Just thought I'd throw my bit in here regarding various
series being discussed although I'm not a huge series reader
as like many people I prefer to read them in order & that
can take a while.
Walter Mosley : I recently read "A Little Yellow Dog" &
found it to be on a level with the earlier books in the
series - damn fine. James Lee Burke : Only read a couple
& I have mixed feelings. I don't recall the ghost stuff
in "Black Cherry Blues" but in "Confederate General in the
Electric Mist" (title?) you can't miss it -hell it's in the
title. I found it a trifle silly & I have to say that
Robicheaux's moralistic attitudes do get up my nose but at
least that's a realistic aspect to the stories & don't
ask me why that's important in crime fiction considering that
I also like fantastic fiction (some at least). I guess it has
to do with suspension of disbelief - which leads me to :
Andrew Vachhs : can't get into the Burke books either, Mike
R, my main problem being his band of merry helpers an
extremely unlikely assortment of characters, all from the
"streets" (more like old Doc Savage pulps, just tarted up
modern neo-noir style - I mean to say, Max the Silent,"Jeezus
Crisuz!" as a Polish lady friend of mine used to say).Having
said that I've read a couple of excellent shorts by the
man
& his stand alone novel "Shella" I like a hell of a lot.
I've noticed others on this list share my opinions re:
Vachhs, Burke & "Shella". John D MacDonald - I love the
Travis McGee books, though, again, I prefer the earlier stand
alones.I don't suppose the Travis books are neccessarily
particularly realistic but somehow I don't care. I've seen
John D described as the C20th Dickens (also seen same comment
about Elmore Leonard) & silly as those kinds of
statements often are I concur this time.Yes, like many
prolific authors not all his stuff is great & he recycles
material but when he's on he's on. So, Mike R, don't give up
on him. My personal recommendations would include "Dead Low
Tide" & "The Empty Trap". There are several others but I
can't think of them right now.My wife, who doesn't share my
taste for hb lit, although she doesn't mind some individual
authors, has read all my John D books twice, except for the
Travis books - she's read those 3 times.(We are talking
dozens of books here).
Rene.
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