Tayari's Blog: It's SUMMER! I'm reading MYSTERIES
Posted by TayariJones on July 27, 2005 01:01 PM
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Bookshelf
I just finished up Fire Sale by Sara Paretsky. I have to tell you, I just love mysteries, especially ones with female sleuths. I know that I seem to be the brooding type-- all about heavy seroius novels, preferably those in translation, but it's summer. And I gotta have my mysteries.
You would think that a person that could get into a formulaic genre like the mystery could also get into romances. Afterall, there are a lot more black-themed romances than mysteries. But I have to tell you, romances bore the hell out of me.
The thing about mysteries is that most of them are parts of series. I have to warn you, if the writer is any good, the series just gets darker and darker. When you think about it, it can't be avoided. If the detective keeps seeing murder after murder, she's going to become a bit more jaded and a bit more cynical. If the author is really true to character, the series is going to reflect that.
Anyway, Sara Paretsy ROCKS. My favorite of hers is Hard Time. Penny Michelbury's One Must Wait is also a good one. And for those of you playing the publishing game, read Foul Matter. You'll laugh yourself silly.
This just in: Sue Grafton has a new one coming out. S is For Silence. (It will be out JUST in time for my BIRTHDAY!) I discovered Grafton when I was on book tour for Leaving Atlanta. I read A is for Alibi at my first stop in Atlanta and wrapped it up in New York with P is for Peril.
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There are 7 comments on "It's SUMMER! I'm reading MYSTERIES". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by Ladylee
All year long, I've been reading a lot of black horror and speculative fiction (Tanavarie Due, Brandon Massey, Octavia Butler,etc.), but right now, one of the books I'm reading is Eleanor Taylor Brand's book "Whispers in the Dark", a book in a mystery series whose main character is Marti MacCalister, a black female detective. I'm not a big mystery reader, but a co-worker left it on my desk one day so I thought, why not? It's pretty good and intense so far. I think there are 8-10 books in the series, so I may just go back and start at book one!
The only other mystery I've read are Yolanda Joe's (under pen name Ardella Garland) Georgia Barnett series ("Hit Time" and "Details at Ten"). They were very good, short, quick reads.
I agree with you somewhat on romance novels. But now the line between romance and erotica novels is blurry. In my opinion, romance novels are what they are: chewing gum for the brain. Don't get me wrong, I do read them, but only if there are some really strong and interesting subplots. Otherwise I'm yawning! I mean, I got to have a little action/suspense/mystery weaved tightly in there somewhere, or I will put it down.
Your suggestions look interesting. I may have to delve a little deeper into the mystery genre!
P.S. You sure do seem to plow through a lot books, Tayari. Just how do you do it???
July 28, 2005 03:43 PM
Comment #2, by Terry Ventgen
You might also enjoy Marcia Muller's detective "Sharon MaCone" stories, and J. A. Jance's female policewoman "Joanna Brady" (as well as her original"Beaumont" series).
Elizabeth George's "Inspector Lynley" and "Barbara Havers"
are wonderful English detectives. Tony Hillerman is my
all time favorite mystery writer, and an American treasure.
His novels featuring tribal police "Joe Leaphorn" and "Jimmy Chee" include much about reservation life today
and a look a the traditional religious beliefs and practices.
August 8, 2005 03:49 AM
Comment #3, by tayari
Hi Terry!
I forgot about JA Jance. I like her work. And I was lucky enough to meet her in person, years ago when I was at the start of her career. I was moping about, fretting that I had been rejected from some magazine or the other. I met her and she took me out and showed me a good time and shared what she'd learned from her many years in this business!
Tayari
August 8, 2005 07:39 AM
Comment #4, by Tammee
Hi Tayari,
I've just been introduced to your site, and I am thoroughly enjoying your writing and insights. But, I must warn you: mysteries are like crack, one good taste and you're hooked forever.
At one point I followed about 10-15 series, until my reading life was a series of murders, rapes and robberies (but in a good way)...lol.
I finally had to do my own 12 step program and narrow down my choices and get some light back into my reading.
But just a note: my favorite mystery writer, and probably one of the darkest, is the marvelous writer, James Lee Burke. His Dave Robicheaux novels are beautifully written, almost poetic in nature, despite their sometimes unbearable content. If you haen't gotten around to him, please do.
August 18, 2005 02:26 PM
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October 5, 2005 10:26 AM