Monthly Sub-Genre Challenge 2016 : What Type Are You?

Each monthly Carol will randomly select a sub-genre of Mystery and Suspense for us to discuss our favourite books and recommendations. The group will then choose books to read in this sub-genre and post comments or reviews about the books read. Even a sentence will do!

June 2016 - Professional Sleuth

The professional sleuth is an amateur sleuth in a professional setting, preferably a setting which is unique and intriguing. Not only is inside information used, but solving the crime returns order to a cloistered environment. Private eye novels are a popular type of mystery, described as books about “…tough guys and gals who make trouble their business. They’re not about cops, plucky librarians, nosy old spinsters or talking cats." He/she could also be called a Private Detective

Just Some Suggestions:
Robert Crais's Elvis Cole & Joe Pike series The Monkey's Raincoat is Book #1
A Trouble of Fools by Linda Barnes - This is the 1st book in the Carlotta Caryle sereis
The Guards by Ken Bruen - This is the 1st book in the Jack Taylor series
James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux series Neon Rain is the 1st book in the series
Lee Child's Jack Reacher series - Killing Floor is the 1st book in the series
Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowe series - The Big Sleep is the 1st book in the series
John Connolly's Charlie "Bird" Parker series -Every Dead Thing is the 1st book in the series
Sue Graffton''s "Alphabet" series -"A" is for Alibi is the 1st book in the series
David Housewright's Mac Mackenzie series - Hard Ticket Home is the 1st book in the series
Laura Lippman's Tess Monaghan series - Charm City is the 1st book in the series
David Baldacci's King and Maxwell series and The Amos Decker series - King and Maxwell is the 1st book and Memory Man is the 1st book in the Amos Decker series.
John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series - The Deep Blue Goodbye is the 1st book in the series

Okay ...just type into your search engine the words "books about armature sleuths/fiction" and you will get loads of sites or if your libraries catalog has a "subject" search you can use that. Oh...and don't forget Robert Parker's "Spencer" series.

LibraryCin made these suggestions:

I did a search (on LibraryThing) to see what's on my tbr with the tag "private detectives" (the search, the way they do it, includes many similar tags). I might have to confirm that these are PIs, and not "nosy old spinsters" (Miss Marple?)! But, some that came up for me include:

- The Mysterious Affair at Styles / Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot)
- Dog On It / Spencer Quinn
- The Lost Mine Murders / Sharon Rowse

I'm leaning toward The Lost Mine Murders or the Agatha Christie. Apparently the human inDog On It is a PI, but the story is told from the dog's POV, so I'm not sure...

Suffer Little Children by Peter Tremayne 4 stars
Sister Fidelma was a dalaigh, the Irish 7th century version of a private detective/lawyer. Count it or delete it?

from GoodReads: In A.D. 644, a respected scholar of the Celtic Church is murdered during a visit to the Irish Kingdom of Muman. The kingdom's ruler summons Sister Fidelma to solve the brutal murder, but her time is limited. The victim, as it turns out, was a comrade of the arrogant King of Fearna, who threatens war over the suspicious death of his friend But during her inquiries, Sister Fidelma comes to realize that there is more at hand than what appears, and finds her own life caught in the balance!

my thoughts: I really enjoyed this episode in the Sister Fidelma series. She is an interesting character in a time period and place where women had a surprising amount of freedom. The historical notes were very interesting and the book was extremely well-researched. The author did a great job of winnowing down the suspects and if you were paying attention, the clues were there for you to figure out the culprit along with Sister Fidelma. I enjoyed the resolution, but I also enjoyed the ride Tremayne took you along to get to the resolution.

I going to read Memory Man by David Baldacci as my Professional Sleuth choice.

>5 EadieB: I'm listening to it on my commute at the moment, about half-way.

>6 Andrew-theQM:
Do you like it?

>7 EadieB: Yes very different and intriguing. The main character is quite unique due to a sporting injury in the past. Be aware it starts off with a bang. Still can't work out who is behind it all.

>8 Andrew-theQM:
Sounds good! I may read that next.

I've just downloaded A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton from my library and Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage by M C Beaton. These both meet the sub genre challenge.

Possibly all three Group Reads could meet this theme this month?

>10 Andrew-theQM:
I've read a few Sue Grafton - they are not too gritty just light mystery. Probably similar to Evanovich's books.

I think The Guards by Ken Bruen would be a good read -- I just finished watching the Jack Taylor series and would like to read the first book in the series. I love mysteries set in the UK especially Scotland; Shetland Isles etc.

>13 JaneAustenNut: I love the Jack Taylor series DVD's. Actually I liked it so much I picked up the first book in the series...The Guards a week ago but haven't gotten to it yet.

Have you watched The Field of Blood based on Denise Mina's Paddy Meehan books? It takes place in Scotland. I just finished the first book in her Alex Morrow series but didn't really care for it much. Could be because it was the first of the series and she was trying to introduce all of her characters. I'll try another one. Those Brit's sure know how to do a mystery:)

You might also like...if you haven't already seen them... the Vera Stanhope series and the Shetland Island series both based on Ann Cleeve books.

>13 JaneAustenNut: I loved the Lewis Trilogy by Peter May and the Shetland Islands Series by Ann Cleeves which were both set in the Scottish Islands.

>15 Andrew-theQM: How could I forget Peter May??? Set 3 of the Shetland Island series is out on "Them That Shall Not Be Named". I have to decide if I want to wait or if I want to pay $40.00 plus shipping for it:)

>16 Carol420: May be worth waiting. I hate paying delivery charges, if you are buying from a site you shouldn't be paying their delivery costs. This is why a couple of years ago I stopped buying books from 'them that shall not be named'. I now buy from companies where delivery is free! Or buy them from a second hand bookshop or charity shop.

I can wait until Christmas and let my hubby pay the delivery charges:)

>18 Carol420:
You can check to see if Best Buys has it at their store.

>19 EadieB: Best Buy is my buddy but they said they probably won't get in until closer to Christmas and then more than likely only on line. Which is okay. They'll send it to our local store and not charge me shipping. Wal-Mart will do that also.

>20 Carol420:
Sounds like a plan!

>20 Carol420: >21 EadieB: Don't let 'them' win!

Splinter the Silence by Val McDermid
#9 in the Tony Hill / Carol Jordan Series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This book starts out with Carol Jordan in a state of flux, MIT no more, and her life in free fall. Can Tony, who she is barely talking to now, help her out of this situation?
It was good to see the series get back on track, after one or two books where I felt the very essence of the series was lost to some degree. In some sense the investigation at the heart of the book was secondary to the other events going on in the story. A number of women's suicides appear to be nothing but that, however Tony Hill feels different about these and seeks to find out if there are any connections or if there is more to these suicides. This was a very good read and I feel it has now been set up for more books in the series, especially with the point the book was left at, with a twist at the very end! Hopefully we won't have to wait too long.

I've finally started reading Dog On It (last night). Hopefully I'll finish in the next couple of days.

>24 LibraryCin: That definitely looks like one that needs to go on my TBR...so cute!

Dog On It / Spencer Quinn
4 stars

Bernie is a private investigator. Chet is his dog. They work together to solve cases and this story (series) is told from Chet's point of view. Cynthia comes to Bernie when her daughter, Madison, goes missing; Madison returns shortly after, but Bernie knows she's made up a story to explain where she's been. When Madison is missing again a few days later, they have to look again at what's going on.

This was really fun, from Chet's point of view! Loved how distracted Chet got when, even while trying to help Bernie and get him to understand, if there was food or treats suddenly available (as an example), the food/treats would be the focus. I really enjoyed it and will definitely continue the series.

Cross by Ken Bruen
Jack Taylor series Book #3
4.5★'s

Jack Taylor used to be cop...a very good cop... and then life got in the way and Jack's life unraveled. Along with a Cody...a young man that refused to take no for an answer...they set out on the next best thing than being a cop that Jack could find... being a private investigator. Jack's personal life gets in the way in this endeavor also and Cross opens with Cody in a coma in the hospital barely hanging onto life and Jack taking up residence at any local Galway pub. It seems there are times when Jack is merely reacting to events and appears lost in a world he no longer understands.

Ken Brune's writing is like no one else's that I can think of. He brings his characters to life with such imagination. Jack Taylor reminds me of a train wreck on it's way to happen. You don't want to watch but you can't turn away. My grandmother and mother came from Ireland and I can see where the author gives the reader a real sense of the Irish...the religion...the cultural and the historic influences on their lives. This series and the characters are diffidently unique.

With the move and all I forgot to post: I finished J.D. Robb's Witness in Death. I'm slowly making my way through this series by audio. The narrator is great. The mysteries in each are well done. I love nearly all the characters and love the way they continue to grow and develop from book to book. I was totally surprised that I like this series because I'm not a fan of reading sex scenes and I'd heard this series was rife with them. Another reason for me to remember to try books outside my comfort zone. In this 10th book of the series there's a great twist: Eve Dallas, our intrepid New York City Homicide Detective, is a witness to the murder. This book was another four star read for me. The series is best read in order.

>28 bluebird_: I also love this series...especially that hunky Irishman:)

Memory Man by David Baldacci - ****
Book Description
Amos Decker's life changed forever--twice.

The first time was on the gridiron. A big, towering athlete, he was the only person from his hometown of Burlington ever to go pro. But his career ended before it had a chance to begin. On his very first play, a violent helmet-to-helmet collision knocked him off the field for good, and left him with an improbable side effect--he can never forget anything.

The second time was at home nearly two decades later. Now a police detective, Decker returned from a stakeout one evening and entered a nightmare--his wife, young daughter, and brother-in-law had been murdered.

His family destroyed, their killer's identity as mysterious as the motive behind the crime, and unable to forget a single detail from that horrible night, Decker finds his world collapsing around him. He leaves the police force, loses his home, and winds up on the street, taking piecemeal jobs as a private investigator when he can.

But over a year later, a man turns himself in to the police and confesses to the murders. At the same time a horrific event nearly brings Burlington to its knees, and Decker is called back in to help with this investigation. Decker also seizes his chance to learn what really happened to his family that night. To uncover the stunning truth, he must use his remarkable gifts and confront the burdens that go along with them. He must endure the memories he would much rather forget. And he may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

MEMORY MAN will stay with you long after the turn of the final page.

My Review
This is the first book in the Amos Decker series. It is a tale of redemption and revenge with a shocking beginning. An exciting plot with well-drawn characters lead to a satisfying climax. I found the main character of Amos Decker to be rather unique and interesting. This book held my interest until the very end. I look forward to reading the next in the series. If you enjoy Baldacci's writing, I'm sure you'll enjoy this new series featuring Amos Decker.

I finished Zodiac by Neal Stephenson. 3 stars
Thanks to Carol for finding me a book to read in this category that was NOT the start of a new series for me. LOL!

from the book description:
Meet Sangamon Taylor, a New Age Sam Spade who sports a wet suit instead of a trench coat and prefers Jolt from the can to Scotch on the rocks. He knows about chemical sludge the way he knows about evil—all too intimately. And the toxic trail he follows leads to some high and foul places. Before long Taylor’s house is bombed, his every move followed, he’s adopted by reservation Indians, moves onto the FBI’s most wanted list, makes up with his girlfriend, and plays a starring role in the near-assassination of a presidential candidate. Closing the case with the aid of his burnout roommate, his tofu-eating comrades, three major networks, and a range of unconventional weaponry, Sangamon Taylor pulls off the most startling caper in Boston Harbor since the Tea Party.

I'm a fan of Neal Stephenson--I've read and enjoyed Cryptonomicon, Diamond Age and Snow Crash. I have others of his on my TBR shelf but they are all quite long tomes and will have to wait until I'm ready to make the kind of commitment they will require. Zodiac is "lighter" (and shorter) than what I've come to expect from Stephenson, it's one of his early works. This was nothing exceptional; just an ok read for me. The book description made it seem like it would be a lot more exciting than was my actual reading experience. : (
For someone new to Stephenson, I'd recommend Snow Crash as a good place to start.

>31 bluebird_: This is one author I would like to get to, thanks for the suggestion of a book to start with. :)

>31 bluebird_: Glad you liked it, Bluebird. It's getting increasingly difficult to find books that aren't part of a series or aren't book number 50 in the series. I don't mind ROO but those that don't want to do that are in for a long hull.

>33 Carol420: It's getting harder and harder to stick to my plan of finishing a series before starting a new one. So few authors actually finish their series! How many books are in J.D. Robb's In Death series? 40, 50? I don't like to ROO, so suspect I will just ignore my plan and have a multitude of series in progress. The only problem is my swiss cheese memory. If I wait too long between books I don't recall much of the prior book and feel that I should go back and re-read it. I try to "binge" read a series when possible, but often get sidetracked by other prettier, shinier books that my friends at LT and GR (Shelfari and LM) recommend. (or the darn author hasn't written as fast as I can read and am waiting impatiently for the next one). Patrick Rothfuss--I'm looking at you!

>34 bluebird_: Yes can be a problem when you wait at least a year between books and struggle to remember what happened last time! Last time I looked I had more series on the go than can count! At some point need to produce a list of series I am reading.

>33 Carol420: >34 bluebird_: I don't like to ROO so series can be frustrating for me. I like trilogies (a definite end until they do "filler" books..lol) or I try to wait until a series is either done or so far along that I don't have to worry about running out of material for a long time (eg Alex Delaware, Lucas Davenport, etc)

I have to say trilogies have been some of my best reads in recent years.

>34 bluebird_: Book # 43 in the In Death series will come out in September and #44 is scheduled for release in February 2017. I quit counting my series after I reached 150 and there were still so many more waiting to get on the list. I know there are some that I really watch for and others that I just pick up when I see them. Problem is there are so many that I really watch for.

>36 bhabeck: I also like trilogies, Brenda. The problem then is if I get a really bad first book and it doesn't improve by the second one I've wasted good reading time but if all three books are great I don't want them to end...I want more and most authors can't be talked into making a trilogy into a series.

>37 Andrew-theQM: I agree Andrew...I've had some really good trilogies and one of the best ones is one we did as a group read.

I can think of three trilogies that we've read as Group Reads that have been great:

The Sancti Trilogy by Simon Toyne
The James Maxted Trilogy by Robert Goddard
The Order of the Sanguines by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell.

Another of my favourite Trilogies is the Jack West Junior Trilogy by Matthew Reilly.

>39 Andrew-theQM: The Jack West trilogy is one of the ones I want more of:)

>40 Carol420: Yes that could have easily have been turned into a longer series.

One of my favorite trilogies was the Timothy Wilde trilogy by Lyndsay Faye. It's about the first police force in New York City in 1845.

Gods of Gotham
Seven for a Secret
The Fatal Flame

>42 Olivermagnus: Will have to check that one out.