Re: Please Help! Need Great Reads!

"[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On 01 Dec 2003 20:40:30 GMT, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Karnak17) wrote:
>
> >Hi everyone.  I have been lurking looking for recommendations, and as you
may
> >imagine, I now have dozens of them.
> >
> >My problem is I seem to be very picky.  Most of the mysteries I read, I
just
> >don't like all that much.  I don't have a lot of time to read, and would
like
> >something really first-rate for a change.
>
> <snip>
>
> >Can you guys help?  What books with strong female protagonists and/or
> >supporting characters do you think count as classics (or future classics)
of
> >the mystery/suspense/gothic/thriller/ghost story genres, and which are so
good
> >even I might like them.  I might have better luck with standalones than
with
> >series mysteries.  Any ideas?
>
> Perhaps Laura Lippman - Tess Monaghan series?
> or Julie Smith - Skip Langdon series
>
> John P
>

Good suggestions, John, at least as far as I am concerned.  Also:

Alexander McCall Smith's _No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency_ series. You either
love the lyrical tone or hate it, but they are short reads.
S. J. Rozan's Lydia Chin/Bill Smith series. One is in Lydia's voice, the
next in Bill's.  I'm reading _Concourse_  now.
I though of Sparkle Hayter's books, but I got the impression that you don't
care for humor and/or misadventure.  The same with Jane's Oriana Papazaglou.
They are fun, with a good poke at romance book writing.  If you like
historical mysteries, Fidelis Morgan's _Unnatural Fire_ and so on are well
done, addictive reads.
I really liked Jasper Fforde's _Lost in a Good Book_.  You don't have to be
well read, but it helps a little.
I haven't seen all the messages yet, mostly because they haven't all been
downloaded.  Did you not like Sharyn McCrumb?  How about Laurie R. King's
_The Beekeeper's Apprentice_?
Know I missed lots.
kat >^.^<
Just got back last night-- only 1400 messages to go!
in Wisconsin