Robert Parker

[shannon_a]

Well, I've finished reading the Robert Parker novels. Not all of them, mind you, there are still several standalones, but I've read the 45 books about Spenser, Jesse Stone, and Sunny Randall.

I've generally enjoyed them. They're quick, fast reads, well-characterized and well-plotted. The recent books felt a little more phoned in--without much feeling of real jeopardy for anyone--but they were still enjoyable.

I think my only real complaint is that Parker only seems to understand one type of relationship and uses it for all of his characters. Spenser is Ritchie is Phil Randall is Jesse Stone: an emotionally distant but intelligent man. Susan Silverman is Sunny Randall is Sunny's mother is Jen Stone: a woman unable to commit. They can't live together, they're not right for each, but they're in love, and that will overcome all obstacles.

It was OK in the Spenser novels, when it was an issue toward the middle of the run, but to see the exact same relationship problems in the other two series became a bit redundant.

Nonetheless, enjoyable books.

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I'm now looking for new mystery or detective books to read. My criteria are: straight mystery (e.g., not fantasy or science fiction); a series with a central character; quick, light reading; yet quality writing. Thus, no "The Cat Who ..." books. Sue Grafton might qualify; I dunno, it's been a while since I've read them, so I'd have to read one and see if it meets my "quality" test or not.

If y'all have some ideas, I'd love to hear them.

Comments

[jheaton.livejournal.com]

Have you read Robert Crais's Elvis Cole books? He's one of my favorite detective novelists. And my mom loved J.A. Jance; I've never read any of her novels, but my mom had pretty good taste.

Oh, and Tony Hillerman's Navajo mysteries. Excellent, though the most recent books in the series have not been as good as his older stuff.

[shannon_a]

I haven't seen any of them. I'll take a look; thanks!

[chris-farrell.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you like Stephen R Donaldson, but he has a series of contemporary mysteries (starting with The Man Who Killed His Brother) that I quite enjoyed. I don't know if I'd call them light exactly, but they aren't as heavy as his other stuff either. They are strange beasts, almost parodies of detective or noir fiction in some ways, sometimes funny, sometimes dark, but one thing I find that I can always count on Donaldson for is good characters. The latest one in the series (The Man who Fought Alone) is the most mainstream and probably stands along pretty well. The first three probably should be read in sequence, but it's not that big a deal.

Not sure if the "no F/SF" clause rules out historical fiction, but I'm sure you've heard of Stephen Saylor's Sub Rosa series, which takes place in the final days of the Roman Republic, and which I quite enjoyed. After discovering him, I found out that mysteries set in ancient Rome are apparently a bit of cottage industry. Another recent book - not a series yet - is Medicus, by Ruth Downie, set in Imperial Britain. I thought it was excellent, better than Saylor even (the Saylor series has been a bit hit-and-miss in later entries).