Bill Denton asked about where to start with David Peace and
Martyn Waites and E. Borgers suggested Peace. He also said to
start with Nineteen Seventy Four, the first in the Red Riding
Quartet and I agree. However, I also suggest giving yourself
some time between books as they aren't easy reading. I've now
read Nineteen Seventy Four, Nineteen Seventy Seven and
Nineteen Eighty, but have held off on Nineteen Eighty Three,
the book that brings conclusion to this series. Have to be in
the right mood.
As for Waites, you don't have to read his first three books
featuring Newcastle-based journalist Stephen Larkin in order.
In fact, I read book three, Candyland, which is set in
London, first and then went back and found Mary's Prayer and
Little Triggers. However, I would try to start with the first
book.
Waites' fourth novel, titled Born With Punches, focuses on
the miners' strike of 1984 and how several of the miners are
surviving in 2001. Larkin also is one of the main characters
in this book.
After the final Red Riding Quartet book, Peace also wrote a
novel titled GB84 about that same year, 1984. I read the
Waites book and enjoyed it very much, but the Peace is still
in my TBR stack. Born With Punches was published in the UK in
2003 and GB84 in 2004.
Also waiting TBR is The White Room (2004), which Waites set
in Newcastle in 1946. I'll be picking up a copy of his
latest, The Mercy Seat, when I next visit England in
July.
Another series that I enjoy is one written by Ron Ellis
featuring Liverpool DJ/private eye Johnny Ace. I wouldn't
call it hardboiled, but I would think members of this list
would enjoy Ace and the Liverpool surroundings. I've found
four to date and will look for the balance in Murder One on
Charing Cross Road in London.
Yesterday was a good book hunting day because I found a nice
copy of If He Hollers Let Him Go by Chester Himes for twenty
cents.
Kent Morgan
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 05 Apr 2006 EDT