Weekend Reading

After reading Sarah Weinman's review of Thomas Pynchon's INHERENT VICE, I'm going to have to pick up a copy and see for myself. He lightens up with this one, Weinman speculates that could have read Hard Case Crime novels as research, and the book trailer definitely intrigued me.

Also new to the shelves is VANISHED by Joe Finder. This is the first in the Nick Heller series, a high powered investigator with Special Forces training. All of Finder's novels are gripping page-turners, so VANISHED is a perfect weekend read.

If you want something light and fun, I recently read Sherrill Bodine's TALK OF THE TOWN. The novel features gossip columnist Rebecca Covington, a fabulous fashionista who knows everyone worth knowing in Chicago. The tone is light, fun, over the top, and Chicagoans should get an extra kick out of it.

Weekend Reading

Received my package of Pinter books this week, so I'm planning on diving in to THE FURY and THE DARKNESS over the weekend. THE FURY is the first in the two-part Henry Parker epic and THE DARKNESS releases in December. Love that Pinter is flooding the market and I love that he sent me advance copies because I know I won't want to wait til December for book #2.

The Crimespree Awards were announced Monday. Award the winners by picking up their books:
Favorite Book of 2008: TRIGGER CITY by Sean Chercover
Best in an ongoing series: CHASING DARKNESS by Robert Crais
Favorite comic books writer: Brian Azzarello (Author of THE JOKER and the 1000 Bullets series)
Favorite original paperback: MONEY SHOT by Christa Faust

Another winner is Once Upon A Crime in Minneapolis, voted favorite mystery bookstore. If you're in the area, be sure to stop by.

And finally, in case my last two posts weren't clear, pick up a copy of THE AMATEURS by Marcus Sakey. Last time I'm going to say it, I promise.

Weekend Reading

Everyone is talking about Jeff Abbot's TRUST ME and with good reason. I haven't had the chance to pick up his latest yet, but man, that guy can write! I remember reading PANIC in one sitting, my heart racing the entire time. I can't wait to see what he has in store next, but I'm going to have to clear my schedule.

If you enjoy short stories, pick up a copy of UNCAGE ME, the latest anthology edited by Jennifer Jordan. With an introduction by John Connolly and stories by Christa Faust, Victor Gischler, Declan Burke, Gregg Hurwitz and others, UNCAGE ME is full of talented storytelling.

In the mood for something literary? I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE author Stephanie Kuehnert's second novel, BALLADS OF SUBURBIA, releases today. She writes wonderful characters, often the weird kids at school who are haunted by their family lives. She's not afraid to write the hard scenes, which leads to brutally honest writing.

Weekend Reading

This weekend, I'll be diving into THE END OF BASEBALL by Peter Schilling. This debut novel chronicles the baseball season of 1944 and features historical characters such as President Roosevelt and J. Edgar Hoover.

I just finished James Rollins's latest, THE DOOMSDAY KEY. It's a great mixture of thriller and historical. Very reminiscent of DA VINCI CODE...except with character development...and accurate research...

A few weeks ago I met J. Adams Oaks, author of WHY I FIGHT. He's local, he went to Columbia, and he's super nice so definitely check out his book.

Memorial Day Weekend Reading + Contest

The three day weekend calls for extra book recommendations! Read to the end and check out The Chicago Contingent's first contest....

For something new, check out Lee Child's GONE TOMORROW, the latest installment of the Jack Reacher series. Reacher fans will be blown away; it's easily the best one yet. If this is your first introduction, never fear, GONE TOMORROW does stand on its own. Personally, I'd recommend checking out a few others before this one, just to see how far Reacher has come: KILLING FLOOR, TRIPWIRE, and THE PERSUADER.

This week, the committee announced this year's Anthony Award Nominees, so I'll be reading those nominated for best novel. Check them out:
Trigger City by Sean Chercover
The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
Red Knife by William Kent Krueger
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny

Finally, for this weekend's Chicago author, I suggest author and renegade publisher Darren Callahan. I met him at a writer's conference and was skeptical when he handed me a home-made book. But I took it home, I read it, and I fell in love. Check out DOCUMENTIA and CITY OF HUMAN REMAINS and order them here. _______________________________________________________

Now for The Chicago Contingent's first contest! The first five people to comment on today's post and include their suggested weekend reading, will receive a free copy of Jack Kilborn's AFRAID. Read about it here!