe]

Elmore Leaonard
John D. MacDonald
Carl Hiaasen
Tim Dorsey
Charlie Huston
Greg Rucka
Raymond Chandler
Dashiell Hammett
John Sanford
Kent Harrington
Donald E. Westlake

[sonnylarue]

more spy thrillers than pure crime, i've been digging allan furst's novel's, at the suggestion of howard chaykin, and must admit, they're pretty great.

[TonyFleecs]

Lawrence Block's Scudder books are great. GREAT!

Check out, "Sins of the Father."

[maverick-99]

Are we talking novels only or all crime fiction? Because I just finished vol. 1 of Scapled and I must say it's one of the best western/noir/crime fiction stories I have read.

[sonnylarue]

Are we talking novels only or all crime fiction? Because I just finished vol. 1 of Scapled and I must say it's one of the best western/noir/crime fiction stories I have read.

scalped is absolutley great, as i tell all my guests who ask what my current fav comics are...

but yeah, this is a crime/mystery/spy novels thread .

plenty of room to talk about comics in another thread, if you wish.

[ghost_writer]

i read
robert parker
greg rucka
elmore leonard
max allen collins
dwayne Swierczynski
raymond chandler
james m cain
richard price
donald westlake/richard stark

I finished Duane Swiercyznski's The Wheelman and it is great! It's a really quick read full of twists and turns. I just bought his latest novel Severence Package today and if it's half as good as the Wheelman, it should be a good time.

[Supreme Convoy]

Huge fan of Greg Rucka and Dwayne Swierczynski books!

[J. Wilson]

Big fan of Greg Rucka's books.

[D. George]

Just adding to the chorus of other people who love Greg Rucka's novels.

If you haven't seen, he's been previewing chapters of his next Atticus Kodiak novel, The Walking Dead on his blog - http://ruckawriter.livejournal.com/

[Shannon Chenoweth]

I love Richard Price's work a lot. Almost finished reading Lush Life which is great.

[maverick-99]

Anybody read Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis?

[NeverWanderer]

I've only read the afterword thusfar (yeah, I know), but once I'm done with World War Z I'm gonna start in on David Simon's "Homicide: A Year On The Killing Streets" (which was the basis for both "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "The Wire"). Really looking forward to this one.

It's not fiction, mind you, but David Simon is a hell of a writer.

[mec]

Great, great book. I need to read it again. The Corner is just as good, too, if more depressing.

[killingyouguy]

Anybody read Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis?

I read the first ten or so pages when I bought it, but I'm reading other stuff at the moment and haven't gotten to it. Great stuff, if you like Ellis. It's incredibly Ellis.

James Ellroy is out of this world. I've read LA confidential and a bit of Black Dahlia (see above). It's insanely brutal and emotional, you feel like you just gotten beaten up and went through a divorce when you read his stuff.

Love Chandler, obviously.

I got the Charlie Huston novel that was available for download. I read a bit, but I'll reserve commentary until I get around to it.

[NeverWanderer]

Just devoured the second Kodiak book, Finder, in less than a week, and as luck would have it, found the third book, Smoker, AND Rucka's first Q&C novel, A Gentleman's Game, at Borders tonight.

I'm honestly torn on whether I should jump right into Smoker or finally start in on Homicide.

Question for the Q&C readers: Should I read the comics before reading the novel? I'm sure the story works so that a non-comics reader can enjoy the books, but I'm wondering if there is a chronological order to them.

[J. Wilson]

I'm psyched because today one of my favorite authors has a new book coming out.

Ellen Hart's Jane Lawless mystery series, the new book is Sweet Poison.

[mec]

Just devoured the second Kodiak book, Finder, in less than a week, and as luck would have it, found the third book, Smoker, AND Rucka's first Q&C novel, A Gentleman's Game, at Borders tonight.

I'm honestly torn on whether I should jump right into Smoker or finally start in on Homicide.

Question for the Q&C readers: Should I read the comics before reading the novel? I'm sure the story works so that a non-comics reader can enjoy the books, but I'm wondering if there is a chronological order to them.

Good question about Q&C. On the one hand, certain plot details from the comics get spoiled, and Gentleman's Game sort of fits in between Vol. 5 and 6 of the comics -- the second book happens after Vol. 6. On the other hand, if you read the novel first, you'd walk into the comics with a wealth of characterization that he just didn't have room for in the comics, which might make them a richer experience.

[The Funketeer]

Good question about Q&C. On the one hand, certain plot details from the comics get spoiled, and Gentleman's Game sort of fits in between Vol. 5 and 6 of the comics -- the second book happens after Vol. 6. On the other hand, if you read the novel first, you'd walk into the comics with a wealth of characterization that he just didn't have room for in the comics, which might make them a richer experience.

I disagree. I think the impact of what happens in the books is far greater if you are already familiar with the characters. I would read them in order. Vol 1-5 of the comic, then the books, then vol 6. Definitely don't want to read 6 until you've read the two books though. That would spoil an awful lot.

[NeverWanderer]

Good question about Q&C. On the one hand, certain plot details from the comics get spoiled, and Gentleman's Game sort of fits in between Vol. 5 and 6 of the comics -- the second book happens after Vol. 6. On the other hand, if you read the novel first, you'd walk into the comics with a wealth of characterization that he just didn't have room for in the comics, which might make them a richer experience.

I am more of a continuity freak. So, I'd probly go with the comics first.

I disagree. I think the impact of what happens in the books is far greater if you are already familiar with the characters. I would read them in order. Vol 1-5 of the comic, then the books, then vol 6. Definitely don't want to read 6 until you've read the two books though. That would spoil an awful lot.

Are we talking Vol. 1-5 of the original trades? Or of the new Definitive Editions?

(And thanks to both of you for the replies! :D)

[The Funketeer]

I am more of a continuity freak. So, I'd probly go with the comics first.



Are we talking Vol. 1-5 of the original trades? Or of the new Definitive Editions?


Good question. I'm not sure as I read them all as individual issues. I want to say it was around issue #25 that the books slide into the picture. I think Operation dandelion or the issue (25) that came after it was when Rucka took a break from the comic to put out the novels.

[adam hegg]

I really have been loving Charlie Huston's Henry Thompson trilogy...I am half-way through the series and only stopped to check this thread. I liked his first Vampire novel too... and I do not like vampire prose...

I just finished "Farewell My Lovely" for the first time...I friggin' loved it. Next in my non-comics 'to read' list is "Lady in the Lake".

I loved The Wounded and the Slain from Hard Case ( I am pretty sure it was a Dooge novel I lent it to a friend and have not seen it since).

[NeverWanderer]

Good question. I'm not sure as I read them all as individual issues. I want to say it was around issue #25 that the books slide into the picture. I think Operation dandelion or the issue (25) that came after it was when Rucka took a break from the comic to put out the novels.

Awesome. :) Thankya, sir!

[mec]

I am more of a continuity freak. So, I'd probly go with the comics first.



Are we talking Vol. 1-5 of the original trades? Or of the new Definitive Editions?

(And thanks to both of you for the replies! :D)

Yeah, I was talking original trades. I'm not sure how it works with the new (much cooler) ones.

Wikipedia knows all:
A Queen & Country prose novel, A Gentleman's Game, was published in 2004, also featuring Tara Chace and making reference to the events of the comic book series. A second Tara Chase novel, Private Wars, was published in 2005. The novels tie in the comic series; issue 29 to 32 depicts events immediately after A Gentleman's Game. Private Wars takes place a few months after the end of the comic series and ends the first volume of the series. Greg has stated that a second volume of Queen & Country will start sometime in 2009.

* Queen & Country:
o Broken Ground (collects Queen & Country #1-4 and Oni Press Color Special 2001 #1, 120 pages, April 2002, ISBN 192999821X)
o Morning Star (collects Queen & Country #5-7, 88 pages, October 2002, ISBN 192999835X)
o Crystal Ball (collects Queen & Country #8-12, 152 pages, January 2003, ISBN 192999849X)
o Operation Blackwall (collects Queen & Country #13-15, 88 pages, November 2003, ISBN 1929998686)
o Operation Stormfront (collects Queen & Country #16-20, 168 pages, April 2004, ISBN 1929998848)
o Operation Dandelion (collects Queen & Country #21-24, 128 pages, August 2004, ISBN 192999897X)
o Operation Saddlebag (collects Queen & Country #25-28, 144 pages, May 2005, ISBN 1932664149)
o Red Panda (collects Queen & Country #29-32, 144 pages, June 2007, ISBN 1932664653)

* Queen & Country The Definitive Editions:
o Volume 1 (collects Queen & Country #1-12 and Oni Press Color Special 2001 #1, 376 pages, November 2007, ISBN 1932664874)
o Volume 2 (collects Queen & Country #13-24, 376 pages, April 2008, ISBN 1932664890)
o Volume 3 (collects Queen & Country #25-32, 264 pages, July 2008, ISBN 1932664963)

* Queen & Country: Declassified:
o Volume 1 (88 pages August 2003, ISBN 1929998589)
o Volume 2 (96 pages May 2006, ISBN 1932664289)
o Volume 3 (96 pages May 2006, ISBN 1932664351)

[Arion]

Great, great book. I need to read it again. The Corner is just as good, too, if more depressing.

Haven't read it.

[NickT]

The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie is a good spy novel, funny too.

[sonnylarue]

The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie is a good spy novel, funny too.

i bet!

[NeverWanderer]

Just finished Smoker last night.

What a friggin book.

It was like the Atticus Kodiak equivalent of Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together.

[sonnylarue]

Just finished Smoker last night.

What a friggin book.

It was like the Atticus Kodiak equivalent of Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together.

the kodiak books are outstanding

[NeverWanderer]

the kodiak books are outstanding

Absolutely addictive reading.

But I think Smoker is a good place for me to take break to read some other stuff before getting sucked into the second half of the series.

[nealbo400]

George V. Higgins, The Friends of Eddie Coyle. - The guy was an influence on Elmore Leonard, who writes the introduction of the copy I bought.

First line-

"Jackie Brown at twenty-six, with no expression on his face, said that he could get some guns"

It's an amazing crime book.

[chuckramos]

I recently finished reading "Rain Storm", "Killing Rain" and "The Last Assassin" by Barry Eisler, loved them all.

[J. Wilson]

I recently finished reading "Rain Storm", "Killing Rain" and "The Last Assassin" by Barry Eisler, loved them all.

I read the first book in the John Rain series. I thought it was just okay. Didn't like the first person narrative to the story.

I'm not against that style, but it didn't work for me with this story.

[sonnylarue]

I recently finished reading "Rain Storm", "Killing Rain" and "The Last Assassin" by Barry Eisler, loved them all.

cool i'll check out book one

[sonnylarue]

was very sad to read about the passing of donald westlake, aka richard stark.

[AceOfSpades]

Mission Flats by William Landay is a good one to check out
He hasn't written many novels, but he seems to be a good writer
I strongly recommend it

[Arion]

Mission Flats by William Landay is a good one to check out
He hasn't written many novels, but he seems to be a good writer
I strongly recommend it

I don't really know him.