Looking for good mystery fiction.

Discussion in 'Books and Music' started by Marvolo, Aug 5, 2012.

  1. Marvolo Registered

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    Decided to delve into the mystery section of fiction, but I don't really know where to start and which current author's are worth reading. As far as mystery I've only read Dan Browns Da Vinci Code and Angel's and Demons. Low bar, but I enjoyed both.

    I'm looking for:

    1. Well written characters that I can love and hate depending.

    2. Intriguing plot.

    I'm interested in global and conspiracy mysteries especially those involving secret organizations and cults. I'm not hung up on only that, however.

    Any suggestions are appreciated.:yay:
     
  2. Victarion Iron Captain

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    The Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
    Reliquary by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
    Still Life with Crows by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

    Forget the film adaption of The Relic, if you've seen it. It was garbage compared to the book. If you like these, then I recommend Brimstone by the same authors. Its got a more global scope, though some of the characters were introduced in the first three I recommended.
     
  3. Spuzz The Spuzziest of Spuzzes

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    May I recommend "The Hardy Boys".
     
  4. redmarvel Red, White and Buxom

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    Agatha Christie did quite a few International Spy type mysteries.

    My current favourite Mystery author is Carol Higgins Clark, private eye mysteries.

    I'm also reading Louise Penny but her stuff is cop mysteries.
     
  5. moviedoors Indeed (P)

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    Lee Child's Jack Reacher series is a hell of a lot of fun. They're equal measures mystery and pure badass thriller, and Reacher is a kick-ass protagonist. Child's prose is efficient and exciting. I'm not going to say they're great literature, but Child has etched out a strong voice within the formula with just enough twists and smarts to keep it from being rote.

    And no, Tom Cruise is not Jack Reacher.

    I've read most of the Preston and Child novels and they were good when I was in high school, but I don't find much appeal in them anymore. Several of those novels are just straight up bad. Preston's true crime novel The Monster of Florence is a hell of a read, but the only other solo novel I've read from him, Blasphemy, was truly awful.

    I just dove into Joe R Lansdale's Hap and Leonard series and they're a lot of fun too. Drenched in humor and local color.
     
    #5 moviedoors, Aug 6, 2012
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2012
  6. HLReasby Registered

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    OMG, yes... I was so disappointed that the film version of the Relic excised Pendergast entirely, though I can understand why. He's one of my absolute favorite characters and is, to me, very much a modern day Sherlock Holmes.
     
  7. redmarvel Red, White and Buxom

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  8. Marvolo Registered

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    I picked up The Relic tonight and have begun reading it. Im not very far but so far its off to a good start. I gotta say it feels great being back in the lighter side of literature. Ive been reading heavy history, psychology, and physics books off and on for over a year now. My brain was in need of some escapist fun.
     
  9. jonathancrane I love Marvel, DC & EC!

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    The Conan Doyle Sherlick Holmes pantheon.

    If you like global conspiracies, I recommend the gn's XIII.
     
  10. Marvolo Registered

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    Ive got the barnes and nobles collection. Sherlock is such an interesting literary character and i can relate in some ways to him. Its def on my to read list.
     
  11. redmarvel Red, White and Buxom

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    I started reading my August issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine today. One of the features is "Blog Bytes" by Bill Crider. In which he recommends various blogs mystery readers might like. Well Marvolo, he seems to have two in there just for you, both focusing on espionage fiction:

    www.spyguysandgals.com

    doubleosection.blogspot.com
     
  12. Marvolo Registered

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    Thanks! Il check those out.:)
     
  13. fcabtaxi123 Registered

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  14. Roose Bolton Son of Katas

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    Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar series are pretty enjoyable mysteries, engaging plot, clever twists and the two main characters Myron and his sociopathic best friend Win are really fun and bitingly witty.
     
  15. Baramos Registered

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    Robert Ludlum novels are pretty good about global conspiracies and secret organizations. If you like Dan Brown's novels, the mystery in The Gemini Contenders is similar in that it also revolves around a religious organization trying to cover up an ancient religious mystery...with murder.

    Almost all his other novels revolve around political conspiracies to assassinate, control the world, etc. as well, and there are quite a few (23 according to Wikipedia), so if you like The Gemini Contenders, have at it. He also wrote the Bourne novels (The Bourne Identity, etc.), although the plots differ wildly from the movies (but that just means you aren't bored with the same plot twice).

    If you are interested in the middle ages, I have a really good mystery novel to recommend: The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco. It's a great book. It's about a medieval monk named William of Baskerville who goes to a rural monastery to solve a series of bizarre murders that have occurred there.
     
  16. jen5key Registered

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  17. redmarvel Red, White and Buxom

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    Ohhhh kayyyy.... ummm... perhaps this would be more understandable if it were posted in a language you actually speak. As English, these phrases just don't work. I almost think this ran through 3 different translations to get to this state OR you're a native of the planet Yoda came from.
     
  18. neums Registered

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    If you can look past the upcoming Tyler Perry abomination, you can't go wrong with the Alex Cross series:
    Along Came a Spider
    Kiss the Girls

    Jack & Jill
    Cat and Mouse
    Pop Goes the Weasel
    Roses Are Red
    Violets Are Blue
    Four Blind Mice
    The Big Bad Wolf
    London Bridges
    Mary, Mary
    Cross

    Double Cross

    Cross Country

    Alex Cross's Trial
    I, Alex Cross
    Cross Fire
    Kill Alex Cross


    A series I really dig is the Sigma Force series by James Rollins. Former military who are trained in the sciences work for a secret agency within DARPA who uncover secrets behind historical events and artifacts. Kind of like a blockbuster in a book. They are:
    Sandstorm

    Map of Bones

    Black Order
    The Judas Strain
    The Last Oracle

    The Doomsday Key

    The Devil Colony
    Bloodline
     
  19. Thornton Registered

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    The hardy boys is an awesome book!
    I have found the recommendation here
    and I can say it's one of the best fiction books I have ever read!
    Thanks!

    ________________
    mp4 to mp3 converter free
     
  20. Baramos Registered

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    That's a spambot/bot account.
     
  21. Ansel Registered

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    Hi Marvolo,
    Recently read "the girl with the dragon tattoo" by Stieg Larsson and will recommend you to read this best crime and mysterious book.
    summer starter music festival
     
    #21 Ansel, Sep 18, 2012
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2012

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