November 26, 2006

Authors to avoid

In the past four or five days I've read books by three authors whose work I doubt I'll visit again. They were Martha Grimes's The Old Contemptibles, Jeffrey Archer's Honor Among Thieves, and Mary Higgins Clark's You Belong To Me.

I own a few of Archer's earlier books, and they weren't too bad, but I think he's getting stale. This book's dated (Saddam Hussein's boys steal the American Declaration of Independence and the plot revolves around getting it back), but it doesn't have the fire that Kane and Abel did.

Grimes's book I found on our shelves, and it was impossible for me to even like the protagonist. Richard Jury is a British police Inspector or something (told you I didn't like the guy; I can't even remember what his rank is), and she's built a series around him. No thanks. If I want British cops, I'll stick with Ngaio Marsh's Roderick Alleyn.

Clark I really don't get. She's obviously widely popular; she's got a million books in print. But the characters in this book just didn't appeal at all. You Belong to Me isn't Gothic; it's set in New York, but it does have a heroine as the protagonist. She's a former City Prosecutor turned clinical psychologist, and she just didn't work for me. Did I just find a clunker among all of Clark's books, or are they all this bad?

Posted by Linkmeister at November 26, 2006 04:18 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I have never read Archer. I tried Clark twice and never finished either. I got a chapter into Grimes and never picked her up again, though a friend has bought me two more of her books - insisting I should give her another chance.

I found the plot of stealing the Declaration amusing in Scarecrow and Mrs. King when I was a child. I am not terribley impressed by the notion now, especialy if it is Saddam's minions stealing it.

Posted by: DuWayne at November 26, 2006 06:45 PM

Try any one of Lee Child's novels. They are just terrifically good.

Posted by: Observer at November 26, 2006 06:54 PM

I've never heard of Lee Child or his character Jack Reacher. The reviews at Amazon are nearly uniformly positive. The books appear to be reminiscent of the old Mack Bolan Executioner series (most of which I see in bulk at the local used bookstore these days).

Posted by: Linkmeister at November 26, 2006 07:33 PM

I actually read a few of the Mack Bolan Executioner novels. They are not bad, in the sense that while they are nothing more than brain candy, they are fun, much like Ian Flemming's novels. That said, I prefer to read Ludlum when I am in that sort of mood, or LeCarre, if the mood includes a little melancholy.

Lee Child looks like it might fit the bill too. I've never heard of him either, it rather surprises me that I haven't - worth checking out though.

Posted by: DuWayne at November 27, 2006 08:12 AM

Lee Child's a good read, and anytime I find a new one, it's like hitting gold. Reacher evolves through the novels, though, so starting with the earlier novels is advised.

Greg Rucka's a brit, but his novels are good reads, too. Sort of like Le Carre for people whom it hurts to think.
(Houseman reference, get it?)

Posted by: terry in AZ at November 27, 2006 08:26 AM

Terry, "a brit, but..." ? I've got nuthin' against British authors. ;)

Posted by: Linkmeister at November 27, 2006 09:11 AM

To echo Linkmeister - what's wrong with the Brits? Many of my favorite authors are brits. Most of my favorite humor comes from British authors.

Posted by: DuWayne at November 27, 2006 01:44 PM