Hi everyone. I'm trying to sustain a book binge by reading as much as I can this year but I sort of hit a wall. I don't really know where to go with my next book selection and I want to find something to engage with. I really enjoy detective stories about crime and its always a bonus to me if there is a bit of history injected into it. I also enjoy reading things that have a bit of a sardonic and poetic shade to everything. I'm not opposed to reading fiction or nonfiction. If I am reading fiction I like it to be a little magical realism but not full-on jack vance style high fantasy.
Here are some recent books I enjoyed
- The Dave Robicheaux series, particularly "In the electric mist with the confederate dead" and "Burning Angel"
- "Mind Hunter" by John Douglas, I tried to get into the sequel but it was too sad which is the problem I find with some true crime. I like more of the detective angle in my true crime, which is why I couldnt get into Ann Rule.
- Anything written by George Martin is a big hit for me.
- Harold Schecters "Bloodlands" series of short non-fiction true crime. This hits all the marks, history, detective mysteries, and sardonic humor.
- "Conan The Barbarian series" By Robert E. Howard, I wanted to read something by a gay author for pride month and i found that i really liked this style even if I'm not normally a fantasy reader. (wierd racism not-withstanding. less of a fan of that)
TL;DR: I like dark, wierd, mysterious, shit. Help me?
by blurrysasquatch
2 Comments
The best I can think of is Agatha Christie, perhaps And Then There Were None? It’s a pretty short read (under 300 pages I believe) but it fits what you’re saying about murder, mystery, and it keeps you guessing. It also doesn’t sway too far from reality, takes place close to a century ago, and it’s (very unlikely) not to make you feel depressed.
If you like it, absolutely read her other novels. If not, I tried 🤷♂️
Only One Left by Riley Sager