How to Choose a Murder Mystery
Those of us who regularly read crime novels know that despite their down-market reputation, writing an engaging page-turner (I bow to you Michael Connelly) is not as easy as it looks, and my Kindle is full of half-read disappointments.
Among the many genres of crime novel, the one most likely to disappoint is the amateur detective. Although there are well plotted and executed exceptions, if an amateur detective is a cocktail waitress, circus performer, or cat, read a sample before you buy!
I recently read the latest in several long running crime series-one police procedural and two amateur detective.
- Michael Connelly The Waiting (A Ballard and Bosch Novel) Always a page-turner.
- Lee Child and Andrew Child In Too Deep (Jack Reacher novel) Really, can we even distinguish the novels in this series; the plots are all the same?! Though familiar, I thought this one was better than the last few.
- Rhys Bowen We Three Kings (A Royal Spyness Mystery) This historical mystery series lost its spunk, but the early novels were rather charming, especially if you are a fan of the British Royal family.