All-nighters: Books you can't put down
Handout from the Bouchercon 2004 panel moderated by George Easter of Deadly Pleasures magazine. George asked each of the panelists to list books in the categories of Recent Favorites, Classic Novels, and Little-known Authors or Titles, and to be prepared to talk for a minute or two to explain at some length the about the plot, style, and why we like them so much. The reserve lists were in case we zipped through our main lists and still had more time to fill.
GEORGE EASTER, editor of DEADLY PLEASURES MYSTERY MAGAZINE (deadlypleasures.com)
I didn't list a Michael Connelly title nor a Lee Child title on purpose, even though they rank at the very top of my list. I knew someone else would do so, and that gave me room to talk about other books.
Recent FavoritesDIALOGUES OF THE DEAD by Reginald Hill
KEEPING WATCH by Laurie R. King
THE GUARDS by Ken Bruen
A PLACE OF EXECUTION by Val McDermid
SIX EASY PIECES by Walter MosleyClassic Novel (more than 20 years old)DANGEROUS DAVIES by Leslie ThomasLittle-known Author/Title (all at Bouchercon)FIRST DROP by Zoe Sharp
LIMESTONE COWBOY by Stuart Pawson (alternate)
DARKNESS FALLS by Margaret Murphy (alternate)Reserve ListHARD RAIN by Barry Eisler (the series of three books should be read as one)
A BRIDGE OF SIGHS by Olen Steinhauer
DIAMOND DUST by Peter Lovesey
THE BUSINESS OF DYING by Simon Kernick
IN A DRY SEASON by Peter Robinson
IN HER DEFENSE by Stephen Horn
JIM HUANG, editor of THE DROOD REVIEW (droodreview.com)Recent FavoritesWHITE MALE INFANT by Barbara D'Amato
THE WIDOW OF JERUSALEM by Alan Gordon
THE DEVIL'S HEARTH by Philip De Poy
THIS PEN FOR HIRE by Laura Levine
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME by Mark HaddonClassic NovelTHE FOOLS IN TOWN ARE ON OUR SIDE by Ross Thomas
HINDSIGHT by Peter Dickinson
THUS WAS ADONIS MURDERED by Sarah Caudwell
ROUGH CIDER by Peter LoveseyLittle-known Author/TitleTHE CONTRARY BLUES by John Billheimer
THE PERFECT DAUGHTER by Gillian LinscottReserve List
BLOOD IS THE SKY by Steve Hamilton
THE LAST KASHMIRI ROSE by Barbara Cleverly
KATE STINE, editor of MYSTERY SCENE (mysteryscenemag.com)Recent FavoritesTHE ENEMY (2004) by Lee Child.
ODE TO A BANKER (2000) by Lindsay Davis.
GRANDMOTHER SPIDER (2001) and THE WITCH'S TONGUE (2004) by James Doss Also: THE NIGHT VISITOR (1999)
THE DYING OF THE LIGHT (1994) by Michael Dibdin.
TRUE CRIME (1998) by Andrew Klavan.Classic NovelBRIARPATCH (1984) by Ross ThomasLittle-known Author/TitleTHE GIRL IN THE FACE OF THE CLOCK (2001) by Charles MathesReserve ListUNCIVIL SEASONS (1983) and TIME'S WITNESS (1989) by Michael Malone
AGATHA RAISIN AND THE QUICHE OF DEATH (1993) by M.C. Beaton
LYNN KACZMAREK, editor of MYSTERY NEWS (blackravenpress.com)Recent Favorites
THE DROWNING TREE by Carol Goodman
LAKE OF SORROWS by Erin Hart
ECHO BAY by Richard Barre
A PLACE OF EXECUTION by Val McDermid
MONKEEWRENCH by P.J. TracyClassic Novel
THE GODWULF MANUSCRIPT by Robert B. Parker
SHIBUMI by TrevanianLittle-known Author/Title
A LIKENESS IN STONE by J. Wallis MartinReserve List
IN A DRY SEASON by Peter Robinson
A DRINK BEFORE THE WAR by Dennis Lehane
FOLLY by Laurie R. King
MALLORY'S ORACLE by Carol O’Connell
THE ICE HOUSE by Minette Walters
THE CONCRETE BLONDE by Michael Connelley
THE LAKE OF DEAD LANGUAGES by Carol Goodman
OLINE H. COGDILL, mystery columnist -- THE SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINELRecent Favorites
GONE BABY GONE by Dennis Lehane
EVERY SECRET THING by Laura Lippman
A PLACE OF EXECUTION by Val McDermid
THE POET by Michael Connelly
AFTERMATH by Peter Robinson
THE FALLS by Ian RankinClassic Novel
EDWIN OF THE IRON SHOES by Marcia Muller
INDEMNITY ONLY by Sara Paretsky,
A IS FOR ALIBI by Sue Grafton
THE BLACK ECHO by Michael ConnellyLittle-known Author/Title (I used this for fairly new authors)
THE HUNDREDTH MAN by Jack Kerley
HAUNTED GROUND by Erin Hart
BLUE EDGE OF MIDNIGHT by Jonathon King
THICKER THAN WATER by P.J. ParrishReserve List
THE SWEET FOREVER by George Pelecanos
KISSCUT by Karin Slaughter
WINTER & NIGHT by S.J. Rozan
THE LAST DETAIL by Harlan Coben
DARK HOLLOW by John Connelly
PERFECT SAX by Jerrilyn Farmer
CHRIS ALDRICH, of MYSTERY NEWS (blackravenpress.com)Recent Favorites
ABSENT FRIENDS by SJ Rozan
THE ENEMY by Lee Child
LA REQUIEM by Robert Crais
TRIBECA BLUES by Jim Fusilli
BLACK MAPS by Peter SpiegelmanClassic Novel
THUS WAS ADONIS MURDERED by Sarah Caudwell
GAUDY NIGHT by Dorothy L. SayersLittle-known Author/Title
ALONE AT NIGHT by K.J. Erickson
TWISTED CITY by Jason Starr
THE POISONED ROSE by D. Daniel JudsonReserve List
DREAMING OF THE BONES by Deborah Crombie
THE #1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY by Alexander McCall Smith
CLOSE TO HOME by Peter Robinson
FORTY WORDS FOR SORROW by Giles Blunt
THE MERMAIDS SINGING by Val McDermid
THE LAST COYOTE by Michael Connelly
John Harvey's Charlie Resnick series
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