Favourite Writers

I used to, BAnanas but I have been disappointed with the latest offerings from Peter Robinson (Inspector Banks) and Susan Hill (Simon Serailler) so I think I'll check the reviews from now on.

My husband reads a lot of crime and is a fan of the two authors you have just mentioned, and will automatically buy the latest Jo Nesbo or Lee Child. I loved Susan Hill's 1st Simon Serailler "The Various Haunts of Men" but thought her others weren't as good. I've started to check reviews lately as well as recommendations on GN.

I very rarely read reviews, for the simp0le reason that differnt people often have differing opinions about a book. I have read and enjoyed books, only to see them panned in reviews, then on the other hand, I`ve disliked a book intensely, only to see it praised to the heavens by reviewers. I still go for my favourite authors, but also like to try out writers that I haven`t come across before, sometimes I`m disappointed, but not often.

I seldom if ever buy the latest best seller I just order it from the library so if I do not like it it does not matter.
Crime writers I love apart from those mentioned are Donna Leon who has a detective from Venice , the chap who writes the Montalbano books I hated the TV series but love his writing, Ruth Rendall who is getting on a bit now and Camilla Lackberg another Scandinavian writer . Do start her books at the beginning as the main characters are in all the books .I also like Anne Cleaves who write the Vera books and am totally hooked on Peter May's books about Shetland or is it Orkney . Start with the Black house I am waiting for the latest one to arrive.

Black House is set on Lewis as are the rest of the series. I enjoyed those too. Another 'nordic' detective series is Fire and Ice by Michael Ridpath who is, strangely enough, American.

The Lewis trilogy was very good, I`ve passed all three onto my daughter.

I really enjoy books by Rose Tremaine. She writes such a variety of books from all eras and settings. She is a clever author. Music and Silence is wonderful.

The one I liked most was The Colour, about the New Zealand gold rush.

Yes a lovely book.

It's quite tricky to download the latest book by many of my favourite authors as they are already dead. However, I admit that I do like "a good murder".

In that case Absent, you might like Every Dead Thing, by John Connelly, murders and bodies abound!!

numberplease Michael Connelly has written a series of books about an LA detective called Harry (Hieronymous) Bosch. I've read quite a few, and if you like murder/police procedural, you may well like these.

Noodles, you`re too late, I discovered Harry Bosch quite a while ago, I love them!
Jonathan Kellerman`s books about the psychologist Alex Delaware are worth reading as well, and I quite like the books his wife, Fay Kellerman, writes as well.
If anyone likes a thriller witha touch of the supernatural, Sarah Rayne`s books are great. I`ve written to her twice in appreciation, and she`s replied each time.

R F Delderfield and neville shute - oldies but goldies

Sounds as though we have similar taste. I guess you've read the Mickey Haller series too? I have an Audible subscription and my next ticket is due in a couple of days. I'll download Jonathan Kellerman's first Alex Delaware book.

I`ve only read a couple of the Mickey Haller series. The first book of Jonathan Kellerman`s that I read was a stand alone one, called Butchers Theatre, set in Israel, really good. He and his wife have a son who also writes, I think he`s called Jason, but not sure. I`ve only read one of his books, but it didn`t do anything for me.

[numberplease] Do you like sci-fi?

In short, no.

I enjoy reading reviews but don't rely on them when choosing books.

I love Anne Tyler's books and always bought them as soon as they came out in hardback. But her last few books I have found disappointing and so her most recent one, "The Beginner's Goodbye", I ordered from the library. I should have guessed that it would turn out to be pretty good.

"The Idea of Perfection" by Kate Grenville is one of my favourite books, and when her next one came out, "The Secret River", I rushed out and bought it. Despite having brilliant reviews and winning one of the big prizes, I didn't enjoy it much and don't think I even finished it.

Don't usually read reviews but I like to browse the library's new releases. If I really like an author I'll buy the books.
I like Kate Atkinson- especially the detective series- Jackson Brodie.
I also like most of Joanne Harris' books although there are a couple of duffs in there.
I am recently into C J Samson & if we are going back to classics Daphne Du Maurier wrote some corkers!
I'll try anything once although I'm not a fan of Sci-Fi or US detectives although I have read a lot of them as DH buys them. Got bored with them.
I run a reading group so try a lot of different authors out- rarely brand new titles as we have to wait too long for them from the library.

GrandmaH I've enjoyed the few Joanne Harris books I've read. Have you read "Gentlemen & Players" - I thought it was great - a really good "twist".

What puts me off joining a reading group is having to plough through something that I'm really not enjoying.

I automatically buy any new book by Donna Leon or Andrea Camilleri (but I do love the TV version as well Eleanorre ) and I am waiting hopefully for another of C.J.Sansom's Shardlake books.

I loved 'Gentlemen and Players', Eloethan. Joanne Harris's twists are wonderful. My all time favourite JH is 'Five Quarters of the Orange'.

You've just inspired me to put Gentlemen and Players on my wish list. Thank you.