Wednesday, June 28, 2006
A Garden of Vipers
Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus are homicide detectives in Mobile, Alabama and the protagonists in a great series by JackKerley.
I would classify these books as police procedurals with a hefty bit of creepy suspense mixed in. Carson and Harry are the only two members of the Psychopathological and Sociopathological Investigative Team, or PSIT. When the really creepy cases come along, these are the guys that get it.
Carson is particularly appropriate for this assignment. He and his brother grew up in an abusive household. Their mother was unable to protect them from their father. Carson grew up to be a cop. His brother, Jeremy, grew up to be a psychopathic killer and is incarcerated.
In the first couple of books, Carson managed to get some important insight from his brother that helped them figure out the case. However, this insight did not come without a price. The payment that Jeremy asks and the reluctance with which Carson complies is part of the creepy that I really like about these books. Carson loves his brother but knows the insanity could have been his fate as well.
For those who don't like torture or grisley death scenes, I have to say that Kerley handles it more like Alfred Hitchcock. He tells you just enough that you know what awful thing is going to happen, or did happen, and then you have to imagine the details.
I especially liked the second book, The Death Collectors, where the investigation led them to people who collect death memorabilia. It's hard to imagine people who get off collecting personal items that belonged to serial killers or their victims. People who would pay big money to get their hands on actual murder weapons or police photos so they could display them proudly in their home.
In A Garden of Vipers, the vipers are a wealthy family that may not be as altruistic as they want to appear. Keeping the family secrets behind closed doors has cost several lives including a young reporter, a psychiatrist, a retired teacher, and a convict. How Carson and Harry managed to tie all these cases together while Carson was dealing with a tattered love life kept me turning pages well into the night.
I would classify these books as police procedurals with a hefty bit of creepy suspense mixed in. Carson and Harry are the only two members of the Psychopathological and Sociopathological Investigative Team, or PSIT. When the really creepy cases come along, these are the guys that get it.
Carson is particularly appropriate for this assignment. He and his brother grew up in an abusive household. Their mother was unable to protect them from their father. Carson grew up to be a cop. His brother, Jeremy, grew up to be a psychopathic killer and is incarcerated.
In the first couple of books, Carson managed to get some important insight from his brother that helped them figure out the case. However, this insight did not come without a price. The payment that Jeremy asks and the reluctance with which Carson complies is part of the creepy that I really like about these books. Carson loves his brother but knows the insanity could have been his fate as well.
For those who don't like torture or grisley death scenes, I have to say that Kerley handles it more like Alfred Hitchcock. He tells you just enough that you know what awful thing is going to happen, or did happen, and then you have to imagine the details.
I especially liked the second book, The Death Collectors, where the investigation led them to people who collect death memorabilia. It's hard to imagine people who get off collecting personal items that belonged to serial killers or their victims. People who would pay big money to get their hands on actual murder weapons or police photos so they could display them proudly in their home.
In A Garden of Vipers, the vipers are a wealthy family that may not be as altruistic as they want to appear. Keeping the family secrets behind closed doors has cost several lives including a young reporter, a psychiatrist, a retired teacher, and a convict. How Carson and Harry managed to tie all these cases together while Carson was dealing with a tattered love life kept me turning pages well into the night.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Live Wire
Jay MacLarty writes a great series about a courier named Simon Leonidovich. Now this isn't the bike messenger kind of courier. Simon travels internationally delivering packages. His basic rate is $10,000 plus expenses so the packages tend to be really important.
In the first book, The Courier, the package was information about a new pharmaceutical drug that was killing people. Simon was up against the company who had invested heavily and desperately wanted to keep that quiet.
The second book, Bagman, had Simon delivering ransom money for the kidnapped daughter of a Las Vegas casino owner. Things got complicated by an unknown insider providing intel to the kidnapper.
This third installment is a political thriller. Simon is set up with faked evidence that will "prove" the President of the United States is supporting a faction that is trying to reunify Korea. He is then sent to North Korea where he is supposed to get left holding the documents and be too dead to refute the evidence.
I liked that we weren't any more certain of the players than Simon. When Simon is asked to trust someone, we aren't sure if he should any more than he is. Knowing who is in on it and understanding why they are doing it doesn't completely clear it up until the very end when it all comes to a climax and everything is revealed.
Simon is assisted by his sister, Lara Quinn, the office manager of their high tech business. He also has a friend who specializes in encryption at the NSA. She uses her conscience to draw the line on what she can and can't do to help Simon when he gets in a sticky situation. Some characters from previous books make repeat appearances.
MacLarty keeps the tension high in all three books. Live Wire will be on my award nomination list for 2006.
Each of these books probably could stand nicely on it's own or be read out of order as no huge spoilers are given away.
In the first book, The Courier, the package was information about a new pharmaceutical drug that was killing people. Simon was up against the company who had invested heavily and desperately wanted to keep that quiet.
The second book, Bagman, had Simon delivering ransom money for the kidnapped daughter of a Las Vegas casino owner. Things got complicated by an unknown insider providing intel to the kidnapper.
This third installment is a political thriller. Simon is set up with faked evidence that will "prove" the President of the United States is supporting a faction that is trying to reunify Korea. He is then sent to North Korea where he is supposed to get left holding the documents and be too dead to refute the evidence.
I liked that we weren't any more certain of the players than Simon. When Simon is asked to trust someone, we aren't sure if he should any more than he is. Knowing who is in on it and understanding why they are doing it doesn't completely clear it up until the very end when it all comes to a climax and everything is revealed.
Simon is assisted by his sister, Lara Quinn, the office manager of their high tech business. He also has a friend who specializes in encryption at the NSA. She uses her conscience to draw the line on what she can and can't do to help Simon when he gets in a sticky situation. Some characters from previous books make repeat appearances.
MacLarty keeps the tension high in all three books. Live Wire will be on my award nomination list for 2006.
Each of these books probably could stand nicely on it's own or be read out of order as no huge spoilers are given away.
Friday, June 23, 2006
In Plain Sight
C J Box writes a series about a Wyoming game warden named Joe Pickett. Joe is a warm likeable guy who loves his job and hates the bureaucracy that he feels sometimes works against him. He is happily married to MaryBeth, and the father of two daughters, Sheridan and Lucy. Joe's partner in the pick-up is Maxine, his dog.
Each of the books in this series tells a great story about what it is like to live in the west. There are hunters, fishermen, poachers, wealthy ranchers, small town sheriffs, people just trying to hide out, extreme weather, and majestic scenery that Box describes so well I feel I've seen it.
Box manages to weave his stories around real political issues in Wyoming without coming off as heavy-handed. He carefully lets you see both sides of the issue without telling you which side is right and which is wrong. Of course his protagonist has opinions, but his job as game warden makes him uphold the law regardless of what he thinks of it. Box has included issues such as endangered species, eco-terrorism, methane drilling, and primogeniture.
It is my firm belief that Box is the king of the opening lines. See what I mean...
In Plain Sight (2006)
"When ranch owner Opal Scarlett vanished, no one mourned except her three grown sons, Arlen, Hank, and Wyatt who expressed their loss by getting into a fight with shovels."
Savage Run (2002)
"On the third day of their honeymoon, infamous environmental activist Stewie Woods and his new bride, Annabel Bellotti, were spiking trees in the forest when a cow exploded and blew them up. Until then, their marriage had been happy."
So, am I right???
If you haven't experienced Joe Pickett yet, start with the first one, Open Season. Some of the characters from earlier books show up in later books and there are some spoilers if you read them out of order.
Having said that, I have to admit that I am a stickler about reading series books in order. I will almost never pick up a recommended book without going back to the beginning. I do sometimes find it doesn't really matter but I expect to see the protagonist affected by the things that happen to him and to grow from the experiences. Reading out of order spoils that for me.
So what are you reading?
Each of the books in this series tells a great story about what it is like to live in the west. There are hunters, fishermen, poachers, wealthy ranchers, small town sheriffs, people just trying to hide out, extreme weather, and majestic scenery that Box describes so well I feel I've seen it.
Box manages to weave his stories around real political issues in Wyoming without coming off as heavy-handed. He carefully lets you see both sides of the issue without telling you which side is right and which is wrong. Of course his protagonist has opinions, but his job as game warden makes him uphold the law regardless of what he thinks of it. Box has included issues such as endangered species, eco-terrorism, methane drilling, and primogeniture.
It is my firm belief that Box is the king of the opening lines. See what I mean...
In Plain Sight (2006)
"When ranch owner Opal Scarlett vanished, no one mourned except her three grown sons, Arlen, Hank, and Wyatt who expressed their loss by getting into a fight with shovels."
Savage Run (2002)
"On the third day of their honeymoon, infamous environmental activist Stewie Woods and his new bride, Annabel Bellotti, were spiking trees in the forest when a cow exploded and blew them up. Until then, their marriage had been happy."
So, am I right???
If you haven't experienced Joe Pickett yet, start with the first one, Open Season. Some of the characters from earlier books show up in later books and there are some spoilers if you read them out of order.
Having said that, I have to admit that I am a stickler about reading series books in order. I will almost never pick up a recommended book without going back to the beginning. I do sometimes find it doesn't really matter but I expect to see the protagonist affected by the things that happen to him and to grow from the experiences. Reading out of order spoils that for me.
So what are you reading?
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
The Last Assassin
I'm currently reading The Last Assassin by Barry Eisler. His books are about a freelance assassin who specializes in making the death look like natural causes. John Rain started out very much a loner but through the arc of the series has come to a tentative trust of a few close friends and associates. They are a varied lot from the party animal, ex-Marine sniper to the beautiful Mossad agent.
I especially like the detailed covert operations and the exotic locales that Rain travels to. They remind me of Reacher in the Lee Child books only with a larger travel budget and a bigger wardrobe.
While reading these books I start to look around me more than usual. I'm looking for people who are out of place or those that could be lying in wait to ambush me. I start to feel a little paranoid but it's like getting into character. I read only one book at a time and live with the characters while I'm at it.
When I get to the new Stephanie Plum book by Janet Evanovich, I'll start noticing where the funeral homes are.
I especially like the detailed covert operations and the exotic locales that Rain travels to. They remind me of Reacher in the Lee Child books only with a larger travel budget and a bigger wardrobe.
While reading these books I start to look around me more than usual. I'm looking for people who are out of place or those that could be lying in wait to ambush me. I start to feel a little paranoid but it's like getting into character. I read only one book at a time and live with the characters while I'm at it.
When I get to the new Stephanie Plum book by Janet Evanovich, I'll start noticing where the funeral homes are.
