I've had some good ones turn up lately and thought I'd share.
David Benioff's CITY OF THIEVES: I picked up THE 25th HOUR in 2001
based on the Pelecanos blurb, and it ended up as one of my favorites
for the year. CITY OF THIEVES an an affecting story set in an around
Stalingrad during WW2, and it is somewhat similar to Going After
Cacciato for its sheer absurdity. It differs greatly from THE 25th
HOUR, but is highly recommended nevertheless.
Thomas H. Cook's MASTER OF THE DELTA: In addition to being a wonderful
writer, Cook excels at setting an atmosphere of dread where the reader
knows to expect some morbid end yet is compelled to reach that end. My
favorite of his remains BREAKHEART HILL, but MASTER OF THE DELTA is a
fine addition.
Reed Farrel Coleman's EMPTY EVER AFTER: I read the previous
installments in the Moe Prager series out of order, and that worked
fine. It may have even increased my enjoyment for a while as I did not
know the fate of his brother-in-law, a mystery that haunts each of the
books but that readers of the debut in the series already know due to
an ending "flash forward" coda.
That said, EMPTY EVER AFTER may not work as a gateway book to those
new to the series, but it is a terrific addition. For those new to
Coleman, read the previous installments as quickly as you can and then
come back to this one.
Finally, I have had a difficult time the last 12 months or so finding
new writers that I like in between new ones from my usual favorites
(Sean Chercover is one exception; I'm sure I'm forgetting a few
others). I recently read BLACK MAPS by Peter Spiegelman and I'm
looking forward to reading more from the John March P.I. series.
Chris
On Deck:
Pelecanos' THE TURNAROUND
Don Winslow's THE DAWN PATROL
Dominic Stansberry's THE ANCIENT RAIN
More by Spiegelman
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