While writing a breakdown of Stieg Larssen and Jo Nesbo, I had the idea of pitting all my favorite mystery authors against one another in an ultimate battle royale that would finally select the greatest mystery author of all time (obviously having not read all mystery authors in the universe I am using my judgement and going with the best I have read).
The authors will be seeded and then 16 of them will go head to head as we wind down to just who is the best mystery author ever (or whom I have read).
Your first question: What criteria will I use to figure this all out?
Glad you asked!
I plan to break it down with three major catagories: 1) Quality of Books (what percentage falls into the "Great" to "Horrible" range) 2) Main characters (just how indelible are their creations...) 3) Style / Inner Workings / Readability (by which I mean how good a writer is the author).
The seedings
1) James Lee Burke - Dave Robicheaux novels
2) Dennis Lehane - Patrick Kenzie novels / Mystic River / Shutter Island
3) Philip Kerr - Bernie Gunther novels
4) Ken Bruen - Jack Taylor novels / Crime Squad Novels
5) James Ellroy - LA Quartet / Underworld America Trilogy
6) Jo Nesbo - Harry Hole novels
7) George Pelencanos - DC Quartet / Derek Strange novels / Nick Stefanos trilogy
8) Don Winslow - Stand alone novels
9) David Peace - The Red Riding Quartet
10) Ian Rankin - Inspector Rebus novels
11) Stuart Neville - Gerry Fegan / Jack Lennon novels
12) Stuart Macbride - Logan McRae novels
13) T Jefferson Parker - Charlie Hood novels / California Girls
14) Chelsea Cain - Archie Sheridan novels
15)Josh Bazell - Peter Brown Novels
16) Tana French - Murder squad novels
Agree? Disagree? Who got seeded too high? Who is too low? Are you excited by the matchups?
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Throwdown: Stieg vs. Jo
Last fall, after watching AMC's tv series "The Killing", I read a review which suggested authors to read in order to get a mystery fix between episodes. It was the single greatest thing I ever did because it led me to Jo Nesbo's incredible Harry Hole series. The books feature a cover with a
stamp in one corner touting Nesbo "the next Stieg Larsson" which is one of the most utterly ridiculous proclamations ever made by the publishing world. Here's why:
Quality of Books - While this is not quite the most fair statement to hold against Larsson who tragically died shortly after completing his third Millennium novel, Nesbo has written seven Harry Hole Books which are...here we go...much better than any of Stieg's novels. Before
you chuck the computer across the room, at least hear me out while I break it down starting with Stieg. Larsson's books have been nothing short of a cultural phenomenon and have sold hundreds of millions of copies. Two successful film franchises have been made about them (leading to two distinct and indelible portrayals of his heroine Lisbeth Salander) but when you look closer at the books Nesbo's superiority becomes very clear. Stieg wrote three
books: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire, and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. He wrote one great book (the first) and two good books (the second and third). Stieg's legacy mostly resides in the fact he created one of the most undeniably unique characters in modern fiction.
Nesbo on the other hand, has written seven novels (six of which I will rank since I have yet to snag the brand new and potentially great seventh book Phantom).
Great: The Redbreast, The Redeemer.
Very Good: The Devil's Star, The Snowman[1], The Leopard
Okay: Nemesis
So the final tally: Nesbo wrote two books that fall into the “Great” Category, and three which fall
into “Very Good”. He wrote one semi-clunker. Stieg wrote one great book which showed how high the ceiling was for his potential, and then slumped significantly with his next two books both falling into the “Okay – Good” Range (I was generous giving them both good, but in their defense both were page turners). My ultimate point here: had
Stieg written 3 “Great” books, he would win this one. He did not, thus…
Advantage: Nesbo
Great Characters – Stieg, as we covered above, created Lisbeth Salander who has become one of the most popular characters in novel history. Nesbo’s creation Harry Hole is completely underrated in comparison. Like Salander he is a deeply flawed, haunted character who screws up as much as he succeeds. I have never rooted for a character as openly as I have for poor Harry
Hole. He is a tragic figure and a beacon for unyielding torment and even in his most damning moments I find myself on his side. Hole remains the only character that I have ever yelled at while reading a book. I yelled “No Harry!” when the character was about to break his tenuous sobriety and his frequent downfalls are heart shredding. Public opinion says to go with Salander, but…
Advantage: Even
Style / Inner Workings / Readability – Larsson’s novels are set in Sweden; Nesbo’s in Norway. Stieg’s books are very different, the first being a serial killer story, the second and third all conspiracy based. Nesbo’s detective Harry Hole deals with his destructive personality
while also being the best investigator in Norway. Hole frequently comes up against staggering
odds and Nesbo’s ability to make each book a defined and hauntingly complex
story is a testament to his writing skills. Larsson…is nowhere near as great a writer as Nesbo. His first book was plot driven (and virtually impossible to put down) and the next two sort of lacked in that department – preferring instead to be driven by Salander’s character (ironically done with
great foresight by Stieg). His writing style is ponderous and at times plodding and very, very detail oriented. That said: each book had a point at which I could no longer put it down. In the
second and third it often took two or three hundred pages, but eventually the pages were flying by. Stieg’s books examine the dark undercurrents of fascism in Swedish politics; Nesbo’s do a
similar thing with Norway. Where Nesbotruly sets himself apart however, is his jaw dropping twists. The beginning of each Nesbo book serves up a compelling theme which runs throughout the plot and weaves itself so expertly that it is only at the thrilling end that you understand just how brilliant the book was. Again, he is a vastly superior writer.
Huge Advantage: Nesbo
Ultimately, Nesbo takes it in a rousing victory. While Stieg has had some fortunate marketing and his indelible characters, Nesbo has written better overall novels – and will presumably continue to do so. The real matchup for Nesbo will come soon: Philip Kerr and his astounding Bernie Gunther series.
[1] The Snowman could arguably go into the
great category.
stamp in one corner touting Nesbo "the next Stieg Larsson" which is one of the most utterly ridiculous proclamations ever made by the publishing world. Here's why:
Quality of Books - While this is not quite the most fair statement to hold against Larsson who tragically died shortly after completing his third Millennium novel, Nesbo has written seven Harry Hole Books which are...here we go...much better than any of Stieg's novels. Before
you chuck the computer across the room, at least hear me out while I break it down starting with Stieg. Larsson's books have been nothing short of a cultural phenomenon and have sold hundreds of millions of copies. Two successful film franchises have been made about them (leading to two distinct and indelible portrayals of his heroine Lisbeth Salander) but when you look closer at the books Nesbo's superiority becomes very clear. Stieg wrote three
books: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire, and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. He wrote one great book (the first) and two good books (the second and third). Stieg's legacy mostly resides in the fact he created one of the most undeniably unique characters in modern fiction.
Nesbo on the other hand, has written seven novels (six of which I will rank since I have yet to snag the brand new and potentially great seventh book Phantom).
Great: The Redbreast, The Redeemer.
Very Good: The Devil's Star, The Snowman[1], The Leopard
Okay: Nemesis
So the final tally: Nesbo wrote two books that fall into the “Great” Category, and three which fall
into “Very Good”. He wrote one semi-clunker. Stieg wrote one great book which showed how high the ceiling was for his potential, and then slumped significantly with his next two books both falling into the “Okay – Good” Range (I was generous giving them both good, but in their defense both were page turners). My ultimate point here: had
Stieg written 3 “Great” books, he would win this one. He did not, thus…
Advantage: Nesbo
Great Characters – Stieg, as we covered above, created Lisbeth Salander who has become one of the most popular characters in novel history. Nesbo’s creation Harry Hole is completely underrated in comparison. Like Salander he is a deeply flawed, haunted character who screws up as much as he succeeds. I have never rooted for a character as openly as I have for poor Harry
Hole. He is a tragic figure and a beacon for unyielding torment and even in his most damning moments I find myself on his side. Hole remains the only character that I have ever yelled at while reading a book. I yelled “No Harry!” when the character was about to break his tenuous sobriety and his frequent downfalls are heart shredding. Public opinion says to go with Salander, but…
Advantage: Even
Style / Inner Workings / Readability – Larsson’s novels are set in Sweden; Nesbo’s in Norway. Stieg’s books are very different, the first being a serial killer story, the second and third all conspiracy based. Nesbo’s detective Harry Hole deals with his destructive personality
while also being the best investigator in Norway. Hole frequently comes up against staggering
odds and Nesbo’s ability to make each book a defined and hauntingly complex
story is a testament to his writing skills. Larsson…is nowhere near as great a writer as Nesbo. His first book was plot driven (and virtually impossible to put down) and the next two sort of lacked in that department – preferring instead to be driven by Salander’s character (ironically done with
great foresight by Stieg). His writing style is ponderous and at times plodding and very, very detail oriented. That said: each book had a point at which I could no longer put it down. In the
second and third it often took two or three hundred pages, but eventually the pages were flying by. Stieg’s books examine the dark undercurrents of fascism in Swedish politics; Nesbo’s do a
similar thing with Norway. Where Nesbotruly sets himself apart however, is his jaw dropping twists. The beginning of each Nesbo book serves up a compelling theme which runs throughout the plot and weaves itself so expertly that it is only at the thrilling end that you understand just how brilliant the book was. Again, he is a vastly superior writer.
Huge Advantage: Nesbo
Ultimately, Nesbo takes it in a rousing victory. While Stieg has had some fortunate marketing and his indelible characters, Nesbo has written better overall novels – and will presumably continue to do so. The real matchup for Nesbo will come soon: Philip Kerr and his astounding Bernie Gunther series.
[1] The Snowman could arguably go into the
great category.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Best of the Month: March 2012
Fiction
A Feast for Crows by George RR Martin - Many fans of Martin's stunning series do not like this book for a few reasons: Martin took forever to put this book out, it features half of his characters (missing many of the fan faves) and cannot possibly match up to the previous book. In this slower and deeper fourth volume, Martin is spinning plots and building characters he has previously not written from the perspective of (like Cersei Lannister) to staggering depths. However, having had a little bit of distance from the 3rd book (and knowing the 5th is there waiting for me now) allowed me to fully enjoy this book. It is a complex read where tiny grains of detail await. I genuinely enjoyed it though it was nowhere near as action packed as Storm of Swords.
Non-fiction
40 Years of Shite - Trying to gain some perspective on England's national team is never easy as a fan. The team has become increasingly dismal in recent years due to a complete inability to keep up with the football development going on in the rest of the world. The managers, players and everyone else involved have never been the right match for the job and this book expertly explores how it could have done better while skipping none of the agony of defeat. It is also funny and highly entertaining as one attempts to sort through each and every dismal defeat.
A Feast for Crows by George RR Martin - Many fans of Martin's stunning series do not like this book for a few reasons: Martin took forever to put this book out, it features half of his characters (missing many of the fan faves) and cannot possibly match up to the previous book. In this slower and deeper fourth volume, Martin is spinning plots and building characters he has previously not written from the perspective of (like Cersei Lannister) to staggering depths. However, having had a little bit of distance from the 3rd book (and knowing the 5th is there waiting for me now) allowed me to fully enjoy this book. It is a complex read where tiny grains of detail await. I genuinely enjoyed it though it was nowhere near as action packed as Storm of Swords.
Non-fiction
40 Years of Shite - Trying to gain some perspective on England's national team is never easy as a fan. The team has become increasingly dismal in recent years due to a complete inability to keep up with the football development going on in the rest of the world. The managers, players and everyone else involved have never been the right match for the job and this book expertly explores how it could have done better while skipping none of the agony of defeat. It is also funny and highly entertaining as one attempts to sort through each and every dismal defeat.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Best Books of the Month: February 2012
A quick note before we get into the books - again, none of them actually have to be written in 2012.
Fiction:
What it Was by George Pelecanos - The master of DC Noir has been very absent from my reading lists simply because his latest have been, in a word, terrible. Pelecanos, like many great crime writers (Paging Dennis Lehane!), got away from what made his books so great in the first place: the western-style, urban showdown. In his latest - a furiously written return to one of his greatest creations, Derek Strange, he shies away from nothing. Pelecanos has always been at his best when he is letting his characters tell the story of his hometown (in this case the 70's) and his villian in this book is a fantastic brute. This novel was actually hewn from his masterpiece The Night Gardener when one character spun the legend of Red Fury. Pelecanos never lets up in this book and it shows in the tense, taut thriller that I devoured in a day. Welcome back George, lets see if we can keep it up.
The Ghost by Robert Harris - Harris, who also wrote the fantastic Fatherland takes on the twisty world of a ghostwriter tasked with setting down a former Prime Minister's memoirs (think Tony Blair). The result in a gut wrenching thriller that slowly winds towards it stunning and heart breaking conclusion. Giving away any of the plot would be a crime, but the style also bears mentioning: many writers tend to overwrite everything. Harris's novel is, if anything, is underwritten perfectly and he ratchets the tension so expertly the reader can barely stand to put the book down. Brilliant.
Don't Fear the Reaper by Josh Bazell - Imagine Chuck Pahalniuk writing the Sopranos...set inside ER. Strange combo that Bazell just manages to pull off perfectly. His main character is a former mob hitman hiding out as a med student in New York. When he gets recognized by one of his patients chaos ensues. The novel is hilarious and completely deadpan, while taking the reader deep inside the medical world (the footnotes are incredibly helpful). Looking forward to the sequel, set to be released in March.
Non-Fiction
Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby - A delirious look inside the world of English Football ("Soccer" for the undereducated) Hornby is an Arsenal Super Fan. He describes his life through the prism of his fandom and the result is a hilarious spin through decades of obsession. His prose is brilliant and at times utterly devestating. He never shies away or hides from his complete insanity, and in embracing it sports fans get to see a little piece of themselves. Take the following passage:
"I was unable to defend my team’s inadequacies to my father – I could see them for myself, and I hated them – and after each feeble attempt at goal and every misplaced pass I would brace myself for the sighs and groans from the seat next to me. I was chained to Arsenal and my dad was chained to me, and there was no way out for either of us.”
Fiction:
What it Was by George Pelecanos - The master of DC Noir has been very absent from my reading lists simply because his latest have been, in a word, terrible. Pelecanos, like many great crime writers (Paging Dennis Lehane!), got away from what made his books so great in the first place: the western-style, urban showdown. In his latest - a furiously written return to one of his greatest creations, Derek Strange, he shies away from nothing. Pelecanos has always been at his best when he is letting his characters tell the story of his hometown (in this case the 70's) and his villian in this book is a fantastic brute. This novel was actually hewn from his masterpiece The Night Gardener when one character spun the legend of Red Fury. Pelecanos never lets up in this book and it shows in the tense, taut thriller that I devoured in a day. Welcome back George, lets see if we can keep it up.
The Ghost by Robert Harris - Harris, who also wrote the fantastic Fatherland takes on the twisty world of a ghostwriter tasked with setting down a former Prime Minister's memoirs (think Tony Blair). The result in a gut wrenching thriller that slowly winds towards it stunning and heart breaking conclusion. Giving away any of the plot would be a crime, but the style also bears mentioning: many writers tend to overwrite everything. Harris's novel is, if anything, is underwritten perfectly and he ratchets the tension so expertly the reader can barely stand to put the book down. Brilliant.
Don't Fear the Reaper by Josh Bazell - Imagine Chuck Pahalniuk writing the Sopranos...set inside ER. Strange combo that Bazell just manages to pull off perfectly. His main character is a former mob hitman hiding out as a med student in New York. When he gets recognized by one of his patients chaos ensues. The novel is hilarious and completely deadpan, while taking the reader deep inside the medical world (the footnotes are incredibly helpful). Looking forward to the sequel, set to be released in March.
Non-Fiction
Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby - A delirious look inside the world of English Football ("Soccer" for the undereducated) Hornby is an Arsenal Super Fan. He describes his life through the prism of his fandom and the result is a hilarious spin through decades of obsession. His prose is brilliant and at times utterly devestating. He never shies away or hides from his complete insanity, and in embracing it sports fans get to see a little piece of themselves. Take the following passage:
"I was unable to defend my team’s inadequacies to my father – I could see them for myself, and I hated them – and after each feeble attempt at goal and every misplaced pass I would brace myself for the sighs and groans from the seat next to me. I was chained to Arsenal and my dad was chained to me, and there was no way out for either of us.”
Monday, January 9, 2012
Best of the Month January 2012
Here are the best books I have read thus far in January (again, none of the books actually have to be written in Jan 2012)
Non-Fiction
Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman - Reitman's brilliant and comprehensive history of Scientology virtually eviscerates the cult. The Rolling Stone reporter kicks down the doors of secrecy and shatters any illusions you have that this is not a cult. Bottom line: scientology is about the coin...and no one even pretends otherwise. The book breaks down into four parts: first a history of enigmatic con man L. Ron Hubbard, second the new leader David Miscavige's rise to power, thirdly the horrific death of a woman who was completely conned and finally a look at the church going forward - including the seduction of Tom Cruise. This book is brilliantly written and understated. Reitman simply presents the facts, horrifying as they are.
Fiction
Fun and Games / Hell and Gone by Duane Swierczynski - The first two books in the Charlie Hardie trilogy are rip roaring rides through a twisted landscape of brutality. Deeper than the average thriller, these are books with serious guts. From the opening page they rip along like a runaway train, forcing you to blow through the pages without stop. I cannot wait until the 3rd is released in March 2012.
Non-Fiction
Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman - Reitman's brilliant and comprehensive history of Scientology virtually eviscerates the cult. The Rolling Stone reporter kicks down the doors of secrecy and shatters any illusions you have that this is not a cult. Bottom line: scientology is about the coin...and no one even pretends otherwise. The book breaks down into four parts: first a history of enigmatic con man L. Ron Hubbard, second the new leader David Miscavige's rise to power, thirdly the horrific death of a woman who was completely conned and finally a look at the church going forward - including the seduction of Tom Cruise. This book is brilliantly written and understated. Reitman simply presents the facts, horrifying as they are.
Fiction
Fun and Games / Hell and Gone by Duane Swierczynski - The first two books in the Charlie Hardie trilogy are rip roaring rides through a twisted landscape of brutality. Deeper than the average thriller, these are books with serious guts. From the opening page they rip along like a runaway train, forcing you to blow through the pages without stop. I cannot wait until the 3rd is released in March 2012.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Best of the Month - December 2011
Even though I recently released my Best Books of 2011, it is necessary to make a smallish amendment to that list. Why? Because in the last couple of weeks I read two of the best books of the year - and both were written in 2011. Eat your heart out Amazon.com!
The Whore of Akron by Scott Raab - I desperately did not want to love this book. I like LeBron James and want to see him win the NBA Championship. Raab shattered any illusions I had, but then he did something else: he shattered any illusions I had about his book as well. The main reason this book is so great? Raab is an amazing writer. This entire text plays out like a primal, existential scream about the slow death of Cleveland (personified through the villainous LeBron) and Raab's own tortured history. The man lives for Cleveland sports but it is passages like the following that will keep me rereading this book for years to come:
"Was it easy LeBron? Did it go down smooth and sweet as peach cobbler? I almost feel bad for you, son. You're not a grown man. You're a kid and you're afraid. What are you so afraid of LeBron, the losing or the winning? Do you finally understand that it's not easy? That it's not meant to be easy. Hard is the only thing that makes it worth anything, the only thing that makes losing or winning worth the pain of trying, the only thing that makes living and dying worth the suffering". I dare you to attempt to find a better written passage that came out this year. When all is said and done with the Miami Heat and dozens of books have been written I have no doubt that this will withstand the test of time as the best.
Prague Fatale by Philip Kerr (Only released in the UK!) - How did I manage to get my hands on the best mystery of the year when I do not live in the UK? An amazing girlfriend who figured out how to get it shipped over. The last Bernie Gunther outing (Field Gray) had its moments, but was mostly disappointing. I wondered, briefly if Kerr was finally going to run out of steam and end the series. Instead, Kerr reinvents his formula again and absolutely crushes a hell of a book. After the opening scenes set in Berling in 1942, Kerr rips into a 2 chapter, 200 page mini-book within a book that features one of the twistiest whodunits since Agatha Christie. The book is a slow burning, gut wrenching roller coaster that is impossible to put down. Trust me. I tried and failed. All I will say about the plot is that is set during Heydrich's reign in Czechslovakia and near the time of his assassination. This is also the first Kerr book to be set exclusively during WW2. Just when I had written him off, Kerr pulls out a taut, staggering novel that easily ranks among the best of the year (and the best he has written). How would I rank his books now (using only the titles):
1) The One from the Other (#4) - After a 17 year break, Kerr reached back and brought a tormented Bernie Gunther out of the war and straight into the most complex plot this side of James Ellroy. The end is so twisty and the rug pulled out so expertly that there is no way to prepare for the astounding finish.
2) A Quiet Flame (#5) - Set in Argentina, this novel featured Bernie's shot at redemption and a new life...which he promptly destroyed.
3) A Pale Criminal (#2) - This book, set during Kristalnacht is still the only book that I woke up early in the morning to read before work. The ending also made me feel sick to my stomach...it is that visceral.
4) Prague Fatale (#8) - See above.
5)If the Dead Rise Not (#6) - Kerr's Bernie Gunther schtick was beginning to get a little thin around this point, but the theme of good and evil (not to mention just how bad Bernie had to be to survive the Nazi years) push this to another level. Originally planned as the final book, I am sure glad Kerr kept writing.
6) A German Requiem (#3) - Originally intended to be the conclusion of the series, this book deals with the direct aftermath of the war and Nazi war criminals. Bernie has to flee to Vienna where he gets caught up in Soviet / American spy games. This book touches on the Cold War more than WW2, and is very informative. The final twist is jaw dropping.
7) March Violets (#1) - The series opener was a great book, but Bernie took some time to develop as a character. A complex, literary thriller, this book is a dark meditation on the excesses of power.
8) Field Grey (#7) - This book is good, but not quite up to the usual Kerr standards. The main reason is all the jumping around: no other book in the series moves around quite as much.
I believe it may be time that Kerr enter the Mystery Writers Mount Rushmore and the Pantheon, 8 great books - more than Pelecanos, more than Lehane, inching up on Lee Burke.
The Whore of Akron by Scott Raab - I desperately did not want to love this book. I like LeBron James and want to see him win the NBA Championship. Raab shattered any illusions I had, but then he did something else: he shattered any illusions I had about his book as well. The main reason this book is so great? Raab is an amazing writer. This entire text plays out like a primal, existential scream about the slow death of Cleveland (personified through the villainous LeBron) and Raab's own tortured history. The man lives for Cleveland sports but it is passages like the following that will keep me rereading this book for years to come:
"Was it easy LeBron? Did it go down smooth and sweet as peach cobbler? I almost feel bad for you, son. You're not a grown man. You're a kid and you're afraid. What are you so afraid of LeBron, the losing or the winning? Do you finally understand that it's not easy? That it's not meant to be easy. Hard is the only thing that makes it worth anything, the only thing that makes losing or winning worth the pain of trying, the only thing that makes living and dying worth the suffering". I dare you to attempt to find a better written passage that came out this year. When all is said and done with the Miami Heat and dozens of books have been written I have no doubt that this will withstand the test of time as the best.
Prague Fatale by Philip Kerr (Only released in the UK!) - How did I manage to get my hands on the best mystery of the year when I do not live in the UK? An amazing girlfriend who figured out how to get it shipped over. The last Bernie Gunther outing (Field Gray) had its moments, but was mostly disappointing. I wondered, briefly if Kerr was finally going to run out of steam and end the series. Instead, Kerr reinvents his formula again and absolutely crushes a hell of a book. After the opening scenes set in Berling in 1942, Kerr rips into a 2 chapter, 200 page mini-book within a book that features one of the twistiest whodunits since Agatha Christie. The book is a slow burning, gut wrenching roller coaster that is impossible to put down. Trust me. I tried and failed. All I will say about the plot is that is set during Heydrich's reign in Czechslovakia and near the time of his assassination. This is also the first Kerr book to be set exclusively during WW2. Just when I had written him off, Kerr pulls out a taut, staggering novel that easily ranks among the best of the year (and the best he has written). How would I rank his books now (using only the titles):
1) The One from the Other (#4) - After a 17 year break, Kerr reached back and brought a tormented Bernie Gunther out of the war and straight into the most complex plot this side of James Ellroy. The end is so twisty and the rug pulled out so expertly that there is no way to prepare for the astounding finish.
2) A Quiet Flame (#5) - Set in Argentina, this novel featured Bernie's shot at redemption and a new life...which he promptly destroyed.
3) A Pale Criminal (#2) - This book, set during Kristalnacht is still the only book that I woke up early in the morning to read before work. The ending also made me feel sick to my stomach...it is that visceral.
4) Prague Fatale (#8) - See above.
5)If the Dead Rise Not (#6) - Kerr's Bernie Gunther schtick was beginning to get a little thin around this point, but the theme of good and evil (not to mention just how bad Bernie had to be to survive the Nazi years) push this to another level. Originally planned as the final book, I am sure glad Kerr kept writing.
6) A German Requiem (#3) - Originally intended to be the conclusion of the series, this book deals with the direct aftermath of the war and Nazi war criminals. Bernie has to flee to Vienna where he gets caught up in Soviet / American spy games. This book touches on the Cold War more than WW2, and is very informative. The final twist is jaw dropping.
7) March Violets (#1) - The series opener was a great book, but Bernie took some time to develop as a character. A complex, literary thriller, this book is a dark meditation on the excesses of power.
8) Field Grey (#7) - This book is good, but not quite up to the usual Kerr standards. The main reason is all the jumping around: no other book in the series moves around quite as much.
I believe it may be time that Kerr enter the Mystery Writers Mount Rushmore and the Pantheon, 8 great books - more than Pelecanos, more than Lehane, inching up on Lee Burke.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
2011 Best Books of the Year
Once again, this "weekly" (sorry now, Monthly) blog is behind the eight-ball as nearly every other major publication has already released their Best Books of 2011. You can check out Amazon's fractured list here...or, you can read a list that require no books actually be written in 2011!
The Clive Cussler Award (Best Page Turner) - Redeemer / Redbreast / Snowman / Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo. Pretty much take your pick and then attempt to put any of them down before submitting to an epic fail. Nesbo is a great writer who brings a sublime depth to the mystery genre that too often barely scratches the surface. Prepare to lose a significant amount of time delving into the twisty and dark world of Detective Harry Hole, the only character this year who made me literally shout at him as I read the novel.
The Bill Bryson Award (Best Science Book) - The Tiger by John Vaillant. A staggering, cerebral look at a great and dying beast in the frozen wasteland of Russia. This magnificent animal has been poached and tormented to near extinction: yet somehow still thrives. Tigers are very intelligent animals and this tale of revenge (yes tigers will seek revenge...) is both thrilling and informative. A must read.
James Patterson Award (Most Disappointing Books)
3) The Rocket that Fell to Earth by Jeff Pearlman - I have really enjoyed the three other Pearlman books but this one was a bit of a stretch. A long reach and not an enjoyable one. No real connection with the subject (Roger Clemens) and nothing particularly interesting.
2) Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane - Hurts, very deeply as Lehane is one of my all-time favorite authors but he pulled his punches here and provided a real let down. Do not get me wrong, this was still a 7/10 but for Lehane that is simply not good enough. Compared to his previous works such as Gone, Baby, Gone or the incomparable Darkness Take My Hand this book just cannot compete. We have come to expect more from Lehane and in this instance he did not deliver.
1) I'd Know Her Anywhere by Laura Lippman - I expected a good read considering this was nominated for an Edgar Award, perhaps my expectations were too lofty. This had the potential to be a good book...had annnnnnnnnyyyyyyyything happened. It did not. Completely turned me off Lippman, possibly forever.
Bill Simmons Award (Best Sports Book) - Net Worth by David Cruise and Allison Griffiths.
Take everything you know about the NHL...then throw it out the window and prepare to become incensed. The authors dig deeply into the history of the game and provide deep and vivid portraits of the legends of the game. Stunning, insightful and a real vivisection of the game all Canadians love.
James Ellroy Award (Best Crime Book) - Desperados by Elaine Shannon. A cutting, explosive and fantastically researched look into the world of Drug Trafficking, this book sets a gold standard that may not be easily reached. Absolutely staggering in content, and surprisingly readable - this is a marathon read, not a sprint. At the end the reward is evident.
Robert Kurson Award (Best Adventure Book) - Diving into Darkness by Phillip Finch / Blind Descent by James Tabor. These two books are about the most extreme of men (and women!) and the edges of human experience. In Finch's book (Shadow-divers-lite) he expertly weaves the tale of two men who cave dive. His lucid prose makes the abyss so powerfully close that the reader is forced to shake themself several times during the reading. Tabor looks at the Bird / Magic of Caving and their exhaustive search for the final frontier of exploration on our planet - the deepest spot on Earth. Both are harrowing, claustrophobic reads that strap the reader to the chair and refuse to allow them to look away despite the horror.
Top 5 Books of 2011
5) Saturday Night by Doug Hill and Jeffery Weingrad - A view into the first ten years of Saturday Night Live seems like a strange choice for one of the best books of the year but this tome is anything but weighty. The portraits the authors provide are deeply moving and their commentary is spot on. A great look into one of the biggest television phenomenons of all-time with all your favorite characters present - Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Jim Belushi, Eddie Murphy...
4) In the Woods by Tana French - I very much did not want to include this book...and yet, it stuck with me so much that I have to. Elegantly written, spare and haunting, this bleak novel about two Irish detectives grappling with the past and a vicious killer features one of the most jaw dropping twists I have ever read. French builds you up to a logical conclusion and then yanks it away as if she were collapsing a JENGA tower. Pitch perfect.
3) The Redeemer by Jo Nesbo - My favorite of the Nesbo novels featuring Detective Harry Hole, this book takes place in a short period of time in which the main character chases an assassin who has killed the wrong man. Pulse pounding, intense and absolutely unputdownable.
2) Loose Balls by Terry Pluto - Probably the funniest book about sports (other than one written by Bill Simmons) this is a laugh out loud reading experience. Covering the ABA years, teams, players, coaches, scouts, GMs and announcers is a job best done in oral history style! The author also provides the single funniest quote ever by a wayward soul named Marvin "Bad News" Barnes who hated morning flights, and as such, upon being informed his flight left at 8am and arrived at 7:59am (due to time change) famously remarked: "I ain't flying on no time machine. I ain't taking no plane that goes back in time."
1) A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin - No series of books has ever captured the attention of my brother, mother, at least twenty people besides me around the pool in Hawaii and myself so expertly. Swords, knights, intrigue, twists aplenty all abound - but it is Martin's knack for thematic prose that pulls these novels out of the muck. He is writing about a dark, gritty world and he never shies away from this simple fact: "In the game of thrones you win or you die".
Author of the Year: Jo Nesbo...by a whisker! George RR Martin contributed a highly entertaining television show in addition to his five books, but Nesbo's complex novels were enjoyed by everyone I know. They were books my beautiful girlfriend and I could both enjoy...and discuss. At one point we even considered a book club. They are page turning awesomeness and at the end of the year that is exactly what I want in a book. That Nesbo raises the stakes with a complex and literary twist to the genre just makes them all the more enjoyable.
The Clive Cussler Award (Best Page Turner) - Redeemer / Redbreast / Snowman / Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo. Pretty much take your pick and then attempt to put any of them down before submitting to an epic fail. Nesbo is a great writer who brings a sublime depth to the mystery genre that too often barely scratches the surface. Prepare to lose a significant amount of time delving into the twisty and dark world of Detective Harry Hole, the only character this year who made me literally shout at him as I read the novel.
The Bill Bryson Award (Best Science Book) - The Tiger by John Vaillant. A staggering, cerebral look at a great and dying beast in the frozen wasteland of Russia. This magnificent animal has been poached and tormented to near extinction: yet somehow still thrives. Tigers are very intelligent animals and this tale of revenge (yes tigers will seek revenge...) is both thrilling and informative. A must read.
James Patterson Award (Most Disappointing Books)
3) The Rocket that Fell to Earth by Jeff Pearlman - I have really enjoyed the three other Pearlman books but this one was a bit of a stretch. A long reach and not an enjoyable one. No real connection with the subject (Roger Clemens) and nothing particularly interesting.
2) Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane - Hurts, very deeply as Lehane is one of my all-time favorite authors but he pulled his punches here and provided a real let down. Do not get me wrong, this was still a 7/10 but for Lehane that is simply not good enough. Compared to his previous works such as Gone, Baby, Gone or the incomparable Darkness Take My Hand this book just cannot compete. We have come to expect more from Lehane and in this instance he did not deliver.
1) I'd Know Her Anywhere by Laura Lippman - I expected a good read considering this was nominated for an Edgar Award, perhaps my expectations were too lofty. This had the potential to be a good book...had annnnnnnnnyyyyyyyything happened. It did not. Completely turned me off Lippman, possibly forever.
Bill Simmons Award (Best Sports Book) - Net Worth by David Cruise and Allison Griffiths.
Take everything you know about the NHL...then throw it out the window and prepare to become incensed. The authors dig deeply into the history of the game and provide deep and vivid portraits of the legends of the game. Stunning, insightful and a real vivisection of the game all Canadians love.
James Ellroy Award (Best Crime Book) - Desperados by Elaine Shannon. A cutting, explosive and fantastically researched look into the world of Drug Trafficking, this book sets a gold standard that may not be easily reached. Absolutely staggering in content, and surprisingly readable - this is a marathon read, not a sprint. At the end the reward is evident.
Robert Kurson Award (Best Adventure Book) - Diving into Darkness by Phillip Finch / Blind Descent by James Tabor. These two books are about the most extreme of men (and women!) and the edges of human experience. In Finch's book (Shadow-divers-lite) he expertly weaves the tale of two men who cave dive. His lucid prose makes the abyss so powerfully close that the reader is forced to shake themself several times during the reading. Tabor looks at the Bird / Magic of Caving and their exhaustive search for the final frontier of exploration on our planet - the deepest spot on Earth. Both are harrowing, claustrophobic reads that strap the reader to the chair and refuse to allow them to look away despite the horror.
Top 5 Books of 2011
5) Saturday Night by Doug Hill and Jeffery Weingrad - A view into the first ten years of Saturday Night Live seems like a strange choice for one of the best books of the year but this tome is anything but weighty. The portraits the authors provide are deeply moving and their commentary is spot on. A great look into one of the biggest television phenomenons of all-time with all your favorite characters present - Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Jim Belushi, Eddie Murphy...
4) In the Woods by Tana French - I very much did not want to include this book...and yet, it stuck with me so much that I have to. Elegantly written, spare and haunting, this bleak novel about two Irish detectives grappling with the past and a vicious killer features one of the most jaw dropping twists I have ever read. French builds you up to a logical conclusion and then yanks it away as if she were collapsing a JENGA tower. Pitch perfect.
3) The Redeemer by Jo Nesbo - My favorite of the Nesbo novels featuring Detective Harry Hole, this book takes place in a short period of time in which the main character chases an assassin who has killed the wrong man. Pulse pounding, intense and absolutely unputdownable.
2) Loose Balls by Terry Pluto - Probably the funniest book about sports (other than one written by Bill Simmons) this is a laugh out loud reading experience. Covering the ABA years, teams, players, coaches, scouts, GMs and announcers is a job best done in oral history style! The author also provides the single funniest quote ever by a wayward soul named Marvin "Bad News" Barnes who hated morning flights, and as such, upon being informed his flight left at 8am and arrived at 7:59am (due to time change) famously remarked: "I ain't flying on no time machine. I ain't taking no plane that goes back in time."
1) A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin - No series of books has ever captured the attention of my brother, mother, at least twenty people besides me around the pool in Hawaii and myself so expertly. Swords, knights, intrigue, twists aplenty all abound - but it is Martin's knack for thematic prose that pulls these novels out of the muck. He is writing about a dark, gritty world and he never shies away from this simple fact: "In the game of thrones you win or you die".
Author of the Year: Jo Nesbo...by a whisker! George RR Martin contributed a highly entertaining television show in addition to his five books, but Nesbo's complex novels were enjoyed by everyone I know. They were books my beautiful girlfriend and I could both enjoy...and discuss. At one point we even considered a book club. They are page turning awesomeness and at the end of the year that is exactly what I want in a book. That Nesbo raises the stakes with a complex and literary twist to the genre just makes them all the more enjoyable.
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