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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 Jai Narayan on February 19, 2004, at 18:19:34
I love a well written mystery novel. my preference is a women writer but if it's good really good I will enjoy a male writer. I like a fast read too. you know a thriller, can't put it down kind of book. does anyone know of such a person or people?
I have read Tony Hillerman...really good. He was really wonderful and so spiritual too.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Posted by octopusprime on February 19, 2004, at 21:42:12
In reply to women dective stories, posted by Jai Narayan on February 19, 2004, at 18:19:34
Jai -
The gold standard is Agatha Christie. She did two main detective characters: Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. I very much liked her Hercule Poirot character - "Murder on the Orient Express" and "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" are two classic Poirot stories. I never much liked Miss Marple, don't know why, but maybe that would be more up your alley. She wrote 70+ books, and they're all quick reads.
I took a detective fiction course in university, and read some Ruth Rendell. Not bad. Unfortunately I have tossed the book and can't give you any titles.
Hope this helps.
ps - all these books are very charming and British, all pokey ladies in mansions with tea and bridge and scones and things. I remember Rendell had more of the emotional intrigue, as opposed to the puzzler logistical aspects of the mystery.
Posted by Jai Narayan on February 20, 2004, at 7:28:12
In reply to Re: women dective stories » Jai Narayan, posted by octopusprime on February 19, 2004, at 21:42:12
have you ever read Marion Zimmer-Bradley? She does sci-fi, action, fantasy stories that are really exciting and full of intrigue, set in another time. She wrote a series that follows the lives of these people. Full of power plots and psychic phenomenon. I read everyone of her rather involved series. It was so interesting and felt like I got to know the people.
Posted by noa on February 20, 2004, at 18:06:58
In reply to Sci-fi action writer MZB, posted by Jai Narayan on February 20, 2004, at 7:28:12
Of course there is also Sara Paretsky, author of a series of novels featuring detective "V.I. Warshawski", beginning with "Indemnity Only", published in 1982.
And Sue Grafton, author of the series of mystery novels entitled "A is for Alibi", "B is for Burglar", "C is for Corpse", and so on.
And Patricia Cornwell--novels featuring Dr. Kay Scarpetta, medical examiner--I think this series made people interested in crime scene investigation. The first in the series was "Post Mortem".
Then, if you want something a bit different, there is an Israeli woman writing detective novels. Her name is Batya Gur. Books include "Saturday Morning Murder", which, by the way is about a murder at a psychoanalytic institute, "A Literary Murder", "Murder on the Kibbutz". and "Murder Duet". Unlike Cornwell, Grafton, and Paretsky, Gur's detective is a man.
Posted by noa on February 20, 2004, at 18:08:33
In reply to Re: Women Detective Stories, posted by noa on February 20, 2004, at 18:06:58
"A is for Alibi", "B is for Burglar", "C is for Corpse", and so on.
Let's see if the link works this time.....
Posted by mair on February 23, 2004, at 15:54:38
In reply to women dective stories, posted by Jai Narayan on February 19, 2004, at 18:19:34
My current favorite women mystery writers are Elizabeth George and PD James. George's books are best read in sequence since she uses the same characters throughout and she does develop them over time. PD James does the same with her principal character, but she doesn't delve into his personal life in quite as much detail. However, while George's books follow several well-developed female characters, the main protagonist for both authors is male. I think both George and James are skillful writers and I think there is a little more substance to their books, than is typical with many mysteries.
I recently read a mystery by a first time writer called "O Artful Death." The main character is a female professor at Harvard. The writer is Sarah Taylor, and I think she plans future books with this same character.
Another series you might want to check out are the books written by Leslie Glass. Her protagonist is a Chinese-American policewoman with the NYPD. Although these tend to be a little gruesome, I enjoy them because the books delve some into the difficulties she has with her very traditional Chinese parents, and with her male colleagues. These might also be best read in sequence.
Mair
Posted by Fallen4myT on February 23, 2004, at 23:43:59
In reply to women dective stories, posted by Jai Narayan on February 19, 2004, at 18:19:34
Faye Kellerman is a good one. So is her husband Jonathan Kellerman he wrote Blood Tests and a zillion others in fact its kinda cool cause his main character is a T who works with a detective a lot :) Believe it or not Patterson wrote two books with someone..anyhow the books are about female detectivces one was 1ST TO DIE very good
Posted by badhaircut on February 29, 2004, at 21:40:48
In reply to women dective stories, posted by Jai Narayan on February 19, 2004, at 18:19:34
Kathy Hogan Trocheck's detective Callahan Garrity runs a house-cleaning service and solves mysteries on the side in suburban Atlanta. Great characters, decent writing. Woman writer, woman detective.
There's quite a few books in the series:
"Every Crooked Nanny" (1992)
"To Live and Die in Dixie" (1993)
"Homemade Sin" (1994)
"Happy Never After" (1995)
"Strange Brew" (1997)
"Irish Eyes " (2000)-bhc
Posted by rainyday on March 8, 2004, at 12:33:27
In reply to women dective stories, posted by Jai Narayan on February 19, 2004, at 18:19:34
I know this post was a while ago, but I just thought of the author's name: Linda Barnes. Writes mystery stories, all about Boston. Very funny writer, too. I also think Patricia Cornwall is good, but very creepy.
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