Read any good books lately ?

Thunderpussy

Getting back into reading, with the Fleming Bond novels, but was wondering if anyone had
a few suggestions for modern thrillers. I was thinking of trying some of the Andy NcNab
stuff as I'd like to get a taste of story telling with a realistic feel. So any suggestions would
be very welcome.

Barbel

Sorry, TP, I'm working my way through the "Solar Pons" series by August Derleth (and later Basil Copper). They don't fit your needs!

Thunderpussy

Never even heard of these, so googled them. )
are they any good ?. I have read a few of the Sherlock Holmes stories, and the audio version of the first Lucifer Box story.

TemplarXIX

The McNab books are great (and he is a lovely bloke too). But once you have read a few they all get a bit samey, also he name checks watch makers more times then even Jeffery Deaver. Which is fine cos McNab actually wears those watches.

If you haven't already I would recommend any of Lee Child's Jack Reacher books. Or any of the Covert One series that Robert Ludlum started writing once he'd died.


Mind you, I am also of the belief that any Bond fan should be forced to read the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell. I always see Richard Sharpe as an 18th century Bond, and the research was amazing.

Number24

The novels of Philllip Kerr and Tom Robb Smith are very good. I also read a lot of Lee Child and Jo Nesbø.

Thunderpussy

Thanks, -{ I've read before that the Jack Reacher Books are supposed to be great ( Not like the film )
Funny I was a big fan of Sharpe on TV but never thought of readin any, Go Figure. )
Although I prefer the modern world stuff, and thought it may seem more geunine coming from an ex
Soldier.

I check out Philllip Kerr and Tom Robb Smith, -{

Barbel

Thunderpussy wrote:

Never even heard of these, so googled them. )
are they any good ?. I have read a few of the Sherlock Holmes stories, and the audio version of the first Lucifer Box story.

If you enjoy the Doyle stories and wish there were more, they're reasonable substitutes.

David Schofield

My time and concentration level for new fiction is pretty zero.... so I've been working my way through various '60s "wish they'd thought of Bond" novels.

Read James Leasor's "Passport to Oblivion" (Where the Spies Are), Andrew York's " The Eliminator" (Danger Route), Geoffrey Jenkins "A Twist of Sand" and John Gardner's Boysie Oakes series. And all of 'em have been made into films... so when they drag I can pop in the movie and remind myself of what I'd forgotten had happened!!! )

And the Gardner series starts of really well. And then he runs out of puff, and seems to just e churning 'em out for the cash and contractual obligations. Now where have I come across that before from JG...

Barbel

David Schofield wrote:

And the Gardner series starts of really well. And then he runs out of puff, and seems to just e churning 'em out for the cash and contractual obligations. Now where have I come across that before from JG...

That's pretty much true, although his self-referential "Traitor's Exit", which reflects on the 60s spy fiction scene from an insider's POV and is among his best, comes fairly late in the Boysie series. "Founder Member" and "The Airline Pirates", which come before and after it, are definitely going-through-the-motions jobs, as are his later Bonds.

David Schofield

Barbel wrote:

David Schofield wrote:

And the Gardner series starts of really well. And then he runs out of puff, and seems to just e churning 'em out for the cash and contractual obligations. Now where have I come across that before from JG...

That's pretty much true, although his self-referential "Traitor's Exit", which reflects on the 60s spy fiction scene from an insider's POV and is among his best, comes fairly late in the Boysie series. "Founder Member" and "The Airline Pirates", which come before and after it, are definitely going-through-the-motions jobs, as are his later Bonds.

Found "Traitor's Exist" to be too unsubtle and cackhanded for what I perceived Gardner was aiming at; a couple of his Boysie short stories do the self-spoofing job far better, IMO.

But any Bond fan must read "The Liquidator", brilliant writing and a super piss-take out of everything James Bond embodied at the time. Makes one wonder what Glidrose were thinking in 1981... -{

Barbel

Never thought much of his short stories. And he'd broadened his field somewhat by the time he was approached re Bond. Or perhaps, to paraphrase what I say is the under-rated "Traitor's Exit", they tried Len and J le C and they wouldn't cough so they handed the cookies in his direction.

David Schofield

Without derailing the thread - and I met Gardner at the Wembley Bond Fan Club Convention in 1982 and he seemed a really nice guy - I can't but help feel he always held a certain contempt for Bond, enjoyed having turned gamekeeper, withheld it for a few books, and then he finally cracked. But the cash and the contract were a nice comfort blanket to hold onto.

They should have signed John Pearson or Chris Wood in 1981. Silly old buggers, Glidrose.

Barbel

David Schofield wrote:

They should have signed John Pearson or Chris Wood in 1981. Silly old buggers, Glidrose.

Agreed!

Asp9mm

Jack Reacher is great. The John Rain series is good too.

minigeff

I prefer the 'Forgotten Voices' series of books which tell various tales of conflict from the people who were there. The series covers a wide range of conflicts from both world wars, the Falklands and Iraq and Afghanistan. I thoroughly recommend them for anyone wishing to have a small idea of what war is really like.

Before anyone wonders, no I've not served in the forces, but I prefer to gain my insight into them from the front line as it were instead of bias and agenda-riddle press releases.

Sir Miles

TemplarXIX wrote:

Or any of the Covert One series that Robert Ludlum started writing once he'd died.

Writing them AFTER he'd died ? Great trick if you can do it

Sorry ;%

TemplarXIX wrote:

Mind you, I am also of the belief that any Bond fan should be forced to read the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell. I always see Richard Sharpe as an 18th century Bond, and the research was amazing.

I read a few of those many years ago and they are a good read...

I've just read a couple of Jasper Fforde novels...but they don't fit your brief either...very entertaining though...they are set in Reading with Detective Inspector Jack Spratt the head of the Nursery Crime Division...very inventive too... -{

Barbel

Sir Miles wrote:

TemplarXIX wrote:

Or any of the Covert One series that Robert Ludlum started writing once he'd died.

Writing them AFTER he'd died ? Great trick if you can do it

Sorry ;%
. -{

You'd be surprised! Many authors become quite prolific after they die- Virginia Andrews is one of the best examples, and Ludlum is following suit. I confidently expect Tom Clancy to keep churning them out.

Sir Miles

Barbel wrote:

Sir Miles wrote:

TemplarXIX wrote:

Or any of the Covert One series that Robert Ludlum started writing once he'd died.

Writing them AFTER he'd died ? Great trick if you can do it

Sorry ;%
. -{

You'd be surprised! Many authors become quite prolific after they die- Virginia Andrews is one of the best examples, and Ludlum is following suit. I confidently expect Tom Clancy to keep churning them out.

It's a pity Tom Clancy didn't churn out more whilst alive - of the type he wrote by himself...couldn't stand all that collaborative nonsense X-(

Charmed & Dangerous

TP have you tried reading John Connolly? Excellent series of thrillers featuring a private detective named Charlie Parker (no not that one ) ). Really well written though each has a slightly supernatural element and they can be a bit grisly. But not without one witty one liners and larger than life villains, so they have that in common with Fleming...

Thunderpussy

-{ Thanks everyone, I'm going to give a few of these a try. It's great with the kindle as I won't have
too look to hard to find some. )