Currently Reading: ECHO PARK by Michael Connelly

Synopsis: In 1993 Marie Gesto disappeared after walking out of a supermarket. Harry Bosch worked the case but couldn’t crack it, and the twenty-two-year-old was never found. Now, more than a decade later, with the Gesto file still on his desk, Bosch gets a call from the District Attorney.A man accused of two heinous murders is willing to come clean about several others, including the killing of Marie Gesto. Taking the confession of the man he has sought-and hated-for thirteen years is bad enough. Discovering that he missed a clue back in 1993 that could have stopped nine other murders may just be the straw that breaks Harry Bosch.

The Very Best of Steve Hamilton’s Alex McKnight Series

Since Steve Hamilton’s brand new thriller, The Lock Artist, is garnering lots of praise, I thought I’d take a look back at one of my favorite series, Hamilton’s Alex McKnight series.  Hamilton began his writing career as the winner of the 1997 Private Eye Writers of America/St. Martin’s Press Award for Best First Mystery.  A Cold Day in Paradise went on to win the Edgar Award and Shamus Award for Best First Novel.  To date, Hamilton has written seven books in the series: A Cold Day in Paradise (1998), Winter of the Wolf Moon (2000), The Hunting Wind (2001), North of Nowhere (2002), Blood is the Sky (2004), Ice Run (2004), and A Stolen Season (2006).

Alex McKnight is an ex-cop from Detroit, who retires to the quiet North Michigan town of Paradise after the violent shooting death of his partner. All he wants to do is be alone to contemplate his failed marriage and wallow in survivor’s guilt, and although he doesn’t look for trouble, it always has a habit of finding him. Unlike other ex-cop protagonists, Alex is a reluctant private investigator.

I’ve always felt a kinship with Alex McKnight.  All he wants is peace and quiet. It’s something that resonates with me.  I love his bad attitude, his sarcastic humor, and his fierce loyalty to his friends.  In the end, he’s a sucker like me.

I also love how Hamilton writes about the beauty of the winters in Michigan’s Upper Penisula.  The setting is so powerful that it’s just as important as any of characters in the story.  What can be better than a hard-boiled crime novel set in the most lonely, out-of-the-way place you’ve ever known? Hamilton’s prose is sparse and understated.  There’s not a lot of fluff in his stories.

7. Ice Run (2004)

A bit disjointed, this book takes a while to get going. The mystery, about a missing old man, just isn’t that enticing, and the plot is overly convoluted. This just isn’t in the same league as the other books.

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6. The Hunting Wind (2001)

In this outing, author Steve Hamilton takes us on a ride through Alex’s past, when he played minor league baseball.  Driving through the streets of Detroit, Alex and his old baseball buddy, Randy Wilkins, are on a wild goose chase, looking for a girl Randy knew when he played for the Detroit Tigers.  When Randy is shot, Alex doggedly searches for answers.  The plot falls short because the set-up isn’t that believable, and the ending is too abrupt.  Furthermore, Randy’s personality is quite annoying; I’m glad he got shot.  An enjoyable read, but not Hamilton’s best.

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5. Winter of the Wolf Moon (2000)

This time Alex McKnight gets mixed up with an Ojibwe woman named Dorothy, who asks for his help. Abused by her boyfriend, she just wants to get away.  After staying the night in one of his cabins, she vanishes.  Alex thinks her violent boyfriend may have kidnapped her and feels personally responsible for her disappearance. Fast-paced and an utterly enjoyable read, what makes this book so palpable is the stubborn way Alex almost dies in pursuit of the truth, not once but twice!

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4. North of Nowhere (2002)

Alex gets invited to a poker game at a private residence and when armed men break in and rob a safe full of money.  Since he’s new to the game, the owner of the house thinks Alex is involved, but the Chief of Police thinks Alex’s friend Jackie organized the robbery.  Out to clear his friend’s name, Alex stubbornly goes through all the suspects until he eventually discovers the real architect of the robbery.  I like Alex’s tenacity, but the resolution is a bit too convenient.  Even though it’s a good yarn, some of Hamilton’s endings just don’t fall neatly into place. North of Nowhere was short-listed for the 2003 Anthony award, Barry award, and Shamus award.

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3. A Stolen Season (2006)

McKnight isn’t like all those “smart” P.I.s out there; he often makes stupid decisions, reacts impulsively, and uses brute force. He always seems to think with his fists first rather than his head. This latest McKnight adventure sees him as happy as he’s ever been, and the reason is his girlfriend, Canadian Mountie Natalie Reynaud. As she goes undercover in Toronto to take down a gun smuggling ring, he constantly worries about her. Then she shows up in Paradise for a surprise visit only to be murdered. There’s raw emotion in the pages of this novel; McKnight has always been a sucker for a friend in need, but imagine what he will do for the woman he loves.

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2. Blood is the Sky (2004)

Set in the forests of Northern Ontario, Hamilton pairs friends Alex McKnight and Vinnie LeBlanc in a search for Vinnie’s brother, who led a hunting expedition for four Detroit businessmen and then disappeared.  Together Alex and Vinnie travel north to find out what happened to him. Alex’s dogged nature shines through, as he remains fiercely loyal to Vinnie and is willing to sacrifice everything for the truth.  This is Hamilton’s finest effort since…

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1. A Cold Day in Paradise (1998)

In his first novel, Steve Hamilton, introduces readers to Alex McKnight, an ex-cop from the mean streets of Detroit.  With a bullet embedded next to his heart, he retreats to the cold of Paradise, Michigan to hide away from life.  Just as he finally finds solace, he stumbles across a murder scene, and the sight of blood stirs horrible memories of his partner’s death in Detroit.  Then he receives eerie messages, which sound remarkably like the disturbed psycho who shot him and his partner fourteen years ago. This superb thriller catches you right from the start.  Alex is an intriguing character—and his fear of the past grips you and sets the tone for an outstanding mystery.

There isn’t a year that goes by that I don’t treat myself to a Steve Hamilton book. I give credit to The Hungry Detective for the idea of the “Very Best of” list.  I completely agree with his Very Best of Dennis Lehane and Very Best of Michael Connelly posts.

REVIEW: Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston

One of today’s hottest, young writers, Charlie Huston has done it again.  As the author of the highly acclaimed Hank Thompson trilogy, the Joe Pitt series, and The Shotgun Rule, he’s written another hit with Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death.  While Huston’s writing style is witty and sometimes caustic, he’s definitely stretched his writing muscles with Mystic Arts, and the result is a captivating tale.  Just recently, Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Novel.  The winner will be chosen in April.

Webster Goodhue’s life is a mess.  A total loser, Web has an extraordinary talent for offending everyone around him, including his friends.  When he agrees to take a job cleaning crime scenes, he finds it intriguing work.  Death agrees with him.  However, he finds himself in the middle of a trade war and a smuggling operation.  Although not very heroic, Web uses his intellect to navigate these treacherous waters and attempts to deal with his own tragic past.

Huston’s writing style and dark humor isn’t for everyone.  It’s an acquired taste, like fine wine.  With plenty of colorful language and gruesome descriptions of death scenes, Huston gives the story a realism that might offend some readers.  Nevertheless, there is beauty in his writing and his characters, who are trying to find their way in the world.  Most of all, you come to realize why Webb acts the way he does.  The chapter where Web meets his alcoholic father in a seedy bar is one of the best pieces of writing that I have ever read.

If you have a morbid sense of humor, like I do, you’ve love Mystic Arts.

The End of Hardcovers?

On a recent trip to the States, I noticed that newly released hardcovers are now almost $30.  Besides those who want to buy the latest book by their favorite author, who is willing to spend $30 on a book?  Mass Market Paperbacks are fast becoming obsolete, with a new, larger size paperback taking their place.  Now paperbacks are sold in stores, like Barnes&Nobles and Borders, at a hefty price tag of $15.99.  Wow!

With the Amazon Kindle and other e-book readers, books are becoming more and more expensive.  I just can’t see someone strolling into Borders and buying the hardcover of a new or unknown author for $30.  Can you?

What do you think?  Will hardcovers become a thing of the past?

Books I Can’t Wait to Read in 2010

FAVORITE AUTHORS –

1. The First Rule by Robert Crais (This will be my first purchase when it’s finally released in January of 2010)
2. The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston
3. Trigger City by Sean Chercover
4. The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith
5. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
6. A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva
7. Out of Range by C.J. Box
8. Pariah by Dave Zeltserman
9. Good People by Marcus Sakey
10. Imperium by Robert Harris

NEW AUTHORS (to me) –
1. A Quiet Flame by Philip Kerr
2. The Bridge of Sighs by Olen Steinhauer
3. The Cleanup by Sean Doolittle
4. Dead I May Well Be by Adrian McKinty
5. Fresh Kills by Bill Loehfelm
6. A Cure for Night by Justin Peacock
7. Mr Clarinet by Nick Stone
8. Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason
9. The Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville
10. Black Water Rising by Attica Locke

Any comments about which ones I should tackle first?  Any books that I may have missed?

Favorite Crime Fiction of 2009

Way under my normal average, I only read 35 crime novels in 2009.  Nevertheless, it’s been a productive year.  I finished reading Charlie Huston’s Joe Pitt series and devoured every one of John Connolly’s Charlie Parker series.  As far as new authors, I “discovered” Robert Ferrigno’s post-apocalyptic Assassin trilogy, and as a huge fan of the HBO series The Wire, I also read most of George Pelecanos’ Derek Strange series.  Finally, I tackled the much hyped Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in 2009.

As the year finally comes to a close, here is a list of my favorite mystery/thrillers of 2009:

1. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith (2008)
This is one of my favorite books of all-time!  The writing and the story were truly impressive.  I love how Smith uses Soviet Russia as a character.

2. Right as Rain by George Pelecanos (2001)
Urban noir at its best! Pelecanos’ command of street lingo, racial tensions, and loveable characters make for a powerful story.

3. The Killing Kind by John Connolly (2002)
The Killing Kind is Connolly’s tightest and scariest thriller.  If you like really dark crime fiction, this is your best bet.

4. Sovereign by C.J. Sansom (2007)
Sovereign is C.J. Sansom’s best historical thriller.  Sansom’s depiction of York and blistering pace made for an enjoyable read.

5. The Ghost by Robert Harris (2007)
What a story!  I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written political thriller about a former Prime Minster’s ghost writer.

6. Sins of the Assassin by Robert Ferrigno (2008)
Ferrigno’s Assassin trilogy was one of the most enjoyable reading experiences.  This second book, where Rakkim Epps journeys through the Bible Belt, is the best thriller of the series.  The characters and relationships are enduring and unforgettable.

7. Envy the Night by Michael Koryta (2008)
Envy the Night is a taut thriller and one of Koryta’s best.  Plenty of action, tension, and sharp dialogue.

8. Free Fire by C.J. Box (2007)
A captivating mystery! I learned so much about Yellowstone National Park that I can’t wait to visit.

9. The Turnaround by George Pelecanos (2008)
Wow!  This guy can really write.  What a tale of redemption!

10. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (2008)
A good mystery with a great heroine, but it didn’t live up to the hype.

On Vacation until December

I’m taking a break from blogging.  The Mystery Bookshelf will be back in December with reviews of Robert Harris’ The Ghost, Daniel Silva’s The Confessor, and Tom Rob Smith’s Child 44.

REVIEW: Early Autumn by Robert B. Parker

While Looking for Rachel Wallace was enjoyable, I really don’t understand people’s fascination in Robert B. Parker’s Spencer series.  His books always leave me wanting.  There’s never much of a plot.  Little, if any thing, takes place in the novel because it’s never developed enough.

Some critics think that Early Autumn marks Parker’s best Spencer novel, but after finally reading it, I completely disagree. Spencer basically adopts a teenaged boy, whose father and mother are divorced and don’t want him.  Instead the boy is used as a pawn so that each parent can hurt the other.  So Spenser decides to take him away from his parents and makes him eat the same food he does, do the same workout he does, and have the same philosophy that he does.  It’s about Spencer teaching a young boy how to be just like him.  Boring!

Parker has a reputation as Boston’s crime master, but he can’t hold a candle to the superb writing of Dennis Lehane.

REVIEW: The Wheelman by Duane Swierczynski

You can always count on Swierczynski to deliver a good adrenaline rush. This frenetically paced thriller follows the exploits of Lennon, a professional getaway driver.  After the three-man team successfully robs 650 grand from a bank in Philly, they place the money in a car safely stowed away in a long-term parking garage.  That’s when everything goes wrong.

The Wheelman isn’t a comic caper like Donald Westlake’s Dortmunder series.  Instead, Swierczynski writes biting prose.  It’s sharp, it’s got an edge, and it’s fast, just like a getaway specialist would drive:

“They were still on track.  As long as they could make the next couple of blocks, this might work out after all…Lennon stomped on the gas.  The car rocketed forward, tires screaming on pavement, and Lennon didn’t see her until the last minute.

The woman, pushing a blue baby stroller…

Next Chapter:

The moment Lennon saw the woman and her baby stroller, he knew the Acura was going to hit them.

Impact was two or three seconds away.  Lennon was faced with a choice: aim for the stroller, or aim for the woman…”

While the entire reading experience was certainly fun and pleasing, Swierczynski’s conclusion wasn’t as good as the rest of the book. Nevertheless, I wanted to pick up another Swerczynski thriller as soon as I finished the last page.  I’ll have to get my hands on his latest thriller: Severance Package.

REVIEW: Uneasy Relations by Aaron Elkins

This is the first cozy I’ve read in a long time.  In the mood for an intellectual mystery, I remembered how much I loved Aaron Elkins’ OLD BONES and ICY CLUTCHES.  Gideon Oliver is a modern day Sherlock Holmes, dressed up to be a prestigious physical anthropologist.  Many refer to him as the “Skeleton Detective,” since almost every book he goes to some exotic place, usually for a conference, and solves a mystery.

Uneasy Relations has an interesting premise.  The bones of a Homo Sapien woman have been unearthed clutching a Neanderthal baby boy.  Sending shock waves through the world of archaeology, this discovery has implications for human-neanderthal relations.  No one has ever produced evidence that the two ever commingled.  As Gideon travels to Gibraltar to give a talk on the now famous “Gibraltar Woman” and “Gibraltar Boy,” two attempts are made on his life.  Someone doesn’t want him to speak.

While the premise is very promising, in the end, the book isn’t satisfying.  I used to like Gideon Oliver because of his quick wit and comedic personality.  In this adventure, he’s just dry.  There’s nothing really likable about him.  I’m a reader who really enjoys characters over plot, and while you could say that this simple plot was executed brilliantly, it’s the characters that make me come back for more.

DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME (Translation: Not recommended)