Too many books
Part 2
After my earlier post on historical fiction books that might make good gifts, I thought I’d add a post to include books from other genres. Most of them were published this year but there are a couple of rereads too good to leave out.
My point is the same - a book is always a great present. It’s never wasted, because even if the person finds that they just don’t get on with it, recycling books is easy. A book will always find a loving home.
Getting a book signed makes it special. My husband asked if it really was that easy to ask an author to send a signed copy, and honestly, I’ve never had an author say no. You have to pay the post and packing of course.
Most of the non-historical books I read this year were murder mysteries, and all are well-written with an exceptional use of setting.
Just published and ideal for the writer in your life. It’s a cracking spy yarn and very witty, but it was the descriptions of a writer’s life, how writing happens and that dreaded obsession with Amazon rankings that made me laugh out loud.
T. M. Stretton - Diamond Boulevard
The third in the Barcelonoir trilogy came out this year, hooray! There are too many good characters in this trilogy so I’m hoping for more. Treachery, murder and Barcelona seem to be a perfect combination, and in Stretton’s hands the city becomes one of the characters.
Ben Aaronovitch - Stone and Sky
The world Aaronovitch has created in the “Rivers of London” series is detailed and believable - yes, I know, rivers don’t really have gods and goddesses, but you so want it to be true! Main characters Peter Grant and Thomas Nightingale are just superb. These are police procedurals with a magical twist that really works.
David Jarvis - The Green Feathers
I’ve been working my way through David’s Mike Kingdom thrillers this year and if you like spy thrillers and have a sense of humor, you’ll like this series. The action goes all over the world and Jarvis has a witty if slightly cynical slant on world affairs.
Susan Cooper - Over Sea, Under Stone
Sometimes you just have to go back to a classic. With December looming I am always aware of “The Dark is Rising” and prepare to listen once more to the brilliant BBC Radio adaptation. This summer I travelled to Cornwall with Simon, Jane and Barney to remind myself of the first book in the “"Dark is Rising” sequence. It did not disappoint. Oh it’s technically a children’s book but don’t be put off.
I enjoy Shaw’s Alex Cupidi series, and this, the first in a new series, kept up what I considered Shaw’s strengths, proper three dimensional and sympathetic characters and setting. I love it when I can read a book with Google maps open so I can follow the characters around. (It isn’t stalking when you are a reader)
Phil Rickman - The House of Susan Lulham
Sometimes the death of a writer hits you hard, and when Phil Rickman died I felt I’d lost a friend. I have been rereading his Merrily Watkins series to remind myself of his skill and warmth and sometimes scary ability to make the hairs on the back of the neck prickle.
Tom Williams - Something Wicked
I’d read one of Tom Williams’ books set in the early nineteenth century, so when this popped up on “We also recommend…” I was surprised from the first page. A modern police procedural? Well, yes, but with a difference, be prepared for tango and vampires.
James Oswald - The Rest is Death
A new book in the Inspector McClean series is always exciting. I’ve been a huge fan for years, and I love the tinge of the supernatural that is threaded through this series. If you don’t like the word “supernatural” to be mentioned in the same sentence as a murder mystery, don’t worry, it’s done with a light touch.
Elly Griffiths - The Frozen People
Somewhat trepidatious, I had almost decided that I wasn’t ready for one of my favorite writers to do something a bit different. And how ridiculous is that when you look at it? If she’s a good writer, then she’ll be a good writer no matter what the genre. Well, Elly Griffiths is a terrific writer and this new venture is a winner.
It’s taken me forever to get round to this but I really enjoyed it when my writers’ group decided to set off on a course of improving reading. “On Writing” quite often is not about writing but it is always entertaining.
Susan Cooper replied to a letter I wrote after my son read, 'The Dark is Rising'. She sent us both a signed bookmark.
Thank you for all the great book suggestions, Fiona! Your mini-blurbs were so enticing that I've jotted down details for four of them -- hope they're available in the U.S.