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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah1 on May 21, 2002, at 18:42:33
My favorite is Ellery Queen, and my favorite Ellery Queen is The Greek Coffin Mystery.
I also enjoy the Fletch books and the old Perry Mason books and Agatha Christie books.
Posted by kiddo on May 21, 2002, at 19:21:17
In reply to Who's your favorite mystery writer?, posted by Dinah1 on May 21, 2002, at 18:42:33
Well, I'm not sure what they are classified....
I read Stephen White, Dean Koontz, Tami Hoag, Jonathan Kellerman and can't remember any others offhand...
I have a hard time reading the ones you mentioned, I don't know why though.
Posted by jane d on May 21, 2002, at 22:37:50
In reply to Who's your favorite mystery writer?, posted by Dinah1 on May 21, 2002, at 18:42:33
Posted by mair on May 22, 2002, at 7:44:12
In reply to Re: Who's your favorite mystery writer?, posted by kiddo on May 21, 2002, at 19:21:17
At one time I read all the Nero Wolfe's and many of the Agatha Christie's but I prefer to call my favorites people who are still writing - the others are just too long ago. So I'd say Elizabeth George and PD James only because these are the only ones I can think of that I buy in Hard cover because I don't want to wait for the paperback edition.
Mair
Posted by mair on May 22, 2002, at 7:48:32
In reply to Re: Who's your favorite mystery writer?, posted by kiddo on May 21, 2002, at 19:21:17
Posted by Dinah1 on May 22, 2002, at 8:32:02
In reply to Re: Who's your favorite mystery writer?, posted by mair on May 22, 2002, at 7:44:12
> At one time I read all the Nero Wolfe's and many of the Agatha Christie's but I prefer to call my favorites people who are still writing - the others are just too long ago. So I'd say Elizabeth George and PD James only because these are the only ones I can think of that I buy in Hard cover because I don't want to wait for the paperback edition.
>
> MairI think that is an excellent way to decide who your favorites are. Hard cover books are not only more expensive, but they also take up more space in the (in my case overcrowded) bookshelves and are much harder to read in the tub. :)
I think all my favorites are older books because I just don't have the time or concentration to read much any more. I do still like to pick up old favorites from time to time though. Somehow it's easier to connect to ones that I've read before. Besides, the absent minded Ellery Queen with his pince-nez glasses really struck a chord with absent minded Dinah. And the relationship with his Dad was great.
Posted by kiddo on May 22, 2002, at 12:59:49
In reply to Re: Who's your favorite mystery writer?, posted by mair on May 22, 2002, at 7:44:12
Hi Mair :-)
What 'flavor' of mysteries are these authors known for? Modern setting, Old West, some kind of setting or a catch hook to get me interested to go buy a couple? It takes a pretty good author for me to buy them in hardcover, so I take it that you like them a lot?
I want something 'fresh' but having a hard time finding something that sparks my interest.
Can you give me a title or two, with a 'preface' (for lack of a better word?
Thanks a bunch-Kiddo
Posted by kiddo on May 22, 2002, at 13:02:10
In reply to If you like Stephen White, try Philip Luber (nm) » kiddo, posted by mair on May 22, 2002, at 7:48:32
Thanks!!
Can you give me a "briefing". I'm having a hard time finding words today....
I like Patricia Cornwell too, do you know her? An ME (Medical Examiner for those not familiar) that investigates homicides...I don't know if that classifies as 'mystery' or not....
Kiddo
Posted by mair on May 22, 2002, at 15:45:17
In reply to Philip Luber » mair, posted by kiddo on May 22, 2002, at 13:02:10
Kiddo
Philip Luber is not as prolific as Stephen White. He has only 3 or 4 books in the series I read, and I don't think there has been a new one for a couple of years. His main character is a therapist in Concord, Mass. He is a widower, single parent, who is trying to help his daughter maintain her relationship with his wife's family (whom he dislikes) and who is trying to develop some relationships himself that his daughter won't resent. A more or less active role is played by the local police chief and by a local Catholic priest, although the therapist is Jewish. It's best to read the books in sequence because the therapist's life really does sort of unfold.
It's been a few years since I read the series, although my recollection is that I found the main character to be a more interesting, and mercifully less uptight than the characters used by either Stephen White or Jonathan Kellerman.
Elizabeth George and PD James write classic British mysteries, where the main characters are Scotland Yard detectives. Both writers employ the same characters from book to book so they need to be read in sequence also. This is particularly true of the Elizabeth George books where you tend to learn alot about spouses, lovers, friends and co-workers over the course of many books. I'm not sure what the appeal is for me with these books. They are a bit longer than many mysteries and these writers don't try to crank them out quite as quickly. There is more of an emphasis on character development, which I like, and I just feel that for the genre, they're a little better written.
I've read many other authors who've developed a main character over a series, like Sue Grafton, Sara Paretski, and Patricia Cornwell. I like these by and large, although they just go by a little too quickly. I used to like Patricia Cornwell alot better than I have lately. After awhile her books got too weird, her plots too violent, and her law and order politics too annoying.
Enjoy
Mair
Another series worth mentioning might be a series by Leslie Glass featuring an Asian-american police detective from NYC. These can be rather morbid too - I think this really turns off some people. I like the interesting subplot that is developed concerning her relationship with her very traditional Chinese parents, and her very non-traditional hispanic boyfriend. A psychiatrist-consultant plays a big role in many of these, but I don't think he's anywhere near as interesting as the Chinese detective.
This is the end of the thread.
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