So Many Books So Little Time

One of the things you have lots of time for when cruising is reading. Here is an annotatde list of some of Jims favorite series authors:

Randy Wayne White

Doc Ford is a marine biologist who used to be some sort of operative in a super secret government organization. Now he lives at a marina in SW Florida where he runs a biological supply company, but keeps getting dragged back into his old government doings. Read Sanibel Flats first.

James Grippando

Grippando writes outdoors at his south Florida home, and most of his novels are set in Florida, chiefly in Miami. He writes novels of suspense in the genre of crime fiction, including psychological thrillers and legal thrillers, many of which draw upon his experiences as a trial lawyer. (From Wikipedia)

Stephen Hunter

The main character is Bob Lee Swagger who was a Marine sniper in Vietnam. He keeps getting involved in situations that call upon his old sniper skills. Lots of details about long distance shooting. Read Point of Impact first. This book was made into the 2007 movie Shooter staring Mark Wahlberg.

Tom Corcoran

Alex Rutledge is a freelance photographer living in Key West who is always getting involved with cases of the Key West police and Monroe County sheriff.

P T Deutermann

Many feature Cam Richter who is a deputy sheriff and the cases are set in North Carolina. Read Cat Dancers first. Also try Darkside which is not a Cam Richer.

Robert Crais

Crais's usual protagonist and first-person narrator is private detective Elvis Cole, a wisecracking ex-Ranger tough guy with a heart of gold and all the charm of his namesake, Elvis Presley. Almost as well known is Cole's partner Joe Pike, an intimidating ex-Marine who never smiles. The author tackles a variety of subjects in his novels. The most frequently recurring theme in Crais's books is the value of honesty; in his works, the long-term value of coming clean always outweighs the short-term benefits of covering up the problem. Crais also delves into issues of family and loyalty. (From Wikipedia)

Harlan Coben

Myron Bolitar is a sports agent and former professional basketball player who gets involved investigating murders that sometimes involve his clients and sometimes not. His best friend is Win Lockwood who defines “walk softly and carry a big stick”. Mostly set in northern New Jersey and New York. Read in order.

Lee Child

Jack Reacher is a retired army military policeman. His only possession is a folding toothbrush. He travels the country and is always helping the underdog. Read in order starting with Killing Floor.

Les Roberts

Milan Jacovich is a Cleveland PI and most of the cases take place in Cleveland. The address Roberts uses for his character’s apartment is about three blocks from our condo. Read in order starting with Pepper Pike.

Steve Hamilton

Alex McNight is a disability retired Detroit policeman who moves up to the Upper Peninsula to manage a set of vacation cabins he inherited. Trouble finds him there. Great descriptions of weather in the UP.

Alan Furst

Often compared to the works of such writers as Graham Greene and Eric Ambler, Furst's novels — which he calls "historical espionage" — have a literary quality that sets them apart from most thrillers. In addition to Greene and Ambler, Furst cites Joseph Roth, Joseph Conrad, and John le Carré as important influences. Furst has been particularly successful in evoking the cities and characters of Eastern Europe during the period from 1933 to 1944. While all his historical espionage novels are loosely connected (protagonists in one book might appear as minor characters in another), only The World at Night and Red Gold are linked together as prequel and sequel. (From Wikipedia)

Olen Steinhauer

Police procedurals set in a fictitious eastern European country. They start right after WW 2 and continue to the present.

Henning Mankell

Swedish author who’s main character is Kurt Wallander and the stories are police procedurals set in Sweden.

James Lee Burke

Author of the Dave Robicheaux police procedurals set in Louisiana. He has also started two other series, one set in Texas and the other in Montana. All contain great character development and incredible descriptions of the environment.

S M Stirling

Many sci fi books, but I like his alternative history series about the Change. Start with Islands in the Sea of Time and Dies the Fire.

Reed Arvin

Legal thrillers featuring flawed lawyers. The books remind me of John Grisham. Arvin is actually a record producer and keyboardist.

Nevada Barr

All Barr's novels are about the adventures of US Park Service Ranger Anna Pigeon. Barr herself was a ranger and all the novels are set in US Parks. We have already visited one (Cumberland Island National Seashore) and expect to visit more on the trip.