Saturday, December 15, 2007

I'm So Thrilled!

I thought for a long time that my favorite genre was mystery. However, I’ve discovered that what I really like is a good “thriller.” Most mystery/suspense stories fall into this category, but so do many books about war, intrigue, and illegal activities of all kinds. According to Wikipedia, the all-encompassing but sometimes uneven and poorly documented online encyclopedia, thrillers are a “broad genre of literature, film, and television” that is “characterized by fast pacing, frequent action, and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more-powerful and better-equipped villains. Literary devices such as suspense, red herrings, and cliffhangers are used extensively.”

What I really like are strong characters who are trying to make things right. They can be male or female, police detectives or private eyes, cops or criminals, lawyers or their clients, game wardens or poachers, and so on. All of them must have some redeeming quality, even if it’s minimal and only temporary. Some of my favorites are Max Allan Collins’ Quarry, who is an independent hit man for the Mob, Wyatt, Garry Disher’s Australian bank robber, and Spenser, Robert B. Parker’s irreverent private investigator. Even though each of these men operates either outside the law or skate along the razor edge of legality, each is also quick-thinking, decisive, and committed to whatever action is needed to resolve the problems he faces.

On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoy the impulsive, lovable Stephanie Plum, Janet Evanovich’s hometown New Jersey bounty hunter. Evanovich has written a very entertaining series that combines humor, romance, mystery, and action into a tasty thriller stew. Another of these humorous antiheroes is John Dortmunder, whose thieving antics that always go wrong for everyone but him. Donald E. Westlake is the creator of this comic thief and deserves credit for bringing a bit of laughter into what could be a too-serious genre. By the way, I don’t include horror stories in my list of thrillers because I find believable stories about life may be horrible enough without the addition of the gruesome or macabre.

Other than those mentioned above, here are some of my favorite authors:

Elmore Leonard—Has written 33 crime novels, the first being The Big Bounce (1969), The Hot Kid (2005), and the latest, Up In Honey’s Room (2007). Often writes about the criminal rather than the cop. Originally wrote westerns. His westerns are among the best you’ll ever read. For a sample, read The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard (2004). There are also several western novels.

James Lee Burke—Has 2 major characters: Dave Robicheaux (RO bih show), a deputy sheriff in New Iberia, Louisiana (Crusader’s Cross, 2005); Billy Bob Holland, an attorney and former Texas Ranger in Deaf Smith, Texas (In the Moon of Red Ponies, 2004).

Ben Rehder (RED er)—An Austin, Texas writer who writes about the experiences of John Marlin, a Blanco County game warden. Books are full of humorous characters and unexpected action. First book: Buck Fever (2002); latest, Gun Shy (2007).

Lee Child—Writes about Jack Reacher, former U. S. Army Military Policeman. First book, The Killing Floor (1997); latest book: Bad Luck and Trouble (2007).

Stephen Hunter—Writes about the Swaggers, father and son, Earl and Bob Lee. Often sets the scene in Arkansas (Hot Springs, 2000) and once in Oklahoma (Dirty White Boys, 1995). His first book, The Master Sniper (1980), is about the greatest Russian sniper during WWII. His latest is about Bob Lee Swagger, 47th Samurai (2007).

William Diehl (DEEL)—Wrote a 3-book series about Martin Vail, defense attorney in Chicago, Illinois. The first book, Primal Fear (1993), is one of the most powerful, disturbing crime novels you will ever read. It was made into a genuinely frightening movie, starring Richard Gere (lawyer) and introduced us to Edward Norton (really scary bad guy). The succeeding books in the series are Show of Evil (1995) and Reign In Hell (1997). Has also written 6 non-series books.

Bill Pronzini—Has written about 70 books, with 30+ books in his “Nameless Detective” Series, the latest being Mourners (2006). “Nameless” books are chronological, beginning with The Snatch (1971). His latest non-series book is The Alias Man (2004).


-- Tim, MCMLS Assistant Branch Manager

Have a favorite thriller? Leave it in the comments!

1 comment:

Tim Walker said...

Here's an interesting note, Dad: just yesterday I was reading an interview with Michael Chabon, who won the Pulitzer Prize for The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. (Chabon is considered one of the top young literary authors in the country today and a top Jewish-American writer, like a younger version of Philip Roth.) When somebody asked Chabon for recommendations on overlooked writers, he named several "literary" authors who haven't hit the big time, but then he specifically called out the westerns of Elmore Leonard. You know I don't usually read westerns, but your recommendation here, coming just a day after I read Chabon's recommendation, makes me think it's time to start.