I adore pulpy adventure stories in the Indiana Jones tradition: treasure hunts, mystery, clues, adventure, and all the better if set in the late 1800s – early 20th century. So much of what’s out there falls in the heavily commercial-end of the spectrum. I’m looking for more upmarket or literary take on this kind of story. Adult only, please. Not a YA reader.
by East_of_Amoeba
9 Comments
*Kahawa,* by Donald Westlake.
How about The Abominable by Dan Simmons?
Believe it or not, a lot of the Mack Bolan Destroyer series books are well-written thrillers.
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Finna by Nino Cipri and its sequel
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
I don’t think any of these are exactly what you asked for, but they all hit most of your requests and, in my opinion, match some of the vibes you’re going for.
The Amelia Peabody series
The Flashman series by Fraser
The Yiddish Policeman’s Union and Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon
Motherless Brooklyn by Johnathan Lethem
Maybe The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt or Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco